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TV star charged over making indecent images of children

<p>Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with making indecent images of children. </p> <p>The 62-year-old, who left the UK public broadcaster in April after 40 years, faces three charges over alleged activity between December 2020 and April 2022.</p> <p>Police claim the offences are claimed to be linked to images shared on WhatsApp.</p> <p>After being arrested in November last year by London's Metropolitan Police, he was charged with the offences on June 26th.</p> <p>A Metropolitan Police spokesman said of the arrest, “Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation."</p> <p>“The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat. Edwards was arrested on 8 November 2023. He was charged on Wednesday, 26 June following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service."</p> <p>“He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 July."</p> <p>Married dad-of-five Edwards resigned from the BBC three months ago after a stellar career spanning almost 40 years.</p> <p>The BBC revealed their star presenter’s resignation in a short statement on April 22nd, writing, “Huw Edwards has resigned and left the BBC."</p> <p>“After 40 years of service, Huw explained that his decision was made on the basis of advice. The BBC has accepted his resignation.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: BBC</em></p>

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"I was not alone": Another royal diagnosed with cancer

<p>Not long after King Charles announced his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/palace-reveals-king-charles-serious-health-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancer diagnosis</a>, Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia felt inspired by his "dear cousin and friend" and decided to go public with his own prostate cancer diagnosis. </p> <p>In a statement, Prince Alexander shared that he was moved by Charles’ courage in sharing his diagnosis with the public, as royal health matters are usually kept private. </p> <p>The 78-year-old royal then shared details of his own medical intervention. </p> <p>"The love of all of us who know him, and of his people, we deeply care for him, will support His Majesty in persevering and winning this most important battle. The news that it is early stage gives high hope," he said.</p> <p>"The unfortunate news about cancer is not something you wish to hear.</p> <p>"And I can say it personally, as I very well know how you feel once you hear it. How frightening and terrifying it is also for the family, how all the feelings get mixed up, and how you cannot think about anything else." </p> <p>He then revealed: "I can say it now because I only recently defeated cancer.</p> <p>"I had avoided speaking about it, as it is a personal matter concerning only me and my family, but King Charles' openness moved me and encouraged me to also speak up," he added. </p> <p>"I am sharing this now, because this kind of tragic news can encourage people to react and take care of their health."</p> <p>He added that news of King Charles' cancer diagnosis and his honesty about getting a check-up had resulted in a rise in online searches and appointments for medical check-ups in the UK.</p> <p>“That is why people should hear my story, to see it is something that can happen to all of us,” he said.</p> <p>“But when we are responsible, the outcome can be good.”</p> <p>He shared details of his own treatment, which began two years ago, after results from an MRI found a cancerous growth. </p> <p>"At that moment, I was terrified. But I was not alone.</p> <p>"I am not speaking about family and friends who knew this and shared their support, which meant so much and cannot be described in words, but also all the other people who are fighting this disease."</p> <p>He then underwent pre-intervention tests, surgery, and mandatory checkups, and has since received “the most joyous words from my doctor — ‘All is clear now’.”</p> <p>He then urged the public to be more vigilant about their health, and to not put of their doctors appointment any further. </p> <p>“Be responsible with yourself, listen to the doctor’s advice, and monitor your health,” he said.</p> <p>“Preserve it and nurture it as the greatest wealth and gift you will ever receive.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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"Impossibly sad": P-plater jailed over fatal crash

<p>A southwest Sydney community is reeling after Tyrell Edwards was sentenced for causing the deaths of five children in a fiery crash last year. </p> <p>Edwards, 20, was driving recklessly at speeds of 147km/h in the suburb of Buxton when he crashed into two trees and struck five teenagers. </p> <p>Lily Van De Putte, Gabby McLennan, Summer Williams, all aged 14, Tyrese Bechard, 15, and Antonio Desisto, 16, were all killed in the devastating incident. </p> <p>Appearing in Campbelltown District Court on his 20th birthday, Edwards sentenced to 12 years in prison, and will be eligible for parole in seven years, after pleading guilty to five counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death at a speed more than 45km/h over the limit.</p> <p>The judge described the deaths of the five victims as “tragic and impossibly sad”. </p> <p>“The loss of these five young people diminishes us all,” he said. </p> <p>“Their deaths were completely avoidable and responsibility for them lies squarely at the feet of the offender.”</p> <p>Gasps were heard in the courtroom as the sentence was read, with families of the victims sharing their disappointment at the sentencing. </p> <p>Speaking outside court on Friday, family members of three of the teenagers hit out at the “unfair” sentence. </p> <p>Samantha McLennan said her heart “dropped” as she heard the ruling, while Exavan Desisto said he was “speechless”.</p> <p>“I knew the outcome wouldn’t be spectacular but to hear it was a big shock,” he said. “The justice system absolutely stinks.”</p> <p>John Van De Putte said he expected the sentence to be low, but felt it did not match the crime. </p> <p>“There’s five lives lost. Seven years in jail,” he said. “You’d get more if you killed someone with a baseball bat</p> <p>Mr Van De Putte had previously told the court there was “no excuse” for Edwards, a licensed driver, to have driven so recklessly and endangered the lives of his underage passengers. </p> <p>“No matter what you get, it will not bring back the five lives,” he told the 20-year-old.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

News

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Crowd cheers as fan booted from US Open after vile Nazi slur

<p>During a US Open tennis match held early on Tuesday morning, a spectator found themselves ejected from the event following an incident involving German tennis player Alexander Zverev.</p> <p>The disruption arose when Zverev, seeded number 12, was locked in a fierce fourth-set battle against Italy's Jannik Sinner, seeded number six.</p> <p>At a critical juncture in the match, just as he was about to serve, Zverev approached chair umpire James Keothavong and pointed out a fan situated right behind the umpire's chair.</p> <p>Zverev raised the issue, stating, "He [the fan] just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is..."</p> <p>Zverev then expressed his strong disapproval, exclaiming, "It's unacceptable, this is unbelievable."</p> <p>In response to Zverev's concerns, Keothavong scanned the crowd and repeatedly asked, "Who said that? Who said that?" amid raucous boos from the audience.</p> <p>The umpire swiftly made a decision, asserting, "We're going to get him out," much to the relief of those watching in Arthur Ashe Stadium.</p> <p>Keothavong also took a moment to remind the crowd to maintain respect for both players. Shortly after, during a changeover, spectators seated near the offending fan identified him, and security promptly removed him from the venue. The crowd responded with cheers as the fan was escorted up the stadium stairs.</p> <p>A US Tennis Association spokesperson, Chris Widmaier, confirmed the incident, stating, "A disparaging remark was directed toward Alexander Zverev. The fan was identified and escorted from the stadium."</p> <p>Despite the disruption, Zverev went on to triumph over Sinner in a gruelling five-set match and secured his spot in the quarterfinals, where he would face the defending US Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz.</p> <p>This epic match, which Zverev won with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, endured for an impressive four hours and 41 minutes, making it the lengthiest match of the tournament up to that point. The contest concluded at 1:40 am local time in New York.</p> <p>Reflecting on the incident in the post-match press conference, Zverev revealed that while he had encountered fans making derogatory comments before, this was the first time he had experienced an incident involving Hitler.</p> <p>He shared: "He started singing the anthem of Hitler that was back in the day. It was ‘Deutschland über alles’ and it was a bit too much.</p> <p>"I think he was getting involved in the match for a long time, though. I don’t mind it, I love when fans are loud, I love when fans are emotional. But I think me being German and not really proud of that history, it’s not really a great thing to do and I think him sitting in one of the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don’t react, I think it’s bad from my side.”</p> <p>Despite the disturbance, Zverev remained composed and noted, “It’s his loss, to be honest, to not witness the final two sets of that match.”</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Buxton crash driver pleads guilty over five teen deaths

<p>Tyrell Edwards, 19, has pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated driving occasioning death, following a fatal crash which killed five teens south of Sydney <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/new-details-emerge-as-driver-charged-in-tragic-buxton-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last year</a>. </p> <p>The teen arrived at Picton Local Court on Thursday surrounded by family members who shielded his face from cameras using an umbrella. </p> <p>As he sat in the dock at the packed court, the magistrate read out the five charges he faced over the horror crash, where he was driving 45km/h over the speed limit. </p> <p>"Guilty, your honour," Edwards would repeat as each count was read out to him. </p> <p>Edwards, who was a P-plater at the time of the accident, crashed into a tree killing three boys and two girls between the ages of 14 and 16, while he suffered non-life-threatening injuries.</p> <p>Summer Williams, Antonio Desisto, Gabriella McLennan, Lily Van de Putte, and Tyrese Bechard were all pronounced dead at the scene. </p> <p>The court was told that the car only had seatbelts for four passengers in addition to the driver. </p> <p>His lawyers argued that he should remain on bail until his next court date on the 24th of August, so that he can receive treatment for mental health issues including PTSD and an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. </p> <p>But the Magistrate denied the plea, as they believed it wasn't a good enough excuse for Edwards to remain at liberty until then. </p> <p>"I'm also of the view that if it is necessary to take place then it can take place while the offender is in custody," Magistrate David Degnan said. </p> <p>"Accordingly his bail is revoked, and you will remain in custody, Edwards."</p> <p>The Magistrate also acknowledged family and friends of the five victims, who were present in court to hear the charges, before describing the tragedy as a "particularly egregious" example of dangerous driving. </p> <p>"And the impact was at speed and had a devastating effect," he said. </p> <p>Edwards faces a maximum of 14 years in prison for each of the charges. </p> <p><em>Image: Facebook/ Nine News</em></p>

Legal

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Suspended BBC presenter named by his wife

<p>The BBC presenter at the centre of the explicit images scandal has been named as Huw Edwards, one of the public broadcaster's most notable news presenters.</p> <p>Huw was named as the man who allegedly paid tens of thousands of pounds for explicit images from a teenager over a number of years, after a media storm around the previously anonymous presenter saw him be suspended from his high-profile role.</p> <p>Vicky Flind confirmed her husband was the man in question after rumours swirled on social media for five days, as her statement came shortly after police forces said there was no evidence Edwards committed a criminal offence.</p> <p>Flind said she was issuing a statement on his behalf after days of speculation "primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children".</p> <p>Her statement said that Edwards has been suffering serious mental health issues since the allegations arose, and was currently in hospital. </p> <p>The statement reads, "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter', I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children."</p> <div id="piano-inline1"></div> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>"Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years."</p> </div> </div> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>"The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future."</p> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>Minutes before the family statement was published, a separate update was issued by the Metropolitan Police, which has been assessing the allegations in recent days after discussions with BBC executives. </p> </div> </div> <div id="piano-inline2"></div> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>It said, "Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed."</p> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>The BBC said it would continue its "fact finding investigations" into the allegations, which has been put on hold at the Met's request while it carried out its own enquiries. </p> </div> </div> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>A spokesperson for the corporation said: "We will now move forward with that work, ensuring due process and a thorough assessment of the facts, whilst continuing to be mindful of our duty of care to all involved."</p> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>Huw Edwards has worked for the BBC since the mid-1980s, rising from a trainee position to becoming one of BBC News' most recognisable presenters.</p> </div> </div> <div data-component="text-block"> <div> <p>As well as hosting the Ten O'Clock News for many years, he has led coverage of major news events, such as elections and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

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Pip Edwards breaks silence on Michael Clarke scandal

<p>The woman at the centre of Michael Clarke's alleged cheating scandal has spoken candidly about the dramatic events in Noosa. </p> <p>The P.E. Nation fashion designer made a stunning appearance at the Australian Open on Saturday ahead of the women's final, where she was grilled about the now-viral fight. </p> <p>Edwards told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/pip-edwards-hits-out-at-the-carnival-of-the-michael-clarke-scandal-and-says-she-is-focused-on-business-pe-nation/news-story/8d91cfabae96e43b78b24e3414775dbb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>, “It is definitely not my circus and I would like to say the carnival is over.”</p> <p>“The carnival is over and, to be honest, the focus for me is on the global expansion of P.E. Nation."</p> <p>“The carnival is done.”  </p> <p>A video of Clarke fighting with his girlfriend Jade Yarbrough went viral, in which Yarbrough accused the cricketer of cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend Edwards. </p> <p>After the scandal made headlines, photos emerged of Edwards at the pool, and some media outlets published them with a headline reading, “revenge body”.</p> <p>Pip quickly dispelled the sexist headlines, stating, “I have had this body for a very long time.”</p> <p>“I work on my body. It is part of my mental health. It is part of my stability. It is part of how I conquer my day. I live and breathe what I do. I thought that (headline) was a very interesting take."</p> <p>“As a woman in business, as a single mother, as someone who has worked very hard her whole life, the aesthetics of me are literally the cherry on top. It is the iceberg underneath that is what I am doing."</p> <p>“First and foremost I am a mother and a businesswoman, I just come with a body."</p> <p>“It is not out of revenge, it is not out of anything other than being healthy, fit and active.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

News

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"I want people to be afraid of the women I dress": the celebrated – and often controversial – designs of Alexander McQueen

<p>Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse was first conceived at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. </p> <p>That museum, like many around the world, is being <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-13/lacma-funding-news-update-construction">completely redeveloped</a> to embrace not just spectacular new buildings, but new attitudes towards museum collections. </p> <p>Gone are the boundaries between materials, forms, cultures, nationalities and hierarchies of the arts. No more gallery of, say, “18th century North American silver” or “Medieval and Renaissance art in the European North”. Instead, arts from varied times, places and hierarchies all sit together. </p> <p>An exhibition of the work of Alexander McQueen (1968-2010) was an interesting response to this challenge of a new museum, which also highlighted the relatively late arrival of fashion as a category worthy of study in the global museum. </p> <p>It paired garments by McQueen – many specially donated by one woman collector – with the rich Los Angeles County Museum of Art collections in order to suggest the ways in which McQueen had generated his ideas. </p> <p>Now the exhibition has come to the National Gallery of Victoria, with most of the McQueens on display here donated by Melbourne fashion philanthropist Krystyna Campbell Pretty.</p> <h2>Flourishing postmodernism</h2> <p>This new show is extensive. We have 120 McQueen looks and 80 other works of art. Paintings and decorative arts star in this show, notably the spectacular Jean-Baptiste Greuze painting of a young French actress in Turkish-style dress, on loan from Los Angeles.</p> <p>The visual pairings, which range from 18th century English porcelain figures to lavish Russian gold-woven cloths, drive much of the tempo. </p> <p>Important loans from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art are joined by treasures from the NGV, including a spectacular Morris embroidered wall cloth and the Netherlandish flower paintings that contain within them the idea of memento mori – remember that you die.</p> <p>Lee Alexander McQueen was born in 1968, so he was young in the 1980s, absorbing all the flashes of art, design and culture in which postmodernism flourished. </p> <p>Working-class, McQueen did not first go to art school as his middle-class counterparts might. Instead, he apprenticed in Savile Row, the epicentre of bespoke British tailoring, mastering the cut of jackets and trousers.</p> <p>He became so technically proficient that when he applied to tutor technique at art school he was invited to enrol in a Masters. </p> <p>And so the celebrated – and often controversial – McQueen high fashion design was born.</p> <h2>An immersive experience</h2> <p>As well as new ways of dressing for women, McQueen gave us new ways of representing fashion: high concept runways, fashion films, live screenings and putting Paralympian Aimee Mullins on the runway, generating new modes of beauty.</p> <p>At the NGV we have a fully immersive experience and bold scenography.</p> <p>“Mythos” examines three collections through the filter of mythology and theology. McQueen loved to make the present strange by incorporating elements from religious practice, even prejudice, from the past. </p> <p>Everything from angels to demons, from witch burning to Catholic rites might be incorporated for design, fabrication or the runway. </p> <p>These go past simply being artistic source material to generate new ways of looking and appearing for women. “I want people to be afraid of the women I dress,” he said.</p> <p>This exhibition celebrates McQueen’s technical bravura across both tailoring and soft dressmaking, two categories of making clothes that were often conducted separate from the other in the west. </p> <p>Intimate backstage photographs are shown, indicating how the clothes were really worn by models and friends. Here the “muse” is no longer a house model or elegant confidant, but rather a whole set of cultural reflections.</p> <p>The third and final section is called “Fashion Narratives”. Here we see a visual imagination ranging across Siberia, Tibet and other exotic locales.</p> <p>McQueen might, in this section, be accused of cultural appropriation, but this would be unfair. </p> <p>Rather than appropriation, his fashion designs were about fantasy, and fantasy put to good ends, making things from gender to place to sexuality off centre or strange, so we are aware of the fragile accord we have between our identities and our appearances. </p> <p>As Catherine Brickhill, the first designer employed by McQueen to work on his label notes in the catalogue, McQueen, "delved deep into the differences between our culture and other cultures. It wasn’t cultural appropriation, but an openness to and curiosity to be explored and celebrated."</p> <p>Other narratives in this section include the most controversial ones that swirled around McQueen, notably <a href="https://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/tag/highland-rape/">Highland Rape collection</a>, in which McQueen suggested the appearance of Scottish widows during the Highland Wars in ripped and tattered clothes.</p> <p>It would be as silly to accuse McQueen of misogyny here as it would to claim Elsa Schiaparelli hated women for dressing them in <a href="https://spikeartmagazine.com/?q=articles/tears-dress-elsa-schiaparelli-and-salvador-dali">ripped dresses</a> suggestive of assault or accident in the 1930s. </p> <p>Instead, McQueen gives us clothes not just as theatre but as “choreographed deception”, in which male and female elements come together to cancel the other out.</p> <h2>Beyond good</h2> <p>In an era of increasing specialisation, vocational training and narrow fields of research and investigation, this exhibit shows us how a great designer goes beyond good.</p> <p>It shows us how his vision extended well beyond clothes to how they were imagined, and how women might imagine themselves, at all times.</p> <p>When you wear trousers with a very low rear; slip on a <a href="https://textilefocus.com/overview-digital-textile-printing-technology/">digitally printed</a> fabric or has allusions to nature – crystals, leaves, water; wear an asymmetrical outfit with slightly extended shoulders; don impossible shoes to your New Year’s party; or put on an eyeshadow that makes you look like a hummingbird: McQueen was there first. </p> <p>Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse is at NGV International, Melbourne, until April 16 2023.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-want-people-to-be-afraid-of-the-women-i-dress-the-celebrated-and-often-controversial-designs-of-alexander-mcqueen-194731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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“Love doesn’t know math”: Cher defends 40-year age gap

<p dir="ltr">Cher has defended the massive 40-year age gap between her and her new and much younger beau. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 76-year-old singer is currently in a relationship with 36-year-old music producer Alexander Edwards.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the 40-year age gap, Cher is not shying away from the “blossoming romance” and answered fans’ questions about the relationship along with a cheeky photo of Alex in his boxers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s 36 and in end he came after me. I’m the skittish one. We love each other …. LADIES NEVER GIVE UP. Must say he was different for me,” she wrote. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A.E.Hanging Ot <a href="https://t.co/TB5XXJqlxk">pic.twitter.com/TB5XXJqlxk</a></p> <p>— Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1595612020325240832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">On paper This Looks<br />strange (Even 2 ME)<br />A.E Says ♥️Doesn’t<br />Know Math</p> <p>— Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1595690505576161281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">BABE,SOME MARCH 2 A DIFFERENT DRUMMER,I Dance 2 One</p> <p>— Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1595695842584731648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“He’s kind, smart, hilarious … and we (kiss emoji) like teenagers,” she responded to a question asking about her favourite quality about Alex.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On paper this looks strange (even to ME) AE says love ️doesn’t know math,” Cher tweeted shortly after.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair sparked rumours earlier this month when they were seen holding hands outside the West Hollywood restaurant Craig's where they met with rapper Tyga for dinner.</p> <p dir="ltr">During the night, Alex was seen kissing Cher’s hand as they drove off together. </p> <p dir="ltr">It was only days after the dinner that Cher confirmed the relationship on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

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Sheep rescued from 40kg fleece

<p dir="ltr">A bushwalker enjoying a walk along a mountain top came across a sheep burdened by its heavy 40kg fleece.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sheep, named Alex, was found on Mt Alexander in Victoria unable to walk and could hardly lift his head.</p> <p dir="ltr">The walker contacted Edgar’s Mission who came and rescued the sheep who was in a “worse state of health”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"So weak was he that he could not stand. Not even when assisted to do so, and struggle we did to find a passage in through his felt-like fleece to administer life-enhancing fluids,” the rescuers wrote on Facebook. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Truth be told, too, we wondered at first blush with Alex: Could his life even be saved, and would the kindest thing have been to let him pass from this world? </p> <p dir="ltr">“And then we lifted the shroud of wool from his face and our eyes met, and in that instant, it was so strikingly clear he wanted to live.”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fedgarsmission%2Fvideos%2F654275415827887%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">Alex was taken back to the sanctuary where his fleece which was “sodden with rain, urine, twigs, bark, beetles and maggots” was removed.</p> <p dir="ltr">”A fleece so matted and dense that at first it stubbornly refused to cede to the shears,” they revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But somehow it miraculously did. All 40 kg of it!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Alex will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of his hopefully long life.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Vandals of the UK’s Edward Colston statue learn their fate in court

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, that were sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a US police officer, protestors all around the world took it upon themselves to remove commemorative statues of slave traders. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the UK city of Bristol, four people removed a monument of Edward Colston from a town square, before pushing the statue into the nearby harbour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many protestors joined the four in spray-painting and destroying the statue, with many onlookers filming the destruction on their phones. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edward Colston was a member of the Royal African Company, and was responsible for transporting thousands of slaves from Africa during the mid 17th century. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The four protestors - </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rhian Graham, Jake Skuse, Sage Willoughby, and Milo Ponsford - were all charged with criminal damage when they removed the statue without permission. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/05/four-cleared-of-toppling-edward-colston-statute"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guardian</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the protestors did not deny that they had toppled the monument, but maintained their innocence over the charges. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite admitting their involvement, the four protestors were found not guilty and set free. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The graffitied monument of Colston has since gone back on view in view in Bristol in a museum, with historian David Olusoga saying that it is “the most important artifact you could select in Britain if you wanted to tell the story of Britain’s tortuous relationship with its role in the Atlantic slave trade.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images </span></em></p>

Art

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Prince Charles aims to change Prince Edward's title

<p>Prince Charles has a title change planned for his younger brother Prince Edward, but it won't happen for almost a decade.</p> <p>When Prince Philip died in April, his Duke of Edinburgh title was passed onto Prince Charles as per tradition, but Prince Charles won't need it when he becomes King.</p> <p>Royal fans are curious as to who will receive the title, as it'll either be bestowed upon Edward, 57, or another member of his family. He can also leave it in abeyance.</p> <p>Arbiter, former palace press secretary, said that the title will be given to Prince Edward, but in around eight years' time.</p> <p>"That Prince Edward will become The Duke of Edinburgh in the next reign was his father's and is his mother's wishes and Prince Charles won't go against those," Arbiter<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/RoyalDickie/status/1415538495553146882" target="_blank">wrote on Twitter.</a></p> <p>"It won't happen immediately, but by 2029, when Edward turns 65, it will.</p> <p>"Time for speculation, without substance, to cease."</p> <p><em>9Honey's<span> </span></em>royal commentator, Victoria Arbiter, tweeted her thoughts on it as well.</p> <p>"Finding the Prince Charles/Duke of Edinburgh title debate highly speculative," Victoria<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/victoriaarbiter/status/1415386375810125829" target="_blank">wrote on Twitter</a>.</p> <p>"So far there's very little evidence to support the claim. Charles wouldn't go against the wishes of his parents, nor would he be discussing the topic while his mother is still alive."</p> <p><em>The Times</em><span> </span>quoted a source that's close to Prince Charles said that the decision is "up to him".</p> <p>"The prince is the Duke of Edinburgh as it stands, and it is up to him what happens to the title. It will not go to Edward."</p> <p>Prince Edward is well aware that the title should've gone to his elder brother Prince Andrew, but the Queen had already given him the dukedom of York.</p> <p>"It's a very bittersweet role to take on because the only way the title can come to me is after both my parents have actually passed away," Edward said.</p> <p>"My father was very keen that the title should continue, but he didn't quite move quickly enough with Andrew, so it was us who he eventually had the conversation with. It was a lovely idea; a lovely thought."</p>

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Prince Edward's wife breaks down mid-interview

<p>Prince Edward's wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, revealed that Prince Philip's death has left a "giant-sized hole" in the royal family.</p> <p>She also spoke about the pandemic has "slightly skewed things", which means that the royal family haven't been able to grieve properly.</p> <p>Despite the Duke of Edinburgh passing away "peacefully" at Windsor Castle on April 9th, the family aren't coping properly two months on from his death.</p> <p>She spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live and said that Prince Philip's death left a "giant-sized hole in our lives".</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qrc-By4JnSY"></iframe></div> <p>“Well he has left a giant-sized hole in our lives," she began.</p> <p>“I think the pandemic has unfortunately slightly skewed things in as much as it’s hard to spend as much time with the Queen as we would like to.</p> <p>“We’ve been trying to, but of course it’s still not that easy.</p> <p>“And of course the normal way of things isn’t normal yet so we’re not necessarily doing the things that we would normally have done with him.</p> <p>“So I think the whole grieving process is probably likely for us to take a lot longer. It may be the same for many other families out there.</p> <p>“Because if you’re not living with somebody, 24/7, the immediate loss isn’t necessarily felt in the same way, as if somebody was in the house with you all the time.”</p> <p>Interviewer Naga Munchetty saw that Sophie's eyes began to fill with tears and asked her if she was okay.</p> <p>Sophie responded: “It’s only when you would do the normal things that you would have done with them, and you suddenly realise that they are not there, that you really start to have an ‘oh my goodness’ moment.</p> <p>“Just talking to you now, it’s a bit of an ‘oh my goodness’ moment. I think they’ll come and go. But you have to let them come and go.”</p>

Caring

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Kyly Clark sets the record straight after rumours fly

<p>Kyly Clarke has revealed just exactly why she was seen on the northern beaches of Sydney alongside her ex-husband Michael, over the weekend.</p> <p>Pip Edwards, who briefly dated the cricket star in 2020, confirmed the pair were back together.</p> <p>“I wish them well,” Edwards told the<span> </span><em>Daily Mail.</em></p> <p><em><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841701/cricket-kyly-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6ab03f4ae39841ae9085f7b685767cab" /></em></p> <p><em>Michael and Pip Edwards. Image: Instagram</em></p> <p>Michael and Kyly were also spotted spending quality time with their daughter Kelsey-Lee.</p> <p>However, Michael put an end to the rumours altogether on Friday morning, telling<span> </span><em>The Kyle and Jackie O Show</em><span> </span>he and Kyly are not back together.</p> <p>Kylie, 39, who also joined the TV show, Channel 7’s<span> </span><em>The Morning Show</em>, vehemently denied any of the rumours about her and Michael.</p> <p>“A family holiday, it’s a great opportunity to get everyone together,” she said on Monday morning.</p> <p>“Kelsey-Lee’s aunty, uncle and cousins were there, and I think like anything, you’re trying your best to put your daughter first and prioritise her and she really had a ball.</p> <p>“It’s fantastic, it’s what anyone would want to achieve or try to achieve if you’re in this position, and I think her smile on her face says everything.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841702/cricket-kyly-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d714b4b96d6d401da2380967661f59f6" /></p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p> <p>The couple met when they were just kids, at a sports school in Sydney. The pair did not date until many years later.</p> <p>“Kyly and I have said it from day one — we have such a great friendship, and the fact we can do that for our daughter, I don’t think there’d be a husband and a wife, or an ex-husband and wife that are not together, that wouldn’t want that for their child,” he told<span> </span><em>The Kyle and Jackie O Show</em>.</p> <p>“Kyly’s such a natural parent, she’s an amazing mum. For me, I’m learning as I go. I got 50 per cent custody of my daughter, so I love seeing her.</p> <p>“Kyly and I are speaking nearly every day, because I’m asking for advice … even down to food. If Kyly’s making her something when she’s with her, I’m saying, ‘Kyly, why does she love your lamb but she doesn’t love mine?’</p> <p>“I need the help as well … our friendship is so important for our daughter.”</p>

Relationships

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"I wish them well": Pip Edwards confirms Michael and Kyly are back on

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Fashion designer Pip Edwards has confirmed that Michael and Kyly Clarke are back together at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney.</p> <p>Edwards was asked specifically about photos of the Clarkes on a romantic weekend away and refused to supply details.</p> <p>However, she did say that she was feeling "great" and "I wish them well".</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5PeBgbg4WJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5PeBgbg4WJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by 🤍 K Y L Y 🤍 (@kylyclarke)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The pair started dating after Michael Clarke and Kyly Clarke split after seven years of marriage in September 2019.</p> <p>The pair didn't reveal their break up until February 12, 2020 and Michael started dating Pip as the pair have been friends for more than a decade.</p> <p>Michael and Pip broke up in February 2021 whereas Kyly, who was seeing V6 Supercars Champion James Courtney, broke up with him in December.</p> <p>Rumours of the Clarkes reuniting were sparked after<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9642849/Pip-Edwards-confirms-Michael-Kyly-Clarke-together.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a></em><span> </span>posted pictures of the pair on a romantic getaway in Palm Beach.</p> <p>The pair spent two nights in a $13 million mansion, owned by former Crown Resorts chairman Rob Rankin, and costs $2,400 a night to rent.</p> <p>An onlooker told<span> </span><em>The Daily Mail</em><span> </span>that the pair were "quite affectionate".</p> <p>'I'm convinced they're back together. We're talking very much an item, not just friendly exes," the onlooker commented.</p> <p>The Clarkes have not addressed their reunion.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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Novak Djokovic’s “disgusting” meltdown

<p><span>Novak Djokovic has been unceremoniously called out by fans and Australian Open viewers after throwing an ugly tantrum that resulted in a destroyed racquet and a code violation.</span><br /><br /><span>The world no. 1 has battled his way into the semi-finals, but not without smashing his racquet into pieces – forcing a ball girl to sweep debris off the court.</span><br /><br /><span>Djokovic dealt with a gruelling slugfest for almost four hours, against German Alexander Zverev, but did go on to win their quarter-final 6-7 (8-6) 6-2 6-4 7-6 (8-6) on Tuesday night.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Novak Djokovic took his frustrations out on his racquet, leading to a code violation. The World No.1's outburst was so explosive that a ballgirl was forced to pick up the debris minutes afterwards with a dustpan. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/ChRYdFWKwO">pic.twitter.com/ChRYdFWKwO</a></p> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1361757870325383173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><br /><span>It was during his third that he was set off and obliterated his racquet. The spark of frustration seemed to kickstart him to comeback in the set however, after falling behind 4-1 in the third.</span><br /><br /><span>"It was a relief for me, but I wouldn't recommend this kind of relief channelling," Djokovic said.</span><br /><br /><span>"I'm not proud of these kind of moments....I have my own demons that I have to fight with, and I'm sure everybody else has them too."</span><br /><br /><span>Djokovic is currently recovering from an abdominal strain, saying he has “never experienced this kind of injury during a grand slam and (been able to) keep going.”</span><br /><br /><span>"The positive thing is that I actually felt the best from the beginning of the second set until the end of the match that I have since when the injury happened.”</span><br /><br /><span>Fans were less than impressed with Djokovic's outburst, and took to Twitter to share their frustrations.</span><br /><br /><span>“Djokovic cannot behave himself. After all his success he is still a jerk and if he's injured well all players deal with injuries,” one user wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>Another said: “Players smashing their racquet in frustration in tennis is rubbish. Tell them they have to keep using it.”</span><br /><br /><span>Some defended the abrasive move though, with one person writing: “Handling emotions is tough. Not saying that it is acceptable, but it is a normal human behavior when someone is ultra competitive.”</span><br /><br /><span>A second person went on to add: “These people are way too soft to be following any sports in general.</span><br /><br /><span>“Djokovic said after the match that he doesn't recommend smashing a racquet but it happens in the heat of the moment and so many players smash racquets yet he is the only one who gets crucified for it.”</span></p>

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Secret lover of Claremont killer’s first wife breaks silence

<p>The flatmate who is blamed for destroying Bradley Robert Edwards' marriage has spoken out and admitted he feels sickened that his actions could have been for the trigger for the Claremont killings.</p> <p>The secret lover, who has kept his identity a secret due to legal reasons, has broken his silence on his affair with Edward’s first wide.</p> <p>While appearing on the<span> </span>Nine News Perth special, the man revealed a paternity bombshell.</p> <p>He had a daughter with Edwards' ex-wife 24 years ago and now wonders if the child could be his.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838057/sscott-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d2121c5f86f4428f80b8f45e5f992adf" /></p> <p>Edwards' ex-wife always said the man was the girl's father, but then came revelations from his former partner on the stand.</p> <p>She told the court that while she was with the new man she had also been sleeping with Edwards.</p> <p>The secret lover admitted "I can't help but think, in the back of my mind, is this child mine?”</p> <p>The 60-year-old met Edwards' first wife towards the end of 1993.</p> <p>He had been going through a divorce and she was unhappy.</p> <p>"So I moved in. And it was awkward at first. I was trying to be more friendly towards him, hoping that the attraction with her would fade," he said.</p> <p>"I miss those times, playing softball, being friends with him."</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838055/sscott-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a07f3eda7ac1474cbd7e649879312c52" /></p> <p class="first"><em>Sarah Spiers, Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer all disappeared from Claremont in the 1990s.</em></p> <p class="first">A man already accused of killing Jane Rimmer</p> <p>He said the Telstra technician was unaware that his wife would sneak into his room on Sunday mornings.</p> <p>"When we got caught kissing, I thought nup, I'm not hanging around here.</p> <p>"It's the fear of what he had under the bed.”</p> <p>The rival lover revealed it was a rifle and a baseball bat.</p> <p>He said: "I just didn't want to not wake up in the morning. You just can't sleep with that kind of fear."</p> <p>Edwards told him to stay, but he moved out within weeks.</p> <p>She soon followed.</p> <p>The same night, the usually mild-mannered Edwards made an explosive phone call and it would be the last time they spoke.</p> <p>"He said, "You're having an affair with her." I said, "You're stupid. You know I am".</p> <p>“He said, I know where you live, and I'll come and kill you, he said."</p> <p>Not long after, Edward’s wife fell pregnant to her new lover.</p> <p>Prosecutors claimed Bradley Edwards attacked women he didn't know when his life was in turmoil.</p> <p>His marriage broke down around the time Sarah Spiers vanished.</p> <p>Around the time of Jane Rimmer’s murder, Edward’s ex-wife dropped her pregnancy bombshell.</p> <p>But despite that, and despite the decades old threat to kill, the 60-year-old believes Edwards is no killer.</p> <p>"I don't think so. I really, deep inside, really don't think it was him," he said.</p>

Legal

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Michael Clarke and Pip Edwards are officially a couple

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Cricketer Michael Clarke has moved on after his split with ex-wife Kyly and is now dating fashion designer Pip Edwards.</p> <p>The <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity/francesca-packer-barham-goes-public-with-casual-boyfriend-20200627-p556s5.html" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink"><em>Sydney Morning Herald</em></a> has reported that Clarke confirmed the relationship to a well-placed source who said that they are keeping their relationship "low key" for the sake of their children.</p> <p>Clarke has a daughter with his ex wife Kyly, four-year-old Kelsey Lee and Edwards has a 12-year-old son called Justice.</p> <p>The pair were seen holding hands after a romantic walk in Rose Bay.</p> <p>They are understood to have first gotten together after the former cricket captain split from his wife in September last year.</p> <p>Rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield alluded to the new woman in Clarke's life during a segment on the <em>Big Sports Breakfast</em> program on Monday morning.</p> <p>Rothfield mentioned he put Clarke in the “spotted” section of his newspaper column, but didn’t include who he was spotted with.</p> <p>“You know what? I did the right thing by him, I didn’t mention your female company at the table,” Rothfield said as part of their cheerful chat.</p> <p>Clarke laughed, responding: “Why not? Listen buddy, you can always mention my female company. How dare you leave that out.”</p> <p>The rumours initially started after Clarke was working as a consultant for Edward's business, but the pair denied being romantically involved in February.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5jy-FApM-X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5jy-FApM-X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Great meeting this afternoon with team @p.e.nation exciting project ahead 👊🏻@clairetreg @pipedwards</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/michaelclarkeofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Michael Clarke</a> (@michaelclarkeofficial) on Dec 1, 2019 at 10:04pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Pip and Michael have been friends for 12 years,” Edwards’ representative told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink"><em>The Daily Telegraph</em></a> in February. “He is currently consulting with P.E. Nation.”</p> <p>At the same time, Clarke’s representative Sasha Armstrong said: “Michael has known Pip for over a decade and is currently working with both Pip and Claire on a special project with P.E Nation.”</p> <p>Since then, the pair have been spotted on romantic walks and dining at restaurants in Bondi.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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5 minutes with author Nicole Alexander

<p>In <em>5 minutes with author</em>, <em>Over60</em> asks book writers about their literary habits and preferences. Next in this series is Nicole Alexander, a novelist and fourth-generation grazier based in Moree, New South Wales. Her debut novel <em>The Bark Cutters </em>was shortlisted for an Australian Book Industry Award in 2011. Her latest book, <em>The Cedar Tree </em>is out now.</p> <p><em>Over60</em> talked with Alexander about Ernest Hemingway and how being a grazier has influenced her writing.</p> <p><strong>Over60:</strong> <strong>What is your best writing tip?</strong></p> <p>Nicole Alexander: Writing is about redrafting and refining, making that manuscript shine like a pearl.</p> <p><strong>How has your agricultural background influenced your writing?</strong></p> <p>As a grazier I’m very aware of my surroundings. Our landscape is a living breathing entity and because of that I treat the land as a character in all of my novels. The setting is the background to the narrative, but it is also the tapestry that the story unfolds upon and getting the detail right ensures that the work has a strong sense of place. It’s a sense of place that defines us and moulds us as individuals and having that reflected in a work of fiction can only make the story stronger and more authentic.</p> <p><strong>What book are you reading right now?</strong></p> <p>I’ve just finished Elliot Perlman’s <em>Maybe the Horse Will Talk</em>, a political satire set in Melbourne’s corporate world. Perlman’s take on the #metoo movement is emphasised by the use of overblown characters and a distinct lack of subtlety. Playful and witty.</p> <p><strong>What was the last book that made you laugh?</strong></p> <p><em>Olive, Again</em> by Elizabeth Strout. The sequel to Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book <em>Olive Kitteridge</em> takes up from where we left the retired schoolteacher. I love feisty Olive as she struggles to understand not only herself and her own life but also the lives of those around her in the town of Crosby, Maine. Olive’s community is not so joyful and she herself is in her twilight years, so the narrative is not always uplifting but Olive’s life is a microcosm of our society – murder, inheritance, mayhem, retirement homes and children who should know better. Through it all Olive remains, obstinately, Olive.</p> <p><strong>Is there any books by other authors you wish you had written?</strong></p> <p>I think that there are particular works that only certain writers can craft and each of us have our own gifts. One book that stands out for me is <em>Cold Mountain</em> by Charles Frazier. It tells the story of W. P. Inman, a wounded soldier from the Confederate army who walks for months to find the love of his life Ada Monroe. It reminds me of Homer’s <em>Odyssey</em>. I don’t think anyone else could have written it.</p> <p><strong>When it comes to writing, do you plan ahead or go with the flow?</strong></p> <p>I tend to plot part of the story and then see where the narrative takes me as the characters development. Flexibility is important to the story arc – otherwise as an author you risk limiting narrative possibilities.</p> <p><strong>Which author, deceased or living, would you most like to have dinner with?</strong></p> <p>I’ve always been drawn to Ernest Hemingway for his wonderful stories and the sparseness of his prose. His experiences as an ambulance driver during the Spanish Civil War and his larger than life persona would I imagine ensure an intriguing dinner companion.</p> <p><strong>Is there a cliché that you can’t help but love?</strong></p> <p>‘The oxen is slow, but the earth is patient.’ Some say the quote is attributed to Buddha but there is no firm reference. Either way it’s a marvellous saying!</p>

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