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"The last male sanctuary": Barber shop campaigns to formally ban women

<p>An Adelaide barber shop which prides itself as "the last male sanctuary", has applied for an exemption to the Equal Opportunity Act, which, once approved, will allow it to formally ban women. </p> <p>The team behind Robbie's Chop Shop took to Instagram to ask over 42,800 of their followers to help with their application to Equal Opportunity SA. </p> <p>In their first pinned post on Instagram, the barber shop posted a photo of the letter explaining that they have applied for an exemption following a complaint made to the commission about their request for women to observe that it is a male-only business. </p> <p>"Unfortunately, this is not the first complaint of this type that we have received, so in order to deal with them once and for all, we have decided to make an application for an exemption to the Equal Opportunity Act," they wrote in the letter. </p> <p>They added that the business prides itself in being able to provide "a safe space for men to discuss their issues", so they applied for the exemption to deal with the complaints once and for all. </p> <p>The business believes that they are "not in breach of the act" if they are able to obtain this exemption. </p> <p>"As part of our application, we would like to include statements from you, our loyal and valued customers, that explain why you love Robbie's Chop Shop, and why you feel that is so important for Robbie's Chop Shop to be a safe space for men to come together and discuss their issues," they pleaded. </p> <p>Their plea has divided followers, while some men and women agreed with them, others seem to disagree with their stance. </p> <p>"I love that this exists and love the safe space you've created for men to unload their weights of the world without being judged and freedom speak up in a space with others that may be facing similar issues," one woman wrote. </p> <p>"I’ll never understand why this is an issue. There are so many women only places around. As a woman I’d much prefer to go to a hair salon than a barber," commented another woman. </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/CvPYHawy18U/?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/CvPYHawy18U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 💈 Robbie's Chop Shop 💈 (@robbieschopshop)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"💯 support - Great idea to have a space for men. In the UK there are lots of ladies/women only spaces and events etc. Don’t see the issue for men having their own space in society as well. 👍" wrote one man. </p> <p>"The concept of the last male sanctuary is not to discriminate against women but to offer a place for men to come and discuss the issues in their lives, in comfort with other similar men," commented another. </p> <p>One person wrote that they hope the business is equally welcoming to non-binary or trans people. </p> <p>"I hope you would welcome trans men, non-binary people and folks of any gender wanting a masculine haircut. We all deserve to feel included and safe to approach businesses knowing we won’t be turned away based on personal attributes we can’t change."</p> <p>"More like Robbie's Mojo Dojo Casa House," another quipped in reference to Ryan Gosling's character Ken establishing the patriarchy in Barbie land in the 2023 <em>Barbie m</em>ovie. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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Oprah shares personal heartbreak

<p dir="ltr">Oprah Winfrey’s father Vernon has died on July 8 at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer. </p> <p dir="ltr">The TV personality shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram along with a beautiful video during Vernon’s final days where he was honoured. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside I had the sacred honour of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath,” she wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We could feel Peace enter the room at his passing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That Peace still abides. All is well. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Oprah spent Vernon’s final days with him in Nashville, as well as organising a  “Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Celebration” backyard BBQ. </p> <p dir="ltr">During the party, Vernon was seated on a barber chair in honour of his dedicated worklife as Oprah’s friend and gospel singer Wintley Phipps saluted him with song.</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/tv/CfzEN6Qj5nG/?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/tv/CfzEN6Qj5nG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Oprah (@oprah)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“He FELT the love and reveled in it until he could no longer speak,” she said.  </p> <p dir="ltr">In a clip, Oprah can be heard saying to Vernon: “Thank you for being the kind of father who has brought honour to your life and honour to my life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A few weeks earlier on Father’s Day in the US, Oprah honoured her father and reflected on the lessons he taught her. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If it were not for him, I doubt that anybody in the world would know my name,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I know firsthand how the trajectory of life can change by the positive influence of a good father.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Turia Pitt's revolutionary new venture

<p>Walking into a department store, you're met with posters of beautiful, flawless women looking back at you.</p> <p>It's no secret this kind of imagery is harmful and unrealistic as it's not a reflection of the average woman.</p> <p>That's why Turia Pitt is breaking down the unrealistic beauty standard by joining Celeste Barber as an ambassador for MCoBeauty.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/COQzLkcMwWK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COQzLkcMwWK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Turia (@turiapitt)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The 33-year-old was subjected to a traumatising experience after she was caught in a bushfire while running an ultramarathon in Western Australia in 2011.</p> <p>She suffered burns to 65 per cent of her body and spent five months in hospital.</p> <p>But since that day, Turia has allowed those challenges to make her, and others stronger.</p> <p>Speaking to The Australian Women's Weekly Online, Turia Pitt gave two tips to those lacking confidence.</p> <p>"First of all<span> </span><em>acknowledging</em><span> </span>that what you're going through is tough, it's hard - but that's so important," she said.</p> <p>"The second bit of advice is to try and get some support - whether that's from a friend or psychologist. It's just like how we'd take our car to a mechanic if it was damaged, we need to show that care to ourselves. Our hearts and our heads deserve the very best."</p> <p>Turia is a mother to two boys, Hakavai, three and Rahiti, one, whom she shares with her fiancee Michael Hoskin.</p> <p>She also gave beauty advice for busy mums.</p> <p>"I love an eyelash curler!" She tells us.</p> <p>"Use an eyelash curler and hold it for like 10 seconds, like make sure you really press down on it and even just doing that will really open up your lashes. And then put the McoBeauty Xtendlash Mascara on it and you'll be blown away by how good it'll look."</p> <p>As for health and wellness, Turia's busy schedule makes taking the time to workout and exercise a little harder - but again, she's got a top tip.</p> <p>"It's about finding accountability - so you could organise to go [exercise] with a girlfriend at a certain time regularly. You're gonna be more likely to go and make the effort when you're doing it with people you know."</p>

Beauty & Style

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NSW RFS reveals how the $51 million raised by Celeste Barber will be spent

<p>Almost one year and a legal battle later, the $51 million in bushfire donations raised by Comedian Celeste Barber is being spent.</p> <p>Barber's fundraiser garnered attention from all over the world with people donating in droves for last year's Black Summer bushfire crisis.</p> <p>But the cause soon sparked controversy when it was revealed the funds could only be spent by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Trust, which Barber had chosen as the benefactor, rather than shared with charities and victims.</p> <p>The RFS went to the NSW Supreme Court to see if they could distribute the donations to other groups, but a judge declared the money could only go to them.</p> <p>Now they have revealed how the plan on spending the money.</p> <p>Speaking to Sunrise, inspector Ben Shepherd revealed the RFS asked its thousands of volunteers on what the service should do with the millions.</p> <p>“That money was donated to our firefighters, we had to ask them where they wanted to spend it, because ultimately that money is theirs,” he explained.</p> <p>“There’s a number of different projects the money is being funnelled into.”</p> <p>He said $30 million would be spent on new hi-tech equipment, including state-of-the-art helmets and tracking devices.</p> <p>And another $20 million has been distributed among brigades across the state for "station enhancements" and upgrades.</p> <p>A separate $10 million is being kept in a "benevolent fund" for firefighters who were injured and families of heroes killed in the line of duty.</p> <p>Shepherd said he wanted generous Australians to have “confidence” the RFS was spending the funds correctly.</p> <p>“It’s ultimately the firies determining how it’s going to be spent, because the money was donated to them,” he said.</p>

Money & Banking

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Celeste Barber responds to Supreme Court ruling on $51m bushfire donations

<p>Comedian Celeste Barber has responded to a Supreme Court ruling that millions of dollars raised in her bushfire appeal cannot be split for charities she was trying to support.</p> <p>Barber’s bushfire fundraiser raked in $51.3 million in January, rising past her initial target of $30,000 to become Facebook’s largest-ever charity drive.</p> <p>She directed the appeal towards NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donation Fund, but many donors expected the money to go to victims and other charities such as the Australian Red Cross and WIRES.</p> <p>The NSW Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the donations could not go towards other charities or interstate rural fire services.</p> <p>“Some donors may have intended or hoped that the money they donated would be used for purposes beyond those which the court has advised are permissible,” said NSW Supreme Court Justice Michael Slattery.</p> <p>But he said honouring those wishes would violate the law around how trusts operate.</p> <p>Justice Slattery ruled the money could be given to families of fallen firefighters and used for trauma counselling as well as equipment, training and administrative costs. But it could not be diverted towards other fire services, animal welfare groups and other causes.</p> <p>Barber addressed the ruling in a statement on social media. “I had hoped, because it was such a big and ‘unprecedented’ amount, that it could have been distributed to other states and charities,” she wrote.</p> <p>“Turns out that studying acting at university does not make me a lawmaker.</p> <p>“So the money will be in the very capable, very grateful hands of the NSW RFS.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">An update <a href="https://t.co/OtfV1G3iR1">pic.twitter.com/OtfV1G3iR1</a></p> — Celeste barber (@celestebarber_) <a href="https://twitter.com/celestebarber_/status/1264831815782563840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>She thanked the donors “from all walks of life that heard us and helped us, whether it was a hand full of gold coins or a big fat cheque”.</p> <p>NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said he was grateful for Barber’s fundraising efforts and would make sure the money was put to good use.</p> <p>“We’re going to be very transparent and actually say exactly what every dollar has been spent on,” he told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/nsw-rural-fire-service-reveals-what-it-will-do-with-celeste-barbers-bushfire-millions-c-1059079">Sunrise</a></em>.</p> <p>“There will be no secrets and there will be no administrative costs taken from this money.”</p> <p>Rogers also told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/celeste-barber-bushfire-fundraiser-money-only-for-rfs/12282016">ABC Radio Sydney</a> there was “no animosity” between the RFS and Barber’s team, which he was in contact with regularly.</p>

Legal

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Gina Rinehart hits back at Celeste Barber’s criticism over bushfires

<p>Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart has slammed comedian Celeste Barber who has raised $47 million in less than a week for the bushfire appeal, saying she’s more concerned about the “true cause” of the fires.</p> <p>Earlier in the week, Barber criticised billionaires, as she asked why they aren’t donating to help the Australian bushfire crisis.</p> <p>She directly tweeted at Rinehart, who has a net worth of close to $14 billion, writing: “If you’re in Hawaii on a family holiday I’m going to flip a f***ing table”.</p> <p>But a spokesman for the billionaire has issued a statement saying the wealthy mining magnate prefers to donate privately.</p> <p>The statement says the billionaire does not want to “rush” to blame climate change for the devastation.</p> <p>“(Mrs Rinehart) is most concerned that the true causes of this sad devastation are tackled, rather than missed in the rush to blame climate change,” the spokesman said in a statement revealed by the<span> </span><em>Daily Mail.</em></p> <p>“In particular, restrictions on building dams are lifted, the dangerous restrictions on allowing adequate fire breaks and restrictions on land clearing, which regulations have helped to cause life and stock losses, property damage, and damage to livelihoods and much suffering.”</p> <p>Rinehart has apparently contributed to a collection for firefighting at an event which took place at her home, where 150 guests were present on Tuesday night.</p> <p>Barber on the other hand, has raised over $47 million in less than a week through her fundraising campaign.</p> <p>But the comedian raised the question as to whether billionaires around the world were doing their part.</p> <p>“Remember when Notre Dame burnt down – very sad, don’t get me wrong, RIP Notre Dame, historic building,” she said on Instagram earlier in the week.</p> <p>“And something like billions of dollars were raised, by I think like a handful of people. Where are those people now?</p> <p>“Because I tell you what, every day people are donating $10 here, $10 there, that’s what’s getting us to now $40 million.”</p> <p>She also said the money, which was originally intended for the NSW RFS, would be distributed to various different organisations and families of those killed in the fires.</p> <p><em>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website</a> to donate.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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What these Sale of the Century hosts looks like now

<p>It’s been almost 30 years since we last saw Tony Barber on our screens hosting the beloved TV game show <em>Sale of the Century</em>.</p> <p>After he parted the show way back in 1991, two more hosts have since taken his place – although none have quite replicated his opening onto the show each night where he would run out replicating sporting moves.</p> <p>Glenn Ridge took over hosting from Barber for 11 years. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823484/2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/78ae8d60ddb445d8a68996b1c73e0607" /></p> <p>After a few years of the show going into hibernation, <em>Sale of the Century</em> came to our TV screens once more in 2005 under the new name <em>Temptation</em> with Ed Philips.</p> <p><em>Sale of the Century</em> is celebrating its 40th anniversary since the show first began in 1979, and although there have been plenty of game shows to follow in the footsteps of the beloved show since its demise in 2005 – no other show has remained in the memory or the TV sets of Australians longer.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823485/3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/04c7828d8038495592ff350e4fe4803b" /></p> <p>Tony turns 79 next month and is as energetic as he was almost 40 years ago. In fact, the TV show host is still up to his old tricks and asking questions. Once a month, he hosts a <em>Sales </em>night at the Flinders Café in South Melbourne, where he runs old reruns of the beloved show and helps raise money for the local Country Fire Service.</p> <p>Did you used to watch <em>Sale of the Century</em>? Who was your favourite host? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

TV

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“Dear husband”: Why 2 million people have read this letter

<p><em>“Dear husband, I. Need. More. Help.”</em></p> <p>This is how working mother of two Celeste Elrach began a emotional open letter to her husband that was published on Facebook group Breastfeeding Mamma Talk last month, which has since gone on to become an internet sensation.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbfmamatalk%2Fphotos%2Fa.471668436214912.96317.411182815596808%2F1721813681200375%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="555" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>The letter details how Erlach is struggling to come to terms with the way the couple had so quickly slipped into gender roles after the birth of their children and how the “help” provided by her husband was in many times inadequate.</p> <p>“You placed the [crying] baby in the bassinet and gently pushed the bassinet just a few inches closer to my side of the bed, a clear gesture that you were done watching him,” Elrach wrote in her letter.</p> <p>“I wanted to scream at you. I wanted to launch an epic fight that very moment. I had been watching the baby and the toddler all damn day. I was going to be waking up with the baby to feed him all damn night. The least you could do is hold him for a couple of hours in the evening so I can attempt to sleep.”</p> <p>Plenty of mothers sympathised with Elrach’s frustration.</p> <p>“I could have written this. My husband is an amazing father and partner, but yes, sometimes I do need that extra help. A pat on the back. A nap. A thank you. An hour of alone time. Why do I still feel bad then when I ask?” wrote one mother.</p> <p>“I always think to myself, wow what a luxury it must be to be male. Being able to leave to work without having to do a million things before leaving, like making sure the kids are showered, dressed, fed and ready for school,” wrote another.</p> <p>Fairfax reports Elrach had no intention of her letter ever seeing the light of day, she merely used it as preparation for her confrontation with her husband.</p> <p>“I was on the verge of breaking many times, and I felt guilty and embarrassed that I could not keep up with the physical, mental and emotional workload that all of us moms endure. Was something wrong with me, or do other moms experience this too?” Elrach said via email.</p> <p>After facing her husband Elrach noticed immediate improvements and decided to share the letter to inspire other struggling mothers to have similar conversations with their partners.</p> <p>“I want moms to know they need to speak up. Asking for help does not mean you've failed,” she said.</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p>

Technology

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Everybody has a story to tell

<p><em><strong>Celeste Frances Scott is well known for her work as storyteller and emotive writer. The stories encompassing her life are inspiring and heartbreaking. In launching the innovative storytelling website <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://buttonjarstories.com/" target="_blank">Button Jar Stories</a></span> Celeste is on a mission; to preserve one memory, one story in each family, as a legacy to future generations. </strong></em></p> <p>The night my Father died, I met my Husband.</p> <p>My Mother died the same hour I gave birth to my Son.   </p> <p><em>So how do you think you’ll be remembered?</em></p> <p>The brutally honest answer is; when a loved one plugs a memory stick into the latest gadget to download your image. YES. We’re all bound to end up stored on a piece of branded plastic.</p> <p>Hi. I’m Celeste Frances Scott. Writer, Author, Columnist and Creator of the innovative new concept Button Jar Stories where you simply journal one memory at a time guided by my question.</p> <p>We all have stories that have shaped the person we became and like many, mine reads like a book.  Fifteen years a Graphic Designer for a national newspaper; PA to one of Australia’s leading Tourism Visionaries; Consecutive Finalist Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network Awards; long time Columnist for popular Noosa Magazine; Awarded top Female Marriage Celebrant during the decade I was one of the most sought after ceremony Officiants in Queensland; and then just to prove to myself I could, I went out and obtained my Heavy Rig Licence and became a FIFO worker on the Gorgon Project in WA; the most remote and expensive natural resource project ever undertaken in Australia’s history.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="278" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35126/image-1_499x278.jpg" alt="Image 1 (9)"/></p> <p><em>Celeste’s father and mother when they were young.</em></p> <p>These days the steel cap boots are off. I’m now a busy Freelance Writer, Guest Speaker and Workshop Presenter. My passion is to enlighten many on how to write their own life stories. Stories you simply MUST preserve for your own posterity.  </p> <p>Let me tell you a little more of my story.</p> <p>My parents were your everyday Mum and Dad, yet they died when their grey nomad adventures were just beginning. Sudden and unexpected. Many of the untold stories in my parent’s life are now gone. As a family, we didn’t journal or preserve them. We always thought we must start that ‘tomorrow’.  My children will never know the incredible people their grandparents were as told in my parent’s words. I know with all certainty those historical stories of our family will become forgotten.</p> <p>My Father was a Printer and Photographer. I grew up with a dark room under our family home. The legacy my Father left, were boxes of precious photos taken over the duration of his life. However, times of taking an actual photograph to hold to heart are gone. The generation of today rarely see a polaroid photo and tomorrow’s generation may not even know what a photograph is. It’s the sad truth. There will be no boxes of treasured photos to leave. There will however be boxes of old phones, microchips and memory cards. For the sake of those precious stories we must go back to basics and use our words to preserve our stories in print on paper.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="233" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35127/image-2_500x233.jpg" alt="Image 2 (8)"/></p> <p><em>Family photo of Celeste’s family in younger years.</em></p> <p>You may be thinking, ‘But I don’t have any stories worth preserving!’</p> <p>Let me tell you, you do. How about those stories told sitting on Grandad’s knee. Stories shared around the dinner table. Stories of first loves, lost loves, eternal loves. Stories of new beginnings and endings. Stories in your family of black sheep, skeletons, personalities, legends and heroes. Stories of challenges that have shaped you. Stories of travels and adventures both behind and beyond your garden gate. Your parents love story. The one thousand stories and counting, that made YOU the person you are today. </p> <p>That memory stick will never tell the young man or woman in your future who share your DNA, anything about who you were, what you were, and how incredible the journey of your life was. </p> <p>I vow to change that. One memory, one story and one question at a time and it begins with ‘Button Jar Stories’.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="235" height="235" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35128/image-3_235x235.jpg" alt="Image 3 (7)"/></p> <p><em>Celeste when she was a baby with her grandmother and mother.</em></p> <p>‘Button Jar Stories’ is a digital interactive storytelling website. Think of it as your personal PRIVATE diary where every day you log in to your private page and journal memories and events from your life prompted by a specific question opening pathways to those memories. There is no timeframe. No judgement. Once completed, your stories can be edited before printed and bound into a beautiful leather book delivered to your door. It becomes a priceless affordable keepsake of you.</p> <p>I created Button Jar Stories as a simple way for individuals or families to journal the stories now of that person whose memories you treasure and don’t want forgotten. It’s a private way to express emotions, feelings and events that are not always easy to talk about in person.</p> <p>‘Button Jar Stories’ is being used by people with early onset dementia as well as those who have faced battles in their life and need a way to express that journey in private and begin to heal. The beauty with ‘Button Jar Stories’ is that the site is loaded with lots of questions that will bring all the important stories and events together. It’s that simple.Journal one memory at a time guided by that question.It’s a lifetime of memories written in your own words. A priceless book of words and photos compared to being saved on someone’s cherry red memory stick.</p> <p>Let me tell you more. Come visit my website today – not tomorrow – at <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://buttonjarstories.com/" target="_blank">Button Jar Stories</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>Thank you for reading my story. Let me help you tell yours.  </p>

Family & Pets

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Hairdressers can spot skin cancers and save your life

<p>New research has found an unlikely new ally in the fight against cancer – hairdressers. Yep, your humble barber or hair stylist could in fact save your life.</p> <p>A recent study by the Australasian College of Dermatologists has found that hairdressers could be uniquely qualified to spot melanomas on the head, particularly in men with thinning hair. It was discovered that 5 per cent of the 237 patients involved in the study first suspected they had skin cancer after it was pointed out their hairdresser.</p> <p>“In Australia, where we have one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, it is important that everyone is aware of recognising changes to spots or nodules on their own skin and on others,” said head researcher Professor John Kelly.</p> <p>The Australasian College of Dermatologists hopes these new findings will encourage more hairdressers to bring any skin anomalies to the attention of their client.</p> <p>“Aggressive melanomas can grow quite quickly and therefore, if you see any changes to your scalp that do not resolve after a month, do not put it off, see your doctor immediately,” Kelly added.</p> <p>To prevent skin cancer, particularly on the scalp, it is recommended that all Australians wear hats between 10am and 4pm during summer.</p> <p>How do you stay safe in the sun? Share your tips in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/new-lifestyle-factors-cancer-tool/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>New tool tells you if you’re at risk of getting cancer</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/new-app-for-skin-cancer/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">New app to help fight skin cancer</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/03/how-to-spot-a-melanoma-from-a-mole/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to spot a melanoma from a mole</strong></em></span></a></p>

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