Search

Brisbane battler treated to heartwarming surprise

Val Simpson was used to her home getting flooded three times during Brisbane’s recent weather storm. The 77-year-old would wake up everyday at 1.30am to get up and start cleaning the mess that saw her lose precious possessions, memories, her children’s toys, and her furniture destroyed. Among those destroyed possessions was a treasured poster of Aussie singer Luke Kennedy. Speaking to <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/brisbane-flood-victim-val-surprised-by-today-extra-with-luke-kennedy/9de11ec0-67fb-419c-820d-008e549203b9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Today Extra</a> about the devastating experience, Val said there was no point in complaining. "There's worse off than me," she said. Despite everything, Val kept a smile on her face, but was given a bigger reason to smile when Luke Kennedy snuck up behind her on air. "Hello Val, how are you?" he asked. "Oh my god!, Oh my god, Luke!" an excited Val said as Luke hugged her. "Val's been such a special supporter of mine over the years," Luke explained. "She's always shown me so much kindness and support, I thought someone like Val deserves a little kindness coming to her." Luke presented Val with a new poster, much to her delight. Watch the video <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/brisbane-flood-victim-val-surprised-by-today-extra-with-luke-kennedy/9de11ec0-67fb-419c-820d-008e549203b9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Today Extra

Caring

The offence of a child possessing spray paint without a lawful purpose in NSW

Image: Getty Once just an American holiday that Australians would see on the big screen in movies like ET, Halloween has slowly, but steadily made its way to our shores. And every year it just seems to get bigger here. The shops have been full of decorations and paraphernalia for weeks, and now that Sydney, and most of New South Wales, are no longer under lockdown restrictions, it’s likely that many families are looking forward to participating on 31 October 2021, taking the opportunity to get together with the neighbours, have some fun and feel a sense of ‘normalcy’. But what’s it going to be like to celebrate Halloween in the time of Covid? Well, it’s undoubtedly going to be an event that puts health and safety first. Health Advice Families are being encouraged to check in with the NSW Health website to check on any restrictions in their local area. These are likely to include using hand sanitiser and face covering, only handing out and accepting individually wrapped treats, keeping group and visiting sizes down, and exercising physical distancing. Stay on the right side of the law! Of course, children should always be supervised by a responsible adult who can oversee their personal safety. Anyone driving should remember that Halloween tends to be a night that kids rule the streets, so drivers need to be wary, particularly at dusk when visibility is reduced. Pedestrians should stick to footpaths and designated crossings, and also be aware of road safety. Unfortunately, this is also a night where the kids can get out of control! ‘Sugar highs’, peer pressure and the false confidence provided by a superhero costume can lead to some kids and teens behaving badly – potentially even finding themselves on the wrong side of the law by engaging in activities like egging houses and cars, damaging plants and foliage, and other acts of vandalism and graffiti. The offence of graffiti in NSW Section 4 of the Graffiti Control Act 2008 (NSW), a person who marks a premises or property can face a penalty of up to 12 months in prison and/or a $2,200 fine if the prosecution is able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that: <ol> <li>The marking was done intentionally,</li> <li>There was no consent from the owner of the premises or property that was marked on;, and</li> <li>Either:</li> </ol> <ul> <li>A graffiti implement was used for marking the premises or property. This includes, spray paint, maker pen, or anything designed to produce a mark that’s not readily removable by wiping it (or by use of water or detergent); or</li> <li>The marking was done in such a manner that it isn’t readily removable by wiping it (or by using water or detergent).</li> </ul> The offence of a child possessing spray paint in NSW Section 8B of the Act makes it an offence for a person under the age of 18 years to possess spray paint in a public place. The maximum penalty for this offence is 6 months in prison and/or an $1,100 fine. A ‘public place’ is defined as a place (whether or not covered by water), or a part of premises, that is open to the public, or is used by the public whether or not on payment of money or other consideration, whether or not the place or part is ordinarily so open or used and whether or not the public to whom it is open consists only of a limited class of persons, but does not include the premises of a school or other educational establishment. The defences to this particular offence are where: (a) the spray paint was intended for a defined lawful purpose, being the lawful pursuit of an occupation, education or training, or (b) the spray paint was for another defined lawful purpose and was at or in the immediate vicinity of the place where the spray paint can was being used or intended to be used for that defined lawful purpose. The offence of intentionally or recklessly damaging a property in NSW Graffiti vandalism by way of marking surfaces can also result in criminal charges of intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging property, which is an offence under section 195 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and comes with a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. Intentionally means wilfully or purposely, while recklessly means foreseeing the possibility of damage or destruction but proceeding regardless. Courts have found that property is considered to have been damaged where: <ul> <li>There is permanent damage,</li> <li>There is temporary functional derangement,</li> <li>There is temporary impairment of usefulness,</li> <li>The physical integrity of the property is altered, or</li> <li>The property is rendered imperfect or inoperative.</li> </ul> Some examples of conduct found by the courts to constitute damage include: <ul> <li>Placing a blanket in a toilet and flushing,</li> <li>Letting down the tyres of a car,</li> <li>Painting graffiti on walls or floors, and</li> <li>Breaking a raw egg on the windscreen of a car.</li> </ul> The offence of trespassing in NSW Trick or treaters should also be aware that not everyone participates in Halloween and for some it can be a real nuisance, and if you’re on someone’s property and they don’t want you there, you can also be charged with trespassing. Trespassing – which is also known as entering inclosed lands without permission – is an offence under section 4 of the Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901 (NSW), which makes it an offence to enter inclosed lands without permission which carries a maximum fine of $550. Section 4A of the Act imposes steeper penalties for remaining on the premises after the owner or occupier directs you to leave. In such a case, the maximum fine is $2,200 where the land is a ‘prescribed premises’ such as a school, hospital, child care centre or nursing home, or $1,100 in all other cases. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/the-offence-of-a-child-possessing-spray-paint-without-a-lawful-purpose-in-nsw/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a>

Legal

Pensioner charged over possession of World War II tank

An 84-year-old man has been convicted by a German court for the illegal possession of weapons. His illegal, personal arsenal of weapons, including a Panther tank, a flak cannon, and other World War II military equipment, was discovered by authorities in 2015. The man’s storage facility in northern Germany was raided by police in 2015 during an investigation into black market Nazi-art. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HMUUQJB6LJw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The investigation had turned up two bronze horse statues that stood in front of Adolf Hitler’s Chancellery in another man’s possession. Instead of art, authorities found a cache of machine guns, automatic pistols, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. According to local media, the man was outspoken about his weapons collection and even used the tank as a snowplough during one bad winter. The man was handed a suspended prison sentence of 14 months and ordered to pay a 250,000 euro ($400,00) fine, German news agency dpa reported. The defendant was also ordered to sell or donate the 40-tonne tank and anti-aircraft cannon to a museum or a collector within the next two years. Geral Geocke, the man’s lawyer, spoke outside court, saying the suspended sentence reflected that the weapons were intended as museum pieces rather than for harming others. Video: shz.de

Legal

Who inherited Prince Philip's prized possessions?

Prince Philip has left his prized ponies to his granddaughter Lady Louise, who shares his passion for carriage driving. Lady Louise who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Countess of Wessex, was taught the sport by her late grandfather. The Duke of Edinburgh was seen watching Louise as she placed third and the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2019. Philip's prized green carriage and two of his beloved ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, made an appearance at his funeral on Sunday. The Duke began carriage driving after retiring from polo at 50 due to an arthritic wrist. The sport was one of the Duke's greatest passions, with the royal even drafting the official rules for international horse carriage riding competitions. In a guidebook he wrote about the sport, Philip said: "I am getting old, my reactions are getting slower, and my memory is unreliable, but I have never lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside." Lady Louise will care for and exercise Philip's black ponies as part of her inheritance. Speaking to The Sun, the teenager had become the Queen's "favourite grandchild" after spending time with her grandparents at their holiday home in Balmoral. Photo: Getty

Caring

Is possessing pornography permitted in prison?

According to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27419739">some estimates</a>, around three quarters of men (76%) and over one-third of women (41%) regularly view pornographic material. However, there remains one place where consumption of porn is strictly prohibited: prison. Pornography is currently banned across <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/prisons-we-attend/">Australian prisons</a>, but there are many who believe that allowing the material could go someway towards easing tensions and aggression behind bars. Pornography as Contraband All prisons across Australia have a long list of items consider contraband, for which hefty penalties apply. In NSW <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/dont-visit-a-prison-before-reading-this/">a range of items are banned</a> including drugs, alcohol, tobacco, syringes, mobile phones, computers and various other goods. The NSW Justice <a href="https://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Corrective%20Services/families-handbook_chapter%202.pdf">Families Handbook</a> explains that pornographic magazines are not allowed to be possessed in prison, nor brought in or sent to inmates. A maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,200 applies to those who deliver or bring illegal items into prisons, or who attempt to smuggle items out of prisons. Visitors caught trying to bring illegal items into prisons can also be banned from visiting their loved ones for up to two years. Watching pornography online via a contraband phone also carrier a serious risk. Any inmate found in possession or a mobile phone, or any part of a mobile phone, including a SIM card or charger, faces a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $5,500 under <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/soa1988189/s27da.html">section 27DA of the Summary Offences Act 1988</a>. A Question of Human Rights? As surprising as it sounds, the question of prisoner access to pornography has been subject to a number of legal challenges internationally. In 2001, UK serial killer Dennis Nilsen sought to challenge a decision of the Prison Governor denying him access to Vulcan, a gay porn magazine as well as a number of other LGBT publications, through an application to the European Court of Human Rights. The claim was made on the basis of two Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights: <ul> <li>Article 3 which protects against inhuman or degrading treatment of prisoners; and</li> <li>Article 14 which protects against discrimination.</li> </ul> Nilsen’s application was refused by a single judge concluded that his lawyers had failed to establish that a breach of human rights had occurred or that the prohibition on pornography was applied in a discriminatory way. The idea that Nilsen was successful in his bid has become something of a ‘human rights myth’, widely reported in the media by those critical of human rights courts. However, Nilsen failed at the very first hurdle and was denied access to pornographic material. He died in 2018. The quest for access to pornography certainly isn’t limited to the UK. Last year, an Iowan judge <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/iowa-inmates-granted-access-to-nudity-not-porn/">partially upheld</a> a claim by a number of inmates that a broadly worded prison porn ban infringed upon their First Amendment rights under the US Constitution. The judge didn’t set aside the ban in its entirety, but did allow for ‘non-sexually explicit depictions of nudity’ to be accessed by prisoners. This has followed a series of failed attempts by prisoners in other US states to fight prison porn bans, which claims recently rejected in Connecticut and Michigan. The case for porn in prisons There is a case to be made for prisoners to have access to pornography. In a <a href="https://theconversation.com/give-prisoners-internet-access-for-a-safer-and-more-humane-community-68543">2016 article</a> advocating for inmates to be given access to the internet, Dean of Swinburne Law School Professors Dan Hunter and Mirko Bagaric responded to concerns that inmates would use access pornography over the internet by remarking: Prisoners in some jurisdictions already have (limited) conjugal visits. Logically, and emotively, if prisoners can have sex, it is illogical to deny them the capacity to watch sex. Indeed, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/bjbmga/australian-prisoners-talk-about-their-secret-porn-collections">anecdotal</a> reports suggests that a thriving underground market of contraband pornography already exists in Australian prisons. This calls into question any claimed ‘success’ of current policies. Access to pornography by inmates is allowed in some parts of the world. For example, inmates in Antwerp have access to the internet in their cells via a system called <a href="https://www.ebo-enterprises.com/prisoncloud">PrisonCloud</a>, which allows adults films to be purchased and streamed. The system allows for officials to control of the kind of adult content inmates are permitted to access. And there is research to suggest that providing access to pornography could reduce aggression and even the <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/sexual-assault-in-prison/">sexual assaults within prison</a>. Indeed, recognising that inmates have the same needs and desires as members of the general population, and accommodating for those needs, could leave them feeling less stigmatised, alienated and suppressed, and ultimately promote rehabilitation. Written by Jarryd Bartle. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/is-possessing-pornography-permitted-in-prison/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a>

Movies

Drug laws on possession: several countries are revisiting them and these are their options

Many countries are changing the way they approach people who use drugs. The Irish government <a href="http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Final_Report_of_the_Working_Group.pdf/Files/Final_Report_of_the_Working_Group.pdf">has just announced</a> possible alternatives to criminalisation for possession of some drugs. Other countries, including <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/norway-decriminalize-drug-use_n_5a387b70e4b0860bf4aa96c4">Norway</a> and <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/malaysia-decriminalise-drug-health-minister-190628060223845.html">Malaysia</a>, are weighing options. But what can countries do if they don’t want to arrest or convict people because they use drugs? To inform the Irish government’s decision, we carried out a <a href="http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/ANNEXE_I_-_Hughes_Stevens_Hulme_Cassidy_-_2018_-_Review_of_approaches_taken_in_Ireland_and_in_other_jurisdictions_to_simple_possession_drug_offences.pdf/Files/ANNEXE_I_-_Hughes_Stevens_Hulme_Cassidy_-_2018_-_Review_of_approaches_taken_in_Ireland_and_in_other_jurisdictions_to_simple_possession_drug_offences.pdf">detailed review</a> of approaches in various countries. These countries were Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK and the US. We found three main approaches: depenalisation, diversion and decriminalisation. (We did not review models of legally regulating the production and sale of drugs. Decriminalisation is not the same as legalisation.) Depenalisation is where the crime remains in law, but the police stop imposing penalties for some people. For example, police in England and Wales can issue written <a href="https://theconversation.com/policing-of-cannabis-possession-is-largely-accidental-and-many-officers-dont-think-it-makes-a-difference-100102">warnings</a> to people found to be in possession of small amounts of cannabis for the first time, instead of arresting them. Diversion is when people found to be in possession of drugs are sent to education sessions, treatment or social services, instead of being charged and prosecuted. These schemes have been adopted in Australian states, such as <a href="https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/DPMP%20Monograph%2027%20-%202019%20-%20Criminal%20justice%20responses%20relating%20to%20personal%20use%20and%20possession%20of%20illicit%20drugs.pdf">New South Wales</a>, and in some parts of England and the US. Some schemes, including one in Queensland, are written into law. Others, like County Durham’s <a href="https://www.durham.police.uk/Information-and-advice/Pages/Checkpoint.aspx">Checkpoint</a> scheme and the <a href="http://leadkingcounty.org/">LEAD programme</a> in Seattle, are based only on changes in police practice. Decriminalisation involves legal changes so that it is no longer a criminal offence to possess a small quantity of drugs for personal use. But there are three approaches to this model. Since the 1970s, many US states have replaced criminal sanctions and prison sentences with civil sanctions, such as fines for the possession of less than an ounce of cannabis. Similar schemes operate in the Czech Republic, Jamaica and some Australian states, such as South Australia. Other countries and states, such as <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/002204260403400302">Germany</a> and <a href="https://eu.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/government/2018/01/22/vermonts-legal-marijuana-law-what-you-should-know/1045478001/">Vermont</a> have decriminalisation with no sanction at all. Still others, like Portugal, have favoured decriminalisation with diversion to targeted health and social responses. In 2001, Portugal decriminalised the possession of small amounts of all kinds of drugs, combined with the possibility to impose civil sanctions (such as fines or suspension of driving licences) and diverting people into treatment, via a meeting with a “commission for the dissuasion of addiction”. In practice, most cases end with no sanction. Portugal also expanded access to treatment, health and social services with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bjc/article/50/6/999/404023">positive results</a>. How the models stack up Each approach has its own advantages and drawbacks. Depenalisation, for example, is easy to implement and lets police use their discretion in deciding who to arrest. But this may lead to discriminatory enforcement, as black people are often <a href="https://www.release.org.uk/publications/ColourOfInjustice">far more likely</a> to be stopped, arrested and punished for drugs. Decriminalisation requires legal changes to be made. Some may argue that it leaves authorities without legal opportunities to intervene in undesired activities, such as public drug use. But these can still be banned by separate rules. Indeed, possession of cannabis has been formally decriminalised in New York State since 1977, but it has still been an offence to have the drug “in public view”, leading to hundreds of thousands of arrests for low-level drug offences, again falling most heavily on <a href="http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-york/marijuana-reform">people of colour</a>. But decriminalisation also brings the potential for health, social and criminal justice benefits, by reducing stigma surrounding drug use - a known barrier to treatment and harm reduction - and <a href="http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph-66.pdf">improving employment prospects and housing stability</a>. It can also reduce the burden on police and courts. In Portugal, the extra spending on health services was offset by savings in the criminal justice system and other benefits, meaning the <a href="https://www.sciencediret.com/science/article/pii/S095539591400231X?via%3Dihub">overall social cost of drugs fell</a> No models lead to increased drug use Importantly, we did not find evidence that any of these alternative measures consistently increased the use of drugs. A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395919300210?via%3Dihub">study</a> of over 100,000 teenagers in 38 countries did not show higher rates of drug use in countries with more liberal approaches. Recent decriminalisations in five US states produced big reductions in arrests but <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395918301786?via%3Dihub">no apparent increase</a>in cannabis use among young people. As countries look for ways to implement <a href="https://www.unsceb.org/CEBPublicFiles/CEB-2018-2-SoD.pdf">UN recommendations</a> to avoid criminalising people for using drugs, they will need to consider these different options carefully. They will, <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/first-time-drug-offenders-to-be-referred-to-hse-in-policy-overhaul-1.3974643">as Ireland has found</a>, need to adapt them to their own legal, social and drug use contexts. They can do so with a fair amount of confidence that removing the harms of punishment is not likely to increase drug use. But, given some models bring greater long-term gains, there is merit in arguing that governments ought to be bold. Written by Alex Stevens and Caitlin Hughes. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/drug-laws-on-possession-several-countries-are-revisiting-them-and-these-are-their-options-121221">The Conversation.</a>

Legal

My possessions spark joy: Will the KonMari decluttering method work for me?

Australia is the <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/municipal-waste/indicator/english_89d5679a-en">sixth-largest</a> contributor of household waste per capita in the world. We spend more than <a href="http://www.tai.org.au/node/940">$A10.5 billion</a> annually on goods and services that are never or rarely used. One-quarter of Australians admit to throwing away clothing <a href="https://au.yougov.com/news/2017/12/06/fast-fashion/">after just one use</a>, while at the other end of the extreme, 5% of the population save unused items with such tenacity that their homes become <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181962/">dangerously cluttered</a>. If unnecessary purchases come at such a profound cost, why do we make them? Why do we buy so much stuff? We acquire some possessions because of their perceived usefulness. We might buy a computer to complete work tasks, or a pressure cooker to make meal preparation easier. But consumer goods often have a psychological value that outweighs their functional value. This can drive us to acquire and keep things we could do without. Possessions can act as an extension of ourselves. They may remind us of our personal history, our connection to other people, and who we are or want to be. Wearing a uniform may convince us we are a different person. Keeping family photos may remind us that we are loved. A home library may reveal our appreciation for knowledge and enjoyment of reading. Acquiring and holding onto possessions can bring us comfort and emotional security. But these feelings cloud our judgement about how useful the objects are and prompt us to hang onto things we haven’t used in years. When this behaviour crosses over into hoarding disorder, we may notice: <ol> <li> a persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value </li> <li> that this difficulty arises because we feel we need to save the items and/or avoid the distress associated with discarding them </li> <li> that our home has become so cluttered we cannot use it as intended. We might not be able to sit on our sofa, cook in our kitchen, sleep in our bed, or park our car in the garage </li> <li> the saving behaviour is impacting our quality of life. We might experience significant family strain or be embarrassed to invite others into our home. Our safety might be at risk, or we may have financial problems. These problems can contribute to workplace difficulties. </li> </ol> Will the KonMari method help? According to Japanese tidying consultant Marie Kondo, “everyone who completes the KonMari Method has successfully kept their house in order”. But while some aspects of the KonMari method are consistent with existing evidence, others may be inadvisable, particularly for those with clinical hoarding problems. Kondo suggests that before starting her process, people should visualise what they want their home to look like after decluttering. A similar clinical technique is used when treating hoarding disorder. Images of one’s ideal home can act as a powerful amplifier for positive emotions, thereby increasing motivation to discard and organise. Next, the KonMari Method involves organising by category rather than by location. Tidying should be done in a specific order. People should tackle clothing, books, paper, komono (kitchen, bathroom, garage, and miscellaneous), and then sentimental items. Organising begins with placing every item within a category on the floor. This suggestion has an evidence base. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032717327167?via%3Dihub">Our research</a> has shown people tend to discard more possessions when surrounded by clutter as opposed to being in a tidy environment. However, organising and categorising possessions in any context is challenging for people with hoarding disorder. Marie Kondo gives sage advice about whether to keep possessions we think we’ll use in the future. A focus on future utility is a common thinking trap, as many saved items are never used. She encourages us to think about the true purpose of possessions: wearing the shirt or reading the book. If we aren’t doing those things, we should give the item to someone who will. Another Kondo suggestion is to thank our possessions before we discard them. This is to recognise that an item has served its purpose. She believes this process will facilitate letting go. However, by thanking our items we might inadvertently increase their perceived humanness. Anthropomorphising inanimate objects increases the sentimental value and perceived utility of items, which increases object attachment. People who are dissatisfied with their interpersonal relationships are more prone to anthropomorphism and have more difficulty making decisions. This strategy may be particularly unhelpful for them. One of Kondo’s key messages is to discard any item that does not “spark joy”. But for someone with excessive emotional attachment to objects, focusing on one’s emotional reaction may not be helpful. People who hoard things experience intense positive emotions in response to many of their possessions, so this may not help them declutter. Think about how you get rid of things <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/About-us/Latest-news/2019/01/10/23/21/Urgent-advisory-for-Netflix-inspired-declutterers">Sustainability Victoria</a> recently urged Netflix-inspired declutterers to reduce, reuse, and recycle rather than just tossing unwanted items into landfill. Dumping everything into the op-shop or local charity bin is also problematic. Aussie charities are paying <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-04/charities-spending-millions-cleaning-up-fast-fashion-graveyard/10328758">A$13 million a year</a> to send unusable donations to landfill. Ultimately, we need to make more thoughtful decisions about both acquiring and discarding possessions. We need to buy less, buy used, and pass our possessions on to someone else when we have stopped using them for their intended purpose. Written by Melissa Norberg, Associate Professor in Psychology, Macquarie University and Jessica Grisham, Professor in Psychology, UNSW. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/my-possessions-spark-joy-will-the-konmari-decluttering-method-work-for-me-110357">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

The Queen lets Duchess Kate borrow valued possession during Balmoral Castle visit

The Duchess of Cambridge made a rare sighting on the weekend, appearing in public during her maternity leave to attend church in Balmoral with her royal family. Duchess Kate was seen travelling to Crathie Kirk parish in Scotland, sitting next to the Queen in the car and behind her husband Prince William, who was in the front passenger seat. Kate showcased her classy style while wearing a Catherine Walker coatdress and hat, but it was her jewellery which sent royal fans into a frenzy. <img style="width: 500px; height: 416.48590021691973px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820515/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/40c2e519b0d7485890a247bc6f69e333" /> The mother-of-three was seen wearing a pair of pearl earrings that were borrowed from Her Majesty’s very own jewellery box. The Bahrain pearl and diamond drop earrings are very special to the Queen as the pearls were gifted to the monarch on her wedding day. According to <a href="http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-bahrain-pearl-drop-earrings.html">Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault</a>, the earrings were made from two of the seven pearls that were given to the Queen and Prince Philip for their 1947 wedding from the ruler of Bahrain at the time. The earrings also made an appearance in the Buckingham Palace summer exhibit that marked the royal couple’s 60th wedding anniversary. William and Kate have joined the Queen and Prince Philip on their annual summer holiday trip to Balmoral Castle. As the royals made the trip to the local church on the cool 14-degree day, Kate was seen with a cosy blue blanket draped across her knees for the duration of the drive. The Queen also looked elegant in a blue ensemble, while also wearing a pair of pearl earrings. Kate is not the only in-law who has had the privilege of borrowing a piece of jewellery from the Queen’s personal collection, with Duchess Meghan also previously wearing jewels belonging to Queen Elizabeth II. At her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara from the Queen’s jewellery vault, which was previously owned by the monarch’s grandmother, Queen Mary. It is also believed that when Meghan was invited for the first time to accompany the Queen on a public engagement, Her Majesty gifted the newlywed a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings similar to her own version. Meghan wore the special present during their trip to Cheshire, where the duo were photographed giggling with each other throughout the day. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkAZm5Wgu9S/?utm_source=ig_embed" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 58.79629629629629% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkAZm5Wgu9S/?utm_source=ig_embed" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Jun 14, 2018 at 6:10am PDT </div> </blockquote>

News

Meghan Markle set to be given one of Princess Diana’s most treasured possessions

On Monday, the Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and now that the milestone celebration is over, royal experts are expecting the official announcement of Prince Harry’s engagement to Meghan Markle at any moment. The 36-year-old actress has reportedly started her relocation to London from Toronto – and was seen shopping in London this week – and Prince Harry has a very precious gift waiting for Meghan. According to Express, Prince Harry is planning to give his long-time girlfriend the watch that belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana. The 18-carat yellow gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch was given to Diana by her father Edward Spencer. After their mother’s tragic passing, William and Harry requested Diana’s watch and sapphire engagement ring for safekeeping. <img width="498" height="415" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7264639/2_498x415.jpg" alt="2 (32)"/> The royal brothers decided that whoever proposed first would receive the stunning engagement ring, which is why William gave it to the Duchess of Cambridge. The watch will no doubt be a hit with Meghan who bought herself the “two-tone” version when Suits was given a third season. “I totally splurged. I had it engraved on the back ‘To MM From MM’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day,” she said at the time. On-set insiders recently confirmed to Us Weekly that Meghan Markle and Patrick J. Adams will be leaving the hit legal drama. “Patrick was always leaving the show. He made his mind up a while ago. Patrick wants to pursue other things and he's realised his time at Suits has come to an end," an insider said. Before adding, “It will make it an easy break for Meghan to leave as well.” Another insider also told The Sun that Meghan has already relocated her two dogs, Guy the Beagle and Bogart the Labrador-Shepherd. “She is very close to those two dogs. She lets them sleep on her bed and they eat only the highest quality organic food," the insider said. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIdaq2tAGue/" target="_blank">Nap time before night shoots for @suits_usa with my Guy #adoptdontshop #snuggles #myguy</a> <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 post shared by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Jul 29, 2016 at 1:58pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “She bought them Union flag dog jumpers to keep them warm when they were puppies," they added. “She misses them when she is away and will even get someone to FaceTime her with them.”

Beauty & Style

Elvis prized possession is being auctioned off

It won't fit in a garage, but that likely won't stop Elvis Presley fans from trying to get their hands on one of the largest mementos credited to the King of Rock 'n' Roll: His long "lost" private jet. Presley's 1962 red Lockheed JetStar will be sold to the highest bidder on May 27. The starting bid is US$10,000 ($14,400) and it already has one bidder, despite the fact it's missing its engines. <img width="498" height="265" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36851/elvis-jet_498x265.jpg" alt="Elvis -jet"/> Image credit: Live Auctioneers / Stuff.co.nz GWS Auctions is orchestrating the action and estimates the plane is worth between $2 million and $3.5 million. The Web site <a href="http://www.liveauctioneers.com" target="_blank">www.liveauctioneers.com</a>, which is handling the bidding, says the jet has been parked on the tarmac in Roswell, New Mexico, for more than 30 years. "This is the 'lost' jet...(It) was very important to Elvis, as he owned it with his beloved father, Vernon," says the website. It is currently owned by a private collector, who was not named. Elvis owned other planes, but this is the only one that is not in the procession of the Graceland estate, says a web site for the auction. GWS says the interior was personally designed by Elvis, including a gold-tones with woodwork, red shag carpet and red velvet seats. It's one of only 204 such aircraft manufactured between 1957 and 1978, in a private project between JetStar and Lockheed, says GWS. The jet is one of 315 lots included in an auction of celebrity memorabilia. Written by Mark Price. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=travel-insurance&utm_medium=content&utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.

Travel Tips

What will all the “stuff” you own mean when you’re older?

The doldrums of the post-Christmas binge is a time for clearing out your drawers, culling that book collection or re-gifting hampers of toiletries to friends who are unlucky enough to have a birthday that gets hoovered up into the holiday season. Staring at a pile of our possessions can make us reflect on what these objects communicate about us and the times we live in. These questions can be intensely personal. Do you ever think: “When I am older, which of these things will I still own? Which will matter to me? Which of my possessions will say something of who I am?” There is a cultural value in objects – a point well-made by Neil McGregor’s <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/a_history_of_the_world.aspx">History of the World in 100 Objects</a>. And now a pilot project that I’ve been involved with has sought to document the importance of objects in the lives of individual people. The Lively Project was inspired by a memoir written by novelist Penelope Lively: <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Ammonites_and_Leaping_Fish.html?id=y_-zw28c3NYC&source=kp_cover&redir_esc=y">Ammonites and Leaping Fish: a life in time</a>. In the final chapter, she chooses six objects which “articulate something of who I am”. Lively’s objects include two duck kettle-holders from Maine, two ammonites from a Dorset beach, a leaping fish sherd (a fragment of pottery), a Jerusalem bible, an 18th century <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/a-history-of-samplers/">sampler</a> used as a model for embroidery, and a porcelain cat. My colleagues and I were inspired by this and teamed up with visual artist <a href="https://gemmahodge.com/">Gemma Hodge</a> and historian <a href="http://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/leonie-hannan(ae33d50d-5089-400a-b316-384c39905156).html">Leonie Hannan</a> to convince six people, aged between 61 and 80 to each select six objects which offered some insight into their lives. The three men and three women then worked with Hodge to help interpret the meaning of their selected objects, both personally and in terms of how they demonstrate social and cultural changes. Hannan and Hodge used considerable creative flair in threading Lively’s interpretation of the passage of time through interview data and 36 objects to produce an emotional, evocative and <a href="http://artscouncil-ni.org/news/exhibition-celebrating-living-a-long-life-opens-at-the-crescent-arts-centre">inspiring exhibition</a> at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. What matters most The big reveal is that no one submitted an object of particular intrinsic value: there were no diamond rings. Yet we did receive a teddy bear which had had his little face chewed off by a dog 30-odd years ago. It is still much loved by his owner, who explained her attachment to the teddy simply: “It was the only toy I had.” Two of the three men submitted mechanical objects, such as a spare part for a car and a three-foot saw. They felt the culture of material consumption and built-in obsolescence means we may discard old things, but when we do so we are also discarding the expertise and knowledge of how to repair things we own. They felt sad about this. One of those men, who had spent 30 years in the merchant navy, donated a Morse key. The Morse key, used to send messages from ship to shore is now technologically useless, but it represents the advance of 20th century information and communication technology as 4G broadband is <a href="https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571214976-backroom-boys.html">based</a> on the same technology as radio signalling. Marconi, the radio technology company, developed the first mobile cell towers and transmissions, using high-frequency radio transmissions as the basic technology. With a bit of evolution and some bandwidth expansion, that’s the same tech that’s powering your 4G signal right now. The owner of the Morse key is not a heavy smartphone user and for him “new” technology is not so new to him. Rather, it represents a time shift – today’s phones are a re-invention of the Morse key using different materials at a different time. There were lots of family photos, belongings of lost loved ones, objects that told stories of survival, love and surprise about how things worked out alright in the end. The whole project was a very reassuring experience. There is something comforting about knowing that when I grow older I may be viewed as obsolete, but unlike now, it will not bother me, because I will know what matters. The stuff that really has meaning is the stuff that connects you to people or places where you were happy, felt loved, understood your place in the world, or did something for your community. So, when you are having that clear out, remember that while it might be time to pass on some objects to a new owner, others may be worthy of inclusion in an exhibition of the times of your life. Written by Gemma Carney. First appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/">The Conversation</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/12/sophie-scott-on-why-we-hold-on-to-things-we-no-longer-need/">Why we hold on to things we no longer need</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/09/bad-side-of-decluttering-family-home/">Why decluttering the family home can be a bad thing</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2017/01/retirement-checklist/">Checklist to make your retirement years your best yet</a>

Retirement Life

10 treasures I’m saving to leave behind to my grandson

Pat Simmons, 69, is a writer of poems, short stories, flash fiction and articles. Her work has been published in anthologies and children’s magazines and she has won writer competitions in Australia and the UK. For my almost two-year-old grandson, Lewis, these are the 10 treasures I will leave you one day: <ol> <li>My collection of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass books – please read them.</li> <li>A collection of notes written by your Mum, Amy and your Uncle Luke when they were kids – they’ll make you smile.</li> <li>Any pets who have outlived me – could be dog, cat, guinea pig, rabbit or stick insect.</li> <li>My UK Premium Bonds, one of which was purchased by your Great Gran for me in 1957 and it still hasn’t won me a cent.</li> <li>My collection of poetry books, in particular the 100+ year old copies of Tennyson and Wordsworth.</li> <li>My mobile phone which you have used and abused since you were about 15 months old.</li> <li>Your late Grandad’s Levi shirt purchased in the ‘60s – it must be worth a bit now.</li> <li>A piece from the Berlin Wall – history is so important.</li> <li>My grandmother’s hand painted tea set – no-one else seems to want it.</li> <li>Photos of your grandad who sadly died a year before you were born – he would’ve loved you to bits.</li> </ol> If you have a story to share please get in touch at <a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank">melody@oversixty.com.au</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/how-to-say-no-to-babysitting-grandkids/">How to say no when you’re unable to babysit grandkids</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/important-things-to-let-little-children-do/">7 important things little children should be allowed to do</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/what-i-hate-about-being-a-grandparent-today/">Grandparenting in the 21st century</a>

Family & Pets

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Brisbane battler treated to heartwarming surprise

The offence of a child possessing spray paint without a lawful purpose in NSW

Pensioner charged over possession of World War II tank

Who inherited Prince Philip's prized possessions?

Is possessing pornography permitted in prison?

Drug laws on possession: several countries are revisiting them and these are their options

My possessions spark joy: Will the KonMari decluttering method work for me?

The Queen lets Duchess Kate borrow valued possession during Balmoral Castle visit

Meghan Markle set to be given one of Princess Diana’s most treasured possessions

Elvis prized possession is being auctioned off

What will all the “stuff” you own mean when you’re older?

10 treasures I’m saving to leave behind to my grandson

Our Partners