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Boomer ‘cara-fan’ influencers are on the rise

<p>In September 2023, Arthur Chapman, aka Chappys Travels and his wife Alison, decided to pack up and embark on a full time road tripping adventure documenting their travels on social media after a nudge and a bit of education from their children.</p> <p>Prior to their travels, Arthur spent time with his children who taught him how to use the two social media platforms and set him up for success to create a visual diary to document their travels and be able to look back on in the future.</p> <p>“My kids got me on to TikTok and YouTube to learn the ways of social media, I’ve always been someone who likes to keep up with the times so thought why not just give it a go."</p> <p>“I’m very outgoing and thought it was a great idea to document our travels not only to share a visual diary with my kids, grandkids and friends but it also gives us the opportunity to share with likeminded people who can also follow along."</p> <p>“Alison wanted me to take the plunge so that we can look back on all the places we’ve been and are yet to visit, plus we get to show people the beautiful backyard we live in and that they have the opportunity to visit these amazing places too.” Arthur adds.</p> <p>Arthur has posted hundreds of TikTok and YouTube videos, documenting his travels, sharing helpful tips, providing a realistic lens on what to expect from each location and of course an insight into the caravanning lifestyle.</p> <p>“I love creating and editing videos, I’m hooked on it! I enjoy sharing a variety of content whether it be the reality of what to expect when arriving in towns, for example what the streets look like and the facilities on offer, not just the picturesque views."</p> <p>After just under a year of posting, Arthur has created an online community with an engaged audience commenting and following along.</p> <p>“We are quite excited as comments have started to come through asking us questions on the caravanning lifestyle, ranging from advice on towing, caravans and the locations we have visited."</p> <p>"We never imagined we would be using social media at our age or that I would become a content creator or influencer, but it has given us the opportunity to meet likeminded people and to encourage others to get out there and live the dream."</p> <p>To any Boomers out there considering jumping on the bandwagon, Arthur comments, “Life is too short to not visit your bucket list destinations, and just give social media a go, you might get hooked on sharing your journey too."</p> <p>If you're looking to start your caravanning journey just in time for summer, make sure you don't miss the 2024 Let’s Go Brisbane Caravan and Outdoor Sale returning to the Brisbane RNA Showgrounds for four epic days from Thursday October 31st to Sunday November 3rd.</p> <p>Ticket prices, times and transport options are available <a href="https://www.caravanqld.com.au/show/lets-go-brisbane-caravan-outdoor-sale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Supplied</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Irene Cara's cause of death revealed

<p>The cause of death for Grammy Award-winning singer Irene Cara has finally been revealed, two months after her tragic death. </p> <p>According to TMZ, Irene died as a result of hypertension and high cholesterol, with medical documents listing her official cause of death as Arteriosclerotic and Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease.</p> <p>Cara passed away on November 26th 2022 at her home in Florida at the age of 63. </p> <p>Her publicist, Judith Moose, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/irene-cara-passes-away-aged-63" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced her death</a> on Twitter, writing to her legions of fans, "This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can't believe I've had to write this, let alone release the news."</p> <p>"Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I'll be reading each and every one of them and know she'll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can't believe I've had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I'll be reading each and every one of them and know she'll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans. - JM <a href="https://t.co/TsC5BwZ3fh">pic.twitter.com/TsC5BwZ3fh</a></p> <p>— Irene Cara (@Irene_Cara) <a href="https://twitter.com/Irene_Cara/status/1596392865948499968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Irene was most famously known for her song <em>What a Feeling</em> from the 1983 film <em>Flashdance</em>, earning herself both Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and she also scored a Grammy award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.</p> <p>Actress Jennifer Beals, who played the starring role in <em>Flashdance</em>, was among the many celebrities to pay tribute to Cara upon hearing news of her death.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClbsxMBPW8x/?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/ClbsxMBPW8x/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jennifer Beals (@thejenniferbeals)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Thank you brilliant Irene for your open heart and your fearless triple threat talent," Beals wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of them at the 1984 Academy Awards.</p> <p>"It took a beautiful dreamer to write and perform the soundtracks for those who dare to dream."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Irene Cara passes away aged 63

<p>Award-winning singer Irene Cara has died at age 63. </p> <p>The US musician, <span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">who performed and co-wrote the iconic song <em>Flashdance (What a Feeling)</em>, passed away in her Florida home, according to a statement released by her publicist. </span></p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Judith Moose also said the cause of death was "unknown and will be released when information is available".</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist … I can't believe I've had to write this, let alone release the news," Ms Moose wrote.</p> <p>"Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I'll be reading each and every one of them and know she'll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can't believe I've had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I'll be reading each and every one of them and know she'll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans. - JM <a href="https://t.co/TsC5BwZ3fh">pic.twitter.com/TsC5BwZ3fh</a></p> <p>— Irene Cara (@Irene_Cara) <a href="https://twitter.com/Irene_Cara/status/1596392865948499968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Born in New York to a Puerto Rican father and Cuban-American mother, Cara's first taste of show business success came when she was just a teenager in the 1976 musical drama, <em>Sparkle</em>.</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">She hit the top of the charts in 1980 with <em>Fame</em>, recording the title song for the movie.</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">She also sang the second single from <em>Fame</em>, <em>Out Here on My Own</em>, which was part of a soundtrack album that also topped the charts.</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Four years later, <em>Flashdance (What a Feeling)</em> — from the film <em>Flashdance</em>, starring Jennifer Beals — rocketed to number one in the US, Canada and Australia.</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The track earned Cara an Academy Award for best original song in 1983, and two Grammy Awards in 1984 — best female pop vocal performance and best album of a film or television original score.</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">She went on to enjoy further top 10 hits with <em>Why Me?</em> (1983) and <em>Breakdance</em> (1984) before her pop career faded in the late 1980s.</p> <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Music

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Incredibly rare photo of Prince Philip from 1938

<p><span>A photo taken of Prince Philip long before he married into the British royal family has emerged, and it has come from an unlikely source.</span><br /><br /><span>Cara and Poppy Delevingne shared a candid snapshot of the Duke of Edinburgh, from when he was just 17 and sat on the beach with their grandmother Angela Delevingne.</span><br /><br /><span>The British sisters, who are both models and actresses, told fans that the photo had been taken in Venice in 1938.</span><br /><br /><span>"My cousins remember her saying 'That after meeting him, she thought he'd make someone a very good husband one day.' How right she was," she wrote.</span></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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNkI5oogCsN/?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/CNkI5oogCsN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Poppy Delevingne (@poppydelevingne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>The duo are seen sitting together on a beach lounge, and in a rare moment for the late royal, he is seen dressed casually in sandshoes and what appears to be a polo shirt.</span><br /><br /><span>The photo was reportedly taken by Angela's husband Edward not long after their wedding.</span><br /><br /><span>The newlyweds had been holidaying in Italy when they encountered the future Duke of Edinburgh.</span><br /><br /><span>The moment was also captured just a year before Philip met his future wife, Princess Elizabeth, at the Royal Naval College.</span><br /><br /><span>It would be several more years before their relationship turned into more however.</span><br /><br /><span>Her Majesty and her beloved husband married in 1947, and celebrated their 73rd anniversary in November 2020.</span></p>

Beauty & Style

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Home and Away star Lynne McGranger gives health update on Johnny Ruffo

<p>Lynne McGranger has taken on many co-stars as friends throughout her 27 years on Australia’s favourite show <em>Home and Away</em>, and this includes the loveable singer turned actor Johnny Ruffo.</p> <p>Ruffo played Chris Harrington from 2013 to 2016 and was known on the show as a boyish joker who everyone adored. In one memorable episode, Ruffo’s character drove Irene’s diner out of business when he poisoned Alf and Leah after serving wild mushrooms in risotto.</p> <p>McGranger, 66, revealed to<a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/perth-singer-actor-johnny-ruffo-in-good-health-according-to-lynne-mcgranger-ng-b881123198z"> Perth Now</a> on Saturday, the 30-year-old is in good health following his brain tumour diagnosis in 2017.</p> <p>“A couple of years ago things weren't good for him, but now he is much much better,” the actress revealed, saying the two catch up regularly.</p> <p>“He is great, he is in good health and he is really good.”</p> <p>Jonny’s aggressive brain tumour diagnosis in 2017 resulted in the star undergoing surgery to remove a 7cm tumour from his skull before undergoing chemotherapy.</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/BmIl6SDBVYj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmIl6SDBVYj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Today is exactly a year since i was rushed to hospital to have an emergency operation to remove a brain tumour, it has been a crazy ride and im not quite finished yet but i want to share some snaps of the past year and say thank you to everyone who has been there for me and supported me throughout this time 😃 #braincancer #fuckcancer</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/johnny_ruffo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Johnny Ruffo</a> (@johnny_ruffo) on Aug 6, 2018 at 3:34am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>At the time of his battle, he told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6763323/Lynne-McGranger-says-Johnny-Ruffo-good-health.html">Daily Mail:</a> “I’m doing really good. My net scan is in three weeks and provided that’s all clear then I’m in the clear completely.</p> <p>“That will be my last scan for now and then I've got to get another one every three months - you've got to keep checking up on it.”</p> <p>The singer and actor has revealed he has a lot in store for 2019 with new music on the horizon.</p> <p>“I've got some new music coming out, the next song that I'll release is called Broken Glass,” he said.</p> <p>“It's kind of about my experience over the last two years. Just dealing with everything and what I've been through, and the people who have supported me.”</p> <p>Ruffo was a finalist on the <em>X Factor</em> in 2011, reaching national fame and accruing adoring fans all throughout Australia, before he moved onto <em>Home and Away</em> in 2013.  </p>

Caring

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How Home and Away star wants Irene killed off

<p>Irene has been a fixture in Summer Bay for 25 years now, and while actress Lynne McGranger has no plans to quit the show any time soon, in an interview with <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>News Limited</strong></em></span></a> she revealed how she wants the iconic character ‘killed off’.</p> <p>“As long as I have the energy and the fitness and the memory and the enthusiasm and the love for it, I’ll stay for as long as they’ll have me,” McGranger <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>told News.com.au</strong></em></span></a>.</p> <p>“I’d like to have a passing like Molly from A Country Practice,” she added.</p> <p>“I just want to fade out. I want viewers to be hysterical with sadness. I want people weeping for weeks afterwards.”</p> <p>In <em>A Country Practice</em>, Molly Jones, played by Anne Tenney, was a character who lost her battle with leukaemia in a gut-wrenching episode in 1985, which you can see below.  </p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A88jR8oKETg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>“I just want to fade out,” she said. “I want viewers to be hysterical with sadness. I want people weeping for weeks afterwards.”</p> <p>McGranger touched on many elements of her character in the interview, which she had to promote Hearing Awareness Week, which ends on March 3.</p> <p>One of her favourite memories from the show came a few years ago where Chris Hemsworth returned to the show and said, “A couple of years ago Chris Hemsworth rocked up because he’s great mates with one of our assistant directors. And someone said: ‘Hey Chris, do you want to jump in the background in the diner for a scene?’ And of course the other extras, their eyes were just bugging out of their heads. You’ve never seen anything like it in all your life. To us he’s just Chris but everyone else was falling all over themselves, it was hilarious.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Who is your favourite Home and Away character?</p>

Retirement Life

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Home and Away's Irene to say goodbye to Summer Bay

<p><em>Home and Away</em> just wouldn’t seem like <em>Home and Away</em> without Irene Roberts. But fans of the beloved soap will have to make do without one of their favourites (for a little while at least) as Lynne McGranger, the actress who plays the iconic character, announced she would be taking a break from Summer Bay after nearly two decades.</p> <p>In an interview with <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/tvweek" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>TV Week</strong></em></span></a>, the 64-year-old soap star said, “getting bored easily” was the chief reason behind her departure, adding, “I'm one of those people who needs a bit of a change-up and something different.”</p> <p>While the move might have some hardcore-Irene fans frightened, McGranger has assured <em>Home and Away</em> viewers that she was taking a brief overseas trip and would returning to reprise the role of Irene when she was done.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sVkqdPZ0ics" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>“I'm off to York to play the wicked fairy in Beauty And The Beast. I'm really looking forward to it,” she said. </p> <p>This is not the first time McGranger has headed to the UK for stage work, as she played the Wicked Queen in <em>Snow White</em> last year, and the Fairy Godmother in <em>Cinderella</em> in 2015.</p> <p>“The UK panto experience is always exciting - even though I am working hard and doing two shows a day, it's also like a holiday,” she said.</p> <p>“I love being somewhere new, meeting people and making new friends.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Will you miss Irene?</p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Twitter / Soap Spoilers </em></p>

TV

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73-year-old Aussie grandma to attempt Channel swim today

<p>Brisbane grandmother, Irene Keel, 73, is resting up ahead of swimming the English Channel this afternoon at 3pm AEST. If she is successful she will break three world records.</p><p>“Three titles for the price of one swim – I think that’s pretty good,” Irene tells Over60 when we spoke to her yesterday as she was preparing for the 34km marathon.</p><p>The grandmother-of-three from Tingalpa, who didn’t take up swimming until she was 50, is doing the swim in honour of her friend, Scott Sullivan, who died in April from motor neurone disease. “I have been inspired by Scott who did so much to raise funds for the disease,” Irene says.</p><p>If successful in crossing the Channel, Irene will be, in her own words, “the least youngest person,” “the least youngest woman” and “the least youngest Australian” to swim across the Channel –&nbsp;so it should come as no surprise that athlete has already exceeded her target of raising $7000 for MND and ME.</p><p>One of her coaches, and English Channel world record holder, Trent Grimsey has been training Irene as well as another coach, Charmain Frend. When his oldest client came to him with the challenge in mind, Trent said he thought it was “pretty cool”. “She’s a great athlete who goes above and beyond in everything she does.”&nbsp;It is expected that it could take Irene more than 15 hours to cross from England to France.</p><p>After waiting patiently in England for a few weeks for the ideal weather conditions, Irene is raring to go. “It’s always been called the Everest of swimming,” she says, adding, “They say about 85 per cent mental, 15 per cent physical. And I’d go along with that. You really have to have a clear mind.”</p><p>As an inspiration to many and proof that you’re never too old to take on a challenge, the Brisbanite hopes to motivate others with her efforts. “To encourage older people to look after their health and increase their fitness,” she says would make her very happy. “If it inspires just one person to go and do more exercise, whether it’s swimming or anything else, then I will have achieved something and I’ll be very happy about that.”</p><p>The current holder as the oldest swimmer to cross the English Channel is Bondi lifesaver, Cyril Baldock, who only claimed the title in late August. Irene’s toughest opponent, however, will likely be Mother Nature. While Irene says, “The water has been warmer than previous years,” she adds, “The weather has been very unsettled a lot of the time.”</p><p>To spur her on when she’s in the water she’ll have a photo of Scott in her sights she tells Over60. “For me the motivation will be Scott’s photo up on the side of my boat. There’ll be a big banner with a lovely picture of Scott smiling. And apart from that the only thing I’ll be thinking about is my stroke and my breathing.”</p><p>Good luck, Irene!</p><p>Find out how you can donate money to the cause <a href="http://everydayhero.com.au/event/irenekeel" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.</p>

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Placeholder Content Image

73-year-old Aussie grandma to attempt Channel swim today

<p>Brisbane grandmother, Irene Keel, 73, is resting up ahead of swimming the English Channel this afternoon at 3pm AEST. If she is successful she will break three world records.</p><p>“Three titles for the price of one swim – I think that’s pretty good,” Irene tells Over60 when we spoke to her yesterday as she was preparing for the 34km marathon.</p><p>The grandmother-of-three from Tingalpa, who didn’t take up swimming until she was 50, is doing the swim in honour of her friend, Scott Sullivan, who died in April from motor neurone disease. “I have been inspired by Scott who did so much to raise funds for the disease,” Irene says.</p><p>If successful in crossing the Channel, Irene will be, in her own words, “the least youngest person,” “the least youngest woman” and “the least youngest Australian” to swim across the Channel –&nbsp;so it should come as no surprise that athlete has already exceeded her target of raising $7000 for MND and ME.</p><p>One of her coaches, and English Channel world record holder, Trent Grimsey has been training Irene as well as another coach, Charmain Frend. When his oldest client came to him with the challenge in mind, Trent said he thought it was “pretty cool”. “She’s a great athlete who goes above and beyond in everything she does.”&nbsp;It is expected that it could take Irene more than 15 hours to cross from England to France.</p><p>After waiting patiently in England for a few weeks for the ideal weather conditions, Irene is raring to go. “It’s always been called the Everest of swimming,” she says, adding, “They say about 85 per cent mental, 15 per cent physical. And I’d go along with that. You really have to have a clear mind.”</p><p>As an inspiration to many and proof that you’re never too old to take on a challenge, the Brisbanite hopes to motivate others with her efforts. “To encourage older people to look after their health and increase their fitness,” she says would make her very happy. “If it inspires just one person to go and do more exercise, whether it’s swimming or anything else, then I will have achieved something and I’ll be very happy about that.”</p><p>The current holder as the oldest swimmer to cross the English Channel is Bondi lifesaver, Cyril Baldock, who only claimed the title in late August. Irene’s toughest opponent, however, will likely be Mother Nature. While Irene says, “The water has been warmer than previous years,” she adds, “The weather has been very unsettled a lot of the time.”</p><p>To spur her on when she’s in the water she’ll have a photo of Scott in her sights she tells Over60. “For me the motivation will be Scott’s photo up on the side of my boat. There’ll be a big banner with a lovely picture of Scott smiling. And apart from that the only thing I’ll be thinking about is my stroke and my breathing.”</p><p>Good luck, Irene!</p><p>Find out how you can donate money to the cause <a href="http://everydayhero.com.au/event/irenekeel" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.</p>

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