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The important cause that brought Ally Langdon to tears

<p>Ally Langdon teared up on Thursday's episode of <em>A Current Affair </em>during a heartfelt segment on organ donation. </p> <p>The host was discussing Jersey Day with Michael Gremmo, a father who had lost his 13-year-old son Nathan after he was critically injured when crossing the road in 2014. </p> <p>Nathan went on to become an organ donor  - a decision that saved six lives, including a baby. </p> <p>Now his father is honouring his son's legacy by encouraging others to have the important conversation about organ and tissue donation with loved ones. </p> <p>"Nathan, as most organ donors are, are healthy, fit, young people and their lives are just taken from them," Michael said.</p> <p>"Dealing with Nathan not coming back, that's the hardest, but we wanted something positive to come out of a horrible situation."</p> <p>The <em>A Current Affair</em> host fought back tears as she recalled how her own sister's life was saved after receiving a pancreas-kidney  transplant in 2014. </p> <p>"My sister is alive because of someone as special as Nathan and there’s not a day goes by that we don’t as a family think about them and think about their grief." </p> <p>“Thank you,” Langtold told Michael tearfully.</p> <p>Michael replied: “Nathan hasn’t died in vain. He’s given life. And you’ve got your sister here because of a generous donor. And it’s not just the donor, it’s their family too. When you’re in that situation it’s hard.”</p> <p>Langdon then encouraged viewers to "have the conversation" about organ donation with loved ones of all ages. </p> <p>"Tell your family your wishes, because the final decision is theirs," she said.</p> <p>Michael said despite his son's young age, Nathan had talked about organ donation and expressed his desire to be one before his passing. </p> <p>“It’s not a conversation you usually have or want to have with young children,” Michael said.</p> <p>"Nathan had actually had a conversation with us, he watched a program on TV and it was about organ recipients ... he sat us down and spoke to us about that.</p> <p>"And yeah, we just talked about what a wonderful gift that would be."</p> <p>Jersey Day falls on Friday August 30, during which students and employees at schools and workplaces across the country are encouraged to wear their favourite jersey and have the important conversation about organ donation with their loved ones.</p> <p>"It's not just the lives of the organ recipient [you save], it's the families behind that too that, you know, you don't realise how many people are affected," Michael said.</p> <p>"I suppose that's why Jersey Day is so special as it's about awareness and getting it out there and having that important conversation."</p> <p><em>To register as an organ and tissue donor, visit <a href="http://donatelife.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donatelife.gov.au.</a></em></p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair/ Nine</em></p>

Caring

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“The system is too soft”: Ally Langdon fires up over stabbing death of Vyleen White

<p>Ally Langdon has called for an overhaul of the youth crime system in the wake of the violent death of Queensland grandmother Vyleen White. </p> <p>The <em>A Current Affair</em> host was discussing the death of the 70-year-old, as she became visibly frustrated while talking about the rising rates of youth crime.</p> <p>Langdon hinted at a nationwide issue, citing the recent stabbing death of young doctor Ash Gordon in Melbourne, who was also allegedly murdered by a teenager less than a month ago.</p> <p>“Whatever we’re doing to deal with youth crime, it’s failing,” she said.</p> <p>“The police do everything they can, but the system is too soft on serious crime, and we have lost faith in it and our politicians.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C29TB0HvWGj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C29TB0HvWGj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by A Current Affair (@acurrentaffair9)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ms White’s daughter and widowed husband echoed Ally's sentiment thoughts on the program, saying, “Justice has to be done, not for my sake, for the memory of Vyleen.”</p> <p>“People want action and harsher laws for crimes they are committing,” her husband Victor said.</p> <p>“For several years (politicians) have been promising a lot, a lot of rubbish talk to the public out there, and nothing happens."</p> <p>“All you hear is increase of violence, car stealing … This is due to slackness in the law."</p> <p>“The law is weak as water.”</p> <p> Ms White’s daughter, Cindy Micallef said harsher penalties for youth crimes are needed.</p> <p>“Youth crime, I hate to say it, it’s like having a koala, it’s a protected species, there’s no action,” she said.</p> <p>“They do heinous crimes and it’s getting worse, I don’t care what nationality or race.</p> <p>“If we let people get away with this, it’s going to increase.”</p> <p>A 16-year-old boy was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/update-on-tragic-stabbing-of-queensland-grandmother" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged</a> with Ms White’s murder on Tuesday morning, and is also facing charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing. </p> <p>Vyleen was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/grandmother-fatally-stabbed-in-front-of-granddaughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatally stabbed</a> in the chest in Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre’s underground carpark around 6pm on Saturday, while she was shopping with her granddaughter. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / A Current Affair</em></p>

Legal

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Heartbroken parents of slain Melbourne doctor break silence

<p>Dr Ash Gordon's heartbroken parents have spoken out about the moment they found out their son had died. </p> <p>The Melbourne GP was allegedly killed after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/major-update-in-tragic-death-of-young-melbourne-doctor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confronting two teenage</a> boys who had allegedly broken into his home in Doncaster in the early hours on Saturday, January 13.</p> <p>Dr Gordon’s grieving mother Catherine, recalled the moment she was woken by the phone call no parent wants to receive. </p> <p>“He said that Ashley had gone. And I said gone where? He’s gone. He’s no longer with us,” Mrs Gordon told <em>A Current Affair </em>about the moment her son's housemate delivered the devastating news. </p> <p>“I said, ‘Don’t lie, you’re joking.‘ And I hung up on him."</p> <p>Holding back tears, Mrs Gordon also shared the denial she went through as she received the call from a detective. </p> <p>"Then the detective rang and I told him that I didn’t believe him, and he said 'how can I get you to believe?', I said 'until there is a police person in uniform in front of me, it's not happening'"</p> <p>"Well you don't want to believe do you?" <em>A Current Affair </em>host Ally Langdon replied, and both parents shook their heads. </p> <p>“We saw the police car coming up, and I just prayed to God they’d just keep going. I didn’t want them to turn into the driveway, but unfortunately, it happened.”</p> <p>Ally Langdon who was brought to tears during the interview added: “It’s a cruel contrast isn’t it? That Ash has dedicated his life to saving lives, yet his was taken in this horrible way." </p> <p>The 33-year-old doctor was found by police less than a kilometre from his home, but unfortunately he died at the scene. </p> <p>In the days following the incident, two 16-year-old boys with Dr Gordon’s murder as well as aggravated burglary and theft.</p> <p>Dr Gordon's family have since held a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-ll-see-you-again-one-day-sister-of-slain-doctor-s-emotional-tribute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorial service</a> for him to honour the slain doctor. </p> <p><em>Image: A Current Affair</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Ally Langdon's ACA replacement announced

<p>Less than one year after taking over the coveted hosting role of <em>A Current Affair</em>, Ally Langdon's replacement has officially been announced. </p> <p>Langdon is taking a well-deserved annual leave break for a few weeks, with another veteran female journalist taking the reins while she's away. </p> <p>Just weeks after being axed from her role at 2GB radio, Deborah Knight will take over from Langdon while she's enjoying her leave. </p> <p>Knight revealed her temporary new role on Instagram on Tuesday, writing, "In the @acurrentaffair9 hot seat for a couple of weeks while @allisonlangdon enjoys a break. Tune in!"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0bJu0-JYsb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0bJu0-JYsb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah Knight (@deborah_knight)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>It's unclear how long Ally will be away, but it appears to be just for the summer holidays.  </p> <p>The news of Deb Knight's new role comes just days after her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/deb-knight-s-2gb-replacement-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replacement</a> on 2GB was announced, with Michael McLaren taking over the <em>Afternoons</em> program from January 15th next year. </p> <p>The 38-year-old presenter told Ben Fordham on Thursday that he had "big boots to fill" but was excited to start the role. </p> <p>"I am honoured to be doing it. There has been a rich and great legacy on 2GB for years and years on afternoons and most recently with Deb so it is big boots to fill," McLaren said. </p> <p>"I am going to do my best."</p> <p>According to <em>The Sunday Telegraph</em>, Knight reportedly felt "shattered" after Nine Radio informed her earlier this month that she would be axed as host after her four year stint. </p> <p>Knight was told of the decision just one week before the news was broken to the public, but shared that she would not be leaving the network for good, as she will be taking up a new role as the national host of <em>Money News.</em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine - A Current Affair</em></p> <p> </p>

TV

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"It's too late": Sister of mother who died waiting for ambulance speaks out

<p><em>A Current Affair </em>host Ally Langdon teared up during an interview with the heartbroken sister of Cath Groom, the Brisbane mum who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/mother-dies-after-ambulance-fails-to-arrive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died after waiting for an ambulance</a> that never arrived. </p> <p>Groom had initially complained of severe chest pain in the hours before she was found dead by her son, Nicholas, on the morning of her 52nd birthday.</p> <p>Groom's sister, Bec McQuilty said that her family will never get over the tragedy, as she details exactly what happened that night. </p> <p>McQuilty said her sister had not only complained of severe chest pains, but was also vomiting profusely and had pain between the shoulder blades. </p> <p>She said Nicholas, Grooms's only son, called triple zero "multiple times" to request an ambulance, but after 90 minutes of no help, Groom decided to go to sleep. </p> <p>She got up at some point in the night, collapsed and died. </p> <p>"For a young boy to have to see his mum like that, it just shouldn't happen," McQuilty said.</p> <p>"He was petrified he didn't know what to do.</p> <p>"He's been taught through all his life that you can rely on these people and to make a phone call to triple zero and them not be there for him when they should have been, is just blatant neglect.</p> <p>"I will never forget the look on his face of just absolute despair."</p> <p>The <em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">A Current Affair </em>broke down the moment McQuilty recalled Nicholas calling her in a panic after finding his dead mum. </p> <p>"I just think this hits all of us, hearing this," Langdon said. </p> <p>"That scene no doubt will haunt you for a long time."</p> <p>McQuilty shared that prior to Groom's passing the family was experiencing "the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in the space of 24 hours," after celebrating Nicholas' high school graduation on the Friday. </p> <p>"To get to such an incredible point of his high school graduation and just to be so proud of him on that day," McQuilty said. </p> <p>"I could see it in her face that she was just, you know, so so proud.</p> <p>"And literally 24 hours later he's finding his mother deceased, unnecessarily. </p> <p>"He's numb, he's angry and he's got a really long road ahead of him."</p> <p>Nicholas has now lost both parents, as his dad passed away when he was a baby. </p> <p>McQuilty revealed that her mum was admitted to the ER after finding out the devastating news and "never come back from this". </p> <p>"She herself was taken to the ER from just complete shock and her own heart," McQuilty said.</p> <p>"So I have my sister deceased in the house. I have my mom in the ER.</p> <p>"You know, it's just, no family, Ally, should ever ever have to go through what our family has gone through."</p> <p>McQuilty hopes that there will be changes made to emergency health system in the wake of her sister's death.</p> <p>"Put some more money into our hospital system and our health system maybe.</p> <p>"It's too late for my family, it's too late. But maybe that can save somebody else."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine/ A Current Affair</em></p>

Caring

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Ally Langdon cited as a reason the Voice failed

<p>The tense interview between Ally Langdon and Ray Martin has been cited as one of the key reasons why most Australians voted No in the Voice to Parliament referendum. </p> <p>The <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/i-would-say-it-again-ray-martin-doubles-down-on-voice-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a>, which took place two weeks before the nationwide vote, saw Langdon and Martin butt heads on <em>A Current Affair</em>, where Martin defended his comments about no voters being "ignorant". </p> <p>During the interview, Langdon, who repeatedly interrupted Martin throughout the conversation, went on to say that the proposed law was confusing, and people "didn't understand it". </p> <p>Since the defeat of the Voice referendum on Saturday, prominent author and former journalist Martin Flanagan collated the list of reasons the county voted No in a <a href="https://footyology.com.au/the-voice-a-letter-to-the-39-per-cent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"letter to the 39 per cent"</a>.</p> <p>Flanagan cited the <em>ACA</em> interview as crucial in voters minds, and contributed to the resounding defeat of the Voice.</p> <p>“Ally said Australians didn’t understand the Voice and, as proof of this proposition, said, ‘I mean, my parents don’t understand it. They’ve looked at it, their group of friends who have looked at it and don’t understand it, that is a massive problem’,” he explained.</p> <p>He appeared to take a shot at Langdon for using the revelation about her family’s lack of understanding to make a point about the entire Australian population.</p> <p>Flanagan wrote that the No campaign's slogan “If you don’t know, vote no” was an extremely effective tool in making sure undecided voters voted No, rather than educate themselves, describing it as is “the second most epoch defining campaign slogan I have seen in my adult lifetime, the other being ‘It’s Time’ in 1972,” which was the slogan used by Gough Whitlam in the federal election.</p> <p>Flanagan then went on to lay some of the blame squarely at Langdon's feet: "To commemorate the 2023 slogan, I would like to establish a media award named after Ally Langdon from A Current Affair. </p> <p>"Ally grilled Ray Martin after he said dinosaurs were voting NO. Ally said Australians didn’t understand the Voice and, as proof of this proposition, said, 'I mean, my parents don’t understand it. They’ve looked at it, their group of friends who have looked at it and don’t understand it, that is a massive problem.'"</p> <p>"The prize for my media award is a cartoon with a group of dinosaurs looking up at a billboard saying “If You Don’t Know, Vote No”. It’s not just the Voice referendum – it’s all the other things we don’t want to know about. We’ve got an overpopulated, overheating planet with two global conflicts raging as we speak. Major environmental catastrophes could have hundreds of millions of people on the move, the effect of climate change on the world’s agricultural regions could cause widespread famine etcetera etcetera. But back to you in the studio, Ally. Tell us what do your parents and their friends think."</p> <p>According to Flanagan, the Yes vote failed due to "Trump-like tactics" from the No side, as he accused them of tactfully confusing and besieging Australians to “make the whole thing dull and heavy” so no one had “energy to explore the Yes case”.</p> <p>He went on to say that a lack of organisation within the Yes team and a lack of continuation of momentum that was prevalent at the beginning of campaigning were also contributing factors to the Voice defeat.</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

TV

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"I would say it again": Ray Martin doubles down on Voice comments

<p>Ray Martin has been grilled in an explosive interview over his divisive comments about No voters ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum. </p> <p>The veteran journalist appeared on <em>A Current Affair</em> to double down on his comments, saying he does not regret what he said. </p> <p>On Wednesday, Ray Martin spoke to supporters of the Yes campaign at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, as he <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/ray-martin-s-scathing-voice-to-parliament-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> those who are voting No, suggesting they are too lazy to educate themselves by performing a simple Google search, and instead are being driven by division and fear.</p> <p>Martin said, “If you don’t know, find out what you don’t know.” </p> <p>"What that excellent slogan is saying, is if you’re a dinosaur or a d**khead who can’t be bothered reading, then vote No.” </p> <p>In the tense interview, in which Langdon continuously interrupted Martin, the ACA host suggested the Voice debate “needs to calm down and get back to being respectful”. </p> <p>“Do you regret those comments, Ray?” she asked</p> <p>“No, I don’t,” Martin said.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyAmMGOyEqw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyAmMGOyEqw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by A Current Affair (@acurrentaffair9)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“This is a really important referendum. And I did not call No voters those words, I was talking about the slogan. ‘If you don’t know, vote No.’ That is an endorsement of ignorance. If you don’t know, find out, do not vote ignorantly. That is a dinosaur."</p> <p>"It is such an important vote, it is so important, and you need to find out.”</p> <p>“A lot of families have a lot of stuff on the plate,” Langdon said. “They are worried about power and food prices and crime, and many of them are the people that you’re calling names.”</p> <p>Martin insisted “no I am not”.</p> <p>“This is not a difficult one — you do not need a dictionary to find out what it is about,” he said.</p> <p>“It is about two things. It is about recognising First Australians in the Constitution, and do we give them a Voice … no veto, a Voice after 200 years of being told what to do. It is not about treaties or reimbursements. It is about nothing apart from these two things.”</p> <p>Langdon said Martin was a “respected journalist for many years” and knew “language is important, and the language used in that speech was inflammatory”, but Martin stood by his words. </p> <p>“I do not think it is and I stick by the language,” Martin said. “I would say it again. It was at Marrickville Hall when I was speaking, I was not speaking at the Catholic church up at the lectern. I was not talking to Women’s Weekly.”</p> <p>Asked again if he thought his language was disrespectful, Martin said, “I’ll tell you what’s disrespectful — voting, and admitting your ignorance, and going ahead and voting on such an important issue as this.”</p> <p>Ray Martin went on to say the language he used was “part of the Australian vernacular and you will hear it all the time on morning radio”, calling out conservative broadcasters who use similar insults to throw at the Yes campaign.</p> <p>Langdon admitted she watched Martin‘s full speech and while much of it was “very powerful”, the debate had “become inflammatory and divisive” and “you know that the most controversial thing you say is what is going to be picked up, and it has”.</p> <p>“I have been a journalist almost 60 years and I think people trust me,” Martin said.</p> <p>“I have reason to be trusted and I think this is really important. I do not think we should be scared by a scare campaign. I do not think we should look for something that is not in the referendum and I think that has happened. That is what the No side is doing.”</p> <p>He continued, "I do not think it is confusing. We have only made it confusing. The words are simple. Do you recognise the First Australians? Do you want to give them a Voice for the first time? Instead of telling them how to run their lives. When we listen to them in community health, community education and community life, we do much better. Instead of telling them what to do.”</p> <p>Martin admitted that the Yes campaign has not been perfect, but that was not a good enough reason to vote No on October 14th.</p> <p>“If you’re asking me has the campaign been good, I would say no,” Martin conceded.</p> <p>“And if you ask me whether this referendum will end poverty and disadvantage, the answer is no. But it is unquestionably a step forward.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

News

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Emotional interview leaves Ally Langdon in tears

<p><em>A Current Affair </em>host Ally Langdon was left in tears following an interview with renowned melanoma expert Dr Richard Scolyer. </p> <p>The cancer expert revealed that he has decided to undergo a bold new therapy following his own incurable brain cancer diagnosis. </p> <p>Dr Scolyer decided that instead of undergoing chemotherapy where he had "six to nine months to live at best", he chose to help progress research and treatment. </p> <p>Current treatment options for the life-threatening disease are limited to surgery, and after conducting research, Dr Scoyler alongside close friend and scientific colleague Professor Georgina Long, concluded that immunotherapy was the only alternative option.</p> <p>"It was a bleak outlook - standard treatment has remained unchanged for nearly two decades, and for my cancer, survival rates are zero," Dr Scoyler told the National Press Club on Wednesday. </p> <p>"There were no clinical trials that I was eligible for. Accepting that status quo was never going to be an option"</p> <p>Following his own diagnosis four months ago, the doctor decided to take part in an experimental treatment following a surgery, which involves a combination of immunotherapy and a vaccine designed to boost immune reaction against cancer cells.</p> <p>This is all part of a clinical trial to test out the effectiveness of the vaccine, with the doctor sharing that he had  "absolutely" no regrets in starting the experimental treatment.</p> <p>"Faced with certain death, there was no other decision to make. I have spent my life diagnosing and researching cancer, so why would I stop now," he said. </p> <p>"We've transformed melanoma, I want to give it a crack and see if we can make a different in brain cancer," he added. </p> <p>Langdon teared up as the doctor shared his experience.</p> <p>"I know we have to tread cautiously, it's very early stages, but it just makes me want to cry," the TV host said. </p> <p>"It's so inspiring because you set out to blow up everything we know about treating brain cancer and you are doing it."</p> <p>Langdon's voice broke as she praised the doctor, saying that he had "changed the world" even if his treatment was not successful.</p> <p>She was also visibly teary-eyed in the outro of the segment as she described the doctor as "someone special."</p> <p>Dr Scolyer's vaccine was developed using analysis of his specific tumour's genome, which allowed scientists to identify what treatment would be most effective for him. </p> <p>Currently, his vaccine won't be used or sold to others, but following his experimental treatment he has gone back to work and is enjoying cycling and running.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine/ Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Ally Langdon goes head-to-head with Albo over the Voice to Parliament

<p dir="ltr">Ally Langdon has grilled Anthony Albanese over the Voice to Parliament, after the Prime Minister announced the vote would take place on October 14th. </p> <p dir="ltr">The PM appeared on <em>A Current Affair</em> for the fiery interview, in which Langdon asked for clarification on what the Voice would mean for everyday Aussies if it was voted in. </p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon accused Albo and the Yes campaign for their “wishy-washy” messaging, while arguing that “people don’t understand” what would change if a Voice was appointed. </p> <p dir="ltr">Albanese said it will give Indigenous Australians an opportunity to be heard on important matters, because up until this point they "quite clearly" haven't been listened to enough.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cwj_d0msmPp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cwj_d0msmPp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by A Current Affair (@acurrentaffair9)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"We know that when programs have involved Indigenous Australians … the programs that have been the most successful in overcoming disadvantage have been ones that have had that ownership; have come from the bottom up listening to Indigenous Australians," he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">"(The Voice) is aimed at closing the gap on health and education and housing," Albanese said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The prime minister said First Nations Australians will be the ones to elect a representative and that the Voice to Parliament is important because it's an opportunity for the current generation to make a change.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This will not impact most Australians directly, but it might just make life better for the three per cent of Australians who happen to be the most disadvantaged group - the First Nations people," he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I think it will be a moment where we can show respect to them; where we can feel better about ourselves as well as a nation and where the world can look at us and say 'Australia is a mature, grown-up nation'."</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite Albo’s diplomatic answers, Langdon’s line of questioning caused a stir with viewers, as many took to X - formerly known as Twitter, to share their brief that Ally’s questions skewed toward giving weight to the No campaign.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Genuinely offended by Ally Langdon’s utter ignorance of the Voice referendum and diminishing herself to a mere mouthpiece for the No vote’s disinformation. <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlboMP</a> was patient and clear. Wasn’t a balanced interview.</p> <p>Not good enough <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ACurrentAffair9</a>.</p> <p>— Howie Jakeway (@howierj) <a href="https://twitter.com/howierj/status/1696846355774513358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ally Langdon is really trying to absolutely tear the Referendum down right now <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ACurrentAffair9</a>. Disgraceful. Absolutely so one sided questioning. </p> <p>Australia severely lacks middle of the road media coverage.</p> <p>— PiesMag (@PiesMag) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiesMag/status/1696813546364088546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ally Langdon clearly voting no for the voice to parliament. Constantly cutting off the Prime Minister, aggressive interview, utterly ignorant and badgering. What Is she so angry about and why is she on her high horse with the man who runs the country? <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@9newsqueensland</a>…</p> <p>— GirlScoutCookies (@Girlscout_cuki) <a href="https://twitter.com/Girlscout_cuki/status/1696816812896477505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Despite the online opposition for the interview, many came out in support of Langdon’s questioning, saying she asked exactly the right questions to clarify the purpose of the Voice, and how it would be put into practice. </p> <p dir="ltr">Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Darren Wick, backed Langdon, telling <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/allison-langdons-a-current-affair-interview-with-anthony-albanese-divides-viewers/news-story/19875cc1d9668b845ac019efc116a737" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>, “Ally did an excellent and professional job by asking the questions that the majority of Australians have long wanted answered.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

TV

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Ally Langdon delivers insight into her own Parental Guidance issues

<p dir="ltr">Ally Langdon has shared insight into her parenting style while hosting the often controversial show, <em>Parental Guidance</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon revealed that she has learned a lot from the show, and although her parenting style has "evolved over the years”, she still struggles with staying consistent as she tries balancing out the “good days and bad days.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"One day you get the on the ball, a bit strict mum and then the next day there's a lot going on at work... I'm like, 'You know what? You guys sort it out,'" she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The show host told <em>9Entertainment </em>that her son, Mack, six is “sweet and delightful, and thoughtful and clever,” while her daughter Scout, four has “got a lot of spunk and she's funny and really affectionate, too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">But, like with every parent, there are times where not everything is fine and dandy and the frustrations take over.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We all have the good days where it's like, 'Gee whizz, I'm so good at this,' and then we come crashing back to earth the next day where they're feral, and you're feeling feral and frustrated and you're short with them," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's the dance we do, isn't it, as parents? Good days and bad days. The parenting styles we've got on the show this season, they go through exactly the same things as all of us,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon also shared that she learned a lot by watching the families in this season’s <em>Parental Guidance </em>and had moments where she thought “okay, that's how I'm gonna parent, I'm gonna shift, I'm gonna do a little bit more of that,” but there’s not always one solution that fits all.</p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon confessed that she’s worried about the issues of child safety in an increasingly digital world, where children often share personal information while gaming, including their addresses, with some agreeing to meet strangers in person.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I mean if I'm honest I'm a little bit scared of technology... I worry about it. We have some of the parents say they want their kids to be kids and don't want to open that can of worms and I relate to that, I feel the same way," Ally said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's confronting, but we need to see it and I think it's a conversation we need to have around the dinner table," she concluded.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Ally Langdon finally breaks silence on Tracy Grimshaw snub

<p>Ally Langdon has broken her silence on the apparent "snub" she copped from Tracy Grimshaw before she took over her hosting role on <em>A Current Affair</em>. </p> <p>Langdon, who previously hosted <em>Today</em> alongside Karl Stefanovic for three years, even <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/i-just-got-brushed-ally-langdon-responds-to-greatest-snub-in-australian-television" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poked fun</a> of the viral moment in November last year as rumours emerged of tensions between the two women. </p> <p>The video in question was filmed as Grimshaw walked through a guard of honour at the Channel 9 studio following her final show as the <em>ACA</em> host, where she appeared to reject Langdon’s embrace.</p> <p>Now, Langdon has opened up on the moment and the coverage surrounding the video, saying she was disheartened to see the media pitting women against one another. </p> <p>Appearing on <em>Stellar</em> magazine's <em>Something To Talk About</em> podcast, she said, “It’s a great narrative of women hating women, but I’m sorry … It’s not the truth.”</p> <p>“I’ve got to say, [subsequent reporting of the video] was hurtful in the sense that I’ve worked so hard and for something that’s so important to me – female relationships in this business – for that to be taken that way, I really didn’t like it.”</p> <p>At the time, Grimshaw defended not embracing Langdon by saying she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, and there was no ill intent. </p> <p>However, Langdon shared another reason why Grimshaw skipped her as she said her goodbyes.</p> <p>“Trace sent me a great message very early that morning – which is good of her, because I know she was singing karaoke at [her farewell party at Sydney bar] The Pickled Possum until about two in the morning. So well done her for being up at 6am,” Langdon began.</p> <p>“I think the problem was that she knew I was the new host – it hadn’t yet been announced – so she and I had been talking a lot. And I think in that moment, she’s overwhelmed because, if you know Trace, she hates a fuss."</p> <p>“So we’re all standing and cheering her, and it wasn’t her favourite place to be. And it was like, ‘Gee, hang on, if I give Ally a hug and that gets snapped, then [people might know she’s the new host].’”</p> <p>After Grimshaw's departure from <em>A Current Affair,</em> Langdon took over hosting duties in January 2023. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / Twitter</em></p>

TV

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Ally Langdon breaks down in tears over 13-year-old life support patient

<p dir="ltr">Ally Langdon has broken down in tears while hearing the heart-breaking story of 13-year-old Esra Haynes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>A Current Affair</em> host was joined by Esra’s parents, who shared that their daughter had fallen victim to the dangerous practice of “chroming”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chroming is when a person inhales solvents or other household chemicals, or aerosol deodorant in Esra’s case, to get high.</p> <p dir="ltr">Esra’s parents, Paul and Andrea, recalled receiving a phone call while their daughter was at a sleepover that changed their lives forever.</p> <p dir="ltr">Over the Easter long weekend, the teenager had gone into cardiac arrest as a call was made to the parents to “Come and get your daughter”.</p> <p dir="ltr">When Andrea arrived at the home, police and paramedics were trying to resuscitate the teen before she was taken to hospital and placed on life support.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just eight days later, Esra passed away.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We thought we would bring her home,” Andrea <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/esra-haynes-melbourne-family-open-up-to-ally-langdon-about-tragic-chroming-trend-that-killed-daughter/7b4fcf4e-662b-4a91-8875-76fa4024a31a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told </a>Langdon.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We still had hope, we did not think the worst,” Paul said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although her parents were optimistic their little girl would recover, a scan revealed Esra had sustained irreparable brain damage from the dangerous chemicals.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple were forced to make the painful decision to turn off Esra's life support, and were told to bring in friends and family to say their final goodbyes to the teenager on her deathbed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was put onto a bed so we could lay with her,” a heartbroken Paul said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We cuddled her until the end.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon was visibly overwhelmed by the parents' memories of their final day with their daughter, and teared up alongside them.</p> <p dir="ltr">Andrea and Paul are now dedicating their time to educating young people about the dangers of chroming, which has claimed the lives of more than a dozen young Australians since 2009.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Haynes family have an unimaginable pain that they'll never recover from.</p> <p>After losing their 13-year-old loved one to a dangerous teen craze, they're now pleading with families across the nation to try and stop anyone else going through the same heartbreak. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9ACA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9ACA</a> <a href="https://t.co/zZt1MF6way">pic.twitter.com/zZt1MF6way</a></p> <p>— A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9/status/1660529859897200640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It's unquestionable that this will be our crusade,” Paul told the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/lilydale-high-school-mourns-loss-of-muchloved-year-7-student-esra-haynes/news-story/4d58fa97b02019475bc830920f32c357" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No matter how much you lead a horse to water, anyone can drag them away. It's not something she would have done on her own.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Esra’s family and friends have honoured her memory online, with a flood of tributes from her loved ones recalling her sweet nature.</p> <p dir="ltr">One of her closest friends wrote on Facebook, “There wasn't one day in the past three years you've not made my day by your contagious laugh and gorgeous smile.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“My heart aches and it doesn't feel real knowing I'll have to say goodbye to you Esra. You're so young. You were gone too soon.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

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"I had better make sure I don’t have a heart attack!": Allison Langdon stuns pensioners on the verge of bankruptcy

<p>Left with a $25,000 legal bill after taking their retirement village to court over a broken air conditioning unit and losing the case, pensioners Walter and Carola Sadlo were on the verge of bankruptcy.</p> <p>In a heartwarming segment, Allison Langdon told the Sadlo’s that A Current Affair viewers had banded together to bail them out of their financial debt.</p> <p>Walter and Carola’s legal battle began in 2018 when their air conditioning unit broke. The couple had paid an extra $1,375 for air conditioning but maintenance wasn’t covered by the retirement village. Walter said he believed it would be covered, so he tried to fight it in the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).</p> <p>After taking the retirement village to court and losing the case, the couple were issued with a bankruptcy notice just two days before Christmas. “I could not believe that somebody could be so vicious and cruel,” Walter said.</p> <p>The couple had also sacrificed their savings to fight the case; $15,000 that Carola inherited from her mother. With this gone, they feared losing their home.</p> <p>Langdon then stunned the couple by telling them, “our viewers have paid your debt.”</p> <p>"I normally don't get emotional. I had better make sure I don't have a heart attack!" Walter said. </p> <p>Not only was their $25,000 legal bill covered, but viewers chipped in almost enough to cover the $15,000 they had to put toward their bill. </p> <p>"Hopefully, there will be village operators who see this story and will show a bit more heart," Walter said.</p> <p><em>Image: A Current Affair</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Viewers respond to Allison Langdon's big debut

<p dir="ltr">Allison Langdon has been praised following her debut in the <em>A Current Affair</em> hosting chair, after a moving display of empathy towards a survivor of domestic abuse.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Ally’s debut interview, she sat down with Kimbarlie O’Reilly, who was abused by her ex-boyfriend Jake Frecker, who has just been released from jail after serving four years of a six year sentence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A thousand different things go through my head about the next few years and what’s going to happen. Like, how long do I have left to live,” Ms O’Reilly told Langdon about the depth of her fear of what her ex might be capable of.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms O’Reilly then detailed the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-partner, explaining how she would be locked outside of her house for hours at a time, verbally berated and physically assaulted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m still struggling every day. I have panic attacks; I have nightmares; I don’t sleep; I have anxiety and PTSD and I didn’t have any of this before,” Ms O’Reilly told Langdon.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">"How long do I have left to live?"</p> <p>TONIGHT on A Current Affair, Ally Langdon sits down with a woman who is lucky to be alive after being beaten by her then-boyfriend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9ACA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9ACA</a> | Watch LIVE 7pm <a href="https://t.co/gBxPP8xnN3">pic.twitter.com/gBxPP8xnN3</a></p> <p>— A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9/status/1619940282698457088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“He’ll be angry at me for what’s happened and it’ll be my fault still. And he won’t be satisfied until he gets his revenge.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ally’s next question proved too much for Ms O’Reilly, as she asked, “Do you feel safe right now?”</p> <p dir="ltr">“No. Not at all. Not at all. Sorry,” said Ms O’Reilly, welling up.</p> <p dir="ltr">Langdon then comforted Ms O’Reilly. “Don’t apologise. This is really hard to talk about,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Do you need a moment?” said Langdon, leaning into Ms O’Reilly and helping her off the set.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You’re strong; you’re brave, and you’re a fighter,” said Langdon when Ms O’Reilly returned.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah, I’m definitely my parents’ daughter,” replied Ms O’Reilly.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As hard as it is, I’m never gonna stop. I have this responsibility to talk, to be loud, and shine a light on the injustice on women.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ally’s compassion won her praise online, with viewers in awe of her empathy and kindness towards Ms O’Reilly.</p> <p dir="ltr">One viewer wrote online, “What a debut for Ally Langdon [A Current Affair] ontonight. Leading with the issue of domestic violence &amp; giving it the spotlight it needs.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“More to come tomorrow night too…. If this is the direction she is taking the show, I reckon I might watch more often.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another viewer said, “Stellar Job tonight Ally.. Welcome to <em>A Current Affair</em>.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

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Karl Stefanovic’s warm words for Allison Langdon

<p>Former <em>Today</em> host Allison “Ally” Langdon returned to the show this morning to hear her former co-host Karl Stefanovic’s well wishes for her debut with <em>A Current Affair</em>. </p> <p>“I'm so looking forward to tonight,” Ally confessed of her Monday night debut, “we've been on the road shooting stories for the past couple of weeks which is really fun, but to be honest I have a few nerves about tonight.”</p> <p>The duo were together at the helm of the <em>Today</em> desk for three years before Ally’s departure from the show in late 2022. Needless to say, Karl was in a good position to share his take on how Ally might fare in her new role, telling her, “you're an absolute machine and we can't wait to see you tonight.”</p> <p>While Karl and his new co-host, Sarah Abo, showered Allison in their support, Karl also took the opportunity to make a joke about the change in Ally’s schedule, teasing, “I know it's a bit of a shift for you, working at night - you've always been a little lazy.”</p> <p>"How is it going to be working at 7pm at night,” he asked, “what are you doing with the kids?"</p> <p>While Allison brushed off that particular line of questioning, she did confess that the new start time was not quite what she’d expected, with a little help from her children Mack James and Scout Heather. </p> <p>“I thought how good I'm going to sleep in these days,” she told Karl and Sarah, “it's not a 3am wake-up call, but the kids are still up at 5:30am.”</p> <p>She went on to share that because of the continued early wake up times, she’s been able to catch the show, and sung Sarah’s praises for her work as a <em>Today </em>host. </p> <p>"Sarah, you're so amazing in that chair,” she told her, “honestly, it's been lovely to watch. You look so comfortable and you've managed to wrangle in that bloke beside you pretty well. It's been lovely sitting at home watching."</p> <p>Allison is no stranger to encouragement in the industry, having revealed how her <em>A Current Affair</em> predecessor Tracy Grimshaw spoke to her before Tracy’s final show after 17 years as host. </p> <p>“She said, ‘just be yourself, Ally, be yourself, and follow what you want to follow',” Allison told <em>The Herald Sun</em>. </p> <p>“She told me to listen to the ACA audience,” she added, before sharing Tracy’s advice to find her own voice and to be authentic, to “be real and be you.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

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Why Channel 7 is happy that Ally Langdon left her role on The Today Show

<p dir="ltr">Channel 7 is secretly happy at the changes their competition Channel 9 has done to the breakfast show.</p> <p dir="ltr">The broadcaster announced that Ally Langdon will leave her role on <em>The Today Show</em> to replace Tracy Grimshaw as host of <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo will take over Ally’s place next to Karl Stefanovic in the new year.</p> <p dir="ltr">But now insiders are saying that this change will see Channel 7 continue to beat Channel 9 in the breakfast TV show ratings.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’ve weakened their position in the real battleground. Anyone can host A Current Affair, but breakfast TV is a different game,” a Seven insider told Diary.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, this is not the case from Channel 9’s perspective because of veteran <em>Sunrise</em> reporter David “Kochie” Koch limiting his workload in the new year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, it was unclear whether or not Kochie will remain the face of <em>Sunrise</em> alongside Nat Barr.</p> <p dir="ltr">But he was able to successfully negotiate more flexibility to spend more time with his family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After 20 years, I've felt I needed more flexibility in my life with my wife Libby and my business interests,” he told The Australian in October.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So when I mentioned leaving to Seven, (CEO) James (Warburton) very kindly asked me whether we could work together on a plan that I wanted, which also kept my connection to the network and my focus on Sunrise.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His decision is the only comfort that Channel 9 have at winning the breakfast show ratings after a very long time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Kochie leaving marks a huge opportunity for Today - there is no denying that,” a Nine insider said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He is a breakfast TV behemoth. He has underpinned Sunrise's dominance for two decades.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The idea of a breakfast TV landscape without him gives Today clear air for the first time in 20 years and there is a real sense of opportunity here.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It means Karl will now be the most senior presence on either show... and that could resonate with viewers.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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"You have got to be kidding me": Huge prank saved for Ally Langdon's last day

<p>Ally Langdon's last day on the <em>Today Show</em> has been immortalised with a series of hilarious pranks. </p> <p>After two years in the hosting chair, Friday marked Langdon's last day on the Channel Nine breakfast show before moving to her new gig as the host of <em>A Current Affair</em>. </p> <p>True to form, co-host Karl Stefanovic couldn’t resist getting in a number of last digs at the star before her exit.</p> <p>Ally was shocked as she was relentlessly tormented throughout the show, as her colleagues pranked her by having her car towed, clearing out her desk and teasing her about her alleged flatulence.</p> <p>In one brutal stunt, weatherman Tim Davies appeared in the network’s carpark with a towing company hooking Ally’s car up to vacate it’s official Today parking spot.</p> <p>"What? You have got to be kidding me,” Ally exclaimed as her vehicle was pulled away.</p> <p>“We are having an Allison Langdon fire sale – including her car,” Tim joked.</p> <p>“How much does a German junk like this get? Never looked after. A bit like Ally,” he added.</p> <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> <p>“We will shift it on out as she goes off to the bright lights of prime time and we will park it somewhere else. Wherever <em>A Current Affair</em> park.”</p> <p>Later in the show, Tim was filmed from the Channel 9 offices dumping Ally’s photos and belongings in a cardboard box.</p> <p>It was announced on Sunday night that Ally would be leaving <em>Today</em> to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/it-s-daunting-a-current-affair-and-today-show-hosts-finally-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take over the spot</a> vacated by Tracy Grimshaw, who left <em>A Current Affair</em> after 17 years this week.</p> <p><em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo will join the network’s morning show alongside Karl, Alex Cullen, Brooke Boney and Tim Davies on January 16th, as Ally starts her role at <em>A Current Affair</em> on January 30.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Today</em></p>

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Karl Stefanovic responds to Ally Langdon's departure

<p dir="ltr">Karl Stefanovic has responded to the news that his <em>Today Show</em> co-host Ally Langdon would be leaving to take on the job of hosting <em>A Current Affair</em>, joking that she was “turning her back” on breakfast television.</p> <p dir="ltr">Stefanovic kept up the jokes throughout Monday’s episode, the first since it was announced that Langdon would take on the hosting gig over the weekend and follow on from long-term host Tracy Grimshaw.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Alison Langdon, everyone – the new host of <em>A Current Affair</em>, of course. Congratulations, Ally,” he announced at the start of the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wasn’t sure what you would do this morning … I knew it would be something,” Langdon replied.</p> <p dir="ltr">He quipped that he’d “spent the whole weekend working” on his short acknowledgement of Langdon’s new role, which starts on January 30.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could tell. The production value had your name all over it,” Langdon quipped.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s all the <em>Today </em>show’s production value is. That part of the reason you have moved on?” he asked, before telling Langdon that they had a “big week planned for you … don’t go anywhere, not as if you can anyway”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The jokes didn’t stop there either, with Stefanovic declaring his co-host was “turning her back” on breakfast television during an interview with Jacqui Lambie, and quipping that it was “out with the old and in with the new” following a promo teasing Sarah Abo as Langdon’s replacement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you say things like that I can’t wait to go,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And we can’t wait to shove you off. It’s going to be a wonderful week of celebrations,” he responded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Further into the episode, Stefanovic took another playful dig at his co-host and the “countdown” until she leaves.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The countdown is on for Ally to leave breakfast television. We’ve cleared her desk, taken her car park and thrown out her Jimmy Choos... and good riddance, I say,” he said, before claiming that her time on the show only equated to one year, not three, “when you take out all her leave and sick leave”.</p> <p dir="ltr">While it was a show filled with plenty of jokes, there was also plenty of emotion too.</p> <p dir="ltr">After she was joined by her replacement, <em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo, Langdon broke down in tears while speaking about how bittersweet it was that her late father-in-law, Mike Willesee, wasn’t alive to see her take on the same role he had.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a pretty special thing to the family if I’m honest. A special thing for Mike which has sort of surprised me how much emotion he’s had around it,” she said, referring to her husband, Michael Willesee Jr.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s the thought of how nice it would be had he been here,” she said, before the tears began.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for her replacement, Langdon shared some advice for how to deal with Stefanovic.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Call me for a counselling session and I’ll say, ‘What did he do now?’ That’s how I’ll answer the phone,” she told Abo.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement released on Sunday, Stefanovic described his co-host as “extraordinary” and referenced the brutal knee injury she suffered during a segment on watersports in early 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ally has been extraordinary over the last three years. Battling through some tough personal physical obstacles to broadcast to the country during really difficult times. She’s an incredible broadcaster and I’ll miss working with her tremendously. Though, I won’t miss her dancing,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The breakfast show host said his new co-host was a “brilliant interviewer” with the “most wicked sense of humour”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can’t wait for the country to see all of those wonderful qualities every day at breakfast,” he said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f04fbd68-7fff-d1cf-8acf-e0d065767418"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Today</em></p>

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"It's daunting": A Current Affair and Today show hosts finally confirmed

<p>After several weeks of rumours and speculation, the new host of <em>A Current Affair</em> has finally been announced. </p> <p>In September, Tracy Grimshaw announced she would be <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/tracy-grimshaw-s-huge-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaving the show</a> after 17 long years in the hosting chair, with her last day at the program recapping her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/tracy-grimshaw-s-most-memorable-hosting-moments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most memorable moments</a>. </p> <p>Now, it has been confirmed that the prestigious hosting spot will be filled by Ally Langdon. </p> <p>After appearing on the <em>Today Show</em> alongside co-host Karl Stefanovic since January 2020, Langdon admits the new role is "daunting", but is excited for the challenge. </p> <p>She said, "It is such an incredible honour to be joining the <em>A Current Affair</em> team. A show I love, respect and have been watching since I was in school and Jana Wendt was host."</p> <p>"I won't lie – it's daunting to be stepping into the role that Tracy has so brilliantly navigated for the past 17 years, with such warmth and compassion. I hope to bring my own warmth and compassion to the show as we continue to tell great stories that matter to our amazing viewers."</p> <p><em>A Current Affair</em> was created and originally hosted by Langdon's late father-in-law Mike Willesee and she will be its sixth host.</p> <p>Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, Darren Wick, said, "Ally is a natural fit to lead <em>A Current Affair</em> into a new era. She was raised in the country and has a deep commitment to family, friends and community."</p> <p>"She's passionate, curious and razor sharp – loyal to her colleagues, dedicated to her craft and determined to fight for her viewers. We're very excited to see what Ally will bring to ACA in 2023 and for many, many years beyond."</p> <p>Ally is set to start hosting ACA in 2023. </p> <p>Leaving a chair empty at the <em>Today Show</em> with her departure, Langdon will be replaced by <em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo. </p> <p>"I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful and hard-working team at <em>Today</em>, who manage to inform the nation every morning while also having a lot of fun," said Abo.</p> <p>"I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some of the country's finest journalists at <em>60 Minutes</em> and travel the nation and world bringing stories to Australian audiences. It is an absolute privilege to meet so many inspirational people and help tell their stories. I can't wait to put everything I've learned from those amazing experiences into my new role at <em>Today</em>.</p> <p>"The 3am alarm will be an adjustment, but I'm looking forward to keeping Karl on his toes. I know Ally will make a success of the move to ACA and I can't wait to watch her in the chair."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

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"I just got brushed": Ally Langdon responds to greatest snub in Australian television

<p>An awkward exchange between Tracy Grimshaw and her rumoured A Current Affair replacement has been caught on camera and immediately went viral on social media.</p> <p>The media veteran bid an emotional farewell to ACA after 17 years of hosting. Of course, Channel 9 staff delivered a standing ovation after she signed off for the last time.</p> <p>However, the clip shows a very awkward exchange between Grimshaw and current Today co-host Allison Langdon.</p> <p>After hugging several other staffers, Grimshaw approaches Langdon, who has her arms outstretched ready for an embrace. Instead of acknowledging this, Grimshaw instead walks right past her, appearing to slightly shake her head before leaning in for a hug with a male colleague.</p> <p>The clip immediately attracted thousands of likes, comments and shares. “I’m actually second hand embarrassed for that lady,” one person wrote, while another added they “need to know the drama” behind the exchange.</p> <p>“In front of at LEAST 50 people as well,” another commented, while one TikTok user said it was proof “Allison is definitely taking her place!”</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@badassnewss/video/7169539767065955586" data-video-id="7169539767065955586"> <section><a title="@badassnewss" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@badassnewss?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@badassnewss</a> Tracy Grimshaw has signed off ACA for the last time and also regected a hug from Today Show host - Allison Langdon on the way out 😬 bit awks. <a title="tracygrimshaw" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tracygrimshaw?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tracygrimshaw</a> <a title="acurrentaffair" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/acurrentaffair?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#acurrentaffair</a> <a title="goodonyatrace" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/goodonyatrace?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#goodonyatrace</a> <a title="congratulations🎉" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/congratulations%F0%9F%8E%89?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#congratulations🎉</a> <a title="♬ another love sped up - avery" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/another-love-sped-up-7043057957856398126?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ another love sped up - avery</a></section> </blockquote> <p>Langdon and Stefanovic weighed in on the “snub” on Today describing the situation as “brutal” but explaining that there was a “reason” behind the apparent brush off.</p> <p>The pair revealed they had “managed to secure some never-before-seen footage from another angle of the shock snub”, with the new clip showing the excruciating moment in even clearer detail.</p> <p>“That’s the moment my heart breaks,” Langdon said.</p> <p>“Look how red my face is. I just got brushed. I don’t think Tracy knows who I am.”</p> <p>Stefanovic joked Langdon “didn’t have much sleep last night”, with his co-host teasing that she was “devastated” after being “brushed” by her “hero”.</p> <p>They went on to share a statement from Grimshaw herself clearing up the incident, with her confirming it had been a big misunderstanding: “I’m sorry I missed you, was so overwhelmed and obviously didn’t see your petite head once Karl’s big boofhead loomed into vision. Argh, big sorry x’’ the statement said.</p> <p>Langdon said she had accepted the apology and the Today co-hosts joked about it being “one of the greatest snubs in Australian television”.</p> <p>“Anyway, apology accepted Trace. It was a very big night. It was a beautiful night to be part of. I have decided I still love her,” Langdon said.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

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