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New studies suggest millions with mild cognitive impairment go undiagnosed, often until it’s too late

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/soeren-mattke-1484707">Soeren Mattke</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-california-1265">University of Southern California</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ying-liu-1221170">Ying Liu</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a> Mild cognitive impairment – an early stage of dementia – is widely underdiagnosed in people 65 and older. That is the key takeaway of two recent studies from our team. In the first study, we used Medicare data for about 40 million beneficiaries age 65 and older from 2015 to 2019 to estimate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in that population and to identify what proportion of them had actually been diagnosed. Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-023-01272-z">finding was sobering</a>: A mere 8% of the number of cases with mild cognitive impairment that we expected based on a statistical model had actually been diagnosed. Scaled up to the general population 65 and older, this means that approximately 7.4 million cases across the country remain undiagnosed. In the second study, we analyzed data for 226,756 primary care clinicians and found that <a href="https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2023.131">over 99% of them underdiagnosed mild cognitive impairment</a> in this population. <h2>Why it matters</h2> Mild cognitive impairment is an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.2000">about half of cases</a> and progresses to dementia <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/mild-cognitive-impairment">at a rate of 10% to 15% per year</a>. It includes symptoms such as losing the ability to remember recent events and appointments, make sound decisions and master complex tasks. Failure to detect it might deprive patients of an opportunity to get treated and to slow down disease progression. Mild cognitive impairment can sometimes be caused by easily addressable factors, such as medication side effects, thyroid dysfunction or <a href="https://theconversation.com/vitamin-b12-deficiency-is-a-common-health-problem-that-can-have-serious-consequences-but-doctors-often-overlook-it-192714">vitamin B12 deficiency</a>. Since mild cognitive impairment has <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjopharm.2008.06.004">the same risk factors as cardiovascular disease</a>, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, medication management of these risks combined with diet and exercise <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60461-5">can reduce the risk of progression</a>. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-converts-novel-alzheimers-disease-treatment-traditional-approval">approved the drug lecanemab</a> as the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-fdas-accelerated-approval-of-a-new-alzheimers-drug-could-mean-for-those-with-the-disease-5-questions-answered-about-lecanemab-197460">first disease-modifying treatment</a> <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-causes-and-risk-factors/what-happens-brain-alzheimers-disease">for Alzheimer’s disease</a>, the most common cause of mild cognitive impairment. In contrast to previous drugs, which can temporarily improve symptoms of the disease, such as memory loss and agitation, this new treatment addresses the underlying cause of the disease. Lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody, <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Amyloid-Plaques.aspx">reduces amyloid plaques</a> in the brain, which are toxic protein clumps that are believed to contribute to the progression of the disease. In a large clinical trial, lecanemab was able to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2212948">reduce the progression</a> of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. A similar drug, donanemab, also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.13239">succeeded in a clinical trial</a> and is expected to be <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fda-delays-approval-of-alzheimers-drug-donanemab-what-experts-think">approved sometime in 2024</a>. However, these drugs must be used in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, ideally when a patient has only mild cognitive impairment, as there is <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/lecanemab-leqembi">no evidence that they are effective in advanced stages</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w3IbAscNjsQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>An earlier diagnosis leads to early treatment and better outcomes.</figcaption></figure> <h2>What still isn’t known</h2> Many factors contribute to the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13051">lack of timely detection</a>. But researchers don’t have a good understanding of the relative importance of those individual factors or how to reduce the high rate of underdiagnosis. While distinct, symptoms are subtle and their slow progression means that they can be overlooked or misinterpreted as normal aging. A neurologist in China told our research team that diagnosis rates spike in China after the New Year’s holiday, when children who haven’t seen their parents for a year notice changes that are harder to pick up when interacting with someone daily. Doctors also commonly discount memory concerns as normal aging and doubt that much can be done about it. While cognitive tests to distinguish mild cognitive impairment from pathologic decline do exist, they take about 15 minutes, which can be hard to come by during the limited time of a doctor’s visit and may require a follow-up appointment. <h2>What’s next</h2> People, particularly those in their 60s and beyond, as well as their families and friends need to be vigilant about cognitive decline, bring it up during doctor’s appointments and insist on a formal assessment. The <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits">Medicare yearly “wellness” visit</a> is an opportunity to explore such concerns, but only about half of beneficiaries <a href="https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01795">take advantage of it</a>. Just as physicians ask patients about unexplained weight loss and take those concerns seriously, we believe questions that explore a patient’s cognitive state need to become the norm. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/research-brief-83231">Research Brief</a> is a short take on interesting academic work.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216892/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/soeren-mattke-1484707">Soeren Mattke</a>, Director of the USC Dornsife Brain Health Observatory, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-california-1265">University of Southern California</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ying-liu-1221170">Ying Liu</a>, Research Scientist, Center for Economic and Social Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-studies-suggest-millions-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-go-undiagnosed-often-until-its-too-late-216892">original article</a>. </div>

Mind

Australia’s ‘retirement age’ just became 67. So why are the French so upset about working until 64?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-whiteford-2016">Peter Whiteford</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a> Since Saturday, Australians have been required to wait until the age of 67 until they can get the age pension. The original so-called “retirement age” of 65 for men dated back to <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-02/p2020-100554-ud01_outline.pdf">1909</a>. Women had their pension age lifted from 60 to 65 between 1995 and <a href="https://insidestory.org.au/work-till-you-drop/">2013</a>. And all Australians have had it lifted in stages from July 2017, in a process that ended on <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/seniors/benefits-payments/age-pension">July 1 2023</a>. It has happened with little protest – a stark contrast to the demonstrations and riots that rocked France earlier this year, when President Macron proposed and passed laws to lift the French pension age from 62 to 64. <h2>What’s so special about French pensions?</h2> French strikes and demonstrations over the retirement age aren’t new. There were nationwide protests when France increased its retirement age from 60 to 62 in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/10/french-retirement-age-reform-62">2010</a>, before that in <a href="https://www.etui.org/covid-social-impact/france/pension-reform-in-france-background-summary-an-overview-of-pension-reforms-since-the-1990s-updated-july-2019">2003</a>, and in <a href="https://theconversation.com/pension-reform-in-france-macron-and-demonstrators-resume-epic-tussle-begun-over-30-years-ago-198354">1995</a>, when France tried to increase the pension age for public sector workers. Just about anything you could want to know about public pension schemes in high-income countries can be found in the <a href="https://www.oecd.org/about/">OECD</a> report <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-pensions-at-a-glance-19991363.htm">Pensions at a Glance</a>, published every two years, most recently in 2021. Public pension spending in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2021-country-profile-France.pdf">France</a> is 13.6% of GDP, compared to 4% in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2021-country-profile-Australia.pdf">Australia</a>. In part, this is because France has an older population than Australia, but it is also because French pension payments are more generous than both Australia’s age pension and superannuation supports taken together. <hr /> <iframe id="E0wpD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/E0wpD/7/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <hr /> The OECD finding that Australia provides a replacement rate of about 40% and France of about 74% is “forward looking”, in that it is based on what a worker on average earnings is estimated to be entitled to under the system applying in 2020, if she or he works from age 22 until that country’s normal retirement age. For low-paid workers, Australia’s means-tested age pension makes the payments about as generous as those in France. <hr /> <iframe id="rJpy5" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rJpy5/4/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <hr /> A separate 2018 OECD calculation showed that the average after-tax income of a French household headed by someone 65 years or older was <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-pensions-at-a-glance-19991363.htm">99.8%</a> of the average income of all French households. In contrast, the average after-tax income of an Australian household headed by someone of that age was 75% of that of all households. Given that French households receive about the same disposable income while retired as working, it is easy to see why they are keen to retire. And the heavy tax contributions required to fund their retirement incomes give them little opportunity to save privately while working. The level of median private wealth in Australia (converted at prevailing exchange rates) is nearly <a href="https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/assets/corporate/docs/about-us/research/publications/global-wealth-databook-2022.pdf">twice</a> that in France. Yet French public pension wealth is substantial. Calculating the value of the future pension income streams using life expectancies, the net pension wealth of French retirees amounts to 14 years of average earnings, compared to just over seven in Australia. Because the value of these income streams is strongly influenced by how long the pensions are received, raising the French pension age by two years would cut the value of French pension wealth by around 8%. <h2>Why was postponing pensions easier in Australia?</h2> The phase-in of the Australian change after 2017 meant it didn’t affect the retirement incomes of Australian workers until many years after the change was first announced, and didn’t affect the incomes of those already retired at all. And the Australian change legislated in 2009 was part of a <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/2738/2009_budget_pension_changes.pdf">broader program</a> of reforms that included the biggest single <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Newstartrelatedpayments/Report/section?id=committees%2Freportsen%2F024323%2F72678">increase in age and disability pensions and carer payments</a> in Australian history. Yet it will have losers. Those losing the most will be those with the shortest life expectancies. Indigenous men have life expectancies nearly <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/resource-centre/indigenous-affairs/commonwealth-closing-gap-annual-report-2022">nine</a> years lower than non-Indigenous men and Indigenous women nearly eight years lower. <h2>Which Australians will pay the highest price?</h2> And the change has pushed a substantial number of Australians aged 65 and over who would have once received the pension on to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/top-economists-want-jobseeker-boosted-100-per-week-tied-to-wages-150364">much-lower</a> Jobseeker unemployment payment. The number of people aged 65 years and over receiving JobSeeker climbed from zero in 2017 to <a href="https://www.data.gov.au/data/dataset/dss-income-support-recipients-monthly-time-series/resource/05f06c42-e027-43aa-b83e-28292f683ede">40,300</a> by May this year – and will climb further because of this month’s change. <figure class="align-right zoomable"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> These people are severely disadvantaged by this change, as the level of payment for an older unemployed person is more than $300 a fortnight less than the age pension, a gap that will only be slightly reduced by the increases announced in the most recent Commonwealth budget. Relatively little attention has been paid to these people, who because of the low level of payment are among the poorest in the Australian population – with very limited prospects of being able to improve their circumstances. In contrast, the idea of boosting tax on the earnings of superannuation balances over <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/28/albanese-government-lifts-tax-rate-on-superannuation-balances-over-3m">A$3 million</a> attracted <a href="https://www.firstlinks.com.au/mechanics-3m-dollar-super-tax-must-fixed">widespread criticism</a>. The very different institutional environments of Australia and France have created different lobby groups, with different interests to protect.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208648/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-whiteford-2016">Peter Whiteford</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-retirement-age-just-became-67-so-why-are-the-french-so-upset-about-working-until-64-208648">original article</a>.

Retirement Life

MP proposes schools remain open until night-time

A NSW Liberal MP has proposed that Australian schools should remain open until 6pm to better accommodate “modern employment”. During his maiden speech to parliament, Member for Ryde Jordan Lane said that "local schools should become hubs for after-school activity”, where the government guarantees that a child can remain on school campuses after 3pm. "It affords parents flexibility, while at the same time making school a place for extracurricular excellence," he said. "By engaging providers and community organisations, we avoid overworking our tirelessly hardworking teachers but expose more children to rounded experiences, such as coding classes, culture and language, art, dance, music and sport. "I care deeply about the academic results that our students are able to achieve, and about ensuring they can compete on a global stage, but I care even more that our education system helps us to create a new generation of Australians with the content of character we need to be successful as a country.” The move could lead to an extra year of education as a result of the extended hours of teaching, Lane added. "Greater flexibility for parents, a productivity and employment boost to the state, financial relief from the high cost of child care and an injection of hope for potential but reluctant parents who, like me, struggle to rationalise how to afford, in terms of both time and money, children, a home and equal employability between partners," he said. Image credit: Getty / Instagram

Legal

“If I can work until 70 it'll be a miracle”: Outrage over rising Aussie retirement age

People all across Australia have had a strong reaction to the news that they might have to keep working until they’re 70, if new modelling by Macquarie University’s Business School is anything to go by. According to the model - which takes the nation’s ageing population and declining birth rate into consideration - more people are set to reach pension age, but with fewer people still of working age available to support pensions paid by the state. As Professor Shang explained, “less people in the working group and more in retirement will make the old age dependency ratio (OADR) higher. “What this means is there are less working people to support elderly people. And with more elderly people in the population, this will create a burden for the government pension system.” Results from the group’s study found that in order to maintain the OADR [of 23 per cent], Australia’s pension age should rise to 68 years by 2030, 69 years by 2036, and 70 years by 2050. The news went down like a lead balloon on social media, with one researcher sharing an article to his Twitter, alongside a scathing - and wholly sarcastic - caption of his own. “Hey Millennials. Why are you increasingly getting peeved off at the system? Don’t you know how good you have it?” he asked. “You get to spend your life in debt, experiencing life long housing insecurity, and get to retire when you get wheeled into an age care home.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hey Millennials. Why are you increasingly getting peeved off at the system? Don’t you know how good you have it? You get to spend your life in debt, experiencing life long housing insecurity, and get to retire when you get wheeled into an age care home. (Sarcasm font needed). <a href="https://t.co/jHJUxyjHMH">pic.twitter.com/jHJUxyjHMH</a> — Kos Samaras (@KosSamaras) <a href="https://twitter.com/KosSamaras/status/1663484016866246659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote> One user was quick to remark that those behind the big decision should “try and be a Tradie at 70”, with the original tweeter agreeing that “after 50 is a stretch”. “Successive Federal Governments (as well as the current one) don't seem to be doing much about this problem!” another wrote. “And we get told we need to re-train to change jobs every 5 years, from a generation who had a ‘Job 4 Life’, Free University and owns all the properties,” one lamented. “We’re also paying their pensions, but we’ll never get a pension, because Superannuation is taken out of our wage also.” Meanwhile, one pretended to look on ‘the bright side’, with the fed up take that “on the plus side, if we are going to be expected to work until 75 or 80, maybe we can get 45-year mortgages to own a home. And our time outside of work will feel much longer when our commutes are 2 hours each way.” “I'm turning 40 this year. If I can work until 70 it'll be a miracle,” someone admitted. “I work In a laborious job and have [had] many injuries and one major injury in the last two years. “My body is already telling me it wants me to stop and find an easier job”. Images: Getty

Retirement Life

"This is terrible": Woman halts TV interview until her name is pronounced correctly

Former editor and commentator Dawn Neesom was put on blast by Shola Mos-Shogbamimu for mispronouncing her name on TV. The exchange happened on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine show where Ms Neesom was presenting as a host. Dr Shola appeared on the panel to talk about stories and current issues. When the introductions began, there was an error which was quickly highlighted. Dawn said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be joined by lawyer Dr Shola” but then struggled to pronounce her surname and asked her, “How do I pronounce your name Shola?” The lawyer replied, “'Read it my darling, read it.” Dawn made another attempt but appeared to have mispronounced it again. Dr Shola, appearing amused, said, “This is terrible, especially from a presenter.” Dawn was then instructed by her to pronounce it phonetically, saying “Shola Mos Shog Bam Imu.” Dr Shola responded, “Do it again.” Dawn went on to say “Oh come on, I got the Shola right” but Dr Shola said, "Do it again and do it phonetically.” When she again mispronounced it, Dr Shola said “You just missed the B try again” Dawn, proceeded to put her hand on her face said, “'Shola, Shola welcome to the show!” Dr Shola then told her, “No you will say my name and read it phonetically,” Dawn attempted to say her name again, this time nearly correct and Dr Shola said, “It's Shogbamimu but well done.” The exchange was posted online and both parties tweeted about it. Dawn explained, “The most fun with the best panel this morning. That's what three hours sleep does for you.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The most fun with the best panel this morning <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyVineOn5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JeremyVineOn5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Extra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Extra</a> 😂 That's what three hours sleep does for you🤪 Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/thecarolemalone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecarolemalone</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SholaMos1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SholaMos1</a> for being such great sports & to all the excellent callers today 🙏 Back from more fun & games live tomorrow 9.15 sharp. The… <a href="https://t.co/dSVUvBrN3H">https://t.co/dSVUvBrN3H</a> — Dawn Neesom (@DawnNeesom) <a href="https://twitter.com/DawnNeesom/status/1656286485547737088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote> Dr Shola retweeted the video but added no comment. The lawyer, who recently wrote an anti-racism book called This Is Why I Resist, spoke about Meghan Markle’s decision to not attend the coronation. Speaking to GMD, she said, “I think Meghan's decision to say no to the most powerful family in Britain and to say no to the most talked about party in town is both admirable and inspiring. “What Meghan is doing is exercising the power of no that comes from a place of self-worth, growth, maturity and self preservation.” When asked if it was because Meghan “didn’t feel welcome” in the UK, she responded “I don't think that's the case here. "I think that any wife out there that has bad in-laws like Meghan has with the Royal Family can deduce that she has drawn a line in the sand. She is saying I will attend royal events, but on my own terms. “But what is more powerful is that Meghan is telling the whole world that I am rejecting any notion that because I married into the Royal Family I should be bait for toxicity, rage and abuse. “She is saying to society as a whole: you don't get to tell me who I should be as a woman, as a mother and as a wife." Image credit: Instagram

“Fun until it wasn’t”: Grant Denyer takes smiling selfie moments before disaster

Former Sunrise presenter Grant Denyer has taken to Instagram to report that he was involved in a disastrous biking accident. Grant, who has been training ahead of the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour race this weekend, was with friend and training partner Mick when they ran into trouble. Despite dubbing the incident a “huge stack”, it seems no real injury was sustained, with Denyer’s sharing a light hearted take with his 408k followers. “No joke, 2 mins after this photo we had a huge stack doing wheelies and clipping handlebars,” he captioned the image. The photo in question features Grant and Mick on their bikes, cycling along a country road, with big smiles on each of their faces. “D*ckheads,” Grant said of the pair, and added that they were “putting in the big yards for the @bathurst12hr this weekend. Doing a lot of riding. New to it. As our crash proves … Thx Mick from @bathurstaquapark for being a great training partner. Most of the time”. Grant’s post was met with great amusement from his followers, with most making fun of the situation along with him. It didn’t seem to phase Grant, who met their comments with lighthearted jokes of his own. <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/CoEdKdkrFGG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEdKdkrFGG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grant Denyer (@grantdenyer)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Two hands for beginners, legend,” wrote one. “Yeah um…. Was fun until it wasn’t!” Grant responded, going on to mention that they “took each out and ended up in the scrub. Naturally we did it on the last kilometre of the run. It’s always the ‘last run’ isn’t it?” “Yep, you certainly were putting lots of effort into the big hill as I was passing,” said one supporter, suggesting they had spotted Grant out on the road. Grant, who mentioned that he was new to riding in his original caption, responded to confirm that “it does not come natural I can assure you!! These little legs work HARD”. Mick, Grant’s riding partner, came up in a few of the comments, and Grant made sure to praise his skill while still poking some fun at the whole situation. “He’s a wildcat that’s for sure! A beast on the bike.” He said of his training partner, “bloody talented at everything. Except keeping to himself”. Grant, who has quite the history with motorsports under his belt, will still be participating in the Bathurst 12 hour, an international endurance race that will span Friday through to Sunday. Images: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Queen's letter for Sydney that can't be opened until 2085

Sitting inside a locked, glass case, within the dome of Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building, is a letter from Queen Elizabeth II that can’t be opened until the year 2085. The letter was written by the monarch in November 1986 and has become the subject of conversation once again following the news of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-at-96" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Her Majesty’s passing</a> last week. Addressed to the Lord Mayor of Sydney, the Queen requested that her message be shared with the people of the city in 2085. “On a suitable day to be selected by you in the year 2085 AD, would you please open this envelope and convey to the citizens of Sydney my message to them,” the Queen wrote on the outside of the letter, signing it simply as, “Elizabeth R”. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/queen-letter-sydney-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1920" /> The letter in question will remain sealed until 2085. Image: Creative Commons She wrote the letter after the restoration of the Queen Victoria Building in the 1980s, which was saved from demolition in the late 1950s by “ardent public campaigning” from Sydneysiders. According to <a href="https://7news.com.au/entertainment/queen-elizabeth-ii/queens-secret-letter-is-hidden-in-sydney-vault-and-cant-be-opened-for-63-years-c-8193155" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7news.com.au</a>,it is unknown what the Queen wrote in the letter, even among her personal staff. In 2012, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hidden-treasures-to-expose-secrets-in-plain-sight-20121026-28b3l.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a> reported that the letter came to be in the building when the Queen visited, with then-centre manager Natalie Douglas telling the outlet that the monarch put the letter inside a time capsule and buried it in the central dome. “Nobody knows what it says,” Ms Douglas said. It seems that mystery will continue to surround the letter until its fateful opening many decades from now. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Readers Respond: What's something you really don't understand until you're in your 50s?

One day you’re young living what you think is your best life when BAM you’re older and life gets in the way. But that’s the beauty of life - to grow, learn, laugh, cry. With that in mind, we decided to ask our readers to share something they didn’t understand until they reached their 50s. Check out the responses below. Dawn Dominick - It's OK to say NO and it's OK to have your own opinions. Anne van Heel - The joys of grand parenting. Julia Santos - That other people's opinions don't matter. Live for you. They are living their best lives. Moira Tyrrell - Worrying about things that may not happen. It will get you nowhere. Sue Carter - That your children are great company as adults. Aileen Barrat Zanelli - That your youth has passed you by before you realise it. Kathy Davey - That I didn’t know everything, in fact I knew nothing. Isobel Siebel - Your body ages but you still feel young in the head. Barbara Williamson - That you become invisible to younger generations. Frank Derksen - The amount of damage you do to your body when you’re young. Share something you really didn’t understand until your 50s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtys/posts/pfbid0wDNUs5cL9iCjdi59F25YojAwcWeJWXWxta8CMe6R9mA9hFJfPcVXVjzwwGVWAzf5l" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Cafe won’t let guests leave until they finish their work

If you struggle a lot with procrastination then the only thing left for you to do is to book a ticket to Japan and head to this one cafe. Unless you procrastinate that too, but hear us out. Manuscript Writing Cafe in Tokyo is the one-stop destination for procrastinators looking to get their work done. There are 10 workstations and people are allowed to leave ONLY when they have finished their work. And the staff will make sure you have completed your projects as they come to check in on you at least six times an hour. They also bring with them free snacks, tea, coffee, water and high-speed wifi. Once you have completed all your tasks, you are given a paper with an orange stamp and you are free to leave. The video was shared to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@leanneinjapan/video/7095383871398694149?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> and has been viewed more than 624,000 times and has received around 120,000 likes with many commenting about how they need to be at the cafe all the time. “Yup, I definitely need to work there.. ah.. maybe later,” one wrote. “Kindness and torture at the same time,” someone commented. “I guess I'm bringing a sleeping bag,” another joked. “I’ll go later,” another joked about procrastinating their visit. “So essentially I'd be living there,” read another. Images: TikTok

International Travel

Homelessness is common for teens leaving out-of-home-care. We need to extend care until they are at least 21

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care – whether it’s foster, kinship or residential care – are disadvantaged in many ways. Many have experienced abuse, neglect, family hardship or illness. They may feel long-term grief due to family separation. And while some enjoy stable placements with committed foster or kinship carers, others – particularly those in residential care, supervised by rostered staff – may experience instability as friends or support workers come and go. Most exit the out-of-home care system at 18, or younger, without ongoing support. Unfortunately, however, many such young people quickly encounter homelessness, unemployment and contact with the criminal justice system soon after leaving out-of-home care. Instead of leaving these people to fend for themselves at age 18 (or younger), we need a nationally consistent model of extended care that supports care leavers until age 21. A tough transition A 2021 study by <a href="https://create.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CREATE-Post-Care-Report-2021-LR.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the CREATE Foundation</a> (which represents young people who have experienced out-of-home care) found homelessness was common among people exiting the system. Almost 100 of the 325 sampled care leavers aged 18-25 experienced homelessness in the first year after their transition. Another <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found: <blockquote> More than half the 1,848 Victorian care leavers in this study (using data from leavers during 2013 and 2014) accessed homelessness services in the four years after leaving care, while one in three had multiple homeless experiences. Participants with experiences of residential care and multiple foster care placements were more likely to experience housing disruptions. </blockquote> <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/incomesupport-receipt-oohc/summary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Another national study</a> noted care leavers were three times as likely as other young Australians to have received social security payments. Of course, many care leavers <a href="http://createyourfuture.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Stein-M.-ResearchReview.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">do integrate effectively</a> into the social and economic mainstream. Some have difficult lives but still manage to cope, while others struggle to overcome adversity and social exclusion. In general, those who achieve successful transitions tend to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cfs.12473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leave care later</a> than 18 years of age and receive ongoing support well into their twenties from, for example <ul> <li> foster or kinship carers </li> <li> extended family members </li> <li> formal mentors or neighbours </li> <li> friends </li> <li> members of sporting, religious, cultural and other community groups. </li> </ul> These supportive relationships, which mirror the assistance that most of their non-care peers naturally access from their parents, provide the social capital needed to acquire housing, food, clothing, a driver’s licence and entry into sustainable education, employment and training. According to <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one young person</a> who remained with their foster family in Victoria beyond 18 years: <blockquote> I was in the same home for 11 years, they were like my parents so they didn’t kick me out or anything. It wasn’t like I was in their care; I was like a part of the family. </blockquote> Conversely, those who experience troubled transitions from out-of-home care may experience social isolation, emotional adversity and hardship. <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One young person from Victoria</a> who was suddenly forced to leave care commented: <blockquote> I mean if you have a kid, you’re not going to kick him out as soon as they turn 16. You’re not going to, you know, tell your kid that ‘oh you have to find your own way to learn how to drive or anything’. You’re going to take them by the hand, you’re going to help them with each of these things. Even after your kid’s left, you’re still going to, you know, check up on them, you’re going to go there make sure they’re eating properly, cleaning the place properly. I had no idea how to clean anything. </blockquote> Young people who have harder transitions often include those in <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2019/12/13/1378567/from-care-to-custody-the-tragic-trajectory-of-crossover-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youth justice custody</a> when they turn 18 years of age, some <a href="https://www.aracy.org.au/publications-resources/command/download_file/id/465/filename/ARACY_Showing_the_Light_FINAL_20220302.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">young parents</a>, those who have a major <a href="https://daneshyari.com/article/preview/346111.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cognitive disability</a> or <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor mental health</a> and <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/307306" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some Indigenous young people</a> who have been prevented from forming a connection with their culture, identity and community. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Those who experience troubled transitions from out-of-home care may experience social isolation, emotional adversity and hardship. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Extended care as an early intervention strategy The best way to boost the life chances of all care leavers is to introduce a nationally consistent model of extended out-of-home care from 18 to 21 years. This is the model advocated by the <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Home Stretch campaign</a> led by Anglicare Victoria. Evidence from evaluations of extended care programs in the <a href="https://www.chapinhall.org/research/calyouth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> and <a href="https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/report/Evaluation_of_the_Staying_Put_18_Plus_Family_Placement_Programme_final_report/9580109" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK</a> confirms providing support until age 21 can improve outcomes for care leavers. As of April 2022, the Home Stretch model has informed the introduction of major extended care safety nets in <a href="https://www.celcis.org/application/files/5716/2263/3274/2021_Vol_20_No_1_Mendes_P_Extending_out-of-home_care_in_the_State_of_Victoria_Australia.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six out of Australia’s eight</a> states and territories. <ul> <li> <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/the-most-significant-reform-to-child-welfare-in-a-generation-victorian-government-leads-nation-in-announcing-universal-care-for-young-people-to-the-age-of-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria</a> and <a href="https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/2021-22/fact-sheets/communities.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Western Australia</a> offer support to young people leaving all forms of out-of-home care until age 21 </li> <li> <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/foster-care-payments-to-be-extended-until-age-21-by-new-sa-liberal-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Australia</a>, <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/first-state-government-extend-care-21-years-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tasmania</a> and the <a href="https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/children/child-and-youth-protection-services/a-step-up-for-our-kids/out-of-home-care-strategy-2015-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Capital Territory</a> fund an allowance to foster and kinship carers only until age 21. South Australia has introduced a <a href="https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/news/dcp-news/young-people-leaving-residential-care-to-be-better-supported-with-next-steps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trial program</a> for residential care leavers in February 2022 - but it is only funded for two years to support 20 young people </li> <li> <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/community/caring-child/foster-kinship-care/information-for-carers/money-matters/carer-allowances" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queensland</a> offers the same assistance only until 19 years </li> <li> the <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/push-to-lift-nt-foster-care-age-to-21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Northern Territory</a> has promised to legislate universal extended care soon </li> <li> <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/nsw-lags-nationally-on-caring-for-most-vulnerable-young-people-as-victoria-surges-ahead/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New South Wales</a> is the outlier in currently providing no form of extended care. </li> </ul> No state or territory allows young people living in residential care to remain in their existing homes beyond 18 years of age. Nor have any of them introduced <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/931987/Staying_Close_Break.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Staying Close</a> programs similar to those trialled in the UK, whereby residential care leavers are supported to live close to their former accommodation and maintain existing relationships with their former carers and support networks. The federal government, via the recently updated <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/programs-services/protecting-australias-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children</a>, should establish a nationally consistent model of extended care that would universally assist all care leavers until age 21.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/181167/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phillip-mendes-101820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phillip Mendes</a>, Professor, Director Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monash University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/homelessness-is-common-for-teens-leaving-out-of-home-care-we-need-to-extend-care-until-they-are-at-least-21-181167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Federer’s children “had no idea” he was a tennis champ until recently

Though Roger Federer may be considered the greatest tennis player of all time, his four kids <a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/parenting/roger-federer-reveals-his-kids-had-no-idea-he-was-a-tennis-champion/08f55e0e-dada-49b2-9d2b-a102e5694ecf" target="_blank">had no idea</a> about his fame until recently. The champion player recently revealed that his kids “didn’t know” about his success in tennis, and “don’t care” about it. The usually private Federer spoke about his family life in an interview with Ringier, including how he told his kids what he did for work and his struggles getting them to be interested in the sport. “My victories have never been an important topic at home,” he said. Federer shares two sets of twins with his wife Mirka: 12-year-old girls Myla and Charlene, and seven-year-old boys Leo and Lenny. Though Mirka has often been spotted matchside cheering her husband on, their kids have only appeared a handful of times - which may be contributing to their lack of knowledge around their dad’s success. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846484/federer-kids1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/880b789ad05e4064afe34263e298c3f9" /> Mirka Federer with all four of her kids watching their dad play in the 2019 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final. Image: Getty Images “For a long time, my four children had no idea what I had achieved during my tennis career,” he said in the interview. But when they did find out through their friends, he said they were “literally speechless”, despite their lack of interest in playing tennis for themselves. “I have tried to promote tennis at my household with playing a lot of matches against Rafa, Novak and everybody but my kids don’t care,” he shared. “They need daddy home from the practice or from the matches. “You see very quickly if kids like to play with the ball or go running outside. I think you see the differences very quickly.” Federer recently announced he would miss next year’s Australian Open, as he recovers from knee surgery. The 40-year-old had two knee operations in 2020 which have majorly impacted his playing, but he says he is more concerned about day-to-day life. “I had this operation done so that I could ski with my children or play football or tennis in the future,” he said. “My primary motivation was to get back in shape for my normal life.” Images: @rogerfederer (Instagram) / Getty Images

Relationships

P&O Cruises Australia Cancels More Sailings Until April 2022

Image: Cruise Passenger P&O Cruises Australia has cancelled further cruises until mid-April 2022. The extension of the government’s cruise ban in Australia marks two years since the line has sailed Down Under. Cruises departing from March 3 till April 16, 2022 from Sydney and Brisbane will be cancelled and this also marks the 23rd cruise cancellation announcement since the pandemic. President of P&O Cruises Australia Sture Myrmell said that during this entire period guests had displayed incredible patience and loyalty to P&O and cruising. “However, as we approach the two-year mark in our rolling pause in operations, it is understandable that our guests will be very disappointed and frustrated that there is still no agreed restart plan for cruising in Australia,” Mr Myrmell said. “Federal and state governments are yet to outline their requirements for restart despite the nation’s high vaccination rate, the cruise industry’s comprehensive health protocols, vaccination policies for guests and crew and the successful resumption of cruising in other international markets. “Our loyal guests, travel agents and many suppliers whose businesses depend on cruising along with thousands of jobs are simply looking for certainty so that they can plan for the future. Reaching this two-year anniversary is discouraging for so many of them.” Late last week, the Federal Government extended Australia’s cruise ban by another two months. “After an absence of two years, it will take us several months and significant cost to manage the complex logistics necessary to return a ship to service before sailing back to Australian waters,” Mr Myrmell said. “This includes engaging our crew and re-training them to meet new operating protocols when they are known as well as re-stocking the ship with local fresh produce and refreshing onboard guest service operations that have also been on-hold for such a long time. “It is a big task and we need to understand the operating environment before we begin the process of returning. To date, no government authority, federal or state, has provided feedback on the industry’s proposed operational guidelines to enable an informed decision on bringing our ships back to Australia.”

Cruising

“My darkest secret until now”: Uma Thurman’s emotional confession

Uma Thurman has shared her “darkest secret” in an emotional essay published this week in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/uma-thurman-abortion-law-texas/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>. The Kill Bill star criticised the Texas abortion ban after revealing she had an abortion in her “late teens”. Thurman shared her own experience in the hope of “drawing the flames of controversy away from the vulnerable women on whom this law will have an immediate effect”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUGfL7TMVKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUGfL7TMVKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Uma Thurman (@umathurman)</a> </div> </blockquote> “This law is yet another discriminatory tool against those who are economically disadvantaged, and often, indeed, against their partners,” Thurman wrote. “Women and children of wealthy families retain all the choices in the world, and face little risk. “I am grief-stricken, as well, that the law pits citizen against citizen, creating new vigilantes who will prey on disadvantaged women, denying them the choice not to have children they are not equipped to care for, or extinguishing their hopes for the future family they might choose.” In her story, Thurman described how she fell pregnant by accident to “a much older man” while “living out of a suitcase in Europe, far from my family, and about to start a job”. After seeking advice from her parents, including her gravely ill mother, Thurman came to the decision that she would terminate the pregnancy. Thurman noted that she didn’t have the means to provide a stable home for a newborn at the time, and that her decision then allowed her to have children when she was ready. “The abortion I had as a teenager was the hardest decision of my life, one that caused me anguish then and that saddens me even now, but it was the path to the life full of joy and love that I have experienced,” she wrote. “Choosing not to keep that early pregnancy allowed me to grow up and become the mother I wanted and needed to be. “It has been my darkest secret until now. “I am 51 years old, and I am sharing it with you from the home where I have raised my three children, who are my pride and joy.” Thurman shares two children with ex-husband Ethan Hawke, and a daughter with ex-fiancé Arpad Busson. Thurman ended the piece by appealing to the women and girls affected by the controversial new law and sharing an inspiring message. “To all of you - to women and girls of Texas, afraid of being traumatised and hounded by predatory bounty hunters; to all women outraged by having our bodies’ rights taken by the state; and to all of you who are made vulnerable and subjected to shame because you have a uterus - I say: I see you. “Have courage. You are beautiful. You remind me of my daughters.” Image credit: @umathurman / Instagram

Caring

"Not going to stop until she dies": Prince Harry slams paparazzi about Meghan Markle

Prince Harry has revealed that he doesn't think the paparazzi will stop until Meghan Markle dies in a new mental health documentary called The Me You Can't See. The documentary has Prince Harry sitting down with Oprah and talking about his mental health issues and how his buried grief around the death of his mother impacted his life until he sought therapy four years ago. He also compared the treatment of his mother to the treatment of his wife. “My biggest regret is not making more of a stance earlier on in my relationship with my wife and calling out racism than when I did,” Harry said. “My mother was chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone who wasn’t white. And now look what’s happened.” “You want to talk about history repeating itself? They’re not going to stop until she (Meghan) dies,” Harry added. “It’s incredibly triggering to potentially lose another woman in my life. The list is growing. And it all comes back to the same people, the same business model, the same industry.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CO-cfFQh2Y8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CO-cfFQh2Y8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Oprah (@oprah)</a> </div> </blockquote> Prince Harry also admitted that sharing the death of his mother with the world made the 12-year-old Harry feel "outside of my body". “Sharing the grief of my mother’s death with the world … It was like I was outside of my body,” he said. “Just walking along doing what was expected of me. Showing one tenth of the emotion that everyone else was showing. “I was like, ‘This was my mum. You never even met her’.” “I don’t want to think about her, because if I think about her it’s going to bring up the fact that I can’t bring her back,” Harry said. “It’s just going to make me sad. What’s the point of thinking about something sad, what’s the point of thinking about someone you’ve lost and you’re never going to get back again. “I was so angry with what happened. And the fact that there was no justice, at all, nothing came from that. “The same people that chased her into the tunnel, photographed her dying on the back seat of that car.”

News

8-year-old denied life-saving surgery until $1.5 million fee is paid

A Nigerian boy travelled with his parents to the UK for a small surgery then discovered he had cancer but a quirk in the system means the life-saving surgery is out of reach. His parents will be required to pay £885,000 (AU$1,580,000) up front before the NHS can legally operate on him. Nathaniel Nabena had one of his eyes removed in Nigeria in order to treat the cancer and stop its spread. But then in November last year, he travelled to the UK to be fitted with a prostethic eye. The surgery was meant to be quick and painless but the 8-year-old soon fell sick and tests revealed he had leukaemia. Nathaniel desperately needs a stem cell transplant to stay alive, but doctors won’t operate on him until his parents pay the fee - which is so high because patients from non-EU countries are charged 150 per cent of the NHS price for hospital treatment. “If we do not manage to raise the funds, we have been told that hospice care is the next step,” his father Ebisidor wrote on a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Raise-money-for-Nathaniels-Stem-Cell-Treatment" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a>. Nathaniel has been battling cancer for the past three years, and his parents believed the worst was over before they were hit with the leukaemia diagnosis. He had a myeloid sarcoma under his left eye which caused it to swell up so badly, removal was the only option. Nathaniel is currently in the Croydon University Hospital. Medical practitioners are charging £825,000 to cover their expenses for tests, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Nathaniel’s dad described his son as “a bright, wonderful child”. “It has been a long, hard journey but we will never stop fighting for Nathaniel. He deserves a life free of cancer,” Ebisidor Nabena said. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-9-diagnosed-leukaemia-uk-23496109" target="_blank">The Sun</a> in a statement: “Every taxpayer supports the health service and so it is only right that overseas visitors contribute towards their treatment costs. “As the rules stand, NHS care must be paid for in advance of providing non-urgent treatment and any debts that do arise from providing urgent care will be followed up with. “The NHS will always provide high standards of care for those who need it and repayment plans can be agreed with the provider.”

Legal

7 awesome dog breeds you’ve never heard of – until now

Warning: You’re about to fall in love with these seven dogs, but don’t get too attached just yet – you might not be able to find one of your own to take home! While some have been around for thousands of years, others have come onto the scene a lot more recently. Either way, you might be surprised you never heard of them until now. 1. Schipperke Small and energetic, the Schipperke (pronounced Skipper-key) is native to Belgium. Adored for its inquisitive personality and beautiful coat, “the little black devil” was a vermin hunter. Today, they’re regarded as happy, loyal companions. Their sassy demeanour and enthusiasm for mischief requires a dedicated owner who will supervise its adventures. Schipperkes are talented escape artists – a well-fenced yard, and on-leash walks are a must. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/6-ways-make-your-dog-smarter">Here are 6 ways to make your dog smarter. </a> 2. Coton de Tulear Known as the Royal Dog of Madagascar, the Coton de Tulear (pronounced Cu-toe de Too-lay-are) dates back several centuries. Sharing ancestors with the Maltese and Bichon Frise, this happy-go-lucky pup historically served as a royal pet. Sociable and smart, the Coton often behaves like a little furry clown. Their bouncy antics and tireless energy are endearing, but owners must be careful not to fall completely under their Coton’s spell – this fun-loving breed will take advantage of a lenient master. 3. Icelandic Sheepdog Iceland’s native dog is not only unique, but rare. Rescued from the brink of extinction in the 1950s, the Icelandic Sheepdog is slowly increasing in numbers. A natural herder, the breed is alert, intelligent and enthusiastic. Friendly with other animals and gentle with children, the Icelandic forms strong bonds with its master. Occasionally, this attachment can cause separation anxiety and excess barking. With a gentle touch, a skilled owner can teach their Icelandic Sheepdog to be calm in their absence. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/can-you-guess-dog-breed-based-its-puppy-picture">Can you guess these dog breeds based on their puppy pictures?</a> 4. Berger Picard With its tousled appearance, the Berger Picard – star of the movie Because of Winn-Dixie – is often mistaken for a mutt. Don’t let this dog’s low-maintenance look fool you. This canine boasts a proud French pedigree. Traditionally a sheepdog, the Berger Picard (pronounced Bare zhay Peecar) almost disappeared after World War II. Fortunately, breed fanciers are re-establishing its presence not only in France, but worldwide. Quiet, loyal and athletic, the Berger craves attention and often displays comical behaviour. 5. Boykin Spaniel With its gold eyes, and soft, chocolate-coloured coat, the Boykin Spaniel could easily be discounted as just a pretty household pet – but this breed is no lap dog. Hard-working and spirited, this spaniel is a seasoned hunting companion. Bred for tracking wild turkeys, the Boykin first appeared in the south-eastern United States during the early 20th century, has a friendly personality, and adores children. 6. Leonberger Originating in Germany in the mid-1800s, the Leonberger was a favourite of European royals. Strong and imposing, this household guardian closely resembled a lion. Today, its affectionate manner makes him an excellent therapy dog, or children’s companion. But don’t be misled by his cuddly disposition – prospective owners must train this pet properly. With many Leonbergers weighing over 55kg, they naturally believe that they’re the boss. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/worlds-largest-dog-breeds">Check out the world’s largest dog breeds.</a> 7. Cane Corso Dating back to 600 AD Italy, the Cane Corso (pronounced Connie Corso) descends from Roman war dogs. Its large, athletic build and strong work ethic made this canine ideal for herding, hunting, and guarding. Almost extinct in the 1980s, the breed is now making a welcome comeback. Suspicious of strangers yet devoted to its master, the Cane Corso requires an experienced dog owner who can handle its protective instincts. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/pets/12-secrets-your-dogs-tail-is-trying-to-tell-you">Here are the secrets your dog’s tail is trying to tell you.</a> Written by Jackie Middleton and Lisa Marie Conklin. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/pets/30-awesome-dog-breeds-youve-never-heard-of-until-now">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Family & Pets

Margaret Atwood’s new book to remain unseen until 2114

Margaret Atwood’s unread manuscript will remain locked away until 2114. The Man Booker prize-winning novelist is one of the first contributors to the Future Library project based in Norway. Conceived by Scottish artist Katie Paterson, the project saw a thousand spruce saplings being planted in the forest of Nordmarka outside Oslo in 2014. In a century, the trees will be cut down, turned into paper and used to print an anthology of 100 unpublished books – including Atwood’s. “The idea is that one author per year is commissioned specifically to write a new piece of work for the forest, with the knowledge that nobody is going to read it until the trees are fully grown,” Paterson told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-17/the-future-library-norway-wood-margaret-atwood/11783438">ABC RN</a>. Paterson said Atwood was the first author she and the Future Library Trust approached for the initiative. “We got a phenomenal response from Margaret,” Paterson said. “She responded to our letter not only agreeing to write for the Future Library, but giving us advice about what kind of trees to plant and how to plant them because she grew up in a forest herself.” Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale, said of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/05/margaret-atwood-new-work-unseen-century-future-library">her decision to participate</a> then, “It is the kind of thing you either immediately say yes or no to. You don’t think about it for very long. “When you write any book you do not know who’s going to read it, and you do not know when they’re going to read it. You don’t know who they will be, you don’t know their age, or gender, or nationality, or anything else about them. So books, anyway, really are like the message in the bottle.” Since Atwood joined, five other authors have come on board: Cloud Atlas novelist David Mitchell, Turkish writer Elif Shafak, Icelandic poet and lyricist Sjón, Man Booker-winning author Han Kang and Norwegian autobiographic novelist Karl Ove Knausgård. Every year until 2114, a writer will be invited to contribute to the collection. The trust plans to store the manuscripts in a special Silent Room in Oslo’s new public library, and print 3,000 copies of all 100 texts when the time arrives. Paterson acknowledged that there are “many unknowns” in today’s world. “We’re in a total climate crisis, in a catastrophic moment, and so we can’t predict entirely that the forest will still be there in a hundred years, but we have to do everything we can to ensure that it will be,” she said.

Books

"I didn't realise until too late": John Farnham opens up about severe health scare

Australian music icon John Farnham caused concern amongst his fans as he was forced to cancel his Australian tour at the last minute and was admitted into hospital. He’s now opened up to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a> about the experience. The 70-year-old said that he had a “severe” kidney infection. “I didn't realise until too late. I'd been feeling uncomfortable. My wife Jill had been telling me to go to the doctor,” explained the singer. Instead of seeking medical help, Farnham powered through the pain and thought that things will be fine. “I was very unwell there for a while,” he added, stating that he is “good now”. “It gave me a wake-up call to look after myself a bit more.” The health scare was the wakeup call Farnham needed, as he has completely overhauled his lifestyle. This includes giving up smoking, which the You’re The Voice star has done so since he was 14. Farnham also admitted in the article that he has cut back on drinking in recent months. The music icon is set to tour Australia again in November, with shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Caversham, Seppeltsfield and Werribee. He is also touring New Zealand, with two shows in Auckland and Wellington.

Music

"I was a virgin until I was 23": Elton John gets candidly honest about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll

Legendary music star Elton John has gotten very candid and honest about his journey in the new film Rocketman, which is a biopic about his life and path to stardom. The new film stars Taron Egerton as Elton and Bodyguard and Game of Thrones star Richard Madden as his manager and lover, John Reid. In a new interview, Elton has revealed that he was a virgin until he was 23 – and this is played out in the film. “If I am telling my story, it has to be honest,” the now 72-year-old singer told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/elton-john-reveals-didnt-joyous-16180367" target="_blank">Mirror</a>. “I was a virgin until then. I was desperate to be loved and desperate to have a tactile relationship. “When they tear their clothes off in the movie, that was how it happened. It was in San Francisco.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx7FGRcD_4j/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx7FGRcD_4j/" target="_blank">Many people have been asking me how I felt after watching the musical fantasy film #Rocketman. Check out the article in today’s Observer Magazine to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Here’s the link: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2019/may/26/elton-john-in-my-own-words-exclusive-my-life-and-making-rocketman?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other @rocketmanmovie @obsmagazine</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/eltonjohn/" target="_blank"> Elton John</a> (@eltonjohn) on May 26, 2019 at 3:54am PDT </div> </blockquote> Elton has also said that he wanted the film to celebrate gay lovemaking. “I’m so glad it’s in there because I am a gay man and I didn’t want to airbrush it under the carpet,” he said. “This is who I am and I was so joyous. When he is lying in my arms and I’m sitting back with a smile, I’m thinking, ‘Ah, I’m normal, I’ve had sex.’ “When I grew up, my father told me if I masturbated, I’d go blind. At 13 years of age, I started to have glasses and I went, ‘Oh my God! This is coming true!’” he laughed. Elton added: “I’m proud Rocketman is the first major studio film with a gay love sex scene in it. If I’d left it out, I’d have felt I was cheating people. “If they don’t like it, I understand, but it’s part of who I am. That night was a very, very important part.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxgK0Nj3cK/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxgK0Nj3cK/" target="_blank">Happy Birthday, Bernie! 🎂 Your friendship changed my life and this month, the world can see it told in the #Rocketman 🚀 movie. Have an amazing day, I love you @bernietaupinofficial. 🚀 @rocketmanmovie</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/eltonjohn/" target="_blank"> Elton John</a> (@eltonjohn) on May 22, 2019 at 10:38am PDT </div> </blockquote> Elton believes that he was saved by his partner of 25 years, David Furnish, 56, as well as their two children, Zachary, 8, and Elijah, 6. “There are still parts of being a performer which will lead to the dark side. But it doesn’t last long because I have David and I’ve my children. When my children are around, I never feel dark. I would never have thought I would be in a relationship for 25 years. I couldn’t last with any relationship because drugs came into it.” The film is set in the late 1960s and early 1970s and begins with Elton in rehab. The storyline is told in flashbacks and the singer-songwriter has been sober for almost 29 years. Elton explained: “Even though I was in a terrible state and I was doing a lot of drugs, I still kept working, I still kept making records and still kept touring and the music kept me alive. If I had stopped, I wouldn’t be here. It’s difficult to watch because I thought, ‘God, I don’t want to go back there.’” Rocketman is in cinemas from this Thursday.

Music

Why you haven’t really seen Australia until you’ve visited Arnhem Land

We all know that Australia is vast, but what we don’t realise is how much there is to discover in this beautiful country of ours. One of those places is Arnhem Land. Home to culture rich in history that dates back thousands of years, Arnhem Land is spiritual and diverse, and the only way to experience the beauty of the rugged coastlines and savanna woodlands is to see it for yourself. Having occupied the region for over 60,000 years, Arnhem Land belongs to the Yolngu people and is the birth place of the famous Aboriginal instrument – the didgeridoo. But despite the small population, the isolated reserve is now home to safari tours, fishing lodges and so much more. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822119/_d4z1919_lores.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/add0aa5e557c49fcaaa5883426870ebe" /> The Indigenous region is one of Australia’s last true wilderness areas and covers 97,000 square kilometres of the Northern Territory. The magic of Arnhem Land is felt as soon as you arrive, where a ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony is a moving introduction to the Gove Peninsula. This powerful exhibit of Aboriginal tradition is steeped in cultural heritage and reflects the deep connection that Indigenous people have to the land. <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177218181" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Arnhem Land was declared an Aboriginal Reserve in 1931 and is so remote that most maps don’t show directions on how to get there. Which is why it’s important to travel with an experienced and knowledgeable tour operator, as the only way to uncover Arnhem Land is to journey through its heart. <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Outback Spirit</a> is Australia’s leading small group tour company and the only operator that has been granted permission from Traditional Owners to conduct tours through the region. Here are four unique and culturally enriching Arnhem Land experiences you need to add to your bucket list: 1. Arafura Swamp (Gurruwiling) Nestled in north-central Arnhem Land, the Arafura Swamp, also known as Gurruwiling by Indigenous Land Owners, is a tropical wetland of flourishing habitats, prolific birdlife and great spiritual significance. An untamed wilderness, it is classified as a Key Biodiversity Area that supports many water bird species, turtles and crocodiles. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822120/_dsc9756_lores.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/efbca8211c27447f88f489f4ed8c475b" /> Covering 700 square kilometres in the dry season and up to 1300 in the wet, it is the largest wooded swamp in Australia, and the location where the award-winning film Ten Canoes was set. The Yolngu people have a deep connection with Gurruwiling, its wildlife and habitat. Whilst exploring the area with Indigenous guides, you’ll stay in Outback Spirit’s exclusive safari camp at Murwangi, perfectly positioned overlooking the stunning Arafura Swamp wetlands. 2. Seven Spirit Bay <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822131/ost-ssb-resort-aerial-2018-05.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b8bff0dd90ff49e59aa644b5f8730807" /> Located in one of the most beautiful marine parks in the world, Seven Spirit Bay in West Arnhem is a wilderness lodge that sits on the pristine shores of Coral Bay on the Cobourg Peninsula. Visiting Seven Spirit Bay is a must when exploring the breathtaking world of Arnhem Land, as the luxury lodge is home to amenities one can only dream of, when taking a trip to the outback. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822123/ost_sevenspiritbay_int-043_lores.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9b3efb5549ff4126a5aa95a01002d5c6" /> Whether you’re after a bar, palm-fringed swimming pool or comfortable lounge to relax in while taking in views of stunning Coral Bay, Seven Spirit Bay has it all. The lodge is the perfect place to unwind after a day of marine adventures or a 4WD wildlife safari. Whatever activity you choose to partake in, knowing your luxury villa is waiting at the end of the day is a feeling of paradise. 3. Mount Borradaile It’s true that every inch of Arnhem Land is covered in rich history and culture, but a location that will truly take you back to the past is Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris at Mount Borradaile. A registered Aboriginal sacred site, Mount Borradaile’s natural beauty has been preserved for thousands of years. Whether you choose to spend time amongst the wildlife, or discover the serene lagoons, the Indigenous site is for those who are looking for an authentic outback experience. But perhaps the most famous sites to behold at Mount Borradaile are the caves and ancient rock art galleries which date back to over 50,000 years ago. The spiritual place awakens your senses as every corner tells a story of the past, such as an intricate rock painting of the Rainbow Serpent that is considered to be the largest artwork to be discovered in Northern Australia. The only way to believe the beauty of Mount Borradaile is to experience it for yourself. 4. Port Essington Another historical location that sits in the west of Arnhem Land, Port Essington tells the dark tale of Victoria Settlement, which was established in 1838 and disbanded in 1849. The British government had a plan in place, which was to set up a military settlement and build a trade partnership with Asia. But due to poor living conditions and the rapid spread of disease, the British reign in the region did not last long. Victoria Settlement is now home to old buildings and ruins, and when you tour with <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Outback Spirit</a>, you are able to walk through the eerie isolated gravestones that sit in the forest. But you won’t only be sightseeing, you will be learning about forgotten history from informative guides and find yourself truly immersed in the challenges and tragedies of these early settlers. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822124/ost-mv-arafura-2018-12.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/838f5c2155234b428a118a8eb2f40230" /> These are just four of the many things to see and do in Arnhem Land, which is a spiritual oasis that very few people have had the opportunity of visiting. Which is why you must grab your bucket list and make this largely untouched, sacred Aboriginal land your number one spot to see – and there’s no better way to discover its culture and beauty than with <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/tours/arnhem-land-wilderness-adventure/">Outback Spirit</a>. Offering an exclusive 13-day wilderness adventure, <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Outback Spirit</a> will take you to all of the above locations and more, while staying in their network of safari camps and lodges that offer a level of luxury seldom found in such remote areas. For more information regarding Arnhem Land, request a brochure <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/request-a-brochure/">here</a>. This is sponsored content brought to you in conjunction with <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Outback Spirit</a>.

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Why you haven’t really seen Australia until you’ve visited Arnhem Land

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Why you haven’t really seen Australia until you’ve visited Arnhem Land

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