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Former Neighbours star’s stunning Yarra Valley wedding

<p>In a celebration filled with love, laughter and music, singer and former <em>Neighbours</em> star Bonnie Anderson tied the knot with her beau, Samuel Morrison, in a breathtaking ceremony at the enchanting Acacia Ridge Vineyard in Yarra Valley, Victoria.</p> <p>The 29-year-old songstress and her landscaper husband exchanged vows in the presence of their closest family and friends, marking the beginning of a beautiful journey together.</p> <p>The radiant bride walked down the aisle in a sleeveless, halter-neck lace gown crafted by the talented Australian designer Jason Grech, while the dashing groom looked ever so handsome in a classic black tuxedo. The picturesque vineyard provided the perfect backdrop for this special day, creating an atmosphere of pure magic and romance.</p> <p>Sharing their joy with the world, Anderson captioned the first wedding photo on Instagram with the simple yet powerful words, "Mr and Mrs Morrison."</p> <p>The newlyweds flooded their social media with countless photos and videos, giving fans a glimpse into the magical celebration of their love.</p> <p>During the reception, the talented bride took the stage once again, not only as a singer but as a romantic lyricist. Anderson serenaded her new husband with a heartfelt song she had written especially for him, creating an unforgettable moment as their guests gathered around to witness their love story unfold.</p> <p>The celebration continued inside a marquee on the sprawling estate, where the bridesmaids, adorned in elegant black satin gowns, kicked off the festivities with a rehearsed entrance set to the iconic Beyoncé hit, "Single Ladies". Dinner was served, and the atmosphere was electric as the bride treated the guests to her musical prowess before the DJ took over, transforming the evening into a dance-filled extravaganza.</p> <p>In a pre-wedding interview with the <em>Herald Sun</em>, Anderson expressed her desire for the celebration to be a "big party" filled with entertainment and music, and she certainly delivered on that promise. Life may be chaotic as a mum, singer and wedding organiser, but for Bonnie Anderson, the chaos is well worth the joy that comes with looking forward to the future.</p> <p>The couple, who had already welcomed their bundle of joy, Bobby, in December the previous year, radiated happiness and love throughout the day. Anderson, who found fame at the tender age of 12 as the first winner of <em>Australia's Got Talent</em> in 2007, has come a long way, gracing the screens of <em>Neighbours</em> from 2018 to 2021. Now, as Bonnie Morrison, she begins a new chapter in her fairy tale alongside Samuel.</p> <p>As they dance into the rest of their lives together, Bonnie and Samuel Morrison serve as a testament to the enduring power of love, the magic of music, and the joy of sharing life's grandest moments with those who matter most. Cheers to the newlyweds, and may their journey be filled with endless love, laughter, and, of course, more unforgettable music!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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“I’ll never speak to him again”: Samuel Johnson blows up at Molly Meldrum

<p>While speaking to Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies on <em>The Morning Show</em>, a visibly upset Samuel Johnson blew up over 79-year-old Molly Meldrum’s bizarre behaviour at a recent Elton John concert. </p> <p>Meldrum issued an apology for the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/a-naughty-boy-who-needs-a-new-belt-molly-meldrum-s-excuse-for-mooning-elton-john-s-crowd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“faulty belt buckle” incident</a>, telling the <em>Herald Sun</em> that he “shouldn’t have ventured on stage, but I just wanted to tell Elton that I loved him. Some people thought it was part of the show. It wasn’t. Elton had no idea I was going to jump on stage. Elton might have been singing The Bitch Is Back but it was more a case of the idiot is back.”</p> <p>Now Johnson has revealed something of a rift between himself and Meldrum – whom he portrayed in the 2016 miniseries “Molly”, and was rewarded for his efforts with a coveted Gold Logie. </p> <p>It was during that 2017 Gold Logie acceptance speech that Meldrum mounted the stage and stole Johnson’s “million-dollar moment” when he was trying to raise funds for cancer, which claimed the life of his sister Connie.</p> <p>Johnson told hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies that he has not said a word to Meldrum since that incident.</p> <p>“I’ll never speak to him again. He cost my charity a million dollars that night</p> <p>“I want to do him a service, not a disservice. I am a little bit uneasy talking about this.</p> <p>“Firstly, thank you, Molly. He has helped me out of a legal pickle and I’ve known him for 20 years. He visited my sister in hospital when she was sick with cancer when she was 11 in the 1980s.</p> <p>“I am really grateful for everything Molly has done in our lives. But at the same time, when I won the Gold Logie I was about to have my million-dollar moment and I told him specifically not to come on stage. He was not nominated, it was my moment.</p> <p>“I wanted to make it about cancer and he wanted to make it about the network. He ended up coming up at the Gold Logies and it was my million-dollar moment gone wrong,” Johnson fumed.</p> <p>“It was an absolute catastrophe. He warbled in a very drunken fashion for eight whole minutes. Now I have seen him do it again at the Elton John concert. Maybe it is time to hang up your hat, mate. I hope he is OK.”</p> <p>Johnson also made it very clear that he did not believe Molly’s excuse and apology. “I thought his apology was false. I don’t believe it was a wardrobe malfunction,” he said.</p> <p>“I believe that if it was a wardrobe malfunction, we would have seen his undies not his bum.</p> <p>“For years, I have not said anything. I don’t want to say anything. Who are his minders? Is he OK? He should not be allowed out in the PM.</p> <p>“He has two shots of vodka in his coffee in the morning. If I want to make any sense out of him, I need to see him before midday. Stop, Molly, stop!”</p> <p><em>Images: Seven / Twitter</em></p>

TV

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Man faces court after one-punch attack kills world champion surfer

<p>A man has faced court over the deadly one-punch assault that claimed the life of former professional surfer Chris Davidson. </p> <p>The former elite surfer is being mourned by the sporting community after he was attacked outside a pub on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. </p> <p>Police said they were called to Sportsmans Way at South West Rocks just after 11pm on Saturday following reports a man had been punched in the face, fallen and hit his head on the pavement.</p> <p>Officers arrived on the scene where they found 45-year-old Davidson unconscious on the pavement. </p> <p>He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to the nearby Kempsey Hospital, where he died a short time later.</p> <p>A 42-year-old man was arrested at a nearby home early on Sunday, and was charged with assault causing death.</p> <p>At Port Macquarie Court on Sunday, he was refused bail. </p> <p>Surfing Australia says the sport's community is mourning the loss of the man affectionately known as "Davo".</p> <p>"Davo was an incredibly talented surfer and a true individual in our sport and community," the organisation said on Facebook.</p> <p>"Our thoughts go out to his two children, friends and family at this time."</p> <p>Eleven-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater, who Davidson beat in two consecutive heats at Bells Beach as a 19-year-old wildcard entrant in 1996, called him one of the most naturally talented surfers he ever knew.</p> <p>"Lost another soldier yesterday. #RipChrisDavo. Had many a good battle with this guy," Slater said on Instagram.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Samuel Johnson portrait win Archibald Prize People’s Choice

<p dir="ltr">An emotional portrait of Samuel Johnson OAM has won the Archibald Prize 2022 ANZ People’s Choice award. </p> <p dir="ltr">The portrait, painted by Jeremy Eden, shows a solemn looking Johnson holding a black and white photograph of his sister Connie. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s an honour to have my painting chosen for this year’s ANZ People’s Choice award,” Jeremy said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This painting has been one I have been thinking about and wanting to make for 10 years. Sam is a storyteller at heart, and it was really important to find a way to share my own narrative while still capturing Sam’s character and emotion in the portrait.”</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/Cgx4yY8MRz_/?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/Cgx4yY8MRz_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Art Gallery NSW (@artgalleryofnsw)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It is inspiring to see what Sam and the team at Love Your Sister have accomplished, having raised so much money for cancer research.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve followed Sam’s journey with the charity for many years and it’s a privilege to be able to contribute in my own way. It is amazing to be a finalist in the Archibald Prize but knowing the painting has resonated with so many people makes the experience even more meaningful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jeremy is also selling prints of his award-winning artwork, with 50% of the proceeds going to Sam’s charity ‘Love Your Sister’.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Art

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Oatlands killer appeals severity of sentence

<p>The drug and alcohol-riddled driver who killed four children after crashing into them on their way to the local shops has launched an appeal to decrease the severity of his sentence. </p> <p>On Monday, Samuel Davidson appealed the minimum 21-year sentence he was given for the manslaughter of Veronique Sakr, 11, and her cousins, siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 8, when they were struck by his car as they walked to get ice cream near Oatlands golf course in February 2020.</p> <p>When the accident occurred, Davidson was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and driving erratically before he mounted the footpath and struck the group of children. </p> <p>Davidson pled guilty to a host of charges around the deaths in October 2020, and was sentenced in April 2021. </p> <p>Davidson had no criminal history before the accident, a point his barrister Stephen Odgers used in Monday’s appeal to argue that his sentence was unreasonable.</p> <p>He also argued that Davidson’s diagnosis of ADHD, which he said made him prone to reckless behaviour, was not properly considered by the sentencing judge.</p> <p>At the time he was sentenced, Davidson was 30 years old and is not set to be released until he is at least 51. </p> <p>“That is a crushing sentence,” Odgers said.</p> <p>The parents of the Abdallah children were not present at the appeal hearing, however Veronique’s mother Bridget Sakr was in attendance at the court.</p> <p>“Our sentence is for the rest of our lives. Our suffering is every day,” she said.</p> <p>Bridget Sakr’s husband David Mackenzie said on Monday that the sentence sent an important message.</p> <p>“There are no comparable cases to our case, sadly,” Mackenzie said.</p> <p>“That’s why our case is so important. Because it sets a benchmark.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / 7News</em></p>

News

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Samuel Johnson finally shares pictures from devastating car crash

<p><em><strong>Warning: This story contains graphic content which may distress some readers.</strong></em></p> <p>Gold Logie winner Samuel Johnson has shared the terrifying details of a car crash that nearly killed him earlier this year. </p> <p><em>The Project's</em> Peter Helliar sat down with Samuel for a candid chat, when he revealed he didn't recall the moment he was accidentally struck bar a car on June 19th. </p> <p>Samuel showed Peter the only photo he has of the accident, which shows him lying on the ground covered in blood being tended to by paramedics. </p> <p>In reaction to the horrific image, Peter said, "I don't even recognise you in that."</p> <p>Samuel had been celebrating at a cancer research fundraiser just hours before the accident. </p> <p>“I pulled into a slip road, and went and had a wee, and woke up a couple of weeks later. I wasn’t expected to survive. I nearly died,” Johnson said.</p> <p>“My face was really a mess, basically my whole right side was cactus. I inhaled glass.</p> <p>“I got hit between 40 and 50 km/h by a small white vehicle. I broke my skull, I fractured my upper neck, and luckily my face bore the brunt of the impact, so my face saved my brain from a lot of damage."</p> <p>“Basically I got hit fairly badly and by the time they got me to hospital, they rushed me into ICU, I tanked, and I had two loved ones with me, I was told later, that were put into the death room – the one with the fridge and the couch where you are private and you are able to be told the bad news.”</p> <p>Samuel credits his girlfriend Emma Rooke for saving his life, by ensuring that help reached him as soon as possible. </p> <p>“She kept me alive. She understood the importance of the golden hour – the hour from when you have an accident to receiving treatment is the most important hour.”</p> <p>Samuel told Peter Helliar that the accident had caused traumatic amnesia, meaning he had no recollection of what happened when he woke up. </p> <p>“I woke up and I was really way more famous than I ever remembered being. Photographers were trying to get at me while I was inside and I wasn’t in a hospital – I as either in a mental home or my drink had been spiked,” he said.</p> <p>“Maybe I was kidnapped, maybe I was clinically insane. So, I thought all kinds of things. I was Russian for a while, I spoke with a heavy Russian accent in three-word sentences for a couple of days, and then I was a Japanese 11-year-old girl, and basically – basically what happens when your brain gets wobbled is you go loopy.”</p> <p>While Samuel appears to be on the mend, he said, <span>“a lot of the symptoms are now invisible and I’m still recovering”.</span></p> <p>As his recovery continues, Samuel said he has a whole new appreciation of the medical staff who helped him. </p> <p>“They are the people that put people like me who have a bad accident back together again. Pretty much from the moment I knew what was going on through to now, I’ve got a great respect for the wizards that worked not just on putting me back together, but on putting anyone back together, where it is Covid, a brain injury or cancer.</p> <p>“These are the genuine heroes of our world.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Channel Ten - The Project</em></p>

Caring

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“Very lucky”: Samuel Johnson gives health update from home

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actor Samuel Johnson has shared his latest health update from home after he was hit by a car over a month ago.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The former </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home and Away</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> star shared details from the incident and a message for his supporters via his charity Love Your Sister’s </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/loveyoursister/photos/a.346145412147147/4306798182748497" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Woot, I’m home!” his post began.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So, I got into a dust-up with a small white vehicle, and lost badly! Huge props to the gang at Ambulance Victoria, VicPol, The Alfred and The Epworth for putting this Humpty back together again.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Won’t bore you with all the medical stuffski, suffice to say I’ve been surrounded by a gang of experts, including the Occupational Therapist, who says it’s OK for me to go back to work on ‘light duties’ today!” Johnson wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Full recovery is within my grasp, I’ve just got a lot more work ahead of me.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 43-year-old said he has to spend the next four weeks in a neck brace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnson ended the message saying he is “very lucky to be OK”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having seen the “difference that medical research can make” first-hand, the star is encouraging his followers to “lend [him] a hand while [he’s] getting better” and support his charity </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.loveyoursister.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Love Your Sister</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which raises money for cancer research.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnson and his late sister Connie, who suffered from several forms of cancer throughout her life, started the charity in 2012, with the goal of raising $10 million for cancer research.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Love Your Sister / Facebook</span></em></p>

Caring

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Gold Logie winner Samuel Johnson’s health update after horror crash

<p>Samuel Johnson’s sister has shared an update on his recovery after he was hit by a car on his way to visit family.</p> <p>Johnson had injuries to his heads following the incident, his sister Hilde Hinton revealed in a post to the Love Your Sister Facebook page.</p> <p>Hinton says her brother’s condition has left her with “no words,” after posting photos showing cuts and bruises.</p> <p>Another photo was posted with the siblings’ feet propped up on a window ledge with a view of Melbourne city, with the caption: “Recovery time”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvPhEFDFu4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvPhEFDFu4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Hilde Hinton (@hilde.hinton)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Hinton revealed Johnston missed being at work and could not wait to be out of hospital in a couple of weeks.</p> <p>“He said he wanted to thank the doctors, the nurses and the ward staff for all the wonderful care he’s receiving (me too, x 1,000). And, to all the carers out there, he’s said thank you before – but he wanted to say it again (as do I),” she wrote.</p> <p>Johnson was on his way to visit family when he was hit by the car.</p> <p>“The fantastical medical staff are in overdrive taking care of his sore head,” she said.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ5Yoenj-31/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ5Yoenj-31/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Hilde Hinton (@hilde.hinton)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“He’s awake and not too happy that he doesn’t have his pants - nobody loves a hospital gown.</p> <p>“Hearing his voice is lovely but can’t wait for hugs when it’s safe. I’ll keep you updated.”</p> <p>Johnson has starred in TV shows including Molly, Rush and the Secret Life of Us, but put his acting career partially behind him to raise money for his charity, Love Your Sister.</p> <p>Funds have gone to set up the Connie Johnson Lab in the Breast Cancer Research ward at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.</p> <p>Johnson’s sister Connie died September 8, 2017 at the age of 40 from breast cancer.</p>

Caring

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Samuel Johnson hospitalised

<p>Samuel Johnson is recovering in hospital after being hit by a car.</p> <p>The Eden star's eldest sister, Hilde Hinton, shared details of the incident on Johnson's Facebook page on Monday evening.</p> <p>"I wish I didn't have to tell you this," her post on the Love Your Sister account, which Johnson runs, began.</p> <p>"Early Saturday night Sam was on his way to visit family when he was accidentally hit by a car. Our Ambos got him picked up and tucked away safely in hospital in record time. I followed them in."</p> <p>Hinton praised the "fantastical medical staff" who she said are "in overdrive" taking care of Johnson's "sore head."</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Floveyoursister%2Fposts%2F4187630797998570&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="734" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <p>"He's awake and not too happy that he doesn't have his pants. Nobody loves a hospital gown," Hinton joked.</p> <p>"Hearing his voice is lovely, but can't wait for hugs when it's safe. I'll keep you updated. Hilde."</p> <p>Johnson and his late sister Connie started the charity Love Your Sister in 2012, ax they hoped to raise $10 million for cancer research.</p> <p>Connie suffered from bone cancer at the age of 11, uterine cancer at age 22 and breast cancer at age 33.</p> <p>She passed away in September 2017 at the age of 40, a day after being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.</p>

News

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Drunk driver who killed four children receives 21 years in prison: “No sentence can help ease that pain”

<p>Samuel William Davidson will spend a minimum of 21 years behind bars after he ploughed into a group of children on a Sydney pavement, a court has ruled on Friday.</p> <p>The man, who was on drugs, drunk and speeding was sentenced to a maximum of 28 years in jail for the tragic crash in Oatlands killed siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 8, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11.</p> <p>He will be eligible for release in January 2041.</p> <p>Danny Abdallah, the father who lost three of his children in the devastating crash said nothing could bring them back, and the lengthy jail term was “God’s will.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840643/oatlands-children-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/de3c9b35c61d4357bbfdb22374af89d8" /></p> <p>“Whether he gets one year or 100 years we won’t get Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique back,” he said while standing alongside his stricken wife Leila.</p> <p>“The most beautiful, innocent and pure-hearted children were killed on the 1st of February 2020</p> <p>“We will all have our hearts broken until the day we take our last breath and no sentence can help ease that pain.”</p> <p>Mr Abdallah said the sentence meant that the Davidson family had also lost a son, meaning it was a “lose-lose” situation for everyone.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840642/oatlands-children-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1cc506b89c8b47518d037831bfafeb81" /></p> <p>“Our focus was never really about what serving a sentence was going to be,” he said.</p> <p>“When we made that choice of forgiveness we focused on our kids.</p> <p>“We knew justice would be served and it was served because it was God’s will this sentence.”</p> <p>The mother of Veronique, Bridget Sakr said too many lives have been lost due to dangerous driving that is often influenced by drugs and alcohol.</p> <p>On February 22, seven children were walking along the footpath to a local IGA. They had been meaning to buy ice cream to evade the summer heat.</p> <p>At around 7:30 pm, the group of kids were hit by Davidson who had been travelling at 133km/h after 12 hours of drinking and drug-taking.</p> <p>Judge Bennett revealed that the graphic scene had seen the kid’s bodies found metres apart from each other.</p> <p>Out of the seven that were struck, only three survived with horrible injuries.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840644/oatlands-children.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5e2000f47cfb43ebb5c6b9de97a072ea" /></p> <p>Judge James Bennett spoke in court on Friday, saying Davidson’s “horrific” actions and “menacing” driving that day showed he had abandoned all his morals.</p> <p>“The manner of driving was such that tragedy was inevitable,” the judge said.</p> <p>“The magnitude of the tragedy extends to the unimaginable.”</p>

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"She left me a poem": Samuel Johnson dedicates book to late mum

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Samuel Johnson has made a touching tribute to his late mum while launching his latest book, a book of letters to mums.</p> <p>He shared his story on his charity Love Your Sister's Facebook page, which raises funds for cancer research as his oldest sister Connie battled the disease before passing away.</p> <p>Johnson shared that his mother took her life when he was just three years old.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Floveyoursister%2Fposts%2F3901552789939707&amp;width=500&amp;show_text=true&amp;height=553&amp;appId" width="500" height="553" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <p>He told his followers that she left him a handwritten poem, that reads:</p> <p><em>All the seas of joy,</em></p> <p><em>Rise to sing for you boy,</em></p> <p><em>Surge and swell, and roar.</em></p> <p><em>All the seas of joy,</em></p> <p><em>Sound wonderfully near,</em></p> <p><em>Since you've been here.</em></p> <p>"That was my mum. Some crazy poet lady who found life a most onerous undertaking," Samuel wrote.</p> <p>"There exists only one photo of me and my mum, and that's always OK because I have that poem, burnt into my heart."</p> <p>He said that his older sister Connie felt the impacts of their mother's suicide more deeply than he did.</p> <p>"From a very early age, she was determined to become a mum and to see her kids through," he continued.</p> <p>"She was extraordinary. Connie became the mum our mum could never be, to two young sons. Now, like me, her boys are motherless."</p> <p>Connie died at age 40 after battling cancer three separate times in her lifetime.</p> <p><em>Dear Mum</em><span> </span>is a collection of letters written by famous Aussies, including Amanda Keller, Peter Helliar, Rebecca Gibney, Patti Newton and many more.</p> <p>"It serves as a fitting homage to mums and the importance of them ... it's a beautiful montage, for all kinds of mums," Johnson explained.</p> <p>"I put everything in on this one. And now I think of it, I'd like to dedicate this book to my mum. I suspect she'd be pretty puffy about this one."</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Samuel Johnson’s touching letter to his father

<p><em><span>Samuel Johnson is an actor, breast cancer advocate and </span></em><span>Dancing With The Stars <em>winner. This month, he launched his edited book </em>Dear Dad, <em>a collection of letters from notable Australians to their father. Here </em>Over60 <em>features Johnson’s letter to his father as an excerpt from the book.</em></span></p> <p><span>Dear Dad,</span></p> <p><span>One day when I was about eight or nine, I was sitting at our family table (the rectangular one you swapped the round one for) and I rather thoughtlessly mentioned that I was bored. You bristled and then your ears went hot red. You glared at me with that look that said, “Don’t you dare look elsewhere!” Your lip curled. Your eyebrows were tight. Your contempt and your fury jostled for position. Eventually you said, very calmly, very intently, way too politely … “<em>Bored</em>, are you?”</span></p> <p><span>I gambled well on this being rhetorical and you stormed off into your study. I didn’t move. After some loud noises you seethed back to me, hiding something behind your back. I had time to wonder whether it was your belt. You slammed a pad of paper down on the table in front of me as hard as you could. It made a huge sound and the table nearly broke. I was terrified. This was a new level. Out of nowhere, you slammed a pen down just as hard, frightening me equally. You stood back over my shoulder. I couldn’t see you, and you spoke calmly, very measured, sickly polite.</span></p> <p><span>“On that piece of paper you will write down ten things – no, let’s make it twenty things – that don’t cost any money, that would <em>alleviate </em>your <em>boredom</em>. Give me an example.”</span></p> <p><span>I fumbled through my mind nervously for an acceptable answer. “I could read a book?”</span></p> <p><span>“Excellent! What else?” “I could ride my bike?”</span></p> <p><span>“Fantastic, now don’t move off that chair until you finish the list, then call me.”</span></p> <p><span>It wasn’t a hard list to fill, once I thought about it. I triple-checked the list before calling for you in my chastened voice. You came back into the room without all the bluster. You ordered me to read the list out to you.</span></p> <p><span>Then you leant down and put all your weight into your words … “<em>Now f***ing pick one! </em>And <em>then</em>, if you get <em>bored </em>doing that, I dunno, how about you <em>pick another one!</em>”</span></p> <p><span>Needless to say, I spent the rest of the day choosing from my list and doing stuff. I remember you kissing me goodnight in your study that night. As I was walking away you called after me … ‘I hope you don’t grow up to be a boring person.’ I’m writing to thank you, Dad. I’ve remained curious since that day, and that curiosity you fostered in me has, all these years later, propelled me beyond my wildest aspirations. Your many other wisdoms endure, too, and I remain gratefully yours,</span></p> <p><span>Mister Happy</span></p> <p><span>Sammy Seal</span></p> <p><em><span>This is an extract from </span></em><span><a href="https://www.hachette.com.au/samuel-johnson/dear-dad">Dear Dad</a><em>, a collection of letters from Australia’s most notable notables to their fathers, edited by Samuel Johnson (Hachette Australia, RRP $22.99), out now.</em></span></p>

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“We did it. Promise kept”: Samuel Johnson hits $10mil promise to sister Connie

<p>Samuel Johnson has relentlessly campaigned to raise money for his charity<span> </span><em>Love Your Sister</em><span> </span>which was inspired by his sister Connie. The charity was co-founded in 2012 and Samuel promised Connie that the charity would raise $10 million for cancer research in her name.</p> <p>Two years on from Connie’s passing, the target has been met. Samuel couldn’t contain his joy as he shared the news on social media.</p> <p>"First I promised my sister, then I promised all of us. It took seven years," he wrote on Instagram on Sunday, alongside a portrait of himself with his beloved sister.</p> <p>"We came good ... $10m for cancer research banked. I'm the proudest brother in the world right now."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1jReSDn10o/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1jReSDn10o/" target="_blank">First I promised my sister then I promised all of us. It took 7 years. We came good. Thank you. $10m for cancer research banked. I’m the proudest brother in the world right now. Thanks for showing me how to be. You gave me somewhere to belong. Fuck I love this village. Today I stand tall. Speaking of merch, Grab your #nowisawesome tee, now. Because now is the awesomest. Link in profile.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/samueljjohnson78/" target="_blank"> Samuel Johnson</a> (@samueljjohnson78) on Aug 24, 2019 at 8:06am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Samuel also shared a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cfIO3Z3bhg" target="_blank">video of the celebrations</a> for the drop of the 10 millionth dollar, which was recorded at a pub in Woody Head, Queensland.</p> <p>The actor paid tribute to the thousands of people who have thrown their support behind the charity over the last seven years.</p> <p>"I don't have $10 million. I didn't pull out my card. It's people like you who got us there," he says.</p> <p>"We enjoy no large corporate support. We enjoy no federal funding.</p> <p>"We have reached this $10 million in small increments in an honest way, town to town. We're finally there.</p> <p>"On behalf of my sister Connie, thank you for helping us try to vanquish cancer and kick it in the face-hole ... I just fight for healthy families."</p> <p>The emotion proved to be too much for Samuel, as he shared a touching post on the Love Your Sister Instagram page.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1jPPqFB2ia/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1jPPqFB2ia/" target="_blank">just drove away from our 83 days in heavenly queensland dropped by canberra and saw connie's man and two boys, who are 12 and 13 now then i drove the familiar road, down the hume, from canberra to my shack i never see the same road i took when i heard the news the same road during seven years of treatment the same road to her funeral this time i drove free got back to my shack i never see it all came through me seven years a million hugs so many tears even more laughter you campaigned with joy and vigour you made now awesome you raised ten million for research on behalf of my dear sister Connie Cottonsocks and everyone ravaged we say thank you xsammyseal</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/loveyoursister/" target="_blank"> Love Your Sister</a> (@loveyoursister) on Aug 24, 2019 at 7:46am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He wrote a touching poem outlining the journey towards the campaign goal as well as how he’s been feeling on the journey.</p> <p>“on behalf of my dear sister Connie Cottonsocks and everyone ravaged, we say thank you.”</p> <p>Judging by a post on the Love Your Sister Facebook page, there’s plenty in store for the charity moving into the future. Samuel wrote that he’s “just getting warmed up”.</p> <p>"This last seven years was an apprenticeship. I'm just getting warmed up. Wait till you see what I've got for us next," he said.</p>

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Samuel Johnson's $10 million cancer fight: "I'm tantalisingly close"

<p>Samuel Johnson, actor and self-proclaimed “cancer vanquisher”, has almost hit the $10 million mark through his charity “Love Your Sister”. The charity was started after his sister Connie was diagnosed with terminal cancer for a third time back in 2012.</p> <p>He spoke to <a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/samuel-johnson-book-cancer/38a99c3a-c565-4cbb-bc9c-6bf8697b1c46" target="_blank">9Honey</a> about how close he is to his goal.</p> <p>"We've raised $9.6 million and I'm tantalisingly close to reaching the $10 million mark," Johnson revealed.</p> <p>The actor is motivated to keep his fundraising efforts strong for the hundreds of thousands of cancer sufferers he’s met over the years, as well as witnessing his sister’s battle with the disease.</p> <p>"I'm so proud of the progress that's been made in my sister's name," he says. "My sister was kept alive for seven years courtesy of a recently developed drug.</p> <p>"If she had been diagnosed just 10 years earlier, she would have had more like seven weeks."</p> <p>He also said that he’s often asked how he copes with meeting cancer sufferers and hearing their heartbreaking stories.</p> <p>Johnson said he “welcomes their pain”.</p> <p>"I welcome their pain and encourage it and ask for it," he says. "I take it on and carry it with me and I listen to each cancer story for the first time. No two cancer stories are the same.</p> <p>"I've digested about a quarter of a million cancer stories face-to-face over the past seven years and I've spent time with communities effected by it," he continued. "It motivates me."</p> <p>Johnson added, "I am in a position to help and that's what I offer, so I cope fine. I don't have cancer. It's really the people with cancer that are struggling to cope."</p> <p>Johnson says he thinks he’ll reach his fundraising goal by Christmas this year, and it will be helped in part by his new book <em>Dear Dad</em>. It features prominent Australians writing letters to their fathers, and includes Steve Waugh, Shane Jacobson, Shannon Noll, as well as Johnson himself.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0fYVLUh-2C/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0fYVLUh-2C/" target="_blank">MY JOHN LAWS CHALLENGE Love catching up with Lawsy; he always tells me off and we love ribbing each other...thank YOU Lawsy, for bringing YOUR customary cheer! Been hawking our new tome 'Dear Dad'. It's a collection of letters to dads or dad-like dads, written by notable Aussies, with proceeds to cancer bashing. Link in profile. Go on then! Xsammy PS : @johnlaws2sm I challenge you to write a Dear Dad letter for us within 48 hours! If you do, I'll include it as an insert in every copy we sell through our charity's online village market! Villagers, please tag @johnlaws2sm in the comments here and encourage him to come along!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/loveyoursister/" target="_blank"> Love Your Sister</a> (@loveyoursister) on Jul 28, 2019 at 11:17pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"The book is a surprising, hilarious, sometimes confronting collection of letters to fathers written by notable Aussies," Johnson said. "It really is the whole kit and caboodle. It's as raw and as confronting as it is heartfelt.</p> <p>"When I read it, it showed me just how lucky I was to get the father I had."</p> <p>Johnson was raised in Victoria with his two sisters Connie and Hilde by their father alone, after his mother passed away by suicide.</p> <p>The 41-year-old credits being the way he is today to his father.</p> <p>"He held his approval just beyond my reach which meant I was always reaching, and if he hadn't held the approval just beyond my grasp then I wouldn't be the type of person I am today, who tries to reach everyday towards something better," he says.</p>

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Samuel Johnson opens up about his love-life: The heartbreaking reason he's been single for 13 years

<p>Samuel Johnson has shared why he has been single for 13 years amid romance rumours he is dating his late sister Connie’s best friend Emma Rooke.</p> <p>The <em>Dancing With The Stars</em> winner said he has not been with anyone since his former girlfriend Lainie Woodlands took her own life in 2006.</p> <p>“I’ve been too scared to be in another relationship since my girlfriend died 13 years ago,” Johnson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.com.au/samuel-johnson-connie-children" target="_blank"><em>WHO</em></a> in a recent interview.</p> <p>The statement came after speculations that Johnson had begun a romance with Rooke, the friend of his late sister Connie. </p> <p>The rumour emerged after Johnson posted a picture with Emma on Instagram with the caption: “This koala makes everything with me. We have built some unusual dreams together over many years. Without her heart and brain, my dreams would remain just that.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmkvEKEnKp5/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmkvEKEnKp5/" target="_blank">I'm a decent bloke but it's more because of these two than me. The one on my right raised me and loved me more than anyone else. The one on my left made all my dreams and ambitions real. One dream builder and one dream weaver equals a half decent fella. Nought without 'em is my point. Never forget how blessed we are fellas. Happy friday fuckers.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/samueljjohnson78/" target="_blank"> Samuel Johnson</a> (@samueljjohnson78) on Aug 17, 2018 at 1:53am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Rooke also works together with Johnson on his cancer charity Love Your Sister.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/_dokDElTSj/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_dokDElTSj/" target="_blank">Time to knock off for a bit. Thanks for a great year. #nowisawesome @i.am.connie @samueljjohnson78</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/loveyoursister/" target="_blank"> Love Your Sister</a> (@loveyoursister) on Dec 18, 2015 at 10:17pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Earlier this year, Johnson spoke up on romance rumours with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/samuel-johnson-spills-on-romance-rumours-with-cassandra-thorburn" target="_blank">fellow <em>DWTS</em> contestant Cassandra Thorburn</a>, saying they are “great mates” who “flirt well”.</p> <p>He said of Thorburn, “We love a gossip. We constantly find things to giggle about. In another life, who knows what would have happened?”</p>

Relationships

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Sam Johnson: “I’ve fallen in love with my sister’s best friend”

<p>She’s been by his side even before the passing of his late sister Connie, and last week, Samuel Johnson took to Instagram to praise the “beautiful and gentle” woman who he’s fallen head over heels for.</p> <p>“This koala makes everything with me. We have built some unusual dreams together over many years,” he captioned a photo featuring the brunette with her face concealed. It was later discovered that the woman in question was Emma Rooke.</p> <p>“Without her heart and brain, my dreams would remain just that. Thanks for building all the things with me little miss koala. I hope to build one more, as always, but as we know, it’s not up to us.”</p> <p>While the pair have been close for a number of years, it wasn’t until Connie’s death their bond strengthened even further.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmkvEKEnKp5/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmkvEKEnKp5/" target="_blank">I'm a decent bloke but it's more because of these two than me. The one on my right raised me and loved me more than anyone else. The one on my left made all my dreams and ambitions real. One dream builder and one dream weaver equals a half decent fella. Nought without 'em is my point. Never forget how blessed we are fellas. Happy friday fuckers.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/samueljjohnson78/" target="_blank"> Samuel Johnson</a> (@samueljjohnson78) on Aug 17, 2018 at 1:53am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>During his stint on<span> </span><em>Dancing With The Stars</em>, Emma was spotted in the crowd cheering him on as he ultimately won the competition, earning $50,000 for his charity Love Your Sister.</p> <p>“His eyes lit up when he talked about his partner, but I think the two of them try and keep their relationship private,” a<span> </span><em>DWTS</em><span> </span>staff member told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/sam-johnson-new-girlfriend-55466" target="_blank">Woman’s Day</a>.</em></p> <p>“I know Emma was at the finale to see Sam win and she was with him at the party afterwards. I think it’s really sweet. If anyone deserves happiness, Sam does.”</p> <p>Emma and Connie initially met when they were 12 years old, it was during that time Connie was diagnosed with cancer for the first time.</p> <p>Shortly before Connie’s passing, Sam told his Instagram followers that Emma was his sister’s “bestie since, like, forever.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/_dokDElTSj/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_dokDElTSj/" target="_blank">Time to knock off for a bit. Thanks for a great year. #nowisawesome @i.am.connie @samueljjohnson78</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/loveyoursister/" target="_blank"> Love Your Sister</a> (@loveyoursister) on Dec 18, 2015 at 10:17pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“She runs LYS top to bottom since Day 1. On her business card her title is quite rightly ‘The Hecktickest’.”</p> <p>Emma then confirmed the pair were seeing each other, after sharing a photo of her and Sam and captioning it with words from an apparent love letter from the 41-year-old.</p> <p>“Her name is Emma and her heart is very almost too big. Thanks for being so thoughtful to so many Emma. One day I’m going to find the present for you that makes your heart sore no more. Just like you did for me.”</p> <p>It ends with, “I love you always, from you know who.”</p> <p>The Logie award winning actor hasn’t had an easy life, with his mum committing suicide when he was only a toddler, followed by his former girlfriend, Lainie Woodlands, also taking her life in 2006 after they broke up.</p> <p>These events led to the entertainer spiralling into depression, but now, friends say that thanks to Emma, Sam is learning to enjoy life once again.</p>

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Samuel Johnson wins Dancing With The Stars in shock victory

<p>Samuel Johnson has taken the title of the 2019 <em>Dancing With The Stars</em><span> </span>winner, beating out Courtney Act and Constance Hall.</p> <p>Along with the mirrorball trophy, Johnson is also set to receive a $50,000 prize, which he will donate to his Love Your Sister charity.</p> <p>Judge Sharna Burgess congratulated Johnson and his dance partner Jorja Freeman on their victory. </p> <p>“It's magical what you've done this season, especially you Jorja,” said Burgess. </p> <p>“Samuel, you wear your heart on your sleeve. You’re real, you’re raw and the ultimate showman.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Showtime for the last time, and boy did Sam bring it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a> <a href="https://t.co/52RyygfYcQ">pic.twitter.com/52RyygfYcQ</a></p> — Dancing With The Stars Australia (@DancingOn10) <a href="https://twitter.com/DancingOn10/status/1120283731401617408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>In the grand finale, the 41-year-old former actor said reaching the end stage of the competition was “the weirdest, trippiest, most awesome thing” to have happened to him.</p> <p>“This journey has been insane, I started off terrified. A kid glued to the wall at a blue light disco to the grand finale of<span> </span><em>DWTS</em>, this has brought the best out in me,” he said.</p> <p>“I’m fitter, healthier and happier, I feel like the best version of me.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">A massive CONGRATULATIONS to Sam &amp; Jorja, our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a> winners! <a href="https://t.co/3bMAecyJ3S">pic.twitter.com/3bMAecyJ3S</a></p> — Dancing With The Stars Australia (@DancingOn10) <a href="https://twitter.com/DancingOn10/status/1120293216731922433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Johnson also gave a shoutout to Act, who won the second place. </p> <p>“Courtney was the better dancer!”</p> <p>Act also congratulated Johnson on winning the dance competition in an Instagram post Tuesday morning. </p> <p>“We didn’t win the Mirror Ball, but I feel like we won by being able to share so many dances and stories over the last 10 weeks,” Act wrote.</p> <p>“[Johnson] totally travelled the furthest in the competition and it was an honour to be pipped to the post by him!”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwkDYjRFG_a/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwkDYjRFG_a/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Ladies, Gentlemen, and people of all Genders. We didn’t win the Mirror Ball, but I feel like we won by being able to share so many dances and stories over the last 10 weeks, and sharing it with @joshuakeefedancer has been a true honour! Thank you everyone who voted and watched. I hope you love this drag extravaganza brought to the ballroom floor for our final dance (can you tell they said I could do whatever I wanted?). I have so many people to thank which I will get to tomorrow, but for now I want to say congratulations to @samueljjohnson78 on his win. From day one at the promo shoot to winning it was amazing to watch. He totally travelled the furthest in the competition and it was an honour to be pipped to the post by him! Xxx #DWTSau</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/courtneyact/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Courtney Act</a> (@courtneyact) on Apr 22, 2019 at 8:45am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Meanwhile, Hall finished in third place.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Constance killing it! 🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a> <a href="https://t.co/rnjrkJrPun">pic.twitter.com/rnjrkJrPun</a></p> — Dancing With The Stars Australia (@DancingOn10) <a href="https://twitter.com/DancingOn10/status/1120277106556948480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Did you watch the finale? Are you happy Samuel Johnson won? Share your thoughts in the comments.</p>

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“Forget voting for me”: Samuel Johnson’s desperate plea on DWTS

<p>He’s the fan favourite, and expected to be crowned winner of this year’s<span> </span><em>Dancing With The Stars</em>, but Samuel Johnson doesn’t want fans to vote for him.</p> <p>Instead, the Gold Logie winner has a different request – to donate 55 cents to his cancer charity Love Your Sister instead of spending the same money on the text message to put forward a vote.</p> <p>In a heartfelt post to Facebook over the weekend, the actor made a plea for viewers to skip over an SMS vote and instead donate to his charity made in honour of his sister, Connie, who passed away in September 2017 after a long battle with cancer.</p> <p>“Being that SMS votes cost 55c and NONE of the proceeds go to charity, I’m asking that you forget voting for me and consider donating 55c to cancer research instead?” Johnson’s post read.</p> <p>“I’ve even created a special 55c button! Unforch it’s not deductible, because it’s less than two bucks.</p> <p>“I cannot work harder for your donation and appreciate your consideration regardless.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BV7-qbpgSsh/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BV7-qbpgSsh/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Love Your Sister (@loveyoursister)</a> on Jun 29, 2017 at 1:38pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Johnson further went on to thank his fans for their support, describing his time on<span> </span><em>Dancing With The Stars</em><span> </span>as a “magnificent” experience.</p> <p>“If I get the boot, it won’t be because I f**ked up. No way. I am so happy that I’ve not repped you poorly,” he wrote.</p> <p>“So thanks for inspiring me to get clean and clear. Thanks for giving me something to dance for.”</p> <p>The winner of<span> </span><em>DWTS</em><span> </span>will be awarded $50,000 for their chosen charity as well as the mirrorball trophy.</p> <p>Viewers are able to vote for their favourite celebrity to stay on the show by voting via SMS for 55 cents a pop or a maximum of once a day online.</p> <p>Johnson retired from acting in 2016 to focus on fundraising money for Love Your Sister, which he ran with his late sister Connie Johnson.<span></span></p> <p>Have you been watching Samuel Johnson compete on Dancing With The Stars? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

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Samuel Johnson spills on romance rumours with Cassandra Thorburn

<p>Samuel Johnson has revealed that <em>Dancing With The Stars </em>and the friendships he made on the show have changed his life for the better.    </p> <p>In a new interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.com.au/dancing-with-the-stars-samuel-johnson-confirms-truth-about-romance-with-cassandra-thorburn" target="_blank"><em>Who</em></a>, the 41-year-old said that the dancing competition has “taken over” his life.</p> <p>The Molly star announced his retirement from acting in 2016 to focus on his charity Love Your Sister. However, this year he agreed to participate on <em>DWTS</em> to raise funds for the non-profit organization.</p> <p>“I can’t remember another time when I was so enthused about something,” said Johnson. “[<em>DWTS</em>] has taken over my life. I dived in willingly and it feels better than I could have hoped for. I’m loving it.”</p> <p>Johnson also spoke of the chemistry he has with fellow contestant Cassandra Thorburn, whom he described as “gorgeous”.</p> <p>“We’re as thick as thieves,” he said.</p> <p>“We love a gossip. We constantly find things to giggle about. In another life, who knows what would have happened?”</p> <p>He said he and the 47-year-old Thorburn are “great mates” who “flirt well”.</p> <p>“When you’re feeling vulnerable, it’s nice if someone finds you attractive.”</p> <p>While Johnson is still in the competition, Thorburn finished her run on the reality show <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/cassandra-thorburn-lands-tv-role-with-studio-10/" target="_blank">last week</a>. <em>DWTS</em> is Thorburn’s first TV appearance since her split with Karl Stefanovic in 2016.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">"I've learnt a lot from this experience" - a sad goodbye to Cass &amp; Marco <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a> <a href="https://t.co/edlTNrVHEG">pic.twitter.com/edlTNrVHEG</a></p> — Dancing With The Stars Australia (@DancingOn10) <a href="https://twitter.com/DancingOn10/status/1105055994206449664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Are you watching<em> DWTS</em>? Who do you want to see come out on top? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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Samuel Johnson’s heartbreaking tribute on DWTS

<p>Actor Samuel Johnson has revealed the person who inspired his dance performance on <em>Dancing with the Stars</em> Monday night.</p> <p>Dancing to the Oscar winning-song<em> Shallow </em>from the movie <em>A Star Is Born</em>, Johnson and his dance partner Jorja Rae Freeman performed a rumba.</p> <p>After his emotional performance, the Gold Logie winner shared his thoughts on his late former girlfriend Lainie Woodlands.</p> <p>"I had a partner, her name was Lainie and she died from a sore heart," he told host Amanda Keller. "I've been thinking a lot because you told me to be romantic this week, that was the brief."</p> <p>Johnson has previously spoken about losing Woodlands, who committed suicide in 2006 on the night he broke up with her.</p> <p>"I haven't been able to be romantic since then, not really," he said. "So, I thought I'd just try and think of her during the song and maybe that'll make it beautiful."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Can we talk about THAT SPIN? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a> <a href="https://t.co/t8C4qPVukY">pic.twitter.com/t8C4qPVukY</a></p> — Dancing With The Stars Australia (@DancingOn10) <a href="https://twitter.com/DancingOn10/status/1107575797089558529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>In a 2015 interview with <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/samuel-johnson-opens-up-about-former-flame-i-kind-of-bailed-on-her-and-then-she-killed-herself-20150430-1mwpar.html" target="_blank">Nitty Gritty Committee</a> </em>podcast, Johnson described Woodlands as “the most beautiful creature in the world”.</p> <p>"She was a bit too amazing though, and I couldn't quite handle it," he said then. "I kind of bailed on her and then she killed herself."</p> <p>On the <em>DWTS</em> stage, Johnson said, "When someone takes their own life, you know, you live forever without any of those questions getting answered, like why… And you have to come to terms with the fact that there’s no single answer.</p> <p>"Anyone who's feeling icky... go and do something physical. We should all dance."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">LOVE how <a href="https://twitter.com/Sam_J_Johnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sam_J_Johnson</a> is never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve! Such a lovely, honest human <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a></p> — Angie Redford (@angdownunder08) <a href="https://twitter.com/angdownunder08/status/1107624233394290688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Another great performance by Sam!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSau</a> <a href="https://t.co/hzHYdJR6gD">pic.twitter.com/hzHYdJR6gD</a></p> — georgie (@_lifeofgeorgie) <a href="https://twitter.com/_lifeofgeorgie/status/1107575588842172416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I was holding my breath the whole time! I love you Sam!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWTSAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DWTSAU</a></p> — Lizzie K (@lizkoroneos) <a href="https://twitter.com/lizkoroneos/status/1107575487881109504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Earlier in the competition, the 41-year-old also <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/i-m-sobbing-samuel-johnson-s-emotional-tribute-to-sister-connie-on-dwts" target="_blank">dedicated a performance to his late sister</a> Connie, who passed away from cancer in 2017.</p> <p>"I had an extraordinary relationship with my sister over 40 years," said Johnson, who co-founded the Love Your Sister charity with Connie to support cancer research. "The biggest thing she taught me is that now is awesome and to insist on joy."</p> <p><em>If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit lifeline.org.au or beyondblue.org.au.</em></p>

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