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Luke Davies' mother breaks silence

<p>In the wake of unimaginable tragedy, the loss of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird has left a void in the lives of their loved ones and communities. As <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/shocking-new-claims-on-alleged-double-murder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the details of their untimely passing</a> continue to unfold, the outpouring of support and compassion from near and far serves as a beacon of hope amidst profound sorrow.</p> <p>Sandra Davies, mother to Luke, has now spoken publicly for the first time to express her gratitude amidst the overwhelming grief that has enveloped her family. In a poignant message shared on the GoFundMe page dedicated to preserving her son's memory, Sandra's words resonate with the profound depth of a mother's love and the enduring spirit of community.</p> <p>"Wow an unbelievable $75000.00 donated to our beloved, and most beautiful, kindest soul Luke," Sandra wrote. "It is with a grateful heart we thank you all sincerely although these words just don’t seem enough for the overwhelming love and generosity both Luke and Jesse have received these past few weeks.</p> <p>"To all the family, friends and strangers for your generous gifts and words of support we appreciate all of your help during this very traumatic and difficult time and will continue to keep you updated as we start to prepare for Luke’s final farewell." </p> <p>The remarkable sum of $75,000 raised thus far stands as a testament to the indelible impact Luke and Jesse have had on countless lives, their radiant spirits touching hearts far and wide. Luke's unwavering kindness, Jesse's vibrant presence – their absence reverberates through the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know them.</p> <p>As Sandra extends her heartfelt appreciation to each and every individual who has offered solace and support, her words serve as a reminder of the healing power found in the embrace of community.</p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe</em></p>

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AFL to tribute for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies

<p>The AFL will honour Jesse Baird and Luke Davies with a tribute to the couple before Thursday night's opening game of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground. </p> <p>AFL CEO Andrew Dillon announced that players from Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons, as well as the umpires will gather at 7.27pm and wear black armbands in a mark of respect for the allegedly murdered couple. </p> <p>"A tribute pre-game to both Jesse and Luke tomorrow night is a small way for us all to reflect and remember two young men during what is a very difficult time for their families and friends," Dillon said.</p> <p>"The AFL acknowledge and respect both families who are experiencing untold grief and so are particularly grateful for their support of the tribute."</p> <p>The tribute will honour the memory of Davies, who was a lifelong Swans supporter and Baird, who was an AFL goal umpire and "a popular and respected member of our AFL umpiring family". </p> <p>"Jesse developed many close friendships his umpiring career and time at the AFL," the statement read.</p> <p>"He was such a vibrant, fun-loving person, who was deeply committed to umpiring."</p> <p>Baird made his debut on the AFL umpiring list in March 2020 and was named the AFL's most promising goal umpire when he won the umpiring association's Brian Pratt Medallion two years in a row.</p> <p>When he moved to Sydney in 2023, he continued his AFL umpiring career, which spanned 62 matches including two finals. </p> <p>The couple were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-arrested-amid-search-for-missing-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegedly murdered</a> by serving police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon in Baird’s Paddington home on February 19.</p> <p>Their <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/update-on-search-for-bodies-of-murdered-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bodies </a>were discovered in a rural NSW property on February 27, over a week after they were allegedly killed. </p> <p>The senior constable has since been charged two counts of murder and remains behind bars after being denied bail. </p> <p>Following their tragic deaths, tributes have flowed in from the couple's friends, family and <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/sarah-harris-leads-tributes-to-jesse-baird" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colleagues </a>across the country.</p> <p><em>Images: AFLUA/ Facebook</em></p>

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Qantas unveils tribute to Luke Davies

<p>Qantas has unveiled how they will be honouring their slain colleague Luke Davies at the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. </p> <p>The bodies of Luke Davies and his boyfriend Jesse Baird were found buried in the NSW Southern Tablelands earlier this week, as police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has been charged with two counts of murder over their deaths. </p> <p>Now, on the eve of the Mardi Gras parade that takes over Sydney's Oxford Street every year, Qantas has shared how they will honour Davies' life on the Flying Kangaroo float. </p> <p>Davies' name will be front and centre of the float, while Mardi Gras organiser Brandon Bear said this year’s festival would be a time for both celebration and mourning.</p> <p>“Mardi Gras is a multiplicity of things and we come together not just to celebrate, but also to spark conversation to make change and this year, there’ll be an element of us coming together to mourn,” he told <em>ABC News</em>. </p> <p>“We’re certainly working with the community (to recognise the couple) and we know our partners are working to use their parade float to talk to the lives and the memory of those young men.”</p> <p>The conversation around the death of Baird and Davies just before Mardi Gras has sparked a lot of debate, with Mardi Gras reaching an agreement with NSW Police saying they would be allowed to march in the parade, as long as they are not in uniform. </p> <p>A silent vigil is set to be held on Friday evening in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst to honour the lives of Luke and Jesse, with the public invited by their families to join them in mourning.</p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; line-height: 24px;"><em>Image credits: Facebook / Qantas </em></p>

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New CCTV footage released of accused double murderer

<p>Chilling CCTV footage of Beau Lamarre-Condon has emerged in the moments before and after he allegedly killed Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.</p> <p>The video, obtained by <em>9News,</em> allegedly shows the senior constable entering and leaving a sports shop and buying surfboard bags on two separate occasions. </p> <p>Baird and Davies' <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/update-on-search-for-bodies-of-murdered-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bodies were found</a> near Bungonia on Tuesday, where police allege that surfboard bags were used to transport the bodies.</p> <p>In the CCTV footage, the senior constable walked into a Miranda sports store with a friend, two days before the alleged double murder, and then walked out with a surfboard bag. </p> <p>In a second clip, about three hours after the alleged murder, Lamarre-Condon was filmed walking into the same store by himself and walking out with another surf bag. </p> <p>Another video showed a man in a black cap arriving in a black SUV on the morning the couple were allegedly killed, and got out of his vehicle parked just 25m from Baird’s home. </p> <p>The man then drives off at 9am - around 50 minutes before the pair were allegedly killed. </p> <p>Lamarre-Condon allegedly returned to he house the next day in a rented van reportedly used to move the bodies. </p> <p>The CCTV footage emerge just one day after police alleged that the senior constable used his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/shocking-new-claims-on-alleged-double-murder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">police-issued gun at the couple</a>, and then replaced the bullets with ones stolen from a firing range. </p> <p>Lamarre-Condon handed himself into police last Friday and was later charged with two counts of murder.</p> <p>He is currently at Silverwater prison and is next due to face court on April 23.</p> <p><em>Images: 9NEWS</em></p>

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Shocking new claims on alleged double murder

<p>Shocking new claims about senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-arrested-amid-search-for-missing-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was accused of murdering</a> Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, have been made by police.</p> <p>The accusations were revealed by Ben Fordham on <em>2GB radio</em> on Thursday.</p> <p>Fordham revealed that police allege Constable Lamarre-Condon fired three shots at the Sydney couple from his police-issued gun.  </p> <p>The number of shots was reportedly confirmed by one of Baird’s neighbours, whose CCTV security cameras recording the sound of three shots being fired just after 9.30am on Monday, February 19 in Paddington. </p> <p>The neighbour reportedly reviewed their security cameras a few days after the alleged murders, when news of the couple's disappearance hit the media. </p> <p>Fordham added that police will further allege Constable Lamarre-Condon used bullets stolen from a firing range a fortnight before the killing to refill his gun, to not raise suspicious from his superiors when the gun was returned. </p> <p>Police have alleged that the  gun was taken from Miranda police station on Friday night and was stored Balmain police station the night after the alleged murders. </p> <p>The gun was then allegedly returned Miranda police station on Tuesday, fully loaded as if no shots were fired. </p> <p>Police Commissioner Karen Webb told <em>ABC’s 7.30 </em>on Wednesday night that officers could store a weapon overnight at a police station or inside an approved safe at home, but would need to gain permission to do so from their superiors. </p> <p>She did not comment on the claims surrounding  Constable Lamarre-Condon’s gun storage, as it would form a part of the investigation. </p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p>

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Luke Davies' final act of kindness for nervous flyer

<p>The colleagues of slain Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies have shared the 29-year-old's final act of kindness for an elderly couple travelling overseas. </p> <p>In one of the last flights before his untimely death, Davies was on a flight from Sydney to Singapore as an elderly woman boarded the plane with her dying husband who was dealing with dementia. </p> <p>The senior couple were travelling to Switzerland so the man could pay one final visit to his son before succumbing to his illness. </p> <p>The caring flight attendant spent the entire eight-and-a-half hour journey, including his break, with the man and his wife as they flew first-class. </p> <p>"The wife had told him [her husband] had severe dementia, and she was really saddened by it because she kept saying he was the most beautiful husband and kindest man, and she was losing him to this cruel disease," Qantas colleague Brooke Walters told the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/luke-davies-act-of-kindness-on-one-of-his-last-flights-20240227-p5f84n.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>.</p> <p>"She was getting exhausted because every 30 seconds he was losing his memory, like a goldfish, and Luke took it upon himself to care for them constantly."</p> <p>Walters shared how her friend and colleague went above and beyond to care for the elderly man, recalling how he tucked the man into his bed, reassured him amid his confusion and consoled his wife, who was at times upset. </p> <p>"Luke had been told they booked the flight a year and a half ago, but the husband had deteriorated in the last three months really badly, so it was going to be their last trip to see their son, and Luke wanted it to be as comfortable as possible," she said.</p> <p>Ms Walters added that Mr Davies had a love of travelling and was a joy to be around.</p> <p>Luke and his partner Jesse Davies' <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/update-on-search-for-bodies-of-murdered-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bodies were found</a> in southern New South Wales on Tuesday, after Constable Beaumont Lamarre-Condon turned himself in over the disappearance of the two men, and has since been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-arrested-amid-search-for-missing-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged</a> with two counts of murder. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Vigil held as families visit site where Jesse Baird and Luke Davies' bodies found

<p>In the wake of the devastating loss of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly murdered in a shocking incident that has reverberated more than 150km apart, communities are coming together to mourn, support and seek solace.</p> <p>The heart-wrenching discovery of the couple's bodies in the serene landscapes of the Southern Tablelands near Goulburn has sent shockwaves through both urban and rural areas. </p> <p>As news of the tragic discovery spread, family members embarked on a solemn journey south to the Bungonia property where <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/update-on-search-for-bodies-of-murdered-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baird and Davies were found</a>. Their pilgrimage was met with an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity from friends and community members alike. Meanwhile, in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, a sombre vigil took place, with dozens gathering at the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club to honour the memories of the beloved couple.</p> <p>The scene at the vigil was poignant yet comforting, with friends embracing one another against the backdrop of crashing waves and flickering candlelight. A portrait of Davies served as a focal point, surrounded by tokens of affection and remembrance.</p> <p>Meanwhile, in the NSW countryside, law enforcement officials worked diligently to unravel the mysteries surrounding the tragic deaths. The sight of police tape being lowered to allow family members to pass through symbolised both closure and the beginning of a long journey toward healing.</p> <p>For the NSW Police Force, the case hit particularly close to home. Deputy Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald spoke candidly about the profound impact of the alleged crime, emphasising the shock and horror felt within the law enforcement community.</p> <p>"It has hurt us because it was one of our own," Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald remarked. "It was an officer who used a police weapon. It's captured the world's attention, not just Australia's. It's horrendous and horrific."</p> <p>Indeed, the tragedy has sparked a broader conversation about the prevalence of violence and the need for greater support for victims and their families. As communities grapple with grief and loss, there is a renewed commitment to standing together in solidarity and offering support to those in need.</p> <p>While the discovery of Baird and Davies' bodies brings a heartbreaking confirmation of their deaths, it also serves as a catalyst for healing and closure. In the days and weeks ahead, friends, family and communities will continue to come together to honour their memories and seek justice for the lives lost too soon.</p> <p><em>Images: 9News</em></p>

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Update on search for bodies of murdered couple

<p>The search for the bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, a Sydney couple tragically slain in an alleged double murder, continues to unfold, as human remains have now reportedly been found near the Bungonia property that was originally searched by police on Monday.</p> <p>NSW Police had been tirelessly scouring a property in Grays Point and the vast nearby Royal National Park, a locale now inexorably linked to the grim events of February 19.</p> <p>At the centre of the drama stands Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, the 28-year-old former NSW police officer who now finds himself behind bars, charged with the murder of Jesse Baird, a 26-year-old former Ten reporter, and his partner Luke Davies, aged 29. The alleged timeline of events paints a picture of horror, with the couple believed to have met their demise sometime between midnight and 5pm on Monday.</p> <p>The Grays Point property that was under intense scrutiny is Lamarre-Condon’s family home<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">. As investigators dig deeper into the case, attention was also been drawn to a Bungonia property in the Southern Tablelands, where Lamarre-Condon and an acquaintance embarked on a cryptic journey just days after the alleged murders. Police shifted their search efforts from </span>Bungonia to the Grays Point property on Tuesday morning in hopes of discovering the missing bodies, until officers announced on Tuesday afternoon that human remains had been discovered near the original search site in Bungonia.</p> <p>In a public address to the media on Tuesday afternoon, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"We believe we have located two bodies at that location. </span>The families have been informed. And crime scene detectives have just arrived on scene at that location now."</p> <p>Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty also revealed that Homicide Squad detectives went to Silverwater prison to speak with Lamarre-Condon at about 11am on Tuesday, and that "as a result of that, he provided assistance to the investigation and [was] able to provide a location of where Luke and Jesse were."</p> <p>Police then went to a second location at Bungonia, about 20 minutes from the original search location, and found the bodies. "There were two surf bags that have been found. And some debris and other items of interest of significance."</p> <p>Doherty also said police phoned the families immediately after the bodies were found. "It's probably mixed emotions for them. You can understand how they may have felt. But at least they have an answer and they want to travel down to the Goulburn area, and we'll provide as much support as we can and accommodate them."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / NSW Police</em></p>

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Sarah Harris leads tributes to Jesse Baird

<p>Sarah Harris has shared an emotional tribute to her former <em>Studio 10</em> colleague Jesse Baird, just days after he and his partner were killed. </p> <p>Jesse, 26, and his boyfriend Luke Davies, 29, are believed to have been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-arrested-amid-search-for-missing-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> by Jesse's ex-boyfriend, NSW police officer Constable Beau Lamarre, as investigators continue their frantic search for the bodies of the two men. </p> <p>On Sunday night's episode of <em>The Project</em>, Harris shared a teary tribute to Jesse, while sending her love to Luke's family and telling viewers it had been a “really hard week” for a lot of staff at the network.</p> <p>“It is hard to talk about Jesse in the past tense because he was more than just a colleague, he was our friend … a little brother,” she told viewers through tears.</p> <p>She described Baird as an “absolute star” who was “quick on his feet whether it was water skiing or feeding a croc” live on air.</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/C3w2wS3vk4p/?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/C3w2wS3vk4p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“One of those kids who had a big smile, big talent and even bigger heart,” she said.</p> <p>She said Baird had a brand new job lined up after <em>Studio 10</em> fell through and had described Davies, whom he had been dating since January, to his friends as “the one”.</p> <p>“Jesse’s family needs to know he spoke about them often and with so much love.”</p> <p>Harris concluded by saying, “We are all so sorry.”</p> <p>Sarah's tribute comes after Baird's family broke their silence on the tragedy, with Jesse's cousin Austin sharing a moving tribute on social media. </p> <p>Austin posted a photo with Jesse to Instagram, sharing that the two men had been best friends their whole lives. </p> <p>“Most of my favourite memories in life were me, Luke, Brendan and you riding motorbikes, skiing, boating and camping,” he said.</p> <p>“I’ll never forget our chats, all the times we would hang out on the weekends and go away with family and friends. I told you things I’d never tell anyone. I trusted you, I’ve laughed and cried in front of you!”</p> <p>Austin said he was beyond devastated about Jesse’s death and called him a “one a million” person.</p> <p>“You cared about everyone and left such an impact on every person you met!” he said in the post.</p> <p>“I’ll love and remember you forever mate. It is an honour to be your cousin. Till we meet again.”</p> <p>Police officers are continuing to investigate the deaths of the two men, after their clothes and personal items were found in a skip bin near Baird's home in Paddington, where police established a crime scene after finding blood. </p> <p>Constable Beau Lamarre turned himself in on Friday afternoon, and has since been charged with two counts of murder. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Police officer arrested amid search for missing men

<p>A police officer has turned himself in over the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-sought-in-connection-to-disappearance-of-two-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspicious disappearance</a> of two men. </p> <p>Former Network Ten presenter 26-year-old Jesse Baird and his boyfriend 29-year-old Luke Davies were last seen on Monday, with police launching an extensive investigation into their disappearance. </p> <p>On Thursday, officers called for Constable Beau Lamarre to come forward as part of the investigation, believing he could hold valuable information. </p> <p>Now, on Friday morning, the celebrity blogger turned police officer presented at Bondi Police Station where he was arrested. </p> <p>The man was then taken to Waverley Police Station where he is assisting with inquiries, police said.</p> <p>During a press conference on Friday afternoon, a lead investigator confirmed the young officer has been charged with two counts of murder, while adding the families of the young men have been told the investigation is being treated as a homicide. </p> <p>Lamarre is an ex-partner of Baird and was a former celebrity blogger before joining NSW Police in 2020.</p> <p><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">Online the 28-year-old would often go by the pseudonym Beau London, creating accounts on social media and a celebrity blog page titled That's The Tea, where he posted selfies alongside celebrities such as </span><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">An investigation began into Baird and Davies' disappearance after number of their personal items, including a watch, clothes, credit cards and keys were found by a worker in Club Cronulla, with blood stains present on the items. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Police have also searched two homes during their investigation - one in Balmain and one in Paddington - with officers "immediately" establishing a crime scene at the Paddington home after finding blood spatters. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">According to officers, a “significant” amount of blood consistent with a fatality and signs of a struggle were discovered inside Mr Baird’s Paddington home on Thursday afternoon. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: 9News / Instagram </em></p>

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“There is no other”: Betty Davis, the ‘Queen of Funk’, dies at 77

<p dir="ltr">Funk and soul legend Betty Davis has died at 77 years old.</p><p dir="ltr">Danielle Maggio, a friend of the music star and model, confirmed the news on Wednesday, as reported by <em>Metro UK</em>.</p><p dir="ltr">Maggio also took to Twitter to share the sad news, writing: “Devastated by the passing of my dear friend, pioneering songwriter, singer and producer, #BettyDavis.”</p><p dir="ltr">She confirmed that the “Queen of Funk” died peacefully, with “no pain or fear”.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-39ce42f6-7fff-80cd-3c50-4c0a85ff5061"></span></p><p dir="ltr">“Knowing her was the greatest honour of my life,” Maggio wrote. “I love you, Betty. Your music and spirit will live on forever.”</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Devastated by the passing of my dear friend, pioneering songwriter, singer and producer, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BettyDavis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BettyDavis</a>. There was no pain or fear as she left this physical world. Knowing her was the greatest honor of my life. I love you, Betty. Your music and spirit will live on forever. <a href="https://t.co/8pZAK6nS0S">pic.twitter.com/8pZAK6nS0S</a></p>— Danielle Maggio (@saucequeen_pgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/saucequeen_pgh/status/1491500133074280453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2022</a></blockquote><p dir="ltr">Amie Downs, the communications director for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - where Davis lived - told <em><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/betty-davis-dead-obit-1297372/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rolling Stone</a></em> the star died of natural causes.</p><p dir="ltr">In a statement on Wednesday, Davis’ longtime friend Connie Portis remembered the trailblazing singer as a “beloved member of her community”.</p><p dir="ltr">“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star, singer, songwriter, and fashion icon,” Portis said.</p><p dir="ltr">“Most of all, Betty was a friend, aunt, niece, and beloved member of her community of Homestead, Pennsylvania, and of the worldwide community of friends and fans.”</p><p dir="ltr">Davis, born Betty Mabry in North Carolina, moved to New York, where her music career began.</p><p dir="ltr">She became known for her sexualised lyrics, rising to fame to produce hits like <em>Get Ready for Betty</em>, <em>If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up</em> and <em>It’s My Life</em>.</p><p dir="ltr">Davis also wrote <em>Uptown (to Harlem)</em>, which appeared on The Chamber Brother’s 1967 album <em>The Time Has Come</em>.</p><p dir="ltr">She released her self-titled first album in 1973, followed by <em>They Say I’m Different</em> in 1974 and <em>Nasty Gal</em> in 1975.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2cf2c43f-7fff-9d98-88a0-2ad15fb9134e"></span></p><p dir="ltr">Davis was also known for being the second wife to jazz legend Miles Davis, who was 19 years older than her. The pair were wed in 1968 after being together for two years, but filed for divorce after just one year.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">It's been talked about over and over but let's just emphasize again how Betty Davis had a GIGANTIC impact on music, as well as being unapologetically herself as both an independent woman as well as an artist. A true pioneer and trailblazer <a href="https://t.co/01g53Sd93g">pic.twitter.com/01g53Sd93g</a></p>— COSMO BAKER (@CosmoBaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/CosmoBaker/status/1491462261134798850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2022</a></blockquote><p dir="ltr">Though their marriage was brief, Davis still influenced her former husband’s music, appearing on the cover of his album <em>Filles de Kilimanjaro</em> and inspiring the track <em>Mademoiselle Mabry (Miss Mabry)</em>.</p><p dir="ltr">Despite releasing her album in the same year, Davis left the music industry in 1975, moving to Pittsburgh to get away from the spotlight.</p><p dir="ltr">Her disappearance from the public eye didn’t stop her from gaining a cult following or continuing to inspire a new generation of artists. The renewed interest in her work resulted in the re-release of her albums in 2007, as well as the debut of her unreleased fourth album, which was recorded in 1976 and released under a new name in 2009.</p><p dir="ltr">Speaking to the <em>New York Times</em> in 2018 about her decision to retire, Davis said: “When I was told that it was over, I just accepted that. And nobody else was knocking at my door.”</p><p dir="ltr">During the same year, Davis released her first song in 40 years, titled <em><a href="https://daniellemaggio.bandcamp.com/album/a-little-bit-hot-tonight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Little Bit Hot Tonight</a></em>, which was performed by Maggio on Davis’ behalf.</p><p dir="ltr">Portis said a tribute would be made to “her beautiful, bold and brash persona” at a later date.</p><p dir="ltr">“Today we cherish her memory as the sweet, thoughtful, and reflective person she was… There is no other.”</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1c96b23e-7fff-be19-07dd-d94e38a99e65"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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The real reason Kyrgios was left off the Davis Cup team

<p dir="ltr">Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis has <a href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/he-was-asked-doubles-partner-kokkinakis-drops-kyrgios-bomb/news-story/474df82cd7d17fd1f4c5da5c9a8996c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dispelled rumours</a> that Nick Kyrgios was snubbed by Lleyton Hewitt after Kyrgios was the big omission from Hewitt’s lineup for the upcoming Davis Cup.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2901835c-7fff-aa1f-4190-60e02c95dc3b"></span></p><p dir="ltr">Following his triumph in last month’s Australian Open men’s double, Kokkinakis revealed his partner had made himself unavailable for the international competition.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;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/CZWMgrGJVcX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"><div style="padding: 16px"><div style="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="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="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="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;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"> </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"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"><div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"> </div></div></div><div style="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"><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/CZWMgrGJVcX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Thanasi Kokkinakis (@the_kokk1)</a></p></div></blockquote><p dir="ltr">Kyrgios has also pulled out of the Delray Beach ATP Tour event in Florida, which kicks off next week, and his participation at ATP events at Acapulco, Mexico and Indian Wells, California are yet to be announced.</p><p dir="ltr">However, the 26-year-old appeared to be a glaring omission from the squad picked by Hewitt for Australia’s Davis Cup qualifying match against Hungary.</p><p dir="ltr">Instead, Kokkinakis was picked for the first time since 2015, along with Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, John Peers and Luke Saville.</p><p dir="ltr">Following reports that Kyrgios’ absence from the squad was a “snub” from Hewitt, Kokkinakis has said it was Kyrgios who turned down Hewitt’s offer.</p><p dir="ltr">“He definitely was asked to play,” Kokkinakis told <em>Sky News</em>.</p><p dir="ltr">“He has a few things on so he wasn’t able to play but he definitely didn’t get snubbed or anything - I saw those headlines and he didn’t get snubbed at all. Hopefully we can team up again in the future.”</p><p dir="ltr">Though Hewitt and Kyrgios have had a turbulent relationship in the past, it seems their rift has been mended, with Kokkinakis saying they now have a “good relationship”.</p><p dir="ltr">“I think Nick has shown he always loves playing for Australia. I’m not sure exactly what he has on, but he obviously has something pretty important,” he said.</p><p dir="ltr">“He’s obviously in our strongest team. He was definitely asked, and I think he and Lleyton have a good relationship, but he just wasn’t available for this time.”</p><p dir="ltr">At the time that the squad was announced, Hewitt had nothing but praise for Kokkinakis, who will have the chance to compete in both the singles and doubles after claiming his maiden ATP Tour singles title at the Adelaide International prior to his Australian Open win.</p><p dir="ltr">“Thanasi had a fantastic Australian summer,” Hewitt said.</p><p dir="ltr">“He really cemented himself as a top 100 player again, winning his first title at home in Adelaide and beating quality players. And then to go on to win the Australian Open doubles, this is going to give him a lot of confidence heading into this tie.”</p><p dir="ltr">Australia will qualify for the Davis Cup Finals, held at the end of the year, if the team defeats Hungary during their match in Sydney on March 4 and 5.</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-bd09a179-7fff-c524-2344-03665999bc5d"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @k1ngkyrg1os (Instagram)</em></p>

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‘Curt not caring' - Will and Kate’s birthday tribute for Harry

<p>Prince Harry turned 37 this week on September 15, but the birthday message his brother, Prince William, and his wife Kate, was about as succinct as it could possibly get.</p> <p>The message from Prince William and Kate – on their Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Twitter and Instagram accounts read: ‘<em>Happy Birthday Prince Harry!</em>’</p> <p>The message was paired with a photo of the prince and a balloon emoji.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Happy Birthday Prince Harry! 🎈 <a href="https://t.co/Lw1nR9wNDl">pic.twitter.com/Lw1nR9wNDl</a></p> — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1438035372974514178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>Royal experts have been quick to label the birthday message as ‘curt’ rather than ‘caring,’ and pointed out it shows there are still tensions between the siblings which are yet to ease.</p> <p>Royal author Duncan Larcombe told <em>The Sun</em>, the Cambridges "curt" message "only serves as proof the ice between the brothers has still not thawed".</p> <p>"Short of ignoring the Duke of Sussex's 37th landmark completely, their social media post was the bare minimum from a couple who once welcomed Harry as their official Royal gooseberry," Larcombe explained.</p> <p>While Prince Harry celebrated his birthday in the US, with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince William and Kate Middleton sent the birthday message from their home in London in the UK.</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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Fathers battle it out for the Funniest Dad Joke

<p>As part of celebrating Father’s Day this Sunday<em>, Today </em>weather presenter Tim Davies launched a mission to find the funniest Dad Joke in Australia.</p> <p>The judging criteria was simply that the winner would be the dad who made Karl Stefanovic laugh the loudest<em> – </em>because he’s arguably the 'King of Dad Jokes'.</p> <p>In the end, it came down to six finalists; Jason from Sydney, Paul from Victoria, Eddy from the Australian Capital Territory and Jonathan from Victoria, along with Matt and James - both from Western Australia.</p> <p>It was stiff competition as the fathers rattled off their jokes, but in the end Eddy from the ACT was declared the winner.</p> <p><strong>His winning joke?</strong></p> <p>"What did the drummer call his twin girls?"</p> <p>Answer: “Anna ONE, Anna TWO.”</p> <p>After a huge round of laughs and applause, Eddy took home a $5000 Bunnings gift card for the gag.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k3tNnIE4YzI?controls=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em>Image and Video: Today</em></p>

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Meet Biddy, a 76-year-old award-winning Kiwi cheesemaker

<p><em><strong>Once a fine artist, Biddy Fraser-Davies became a cheesemaker at 60. This year she turns 76, and will celebrate her birthday at The Great Eketahuna Cheese Festival supported by her husband Colin, with whom she runs a unique tourism attraction in rural New Zealand.</strong></em></p> <p>Cheese and model trains seem an unlikely combination, but nestled amongst the rolling hills in the Wairarapa/ Tararua districts of New Zealand, is Middleton Model Railway and Cwmglyn Farmhouse Cheese.</p> <p>The business is run by Biddy and Colin Fraser-Davies, a couple who both switched careers in their sixties, and are now considered guiding lights within their own professions.</p> <p><strong>The cheese maker</strong></p> <p>Biddy’s foray into cheesemaking came when she was 60 – after having moved from Wellington to Cwmglyn Farm at Mount Bruce, which is located between the North Island towns of Masterton and Eketahuna just off SH2. She had previously worked as a fine artist in the field of enamelling and alongside Colin, co-authored a book called The Enamellists’ Handbook which is now on display in their reception area.</p> <p>“I taught myself how to hand-milk after being given a four-day calf I named Gwendolyn,” recalls Biddy. “When she grew up and had her own calf, she literally “swamped” me with milk – 26L a day – so I thought to myself, what else can I do with all this milk? Cheese seemed a great solution and gave me something new to focus on.”</p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816337/intext-1_500x375.jpg" alt="Intext -1 (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Since establishing the Cwmglyn Farmhouse Cheese brand, Biddy has made 2767 “wheels” (or truckle as it is known in Britain) of a traditional English cheddar style cheese with a wholly natural rind that is matured for three to seven months. The “wheel” is made from between 20 – 45L of milk, which comes from her cows (who have lovely names like Dizzy, Patsy or Lily) that have been machine milked by her husband Colin, then stipped milked by Biddy after the milking cluster is removed. The cheese making process - from milk to insertion in the press - takes most of the day. The wheel then spends between 24 - 72 hours in a cheese press, before being air-dried for a couple of days to develop the rind, which is then painted with melted clarified butter (made from the cream of the same cows). It is then placed in storage where it is wiped and turned daily. </p> <p>The result is a beautiful tasting, complex cheese that has earned Biddy several awards including a Super Gold at the 2014 World Cheese Awards which saw an entry field of 2,700 cheeses from 33 different countries.</p> <p>Over the years Biddy has become an advocate for small scale cheesemakers after courting controversy in 2009 when she appeared on a New Zealand television show called Country Calendar. She says after the programme finished at 7.30pm, she received her first email from the Food Safety Authority at 7.31pm. Subsequently three inspectors visited her property.</p> <p><img width="500" height="378" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816338/intext-3_500x378.jpg" alt="Intext -3" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“They admitted the cheese room was one of the cleanest they’d ever seen but said my paper work wasn’t up to scratch,” she recalls. “I don’t want to minimise the problems there would be if an invasion of pathogen material were to occur if you don’t do your job correctly, but there are two things to remember here. There is a big difference between making soft and hard cheese. And secondly scale. I make one or two batches of hard cheese, versus the 800 – 1000 cheeses in a Fonterra batch, but I still had to pay the same for testing procedures and for a risk management plan. To me, that seemed wrong, so I challenged it.”</p> <p>In 2011, Biddy addressed a select committee and as a result MPI developed a Risk Management Template for Farm House Cheese designed to support small operators. This has enabled small businesses like Cwmglyn to survive but Biddy believes there is still a long way to go to grow a national culture that persists in producing and preserving traditional cheesemaking skills.</p> <p>She believes her ability to “stand-up for the little person” comes from a variety of life experiences including being self-employed.</p> <p>“Looking back, I think that’s why I’ve survived in these two careers – fine arts and now cheesemaking. I’ve always been self-employed and had to reply on myself to make it work. It helps that I’m also stubborn and articulate, especially when dealing with bureaucracy. In that regard I think it’s a shame that many people who could blossom, from a business point of view, don’t because they don’t have the self-esteem to cope or fight the system when required.”</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816339/in-text-2_498x245.jpg" alt="In -text -2" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>On track With Colin</strong></p> <p>Right on the same site as Cwmglyn Cheese is Middleton Model Railway one of the largest model railways in New Zealand. The layout contains over 300m of track, over 227 points, 10 stations, a marshalling yard, a harbour with train ferry, an ironstone mine and a chalk quarry. Visitors can walk around and under the entire layout and view it through glass. Afterwards they can see purchase everything they need to build their own model railway.</p> <p>Colin, a former data architect for TranzRail, spent months creating the model railway after the couple moved from Wellington to the district in 2003.</p> <p>“Trains and model railways had always been a hobby and when we moved here I decided to grow my hobby and share it with others whilst also helping Biddy establish Cwmglyn Cheese,” he says. “It’s great for visitors as they can see this comprehensive display of railway models, take a turn operating the controls and little children can play with a smaller layout built just for them. Afterwards they can taste Biddy’s cheese and come away with a truly unique experience.”</p> <p><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816340/in-text-4_500x333.jpg" alt="In -text -4" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>The Great Eketahuna Cheese Festival</strong></p> <p>Both Biddy and Colin are involved in The Great Eketahuna Cheese Festival, a celebration of small artisan cheesemakers on Monday, 14<sup>th</sup> May in the Eketahuna Community Hall. The festival will bring together artisan cheesemakers from all over New Zealand selling their cheese to the public, chefs, trade, and industry leaders in the field of soil and agriculture as well as several guest speakers.</p> <p>These include Nick Haddow, founder and managing director of Bruny Island Cheese Co (the first producer of Australian Raw Cheese); Craig Prichard, the associate professor of Massey School of Management; Doug Edmeades, a soil and agriculture scientist; Gabrielle Kervella, a goat cheese maker; Colleen Dennison who founded Evendale Cheese from Dunedin and John King, who will talk about sustainability in farming.</p> <p>Also attending is Dr Paul Neaves, a UK dairy microbiologist and Gill Palmer, senior consultant &amp; cheese auditor of Palmer and Randall – both of whom are on the technical committee of the UK Specialist Cheesemakers Association. In addition, Biddy and Calum Hodgson, an Auckland based cheesemonger for the fine food store Sabato, will give “light-hearted” talks about cheesemaking including discussing New Zealand’s regulatory requirements for producing raw milk cheese.</p> <p>Afterwards they will all celebrate Biddy’s 76<sup>th</sup> birthday.</p> <p><strong>Details:</strong></p> <p>Middleton <a href="http://www.modelrailway.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Model Railway</span></strong></a> and Cwmglyn Farmhouse Cheese</p> <p>36 Morgans Rd</p> <p>RD2 Eketahuna</p> <p><strong>Event:</strong></p> <p>The Great Eketahuna Cheese Festival</p> <p>Monday, May 14, 2018</p> <p>For full details, <a href="http://www.eketahunacheesefestival.com" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>click here</strong></span></a>.</p>

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The awkward moment Nick Kyrgios missed his name being drawn at Davis Cup

<p><span>Nick Kyrgios has been photographed looking uninterested in yesterday’s reveal of the Davis Cup Draw, instead choosing to scroll through his phone.</span></p> <p><span>The rest of the Aussie team, including captain Lleyton Hewitt and upcoming star Alex De Minaur, looked on at the event with wide-eyed wonder as their names were drawn out for their upcoming clash against Germany.</span></p> <p><span>However, Kyrgios continued to look at his phone and seemed oblivious to the exciting events unfolding around him.</span></p> <p><span>The 22-year-old athlete will play world no. 58 Jan-Lenard Struff at one of Australia’s two single matches.</span></p> <p><span>Kyrgios is currently in his best form, recently making the 5th round at the Australian Open.</span></p> <p><span>Alex De Minaur will make his Davis Cup debut, competing in the other singles match against the world’s 5th best player Alexander Zverev.</span></p> <p><span>“It's a great opportunity for me and I'm going to leave it all on court,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>“Lleyton told me all about it. It's pretty special to be playing now, it's a dream come true.” </span></p> <p><span>The 18-year-old caught international attention in January in Brisbane after he knocked out 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic.</span></p> <p><span>In a recent interview, Zverev said he expects his clash with De Minaur to be the first of many.</span></p> <p><span>"He will be great for Australia in the future. I have a lot of respect for him," the German competitor said.   </span></p>

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Pat Rafter reveals sad truth about his Davis Cup captain stint

<p>Pat Rafter has responded to Bernard Tomic’s television interview on Sunday night, expressing a number of regrets about his dealing with Tomic during his four-year stint as Davis Cup captain.</p> <p>Rafter spoke to KIIS FM on radio on Monday in response to <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/07/bernard-tomic-sunday-night-interview/">Tomic’s Channel Seven Sunday Night interview</a></span></strong>, where Tomic called the to-time US Open winner “not that much of a nice guy” and said he likes to “put on a show”.</p> <p>Thought Rafter did not apologise, the Aussie tennis champ said he felt he could have handled Tomic better during his time as Davis Cup captain and then head of performance.</p> <p> "One of the things I said publicly was that he was pretty disgraceful out there," Rafter said.</p> <p>Rafter made those comments after a US Open match Tomic played against Andy Roddick in 2012 where he appeared to tank in the third set.</p> <p>"Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Maybe it should have been said between him and me."</p> <p>Rafter also agreed with Tomic’s assessment that he acts differently depending on who he’s with.</p> <p>“He’s not entirely wrong, at the end of the day we do wear different hats for different occasions,” Rafter says. “I do put on different faces for different occasions.</p> <p>“I don’t want to bash up on Bernie. He’s got a point and he’s got a voice and he can say what he wants to say. We have had run-ins, we see life a little bit differently.”</p> <p>Of his time as Davis Cup captain, Rafter said he went in believing he could quickly make an impact when he first started dealing with a then 18-year-old Tomic.</p> <p>"… I thought at the time I could make some change but I found out pretty quickly I couldn't impact that," Rafter said.</p> <p>"We see life a bit differently.</p> <p>"So we are going to have disagreements and I was pretty vocal in that and he was pretty hurt by it."</p> <p>After four years as Davis Cup captain, Rafter quit a year earlier than expected and moved onto the head of performance at Tennis Australia. He admitted that he had a lot of difficulty handling the young Australian players.</p> <p>"I realised I had no impact with these guys whatsoever. They couldn't relate to me and I couldn't relate to them," he said.</p> <p>"It wasn't enjoyable," he said of the Davis Cup stint.</p> <p>"I reckon I had one or two enjoyable ties out of the four years I did it for. It was just hard work and banging my head against the wall all the time."</p> <p>Rafter says while he doesn’t hold any ill will toward Tomic, he hasn’t spoken to him in a year and has no plans to get in touch. </p>

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Bette Davis style gallery

<p>In the lyrics to “Desolation Row”Bob Dylan writes: “Cinderella, she seems so easy ‘It takes one to know one,’ she smiles and puts her hands in her back pockets Bette Davis style.”</p> <p>But what exactly <em>is</em> Bette Davis’ style?</p> <p>They say Bette Davis’ big, beautiful eyes were also the window to a very strong soul. With sensual, doe eyes and a feminine silhouette, she was a style inspiration on and off the screen. The Hollywood starlet dressed for herself, often donning vintage pieces, androgynous clothing and sharp lines to match her sharp wit.</p> <p>Here is a collection of some of our favourite Bette Davis looks.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/best-elizabeth-taylor-looks/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Our favourite Elizabeth Taylor looks</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/jean-harlow-style-tips/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Jean Harlow’s timeless style tips</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/12/judi-dench-stylish-moments/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Judi Dench’s most stylish moments</span></em></strong></a></p>

Beauty & Style

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Marathon running: The new counselling for couples?

<p><strong>Over60 community contributor, Curt Davies, is a marathon enthusiast who found the mental edge you need to finish a marathon. Here Curt explores how running could be the new type of counselling for couples.</strong></p><p>Relationships are hard work. Sometimes they can suck. But sometimes (most of the time, hopefully) you wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. No matter what relationship you’re in, everyone faces the same difficulties from time to time. Arguments can happen. It’s normal, but shouldn’t be tolerated.</p><p>That’s why I want to talk to you. I want to talk to you about how marathon running can help your relationship. Whether it’s the strongest it’s ever been, or you’re nearing a divorce – it doesn’t matter. Now: getting your spouse to run will be half the battle, and convincing them can seem as plausible as convincing them you’re a witch with eight toes and can fly on a broom. But it must be done.</p><p>And, from this, I have decided to make a list of reasons marathon running, as a couple, can be the best thing you can do in your relationship. Literally, the best thing.</p><p><strong>1. You’re in it together</strong></p><p>Cheesy or not, it’s true. You’re not alone, nor are you with just a friend. You’re with someone you’ve dedicated your life to. Someone who understands you. Someone who feels the same as you do about them.</p><p>You’re going to experience some rough patches. Times where you want to rip your partner to shreds. It’s all part of the journey. The journey that you will be embarking on together. Together is the key word here. You’ll both smell worse than the breath of a dog after eating its own excrement. But at least you’ll smell like it together. That’s all that matters.</p><p>Put all that behind you, and it can be fun. You’ll each have your own goals. You’ll be more empathetic with one another. If nobody can be bothered to cook or clean, it won’t result in a fight. But it will result in a “put your feet up and watch TV for a while.” When times get tough, you’ll begin to appreciate one another more. Who needs conventional counseling anymore when you can run a marathon?</p><p><strong>2. Anger outlet</strong></p><p>Being angry is never a good thing. It sucks, and it's the root of all evil.</p><p>Picture this. You’ve had a rough day. Your boss is annoyed that you didn’t finish your report on time. Your friends don’t have time for you right now. There’s absolutely nothing good on TV for you to watch. You just got a bill from your credit card company that seems like someone’s playing a nasty trick on you. As you can imagine, you’re having a bad day.</p><p>Now, DO NOT let your anger get the better of you. Go for a run with your partner. Seriously. Talk with them. Discuss your feelings. Use this as an opportunity to show a bit of that good ol’ emotion. You’ll feel resoundingly better afterwards, and you probably won’t even care what your boss has to say. You could even turn it into a game: just don’t get fired.</p><p><strong>3. The marathon itself is worth it</strong></p><p>The training is just the start. The 26.2-mile race is just a distant thought. But when you’ve done the training, you’ll know you’re ready for the marathon. The journey with your partner only gets better from now on.</p><p>Not only will you be running alongside your partner, but also the thousands of other runners in the race. Not to mention all the people watching – chanting your name as you run past them.</p><p>The excellent thing about this is that your partner feels the same. You’ll be running together, and get to experience the same emotions as each other. Nothing says “true love” than enduring torture together, and getting through it. Just remember that it gets easier. Not only the running, but also being a couple. Because being with one person can be hard sometimes.</p><p>And, just to add: crying like a baby is not uncommon at the end. I don’t care how much of a man (or woman) you are. Don’t hold back. Don’t be emotionless. If you cry, you cry. If you’re a “man,” you may feel your masculinity take a hit, but who cares? Don’t try and please other people. If they mock you, then stuff ’em.</p><p><strong>4. Sharing travelling experiences</strong></p><p>We know marathon running is a continuous, never ending sport. If you're lucky, you'll be 90 before you consider taking a much-needed break. You don’t just run one marathon and stop there. That's not how it works. If you’re a serious runner, you’ll run as many different races as you can. This means you’ll have to travel. A lot. To other countries, states, and cities.</p><p>But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll be with your partner the whole time. Providing the plane or car doesn’t crash (we’ve had enough of them) in the process, you’ll find yourself traveling the globe in search for the best marathons. And you’ll run them together. Sure, it can be expensive, but so can any other hobby. The experiences are ones you’ll never forget.</p><p>Just don’t forget to actually do something to remember the experience. Don’t spend your days away from home cooped up in your hotel room. Get out. Experience the culture. Do something you’ve never done before. Go skydiving. You only get one opportunity. Don’t waste it. Do something fun with your partner. It'll be worth it.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Marathon running is, in time, going to be something that couples participate in to grow, heal, and strengthen their relationship. Not conventional counseling. Think outside the box. Make your spouse read this article, from top to bottom. It could be the start to something far better than what you currently have. Even if you feel your relationship is as healthy as you think it'll ever be.</p><p><strong><em>Curt Davies has compiled some of his best tips into a free download you can get at his website at <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.marathondriven.com/" target="_blank">www.marathondriven.com</a></span>.</em></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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