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Elderly driver hailed a hero amid fatal bus tragedy

<p>An elderly driver has been hailed a hero for saving lives after getting caught up in a horror crash between a Greyhound bus and a car towing a caravan.</p> <p>The accident left three women dead and 27 other passengers injured, after the coach allegedly veered onto the opposite side of the  Bruce Highway at Gumlu, in north Queensland at around 11am on Sunday. </p> <p>The coach was travelling between Brisbane and Townsville, with 33 people onboard when it collided with a caravan towed by a 4WD. </p> <p>The elderly couple, who were in the 4WD were miraculously not injured. </p> <p>Witnesses have praised the elderly male driver for his quick-thinking skills, when he drove his vehicle out of the way of the oncoming bus - which saved the lives of people driving behind him. </p> <p>"He was a hero for his actions,"  Janice Beavis told the <em>Daily Mail</em>.</p> <p>“They [the elderly couple] were behaving safely. The bus hit the van, the driver [of the 4WD] was trying to get away.</p> <p>“He saved himself and his wife and the mum and three girls travelling behind him.”</p> <p>56-year-old Townsville woman, Emma ‘Alli’ Sailor, and two German women aged in their 20s and 30s sadly passed away in the crash. </p> <p>Four people remain in hospital, including two men in their 20s who are fighting for their lives, and two other men, aged 27 and 51, who are in stable conditions. </p> <p>The bus was reportedly running behind schedule, leaving Rockhampton at 2am instead of the planned departure time at 12:45. </p> <p>The speed limit at the section of the highway where the accident occurred was 100km/h.</p> <p>Detectives are investigating whether fatigue could have played a role in the crash. </p> <p>“We haven’t determined any factors that have contributed to the crash at this stage, but certainly a crash of this nature, involving this many people, is a very significant, very tragic incident for us,” Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said at a press conference on Sunday.</p> <p>Anyone who may have seen the crash or have dashcam footage have been urged to contact police. </p> <p>On Monday morning, Police Superintendent Paine said that more witnesses will be interviewed to determine the cause of the crash. </p> <p>“We’ve collected a significant amount of evidence from the scene,” he said.</p> <p>“As we process that evidence and interview further witnesses, we anticipate getting a clearer picture of exactly how it occurred." </p> <p><em>Image: news.com.au</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Aussie's genius juicer hailed as one of the best inventions of the year

<p>In a testament to Brisbane's growing reputation as a hub for cutting-edge innovation, not one by TWO  local companies have earned their spot on <em>Time</em> magazine's prestigious list of the best inventions for 2023.</p> <p>These Brisbane-based enterprises are making waves with their groundbreaking contributions to the world of technology and everyday convenience.</p> <p>At the forefront of practical ingenuity is Dreamfarm, a company founded by Alex Gransbury, dedicated to enhancing the functionality of everyday items. Dreamfarm's latest triumph, the Fluicer, a compact and user-friendly juicing tool, has garnered significant attention. This easy-squeeze device not only streamlines the juicing process but also folds flat, allowing it to seamlessly fit into kitchen drawers.</p> <p>The Fluicer has become a standout product for Dreamfarm, quickly climbing the ranks to become one of the company's top sellers. Its recognition by <em>Time</em> magazine as one of the year's 200 best inventions absolutely solidifies its status as a game-changer in the market. With a price tag of $24.95, the Fluicer has resonated with consumers globally, becoming one of the top five selling products for the company internationally.</p> <p>Dreamfarm, which originated from a humble backyard shed, has experienced remarkable growth under Gransbury's leadership. With products now available in 35 countries and 300 independent stores worldwide, the company is on track to finish the year with a turnover exceeding $22 million, nearly double its revenue from just three years ago.</p> <p>"I thought you'd have to cure cancer or childhood diabetes, but they give it out to juicers apparently," Gransbury said to <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/best-inventions-time-magazine-fluicer-dreamfarm-hologram-zoo-holographics/b05dbc8c-cf76-4344-8510-6d2e8dbd305b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Having already won several design awards and gained that all-important Oprah Winfrey bump when she recommended it to her viewers earlier this year, Gransbury is understandably chuffed with the attention. </span>"On the world stage Australians have a great reputation for coming up with something new and different," he said.</p> <p>Joining Dreamfarm on <em>Time</em> magazine's prestigious list is Axiom Holographics, helmed by Bruce Dell. Axiom is the visionary force behind the world's first hologram zoo and has contributed to other groundbreaking holographic installations, including Bill Gates' hologram aquarium in the Maldives.</p> <p>Based in Murarrie with a production centre in Yatala, between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Axiom is not just a player in the entertainment industry; the company, which designs and manufactures microchips and hardware, has seen its revenue double to $125 million in 2022-23. With expectations of tripling revenue in the next 12 months, Axiom has become a formidable force in the holographic technology sector.</p> <p>"I think we can make Australia the hologram capital of the world, just like Nokia made Finland the mobile phone capital of the world," Dell said to <em>ACA</em>. "We are going to be rolling this out all over the world, so hopefully they pop up as common as cinemas or McDonalds and it becomes a new form of entertainment."</p> <p>With Aussie inventions like the Fluicer and Axiom's holographic marvels making waves, the world is increasingly turning its gaze toward Brisbane as a hotbed of forward-thinking and transformative ideas.</p> <p>To check out <em>Time</em>'s full list of 200 remarkable inventions for 2023, <a href="https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. </p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Why this mum who stabbed a man to death was hailed a hero by her sons

<p>UK mother Sarah Sands stabbed a paedophile to death after finding out her children were sexually abused.</p> <p>The paedophile, Michael Pleasted, aged 77, was stabbed eight times in 2014 in a “determined and sustained attack” that saw him bleed to death.</p> <p>Pleasted was already a convicted paedophile and had legally changed his name from Robin Moult to conceal a long past of abusing children.</p> <p>Ms Sands’ three children told her Pleasted, who lived across the road from the family in London, had abused them.</p> <p>She took matters into her own hands. “For paedophiles, if you touch children, there has to be consequences,” Ms Sands told BBC Breakfast.</p> <p>“And hiding behind name changes … it has to be taken away from them. That right to change their name has to taken away from them.”</p> <p>Her children, who have waived their anonymity, said they think their mum is a hero for killing their abuser.</p> <p>Bradley, who was 11 at the time, said: “I thought, ‘hats off’. I’m not going to deny it.”</p> <p>Alfie added: “It did make us feel safer. It didn’t slow down the nightmares. But it did give us a sense of security because you didn’t have to walk down the street thinking he was going to come around the corner.</p> <p>“He lived literally across the road from us. I could open that window over there and I’d see his house.”</p> <p>Pleasted’s council flat overlooked a playground and school in Canning Town, East London. However, nobody knew of his past because he had changed his name and his crimes predated the sex offenders' register.</p> <p>Ms Sands was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of loss of control after trial in 2015, and was eventually jailed for seven and a half years after having her sentenced increased by the Court of Appeal.</p> <p>She said she originally intended to threaten Pleasted, who was on bail awaiting trial, to make him plead guilty so her children did not have to give evidence in court.</p> <p>Labour MP Sarah Champion told the BBC some offenders are using name changes to avoid criminal records checks needed for jobs – including working with children.</p> <p>“Once they have changed their names, they are able to get a new driving licence and passport in that name. That enables them to get a new DBS (disclosure and barring service) check,” she said.</p> <p>The UK Home Office said it has already carried out a review of the issue and the UK already has strict rules in place to deal with sex offenders living in the community.</p> <p><em>Image: BBC</em></p>

Family & Pets

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$700 Bunnings reno hailed as "best transformation"

<p>One woman’s home DIY renovation project has scored a slew of praise and the unofficial title of “best transformation” after she spent four days working on it – and didn't even come close to breaking $1,000.</p> <p>Deciding it was time to give her front verandah a make-over, Elle Jay headed to Bunnings to pick up her supplies. After selecting some stylish looking grey and white tiles, she then broke them up into differently sized pieces with the aim of replicating a (currently very trendy) "crazy pave" look.</p> <p>Grabbing the Bondall grout sealer, Deluxe Snowy Mountain half paint for the front of the property and Tubman’s Shirelaa half for the front door, she was ready to go.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/Before-reno-story.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>The previous design she was working with involved a yellow tint paint on the weatherboard home, a slatted picket fence and table with chairs.</p> <p>Elle says she prepped the surface with a pressure hose, letting it dry overnight, before sweeping what remained.</p> <p>The three different tiles were then broken up using a hammer wrapped in an old towel, with each tile needing to be the same thickness.</p> <p>“To avoid using smaller pieces to fill larger gaps, we used a grinder to round some edges and make different shapes to fill the spaces,” Elle explained.</p> <p>“I traced around already laid tiles using baking paper, cut out the shape and then drew onto the tiles.”</p> <p>Elle separated the tiles before mixing up the tile glue and laying them out.</p> <p>It took a total of two days to lay the tiles, and an additional two to grout, clean and seal everything. The space she was working on was a total of 13 square metres and required a handful of other additions, such as removing the screens on the windows and doors.</p> <p>The end result was a stunning tiled floor that perfectly mimics “crazy pave”, which can cost up to $165 per box of tiles.</p> <p>Elle’s total renovation cost her just $700, including all the materials.</p> <p>People were completely enamoured with the stylish overhaul with one woman calling it the "best transformation she’d seen in a while".</p> <p>Another added: “Wow what a beautiful transformation! Awesome job! Your furbaby definitely approves lol.”</p> <p>A third added: “My goodness what a transformation, just gorgeous.”</p> <p>You can check out Elle's Instagram at <a class="body-link" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1691db; text-decoration-color: #1691db; padding: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;" title="www.instagram.com" href="https://www.instagram.com/elleandivory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@elleandivory</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">where she often renovates and flips homes.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p><em><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/Reno-story.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Two police officers hailed as heroes after saving man from flood waters

<p>Two brave police officers are being hailed as heroes after risking their lives in neck-deep water to save a man trapped in a sinking ute.</p> <p>Constables Lindsay Morgan and Ryan Blume-Poulton both miraculously managed to pull the man from the submerged vehicle in rapidly rising flood waters in South Windsor on the outskirts of Sydney.</p> <p>The dramatic rescue was sparked by an emergency call from a witness who saw the ute in trouble and noticed a 'flicker' in the window, which he quickly realised was a person.</p> <p>“He said he only had six inches between the water rising and the roof and due to his age and the pressure against the car door, he couldn't get it open,” according to Probationary Constables Lindsay Morgan.</p> <p>Footage shows the officers frantically trying to crack the window open. However, after eight attempts to break the window with both rocks and their batons failed, one officer noticed the door was slightly cracked just enough for them to get their fingertips in and wench it open.</p> <p>The officers said the water was so high at points they had to swim and found themselves hitting fences completely submerged they couldn't see.</p> <p>"You just don't know what is under the water, crossing fences you couldn't even see... at one point we were swimming across a lake," Probationary Constable Ryan Blume-Poulton said.</p> <p>“We needed to get to him, that's what we are there for, that's what we signed up for, he needed us and there was no one else,” an officer said.</p> <p>The man who called in the emergency said if it wasn't for the brave officers the man would have been lost.</p> <p>The rescue comes as Sydney's and large parts of NSW have suffered immense storms with an astonishing weekend of rain. Authorities have warned the floodwaters will take up to a week to recede even if the rain eases.</p> <p>The Hawkesbury River at Windsor reached major flood levels for the third time within months, peaking at 14m on Tuesday morning - above the 13.8m level recorded in March.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"I've been saving them heaps": Teen speed camera crusader hailed a hero

<p>A 17-year-old from the Central Coast has found a unique way to help out his community, by warning motorists about upcoming speed cameras. </p> <p>Beau Jackson has been hailed a national hero for spending his spare time on the road helping drivers to avoid unnecessary speed camera fines by alerting them to mobile speed cameras hidden out of sight. </p> <p>No matter the weather, Beau can be seen before and after work on most days across the Central Coast on the lookout for "unfair" cameras that are collecting revenue from unsuspecting drivers. </p> <p>He stands out on the side of the road next to his motorbike with a handwritten sign warning passing drivers. </p> <p>Motorists express their gratitude by beeping their horns and yelling out messages of support. </p> <p>"I want to look out for people as it's a pretty hard time right now," Beau told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-teens-speed-camera-crusade-helping-locals-avoid-fines/1ab8ed54-1a3c-4396-a2da-ff2c3aa5b422" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">A Current Affair</a>.</p> <p>"I don't want people getting a fine. I've been saving them heaps in the month I've been doing it."</p> <p>"People can cop a $170 fine for just going four kilometres over the limit and right now people are struggling so I just want to help them."</p> <p>Beau claims he has checked with local police to check that what he's doing isn't illegal. </p> <p>"They think I'm doing the community a service as I'm actually making people slow down," he added. </p> <p>Local motorists have declared Beau a national hero for the work he haas done. </p> <p>"He's great at it, saving all our licenses," one man said.</p> <p>Others have pulled over to offer Beau drinks and chocolate while a local tyre business showed their appreciation by giving him new tyres for his motorbike.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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All hail the mighty prawn!

<p dir="ltr">Vibrant in colour, sweet in flavour and firm in texture – there’s nothing more delicious than a good ol’ Aussie prawn. So, to mark National Prawn Day on March 19, we’ve got an original recipe by Susie Burrell, prepared especially for Tropic Co, for you to whip up at home.  </p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Preparation time: 00:15</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Cooking time: 00:10</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Serves: 4</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Level: Easy</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Ingredients List:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">12 Raw Tropic Co Tiger Prawns, peeled, tails left on</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Panko Bread Crumbs</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1⁄2 cup plain flour</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Salt &amp; Pepper</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1 egg</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lime wedges, to serve</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Dipping Sauce</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1⁄2 cup low-fat greek yoghurt</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Method</p> <p dir="ltr">Step 1</p> <p dir="ltr">Remove heads from prawns and shell, however leaving the tails intact</p> <p dir="ltr">Step 2 </p> <p dir="ltr">Combine flour, panko crumbs, and salt and pepper. In a third bowl crack the egg and whisk with a fork.</p> <p dir="ltr">Step 3</p> <p dir="ltr">Dip each prawn in an air-fryer and lightly spray with extra virgin olive oil. Cook the</p> <p dir="ltr">Tropic Co Tiger Prawns at 180 degrees for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway throughout the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Step 4</p> <p dir="ltr">While prawns cook, in another bowl, combine ingredients for dipping sauce. Store in</p> <p dir="ltr">the fridge until ready to eat.</p> <p dir="ltr">Step 5 </p> <p dir="ltr">Serve prawns with dipping sauce and a squeeze of fresh lime</p> <p dir="ltr">Serve right away!</p>

Food & Wine

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New heart attack treatment hailed as landmark discovery

<p><em>Image: Nine News </em></p> <p>A ground-breaking discovery made by Australian doctors in the treatment of heart attacks is, according to researchers, a breakthrough as significant as landing on the moon.</p> <p>As a result, $8 million dollars has been given as a boost to run a major trial, with heart attack survivor Wayne Cook the first participant in the world to receive the breakthrough treatment.</p> <p>“I had a pain in both my biceps and across my back,” the 57-year-old, who had a major blockage, said of his heart attack.</p> <p>“I didn’t think my symptoms were a heart attack but the pain was excruciating.”</p> <p>The Perth man was able to receive life-saving treatment – a balloon unblocking his artery and a stent placed to hold it open.</p> <p>Professor Martin Ng from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney said the treatment for heart attacks had not advanced in over 20 years.</p> <p>One in two treated patients also have blockages downstream, in the micro vessels of their heart, which increase their risk of dying.</p> <p>"There's a fundamental serious problem that still isn't resolved," he said.</p> <p>"These vessels are so small so they can't be seen on the X-ray equipment from which we do the angiogram."</p> <p>Now, a wire with sensors measures blood pressure and flow.</p> <p>It's used to identify blockages downstream, so patients can then receive a clot-busting drug.</p> <p>An earlier study, funded by taxpayers, uncovered astonishing results.</p> <p>"This observation is, for us, like a landing on the moon," Professor Ng said.</p> <p>This new larger trial will involve more than 500 heart attack patients, who are identified as being higher risk.</p>

Caring

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Maggie Beer hailed for "ethical" move

<p dir="ltr">Maggie Beer Holdings, formerly Longtable Group, has proved why it’s an Aussie favourite: by returning the $825,000 it was given by the federal government as part of the JobKeeper program during the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">In September, it became mandatory for publicly listed companies to disclose their wage subsidies, as well as if repayments had been made. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Maggie Beer Holdings, a company that consists of four brands: Maggie Beer, Paris Creek Farms, Saint David Dairy and Hampers &amp; Gifts Australia, had been given $825,000 during the 2020-21 fiscal year that has been paid back in its entirety.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to<span> </span><em>NCA Newswire,<span> </span></em>Labor MP Andrew Leigh congratulated Maggie Beer and her company for the move, saying, "Maggie Beer has demonstrated admirable corporate citizenship by voluntarily handing back JobKeeper support that it didn't need.</p> <p dir="ltr">"No one will ever be forced to repay JobKeeper, but it's terrific to see firms like Maggie Beer doing the right thing."</p> <p dir="ltr">He added, "I'll be buying some extra Maggie Beer products as Christmas gifts, and I'm sure many shoppers will likewise choose to reward their ethical decision."</p> <p dir="ltr">In addition to heading up a company trying to navigate the pandemic, in 2020 Maggie Beer had to deal with the passing of her beloved daughter Saskia at the age of 46. Speaking to<span> </span><em>The Weekly<span> </span></em>last November, Beer said she was “taken aback” by the number of people paying their respects. "It was something that was so extreme – in the numbers of people and the real understanding of Saskia's contribution. She had done so much in that short life. The support was huge and wonderful and really unbelievable."</p> <p dir="ltr">From 30 March to 27 September 2020, eligible businesses were able to receive $1500 per fortnight per employee to cover the cost of wages, in an effort to help keep businesses afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies have been criticised for keeping the money paid to them by the government during this time despite making a profit during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maggie Beer is known for producing picnic favourites like the Maggie Beer pate, quince paste, and truffle triple cream brie, as well as gourmet ice cream. Paris Creek Farms produces organic dairy products including butter, yoghurt, milk, and cheese. Saint David Dairy, based in Fitzroy, produces similar products, and aims to “bring the small local dairy back to the streets of Inner Melbourne.” Hampers &amp; Gifts Australia consists of The Hamper Emporium, which specialises in premium gift hampers, and Gifts Australia, which focuses on on-trend gifts.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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"I live in my friggen car": Aussie battler hailed as "caller of the year"

<div id="application" class="application ">An Aussie battler called Mark rang Rafael Epstein's ABC Drive show on Thursday night, revealing he is living in his car after losing his home due to the ongoing pandemic.</div> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>He pleaded with politicians to stop saying Australians are “all in this together.”</p> <p>The ABC host Rafael Epstein cut the man off, prompting concerned listeners to offer to give him money.</p> <p>Mark delivered a searing slap down to those with safe and secure jobs on the ABC - and listeners are already dubbing him the 'caller of the year'.</p> <p>Giving his name only as Mark, the Victorian called in to ABC Drive with Rafael Epstein on Thursday to deliver an emotion-charged tirade.</p> <p><strong>We’re not ‘all in this together’</strong></p> <p>“I keep hearing on the ABC ‘we're all in this together’, we're not,” said Mark. “We're not in this together,” he said of the COVID lockdowns gripping millions of Australians.</p> <p>“The only time I actually want to hear that is when a politician or member of the media says: ‘I'll give half my salary to someone who just lost their house’, but we're never going to hear that are we?”</p> <p>Mark pointed out this unequal burden on workers, adding the radio host still makes his normal salary - while tens of thousands of ordinary, working Australians are losing money and unable to work.</p> <p>“And then we get the ABC, and I'm quite sure you guys aren't losing any money,” he said.</p> <p>'Of course you're not, and you're earning big dollar,” Mark added. “It's an insult to hear ‘we're all in this together’. Because the simple fact of life is, life is not equal…</p> <p>“We've got people losing their jobs, but we don't hear about the houses they're losing, rental or mortgage... and marriages.”</p> <p>“Please, please just tell everyone in the ABC and everywhere else - stop saying it,” he added.</p> <p>“There's enough stress, I live in my bloody car now, I live in my friggen car. I've lost everything,” Mark said.</p> <p><strong>9-5 office workers have fared well in lockdown</strong></p> <p>For those people working at 9-5 office jobs which can easily be done from home, lockdown has not been too difficult from a work perspective. But for other workers, the pandemic has proved to be a nightmare.</p> <p>Thousands of workers have lost their jobs or some of their shifts because businesses and trades have shut down.</p> <p>Mark explained he usually works along the border between Victoria and New South Wales and this has been difficult. He ended up losing his work and then his home.</p> <p><strong>Epstein cut off Mark, fearing he would swear</strong></p> <p>Mark then became emotional and Epstein cut him off - a decision he blamed on fearing Mark would swear.</p> <p>”I can hear how angry you are and you're allowed to be angry,” Epstein said as he turned down Mark's microphone.</p> <p>“We'll have a word, if we're able to have another word to you we will…No doubt the anger is real. I try to say often the burden is not born equally,” Epstein said.</p> <p>The ABC radio host then tried to move on with the show but he was inundated with calls forcing him to revisit Mark's story.</p> <p><strong>Support for Mark flooded in to the radio station</strong></p> <p>“In response to Mark, some calling him caller of the year, I will repeat I've spoken up and down about the burden not being felt equally,” the ABC Radio host said.</p> <p>“People are saying ‘let him vent, at least he's not being abusive’. There was potential for swearing and to be honest I wasn't sure the conversation would be good for Mark going forward,” he said.</p> <p>Epstein said he then attempted to get Mark back on the line during a break but he’d “hung up”.</p> <p>Epstein brought up Mark's call later in the show, reading out messages of support from listeners who have even offered to give him money.</p> <p>“Messages flooding in; ‘He is 100 per cent correct’,” Esptein says of a listener.</p> <p>“A ton of you are expressing concern about Mark. I don't have a way of contacting Mark.</p> <p>“I'm not going to apologise on fading Mark out at that point. That's my job, to work out whether someone is appropriate and safe to go to air.</p> <p>“Some of you are wanting to put money in his bank account, if Mark wants to call back I'm happy to have him on the radio, but I made that call, I'll stand by it and I'd do it again,” he added.</p> <p><strong>Lockdowns meant to ease from October</strong></p> <p>Lockdowns are meant to unwind from October when 70 per cent of the population aged 16 and over was fully vaccinated.</p> <p>Despite this, some ABC personalities have ridiculed the idea of opening up with ABC Radio 702 broadcaster Wendy Harmer mocking the vaccination target because it didn't come with a specific date recently on Twitter.</p> <p>'Um, PM hopes Phase B achieved by the end of the year but “we're not going to put timetables on it.” That's EXACTLY how you win Olympic Gold!’ she posted.</p> <p>The Australian Bureau of Statistics has estimated more than one million Australians lost their job within the first two months of the pandemic last year.</p> <p>With pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential shops shut in NSW, Victoria and the ACT, millions have been forced to rely on government handouts to pay the bills.</p> <p>Many businesses are on hold in Victoria and New South Wales due to ongoing battles with the Delta strain.</p> <p>There are a number of federal and state government disaster relief and extreme hardship payments being offered - but for many people who are supporting families, it hasn't been enough.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC Radio</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Money & Banking

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World's tiniest hero? Boy hailed for saving grandmother's life

<p><span>A boy has been hailed a hero after he saved his grandmother’s life.</span><br /><br /><span>The Queensland boy was playing in a park when his beloved grandmother began to slur her words.</span><br /><br /><span>However it was when she fell down park stairs and she began to bleed after hitting her head, that he knew something was horribly wrong.</span><br /><br /><span>The brave little boy sprang into action though, and did not fear riddle him.</span><br /><br /><span>Running to find nearby police officers, he explained in depth what had happened.</span><br /><br /><span>"I saw police and then I said, this is an emergency," Freddie told <em>9News.</em></span><br /><br /><span>"I felt very scared."</span><br /><br /><span>From Freddie's report, police determined his grandmother had suffered from a stroke.</span><br /><br /><span>Paramedics were called straight away to assess the situation and she is now recovering.</span><br /><br /><span>Leanne Whiley from Central Queensland Health told 9 news that each second after a stroke is absolutely critical.</span><br /><br /><span>"The longer they take to get to the hospital the more damage they can have done," she said.</span><br /><br /><span>"The problem with regional areas is we're so spread out as well, so it does take longer to get to hospital."</span><br /><br /><span>Freddie is now being hailed a hero for saving his grandma's life.</span><br /><br /><span>Freddie's proud mum Olga said she hoped other kids can learn the signs of a stroke so that they can keep their own family safe.</span><br /><br /><span>"We never know what might happen in life, and a child might be the only one around to help," she said.</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Bus driver hailed a hero after heartwarming act

<p>Canberra bus driver Jeet Gill has been hailed a hero after he drove to “the other side of town” to reunite a scared boy and his distraught parents.</p> <p>The incident took place several months ago, after the young boy decided the catch the bus home from school – but then accidentally switched to the wrong bus at the interchange.</p> <p>He was on Mr Gill’s bus – and in an act of pure kindness, the driver decided to drop him off right to his front door after he discovered the mix-up towards the end of his shift.</p> <p>The boy’s parents initially grew concerned after their son was no where to be found when they went to pick him up from school, but they started to panic shortly after as he still wasn’t home half an hour after he should have been had he caught his regular school bus.</p> <p>His mother left the family home to search for him while his father remained at the residence in case the child turned up.</p> <p>Just as the father was gearing up to call the police, Mr Gill pulled up outside to deliver the child to his frantic parents.</p> <p>“After realising the situation, the driver drove all the way to our place to drop him off … completely the other side of town,” said the boy’s father.</p> <p>“That bus driver went above and beyond, and I hope he gets thanked.”</p> <p>Speaking to<span> </span><em>Our Canberra</em>, Mr Gill said the child had approached him towards the end of the route, and explained that he had caught the wrong bus and didn’t know how to get home.</p> <p>Mr Gill then called his managers to ask whether he could drive the boy home, and Transport Canberra approved the request.</p> <p>The little boy gave directions to his home where his parents were waiting.</p> <p>“The parents were so glad and thankful,” said Mr Gill.</p> <p>“It was nice to see that they were happy that their kid was safe.”</p> <p>He said he enjoyed his job and loved meeting new people every day.</p> <p>“I love meting different kinds of people every day,” he said.</p> <p>“When people say hello, it makes your day.”</p> <p>He stressed the importance of parents and caregivers to teach children their home address and the carer’s mobile phone number, and how to identify a trusted adult if they need help.</p>

Domestic Travel

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Rafael Nadal's inspiring words after stunning comeback hailed as pure gold

<p><span>Rafael Nadal is one step closer to winning his first ATP Finals title after beating Daniil Medvedev in a “one out of 1,000” match.</span></p> <p><span>The Spaniard was on the brink of defeat at 1-5 in the third set when he fought to save a match point and rallied to win over Medvedev 6-7(3) 6-3 7-6(4), furthering his bid to reach the semi-finals.</span></p> <p><span>“Sorry for Daniil. It’s a tough loss. He was playing much better than me in the third set,” Nadal said.</span></p> <p><span>“Today is one of those days that one out of 1,000 where you win, and it happened today.</span></p> <p><span>“I know from my personal experience how tough it is to close out matches, especially when you have two breaks in front and you lose the first one … I think I was a little bit better in the end. In general terms, I think I was playing much better than two days ago, so that’s a very positive thing for me.”</span></p> <p><span>When asked whether his comeback could be an example for young players that “they should fight until the last point”, Nadal rejected the idea.</span></p> <p><span>“Examples are not for one day. Examples are every day,” Nadal said.</span></p> <p><span>“In my opinion, the example is not the comeback.</span></p> <p><span>“Of course you need to be there and you need to keep fighting, but the example, in my opinion, is not break a racquet when you are 5-1 in the third or not be out of your self-control when the things are not going the right way.</span></p> <p><span>“Just staying positive, staying on court, accepting that the opponent is playing a little bit better than you and accepting that you are not that good. That’s the only example, no? Because sometimes the frustration comes when you believe and you consider yourself too good and you don’t accept the mistakes that you are doing.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">no matter how many times Nadal says stuff like this, it will never cease to be important <a href="https://t.co/dm9oQNNxj2">pic.twitter.com/dm9oQNNxj2</a></p> — Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dimonator/status/1194675099674304513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span>Nadal’s win means Novak Djokovic has to win the title to have any chance of overtaking the 33-year-old as the world’s number one player.</span></p> <p><span>Nadal is set to face Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.</span></p>

Mind

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Parallel worlds: Brilliant photo gallery hailed as "the best we've ever seen"

<p>Turkish graphic designer Uğur Gallenkuş is known for his famously confronting photographs, where he shows the juxtaposition of the East and the West. Using his art to raise awareness about the injustices happening in the present, he creates dramatic collages by combining two photographs from different parts of the world to reveal the stark contrast between those living a life of privilege, and those who are facing extreme poverty.</p> <p>The artist believes that images can speak a thousand words, saying: “The solution to a crisis can be described by many complicated words, but you don’t need to know a language to read and understand a work of art. Art is the master of all languages.”</p> <p>The activist was inspired by the idea of two different worlds, as his home country Turkey is located next door to one of the most dangerous regions in the modern world.</p> <p>The difference between the two, whilst next to each other, was dramatic, with many taking to social media to comment on the profound effect the images had on them.</p> <p>“Poignant and moving. I hope those of us who have the ability and privilege to make a change keep these images in their thoughts every day,” said one user.</p> <p>“I’ve been using Facebook for 10 years and these are the most brilliant, eye opening photos I’ve ever seen. Kudos to the creator,” said another.</p> <p>“Brilliant! These photos speak volumes. Such a unique way of portraying the massive contrasts that exist in our world,” wrote a third.</p> <p>“Wow, this creator has the power to make a bold statement of today’s society. I’m so moved,” said another.</p> <p>Warning: Some of these images may be confronting, but eye-opening nonetheless.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Uğur Gallenkuş’ brilliant work of art.</p> <p><em>Photos courtesy of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ugurgallen/?hl=en">Uğur Gallenkuş</a>. </em></p>

Caring

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Brace yourself: Snow, hail and storms are coming

<p><span>On Thursday, winter will officially be here, and Australia is embracing the season change with below-average temperatures across the south of the country.</span></p> <p><span>Hobart will face a chilly 12C on Thursday while Melbourne will peak at 14C on the same day.</span></p> <p><span>Forecasters predict snow to fall on high ground in Tasmania and, Victoria and NSW will face thunderstorms. It may even hail in Adelaide.</span></p> <p><span>On the other side of Australia, the cities will experience relatively warm weather with Perth hitting temperatures in the low-20s throughout the week.</span></p> <p><span>As the week progresses, a low-pressure system will travel across the Great Australian Bight into South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">A series of cold fronts will bring showers across southern Australia over the coming days. Showers also for the east coast due to onshore winds. Snowfalls for TAS, VIC and NSW on Tue &amp; Wed. Watch out for warnings. <a href="https://t.co/Wht32WMxqY">https://t.co/Wht32WMxqY</a> <a href="https://t.co/UR3wmxJHyC">pic.twitter.com/UR3wmxJHyC</a></p> — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1000571144607621121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p> <p><span>“A series of cold fronts will bring showers across southern Australia over the coming days. Showers also for the east coast due to onshore winds. Snowfalls for TAS, VIC and NSW on Tue &amp; Wed. Watch out for warnings,” the Bureau of Meteorology Australia tweeted.</span></p> <p><span>Two cold fronts connected with the system will bring rain and chilly temperatures into Australia’s southeast.</span></p> <p><span>Despite the cooler temperatures this week in the south, Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Dr Linden Ashcroft said there are no major climate drivers affecting the season.</span></p> <p><span>“Conditions remain neutral across both the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Indian Ocean Dipole is inactive and there are no El Nino or La Nina patterns present," she said. </span></p> <p><span>“This lack of large-scale climate drivers means our winter is likely to be more influenced by local effects.</span></p> <p><span>“It also means for much of the country there is an equal chance of a drier or wetter winter apart from southwestern Western Australia where a drier season is likely,” Dr Ashcroft said.</span></p> <p><span>This winter, the south of Australia is expected to experience warmer than average temperatures while minimum temperatures may be cooler in Queensland.</span></p> <p><strong>When it will be coolest in your city this week</strong></p> <p><strong>Hobart</strong></p> <p><span>Hobart will experience temperatures that are usual for mid-July with Thursday dipping to just 12C.</span></p> <p><strong>Melbourne</strong></p> <p><span>Melbourne is expected to be hit with scattered showers this week and on Wednesday night there will be a low of 8C. On Thursday and Friday, the forecast is 14C.</span></p> <p><strong>Adelaide</strong></p> <p><span>On Wednesday, the temperature will sink to a low of 9C. Rain and possible hail is expected to fall this evening.</span></p> <p><strong>Perth</strong></p> <p><span>This week, temperatures will fluctuate around 19-23C. A possible storm is forecast on Thursday and on Friday, overnight temperatures will sink to 6C.</span></p> <p><strong>Darwin</strong></p> <p><span>Overnight lows this week will hit around 21C.</span></p> <p><strong>Brisbane</strong></p> <p><span>By the end of the week it will be sunny, however, nights will get cooler hitting an overnight low of 8C on Friday.</span></p> <p><strong>Sydney</strong></p> <p><span>The end of the week will see the coolest nights in Sydney with overnight lows of 9C.</span></p> <p><strong>Canberra</strong></p> <p><span>The coolest day in Canberra will be on Thursday and Friday with a high of 13C. </span></p>

Domestic Travel

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Woman fat-shamed on flight hails "hero" passenger

<p><span>A good Samaritan who intervened after a passenger on a plane began to fat-shame a woman has been called a “hero”.</span></p> <p><span>On Monday, Savannah Phillips boarded a flight to Chicago and was seated next to a man who she says was “in his 60s with yellow sunglasses who claimed to be a comedian”.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><img width="306" height="498" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818467/2.jpg" alt="2 (80)"/></span></p> <p><span>“As soon as I got buckled, he sat back down... his phone was maybe 12 inches from my face and he proceeded to text someone that he was sitting next to a ‘smelly fatty’,” Savannah wrote on her Facebook page. </span></p> <p><span>“I don’t even know what the rest of his text said,” she wrote.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsavannah.rust%2Fposts%2F10100328094803864&amp;width=500" width="500" height="590" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></span></p> <p><span>“I turned my head away as fast as I could. I was shocked and it was like confirmation of the negative things I think about myself on a daily basis.</span></p> <p><span>“Before I knew it, I could feel hot, salty tears coming down my face.”</span></p> <p><span>Savannah revealed that another man sitting across the aisle read the text and decided to intervene.</span></p> <p><span>“He tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘I need to talk to you’,” she recalled. When the comedian turned around, the passenger informed him that they were “switching seats right now”.</span></p> <p><span>When the comedian asked why they were swapping seats, the man said: “Because you're a heartless person, I read your text, and the girl next to you crying also read your text. And you should really take into consideration other people's feelings.”</span></p> <p><span>They immediately swapped seats.</span></p> <p><span>“When he sat down he saw me crying and asked why I was crying,” Savannah said. </span></p> <p><span>“He said to not let it get to me and not to worry about it, and we started making small talk which made me feel better.” </span></p> <p><span>Savannah later learned that the passenger who had intervened for her was Chase Irwin, a manager at the Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row bar and restaurant in Nashville.</span></p> <p><span>“I was so blessed and happy he was there. I hope it sets a good example for others for what they should do in situations like that and to stick up for people when they need help.</span></p> <p><span>“The flight attendant kept trying to give him free drinks and told him that he was her hero. He wasn’t her hero – he was mine.</span></p> <p><span>She added, “I do feel a little more beautiful today.”</span></p>

Travel Trouble

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Winter cold snap to bring hail and snow

<p>Australia is expected to feel the chill this week, with the first real major cold snap of 2016 expected to bring freezing temperatures to the east coast of Australia.</p> <p>The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast frosty conditions for South Australia on Thursday that will move east hitting Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and NSW by Friday.</p> <p>A series of cold fronts are expected to sweep in, bringing thunderstorms and hail to many parts of the south-east, as well as snow falling on the higher ground.  </p> <p>The cold front is good news for ski resorts, who can expect up to 60cm of snow after what’s been a relatively slow start to the skiing season this year.</p> <p>The cold is expected to bring snow to many parts of NSW including Katoomba, Lithgow, Orange, Bathurst and Glen Innes, and there’s even a chance that snow may fall as far north as the Granite Belt in southern Queensland overnight on Friday.</p> <p>We hope you’re rugged up and enjoy the rest of the week of frosty weather. What’s your favourite way to warm yourself in the chilly temperatures?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Twitter / Jan Hutton</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/06/in-pictures-australia-wild-weather/"><strong>In pictures: Australia’s wild weather weekend</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/health/body/2016/06/does-cold-weather-cause-the-flu/"><strong>Does cold weather actually cause the flu?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/06/east-coast-on-notice-as-second-winter-storm-looms/"><strong>East coast on notice as second winter storm looms</strong></a></em></span></p>

News

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Australia’s first dementia assistance dog hailed a success

<p>Australia's first assistance dog trained specifically for people living with dementia has officially “graduated”, offering a new lifeline for dementia patients.</p> <p>79-year-old Rolf Beilharz has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for more than three years and struggles to communicate. His wife Vyrna had observed changes to his behaviour, but noticed that her husband still loved dogs and would stop to pay attention to any they walked past.</p> <p>The dog-loving couple became the pilots in an Assistance Dogs Australia program that looked to pair intensively-trained assistant dogs with dementia patients.</p> <p>Three-year-old Labrador Jiyu was welcome into the Beilharz’s household and quickly became part of the family. After four months on the job, Jiyu "graduated" with top honours. </p> <p><img width="481" height="361" src="http://www.sbs.com.au/news/sites/sbs.com.au.news/files/styles/body_image/public/img_3956_0.jpg?itok=cleJgFAS&amp;mtime=1460020736" alt="Dementia dogs" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“Jiyu goes to Rolf and if I say 'where's Rolf', he’ll go there. They are bonded and [when we walk] Rolf always leads him,” Mrs Beilharz said.</p> <p>“It just added a very stabilising happy presence to the house.”</p> <p>Assistance Dogs Australia has been training dogs to assist people living with disability for more than 20 years. </p> <p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/04/07/canine-care-offers-lifeline-dementia-patients" target="_blank">SBS News</a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"><em>Why having a pet is SO good for you</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/"><em>Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/how-to-help-your-pet-conquer-their-phobias/"><em>How to help your pet conquer their phobias</em></a></strong></span></p>

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