Placeholder Content Image

“A parent’s worst nightmare”: Tammin Sursok reveals daughter’s lockdown for school shooting

<p>Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok has revealed her daughter’s school in Nashville was placed on lockdown after a mass shooting took place at the school next door.</p> <p>Sursok, 39, who lives in Nashville with her husband Sean McEwan and their two children, took to Instagram to explain the “nightmare”.</p> <p>The 39-year-old shared that the shooting, which took place at The Covenant School, was just next-door to her nine-year-old daughter Phoenix’s school.</p> <p>“There’s been an active shooter, in Nashville, in one of the schools in Greenhills,” Sursok said in her video.</p> <p>“It’s right next to my daughter’s school. She’s in lockdown. She’s fine.</p> <p>“It’s really close to home, I know it’s close to home for a lot of you.</p> <p>“I know a lot of mothers are just completely hysterical and shaking right now.</p> <p>“I just can’t believe this keeps happening, and you always think that it’s not going to happen to you.”</p> <p>The shooter has been identified as a woman, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who opened fire killing three children and three staff members. She was also a former student of the Covenant school.</p> <p>Hale was shot and killed by police at the scene.</p> <p>Sursok later posted a follow-up video saying she wasn’t sure what to do after hearing of her daughter’s lockdown.</p> <p>“Do we go to the school, do we wait until they tell us they’re out of lockdown?” she said.</p> <p>“It’s just really hard to even fathom that this happens so much.</p> <p>“I can’t even let my brain go there, because it’s just too hard to think of.”</p> <p>Sursok then wrote a lengthy message about the shooting and weighed in about gun control.</p> <p>The post saw an image of her and Phoenix, wearing tops that read “Love More”.</p> <p>“Our community in Nashville is in shock,” she wrote, adding a shooting trigger warning.</p> <p>“My thoughts and prayers are with the families going though this unimaginable tragedy.</p> <p>“Today I got a call that I never thought would happen but at the same time expected because I live in the USA.</p> <p>“My daughter’s school was on lockdown. There was an active shooter somewhere.”</p> <p>“A parent’s worst nightmare,” she wrote.</p> <p>“As you’ve now seen on the news, a school in Nashville has lost children and adults at the hands of a 28-year old-woman.</p> <p>“That school was next door, walking distance from my daughter’s school.</p> <p>“The argument when these horrific events happen is don’t get political, now is not the time, guns don’t kill people, people kill people.</p> <p>“I call BS.</p> <p>“... people with access to assault rifles cause mass destruction.</p> <p>“Why do we sell in the USA weapons of mass destruction to civilians?</p> <p>“Why do we sell weapons that can shoot hundreds of bullets in seconds?</p> <p>“Read that sentence again.</p> <p>“Hundreds of bullets in seconds.”</p> <p>The actress pointed out that in most American states, a person can buy an AR-15 - a semi-automatic rifle - once they turn 18.</p> <p>“The AR-15 (and military style weaponry) is not designed for hunting or ‘sport’,” she wrote.</p> <p>“It’s meant to kill people. Lots of people all at once.</p> <p>“How is this allowed? Please explain it to me.”</p> <p>She said she felt numb, angry, and “at a loss”.</p> <p>“Parties need to come together on both sides. I don’t care what side you are on,” she added.</p> <p>“We can come together to AGREE to uphold the freedom of America and its constitution AND keep our children safe.</p> <p>“We can do BOTH!</p> <p>“You know this doesn’t make sense. You know this isn’t normal.</p> <p>“You know children shouldn’t live in fear like this.”</p> <p>Sursok’s followers flooded the comments with support, with most agreeing gun control is a major issue in the US.</p> <p>“It only took one major incident for Australia to see what mattered most ... Lives not Guns,” one person wrote, referencing the Port Arthur massacre Tasmania saw in 1996.</p> <p>“Absolutely horrific,” another wrote.</p> <p>“When I am in the US I always think about that each person I am passing by could have a gun,” wrote a third.</p> <p>“Cannot imagine living with this thought every day.</p> <p>“You are right, the gun laws finally have to change. Sending lots of love.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Placeholder Content Image

Look who's set to play Turia Pitt in upcoming TV movie

<p>South African-born Australian actress Tammin Sursok is set to play burns survivor Turia Pitt in a new biopic.</p> <p>The star, who has previously appeared in American drama<span> </span><em>Pretty Little Liars</em><span> </span>suffered from two consecutive miscarriages before the birth of her second daughter Lennon.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qQ0xbnWk5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qQ0xbnWk5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Phoenix and I just got back from Australia and we both starting getting all the holiday feelings! The holidays are all about a time where families can embrace peace on earth and the gift of friendship. This festive season, tune in to @Netflixanz on December 7th at 7:00pm to share in the spirit of giving with “Spirit: Riding Free Spirit of Christmas”! Happy viewing! ❤️#SpiritRidingFree #dreamworks #spiritofchristmascollab #SpiritOfChristmas</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tamminsursok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Tammin Sursok</a> (@tamminsursok) on Dec 4, 2019 at 10:20am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Speaking to<span> </span><em>Stellar<span> </span></em>magazine, Sursok confessed that learning about Turia’s journey made her want to be more resilient.</p> <p>The 36-year-old mentioned that she watched the athlete’s interview on<span> </span><em>A Current Affair</em><span> </span>at her home in Los Angeles, and said to her partner, “Why don’t we make her into a movie?”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5l1KPEgyTb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5l1KPEgyTb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I’m a firm believer in creating the life you want for yourself. For me, that means living on the coast, spending time with my family, surfing, bushwalking, giving back, writing, spending time with my mates (and, I guess, y’know, shrieking at the TV while I watch The Handmaid's Tale in my underwear too 😂). But I haven’t quite figured out how to make money from watching TV in my underwear (yet). So, while I wait for that deal to take off, I make money by writing, speaking about happiness and resilience, creating digital courses and working with a very select few brands whose products I genuinely use and love. Some pretty clever mates, @iamnickbroadhurst and @melissaambrosini, have taken one of the brands I love and created something pretty cool with it. It’s called My Wellness Essentials and it delivers natural, low-tox products to your door at wholesale prices. And they give you this easy link to share so you can even make some cash back from it too. I’ve watched Nick and Melissa build this over the past 18 months and I’m pretty blown away by the level of thought and passion that’s gone into it. And, bringing it back to me (my favourite topic 😂😂😂) I’ve used and recommended these products for years (I like to pretend I have my own apothecary!) so I’m stoked they’ve created a simpler way of getting them, and sharing them. If you want to jump in with me and join my crew or just find out more, click the link in my bio!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/turiapitt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Turia</a> (@turiapitt) on Dec 2, 2019 at 5:02pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I had a very tough time with my miscarriages, and I remember feeling so inspired by Turia and what she experienced. To be able to transcend that with grace and fortitude … and she has so much gratitude. I thought, ‘I need to be more like her’,” she told the publication.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzfI0fBgJcm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzfI0fBgJcm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">We drove an hour to have dinner in this quaint little village. It was a terrific evening, even though the only restaurant in town was closed 😂</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/turiapitt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Turia</a> (@turiapitt) on Jul 4, 2019 at 12:30am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She continued: “Then I turned to Sean and said, ‘Why don’t we make her into a movie?’”</p> <p>The project will begin filming in Sydney next year.</p>

TV

Our Partners