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John Farnham celebrates his 75th birthday with family

<p>John Farnham has been snapped celebrating his 75th birthday at an intimate dinner with his closest family. </p> <p>The iconic Aussie rockstar turned 75 on Monday, and marked the occasion at a dinner out with his wife Jillian Billman, his son Robert Farnham and Robert’s wife, Melissa.</p> <p>Melissa, who married Robert just months ago, took to social media to celebrate the occasion.</p> <p>“Happy birthday Papa J. Looking forward to making many more happy memories with you guys,” she shared.</p> <p>Robert also posted a sweet image of the “birthday boy” as the pair enjoyed some time relaxing with their feet up.</p> <p>Rob also shared another photo of him and his father to mark the milestone birthday, with the photo showing the father and son duo smiling at each other at Rob's wedding.</p> <p>This is the second time Farnham has been seen on social media since his extensive surgery to remove a tumour from his mouth, resulting in a reconstructing of his jaw. </p> <p>John was recently seen at Robert and Melissa's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/john-farnham-steps-out-at-son-s-wedding-for-first-time-since-jaw-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wedding</a>, as the 74-year-old icon looked remarkably well and largely unchanged since his challenging surgery in August 2022.</p> <p>In the heartwarming photos shared on Instagram, John posed alongside his son, both beaming with happiness, as John looked dapper in a black suit with a bronze tie and matching pocket square. </p> <p>The joyous occasion was beautifully captured in a series of family photos, including John's wife, Jill, and other close family members.</p> <p>Fans flooded the comments with heartfelt messages, celebrating the happy family and John's remarkable recovery. "Such a beautiful father and son pic," one fan wrote, while another added, "Congratulations to you both. It's so nice to see your Dad, he looks fantastic! Love to you all."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Daryl Somers receives unique gift at John Blackman's emotional funeral

<p>The who's-who of Australian TV have turned out to farewell John Blackman at an emotional funeral in Melbourne. </p> <p><em>Hey Hey it's Saturday</em> host Daryl Somers led the tributes to his late friend, reflecting on their decades-long friendship and side-by-side career. </p> <p>"He was so wonderful and he was so sharp and saw humour in everything. John was an optimist and we loved him so much,” Somers said.</p> <p>During the heartfelt memorial, Somers received a precious gift from Blackman's wife of 52 years Cecile, who gifted him the famous Dickie Knee puppet to the remaining <em>Hey Hey It's Saturday</em> stars.</p> <p>John Blackman's co-stars from across three decades of Australian TV were also in attendance, with Wilbur Wilde, Red Symonds, Eddie McGuire and Nine's Livinia Nixon among mourners.</p> <p>"There was a whole lotta love in the room, for him, for everything that he's done for everybody, for the kindness he's shown everyone," Nixon said.</p> <p>Mourners reflected on his quick wit and most famous character Dickie Knee, who took the mickey out of some of the biggest stars of the time.</p> <p>"A very sad day though it's kind of a very special time, all that time in variety. And another one's gone," Entertainer Rhonda Burchmore said.</p> <p>Some of Blackman's old radio colleagues also paid tribute, with veteran 3AW presenter Philip Brady saying, "We became best buddies a long, long time ago and had so many laughs together over the years."</p> <p>"And I'll be forever grateful to John for the humour he brought into our lives. He really enriched our lives and we are poorer for his passing."</p> <p>At the time of his death, Blackman had been suffering bone and skin cancer, and had undergone major surgeries to control the disease. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

Caring

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John Farnham steps out at son's wedding for first time since jaw surgery

<p>Beloved Aussie rock legend John Farnham exuded pride and joy as he stepped out in style at his son Robert's wedding on the weekend. After enduring extensive surgery due to oral cancer, Farnham, now cancer-free, appeared in high spirits at the intimate wedding of his oldest son and his new wife, Melissa.</p> <p>The 74-year-old icon looked remarkably well and largely unchanged since his challenging surgery in August 2022. In the heartwarming photos shared on Instagram, John posed alongside his son, both beaming with happiness. John looked dapper in a black suit with a bronze tie and matching pocket square, while Rob opted for a stylish white tux with black accents.</p> <p>The joyous occasion was beautifully captured in a series of family photos, including John's wife, Jill, and other close family members. Fans flooded the comments with heartfelt messages, celebrating the happy family and John's remarkable recovery. "Such a beautiful father and son pic," one fan wrote, while another added, "Congratulations to you both. It's so nice to see your Dad, he looks fantastic! Love to you all."</p> <p>The bride, Melissa, looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder ivory gown, posing for romantic photos with her new husband against the lush backdrop of their wedding venue. Rob's touching caption on Instagram encapsulated the joy of the day: "Shared the happiest moment with my favourite person in the universe and she said I do. Melissa, my life is forever better that you’re apart of it. You looked radiant, beautiful and elegant. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us and I’m truly honoured to have you by my side as my wife for life❤️."</p> <p>The couple had announced their engagement in November 2022, with Rob expressing his excitement about their future together: "My best friend and love of my life said yes to marrying me. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."</p> <p>John Farnham's presence at the wedding was particularly special, as it marked a year since his successful battle against cancer. In August 2023, Farnham revealed he was cancer-free, a triumph after numerous surgeries and a challenging recovery process. In a heartfelt statement, he shared his gratitude: "It's been a year since my first surgery and to be honest, I've lost count as to how many other procedures there have been since then. But, I'm home now and I'm a very grateful and happy man. I'm sitting here in my living room lapping up the attention from my beautiful wife, Jill, my boys Rob and James, and my mini Schnauzer, Edmund."</p> <p>Throughout his recovery, John's family provided updates on his progress. His son Robert shared that his father was "doing fantastic" after a 12-hour surgery for throat cancer and was even dancing a little and walking his dog regularly. "He's really, really happy. He's doing really good, he's super positive," Robert said in an interview.</p> <p>While it is unlikely that John will perform again after his extensive surgery, the love and joy he shared at his son's wedding are a beautiful reminder of life's precious moments.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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"No fan of mine": Kyle Sandilands shocked on air by brutal John Blackman audio

<p>Kyle Sandilands was paying tribute to his “childhood hero” <em>Hey Hey it's Saturday </em>star John Blackman on-air Thursday morning, when he was interrupted by an audio of the late star trashing him in a recent interview. </p> <p>Speaking on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, the shock jock said he was upset when he learned of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/australia-is-a-sadder-place-shock-as-john-blackman-s-death-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blackman's passing</a>, but before he was able to elaborate on how the radio star was his childhood hero, his manager Bruno Bouchet interjected and told him about Blackman's brutal review. </p> <p>In a May interview on the <em>You Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast, Blackman said: “Why are we giving these two publicity hungry, oxygen thieves, waste of oxygen. The man [Sandilands] is a no talent. He doesn’t have a voice for radio, by the way.”</p> <p>Footage of Sandilands listening to the audio for the first time was shared by <em>KIIS FM</em> on their Instagram stories, and both he and Henderson were shocked. </p> <p>“I’m very confused,” Sandilands said, before coming to the conclusion that  Blackman wasn’t a fan of him because he’s not as polished as “old school” media veterans.</p> <p>“What’s happened here is old school media, TV, radio, newspapers. They’re all fake,” he said.</p> <p>“They pretend everything’s wonderful. You never really know the real person." </p> <p>He then elaborated and said that he and Henderson try to keep it real with their listeners. </p> <p>“We don’t pretend it’s a wonderful day. Even though it’s p*ssing with rain and snowing or whatever. We don’t pretend. We say, ‘Oh, what a s**t day.’ We’re just a different breed.</p> <p>“Oh well, that’s one hero of mine that’s dead. No fan of mine.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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Daryl Somers breaks silence after John Blackman's tragic passing

<p><em>Hey Hey it's Saturday</em> star Daryl Somers has broken his silence after the sudden death of his friend and colleague John Blackman. </p> <p>Somers and Blackman worked together on the Nine Network variety show for decades, with Blackman becoming a household name for voicing the cheeky and loveable stick puppet Dickey Knee. </p> <p>John tragically <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/australia-is-a-sadder-place-shock-as-john-blackman-s-death-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> at the age of 76 on Wednesday, after a lengthy battle with cancer and undergoing numerous operations on his face and skull to remove cancerous tumours.</p> <p>Now, Daryl Somers has paid tribute to Blackman, reflecting on the hilarious times they spent together. </p> <p>“He had a God-given talent to make people laugh, especially me,” Daryl Somers told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-05/john-blackman-hey-hey-its-saturday-star-dies/103937036" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p>The TV host said he was “devastated” by the death of such a “beloved friend”.</p> <p>“He used to say his mission on Hey Hey was to break me up, and at times I’d be crying with uncontrollable laughter,” Somers said.</p> <p>“Sadly, today, I’m just crying.”</p> <p>Channel Nine and 3AW confirmed the entertainer's death on Wednesday, describing him in a statement as "a cherished voice in Australian media".</p> <p>"John, renowned as the iconic voiceover artist for 'Hey Hey It's Saturday,' brought joy and laughter into countless homes every weekend," the statement said.</p> <p>"His distinctive voice and quick wit became a hallmark of the show, endearing him to generations of viewers."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine Network </em></p>

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“Australia is a sadder place": Shock as John Blackman's death confirmed

<p>Australian radio legend and star of <em>Hey Hey it's Saturday</em> John Blackman has passed away at the age of 76. </p> <p>Entertainment reporter Peter Ford broke the sad news on <em>The Morning Show</em> on Wednesday morning, saying, “Australia is a sadder place with this news."</p> <p>"John was an incredible man. In the past years, he has put up a huge cancer fight,” Ford said.</p> <p>Blackman had been battling cancer for many years, undergoing numerous operations on his face and skull to remove cancerous tumours.</p> <p>John’s was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018 after visiting his doctor about a seemingly minor blemish on his chin, and he was shocked to learn he had an aggressive form of skin cancer in his mouth and jaw.</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/C70CkAEORnX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C70CkAEORnX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In a 12-hour operation, John’s lower jaw and teeth were removed, and his jaw was replaced with a part of his thigh bone.</p> <p>“It’s like I ploughed into a tree and my life changed forever,” he told the <em>Herald Sun</em> at the time. </p> <p>Blackman became a household name after his time on <em>Hey Hey It's Saturday</em>, and was known and loved for voicing the cheeky stick puppet Dickie Knee. </p> <p>John is survived by his wife Cecile and their adult daughter. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Seven</em></p>

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Yoko Ono selling John Lennon's New York home for first time in 50 years

<p>For the first time in 50 years, the house where John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived in New York City has hit the market.</p> <p>The brick, bluestone and terra cotta structure at 496 Broome St. was the first home the pair bought together in New York City before they moved to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. </p> <p>Yoko Ono has held onto the property since she first bought it with the late Beatles member, and has now listed it with her son with JLL Real Estate, for an asking price of $US5.5 million ($8.23m AUD).</p> <p>“The building on Broome St. was sort of like a base for their artistic ventures,” Philip Norman, author of “John Lennon: The Life,” told the <em><a href="https://nypost.com/2024/05/21/real-estate/yoko-ono-lists-former-nyc-home-for-5-5m/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a></em>. “Bank Street was their salon, where people could just walk in.”</p> <p>First built in 1885, the two-storey building has an open-plan format, with a gallery-like ground floor space with 14.4-foot-high ceilings, an open kitchen and a lofted bedroom.</p> <p>On the second floor, there’s a live-work space and a recording studio.</p> <p>“496 Broome St. is both a unique piece of New York history and popular culture and a prime investment opportunity for the right buyer,” said Paul Smadbeck, who holds the listing.</p> <p>“Versatile zoning and its location in one of the city’s most desirable and trendsetting neighbourhoods offers an exciting opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind property.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Mediapunch / JLL Real Estate </em></p>

Real Estate

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John Travolta's heartbreaking tribute years after losing wife and son

<p>John Travolta has shared a heartbreaking post commemorating his late wife, Kelly Preston, and son, Jett Travolta. </p> <p>Jett was only 16 when he passed away while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas in 2009. He had a seizure at the time and hit his head on a bathtub at their vacation home. </p> <p>His wife Kelly died in July 2020 aged 57, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. </p> <p>John took to Instagram to share a throwback photo of their family, on what would've been Jett's 32nd birthday over the weekend. </p> <p>“Happy birthday my Jetty — not a day goes by where you’re not with me,” he wrote.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5sBcYKN9ub/?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/C5sBcYKN9ub/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The post gained 400,000 likes with fans and fellow celebrities rushing to the comments to share their support. </p> <p>“Will never forget him, or Kelly,” wrote actress and good friend Rita Wilson.</p> <p>“Always in your heart forever and ever,” added actress Kristin Chenoweth.</p> <p>“And you will see him and her again.”</p> <p>“They are together and some day you’ll all be together again. Happy heavenly birthday Jett,” wrote one follower.</p> <p>"Happy Birthday to Jett and beautiful Kelly...two angels watching over you and family," added another. </p> <p>The couple had two other children together — daughter Ella, 24, and son Benjamin, 13.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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"Finally felt like the right time": John Farnham's huge announcement

<p>John Farnham has announced his triumphant return one year on from his cancer surgery, sharing the news of a highly anticipated project. </p> <p>The 74-year-old Aussie music icon is set to tell his story in his own words with the release of his own candid memoir titled <em>The Voice Inside</em>. </p> <p>The autobiography, which will be released on October 30th, is co-written by Poppy Stockwell, who is the award-winning writer and director of the critically acclaimed biopic Finding the Voice.</p> <p>The book documents Farnham's early life and stardom growing up in Melbourne in the 1960s, to his comeback 1986 album <em>Whispering Jack</em>.</p> <p>It will recall the highs and lows of fame, including when his stellar career stalled, record companies turned their backs and he faced financial ruin.</p> <p><em>The Voice Inside</em> will also detail his shocking diagnosis of mouth cancer in 2022 which turned his life upside down. </p> <p>The book was announced on Farnham's Facebook page, with a statement sharing how he felt it was "the right time" to tell his story. </p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjohnfarnham%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02tZwog7QbEW6AxDUxNMp3Kn5msAghjd9yUQe56optBdyX8ZL1DQFm4qvpUYsSjo2Rl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="728" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>"Having been asked many times, it finally felt like the right time to sit down and tell my story," he said.</p> <p>"It is a very strange feeling looking back on my life, on the good and the bad, and now that I have started, it is all rushing back. I hope the book engages and entertains, because that’s what so much of my life has been about."</p> <p>The book will "chart John Farnham’s very personal and public journey, told in his own words and with his inimitable humour, insight, and humility."</p> <p>The post was quickly flooded with comments from fans eager to get their hands on the memoir, while many shared their well wishes as he continues his lengthy recovery from cancer. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Caring

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Hollywood star reveals breast cancer diagnosis

<p>Olivia Munn has revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and has undergone a double mastectomy following her diagnosis. </p> <p>In an emotional post shared on Instagram, the actress shared a series of photos of her receiving treatment over the past year, and how she first found out about her diagnosis  in an effort to "help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey".</p> <p>"In February of 2023, in an effort to be proactive about my health, I took a genetic test that checks you for 90 different cancer genes," she said.</p> <p>"I tested negative for all, including BRCA (the most well-known breast cancer gene). My sister Sara had just tested negative as well. We called each other and high-fived over the phone. That same winter I also had a normal mammogram."</p> <p>"Two months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer.</p> <p>"In the past ten months I have had four surgeries, so many days spent in bed I can't even count and have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I ever could have imagined.</p> <p>"Surprisingly, I've only cried twice. I guess I haven't felt like there was time to cry. My focus narrowed and I tabled any emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded."</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/C4dXfrULDdJ/?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/C4dXfrULDdJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by o l i v i a (@oliviamunn)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She then credited her proactive gynaecologist, Dr Thais Aliabadi, for discovering the cancer, which could've gone unnoticed for another year. </p> <p>"Dr Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, familial breast cancer history, and the fact that I had my first child after the age of 30," the actress said.</p> <p>"She discovered my lifetime risk was at 37 per cent. Because of that score I was sent to get an MRI, which led to an ultrasound, which then led to a biopsy. The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast moving cancer."</p> <p>The<em> X-Men: Apocalypse </em>star said she has kept her health battle private until now, so she could catch her breath and go through the most difficult parts of her treatment. </p> <p>Her partner, comedian John Mulaney, who she shares son Malcom with, commented on her post saying: "Thank you for fighting so hard to be here for us. Malc and I adore you." </p> <p>A few other celebrities praised the actress for her courage and honesty. </p> <p>"You are very generous to share your story," Jessica Chastain wrote. </p> <p>"I believe in doing so, you've saved lives. So much love to you and your family."</p> <p>"Sending you and your family love &amp; healing vibes. You are so strong,"  <em>Modern Family's</em> Ariel Winter added. </p> <p>"Thank you for sharing this! Wow," <em>Big Bang Theory</em> star Kaley Cuoco wrote.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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John Farnham’s son reveals secret health battle

<p dir="ltr">John Farnham’s youngest son has shared the details of a private health battle that he was navigating while his famous father was recovering from throat cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">James Farnham revealed that he underwent “major surgery” that “saved my life” in 2023 to deal with diverticular disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taking to Instagram on Tuesday night, Farnham shared a post-surgery photo and some symptoms of diverticulitis to raise awareness of the condition. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Last year, just as Dad was recovering from his cancer surgeries, I also had major surgery to deal with diverticular disease that had caused perforations in my bowel,” he began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The surgery saved my life but it has left me with a stoma — a surgically created opening in the abdomen that allows me to poo... into a temporary colostomy bag.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“With any luck, I will be receiving my reversal surgery in the next couple (of) months.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He said with hindsight he was ready to share his story, being able to see that the “whole thing may have been preventable”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was totally shocked to learn how many people (including young people, I can’t stress that enough) receive this diagnosis,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Coming off the back of what felt like a torturous period that left us emotionally exhausted.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was one thing after another, and when I noticed something felt wrong I kept ignoring it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“While I felt unwell for a while the whole thing happened very quickly in the end and I didn’t have much time to comprehend what was happening.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“After the surgery, I dealt with fear, isolation, disgust, paranoia and something I’ve never had before — body image issues.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve had to go through a huge psychosocial adjustment.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Farnham said that his main symptom was abdominal pain that he experienced for months and “kept ignoring”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After a few days of complaining ... arguing with my partner Tessa, she finally said, ‘enough is enough!’”</p> <p dir="ltr">Upon more checks, Farnham was diagnosed with diverticulitis that had perforated in his bowel.</p> <p dir="ltr">His situation soon became “an emergency situation” and was “absolutely terrified” when it came time to have his surgery.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had a rough recovery period and it took three weeks before I was able to go home.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Farnham said that the “reality was now setting in ... this was my life now.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was almost too much for me to comprehend. Thankfully I had support.”</p> <p dir="ltr">James credited his partner Tessa who comforted him through his health journey, and helped him come to terms with his new reality. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Flash forward to now, I’ve figured out my ways and how to deal with everything and I now feel more comfortable.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m telling people and making jokes about it. Maybe this is because I know it’s temporary, but it’s really changed the way I deal with things, especially the way I view my health.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Listening to my body and respecting it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">For his birthday,  Farnham requested donations to <a href="https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/online-donation">Bowel Cancer Australia</a>, <a href="https://crohnsandcolitis.org.au/how-to-help/donate/">Crohn’s &amp; Colitis Australia</a> and <a href="https://cabrinifoundation.com.au/donate/lets-beat-bowel-cancer/">Let’s Beat Bowel Cancer</a> to help raise awareness for bowel disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 36-year-old’s health battle took place as his father, singer John Farnham was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/john-farnham-s-sons-share-latest-health-update">recovering</a> from throat cancer, undergoing a 12-hour surgery where doctors removed a tumour from his mouth before reconstructing his jaw in a second major operation.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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Vale ‘sister suffragette’: how Glynis Johns became a pop-culture icon in the story of votes for women

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ana-stevenson-196768">Ana Stevenson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lindsay-helwig-1500979">Lindsay Helwig</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></p> <p>Glynis Johns, most famous for her role as the suffragette mother Mrs Winifred Banks in Disney’s Mary Poppins (1964), passed away last week at the age of 100.</p> <p>A fourth-generation performer who made her <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-17-ca-126-story.html">stage debut</a> in London when she was only three weeks old, Johns inherited her Welsh father’s love of acting. She appeared with him in The Halfway House (1944) and The Sundowners (1960) and argued for the establishment of a Welsh National Theatre <a href="https://twitter.com/huwthomas/status/791367871242862592">as early as 1971</a>.</p> <p>Johns’s career spanned eight decades in Hollywood, Broadway and the British stage and screen. As Palm Springs’s Desert Sun <a href="https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&amp;d=DS19630426.2.50">reported</a> in 1962, her “husky voice and big blue eyes” were her hallmarks. But it was her portrayal of Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins which would make her a pop culture icon.</p> <h2>A childhood inspiration</h2> <p>Feminist activists and scholars often describe the Mrs Banks character as a childhood inspiration.</p> <p>As feminist communications scholar Amanda Firestone <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Resist_and_Persist/s5HiDwAAQBAJ">reflects</a> on the film: "I especially loved […] Mrs Banks (Glynis Johns), who marches around the family home, putting Votes for Women sashes onto the housekeeper, cook, and the (departing) nanny. Of course, as a kid, I had no idea that the people and events embedded in the song’s lyrics were actual parts of history, but I did find a kind of joy in a vague notion of women’s empowerment."</p> <p>Set in 1910, the symbolism associated with Mrs Banks references the history of the British suffragettes. Johns’ musical showstopper, Sister Suffragette, directly refers to <a href="https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-pankhursts-politics-protest-and-passion/">Emmeline Pankhurst</a>, who founded the militant Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903. In 1906 British newspapers <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020859007003239">coined</a> the moniker “suffragette” to mock the union.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K0SDECwO54E?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>This ambivalence continued into the 1960s. Historian Laura E. Nym Mayhall <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316653">argues</a> that American concern over the impact of women’s public roles on their domestic responsibilities influenced the film’s depiction of Mrs Banks, especially her movement from a public suffragette back into an involved mother at the film’s end.</p> <p>For Mayhall, the figure of the suffragette emerges in popular culture as “a symbol of modernity”: a harbinger of democracy and political progress whose characterisation would elide ongoing struggles such as the civil rights movement.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=949&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=949&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=949&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1193&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1193&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/568335/original/file-20240108-23-tf6kwm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1193&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">This 1909 Dunston Weiler Lithograph Co. anti-suffrage postcard offers resonances of Mrs Banks and her household staff in Mary Poppins.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://thesuffragepostcardproject.omeka.net/items/show/44">Catherine H. Palczewski Postcard Archive/The Suffrage Postcard Project</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>While some see the character of the suffragette mother as <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Mary_Poppins/BLujEAAAQBAJ">supporting</a> women’s votes during the 1910s and women’s liberation during the 1960s, other readings of the film suggest a more satirical representation of the suffrage movement. Some historians even find <a href="https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-6923118">resonances</a> of anti-suffrage propaganda in Mrs Banks, including in her usage of her Votes for Women sash as the tail of a kite in the film’s final scene.</p> <p>Looking back at film reviews offers insight into how audiences received this character – and, by extension, Johns as an actor. American studies scholar Lori Kenschaft <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Girls_Boys_Books_Toys.html?id=Or13vhnA_W4C">suggests</a> that film critics who saw Mrs Banks as a “nutty suffragette mother” reiterated popular stereotypes about suffragettes and feminists being “mentally unbalanced”.</p> <p>Such stereotypes may have been reinforced by the film’s depiction of motherhood and the nuclear family. Involved parenting emerged as the bedrock of the 1960s nuclear family, an idea both supported and actively promoted by Walt Disney in both his films and his theme parks, as <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Children_Childhood_and_Musical_Theater/XHrRDwAAQBAJ">argued</a> by American musicologist William A. Everett.</p> <p>As Mrs Banks, Johns embodied the transition from the distant, uninvolved parenting of the British middle-class in the earlier 20th century to the involved mother who facilitated the stable nuclear family. As women’s studies scholar Anne McLeer <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316893">argues</a>, Mary Poppins, through Johns’ portrayal of Mrs Banks, demonstrated the liberated woman of the 1960s could be contained within the nuclear family: the bedrock for a Western capitalist economy.</p> <h2>A long career</h2> <p>Beyond Mary Poppins, her most prominent role was in Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical A Little Night Music (1973).</p> <p>Johns originated the character of ageing actress Desiree Armfeldt, becoming the first to sing Send in the Clowns. As she <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-17-ca-126-story.html">reflected</a> of the classic in 1991: "It’s still part of me. And when you’ve got a song like Send in the Clowns, it’s timeless."</p> <p>Sondheim composed this song with Johns’s famously husky voice in mind. Yet some were less enamoured with her performance. One 1973 theatre critic <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3850619">described</a> Johns as “a now somewhat overage tomboy, kittenish and raspy-voiced, precise and amusing in her delivery of lines but utterly, utterly unseductive.”</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OAl-EawVobY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>A veteran of stage and screen, Johns appeared in more than 60 films and 30 plays. In 1998, she was honoured with a Disney Legends Award for her role as Mrs Banks. Johns also received critical acclaim throughout her career, including a Laurel Award for Mary Poppins and a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for A Little Night Music.</p> <p>Regardless of how incongruous her status as a “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-05/glynis-johns-mary-poppins-send-in-the-clowns/103287036">Disney feminist icon</a>” may be, Johns’s extraordinary influence upon the 20th century’s cultural memory is a remarkable legacy. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/220766/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ana-stevenson-196768"><em>Ana Stevenson</em></a><em>, Senior Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lindsay-helwig-1500979">Lindsay Helwig</a>, Lecturer in Pathways, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Disney</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vale-sister-suffragette-how-glynis-johns-became-a-pop-culture-icon-in-the-story-of-votes-for-women-220766">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Patti Newton's desperate plea to her troubled son

<p>Patti Newton has issued a desperate plea to her son Matthew, who has spent two years out of the spotlight and has built a new life in America. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/womansday" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Woman's Day</em></a>, Patti is determined to see her family reunited, as she wishes for Matthew to return to Australia. </p> <p>After a series of scandals, Matthew fled the country and has since created a new life for himself in Texas with his <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/huge-matthew-newton-mystery-confirmed-during-bert-s-funeral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wife</a> Catherine Schneiderman. </p> <p>Matthew was arrested twice in 2012 following altercations in Miami, following a string of scandals in Australia, including several domestic violence allegations a charge of assault. </p> <p>Despite her son now living his best life in the US, Patti desperately wants him to return home. </p> <p>"Moving to Texas is the best thing either of them could have done. They're loving a new outdoorsy life and they're both looking and feeling great," a source told the magazine.</p> <p>"[But] Patti desperately wants them to come home to Australia."</p> <p>It's been several years since Matthew returned home, as he chose <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/why-matt-newton-won-t-be-attending-bert-s-funeral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not to return</a> for his father Bert's funeral in 2021. </p> <p>Matthew, who suffers from bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and has a history of addiction, refrains from the spotlight after having a stint in the Australian entertainment scene with a series of TV shows and movies. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Ten</em></p>

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Patti Newton's candid confession two years on from Bert's death

<p>Patti Newton has made a heartbreaking confession about her wonderful relationship with her late husband Bert. </p> <p>The veteran entertainer, 78, told the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/bert-will-always-be-the-love-of-my-life-patti-newton-20231115-p5ek53.html?collection=p5eoey&amp;gb=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sydney Morning Herald</em></a> that she is still haunted by Bert's death in 2021, and admitted he will always be her one true love. </p> <p>"Bert will always be the love of my life. I'll never stop thinking about him," she told the publication. </p> <p>She then revealed some of the heartfelt ways she keeps Bert's memory alive since he passed away on October 30th 2021, after a long and complicated illness.</p> <p>"When Bert was in Epworth Hospital, he had this little wooden cross. A friend of mine had given it to him. Bert used to pick it up from the tray and kiss it," she said.</p> <p>"He'd hold it for a minute and then put it down. I take it to the theatre with me and before a show I pick it up and kiss it."</p> <p>"I hold it to my heart as he did and say, 'Come on Bert, we're on.' He comes on stage with me."</p> <p>Patti made the heartbreaking admission just weeks after Patti and Bert's 49th wedding anniversary. </p> <p>Bert has long <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/how-bert-newton-inspired-patti-s-new-role-on-the-stage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inspired</a> Patti's career on the stage, as she previously shared how she believes her role in the Mary Poppins musical was brought to her by her late husband. </p> <p>Speaking candidly with Perth's 6PR radio station, Patti admitted she had a bittersweet feeling about returning to the stage without Bert. </p> <p>"I love a lot of musical theatre and Bert's done some fabulous shows, he and I did a couple together and musical theatre is something that gets in your blood," she told <em>6PR's Perth Live with Oliver Peterson</em>.</p> <p>"When I was offered this role, it wasn't long after Bert passed and I was very lost and didn't quite know what I was going to do."</p> <p>"Then this came and I thought to myself, 'I think Bert sent this to me' because it's come straight from heaven, it's a beautiful role."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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John Laws hangs up in disgust on Kyle and Jackie O

<p>The radio waves became a battlefield this morning as the titans of Australian talkback clashed in a dramatic showdown involving corset dresses, colon procedures – and a surprise departure for medical attention.</p> <p>The day kicked off with Jackie O making a grand entrance, albeit a slightly woozy one, having undergone surgery to bid farewell to a cervical polyp. Kyle, ever the supportive co-host, explained to listeners that Jackie was feeling under the weather and experiencing some tingling in her arm. (Because, as you know, corset dresses and surgery recovery are a match made in radio heaven.)</p> <p>"She just stepped out for a lay down. She’s got like a corset dress on and she had an operation yesterday," Kyle explained, giving us all a mental image of a radio host napping in style.</p> <p>But that was just the appetiser. The main course featured none other than radio legend John Laws, who decided to play hardball with the hosts in a dramatic fashion. Scheduled for an interview to celebrate an impressive 70 years on-air, Laws decided he'd had enough after catching wind of Jackie O's surgical  – and, let's face it, highly graphic – revelations.</p> <p>Jackie O explained to a bemused Kyle that her surgeon had operated on her “via the colon or the vagina, I’m not sure which... What must I have looked like on the operating table? Nude, shower cap...” </p> <p>Now, let's take a moment to appreciate the delicacy of the situation. Laws, a seasoned broadcaster, chose that exact moment to hang up on the dynamic duo faster than you can say "corset controversy". Apparently, the mere thought of following that "real" a discussion about medical procedures, particularly those involving the nether regions, was way too much for his delicate radio palate.</p> <p>In an unexpected turn of events, Laws' assistant then became the unwilling messenger between the offended radio icon and and the KIISFM hosts. “Is it true he got angry about Jackie’s disgusting story?” Kyle asked. The assistant revealed that Laws "just doesn’t like it, Jackie. He doesn’t like following all that talk about vaginas." A sentiment we're sure many have echoed when trying to enjoy their morning coffee.</p> <p>But the cherry on top was Laws hanging up not once, but twice! Cementing forever his stance on steering clear of on-air discussions involving surgical escapades.</p> <p>Jackie O valiantly defended herself, insisting it wasn't gratuitous and was, in fact, a perfectly normal chat about a medical procedure. Laws, unmoved, made it clear he had no interest in such shenanigans.</p> <p>As if that weren't enough drama for one day, Jackie O had to bow out early due to feeling unwell, prompting Kyle to make a mercy call to Laws on-air to explain the situation. Laws, ever the gentleman, softened his stance, admitting he was just surprised at the talk and muttering a nonchalant "never mind".</p> <p>After that morning of medical misadventures, corset calamities and a radio veteran hanging up, who would have guessed that a discussion about surgery could cause such a ruckus?</p> <p><em>Images: KIISFM / X </em></p>

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"Kevin Kline and I killed a man in Denmark": John Cleese's startling admission

<p>John Cleese has made a startling admission on his new video series, <em>The Dinosaur Hour</em>, where he hosts intimate chats from a twelfth-century castle.</p> <p>The <em>Monty Python</em> actor claimed that he inadvertently killed someone at a screening of his 1988 comedy film <em>A Fish Called Wanda, </em>which co-starred Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis. </p> <p>“We killed a man … Kevin Kline and I killed a man in Denmark,” Cleese said, according to the <em>Daily Mail</em>. </p> <p>“He was a dentist, he had a huge laugh. A famous laugh. Very popular. It was in Aarhus, not a big town, but everybody knew him," he added. </p> <p>“And he went to see Wanda and he started laughing about two minutes in and never stopped.</p> <p>“They carried him out dead, he’d had a heart attack.”</p> <p>Cleese is known for his shock factor during TV appearances and interviews. </p> <p>In July, the <em>The Fawlty Towers </em>actor <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/i-don-t-want-to-talk-about-it-john-cleese-shuts-down-waleed-aly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut down </a>Waleed Aly's question about the iconic sitcom before poking fun at the <em>The Project</em> star's name. </p> <p>“We can’t let you go without talking about Fawlty Towers – at least I can’t, because I think it’s one of the greatest shows …” the broadcaster began, before Cleese shut him down. </p> <p>“I don’t want to talk about Fawlty Towers,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Happy ending after company's awful retirement send-off

<p>An elderly gentleman in the United States, who had faithfully served as an "extremely dependable" employee for 42 years, recently experienced a remarkable change in his fortunes, thanks in large part to the generosity of individuals from Australia.</p> <p>John Bartlett, the dedicated worker in question, had received <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/you-deserve-more-company-slammed-over-measly-send-off-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">underwhelming recognition from an unnamed company</a> for his decades of commitment. His daily 40-minute commute on public transportation to a job paying only the minimum wage went largely unnoticed until recently, causing widespread consternation.</p> <p>Sonia, one of his colleagues, was deeply moved by the perceived injustice and decided to share a video clip of Bartlett's story online. In her post, she expressed her wish that his hard work had been better acknowledged and thanked him for his unwavering loyalty. She noted that Bartlett loved his job so much that he was reluctant to retire, receiving nothing more than a barbecue and a certificate as a token of appreciation.</p> <p>After sharing Bartlett's story on social media, Sonia was inundated with messages from people eager to contribute to his well-deserved retirement. Responding to this outpouring of support, she set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/happy-retirement-john#xd_co_f=YjM1NWNiYzAtN2QwYS00MDc2LTgzZWEtNzRiYzE2ZjczZDU2~" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> campaign, inviting the public to contribute "a little something for a better retirement" for him.</p> <p>Within a matter of days, the fundraiser received an overwhelming response, with donations and messages pouring in from around the world, including numerous contributions from Australians. The campaign was eventually closed after more than 1,900 individuals contributed, resulting in a total of A$57,454 for Bartlett's retirement fund.</p> <p>In his 70s, Bartlett was left speechless when Sonia shared this incredible news with him. She conveyed the global impact of his story and the messages of support he had received from people across the globe. Overwhelmed by the gesture, Bartlett could only smile and nod in response.</p> <p>“They left messages for you," said Sonia in the video. "So I’m going to print it out and go ahead and make something nice for you so you can read it on your own time. We started the GoFundMe because they wanted to give you something for your retirement on their part and it just blew up overnight. You deserve it, OK? I’m going to make sure everything goes to your account, just for you.”</p> <p>Supporters encouraged Bartlett to use the funds for special treats, like a grand holiday or for spending time with loved ones. Messages from donors expressed their heartfelt wishes for his retirement and new beginnings.</p> <p>Sonia expressed her gratitude to the donors, assuring them that every cent raised would be placed directly into Bartlett's account. In her final update to the GoFundMe account, she thanked donors for their kindness and reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring Bartlett received every penny, attributing the success of the campaign to their collective efforts.</p> <p>In the end, the power of community and compassion won out, as people from all walks of life came together to make a meaningful difference in the life of an individual who had dedicated so much to his job.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Retirement Life

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“You deserve more”: Company slammed over measly send-off party

<p dir="ltr">A company has been slammed online for their measly attempt to farewell a hard-working employee of 42 years. </p> <p dir="ltr">John Barlett was a dedicated worker for four decades, commuting long distances to work at minimum wage and give his all to his colleagues. </p> <p dir="ltr">After 42 years of hard work, John announced his retirement from the company, prompting a measly farewell party from his place of work. </p> <p dir="ltr">One of John’s longtime co-worker, Sonia, was devastated over the injustice, sharing a short clip to social media of John – now in his 70s – and what she felt was his hard work going unappreciated.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Today is my co-worker’s last day. He worked for this company for 42 years making minimum wage,” Sonia wrote with the video. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The company only threw him a barbecue and gave him a certificate. He takes the bus and Bart (train) to get here every day on time. He’s 70+.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He loves working here so much he didn’t want to retire. [He got] No bonus, just a barbecue and a certificate. Don’t be a slave to your job. Thank you John for your loyalty.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video quickly went viral and was flooded with comments of support for John, with one person even suggesting that John start a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/happy-retirement-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> for people to contribute to his retirement. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the fundraiser, she revealed John could not drive because of a disability, but “rain or shine” would always make it to work.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was “extremely dependable”, Sonia added, revealing it had been difficult to convince him to take a break because he always wanted to work. </p> <p dir="ltr">He was “one of the most talented and hard working” employees at the company and his energy was “unmatched”, she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“He has no wife or kids, however he does have a nephew whom he loves dearly,” she wrote in the fundraiser.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It would be nice to give him some kind of company or something to do so he knows that he’s special and loved.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the few days since the GoFundMe was created, it has raised almost $45,000, as many shared their comments of support.</p> <p dir="ltr">One person wrote, “Happy retirement, John. You deserve more than what this company has offered you. Wish you all the best in your life and your future.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Ted Lasso star ordered to pay massive child support sum

<p>Jason Sudeikis has been ordered to pay ex Olivia Wilde an enormous sum of child support, as a bitter two-year custody battle draws to a close. </p> <p>According to new court filings obtained by <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/25/jason-sudeikis-and-olivia-wilde-settle-custody-battle-actor-to-pay-27500-per-month/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em>, the<em> Ted Lasso</em> star has allegedly agreed to pay his ex $27,500 ($A42,800) per month in child support for their two kids, Otis, 9, and Daisy, 6. </p> <p>The hefty settlement has been based on Sudeikis' reported 2023 income of $10.5 million ($A16.3 million) and Wilde’s estimated income of $500,000 ($A778,000).</p> <p>“The parties agree that child support for the minor children in the amount of $27,500 per month is sufficient to maintain the needs of the minor children considering Jason’s station in life … is consistent with each child’s best interest, and application of the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate in this case,” the court papers reportedly state.</p> <p>The legal proceedings began two years ago, and took a dramatic turn in 2022 when Wilde, who was promoting her new movie <em>Don't Worry Darling</em> at the time, was served legal papers while on stage delivering a speech at CinemaCon. </p> <p>At the time, a source told <em><a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/04/29/olivia-wilde-mortified-after-being-served-with-legal-papers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Page Six</a></em> that Wilde was mortified over the brazen act. </p> <p>“It seemed unthinkable to her, and it took a moment to set in, but as mortifying as it was, she did not want to give a reaction,” the insider explained.</p> <p>Since then, things have improved for the couple, as they were both seen putting on a united front at Otis' soccer game in LA. </p> <p>Wilde and Sudeikis started dating in November 2011 and got engaged in January 2013. They welcomed their two kids before separating in November 2020.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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How Bert Newton inspired Patti's new role on the stage

<p>Patti Newton has shared how her late husband Bert inspired her new role on the stage. </p> <p>The 78-year-old, who has had a long career in showbiz, has joined the cast of <em>Mary Poppins</em> as the bird lady, but held her reservations before accepting the role. </p> <p>Speaking candidly with Perth's 6PR radio station, Patti admitted she had a bittersweet feeling about returning to the stage without Bert. </p> <p>"I love a lot of musical theatre and Bert's done some fabulous shows, he and I did a couple together and musical theatre is something that gets in your blood," she told 6PR's Perth <em>Live with Oliver Peterson</em>.</p> <p>"When I was offered this role, it wasn't long after Bert passed and I was very lost and didn't quite know what I was going to do."</p> <p>"Then this came and I thought to myself, 'I think Bert sent this to me' because it's come straight from heaven, it's a beautiful role."</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/CvO8noRtRsp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvO8noRtRsp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mary Poppins Musical Australia (@marypoppinsmusicalau)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In August, Patti was awarded with a Walk of Fame star at Adelaide Festival Centre, 22 years after Bert was presented with the same honour. </p> <p>Patti told Oliver Peterson that the accolade meant they would "always be together", as she reflected on the highlights of her career. </p> <p>"I was absolutely thrilled, it was probably for me going to Vietnam many years ago in the '60s entertaining the troops - and probably the fact that I'm Mrs Bert Newton," she said.</p> <p>"Now I think it doesn't matter what happens, now we'll always be together on that Walk of Fame and we've both got a star there." </p> <p>"I was really thrilled about that, I thought that was very, very moving for me."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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