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Long-serving ABC star calls it quits

Paul Barry, the veteran host of Media Watch, who has made a career out of poking the media bear, has announced his departure from the ABC show in December. After an illustrious (and occasionally infamous) tenure that would make a soap opera look like a nap, Barry is hanging up his microphone at the ripe age of 72. “I’ve been in the hot seat for 11 years and it’s time to give someone else a go,” Barry remarked, possibly while the hot seat sighed in relief. Indeed, hosting Media Watch is no small feat – it's a bit like riding a roller coaster while simultaneously refereeing a brawl. But Barry has certainly done it with aplomb, panache and a fair amount of flair. His announcement has left viewers with mixed feelings – a blend of gratitude for his unyielding service and a tinge of sadness, akin to the bittersweet end of a beloved TV series. Barry promised to stay with us until December, giving us ample time to stock up on popcorn and enjoy the remaining episodes. "Lots of fun to be had before then," he teased, hinting at some final rounds of media mischief. For those who might be wondering what Barry plans to do next, well, that's still a mystery. Perhaps he'll take up knitting, but knowing him, it’ll likely be with barbed wire. Barry first commandeered Media Watch in 2000 before returning in 2013, making a grand comeback that rivalled any reality TV show. Over the years, he has ruffled enough feathers to fill a sizeable pillow factory. Commercial media outlets, politicians and even his own network – as Media Watch famously runs independently of the ABC – have all been on the receiving end of his sharp critiques. His fearless approach has made him a hero to many and a headache to some. One of Barry’s most memorable moments came in 2013 during a spat with columnist Andrew Bolt. When Bolt provocatively asked Barry to reveal his salary on air, Barry did just that – $191,259, to be precise. It was a jaw-dropping moment that left viewers stunned and Bolt, presumably, a bit flummoxed. In between his stints at Media Watch, Barry has donned many hats – investigative reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald, correspondent for 60 Minutes, and author of several books, including a controversial unauthorised biography of James Packer. His career has been a veritable smorgasbord of journalism, controversy and unflinching honesty. An ABC spokesperson paid tribute to Barry, highlighting his “track record of independent commentary, analysis, and robust discussion about the media industry and its ethics – or lack thereof.” Barry has indeed been the watchdog’s watchdog, never shying away from calling out malpractice, no matter where it reared its head. As the ABC gears up to announce a new host, the shoes left behind are large ones to fill. Barry’s departure marks the end of an era – one filled with wit, grit and an unwavering commitment to holding the media accountable. So, here’s to Paul Barry – the feather-ruffler, the truth-seeker, the man who made us laugh, gasp and, most importantly, think. As he steps down from Media Watch, we wish him the very best in his next adventure, whether that’s taking on new journalistic endeavours or finally perfecting that tricky scarf pattern. Bravo, Mr Barry. You will be missed. Image: Media Watch

"Fly high, Bette!": World's longest-serving flight attendant dies aged 88

Bette Nash, the world's longest-serving flight attendant has passed away aged 88, after a short battle with breast cancer. American Airlines, where Nash devoted almost seven decades of her life, announced her death on social media on Saturday. "We mourn the passing of Bette Nash, who spent nearly seven decades warmly caring for our customers in the air," they began their post. “Bette was a legend at American and throughout the industry, inspiring generations of flight attendants. “Fly high, Bette. We’ll miss you.” A spokesperson for the airlines confirmed that she was still an active employee at the time of her death. Nash, who was born on December 31, 1935, began her flight-attendant career with Eastern Airlines in 1957, at just 21-years-old. In January 2022, she was officially recognised as the world’s longest-serving flight attendant by Guinness World Records, after surpassing the previous record a year earlier. She continued to hold the title until her passing. Tributes have poured in from people all over the world on social media, with many praising her for her unwavering dedication and kindness. "Fly high Bette! It was a pleasure being your passenger," wrote one person on X, alongside a selfie he took with her. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Fly high Bette! It was a pleasure being your passenger. <a href="https://t.co/9N63YPB5Ia">pic.twitter.com/9N63YPB5Ia</a> — Jon Kruse (@JonKruseYacht) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKruseYacht/status/1794459429997273423?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2024</a></blockquote> "She was flying as a passenger when she sat next to me, pinned her jacket to the bulkhead, gave me a three minute story of her life then said 'So what's your story?'. She was a dynamo. Rest easy," another added. "She was an absolute delight in my earliest airline life working the USAir shuttle at LGA. Godspeed and eternal silvered wings Bette!" a third wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> She was an absolute delight in my earliest airline life working the USAir shuttle at LGA. Godspeed and eternal silvered wings Bette! — Ryan Spellman (@JustJettingThru) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustJettingThru/status/1794480142766531034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2024</a></blockquote> "Rest in Peace Bette Nash," wrote a fourth. "Bette was a class act. Truly a loss for the skies. She was truly an Angel," added another. Image: CBS/ X

Caring

"Am I dreaming?": Prince William serves up burgers from food van

The Prince of Wales has stunned a few unsuspecting customers of a London food truck by serving them burgers. In collaboration with popular YouTube channel Sorted Food, Prince William took part in the stunt to promote The Earthshot Prize, a mission he founded in hopes to repair the planet. They worked together to create a plant-based 'Earthshot burger', which they served to customers, in the clip shared on YouTube. As part of the stunt, Prince William first hid his identity by facing away from the customers, when it was time to serve the food, he turned around with burgers in hand to the shock of the diners. "My brain took three seconds to buffer - am I dreaming?" one said after seeing Prince William serving burgers. "I was lost for words," said another. "I was shell-shocked" said a third. The Prince of Wales also praised last year's Earthshot Prize winners, and explained that the dishes served used three of their innovations, which all represented a solution to help repair the planet. "For those of you who don't know, the Earthshot Prize is there to repair and regenerate the planet. Everything you see here comes from the winners from last year," he said. The ingredients for the burgers were sourced by Indian start-up Kheyti, who support local farmers and help shelter their crops from unpredictable weather events and pests. The burgers were cooked in a cleaner-burning portable stove from Mukuru Clean Stoves, which aims to reduce air pollution, and the food was served on Notpla takeaway containers made from natural and biodegradable materials. This is the verdict from the diners: "the best burger we've ever had." The Prince also joked with diners saying that the global Earthshot Prize started back when he "had hair." "It's designed as an environmental prize tackling the world's greatest environmental problems," he said. "We liked the idea that this is a big deal, this is like something we really need to aim for, but it's about saving the planet, not taking us to the moon." He added: "And there's many people out there who want us to move to the next planet already and I'm like, hang on, let's not give up on this planet yet." Images: Kensington Palace/ Sorted Food YouTube

Food & Wine

Man served with AVO after turning up on Sophie Monk’s doorstep

A man has been served with an AVO after he turned up at Sophie Monk’s home clutching a single red rose; claiming he was the victim of an elaborate catfishing scam that robbed him of $7,000. Brian Rapley said police questioned him “like I was some crazed stalker” but insisted that he had months of messages on his phone between him and the person he had believed to be Monk. “I feel like such an idiot,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “But I thought we were in a relationship." Police were called on April 25 to Monk’s NSW Central Coast home after a man was spotted outside at 7:30am calling her name. He returned later that evening and was swarmed by police. Rapley, 49, said five police cars descended on him. "They said to me, ‘What are you here to do to Sophie Monk?’ and I said, ‘I’m here to meet her for the first time, we are in a relationship'." Monk wasn’t home at the time as she was with her husband Joshua Gross in Queensland filming a movie Zombie Plane with US entertainer Vanilla Ice. “I do not know any person by the name of Brian Rapley. I am not in a relationship with anyone by the name of Brian Rapley. I am currently happily married to my husband Joshua Gross,” Monk said in a statement to police. Rapley wasn’t officially charged but was served with an AVO and told not to approach the TV personality. He had told police that he genuinely believed it was Monk he was communicating with after he left a message on her verified Instagram account. “Then next thing I get a message from another account but with the same profile pic as Sophie, saying, ‘Hey, it's Sophie … let’s chat here, my manager reads my official account, so this is better,’” he told the Daily Telegraph. Over the span of four months, he said he and the person he believed to be Monk spoke regularly. Rapley showed the outlet the multiple messages he claimed he thought were from the star. One of the messages to him read, “I love you”. However, there were telling signs that it was likely a scam as the “relationship” never moved from messaging to phone calls. “I did think that was weird. I was like ‘If you are who you say you are, you could walk into a shop and get a new phone for free’”. However, the account explained that their phone was broken and they were too busy to buy a new one. Rapley then said he fell for a scam in which the person he thought was Monk said she was “getting all this money” but asked him to send her cash in the meantime. When he questioned why he would be sending money to such a high-profile celeb, he was told it was just “bank account drama”. He then revealed that the person he was messaging provided him with Monk’s address and told him to meet her there on April 25 so they could finally meet face-to-face. Rapley said he was embarrassed. “Look, I know it sounds stupid … I look like a right fool but the truth is I’m just lonely, and I believed her.” Image credit: Getty

Relationships

"With Honour They Served": Outpouring of emotion after shooting victims identified

The two police officers who were executed at a Queensland rural property have been identified. Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow were at a property in the western Darling Downs, about three hours west of Brisbane when they were shot on December 12. One of the neighbours, Alan Dare, 58, was also shot and killed in the attack which led to a manhunt for the alleged attackers. Police services around the country offered their condolences to the families of Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow after their heroic actions. “It is with a heavy heart we confirm the deaths of Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow,” Queensland Police wrote on Facebook. “Their lives were cut tragically short in the line of duty at Wieambilla yesterday. “With Honour They Served.” Police were at the rural property in response to a missing person, who was later identified as former school principal Nathaniel Train. There were grave concerns for Mr Train who disappeared from Dubbo in the NSW Central West in early December. Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow were joined by two other officers, Constable Keeley Brough and Constable Randall Kirk, both aged 28, at the property. A six-hour siege ensued, with the officers opening fire about 4.45 pm which saw Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow killed. Constable Kirk was also wounded while Constable Brough, who was only eight weeks into her new role, managed to escape and raise the alarm. The pair were finally joined by Special Operations police and helped them shoot dead three suspects, including brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and a third female, after a six hour siege. Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was heartbroken at describing what had happened, following the death of her colleagues. “This has been incredibly distressing and tragic for everyone, particularly family, officers involved, colleagues, the organisation and the community,” she said. “As you would appreciate. It is an extremely emotional and challenging time for the Queensland Police Service. Losing one of our own has a profound impact on every single officer and their families. To lose two officers in one incident is absolutely devastating. “This event is the largest loss of police life we have suffered in a single incident in many years. “I want to pay tribute to the two other officers who attended....they bravely did what they could to save their colleagues in the most horrendous circumstances. Their bravery was beyond belief. “Thank you also to the specialist police and other first stand-of-responders who were involved in the dangerous confrontation for many hours last night. Matthew and Rachel were highly respected and much loved members of the Queensland Police Service. “They were both committed and courageous young people who had a passion for policing and for serving their community. “Both are under 30 years of age. Both had wonderful careers and lives ahead of them.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his condolences to the fallen officers. “Terrible scenes in Wieambilla and a heartbreaking day for the families and friends of the Queensland Police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty,” he wrote on Twitter. “My condolences to all who are grieving tonight – Australia mourns with you.” Images: Facebook

News

"The time for lip service is over": Dylan Alcott serves it up to Centrelink

During his appearance at the Jobs and Skills summit in Canberra, Aussie tennis legend Dylan Alcott delivered an impassioned speech on behalf of all people with disabilities, demanding they be allowed to work more hours without losing their Centrelink benefits. His plea comes as the nation suffers through what's been widely characterised as an extreme labour shortage – with Alcott's rallying cry to change the current rules surrounding employment and the disability pension powerfully underlined by his parting shot that "the time for lip service is over". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "My whole life it hasn't changed": Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has called for an increase in workplace participation for Australians living with a disability during the government's jobs and skills summit in Canberra. Read more on the jobs summit: <a href="https://t.co/iyFrzKUT9l">https://t.co/iyFrzKUT9l</a> <a href="https://t.co/MFdrsEoADy">pic.twitter.com/MFdrsEoADy</a> — SBS News (@SBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews/status/1565218388716261377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> The Australian of the Year suggested that people with disabilities should have the advantage of picking up more work without losing Centrelink payments. Presenting the moving speech to 140 attendees, he spoke passionately about the current state of affairs for people with disabilities in the workforce. “Nearly 4.5 million people in this country have some form of physical or non-physical disability, visible or invisible, and only 54% of them are enrolled in the workforce,” he said “I'm 31 years old, that participation rate hasn't changed in 28 years. My whole life. It hasn't changed. “And to be honest, that's not fair. That really isn't fair. Because people with a disability are ready to have the choice if they want to work, just like anybody else.” “The time for lip service is over to be honest, because we've been getting that for a long time.” Australia's unemployment rate currently sits at 3.4% – however, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities is almost triple that. Alcott suggests the best solution to combat the problem is to allow those on disability support payments to work more hours without losing their benefits. Currently someone on that payment loses 50c in every dollar they earn over $190 a fortnight, putting them off working extra hours. “There are so many opportunities to get out there and work at the moment, yet it's not really translating into people with disabilities getting that chance,” Alcott said. “We need to have the opportunity to get out there and have a crack.” Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Qantas rolls out new self-serve kiosk machines

Qantas will roll out new kiosk machines that will help streamline passengers onto their flight without any headaches. Following the disastrous Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends which saw the Qantas terminal snaking with lines due to staff shortages and delayed flights, the airline bounced at the change. The new self-serve kiosk machines will help make the airport experience faster and easier for customers travelling on domestic flights. The national carrier started a limited trial of the self-serve machines in Terminal 3 at Sydney Domestic Airport and are expected to complete the roll out by June. Other major domestic airports will slowly see them installed by the end of September. Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the change was due to passengers already checking in online. “We have seen consumer preferences dramatically shift towards digital and being able to manage their own journey, so we’re investing more in our app and airport technology to make travelling easier,” she said. “The existing kiosks were instrumental in reducing queuing for check-in at airport counters when they were introduced more than 10 years ago, and these new kiosks will match the latest technology with customer preferences. “Understandably, our customers want to move through the airport and get to the lounge or boarding gate as seamlessly as possible, and the new kiosks will help speed things up. “We will incorporate feedback from Frequent flyers as the new kiosks are rolled out across the network. “We know that some customers would prefer to speak to a person when they check in, so we’ll continue to have the same number of Qantas team members available in the terminal to help customers with enquiries as well as have check-in desks open.” HOW THE PROCESS WORKS: 1) Check-in online (qantas.com or on the Qantas app) 2) Use new kiosks to print bag tags 3) Drop luggage at auto-bag drops 4) Use digital boarding pass to board flight. Image: Qantas

Travel Trouble

Always got room for dessert? A new option has landed

Guzman y Gomez (GYG) have been rolling out a new soft serve dessert at select restaurants over the past few weeks, and it has now officially landed at over 50 restaurants across the country. GYG says their new soft-serve is 100% and contains no nasty additives or preservatives. The soft serve comes as a classic waffle cone or a small or large sundae. For something extra, you can also grab a Churro Sundae, complete with dulce de leche or chocolate sauce and a churro on top. The move sees GYG move into the popular take-away dessert space that has long been dominated by eateries like Maccas, who are the current king of the soft serve with the bargain buy sitting at $0.70, where as GYG's will cost you $2.50. However, the Sundaes are closer in price, with GYG charging $3.50 for a small, $4.50 for a large and $5.50 for the Churro Sundae. Pop into your local GYG today and give these new flavours a go! Image: Guzman y Gomez

Food & Wine

ALDI shoppers left fuming

An alert on ALDI’s self-serve checkouts prompting shoppers to only pay by card has left customers fuming. A photo shared to popular Facebook page, Aldi Fans Australia, shows the supermarket’s self-serve screen with the words “Card payment only” on it. The self-serve checkouts were installed in nine stores across New South Wales in June 2021 - but that’s not what’s got customers annoyed. Customers said they would not be shopping at ALDI if they did not accept cash options. “No cash, no buy - so bye bye. Cash only here,” one customer said. “I pay for everything with cash. Cash is king,” another wrote. “I'd rather use a human being, thanks, and keep someone in a job,'' one woman said. “I used to get paid to do that job, now they want me to do it for free,” someone else commented. “I would prefer cash any day, at least I know where it is,” another added. On the other hand, shoppers commended the introduction of the self-serve checkouts which will help them complete their trip quicker. “Now we can go at our own pace,” one commented. “This makes me super happy. Love self-serve,” another added. “'I never have cash, I have almost forgotten it's a thing, doesn't everyone just use their phone to pay for stuff now?” someone else wrote. Images: Facebook/Shutterstock

Food & Wine

Woolies employee reveals unknown self-serve checkout hack

One Woolworths employee has shown those who struggle with self-serve checkout one easy hack to get you sorted. A new clip shared to TikTok by the official Woolworths page, has shared with shoppers a simple way to stop calling for assistance at self-serve checkouts when scanning and bagging items. However, followers of the page were more excited to see the employee sharing the hack, rather than the hack itself. Woolworths' staffer Liam Kirley shot to fame on TikTok after his in-store videos went viral. In the video, Liam shows himself lining up the items to be packed in a single bag before scanning. "Press I've got a bag on the machine, then place the bag in the bagging area," he said. "Then place all the items you want in that bag on the parcel shelf. “Then do something called a power slide, you slide items across and the barcodes will scan easier." He shared that the green light will let you know when it's time to scan another item and when you can move your bag. Liam also revealed that pressing the new bag button on the bottom left-hand side of the screen will make it easier to start the process again with a new bag. The clip also shows shoppers how to scan heavy items without lugging them onto the bagging area or calling staff for help. "If you've got a bag item like the water, tap the heavy miscellaneous and then tap the item you want in," he shared. Liam rose to stardom on TikTok, by sharing simple secrets for the supermarket. <img id="__mcenew" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843801/woolies-checkout.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7cc9747b7b0d44038f29d4649ff80cc2" /> His viral videos have gained him more than 150,000 followers and seven million likes. Now, Liam says he will be running the new Woolworths account, as a content coordinator. Woolies launched their new account on TikTok during the week and delves to share recipe ideas, cooking hacks from food experts, shopping tips and sneak peeks into new stores. “We are pleased to be launching on TikTok and to give customers an even closer look at what it means to be Today’s Fresh Food People," Woolworths Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said. “TikTok is a great platform to share content and we hope can help make customers’ shopping easier through simple and fun tips and insights. “In planning the launch on TikTok, it was important we had an authentic voice of our team that would resonate with the channel's audience. "We’re excited to have Liam bring that same authenticity across a range of content to inspire our customers.”

Money & Banking

Why this self-serve checkout “hack” should never be tried in store

A self-serve checkout hack video has gone viral, amassing almost over a million views; but supermarket chains have warned customers against it. The video posted to TikTok was shared by a Woolworths customer who revealed that machines have a coin slot flap that can be lifted, which can allow shoppers to dump multiple coins at once instead of inserting them one-by-one. “Oi Aussies, did you know that at Woolworths you can pull this up to insert your coins when you have too many?” she said in the video. However, supermarket chains are asking customers not to try out the “hack” as it is not intended for customer use, and shoppers can risk jamming the machines. Woolies staff commented on the video, writing “Noooo don’t do this, the machine will jam then we gotta fix it.” Another said: “You’ll end up waiting longer … great way to jam the coin slot they have to individually go on a belt to be sorted so the machine knows what’s been put in,” another added. A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au it is not a simple hack shoppers should ever attempt. “The purpose of the coin flap is to prevent debris, food and other small objects from getting into the machine which could cause jams. “However, we do not encourage customers to put an excess amount of coins, i.e. piggy bank full of coins.”

Retirement Life

"I cried so much": Woolies shopper floored by stunning staff gesture

A Woolworths shopper has shared the unexpected act by a staff member while she was paying for groceries. Posting the story on Facebook, Victorian shopper Sammy said the kind Woolworths checkout worker left her in tears while she was going through the self-serve checkout. The customer said she was in a distressed state while out shopping at her local store following the death of her dog earlier that day. When the employee asked if she needed help at the checkout, Sammy shared what had happened and the worker went and picked up a box of Cadbury Favourites chocolates for the grieving customer to take home. “Today I lost my beautiful German shepherd, I had to duck into [Woolworths] for dinner,” she wrote. “We still need to wear masks in Ballarat, Victoria. I’m at the self-service checkout and I’m asked if I was OK, my eyes must’ve said it all. “I told her my dog passed this morning and she came back with these and gave her condolences. I cried so much in my car. “A beautiful act of kindness from your staff.” A Woolworths representative replied to Sammy’s post, saying the supermarket was proud of their worker’s kind actions. “We wish to extend our sincere condolences to you and your family during this difficult time,” they said. “We’re glad to hear that one of our team members at our Ballarat store could see that you weren’t OK and give you a box of Cadbury Favourites. “We’ve already provided your feedback to the Ballarat Store Management team so the team member in question receives the recognition she deserves.” Image: Facebook

Family & Pets

"Blatant disregard for hygiene": Man slams Woolworths self-serve checkouts

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A Woolworths customer slammed the supermarket giant for a "blatant disregard of hygiene" at one of its Melbourne stores. He said that he was disappointed to see that staff at his local store had left bins on the grocery shelves next to some self-serve registers. “It is almost inconceivable that anyone would place rubbish bins at any time on a surface where meat and vegetables are placed, but during a pandemic?” the customer wrote. “It is inexcusable.” He also said it was a "blatant disregard for hygiene". <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwoolworths%2Fposts%2F5142232599182163&width=500&show_text=true&height=561&appId" width="500" height="561" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> However, many defended the supermarket, saying that they didn't see the problem. “These bins are just for the receipts. How are they any less hygienic than the counter that people are touching?” said one. “He says, whilst using a touchscreen or keyboard, both of which harbour more bacteria than your average toilet seat,” another commenter said. “The two registers with bins on the bench are closed. What’s the big deal? The rubbish isn’t going to jump out, on to your meat and vegetables,” a third agreed. The irritated shopper said he would prefer to see the bins "on the FLOOR". A Woolworths spokesperson said that they would pass the shoppers feedback onto the relevant store. </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

The subtle yet sneaky Woolies tactic you didn’t notice at checkout

A little-known feature at Woolworths’ self-serve checkouts is being used to stamp out potential theft and helping customers scan groceries faster. Sneaky shoppers who may try to cheat the self-serve system by scanning avocados as carrots should beware. New technology at the assisted checkouts will now be able to detect the type of loose product a customer is purchasing. The upgrade in the self-service checkout machines has been rolled out in 220 of its 1050 stores and allows the scanner to analyse the subtle characteristics of the product being weighed. The screen will then give chekoutlists with three fruit and vegetable options to choose from. “So if a customer places a loose tomato on the scanner, the system will show a range of tomato varieties rather than the full list of fruit and veg items,” a Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia. “This makes self-serve that little bit faster and improves the accuracy of product selection for customers.” The Picklist Assist feature scans fruit and vegetables using imaging technology. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839069/woolies-sself-servce-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f9b1985b850a4be3b5802a52ffa9915f" /> It brings up shortlists of items to help shoppers make selection of their product image quicker. Woolworths hopes the technology will simplify their shop. “We’re always looking for ways to make shopping easier for our customers,” the Woolworths spokesperson said. “As we progressively upgrade our assisted checkouts, we have access to new technology, which helps customers find loose fruit and veg items in the system faster. “The system uses image recognition technology to filter the list of possible products based on their colour, shape or size.”

Food & Wine

“I want to serve time in jail”: Accountant confesses to stealing $500k from employer

A former accountant who stole more than half a million dollars from her employer to fund her extravagant lifestyle has been jailed after telling police she wanted to spend time in prison. Donna Zanin, 42, was ordered to serve two years and three months behind bars on Tuesday after she admitted to siphoning $551,451 from the company’s finances. The accountant pleaded guilty last month to six counts of theft, which was carried out in 57 individual transactions ranging from $2,000 to over $20,000 between November 2014 and January 2019. Zanin had been the only financial manager at the Schnitz food chain until she was made redundant in a 2018 company restructure. She was later re-hired on a contract basis. The new financial head Regan Cheriton noticed the suspicious transactions and told Zanin on June 6, 2019 that he was working with ANZ to investigate them. Zanin confessed to the thefts at Richmond police station the day after, showing the 34 international flights bought with the stolen funds on her passport. She also sent an apology text to Schnitz founder Roman Dyduk, saying: “I’ve decided I’m ruining my life and have been enacting a plan to ruin my life for some time. “I sound insane but I will serve time in jail. I want to serve time in jail. I’m at the police station now confessing.” County Court judge David Sexton said while Zanin showed significant remorse, he was “somewhat bewildered” by her explanation. “You told police in that interview that you had been stealing money from your workplace for an extended period of time and you had been waiting to get caught,” he said in the Melbourne County Court on Tuesday, as reported by <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/schnitz-accountant-stole-500k-told-cops-she-wanted-to-go-to-jail-20200630-p557md.html">The Age</a>. “You had spent the money mostly on extravagant holidays, expensive restaurants, alcohol. “You also provided a sustained and detailed narrative about wanting to get caught, wanting to self-sabotage, purposefully stealing an extreme amount of money and knowing you would probably go to jail.” Judge Sexton said Zanin’s offending was a significant breach of trust and seriously affected the family business Dyduk built with his sons. Zanin will be eligible for parole after 16 months.

Legal

Woolworths confirms trial video surveillance on self-serve checkouts

Woolworths have confirmed they are trialling video surveillance at its self-serve check-outs in hopes of officially stamping out theft for good. Melbourne shopper Branwell Travers was the one who first called out the change when he took to Twitter to explain how he had seen a video of himself appearing on the screen of a self-serve checkout. "For how long has Woolworths been filming me while using self-check-outs?" he captioned the photo. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836311/woolies.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/902af3252a5049e0a9f1054dc722c419" /> Mr Travers told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/woolworths-security-self-serve-checkout-trial/" target="_blank">Pedestrian TV</a> he first thought the checkout must have been glitching to have recorded him. “I was kinds confused and thought maybe it was a malfunction or something,” he said. “But I looked over my shoulder and saw the person next to me had the same thing.” Another customer also shared they were “shocked” to discover they were also being filmed at another Woolies self-service checkout kiosk. A Woolworths spokesman told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/woolworths-trialling-video-surveillance-at-selfservice-checkouts/news-story/29b75c97c5fba310071318b6ef87a459" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>: “We know the vast majority of our customers do the right thing at our self-serve check-outs. This is a new security measure we're trialling for those that don’t. “Our stores have staffed checkout lanes for customers who would prefer not to take part in the trial.” Video taken by Woolworths at the self-service kiosk is not recorded or stored and the cameras cannot see the card PIN pad section. Image: Branwell Travers viaTwitter

Legal

MasterChef contestant kicked out after serving dead bird to the judges

Spanish MasterChef fans have been left in shock after one of their contestants served an unplucked and uncooked partridge to the less than impressed judges. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Así ha sido la expulsión de Saray en el cuarto programa de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChef?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChef</a> 8 <a href="https://t.co/5KB3O2GWnE">https://t.co/5KB3O2GWnE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PYvzC9D0oq">pic.twitter.com/PYvzC9D0oq</a> — MasterChef (@MasterChef_es) <a href="https://twitter.com/MasterChef_es/status/1257449800540336130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2020</a></blockquote> 27-year-old social worker Saray was reportedly unhappy with having to pluck and cook the bird for that week’s elimination challenge and defiantly decided to serve the bird as is. She was already upset with previous harsh critiques she’d received from the judges and plated up the uncooked partridge with cherry tomatoes and dressing. The clip has since been watched more than 1.8 million times on Twitter and shows Saray calmly delivering the uncooked bird to the judges. Fans of the show were disgusted and thrilled by the drama and the incident spread quickly on Twitter. A viewer tweeted: “MasterChef Spain is more exciting than the British version! “Contestant serves up an uncooked, unplucked partridge because she's p***ed off that her effort in the previous round was rubbished by the judges.” Another Spanish national sarcastically said: "This is the society that we are creating children-adults, crying, conceited, badly educated ....... Let's continue like this."

Food & Wine

Woolworths hack goes viral: Did you know about this handy trick?

A user on the TikTok social media app has revealed a trolley hack that will make everyone’s next trip to the supermarket so much easier. The little-known trick, made viral by user @ebonyhit, is that a smaller trolley can slide effortlessly over the self-serve kiosk where customers would typically place a basket or their purchased items. “I just learnt the small trolley fits at Woolies self-serve!” the clip was captioned. <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6819906853787421957"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ebonyhit" target="_blank" title="@ebonyhit">@ebonyhit</a> am i the only one who just figured this out <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6819906609733913350" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - ebonyhit">♬ original sound - ebonyhit</a></blockquote> Since it was originally posted, the video has attracted more than 17,000 likes on the social media platform, as well as around 400 comments from stunned viewers. “You’re smarter than me, I’m 43 and just found this out,” one person said. Another added: “This has spun me out, my whole world has changed.” It is unknown whether the trolley hack works at other supermarkets but it’s a free trick worth trying!

Food & Wine

Cash for aces: Nick Kyrgios to serve up bushfire relief

Nick Kyrgios has pledged to donate $200 for every ace he hits this summer to raise funds for bushfire-affected communities. “I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer,” the world no. 30 wrote on Twitter Thursday night. Australian teammate Alex de Minaur joined in, saying he would contribute $250 per ace. “I will go $250 per ace, just because I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate,” de Minaur responded to Kyrgios’ post. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreToCome?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MoreToCome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayTuned?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayTuned</a> — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios/status/1212677231270645762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> I like this I will go $250 per ace, just because I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate. 😂😂😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dropthehammer?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dropthehammer</a> <a href="https://t.co/SxMPs3XQud">https://t.co/SxMPs3XQud</a> — alex de minaur (@alexdeminaur) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexdeminaur/status/1212686230296547328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> The pledge came after Kyrgios proposed a charity exhibition match to Tennis Australia. “C’mon @TennisAustralia surely we can do a pre @AustralianOpen exho to raise funds for those affected by the fires?” the 24-year-old shared to Twitter on Wednesday. The governing body’s CEO Craig Tiley said initiatives to help raise money for bushfire relief will be announced soon, beginning at the inaugural ATP Cup. The tournament, which will take place in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, announced on Friday morning that every ace served in its inaugural competition will see $100 donated to Australian Red Cross. The game’s headline acts included world no. 1 Rafael Nadal and and no. 2 Novak Djokovic. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Each ace served across the <a href="https://twitter.com/ATPCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATPCup</a> at all three venues will deliver $100 to the <a href="https://twitter.com/RedCrossAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RedCrossAU</a> bushfire disaster relief and recovery efforts. With more than 1500 aces expected to be served, the tournament contribution is expected to exceed $150,000. — ATPCup (@ATPCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/ATPCup/status/1212739231916818435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> “For weeks we’ve been watching the devastation caused by bushfires across Australia and the people affected are constantly in our thoughts,” Tiley said on Thursday. “We ... will announce a number of fundraising and support initiatives that will be rolled out across the ATP Cup, Australian Open and our other events over the coming weeks. Stay tuned for further announcements.”

Domestic Travel

Shoppers unimpressed with Woolworths’ new self-serve tactic

Shoppers aren’t happy with the latest self-serve checkout that’s been unveiled at a new Woolworths store in Melbourne this week. Millers Junction Woolworths in Melbourne’s west was treated to Victoria’s very first self-serve checkout specifically for trolleys. This could potentially sole issues about overcrowding in the service area. “I think it’s a great idea, and I really love self service,” one person told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/customers-hit-out-at-woolworths-new-self-service-tactic-033430011.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a>. “The only time we don’t use it is if we had a full trolley, but the new self-serve would solve that problem.” However, many were quick to point out that adding more self-serve checkouts doesn’t solve the problems of overcrowding. “This company still doesn't get it. If you go shopping you do not want to have to serve yourself as well. Business is just greedy for money, cut jobs, no staff for the customer to interact with,” one person said. “No jobs for the young kids to get a kickstart in the workforce. Computers have definitely helped but before you know it nobody will be working because robots and computers will do it all,” another agreed. “This solves nothing, now the slow morons that really should not be using self-check out to begin with will take up more space and waste more time,” a third person said. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmammaknowswest%2Fphotos%2Fa.801562326538146%2F3023260567701633%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="380" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology said that self-serve checkouts do not always equal less employees. “Roles are simply moved from one area to another,” Professor Mortimer told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/customers-hit-out-at-woolworths-new-self-service-tactic-033430011.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a>. “I think the service is still the same, it’s just with one option you’re actually actively involved in controlling your transaction - and some shoppers like that.” Mortimer also suggests that there is a mindset that it’s faster to unload, scan and bag your own groceries through self-serve but it really takes the same amount of time as an employee doing it for you. “Because we are stressed and because we are perceived to be time-poor, it doesn’t matter which queue you’re in, you’re always going to believe you’re in the slowest queue,” he explained. “The perception is ‘Wow, this is really quick’, but there could be 20 customers ahead of you, but when you’re standing in a checkout there might be two people in front, and you go ‘This is going really slow. “It’s just the movement which creates the psychology that things are moving faster.” Mortimer says that retailers across the board are looking to provide shoppers with different ways to transact their goods. “I think these types of conveyor belt style self-service technologies will roll out, I don’t think they will be predominant across all checkouts but there will certainly be one or two options for customers,” Professor Mortimer said. “Particularly in busier stores.”

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Shoppers unimpressed with Woolworths’ new self-serve tactic

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