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66-year-old woman reveals why she just gave birth to her 10th child

<p>In a remarkable turn of events, 66-year-old Alexandra Hildebrandt gave birth to her 10th child, a healthy baby boy named Philipp, on March 19 at Charité Hospital in Berlin. The birth, carried out via cesarean section, saw Philipp weighing in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces.</p> <p>Hildebrandt, a well-known human rights activist and the director of Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie Museum, insists that she conceived naturally, without the aid of fertility drugs, and faced no difficulties during the process.</p> <p>Baby Philipp joins an already large and diverse family, including siblings Svitlana (46), Artiom (36), Elisabeth (12), Maximilian (12), Alexandra (10), Leopold (8), Anna (7), Maria (4), and Katharina (2). Remarkably, eight of these children were born after Hildebrandt turned 53, all during her second marriage to former CDU politician Daniel Dormann.</p> <p>For Hildebrandt, having a big family is both fulfilling and fundamental. “A big family is not only something wonderful, but above all, it is important for raising children properly,” she told <em>The Today Show</em>. Despite her age, she has received only positive feedback from friends and family regarding her pregnancy and childbirth.</p> <p>Dr Wolfgang Henrich, Hildebrandt’s OB/GYN, described her pregnancy as “largely uncomplicated”. However, medical experts caution that pregnancies at such an advanced age come with significant risks. Dr Brian Levine, a fertility specialist based in New York City, notes that the biological likelihood of a woman conceiving naturally at 66 is extremely low. Additionally, the risks of hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm labor and chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome rise significantly with age.</p> <p>Hildebrandt is not alone in making headlines for late-life motherhood. In 2023, 70-year-old Safina Namukwaya from Uganda gave birth to twins via in vitro fertilisation using donor eggs and her husband’s sperm. Despite concerns about her age, Namukwaya expressed joy at her newfound motherhood, saying that age should not be a barrier to having children.</p> <p>As for Hildebrandt, she credits her lifestyle for her ability to conceive and carry a child at her age. “I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, walk for two hours,” she shared in an interview with <em>Bild</em>. She also noted that she has never smoked, consumed alcohol or used contraceptives.</p> <p><em>Images: The Today Show</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Woman cops $806 fine for camping in her own driveway

<p>Here's one that will have legal scholars scratching their heads and homeowners clutching their deeds: Gold Coast resident Belinda Hunt has been fined $806 for the heinous crime of catching some shut-eye in her own driveway.</p> <p>Yep, that's right. Sleeping. In a van. On her own land.</p> <p>Belinda, a forward-thinking Aussie simply trying to save some cash while waiting for her new home to be built, found herself on the wrong side of the law when police and a council ranger came knocking on her van door at 1:30am. Their concern? That she was a homeless person illegally camping on public property.</p> <p>Never mind the minor detail that her driveway is, in fact, private property.</p> <p>"I pointed out the address on my driver's licence is the same as my property and also told them to check my registration details... they could clearly see that I owned the property," Belinda recounted to her (for now) 8,904 followers, presumably while resisting the urge to hand them a map and a magnifying glass.</p> <p>The authorities, unfazed by logic, proceeded to issue her a fine for "unlawful camping in a public place", despite the glaringly obvious fact that she was neither in a public place nor engaging in anything particularly unlawful. Unless, of course, getting a good night’s rest is now considered an offence in Queensland.</p> <p>Adding insult to injury, Belinda was reportedly advised to "present to the Department of Housing"– a stunning suggestion, considering she was already standing on the land where her future house would soon exist.</p> <p>"They spoke to me as if I was a criminal and doing something wrong. He [the police officer] said that it is illegal to reside in a vehicle on the Gold Coast," she said, undoubtedly wondering if the same law applied to cars parked at McDonald's drive-throughs at 2am.</p> <p>Belinda, understandably rattled by the experience, plans to fight the fine. But in the meantime, her case raises some troubling questions: Is it now illegal to camp in one’s own driveway? Should homeowners fear being charged with "loitering" in their backyards? And, most importantly, does the Gold Coast Council intend to start issuing fines for illegal napping?</p> <p>Authorities claim such regulations are necessary to kerb an increase in illegal camping, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. But as Belinda’s case proves, there’s a fine line between cracking down on rogue campers and charging hardworking Aussies for existing on their own land.</p> <p>For now, residents of the Gold Coast are advised to sleep with one eye open – preferably inside a house, lest they fall victim to the long arm of the camping law.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Legal

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Hilarious gift for Home and Away icon after her final scene

<p>After an incredible 33-year run on <em>Home and Away</em>, beloved actress Lynne McGranger has filmed her final scene, marking the end of an era for both the show and its devoted fans. Portraying the iconic Irene Roberts, McGranger’s departure is a moment of celebration and nostalgia for the Australian TV industry.</p> <p>McGranger wrapped up her last scene on the legendary Pier Diner set at Seven’s Eveleigh Studios in Sydney on Wednesday. The emotional moment was met with cheers and heartfelt applause as the cast and crew gathered to witness the final take for the longest-serving female cast member in the show’s history.</p> <p>Producer Lucy Addario led the tributes, presenting McGranger with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the <em>Home and Away</em> production team. Adding a touch of humour and nostalgia, she was also gifted the famous “Hamburger Phone” – a prop synonymous with the Diner – as a token of appreciation for her unforgettable contribution to the show.</p> <p>Grateful and emotional, McGranger reflected on her incredible journey. “I’ve had the ride of my life. And I love each and every one of you so much: The cast – Ray, Georgie, Emily, Shane, Ada, James, all the youngins,” she said. “The art department, the writers, everybody – there’s so many unsung heroes. This show is made up of so many parts. You’re all amazing, and it’s been my great privilege to work with each and every one of you. I’m touched, I’m humbled, and I’m so honoured. Thank you so much.”</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/DHp-tuUCy-h/?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/reel/DHp-tuUCy-h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Sydney (@7newssyd)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Though McGranger’s time on set has concluded, her character’s exit storyline promises to keep viewers captivated for months to come. Since her debut in January 1993, Irene has been a cornerstone of Summer Bay, known for her toughness, sharp wit and heart of gold. A recovered alcoholic who turned her life around, Irene’s journey has seen her take in numerous foster children and face some of the show’s most dramatic storylines, from battling breast cancer to surviving bomb explosions and plane crashes.</p> <p>Throughout the years, Irene’s signature catchphrases – “girly”, “darl”, and “flippin’ heck!” – have cemented her place in Australian pop culture. In 2023, <em>TV WEEK</em> even ranked her the second Greatest Australian TV Character Of All Time, a testament to McGranger’s unforgettable performance <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">(Alf was No.1, in case you're wondering)</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">.</span></p> <p>Even as fans prepare to say goodbye to Irene Roberts over the coming months, McGranger’s legacy will live on in the hearts of <em>Home and Away</em> viewers. Her unmistakable charm has left an indelible mark on the show, and she will always be remembered as a true Summer Bay icon.</p> <p><em>Images: Network 7</em></p>

TV

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Farewell, Your Majesty: Major change coming to Aussie fiver

<p>The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced a new theme for the Aussie fiver, designed to honour the “enduring emotional, spiritual and physical connection of First Nations peoples to Country”. </p> <p>“This inspiring theme will guide the creation of an artwork that will feature on the redesigned banknote,” said Michelle McPhee, RBA’s Assistant Governor of Business Services. The selection of this theme followed an extensive national campaign, receiving over 2,100 theme nominations from the public.</p> <p>For the first time since 1992, the $5 note will not feature the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had appeared on the denomination for more than 30 years. Breaking with tradition, the RBA confirmed that the redesigned note would not bear a portrait of any monarch, meaning King Charles will also be absent from the new design. However, the reverse side of the note will continue to depict the Australian Parliament building.</p> <p>Since the 1960s, the $5 banknote has undergone four major redesigns, with the most recent update in 2016. When Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait was first introduced in 1992, it replaced humanitarian Caroline Chisholm, a decision that was met with criticism at the time. The RBA defended its choice, citing Australia’s status as a constitutional monarchy and the tradition of including the reigning monarch on at least one banknote.</p> <p>The new banknote is expected to take several years to be designed, printed and circulated. The process of selecting an artist for the design is currently underway, with more details to be revealed in the coming months. The development of the note will also involve incorporating advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting.</p> <p>While the new design is in progress, the existing $5 note will continue to be issued. Meanwhile, Australian coins, which are produced by the Royal Australian Mint, will maintain the tradition of featuring the monarch.</p> <p><em>Images: RBA</em></p>

Money & Banking

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David Hasselhoff's daughter opens up after her mother's passing

<p>The entertainment world continues to mourn the tragic loss of actress Pamela Bach, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/baywatch-actress-passes-away-aged-61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away earlier this month</a> at the age of 61. Her body was discovered at her Los Angeles home by her youngest daughter, Hayley Hasselhoff. Now, her eldest daughter, Taylor Hasselhoff-Fiore, has opened up about the profound grief she is experiencing.</p> <p>"I'd do anything in the world to hug you again, my forever angel," Hasselhoff-Fiore, 34, shared in a heartfelt Instagram tribute. "You are my best friend, my whole heart, my everything."</p> <p>Accompanying her emotional words was a video reel featuring cherished moments with her mother, including family trips, dinners and birthday celebrations. Hasselhoff-Fiore vowed to keep her mother's memory alive, promising that her daughter, London, would grow up knowing "how incredible you are". </p> <p>"I promise to make you proud & celebrate you every day," she continued. "Mama I love you so much, the pain is unbearable, but I will be strong for you & hold onto your memory until we meet again my beautiful."</p> <p>Bach, who was previously married to David Hasselhoff for 16 years, passed away in early March. Following the heartbreaking news, David Hasselhoff's team released a statement on behalf of the family.</p> <p>"Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff," the statement read. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time."</p> <p>Bach, an actress best known for her roles in <em>Knight Rider</em> and <em>Baywatch</em>, shared a deep love for her granddaughter London. In a Christmas video she posted on Instagram, she captured special moments with London, reflecting on the joy the little girl brought into her life. In an earlier post, she expressed her adoration for her granddaughter: "I Never Knew a LOVE like THIS ♥️‼️ It's Powerful, Pure, Unconditional LOVE I Have Deep in my Soul and Being as I do for my Precious and Perfect GrandDaughter 🧧 London Hasselhoff Fiore 🎀."</p> <p>Her final interaction on social media was a simple but poignant comment on Hayley Hasselhoff's Instagram post, where she left a heart-eyed emoji, just hours before her passing.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Jackie O reveals how she lost her driver's license

<p>Jackie O has revealed the simple road rule she broke that cost her her drivers license many years ago. </p> <p>The KIIS FM host revealed live on air that after she was wearing her seatbelt incorrectly, she lost her license. </p> <p>"I always wear it over me, but it was just that one day because I had got a tan," Jackie explained to her listeners on Monday morning.</p> <p>Jackie O said she was put on a 12-month good behaviour period, which means she had been driving with one demerit for a year.</p> <p>However, in the final week of her restriction, she lost the point just days before earning all her points back.</p> <p>"I got through the whole year by one week and then lost it," she said.</p> <p>Jackie then confirmed she lost her license two weeks ago and said she was struggling not being allowed to drive. </p> <p>The 50-year-old said she first struggled with not having a license after she had been gifted a trip to the Blue Mountains by her friend Gemma O'Neill for her 50th birthday.</p> <p>But she questioned how she was going to travel to her weekend away, which is more than 110km away from her home in Sydney's eastern suburbs, now that she is unable to drive herself there.</p> <p>"Gemma – my best friend – she's given me a weekend away to a silent retreat," she said live on air.</p> <p>"I'm gonna have to catch the train because it's to the Blue Mountains and I don't have my licence!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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Hollywood star reacts after Trump bans her book

<p>Actress Julianne Moore has spoken out after her children's book was banned in US schools under new regulations of Trump's administration. </p> <p>The Hollywood legend shared a lengthy post on Instagram as she reacted to the news that her book, a semi-autobiographical work called <em>Freckleface Strawberry</em> that was released almost two decades ago, was banned.</p> <p>The book was released in 2007 and follows a girl who wants to get rid of her freckles but ends up learning to accept them.</p> <p>The book is one of the thousands of titles US President Donald Trump's administration has reportedly banned from schools run by the Department of Defense.</p> <p>In her Instagram post, Moore said it was a "great shock for me to learn" that her book was being banned, saying she wrote the book "for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community."</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/DGJBA9LvfX7/?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/DGJBA9LvfX7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Julianne Moore (@juliannemoore)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I am particularly stunned because I am a proud graduate of Frankfurt American High School a #DOD school that once operated in Frankfurt, Germany," she continued.</p> <p>Speaking of her father who was a Vietnam veteran, Moore said it was "galling for me to realise that kids like me, growing up with a parent in the service and attending a [Department of Defense Education Activity] school will not have access to a book written by someone whose life experience is so similar to their own."</p> <p>"And I can't help but wonder what is so controversial about this picture book that cause it to be banned by the US Government."</p> <p>Moore concluded her thoughts by expressing she was "truly saddened" by the move and "never thought I would see this in a country where freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right."</p> <p>The post was inundated with comments from many stars, including Halle Berry, model Helena Christensen, Ellen Pompeo and Michelle Pfeiffer, who expressed confusion over the ban and offered their support to Moore. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock / Instagram </em></p>

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Maggie Smith's son reveals her final moments

<p>Dame Maggie Smith's son Toby Stephens has shared details of the last few weeks of his mother's life, and how he wasn't by her side when she passed away. </p> <p>Toby and his brother Chris Larkin announced the death of their famous mother, revealing she died peacefully in hospital in September 2024 at the age of 89.</p> <p>Stephens, who is also an actor, has now opened up about Maggie's last weeks, telling <em><a href="https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/toby-stephens-acting-mother-maggie-smith-zd0979rf8?region=global" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Times</a></em> that he was filming a movie in New Zealand when his mother died. </p> <p>Despite her health troubles, Smith encouraged her son to take the role in the horror movie Marama, as he explained, “She was in hospital. She was supposed to be coming out, but the last two years of her life had been a decline: she would get worse, then she would get better, then she would get worse.” </p> <p>“So I said, ‘Look I’ve got this film,’ and before I could even ask her, she said, ‘Go do it. God, you don’t want to hang round here, I’m fine.’”</p> <p>However, when Stephens arrived in New Zealand, he was informed by hospital staff that his mother’s condition would not improve, as he said, "But it could take two months, two weeks, they didn’t know."</p> <p>Soon afterwards he started filming the movie, his mother stopped being able to communicate.</p> <p>“I’d spent hours and days sitting with her at home and in hospital over the course of two years, and there was nothing I had left unsaid,” Stephens said.</p> <p>Maggie Smith died on September 27th, the day before Stephens finished filming.</p> <p>His wife, actress Anna-Louise Plowman, and their three teenage children were all with her at the hospital the day before she died.</p> <p>Maggie's other son Chris Larkin was at Smith’s bedside for her final moments, as Stephens said, “I was so sad not to be with him.”</p> <p>“I found that very difficult, but she was no longer aware. And it allowed me some space to actually get my head round what had happened.”</p> <p>Elsewhere in the interview, Stephens said he had been touched by the response to his mother’s death and the number of people who remembered her for her earlier roles.</p> <p>He added, “The thing that really got me was: it’s very rare that you have actors that everyone likes."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Colorsport/ITV/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Mum furious over grandmother’s refusal to use car seat for her child

<p dir="ltr">A mother has voiced her frustration over her own mother’s major babysitting error. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman, who has a son of her own, shared that her parents regularly look after their grandchild, but has grown more and more annoyed that one request has been ignored. </p> <p dir="ltr">In her lengthy post on Reddit, the woman wrote that her mother has taken her grandson in a car without a car seat more than once. </p> <p dir="ltr">She wrote, "I'm livid and won't be letting her take him out again but needed to vent. My parents look after my son for me now and again, he loves them, and they love him, but my mom is really testing me. Twice now she has had him in someone's car without his car seat."</p> <p dir="ltr">She continued: "The first time it happened, I didn't let her see him for a month. I knew they were taking him out and had left his car seat for them, but she didn't use it as they were only 'going around the corner.' I screamed and shouted about her putting my son at risk.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“She tried to backtrack and lie her way out of it, but at the end of the day, she disrespected me."</p> <p dir="ltr">"That was almost a year ago; yesterday, she had him as I had work in London, and hubby was at work; she said they were taking him out and promised she would use the car seat. I stressed to her how she won't see him again if they don't use it and guess what, they didn't use it."</p> <p dir="ltr">The end of the post reads: "I'm livid, I'm going to see her today to shout and give an ultimatum, why don't people listen?! 'Oh, he was fine. We only went two streets away. You're being dramatic…'"</p> <p dir="ltr">"'Dramatic' when there's an insane storm going on, and anything could have happened. [She] won't be having him again. I feel like a d*** for trusting and believing her.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Hundreds of comments poured in from other mothers backing up the woman’s decision, as one person wrote, "She is playing Russian roulette with your child's life. Stay strong in this decision."</p> <p dir="ltr">Another simply wrote, “Why even take the risk? Why?!"</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p></p>

Family & Pets

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AFLW star celebrates arrival of her new baby

<p>AFLW superstar Maddy Prespakis and her partner, high-profile Melbourne influencer Sophie Cachia have welcomed a baby girl. </p> <p>Cachia gave birth to daughter Esme Sophie Shaw on Tuesday “watched on by her amazing big brother and sister” — her children from a previous marriage to former AFL player Jaryd.</p> <p>“My dream experience to have them there and now diving deep into my love bubble,” Cachia said.</p> <p>Prespakis said there were “lots of smiles and tears”, with the Essendon midfielder adding, “I’m speechless, THE best day of my life.”</p> <p>“My love you are amazing, I’m so proud of you. Baby girl is finally here.”</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/DFbMNR1T7TD/?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/DFbMNR1T7TD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sophie Shaw (@sophiecachia_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Cachia shared the news of her pregnancy in July 2024 following a three-year process via donors.</p> <p>She denied online rumours that her former partner Jaryd was the father, saying only a few close friends knew the person’s identity.</p> <p>“I knew I’d face questions and intrigue, that’s totally fine and perhaps one day when I’m ready I will discuss everything,” the 33-year-old wrote at the time.</p> <p>“However, something I wasn’t ready for was the assumption/questions around my ex-husband being the ‘father’. Do you know many people having kids with their ex six years after separation lol??"</p> <p>“Just because we have an amicable family relationship co-parenting our amazing B&F, doesn’t mean we’re making more babies together. Leave him and his personal life out.”</p> <p>Cachia and Prespakis went public with their relationship late last year.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Dame Judi Dench shares update on her deteriorating health

<p>Dame Judi Dench has revealed she can no longer leave her house by herself due to her worsening eyesight. </p> <p>The legendary British actress, 90, opened up about her deteriorating health in a candid chat on the <em>Fearless</em> podcast with Trinny Woodall, admitting she must be accompanied by someone everywhere she goes in case she falls over or bangs into something.</p> <p>Judi said, “Somebody will always be with me; I have to now because I can’t see and I will walk into something or fall over.”</p> <p>Aside from her declining sight, which is caused by age-related macular degeneration, Judi says she prefers to be supported by others and is “not very good at being on my own”.</p> <p>She told the podcast host, “I’m always nervous before going to something. I have no idea why...I’m not good at being on my own at all, nor would I be now."</p> <p>“And fortunately, I don’t have to now because I pretend to have no eyesight,” Judi joked. </p> <p>In 2024, Dench hinted that her acting career could be over as her worsening eyesight makes it "impossible" to learn lines. </p> <p>When asked about her career at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, the Oscar winner replied: "No, no, I can't even see!"</p> <p>Judi, who was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 2012, said she has tried to work “as much as she can” but finds any part “difficult” to play.</p> <p>She told <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/2002898/dame-judi-dench-health-issue?int_source=nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Express.co.uk</em></a>, "I have so many friends who will teach me the script. But I have a photographic memory, so I have to know where it is on the page, and that's quite a difficult thing."</p> <p>"That's what makes it really impossible so far [not knowing exactly where the text is]. But I'll find a way."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

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"Absolutely horrendous": Mother recalls the moment her daughter was attacked by a dog

<p>A distraught mother has recalled the terrifying moment her four-year-old daughter was mauled at a popular beach. </p> <p>Natalie was on holiday in Western Australia at a beach in Quindalup in the state’s south with her four children when the brutal attack occurred.</p> <p>Recalling the moment to the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/girl-survives-savage-rottweiler-dog-attack-dunsborough/104813116" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>, Natalie said her daughter Lucia was playing with her siblings in knee-deep water when the dog raced towards her, before lunging and taking hold of the little girl’s neck and shoulder.</p> <p>Once latched on, the animal dunked and dragged Lucia underwater and refused to let go. </p> <p>“I ran into the water to try to pull Lucia off,” Natalie told the public broadcaster.</p> <p>“However, the power and the strength of a dog of this breed and size, you’re powerless to do anything.”</p> <p>Natalie said by the time they unlocked the animal’s jaw and released Lucia, she was “bleeding heavily” and “listless”, adding, “Her neck, shoulder and back had big puncture wounds. She wasn’t even crying.”</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/reel/DE3W9knBB8F/?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/DE3W9knBB8F/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by ABC Perth (@abcperth)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“The ordeal was absolutely horrendous in every way,” she said, adding in an interview with <em><a title="7news.com.au" href="https://7news.com.au/news/mother-shares-dog-beach-warning-after-daughter-mauled-by-rottweiler-at-wa-beach-c-17392886" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="mother-shares-dog-beach-warning-after-daughter-mauled-by-rottweiler-at-wa-beach-c-17392886" data-tgev-label="news" data-tgev-metric="ev">7News</a></em> that the attack was “unprovoked” and “out-of-the-blue”.</p> <p>“He was very big, very strong. There was no way that we could control what was unfolding … your instinct as a mother is to remove your child from that situation, but you couldn’t,” she said.</p> <p>“He wasn’t stopping, he just kept biting her.”</p> <p>A bystander was quick to rush to the child's side and offer help, and while Natalie's eldest child called 000 and informed her mother that an ambulance as at least 30 minutes away, the mother decided to drive her daughter to the hospital herself. </p> <p>Soon after arriving, Lucia was flown to Perth Children’s Hospital and is now on the road to recovery after undergoing several surgeries. </p> <p>“It’s horrible to see your child to go through that. She’s this tiny, innocent little thing, and otherwise so happy,” Natalie said.</p> <p>“It was extremely traumatic, and I don’t want anyone else to go through that.”</p> <p>“She cannot be around our family pet now. She doesn’t want to go to the beach or be around dogs anymore,” Natalie told<a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/girl-survives-savage-rottweiler-dog-attack-dunsborough/104813116"> the <em>ABC</em>.</a></p> <p>“That beach is where most of our family holiday memories are. It should be a safe place. It’s going to be a bit of a road to turn it back into that, from a place of fear.”</p> <p>According to local council, the City of Busselton, the attack happened on a beach where dogs are permitted off-lead. The rottweiler has now been “euthanised, and an investigation is currently underway.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Jessica Mauboy shares rare glimpse at her pregnancy

<p>Jessica Mauboy has shared a rare look at her pregnancy with a series of behind-the-scenes photos from the ARIA Awards last month. </p> <p>The singer, who performed at the awards show in a glossy black trench coat and leather jumpsuit, shared the photos on Instagram, while fans previously caught a glimpse of her growing baby bump, now she has revealed more of her pregnancy journey. </p> <p>Backstage, Mauboy is pictured cradling her baby bump and even cheekily comparing her belly to another performer’s.</p> <p>The pictures come months after she was spotted wearing oversized clothes while performing. </p> <p>In September the former Voice Australia coach announced that she is set to welcome her first child together with husband Themeli Magripilis next year. </p> <p>Magripilis and Mauboy met when the singer was 18 and out clubbing with friends in her hometown, Darwin. </p> <p>After seven years of long-distance romance, Magripilis moved to Sydney in September 2016 to live with Mauboy, and they often travelled back to Darwin together to visit family. </p> <p>The couple got engaged in 2019, after Magripilis proposed to her but because of the pandemic, their wedding was delayed. </p> <p>The pair married in a small church in in Darwin on July 2022, with the reception at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.</p> <p>Mauboy previously told <em>Sunrise </em>their wedding was “a long time coming”.</p> <p>“We always spoke about it (getting married) and we would talk about how strong our families are and they get along really well.” </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Woman opts to end her own life while waiting for aged care help

<p>A heartbroken son has shared the devastating story of how his chronically-ill mother decided to end her own life rather than endure a months long wait for aged care funding. </p> <p>After a hearing of the Senate Inquiry into the Aged Care Bill, it was determined that tens of thousands of Australians are waiting to receive their home care packages after being approved for the financial support. </p> <p>Home care packages, which are government-funded through MyAgedCare allow Australians to access support in their own home, including nursing, food preparation, cleaning and help with personal hygiene.</p> <p>It is intended to stave off or avoid moving into costly residential aged care, allowing elderly Australians to remain at home longer. </p> <p>However, 2GB's Ben Fordham spoke to one devastated man about his mother Ellen's struggle with accessing her funds, as she ultimately died waiting for her support. </p> <p>"My mum suffered severe COPD for several years while she was waiting for an upgraded package," Mark told the program. </p> <p>COPD is short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a progressive inflammation in the lungs and airways that makes it difficult to breathe.</p> <p>"Her pride wouldn’t allow any of her boys to take care of her or to bathe her so she got approved for the assisted dying and actually a few months ago proceeded with (it)."</p> <p>He added, "She passed while waiting for the upgraded package."</p> <p>Fordham was devastated by the call and the suffering of so many vulnerable people. </p> <p>"We are chasing answers from the Australian government on this because people are dying while waiting for home care packages," he said.</p> <p>"When you’ve got Ellen choosing euthanasia instead, you know that you’ve got a serious problem."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 2GB </em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.16px; font-family: Inter, sans-serif;"> </p>

Caring

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Mother jailed after hiding her baby in a drawer for three years

<p>A mother from Chester in northern England who concealed her baby daughter in a bed drawer for the first three years of her life has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for what authorities described as an extreme case of child neglect.</p> <p>The child, born in March 2020 in a bathtub, was kept secret from the outside world. She was unregistered, had never met another person besides her mother, and spent her formative years confined to a drawer under a bed.</p> <p>“The child had spent much of its life hidden in a bedroom at the address, even sleeping in a drawer under the bed,” police said in a statement.</p> <p>The neglect left the girl severely underdeveloped and malnourished, with untreated medical conditions, including a cleft palate. Authorities only discovered her plight in February 2023, when the mother’s partner heard unusual noises upstairs and found the malnourished child.</p> <p>Social workers and police arrived shortly after, uncovering a scene described as shocking and heartbreaking. A social worker testified in court about finding the child rocking back and forth in the drawer, adding that the mother showed no remorse and treated the situation with indifference.</p> <p>Investigations revealed the mother would occasionally feed the baby “milky Weetabix” with a syringe and change her nappy. “As time went on, the mother went to work and took her other children to school and left the child in the drawer, alone for hours on end,” the Crown Prosecution Service said. “The baby’s growth and physical and mental development was severely impacted by the lack of care, attention and food and the restrictions of a life spent in a drawer.”</p> <p>By the time she was rescued, the nearly three-year-old child could not crawl, walk or talk. Her physical and mental development was likened to that of a 10-month-old. She suffered from dehydration, swollen limbs and poor muscle tone, conditions attributed to the extreme neglect.</p> <p>The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in October to four charges of child cruelty spanning the girl’s life until her rescue. During sentencing at Chester Crown Court, prosecutors detailed the grim life the child endured, noting that she had never celebrated a birthday, Christmas or seen daylight.</p> <p>“This child has never known the joy of a family celebration or simple acts of love,” said Senior Crown Prosecutor Rachel Worthington.</p> <p>The court also heard that the mother claimed she was in an abusive relationship with the child’s father and hid the pregnancy out of fear.</p> <p>Since being placed in care, the child has shown remarkable improvement but faces a long road ahead. She has started interacting with others and undergoing surgeries to address her cleft palate.</p> <p>Detective Constable Rachel Di Nicola expressed hope for the child’s future while condemning the mother’s actions. “The shocking neglect was on an indescribable scale and the suffering the child experienced will impact them for the rest of their life,” she said.</p> <p>“All those involved in the case have been left deeply shocked by what we uncovered, and we have all been amazed by the way the child has recovered since they were discovered, and we hope that this recovery continues.”</p> <p><em>Images: Chester Crown Court</em></p>

Legal

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Elle Macpherson reveals the reason for her divorce

<p>Elle Macpherson has revealed how her controversial cancer treatment played a major part in her divorce from billionaire Jeffrey Soffer. </p> <p>The supermodel made the bombshell claim in her new memoir, <em>Elle: Life, Lessons and Learning to Trust Yourself</em>, sharing how she was still married to Soffer in 2017 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. </p> <p>Macpherson <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/shockingly-irresponsible-elle-macpherson-slammed-for-holistic-cancer-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refused chemotherapy</a> from 32 doctors, revealing that her decision took a toll on her marriage.</p> <p>“My diagnosis of breast cancer, followed by my final choice of Dr C’s holistic approach to recovery… was not one that Jeff could trust or feel at ease about,” she candidly wrote.</p> <p>“And really this process was the straw that broke the camel’s back… it opened up the floodgates and everything changed,” she emotionally added. “Our marriage was over and we both knew it.”</p> <p>Macpherson and Soffer split that year after four years of marriage. </p> <p>Earlier this year, Macpherson was widely slammed after revealing that she did not have chemotherapy after being diagnosed HER2-positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma: a type of breast cancer characterised by a higher level of a protein that can help breast cells multiply quickly.</p> <p>The 60-year-old said that her former husband wasn't the only one who didn't agree with her health choices, sharing that she didn't tell her family about her plans to forgo traditional treatment. </p> <p>“I didn’t tell my family in Oz, not even my parents,” she stated of her cancer diagnosis in her memoir. “I didn’t want to put them in a situation where they were worrying from afar and I knew that my choices were different from what they may have imagined was good for me.”</p> <p>“The hardest part was making the decision on how to heal,” she added. “The saddest part was the lack of understanding from people close to me.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Billy Farrell/BFA/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Relationships

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Distraught bride explains why no one showed for her wedding

<p>The heartbroken bride who went viral after no one showed up to her wedding has updated her followers on the events leading up to the big day. </p> <p>Kalina Marie, a bride from the US, went <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/what-did-we-do-bride-shares-heartbroken-reaction-to-empty-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">viral</a> after she took to TikTok to share the gut-wrenching video of the moment her and her new husband Shane stepped inside the lavishly decorated hall with their son, as they tried to come to terms with the fact that only a handful of people showed to celebrate with them. </p> <p>“FIVE PEOPLE SHOWED UP!!!!!!! Like, are you kidding me!?!? As you see in the video, we enter the venue. And no one is there," she wrote in the caption of the video before adding, “It just makes me think, like, why? What did we do? Am I that bad of a person?"</p> <p>Her video raked up millions of views with many people sharing words of encouragement, and thousands of people asking for an update on the situation.</p> <p>Hundreds of comments asked Kalina if she had heard from any of the invitees who didn't show up, wondering if they had provided her with a reason. </p> <p>In response to the comments, Kalina made another video to share some context with her followers.</p> <p>She first explained that and her husband, who have been together for nine years, got engaged in 2019 and weren’t able to have their wedding when they had intended to, due to the pandemic.</p> <p>In January this year, they announced they were finally tying the knot in October and for the past 10 months, Ms Marie said she has been “blabbing about it” all over Facebook.</p> <p>“I created a Facebook event and invited everyone I could and also sent out over 25 invitations to our elders and those not on social media to make sure they were included as well,” she said in a video.</p> <p>Ms Marie said she received notice from 40 who said they would be coming to the big day, so she planned for that number by setting up the venue accordingly and ensuring her mum had catered enough food.</p> <p>She also made sure to check in with everyone the week of to confirm their attendance, and said “at least 20 people” had gotten back to her saying they were coming, leaving her asking why those people chose not to show up at the last minute. </p> <p>“If I could answer that, I would tell you. And no, I haven’t really received a lot of messages explaining why people weren’t there or giving me excuses,” she said.</p> <p>However, the newlywed said she was actually grateful for this because it meant she could get a clear understanding of who actually cared about her and her husband.</p> <p>“We’ve been having to deal with the grief of deleting a lot of people out of our lives,” she admitted. </p> <p>“For the most part, we’ve done a lot of re-evaluating our lives and just spending a lot of time appreciating what we have and what we had.”</p> <p>To anyone who has had something similar happen to them, Ms Marie says: “I am truly very sorry as I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”</p> <p>The comments section of the video was again flooded with words of support and encouragement for the newlyweds, as one person wrote, “My heart aches for you,” while another called it “cruel” and “unbelievable.”</p> <p>Others emphasised that it was a powerful learning moment: “You really find out who your friends are when you have a wedding. Sorry, you went through this,” insisted one commenter.</p> <p>“The people who didn’t turn up you don’t need in your life,” another reassured.</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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"I miss her daily": Fergie opens up on friendship with Diana

<p>As the Duchess of York wraps up her visit Down Under, she has shared some of her most cherished memories in an interview with <em>9Honey</em>.</p> <p>Following a busy schedule of meet and greets as part of her book tour, Sarah Ferguson opened up on her friendship with the late Princess Diana, who, like the duchess, is a beloved member of the royal family.</p> <p>"The thing about Diana was that she had the best sense of humour of any single person I know – that's quite a big thing, so it's a really big hole because she'd get my sense of humour," the duchess told the publication.</p> <p>"It's really, really hard to really make me cackle with laughter like she used to.</p> <p>"And so, yes, I miss her daily, and I think in the '80s it was just her and I, wasn't it?"</p> <p>The two women were brought together by their marriages to then Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, and the royal affectionately recalled their strong bond.</p> <p>"There isn't anybody else to know, really, what we know because there was no social media and it was just newspaper headlines.</p> <p>"I was so proud of her, what she achieved, and she would be SO proud of her grandchildren.</p> <p>"Oh, my goodness. Can you imagine? She would be just loving every moment.</p> <p>"She was a great lady, and she still is a great lady."</p> <p>The <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">duchess</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">was originally scheduled to visit Australia in October, after she was invited by her Western Australia-based publisher, Serenity Press to showcase her commitment to literature, wellness and empowerment. However, she postponed her visit to not overshadow the King and Queen's tour. </span></p> <p>The <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">soon to be grandmother of four</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">celebrated the launch of her newest books including </span><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Flora &amp; Fern: Wonder in the Woods</em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> which is a children's book, and  Fabulous Food Art, which is a cookbook she created in collaboration with Melbourne mother and TikTok star Laleh Mohmedi, of Jacob's Food Diaries.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Image: </span>Alisdair Macdonald/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

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Bride's touching tribute to late father on her wedding day

<p>"Who's going to walk me down the aisle?" those were the first words 13-year-old Bianca Accurso told her mother when she found out her father had passed away. </p> <p>"I knew from that moment that I needed to feel like he was going to be there right there with me [on my wedding day]," the now mum-of-one told <em>Yahoo Lifestyle</em>. </p> <p>"It was always important for me to acknowledge my dad in a special way at my wedding as he was my first love and whole world."</p> <p>Bianca kept her promise to her teenage self when she got married earlier this year, and the way she did it was by tracking down the man who owned her late father's car, and asking him if she could use it on her big day. </p> <p>"When going down the path of planning, I was writing down all that we needed to organise and tick off and ‘cars’ was one of the many things on the list," she recalled. </p> <p>Her husband had asked her what car she wanted for the special day, and she quickly responded "an XY GT just like my Dad’s". </p> <p>It was only when she brought up the topic of wedding cars to her mum that she had her "light bulb moment". </p> <p>"I literally then had a light bulb moment and said out loud, ‘Hey imagine if I could get it..’. I asked my Mum to see if she still had the transfer papers and contact details of the male that she sold it to after Dad had passed." </p> <p>It didn't take long for her to find the contact details for a man named Harold, while the phone call started a little awkwardly, once he realised who she was, they started talking like they were long lost friends. </p> <p>"I then proceeded to ask if he still owned my dad’s GT, to which he responded, ‘I would never sell it’. I had total goosebumps," Bianca said.</p> <p> </p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important; width: 537px; max-width: 100%;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7430359178104802561&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40loverslenssocials%2Fvideo%2F7430359178104802561&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FoQ4D7LDJFHhEO47CqjA4ACqIYzZIQoCfAOeHfE%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1730498400%26x-signature%3DZNBsHGDfkYMa0%252F22tUjN3D3RPjE%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>"I then told Harold the real reason why I had called and explained to him my wish of driving to my wedding in my Dad’s GT. There was no hesitation and he quite literally responded, ‘I would be absolutely honoured to do that for you, count me in.’ I was speechless. The butterflies were fluttering in my tummy... it was a meant-to-be moment."</p> <p>People were moved by Bianca's story which she posted on TikTok, with the video gaining almost a million views. </p> <p>"Your father is watching down crying and praising that man for taking time out of his day to make yours even better ❤️❤️," one person wrote.</p> <p>"The pure joy and happiness on your face ❤️ your dad may have not walked you down the aisle but he made sure you arrived in style..bless this beautiful man for doing this for you on your special day🥰🥰🥰,"  another added. </p> <p>Bianca recalled the moment she saw the car for the first time, saying: "seeing my Dad’s car after 10 years was indescribable."</p> <p>"My smile said it all. It looked like it had never been touched. I could picture my Dad in the driver's seat with me buckled in tightly by his side.</p> <p>"When we were driving in it, it was pure joy and happiness! We were just so present and tried to enjoy every last moment. Harold made us feel so comfortable and gave us a ride that we will never forget."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ TikTok</em></p> <p> </p>

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Aussie mum jailed after faking her own death for major insurance payout

<p>A Perth woman who faked her own death to secure a $700,000 insurance payout has been sentenced to three years behind bars. </p> <p>Karen Salkilld, 43, an F45 gym franchise owner, claimed she died in a car accident in Broome in December 2023. </p> <p>The mother-of-two, also provided a falsified death certificate, a coroner report and funeral documents, when she made the claim in January.</p> <p>A month later, she received more than $718,000 from Insuranceline, which she accessed by posing as her former partner who was the beneficiary of the sum and opening a bank account in her name. </p> <p>The "relatively sophisticated" scheme was initially successful, until police became suspicious and froze her account after she moved large amounts of the money around, according to<em> Nine News</em>. </p> <p>Salkilld had to visit Palmyra Police Station in person to certify her fake documents, but after three visits, officers realised something was up and arrested her in March. </p> <p>There is no evidence that her former partner knew of the crime. </p> <p>The fitness instructor admitted that she got the idea from a movie after she fell into debt, although she didn't specify which one. </p> <p>"Your offending could not be described as opportunistic," Judge Vicki Stewart told Perth District Court said in sentencing the fitness instructor. </p> <p>"It was calculated and required both effort and persistence."</p> <p>"You were living beyond your means and over-committed yourself," Stewart added. </p> <p>Salkilld pleaded guilty to gaining benefit by fraud and knowingly using a false record to defraud, and was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday. </p> <p>She was ordered to pay a $101,771 compensation to the insurance company. A restitution order for funds in the bank account was also issued - one for $549,195 and another for $67,995 - with the latter being held in the bank's fraud recoveries account. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>Nine News</em> outside court after the sentencing, Salkilld's estranged sister Ann said "it doesn't surprise me that she is capable of doing things like that."</p> <p>She will be eligible for parole in February 2026.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News </em></p>

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