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"Never again": Bondi stabbing victim’s mother shares heartbreaking plea

<p>The tragic events of April 13th at Westfield Bondi Junction shook the nation to its core. Among the victims of this senseless act was Jade Young, a 47-year-old architect, described by her mother Elizabeth as "glorious" and "hardworking". Her life was abruptly taken while shopping for a birthday present with her daughter. </p> <p>At a memorial service held in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens, hundreds gathered to pay their respects to Jade. At the request of Jade's heart-broken mother, Elizabeth, mourners adorned themselves in bright colours, a vibrant tribute to a woman described as "dearly loved and irreplaceable".</p> <p>Elizabeth's words cut through the sombre air, pleading for attention not only to her daughter's memory but to the pressing issues that led to her untimely demise.</p> <p>“I would like you to listen, I want Australia to listen,” Elizabeth said. “Jade Young was attacked and killed outright in front of her daughter.”</p> <p>As part of her tribute, Elizabeth then made a poignant call for action. “Never again do I want to read the words tragic or tragedy associated with the perpetrator of the murder of my daughter,” she said. “He came prepared, he had intention. He was a killer ... making a shopping centre the most dangerous place on earth for Jade.</p> <p>“I want Jade’s girls to grow up believing there is security, goodness and love in the world. I want politicians both federal and state to address the gaps in mental health care to make it a safer for our girls and all Australians.”</p> <p>It's a wish echoed by countless families who have been touched by tragedy and who long for a safer, more compassionate society.</p> <p>The outpouring of support following Jade's passing speaks volumes about the impact she had on those around her. Her colleagues at Georgina Wilson Associates, where she dedicated over a decade of her life, shared heartfelt messages of grief and disbelief. "Jade was family," they wrote, a sentiment that resonates with all who had the privilege of knowing her.</p> <p>In the wake of this tragedy, the generosity of strangers has shone brightly, with over $235,000 donated to support Jade Young's husband and daughters. It's a testament to the kindness and compassion that exist within our communities, a glimmer of hope in the face of darkness.</p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Forgotten Bondi Junction hero's plea to PM

<p>An "unsung hero" still recovering in hospital after confronting Joel Cauchi during the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbings, has asked the Prime Minister if he too can be considered for citizenship. </p> <p>Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir were the two security guards who risked their lives to protect innocent bystanders when they confronted the killer on Saturday afternoon. </p> <p>Tahir lost his life in the process, while Taha remains in hospital after sustaining severe injuries. </p> <p>Taha, originally from Pakistan, recalled the events of the tragic day from his hospital bed, and described the moment they witnessed people fleeing in panic. </p> <p>“Faraz moved to assess the situation and to save the people; all of a sudden the guy came out,” he told <em>The Australian. </em></p> <p>“Faraz confronted him and was stabbed. After that, (Cauchi) jumped on me. I tried to defend but got stabbed.”</p> <p>Taha who is currently on a graduate visa that is due to expire within weeks, issued a desperate plea to the government asking them to give him an extension, following the public praise and a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/prime-minister-s-extraordinary-offer-for-bollard-man" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed visa extension</a> for French national Damien Guerot, nicknamed “bollard man” after the attacks.</p> <p>“As a direct victim of the incident, I believe I deserve recognition and consideration for citizenship,” Taha said. </p> <p>His request was also met with support from Sunrise’s Nat Barr who took the inquiry straight to Defence Minister Richard Marles on Thursday morning. </p> <p>“Mr Taha wants to know where his visa is at after the Prime Minister told the bollard hero that he can be in Australia as long as he likes ... Will Mr Taha also be allowed to stay?” she asked live on air.</p> <p>Marles said the immigration minister will work on a visa application, and said that Taha's act was "enormously brave". </p> <p>“Coming out of that tragedy are these incredible stories of bravery for which the nation is really greatly indebted and the circumstances of Mr Taha I’m sure will be worked through.”</p> <p>Shajar Ahmad, another colleague of Taha and Tahir, described them as “unsung heroes” of the bloody massacre.</p> <p>Albanese has responded to the request and said that a permanent visa would be “granted to (Guerot) today”, and that Taha’s case will also be considered.</p> <p>“(Taha) confronted this guy... It just shows extraordinary courage, these are people who ... not thinking of themselves, were putting themselves in danger protecting Australians they didn’t know, just people going about their shopping,” Albanese told Adelaide radio<em> 5AA</em>.</p> <p>“And that’s the sort of courage that we want to say thank you to, frankly. Those extraordinary stories of bravery in amongst the carnage and tragedy that we saw on Saturday.</p> <p>“It’s a bit of light in amongst the darkness that you saw these extraordinary acts.”</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

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Allan Border's desperate plea to PM

<p>Allan Border has joined Parkinson’s Australia chief executive Olivia Nassaris in a plea for the Federal Government to provide more funding and research into the condition. </p> <p>The 68-year-old cricket legend is one of over 150,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s, after being diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder back in 2016. </p> <p>A new report from the organisation revealed that there are 19,500 new cases every year, with one Australian diagnosed with the condition every 27 minutes.</p> <p>“A lot of people know the disease but they don’t know the impact that it has — 150,000 people in Australia have the disease, it does present in different ways,” Border said. </p> <p>“When I was told I was suffering, my first image was of (boxer) Muhammad Ali and the Olympic torch, I just thought people suffered from a tremor.</p> <p>“But there’s about 100,000 different ways of it presenting.”</p> <p>Border joined the Parkinson’s Australia chief executive on April 11 to raise awareness for World Parkinson’s Day.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Nassaris </span>estimated that the number of Australians impacted by Parkinson’s would almost triple by 2050.</p> <p>“At the moment we don’t have a cause or cure, so it is frightening that a disease like this is going to almost triple in numbers,” she said.</p> <p>Responding to the cricketer’s plea, the Prime Minister described Border as a “great Australian” and hinted at a potential boost to government support in providing more resources into the condition. </p> <p>“Our heart goes out to him,” the PM said on Thursday. </p> <p>“I will have a word with the Health Minister about what more we can do. We have contributed over $100m to research into Parkinson’s.</p> <p>“There’s also a pilot program for nurses about people suffering from Parkinson’s at the moment. There’s some $6.5m being used for that pilot program. We want to wait and see what the assessment of that is.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Commonwealth Games medallist pleas for missing daughter

<p>A Commonwealth Games medallist has issued an emotional plea for information on the whereabouts of his 15-year-old daughter. </p> <p>Marty Jackson's daughter Marlie was last seen in Port Melbourne four days ago, although she usually lives with her dad in Geelong. </p> <p>He believed Marlie had been in contact with friends, but her family had been "unable to make contact" with the teen. </p> <p>In an emotional post to Facebook, Marty asked his friends and family for any updates on his daughter's whereabouts.</p> <p>"If you hear from her or have any information that could held bring her home it would be greatly appreciated," he wrote, before adding, "Marlie is 15yo, approx 163cm tall with long strawberry blonde hair."</p> <p>He concluded by stating her disappearance had been reported to Geelong Police Station.</p> <p>Marty's post was flooded with comments from loved ones and strangers alike sending their well wishes for Marlie, and their hopes that she return home safely. </p> <p>Marty later updated the post to say Marlie had been in contact over the phone, but he was still concerned for her safety and adding that he "just wants her home".</p> <p>Marty Jackson is a para-athlete who won silver in shotput at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Help name our baby!": Peter Andre's extraordinary plea

<p>In a move that would make even the most seasoned reality TV stars proud, singer and TV personality Peter Andre and his doctor wife, Emily MacDonagh, have left the world scratching their heads in anticipation.</p> <p>No, they haven't announced a new album or a TV show. They've done something far more thrilling – they've welcomed their third child into the world... without a name!</p> <p>Now, don't get us wrong – people give birth to nameless babies all the time. But in a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap opera, Andre and his wife have turned to their loyal Instagram followers for help. Because, you know, who needs baby name books when you have a horde of social media enthusiasts at your disposal?</p> <p>In a heartwarming post, the "Mysterious Girl" crooner shared a precious snapshot of MacDonagh and their latest addition, writing that the tiny little bub is "just minutes old". Forget about sleepless nights and diaper changes; the real dilemma here is what to call this bundle of joy.</p> <p>"We feel so overwhelmed right now," Andrew wrote. "So happy to welcome our beautiful girl to the family.</p> <p>"Mum and daughter are doing amazing. Born Tuesday 2nd April 2024, 7lb 3oz and thankfully very healthy.</p> <p>"Baby has been spoilt with cuddles from Junior, Princess, Amelia and Theo who are all in love with their new little sister. As parents, we couldn’t be happier.</p> <p>"Only thing is…. She has no name yet. Help!"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Tn_DcIo8M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Tn_DcIo8M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Peter Andre (@peterandre)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Cue the floodgates of creativity opening wider than ever. With a whopping 1.8 million followers, Andre essentially unleashed the ultimate brainstorming session on the internet. And we can only imagine the spectrum of suggestions pouring in – from the classic to the quirky, and everything in between.</p> <p>"April (Obviously)," wrote one very keen contributor. "Daisy (April’s birth flower). Ariel (from the April horoscope, Aries). Avril (meaning April in French). Blossom (because it’s common in April). Pascal (a French name meaning ‘born on Easter’). Lily (after the Lily of the valley flower that blooms in April in the UK). Diamond (April’s birthstone). Raine/Reign (after April’s showers). Iris (from the Greek meaning ‘rainbow’). Moses (in reference to Passover). Israella (also in reference to Passover)."</p> <p>"Did you know Melissa means honeybee in Greek and is also the name of a Greek goddess…. Just letting ya know cos I think it’s a pretty cool name 👀😂💖," wrote another fan whose name is, you guessed it, Melissa.</p> <p>Other fans kept it more straightforward. "Connie or Beatrice ❤️."</p> <p>As we eagerly await the grand unveiling of Baby Andre's name, one thing is for sure – this little one is already making headlines, and she doesn't even have a name yet.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Please come home": Family's emotional plea to missing woman

<p>The devastated husband and father of missing Victorian woman Samantha Murphy have issued an emotional plea for the 51-year-old to come home. </p> <p>Samantha, a keen runner from Ballarat, set off for her daily run through the Canadian State Forest early Sunday morning and has not been seen since. </p> <p>Emergency services are continuing their search for the woman, as her husband Mick and daughter Jessica pleaded to the community for information. </p> <p>Speaking out on Thursday in an emotional press conference, Mick said "someone has got to know something."</p> <p>“People just don’t vanish into thin air. You know, whether it be any little thing that you might think is relevant, just call the police, let them know,” Mick said.</p> <p>“You know, it’ll give us a bit of peace of mind if we get some hope."</p> <p>Jess then spoke through tears, saying her “mum is a really strong woman and is far too determined to give up this fight”.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3EbznCPk_Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3EbznCPk_Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 9News Melbourne (@9newsmelbourne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I know she’s out there somewhere, so if you could please continue to search for her to give us something to work with we would really appreciate it."</p> <p>“Mum, please come home soon I can’t wait to see you and give you the biggest hug and to tell you off for giving us so much stress. I love you.”</p> <p>Police also spoke for the first time about the search and urged the community to come forward with any information at all, as anything could be relevant.</p> <p>“We’re keeping an open mind and we’re hopeful,” Acting Inspector Lisa McDougall said.</p> <p>"We throwing resources at it in the hope we find Samantha and get answers for her family, who are obviously concerned."</p> <p>Amidst the high-profile case, Mick also asked people to be considerate as more information rolls in. </p> <p>“You can respect our privacy too. If we’ve got something we will come out and say it.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: 9News</em></p>

Caring

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Patti Newton's desperate plea to her troubled son

<p>Patti Newton has issued a desperate plea to her son Matthew, who has spent two years out of the spotlight and has built a new life in America. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/womansday" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Woman's Day</em></a>, Patti is determined to see her family reunited, as she wishes for Matthew to return to Australia. </p> <p>After a series of scandals, Matthew fled the country and has since created a new life for himself in Texas with his <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/huge-matthew-newton-mystery-confirmed-during-bert-s-funeral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wife</a> Catherine Schneiderman. </p> <p>Matthew was arrested twice in 2012 following altercations in Miami, following a string of scandals in Australia, including several domestic violence allegations a charge of assault. </p> <p>Despite her son now living his best life in the US, Patti desperately wants him to return home. </p> <p>"Moving to Texas is the best thing either of them could have done. They're loving a new outdoorsy life and they're both looking and feeling great," a source told the magazine.</p> <p>"[But] Patti desperately wants them to come home to Australia."</p> <p>It's been several years since Matthew returned home, as he chose <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/why-matt-newton-won-t-be-attending-bert-s-funeral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not to return</a> for his father Bert's funeral in 2021. </p> <p>Matthew, who suffers from bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and has a history of addiction, refrains from the spotlight after having a stint in the Australian entertainment scene with a series of TV shows and movies. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Ten</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"You've restored my faith": Community shows up for lonely birthday boy

<p>One dad's desperate plea has "restored" his faith after his local community showed up for his son's third birthday party. </p> <p>Pre-schooler William Buck and his dad Steven sat patiently on a beach in Wellington, waiting for his friends to arrive and begin the celebrations for his third birthday party. </p> <p>As time passed, William and his dad grew more hopeless, and they worried about the fate of the celebrations. </p> <p>"He kept asking where everyone was, and we were like 'they’re coming soon'," Steven Buck told <em><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/parenting/133203054/familys-plea-after-nobody-shows-at-3yearolds-birthday-brings-community-to-beach" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:Stuff;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid_p="9" data-v9y="1">Stuff</a></em>.</p> <p>Steven felt "guilty" that none of his son's mates had come to the party, especially given how excited his son had been for this birthday, as he had been talking about the celebration for weeks. </p> <p>In a last ditch effort to make William's day special, Steven turned to social media for help. </p> <p>Steven posted an image of the pair online and invited any locals wanting "some sun and sand" to join them.</p> <p>"William would love some friends to play with. He has Hot Wheels, sand toys, dinos, and we have some snacks and drinks. Any and all welcome," he wrote.</p> <p>Amazingly, locals responded in their thousands, wishing William a 'Happy Birthday' while many others joined the three-year-old and his parents.</p> <p>"Going there. See you soon," one local wrote, before arriving with her family.</p> <p>The partygoers arrived with bubbles and inflatables, parking themselves down on beach chairs ready to celebrate the sunny day with William.</p> <p>"Thank you so much everyone for the birthday wishes and support," Steven wrote online after the day. "Wellington you always restore my faith in humanity!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Be alert": Australia Post's urgent plea to motorists

<p>Australia Post has issued an urgent plea for motorists to look out for their local posties, after shocking new data revealed how many postal workers are injured on the job. </p> <p>The data has revealed that during the 2022-23 financial year, 65 posties were injured as a direct result of third-party traffic accidents, with injuries including everything from broken limbs to concussions.</p> <p>Many of these incidents resulted in hospital stays, extended periods of leave and lasting psychological trauma.</p> <p>Australia Post's General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, Rod Maule, has said that even one vehicle-related accident is too many, and pleaded for motorists to drive safely at all times.</p> <p>"While we want our team to deliver for all Australians, we also want each of them to safely get home to their families at the end of the day," Mr Maule said.</p> <p>"Safety is our number-one priority, which is why we've invested millions of dollars into advanced technology and training to keep our team safe on the road. But it isn't just up to us," he added. "We are asking all drivers to be alert and keep an eye out for our posties, especially over the next few months as we ramp up deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas."</p> <p>The statement comes in the wake of shocking footage going viral of postal workers being hit by motorists.</p> <p>In an incident last month, a postie is seen riding across an intersection when, seemingly out of nowhere, he's struck by another motorist and knocked from his bike causing an injury to his leg.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Australia Post</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Nat Barr’s emotional plea for young family

<p dir="ltr"><em>Sunrise</em> host Natalie Barr has issued an emotional plea after one family’s heartbreaking situation moved her close to tears. </p> <p dir="ltr">Adelaide-based dad Taylor Hosking shared his moving story on <em>Sunrise</em>, revealing the devastating impact of the rental crisis on his young family, who may be forced to live on the streets after more than 50 unsuccessful rental applications. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hosking - who has four children and a fifth on the way - shared that his family were pushed to look for a new home after their rent was increased from $430 to $600 a week. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re like at that point now it’s like, what do we do?” Hosking told Barr. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s either we feed the kids or we pay our rent or we pay the rent and we, you know, we can’t even feed the kids.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that the young family often gets judged “straight off the bat” for having “a bunch of kids”, and despite having good references, they’ve had no luck in finding a new home. </p> <p dir="ltr">Barr noted that it must be a “ very emotional time” for them and asked how he and his wife, Shay, were coping. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hosking opened up about his tragic loss, which almost moved Barr to tears. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a very special day as well today because  our son Orlando passed away on Father’s Day last year,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So if he was still here with us, he’d be one today. But we just go day by day and the kids are what keeps us strong and all together, mate.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The family had worn a “Team Orlando” shirt for the segment, which tugged on Barr’s heartstrings. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This is just the face of the cost of living crisis in this country,” she said, holding back tears. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are here to help, we are going to do everything we can to help you and your family.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She then asked anyone who was willing to help the family to contact the <em>Sunrise</em> team. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so sorry you are in this predicament,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier in the segment, Hosking also told Barr that he had until October to find a new home for his family. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t know, just pray and we hope we work with all the agencies and all the government and everything,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hopefully something happens or someone can help us.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I’ve been working with them, I’ve been going to my appointments, doing everything I can and to even be told like there’s no magic wand, there’s no house to give you, [and] the best they might be able to do is put us up in a motel or something.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And how do we have four kids, two adults and a newborn baby in a motel? It’s impossible.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Seven</em></p>

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“Enough is enough”: Karl's crime wave plea after family targeted

<p>A number of Aussies are resorting to hiring their own private security to watch over their properties while they sleep as the country faces a major crime wave.</p> <p>Within 24 hours, a teenager was stabbed to death in Melbourne’s northwest and three young offenders have been charged over Facebook Marketplace robberies in Queensland.</p> <p>As the crime problem continues to worsen, <em>Today</em> co-host Karl Stefanovic revealed his own family have been targeted.</p> <p>“Enough is enough,” he demanded.</p> <p>"This has happened to me, it's happened to my family, I've had kids come to my house, doing things and I've got them on tape," a disgruntled Stefanovic continued.</p> <p>"It is only relatively minor offences, but if it is getting to that level for me, it is getting to that level across the country - we keep having to talk about it, keeping saying we've got to do something about it and nothing happens.”</p> <p>Stefanovic also emphasised the colossal impact these targeted attacks have on families, regardless of whether it’s a home invasion, car theft or robbery on the street.</p> <p>“Whenever the crime comes to their doorstep, whenever someone breaks into their car, whenever something happens that's close to home, it has a tremendous psychological impact,” he said.</p> <p>He agreed with authorities discouraging vigilante activities as a solution, however, noted that the problem is only getting worse.</p> <p>"That's my big concern, that's the big concern for a lot of authorities in various states," he said.</p> <p>"I don't understand how authorities can't see how significant an impact this is having on the day-to-day life of people, law-abiding citizens at home.</p> <p>"It's not stopping and that's the problem."</p> <p><em>Image credit: 9News / Today</em></p>

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"Broken" family's appeal after daughter missing for 7 weeks

<p>A mother has shared how her family is "broken” as she remains in the dark about what happened to her missing 14-year-old daughter who disappeared seven weeks ago.</p> <p>The family of Tasmanian girl Shyanne-Lee Tatnell has made another plea for answers after the teen vanished while walking to see a friend on April 30.</p> <p>“She’s my baby and I desperately want her back,” her mother Bobbi-Lee Ketchell told <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>The teen had moved in with her grandmother due to tension with her mother in the family home in the town of Burnie, later moving onto a youth centre in Launceston.</p> <p>She started walking from the centre along the North Esk River on the night of April 30 but never reached her destination.</p> <p>Her mother shared the agonising conversation she had with her daughter before she vanished, with Ms Ketchell urging her daughter not to break her curfew after being grounded.</p> <p>“She got upset … we had a little bit of a disagreement and then I said, ‘I love you’,” Ms Ketchell revealed.</p> <p>She confessed her daughter never said, “I love you back”.</p> <p>Her grandmother has described the young girl’s disappearance as torture.</p> <p>“You don’t just disappear off the face of the earth without something being found, some piece of clothing or footwear or phone,” her grandmother said.</p> <p>The family believe that their daughter accepted a lift from someone or was potentially “forced into a vehicle”.</p> <p>“She was rebellious and it didn’t matter what I would tell her not to do. She was firm on doing what she wanted and didn’t think of the consequences before doing it,” Ms Ketchell said.</p> <p>Police are seeking the drivers of two silver cars captured on CCTV near the area where she was last seen.</p> <p>“We actually want to discount you from any investigation, from any potential witness, so we can move on with other aspects of the investigation,” police said.</p> <p>Authorities have also highlighted that at one point the footage showed Shyanne-Lee running but said there was “no evidence” she was being chased.</p> <p>Her family have urged anyone with information to come forward.</p> <p>“Nanny loves you so much Shyanne. I need you home, your family needs you home desperately,” her grandmother said.</p> <p>“If someone has my granddaughter, you need to release her now.</p> <p>“We are a totally broken family, we’re lost without her.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: A Current Affair / Facebook</em></p>

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Frantic father's desperate plea after wife and daughters chased by gang of girls

<p>A concerned father is urging South Australia’s Education Department to step in after his wife and three daughters were chased through a shopping centre by a gang of school girls in Adelaide.</p> <p>They chased year 9 student Addison Rice, her two sisters and her mother through Mount Barker Central, after following her from Mount Barker High School.</p> <p>Addison and her family were then chased into Specsavers, where staff helped protect them by closing and locking the front door.</p> <p>Addison’s father Paul Rice explained the experience was distressing for his wife and children.</p> <p>"[They] started yelling screaming, [they were] abusing her, threatening her, trying to punch her," he said.</p> <p>"One of [my] other daughters had to step in to stop these [girls] from attacking [my] younger daughter.</p> <p>"I had my wife and three daughters in that shop being protected by the people that work there.”</p> <p>Witnesses recalled the group ganging up on the girl, leaving some of the older customers feeling unsafe.</p> <p>Officers dispersed the group of girls at the scene but said they would not be taking further action.</p> <p>In a letter sent out to parents of enrolled students, Mount Barker High School has assured they will take "strong action once the full details of the incident are determined”.</p> <p>Parents are also calling for harsher, potentially legal consequences for severe bullying incidents.</p> <p><em>Image credit: 9News / Nine</em></p>

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"Any tips?": Bruce Willis’ wife posts heartfelt plea

<p dir="ltr">Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis has shared an emotional plea after the actor’s <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/cruel-disease-bruce-willis-given-heartbreaking-new-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">devastating diagnosis</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Emma took to Instagram to ask families of dementia sufferers for advice on how to help their loved ones navigate the world safely.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To other caregivers or dementia care specialists navigating this world…. Any tips or advice on how to get your loved ones out in the world safely?” she captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">Emma started off the video by raising awareness about dementia and how stressful it is as a caregiver to help their loved ones navigate this illness.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you are someone who is looking after someone who has dementia, you know how difficult and how stressful it can be, just to get them out into the world and navigate them safely - even just to get a cup of coffee,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also called out the photographers trying to get exclusive images and video footage of Bruce while he was out.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s clear there’s still a lot of education that needs to be put forth,” she said in the video as a PSA.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bruce, 67, was spotted out and about last week, for the first time since his family shared that had been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/cruel-disease-bruce-willis-given-heartbreaking-new-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD)</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To the photographers and video people that are trying to get those exclusives of my husband out and about, just keep your space. I know this is your job, but maybe just keep your space.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“For the video people, please don’t be yelling at my husband asking him how he’s doing, whatever, the woohoo-ing, the yippee ki yay’s, just don’t do it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Give him the space. Allow for our family or whoever’s with him that day to be able to get him from point A to point B safely,” she pleaded.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpX_DYdJuXb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpX_DYdJuXb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Emma Heming Willis (@emmahemingwillis)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Many fans have shared their support and shared their own experiences.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My mom is newly struggling with dementia and everything is confusing and scary. I can’t understand photographers/reporters behaving in that way around someone struggling with this disease. Shame on them,” one commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Remember to not take anything to heart that he may say or do. When he gets stuck on one rant, redirect the conversation. Please don’t try to do this on your own. It’s ok to cry, cuz this is a tough ride,” commented another fan.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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We don’t want to lose her”: Aussie mum’s desperate plea answered

<p>An Aussie mum has issued a desperate plea for help to get her severely ill baby in Bali on a medical evacuation flight to Brisbane. </p> <p>The seven-week-old bub, Lucky, who was fighting for her life on a respirator in Bali, is now on her way back to Australia.</p> <p>Melbourne mother, Honey Ahisma, spoke to <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise">Sunrise</a> to issue a desperate appeal to help save her seven-week-old baby Lucky who was gravely ill in Siloam Hospital in Denpasar, where the family was stranded, unable to afford the $90,000 medical evacuation to Australia. </p> <p>There is currently a major medical evacuation underway, and Lucky is on an emergency flight back to Brisbane for treatment for a severe bacterial infection. </p> <p>The Queensland’s Medical Rescue team flew to Bali on Sunday and told Sunrise there was only a small window of opportunity for little Lucky to get out safely. </p> <p>Ahisma was desperate to get Lucky back to Australia for diagnosis and treatment, but she had to wait for her daughter to be strong enough to fly. </p> <p>The mother first noticed Lucky struggling to breathe at their Bali home.</p> <p>“I tried to help her, just like normal when babies get sick, they just need sleep... but then she stopped drinking my milk,” Ahisma told <a href="https://7news.com.au/">7News</a>. </p> <p>Without specialist equipment, doctors have been unable to diagnose the specific infection Lucky is fighting. </p> <p>Lucky was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she spent a week in critical condition. </p> <p>Doctors have told Ahisma that they are not equipped to save her daughter’s life, meaning the 7-week-old will need urgent medical care elsewhere.</p> <p>“We don’t want to lose her,” Ahimsa said.</p> <p>Ahisma reported Lucky’s condition was deteriorating, and the hospital bills continued to grow.</p> <p>“Every day is very expensive ... like one day is $8000 Australian,” she said. </p> <p>There has since been $190,000 raised in a GoFundMe to help bring little Lucky back home for treatment. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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Nick Kyrgios’ assault charge dismissed after guilty plea

<p>World no. 20 tennis player Nick Kyrgios faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday and dodged a conviction despite a guilty plea. </p> <p>Nick issued a guilty plea to common assault during an argument with his ex-girlfriend, Chiara Passari, over two years ago in 2021. </p> <p>Initially, he and his lawyers argued that the charge should be dropped due to his mental health. This was withdrawn when it was revealed to the court that he was not suffering from a “significant depressive illness” at the time. </p> <p>As Nick’s lawyer - Michael Kukulies-Smith - put it, there was "a relationship between the mental health and the offending - even though he no longer suffers it to the same extent today."</p> <p>It was then that Nick pleaded guilty to the charge of common assault. </p> <p>Although Magistrate Beth Campbell rejected the dismissal on mental health grounds, she ultimately dismissed the case, believing that a conviction was not warranted. </p> <p>The court was informed that Magistrate Campbell would be dealing with Nick’s case in the same manner that she would approach that of any other individual with the same charges, and that Nick’s status as a notable Australian figure would not come into play.</p> <p>“I am dealing with you in the same way I would deal with any young man in this court,” she said, “you are a young man who happens to hit a tennis ball particularly well."</p> <p>Although Magistrate Campbell agreed that Chiara Passari was clearly distressed over the 2021 assault, she went on to say that it appeared to be an isolated incident, and an “impulsive and unfortunate response” on Nick’s part. She noted that he was a “young man trying to extricate himself from a heightened emotional situation.”</p> <p>Michael Kukulies-Smith requested that a conviction not be recorded as Nick had been quick to display remorse for what he had done. Magistrate Beth Campbell went on to dismiss the charge later in the hearing, allowing that no conviction would be recorded.</p> <p>Nick issued a brief statement to reporters on his way out of the court, thanking the court and confessing that he was “sincerely sorry”.</p> <p>“I was not in a good place when this took place,” he said, “and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret. </p> <p>“Mental health is tough. Life can seem overwhelming. But I’ve found that getting help and working on myself has helped me to feel better and to be better.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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"You can’t ever get them back": Granddaughter’s plea for stolen ashes

<p>Grieving teenager Jakoda Williams-Boyce has pleaded with thieves for the return of her grandmother’s ashes.</p> <p>The theft occurred when the 19-year-old from Adelaide left her nana’s remains in the boot of her grey Mitsubishi Lancer after parking it on Amadeus Crescent in Christie Downs. The car was stolen at some point between Thursday evening and Friday morning with the urn still inside.</p> <p>Jakoda had been living with her grandmother, Sharon, when she passed away at the age of 64. The family had been in possession of Sharon’s remains ever since, until they came under Jakoda’s care four weeks ago.</p> <p>In images shared with 9News, Jakoda can be seen cradling the precious urn, and smiling in an old photograph with her nana alongside the caption “10 months today. I love you my angel.”</p> <p>“I will say, it is my own fault for putting that personal item there, but I didn’t think twice. I shouldn’t have to worry about people on the street,” the teenager admitted, speaking to 9News.</p> <p>It remains unclear how thieves got their hands on the car, as the keys and the car’s battery remain with Jakoda, though glass was reportedly scattered across the scene.</p> <p>Police have so far been unable to locate the vehicle, but their search continues, with Jakoda issuing an emotional plea to the thieves for the safe return of her nana, confessing that it feels like losing her beloved grandmother for a second time.</p> <p>“Me, personally, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing that I’ve stolen the car with someone’s cremations in the backseat,” she said, “you can’t ever get them back.”</p> <p>Jakoda’s interests lie solely in getting the ashes back, with the distraught teenager telling reporters, “I would ask the question of ‘why’, but I wouldn’t go any further.</p> <p>“Hopefully, when I do get them back, I want to take them to the funeral director and put them into, like, the ground. So I can't lose them."</p> <p><em>Image: 9News</em></p>

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"I would like to get my father back": Prince Harry's desperate plea to his family

<p>Prince Harry has shared an emotional plea as he wishes to rekindle his relationship with his family. </p> <p>New trailers have been released for the Duke of Sussex's interview with ITV, which is due to air next week, as he said the royal family have “shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile” with him.</p> <p>Harry tells ITV’s Tom Bradby in the explosive trailer, “It never needed to be this way. The leaking, the planting, I want a family – not an institution.”</p> <p>“They feel as though it’s better to keep us, somehow, as the villains. They’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile."</p> <p>“I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back.”</p> <p>The full 90-minute interview, which was filmed in California, will air on Sunday – just two days before Harry's memoir <em>Spare</em> is released.</p> <p>Prince Harry also spoke with US news network CBS, as the trailer for the interview with journalist Anderson Cooper shows the Duke further condemning his family's actions towards him and wife Meghan Markle. </p> <p>He said, “Every single time I have tried to do it privately there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife”.</p> <p>“The family motto is ‘never complain never explain’. But it’s just a motto. It doesn’t really hold. There’s endless [complaining and explaining] through leaks."</p> <p>“They will feed or have a conversation with the correspondent and that correspondent will be spoon fed information and write the story."</p> <p>“Then at the bottom of it they will say that they have reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.</p> <p>“But the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting."</p> <p>“So when we are being told for the last six years we can’t put a statement out to protect you, but you do it for the rest of the family, there becomes a point when silence is betrayal.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / ITV</em></p>

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Sam Armytage shares desperate plea after devastating news

<p dir="ltr">Sam Armytage, the former host of Sunrise, has issued an urgent plea after the heart-breaking news that a close family friend will need a stem-cell donor immediately.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maggie Banyard, who is only 14, from the Illawarra region of NSW, was diagnosed with leukaemia after suffering from a sore throat and a headache.</p> <p dir="ltr">At first, doctors thought it was only tonsillitis but further testing went on to discover the youngster has cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We told Maggie she had leukaemia, but she didn’t really understand,” her mum Chantal told the Sunday Telegraph.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then we said; ‘Maggie you have blood cancer’. She burst into tears and our whole world fell apart.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Maggie has been diagnosed with acute myelod leukaemia (AML) which is high-risk and affects the blood and bone barrow. To survive Maggie now needs a bone-marrow transplant.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She needs a stem cell match. You can directly help with the search with a simple cheek swab - the kit comes in the post and you do it all from home!” a message on the Match4Maggie Instagram page reads.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck71UBBDKbd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck71UBBDKbd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Please help us find a Stem Cell Match for Maggie (@match4maggie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Everyone should do this - even if your stem cells aren’t a match for Maggie, they could still help save someone else.“These tests are especially useful if you are under the age of 30 and the test couldn’t be easier for you to do. If you then are a match to someone, to help, all you would need to do is donate some blood.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Armytage has shared her own plea on Instagram, saying: “ATTENTION‼️ all you good people of the Illawarra (&amp; beyond!) ‼️ Maggie Banyard is a family friend of ours.. she’s a beautiful 14 year old girl - diagnosed with a bloody horrible form of leukaemia”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know you’ve all got lots on atm but please help spread the word: the family is looking for a suitable stem cell donor to help save Maggie’s life.”</p> <p>You can find the Match4Maggie Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/match4maggie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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“Give us the closure we need”: Chris Dawson's daughter's desperate plea

<p dir="ltr">Chris Dawson’s eldest daughter has addressed her father with an emotional plea during a court hearing prior to his sentencing for murdering his wife, Lynette.</p> <p dir="ltr">Shanelle Dawson delivered a victim-impact statement during the hearing at the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, where she pleaded with her father to “finally admit the truth”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/stunning-chris-dawson-verdict-handed-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dawson was convicted of Lynette’s murder</a> by Justice Ian Harrison in August after one of the country’s most high-profile trials.</p> <p dir="ltr">The former teacher wasn’t charged over the murder until 2018 and has always maintained that Lynette walked out of their family in the early 1980s.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fighting back tears, Shanelle told the court she had endured “41 years of deceit, silence, trauma and gaslighting” at the hands of her father.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The night you removed our mother from our lives was the night you destroyed my sense of safety and belonging in this world for many years to come," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her father sat silently in the dock and looked at the floor while Shanelle told him he had “no right” to take away her mother.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are not God”, she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I went to great lengths to keep the secret from my daughter… Unfortunately her friend told her. I had to explain to my beautiful innocent daughter why her grandfather killed her grandmother. </p> <p dir="ltr">"She kept asking, 'Why did he do that?' The same question which tortured me for years and years.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Why didn't you just divorce her? Because of money? For God's sake."</p> <p dir="ltr">Shanelle was four when her mother was last seen, and her sister was two.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why didn’t you just divorce her, and let those who love and need her, keep her?” Shanelle continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It hurts me deeply to think of you in jail for the rest of your life but I also choose not to carry your burdens anymore.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The now 44-year-old said the thought of Dawson being in jail hurt because she had lost her mother and father too, and she asked him to reveal where her mother was.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Please tell us where she is," Shanelle said. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I hope you will finally admit the truth to yourself and give us the closure we need."</p> <p dir="ltr">The court also heard statements from Lynette’s siblings, Gregory Simms and Patricia Jenkins, which were read out on their behalf.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Simms wrote that Dawson had been accepted into the family but “repaid us by committing the ultimate betrayal”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He added that the years of lying to the Simms family and his own daughters showed that Dawson was a “conniving monster hell-bent on … getting what you wanted at any cost”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"To see you sitting there during the trial, showing no remorse or accountability ... confirmed in my mind that you are a coward and can only see things from your own perspective and gain," Mr Simms wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We ask you to do the decent thing and allow us to bring Lyn home to rest, finally giving her the decency she deserves."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Jenkins wrote of her initial confusion of learning that her sister was missing and that a “black cloud” had been hanging over the family for 40 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">She said she had watched her sister be reduced from a “vibrant, caring, funny and intelligent” woman to one without confidence by Dawson even before her death.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes after Justice Harrison found that Dawson was motivated to kill Lynette because of an “obsessive infatuation” with “JC”, the family’s teenaged babysitter who was a student at the school he taught at and his future wife.</p> <p dir="ltr">The judge said Dawson was “tortured” at the prospect of losing “JC” while he was “shackled with a wife” he wanted to leave.</p> <p dir="ltr">During his marathon judgement, Justice Harrison ruled that Lynette died on or around January 8, 1982, and was satisfied that Dawson’s claims of speaking with her after that date were “lies”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Thursday’s hearing, Crown prosecutor Craig Everson SC argued that Dawson had planned the murder for at least six days.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The death of Lynette and the offender's subsequent campaign of disinformation left her parents and siblings in a state of anxiety and uncertainty for decades," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Greg Walsh, Dawson’s lawyer, said that the murder was an “isolated” and “precipitous” act and that Dawson had been receiving death threats <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/detailed-look-at-chris-dawson-s-first-day-behind-bars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in jail</a>, where inmates called him “The Teacher’s Pet”, in reference to the podcast that thrust the case into the spotlight.</p> <p dir="ltr">The hearing concluded with Justice Harrison reserving his judgement, with Dawson’s sentence due to be handed down on December 2.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fa67992a-7fff-b1a0-a1d4-9e3cc41df528"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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