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"Spineless and cowardly": Grace Tame hits back at Albo

<p>Grace Tame has penned a blistering attack on Anthony Albanese and his Labor government after the PM called out her "disrespectful" outfit choice. </p> <p>T<span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">he former Australian of the Year winner was greeted by Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, at The Lodge in Canberra on Saturday to honour the 2025 Australian of the Year finalists, as she donned a t-shirt that said "F*** Murdoch". </span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Speaking with <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #258440; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/perth" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">ABC Radio Perth</a></em> on Monday, Albanese was asked about his meeting with Tame and his views on her T-shirt, as he said her stunt was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disrespectful-pm-hits-out-at-grace-tame-s-australia-day-stunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disrespectful</a> towards the award finalists.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I held a function. It is something that, in my view, took away from the people who were there, and my focus was simply on that,” he said.</p> <p>But now, Tame has hit back at the Prime Minister, accusing Mr Albanese of presiding over a "spineless" and "cowardly" government, revealing the real response to her t-shirt inside The Lodge.</p> <p>In a damning 1,500-word essay published by news website <em><a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/01/29/grace-tame-t-shirt-rupert-murdoch-anthony-albanese/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Crikey</a></em>, Tame took issue with Mr Albanese's suggestion that her outfit took attention away from other award nominees.</p> <p>"Surely these were not the same people who asked to take selfies with me wearing the t-shirt in the courtyard, who commended me for taking a stand and staying true to myself?", she wrote. </p> <p>"These people — including medical doctors, academics, scientists, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, athletes, advocates and even a former soldier who proudly showed me their own anti-Murdoch merchandise?" </p> <p>"As I was leaving The Lodge, one of the prime minister’s staff remarked, 'There are many of us here who wish we could wear that shirt.' Afterwards, journalists wanted to pose beside me."</p> <p>Tame also called out the Prime Minster and his government for having "weak knees" over its stance on Israel during the country's devastating occupation of Gaza. </p> <p>"We’ve all watched in disgust over the past 16 months as the once-impassioned politician, who used to make speeches in Parliament supporting Palestinian liberation, has overseen the contortion of his government’s PR apparatus in defence of Israel’s genocidal operation," she wrote. </p> <p>She went on to describe Australia as a "spineless colony of the United States" and accused both Labor and the Coalition of being in hock to the Murdoch-owned Press.</p> <p>"When presented with a petition that received more than half a million signatures demanding a royal commission into the Murdoch regime, Anthony Albanese did nothing," Ms Tame wrote. </p> <p>She added, "Anthony’s predictable response to my two-word statement has reinforced just how poisonous Murdoch’s grip on the Western world still is."</p> <p>"It’s also revealed that while Australia casts itself as a laidback larrikin, game for a laugh, it is in fact a cowardly cop bought by the illusion of civility politics."</p> <p>Despite her decimation of the PM and his government, Tame conceded that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would be a "more dangerous prime minister than Anthony Albanese".</p> <p>Tame concluded her essay by writing that "Big conversations start with simple, effective messages," and despite the PM's disapproval of her statement, she does not regret her actions. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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"Disrespectful": PM hits out at Grace Tame's Australia Day stunt

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Grace Tame for "taking focus away" from the 2025 Australian of the Year finalists with her choice of outfit. </p> <p>The former Australian of the Year winner was greeted by Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, at The Lodge in Canberra on Saturday, as she donned a t-shirt that said "F*** Murdoch". </p> <p>Speaking with <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/perth" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">ABC Radio Perth</a></em> on Monday, Albanese was asked about his meeting with Tame and his views on her T-shirt, as he said her stunt was disrespectful towards the award's finalists. </p> <p>“I held a function. It is something that, in my view, took away from the people who were there, and my focus was simply on that,” he said.</p> <p>Albanese believed Tame’s decision to wear the t-shirt had clearly been designed to get attention, as he said, “I don’t intend to add to that attention because I do think that it takes away from what the day should be about, which is the amazing people who were nominated as Australians of the Year.”</p> <p>When asked if he agreed with the message of what Tame was trying to portray, Albanese said that he “clearly disagreed” and he wants debate to be respectful, adding, “People are allowed to express themselves, but I thought it was disrespectful of the event and of the people who that event was primarily for.”</p> <p>Tame explained her decision to wear the shirt to the event to <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/25/grace-tame-wears-anti-murdoch-shirt-to-prime-minister-anthony-albanese-australian-of-the-year-morning-tea-ntwnfb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian Australia</a></em>, saying, “[The T-shirt is] clearly not just about Murdoch, it’s the obscene greed, inhumanity and disconnection that he symbolises, which are destroying our planet.”</p> <p>“For far too long this world and its resources have been undemocratically controlled by a small number of morbidly wealthy oligarchs. If we want to dismantle this corrupt system, if we want legitimate climate action, equity, truth, justice, democracy, peace, land back, etc, then resisting forces like Murdoch is a good starting point.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Awkwardness can hit in any social situation – here are a philosopher’s 5 strategies to navigate it with grace

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandra-plakias-1512990">Alexandra Plakias</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/hamilton-college-2966">Hamilton College</a></em></p> <p>The holidays offer many opportunities for awkward moments. Political discussions, of course, hold plenty of potential. But any time opinions differ, where estrangements have caused lingering rifts, or when behaviors veer toward the inappropriate, awkwardness can set in.</p> <p>Awkwardness is what happens in social interactions when you suddenly find yourself without a script to guide you through. Maybe the situation is new or catches you off guard. Maybe you don’t know what’s expected of you, or you aren’t sure what role you’re playing in the social drama around you. It’s characterized by feelings of self-consciousness, uncertainty and discomfort.</p> <p>As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vyBxhaQAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=ao">philosopher who studies moral psychology</a>, I’m interested in awkwardness because I wanted to understand the ways social discomfort stops people from engaging with difficult topics and challenging conversations. Awkwardness seems to inhibit people, even when their moral values suggest they should speak up. But it has a positive role to play, too – it <a href="https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/our-books/awkwardness">can alert people to areas where their social norms are lacking</a> or outdated.</p> <p>People often blame themselves when things take a turn toward the awkward. But awkwardness is really a collective failure – people aren’t awkward, situations are. And they become awkward because you don’t have the resources to navigate your way through tricky social situations.</p> <p>Awkwardness is often confused with embarrassment, but the two are different in important ways, and so are their remedies. Embarrassment is a response to <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2772920">a personal failing or gaffe</a>, and the <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/born_to_blush">right response is to acknowledge it, own it and move on</a>. Because awkwardness is caused by a lack of social guidance, you can try to anticipate and head it off before it happens, or you can respond to it by trying to develop better or clearer social scripts to help you – and others – navigate similar situations in the future.</p> <p>After researching and writing an entire <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197683606.001.0001">book on awkwardness</a>, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not something we can – or should – avoid altogether. But there are a few strategies people can use to minimize awkwardness and deal with it when it does, inevitably, happen.</p> <h2>1. Know your goals, know your roles</h2> <p>Uncertainty is the oxygen of awkwardness. Before you engage in a potentially awkward or contentious interaction, ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this?</p> <p>When you’re clear on your goals for the interaction, not only are you better able to perform your role in it, but you’re also giving clearer signals to others, helping them perform their roles in the unfolding social drama.</p> <p>So, if you’re worried it’ll be awkward when your uncle starts in on his annual political rant, think about what you want the outcome to be. Do you want to convince him he’s wrong? Unlikely to happen. Do you want other family members to feel less anxious? Do you want your own views to be heard?</p> <p>I’m not suggesting that some forethought will make things go smoothly or guarantee that no one’s feelings will be hurt. But it will help you feel more confident in your ability to navigate toward your desired outcome.</p> <h2>2. There’s no ‘I’ in awkward</h2> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430212441637">Awkward situations</a> breed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2010.500357">intense self-consciousness</a>. This is both uncomfortable and counterproductive. By focusing on yourself, you’re not attuned to the people around you or the signals they’re sending – signals that could offer you a pathway out of the awkward situation. So make sure you’re paying attention to the other players in the drama, not just your own discomfort.</p> <h2>3. Plan, coordinate and be explicit</h2> <p>People do so much planning in other areas of their lives, yet they expect social interactions to just flow effortlessly. But like a vacation or a hike in the woods, sometimes a conversation goes better when you approach it with a map. Have some go-to topics or questions at hand.</p> <p>And you don’t have to go it alone. If you’re worried about broaching a sensitive topic, or interacting with a particularly prickly guest, coordinate with a friend or relative.</p> <p>If you expect to see someone with whom you have an unresolved relationship – an estranged family member, an old friend you ghosted – try to do some prep work in advance. Emails or letters can give people a chance to process reactions without putting them on the spot.</p> <p>Even having a scripted activity on deck can make things less awkward. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, like a board game. Just keep some tasks available for guests who might otherwise lurk uncomfortably – like shaking up the salad dressing or putting forks on the table.</p> <h2>4. Laugh it off</h2> <p>If, despite your best efforts, awkwardness does strike, offer people a way out – they’ll probably grab it. This doesn’t need to be momentous; it could be a little joke, a small-talk topic, or even – and only if things get very desperate – knocking a spoon off the table to break the silence.</p> <h2>5. Consider the alternatives</h2> <p>These strategies might help you avoid awkwardness. But take a moment to consider whether you really want to. Awkwardness is the result of social uncertainty; it slows things down and curbs your confidence.</p> <p>In its absence, other emotions can set in. Having things out in the open can be a relief, but it can also lead to anger, sadness and other feelings that might best be saved for another occasion.</p> <p>So if things are awkward, it’s worth looking around to see what role that awkwardness is playing, and what might take its place if it’s gone.<!-- 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/244107/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><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandra-plakias-1512990">Alexandra Plakias</a>, Associate Professor of Philosophy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/hamilton-college-2966">Hamilton College</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </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/awkwardness-can-hit-in-any-social-situation-here-are-a-philosophers-5-strategies-to-navigate-it-with-grace-244107">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's daughter ties the knot at his iconic cattle station

<p>Sophia Forrest is married! </p> <p>The second child of Australian billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest and estranged wife Nicola Forrest has tied the knot with Zara Zoe more than two years after the couple announced their engagement. </p> <p>Sophia, who is non-binary and goes by they/them pronouns, and Zoe wed in a lavish ceremony on Twiggy's Western Australia property Minderoo Station. </p> <p>In an interview with Vogue Australia, the couple shared the reason why they chose Minderoo Station as their venue. </p> <p>“It’s so remote and tranquil,” the couple said. </p> <p>“It’s always been an oasis for us to escape to.” </p> <p>The pair shared a photo of their first kiss on Instagram, with Sophia looking stunning in a halter neck wedding dress, and their partner Zoe donned a fitting white suit with bell bottom pants. </p> <p>Sophia was nominated for Most Popular New Talent at the Logie Awards for their role in series<em> Love Child</em>.</p> <p>A year later Sophia met Zoe on the set of<em> Rise Like a Girl</em>. </p> <p>The couple announced their engagement on social media in April 2022, with Sophia writing at the time: "She makes heaven a place on earth."</p> <p>Friends were quick to congratulate the couple on their wedding, with Aussie actress Krew Boylan writing: "Congratulations!!! Enjoy all the love and oxytocin tumbling your way . Big kisses from me." </p> <p>"Ugh 😍" added former <em>Home and Away </em>star Lukas Radovich. </p> <p>"GORGEOUS 😍 congratulations to you both!!!! Lots of love ❤️‍🔥" commented Aussie actress Karina Banno. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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Bindi Irwin sparks controversy over photoshop claims

<p>Bindi Irwin has responded to claims that she photoshopped a series of photos featuring a red panda named Teddy and her three-year-old-daughter Grace. </p> <p>Earlier this month, the wildlife warrior shared the images of the red panda sitting on Grace's lap on social media with the caption: “Meet Teddy. The sweetest red panda with a true love for snack time. I hope you can meet him on your next #AustraliaZoo adventure.”</p> <p>Fans were quick to speculate whether Teddy was real and if the image had been digitally manipulated. </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/C-gS9r-TWIP/?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/C-gS9r-TWIP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Pretty sure that’s a Photoshop image," one wrote. </p> <p>“He looks Photoshopped into the second one!”, another added.</p> <p>"That guy looks wild! Almost looks fake," a third added. </p> <p>Bindi responded to their speculation in the comments saying: “I think it’s so funny how some people think that our sweet red panda was Photoshopped,” she said.</p> <p>“I can tell you with absolute certainty that these photos are 100 per cent real (thank you @kateberryphotography for taking such beautiful pictures) and Teddy is in no way Photoshopped.”</p> <p>She ended her message with: “Hope you have a wonderful day and just a note … I’ll always share real wildlife moments with you. That’s kinda my thing …”</p> <p>Other fans supported Bindi, responding to haters: “You’re literally commenting on an Irwin’s pic.”</p> <p>“Why would this page ever Photoshop themselves with an animal, it’s a ZOO,” another said.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Grace Tame reveals unexpected health diagnosis

<p>After years of dismissing her symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain and vomiting, Grace Tame has revealed that she has endometriosis. </p> <p>Tame, an activist for survivors of sexual assault, is among the one in nine Australian women and girls who suffer from the debilitating disease, which mostly affects the reproductive organs. </p> <p>She announced the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday morning and revealed that she underwent surgery to remove the endometriosis from her bowel, pelvic walls and sacral ligaments on May 24.</p> <p>The former Australian of the Year, initially ignored the symptoms thinking it was due to her traumatic experiences of child sex abuse that she endured when she was 15-years-old, but only recently discovered the actual cause of her pain. </p> <p>"It’s easy to fall into the trap of internalising trauma to our detriment," she said.</p> <p>"I always assumed persistent sexual abuse alone caused my chronic pelvic pain, and learned to disassociate from most of it.</p> <p>"The episodes of violent sickness I put down to food poisoning. That is, until the end of 2022, when I began vomiting weekly into early 2023.</p> <p>"After negative screenings for Crohn’s, coeliac and IBD, my cousin Morgan encouraged me to see a gynaecologist for the first time in over a decade."</p> <p>She added that her gynaecologist suspected endo, and later on confirmed <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">the diagnosis </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">in a laparoscopic operation.</span></p> <p>"Surgery went smoothly, and as I write this, I can’t help but feel extremely grateful to be where I am, even if removal isn’t the panacea for this disease,” she said, hoping to raise more awareness for the disease.</p> <p>“Grateful knowing, in the absence of both prevention and cure, there are still options, and we’re not alone," she said. </p> <p>She also added that she was grateful for the support of her friends and family, and for being able to afford and access treatment. </p> <p>According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), there were 40,500 endometriosis-related hospitalisations in 2021–22, with this rate doubling in the past decade. </p> <p>In May's federal budget, the government announced a $49.1m investment into tackling endometriosis. </p> <p>From July 1, 2025, women suffering from endometriosis will have longer specialist consultations of 45 minutes or more covered under Medicare.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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All the footy stars are getting married!

<p>Love was in the air, and wedding bells rang joyfully as AFL star Jack Silvagni and his beautiful bride, Grace Phillips, sealed their love in a heartwarming ceremony over the weekend.</p> <p>The couple, who have been together since 2014, took the plunge into marital bliss in a picturesque setting in Noosa, Queensland. Their love story, culminating in a beautiful union, is a testament to the power of love and commitment.</p> <p>As the 25-year-old Carlton forward and his stunning bride exchanged vows, they did so in the company of their nearest and dearest. The joyous occasion was made even more special as it coincided with a wave of AFL weddings, with teammates Mitch McGovern and Matt Kennedy also embracing the off-season to celebrate their nuptials.</p> <p>Jack Silvagni, the eldest son of Carlton legend Stephen Silvagni and model Jo Silvagni, looked every bit the dashing groom in his suit, but the true star of the day was of course his radiant bride, Grace Phillips.</p> <p>She donned an enchanting ivory off-the-shoulder gown by Kyha Studios, setting hearts aflutter as she walked down the aisle. The couple shared their first photo as newlyweds on Instagram, a picture-perfect moment captured in time, and their caption, "19•10•23 🤍", was a simple but powerful declaration of their love.</p> <p>The Carlton Football Club, recognising the significance of the day, congratulated the newlyweds with heartfelt wishes on their official Instagram account, "Congratulations Jack and Grace 💍💕." It was a wonderful show of support from their football family, acknowledging that love and happiness transcend the boundaries of the game.</p> <p>Surrounded by a guest list that included their closest friends and family, the day was filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments. Silvagni's Carlton teammates, Patrick Cripps, Jack Martin and Sam Docherty, were in attendance to witness this beautiful chapter in their lives.</p> <p>Silvagni's proposal to Phillips last year marked the beginning of their journey towards this day. Their engagement, shared on the same day as Richmond's Tom Lynch and Olivia Burke, was a special moment that foreshadowed the love-filled year ahead. Burke, the Senior Marketing Manager for Kyha Studios, wore the same brand that Phillips chose for her wedding dress, adding a poetic touch to their story.</p> <p>In the world of football, love clearly knows no bounds, as Western Bulldogs star Jason Johannisen also recently tied the knot, marrying Logan Shine in Bali. And Carlton star Mitch McGovern also found his forever love over the weekend, marrying Kirsten Prater in South Australia.</p> <p>With so much love in the air, it's clear that the AFL community knows how to celebrate both on and off the field. Silvagni and Phillips' wedding day was not just a celebration of their love, but a reminder that love conquers all and brings joy to everyone it touches. We wish the newlyweds a lifetime filled with love, happiness, and memorable moments.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Sophia Loren rushed to hospital

<p>Hollywood Icon Sophia Loren, aged 89, has been rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery following a fall at her residence in Switzerland.</p> <p>The revered Italian actress sustained multiple fractures, including a severe fracture of her femur, as disclosed by a source to <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>.</p> <p>The source elaborated that Loren had an unfortunate accident in her bathroom, necessitating an extensive period of rehabilitation. Nevertheless, her family holds "cautious optimism" regarding her eventual recovery.</p> <p>Reliable sources have informed us that Loren's sons, Carlo and Edoardo, have been faithfully at her side during her hospitalisation.</p> <p>The shocking news of Loren's fall and her subsequent hospitalisation were also shared by a restaurant named after her, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">disrupting plans for the grand opening of the restaurant in the Italian city of Bari, scheduled for September 26.</span></p> <p>Additionally, the event was intended to honour Loren with honorary citizenship in the city. However, all preparations for these festivities have been abruptly canceled.</p> <p>The restaurant conveyed its support for Loren's journey to recovery through a social media post, assuring everyone that she is on a "road to rehabilitation".</p> <p>The post offered solace by stating, "Thankfully everything worked out for the best, and the Lady will be back with us very soon."</p> <p>The entire post from the restaurant, translated from Italian, reads:</p> <p>"Today, a fall at her home in Geneva caused Mrs. Loren to suffer hip fractures. Having undergone a successful operation, she will now have to undergo a short period of convalescence followed by a rehabilitation process. Fortunately everything went well and the Lady will be back with us very soon.</p> <p>The entire Sophia Loren Restaurant team takes this opportunity to wish her a speedy recovery."</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/Cxlhjd-r4bI/?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/Cxlhjd-r4bI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sophia Loren Restaurant (@sophialorenrestaurant)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Prior to this unfortunate incident, Loren's most recent public appearance occurred at the Venice Film Festival on September 2.</p> <p>With a remarkable career spanning over six decades, her latest film credit came in 2020 with a Netflix production titled <em>The Life Ahead</em>.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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“Only an Irwin!”: Bindi’s latest update on Grace stuns fans

<p dir="ltr">The Wildlife Warrior cannot hide her pride in the latest update showing just how well Grace is following the family’s nature-loving footsteps.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bindi Irwin took to Instagram to share a video of Grace exploring a beach in Australia as the proud parents watched on.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Winter #Beachday” she captioned the photo.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was one tiny detail in the video that caught everyone’s attention, and it was the moment Grace said "Like a plesiosaur” as she walked through the water.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bindi echoed her daughter’s statement, and fans were stunned at the two-year-old’s knowledge of animals.</p> <p dir="ltr">Plesiosaurs are aquatic reptiles which were common during the Jurassic period and went extinct around 66 million years ago.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuiUsdWhOAi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuiUsdWhOAi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Many fans were impressed that the two-year-old knew about the Plesiosaurs existence, while others were stunned at her articulation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How many two-year-olds know about plesiosaurs or even how to say that word, only an Irwin!!” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t even know what it is!” one fan commented to which another one added: “Same 😂🤣I was like a please?..”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s very impressive, you’re raising her to appreciate nature and every living thing on the planet 🌎 even the species that don’t exist anymore aww 🥰,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few others commented on the “magical” view and how proud the late Steve Irwin would be of his granddaughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You know Grampa Steve is looking down on you with a happy smile on his face,” one commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So sweet your Dad is beaming from above,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just last month Bindi posted an adorable <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/irwin-genes-are-strong-bindi-shares-adorable-candid-snap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candid snap</a> of her daughter cuddling a giant tortoise, and Grace’s love for animals only seems to grow.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Embarrassed": Andy Murray's hilarious daughter revelation

<p>It seems that while the world showers him with praise at Wimbledon, UK tennis great Andy Murray's own flesh and blood knows just how to bring him back down to earth.</p> <p>In a pre-Wimbledon press conference, the former champ shared a delightful tale about his seven-year-old daughter, Sophia. Brace yourself for cuteness overload.</p> <p>“My eldest daughter is aware, now, of what I do, but I don’t think she really sees it as a good thing,” he said, according to talkSPORT.</p> <p>“I think she gets more embarrassed by it, to be honest. We went to pick her up from school on Friday, and she will never properly acknowledge me at the school gates or around the other kids at school."</p> <p>Naturally, Andy was baffled by little Sophia's reaction and demanded an explanation later that evening.</p> <p>“I asked her that night, ‘Why wouldn't you give me a hug at school today?’ She said, ‘Because people know you. You’re number 39 in tennis or something!’</p> <p>“She doesn’t see it as a cool thing. It is more embarrassing.”</p> <p>It seems little Sophia doesn't see her dad's tennis prowess as cool or impressive. Quite the opposite. She finds it utterly cringeworthy.</p> <p>To add to the hilarity, Sophia has adopted a rather unconventional approach when referring to her dad in front of her friends. Instead of a simple "dad," she nonchalantly drops the name "Andy Murray" like it's the punchline of a joke.</p> <p>Moving on to more serious matters, Murray faced a monumental challenge in his second-round match against Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas (at least, at the time of writing, it was still going, with the match suspended due to curfew). </p> <p>But let's not forget Murray's triumphant first-round victory over fellow Brit Ryan Peniston. In a display of dominance, he dispatched his compatriot in straight sets, all while being observed by the illustrious Princess of Wales and the legendary Roger Federer from the Royal Box.</p> <p>With his daughter keeping him grounded and his tennis skills on display, Murray is surely experiencing quite the rollercoaster at Wimbledon. Who knows what other humorous anecdotes will come to light during his epic journey? One thing's for certain: Sophia won't let him forget how "embarrassing" he can be, even as a global tennis star.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / Resurfacing </em></p>

Family & Pets

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“Irwin genes are strong”: Bindi shares adorable candid snap

<p>Bindi Irwin has delighted fans after sharing a sweet snap of her two-year-old daughter, Grace Warrior cuddling a giant tortoise.</p> <p>The wildlife warrior took to Instagram to share the sweet snap with a comparison photo of herself hugging a giant tortoise when she was around Grace’s age.</p> <p>“Holding my newborn daughter wondering if she’ll love wildlife like I did” she captioned one of the photos in the Reel.</p> <p>The next two photos showed comparison photos of the mother-daughter duo which showed that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.</p> <p>“Our Grace Warrior, the Wildlife Warrior," she captioned the post.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs4wPGzBjZZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs4wPGzBjZZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The adorable photo has been praised by fans who commented how proud Steve Irwin would be of his daughter and granddaughter.</p> <p>"It’s in the Irwin blood! You guys have the most beautiful connection with wildlife and each other! Steve Irwin genes are strong!” wrote one fan.</p> <p>"Your dad is probably so so proud looking down,” commented a second person.</p> <p>"This gives me happy goosebumps babe,” wrote a third.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Benedict Cumberbatch fearing for his life after terrifying home invasion

<p>Benedict Cumberbatch and his family have reportedly been left fearing for their lives as a knife-wielding man broke into the star’s North London home and threatened him.</p> <p>The <em>Daily Mail </em>reported that 35-year-old Jack Bissell, who previously worked as a chef at the Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair, kicked his way through the front gate of the Marvel star’s multimillion-dollar property, allegedly shouting, “I know you’ve moved here. I hope it burns down.”</p> <p>Cumberbatch, 46, his wife, Sophia Hunter, 45, and their three children were reportedly in the home at the time of the break-in and could hear the intruder screaming outside, according to <em>Page Six</em>.</p> <p>Bissell also allegedly took one of the family’s plants and threw it at the garden wall, and ripped the intercom off the building after spitting on it.</p> <p>The intruder reportedly fled the scene before police arrived but, authorities were able to track him down due to DNA evidence he left on the intercom.</p> <p>Bissell was reportedly arrested, fined and slapped with a three-year restraining order from the Cumberbatch family.</p> <p>A source told the outlet, “Naturally all of the family were absolutely terrified and thought this guy was going to get in and hurt them.</p> <p>“Luckily it never went that far. Benedict and Sophie have had many sleepless nights since, worrying that they may be targeted again,” the insider said.</p> <p>“The fact that it was a targeted intrusion makes it a lot more scary.”</p> <p>During the trial, prosecutors said Bissell allegedly told a nearby shopkeeper that he had planned to break into the actor’s home and burn it down.</p> <p>Bissell pleaded guilty and was sentenced on May 10. However, details surrounding the date of the incident have not been disclosed.</p> <p>According to the Daily Mail, facts of the case could not be reported until they “successfully challenged blanket reporting restrictions this week”.</p> <p>No clear connection between Bissell and Cumberbatch has been established.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty / Instagram</em></p>

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“Our Disney princess”: Grace Irwin’s magical milestone

<p dir="ltr">Bindi Irwin and her family were all smiles on a recent trip to “the most magical place on Earth”, with some of their favourite highlights documented on social media for their fans to enjoy the occasion right along with them.</p> <p dir="ltr">The day was something of a milestone for two-year-old Grace, who was making her first trip to Disneyland alongside Bindi and Chandler. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Our Disney princess visited the most magical place on Earth for the very first time,” Bindi wrote. “My. Heart.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the clip accompanying the caption, a series of snaps and short videos played out, though two things remained constant throughout - the delight on their faces, and the wonder on young Grace’s.</p> <p dir="ltr">It opened with a sweet family picture in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, a popular location in the centre of the park for capturing the all-important Disney portrait. </p> <p dir="ltr">Next, Grace had been introduced to a bubble wand in her dad’s arms, before the family were captured flying through the air on Disney’s Dumbo The Flying Elephant ride.</p> <p dir="ltr">From there, Grace was pictured exploring the park - on her own feet and from her mum’s embrace - as well as dancing to live music, meeting some iconic Disney characters, hosting her very own princess tea party, and experiencing the wonder of the world famous It’s a Small World attraction. </p> <p dir="ltr">All, it appears, picture perfect items on any Disneyland agenda. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cse2J6nh6S0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cse2J6nh6S0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Bindi’s followers certainly seemed to agree, flocking to her comments to gush over Bindi’s heartwarming post, all agreeing that the family must have had “the best time”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s the BEST!” author Steve Maraboli declared. “Moments and memories like that are vitamins for the soul!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That is so so special,” Australian TV personality Rove McManus said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Looks like you had the most perfect time! I loved when she was dancing for the musicians,” one fan shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Watching Disney through your child’s eyes is simply the best!!” another noted. </p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, some could only marvel at how much Grace and grown, with others simply happy to see Bindi enjoying herself in the world after her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/bindi-irwin-breaks-down-on-camera-about-health-condition">difficult health journey</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So glad to see you are feeling so much better that you can enjoy an adventure like Disney,” one wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, another wasn’t quite so sure about the whole “happiest place” side of things, revealing that while their day had looked “amazing”, they had to note “Australia Zoo is one of the most magical places on earth. Anywhere we can love and protect animals.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And, of course, Robert Irwin had to get in on the celebration, sharing a series of hearts in response to his sister’s post - just weeks after sharing his own happy snap with the youngest Irwin wildlife warrior, too. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Bindi Irwin shares daughter’s adorable transformation pics

<p dir="ltr">Bindi Irwin has stunned fans on social media after sharing her daughter, Grace’s adorable transformation pictures.</p> <p dir="ltr">The wildlife warrior took to Instagram to share a set of photos that are two years apart of the mother-daughter duo all cuddled up in celebration of Mother’s Day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then and Now ✨ Exactly two years between these photos,” Bindi wrote in the caption.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My beautiful Grace Warrior, thank you for making me a mama. Being yours is the best part of my entire existence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I love you with my entire heart, forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the first photo, Bindi was pictured looking down at her newborn daughter affectionately as she slept.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the second photo, Grace, now two years old, was pictured fast asleep in her mothers arms, with a similar expression on her face.</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/CsM_IkvBbCi/?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/CsM_IkvBbCi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Friends and fans took to the comments to share their surprise and love.</p> <p dir="ltr">Former Wiggles star, Emma Watkins, commented with three orange heart emojis.</p> <p dir="ltr">One fan wrote: “So precious! You can really see your dad in her! 🌸✌️💜”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Growing up so fast 😍,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wow. Crazy. Feels like yesterday. Happy mothers day,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Influencer divides internet with Steve Irwin stingray costume

<p> An Aussie influencer has issued an apology after posting a video of her dressed up as the stingray that killed Steve Irwin for an Australian-themed costume party.</p> <p>Sophia Begg, 19, divided the internet with her choice of costume, and has since deleted her TikTok that pictured her in the outfit she was wearing for “an Aussie dress-up party in a duo costume”.</p> <p>“They’re going as Steve Irwin and I’m going as a stingray,” she noted in the comment section, after one viewer wrote, “Steve Erwin (sic) could never.”</p> <p>The late and beloved "Crocodile Hunter" was killed on September 4, 2006, when he was pierced in the chest by a stingray barb at Queensland’s Batt Reef.</p> <p>After saying that she loved Irwin and “would never want to offend his family/loved ones”, Begg apologised in a short text video on TikTok.</p> <p>“Hi guys, I just wanted to jump on here to clear up some things,” she wrote.</p> <p>“I love Steve Irwin and would never want to cause disrespect to his family or legacy. He is an iconic aussie and no offence was meant by my costume.</p> <p>“I have thought about and reflected on my costume, and I will not be wearing it, and apologise wholeheartedly to anyone who was offended by it, that was definitely not my intention.</p> <p>“I apologise sincerely.”</p> <p>Followers were divided about whether the 19-year-old’s costume was “fine and funny” or “disrespectful and offensive” to Irwin’s family.</p> <p>“Oh lighten up. It’s been 20 years,” one commented.</p> <p>“Not the people getting offended over a stingray,” a second added.</p> <p>Another TikTok user said, “I think it’s funny and I loved Steve Irwin. Life’s too short to take seriously.”</p> <p>“I feel like Steve would have laughed at this,” someone else added.</p> <p>People in the comments noted that it would’ve been far less “disrespectful” had she “dressed as a crocodile”.</p> <p>Her post sparked more debate after appearing on an influencer watchdog account @influencer.updates.au, “Disrespectful. She could have gone as a crocodile. This is just in poor taste,” one woman said.</p> <p>“There’s dark humour and then there’s mocking how an Aussie icon died, leaving his wife and kids behind.”</p> <p>“I’d just ask myself one question. Would I wear this in front of [Irwin’s kids] Bindi and Robert? No. That’s a huge no,” one person added.</p> <p>One follower pointed out it was unlikely that Begg had “any ill intent… she should have chosen another costume”.</p> <p>“I think it’s just in really bad taste. I think Steve Irwin would have been a bit before her time but for a lot of us ‘older’ Australians, he was an absolute icon and I think it would be upsetting for his wife and children.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

News

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"A national hero": Grace Tame's tribute to Brittany Higgins

<p>Grace Tame has wished Brittany Higgins a happy birthday in the form of an emotional tribute.</p> <p>The former Australian of the Year shared a behind the scenes photo of the pair from their cover shoot with Marie Claire magazine in November 2021 of their "Women of the Year" issue. </p> <p>The photo shows the women smiling and looking relaxed, but Grace explained the picture was "nothing like the reality of that day."</p> <p>“It was anxiety, distress, exhaustion, invasion of personal space, and a quarter of an hour spent in the bathroom decompressing afterwards at dinner. It was tears.”</p> <p>In her moving tribute to Ms Higgins, Ms Tame said her friend was a “warrior” and “a national hero”.</p> <p>“Over the past 18 months of getting to know Brittany Higgins, I have been moved by a person who is thoughtful and measured, who is reserved and self-effacing."</p> <p>“I have been awed and floored by her intelligence, kindness, vulnerability and determination to keep fighting for herself and others."</p> <div id="indie-campaign-EAbKwvW1L2TJ5OnFRiOT-0" data-campaign-name="NCA LIFESTYLE Newsletter OneClick SignUp" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="" data-from="1650290400000" data-to="1681826400000"></div> <p>“She has provided support, comfort and reinforcement for myself and others amid some of the darkest, loneliest times. She is indeed a light.”</p> <p>Ms Tame also praised Ms Higgins for her response to national scrutiny in the face of her trial agains Bruce Lehrmann. </p> <p>“Brittany Higgins has taken every step of her excruciating journey under a microscope; with a nation breathing down her neck. This is no mean feat."</p> <p>“I am not a judge or jury, but I am a person who has also walked repeatedly in the line of fire – often alone – and it is not for the faint-hearted."</p> <p>“However, it is not for this reason that I stand with Brittany. It is simply because she is a decent human being. I stand with Brittany because I have compassion for her."</p> <p>“Brittany Higgins is a national hero.”</p> <p>Ms Higgins spent her 28th birthday on Wednesday in a mental health clinic in Queensland, after her trial against Mr Lehrmann was dropped out of fears for her mental health. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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“A disgrace”: Grace Tame slams Scott Morrison

<p dir="ltr">Grace Tame has hit out at former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, describing his secret acquisition of several government portfolios as a “disgrace”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Appearing on Thursday night’s episode of <em>Q&amp;A</em>, Ms Tame was asked about her thoughts on Mr Morrison’s self-appointment to five ministerial portfolios during his time as Australia’s leader, and the 23-year-old activist had plenty to say.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The gaslighting, the dishonesty, was another level that we witnessed,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He wasn’t even a good enough villain – he had the ambitions of Voldemort with the brains of Peter Griffin,’ she added, referring to the villain of the <em>Harry Potter</em> series and main character of the TV series <em>Family Guy</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s very important that we have people in positions of power that we can trust.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a disgrace – we need better than that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Her comments come after Mr Morrison became the first former Prime Minister to be censured in federal parliament - a rare move to show parliament’s condemnation of his actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morrison was condemned by members of the House of Representatives for failing to disclose that he had appointed himself as the minister for health, finance, home affairs and industry, energy, resources, science and treasury.</p> <p dir="ltr">During the <em>Q&amp;A</em> episode, Ms Tame also revealed that she has considered stepping back from her public life, given that the man who sexually abused her as a child has continued to harrass her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll be honest with you, yes I do (think about stepping back),” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve had a really hard 24 hours. This morning I was meeting with the Department of Public Prosecutions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The child sex offender who abused me has been menacing and harassing me all this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He hasn’t really stopped for the last 12 years, behind the scenes.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-301982ce-7fff-3d95-84c5-db66e50dafed"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter / Getty Images</em></p>

TV

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“What a disgrace”: Grace Tame slams footy star’s child abuse verdict

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: This article includes mentions of child sex abuse (CSA) and child exploitation material.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Activist Grace Tame has slammed the Australian legal system after former NRL star Brett Finch avoided jail time for sharing child sex abuse (CSA) material.</p> <p dir="ltr">Finch, a former halfback, pleaded guilty to one charge of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child abuse in August, but was sentenced to a $1000 two-year good behaviour bond on Wednesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 41-year-old was under the influence of drugs when he left a series of messages on a gay chat-line expressing a desire to perform sex acts on young boys.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, Finch admitted to feeling disgust at himself for making the calls, saying his intention behind them was to obtain cocaine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Tame shared her outrage in a series of posts on social media on Wednesday night, describing the verdict as a shame on Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This pathetic verdict is a shame on our nation. The fact that Judge Phillip Mahony accepted the distorted narrative alleged by Brett Finch that his production of child abuse material was a means of scoring drugs shows just how undervalued children are in Australia,” she wrote over a screenshot of a news story about Finch’s sentencing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The buck continues to stop with innocent lives. What a disgrace.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Let’s be real here: of all the avenues to score cocaine, a paedophile ring is probably THE LAST PLACE you’d need to look. In the words of Robin Williams, ‘that’s like getting chemotherapy because YOU’RE TIRED OF SHAVING YOUR HEAD’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 27-year-old said that whether his story was true or not, the outcome of his actions remains the same.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It does not change the fact that he produced child exploitation material,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It does not change the fact that he engaged with convicted paedophiles, therefore aiding and enabling the cycle of abuse culture and providing the social cue of legitimacy to a crime against humanity.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In response to his claims that the messages were just “s**t talk”, Ms Tame said it served to “dehumanise and objectify” children.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah, that’s all it ever is, isn’t it, just “s**t talk?” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s just “s**t talk” to dehumanise and objectify an underage member of your own species.”</p> <p dir="ltr">During Finch’s sentencing, Judge Phillip Mahoney described the content of the athlete’s messages as “highly depraved” and “morally reprehensible”.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years, the Crown had asked that Finch be sentenced to full-time custody.</p> <p dir="ltr">Judge Mahoney found that there were some exceptional circumstances surrounding Finch’s offending, accepting that he had been motivated by a “patently absurd” attempt to source drugs rather than out of sexual interest in children.</p> <p dir="ltr">He noted that Finch hadn’t created or shared any images and had acted alone and while under the influence, with the offending being “entirely unsophisticated”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I accept that he is genuinely remorseful for his offending conduct,” the judge said, noting Finch’s lack of a criminal record and his involvement in junior football coaching and charity work.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court heard that Finch was at the height of his drug use at the time, which had started in 2013 and peaked with his use of 12 to 25 grams of cocaine a week.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was evidence that he failed to adapt to life after his NRL career, and that he was ashamed of his actions and had been abused in public, prompting him to rarely leave his home following the arrest.</p> <p dir="ltr">Under his release order, Finch must be of good behaviour, not travel interstate or overseas without permission, and must undergo drug testing and treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>If you or someone you know have been a victim or affected by child sexual abuse, support is available. You can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380 for support.</em></p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-0aeebea0-7fff-4515-96fd-837a56bf31c7"></span></em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram / Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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The Grace Albert Park Lake: the right place for now and the future

<p>Life is a journey and each phase along the way has its own joys and challenges. When the time comes to downsize and you’re seeking a healthy retirement lifestyle where you can live your best Melbourne life, look no further than the award-winning <a href="https://www.thegracealbertparklake.com.au/?utm_source=OverSixty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Grace Albert Park Lake</a>.</p> <p>Member-owned health and wellbeing company, Australian Unity, is behind this prestigious high-rise retirement village, located in the upmarket leafy suburb of South Melbourne. The development recently won an award for the Best Retirement Development at the Property Council Retirement Living Awards.</p> <p>According to The Grace Sales Manager, Martine Vance, “what makes this development unique is that people can live independently in this luxury community, with peace of mind regarding their possible future needs. The Alba, opening in 2023, will offer assisted living and residential aged care, so residents will be able to access a range of additional support services should they need them. </p> <p><strong>An iconic inner-city location</strong></p> <p>“When it comes to luxury retirement living, there’s nothing else like it in the South Melbourne area”, says Martine. Perfectly placed across from Melbourne’s stunning Albert Park Lake, The Grace offers luxury retirement living at its best. Whether you’re into jogging, cycling or golf, you have some of the city’s best outdoor facilities at your doorstep. You’re also moments away from the famous South Melbourne markets, the Botanic Gardens and the trendy cafes and restaurants of South Yarra. For lovers of culture and the fine arts, the Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria are also only minutes away from home.</p> <p>The one, two- and three-bedroom apartments on offer at The Grace have been meticulously designed to offer residents expansive, light filled open plan living areas for stylish and relaxed entertaining. Designed by Fender Katsalidis and interiors by Mim Design, the neutral colour palette allows you to add your own personal touch to create a sense of familiarity and comfort. “The master bedroom has a fully-fitted wardrobe and marble ensuite. Similarly, there’s a stunning Italian marble island bench in the kitchen, which has Miele appliances and an integrated Fisher and Paykel fridge, freezer and dishwasher, “says Martine.</p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/TheGrace02.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Be part of a like-minded community</strong></p> <p>When you choose to venture beyond your own personal sanctuary and mingle with your neighbours, The Grace has multiple shared spaces to enjoy. On par with a luxury hotel, every second floor of The Grace has a themed room residents can use at their leisure, including private dining rooms, a plush theatrette and a piano lounge. To keep you fit and active in the comfort of your own home, The Grace’s exclusive wellbeing facilities include a pool, gym and studios offering personal yoga and Pilates classes. There’s even a games room for when the grandchildren visit, an art studio, an edible garden and a beautiful rooftop terrace, which has views of the lake, bay and city.</p> <p><strong>Lock up and leave</strong></p> <p>Unlike other residential apartments with a mixture of occupants, where you don’t know who’s coming and going, The Grace gives you the comfort and security of living in a community of retirees at a similar life stage, as well as being in a community with access control systems in place and a concierge on site seven days per week. </p> <p><strong>An eye to the future</strong></p> <p>At The Grace, you can also choose your level of independence and will be supported to live in your own home for as long as you choose. If you feel you need a little extra support with daily chores in the future, once The Alba is complete and residents are settled, you have the option of having access to services such as cooking, cleaning and laundry being brought in to assist you. This means you can enjoy the lifestyle for as long as you choose.</p> <p><em>Images: Supplied</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.thegracealbertparklake.com.au/?utm_source=OverSixty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Grace Albert Park Lake</a>.</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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How to receive criticism with grace and open arms

<p><em><strong>Tom Cronin is a meditation teacher, life coach and writer. He is the founder of The Stillness Project, a global movement that aims to help people on their journey towards calmness and fulfilment.</strong></em></p> <p>Put your hand up if you like to receive criticism.</p> <p>Of course you kept your hand down. No one likes to be criticised. To the point where we often hold ourselves back from doing many great things in fear of being criticised.</p> <p>I saw a quote this week by Aristotle:</p> <p>“There is only one way to avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”</p> <p>Criticism can cut to the core of our ego. It challenges all the false beliefs that we’ve had about ourselves. We tend to measure ourselves by the perspectives of others and when that perspective becomes negative, then OUCH! It hurts.</p> <p>I’ll let you in on a secret, which is not so secret now. I’m a recovering perfectionist, recovering in that I’ve been in ‘perfectionist rehab’ trying to wean myself off being a perfectionist. One thing about perfectionists is that we love to be perfect…. and what does criticism from others say about our perfectness? That it doesn’t exist! Our illusion becomes shattered and it’s brutally painful.</p> <p>It was for this reason that I held back from writing, speaking, and teaching. I mean what if someone faulted what I did? Heaven forbid! But the compulsion became stronger and it was a tussle between what was the natural flow forward and my ego holding me back in fear. The block was in my ego, so that’s what I had to work on… dissolving that pesky little thing (only it wasn’t little, it was gargantuan!)</p> <p>Through my meditation practice I was able to slowly dissolve the big E and allow my clear fearless expression to shine through. (Mind you it’s not totally dissolved, there is still some there)</p> <p>Sure, I get criticised. It’s going to happen. But now I see criticism as something very constructive. It’s up to you; it can be destructive or constructive. I find it useful market research that helps me refine what I do and become better at it. In fact, only the other day I asked my children to critique me as a parent. I sat them both down and said to them (true story):</p> <p>“Hey kids, so I have never been trained as parent and this is my first time at it. So I may be doing things wrong or things that you don’t like. I’m still learning. I want you to let me know how you’d like me to change as a parent and what you think I could do better?”</p> <p>To which they replied along the lines of:</p> <p>“Nah, we think you’re doing a great job Dad, you don’t need to change anything.”</p> <p>It was a nice to hear but I was seriously looking for some constructive criticism to help me become better at parenting. I used to really struggle receiving criticism, it was a painful experience. But not I welcome it with gratitude. It teaches me to evolve and adapt.</p> <p>But coming back to Mr. Aristotle, and his quote. What would you prefer? Not being criticised and playing the small safe, game or growing, expanding and inspiring others while you expose yourself to potential criticism?  You think Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Jesus, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela were never criticised? The choice is yours and you have greatness within you to share with the world. So what are you waiting for?</p> <p>Share with us how you would like to share your gifts with the world in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Tom Cronin. First appeared on <strong><a href="http://stillnessproject.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Stillness Project</span></a>.</strong> </em></p>

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