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Prince William shares deeply personal message over fallen war hero

<p>Prince William has shared a deeply personal message in remembrance of John 'Paddy' Hemingway, the last surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain, who passed away on St Patrick's Day at the age of 105.</p> <p>The Prince of Wales, a former Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot himself, took to social media on Tuesday to express his condolences and gratitude for Hemingway’s service.</p> <p>"I was sad to hear about the passing of John 'Paddy' Hemingway this morning, the last of 'The Few'," the 42-year-old royal wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them."</p> <p>Hemingway, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1919, joined the RAF as a teenager and became one of the young airmen who defended Britain during the pivotal 1940 Battle of Britain. These pilots, immortalised as "The Few" following a famous speech by then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, played a crucial role in thwarting the German air offensive during World War II.</p> <p>Churchill’s words – "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" – have since become a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of Hemingway and his fellow pilots.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I was sad to hear about the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway this morning, the last of “The Few”. We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them. W</p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1901914010863202506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer also paid tribute to Hemingway, acknowledging his extraordinary courage and contribution to securing the nation's freedom.</p> <p>"Very sad to hear of the passing of Group Captain John 'Paddy' Hemingway, the last known Battle of Britain pilot," Starmer wrote on X. "His courage, and that of all RAF pilots, helped end WWII and secure our freedom. We will never forget their bravery and service. Thank you, John 'Paddy' Hemingway."</p> <p>King Charles has yet to make a public statement, but RAF Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton honoured Hemingway’s remarkable legacy, remembering him as "an amazing character" who carried the spirit of camaraderie and bravery throughout his life.</p> <p>"Paddy always had a twinkle in his eyes as he recalled the fun times with colleagues in France and London," the RAF said in a statement announcing his passing.</p> <p>Hemingway’s passing marks the end of an era, but his service and sacrifice will live on in history. As the last of 'The Few', he leaves behind a legacy of courage that will continue to inspire generations to come.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram \ Royal Airforce</em></p>

Caring

From sunscreen to essential oils, why some personal care products could be harmful to your health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/asit-kumar-mishra-1458839">Asit Kumar Mishra</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-college-cork-1321">University College Cork</a></em></p> <p>Each time you apply sunscreen to your face, you may inhale somewhere between <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/11/5944">10 to 30 milligrams of ethanol</a>, the type of alcohol used in alcoholic drinks. While the ethanol in sunscreen may not give you a buzz, it could make you think about what other chemicals you might be exposed to from personal care products.</p> <p>Products that are applied to the face, like sunscreen, can increase the inhalation of some chemicals by ten times or more than you would inhale from your <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34816489/">home air in the entire day</a>.</p> <p>The levels of ethanol in cosmetics and skincare products may be reasonably safe – although it can still dry out the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling, and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ethanol-properties-uses-and-incident-management/ethanol-general-information">irritate the eyes</a>, causing tears, burning and stinging – but personal care products such as shampoos, skin creams, deodorants, cosmetics and perfumes contain fragrances and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be inhaled, absorbed through skin or ingested and some are more toxic than others.</p> <p>Unfortunately, manufacturers of personal care products <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-015-0327-6">do not have to disclose</a> every fragrance compound used. This is concerning when you consider the potential effects of toxic compounds that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34816489/">have been detected</a> in the air from personal care products. For example, hair-smoothing products have released formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that can cause <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK597627/">a range of symptoms</a> from dermatitis to low sperm count. Some perfumes and deodorants have generated monoterpenes, chemicals which <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8912113/#sec1-molecules-27-01716">can prove toxic</a> for some users.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfloNXKeyX8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Some of the VOCs found in personal care products <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36976159/">may trigger</a> skin irritation, headaches – and difficulty breathing, which can develop into an asthma attack in some users. The highest or peak concentration of these VOCs are likely to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22406137/">occur within ten minutes</a> of application. But these concentrations may take up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34816489/">two hours to decrease to background levels</a>, depending on your home’s ventilation.</p> <h2>Natural doesn’t mean risk free</h2> <p>But even if the levels of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20659630/">VOCs in personal care products</a> are kept <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22406137/">within safe limits</a>, they can still cause discomfort and a variety of health issues, including irritation of the eyes and airways, migraines and asthmatic reactions, in those who’re <a href="https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-020-00311-y">fragrance sensitive</a>. In the UK, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-018-00655-8">27% of the population</a> self reports as fragrance sensitive.</p> <p>It makes sense then that some people attempt to avoid potentially toxic synthetic chemicals in cosmetics by opting for “natural” or “clean” personal care products. But, <a href="https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-020-00311-y">natural does not mean safer</a>.</p> <p>For instance, essential oils are often used in “natural” personal care products as fragrance. Essential oils, though, are a source of terpenes, some of which can be <a href="https://www.lung.org/blog/essential-oils-harmful-or-helpful">toxic if absorbed, inhaled or swallowed</a>.</p> <p>Indoor concentration of terpenes are often at levels where you can smell them but not high enough to cause <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28126407/">eye or respiratory tract irritation</a>. However, the terpenes from essential oils can react with other chemicals, such as ozone from outdoor air, producing <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32162221/">byproducts like formaldehyde, a known carcinogen</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22250748/">allergens</a>.</p> <h2>Beauty salon safety</h2> <p>Beauty salons can be particularly risky environments for exposure to VOCs. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/4176">Studies have found</a> contaminants such as formaldehyde, ammonia and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/toluene-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/toluene-toxicological-overview">toluene</a>, a potentially harmful ingredient used in many personal care products, at high levels in salons, putting staff who work there at the highest risk.</p> <p>Formaldehyde levels in some salons have reached <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31321727/">above safety limits</a>. <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/substances/fact-sheets/methyl-methacrylate#tabs-2">Methyl methacrylate</a>, which can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions and potential <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3072694/">respiratory issues</a> has been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30276513/">detected in the air of nail salons</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ydRklqO01fE?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>These contaminants are not necessarily limited to the places in a salon <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23765035/">where a certain product is being used</a>. Beauty salons with poor ventilation are likely to expose workers and customers to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494285/">much higher levels of contaminants</a>. Some of the components of personal care products are known, harmful contaminants and carcinogens.</p> <p>Regulations specifically related to ventilation in environments where large volumes of these products are used do reduce exposures. For instance, studies show that after ventilation regulations came into effect in Boston, US in 2011, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31622145/">air quality inside nail salons improved</a>.</p> <p>When visiting your nail salon or hair stylist, check with them about their ventilation system and other steps they are taking to reduce exposure to VOCs.</p> <p>To limit exposure to potential VOCs at home when using personal care products, try to open windows and use extractor fans in wet rooms. Be especially careful when applying products to the face or when using a high temperature application – <a href="https://occup-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12995-018-0213-x">high temperatures can increase emissions</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/248273/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/asit-kumar-mishra-1458839"><em>Asit Kumar Mishra</em></a><em>, Research Fellow in School of Public of Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-college-cork-1321">University College Cork</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-sunscreen-to-essential-oils-why-some-personal-care-products-could-be-harmful-to-your-health-248273">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

Unbelievable moment man finds his aunt's artwork in op shop

<p>A man has broken down in tears as he found a painting done by his aunt in his favourite op shop. </p> <p>Influencer Christian Hull was sifting through an antique shop in Brisbane when something caught his eye from behind a cushion. </p> <p>"I walk into this stall and there on the ground is a beautiful brightly coloured art work from the 1980's that reminds me so much of my aunt," he said of his artist aunt, Helen McCosker, who is based in Sydney and has no connection to the Queensland city.</p> <p>"It was her style of drawing and just screamed at me," Hull shared on his social media accounts.</p> <p>"I thought to myself how strange that this drawing instantly reminded me of her. I wanted it... I knew it wasn't one of hers because the likely hood of that was 0%. No way a drawing she did in Sydney in the 80's would be in my favourite shop in Brisbane staring at me."</p> <p>His find was confirmed when he spotted his aunt's signature in the bottom corner of the artwork, as he said, "There in the corner I saw it and SCREAMED! It was her classic HMK in a circle."</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/DGKO1XCTd-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/DGKO1XCTd-h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Christian Hull (@christianhull)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I was stunned, here was a work she had done before I was born. I needed to have it."</p> <p>The content creator was in tears at the find, and quickly snapped up the artwork which was priced at $200, before he promptly called his aunt to tell her of the news, as he found out the story behind the painting. </p> <p>"I was hoping it was a secret lover and that I had uncovered a scandalous family secret but sadly not the case," he shared.</p> <p>Hull relayed that the artwork was of a man named Andrew and was done in a life drawing class she used to go to, with it still being in it's original frame.</p> <p>"We both were shocked at the randomness of the discover... It's so crazy that I saw this thought of her and then realised it was one of her works!" he said of the "surreal" moment.</p> <p>Fans were equally amazed by the find, as one person commented, "That's crazyyyyy. But what an amazing find! Funny how things come full circle, it was meant to be hanging in your home."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Art

Calls for major shops to ditch "toxic" product

<p>Common poisons sold at Bunnings, Mitre 10, Coles and Woolworths could potentially wipe out five species of carnivorous mammals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972500467X" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:and a new study by Edith Cowan University;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1">A new study by Edith Cowan University</a> has discovered the impact of these common rat poisons is more widespread than first thought, with predators also being impacted by the toxins as well as the pests.</p> <p>“This is the first documentation of pretty substantial rodenticide exposure in our entire suite of top marsupial carnivores in Australia,” researcher and adjunct lecturer Dr Michael Lohr told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-for-bunnings-mitre-10-coles-and-woolworths-to-ditch-toxic-product-going-to-kill-everything-063045604.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a>.</p> <p>“Tasmanian devils and quolls are potentially being exposed at rates that could have a substantial impact on the trajectory of their populations going forward, and not in a good way.”</p> <p>The use of second-generation rat baits is currently under review by a government regulator – the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), with Dr Lohr urging retailers to take them off shelves. </p> <p>"I think it's really important for Australia at this point to try to catch up to the rest of the developed world," he said. "Action is needed on this and the world has already agreed on that."</p> <p>The use and sale of these pesticides are heavily restricted in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, but are freely available in Australia.</p> <p>More than 7,000 people have signed a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/help-wildlife-and-pets-poisoned-dying-in-agony-bunnings-stop-selling-sgar-rat-baits" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:Change.org petition;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="20" data-v9y="1">Change.org petition</a> calling for supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths to ditch these "highly toxic" rat baits which it said can kill pets and native animals.</p> <p>Veteran wildlife advocate Cat Coake told <em>Yahoo</em> retailers have a duty to stop non-targeted poisons, as she said, "Otherwise they're going to kill everything."</p> <p>In a statement, Bunnings noted that it's not the only major retailer in Australia selling second-generation rodenticides.</p> <p>"Like many retailers, we offer a range of rodent control products, including anticoagulant rodenticides and non-poisonous alternatives, to provide choice for customers on the best solution to their specific rodent problem," it said.</p> <p>Bunnings also said it's complying with government regulations on the sale of these poisons. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Home & Garden

Candid snaps of Scott Morrison unearthed in op shop

<p>A TikTok user has stumbled upon a relic so rare, so historic, that it may just belong in Australia's National Archives – or at least at a particularly niche pub trivia night.</p> <p>Charli Foo, presumably just looking for a cheap second-hand jacket or a quirky mug, was left stunned upon flicking through a random photo album at a Salvation Army store in Rockdale in Sydney's southwest. Nestled between the dusty board games and a collection of mismatched Tupperware was a scrapbook of memories featuring none other than former prime minister Scott Morrison.</p> <p>The photo album, a true time capsule of the mid-'90s, documented a young, fresh-faced ScoMo in his tourism executive days, before he ascended to the highest office in the land (and then swiftly to the nearest Bunnings). The first few pages capture his trip to Port Douglas, where he attended a Tourism Task Force director’s meeting – presumably working hard to put Australia on the map while also perfecting his beachside relaxation techniques.</p> <p>But the real gold lies in the candid moments. There he is, sprawled across a beach lounge at the Sheraton Mirage resort on the Gold Coast, the very image of a man who has had one too many networking beverages.</p> <p>Later, he’s seen posing in front of a friend’s home in West London, his <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">New Year's Eve 1996 </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">exhaustion hilariously documented by an enthusiastic yet slightly judge-y caption: “Scott very, very, very TIRED after spending the day with Steve Girvan. I think too many Guinnesses.”</span></p> <p>Now, in ScoMo’s defence, who among us hasn’t ended up “very, very, very TIRED” after a Guinness-fuelled evening with a mate named Steve? It’s the most Irish thing outside of accidentally calling everyone ‘mate’ in a thick Australian accent while attempting to order a Guinness in Dublin.</p> <p>And speaking of Ireland, the adventure continues with photos of a sightseeing ScoMo strolling the streets of Dublin on January 8, 1997 – a day of great personal significance. Not for him, mind you, but for his wife Jen, who, as the captions inform us, was back in bed, battling the flu on her birthday. “Scott went sightseeing without Jen. She was sick, sick, sick … in bed.” The triple emphasis on ‘sick’ is either a sign of deep sympathy or someone trying very hard to justify a solo pint or three at the Temple Bar.</p> <p>Naturally, social media exploded. Comments ranged from sheer disbelief to excitement at the historical significance of the find. One user suggested the album should be donated to a “museum or university”, arguing that “future historians would froth over having this kind of source material”.</p> <p>And they’re probably right. Imagine, in the year 2125, a PhD student writing their thesis on ‘The Leisure and Leadership of Scott Morrison’ using a second-hand scrapbook as a primary source.</p> <p>In the meantime, perhaps we should all be combing through our local op shops a little more carefully. Who knows? Next time, someone might find a VHS of Kevin Rudd’s karaoke nights or a collection of Tony Abbott’s forgotten speedo selfies.</p> <p>History is all around us – sometimes, it’s just hiding between an old Abba vinyl and a set of novelty salt and pepper shakers.</p> <p>Images: TikTok</p>

Family & Pets

Barry Humphries' personal collection fetches millions at auction

<p>A collection of Barry Humphries' personal items has fetched $9 million at a London auction. </p> <p>Just one pair of Barry Humphries’ Dame Edna Everage glasses sold for more than 25 times their pre-sale high estimate, with the yellow-lacquered Possum spectacles fetching a whopping £37,800 ($75,185 AUD).</p> <p>His personal collection totalled £4,627,224 ($9.2 million AUD) at auction, including buyer’s premium, according to Christie’s auction house, which welcomed bidders from 41 countries to the sale.</p> <p>The top price of the sale was lot 42, Charles Conder’s painting Sand dunes, Ambleteuse, which sold for £239,400 ($476,170 AUD).</p> <p>Among the star’s costumes up for sale was a scarlet chiffon evening gown, worn by Humphries as Dame Edna when he surprised the then Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall in the royal box at the Royal Variety Show in 2013, which sold for £21,420, or $42,604 AUD.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpotlightSaturday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpotlightSaturday</a> Christie’s is delighted to present six lots in Barry Humphries: The Personal Collection sale being sold to benefit the Royal Variety Charity (Registered Charity No.206451) on 13 February. Explore more here: <a href="https://t.co/fwfXGUOe9k">https://t.co/fwfXGUOe9k</a> <a href="https://t.co/fFsl6Gh7gC">pic.twitter.com/fFsl6Gh7gC</a></p> <p>— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1888196325801676946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>“These fantastic results are a testament to Barry’s unique vision and lifelong passion for collecting,” said Benedict Winter, head of sale, private and iconic collections, Christie’s London.</p> <p>“Extraordinary prices were achieved for Symbolist art, works on paper, books and of course Dame Edna’s ‘face furniture’ and dresses."</p> <p>“Christie’s is incredibly proud to have offered this iconic collection at auction, with the results paying a fitting tribute to Barry Humphries and his remarkable legacy.”</p> <p>The Australian star, who was known for his satirical characters including the high camp of Dame Edna and the offensive cultural attache Sir Les Patterson, died in April 2023 at the age of 89.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <div id="div-gpt-inline-02-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000;" data-google-query-id="CKbj15KqyYsDFQQLigMdumYUIw"></div>

Money & Banking

Why one pizza shop is charging almost $200 for a divisive topping

<p dir="ltr">A trendy pizzeria is charging customers almost $200 AUD for one divisive pizza topping as they reignite the debate of putting pineapple on pizza. </p> <p dir="ltr">Lupa Pizza in Norwich in the UK have reluctantly added Hawaiian pizza to their menu, but the ham and pineapple combo comes with a catch.</p> <p dir="ltr">Diners will be charged £100 ($198 AUD) for it, with the restaurant taking to social media to share the news of the hefty price. </p> <p dir="ltr">"🍍🍕 Pineapple on pizza — love it or hate it?" they wrote. "We're not so keen, but if you are, it's now on our Deliveroo menu for £100 ($198). 🤷‍♂️”</p> <p dir="ltr">"Order the champagne too! Go on, you monster!" they added.</p> <p dir="ltr">The restaurant's owner and chef have defended the cost for a simple reason: their shared dislike of pineapple on pizza.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I absolutely loathe pineapple on a pizza," Francis Woolf, the co-owner of Lupa Pizza, told the <em>Norwich Evening News</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Head chef Quin Jianoran agreed, adding, "I love a piña colada, but pineapple on pizza? Never. I'd rather put a bloody strawberry on one than that tropical menace.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Their views, however, are not shared with the majority of the British public. In the most recent YouGov survey on the subject, 53 percent of Britons admitted they enjoyed the taste of pineapple on pizza, while 41 percent of people do not.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lupa agreed to feature the Hawaiian special on its main menu if the people of Norwich voted in favour of the combination in an online poll, which closes on January 24th.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If pineapple wins the vote, I’ll make it,” said Mr Jianoran. “But I won’t be happy about it. And I might charge £200 next time.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Food & Wine

"My favourite person": NRL star announces engagement

<p>Penrith Panthers star Liam Martin has shared the exciting news of his engagement to his partner Chelsea Leary. </p> <p>The 27-year-old NRL player took to Instagram to reveal the news, sharing pictures of himself and his new fiancée smiling and showing off her diamond ring while at a secluded beach.</p> <p>"My favourite person 🤍," Martin captioned his post, receiving messages of congratulations from his fellow sports stars and fans.</p> <p>"Yes Martini," NRL star and Sydney Roosters player Angus Crichton commented, while fellow Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary added: "Congrats guys <3."</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/DDOwtcbT1G3/?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/DDOwtcbT1G3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Liam Martin (@marto_97)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The couple first went public with their relationship in 2019 when they attended the Merv Cartwright Medal together, sharing photos of them dressed up for the event. </p> <p>"Merv Cartwright Medal with his stunner," Martin wrote at the time.</p> <p>The sports star, who hails from Temora in NSW, and made his NRL debut back in 2019.</p> <p>He also plays for the Australian national rugby league team, the Kangaroos and has played for NSW in the State of Origin.</p> <p>After making his debut in the NRL for the Panthers, he wrote in one Instagram post, "Such a surreal moment it was making my NRL debut on Saturday night."</p> <p>"Incredibly proud to be panther no. 584 and couldn't think of a better bunch of blokes to play alongside. Certainly not the result we wanted but want to say a massive thank you to all the fans, family and friends for the messages."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p> </p>

Relationships

Rebel Wilson reveals personal tragedy

<p>Rebel Wilson has been struck with personal tragedy, just days after celebrating Thanksgiving with her growing family. </p> <p>On Saturday, the actress took to Instagram to share that her beloved grandfather has died aged 97. </p> <p>"RIP Poppy – 97 years young. The best grandpa!" she wrote on her Instagram story over the weeked, alongside a photo of herself with her beloved Poppy. </p> <p>It comes just days after the <em>Pitch Perfect</em> star shared a glimpse at her family Thanksgiving with wife Ramona and two-year-old daughter Royce in an Instagram post. </p> <p> "Happy Thanksgiving everyone 🥰 so grateful and lucky to have such an awesome family! Love you all so much 😘," she wrote. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC7WYi4ycVn/?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/DC7WYi4ycVn/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In one photo, Rebel and Ramona cuddled up aboard a yacht, while another image showed the actress happily helping her daughter walk along a picturesque beach. </p> <p>In another playful photo, Rebel posed with family and friends in front of a stunning view. </p> <p>The post also included a photo of Wilson and Royce during their <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/first-look-at-rebel-wilson-s-italian-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lavish wedding</a> in September.</p> <p>It's been a busy year for the actress, who not only got married this year, but celebrated her daughter's second birthday with a trip to Disneyland, California. </p> <p>"Can't believe our little Royce Lillian is already 2! We took her to Disneyland, her first ride was DUMBO, when she saw the big castle she just said 'cool!'," Wilson shared at the time. </p> <p>She also released her memoir, <em>Rebel Rising</em>, and debuted the first film she directed, <em>The Deb</em>, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in September.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

"This can't be real": Couple's unbelievable op-shop find

<p>An Australian man has made an epic discovery in his local op shop. </p> <p>Rob Klaric was browsing Lifeline's Mosman store on Sydney's north shore when he spotted two framed photos of himself and his wife, which they had lost while moving house more than 30 years ago. </p> <p>The photos were taken in 1988 when he and Leonie, his wife of 35 years, were backpacking across Europe. </p> <p>But turns out luck was on their side and they were reunited with their prized possession more than three decades later. </p> <p>"I'm still buzzing with this. I mean, what's the chances?" he told 2GB's Ben Fordham. </p> <p>"I've walked into a store and I see these pictures and I thought I was hallucinating."</p> <p>The photos hold special meaning for the couple, as it was taken in his mum's backyard when they went to visit her in Europe. </p> <p>"We backpacked across Europe, [went] to my mother's place in the north of Italy – so the photos are iconic because it's [taken] in my mother's backyard and Mum's just passed away a few years ago now."</p> <p>A year later, the couple got married, and the year following they had these images framed before they lost them in a move in 1993, when a removal company misplaced the boxes they were packed in. </p> <p>"I still tremble because I thought, 'this can't be real'."</p> <p>"The ironic thing is that my picture, apologies Leonie, mine was more expensive. It was $12 and hers was $8," he said. </p> <p>Klaric wondered if his late mother had something to do with the special find. </p> <p>"But look, it's got my mum, my beautiful old Italian mum, it's got her fingerprints all over it," he said. </p> <p>"Because those pictures were right in the middle [of the shop], on the floor, you would have never seen it unless you walked through the store. And if it was on the left or the right you wouldn't have seen it.</p> <p>"I think she's looking down from Heaven."</p> <p><em>Images: DailyMail</em></p>

Family & Pets

Coles launches new AI-powered shopping trolley

<p>Coles is set to become the "first Australian retailer" to introduce AI shopping trolleys, letting shoppers pick, weigh and pay for their groceries without having to visit a checkout.</p> <p>The supermarket giant said its smart trolley uses advanced AI technology, sensors and an in-built scale to scan groceries, including fresh produce, directly into shopping bags.</p> <p>Shoppers can also use an interactive digital screen to identify and locate in-store specials as well as keep track the running total of their shop to help manage their budget and ensure “there are no surprises” when they go to pay. </p> <p>The trolleys are also designed to "streamline the checkout process" as each smart trolley comes with an EFTPOS machine attached.</p> <p>Coles Chief Digital Officer, Ben Hassing, said the introduction of its Smart Trolley showcases Coles’ commitment to delivering value and convenience to customers through innovative digital solutions. </p> <p>“As the first retailer in Australia to introduce AI-powered trolleys, we’re excited to offer our customers a convenient and engaging way to shop in-store, helping them save time, manage their budget and checkout faster – or at their own pace,” Ben said. </p> <p>“The Coles Smart Trolley illustrates our omnichannel approach, leveraging digital capabilities to enrich the in-store experience. </p> <p>“We are committed to testing and learning through innovative solutions to make sure we are delivering on customer needs, increasing convenience, and helping customers discover more value through their shop at Coles.”</p> <p>Coles’ smart trolley was created by New York-based software developers Instacart, which rolled out its AI-powered grocery carts in several supermarkets overseas earlier this year.</p> <p>However, not everyone is onboard with the smart trolleys, as many shoppers said they would "refuse" to use the AI-powered carts, blasting them as “lazy” and expressing fears supermarkets would also store personal data.</p> <p>“I don’t work for them, scan my products and pack my bags, as per your job description,” one raged on Facebook after Instacart launched in US supermarket ShopRite. </p> <p>“Not a chance I will use an AI trolley, I want a human to scan my groceries,” another added.</p> <p>Coles will trial the “all-in-one” shopping device at its Coles Richmond Traders store in Melbourne from January next year.</p> <p>The announcement comes after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/woolies-trial-bold-new-scan-as-you-go-trolleys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woolworths</a> also announced the launch of "scan as you go" trolleys, although the Woolies carts don't use AI technology to read what is being placed into the trolley, instead enabling shoppers to manually scan each item as they go.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Coles</em></p>

Technology

"What a score": Woman finds rare gems in Vinnie's op shop

<p>One lucky thrift shopper has stumbled upon a rare find in her local charity shop, spotting stunning opal earrings on sale for just $2. </p> <p>The shopper took to Facebook to share her find, posting a photo of the gold earrings adorned with a series of blue opals that she got from a Vinnie's op-shop in Queensland.</p> <p>Many were quick to agree that they were "such a rare find" because of the low price, as admirers described the jewellery as "Pretty", "amazing" and "beautiful".</p> <p>"Holy moly," one person exclaimed. "I can't breathe," one other said. "What a score," another agreed.</p> <p>While some people were skeptical that the gems weren't real, others said, "There's no way someone would set that many beautiful opals into costume jewellery so I'd say you have found a unicorn there."</p> <p>"They most certainly look genuine opal and diamond," another agreed — and so do the experts.</p> <p>Sebastian Heffernan from Lightning Ridge Opal mines told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/womans-rare-2-find-at-vinnies-op-shop-worth-1000-absolute-steal-042951545.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a> that while it's difficult to determine based on photos alone, the opals "don't appear to be fake". </p> <p>"It's normally pretty obvious when they are," he explained. "They would look a little bit too perfect a lot of the time. Whereas these ones, you can see that some of them have little dots of colour, some have medium flashes."</p> <p>Assuming the opals are real but the diamonds are fake and the gold is plated, rather than solid, Sebastian guessed the earrings could sell for just couple of hundred.</p> <p>However, Wayne Sedawie, who owns Opal and Gem Stone Auctions, reckons the lucky thrifter could fetch close to $1,000 for the earrings, if resold or cashed in to a reseller, and suggested she get them valued.</p> <p>"It's definitely good to maybe get them looked at by someone in person because they do look quite nice from the photo, and the metal itself could be worth a little bit if it is actual gold," Sebastian added. "But either way, two bucks is an absolute steal".</p> <p>"That's such a great find. They're beautiful," Wayne agreed. "Just clean them up and they'll last a thousand years."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

Joel Creasey announces exciting personal news on air

<p>Radio host Joel Creasey has shared the exciting news that he and his partner are now engaged after being together for seven years.</p> <p>Creasey announced the news on his Instagram, also sharing the news with his co-hosts of the <em>Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel radio show</em> on Nova, recalling how his boyfriend, Jack Stratton-Smith, had surprised him with the proposal on their final night in Monopoli, southern Italy.</p> <p>“Well, you asked what happened on my trip to Italy … I did get engaged to the love of my life after seven and a half years,” Creasey told his co-hosts and listeners on Monday.</p> <p>“He finally popped the question! It was very last-minute, it was the day before we left, actually … It was just on a little rooftop and we had a couple of friends there, and I had no idea. I genuinely had no idea.”</p> <p>He added, “We had many a drink that night and it was very special.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAiEIlBBnRf/?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/DAiEIlBBnRf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joel Creasey (@joelcreasey)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The engagement ring reportedly took a year and a half to make, and was inspired by Creasey's favourite musical Wicked.</p> <p>Creasey explained that the news of his engagement had surprised many people for an unexpected reason.</p> <p>He said, “We’ve been together for ages, a lot of people were like, ‘I thought you were already married!’”</p> <p>Joel and Jack started dating in 2017 after they met at an Adele concert.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Relationships

Shock over op shop item listed for $2,000

<p>An Aussie charity shop has come under fire after a shopper spotted a luxury item with a hefty four-figure price tag. </p> <p>A woman was browsing the shelves at the Vinnies Op Shop in Tamworth where she spotted a forest green handbag by luxury brand Balenciaga for sale for a whopping $2,000. </p> <p>While the handbag retails at roughly $4,000, the eye-watering "sale" price has infuriated many after a customer spotted it isolated on a shelf in-store. </p> <p>"How in the world would a normal everyday person be able to afford that? At the stage now it’s cheaper to go to Kmart," a local woman hit out on social media.</p> <p>Others agreed, saying it's a "slap in the face when everything is donated in first place".</p> <p>"It’s ridiculous these days, all the op shops are so overpriced. Very much so in the suburb I live in because it’s a wealthy area, they think everyone who walks in is loaded," another said, commenting on the designer bag.</p> <p>Vinnies was quick to respond to the backlash over the expensive item, Vinnies North West area manager Julie Crosby reiterated that Vinnies shops are charity stores. </p> <p>"We're raising funds," she told the <em><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/tagged/social-media/" data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:ABC;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="18" data-v9y="1">ABC</a></em>. "We can spend that money on helping out homeless people, domestic violence issues where we're relocating families".</p> <p>Store manager Megan Moffat added, "It's a beautiful little handbag" implying the $2,000 is justified.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock / Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

Readers response: How do you feel about online shopping compared to traditional in-store shopping?

<p>When it comes to shopping for things we want and need, many people have a preference over whether they shop in a physical store or online. </p> <p>We asked our readers which they prefer when shopping for food, clothes or anything else their hearts desire, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said.</p> <p><strong>Ellen Polsen</strong> - Why would one buy online? I like to feel and see the things I purchase, particularly garments, as fabrics today are mostly rubbish.</p> <p><strong>Jennie Craven</strong> - I do a little of each. But usually use stores that I know or brands where the sizing is correct for me. I always use a payment system that I understand. </p> <p><strong>Gail Ladds</strong> - I love online shopping! I often forget that I’ve bought something then get a nice surprise when it arrives lol.</p> <p><strong>Debra Coats</strong> - Online is okay when you cant go to the store. I did online shopping for about 8 months after open heart surgery but when i was given the all clear to shop and drive, I was in my element as its a moment of getting out of the house and seeing others around me.</p> <p><strong>Karen Peardon</strong> - I have done some online shopping (mainly craft supplies) only because I have been very ill for months but I love in-store shopping more. Retail therapy!!</p> <p><strong>Christine Whyte</strong> - Have not and will not ever do it, very old school and too wary of the dangers out there, besides I like getting out and choosing for myself.</p> <p><strong>Helga Bonello</strong> - I like to see feel and touch products before I buy. Online scammers are a worry, besides we need a reason to go out and be sociable.</p> <p><strong>Olimpia Palumbo</strong> - My family does on line shopping and usually end up with the worst fruit and sometimes the wrong items.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Money & Banking

Readers response: Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met while travelling?

<p>One of the best parts of travelling is the people you met along the way. </p> <p>Whether it's as part of a tour group or an interesting character you meet by chance, interacting with interesting people in interesting places can bring a lot to your travel experience. </p> <p>We asked our readers to tell us about the most interesting person they've encountered on their travels and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Diana Jason</strong> - Cargo Holly Harrison. He walked 15000 miles from the bottom of South America to the top of Alaska. A truly fascinating man.</p> <p><strong>Margie Buckingham</strong> - While caravanning around Oz, every night we would meet interesting ppl enjoying pre-dinner drinks & nibbles around the campfire. We all had personal stories to tell or the best places to camp.</p> <p><strong>Ann Smith</strong> - Myself. Travelled to the UK and found my independence and confidence, two and a bit years after I lost love of my life to cancer.</p> <p><strong>Pamela Cari</strong> - We met the lady who played the mother of Apollonia Vitelli in The Godfather when we were in Savoca.</p> <p><strong>Rosalie Busch</strong> - A couple who grew up behind the wall in East Berlin. </p> <p><strong>Sue Velvin</strong> - Shaquille O'Neal when my daughter and I had a holiday in the states a few years ago! Awesome man.</p> <p><strong>Wendy Farnham</strong> - A Buddhist Nun in Cambodia who lost her husband and 6 of her 7 children to starvation under Pol Pot’s regime.</p> <p><strong>Lyn Schuemaker</strong> - Everybody. They all have stories to tell.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

International Travel

5 foods to add to your shopping list to save money – and they’re good for you too

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a></em></p> <p>Food prices are <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-13/anglicare-cost-living-unemployment-groceries-fuel-rent-prices/103972166?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf273549397&utm_campaign=abc&utm_source=linkedin.com&sf273549397=1">adding pressure on household budgets</a>, especially for Australians on the lowest incomes.</p> <p>To help save money on the weekly groceries, consider adding these five staples to your shopping trolley: eggs, oats, carrots, UHT milk and apples. These foods rate highly on the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20181811/">nutrient-rich foods index</a> and on cost, meaning they represent good value for money when it comes to buying nutritious food.</p> <p>Loading up on these items helps push more expensive, less nutritious foods out of your trolley. Keeping a supply at your place will also save extra trips to the shops, which saves petrol and time.</p> <h2>1. Eggs</h2> <p>Eggs are extremely good value at around A$6 a dozen (50 cents an egg).</p> <p>Meat, chicken and fish prices vary from $12 a kilo for mince, $12–$20 a kilo for chicken, to $20–$50 a kilo for steak and fish depending on cut or type. Selecting the cheapest cuts still costs $2–$3 a serve, compared to two eggs at a $1 serve.</p> <p>When you swap a red meat meal for an eggy dish, this can add up to a big saving. Try our egg recipes on the <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/filter/meals--dinner,lunch/superfoods--eggs">No Money No Time website</a>, from <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/sweetcorn-and-zucchini-fritters">fritters</a>, to <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/mushroom-omelette">omelettes</a>, or <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/clares-rainbow-rice">fried rice</a>. These recipes also help use up other items you have in the pantry, fridge and veggie crisper.</p> <p>Eggs are a good <a href="https://www.australianeggs.org.au/nutrition/nutrients-and-vitamins">source</a> of protein and also contain choline, lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamins A, B2, B12, D, E and folate, and minerals iron, zinc, iodine and selenium.</p> <p>For people concerned about eggs raising cholesterol, a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38370115/">recent review of research evidence</a> concluded there wasn’t likely to be any adverse effect on overall disease risk when consuming up to one egg a day.</p> <h2>2. Rolled oats</h2> <p>Rolled oats vary a lot in price from about $2 a kilogram for “own brand”, up to $9 for premium varieties.</p> <p>Oats are really <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/filter/keywords--Oats">versatile</a>. For breakfast you can make <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/microwave-porridge">porridge</a>, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/easy-overnight-oats">overnight oats,</a> DIY muesli or <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/gingerbread-granola">granola</a>.</p> <p>Oats make a pastry substitute for a <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/clares-rolled-oats-quiche">quick and easy quiche base</a>. Or blitz them in a food processor and use as a breadcrumb substitute.</p> <p>For dessert, you can use them to top a comforting <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/wholegrain-apple-crumble">apple crumble</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.glnc.org.au/resource/oats-2/">Oats are a wholegrain</a>, meaning they retain every part of the original grain – the germ, bran and outer layers – and hence more fibre and nutrients.</p> <p>Oats are a rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34236436/">helps lower blood cholesterol levels</a> by binding with bile acids in the gut, meaning they can’t be converted into LDL (bad) cholesterol.</p> <p>They <a href="https://www.glnc.org.au/resource/oats-2/">also contain</a> B vitamins of thiamin (b1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), pantothenic acid (B5) and folate (B9), as well as vitamin E and the minerals iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.</p> <h2>3. Carrots</h2> <p>It’s hard to get better value than a bag of carrots at about $2.50 a kilo. They last for ages in the fridge and can be eaten raw, as carrot sticks or with <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/moroccan-carrot-dip">carrot dip</a>, or baked to make carrot veggie “<a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/vegetable-chips">chips</a>”.</p> <p>Try grating carrot as an extra on a salad roll or <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/basic-beef-burgers">burger</a>, or mixed into grated cheese to extend it when topping tacos, pasta or pizza, or even a dish like <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/carrot-and-cauliflower-macaroni-cheese">mac and cheese</a>.</p> <p>Other versatile uses include soup, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/carrot-puree">carrot mash</a>, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/baked-carrots-with-honey-thyme">roasted carrots</a> or, for something sweet, carrot muffins or <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/easy-carrot-cake-bliss-balls">bliss balls</a>.</p> <p>Carrots are rich in the carotenoids <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/">alpha-carotene and beta-carotene</a>, which get converted into vitamin A in the body and used in antibody production and to maintain <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/">healthy functioning</a> of your eyes, skin, lungs and gut.</p> <h2>4. Longlife skim milk</h2> <p>Longlife skim milk costs about $1.60 a litre.</p> <p>While some fresh varieties are around the same price, the value of longlife milk is that you can keep a store of it in the cupboard, meaning you never run out and it has a long shelf life.</p> <p>Milk makes great <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/banana-breakfast-smoothie">smoothies</a> and is an essential ingredient in dishes from quiche to <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/cauliflower-cheese-bake">cauliflower cheese</a> to <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/clares-lemon-orange-delicious">lemon delicious</a> pudding.</p> <p><a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/milk#nutrients-in-milk">Milk contains</a> protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B2 and B12.</p> <p>Research shows regular milk consumption is <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/milk#milk-and-health-conditions">associated with</a> a lower risk of developing osteoporosis, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer.</p> <h2>5. Apples</h2> <p>A bag of apples costs about $4 or 60 cents an apple and $4–$5 for a large can of stewed apple.</p> <p>Apples make a portable snack. Add <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/comforting-apple-porridge">them to porridge</a>, serve <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/pork-loin-rolls">with pork</a>, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/carrot-and-apple-coleslaw-with-mustard-vinaigrette">in coleslaw</a> or in <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/wholegrain-apple-crumble">apple crumble</a>.</p> <p>Apples <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35502671/">contain</a> dietary fibre and pectin, vitamin B6 and C, and the minerals potassium, calcium, nitrogen, magnesium and traces of zinc, iron and copper.</p> <p>In <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31667463/">observational studies</a>, people who ate more apples had a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and death from any cause.</p> <p><em>For easy, tasty, economical meals that are quick to prepare, without too much effort, along with our food budget tips, visit our team’s <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/">No Money No Time</a> website.</em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/229903/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/5-foods-to-add-to-your-shopping-list-to-save-money-and-theyre-good-for-you-too-229903">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

Brittany Higgins' sad personal news

<p>Brittany Higgins has revealed that she has lost a close family member just weeks after announcing her first <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/beyond-excited-brittany-higgins-announces-pregnancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pregnancy</a> with husband David Sharaz.</p> <p>In a post shared to Instagram, Higgins announced that her grandmother had passed away, with friends and loved ones sharing their condolences to the grieving mum-to-be. </p> <p>“Processing the loss of the strongest woman I have ever known. I love and already miss you grandma x," she wrote alongside a gallery of images of moments she shared with her grandmother throughout the years. </p> <p>In one of the photos a teen Higgins can be seen cuddling up to her grandmother, while in another her grandmother held her as a baby. </p> <p>Higgins’ mother, Kelly, replied to the post with a heartfelt message.</p> <p>“She loved you, and was so proud of you,” she wrote.</p> <p>“It was so special she got to celebrate your wedding and be excited about the news of great-grandchild. She was a remarkable woman who taught us truth strength. I love you beautiful.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-Z3n8dM9Fu/?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/C-Z3n8dM9Fu/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Brittany Higgins (@brittanyhiggins___)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"So sorry Brittany: sending condolences. Your grandmother would be so proud of you," wrote appearance activist Carly Findlay with a red heart emoji. </p> <p>"I'll bet that you were the strongest woman she's ever known. Sorry for your loss, Brittany. Keep her alive in your heart forever x" one follower wrote. </p> <p>"And you are the strongest woman so many of us know. Sorry for your loss x," added another. </p> <p>"I am sorry for your loss and all the pain you are enduring. Strength and luck to you," commented a third. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Second person dies during Legionnaires outbreak

<p>A man in his 60s has become the second person to die from Legionnaires amidst the outbreak in Victoria. </p> <p>The man became unwell on July 27th and was admitted to hospital, where he died on August 1st.</p> <p>His death comes just days after a woman in her 90s also died from the disease. </p> <p>Victoria's Chief Health Officer Clare Looker confirmed that the state is now grappling with 77 confirmed cases, including two in the past 24 hours and another seven suspected cases.</p> <p>Most people with the disease are over 40 years of age and are believed to have been exposed between July 5th and July 20th. </p> <p>Despite the worrying case number, Looker confirmed that authorities have seen a reduction in cases and believe the situation is stabilising. </p> <p>The source of the outbreak is being linked to a cooling tower in the Laverton North and Derrimut area of Melbourne, after more than 50 sites have been inspected. </p> <p>Authorities believe there is a high likelihood they have already tested and treated the source, while sharing that weather patterns could explain the extent of the outbreak. </p> <p>They have contacted another 1000 businesses across Melbourne, telling them to self-test and report to the Department of Health, Looker said.</p> <p>Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the legionella bacteria, which is found in natural bodies of water as well as spas, warm water systems, potting mix and artificial systems that use water for cooling.</p> <p>Symptoms usually include a chest infection, aches, headache, fever, cough and chills.</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News</em></p>

Caring

How sustainable is your weekly grocery shop? These small changes can have big benefits

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michalis-hadjikakou-129930">Michalis Hadjikakou</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carla-archibald-283811">Carla Archibald</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ozge-geyik-1402545">Özge Geyik</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pankti-shah-1547393">Pankti Shah</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p>You might think eating more sustainably requires drastic changes, such as shifting to a <a href="https://theconversation.com/vegan-diet-has-just-30-of-the-environmental-impact-of-a-high-meat-diet-major-study-finds-210152">vegan diet</a>. While a plant-based diet is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00795-w">undeniably</a> good for the Earth, our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550924001945#f0025">new research</a> shows modest changes to your eating habits can also have significant environmental benefits.</p> <p>We assessed how food products on Australian supermarket shelves stack up against key environmental indicators, such as carbon emissions and water use.</p> <p>We found swapping the most environmentally harmful foods for more sustainable options within the same food group, such as switching from beef burgers to chicken burgers, can significantly reduce carbon emissions – by up to 96% in some instances.</p> <p>The last thing we want to do is take the pleasure away from eating. Instead, we want to help consumers make realistic dietary changes that also help ensure a sustainable future. So read on to find out which simple food swaps can best achieve this.</p> <h2>Informing sustainable diets</h2> <p>The environmental impact of foods can be estimated using an approach known as a <a href="https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(19)30128-9#:%7E:text=In%20this%20Primer%2C%20we%20introduce,cycle%20of%20a%20product%20system.">life-cycle assessment</a>.</p> <p>This involves identifying the “inputs” required along the food supply chain, such as fertiliser, energy, water and land, and tracking them from farm to fork. From this we can calculate a product’s “footprint” – or environmental impact per kilogram of product – and compare it to other foods.</p> <p>Most studies of environmental footprints focus on the raw ingredients that make up food products (such as beef, wheat or rice) rather than the packaged products people see on shelves (such as beef sausages, pasta or rice crackers). Of the studies that do focus on packaged foods, most only consider a fraction of the products available to consumers.</p> <p>What’s more, a lot of research considers only the carbon emissions of food products, excluding other important measures such as water use. And some studies use global average environmental footprints, which <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaq0216">vary significantly</a> between countries.</p> <p>Our research set out to overcome these limitations. We aligned environmental footprints with the products people find on supermarket shelves, and covered a huge range of food and beverage products available in Australia. We also included many environmental indicators, to allow a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2120584119">more complete picture</a> of the sustainability of different foods.</p> <h2>What we did</h2> <p>Key to our research was the <a href="https://www.georgeinstitute.org.au/projects/foodswitch">FoodSwitch database</a>, which compiles food labelling and ingredient data from images of packaged food and beverages. It covers more than 90% of the Australian packaged food market.</p> <p>We combined the database with a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652623029748">mathematical method</a> that sums the environmental impact of ingredients, to quantify the footprint of the product as a whole.</p> <p>From this, we estimated the environmental footprint of 63,926 food products available in Australian supermarkets. We then simulated the potential benefits of making “realistic” switches between products – that is, switches within the same food category.</p> <h2>Our findings</h2> <p>The results show how making a small dietary change can have big environmental consequences.</p> <p>For a shopping basket composed of items from eight food groups, we simulate the benefits of swapping from high-impact towards medium- or low-impact food products.</p> <p>Our analysis assumes a starting point from the most environmentally harmful products in each food group – for example, sweet biscuits, cheese and beef burger patties.</p> <p>A shift to the medium-impact foods for all eight items – such as a muffin, yoghurt and sliced meat – can lead to at least a 62% reduction in environmental impact. Shifts towards the most sustainable choice for all items – bread, soy milk or raw poultry – can achieve a minimum 77% reduction.</p> <p>This analysis ends at the supermarket shelves and does not include additional food processing by the consumer. For example, raw meat will usually be cooked before human consumption, which will expand its environmental footprint to varying degrees, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-020-00200-w">depending on the method used</a>.</p> <p>See the below info-graphic for more detail. The full results are available in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550924001945">our study</a>.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="sR5yB" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/sR5yB/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <hr /> <h2>What next?</h2> <p>Many people are looking for ways to live more sustainably. Insufficient or complex information can fuel confusion and anxiety in consumers, <a href="https://theconversation.com/reducing-eco-anxiety-is-a-critical-step-in-achieving-any-climate-action-210327">leading to inaction or paralysis</a>. Consumers need more information and support to choose more sustainable foods.</p> <p>Supermarkets and retailers also have an important role to play – for example, by giving sustainable products <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07439156211008898">prominent shelf placement</a>. Attractive pricing is also crucial – particularly in the midst of a <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/cost-of-living-crisis-115238">cost-of-living crisis</a> when it can be difficult to prioritise sustainability over cost.</p> <p>Government interventions, such as information campaigns and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07439156211008898">taxing high-impact products</a>, can also help.</p> <p>Food labelling is also important. The European Union <a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/eu-ecolabel/product-groups-and-criteria_en">is leading the way</a> with measures such as the <a href="https://docs.score-environnemental.com/v/en">eco-score</a>, which integrates 14 environmental indicators into a single score from A to E.</p> <p>Apps such as <a href="https://www.georgeinstitute.org/projects/ecoswitch">ecoSwitch</a> can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000268?via%3Dihub">empower consumers</a>.</p> <p>The diets of people in developed nations such as Australia <a href="https://theconversation.com/sustainable-shopping-want-to-eat-healthy-try-an-eco-friendly-diet-89086">exert a high toll on our planet</a>. More sustainable food choices are vital to achieving a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/EAT">sustainable future for humanity</a>. We hope our research helps kick-start positive change.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/234367/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michalis-hadjikakou-129930">Michalis Hadjikakou</a>, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sustainability, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Built Environment, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carla-archibald-283811">Carla Archibald</a>, Research Fellow, Conservation Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ozge-geyik-1402545">Özge Geyik</a>, Visitor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pankti-shah-1547393">Pankti Shah</a>, PhD student, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-sustainable-is-your-weekly-grocery-shop-these-small-changes-can-have-big-benefits-234367">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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