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Gold medallist breaks down in tears over her late father's note

<p>An Olympic gold medallist has broken down in tears as she recalled an emotional and poignant exchange she had with her father before he died of cancer. </p> <p>Lola Anderson claimed the gold medal for Team Great Britain in rowing, beating The Netherlands by just 0.15 seconds in the women’s quadruple sculls. </p> <p>In her victory interview with the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnd06pg0k0wo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em>, Lola recalled a note her father Don had given her months before his death in 2019.</p> <p>Before his death, Lola's father asked her to retrieve a safety deposit box that contained an old diary entry that Lola wrote when she was just 14 years old. </p> <p>In it, she wrote about becoming an Olympic rowing champion after seeing Helen Glover win gold at London 2012.</p> <p>The note read: “My name is Lola Anderson and I think it would be my biggest dream in life to go to the Olympics and represent Team GB in rowing and, if possible, win a gold medal.”</p> <p>Lola soon threw the note in the bin as she started to doubt her dream, but unbeknownst to her, her father fished it out of the garbage and kept it, giving it back to her before he died. </p> <p>When asked about the note after the win, she told the <em>BBC</em>, “I’d forgotten about it obviously. A couple years ago my dad reminded me."</p> <p>“I know he’d be so, so proud. I’m just thinking a lot about him right now, it’s really lovely.”</p> <p>Speaking about the note to the <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/he-chose-to-believe-meet-lola-anderson-gb-rower-living-her-late-fathers-olympic-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian</a></em> before the Olympics, Anderson said her father, who introduced her to the sport, believed in her when she didn’t.</p> <p>“I kinda thought that was a really cocky, arrogant thing to have written. Back then, on a good day I wasn’t capsizing. I ripped the page out and threw it in the bin,” she said. </p> <p>“It reflects to me how much he cared, invested and believed in me and my siblings, even when we couldn’t see it. There was nothing to show I had any talent when I first started rowing but he kept the note and chose to believe.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: BBC </em></p>

Family & Pets

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A-list Hollywood star’s son dies at just 33

<p>Gary Sinise, known for his A-list Hollywood movie roles, has shared that his son has passed away at the age of 33. </p> <p>The 68-year-old announced that McCanna “Mac” Sinise passed away on January 5th after a five-and-a-half year battle with chordoma, a rare form of cancer. </p> <p>The Gary Sinise Foundation took to Instagram to share a picture of Mac with the caption, “In Honour & Memory of McCanna ‘Mac’ Sinise 1990-2024.”</p> <p>In a message shared on the <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/mac-tribute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gary Sinise Foundation website</a>, Sinise opened up about the devastating loss of his son. </p> <p>“Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can,” he wrote.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C33KTEfN06g/?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/C33KTEfN06g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Gary Sinise Foundation (@garysinisefoundation)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“As parents, it is so difficult losing a child. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one. We’ve all experienced it in some way. Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s just damn hard." </p> <p>“Our family’s cancer fight lasted for 5 ½ years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on. While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it.”</p> <p>“He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying,” Sinise went on."</p> <p>Sinise shared his story because he and his family “hope to shine a little bit of light on what has been a difficult time.”</p> <p>“Mac was truly a light for all of us,” he added. "An incredible inspiration to those who knew and loved him, he faced his battle with grace, courage, and love. Even with one setback after another, he never stopped living and learning, creating, and giving, and loving."</p> <p>He continued, “Thank you, Mac. You will live in our hearts forever. We were blessed to have you in our lives as son, brother, and friend … and we will miss you and love you for eternity.”</p> <p>Gary Sinise, who has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Tony, is known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in <em>Forrest Gump</em>, as well as his roles in <em>Apollo 13</em> and <em>The Green Mile,</em> and TV shows such as <em>CSI: NY.</em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Iconic Star Trek actor dies suddenly at age 73

<p dir="ltr">Iconic <em>Star Trek: Enterprise</em> actor Gary Graham has passed away suddenly at the age of 73. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actor’s ex-wife Susan Lavelle confirmed the news in an emotional facebook post, sharing their family’s devastation over his death. </p> <p dir="ltr">The family chose not to disclose his cause of death, only writing that his passing was “sudden” and came as a “shock”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It is with deep profound sadness to say that Gary Graham, my ex-husband, amazing actor and father of our beautiful only child together, Haylee Graham, has passed away today,” Lavelle wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are completely devastated, especially our daughter Haley. His wife, Becky, was by his side.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to share some of her favourite things about her ex-husband, writing that he was “Funny, sarcastic sense of humour but kind, fought for what he believed in, a devout Christian and was so proud of his daughter, Haylee.”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsusanashleylavelle%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0XTf8xMGFeD96Ehnk6a8X7RcKQYDxdHvvm3S82J24FX3eaNwtVo3Uax6H4SvQW3YKl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="777" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">“This was sudden, so please pray for our daughter as she navigates through this thing called grief,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Fly high into the heavens Gar!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you for our journey and thank you for the gifts you left me in acting, my love of horses and most importantly, our daughter.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Gary shot to fame in Hollywood for his role in the ‘80s series <em>Alien Nation</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">He stayed in the world of sci-fi as he played Vulcan Ambassador Soval on <em>Star Trek: Enterprise</em> between 2001 and 2005.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gary also starred in TV series such as <em>Starsky and Hutch</em> and <em>The Dukes of Hazzard</em>, before acting alongside Tom Cruise in the film <em>All the Right Moves</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Former Neighbours star’s stunning Yarra Valley wedding

<p>In a celebration filled with love, laughter and music, singer and former <em>Neighbours</em> star Bonnie Anderson tied the knot with her beau, Samuel Morrison, in a breathtaking ceremony at the enchanting Acacia Ridge Vineyard in Yarra Valley, Victoria.</p> <p>The 29-year-old songstress and her landscaper husband exchanged vows in the presence of their closest family and friends, marking the beginning of a beautiful journey together.</p> <p>The radiant bride walked down the aisle in a sleeveless, halter-neck lace gown crafted by the talented Australian designer Jason Grech, while the dashing groom looked ever so handsome in a classic black tuxedo. The picturesque vineyard provided the perfect backdrop for this special day, creating an atmosphere of pure magic and romance.</p> <p>Sharing their joy with the world, Anderson captioned the first wedding photo on Instagram with the simple yet powerful words, "Mr and Mrs Morrison."</p> <p>The newlyweds flooded their social media with countless photos and videos, giving fans a glimpse into the magical celebration of their love.</p> <p>During the reception, the talented bride took the stage once again, not only as a singer but as a romantic lyricist. Anderson serenaded her new husband with a heartfelt song she had written especially for him, creating an unforgettable moment as their guests gathered around to witness their love story unfold.</p> <p>The celebration continued inside a marquee on the sprawling estate, where the bridesmaids, adorned in elegant black satin gowns, kicked off the festivities with a rehearsed entrance set to the iconic Beyoncé hit, "Single Ladies". Dinner was served, and the atmosphere was electric as the bride treated the guests to her musical prowess before the DJ took over, transforming the evening into a dance-filled extravaganza.</p> <p>In a pre-wedding interview with the <em>Herald Sun</em>, Anderson expressed her desire for the celebration to be a "big party" filled with entertainment and music, and she certainly delivered on that promise. Life may be chaotic as a mum, singer and wedding organiser, but for Bonnie Anderson, the chaos is well worth the joy that comes with looking forward to the future.</p> <p>The couple, who had already welcomed their bundle of joy, Bobby, in December the previous year, radiated happiness and love throughout the day. Anderson, who found fame at the tender age of 12 as the first winner of <em>Australia's Got Talent</em> in 2007, has come a long way, gracing the screens of <em>Neighbours</em> from 2018 to 2021. Now, as Bonnie Morrison, she begins a new chapter in her fairy tale alongside Samuel.</p> <p>As they dance into the rest of their lives together, Bonnie and Samuel Morrison serve as a testament to the enduring power of love, the magic of music, and the joy of sharing life's grandest moments with those who matter most. Cheers to the newlyweds, and may their journey be filled with endless love, laughter, and, of course, more unforgettable music!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Sneaky zoom call hints at secret new MasterChef style project

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Hold onto your spatulas – the culinary world just got a sneak peek into the top-secret virtual rendezvous of the original MasterChef judging squad, and let's just say, the excitement is sizzling hotter than a pan of frying bacon.</span></p> <p>Celebrity chef and all-around food wizard George Calombaris shook the internet like a well-shaken cocktail when he decided to share a teensy snippet of a recent clandestine Zoom chat with his former kitchen companions, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston. </p> <p>And although the video quality was about as polished as a well-worn wooden spoon, it was the content that had tongues immediately wagging as Preston playfully poked Calombaris about his dessert tastes being as "daggy" as a dad joke at a barbecue. And George, bless his apron-wrapped heart, heartily agreed: "The daggier, the better. As daggy as we are on this Zoom call," he clapped back.</p> <p>Captioned with all the mystery of a burrito's secret ingredients, the post read, "Some serious food talk for a very special project. But mostly just a lot of shots and giggles." Shots, giggles, and maybe a sprinkle of culinary magic – sounds like our kind of party.</p> <p>Since its release, the post has gone viral, racking up more views than there are slices in a pizza and comments flowing in like a chocolate fountain at a dessert buffet.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvqDIXatvT7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvqDIXatvT7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by George Calombaris (@gcalombaris)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Just in case you've been marooned on a desert island with nothing but spam and a can opener, let's rewind a bit. George, Gary, and Matt were the original trio of culinary divinities who ruled MasterChef with their tastebuds and witty repartee for an entire decade.</p> <p>Fast forward to 2019 when the MasterChef cosmos decided to shift its cosmic culinary alignment, and boom! The trio was out, leaving fans with their mouths agape, much like when you taste-test something expecting sugar but get salt instead. CEO Paul Anderson cited "unsatisfactory commercial agreement negotiations" at the time – it's like a fancy way of saying, "We couldn't agree on the paycheck, folks."</p> <p>Rumour had it, that the judges asked for a 40% raise, basically demanding a pile of dough the size of a well-risen soufflé, to the tune of $1.5 million each for just one more season. Talk about giving the term "food for thought" a whole new meaning.</p> <p>And what's life been like after the MasterChef limelight? Well, Preston had a brush with reality TV stardom in <em>Dancing With The Stars</em>, but <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/sudden-exit-leaves-dancing-with-the-stars-viewers-stunned" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his dance moves</a> were as graceful as a turkey trying to tango. Then, there's Gary and Matt, who teamed up for a show called <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/now-we-re-cooking-masterchef-s-matt-preston-and-gary-mehigan-jump-to-channel-7-for-new-reality-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Plate of Origin</em></a>, which sadly got served a big ol' rejection slip by the audience. </p> <p>And let's not forget George – his restaurant group got slapped with a whopping $200,000 fine for underpaying staff to the tune of $7.8 million. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/i-take-full-responsibility-george-calombaris-breaks-down-over-wage-theft-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">But they did fess up and pay up</a>, so it's not all choppy waters in this seafood feast.</p> <p>In a podcast confessional, George shared, “We found the issue, we owned up, we paid back. A lot of the story that people don’t write about because it’s not cool enough or doesn’t get a headline is that we actually overpaid 49 per cent of our workforce that we never asked the money back for, and I wouldn’t of. I think the tough thing for me was, I thought by owning up, it’s the right thing to do, that’s how I grew up. So for me, that was probably the thing that hurt the most, being called a ‘thief’. I’m proud of how we acted, I’m proud of what we did to fix the problem.”</p> <p>So, following the leaked Zoom call, a sprinkle of kitchen drama and a trio of culinary legends ready to sauté their way into a new foodie escapade, it appears there is nothing left for us to do but stay tuned with our daggiest dessert forks at the ready.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Far out… I did it”: MasterChef winner crowned!

<p dir="ltr">Brent Draper has been announced as <em>MasterChef Australia’s</em> winner!</p> <p dir="ltr">Brent was a returning contestant who had previously withdrawn from the 2021 season of <em>MasterChef</em>, after revealing that he was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/it-ain-t-weak-to-speak-masterchef-s-brent-draper-opens-up-about-his-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggling with his mental health</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">For the first round the pair had to make “a dish that tells a story,” a challenge that was set by judge Melissa Leong.</p> <p dir="ltr">Both contestants presented a dish with a pork base, with Brent opting for a pork chop with tamarind ketchup glaze, roast cabbage and salsa, which the judges deemed “perfectly executed”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He scored a near perfect 29 out of 30.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rhiannon went next whipping up a crispy pork belly dish with citrus caramel, fennel and orange salad and crispy shallots.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although judge Andy Allen called it “the best-looking plate” she’d presented all season, she also received some criticism mainly that she was a bit stingy with the sauce.</p> <p dir="ltr">She scored 25 out of 30.</p> <p dir="ltr">The second and final round was more intense as the pair had to recreate a pocket watch dessert made up of layers of coffee, cream and cake.</p> <p dir="ltr">Both contestants struggled with making the clear “glass” sugar dome that sits on top of the cake. While Rhiannon nailed it after two attempts, Brent couldn’t quite do the same after running out of time, so he had to present a final dish he thought he’d “stuffed up.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although his dish was less than perfect, Brent did a “very good job” at recreating the textures and flavours of the cake, which impressed pastry chef Amaury Guichon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rhiannon’s dish failed to impress the judges with Amaury saying that the “textures are all over the place,” which Mel Leong agreed was an issue as it meant “we lose the joy of the dish.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the end Brent scored 34 points in round two and Rhiannon scored 27.</p> <p dir="ltr">Brent redeemed himself after withdrawing from season 13 of the show, with a final score of 63.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rhiannon did her best and had a final score of 52 points.</p> <p dir="ltr">The finale of this year’s <em>MasterChef </em>ended with an extended tribute to Jock Zonfrillo, which showed a highlight reel from his time as a judge and the message: “Give it up for Jock Zonfrillo.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The season 15 <em>MasterChef </em>winner took to his Instagram to share his joy and tribute to Zonfrillo.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Far out… I did it,” he captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is a big win but it isn’t just for me. Honestly it’s for every single person who backed me, who reached out and shared their hard stuff and stories with me, it’s for all those who never gave up.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuwdb0pxGvi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuwdb0pxGvi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Brent Draper (@brentdraper_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“This win is for us and I couldn’t be happier than I am right now in this moment!!”</p> <p dir="ltr">He thanked the MasterChef judges before adding his tribute to Jock.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And to the man who’s been the most influential for me on my food and mental health journey, Jock. I’m gutted you’re not here mate and that we won’t get to have a scotch and celebrate this together - but just know that this win is for you.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you for the legacy you’ve left behind, for the memories and laughs and just know that you’ll never ever be forgotten in our home ❤️”</p> <p><em>Image: Ten</em></p>

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Suspect revealed in double murder of elderly couple

<p>A 62-year-old woman from Adelaide has had official charges laid against her by South Australian police over the alleged double murder of her elderly parents – Brenda and Lynton Anderson – who police believe were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/double-murder-investigation-launched-into-elderly-couple-who-died-a-year-apart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deliberately poisoned a year apart</a>.</p> <p>After initially concealing the identity of the suspect, detectives – who had been treating the deaths of Andersons, both aged 94, as a double murder – described their main person of interest as someone who was <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"known and close to both of them." </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">At the time, Detective Inspector Mark McEachern told reporters that </span>suspicions had arisen due to similarities and irregularities found in the toxicology reports of the deceased Andersons.</p> <p>It was determined that the presence of certain medications in their systems was unexplained and raised concerns. "There was no reason for the medication to have been in their system and that's raised concerns in respect of both deaths," McEachern said.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"Mrs Anderson's hospital death was identified during the coronial investigation process after toxicology results gave significant rise for concern. </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">When an innocent explanation for toxicology abnormalities was eliminated, the possibility Mrs Anderson's death being a deliberate act by another party became the primary subject of the investigation.</span></p> <p>"It is believed Mrs Anderson was killed by a person known to her and in close enough relationship to have been visiting her while she was in hospital."</p> <p>In the case of Lynton Anderson, he was discovered unconscious at his residence in Hackham by a caregiver on April 30. He was immediately transported to Flinders Medical Centre by SA Ambulance but succumbed to his condition the following day. Detectives then became suspicious of his toxicology results after closely analysing Brenda's case. </p> <p>After ruling out any of the carers who looked after the Andersons during their time in hospital, SA p<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">olice have now taken the couple’s daughter – Raelene Polymiadis – into custody and laid appropriate charges against her.</span></p> <p>It will be alleged by SA Police that Raelene Polymiadis carried out her crimes while visiting her parents – mother Brenda while she was being treated in hospital for unrelated issues, and father Lynton at his Hackham home.</p> <p><em>Images: SA Police</em></p>

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Double murder investigation launched into elderly couple who died a year apart

<p>Detectives are treating the deaths of Brenda and Lynton Anderson, both aged 94, as a double murder, with the main suspect believed to be someone close to the victims. The couple, who were great-grandparents, passed away a year apart under suspicious circumstances.</p> <p>Speaking at a press conference, Detective Inspector Mark McEachern revealed that both deaths were deliberate acts carried out by the same person, who had a close relationship with the Andersons.</p> <p>"Both were deliberately murdered by the same person who was known and close to both of them," Detective Inspector Mark McEachern told reporters.</p> <p>The suspicions arose due to similarities and irregularities found in the toxicology reports of the deceased couple. It was discovered that the presence of certain medications in their systems was unexplained and raised concerns.</p> <p>"The medication that was in there should not have been there, there was no reason for the medication to have been in their system and that's raised concerns in respect of both deaths," McEachern said.</p> <p>Brenda Anderson's demise initially occurred while she was receiving medical treatment at Noarlunga Hospital in March of the previous year. As her condition worsened, she was transferred to Flinders Medical Centre, where she eventually passed away.</p> <p>During the coronial investigation process, her hospital death came under scrutiny when significant abnormalities were found in the toxicology results. After ruling out any innocent explanation for these irregularities, the investigation turned its focus to the possibility of foul play by a third party known to Mrs. Anderson. The police have expressed confidence in the level of care provided by both hospitals.</p> <p>"Mrs Anderson's hospital death was identified during the coronial investigation process after toxicology results gave significant rise for concern.</p> <p>"When an innocent explanation for toxicology abnormalities was eliminated, the possibility Mrs Anderson's death being a deliberate act by another party became the primary subject of the investigation.</p> <p>"It is believed Mrs Anderson was killed by a person known to her and in close enough relationship to have been visiting her while she was in hospital.</p> <p>"Police have no concerns about the level of care in either hospital, which was exemplary," <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">McEachern</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> said.</span></p> <p>In the case of Lynton Anderson, he was discovered unconscious at his residence in Hackham by a caregiver on April 30. He was immediately transported to Flinders Medical Centre by SA Ambulance but succumbed to his condition the following day.</p> <p>Detectives also became suspicious of the toxicology results for Lynton after analysing Brenda's case. However, they have ruled out the involvement of external carers in his death. The police have identified a suspect but declined to provide further details at this stage of the investigation.</p> <p>Authorities are now urging anyone who had contact with the Anderson couple and possesses information related to their deaths and the events leading up to them to come forward. They are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who may have knowledge of any prescribed or non-prescribed medications used by the couple or discussed by them.</p> <p>The community has been left shocked and saddened by the tragic deaths of Brenda and Lynton Anderson. As the investigation into these distressing circumstances unfolds, the hope is that justice will be served and the truth behind these untimely losses will be revealed.</p> <p><em>Images: SA Police</em></p>

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Wes Anderson has an obsessive, systematic repetition of stylistic choices. He’s perfect for this TikTok meme

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-munt-1380279">Alex Munt</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Iconoclastic film director Wes Anderson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdt0oam6O1o">says of his films</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>I always feel like any character from one of my movies could walk into another one of the movies and be at home there.</p> </blockquote> <p>With the premiere of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FXCSXuGTF4">Asteroid City</a> at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival next week, fans have been doing just that – walking themselves into faux Anderson movies.</p> <p>TikTokers are creatively “Wes-Andersonifying” their everyday lives: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@keithafadi/video/7221582114880294150">at lunch</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@taramilktea/video/7226286920093977857?q=wes%20anderson%20challenge&amp;t=1683337148719">at the hotel pool</a> or <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hilakleinh3/video/7225644281799691563?q=wes%20anderson%20challenge&amp;t=1683337148719">at the bookstore</a>. The TikToks are all set to a score by Alexandre Desplat from The French Dispatch (2021).</p> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-855" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/855/b970b886fa15cd22f469e5441d15262ddaa1d2c8/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p>It’s fun to see Anderson’s film style rolled out across diverse cultural and geographic borders. This syncs with the filmmaker’s affinity for global cinema. He draws inspiration from the films of Yasujirō Ozu, Satyajit Ray, Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut and Jacques Rivette – to name just a few.</p> <p>For Tiktok’s Anderson fans, here’s a “<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@andyyongfilms/video/7227440401572039938">How To</a>” by @andyyongfilms which shows a recipe for the film style: a title card (Futura font, with typewriter effect), symmetrical compositions, bright coloured or pastel outfits, retro props, an overhead shot plus a “<a href="https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/swish-pan-whip-pan-definition-film/">whip-pan</a>” camera movement. A few of the TikToks are highly polished, clearly from creators with a film education, such as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@qmike/video/7223410519741418757">The British Dispatch</a>.</p> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-856" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/856/3ed36e627f542ded4bb2f6244eb11b5a4b4a1626/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <h2>Reimagining a film style</h2> <p>The Anderson-inspired TikToks are playful ruminations on the question of “film style” today. Stanley Kubrick once said a film director is a “<a href="https://craigberry93.medium.com/stanley-kubrick-at-the-design-museum-4e79b3c11af9">taste machine</a>”, which Anderson revels in to excess.</p> <p>Symmetry within the frame is perhaps the most obvious element of the Anderson film style and one easy to replicate in the TikToks. With an obsessive devotion to staging scenes in symmetry, Anderson breaks the “<a href="https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-the-rule-of-thirds/">rule of thirds</a>” for visual composition. In contrast, he pins his actors dead centre as shown in this <a href="https://vimeo.com/89302848">video essay</a> by Kogonada.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/89302848" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Working with his regular cinematographer Robert Yeoman, Anderson uses planar compositions to create graphic cinema which shares an affinity with illustration and painting.</p> <p>His “planar” approach to staging means the camera remains perpendicular to the subject, which the rapid whip-pan camera movements maintain <em>within</em> a shot. Anderson stages his actors across the frame – like garments on a clothesline – and in depth. You can see this in the image from Asteroid City above.</p> <p>This staging style is a departure from the mainstream visual style of film and television today which situates the camera at oblique angles to the actors, enhancing the layers of foreground, midground and background – closer to the way we see and experience the world.</p> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-857" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/857/4a449631c65d123c2342e08df14cd09f3b6d79a4/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p>In contrast, Anderson’s approach calls out the artificiality of cinema. He recalls historical film styles from early cinema theatricality to the pop-art cinema of the late 1960s, for example in the films of the late Jean-Luc Godard.</p> <p>Colour is another aspect of Wes Anderson’s visual style, which spills across the TikToks. Like a handful of directors today, he still shoots on film (16mm and 35mm) but now uses digital tools to <a href="https://musicbed.com/articles/filmmaking/cinematography/robert-yeoman-asc-on-shooting-wes-andersons-the-french-dispatch">grade the colour</a> of the images. The Euro-pastels from The Grand Budapest Hotel resurface in American shades for Asteroid City.</p> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-858" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/858/d333cb73c1d0b0fdb4ca1f8d48313a013754f2ec/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <h2>Where to next?</h2> <p>As a system in and of itself, the film style of Anderson is ripe for TikTok due to its boldness, clarity and repetition of techniques.</p> <p>Film style operates at the level of the shot. We might recall signature shots such as Hitchcock’s “vertigo effect” (where the camera lens zooms into a subject as the camera moves away), Scorsese’s tracking shots, Nolan’s close-up shots of hands or Tarantino’s point-of-view shots from inside a car boot.</p> <p>But these are isolated shots rather than Anderson’s obsessive, systematic repetition of stylistic choices within each film and across his oeuvre. On TikTok some shots are easier to craft that others, as @astonmartinf1 details in his <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jllacar/video/7226811816553270571?q=wes%20anderson%20challenge&amp;t=1683337148719">analysis</a> of the Wes Anderson Trend, noting the omission of camera movement in many of the videos which is a defining aspect of his film style proper.</p> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-859" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/859/f9767494a7a94dd0475e121fc36513afcc110279/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p>In filmmaking, moving the camera is often expensive, separating the amateur from the professional. Anderson’s tracking shots are only feasible within an industrial filmmaking process. While the TikToks may be highly creative, they are made with slim resources a world away from the film budgets of Anderson, who enjoys Medici-like support <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2015/01/23/mysterious-d-c-mogul-steve-rales-is-behind-oscar-nominated-pic/">from US billionaire Steven Rales</a>.</p> <p>Saying this, there are other aspects of the Wes Anderson style the TikToks could hijack on a budget, such as playfulness with the image aspect ratio and slow-motion photography. Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and height of an image. TikTok is 9:16, an inverted ratio to our widescreen TVs.</p> <p>As part of his film style, Anderson uses the Classical Hollywood ratio of 4:3 seen in <a href="https://youtu.be/dvubfl-qeC8">The French Dispatch</a>. Both ratios are designed for people (all those selfies) over landscapes, so creative opportunities here for TikTokers.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dvubfl-qeC8?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Anderson is also a fan of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRGqeHIItY8">slow-motion</a> to accentuate key dramatic moments in his films. Today’s smartphones shoot “slo-mo” well, and using TikTok and other basic editing apps the user can apply speed effects to their footage.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yRGqeHIItY8?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>And as generative AI representations of film style wash across social media there’s a new set of questions altogether. Here’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqxBkJnvPRa/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D">Harry Potter as directed by Wes Anderson</a> created by @panoramachannel with AI software Midjourney. But that’s another conversation.<!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-munt-1380279">Alex Munt</a>, Associate Professor, Media Arts &amp; Production, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/wes-anderson-has-an-obsessive-systematic-repetition-of-stylistic-choices-hes-perfect-for-this-tiktok-meme-204803">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Searchlight Pictures</em></p>

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AFL legend Gary Ablett Senior suing for brain damage

<p dir="ltr">An AFL legend is taking legal action against two of his former clubs for injuries he sustained during his career.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gary Ablett Senior is suing both Hawthorn and Geelong football clubs for concussions he suffered that have left him with lasting brain damage, according to a brain scan he underwent last year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ablett claims that the clubs breached their duty of care, as they "knew or ought to have known of the potential long-term consequences of concussion suffered by the plaintiff".</p> <p dir="ltr">His lawyer Michel Margalit said Ablett was dealing with significant health problems as a direct result of his on-field injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He's not doing well. He's had significant illness over the previous years and he's finding that he's struggling more and more as time goes on," she told ABC News Breakfast.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He has really significant medical and care needs, and there are just no funds available through the AFL Players Association or any other hardship fund to assist him with those care needs."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Margalit would not say how much Ablett was seeking but said it was a significant claim.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It is a very substantial case and could be really at the upper range of the allowance permitted by the compensation schemes in Victoria," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This could be multiple millions of dollars."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ablett played his first VFL season with the Hawks in 1982 and was with Geelong for the remaining 13 years of his career, kicking 1,031 goals in his 248 games before retiring in 1996.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Gillian Anderson shuts down The Crown rumours

<p dir="ltr">Gillian Anderson has shut down reports stating she declined to return for season 6 of <em>The Crown</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The sixth and final instalment of the show is welcoming many newcomers, with a major cast update revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rufus Kampas and Ed McVey will portray Prince William and Meg Bellamy will play Katie Middleton.</p> <p dir="ltr">Anderson, who won an Emmy for her role as Margaret Thatcher in the show's fourth season, has taken to social media to debunk a report claiming she declined to reprise her role of Thatcher. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress responded to the rumour posted by @MetroUK on Twitter, writing, “absolutely bollocks.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Absolute bollocks <a href="https://t.co/MBh4XdzruD">https://t.co/MBh4XdzruD</a></p> <p>— Gillian Anderson (@GillianA) <a href="https://twitter.com/GillianA/status/1645454002316869633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">According to <em>The Sun</em>, season six of The Crown has been in “chaos”, with rewrites required after Anderson was rumoured to reprise her role due to scheduling conflicts.</p> <p dir="ltr">The outlet noted that Netflix executives had been hoping to bring back Anderson so that Thatcher would be on-screen for the golden winning anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.</p> <p dir="ltr">The report, which Anderson disputed, claimed the dinner scene will recreate another dinner scene, one where the Queen will read the “strength and stay” speech. </p> <p dir="ltr">The focus for <em>The Crown’s</em> final season will be Prince William and Kate Middleton. </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-42b311bb-7fff-09bb-54e0-601b799c3ff7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

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Surprise wedding bells for AFL star

<p>Geelong star Gary Rohan and wife Madi Bennett have shared the exciting news that they got married over the weekend.</p> <p>The couple posted a wedding picture on Sunday with the caption simply: “Mr & Mrs Rohan” and a love heart.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmBLdm5P9hI/?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/CmBLdm5P9hI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by GaryRohan23 (@garyrohan16)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The stylish, casual rural wedding took place in Tyrendarra, Victoria, a four-hour drive outside of Melbourne.</p> <p>Friends and family members also took part in sharing photos from the special day.</p> <p>Geelong teammates Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins and retired champion Joel Selwood were among the many people commenting congratulations on social media.</p> <p>“Beautiful chuck & Madi,” Hawkins wrote.</p> <p>The couple announced their engagement in July, just 14 months after their relationship was made public.</p> <p>Rohan already has two daughters Bella, 3, and Sadie, 1 with ex-wife Amie Rohan.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Happy Days actor dies from Covid complications

<p>Gary Friedkin, the beloved actor who famously appeared in Happy Days and Star Wars, has died at the age of 70, with a statement revealing the cause as "complications of COVID-19".</p> <p>The accomplished actor passed away on December 2 in hospice care with his brother and sister-in-law by his side. He faced a "difficult three-and-a-half weeks in the medical intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, due to complications of COVID-19.”</p> <p>Tributes are now pouring in for the actor, with former Happy Days co-star Anson Williams telling The Post "Gary was a light of joy and inspiration that will be evergreen to all who see his work for generations to come. Garry Marshall once said, 'Gary makes my heart smile’."</p> <p>Friedkin, also known as "Kishka" to family friends, began his four-decade long career in Hollywood with the Chevy Chase comedy Under the Rainbow in 1981.</p> <p>Standing at 1.2 metres tall, Friedkin was a dedicated and treasured member of Little People of America. He attended many conventions and made lifelong friendships through the organisation.</p> <p>Some notable highlights from his acting days include his role as Clarence, a cook at Arnold's restaurant, on Happy Days, as well as an Ewok in Star Wars. He also appeared in many blockbusters such as Blade Runner and on TV in episodes of The Twilight Zone, The Practice and Chicago Hope.</p> <p>"While Gary may have been short of stature, he was a giant amongst his family and friends," reads his obituary.</p> <p>"His legacy will live on as stories are told and retold for years to come by all who loved him."</p> <p><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

Caring

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AFLW star's cause of death revealed

<p dir="ltr">Content warning: This article includes discussion of mental health and suicide.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cause of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/aflw-in-shock-after-star-dies-at-just-28">shock death of AFLW player and army medic Heather Anderson</a> has been confirmed, triggering a renewed conversation about the mental health of Australian troops.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 28-year-old was found after having taken her own life at an army barracks in Perth on Sunday morning, according to the Australian Veteran Community page.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/military-mental-health-in-spotlight-after-28yo-former-aflw-star-heather-andersons-death/news-story/a288899a503e25822caaba89a5e570c7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> on Tuesday, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) confirmed Anderson’s death and said it was still under investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is with great sadness Defence can confirm the death of an Australian Army soldier Private Heather Mary Anderson on Sunday, in Perth,” a spokesperson told the outlet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Anderson was a gifted athlete playing professional AFLW football with the Adelaide Crows and as part of the ARMY AFLW squad, and served her country for many years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The death of any Defence member is a tragedy and deeply felt by the Defence family and community.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Private Anderson. We are providing welfare support in accordance with the wishes of her family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As investigations by WA authorities are ongoing, it is not appropriate for Defence to comment on the matter further.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Anderson was best known on the footy field for her bright pink headgear, which she wore so that her vision-impaired mother could identify her.</p> <p dir="ltr">"[Mum] hated watching me get smashed and she couldn't really see me play in the field. I hated pink and anything girly, so she would joke, 'Maybe if you spray painted your helmet pink, I'd come and watch you play',” she told <em><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/heather-anderson-pink-helmet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mamamia</a></em> in 2017.</p> <p dir="ltr">"So I bought one in a sports shop as a joke and said, 'now I've got one you've gotta come watch me play'. It just sort of went from there."</p> <p dir="ltr">After playing for the Adelaide Crows in the 2017 season, including their victorious grand final match against Brisbane, Anderson was forced to retire before the 2018 season after suffering a shoulder injury.</p> <p dir="ltr">She was also a serving medic in the army, having joined in 2013 and helping to rebuild communities during the 2020 bushfires and the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of her death, hundreds of soldiers have taken to the Australian Veteran Community page to pay their respects and share their condolences for her family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Your commitment, dedication and tireless efforts can often go unnoticed,” a fellow medic wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We know it’s not the desire for recognition, it’s the deep responsibility and sometimes helplessness of the situation for the lonely Medic that makes the night so dark. We who have stood in your boots regret we could not reach you. Know this we remember and share the deepest respect, for you are so much more. You are the “Doc” The Medic! forever reliable. Always.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Northern Territory MP Luke Gosling, who served as an ADF member for 13 years, wrote: “Condolences to family and friends.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Footy fans also took to social media to pay their respects and tackle the subject of mental health support for army members and veterans.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This young lady is more than an AFLW star, she is a serving member of the Australian Defence Force, another who is no longer with us,” one fan wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is time the Government look after our Defence Force personnel, both current and former.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Over the past year, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has heard from more than 194 witnesses and received 1900 submissions, exposing the culture of institutional abuse and a lack of mental health support for veterans.</p> <p dir="ltr">The latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare into the mental health and rates of suicide among former ADF members were higher for both men and women.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifeline.org.au</a> or <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyondblue.org.au</a>. </em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>ADF members and their families can also access confidential online and telephone support through the <a href="https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/health-well-being" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Defence all-hours Support Line</a> on 1800 628 036 or 24-hour free counselling through <a href="https://www.openarms.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Open Arms</a> on 1800 011 046.</em></p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-47dcaa39-7fff-8d20-ccc9-8bac10197469"></span></em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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AFLW in shock after star dies at just 28

<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>The AFLW has been left in shock after Heather Anderson passed away. She was only 28-years-old.</p> <p>Heather was the 2017 premiership winner and her team, The Adelaide Crows have said her death was “unexpected”, with details left still unknown.</p> <p>“The Adelaide Football Club is deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Premiership player Heather Anderson. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends,” a statement from the Crows read.</p> <p>In a statement, AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone expressed her sympathy to Anderson’s family and friend. Livingstone says the former star was a “much-loved and respected teammate”.</p> <p>“Words cannot express the deep sadness among the AFL and AFLW community at this time. Our sincerest condolences are to the Anderson family,” Livingstone said.</p> <p>“On behalf of the AFL, I would like to express my deepest compassion to Heather’s family, friends and colleagues.”</p> <p>Sarah Perkins, the Former Crows posted a photo of Anderson with the caption “family forever” and three love hearts in the Crows colours.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The ultimate teammate &amp; friend! <br />A bond that will never be broken🥇🏆</p> <p>A reminder to check on your mates because you never know what they are going through &amp; that if you need help reach out! <br />Rest easy Ando we will miss you 💕🤍 <a href="https://t.co/zaPKgj8DKA">pic.twitter.com/zaPKgj8DKA</a></p> <p>— Sarah Perkins (@sarahperkins28) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahperkins28/status/1592085379926355969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Heather was a former army medic before becoming the first Northern Territory-based player drafted by the Adelaide Crows. She had immediate success as part of the team, playing eight games for Adelaide and winning the inaugural AFLW premiership.</p> <p>In the grand final Anderson unfortunately suffered a dislocated shoulder which required a second surgery on her right shoulder, both in the span of a year.</p> <p>The injury left her unable to play, forcing her to announce an indefinite retirement from the AFL.</p> <p>Image: <em>Getty</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-actions-component" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible;"> <div class="upper-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 8px 16px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; height: 24px;"> <div class="right-box-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;"> </div> </div> </div> </div>

News

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Gary Ablett's infant son rushed to hospital

<p>The three-year-old son of AFL legend Gary Ablett and his wife Jordan has been rushed to hospital suffering yet another health scare.</p> <p>Shortly after the family returned from holidaying on the Gold Coast, respiratory issues struck and little Levi was quickly admitted.</p> <p>Jordan provided an update on their “little champ's” health, noting he was slowly improving.</p> <p>“Not the return we anticipated,’’ she wrote.</p> <p>“Little man was taken to hospital yesterday morning after almost 3 weeks of struggling to fight something. Turns out his little body has been hit with TWO respiratory illnesses at the one time. He’s been resting up and is being cared for by amazing doctors. He had a great night sleep (not poor dad though) and is doing better. Our little champ!”</p> <p>Jordan is a proud mother who has repeatedly spoken of the joy Levi has brought into the couple’s lives, despite him being <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/gary-ablett-s-wife-shares-details-on-son-s-rare-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease</a>.</p> <p>“It’s really difficult from a practical point of view but also really difficult just being his mum and not being able to hear his voice or know what he needs,” she has previously mentioned.</p> <p>“When he gets upset, I have to guess what the problem is. It’s also difficult because I’d love to just hear his thoughts, have conversation with my boy and for us to know he understands how much we love him.”</p> <p>Jordan has revealed she still carries the regret of not having her son medically assessed before the moment she knew something was wrong in March 2020.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf0XZuXpO3p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf0XZuXpO3p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jordan Ablett (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Gary Ablett's wife shares details on son's rare disease

<p dir="ltr">Jordan Ablett, the wife of retired Geelong footballer Gary Ablett, has opened up about their son Levi’s medical conditions, and how he may never speak.</p> <p dir="ltr">Three-year-old Levi has a rare degenerative disease which Gary and Jordan first spoke publicly about in 2020.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-87c10d96-7fff-7acd-1c6d-8c4698e46c75"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Now, Jordan has spoken about the difficulties she faces communicating with her baby boy days before the start of this year’s Good Friday fundraising appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital, for which she is an ambassador.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcG9kwhPNOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcG9kwhPNOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JORDAN ABLETT (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It’s really difficult from a practical point of view, but also really difficult just being his mum and not being able to hear his voice or know what he needs. When he gets upset, I have to guess what the problem is,” she told the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/vweekend/the-abletts-cherish-son-levis-smiles-and-laughter-through-his-heartbreaking-silence/news-story/0b0d74ce8510736fbaee0a777786049f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Although I will say, despite him not being able to communicate, I do feel as though I’ve really learnt to understand him over the years - I have had to put a lot of confidence in my parenting.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jordan said food and drink could also be a challenge for Levi, with a risk of him aspirating if they weren’t blended enough and got into his lungs.</p> <p dir="ltr">She added that a wide team of people at the Royal Children’s Hospital monitored his health, and that being an ambassador for the hospital’s fundraiser was “the absolute least I can do for the kids”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a mum who relies heavily on the RCH (Royal Children’s Hospital) for my son’s care, I fully understand how important it is that we be generous so that the children can continue to receive world-class care,” she wrote on the Instagram post announcing her role as an ambassador.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These kids are bright lights and we all want to see them shine.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f16641a-7fff-939c-aace-dd2652052089"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Your support is truly heartfelt by all impacted by the RCH.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMeWQMJMJEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMeWQMJMJEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JORDAN ABLETT (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Jordan first opened up about her son’s condition on an episode of <em>The Significant Others</em> podcast, including the moment she and her husband received the news of his diagnosis.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it, I just remember absolutely breaking down,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s one thing to receive a diagnosis which just confirms that Levi has a rare and degenerative disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, it’s another thing to understand that it is life-threatening and that’s like a whole other ball game and a whole other situation in itself because that stuff you just can’t prepare for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is a very short life expectancy, which is why I constantly say to people when they ask about Levi that we are literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-feef34e8-7fff-ad39-02f7-0c6a74e91120"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Good Friday Appeal (Facebook) </em></p>

Caring

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Pamela Anderson and bodyguard husband split after one-year marriage

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pamela Anderson has announced she will be divorcing her husband Dan Hayhurst after marrying him just one year ago.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The former </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Baywatch</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> star married Hayhurst - her fifth husband - in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/pamela-anderson-marries-bodyguard-in-small-ceremony" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">a private ceremony</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on Christmas Eve in 2020 at her Vancouver Island home, where her parents had once been married.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKj5AQUpOUt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <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/CKj5AQUpOUt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by RASTA Sanctuary (@rastasanctuary)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But their relationship has since been described as a “pandemic whirlwind” that has died down, </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/pamela-anderson-divorce-fifth-husband-1287881/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rolling Stone</span></a></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">reports.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Pamela loves as authentically as she lives,” a source told the publication, adding that their relationship was a “pandemic whirlwind”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anderson </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/pamela-anderson-to-divorce-husband-dan-hayhurst-after-one-year-of-marriage/c4d617ef-9da8-4d3c-95cc-805790d3b4e7" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">filed for divorce</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in her home country of Canada, where she and Dayhurst have been living since they married.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pair first began dating in September 2020, seven months after Anderson ended her 12-day marriage to Hollywood mogul Jon Peters.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anderson and Hayhurst reportedly bonded over a shared love of animals, with Hayhurst having worked as a builder for an animal sanctuary in Canada.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anderson is believed to have left their shared home to live with her sons Brandon, 23, and Dylan, 22, in Malibu. She shares the two boys with her former husband Tommy Lee, with their marriage now being the subject of a mini-series called </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pam &amp; Tommy</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Anderson has had an eventual love-life, her relationship with Hayhurst has been particularly scandal-ridden.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hayhurst’s former partner Carey - who also cared for his two children - alleged that Anderson split up their family and seduced Hayhurst in an affair.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I decided to speak out because I want people to know that my almost five-year relationship, with three children involved, ended because of the affair Pam and Dan started while he was still with me,” Carey told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sun</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> just a month after Hayhurst and Anderson tied the knot.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s sad that people celebrate this and cheer them on, when it started with deceit, denials and life-shattering choices for all the people involved.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Undeterred by Carey’s comments, Anderson gave an interview from her marital bed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is like the magic place to live, I guess,” Anderson said of their relationship.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He was working here, and I got stuck here during Covid, and we stuck together, and we’re still stuck together.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He’s the kind of guy I probably would have met if I would have stayed home and went around the world and got crazy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I mean, I came home in one piece. It’s nice to be with, like, a real man who can actually change a light bulb.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @rastasanctuary (Instagram)</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Christmas album in the works for Gary Barlow

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the weather warms and the year draws to a close, it’s almost that time for the Christmas music to be played again in preparation for the festive season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While everyone has their favourite festive album and classic that they go back to each December, this year there’s a new album coming from a songwriting legend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gary Barlow will be the latest musician dropping a yuletide album, as he follows in the footsteps of fellow Take That member Robbie Williams, who topped the UK charts with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Christmas Present </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">two years ago. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column, “Gary has seen the likes of Michael Buble and Robbie Williams enjoy success at Christmas and wants a piece of the action.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“After such a rough couple of years for us all, he’s keen to pull it out the bag for his fans and end 2021 on a high.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gary, who released the single </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Incredible Christmas</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> last year, faces tough competition, as Sir Elton John and Ed Sheeran are also set to release a duet in the upcoming festive season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to his Christmas album, Gary is also unveiling his own range of wine called Gary Barlow Organic in partnership with Benchmark Drinks. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The wines feature unique blends of Spanish flavours, and are set to be the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his festive album on the way, a new range of wines and an upcoming tour with songstress Leona Lewis, it’s like Christmas has come early!</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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