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Yellowstone stars tie the knot in western-themed wedding

Yellowstone co-stars Hassie Harrison and Ryan Bingham have officially tied the knot! The actors who play lovers Walker and Laramie on the series, had an intimate Western-themed wedding at Harrison's family home in Dallas, Texas. Harrison shared the details of their nuptials in a Vogue interview on May 29. "I knew I wanted Western, but it had to be elegant Western, with tones of worn leather, delicate lace and a soft, blush colour palette," Harrison said. The couple wrote their own vows for the ceremony, which was officiated by the bride's close friend, Gabriel Hogan. "It was hard to hold back tears. My vows were not just promises to Ryan but also to his children," Harrison told Vogue. Bingham's three kids, who he shares ex-wife Anna Axste, were also in attendance serving as the flower girl and ring bearer, and walking the couple's dog down the aisle. "It was a particularly special moment for me, as I got to express to them just how much they mean to me and what an honour it has been to become a bonus mom to them." <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/C7jcEkQxu3U/?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/C7jcEkQxu3U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine)</a> </div> </blockquote> The beautiful bride walked down the aisle in a gown with intricate lace detailing and beading, and later on changed into a shorter dress completed with leather boots and a cowboy hat. The groom donned a tuxedo which he complemented with custom-made cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. Harrison and Bingham met on the set of Yellowstone in 2020, when Harrison joined the show during its third season as ranch hand and barrel racer Laramie. Bingham at the time had a recurring role as ranch hand Walker and became a series regular in season four. Their wedding came as a surprise to fans as they never made news of their engagement public. They first went public with their relationship in April 2023, when they shared a photo of them kissing on Instagram. Images: Instagram

Relationships

Young WA cop dies at his own engagement party

A Western Australian police officer has tragically passed away following a freak accident at his own engagement party. Senior Constable Liam Trimmer, 29, and his fiancee had gathered with family and friends to celebrate their upcoming marriage, when Trimmer fell and cut a carotid artery in his neck, leading him to bleed out. While they did everything they could to save him and provide first aid, Trimmer tragically passed away before paramedics arrived. "Everything was done to try and save him but it wasn't to be and I know everyone that was involved are really, really hurting. I think they wish they could just wake up from this nightmare," Commissioner Col Blanch told 9News. "This extraordinary officer loved helping the community and was a fine example of WA policing and it's just such a tragedy. "(He was) a very, very confident, capable young man with his whole life ahead of him, and that's how sad this is." The senior constable moved to Australia from the UK in 2013 and graduated from Joondalup Police Academy that same year. He then moved to Kalgoorlie in 2017 where he joined the Gang Crime Squad and the tactical response group. The police union have also paid tribute to the senior constable. "Every time a death occurs for a police officer, it doesn't matter how it really does rock the core of the Blue family," WA Police Union President Paul Gale said. The welfare and safety division will provide support to those impacted by this tragedy and police will prepare a report for the coroner. Images: 9News

Legal

“A beautiful soul”: Teenager killed in Aus Day boat crash identified

The teenager killed in a fatal boat crash on Australia Day has been identified, as her heartbroken family remember her as a “beautiful soul”. Darcy Davey-Sutherland was enjoying a day on the water when two tinnies collided near the Gray’s Point boat ramp in Sydney’s Sutherlandshire, where the 16-year-old was critically injured. Paramedics arrived on the scene and transported Darcy to St George’s Hospital, where she later died. The 16-year-old was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the crash, and it is believed onlookers found her face down in the water and performed CPR on the teenager until paramedics arrived. Her father, Michael Davey-Sutherland, said his daughter was "the beacon of light within our family" in both the UK and Australia. "She was about to embark on the most special part of life as she stepped into adulthood," Michael told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-darcy-sutherland-killed-in-grays-point-boat-crash/794e7737-9970-4e41-80b0-4324c4d6db5c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. "Words cannot describe the pain we feel at the moment." Darcy, who was the eldest child and was very close to her two younger brothers, was also fondly remembered by her family and friends online. "I will miss you so much Darc, I feel like I've lost a part of me," one person said. "Will forever love you. You will forever be missed, my beautiful angel, I will never forget our time together," another said. "I pray for your family to find the strength to live with their forever broken heart, keeping your memory alive. Rest beautiful girl," a third added. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/darcy-sutherland">GoFundMe</a> page set up to help the Davey-Sutherland family has already seen more than $40,000 raised in 24 hours. Image credits: 9News / Facebook

News

Woolies boss grilled for scrapping Aus Day merch

Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci has shared the reason why the retailer chose to drop Australia Day merchandise. The supermarket giant copped some <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/woolworths-under-fire-for-dropping-australia-day-merch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backlash </a>after they announced that they would stop selling the merch, with even opposition leader Peter Dutton calling for a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/peter-dutton-calls-for-woolworths-boycott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boycott</a> for their decision. They have since issued a full-page advertisement insisting the supermarket giant is not anti-Australia Day, which Banducci was grilled for in his latest appearance on the Today show. “We aren’t trying to ‘cancel’ Australia Day, rather Woolworths is deeply proud of our place in providing the fresh food that brings Australians together every day,” Banducci wrote in the letter. “So you’re not anti Australia today as a company?” Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked in reference to the letter. “Karl, we are a very proud Australian company. We’ve been around for 100 years. "We have 178,000 hard working team members who are going to be in store doing the right thing for our customers on Australia Day, and we’re passionate about this country,” the Woolworths chief executive replied. “But you’re not anti Australia Day?” Stefanovic asked again. Banducci replied saying that the day “means different things to everyone” and that he supports Aussies to commemorate the day in whatever way they wish. He added that while customers won't be able to buy Australia Day merch at their stores, they will decorate their stores across the country in “green and gold” to commemorate the day. “You must have serious regrets about this?” Stefanovic grilled. “I think we could clearly have done a better job of explaining our decision, that’s why I’m here,” Banducci replied. “I do feel anxious about the impact that this is having on our team. They are proud, hard working Australians, and for them to be seen as anti-Australian or woke is fundamentally unfair.” He added that this decision was made 12 months ago when they found that there was “gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise. Images: Today

Legal

“Say it to my face”: Novak Djokovic confronts Aus Open hecklers

Novak Djokovic has confronted rowdy Australian Open audience members, saying the “tough guy” in the crowd “crossed the line” with his unsolicited commentary. The Serbian tennis player was on his way to a victory against Aussie player Alexei Popyrin when he got caught in a verbal altercation with a spectator. The frustrated defending grand slam champion was heard during the match yelling, "Come here and say it to my face" to a fan seated behind him at Rod Laver Arena. "Come here! Come here!" Djokovic could be heard yelling in response to the mouthy spectator. During his post-match press conference after the match win, the world No.1 elaborated on the clash with the spectator, telling the media he won't tolerate such behaviour from disrespectful audience members "I mean, you don't want to know [what he said]. There were a lot of things that were being told to me on the court, particularly from that corner, and the same side the other corner. I was tolerating it for most of the match," Djokovic said. "At one point I had enough, and I asked him whether he wants to come down and tell it to my face. Unfortunately for him, he didn't have the courage to come down. "That's what I was asking him. If you have courage, if you're such a tough man, tough guy, come down and tell it to my face, and let's have a discussion about it.” "He was apologising from far away. That's all it is." "I'm not going to sit and say 'it's all good'. It's not good," he said. "Of course, it upsets me. I'm frustrated. I don't want to be experiencing that, but I have to accept it as it is.” "Sometimes I don't tolerate when somebody crosses the line. That's it." The veteran player declared he would continue to "confront" patrons who attempted to throw him off his game, saying, "I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions today on the court. Not a great atmosphere to play in to be honest for me." Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Mining tycoon's father dies aged 95

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's father, Donald Forrest, peacefully passed away at their ancestral Western Australian home at the age of 95 on a Sunday morning. In a heartfelt obituary, the Forrest family shared, "Don passed away peacefully in his sleep, knowing he was with people and places he loved." “We all wish him well in his onward journey. “He goes with the love, deep affection and enduring memories of all those whose lives his 95-year history has embraced. “His legacy will be cherished by all who knew him.” Donald was remembered as a “loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, stepfather, uncle and patriarch”. The family will host his funeral on Sunday October 1 “at his beloved Minderoo Station”, which has been in the family for four generations and is located in WA’s Pilbara region. A memorial service will be held in Perth afterwards for family and friends unable to attend his funeral. The Forrest patriarch is survived by his wife Marie, sons David and Andrew and daughter Jane. The sad news comes just two months after Andrew announced his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/australia-s-richest-couple-call-it-quits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shock split</a> from his wife of 31 years, Nicola. Andrew and Nicola, who are known as Australia's richest couple, have <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/the-real-reason-behind-australia-s-richest-couple-s-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insisted </a>that the divorce won't affect the direction of their mining empire or philanthropic interests. Image: Getty

Caring

Women's fitness group praised for stopping man from allegedly drowning his son

In a heart-pounding moment of courage and quick thinking, a group of women in an outdoor fitness class have rescued a 5-year-old boy after his father allegedly tried to drown him. The alleged incident occurred at the Dampier foreshore, in the remote region of Pilbara Western Australia. Police allege that the 26-year-old man drove his four-wheel drive into the ocean, before repeatedly forcing the child's head under water. The group of women intervened and helped save the child, with one believed to have punched the man several times, injuring her hand in the process according to the Sydney Morning Herald. WA Police have praised the “bravery” of the community members, who allegedly hit the man until he released the child. “Without their involvement, their courage and their bravery to get involved, it could have ended a lot worse,” WA Police spokesman told ABC Pilbara. “They responded without hesitation and contacted the police.” Emergency services were called to the foreshore around 6am on Monday, with the man arrested shortly after. The five-year-old child was taken to the hospital for assessment but is believed to be uninjured. The 26-year-old man from Nickol has since been charged with a number of offences, including attempting unlawfully to kill, two counts of assault with intent to commission a crime, reckless driving and one account of no authority to drive (never held). He was refused bail and will appear in Karratha Magistrate’s Court at a later date. Image: news.com.au

Legal

Turtles on the tarmac could delay flights at Western Sydney airport

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ricky-spencer-158597">Ricky Spencer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deborah-bower-283709">Deborah Bower</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-new-england-919">University of New England</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-van-dyke-351841">James Van Dyke</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-b-thompson-351796">Michael B. Thompson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-thomas-1451841">Richard Thomas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> Amid the controversy surrounding <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-27/western-sydney-airport-flight-paths-made-public/102524808">preliminary flight paths</a> for <a href="https://www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/">Western Sydney’s new airport</a>, another potential challenge is looming: turtles on the tarmac. The land surrounding Sydney’s newest airport is prime nesting area for native turtles. This may create problems for the airport’s operations. Turtle invasions at airports are not unprecedented. In recent years, a freshwater turtle was found wandering around <a href="https://m.facebook.com/SydneyAirport/photos/a.302787769759897/2906361926069122/?type=3&locale=zh_CN">Sydney Airport</a>, which is built on Botany Bay. In 2021, a turtle strolling across a runway in Japan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/28/turtle-slow-moving-reptile-delays-five-planes-at-japan-airport">delayed five planes</a>. A few years earlier, a passenger plane <a href="https://qcostarica.com/turtle-shuts-down-limon-airport/">aborted takeoff</a> because a 1.5m leatherback turtle was on the runway. And at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, employees <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/644989/nyc-airport-gets-barrier-to-protect-runway-from-armoured-short-slow-moving-turtle-threat/">carried 1,300 turtles</a> off the tarmac in one nesting season alone. Our expertise spans zoology, conservation biology and ecology. We know individual freshwater turtles can wander well beyond their wetland habitat into areas where they pose a risk to aviation safety, if proper planning is not in place. We urge authorities to incorporate turtle-friendly features into the airport’s design and make contingency plans for these remarkable reptiles. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vHbM3ytHKdA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Western Sydney airport: construction is well underway.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Western Sydney airport is turtle nesting habitat</h2> Freshwater turtles face an <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982220306369">uncertain future</a>. Their numbers in Australia are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-39096-3">declining</a>. Globally, more than half of all freshwater turtle species face <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(20)30636-9">extinction</a>. <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/zo/zo17065">Collisions with vehicles</a> are a main cause of death for adult freshwater turtles across south-eastern Australia. And data collected through the <a href="https://1millionturtles.com">1 Million Turtles</a> citizen science tool <a href="https://TurtleSAT.org.au">TurtleSAT</a> reveals Western Sydney is a roadkill hotspot. Wetlands, including the area around the new airport at Badgerys Creek, serve as prime nesting habitat. Citizen science data also feeds into our world-first predictive <a href="https://emydura6.users.earthengine.app/view/predicted-nests-and-water-bodies">nest mapping tool</a>, which confirms Sydney’s newest airport is prime nesting area for both long- and short-neck turtles. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535185/original/file-20230703-213604-aa70gw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>Left, hotspots of turtle roadkill in Western Sydney. Right, predicting turtle nesting areas at Western Sydney airport. TurtleSAT and 1 Million Turtles</figcaption></figure> Turtles nest throughout the airport district from November to January. Given the number of wetlands and the extent of cleared, open vegetation, turtles can be expected to emerge from the water and traverse the entire area during this period. Between nesting seasons, eastern long-necked turtles often move between wetlands on rainy days. Redirecting turtles away from runways (and roads) is a challenging but feasible task. It requires proactive planning, integration of turtle-friendly design elements, and recognition of their significance in environmental impact assessments. Construction of the Western Sydney airport involved filling in streams and farm dams. The Environmental Impact Statement for the project, released in 2016, <a href="https://www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/sites/default/files/WSA-EIS-Volume-2a-Chapter-16-Biodiversity.pdf">recognised</a> the threat to turtles. To mitigate the impact on aquatic animals generally, the proponents planned to salvage and relocate them to nearby habitats deemed suitable. A spokesperson for Western Sydney airport, contacted for comment on this story, said all of the required wildlife and risk management procedures would be in place when the airport opens in late 2026. She said the turtle habitat was well outside of the airport site, so the risk of turtles on the runway was negligible. But around the airport, many streams and wetlands remain. So we believe there’s still a chance turtles will enter the airport grounds and, potentially, walk onto runways. <h2>Turtles at the crossroads</h2> Turtles are often little more than an afterthought in hectic construction plans and timetables. Wetlands are often filled in and roads built without any thought to wildlife crossings. Our study of the wetlands of Western Sydney, and the corridor between north-western and south-western Sydney, found up to 25% of wetlands were lost <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.22.12736">in the last decade alone</a>. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=948&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=948&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/535249/original/file-20230703-240908-y2xpsk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=948&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A map showing the change in western Sydney wetland surface area between 2010 and 2017 by local government area" /></a><figcaption>Change in western Sydney wetland surface area between 2010 and 2017 by local government area: more than 1% increase (green), 0-10% decrease (orange), more than 10% decrease (red). Harriet Gabites, Author provided</figcaption></figure> While groups such as <a href="https://www.wildconservation.com.au/turtle-rescues-nsw/">Turtle Rescue NSW</a> can relocate wildlife such as turtles, eels and fish, many animals die when streams and wetlands are <a href="https://www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/sites/default/files/WSA-EIS-Volume-2a-Chapter-16-Biodiversity.pdf">drained and filled</a> during development. Western Sydney’s new airport offers an opportunity to break this pattern. Construction has passed the half-way mark but it’s not too late to incorporate turtle-friendly infrastructure such as <a href="https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1466&context=theses">specialised underpasses</a> and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wlb3.01012">fencing</a> to guide these slow-paced wanderers away from high-risk areas. We also need monitoring programs to check interventions are working and identify any problems along the way. <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-turtle-program-shows-citizen-science-isnt-just-great-for-data-it-makes-science-feel-personal-155142">Our research</a> emphasises education and awareness campaigns foster a culture of understanding and respect. This is important to ensure the long-term survival of turtles in the region. <h2>It’s not too late for Western Sydney’s turtles</h2> We must prioritise turtle-friendly design and integrate turtles into environmental impact assessments for major developments. The likely presence of turtles on runways at Western Sydney’s new airport warrants immediate attention. The project and its network of major roads are a chance to demonstrate how major urban infrastructure and wildlife can coexist harmoniously. <hr /> We acknowledge the vital contribution of Western Sydney University masters student Harriet Gabites to research on the turtles of Western Sydney and this article.<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/208930/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Image credits: Getty Images <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ricky-spencer-158597">Ricky Spencer</a>, Associate Professor of Ecology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deborah-bower-283709">Deborah Bower</a>, Associate Professor in Zoology and Ecology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-new-england-919">University of New England</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-van-dyke-351841">James Van Dyke</a>, Associate Professor in Biomedical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-b-thompson-351796">Michael B. Thompson</a>, Emeritus Professor in Zoology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-thomas-1451841">Richard Thomas</a>, Senior lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> 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/turtles-on-the-tarmac-could-delay-flights-at-western-sydney-airport-208930">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Tiredness of life: the growing phenomenon in western society

Molly was 88 years old and in good health. She had outlived two husbands, her siblings, most of her friends and her only son. “I don’t have any meaningful relationships left, dear,” she told me. “They’ve all died. And you know what? Underneath it all, I want to leave this world too.” Leaning a little closer, as though she was telling me a secret, she continued: "Shall I tell you what I am? I’m strong. I can admit to myself and to you that there’s nothing left for me here. I’m more than ready to leave when it’s my time. In fact, it can’t come quickly enough." I’ve <a href="https://theconversation.com/loneliness-loss-and-regret-what-getting-old-really-feels-like-new-study-157731">interviewed</a> many older people for research. Every so often, I’m struck by the sincerity with which some people feel that their life is completed. They seem tired of being alive. I’m a member of of the European <a href="https://research.ugent.be/web/result/project/6d511516-39ad-4c2e-ad46-44d5ce25ca29/details/en">Understanding Tiredness of Life in Older People Research Network</a>, a group of geriatricians, psychiatrists, social scientists, psychologists and death scholars. We want to better understand the phenomenon and unpick what is unique about it. The network is also working on advice for politicians and healthcare practices, as well as caregiver and patient support. Professor of care ethics Els van Wijngaarden and colleagues in the Netherlands <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953615002889">listened to a group of older people</a> who were not seriously ill, yet felt a yearning to end their lives. The key issues they identified in such people were: aching loneliness, pain associated with not mattering, struggles with self-expression, existential tiredness, and fear of being reduced to a completely dependent state. This need not be the consequence of a lifetime of suffering, or a response to intolerable physical pain. Tiredness of life also seems to arise in people who consider themselves to have lived fulfilling lives. One man of 92 told the network’s researchers: "You have no effect on anything. The ship sets sail and everyone has a job, but you just sail along. I am cargo to them. That’s not easy. That’s not me. Humiliation is too strong a word, but it is bordering on it. I simply feel ignored, completely marginalised." Another man said: "Look at the condition of those old ladies in the building opposite. Gaunt and half-dead, pointlessly driven around in a wheelchair … It has nothing to do with being human anymore. It is a stage of life I simply don’t want to go through." <h2>A unique suffering</h2> The American novelist <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/books/review/07gord.html">Philip Roth wrote</a> that “old age is not a battle, old age is a massacre”. If we live long enough, we can lose our identity, physical capabilities, partner, friends and careers. For some people, <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/abs/gradual-separation-from-the-world-a-qualitative-exploration-of-existential-loneliness-in-old-age/5567288AD35DFB878F3F756FF233FB1C">this elicits</a> a deep-rooted sense that life has been stripped of meaning – and that the tools we need to rebuild a sense of purpose are irretrievable. Care professor Helena Larsson and colleagues in Sweden have <a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12877-017-0533-1.pdf#:%7E:text=This%20study%20is%20part%20of%20a%20larger%20research,was%20analysed%20using%20Hsiehand%20Shannon%E2%80%99s%20conventional%20content%20analysis.">written about</a> a gradual “turning out of the lights” in old age. They argue that people steadily let go of life, until they reach a point where they are ready to turn off the outside world. Larsson’s team raises the question of whether this might be inevitable for us all. Of course, this sort of suffering shares characteristics (it’s depressing and painful) with anguish we encounter at other points in life. But it’s not the same. Consider the existential suffering that might arise from a terminal illness or recent divorce. In these examples, part of the suffering is connected to the fact that there is more of life’s voyage to make – but that the rest of the journey feels uncertain and no longer looks the way we fantasised it would. This sort of suffering is often tied to mourning a future we feel we should have had, or fearing a future we are uncertain about. One of the distinctions in tiredness of life is that there is no desire for, or mourning of, a future; only a profound sense that the journey is over, yet drags on painfully and indefinitely. <h2>The global view</h2> In countries where euthanasia and assisted suicide are <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n147">legal</a>, doctors and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15265161.2021.2013981?casa_token=XEzfqjWH8uUAAAAA:GD6c6mZEv7q9eq2fqfSNcrbGWYD1-0ehOU3tTTJ2Zbnyraf3VvdvQcIRXF847Dp6T9k_yWctt3E">researchers are debating</a> whether tiredness of life meets the threshold for the sort of <a href="http://www.bioethics.org.au/Resources/Online%20Articles/Opinion%20Pieces/2201%20Tired%20of%20Life.pdf">unceasing emotional suffering</a> that grants people the right to euthanasia. The fact that this problem is common enough for researchers to debate it may suggest that modern life has shut older people out of western society. Perhaps elders are <a href="https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/703688/">no longer revered</a> for their wisdom and experience. But it’s not inevitable. In Japan, age is seen as a spring or rebirth after a busy period of working and raising children. One study found older adults in Japan showed <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183740/#R34">higher scores on personal growth</a> compared with midlife adults, whereas the opposite age pattern was found in the US. Surgeon and medical professor <a href="https://mh.bmj.com/content/41/2/145">Atul Gawande</a> argues that in western societies, medicine has created the ideal conditions for transforming ageing into a “long, slow fade”. He believes quality of life has been overlooked as we channel our resources towards biological survival. This is unprecedented in history. Tiredness of life may be evidence of the cost. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/tiredness-of-life-the-growing-phenomenon-in-western-society-203934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Caring

Outrage after Aus Post driver caught parking in disability spot

A Queensland Australian Post worker has sparked outrage after parking his car at a shopping centre car park, leading to a quick response from the company. A disgruntled Karalee local saw the Aus Post van parked in the disability spot and said the contractor’s “unacceptable” act led to an elderly woman missing out on the much-needed spot. Posting to the Australian Disability Parking Wall of Shame Facebook page, the woman wrote, "Driver’s laziness led to elderly lady with a permit having to park opposite and hobble across the road." The van was parked outside the Karalee Chempro Chemist. The post prompted many to weigh in, with some users bringing up other Australia Post parking concerns they’ve seen around their local areas. “At my local shops here in Perth one of the thatched areas besides an ACROD bay is marked that Australia Post vehicles are permitted to park in it which I also believe is wrong and this is definitely inexcusable," one man wrote. The Facebook post has since been deleted. Australia Post issued an apology as soon as they were made aware of the situation. "We sincerely apologise for the actions of this delivery contractor and any inconvenience caused," an Australia Post spokesperson said in a statement. "This lapse in judgement falls well below the high standards we expect of our team members. "It’s especially disappointing given Australia Post prides itself on its commitment to inclusion and diversity both across our workforce and within our communities. We’ve spoken to the contractor and taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” According to Yahoo, both the man driving the van and all Australia Post contractors copped a strong reminder that they cannot park in disability spots without a permit. Image credit: Facebook

Legal

Frightening new details emerge on Cleo Smith kidnapping

New details have come to light regarding four-year-old Cleo Smith’s 2021 abduction, one day after the man responsible was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/sentence-handed-down-for-cleo-smith-abductor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced to at least 11 years and six months in prison</a>. Cleo was taken from her family’s Western Australia campsite and was missing for a total of 18 days. After an intense police investigation, and a $1 million reward offered by the Western Australia government, detectives found Cleo at a property 75 km south of where she’d been kidnapped by the 37-year-old Terence Kelly. While appearing before Judge Julie Wager in court, Kelly had nothing to say, offering only a nod to acknowledge both his own name and his guilty plea. Cleo’s parents - mother Ellie and stepfather Jake - also did not share any words outside of the courthouse in the wake of Kelly’s sentencing. But what was said inside has revealed frightening new insight into what young Cleo went through during her days of captivity, with Commissioner Blanch - who was Assistant Commissioner at the time - noting that he did not believe the community would ever think Kelly’s time behind bars would be enough. “Judge Wager had to weigh up many things,” he said, “and there were many mitigating circumstances, and I respect the court’s decision.” For the entire 18 days of her nightmare situation, Cleo was kept in Kelly’s Carnarvon property, often locked alone in a bedroom while Kelly was out - the door had been modified, and Cleo was unable to open it from her side. He reportedly attended a number of employment meetings in person, and even visited his relatives. It was also revealed that Cleo would plead with him to be allowed to see her parents, leading Kelly to play the radio at a loud volume to mask her noise. “When the young victim heard her name on the radio, she said ‘they’re saying my name’,” Judge Wagner told the court. As the University of Newcastle’s criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett told Sunrise, “eighteen days is a really long time in a four-year-old’s life, and to hear her name on the radio and not understand why he wouldn’t return her to her mother must have been incredibly traumatic for her.” Additionally, in a police interview, Kelly admitted that he grew frustrated and was rough with a number of times, but that she was “a bit of a fighter” when he attempted to restrain her. He even added Cleo’s mum as a Facebook friend while he had Cleo, although as he told police, he was never “planning to keep her forever.” Following Kelly’s arrest, social media played a role again, with pictures of his home emerging, showcasing his collection of Bratz dolls, one Judge Wager described as being “consistent with your anxiety.” Those in the courtroom were informed that Kelly had a “significant interest” in dolls, and that it was possible he had imagined his very own family with them. “You’d opened Facebook pages,” Judge Wager stated, “for your fantasy children and communicated with them.” She also shared her understanding that Cleo played into Kelly’s “fantasy of having a little girl he could dress up and play with”, although she still considered his actions to be “at the highest level of seriousness”. “This isn’t a case of luring a child away, that would be serious enough, but the taking of a little four-year-old girl from the zipped-up family tent in the middle of the night when her parents assumed she was safe is even more concerning,” Wager continued. “Her parents woke to find her missing, not knowing if she was alive or dead for the next 18 days. They didn’t know what had happened to her, or whether she’d ever be returned. This shattered her family, and has been damaging and traumatising for the child.” Images: Getty

Caring

Breeder faces the consequences for “squalid” puppy farm

A 60-year-old man from Western Australia has been dealt over $100,000 in penalties, an animal cruelty charge, and a 40 year animal ownership ban in the wake of RSPCA inspectors seizing 39 dogs from him. The horrific conditions in which the dogs were living were brought to their attention after a customer came by to purchase a dog from the man’s Bridgetown property in January 2022. He was asking for $5000 a puppy, despite the filth the dogs were being forced to live in - reportedly facing everything from infection to drinking from sewage pipes. In a post to RSPCA WA’s Facebook account, it was revealed that the man “has been given what amounts to a lifetime ban from breeding animals after RSPCA inspectors seized 39 labradoodles from his Bridgetown home in January. “The offender was banned from owning any animal for 40 years, with one notable exception; the Magistrate ruled he could have up to three sterilised dogs. The offender, who pleaded guilty to 28 charges of animal cruelty, has also been fined $112,000, $64,000 of which was suspended for two years.” It went on to outline the conditions the inspector had encountered, and that - importantly - the “The dogs continue to recover in the care of RSPCA WA.” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRSPCAWA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02kdjk1JMbPpBanhpEFJGKd2wB9sCzuhHi4EivkDEckADnUFNgJb24Wmdgt8MuLDaRl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="708" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Kylie Green, Inspector Manager for RSPCA WA, explained that the dogs were examined by a veterinarian after they were removed from the property, and discovered that they were suffering from a whole host of conditions - with everything from ear infections to matted fur, dental disease, and conjunctivitis. “A lot of the dogs and puppies were also suffering from significant psychological harm, as determined by a veterinary behaviourist,” she added. “Some of them just stood in their kennels for weeks after they first came here, staring at the wall and refusing to interact. “It’s a credit to our expert staff and network of dedicated foster carers that they’ve come as far as they have, but this is what people need to stop and consider when they are looking to buy a ‘cute’ puppy.” Kyle went on to stress the importance of evaluating the conditions any puppy is being raised in before buying, whether “you buy from an unregistered breeder, if you buy off the internet or social media”. As without “clean, safe conditions” and a “happy and healthy” mother, “there’s a chance you are supporting this kind of cruelty.” Images: RSPCA WA / Facebook

Family & Pets

Today weather presenter weds former AFL star in lavish ceremony

Former Miss Universe Australia and Today weather presenter Scherri-Lee has said “I do” in a stunning ceremony with fiancé - now husband - Daniel Venables. Scherri-Lee announced their happy news with a post to social media, sharing an image of herself swept up in a kiss by the former West Coast Eagles player, along with the caption “The Venables”. The couple’s big day was held at the Swan Valley’s popular Old Young’s restaurant - a venue decked out for the event, and on full display across the stories of their guests. Those same stories also revealed that Scherri-Lee walked down the aisle to an acoustic cover of Tina Turner and Jimmy Barnes’ ‘(Simply) The Best’, and that they had their first dance to Leon Bridges’ ‘Beyond’. Their invite list featured a number of notable names - from Eagles players’ partners to stylists, TV personalities, and some of Scherri-Le’s own co-hosts. And the love for the newlyweds didn’t stop with their celebrations, with many of their guests - and fans - making use of Scherri-Lee’s comment section to congratulate them. <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/Cp_nlYGPTvX/?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/Cp_nlYGPTvX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Scherri-Lee Biggs (@scherri)</a> </div> </blockquote> “The best day!!” declared fellow TV presenter and wedding guest Tracy Vo. “Absolutely stunning gorgeous girl!” gushed Natalia Cooper, who punctuated her message with two red hearts, “congratulations to you both”. “Congratulations!!!” wrote The Block’s Shaynna Blaze. “Obsessed with this. What a wedding,” admitted one celebrant, who shared Scherri-Lee’s post as well. “So happy to cater for your wedding at @oldyoungskitchen guys!” wrote Chef Rizzy, whose team handled the event’s food. “I hope the night was as great as it all sounded from the kitchen!” “Congratulations!! I hope the day was everything you dreamed of,” came Perth News reporter Kelly Neves’ well-wishes. The congratulations went on and on, with hundreds delighted to share in the happy moment through the screen. A moment they hadn’t had to wait for long, with the couple only having announced their engagement in December of 2022. At the time, Scherri-Lee had announced the news with a post to her Instagram account. It featured a picture of the two embracing at sunset on the beach, and the caption “Christmas came early this year. Forever isn’t enough with you.” The news came after Scherri-Lee had been spotted wearing a diamond ring while at another wedding. Their relationship had only been confirmed in May of the same year, after rumours had begun to swirl that the two had paired up. Images: Instagram

Relationships

"Vale dear friend": McLeod's Daughters actor tragically drowns

Australian actor Peter Hardy, 66, has been revealed as the victim who drowned at Fremantle beach. He died as a result of a snorkeling incident, The West Australian reported. The actor played Jimmy Drane in three episodes of the iconic Aussie soap Neighbours in 1997 but is best known for his roles in McLeod’s Daughters and crime drama Chopper. According to The West Australian, the 66-year-old had travelled to Perth from London to visit his mother after building a home in the UK, The West Australian reported. His brother Michael shared the tragic news on social media, “I'm devastated to say that my brother, Peter Hardy, passed away suddenly this morning... Rest in Peace my beloved little brother.” Tributes have started flooding in following the announcement. “This news is such a heartbreaking shock. He'll be held in the wide arms of the ocean he grow up beside, and in the hearts of all those he welcomed into his vital and witty orbit. Sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” Ross Anderson wrote. Hardy’s friend Andy Burns said, “On the morning of March 16th a dear friend was taken from us... the amazing and beautiful Peter Hardy drowned while snorkelling at South Beach Perth.” “He was 66 years old and looked like a Greek god, so fit, and so happy to be back in his native WA visiting from London where he had made his home. “Words cannot express how deeply I feel this loss, We've been close friends since living together in Neutral Bay Sydney in the mid 80s. “He was a superb actor a wonderful singer and guitarist he also played drums and sax. He always loved performing in the theatre as well as film and TV. He decided to buy a canal boat in London which he set up beautifully with some recording gear and he'd send me guitar tracks recorded there to add backings to. “Heartfelt condolences to all his family and many friends over this devastating loss especially his beautiful girlfriend Lysa our thoughts are with you… “Vale dear friend Peter Hardy RIP... Adele and I are inconsolable right now over such a hard loss.” Richard had graced the screens as a season regular in McLeod’s Daughters as character Phil Rakich, a farm hand on a South Australian farm, ahead of its final episode in 2009. Image credit: Youtube

News

“A special girl”: Orphaned crash victim receives bravery award for saving baby brothers

Synthia Rose Day, a five-year-old girl from Western Australia, has received a Children of Courage award for her actions in the devastating crash that orphaned herself and her two younger brothers. Synthia was in the car with her mother Cyndi Braddock, Cyndi’s partner Jake Day, and her two brothers when their Land Rover left the road in Wheatbelt and flipped a handful of kilometres short of their home. Jake was 28, and Cyndi only 25. In the backseat with her little brothers, Synthia survived the accident, but the trio were not found for 55 hours in the wake of the tragedy despite a frantic search by both their loved ones and the local authorities. While the situation the children found themselves in was nothing short of devastating, Synthia stepped up, and took action to make sure her brothers got out of there okay. "She took the seatbelt off the one-year-old Charles,” the childrens’ uncle, Al Slatter, informed 9News, “[she] got him out of the seat and then got her foot stuck so she couldn't move … and what she did for Bevan was amazing." The children, freed from the vehicle and watched over by young Synthia, were eventually found on the roadside. For her actions that day, Synthia has been presented with a Children of Courage award, and was nominated by her teacher, Tony Smeed. “She's always been a caring and compassionate person,” Smeed said of the decision to put Synthia forward for the award, “and obviously the bravery she showed in 50 hours of heat to keep her brothers alive was just amazing.” “The award will mean that much to her,” their uncle, Al Slatter added, “and I even had a tear in my eye when they read it out to me, because she’s a special girl.” Synthia’s beloved brothers - two-year-old Bevan and one-year-old Charles - were in attendance to support their hero big sister, and the family had to travel more than three hours from their home in Kondinin to Perth to attend the ceremony. Slatter also opened up to 9News about Synthia’s attitude since the tragedy, as the children adjust to their lives in their grandparents’ care, saying, “Charles, she loves him, but Bevan, wherever he goes - if he’s out riding his pushbike out the front - she’s got to be out there checking on him, making sure he’s not too far from Nanny.” Synthia was one of 38 exceptional children across Western Australia to be recognised for demonstrating resilience, determination, and positivity while living with trauma and various health challenges. Images: 9News

Family & Pets

New flag furore erupts as Djokovic crushes Aus Open final

Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open in convincing fashion to equal Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam record, a year after he was deported over his COVID vaccination status. The Serbian star defeated Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets in the final in Melbourne on Sunday, making it Djokovic's 10th Australian Open title – equal to Nadal's Grand Slam record of 22 men's singles titles. However, during the broadcast an eagle-eyed viewer couldn’t help but single out the disturbing appearance of a flag bearing a controversial far-right symbol, waved by a Djokovic supporter. “Why am I seeing a Chetnik flag amongst the Serbian crowd at the Tsitsipas vs Djokovic match?” wrote Twitter user Sophie Mak. “Are ultra fascist symbols allowed in the Australian Open now?” The Chetniks were paramilitary ultranationalists who committed war crimes during WWII. Respected tennis journo Ben Rothenberg then responded by calling for future Australian Opens to be completely flag free if security cannot control such incidents. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I really think they need to make the 2024 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> a flag-free zone if their security repeatedly can't figure this stuff out. Tournament security has been pretty abysmal (though we haven't had the ~annual court invader during the men's final yet). <a href="https://t.co/Mztq6NstPg">https://t.co/Mztq6NstPg</a> — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1619649716932988929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2023</a></blockquote> “Tournament security has been pretty abysmal (though we haven’t had the ~annual court invader during the men’s final yet),” added Rothenberg. Tennis Australia were moved to introduce a complete ban on Russian and Belarusian flags earlier in the Australian Open after a Belarusian flag was spotted being waved during a Ukrainian’s match. Djokovic’s father Srbjan was then caught up in a controversy when he inadvertently posed alongside pro-Vladimir Putin protesters outside the stadium who were holding up a flag with the Russian leader’s face on it. Srbjan then elected not to attend the semi-final nor the final of the tournament in which his son was victorious for a record tenth time. Images: Twitter

News

Missing grandma found safe and well

After an extensive land and air search, a grandmother who went missing in Western Australia has been found after two days missing. Christine Irvine, 75, who suffers from dementia was found and taken to hospital for assessment. She had disappeared from her Cundinup property, about 212km south of Perth, and had been missing since last Wednesday. Jennifer Irvine told 9News her parents were gardening just before her mother vanished. Police, including air and land assets and SES volunteers, began a major search operation after Irvine was reported missing by her family. The area surrounding the property is hilly and the bushland is dense, with the search covering a 3km radius of bushland and river banks. Police found the woman safe and well and thanked everyone who took part in the search, as well as media outlets for covering the incident. Image: WA Police

Caring

Top floor hotel apartment up for grabs for under $70k

An agent from Western Australia has promised a "real estate purchase with a difference”. Chris Butterworth of Century 21 Coast Realty has listed a two-bedroom hotel apartment for sale in the WA coastal city of Mandurah for an incredibly low price. Bargain! The property at 89/65 Ormsby Terrace is on offer for just $69,000 and comes with some surprise perks. These include staying for free at room 519 for 14 days in the year, subject to availability. As stated on the listing, the buyer won't be living in their newly purchased apartment. This would be purely an investment style buy, where they can pay the "low price" of $69,000 outright and "reap returns in the future". The top floor apartment in the Atrium Hotel contains one bathroom, an open-plan living and dining area, and interiors that lean towards a neutral colour palette. It also offers ocean views and is in close proximity to nightlife, restaurants and shops. Building amenities include an indoor heated pool and spa, an electronic games room, tennis courts, a restaurant and function centre. Mandurah is a coastal city on the southwest coast of Western Australia. It has a population of 7,837 and an age demographic of 60 plus. Images: Domain

Real Estate

Ever wanted to work at Australia Post? Now's your chance

Australia post are gearing up for another busy holiday season as thousands of casual and permanent jobs go up for grabs. Aus Post have revealed they are “actively recruiting” up to 6000 new team members across the country. With no experience necessary, anyone from school-leavers to seniors are being encouraged to apply. “The recruitment drive for permanent and casual team members comes ahead of what’s expected to be another huge cyber sales and Christmas period,” Australia Post said. Top of the recruitment wish list is people who have a forklift, truck or motorcycle licence, but Australia Post said it also urgently needs people in parcel sorting and customer service. “Currently there are vacancies in every state and territory, with morning, afternoon and evening shifts all available – and for many roles, no previous experience is necessary,” it said. Australia Post executive general manager people and culture Susan Davies said the company offers competitive salaries across a wide range of roles. Australia Post has more than 2500 casual positions in parcel and mail processing, as well as more than 780 roles for truck drivers. There are also over 300 positions in customer service and about 200 for forklift drivers. So! If you've ever felt the urge to slam an Australia Post employee in the past, now is the time to put your money where your mouth is and get apply for a position there yourself. All the details are on the Aus Post <a href="https://auspost.com.au/jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

"Whose nana is that?": Adorable moment kindy kids don't recognise the Queen

In the wake of Queen Elizabeth's passing, an adorable video has resurfaced of Her Majesty's 2000 trip to Western Australia. Out of the Queen's 16 trips to Australia, her visit to Vasse Primary School, Busselton, is being fondly remembered after the resurgence of a video on TikTok. The video has since gone viral, as the hilarious footage shows the monarch being taken aback when several students asked who she was. In the video, the Queen is brought into the pre-primary classroom and is asked separately by two young students, “What’s your name?” On both occasions, the Queen does not reply, and appears quite shocked by the question. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7081233294037110021&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40itnarchive1955%2Fvideo%2F7081233294037110021%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1%26q%3Donthisdayitnp%26t%3D1663198266691&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;">At the end of the video, a young boy named Jake seemed as equally confused about the identity of the older lady visiting his class.</div> Talking to ABC, the school’s former principal Brian Devereux recalled he heard one student yell out, “Whose nana is that?” “I got sent an article from London from The Daily Telegraph saying that clearly education in Australia was lacking somewhat, because these children at this particular school didn’t know who Her Majesty was,” he said. Devereux said he remembered the shock when he was first told who was going to be visiting the school. “I had only been appointed to this school for a few weeks when I got a phone call from my boss who said, ‘Would you be prepared to host an important visitor?’ And I said, ‘Oh, yes. Who did you have in mind?’,” he said. “He said, Elizabeth Windsor — and I said, ‘Oh, is she in education or something?’ “And my boss said to me, after a little bit of a pause, ‘Brian, does the word Her Majesty or Queen ring any particular bells with you?’ I said, ‘Are you joking?’.” Despite the hilarious fumbles from the children, Devereux said it was an incredible day. “It was a particularly special day, I must admit, it was just lovely,” he said. “She was quite personable, she paid attention to everything she was told.” Image credits: TikTok

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New flag furore erupts as Djokovic crushes Aus Open final

Missing grandma found safe and well

Top floor hotel apartment up for grabs for under $70k

Ever wanted to work at Australia Post? Now's your chance

"Whose nana is that?": Adorable moment kindy kids don't recognise the Queen

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