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Hero cop breaks silence on Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing

<p>Amy Scott, the hero police officer who shot Joel Cauchi during his stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction in April, has spoken about her brave act. </p> <p>On Sunday, the Sydney Roosters publicly recognised all emergency services during the NRL match against Canberra, in what will become an annual event. </p> <p>There were  tributes for NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue, VRA Rescue NSW, SES, Rural Fire Service, Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving Australia and St John Ambulance.</p> <p>Scott was the star of the event arriving in a PolAir helicopter to present the game ball to Roosters captain, James Tedesco.</p> <p>She was given a standing ovation from the NRL crowd, as she spoke about her brave act. </p> <p>“I was just doing my job that day, absolutely” she said. </p> <p>“It was a job I hoped the community would expect from us. I know any of my colleagues would have done exactly the same. I’m grateful that we were able to get there and do what we did as quickly as we did.</p> <p>“Look, I’m a very big believer in taking the support that is ­offered to you. I had done that significantly prior to anything that happened at Bondi.</p> <p>“The people you go home to, your family and friends, are key. For me, it’s my wife Emma because they deal with trauma you deal with in a different light and she has been incredible. We got married in February and we have two young boys. I’m excellent, I’m doing really well," Scott continued. </p> <p>“I’m enjoying being back at work. I actually just had some annual leave, which was nice. I love my job, I love where I work and I love my team. I’m grateful to be there with them doing day-to-day stuff again. It is (a thankless task) at times, absolutely.</p> <p>“It’s a wonderful day to recognise so many different emergence services and I’m incredibly grateful to the Roosters and NRL for making this happen because there are so many unsung heroes out there, not just with the NSW Police Force, but with all other emergence services, so it’s so nice to have a wonderful, positive, light shed on us all.</p> <p>“It was unreal, a fantastic experience. It’s a privilege.”</p> <p>When asked who she supported in the NRL, the hero police said: “Today I’m a Roosters fan," but she will always remain a Knights fan as she is a "one-town, one-team kind of girl." </p> <p>NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb also attended the match and praised her for her actions. </p> <p>“What courage Amy Scott has shown this year. She really epitomises policing in NSW. She is very humble,”  Catley said. </p> <p>“This is an opportunity for us to say to her: ‘Thank you so much for her courage’. Without her actions, we could have ended up with a different situation that day in Bondi.</p> <p>“She (Scott) is an amazing officer every day of the week,” Webb said. </p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p> <p> </p>

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Shopping centre locked down after violent altercation

<p>Two teenage boys have been arrested after a violent altercation broke out in South Australia's largest shopping centre. </p> <p>On Sunday afternoon, three boys allegedly confronted another group of teens at the Westfield Marion centre’s food court armed with “expandable batons”, with reports one of the boys was also armed with a knife. </p> <p>The violent altercation triggered Westfield’s emergency lockdown and evacuation procedures, with alarms blaring throughout the centre and major storefronts locking their doors to keep shoppers safe.</p> <p>Heavily armed specialist police officers stormed the centre in search of the teens, but they were unable to be found. </p> <p>Following hours of investigating, two boys, aged 15 and 16, were found, arrested and charged with assault, affray and aggravated robbery.</p> <p>The two teens will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday afternoon, and police continue to search for any outstanding suspects.</p> <p>Assistant Commissioner Duval said police knew the identity of a third offender, and encouraged him to turn himself in.</p> <p>“His identity is known, and at some point we will catch up with him,” he told Today.</p> <p>Duval said police believe the boys knew each other and it was "not a random attack".</p> <p>He also confirmed that police had seized two expandable  batons from the teens, explaining, "It's a baton that effectively expands, not dissimilar to what police would use."</p> <p>"Certainly the possession of them is very concerning, that formed part of the allegation of what these boys were charged with."</p> <p>Following the incident, a spokesperson for Westfield issued a statement saying the safety of customers, business partners and people is their "highest priority".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

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"My angel": Bondi stabbing victim's emotional reunion with her saviour

<p>A woman who was among those stabbed at Bondi Junction Westfield has finally reunited with the man who saved her life. </p> <p>Liya Barko, an international student from Argentina, was one the victims who was stabbed by Joel Cauchi on April 13 during his violent attack which killed six people and injured dozens more. </p> <p>A mystery man in a green t-shirt managed to save her life, but Barko wasn't able to track him down until now. </p> <p>"I would like to see him again, at least give him a hug," she told<em> 9News</em> on Monday.</p> <p>Barko reunited with her hero, identified as ex-military solider Wayne Tolver Banks on Tuesday, finally embracing the man who saved her life. </p> <p>"Oh my god, I remembered you were so tall," Barko said as the pair hugged. </p> <p>"I'm so happy you're alive,"  Banks replied. </p> <p>Banks recalled how during the attack Cauchi looked at him and shook his head, as if to say he wasn't going to attack him, before he stabbed Barko. </p> <p>The ex-military soldier sprung to action and quickly moved Barko into a shop to take refuge, where his wife helped him look after her.</p> <p>"I looked at you when I saw the man stab you and I said straight away to myself I've got to help you... I didn't want you to die," he told Barko. </p> <p>"Straight away I knew what I had to do to take control of the situation and the area."</p> <p>Barko also recalled how Banks' wife was there and helped her get through it when she thought she was going to die. </p> <p>"Your wife she was the person who started to shake me when I started to say 'I want to give up'...she is the one who (said to me) 'You are doing really well'," she said. </p> <p>"For me...you were the angel who just appeared at the right moment at the right place."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

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Happy update on "unsung" Bondi hero

<p>"Unsung" Bondi hero Muhammad Taha, originally from Pakistan, was stabbed in the stomach as he confronted killer Joel Cauchi on Saturday.</p> <p>While recovering in hospital, he made a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/forgotten-bondi-junction-hero-s-plea-to-pm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desperate plea</a> to the government to let him stay longer in the country he now calls home, following the public praise and a confirmed visa extension for French national Damien Guerot, also known as “bollard man”. </p> <p>Now, the security guard confirmed that the government would be granting him the opportunity to stay here, and Taha says he is honoured. </p> <p>“Yeah, (the government) got in touch with me, so maybe they will soon start the process, hopefully,” he told <em>The Australian</em> on Thursday.</p> <p>“I’m very honoured. It’s a great gesture from the government.</p> <p>“I’ve been in Australia around one-and-a-half years. It’s home to me. I love being here. I’m very thankful for this.”</p> <p>Taha was on a graduate visa that was due to expire within weeks. </p> <p>In an interview with SBS reporter Janice Peterson on Thursday night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Immigration Minister Andrew Giles had spoken with Taha and expressed confidence that his visa issues would be "sorted out". </p> <p>“We know that Mr Taha put his own safety at risk in order to protect people who were there shopping," Albanese said. </p> <p>The prime minister also told <em>A Current Affair</em> he was “very confident” the issue would be resolved on Friday. </p> <p>“The minister has spoken with the gentlemen who is still in hospital, Muhammad, and we wish him every swift recovery,” he said at the time. </p> <p>“We’re just going through our processes but we see no reason why this shouldn’t be approved, and I’m very confident it will be approved tomorrow.”</p> <p>He added that people like Taha were welcome in Australia. </p> <p>“This is again another person who is newly arrived, was here working, and put his life on the line in order to protect Australians who he didn’t know,” he said.</p> <p>“Amidst all this carnage and sorrow, there are stories of bravery ... he certainly is the sort of character that we want to see continuing to contribute here in Australia.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty/ news.com.au</em></p>

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Bondi Junction Westfield reopens after stabbing tragedy

<p>Bondi Junction Westfield has reopened five days after the devastating stabbing tragedy that claimed the lives of six people and injured several others. </p> <p>Before the centre opened at 11am on Thursday, dozens of people lined up to pay their respects to those who have died at the "community reflection day" held at the centre. </p> <p>The centre was lined with images of black commemorative ribbons to honour those who lost their lives on Saturday, when 40-year-old Joel Cauchi went on his stabbing rampage through the centre. </p> <p>Speaking from inside the Westfield today, one woman told news.com.au said she was returning to the centre with her toddler because she works in one of the stores and wanted to get used to going inside again after the tragic events. </p> <p>Another man said he felt compelled to come today because “everyone in Sydney has been to Bondi Junction at some point”.</p> <p>He noted how it felt “weird” to be there but he thought it was important the victims didn’t go “unseen”.</p> <p>Similarly, a young woman that works down the road in nearby Eastgate shopping centre said she was here today to “pay her respects”. She also noted it felt like the “safest” day to return to the shopping centre because of the ramped up police presence. </p> <p>Scentre Group, which owns and operates the shopping centre, said there would be no retail trade on the day of reflection, but shops would open for business on Friday with an increased police and security presence.</p> <p>“The centre will be quiet — it will allow for reflection to occur,” chief executive Elliott Rusanow said.</p> <p>The shopping centre will resume normal trading hours on Friday, although Rusanow said some businesses would remain shut.</p> <p>“It will be their (retailers’) choice when they want to re-open,” he said.</p> <p>“This has been a very difficult time and I want to acknowledge the hard work and tireless efforts of our Westfield Bondi and Scentre Group teams,” Mr Rusanow said.</p> <p>“They have been working through conditions which have been devastating in their minds and in all our minds."</p> <p>Premier Chris Minns said the devastating attack had touched people across NSW, regardless of whether they knew the victims.</p> <p>“This vigil will be an opportunity for the community to stand together to support and honour the victims and survivors of this horrific tragedy,” he said.</p> <p>“I hope they can draw some strength from the fact that there’s many people that are standing with them during this time.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Forgotten Bondi Junction hero's plea to PM

<p>An "unsung hero" still recovering in hospital after confronting Joel Cauchi during the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbings, has asked the Prime Minister if he too can be considered for citizenship. </p> <p>Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir were the two security guards who risked their lives to protect innocent bystanders when they confronted the killer on Saturday afternoon. </p> <p>Tahir lost his life in the process, while Taha remains in hospital after sustaining severe injuries. </p> <p>Taha, originally from Pakistan, recalled the events of the tragic day from his hospital bed, and described the moment they witnessed people fleeing in panic. </p> <p>“Faraz moved to assess the situation and to save the people; all of a sudden the guy came out,” he told <em>The Australian. </em></p> <p>“Faraz confronted him and was stabbed. After that, (Cauchi) jumped on me. I tried to defend but got stabbed.”</p> <p>Taha who is currently on a graduate visa that is due to expire within weeks, issued a desperate plea to the government asking them to give him an extension, following the public praise and a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/prime-minister-s-extraordinary-offer-for-bollard-man" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed visa extension</a> for French national Damien Guerot, nicknamed “bollard man” after the attacks.</p> <p>“As a direct victim of the incident, I believe I deserve recognition and consideration for citizenship,” Taha said. </p> <p>His request was also met with support from Sunrise’s Nat Barr who took the inquiry straight to Defence Minister Richard Marles on Thursday morning. </p> <p>“Mr Taha wants to know where his visa is at after the Prime Minister told the bollard hero that he can be in Australia as long as he likes ... Will Mr Taha also be allowed to stay?” she asked live on air.</p> <p>Marles said the immigration minister will work on a visa application, and said that Taha's act was "enormously brave". </p> <p>“Coming out of that tragedy are these incredible stories of bravery for which the nation is really greatly indebted and the circumstances of Mr Taha I’m sure will be worked through.”</p> <p>Shajar Ahmad, another colleague of Taha and Tahir, described them as “unsung heroes” of the bloody massacre.</p> <p>Albanese has responded to the request and said that a permanent visa would be “granted to (Guerot) today”, and that Taha’s case will also be considered.</p> <p>“(Taha) confronted this guy... It just shows extraordinary courage, these are people who ... not thinking of themselves, were putting themselves in danger protecting Australians they didn’t know, just people going about their shopping,” Albanese told Adelaide radio<em> 5AA</em>.</p> <p>“And that’s the sort of courage that we want to say thank you to, frankly. Those extraordinary stories of bravery in amongst the carnage and tragedy that we saw on Saturday.</p> <p>“It’s a bit of light in amongst the darkness that you saw these extraordinary acts.”</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

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Royals issue heartfelt statement after Bondi attack

<p>The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared a heartfelt message to the victims and survivors of the deadly <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/family-of-bondi-killer-break-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stabbing attack</a> at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday. </p> <p>William and Kate took to Instagram to share the statement, after six people were killed and 12 others injured following the violent attack. </p> <p>"We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney earlier today," the royals wrote on Saturday. </p> <p>"Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others."</p> <p>Tributes have also poured in for the other victims, who were tragically killed in the attack. </p> <p>Dawn Singleton, 25, was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-am-so-heartbroken-tributes-flow-for-bride-to-be-stabbing-victim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planning her wedding </a>at the time of the stabbing, and was shopping for make-up before she was tragically killed by Joel Cauchi. </p> <p>“Dawn, I should be writing your wedding speech, but instead I sit here sobbing,” her friend Jade O’Connor wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>“This year you were meant to get married to the love of your life — I’m so heartbroken and (I) can’t believe this reality.”</p> <p>Ashlee Good, 38, died protecting her baby girl from Cauchi, after passing her injured 9-month-old to bystanders. </p> <p>Her family have said that they were "reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human and so much more".</p> <p>Faraz Tahir, 30, a security guard working at the shopping centre, reportedly started his first day shift at the centre on the day that he was murdered. </p> <p>“It’s very tragic news — this is something which you don’t expect at all,”  his friend Adnan Qadir told <em>Sunrise</em>. </p> <p>“It is hard for me to fathom he was with me 72 hours before the tragedy and then we lost him in such circumstances.”</p> <p>“He was a great guy — he keeps other people’s interests ahead of his own.</p> <p>“Had a lot of ambition for his future ... Just settling into his new country.</p> <p>“He was looking forward to a stable career, to make a family up here. It is just sad how it all ended up," Qadir said. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty/ Instagram</em></p>

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Kyle Sandilands' family member among first victims stabbed in Bondi

<p>Kyle Sandilands became emotional as he described how his wife’s relative Yvonne Wineberg was one of the first women targeted during the terrifying stabbing <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/family-of-bondi-killer-break-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attack</a> at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday. </p> <p>Speaking to co-host Jackie “O” Henderson and newsreader Brooklyn Ross, on <em>The Kyle &amp; Jackie O show</em> Monday morning, Sandilands revealed: “One of the first women to get stabbed in the shoulder was a family member of ours.</p> <p>“She’s a very close family member to my wife.</p> <p>“So, we were watching it on TV, and saw one of our families were involved and carted off to hospital.”</p> <p>He also said that a Bondi lifeguard, who was trapped in Myer during the incident after the store had pulled down their shutters to keep shoppers safe, had asked to be let out so he could help Wineberg. </p> <p>“He could see our family member that got stabbed laying on the ground. There was so much blood.</p> <p>“He said, ‘if I don’t get to her, she’s losing too much blood’, so they let him out, and he rendered assistance before the paramedics arrived.”</p> <p>Sandilands didn't name the lifeguard, but shared the horrors the lifeguard witnessed during the attack. </p> <p>“He said every 50 foot there was another person laying in a pile of blood — all the way down the mall,” the KIIS FM star said. </p> <p>Wineberg was released from hospital on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>NSW Police identified Joel Cauchi as the killer on Sunday.</p> <p>He was fatally shot just minutes after he left six dead and 12 injured during the terrifying attack at the shopping centre on Saturday night. </p> <p>Cauchi's parents have <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/family-of-bondi-killer-break-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoken out</a> and expressed their devastation and disbelief at their son's actions, describing the attack as "truly horrific".</p> <p>They also said that they "have no issues with the police officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is coping alright.”</p> <p>Cauchi's victims included Pikria Darchia, 55, Ashlee Good, 38;  Faraz Tahir, 30; Dawn Singleton, 25; Jade Young, 47; and Yixuan Cheng, 25.</p> <p>A dozen others – mostly women – were also injured, including Good’s nine-month old baby girl. </p> <p><em>Images: 7NEWS</em></p> <p> </p>

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Dad’s shocking encounter in Westfield parents’ room

<p>A New Zealand father has been asked to leave the parents’ room as he was taking care of his five-month-old daughter.</p> <p>Josh Anderson was shopping at a Westfield in Manukau, Auckland when he entered the parents’ room to change his daughter’s nappy and feed her.</p> <p>He also used the bathroom himself while he was there so he could park his daughter’s pram into the cubicle with him, but when he came out he was confronted by an angry woman who told him men weren’t welcome in the room.</p> <p>The woman then pointed to the sign on the parents’ room door which showed a female figure with a child, and proceeded to tell him he should have taken his daughter to the men’s bathroom.</p> <p> “You're not allowed to use this facility because it's for women only. Can you not see the sign? You have no right!” the woman allegedly said.</p> <p>Mr Anderson then asked the woman if she believed he should change his daughter in the men’s room, and she responded: “that’s what all the men are supposed to do.”</p> <p>The child’s mum Kori Anderson said she was livid when she found out about her husband’s experience.</p> <p>“It’s called a PARENTS’ room for a reason,” Mrs Anderson wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>“Parents’ rooms in malls are not just for mums - dads and caregivers are welcome too. If you aren’t aware of this then please take the time to educate yourself and your family,” she added.</p> <p>Mrs Anderson said a men’s public bathroom isn’t a suitable place to change a baby and her husband has the right to use the parents’ room when with children.</p> <p>“There are no change tables in the men’s room, let alone anywhere clean or suitable to tend to a baby. There’s also nowhere to leave a pram with a baby safely whilst the father uses the cubicle and for slightly older female children I would consider the men’s room an inappropriate place for them to be,” Mrs Anderson told Yahoo News Australia</p> <p>A spokesperson for Manukau City Westfield released a statement saying the room was open for all caregivers.</p> <p>"Parents’ rooms are provided for the use of all parents, carers and guardians,” the spokesperson said.</p>

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Busy Westfield shopping centre on high alert after COVID-19 scare

<p>Shoppers who visited one of Sydney’s busiest shopping centres are being urged to get tested for coronavirus.</p> <p>New South Wales Health has issued a public health warning after a man who tested positive for COVID-19 visited Penrith Plaza in Western Sydney.</p> <p>He spent close to two hours at the centre on Saturday between 10:30 am and 12:00pm.</p> <p>The man also dined at the Master Hot Pot restaurant at Canley Vale between 1 pm to 2pm, and the BBQ City Buffet in Bankstown from 7:00 pm to 8:30pm.</p> <p>An additional seven venues across the city are on high alert after another man was diagnosed with COVID-19.</p> <p>During his visits, he was infectious and travelled around to a number of pubs and restaurants in the city’s inner west and CBD.</p> <p>This includes the Jambo, Jambo African restaurant in Glebe which he visited from July 31 from 7 pm to 8:30pm.</p> <p>NSW Health has advised those who attended the restaurant during that time to immediately self-isolate for 14 days and get tested even if they’re showing no symptoms.</p> <p>He also attended the Eveleigh Hotel in Redfern, the Warren View Hotel in Enmore, Mary’s restaurant at Macquarie Place, Burrow Bar in Sydney and Woolworths Marrickville Metro.</p> <p><strong>People who visited these venues during the below times are being urged to watch out for symptoms:</strong></p> <p><span>Eveleigh Hotel Redfern: July 31: 8.30pm-10pm</span></p> <p>Warren View Hotel Enmore August 1: 4 pm to 4.20pm</p> <p>Mary’s in Macquarie Place, Sydney August 1: 6.45 pm to 7.15pm </p> <p>Cubby’s Kitchen in Sydney August 1: 7.35 pm to 9.30pm</p> <p>Burrow Bar in Sydney August 1: 9.35 pm to 11.15pm</p> <p>Woolworths Marrickville Metro August 2: 7 pm to 7.20pm.</p> <p>Penrith Plaza - 1 August from 10.30 am to 12.00pm</p> <p>Master Hot Pot, Canley Vale - 1 August from 1.00 pm to 2.00pm</p> <p>BBQ City Buffet, Bankstown - 1 August 7.00 pm to 8.30pm</p> <p> </p>

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Bunnings and Westfield launch genius new service with no fees

<p>Bunnings and Westfield have introduced new drive-through services amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>Bunnings has launched its contactless service, Drive and Collect, which is now available at 250 of its larger stores across Australia.</p> <p>The new service gives customers the option to order online and pick up their purchase from Bunnings car parks at a convenient date and time. Shoppers text or call the store team on arrival and their items are then brought outside and placed in their car boot.</p> <p>“We’re taking a commonsense approach to finding ways to quickly adapt our business so that we can continue to safely serve our retail customers and enable tradies to keep their businesses running,” Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/bunnings-westfield-offer-contactless-drivethrough-service-amid-coronavirus/news-story/b5ecf17f2ed8d272783aac990bbc8797">News.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p>“This is just another example of how we are adapting our business to this changing environment and our store teams are doing their best to provide customers with the best service, while keeping everyone safe.”</p> <p>Westfield is also offering a no-contact shop and collect service. Westfield’s parent company Scentre Group announced the new Westfield Direct on Thursday as “a new way for you to buy from your favourite stores and quick eats”.</p> <p>Shoppers are able to purchase items from multiple retailers through the Westfield Direct website and collect the order at the drive-through area.</p> <p>More than 350 retailers – including Harris Farm Markets, Donut King, Aesop and L’Occitane – are available through the service, allowing shoppers to access <a href="https://10daily.com.au/news/australia/a200415zuomk/drive-thru-pick-up-now-available-at-westfield-20200415">up to 8,000 products</a>.</p> <p>“From takeaway food to daily necessities and extras, simply order online, select your pick-up time, and collect your order at our designated drive-thru point – with no booking or delivery fee applied,” the company said.</p> <p>Westfield will also be expanding to other categories and retailers over the coming weeks and months.</p>

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Heartbroken family of 71-year-old man watch footage of him vanishing in Sydney shopping centre

<p>Retired barber Bernard Gore, 71, was on a three-week trip to Sydney with his wife of 50 years, Angela, to visit one of their three adult children in December 2016. </p> <p>The couple were staying in their daughter’s apartment in Woollahra, in the city’s east and planned to return to his home in Tasmania on January 11, 2017. </p> <p>However on January 6, 2017, Mr Gore set off for a day trip to Westfield Bondi Junction at 12:30 Pm. </p> <p>His final moments were recorded on CCTV footage, which showed him on his 15- minute walk past a number of shops along Oxford St before he went into the shopping centre. </p> <p>Footage from inside the shopping centre shows him walking inside at 12.48pm, up the incline of level four and through door L407 at 12.50pm.</p> <p>This footage has been shown to his family for the first time, with Mr Gore’s daughter, Melinda, beginning to cry as she saw her father disappear from sight on the TV screens in the NSW Coroners Court in Lidcombe on Monday morning. </p> <p>“There is no further CCTV footage of Bernard after the time Bernard entered the fire stairs,” counsel assisting the coroner, Anna Mitchelmore SC, said.</p> <p>When Mr Gore initially disappeared, his wife searched through the areas they usually visited before returning home at 2pm. </p> <p>His family became “increasingly worried” as it got darker and reported him missing to police at 8pm. Later that night they also reported him missing to Woolworths and Westfield security. </p> <p> “Tragically, (it was) not until around 8 am on January 27, 2017, that Bernard was found deceased in the fire stairs,” Ms Mitchelmore said.</p> <p>“His body was found by a maintenance worker at the bottom of the stairwell he had entered.”</p> <p>She said it had been “immensely distressing for his family” who had wondered for weeks where their beloved family member was gone. </p> <p>“Only for him to be found at the place for which he had set off on January 6,” Ms Mitchelmore said.</p> <p>She said the 71-year-old was found lying in a “semi-kneeling position” in the stairwell. </p> <p>“It appears that he had been sitting on a chair that was found near his body, and at some stage he had fallen forward and off the chair.”</p> <p>He was found along with his white hat, a handkerchief, dentures, glasses case and a $5 note. </p> <p>The court was told Mr Gore had gone missing once before in Hobart. </p> <p>His son, Mark, had bought him a watch which had a GPS tracking device but Mr Gore hadn’t worn it on the day he went missing as it wasn’t working. </p> <p>His daughter, Melinda, had also given him a copy of her address and contact details on that day.</p> <p>Records obtained from the shopping centre showed the push-button exit door at the bottom of the stairwell was not opened once in the three-week period between when Mr Gore went missing and when his body was discovered. </p> <p>No alarm was activated. </p> <p>He was taking medication for hypertension and a mild cognitive impairment at the time of his death. </p> <p>The married couple had “more or less had a routine when they attended Westfield,” Ms Mitchelmore said. </p> <p>Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee is this week overseeing a five-day inquest into Mr Gore’s death.</p> <p>A forensic entomologist analysed data that “indicated to him Bernard died a minimum of one to two weeks before his body was found,” according to Ms Mitchelmore. </p> <p>The  issues due to be explored are the adequacy of the review of CCTV footage, the physical searches conducted by Westfield security and police, and the signage – both painted and illuminated – in the stairwell.</p> <p>Ms Mitchelmore said she anticipates the inquest will hear there was no ‘Code Grey’ - the centre’s missing person procedure - called on January 6 or 7.</p> <p>“It’s likely that it was a more informal search as opposed to a search ... by a Code Grey.”</p> <p>The inquest will also investigate why police and security formed the view in the early stages of their investigation that Mr Gore had never arrived at Westfield.</p> <p>“The intention is to always conduct a coronial investigation in a thorough and comprehensive way,” Mr Lee said.</p> <p>“It’s also the aim to identify whether there have been any shortcomings or deficiencies.</p> <p>“Not for the purpose of assigning blame or fault (but) whether some important lessons can be learned from an otherwise traumatic event.”</p>

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Shopping centre wins praise over genius plastic shopping bag hack

<p>A shopping centre in Canberra has received praise for its “great” initiative that helps shoppers carry their groceries without having to get or purchase a new plastic shopping bag.</p> <p>Westfield Woden has installed a reusable bag wall where shoppers can take or leave reusable carriers. The wall, which was erected in between the shopping centre’s Coles and Woolworths, was created by Westfield Woden’s centre management in collaboration with MMD, Damsel and Sprout and Allira’s Inklings.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0kOsoOgr7l/" 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="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0kOsoOgr7l/" target="_blank">A post shared by 👋 Hi! So nice to meet you! (@damselandsprout)</a> on Jul 30, 2019 at 8:29pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Community members have expressed support for the new wall, with many sharing positive feedback on social media sites.</p> <p>“Great idea! Please keep it going,” one commented.</p> <p>“Love this concept! More shopping centres should have them,” another added.</p> <p>“I think it could be a solution to some of the 'reusable' plastic bags from Coles and Woolies!” one said.</p> <p>“The banning of single use plastic bags and commercialisation of the legislated ‘approved plastic’ reusable carrier means that we have all accumulated way too many grocery bags and can’t even gift them away fast enough!” one wrote.</p> <p>The initiative came after the ACT banned some single-use, lightweight plastic bags in November 2011. According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6307607/help-at-hand-if-you-forget-your-plastic-shopping-bags/?fbclid=IwAR0qunD3q_9yTCDEfLsY4nuUEj5obVLcbrOJ0Tq2sXCv_B8FXyVB6iliGAc" target="_blank">Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate</a>, the volume of plastic bag waste going to landfill has declined by about one-third since the ban took effect.</p>

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Outrage over brazen Westfield car park standoff – who is in the wrong?

<p>Video footage showing a mum defiantly reserving a carpark for more than 15 minutes by standing in it with her son has divided viewers over whether her actions were fair play.</p> <p>A car engaged in a standoff with the woman in the Westfield carpark at St Lukes Mall in Auckland after the family attempted to park their car in the spot.</p> <p>The unrelenting mother told the car that she wouldn’t be moving for them anytime soon.</p> <p>“Can you please move as this is a public car park and I would like to park my family’s vehicle here,” the driver can be heard saying.</p> <p>“You are obstructing my peace,” he added, before sounding his horn for more than 20 seconds.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F269576803877699%2Fvideos%2F321773765254389%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>After watching the footage, some users criticised the mother for making her son go through such a confrontational exchange.</p> <p>“Poor child… I feel sorry for her son,” one woman wrote</p> <p>“Bloody awful to see and she had her child with her to witness her behaviour,” another said.</p> <p>“Since when has that ever been an option to just stand in a park,” one man asked.</p> <p>However, one woman defended the mother’s actions, saying that she wasn’t in the wrong.</p> <p>“The guy saw the lady was standing there most likely waiting for someone to come and park there. He should have looked somewhere else,” she wrote.</p> <p>The standoff reportedly ended when the couple inside the car gave up and found another park elsewhere.</p> <p>This incident follows a similar one earlier this year, when a woman in the US was filmed stopping a car from taking a park by waving her arms and saying: “I was here first”.</p> <p>Who do you think is in the wrong in this standoff? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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Adventurous toddler gets stuck in Westfield skilltester

<p><span>Jos Waechter was desperate to let her 13-month-old boy Lewis stretch his legs after their family embarked on a three-hour drive from the Riverland to Marion Westfield in Adelaide.</span></p> <p><span>Jos was playing the Emoji Movie skill tester arcade machine in the centre and after turning away to talk to someone, discovered Lewis inside the machine surrounded by plush toys.</span></p> <p><span>The family had made the road trip for their four-year-old daughter Abigail who wanted to see the </span><em><span>My Little Pony</span></em><span> movie.</span></p> <p><span>“While my husband Jason was inside with her watching the movie we waited outside,” Jos said.</span></p> <p><span>“We went to the playground and I let him run around a bit.</span></p> <p><span>“I struck up a conversation with some gentleman and had put $5 in the machine. I had a couple of tries and Lewis was at my feet playing with the control stick.</span></p> <p><span>“I was chatting to the guys and in the time it took to look away and back again he was gone.”</span></p> <p><span>The 38-year-old mother immediately thought Lewis had slipped down the side of the machine but then saw his head emerge among the plush toys inside the machine.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><img width="500" height="769" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45713/1_500x769.jpg" alt="1 (1)"/></span></p> <p><span>The toddler has just recently started walking and his mother explained he was a fan of exploring cabinets and closets at home.</span></p> <p><span>A worker from the nearby arcade came and opened up the machine.</span></p> <p><span>“He was only in there for between five and 10 minutes,” Jos said.</span></p> <p><span>“When the owner got him out they gave him a little devil plush toy, which I thought was appropriate.</span></p> <p><span>“He’s just started walking so I know I’m going to have to keep an eye on him.”</span></p>

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