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Lawyer warns drivers over little-known road rule with $2200 penalty

<p>While some say it's just "the Aussie way", one lawyer has warned against this common act that could cost you up to $2200. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>7NEWS </em>Astor Legal principal lawyer Avinash Singh, said that there has been a spike in motorists caught flashing their high beams on the road, to alert other drivers of police. </p> <p>“I’ve received an increased number of inquiries from people who have been caught flashing their high beams, warning oncoming drivers of police,” he said. </p> <p>“Most of my clients have been caught doing this by a mobile speed camera or an RBT, which they don’t realise can catch them out on this offence.”</p> <p>Drivers caught in the act could get an on-the-spot fine of $112 and one demerit point, and a maximum penalty of $2200.</p> <p>According to the Australian Road Rules, it is considered an unlawful use of headlights on high-beam. </p> <p>“It is an offence to drive on a road with high-beam headlights on if there is another vehicle in front, travelling in the same direction within 200m; or if there is another oncoming vehicle within 200m,” Singh said.</p> <p>“Similarly, road rules state that a driver must not use any light fitted to their vehicle to dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle, another road user.”</p> <p>“It is arguable that flashing your headlights to warn of police would fall into the definition of ‘hindering police’ in the execution of their duty “</p> <p>Motorists on Reddit have described headlight flashing as representing “a camaraderie between motorists” and one even called it “the Aussie way”.</p> <p>But others have argued that the act could impact the safety of other drivers. </p> <p>“Traffic laws are meant to act as a deterrent for dangerous driving, flashing a fellow motorist has the same effect the ticket is meant to but with more immediate results. It should be widely encouraged,” one commenter wrote.</p> <p>“I feel it only changes the driver’s behaviour for a few seconds, but removes the deterrent of getting a fine. So it probably makes traffic, in general, more dangerous,” another said.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

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Today show star's teary farewell

<p>Brooke Boney has wrapped up her final <em>Today Show</em> before she embarks on a new adventure overseas.</p> <p>The proud Gamilaroi Gomeroi woman, who has read the news on the Channel Nine morning show for five years, was surrounded by her colleagues as they reflected on her time with the program. </p> <p>"I just spent a month at the Olympics. I've been to the Oscars, all around the world to do things that most people don't get to do," Brooke said.</p> <p>"As a young person, I didn't see much of a future for myself beyond what my little imagination could conjure up and because of the labour of my mum and my grandparents, who are back in Musswellbrook, it wasn't as bleak as it could have been."</p> <p>Her co-hosts then wished her all best, while sharing memories from the last five years and expressing their love for the presenter. </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/C-tjCw-OXMN/?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/reel/C-tjCw-OXMN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by thetodayshow (@thetodayshow)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"We love you and everything you represent, how hard you work, I think the last two weeks in the Olympics demonstrated, how much range you have, how much immediate connection you have with anyone you walk along the street with," Karl Stefanovic said.</p> <p>"Thank you, Brooke, for everything you've done for us, very few people know what it's actually like to wake up at an ungodly hour and be ready to present 3.5 hours of live television to an audience," Sarah Abo added.</p> <p>Karl, Sarah and the team gifted Brooke with flowers, cake and some goodies that will help her with her next steps and she had some beautiful words to share with her work family.</p> <p>"Thank you for the beautiful presents, mum is here as well and I feel really overwhelmed to be honest," she said.</p> <p>"I'm so grateful for every opportunity that I've been given here, I've done things I never dreamed possible, for someone like me, I grew up in housing commission, so this is really beyond my wildest dreams."</p> <p>"I just want to say my good fortune has been hard won by those who came before me, but it's not just luck, it's hard work on my part as well, it's a combination of all of those things and I'm just eternally grateful."</p> <p>"The <em>Today Show</em> was the first breakfast show in the country to put an Aboriginal person on as a full time host and now it is a very normal thing to do in this time slot, and I'm proud of that. I'm really grateful for that and I hope it makes it easier for others to do the same."</p> <p>"Thank you for accepting me, I know that I don't fit the mould and I'm grateful for each and every one of you for tuning in every day and for coming on this journey with me, it's a privilege to go over to Oxford, but it's even more of a privilege that I've got this much love around me, that it makes it difficult to leave."</p> <p>In March, Brooke <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/today-show-star-s-replacement-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that she would leaving the show to pursue her studies at Oxford University in the UK, where she will be getting her master's degree. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine </em></p>

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Avoid missing prostate warning signs with this handy quiz

<p>A leading Australian Urologist is sounding a warning to men who unknowingly ignore symptoms of an enlarged prostate, wrongly assuming it’s just a part of growing older. Symptoms the Urologist highlighted include, increased frequency going to the toilet at night or a change in urine flow.</p> <p>Dr Gordon O’Neill, who has been treating diseases of the prostate for over 25 years said almost half of all men over 50 have an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), where the prostate gland enlarges and obstructs the urethra - the tube which expels urine from the bladder, and this may cause bothersome urinary symptoms.</p> <p>“While BPH is not cancerous or life threatening, the symptoms such as leaking or frequent urination can negatively impact a man’s quality of life,” Dr O’Neill said.</p> <p>“The prostate starts to compress the urine channel and this in turn may interfere with bladder function. In some severe cases, some men have trouble urinating at all. </p> <p>“If left undiagnosed this condition could lead to bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bleeding,” he said.</p> <p>Dr O’Neill is encouraging men to complete <a title="https://www.getmosh.com.au/start/prostate-enlargement-health-check" href="https://www.getmosh.com.au/start/prostate-enlargement-health-check" data-outlook-id="dea5c553-2489-4009-ae90-d09c24226c83">Mosh’s BPH quiz</a> which can help flag any irregularities that might cause need for concern.</p> <p>Mosh Medical Director Joanna Sharp said the quiz makes it easy for men to raise an issue they often deem embarrassing to discuss.</p> <p>“It’s a simple survey that can be done anywhere, at any time, allowing men who may be worried about their prostate function to find out whether medical intervention is needed,” said Dr Sharp.</p> <p>“There’s a lot of unnecessary fear and old school thinking among men when it comes to the prostate and there’s no need. Women are very good at being more in tune with their bodies, men are not so great. We need men to do better to notice changes in their body, especially ones that could be hiding something more sinister.” </p> <p>“Are they having to get up to urinate more frequently at night and is that impacting their quality of sleep? Does it dribble at the end? We don’t want men suffering in silence, thinking it’s secret men’s business. Troublesome symptoms of enlarged prostate can be fixed very easily,” Dr Sharp said.</p> <p>About one in seven men aged 40 to 49 years are diagnosed with a prostate problem, which increases to about one in every four men aged 70 years and older.</p> <p>GPs then assess the survey results referring those that need further examination to a urologist, like Dr O’Neill.</p> <p>“Some men live with an enlarged prostate and have no idea and that’s okay. But for those men where the symptoms have become an issue there are minimally invasive options such as an implant procedure,” Dr O’Neill said.</p> <p>“It’s a minimally invasive treatment that opens the prostatic urethra, relieving obstruction for men who suffer urinary symptoms related to BPH."</p> <p>“The implant holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra. There is no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue with no impact on sexual function which can be a big fear and deterrent for some men,” he said.</p> <p>Dr O’Neill believes men should also be screened for prostate cancer by getting a PSA test from the age of 40.  As they age the prostate gland grows and the PSA is likely to rise slightly.</p> <p>“The prostate grows on average about four percent a year, so changes can start as early as 30 but they won’t become apparent for another 20 years,” he said.</p> <p>“While having BPH or an enlarged prostate doesn’t increase your risk of prostate cancer, symptoms left unchecked could be masking a much more sinister problem such as prostate cancer so it’s better to have your symptoms assessed,” Dr O’Neill said.</p> <p>You can find Mosh's BPH quiz <a href="https://www.getmosh.com.au/start/prostate-enlargement-health-check" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

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Millions warned as dangerous disease spreads in Melbourne

<p>Health authorities have issued an urgent warning to Victorians after multiple people have been admitted to hospital with severe symptoms. </p> <p>Victoria's Department of Health has revealed it is investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires disease after a "significant increase" in cases across Melbourne since Friday.</p> <p>Over just three days, 22 cases of the disease have been confirmed with another six cases suspected.</p> <p>Most of the cases are in adults aged over 40, with many of them requiring hospitalisation and intensive care for severe pneumonia.</p> <p>Health authorities are now searching for the source of the outbreak, as the health department said in a statement, "Legionnaires' disease can cause a chest infection with symptoms of fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains. Other atypical symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion."</p> <p>"All cases have visited or reside in metropolitan Melbourne. Those most at risk are adults aged over 40 years, especially people with other medical conditions or immune compromise, or who smoke."</p> <p>The source of the outbreak is not yet known but investigations are underway to determine where it has come from.</p> <p>Legionnaires' disease is spread by breathing in fine droplets of water that contain legionella bacteria, and is not commonly spread from person-to-person or by drinking contaminated water.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alerts/outbreak-of-legionnaires-disease-in-metropolitan-melbourne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Health</a> is urging anyone who lives in, works in or has visited metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas to seek urgent medical care if they develop symptoms.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Caring

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Today show star's replacement revealed

<p>Brooke Boney's replacement on the <em>Today</em> show has been announced. </p> <p>The reporter announced on-air in March that she was quitting to pursue her studies at Oxford University in the UK. </p> <p>On Tuesday, Nine’s director of morning television Steven Burling announced that current <em>Weekend Today</em> co-host, Jayne Azzopardi, will move to weekdays to cover the news round for <em>Today.</em></p> <p>“We’re thrilled to welcome Jayne Azzopardi, one of Nine’s most accomplished journalists, to Today in the news chair,” he said in a statement. </p> <p>“Jayne has covered politics in Canberra, reported on major news events, and co-hosted <em>Weekend Today.</em>"</p> <p>Celebrity interviewer Renee Bargh will also have a boosted role on the breakfast TV show, and will cover the entertainment round alongside Richard Wilkins. </p> <p>“Joining her is Renee Bargh, known for her career at Channel [V] and as a correspondent for EXTRA in LA, to cover the entertainment round alongside Dickie," Burling added. </p> <p>“We’re privileged to have Jayne and Renee join our team at Today.”</p> <p>While Boney has yet to announce her final day on-air, she previously said that she will be leaving the show after the Olympics, which is being broadcast on Nine from July 26 to August 11. </p> <p>“I’ve been offered a place at Oxford University later this year, which means I’ll be leaving the show after the Olympics,” Boney said on-air in March.</p> <p>While she didn't go into too much detail she added: “It’s been a dream of mine to be able to study at an overseas university, and it just felt like the right time to take that step."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

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Happy Days star's warning to tourists after costly mistake

<p><em>Happy Days </em>star Henry Winkler has issued a warning to fans about rickshaw rides in London, after he was charged £134 (AU$250) for a short trip.  </p> <p>The star revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that he was left with the huge bill after taking a ride on the pedicab, and attached a picture from the back of the rickshaw. </p> <p>“TRAVEL TIP: Do not take one of these bicycle taxis without absolutely negotiating the price first. This person in London rode us around in circles then finally to our destination seven blocks away … for $170 US!" he wrote. </p> <p>“My fault, I paid, but passenger beware!</p> <p>A few hours later, he reiterated his point and added:  "Can NOT say this enough."</p> <p>Fans were quick to back the veteran actor, with one saying: “How can the guy do The Fonz like that?”</p> <p>Others urged him to take the tube or a cab instead, with one writing: "I would've taken you for free." </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">TRAVEL TIP: DO NOT take one of these bicycle taxis without absolutely negotiating the price first. This person in London rode us around in circles then finally to our destination 7 blocks away...for $170 US! My fault, I paid, but passenger beware! <a href="https://t.co/l9yxNUkOuM">pic.twitter.com/l9yxNUkOuM</a></p> <p>— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) <a href="https://twitter.com/hwinkler4real/status/1808556199824273671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Another former cab driver added: "London cabbies are known for being honest, knowledgeable, and decent-It takes a full year for someone to gain all the Knowledge necessary to become a cab driver. I believe they drive black cars. Anyway, this is a former cabbie telling you to grab a real cab."</p> <p>To which Winkler replied: "I did all the time. For that moment I LOST my mind."</p> <p>According to the U.K's Local Government Association, pedicabs have been able to charge extortionate prices because they are "exempt from the regulations which cover taxis and private hire vehicles.</p> <p>"They do not need a [license] to operate, are able to set their own prices and are not subject to checks on the safety and ability of their drivers, or the road worthiness of their vehicles."</p> <p>However, Transport for London is stepping in to license rickshaw riders and regulate their fares to bring it into line with other forms of transport in the city. </p> <p><em>Image: Mark Doyle/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Jimmy Barnes warns fans about fake accounts

<p>Jimmy Barnes has issued a "fake account alert" to his fans.</p> <p>The Aussie singer took to Instagram to warn his followers that there have been an increase in the number of people online pretending to be him or claiming to have direct access to him. </p> <p>"There have been an increasing number of fake profiles appearing in the comments of my socials media posts, claiming to either be me, have direct access to me, sell tickets to shows, and even going as far as posing as a fan trying to connect with other fans," he wrote. </p> <p>"These accounts also send friend or follow requests, which then progresses to more false claims, often requesting large or small sums of money," the<em> Cold Chisel</em> star added. </p> <p>He then urged his followers to take action against these fake profiles. </p> <p>"Please block and report any profile and or comment that makes these claims, as it would never be myself or any of my team. Look after each other," he continued. </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/C84CmW9yKBs/?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/p/C84CmW9yKBs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jimmy Barnes (@jimmybarnesofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He then shared screenshots of all the social media accounts posing as him, and a montage of all the messages they send to fans. </p> <p>One of the scammers wrote: "Hello thank you for your like and comments on my official page and for being a fan, it's great to know I have such a devoted fan. Much love, click on this page to send me a message." </p> <p>Many of the scammers had similar messages, asking fans to message them, click on a link or add them on social media. </p> <p>This is not the first time scammers have tried using the singer's name to con devoted fans. </p> <p>In 2022, Barnes slammed scammers pretending to be him and using a fake "farewell" ad on social media, which was nothing more than a cryptocurrency scam, according to <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>. </p> <p>Speaking through his manager, John Watson, Barnes said at the time that he was angry about the "illegal and misleading ads" that have allowed "scammers to prosper". </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Aussies warned over new nbn scam

<p>Aussies have been warned against a new nbn scam targeting businesses and residents. </p> <p>Last year,  about 1,800 Australians lost more than $1.2 million to scammers pretending to be nbn employees in a remote access scam. </p> <p>Now, they have found a new way to scam unsuspecting businesses and residents by pretending to be employees and getting people to hand over their personal details and money in areas where <em>actual</em> nbn employees are working. </p> <p>The opportunistic scammers have been randomly knocking on doors or cold calling homes in areas where nbn technicians are installing new fibre. </p> <p>A few people have already been duped, with nbn impersonators calling customers claiming they need money to pay for new internet hardware or postage costs. </p> <p>Scammers have also offered to inspect people's homes for a nbn fibre upgrade and took their bank account details in the process. </p> <p>Other impersonators have called customers saying they would show up a few days later, despite having no prior appointment booked. </p> <p>Scammers have also impersonated staff, and used the presence of actual nbn vehicles on the street as proof of their authenticity. </p> <p>“These impersonators are also asking residents for payment to test their services or secure upgrades and repair works in the future,” nbn Local head Chris Cusack said. </p> <p>“In taking the payment these people are then skimming banking and card details to extract more money afterwards.</p> <p>“We are asking residents to be extra-vigilant against scams, especially while legitimate nbn work is underway.”</p> <p>Nbn has advised that their technicians would always contact people to ensure they were aware of visits before their appointments, and inform them of where they will be doing fibre upgrades. </p> <p>They also send their customers texts to confirm or cancel the appointment, and let them know when they are on their way. </p> <p>Nbn technicians never ask for payment for an appointment, postage costs, hardware costs, or access to any devices. </p> <p>Approved technicians and workers all carry identification cards, and the nbn Local head suggested that customers should always request to see the card before providing access to their residence. </p> <p>“Do not share your bank or personal details with an unsolicited caller or with people who door knock claiming to be from nbn trying to sell you an nbn service or seeking payment for related services,” Cusack said.</p> <p>“If you get contacted like this, please close your door, or hang up the phone and report it to the ACCC’s Scam watch.”</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p>

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"Why is the water so salty?" and other priceless questions from clueless tourists

<p>In the heart of the stunning intersection where the Daintree Rainforest kisses the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll find <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g499639-d1045292-Reviews-Ocean_Safari-Cape_Tribulation_Daintree_Region_Queensland.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ocean Safari</a> – a top-notch, eco-certified tour company. Brooke Nikola, one of their delightful tour guides, has been guiding wide-eyed adventurers through this paradise for years. With thousands of tourists coming from all corners of the globe, she’s accumulated a treasure trove of amusing anecdotes that could rival the size of the reef itself.</p> <p>Let’s dive right into the deep end with some classic moments <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/queensland/hilarious-comments-from-clueless-tourists/news-story/ad90a419cbf4fed9d454d3edef0cb096" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per news.com.au</a>. One sunny day, while marvelling at the endless blue expanse, a curious tourist asked Brooke, “Why does the water taste so salty?”</p> <p>“Well, it’s the ocean,” Brooke gently reminded them. Ah, the wonders of seawater – still a mystery to some.</p> <p>Then there was the time aboard the Ocean Safari vessel, cruising serenely over the waves, when a perplexed guest inquired, “How far above sea level are we?” </p> <p>And who could forget the would-be scientist who attempted to bottle the stunning blue ocean water, only to be baffled when it turned out clear. We can only imagine Brooke explaining the tricky science of light refraction and how the ocean's mesmerising blue doesn't quite fit into a bottle. No doubt their holiday turned into an impromptu science lesson.</p> <p>The complaints Brooke hears are just as priceless. One guest, dripping after a snorkelling session, grumbled, “Ugh, snorkelling makes me so wet.” </p> <p>Then there was the revelation about the rainforest. As rain drizzled through the lush canopy, a bewildered tourist remarked, “It’s so rainy in the rainforest!” Who knew that rain would be part of the rainforest experience? Certainly not that guest!</p> <p>Geography can be tricky, especially in a place as uniquely named as Cape Tribulation. As tourists boarded the Ocean Safari vessel from Cape Tribulation beach, one asked where the Daintree Rainforest was – oblivious to the verdant scenery they had driven through for the past hour. Brooke had to kindly point out that they had been in it this whole time.</p> <p>Another classic came from a guest who thought Cape Tribulation was an island. They earnestly asked, “So, how big is the whole island?” To which Brooke replied, “It’s pretty big. So big, in fact, it’s known as Australia!”</p> <p>Through all of these delightful moments, no doubt Brooke remained a fountain of patience and good humour. So, next time you find yourself at Cape Tribulation, remember to bring your sense of wonder – and a good laugh. Because as Brooke can tell you, the Great Barrier Reef is full of surprises, both above and below the water!</p> <p><em>Images: Ocean Safari / Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Kochie's warning for every Aussie parent

<p>Australian finance expert David Koch has warned parents to think twice before offering financial assistance to their adult children who are thinking of buying their first home. </p> <p>With many young Australians looking to buy property turning to the “Bank of Mum and Dad” for financial help, Kochie has advised parents to approach this with caution, structured agreements, and clear communication, to reduce the risks and protect both parties involved. </p> <p>“The Bank of Mum and Dad provided $2.7 billion to their adult children to buy property over the past year," the finance expert said on his latest column in <em>The Nightly</em></p> <p>He encouraged a structured approach to navigating the common intergenerational finance practice, and added that financial assistance from parents has become a significant player in the housing market. </p> <p>“If it was an actual bank, it would be somewhere between the fifth and ninth biggest mortgage lender," he said, referring to an estimation by the Productivity Commission. </p> <p>He then warned against the casual approach that is often taken, saying: “We all want to help our kids … But the question is what that help looks like.”</p> <p>“Treat the loan as a business transaction and draw up a formal agreement between each party outlining the terms of the deal, including a set repayment schedule,” he emphasised. </p> <p>Kochie also drew attention to the University of Newcastle’s findings on the increased risk of financial elder abuse associated with parental assistance.</p> <p>“Borrowing from the Bank of Mum and Dad encourages ageist attitudes, which leads to kids financially abusing their parents," he quoted the study. </p> <p>He then differentiated the different forms of financial assistance, explaining the difference between gifts, loans, and guarantees. </p> <p>“If your child is married or in a de facto relationship and it ends, gifts will usually be considered part of the family assets and divided up in court,” he warned. </p> <p>He also offered guidance on parental investments in entrepreneurial ventures, advising parents to “think of your role as that of a regular investor."</p> <p><em>Image: news.com.au </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Nick Kyrgios' honest thoughts on Shane Warne's open letter

<p>In 2015, late cricket legend Shane Warne posted an open letter Nick Kyrgios on social media, calling out the then hot-headed tennis player's fiery behaviour off-court. </p> <p>"Dear Nick, we all realise you're only 20 and have a lot to learn buddy, but please don't waste your talent," the letter began. </p> <p>"Everyone in the world, especially us Australians want to respect you. You need to respect the game of tennis and yourself. We all make mistakes.</p> <p>"You're testing our patience mate, show us what you're made of and how hungry you are to be the best in the world. It's time to step up and start winning, no excuses," he added in the scathing letter. </p> <p>"We all make mistakes. It's how we learn from them and the way we conduct ourselves when we lose that shows true character. You're testing our patience mate," he concluded. </p> <p>A then 20-year-old Kyrgios had just beat Spanish champion Rafael Nadal during the 2015 Wimbledon, but also attracted a lot of controversy after insulting Stan Wawrinka at a tournament in Montreal, Canada. </p> <p>This was a particularly difficult time in Kyrgios' career, as he was suspended for 28-days and got a $34,705 fine from the ATP.</p> <p>Since the incident, Kyrgios has managed to get his professional life back on track, and in a recent interview with Piers Morgan on his show <em>Uncensored</em>, the tennis star shared that he never read the letter. </p> <p>"I saw it and didn't read it. I'm never going to be the first one to go out on social media and put someone down," he told the host. </p> <p>He added that he believed that Warne would be proud of how far he's come. </p> <p>"I look back at that letter and at how far I've come and I'd say he would be proud for sure. I’ve had a pretty successful career. I feel I've won a lot more than I've lost." </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

TV

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"So beautiful": Summer Warne overwhelmed by Coldplay's tribute to Shane

<p>Summer Warne has captured the emotional moment that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin paid tribute to her late father on stage. </p> <p>During their show in Perth on Sunday night, Martin bean singing an original acoustic song that honoured Shane Warne in a unique way. </p> <p>Shane's daughter Summer was in the audience for the performance, and was incredibly touched by the gesture. </p> <p>During the song, Chris Martin sang the lyrics, "Friends come, and friends go, there are just some people you're lucky to know. If I could, I'd do it all again, so thanks for everything Shane."</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/Cz1Ln4fRVQU/?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/Cz1Ln4fRVQU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Summer Warne 🍒 (@summerwarne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He even joked at one point, singing "I needed sunglasses just to look at your teeth," and poked fun at the late cricketer's lack of rhythm. </p> <p>Summer posted a clip of the emotional moment to Instagram with the caption, "The most amazing song dedicated to Dad. Thank you Chris, so beautiful <a title="" href="https://www.instagram.com/coldplay/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@coldplay</a> Love you dad xx."</p> <p>This isn't the first time Martin has honoured the star in song, as Coldplay dedicated an acoustic cover of their hit song <em>Yellow</em> to the sporting legend at Shane's memorial. </p> <p>The performance was done via video, as Chris began saying, "I am sorry I cannot be there today."</p> <p>"We are on tour in Central America and there are a lot of background noises, but I feel like that may be OK with him. I think chaos and Shane were good friends."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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"I couldn't save her": Husband's heartbreaking warning against weight loss drugs

<p>A grieving father has issued a desperate plea against using weight loss drugs after his wife passed away from possible side effects just months into her treatment. </p> <p>Roy Webster told <em>60 Minutes</em> that his wife Trish simply wanted to lose weight before their daughter's wedding, so she decided to take Ozempic - a drug which was originally designed to treat diabetes, but is now being prescribed as a weight loss drug. </p> <p>The 56-year-old mother lost 16 kilos from taking Ozempic and another weight loss drug, Saxenda, but she was also frequently ill and in January "something went seriously wrong".</p> <p>"I couldn't save her, that's the hard part," Webster said. </p> <p>"If I knew that could happen, she wouldn't have been taking it."</p> <p>The heartbroken Aussie father added that his wife tragically passed away in his arms. </p> <p>"She had a little bit of brown stuff coming out of her mouth and I realised she wasn't breathing, and started doing CPR," he said.</p> <p>"It was just pouring out and I turned her onto the side because she couldn't breathe." </p> <p>Trish's death certificate reveals that her cause of death was an acute gastrointestinal illness, although there isn't a direct link to weight loss drugs, Webster believes that they contributed to his wife's death. </p> <p>"I never thought you could die from it," he warned other Aussies. </p> <p>In the same interview with <em>60 Minutes</em>, Endocrinologist Dr Kathryn William, said that there's "growing evidence the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic can cause digestive complications."</p> <p>"When we prescribe them, we warn people," she said.</p> <p>"So if I say to someone, 'yes, it might be that you do vomit once or twice, but if you are having recurrent vomiting, you need to let me know and you need to stop the medication'."</p> <p>The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia is investigating local cases and encourages people like Webster to report their concerns. </p> <p>Webster also reportedly wants a coronial inquest to examine his wife's death.</p> <p>"She shouldn't be gone, you know," he said. "It's just not worth it, it's not worth it at all."</p> <p><em>Image: 60 Minutes</em></p>

Body

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Jackson Warne speaks for the first time on the moment he found out about his father's death

<p>Jackson Warne has opened up for the first time about the life-changing moment he found out about his father's untimely death. </p> <p>Jackson was 22-years-old when his father, famous Aussie cricketer Shane Warne, passed away of a heart attack while holidaying in Thailand in March 2022. </p> <p>Now, for the first time, Jackson has recalled the moment he and his family found out abut the devastating news. </p> <p>Speaking with <em>SAS Australia</em> chief instructor Ant Middleton on the show's podcast ahead of the show's anticipated finale, Jackson spoke candidly about receiving the life-changing phone call. </p> <p>Middleton asked Jackson, who was a contestant on <em>SAS</em> three years ago, “Do you remember where you were when you got the news?” </p> <p>Jackson said, “Definitely, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to probably forget where I was or what I was doing. Because all you get is a phone call. And then when you hang up the phone call, your life that you’ve been living, your entire life, everything you ever knew sort of was like this, just gets whooshed, just completely flipped upside down."</p> <p>“You have all these thoughts, and you let the tears out, that you just sort of sit in silence. Like we, I was with my girlfriend, my sister, Brooke, and her partner, and then my mum. And we just got to call. Hung up the phone and we just sat in silence for hours."</p> <p>While going through the shock and devastation of finding out about his father's death, Jackson had a profound dream about his late dad, as he felt he was sending him a message. </p> <p>He began, "I can tell you about a dream that might sound bizarre, but it would have been maybe two weeks, or two-and-a-half weeks after dad passed, and I was driving my car. He was driving his car. And we used to sort not race, we used to just drive next to each other and, you know, race a little bit."</p> <p>“But he was always the better driver in the better car. So (he) always beat me all the time, all the time. And in this dream I had, I was driving my car, he was driving his car, we’re both looking each other left and right and driving and driving.</p> <p>“And then all of a sudden our cars sort of, they sort of merged, and I was in the driver’s seat of his car. And then I looked to my left, and he wasn’t there. And then I sort of woke up and I can really vividly remember that dream."</p> <p>“Everything about it, I can remember. And I sort of looked at that as he was sort of giving me the permission to be in charge. Now he’s like, ‘Jackson, I’m giving you the driver’s seat. You’re the one that’s, you know, going to be making the tough decisions. Now you’re the one that has to step up for the family. I’m not here anymore, you have to be (the one)‘."</p> <p>Jackson also shared the reason he is finally speaking out about his father, saying, “To keep someone’s memory alive, you have to keep talking about them."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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"I want to make Dad proud": Summer Warne's heart-wrenching revelation

<p>Summer Warne has shared a heart-wrenching revelation after making her TV debut on <em>The Masked Singer</em>. </p> <p>The 21-year-old, who is Shane Warne's youngest child with Simone Callahan, left the panel of judges in tears following an emotional performance of Coldplay’s <em>Yellow</em>. </p> <p>“That was his favourite Coldplay song. It’s such a significant song to me and my family,” she said. </p> <p>“I want to make Dad proud. Singing Yellow was absolutely amazing – that song was his funeral song. Chris Martin sang it at the state memorial.”</p> <p>Summer also took to Instagram to reflect on her TV debut, where she thanked the judging panel, host and fans for their love and support. </p> <p>"I will be forever grateful of this whole experience ❤️" she captioned the photos. </p> <p>She also paid tribute to her dad, and shared what an honour it was to perform for him.</p> <p>"My dad would love nothing more than hearing me sing and perform on stage, if it wasn’t for him I would have never been given an opportunity like this.</p> <p>"So thank you Dad, and I really wish you could have seen this, but I know you were by my side every step of the way ❤️"</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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxpPcGvRRoJ/?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/p/CxpPcGvRRoJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Summer Warne (@summerwarne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In an interview with <em>Yahoo Lifestyle </em>after her performance, Summer shared a few candid insights into how tough it was to grow up with a famous father. </p> <p>“If I was out at a party, I thought I had to act a certain way, because if I did the wrong thing, or said the wrong thing, people would look at my family and go, ‘Oh, she’s a horrible person’.</p> <p>“I never wanted … I never asked to be in this life. And I think it was just very hard growing up in an environment where your whole life is kind of on screen.</p> <p>“And if Dad made a mistake, it would reflect on me. And, you know, I thought people were looking at me differently.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/like-a-bad-dream-shane-warne-s-family-in-shock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane passed away </a>of a suspected heart attack in Thailand on March 2022, and the news shocked the world. </p> <p>Ever since his passing, Summer said that life hasn't gotten any easier for her family. </p> <p>"I think it has gotten a bit more hectic, because they (paparazzi) can’t follow him around now, and they want to follow us,” she said.</p> <p>"They write stories and the public is like 'we don't want to hear about them or they're not celebrities'. But we're just living our lives, whether that's going out for breakfast, or going out on a Saturday night, you know, it's just gonna get written about.</p> <p>“We’re just trying to live our lives and move on. Unfortunately, it is what it is.”</p> <p>The 21-year-old has been very open about her grief and has recently shared a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/shane-warne-s-daughter-s-candid-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tribute to her dad</a> for what would've been his 54th birthday. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Shane Warne's daughter's candid admission

<p>Shane Warne's daughter, Brooke, has opened up about how her family has coped with the devastating loss, one year after the cricket legend's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/like-a-bad-dream-shane-warne-s-family-in-shock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passing</a>.</p> <p>The 24-year-old candidly told <em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxRbtJHv_Fx/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stellar Magazine</a> </em>that, despite missing him deeply, her family, including her siblings Jackson and Summer, as well as her mother Simone Callinan, have remained close-knit in the wake of the tragedy. </p> <p>"As a family, we've always stuck together. We've always had each other's backs. We're going okay," she told the publication. </p> <p>"Obviously, I miss him and think about him every second – that's never going to change," she continued. </p> <p>"I think we just learn to accept life, that this is our life now, and do the best by him and make him proud... and be positive and enjoy everything. You don't know what's going to happen. </p> <p>"We just had to deal with what comes our way. We do it together, and that's the important thing," she concluded. </p> <p>This comes just days after loved ones took to social media to honour the legendary cricketer on what would've been his 54th birthday.</p> <p>Brooke took to Instagram stories to share a throwback photo of herself and her dad.</p> <p>"Your day King, Happy birthday dad," she captioned the photo posted on Wednesday the 13th with a love heart. </p> <p>Another photo showed her indulging in a few of her dad's favourite snacks  including potato scallops, a donut, lollies and a bag of Musk sticks. </p> <p>"Birthday lunch for dad. All his faves," she captioned. </p> <p>Shane's son, Jackson also took to Instagram to honour his late dad, with a video about how he planned to mark the day. </p> <p>“Today would have been dad’s 54th birthday – happy birthday dad,” he said in the clip.</p> <p>“And I thought instead of being sad or posting a story in black and white with a big caption with things that are quite obvious, I’m going to do what dad would have wanted me to do which is be happy and do things that make me happy."</p> <p>He then listed three things that he used to do with his dad including getting Maccas, watching <em>Two and a Half Men, </em>and playing roulette.</p> <p>“Roulette is on par for me and dad with poker and we just loved cheering on a 23 for a spin. So we’ll go downstairs and see if we can hit a 23. Happy birthday dad," he concluded his video. </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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxH4e_BRaca/?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/reel/CxH4e_BRaca/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jackson Warne (@jacksonwarne18)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Shane's younger daughter Summer honoured her late dad with another throwback picture posted on Instagram stories with the caption: "Happy Birthday Dad. I love and miss you more than words can describe ❤️" </p> <p>This is the second birthday the family have had to endure without Shane, who passed away while on holiday in Thailand.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Julie Bishop’s warning over the Voice result

<p dir="ltr">Julie Bishop has warned that if the Voice to Parliament results in a “no” vote, it could send a “very negative message” to the rest of the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">The former foreign minister said that the Voice was an opportunity to “get things right” for Indigenous Australians. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve done a great deal of research and analysis on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Yes campaign, the referendum, and we believe that this is an opportunity to get things right,” she told a Yes campaign event in Perth on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bishop was then quizzed about what a “no” vote would mean for Australia's international reputation, to which she said she was “most concerned at the message” it would send to our global friends. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s not a front-of-mind issue for most people, but I know that Australia’s international reputation can be affected by a No vote,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have no doubt that it would be sending a very negative message about the openness, and the empathy, and the respect and responsibility that the Australian people have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Voice referendum, like any Australian referendum, requires both a national majority and a majority in at least four of the six states in order to pass. </p> <p dir="ltr">Reports have suggested that support for the “Yes” campaign is slipping in Western Australia, hence Bishop’s appearance in Perth which was followed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s appearance on a local radio station. </p> <p dir="ltr">Albo described the Voice as “just an advisory group so that people can listen to what Indigenous people have to say about programs that affect their lives.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That is all this is about, so as to get better results,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The constitutional change is really straightforward, recognition, listening through a voice in order to get better results. It won’t change the way that parliament functions, it won’t have a right of veto.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Albanese will announce the date of the referendum at a campaign event in Adelaide on Wednesday, with reports suggesting it will be held on October 14th. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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“Take official warnings seriously”: Aussies warned to not travel to surprising destination

<p dir="ltr">Australian travellers have been urged to exercise caution if they are planning to visit a popular Scandinavian tourist destination. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have warned Aussies to use “a high degree of caution in Sweden due to the threat of terrorism” in its official travel advisory for the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">The warning comes as Sweden has the country has seen a surge in racial and religious tensions, with violence escalating after anti-Islam activists publicly burned and damaged copies of the Islamic sacred text, the Quran.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result of the violence, Australia's official <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/sweden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SmartTraveller website</a> has placed the Scandinavian country on a Level Two alert, which means visitors need to be more cautious than normal.</p> <p dir="ltr">The warning does not include urging travellers to reconsider a trip or being told not to go to a destination. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You should maintain a high level of vigilance in public spaces,” the website says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Since the beginning of 2023, there's been an increase in public burnings of the Quran, which has led to a deterioration in the security situation.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Swedish Government has assessed the risk of terrorism as an 'elevated threat', equivalent to a threat level of 3 out of 5.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“This rating means an attack could happen. Take official warnings seriously.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The website offers some further advice to “protect yourself from terrorism”, including avoiding places that could be terrorist targets (such as airports, travel hubs, tourism hotspots and places of worship), avoiding visiting such places at peak times and having “a clear exit plan if there's a security incident”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Travellers are also advised to “consider the level of security around you”, report suspicious items to police, and monitor official advice and media assessments.</p> <p dir="ltr">Australia is not alone in classifying Sweden as a more dangerous country for tourists, as the UK's Home Office has warned terrorist attacks “could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners”, while the US Department of State says terrorist groups “continue plotting possible attacks in Sweden”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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"Totally absurd": Ben Fordham rages over Shakespeare content warning

<p>Hold on to your quills, folks, because we've got ourselves a Shakespearean drama fit for the 21st century! It appears that the Bard's timeless works are now under fire at an international university, and our dear radio host, Ben Fordham, is not amused.</p> <p>The talk radio host is taking on an English degree's "content warning" that has been applied to none other than William Shakespeare. That's right: The great bard of yore now comes with a caution label.</p> <p>The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has allowed students studying "Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy" to exit stage left – much like Shakespearean characters fleeing their woes – if the content ever gets too spicy or confrontational.</p> <p>Any student, at any time, is permitted “to leave the class, interrupt their activity or take any measure necessary to take care of their wellbeing without the need for explanation or justification”. </p> <p>And what content in particular are they worried about? The saucy romantic comedy "Twelfth Night", featuring a cross-dressing heroine and more mistaken identities than a masked ball gone wrong. Othello, Measure For Measure, and Coriolanus also make the list of potential "trigger warnings".</p> <p>Fordham couldn't resist taking to the airwaves to voice his disbelief. "So Shakespeare is now the subject of a trigger warning," he proclaimed with a clear mix of humour and disbelief. <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“You can just walk out of class, because university bosses are worried that some snowflakes may find the material too much. </span><span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once upon a time universities challenged students and now they wrap them in cotton wool.”</span></p> <p>In the land of Twelfth Night, Viola dons a disguise to woo the Duke Orsino, but alas, love plays its twisted game, and Olivia falls for the cross-dressing charmer instead. How scandalous! It's like the plot of a Hollywood rom-com but with more ruffles and poetic monologues.</p> <p>“The play features a cross-dressing heroine and in 2023 you would think that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow,” continued Fordham. “But someone wants to protect the students from Shakespeare. Can you believe it?”</p> <p>Also joining the fray was English actress Felicity Kendal, who described the warning as “totally absurd”.</p> <p>“Great art is meant to challenge our senses, our feelings and our prejudices," Kendal said in an interview with the Daily Mail. "We should not be deterring students from engaging with these works."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine Network / Wikimedia Commons</em></p>

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