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Beloved MasterChef star dies aged 64

Tributes have poured in for well-known Australian chef Greg Malouf, who has passed away at the age of 64. The Melbourne cook, who has been dubbed Australia’s godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine, appeared on MasterChef Australia throughout his career. His tragic death was announced on Saturday and the news has rocked the culinary industry, with friends, family and chefs alike taking to social media to pay tribute. Former MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris shared a heartbreaking post to Instagram, saying the world has lost a “beautiful man”. “Along with so many today is a sad day for us all,” Mr Calombaris captioned a picture of the star. “We lost a giant of a human @gregmaloufchef. A beautiful man. Yes an amazing chef. I send love to his family and strength." “I will miss the banter of all things Greek v Lebanese food. RIP great man. See you on the other side. Gc xxx.” Many of Greg's celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section to share their sadness at his passing. "One of the giants," wrote fellow celebrity chef Miguel Maestre, while The Great Australian Bake Off star Matt Moran posted a crying emoji. Greg was well-known to lovers of Australian food for his frequent guest appearances on reality TV, including stints of MasterChef Australia and Food Safari. Image credits: Instagram

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Why Greg Lynn could walk free from prison

Greg Lynn has applied to be freed from jail until his sentencing hearing over the murder of Carol Clay. The former Jetstar pilot, who was found guilty of murdering the 73-year-old while she was camping with her secret partner Russell Hill in March 2020, is appealing the guilty verdict which the jury came to after a weeks-long trial in June. The 57-year old appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Friday where Justice Michael Croucher heard the convicted killer had been the victim of prison attacks during his six-week trial. The court heard Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann KC is in the process of compiling submissions calling on Justice Croucher to hold of on sentencing his client until an appeal over his conviction can be heard by the Court of Appeal. If granted, the "stay" of sentence could allow Lynn to apply for bail while his appeal goes through the court. The court also heard that Lynn had been placed in isolation within the Metropolitan Remand Prison for his own safety since the guilty verdict was read, but now fears he will be targeted by inmates at whatever prison he ultimately ends up in. Mr Dann said a successful appeal could result in Lynn being set free altogether without the possibility of a re-trial, due to doubts over whether he could obtain a fair trial because of the significant publicity surrounding the case and the murder conviction. "The chances of a fair re-trial are non-existent," Mr Dann said. The experienced barrister said any potential jurors would have been "polluted or poisoned" by the "inadmissible evidence" that has "flooded" news sites since the guilty verdict was delivered. The court heard Mr Dann believed his client had multiple reasons to push for an appeal over his verdict, including the "unfair" way in which he claimed the Office of Public Prosecutions carried out the trial. Mr Dann reiterated to the court that his client has always maintained his innocence, saying, "He maintains that he's never killed any person at any time, at any place, anywhere, ever." <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> "The long-term future of that guilty verdict must be seen as being in grave doubt." The case was adjourned until a pre-sentence hearing on September 12th. Image credits: Facebook </div>

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Russell Hill's daughter shares her outrage over Greg Lynn's sentence

Russell Hill's daughter has expressed her anger over the jury's verdict of former pilot Greg Lynn, who was found not guilty for Hill's murder. Greg Lynn faced a lengthy trial over the deaths of campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay, but after a week of jury deliberations, was only <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/shocking-verdict-in-trial-of-murdered-campers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty</a> for the murder of Carol and was cleared of charges relating to Russell's death. Following the shock verdict, Hill's daughter Debbi, said she was “angry” at the jury and that she felt her father didn’t get the justice he deserved. “It’s new, we’ve only just found out, but the more I think about it, the more angry I get at the fact that it didn’t have to be this way,” Ms Hill told 60 Minutes on Sunday. “My dad was not a violent person in any way. He wouldn’t have provoked anything.” Ms Hill went on to say that she thinks about what happened to her father every day. “I’m just really angry that he went camping that day, that time, that he is the person he is and he happened to be right there with my dad and Carol, and this is what happened,” she said. “I think it was just really bad luck for Dad and Carol that they were there at the time, but it wouldn’t have happened if he [Lynn] wasn’t such an awful person.” After the trial concluded, more information has come to light about Lynn's past after non-publication orders were lifted. His first wife Lisa Lynn, 34, was found dead in the front yard of her home in 1999, with a coroner’s report indicating a blood-alcohol level of 0.21 and high levels of anti-depression medication present in her system at the time of her death. No suicide note was ever found and Lynn was never charged over her death, however detectives are now looking to have the Victorian coroner conduct a full inquest into the 1999 death. Ms Hill said it was quite concerning to learn about Lynn’s history, saying, “I hope he doesn’t get away with this, but I’ve lost a bit of faith in the whole system.” “I’m not trusting of it now. We’ll have to wait and see. He’s just such a terrible person.” Image credits: Facebook / Victoria Police

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Families of murdered campers finally break silence after Greg Lynn verdict

The families of Russell Hill and Carol Clay have issued an emotional statement following the shocking <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/shocking-verdict-in-trial-of-murdered-campers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">verdict</a> in the murder trial against former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn. On Tuesday, the jury found Lynn guilty of murdering Carol Clay in March 2020, but was found innocent on charges of murdering Russell Hill. The jury came to their shocking split decision after seven days of deliberation following the five-week trial. After the jury made their decision, the families of the two late campers issued an emotional statement. “Russell Hill and Carol Clay’s families are both relieved and devastated at the verdicts in the trial of Gregory Lynn,” a joint statement from the pair’s loved ones said. “We thank the jury for their verdict of guilty in the murder of Carol Clay. It was an extremely difficult task given that the accused destroyed so much evidence." “The verdict of not guilty in relation to the murder Russell Hill is devastating. There was not enough evidence to be sure of how he died.” The families said they understood the prosecution had an “enormous job putting a case together with limited evidence”. “The accused was the only person who saw and experienced what happened,” loved one said. “He was also the only person who emerged alive.” The statement thanked Victoria Police and its missing persons squad for their hard work in the case, volunteers who spent weeks searching for their loved ones, and Hill and Clay’s friends and family for their “support throughout this harrowing experience”. “We are heartbroken at the loss of our loved ones. It will take time to absorb the verdicts, put this behind us and set about healing and getting on with our lives,” the family said. Victoria police assistant commissioner Martin O’Brien said the Hill and Clay families had endured a difficult four years. “Their courage and resilience in the face of their grief, amidst enormous public attention, has been nothing short of extraordinary,” O’Brien said. “We will continue to support them in every way possible following this decision.” Throughout the trial, Lynn maintained his innocence, saying he did not kill the two campers, but admitted <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">to destroying their bodies and the crime scene. <span style="font-size: 16px; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #ffffff;">However, both prosecutors said he killed both of the campers intentionally and then tried to cover up his crimes. Following the jury's verdict on Tuesday,<span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> Lynn was taken back to prison where he awaits his sentence. <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">Image credits: Victoria Police

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Shocking verdict in trial of murdered campers

The jury have been split during Greg Lynn's trial, where he was accused of murdering campers Carol Clay and Russell Hill in March 2020. The 57-year-old faced a five-week trial in the Supreme Court, in which he pleaded not guilty to both counts of murder. During the trial, Lynn said the deaths were accidental, and admitted to destroying their bodies and the crime scene. However, both prosecutors said he killed both of the campers intentionally and then tried to cover up his crimes. The 12 jurors began their deliberation on June 17th and emerged seven days later with a shocking verdict. Lynn was found guilty of the murder of Carol Clay but found innocent of killing Russell Hill in a startling decision. When asked for a verdict on Hill's murder, the jury's foreperson told the court today "not guilty", and when asked about the murder of Clay, the foreperson replied "guilty". Lynn was physically shocked by the verdict, raising his eyebrows and remaining silent after the two verdicts were read aloud. Justice Michael Croucher dismissed the jury before Lynn was taken back to prison, where he will await his sentence. Image credits: Nine

Legal

Former pilot accused of murder shares his version of events

Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has shared his version of events from the day Russell Hill and Carol Clay were allegedly murdered. Mr Lynn, who is on trial for the murders of the elderly campers, claimed Mr Hill, 74, knifed himself in a struggle after he accidentally shot his childhood sweetheart Ms Clay, 73, in the head. Police allege Mr Hill and Ms Clay were murdered while camping in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's Alpine region more than four years ago, with Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu telling the jury at the opening of the trial exactly how and why Lynn allegedly killed the couple. "The precise circumstances of the killing are unknown, nor is the motivation," he said. The jury heard it was most likely a dispute over the use Mr Hill's drone, as Mr Porceddu said, "There might have been an argument or confrontation between the men. It is not known how Mr Hill was killed." But in providing a brief defence, Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann KC, claimed Mr Hill and Ms Clay's death was the result of a tragic accident, telling the jury, "We say not a case of murder, this is a case of two accidental, tragic deaths." "Tragic accidental deaths in circumstances that were not of Mr Lynn's making and not of his choosing." Mr Dann told the jury that Mr Hill allegedly stole Lynn's shotgun after he became enraged about Lynn playing loud music on the night he was killed. The barrister then detailed how a fight over the gun ensued, which resulted in Mr Hill accidentally shooting Ms Clay in the head, as Mr Lynn tried to disarm him. Mr Dann said Lynn picked up the gun and fired its remaining ammunition into the air before being set upon by an enraged Mr Hill. "The next thing is Mr Hill's advancing towards him with a knife screaming at him 'she's dead'," Mr Dann said. "A struggle developed over the knife. Mr Lynn trying to defend himself - they're locked in this struggle - and as part of that struggle the two men fall to the ground and the knife goes through the chest of Mr Hill." Upon his arrest, Mr Dann claimed Lynn co-operated with detectives, telling them where to find the bodies of the campers, and once again telling the jury that Mr Lynn is not guilty of murder or manslaughter. Image credits: Supplied / Facebook

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Norman Lear dies at age 101

Legendary sitcom producer Norman Lear has passed away at the age of 101. His family confirmed the news of his death in a statement on his website, writing that the Hollywood icon lived his life with "curiosity, tenacity, and empathy" until the very end. The statement reads, "Norman lived a life of curiosity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all." "He began his career in the earliest days of live television and discovered a passion for writing about the real lives of Americans, not a glossy ideal." "At first, his ideas were met with closed doors and misunderstanding. However, he stuck to his conviction that the 'foolishness of the human condition' made great television, and eventually he was heard." At the height of his career, Norman dominated the American sitcom scene, producing such shows as All in the Family and The Jeffersons, propelling him to global fame in the 1970s. Lear was the first to tackle many social issues in his TV shows, such as racism, feminism and social inequalities that no one had yet dared touch, making him a pioneer of comedy with a meaning. Director Rob Reiner, who starred on the sitcom All in the Family, paid tribute to Lear on social media on Wednesday, writing, "I loved Norman Lear with all my heart. He was my second father. Sending my love to Lyn and the whole Lear family." Prior to his 100th birthday in 2022, Lear credited work, bagels, the love of his family and laughter for his longevity. "I like getting up in the morning with something on my mind, something I can work on … to some conclusion," Lear said. Image credits: Getty Images

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Cricket legend Greg Chappell's dire situation sparks rally of support

Australian cricket has seen its fair share of legends, but few have left a mark as indelible as Greg Chappell. The former Australian cricket captain, who graced the pitch during the 1970s and early 80s, has fallen upon challenging times, leaving his friends, teammates and fans deeply concerned about his well-being. At the time of writing, the cricketing community has rallied to support him in a bid to provide the assistance he so desperately needs. Chappell, a figure synonymous with the sport, recently organised a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/gc-tribute-lunch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page </a>with the ambitious goal of raising $250,000. The campaign has garnered almost $90,000 in donations, with a substantial contribution of $25,000 from high-profile businessman and cricket enthusiast, Greg Boorer. This heartwarming response signifies the deep respect and admiration that people have for the cricketing icon. Chappell's plight came to the forefront when a testimonial lunch was held in his honour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Monday. The GoFundMe initiative was launched after it became apparent that arranging donation facilities at the event would be logistically challenging. The driving force behind the lunch, businessman and close friend Peter Maloney, expressed his concerns for Chappell's well-being, stating, "Greg is a very proud man. He's doing it tougher than what he says." It is worth noting that Greg Chappell is also the face of the Chappell Foundation, which has raised an impressive $1 million this year for homeless youths. However, Maloney emphasised that Chappell has never taken a cent out of the foundation, despite being entitled to do so. This selflessness exemplifies Chappell's commitment to making a positive impact on society, even during his personal hardships. During the 1970s and '80s, Chappell was a cricketing sensation, sharing the field with other greats like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Jeff Thomson. As a member of the illustrious Chappell family, which includes brothers Ian and Trevor, he is part of a dynasty that holds a revered place in Australia's rich sporting history. However, unlike many of today's athletes, Chappell's era did not offer the financial rewards that modern sports stars enjoy. Even after retiring, he chose to maintain a low profile and never fully embraced the spotlight of full-time commentary roles or media engagements. Instead, Chappell worked behind the scenes on cricket boards, undertook selector roles, and had a brief stint as a coach for the Indian cricket team. Chappell, displaying his characteristic humility, stated, "I'm not on the bones of my arse. I certainly don't want it to sound like we're in desperate straits, because we're not... but we're not living in luxury either. I think most people assume that because we played cricket, we are all living in the lap of luxury. While I'm certainly not crying poor, we're not reaping in the benefits that today's players are." The initiative to organise the testimonial lunch for Chappell came from Peter Maloney, who recognised his friend's health issues and financial difficulties. Maloney's suggestion that Chappell deserved a testimonial dinner finally saw the light of day after a heartfelt conversation with Greg and his wife. The outpouring of support for the Australian cricketing legend on the GoFundMe platform is nothing short of heartwarming. People from all walks of life have come forward to express their admiration and appreciation for Chappell's contributions to the sport and society: "Greg Chappell is a cricket great, an inspiration for all aspiring players. He certainly deserves our support, in whatever small way we can," wrote one supporter. "Dear Greg, What a phenomenal cricketer you were! It is still a treat to watch your batting videos on YouTube. Wishing you all the best..." wrote another. "You're a true Australian sporting legend. I remember doing a school project on you back in high school. Enjoy your retirement Greg, you deserve it," wrote a third. It's evident that Greg Chappell holds a special place in the hearts of cricket fans and Australians alike. As he faces his current challenges, the cricketing community is rallying together to ensure that this iconic figure receives the support he needs during this difficult phase of his life. It's a reminder of the enduring impact and admiration he has garnered throughout his remarkable career. Image: GoFundMe

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“He has overstepped the mark”: Ben Fordham slams Dr Norman Swan over Covid claims

Radio host Ben Fordham has slammed Dr Norman Swan, after the ABC health expert incorrectly claimed the deaths of Senator Kimberley Kitching and Shane Warne were linked to COVID-19. Dr Swan was forced to apologise after he said it was a “coincidence” that the cricketer and senator died of suspected heart attacks shortly after Covid infections while discussing a study that linked Covid infection with a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and thrombosis. “It’s too much of a coincidence that Shane Warne and the Labor Senator in Victoria died not long after a Covid infection, and people are reporting sudden death after Covid infection. It’s not benign,” he said But, Senator Kitching’s family told Dr Swan that she hadn’t tested positive to the virus before her death at the age of 52, and he apologised after he heard he upset the family. “I’ve personally apologised to Andrew, her husband,” Dr Swan told news.com.au. “I’ve clearly made an error which I deeply regret. I do recall such reports and have checked with others who did too but that doesn’t excuse my having upset the family.” After Dr Swan’s comments, 2GB host Ben Fordham took aim at the health broadcaster, claiming he was “no better than the anti-vaxxers who claim that every person who’s died in the last two years had died of the jab”. “He should be ashamed of himself,” Fordham said. “We called him out for that making the point that he’s not your patient, and if he was your patient you wouldn't be talking about him. “There’s an unwritten rule for medicos who work in the medical space: Don’t go speculating on cases you know nothing about and that’s exactly what he did yesterday on Shane Warne.” Fordham accused the former physician of “speculating like a gossip columnist” and spreading “doomsday scenarios”, while questioning why he was still being given a platform. “He hasn’t practised medicine since the 1980s for starters - that’s how long it’s been since he’s been in the doctor’s room treating a patient,” he claimed. “Because of coronavirus he was in the right place at the right time and he became a bit of a superstar at the ABC. “We’ve been calling out his doomsday scenarios, trying to scare the life out of people when it comes to coronavirus, always giving the worst case scenario... (but) he has overstepped the mark in a major way.” After making the claims on Tuesday’s News Breakfast, Dr Swan told the Daily Mail that he mentioned Senator Kitching and Warne in passing while warning viewers not to be complacent about Australia’s fourth Covid wave. “These are two high-profile people,” he told the Daily Mail. “One of whose death was a complete surprise, and they both had Covid in the background. “These weren’t private deaths, they were very public and had an impact on a lot of people who scratched their heads and wondered why, and that could have been a reason. “If I thought it was hurtful to the families, I wouldn’t have said it. “What would be hurtful is saying Kimberley Kitching had a dreadful lifestyle, if I was blaming her for the heart attack that would be a dreadful thing to say to the family. But if it’s a side effect of Covid it starts to explain things.” The study Dr Swan had been discussing found that an additional 10,500 cases of heart attacks, strokes and thrombosis were recorded in England and Wales, and that people were 21 times more likely to experience one of these conditions in the first week after testing positive to Covid. After four weeks, people were 3.9 times more likely to experience these conditions. Dr Swan told the Daily Mail that Australians should be concerned about the long-term effects of a Covid infection, including long Covid and heart complications. Using the example of Professor Chris Goodnow, who was forced to resign as executive director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research due to Covid-related heart complications, Dr Swan said people should try to avoid being infected. “These heart side effects do happen, and it's probably one or two per cent of people. So your individual risk is low, but with tens of thousands being infected that's quite a lot of people in the community,” he said. “You shouldn't go out trying to catch it thinking it's harmless and it will give you more immunity, you should try to avoid it if you can.” Image: ABC News

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Lynette Dawson's family responds to guilty verdict

Lynette Dawson’s family have called for one final request from Chris Dawson after he was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/stunning-chris-dawson-verdict-handed-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty of murdering his wife</a> after she “disappeared” 40 years ago. Justice Ian Harrison found Chris Dawson guilty of Lynette’s murder - 40 years after she went missing from the family home in Sydney's Northern Beaches in January 1982. The trial, which gained worldwide traction thanks to the podcast Teacher’s Pet, saw the incredible decision handed down following a seven week trial and a marathon four hour ruling. Lynette’s brother, Greg Simms has said justice has finally been served after she was murdered by someone who loved her. “I’m a little emotional - after 40 years, my sister has been vindicated,” he said. “This verdict is for Lyn. Today her name has been cleared. “The court has found what we believed to be true for so many years: Chris Dawson took the life of our beloved Lyn back in 1982.” Unfortunately, Lynette’s parents and other brother passed away in the years following her murder, not knowing what would come out of the case. Mr Simms has since called on Dawson to do the right thing and reveal where he buried Lynette so she can finally rest in peace. “We would also love to remember those who loved Lyn who are not here to see this judgement,” he said. “She is still missing, we still need to bring her home. “We would ask Chris Dawson to find it in himself to finally do the decent thing and allow us to bring Lyn home to a peaceful rest, finally show her the dignity she deserves.” When the case reopened, Dawson requested a judge-only trial due to the popularity of the Teacher’s Pet podcast, stating that the jury would have their decisions impacted by it. This required Justice Harrison to outline the reasons behind his decision also saying that the prosecution had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Lynette was dead, that Dawson had killed her with the possible involvement of assistance of others, and that he disposed of her body. The Supreme Court justice shared several findings to support his decision and weighed in on evidence presented during the trial, including ruling that Lynette had died on the date alleged by the prosecution and dismissing claims from Dawson that he contacted his wife as “lies”. Justice Harrison said it was “simply absurd” and defied “common sense” that Lynette would be in contact with the person “who was the reason for her departure” from her home. He also ruled that Lynette didn’t leave home voluntarily, with the prosecution providing multiple reasons that were “strongly persuasive” when considered together, including that she adored her children, hadn’t taken any clothing or personal items with her, was mentally stable, and was dependent on her husband to drive her everywhere. “Lynette Dawson is dead … she died on or about 8 January 1982 and she did not voluntarily abandon her home,” he told the court. Justice Harrison dismissed claims from the defence that Lynette was spotted after January 8. He found that Dawson told JC, “Lyn’s gone, she’s not coming back, come back to Sydney and help look after the kids and live with me”, when he picked her up from a camping trip at South West Rocks with friends between January 10 and 12. However, he said that he disagreed with claims that Dawson was motivated to kill his wife because of financial reasons, nor that he had in his mind that he would kill her when he left with JC. “That decision was made following their return and after the teen had left for South-West Rocks,” Justice Harrison said. He said that he was “satisfied” that Dawson resolved to kill Lynette while JC was camping. Following the verdict, Dawson was taken into custody, with his lawyer, Greg Walsh, telling Justice Harrison that Dawson would likely apply for bail before his sentencing hearing, a date for which hasn’t been set yet.

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"So hurtful": Greg Norman in hot water over "seriously misguided remarks"

The fiancée of a journalist murdered in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul has slammed Australian entrepreneur Greg Norman’s comments on the incident, describing his comments as “so hurtful”. Last year, a classified intelligence report from the United States government concluded that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was responsible for the murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Norman, who is the head of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series set to rival the PGA Tour per <a href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/golf/wealth-and-lies-furious-fiancee-of-murdered-journalist-slams-greg-norman/news-story/8d4cf5ae2252dacfbcc0ffeea00f0d04" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, caused a stir when he weighed in on the involvement of the Crown Prince in Khashoggi’s death, saying that “we’ve all made mistakes”. “The whole thing about Saudi Arabia and Khashoggi and human rights, talk about it, but also talk about the good that the country is doing in changing its culture,” Norman said of the murder on Thursday, as reported by the New York Post. “Look, we’ve all made mistakes and you just want to learn by those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward.” Norman was the subject of widespread criticism online and from Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi’s fiancée, who told the UK Telegraph that those responsible should be held accountable. “Would you say that if it was your loved one? How can we go forward when those who ordered the murder are still unpunished, and continue to try and buy back their legitimacy?” she said. “We should not fall for their wealth and lies, and lose our morals and common humanity. We should all be insisting on the truth and justice; only then can we look forward with hope and dignity.” Amnesty International also criticised the entrepreneur for his “wrong and seriously misguided” remarks, while Felix Jakens, the organisation’s UK head of campaigns said Norman’s rival golf tour was an example of “sportswashing”. “Greg Norman’s remarks that the Saudi government’s brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi and its attempted cover-up were a ‘mistake’ are wrong and seriously misguided,” Mr Jakens said. “Far from trying to ‘move on’, the Saudi authorities have attempted to sweep their crimes under the carpet, avoiding justice and accountability at every turn. “The regime’s human rights record is an abomination - from its murder of Khashoggi to recent mass executions and the situation for LGBTI+ people, which continues to be dire. “The LIV Golf Invitational Series is yet one more event in a series of sportswashing exercises that the Saudi authorities are using to clean its blood-soaked image.” Mr Norman’s comments also come after he slammed the PGA Tour the day prior for “perpetuating its illegal monopoly” after it emerged that officials won’t grant releases for players to compete in the opening event of the LIV Tour in London. Images: Getty Images

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Dan Andrews lashes out at Greg Hunt

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/coronavirus-vic/daniel-andrews-cant-mask-fury-over-greg-hunts-school-vaccination-program-comments-c-5832371" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt for “lecturing” Victorians on how to get more kids to get the jab. From 11.59pm on Friday, Victorians will no longer need to wear masks in most indoor settings for the first time in 65 days. But, this rule doesn’t extend to primary schools, with students in Year 3 to 6 and teachers required to stay masked-up. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> From 11.59pm on Friday, masks can come off in most indoor settings, and the recommendation to work from home will go. You'll still need to wear a mask in some workplaces, rideshares, public transport, hospitals, and a few other circumstances. — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1495907952095801347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2022</a></blockquote> After the decision prompted backlash, Mr Hunt suggested the “fastest way” to end the mask requirement was to have a school-based vaccination program. Mr Andrews quickly hit back at the federal minister “who forgot to place an order for vaccines” for thinking he could lecture the state “on how to get that job done”. “We’ve got arrangements in schools, we’ve run vaccination hubs and pop-ups in schools. I’ve got a Whatsapp message from the prime minister the day after I made those announcements saying it was one of the best things he’d ever heard,” Mr Andrews said. “I’ve got the prime minister saying it’s the greatest thing we’ve ever done and I’ve got Greg Hunt out there … and frankly, Victorians don’t take orders from Greg Hunt, the bloke who forgot to place an order for vaccines. Like, seriously. “We’re out there doing the commonwealth government’s work for them. The least they could do is not be lecturing us on how to get that job done.” Following Tuesday’s announcement on mask requirements, Mr Andrews said the vaccination rate among five to 11-year-olds, which had just passed 50 percent, needed to be higher. “I’d like to see them higher and whilst they grow every day, they’re perhaps lower than we thought they would be,” he said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We've still got 7,000 cases a day, and children aged 5 to 11 currently have the lowest vaccination coverage. So this is a proportionate measure, for their protection and for ours. It won't be forever. My primary school-aged kids have worked masks into their usual routine. 1/2 — Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/VictorianCHO/status/1496272188269543424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></blockquote> On Wednesday, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer explained the decision on Twitter, saying the rules wouldn’t “be forever”. “We’ve still got 7000 cases a day, and children aged 5 to 11 currently have the lowest vaccination coverage,” Brett Sutton wrote. “My primary-school-aged kids have worked masks into their usual routine. “They may not always wear them perfectly every day (and some children can’t wear them at all) but overall, this is going to put downward pressure on transmission.” However, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy criticised the continuing mask mandate for children, saying it “doesn’t make any sense” and accusing Mr Andrews of “playing Covid politics” with kids. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Masks being kept for grades 3-6 is ridiculous and unfair on kids. The Andrews Govt needs to stop playing Covid politics with our kids. Priority should be catching up on two years of lost learning. <a href="https://t.co/lBpus2vmuc">https://t.co/lBpus2vmuc</a> — Matthew Guy MP (@MatthewGuyMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewGuyMP/status/1496236597318402048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></blockquote> “Masks being kept for grades 3-6 is ridiculous and unfair on kids,” he wrote on Twitter. “The Andrews Govt needs to stop playing Covid politics with our kids. Priority should be catching up on two years of lost learning.” Image: Getty Images

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Ben Fordham slams Dr Swan's Covid "alarmism"

Radio broadcaster Ben Fordham has launched a scathing attack on the ABC's Dr Norman Swan, condemning his "Covid scare campaign" in the wake of the Omicron wave. The 2GB radio host jumped to the defence of Dr Angelique Coetzee, who "discovered" the Omicron variant in South Africa, who claims he has been subject to online "attacks" and abuse from scientists, doctors and global politicians for down-playing the severity of the variant. Fordham called out a series of doctors who he called "Covid alarmists", as he urged listeners not to listen to them after citing low deaths rates from the latest Covid variant. "This doctor [Coetzee] should be celebrated for her groundbreaking research on coronavirus but instead she had people trying to convince her to shut her mouth," he said."The death rate from Omicron is 0.1 per cent. Its fatality rate is the same as a bad flu season in Australia.""But the scare campaign has been in overdrive. At the start of the pandemic we were warned about 150,000 deaths in Australia. We've had 4,300.""All tragic but nothing like we warned about," he said. According to the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Department of Health</a>, the Australian death toll has been significantly higher since the Omicron variant, as opposed to the 2021 Delta variant. Fordham went on to slam "Covid cheerleader" Dr Swan who recently claimed that Omicron was not as mild as previously believed and gave little to no natural immunity. "Norman Swan was ignoring the science, he was ignoring the scientist who discovered Omicron," Fordham said.The radio host continued his praise of Dr Coetzee, who said she has been "accused of lying" by many global superpowers. "They are accusing me of lying, of downplaying Omicron because of how it has been in Europe … in their minds, it is impossible for a disease with more than 38 mutations to be mild.""I have stated many times before it can be a serious illness if you are unvaccinated and have comorbidities but for the majority of people it is a mild illness.""If a clinical feature proves I am wrong, then I will apologise."Fordham ended the segment by praising Dr Coetzee, who has vowed to "stick to her guns" and not give in to the pressure."Good on you doctor. Don't give in to the scaremongers," he said.Image credits: Instagram @benfordham9 @norman.swan

Caring

Government announces shortened booster window

The federal government has announced that the timeframe between the second COVID-19 vaccine and the booster shot has been shortened, from five months to four. The change will come into effect on January 4. This is an additional reduction, following an initial interval of six months in between shots. Furthermore, on January 31, the gap between shots will be reduced to just three months. These changes will enable millions of Australians to receive their booster shots, which are increasingly being seen as necessary to resist the Omicron strain and maintain immunity amidst rising cases across the country, far sooner. This includes over 60s, many of whom were not fully vaccinated until late in the year due to eligibility criteria. Tony Blakeley, an epidemiologist from the University of Melbourne, described the five-month gap between the second and third shots as “bordering on unethical”, particularly for older Australians who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. “AstraZeneca recipients are often 60-plus, they're often more vulnerable, yet they had a vaccine where they had to wait three months between the first and second dose and now they're not eligible,” he explained. The change follows advice from expert vaccination group ATAGI and is in response to the recent spike in cases as the Omicron variant spreads throughout the community. On Friday, Victoria recorded 2095 new cases and eight deaths, while NSW recorded 5612 and one death. Health Minister Greg Hunt explained that cutting the interval down would ensure roughly 7.5 million Australians would be eligible to receive a booster shot by early January, whereas as of Friday, only 3.2 million were eligible. Once the interval is reduced further at the end of January, about 16 million Australians will be eligible to receive their third vaccine. In a press conference on Friday, Mr Hunt said, “These dates have been set out of an abundance of caution to give Australians early continued protection.” Image: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

News

First pics from Greg Norman’s son’s wedding

Greg Norman’s son has married Michelle Thomson in a picturesque ceremony in Florida surrounded by their family and friends. Greg Norman Jr and his real estate agent partner tied the knot under an archway of fresh orchids on December 4th, with all their guests sticking to the white dress code. The golfing legend was in attendance with Kirsten Kutner, his wife of 11 years. Gregory Jr is the elder of Norman’s two children with his first wife, American flight attendant Laura Andrassy. In a tribute to his new bride, the entrepreneur and Jupiter Group and Shark Wake park co-founder and CEO wrote their marriage was the “best decision I have and will ever make”. “Such a beautiful wedding and party. Thank you all for coming and sharing this experience with us! I am a lucky man,” the 36-year-old wrote. Michelle also shared snaps from the day, saying “I wish I could have slowed down every moment of this night. Could not have felt more perfect.” <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/tv/CXRNxIeFSki/?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> <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/tv/CXRNxIeFSki/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by MICHELLE THOMSON NORMAN (@michellethomson)</a> </div> </blockquote> Greg paid tribute to his son and new daughter-in-law, saying “Welcome to the newest Mrs and Mr Norman.” “This day was always going to happen from the first moment my son laid eyes on Michelle.” “Now this beautiful couple embarks on their new journey in life together. As a father I am so proud and happy for both. Congratulations and welcome to the Norman clan Michelle. I Love you both.” Image credits: Instagram

Relationships

"Extraordinary" rejection of Greg Hunt's aged care claim

Health Minister Greg Hunt lost face after his claim that 100 percent of aged care residents have been vaccinated has been challenged by one woman who said her grandmother’s facility had not even administered the first dose. Though Mr Hunt initially said 100 percent of Victorian residential aged care facilities have been vaccinated, he later backtracked, saying a “lack of uptake was down to residents refusing the jab”. Now, a woman appearing on The Project has challenged his claims. Kate Howard says her family has been desperate for her 95-year-old grandmother to be vaccinated for months, but no one in the facility where she lives has yet to receive their first dose. “She, like the rest of our family, is incredibly keen and we have been keen since the phase 1A rollout was announced in February and we’ve done all that we can to try and make sure she is vaccinated,” Ms Howard told host Carrie Bickmore. “We’ve been emailing since the start of March to try and get some understanding about who’s responsible and, you know, I’m over the politicking of this - I just want my grandmother vaccinated.” Ms Howard said that despite her family signing a consent form for her grandmother’s vaccination on March 22, no residents in the home had been vaccinated. She called out Mr Hunt’s claims last week that around 97 percent of aged care facilities across all of Australia have already been vaccinated. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Do you have a family member currently in a Victorian aged care facility? Let us know in the comments if they've had their first vaccine dose, and if not, why not? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/CfPXZdVpDa">pic.twitter.com/CfPXZdVpDa</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1399292884076183555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote> On Monday, he said vaccinations in aged care facilities were being brought forward “for those residents who did not receive first vaccinations, did not have consent of their families or provide it themselves”. Project host Waleed Aly interjected, saying: “You said something that could potentially be a big story, if I’ve got this right - you are saying in your grandmother’s home no-one has been vaccinated?” “No, they’ve not received one jab yet,” she replied. “I believe less than half of the aged care workers have, off their own bat, gone and got vaccinations but the others are still remaining,” Ms Howard added. When asked how recent her information was, Ms Howard confirmed she had received the information on Monday afternoon after getting in touch with her grandmother’s home. Aly described the revelation as “extraordinary”. “This makes me so angry,” Bickmore said. “We’ve got family in aged care as well waiting for their second doses and it’s taking far too long,” she said. “Especially given what we saw happen last year.” Image credit: Channel 10

News

Harvey Norman slammed for "revolting irresponsible" tweet

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Department store Harvey Norman has been slammed on social media for a "revolting" response to a tweet from its official company account. The company replied to a tweet from a former employee who claimed that working for the company made them "suicidal". "Working for your god forsaken company drove me to suicide in 6 months," they wrote. "To the 50 people paid $200k a year to manage one account — go f*** yourselves." The HarveyNormanAU Twitter account tweeted two emojis, which were a facepalm and a waving hand. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Lol <a href="https://twitter.com/HarveyNormanAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@harveynormanau</a> blocking people for talking about the wage strikes Working for your god forsaken company drove me to suicide in 6 months To the 50 people paid $200k a year to manage to one account - go fuck yourselves. I know you do, that Sydney conference is a fucking mess — Sisyphysical (@sisyphysical) <a href="https://twitter.com/sisyphysical/status/1398244255043260420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> Twitter users were furious about the company's response. “I made the decision to never step into one of their stores last year,” one man said. “This is the most revolting, irresponsible response to a tweet containing sensitive health information I’ve seen from a corporate entity,” a woman wrote, saying she will never spend another cent there. “Congrats Harvey Norman, you have lost me, my friends and family as customers,” another man said. The day prior to the “out of line” response, the same Twitter handle posted: “Twitter is no longer a customer service channel and is unmanned.” </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"> <div class="right-box-container"> <div class="post-editor-container"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Money & Banking

Why Greg Norman is moving home to Australia

Gold legend Greg Norman is leaving the United States permanently and coming back to Australia. He and his wife, Kiki, have found a buyer for their $52 million (AUD) Colorado ranch. This follows after the sale of their $77 million Florida compound was finalised, and now the pair will finally relocate back to Norman’s hometown. The Seven Lakes Lodge was originally purchased in 2004 for $12 million. He put the home on the market for $71 million in 2016, but dropped the price significantly — by $19 million. The 11,900 acre lot is made up of eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms and has been described as “one of the finest trophy big game hunting and fishing ranches in Colorado”. Norman farewelled the property in an emotional Instagram post, writing “Sunday snow. A beautiful send off after two decades of owning 7L,” he wrote. “This ranch has been an extraordinary magnificent journey of mountain life. It has been a pleasure sharing the incredible diversity this ranch with my family and friends. “Each have their own memory, but collectively the memories will never leave us due to the uniqueness of the offering. I am confident the new owner and his family and friends will enjoy the same journey we did.” It follows after the legendary golfer sold his South Florida compound only two weeks after it was listed for sale. It was quickly snapped up by billionaire Leslie Wexner after 14 years of reconstruction. “My wife and I feel it is time to move on after 30 years here,” Norman told the Miami Herald. “COVID-19 and the whole pandemic experience, with social distancing and being isolated from our families — most of whom live overseas — this past year has made us realise how short life truly is and has caused us to re-evaluate how and where we want to spend the rest of our lives.” Kirsten made it clear that they would be returning to Australia when farewelling their Florida home in an Instagram post. “Our beloved Shark Shack. Boy will we miss it. Hope to recreate it some day soon in Oz!” she wrote in the caption. In a January column for Stellar magazine, Norman revealed he was ready to return to his Queensland home. “I miss Australia. I miss the way it sounds. Not long ago, I was on the phone with my parents and the sounds of the bird life in the background was something else,” he said. “And the smell of Australia … it’s so clean and fresh. I love the coffee and I miss the people; they’re so easy going … I want to get back to Australia as soon as I can. To tell you the truth, I think about coming home every second day.” In 2019, he admitted to The Daily Telegraph he was on the hunt for a new home in Australia. “Yes we are (looking). I’d prefer not to say where we are looking and no we have not bought anything.”

Real Estate

Greg Hunt reveals doctor responsible for QLD overdose did not receive training

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has revealed shocking information in parliament, which led to gasps around the room. He said that the doctor who gave two elderly Australians four times the recommended dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine had not completed his online training. The federal government is responsible for the inoculation of aged care residents and owned up to the incident Wednesday morning. “Healthcare Australia confirmed the doctor had completed training provided through the Australian College of Nursing and the company is advised it had copies of completion,” Hunt said on Wednesday afternoon. “The revised advice is that on further investigation, Healthcare Australia has now advised that the doctor had not completed the required training.” “This is being investigated by Healthcare Australia and we are expecting a report later today,” Hunt pressed on. “Healthcare Australia has advised that all other immunisers have completed the training. “Healthcare Australia has also advised that this doctor has not been involved in the vaccine rollout in any other facilities.” Hunt said that he was apologetic for the mistake. “I apologise to the House,” he said. “I reaffirm my apologies to the family. “I have asked the department to take action against the company and the doctor for what is a clear breach on both fronts.” A quick-thinking nurse spotted the error after the doses were administered consecutively and the doctor responsible was immediately stood down. The incident has left Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk furious. “Mr Speaker, none of this is good enough and the federal government must explain itself,” she said in a fiery address. “Today I will write to the prime minister asking him to convene a National Cabinet as soon as possible.” </div> </div> </div>

News

"Time to move on": Greg Norman lists incredible Jupiter Island home

Greg Norman has re-listed his Jupiter Island Beach home for a mind-blowing US$59,900,000 ($A77.9 million) after spending over 14 years rebuilding it into the sanctuary it is today. The Floridian paradise was first listed back in 2007 for $65 million ($A84.5 million) before he and his wife began rebuilding and renovating it. The property was first purchased by the 65-year-old for $4.9 million ($A6.4 million) in 1991. The property has since expanded by nearly 6,800 square feet. The beautiful island includes eight houses in total — the main house, a coach house, a pool house, a tennis house, a boat house, a carriage house and a beach house — along with a 5,000-square-foot basement. He told the Miami Herald that his real estate “vision was to create a sanctuary.” The main house has 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, along with beautiful oceanfront views and the utmost privacy. “My wife and I feel it is time to move on after 30 years here,” Norman told the outlet. “COVID-19 and the whole pandemic experience, with social distancing and being isolated from our families — most of whom live overseas — this past year has made us realise how short life truly is and has caused us to re-evaluate how and where we want to spend the rest of our lives.” When talking about the home he said, “Memories here are numerous and endless, and they will be forever etched in our minds.” The former world no. 1 won 89 professional tournaments in total, including 20 PGA Tour tournaments and the Open Championships in 1986 and 1993. Norman would go on to make headlines in November when he described the COVID-19 symptoms that “kicked the crap” out of him. “I am fit and strong and have a high tolerance for pain, but this [is] like nothing I have ever experienced before,” Norman wrote on Instagram at the time.

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"Time to move on": Greg Norman lists incredible Jupiter Island home

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