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Brothers' epic journey across Australia to raise money for cancer

<p>Brothers Stefan and Lachlan Lamble have firsthand experience on how devastating cancer can be.</p> <p>The brothers, both in their 20s, lost their grandmother to breast cancer eight years ago, and recently had their other grandmother pull through a difficult cancer battle. </p> <p>After being inspired by their family's hardships, the Lamble brothers have set out on an epic adventure to cross Australia by foot in just 100 days. </p> <p>Stefan and Lachlan began their journey in Perth in February, and have spent 66 days so far battling difficult conditions while pushing their bodies to the limit. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5fNETERB0s/?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/C5fNETERB0s/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Lambros (@lambrosarmy)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The pair are just days away from reaching Adelaide, and have had some trying times on their momentous journey so far. </p> <p>"One day reached 46 degrees and the soles of our shoes literally melted," Lachlan told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brothers-tackle-momentous-100day-cross-country-challenge-for-cancer-research/bcf7f2f5-482a-4ef3-9ca2-f4a0412beed9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>. </p> <p>Their unwavering commitment to raising money for cancer research has garnered widespread support, with a legion of fans across the country cheering them on. </p> <p>"It gives us a bit of hope that there might be some new research, and that's all we can really hope for," she said.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5z-9LaJtqS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5z-9LaJtqS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 9News (@9news)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The brothers aimed to raise $100,000 before they reach their final destination of Melbourne, but with the help of their dedicated supports, they reached their financial goal just after their halfway mark. </p> <p>Now, the brothers have their sights set on a new goal: $1 million before the end of the year. </p> <p>"We are doing it for everyone back home that has been impacted by cancer, so please find it in your hearts to donate at <a href="https://www.acrf.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ACRF</a> (Australian Cancer Research Foundation)," Stefan said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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A young mum's inspiring journey through pregnancy and cancer

<p>In the midst of life's unpredictable twists and turns, there are moments of pure joy that shine like beacons in the night. For Dani Donne, that radiant moment arrived when she discovered she was pregnant.</p> <p>It was a dream come true, a promise of new beginnings after the heartache of a previous miscarriage. Little did she know that this joyous revelation would be swiftly followed by a daunting diagnosis that would put her strength and resilience to the ultimate test.</p> <p>Just seven days after celebrating the news of her pregnancy, Dani received the devastating news: she had breast cancer. It was a staggering blow, one that shook her to her core. Fear gripped her heart as she worried for both her unborn child and herself. How could she face such a daunting battle while nurturing new life within her?</p> <p>But Dani's spirit refused to be dimmed by the darkness of uncertainty. With unwavering determination, she embarked on a journey that would challenge her in ways she never imagined. Surrounded by the compassionate care of specialists at Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Dani found a glimmer of hope among the shadows.</p> <p>Dr Catherine Shannon guided Dani through the complexities of her treatment. Diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, Dani faced unique challenges as she navigated the delicate balance between her own health and the well-being of her unborn child. Yet, with the expertise of her medical team, Dani underwent surgery followed by a carefully orchestrated treatment plan that prioritised the safety of her precious baby.</p> <p>Throughout the ups and downs of her cancer journey, Dani found solace in the embrace of Mater Hospital's dedicated staff. Their unwavering support and encouragement served as a pillar of strength, bolstering her resolve during moments of doubt and fear. As she cradled her newborn daughter, Parker, in her arms, Dani reflected on the incredible journey that had brought them together.</p> <p>Despite the uncertainties that loomed on the horizon, Dani's story is one of triumph and resilience. With each step of her journey, she embodied the very essence of courage, facing adversity with grace and determination. And in the end, her unwavering spirit prevailed, ushering in a new chapter filled with boundless joy and endless possibilities.</p> <p>As Dani looks to the future with hope and gratitude, she serves as a beacon of inspiration for us all. Her story reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always light to be found. And with love, support and unwavering determination, we can overcome even the greatest of obstacles.</p> <p><em>Images: Mater Hospital</em></p>

Caring

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"I want answers": Simon Dorante-Day's cunning plan to prove royal connections

<p>The Queensland man claiming to be the son of King Charles and Queen Camilla has shared his new plan to prove once and for all that he has royal family connections. </p> <p>Simon Dorante-Day has long claimed through his 30 years of research, he discovered that he is the illegitimate son of the monarch, and has attempted to prove his theory through various means. </p> <p>Now, his new plan to get his hands on royal DNA to unequivocally prove his family heritage involves another member of the royal family. </p> <p>Speaking with <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/aussie-man-claiming-to-be-charles-son-drops-new-prince-harry-dna-bombshell-c-13488374" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>, the 57-year-old said he and his wife have been told by a “trusted source” that Prince Harry could be amenable to helping them gather proof.</p> <p>“We got advice from a really good, really trusted source that we should approach Harry and make a connection there and ask for DNA,” Elvianna said.</p> <p>Simon added, “I was really taken aback when he said that. But it’s definitely something I’m going to do. I’ve long been a supporter of Harry and Meghan, I think it’s disgraceful the way they’ve been treated by the royal family."</p> <p>“The way they are treated on social media too, it’s just one big ‘Punch-Meghan-and-Harry-a-thon’, seriously. It’s really starting to annoy me."</p> <p>He said he is planning to "make contact with him and explore this as an opportunity," pointing out that the royal family's treatment of Harry could make him more willing to help.</p> <p>"At the end of the day, I feel like he just might be as keen as I am to expose what Charles and Camilla and the powers that be have done to me. The injustice."</p> <p>“It’s worth me pointing out that Charles and Camilla, Buckingham Palace, the entire royal family - not one of them has ever said my claims are not true. They’ve never denied what I believe, told me I’m wrong."</p> <p>Simon said “the wheels are in motion” in terms of making contact with Prince Harry, and that he’s hopeful of a positive outcome.</p> <p>“I want answers,” he said. “And I feel Prince Harry is the man to help me find them.”</p> <p>“And I think their silence speaks volumes.”</p> <p>Simon said “the wheels are in motion” in terms of making contact with Prince Harry, and that he’s hopeful of a positive outcome.</p> <p>“I want answers,” he said. “And I feel Prince Harry is the man to help me find them.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

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He's back! Charles and Camilla's secret "son" drops DNA bombshell

<p>The Australian man who has long claimed to be the secret child of King Charles and Queen Camilla has shared the details of a wild plot to extract his DNA. </p> <p>The 57-year-old man from Queensland revealed he was tracked down by an American woman, who claimed she was the illegitimate child of the late Prince Philip, and attempted to get a DNA sample from the man. </p> <p>Simon Dorante-Day has made headline around the world with his claims that he is the son of Charles and Camilla, which he says are the results of decades worth of research. </p> <p>“My grandmother, who had worked for the Queen, told me outright that I was Camilla and Charles’ son many times,” he said.</p> <p>Now, in an interview with <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/aussie-man-who-claims-to-be-charles-and-camillas-son-drops-biggest-ever-dna-bombshell-c-12788618" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>, Dorante-Day shared the story of how he was tracked down by the American woman, who knocked on his door in the early hours of the morning on December 2nd. </p> <p>The 57-year-old and his wife Elvianna were immediately skeptical of the woman, who said she used a private investigator to track him down. </p> <p>“This woman claimed that she was the secret illegitimate daughter of Prince Philip who lived in San Francisco,” Dorante-Day said.</p> <p>“She explained that she had travelled from the US after hiring an investigator to track me down in Queensland. The whole purpose of her visit was to ask me for a sample of my DNA."</p> <p>“She wanted to compare it to hers, to basically prove that we were both related to the royal family.”</p> <p>After humouring the woman and letting her share her evidence along with her elaborate story, Simon concluded that the whole thing was a scam, along with an illegal attempt to extract his DNA.</p> <p>“This woman had a lot of so-called proof to back up her claims, but the whole thing just seemed really fishy,” he said.</p> <p>He recalled how the woman shared her own adoption story, which resulted in her turning to the FBI for help, who allegedly handed her her original birth certificate, which listed Prince Philip as her father. </p> <p>“Of course my bulls*** meter is flying off the handle at this point. I know how hard it is to get any government authority to address these sorts of issues — I hardly think the Federal Bereau of Investigation would just offer up the fact that she was the daughter of the Queen’s late husband," Simon said. </p> <p>“It was all just wild.”</p> <p>The Queensland father and grandfather said it wasn’t long until the woman gave away her real reason for wanting his DNA: money.</p> <p>“She said that she’s already been given a large payout from the royal family after she proved she was the daughter of Prince Philip,” he said.</p> <p>“And she felt that if she was able to compare my DNA to her DNA, and prove we were both descendants of the royal family, then we could ask them for even more money."</p> <p>“Elvianna and I told her what we’ve said to everyone from day one — this isn’t about money for us, at all. This is about us finding out who my birth parents are and protecting my family. We have never wanted money.”</p> <p>After saying goodbye to the pair, Dorante-Day said he and his wife were left reeling.</p> <div> <p>“At the end of the day, this was an illegal attempt to procure my DNA,” he said. </p> <p>Despite the whole experience leaving Dorante-Day and his wife rattled, he said his stance on proving that he is Charles and Camilla's son has not changed. </p> <p>“It takes a lot of work, money and time to build a case like this, but I am confident I will get there,” he said.</p> <p>“I know Charles and Camilla are my parents and I’m ready to prove it.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Supplied</em></p> </div>

Family & Pets

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Pensioner's epic 600-mile journey from England to Scotland on a pony

<p>Jane Dotchin has completed an epic 600-mile (1000 km) journey from England to the Scottish Highlands with her pack pony Diamond, and disabled Jack Russell terrier Dinky.</p> <p>The 82-year-old has been making this seven-week trek every year since 1972, with nothing but her trusted pony, pet dog and a few belongings including a tent, food and water which she carries in a saddlebag.</p> <p>The pensioner travels between 15 and 20 miles a day from Hexham, Northumberland to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. </p> <p>"I love camping and I love the countryside," she said, according to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12735287/Pensioner-82-completes-600-mile-ride-England-Scotland-horse-Diamond-7-week-trip-shes-year-1972.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.</em> </p> <p>Her dog Dinky, who deformed front legs,  is just as happy to go on the adventure, sitting comfortably in the saddlebag as the world passes by her. </p> <p>She lives on porridge, oatcakes and cheese, and carries an old mobile phone in case of emergencies. </p> <p>Dotchin does not let her eye-patch stop her either, as she is determined to continue the tradition for as long as possible.</p> <p>"I know the route so well, I don’t need to read maps. I can manage if I keep to the routes I know," she told the publication. </p> <p>Dotchin first started long-distance trekking 40 years ago when she rode to Somerset, which was around 300 miles from where she lived, to visit a friend. </p> <p>She has made the journey up north every autumn since, and is an inspiration to many, with those who have spotted her sharing photos and videos of the avid horse rider. </p> <p>"A personal hero passed by just now!" wrote one person, who spotted Dotchin riding her pony back in 2021. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A personal hero passed by just now! <a href="https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI">https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaneDotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaneDotchin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCScotland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCScotland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheScotsman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheScotsman</a> <a href="https://t.co/8qegaOLA3P">pic.twitter.com/8qegaOLA3P</a></p> <p>— Robyn Woolston (@robynwoolston) <a href="https://twitter.com/robynwoolston/status/1441359649387671557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Went to watch a bike race and instead discovered an amazing, adventurous and inspirational woman," wrote another person, who spotted Dotchin in 2022. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Eiger X (@eiger.x)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning," wrote another, who spotted her a week later. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">When you’re struggling on a morning run and meet the incredible <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/janedotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#janedotchin</a> on the path. This 82-year-old rides 600 miles across Scotland every autumn with her horse Diamond and disabled Jack Russell Dinky in her saddle bag. What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning. <a href="https://t.co/SuAvQug6dc">pic.twitter.com/SuAvQug6dc</a></p> <p>— 📚🕷Suzy A #CrowMoon 🖤❤️📚 (@writer_suzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/writer_suzy/status/1569965657629794306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter/ Instagram</em></p>

International Travel

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Explore. Dream. Discover: An Over60 Reader's epic journey

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Many people travel to all corners of the earth, seeking new and exciting experiences, especially when we retire and are able to do so. Sometimes we can be pushed beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone but usually the experience is positive and often transformational. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">One popular destination for travellers who enjoy adventure is Sedona in Arizona, a town that nestles in a desert on the edge of red rock canyons. Nearby is Hopiland, home to the Hopi Indians. One of my most treasured memories occurred in this part of the world in 1990, on top of a desert mountain known as a mesa. The mesa rose thousands of feet above ground level and I climbed up there with a group of friends from Australia. As we reached the top, we began to hear the sound of drums and chanting coming from an underground cave. Our travel guide informed us that inside the cave, Hopi women and children huddled together on the dirt floor to watch their menfolk perform legendary rituals honouring their ancient ancestors. Since the ceremony was forbidden to tourists, we were given an hour to explore the top of the mesa. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Moving a short distance away from the rest of the group, I sat down on a rock to fully absorb the nearby pulse of drums and chanting. A few minutes later, three young Hopi boys appeared and attempted to converse with me. Initially, I found it difficult to understand what they were saying until I realised they were actually inviting me to accompany them underground to join their tribal family. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Throwing caution to the wind, I followed them down a rickety wooden ladder poking out of a hole in the ground. The atmosphere inside the cave was thick with burning sage combined with swirling dust from the pounding feet of men dancing, their heads hidden inside huge masks. Barefooted women and children squatted on the dirt floor and I felt very much an intruder as I squeezed myself amongst them. But, reassured by friendly smiles and head-nodding, I began to relax, absorbing the magical rituals of times past. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Eventually the ancient ceremony ended, and I climbed the ladder back into the twentieth century, overcome by a newfound sense of humility and realisation of just how unimportant the wealth and material greed of Western society is. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">One can often rely on the unexpected to occur when travelling. During a visit to Egypt one year, our group emerged from the Temple of Isis to settle down and meditate on the bank of a nearby river when a military policeman appeared out of the bushes, clutching a large submachine gun. His other hand appeared to conceal something behind his back and as he drew closer, we noticed he had a second gun tucked into his belt. Terrified, we leapt to our feet. Then, his face breaking into a smile, he held out the hand from behind his back. Lying in its brown sinewy palm were eleven pink oleander blossoms, one for each of us. A moment of sheer terror switched instantly to one of absolute delight. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Another example of ‘the unexpected’ occurred a few days later for a member of our group who had just turned eighty. All her life she had suffered with claustrophobia and its related anxiety and panic attacks. Consequently, when we visited the Great Pyramid to ascend the steep tunnel inside which would take us up to the King’s Chamber, we arranged for her to remain outside with our tour guide. But at the last minute she changed her mind, not wanting to miss out on such a special experience. By slowly crawling through the tunnel all the way up inside the Great Pyramid, she managed to achieve something she had never in her life believed possible. We celebrated her victory that night with champagne, lots of laughs and some hilarious attempts at belly dancing. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">A travel memory that always makes my grandchildren laugh is when I was visiting my friend Palden Jenkins, an historian who lives in Glastonbury. One day we set off for Snowdonia, North Wales, for a holiday. As we pulled up outside the 500-year-old stone cottage a farmer approached, urging us to be sure to leave a pot of tea outside every night for the Booka, the name given to Welsh brownies or elves. If we did this, he said, we would be assured of a hassle-free holiday. The Booka would not trouble us if we kept the cottage clean, left out the tea and didn’t have long noses. Words cannot describe the fun we two ‘grown-ups’ had in brewing tea every evening over an open fire to cater to the whims of Snowdonia’s faerie folk. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Travelling the world can create change in our lives that we will never regret, opening our hearts, broadening our minds, and sometimes transforming our lives forever. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">To quote Mark Twain, ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did. So, sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream. Discover.’</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">This wonderful story, including the images, was sent in by Over60 Reader Jo Buchanan. Thank you, Jo, for sharing your adventure with us!</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><em>If you have a Reader Story you would like to contribute to Over60, please send it to the editor via <a href="mailto:greg@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greg@oversixty.com.au</a>.</em> </span></p>

International Travel

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Aussie couple's epic 51-cruise journey

<p>In a remarkable journey that began in June 2022, Marty and Jess Ansen bid farewell to their Brisbane home and embarked on an adventure aboard the Coral Princess.</p> <p>Little did they know that this decision would forever change their lives.</p> <p>After experiencing 51 back-to-back cruises and 455 days at sea, the retirees assert that they have no plans to return, claiming that living permanently on the ship is "cheaper" than a retirement home. </p> <p>"It's become our way of life," Ms Ansen said during an interview with <em>A Current Affair.</em></p> <p>"Where else can you find such a diverse range of experiences?</p> <p>"You can enjoy a delightful dinner, catch an entertaining show, or dance the night away. During the day, there are countless activities to choose from. I particularly enjoy the hula dancing and the ballroom dancing."</p> <p>This is the couple's first marathon cruise adventure since the pandemic hit, and the couple couldn't wait to get back on the sea. </p> <p>"Eventually I said to my agent, 'Look, whatever comes, book it' and that's how it got to be such a long cruise," Mr Ansen added. </p> <p>The great-grandparents have spent so much time on board that they are on a first-name basis with the crew, and some of them even treat the couple as their work parents. </p> <p>"We're on board longer than anybody else. The wheels change over but we stay on board." Mr Ansen said.</p> <p>"We welcome the different captains on board."</p> <p>The couple has spent more time on board than even the ship's hotel manager, Ren van Rooyen.</p> <p>"We always make a joke that I go away and I come back and it's like coming to see my family - my mum and dad again - they're like my second mum and dad on board," van Rooyen said. </p> <p>"Everyone knows them around the ship, they're basically celebrities on board. Even the guests know them, they're local celebrities."</p> <p>The couple are loved by the crew on board, and just last month they surprised Ms Ansen for her birthday. </p> <p>While many wonder whether the couple would get bored spending so much time on a cruise, the pair said they have developed a routine, which involves an hour long game of table tennis first thing in the morning at 5:30am. </p> <p>"We do it together and we have a lot of fun," Ms Ansen said, adding that it was the perfect exercise to allow her to indulge in all the buffets on board. </p> <p>The pair have another eight months to go aboard the Coral Princess, before they disembark for a few months on dry land. </p> <p>The couple will then head off again for a year-long cruise aboard the Crown Princess.</p> <p>"We don't know how to wash up anymore, we don't know how to make a bed, because we haven't done it for so long. So now we have to stay on board just to stay alive!" Mr Ansen joked.</p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair</em></p>

Cruising

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Miss World Australia finalist's heartbreaking cancer journey

<p>A Miss World Australia finalist has shared the warning signs she ignored before being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 27, and admitted she thought her life was over. </p> <p>Tirah Ciampa, from Tasmania's north west, began experiencing unusual symptoms last year, and admitted she should've taken them more seriously instead of dismissing them as common ailments. </p> <p>Writing on Facebook, she said, "It felt like I had been punched in the back." </p> <p>"I was constantly laying on the floor at work and going to physio. I thought I had hurt myself at the gym or maybe just slouching at my desk."</p> <p>Tirah said her heart rate would spike and she would suffer cramps randomly, prompting her to book more doctors appointments.      </p> <p>"I've been in and out of the doctors since November last year trying to work out what was happening," she explained. </p> <p>"I had a cardiologist looking after me but it wasn't until February when I was booked in for an abdominal ultrasound and that's when I saw the huge mass."</p> <p>Doctors found a 15cm x 15cm tumour inside Tirah's pancreas, which had already overtaken most of the organ. </p> <p>After receiving the devastating diagnosis, Tirah thought her life was over and started getting her affairs in order. </p> <p>Speaking candidly to <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a&amp;dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fnews%2Ftasmania%2Fmiss-world-australia-national-finalist-and-hobart-model-tirah-ciampa-opens-up-on-pancreatic-cancer-battle%2Fnews-story%2F6db8d44cde31725f29c4d15547f98073&amp;memtype=anonymous&amp;mode=premium&amp;v21=HIGH-Segment-8-SCORE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Sunday Tasmanian</em></a>, she said, "I was writing letters to my loved ones, sorting out my superannuation, clearing out my laptop and spring cleaning."</p> <p>"I wanted to make sure my funeral would be paid for, that it would be an easy mess to clean up. I was getting ready to be gone."</p> <p>Since recovering from her surgery, Tirah began the gruelling process of extensive physiotherapy, and is now preparing to compete at the Miss World Australia national finals on the Gold Coast in August. </p> <p>Her health scare has prompted her to raise awareness for the condition, as she has urged others not to ignore mysterious symptoms.</p> <p>"Listen to your body! Especially women who put every weird feeling down to their menstrual cycle or hormones," she said.</p> <p>"Your body is a temple; it's all we have to live in this beautiful world. Don't take it for granted."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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‘He was horrific!’: Nearly two thirds of family historians are distressed by what they find – should DNA kits come with warnings?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-moore-1446031">Susan Moore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>In 1853, my great great grandmother Charlotte died giving birth to her 13th child, in a tent on the banks of the Yarra River in what is now South Melbourne – but was then an overcrowded, muddy hellhole known as <a href="https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/our-stories/canvas-town-a-floating-city-devoured-by-the-sun/">Canvas Town</a>. The baby, William, died shortly afterwards. Researching Charlotte’s story made me both sad for her loss and angry at the powerlessness of women’s lives then.</p> <p>I’m not the only one to have experienced intense emotions – both negative and positive – while researching my forebears.</p> <p>On Facebook pages, in <a href="https://time.com/5492642/dna-test-results-family-secret-biological-father/">media stories</a> and <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/who-do-you-think-you-are">on TV</a>, you’ll find a flood of hobby genealogists discovering shocking things about their ancestors – or even their own identity.</p> <p>My recent research revealed about two thirds of family historians have experienced <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/7/2/26">strong negative emotions</a> like sorrow or anger through their hobby.</p> <p>And nearly all respondents had experienced strong positive emotions such as joy or pride.</p> <h2>Passionate ‘kin keepers’</h2> <p>In 2019, Doreen Rosenthal and I surveyed 775 Australian hobbyist family historians to examine their <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-Family-History-Exploring-Our-Genealogy/Moore-Rosenthal-Robinson/p/book/9780367820428">motivations</a>.</p> <p>They were adults aged between 21 and 93, but most were older and the median age was 63. The majority (85%) were women. This seems to be typical of hobbyist family historians. Women often take on the role of “kin keeper” – and have the time to devote to it when they’ve finished rearing children and have retired from paid work.</p> <p>Survey respondents described why they were passionately engaged with their hobby – and how it made them feel. Some 48% “sometimes” felt strong negative emotions about what they found, while 15% did “often”.</p> <p>There were five common distress triggers.</p> <h2>1. Ancestors behaving badly</h2> <p>The first and most common distress trigger was the discovery of ancestors who had behaved badly – either as individuals, or by profiting from unjust social conditions. Finding these forebears made family historians feel confronted, shocked and sometimes ashamed.</p> <p>They said things like: "[The worst thing was] finding the bigamist! He was horrific!! Very confronting thinking that I have some of his blood in my veins!"</p> <p>And: "[It was] difficult finding that ancestors may have been involved in unsavoury behaviours or events. The problem is trying to understand the context of how they were able to do things that are socially and legally unacceptable today and not things I can be proud of."</p> <h2>2. Ancestors treated cruelly</h2> <p>It was also distressing to discover ancestors who had been cruelly treated. This elicited disturbing, even “heartbreaking” feelings – and, at least implicitly, indignation at injustice. Many were deeply moved by what their ancestors experienced.</p> <p>As one survey respondent put it: "What is unexpected is the relationships that can be formed with those who are no longer with us. That I can be moved by the plight of my paternal step great great grandmother who was incarcerated in a mental institution from 1913 to 1948 without review, without visitors, to get her out of the way."</p> <h2>3. Sad stories</h2> <p>Sadness was often specifically mentioned. As in the case of my great great grandmother who died in childbirth, sadness was usually a response to the hardships and tragedies ancestors faced in more challenging times.</p> <p>Women commonly did not survive childbirth, neonatal deaths were frequent, people died of diseases medical science has now conquered. Poverty was rife and war a constant threat.</p> <p>"[It was difficult] discovering the tragedies encountered by my Irish ancestors who came to Australia and their struggles and heartbreaking stories of survival for the next three generations."</p> <p>"[It is distressing] to uncover particularly sad and desperate times in some ancestors’ lives. For example, a destitute widow who admitted her child to an orphan asylum for three years, only to have her child die of typhoid fever within two weeks of returning home."</p> <h2>4. Family secrets and betrayal</h2> <p>The fourth distress trigger was a belief by the family history researcher that they had been betrayed by other family members: through secrets, lies and feeling their lived experience was ignored or denied.</p> <p>This is particularly likely for those who discover “secrets” about their parentage – for example, the late-life discovery of adoption, parental infidelity or previously unknown siblings.</p> <p>Trust is damaged. If family members can lie about these important things, what else might they lie about?</p> <p>As one woman commented: "My mother’s half-sister did not accept that she shared a father with my mother. My great grandmother lied about who my grandfather’s father was. My great great grandmother also lied. All these lies were very distressing."</p> <h2>5. Moral dilemmas</h2> <p>Finally, several respondents expressed doubt and confusion at the moral dilemmas they faced on discovering information that could greatly distress other living relatives. Should they tell or not?</p> <p>An emotional burden attaches to withholding potentially distressing information of this kind. Yet there is also guilt and fear about the possible outcomes of sharing it.</p> <p>"I knew an aunt had an illegitimate child before she married. Through DNA I found her granddaughter. I have yet to inform this girl who she is. I don’t feel it’s my right as she has absolutely no idea of any adoption of her father."</p> <p>"A really distressing find was that my great aunt’s husband had committed a terrible murder. I have not been able to speak about this with the descendants of the couple."</p> <h2>Healthy outcomes from bad feelings</h2> <p>Sometimes these distressing feelings can promote healthy, growth-enhancing outcomes. After the initial shock, some traumatic genealogical discoveries lead to a greater understanding of the past and its influence.</p> <p>Placing ancestors’ maladaptive or distressing behaviours, or their misfortunes, into historical and social context can help with acceptance and forgiveness, and stimulate emotional healing and personal growth.</p> <p>Initial feelings of distress about past injustices and tragedies are sometimes replaced by admiration for the strength and resilience of one’s forebears. This can positively influence personal wellbeing and resilience.</p> <h2>How can family and professionals help?</h2> <p>I processed my great great grandmother’s story by writing it down and sharing it with family members. We reworked our sadness at her fate into a positive family narrative, emphasising her bravery and the strengths her surviving children showed.</p> <p>Support can mean just disclosing these stories to family members, friends and other family historians. But for some, it may be helpful to discuss these topics privately with a counsellor or therapist, especially if they’ve led to a breakdown in family relationships or an assault on one’s sense of identity.</p> <p>Counsellors and psychologists should develop strategies to support clients distressed by genealogical findings – and encourage them to use their new knowledge for personal growth and greater understanding of family dynamics.</p> <p>Should providers of genealogical research products (especially DNA tests) educate their customers about their products’ potential to cause distress?</p> <p>Trigger warnings might be overkill. But they could issue lists of support resources for those who are upset or disoriented by their findings.</p> <p>As more people gain access to more genealogical data – with the potential to challenge identity and uncover family secrets – it’s worth thinking about.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/207430/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-moore-1446031">Susan Moore</a>, Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>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/he-was-horrific-nearly-two-thirds-of-family-historians-are-distressed-by-what-they-find-should-dna-kits-come-with-warnings-207430">original article</a>.</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Kochie’s wife pipes up on lengthy Sunrise journey

<p>In the wake of David “Kochie” Koch’s <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-world-s-best-job-kochie-quits-sunrise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocking departure</a> from <em>Sunrise</em>, his wife Libby has come forward to speak about the “sad” decision.</p> <p>Libby has been by Kochie's side during his entire 21-year run on the breakfast TV show and has witnessed some of the “pushback” he copped in his early days that led to a “love” of telling other people’s stories.</p> <p>“And this emotion that swept over both of us, it was really bittersweet, like, excited but sad too because it’s just been part of our lives for such a long time.”</p> <p>Libby shared that “come Saturday he is really tired” but will always have time for his four children and eight grandchildren.</p> <p>Despite the exhaustion, “he’s always there watching the (grandchildren’s) sport, always there for the kids and myself”.</p> <p>“That’s probably the thing that I’m the most proud of,” Libby said.</p> <p>“No matter how tired he was on the weekend, it was like: Right, it’s family time.”</p> <p>Libby noted that Kochie's father Dean would be “so proud” of his son for prioritising his family over his career, “even having this big gig of Sunrise and people knowing you”.</p> <p>“But the fact that he’s worked hard to just box (Sunrise) off and then have the weekend as family time,” Libby said.</p> <p>“I think his dad would be really proud of that.”</p> <p>As the pair started discussing “cutting back”, Libby revealed she encouraged Kochie by explaining to him, “I really hate seeing you this tired.”</p> <p>According to Libby, Kochie agreed, expressing how he “hated feeling this tired” and telling her, “Right, you’ve got to be the strong one.”</p> <p>“It’s really quite sort of sad and then it’ll become exciting, but yeah, but I’m never very good with goodbyes,” she said.</p> <p>Libby reflected on the debut of <em>Sunrise</em> in 2002, explaining it “was a bit of trial and error and then he started and found there was a bit of pushback for some of his style”.</p> <p>“When he introduced his joke of the day and there was a lot of pushback from certain sectors about what cheeky things he’d say.</p> <p>“But then the viewers started really responding and he was really relaxed in his style, often put his foot in it.</p> <p>“Viewers respond to that because they very quickly realised he’s just a regular bloke.”</p> <p>Libby shared that before her husband knew it, he “realised how much he was enjoying it because he’s a real talker”.</p> <p>“He loves people’s stories and he realised this was a great opportunity to talk to people and find out their stories,” she said.</p> <p>Libby shared that her highlight of Kochie's journey would “definitely be his and Mel’s coverage of the Beaconsfield mine disaster”.</p> <p>In 2006 Kochie secured the story of the century after a small earthquake caused a tunnel to collapse at the Beaconsfield mine in Tasmania, which saw multiple trapped and one dead, which <a href="http://xn--just%20a%20regular%20daggy%20dad%20who%20thinks%20hes%20so%20funny%20with%20his%20comments-5641dng2g./" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he spoke publicly</a> about for the first time seven years on.</p> <p>When miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell were found alive on the sixth day, Kochie and Melissa Doyle covered the story from the sidelines until they were rescued after 14 days unground.</p> <p>“What I was really proud of that viewers didn’t know is that he and Mel would go round to Todd Russell’s parents and his wife’s house and sit down and have a cup of tea and have dinner and talk with the kids,” Libby said.</p> <p>Libby said that at home Kochie is “just a regular daggy dad who thinks he’s so funny with his comments”.</p> <p>“Then when boyfriends came on the scene he thought, ‘Oh, it’s the thing to do to sit them down and have a chat?’</p> <p>“And we’re like ‘Over the top, Dave, over the top’.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Unlocking the Silver Revolution: The Truth About Grey Hair and the Empowering Journey to Embrace the Grey

<p>In a recent poll by midlife connection organisation, Connected Women reveals that two-thirds of women over the age of 50 haven’t embraced their grey hair (67%). With hair starting to go grey in our 30s and 40s, that’s a long time to hide those pesky greys!</p> <p><strong>What causes grey hair? </strong></p> <p>According to Harvard Health, hair doesn’t ‘turn’ grey. Once a strand of hair is a particular colour, it will stay that way unless it is dyed. After the age of 35, hair follicles produce less colour, so when that strand of hair falls out it will be more likely to grow back grey.</p> <p><strong>Can stress cause grey hair? </strong></p> <p>There is very little evidence to indicate that this is true, however, research shows that in mice, in response to a fight or flight situation, hair follicles are impacted and the pigmentation-producing stem cells can be lost. Without stem cells available to produce pigment cells, the hair will go grey.</p> <p>So, can we now legitimately blame our grey hairs on our kids, or our husbands.</p> <p><strong>What happens when you pluck your grey hairs out? </strong></p> <p>Don’t do it! Not only will it simply grow back grey, but according to Trey Gillen, hairstylist and creative director of education at SACHAJUAN, doing so can also traumatise the follicles which could mean NO hair grows back.</p> <p><strong>When is the right time to go grey?</strong></p> <p>This is something that only you can decide. If your hair is dark brown or black, your greys will be more noticeable, so you’ll need to have regular (two to four weekly) trips to the hairdresser to cover them up. At some point you will most likely grow weary of trying to stem the tide and it will be time to just embrace the grey. You will know when you’ve had enough!</p> <p>If you have lighter hair, then your greys will be much less noticeable. Lighter hair gives you a much longer window between coloring appointments in the initial stages of going grey, and later you can use the greys as ‘herringbone highlights’ as per Sarah Jessica Parker’s beautiful mane, which is wonderful way to gracefully embrace going grey.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/05/Phoebe-headshot-EDITED.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: #212529;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Phoebe Adams is the founder of Connected Women, an organisation providing a community for women over 50 to connect with each other and build meaningful friendships. With a rapidly growing community in Perth, Sydney, Wollongong, and Melbourne, Connected Women provides a safe and welcoming space for women to come together and share experiences. To learn more about the organisation and how you can get involved, visit <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #258440; text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" href="https://www.connectedwomen.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connectedwomen.net</a>.</em></span></span></p> <p><em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: #212529;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></span></span></span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Madeleine McCann's parents speak out after DNA test results

<p>Madeleine McCann's parents have spoken out after the results of Julia Faustyna's DNA test have returned. </p> <p>Julia Faustyna, a 21-year-old Polish woman, has been claiming to be the missing British child in a high-profile campaign that has seen her undergo a DNA test to prove her identity.</p> <p>The DNA results determined that Julia is not Maddie, despite Julia's claims of having similar facial features, suffering an abusive childhood and had starting to question her parentage as a result. </p> <p>Private detective Dr Fia Johansson arranged for Julia to give samples in the US for extensive DNA tests - including a DNA test similar to a 23andMe test, which established she is not Madeleine.</p> <p>The test looked into her heritage, and showed that she is from Poland, with some Lithuanian and Romanian heritage, <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21808585/who-julia-wendell-madeleine-mccann/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Sun</em></a> reported, but nothing to suggest any link to the McCann's. </p> <p>In response, a spokesman for Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann said, “There isn’t anything to report at this time. If and when there is, it will come from The Metropolitan Police.”</p> <p>Julia is also facing a nervous wait for the results of further health tests as doctors fear she <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/sad-health-news-for-woman-claiming-to-be-madeleine-mccann" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may have leukaemia</a>, Dr Johansson - with Julia’s permission - revealed to <em>The Sun</em>.</p> <p>She said, “Her health is very poor she has bad asthma and she suffers lots of pain in her bones."</p> <p>“She is booked in for a CT and MRI scan because of the pain in her bones."</p> <p>“Her blood work is also abnormal so my doctor here in the US is investigating whether she could have leukaemia so we are awaiting the results of that."</p> <p>“And if she needs any treatment we will make sure she gets that.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Historic Swedish sailing ship slow to give up its secrets

<div> <p>The Swedish ship Vasa was supposed to be a beacon of military might when it launched in 1628, but it sank after sailing just over a kilometre, killing roughly 30 people  in the process.</p> <p>Since its recovery in 1961, the ship, its contents and the people who perished with it have become a valuable insight into 17th-century Swedish life.</p> <p>Now, an international team of researchers has looked closer at one of the skeletons, referred to as G, and have confirmed that it’s female.</p> <p>“Through osteological analysis it has been possible to discover a great deal about these people, such as their age, height and medical history. Osteologists recently suspected that G could be female, on the basis of the pelvis. DNA analysis can reveal even more,” says Dr Fred Hocker, director of research at the Vasa Museum, Sweden.</p> <p>“It is very difficult to extract DNA from bone which has been on the bottom of the sea for 333 years, but not impossible”, says Professor Marie Allen, a forensic geneticist at Uppsala University in Sweden.</p> <p>“Already some years ago we had indications that skeleton G was not a man but a woman. Simply put, we found no Y-chromosomes in G’s genetic material. But we could not be certain and wanted to confirm the result.”</p> <p>They were able to do that with a technique developed by the US Department of Defense’s Armed Forces Medical Examiner System’s Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFMES-AFDIL).</p> <p>“We took new samples from bones for which we had specific questions. AFMES-AFDIL has now analysed the samples, and we have been able to confirm that G was a woman, thanks to the new test,” says Allen.</p> <p>Allen, along with AFMES-AFDIL collaborator Dr Kimberly Andreaggi, is now investigating the DNA for more detail about G.</p> <p>“Today we can extract much more information from historic DNA than we could earlier and methods are being continuously refined. We can say if a person was predisposed to certain illnesses, or even very small details, such as if they had freckles and wet or dry ear wax,” says Allen.</p> <p>The Vasa Museum, meanwhile, is collecting information for a book about the people who died on the ship.</p> <p>“We want to come as close to these people as we can. We have known that there were women on board Vasa when it sank, and now we have received confirmation that they are among the remains,” says museum historian Dr Anna Maria Forssberg.</p> <p>“I am currently researching the wives of seamen, so for me this is especially exciting, since they are often forgotten even though they played an important role for the navy.”</p> </div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/vasa-shipwreck-female/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. </em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> </div>

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Julia Faustyna takes DNA test to prove wild identity claims

<p>Julia Faustyna, the Polish woman who is convinced she is the missing Madeleine McCann, has reportedly taken a DNA test to prove her claim.</p> <p>However, in a stunning twist to the tale, Faustyna’s private investigation with spokesperson Dr Fia Johansson has led the young woman to consider the possibility that she may actually be another missing child - Livia Schepp, who went missing with her twin sister in Switzerland in 2011. </p> <p>“I’ve spoken to her about this and she is open to the fact she could be any missing child out there,” Dr Johansson said while speaking to <em>The Sun</em>. “Not just Madeleine. Julia wants to know the truth about who she is.” </p> <p>While Faustyna’s main argument has involved the physical similarities between herself and Madeleine McCann, one of the pivotal points in her story is how she recognised a suspect from McCann’s case - a man she has named as her own abuser. </p> <p>“One of the reasons she made the connection to Madeleine is because one of the suspects in Madeleine’s case looks very much like a man who she says abused her as a child,” Dr Johansson explained. “But the same man could be connected to Madeleine and other missing children, this is how predators and traffickers work.”</p> <p>“Julia has taken a DNA test,” she confirmed, “and we are investigating if it’s possible to check her DNA with that of [the] missing Livia. We are investigating all possibilities at this stage.” </p> <p>Livia Schepp - and her twin sister Alessia - went missing when they were six, after their father abducted them from Switzerland in 2011. Days later, he took his own life in Italy, and when police discovered the body, the twins were nowhere to be seen. </p> <p>Faustyna, who claims to have post-traumatic amnesia due to sexual abuse in her childhood, lacks clear recollection of her formative years, and has stated while she can recall holidays, she doesn’t “recall my mother being there, for example, or my stepfather, much less my dad.”</p> <p>Whether or not any of Faustyna’s theories are true, the public will have to keep speculating, as no results have yet been shared. </p> <p>However, Faustyna’s viral “@iammadeleinemccan”, where she was sharing updates and side-by-side comparisons with her followers, has since been deleted from the platform. </p> <p>The removal coincides with reports of the DNA test, and after Faustyna closed both her Facebook and Tiktok accounts, disputing her parent’s claim that she was only in this for attention when she said “if you don’t like me, please unfollow. I don’t want fans or followers.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Twitter</em></p>

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Jimmy Barnes shares details of his recovery journey

<p>Jimmy Barnes has shared the gruelling details of his recovery journey after undergoing major surgery. </p> <p>The 66-year-old underwent major hip and back surgery in December, after explaining to fans that after nearly 50 years of “jumping off PAs and stomping around stages has “caught up” with him and he needed to do something to fix the “constant and severe pain.”</p> <p>Now, just three short weeks after the procedure, Jimmy is back on his feet and sharing his recovery process with his fans.</p> <p>The iconic singer said he was forced to be "patient" as he navigates his recovery, but this week hit a major milestone by being able to cycle on an exercise bike for 10 minutes a day. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm_IUDyO_lU/?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/Cm_IUDyO_lU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jimmy Barnes (@jimmybarnesofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Jimmy's update comes just days after he shared a photo of him walking with a walking stick, saying he has been "sticking to the recovery program to the letter", while thanking his fans for "cheering me on".</p> <p>He joked that his wife Jane was acting as his personal physio, while sharing that he was off heavy pain medication and has "turned a big corner". </p> <p>On New Year's Day, Barnes shared he was able to walk to the top of a flight of stairs and back down again while unaided, saying "what a great start to the new year".</p> <p>Fans have been delighted by Jimmy's updates, with his posts being flooded with words of encouragement.</p> <p>One fan wrote, "Good on ya mate! We’re all cheering you on, Jimmy!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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“Loving grandfather” ousted as serial rapist

<p dir="ltr">A local Bondi grandfather has been ousted by police as a serial rapist - one of the worst in New South Wales.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following a long 40 years of investigations and using new technology for DNA as well as a shocking 12 crime scenes, Keith “Maggo” Simms has been identified as a serial rapist.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dubbed “The Beast of Bondi”, Simms is believed to have raped and terrorised more than 30 women in Sydney's eastern suburbs from 1986 to 2001.</p> <p dir="ltr">He died earlier this year on February 20 at the age of 66.</p> <p dir="ltr">When Simms was ready to attack a woman, he would wear a balaclava and approach them with a knife, putting a hand across their mouth and threatening to kill them.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was only in 2016, when police received a weak DNA match to a relative of Simms, that they were eventually able to tie the crimes back to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unfortunately for his victims, Simms died before police were able to question him and get them some form of justice.</p> <p dir="ltr">His family also had no idea and referred to him as a “loving family man”, and when his wife found out she was shocked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“His family had no idea at all … we met with his wife and she was absolutely shocked,” Detective Sergeant Shelley Johns, from Strike Force Doreen said, The Daily Telegraph reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sex Crimes squad boss Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said that despite his death, it gives his victims a peace of mind knowing he’s not out there anymore.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was important for the victim survivors and that is why we persevered. We wanted to let them know we were not just guessing it was him. It also meant we are not still looking for someone that is still out there,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So those women who are walking down the street and are still wondering: Is that him? They now know that person is deceased.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: The Daily Telegraph</em></p>

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Evidence that human evolution driven by major environmental pressures discovered

<p>The genes of ancient humans might have changed substantially due to environmental pressures and change, say an international team of researchers.</p> <p>A widely held belief related to human evolution is that our ancient ancestors’ ability to fashion tools, shelter, and use advanced communication skills may have helped to shield them from large environmental impacts such as changing climate, disease and exposure to other events affecting mortality.</p> <p>But research led out of Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide suggests that beneficial genes may have played a more important role in preserving our ancestors.</p> <p>Until now, the sudden increase in frequency of these genes in human groups was masked by the exchange of DNA between people during reproduction.</p> <p>Now, analyses of more than one thousand ancient genomes dating as far back as 45,000 years ago have found historic signals showing genetic adaptation was more common than previously thought.</p> <p>The study of evolutionary events, says the study’s co-lead author Dr Yassine Souilmi, has increased substantially in recent years, as these are the points where human genetics take historic turns.</p> <p>“Evolutionary events [are] exactly what shape our genetic diversity today,” Souilmi tells Cosmos.</p> <p>“That’s what makes us vulnerable to certain diseases [and] resistant to others.</p> <p>“Having a good understanding of evolution, we can have a better understanding of who we are.”</p> <p>Previous research by the Centre has uncovered a range of evolutionary trends, from historic climate change causing the demise of ancestral lions and bears, to the first interactions between humans and coronaviruses 20,000 years ago.</p> <p>And the broader field of research into ancient DNA has shed light on important moments in human history. Only recently did analyses of ancient genes uncover locations on the human genome associated with surviving Yersinia pestis – the bacterium that causes the bubonic plague.</p> <h2>Single events probably triggered selection</h2> <p>This study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, has similarly found environmental events might have been more influential on evolution among Eurasian groups.</p> <p>Such events might lead to a point of natural selection. Take, for instance, the emergence of a pathogen. If such a disease could kill people, those who managed to survive and continue reproducing would pass down favourable traits to subsequent generations.</p> <p>“Natural selection acts in two different mechanisms,” says Souilmi.</p> <p>“It only cares about whether you’re procreating successfully… when it acts, it’s either killing a lot of people, [preventing] some people from reproducing successfully, or some people are just not finding mates because they have some sort of ailment that’s not allowing them to mate successfully, or might make them undesirable.</p> <p>“What we’re finding is that the signal of natural selection we detected in this [research] was likely a single event, because the signal is clustered in time in a very early migration out of Africa.</p> <p>“Not all of the [events] we detected occurred at the same time, but the bulk of them did.”</p> <h2>A mirror to the present</h2> <p>This ‘agnostic’ study did not seek to identify the external pressures leading to the selection events indicated in these ancient genes, but future research by the team will seek to uncover that information.</p> <p>Studies like this, or those into specific pressures like the influence of the Black Death or coronaviruses on humans, show the impact of environmental change on our genetics.</p> <p>Souilmi says this is both insightful and cautionary, as environmental change in the present could be studied by humans in the future.</p> <p>He speculates that changes in the Earth’s climate, or the emergence of new pathogens, likely imposed selection pressures on ancient groups, whether through forcing shortages or changes to food supply or imposing physiological stressors.</p> <p>“Very likely, it’s the environment, the temperature, the weather patterns, that would have somewhat impacted the dietary regime of our ancestors out of Africa, and pathogens would have driven this [genetic] adaptation, which has shaped our genetic diversity now,” Souilmi says.</p> <p>“The direct lesson, socially, now, is that if we’re ever faced with events that are similar to that, we are not as immune to extreme episodes of adaptation where a lot of people might die, or be unable to reproduce.</p> <p>“Unless we do something to counteract the environmental changes, or viruses, bacterial or other pandemics, it could be a bad thing.”</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/human-evolution-driven-by-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Matthew Agius.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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The world’s 10 best train journeys

<p><strong>10 best train trips in the world</strong></p> <p>Key to cost of rail trip (airfares &amp; extra accommodations not included).</p> <p>$ = less than $500</p> <p>$$ = between $500 and $1000</p> <p>$$$ = between $1000 and $2000</p> <p>$$$$ = between $2000 and $3000</p> <p>$$$$$ = more than $3000</p> <p><strong>The Royal Scotsman</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Around the Scottish Highlands or all the way around Great Britain.</p> <p><em>When</em>: Warmer weather and up to 20 hours of daylight in June make it the perfect time to watch ospreys soaring over mirror-like lochs, or come in October for autumn colours and the rather vocal stag rutting season.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$$$$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Trips into the Highlands can be as short as two days or as long as five. Seven days will get you all the way around Great Britain in the most stylish mode possible.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: Possibly the most expensive train journey in the world, you’ll be treated like a member of the monarchy. Indulgent cuisine, fine wines and cabins that look like guest rooms at Balmoral await those willing to part with a minimum of $3600 (approximately) for a two-night trip.</p> <p><strong>The Chepe</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Mexico, starting in the mountains of Chihuahua and finishing on the Sinaloa coast.</p> <p><em>When</em>: In the rainy season, from June to October, you’ll get lush vegetation and blooming cacti, although mid-summer temperatures can reach 44°c.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Doing the route straight through takes fourteen hours, but you’ll want to stop off overnight and explore the very traditional towns along the way.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: The train winds its way down through 656km of the spectacularly beautiful Copper Canyon (which is deeper than the Grand Canyon), over 37 precarious-looking bridges and through 86 tunnels. The local indigenous peoples, the Tarahumara, sell their crafts and foods along the railway route.</p> <p><strong>The Ghan</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs.</p> <p><em>When</em>: Going during the wet season (the Australian summer) will allow you to see more wildlife and tropical splendour in the North, though peak season is usually the Australian winter.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$$ – $$$$$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Going straight through takes 52 hours. There are disembarkation points throughout from which you can take tours.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: Going through Australia’s “Red Centre,” with cobalt-blue skies, red earth and not much else – a hauntingly beautiful and serene experience.</p> <p><strong>The Blue Train</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: South Africa, from Pretoria to Cape Town.</p> <p><em>When</em>: From May to August you’ll be more likely to observe big game from the train.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$$ – $$$$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: 27 hours on the train, with several stops and excursions along the way.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: You’ll be travelling through 1600k of diverse and naturally awesome African landscape in the utmost style, with stays on game reserves optional.</p> <p><strong>The Rocky Mountaineer</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Canada, from Vancouver to Banff, Jasper and Calgary.</p> <p><em>When</em>: In June, which is springtime in the Rockies, complete with blooming flowers and abundant wildlife.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$ – $$$$$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Between two and eight days, travelling only in daylight, staying in deluxe hotels.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: Unparalleled views of the Rocky Mountains, incredible luxury at every stage of the trip, onboard traditional native storytelling, wine appreciation classes, and natural history workshops.</p> <p><strong>Eastern and Oriental Express</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: From Thailand, through Malaysia, to Singapore.</p> <p><em>When</em>: April and May, for the least humid weather and lesser chance of monsoons.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$$ – $$$$$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Trips vary from two to eight days.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: You’ll travel through the heart of Southeast Asia. From golden temples and paddy fields to cosmopolitan cities, this luxurious train showcases the best of the countries it passes through.</p> <p><strong>Royal Rajasthan on Wheels</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: India, a circuit through the Rajasthan region, from Delhi.</p> <p><em>When</em>: October – the weather is cool enough to be bearable and you’ll see the most wildlife from the train.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$$$$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Eight days, which includes excursions throughout the route.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: You’ll be treated like royalty as you tour the majestic states and houses of this region. The train is decked out in indulgent Indian style, with décor and even an onboard spa.</p> <p><strong>The Ocean</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Canada, from Montreal to Halifax.</p> <p><em>When</em>: In early October, when you’ll travel through glorious autumn colours and still be able to ride the Sleeper Touring Class train before it is taken off the route for the off-season.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: 22 hours, overnight on the train in a sleeper cabin.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: The train passes through rural communities in Quebec, along beaches as it goes down through New Brunswick and through Nova Scotian countryside. There’s no prettier way to travel to the Maritimes.</p> <p><strong>The Hiram Bingham</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Peru, from Cusco to Machu Picchu.</p> <p><em>When</em>: May – you’ll miss both the rainy season and the crowds that come in the high season, which runs from June to September.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $$</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: The trip takes one day. Brunch is served on the way to Machu Picchu, guests receive a guided tour of the ancient citadel, and then dinner is served on the return journey.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: The train winds its way through the Andes, crossing the wild Urubamba River, giving unsurpassed views of this region.</p> <p><strong>The Bergen Railway</strong></p> <p><em>Where</em>: Norway, from Oslo to Stavanger.</p> <p><em>When</em>: This train runs from May to September. In late June/early July you’ll experience the midnight sun.</p> <p><em>Cost</em>: $</p> <p><em>Duration</em>: Between three and five days, depending on how many overnights you wish to do.</p> <p><em>Highlights</em>: The biggest cities in Norway, plus majestic Lysefjord and wild Norwegian coastline. You’ll also get to look down over the fjords from the Pulpit Rock, a shelf towering 604 metres above the glassy waters.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/the-worlds-10-best-train-journeys?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

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Travel beyond the ordinary with Globus Journeys

<p><span lang="EN">Pack your bags and prepare to tick the USA and Canada off your bucket list. With </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.globus.com.au/deals/au/2023-north-america-promotion?&utm_medium=native&utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=globus-2023-nam-oct&utm_content=native-article-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Globus</a></span><span lang="EN">, it’s time to immerse yourself in travel. It’s not just a holiday – it’s an experience with memories to last a lifetime.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN">For more than 90 years, Globus has been sharing the world with travellers, setting the gold standard for award-winning tours across virtually every continent. Pairing unrivalled knowledge with superior accommodation, authentic cuisine, VIP sight-seeing and unique insider experiences, you get to say hello to the United States and Canada as you’ve never seen them before, on a journey beyond ordinary!</span></p> <p><span lang="EN">Soak up everything this part of the world has to offer on a first-class, escorted Globus journey, </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.globus.com.au/deals/au/2023-north-america-promotion?&utm_medium=native&utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=globus-2023-nam-oct&utm_content=native-article-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with a huge saving of up to $1,000</a></span><span lang="EN"> (per couple) for a limited time on 2023 tours.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN">From the majestic mountains of the Canadian Rockies to America's colourful Southern States, Globus has more than 50 North America itineraries to choose from – so you’re sure to find the perfect one to line up with your dream holiday.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN">In fact, if you're anything like us, your US and Canadian travel bucket list is easily a mile long. So to help get you started, here are our <strong>Favourite Five destinations</strong> we are itching to see at least once in our lifetimes. If you haven't been, now is the time to stop dreaming and start planning!</span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><strong>Favourite Five:</strong></span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><strong><span lang="EN">1. Monument Valley, Arizona:</span></strong><span lang="EN"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/Arizona.jpg" alt="" width="792" height="515" /></span></p> <p><span lang="EN">Located on the Utah-Arizona state line, Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley hosts unique crimson sandstone and rock formations that have been sculpted by time. These natural masterpieces soar through the sky and are framed by the beautiful clouds casting shadows that project onto the rich dessert ground. Experience one of the most breathtaking points on earth – not to mention one of the world’s most-photographed natural wonders. The rocks are surrounded by an abundance of beautiful nature and – of course – peaceful serenity.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><strong><span lang="EN">2. Bourbon Street, New Orleans:</span></strong><span lang="EN"> </span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/Bourbon-St.jpg" alt="" width="819" height="523" /></span></p> <p><span lang="EN">Looking for the life of the party? Look no further than Bourbon Street in the historic centre of New Orleans’ French Quarter. You’re bound to hear music on every corner as the popular strip lights up under a neon glow day-in and day-out. Famous for its intoxicating atmosphere, Bourbon Street will immediately have you buzzing and coming back for more.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><strong style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">3. Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies:</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/Banff-Canada.jpg" alt="" width="778" height="533" /></span></p> <p><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Visit the flagship of Canada’s picture-perfect scenery and immerse yourself in a vast range of activities including hiking, biking, skiing, camping and much more. Experience beautiful scenery, lux accommodation and bask in the beauty of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><strong style="font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN">4. Denali National Park, Alaska:</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/Alaska6.jpg" alt="" width="761" height="452" /></span></p> <p><span lang="EN">Denali sprawls out across six million vast unspoiled acres of wilderness and is home to the tallest peak in North America, Mt McKinley. </span><span lang="EN">Here you’ll find an abundance of native wildlife including moose, grizzly bears, Dall sheep and wolves. Compare the different park roads and discover which is best for you and your sight-seeing adventure – but keep in mind you don’t have to set a limit; with an array of different activities you’ll find yourself at one with the wilderness in no time.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><strong><span lang="EN">5. Washington, DC:</span></strong><span lang="EN"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/Washington1.jpg" alt="" width="742" height="458" /></span></p> <p><span lang="EN">From monuments to memorials, explore the Nation’s capital and learn a thing or two about its rich historic background. Washington offers a host of different experiences to suit everyone. You certainly won’t run out of things to do with Washington ranking in the top 5 best cities of America in 2022. </span></p> <p><span lang="EN">Give yourself something to look forward to with a Globus undiscovered journey and go off-the-beaten-path, or design your days your way with Choice Touring by Globus. You’ll have to see it to believe it! Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime as Globus connects you with places, people and experiences that will ignite your passion for travel all over again.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.globus.com.au/deals/au/2023-north-america-promotion?&utm_medium=native&utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=globus-2023-nam-oct&utm_content=native-article-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a 2023 Globus North America tour by 31 October</a></span><span lang="EN"> 2022 and save up to $1,000 per couple!</span></p> <p><span lang="EN">This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.globus.com.au/deals/au/2023-north-america-promotion?&utm_medium=native&utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=globus-2023-nam-oct&utm_content=native-article-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Globus</a></span><span lang="EN">.</span></p> <p><em><span lang="EN">Images: Supplied</span></em></p>

International Travel

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"Last great journey": Queen’s coffin arrives in Edinburgh

<p dir="ltr">Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday following a six-hour journey from her summer home in the Scottish Highlands.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her solemn arrival was greeted by thousands of people at the city's Royal Mile; Her Majesty's body will remain there for two days to allow people to pay their final respects.</p> <p dir="ltr">The queen's daughter Anne and her sons, Princes Andrew and Edward, curtsied and bowed as the coffin was carried inside by soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is just ahead of the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-at-96" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death</a>, the Queen's son, King Charles III, spoke of her long 70-year reign.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also spoke about looking forward to following in his mother’s footsteps.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply,” King Charles III continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">"But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: Thank you.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.</p> <p dir="ltr">"May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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