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‘Behind every claim is a grieving family’. Death benefits inquiry update

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>When Lisa’s husband passed away unexpectedly, she assumed accessing his superannuation <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/super-for-individuals-and-families/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/superannuation-death-benefits">death benefit</a> would be straightforward. Instead, she spent months navigating a bureaucratic maze.</p> <p>She repeatedly sent documents, waited weeks for callbacks and struggled to get answers from his fund.</p> <p>Her experience is far from unique. A damning <a href="https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/find-a-document/reports/rep-806-taking-ownership-of-death-benefits-how-trustees-can-deliver-outcomes-australians-deserve/">new report</a> reveals systemic failure by Australia’s <a href="https://www.superannuation.asn.au/resources/super-stats/#:%7E:text=Total%20superannuation%20assets%20were%20%244.2,with%20more%20than%20six%20members.">A$4 trillion</a> superannuation industry in handling members’ death benefits.</p> <h2>A system in disarray</h2> <p>The Australian Security and Investments Commission’s landmark review of ten major super trustees, managing 38% of super assets, exposes an industry that is not serving its members.</p> <p>Grieving families routinely face excessive delays, insensitive treatment and unnecessary hurdles when trying to access death benefits. It found they sometimes waited over a year for payments to which they were legally entitled.</p> <p>The central problem was a fundamental breakdown in claims processing, with five critical failures exacerbating inefficiency and distress.</p> <p><strong>1. Poor oversight</strong></p> <p>No trustee monitored end-to-end claims handling times, leaving boards unaware of how long families were waiting. While the fastest trustee resolved 48% of claims within 90 days, the slowest managed just 8%.</p> <p>In one case, a widow waited nearly a year despite her husband having a valid binding nomination. ASIC found 78% of delays stemmed from processing inefficiencies entirely within trustees’ control.</p> <p><strong>2. Misleading and inadequate information</strong></p> <p>Many funds misled on processing times and masked extreme delays. Boards often received reports only on insured claims, despite most death benefits not involving insurance. This meant boards were unable to fix systemic problems.</p> <p><strong>3. Process over people</strong></p> <p>Risk-averse procedures often overrode common sense. Many funds imposed claim-staking – delaying payments for objections – even for straightforward cases, adding a median 95 day delay.</p> <p>Communication failures further compounded delays, with claimants receiving inconsistent advice and few or no status updates.</p> <p><strong>4. Outsourcing without accountability</strong></p> <p>Claims handled in-house were processed significantly faster than those managed by external administrators. Only 15% of outsourced claims were resolved within 90 days, compared to 36% of in-house claims.</p> <p>The securities commission is calling for stronger oversight. External administrators significantly slow down responses, so some funds may need to bring claims processing back in-house to ensure efficiency.</p> <p><strong>5. Lack of transparency</strong></p> <p>Many funds failed to provide clear timelines or explanations for delays and had no accountability mechanisms.</p> <p>The ten funds investigated include the Australian Retirement Trust, Avanteos (Colonial First State), Brighter Super, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, HESTA, Hostplus, NM Super (AMP), Nulis (MLC), Rest and UniSuper.</p> <p>Two others, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-12/asic-sues-australian-super-death-processing-benefit-claims-delay/105040450">Australian Super and Cbus</a>, are being sued separately by ASIC for either failing to pay out or delaying payments to thousands of eligible beneficiaries.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=405&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=405&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=405&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=509&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=509&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/658866/original/file-20250401-56-jrqwbg.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=509&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A list of key findings from the ASIC Taking ownership of death benefits report" /></a><figcaption><span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/find-a-document/reports/rep-806-taking-ownership-of-death-benefits-how-trustees-can-deliver-outcomes-australians-deserve/">Taking ownership of death benefits: How trustees can deliver outcomes Australians deserve, ASIC, March 2025</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Will ASIC’s fixes work?</h2> <p>ASIC has made 34 recommendations to improve death benefit processing. This will require real change, not box ticking. Changes should include setting performance objectives and empowering frontline staff to cut unnecessary steps.</p> <p>There should be consequences for failure. Unlike the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/bereavement">United Kingdom</a>, which fines pension providers for missing statutory deadlines, ASIC’s recommendations lack penalties.</p> <p>Without consequences, some funds may continue prioritising administrative convenience over members receiving their entitlements.</p> <h2>What needs to happen now?</h2> <p>ASIC’s report is a wake-up call, but real reform requires strong action.</p> <p>Super funds must be held to clear, binding processing timelines, with meaningful penalties for non-compliance. Standardising requirements across the industry would eliminate unnecessary hurdles, ensuring all beneficiaries are treated fairly.</p> <p>Beyond regulation, funds must improve communication and accountability. Bereaved families deserve clear, plain language guidance on what to expect, not bureaucratic roadblocks or sudden document requests.</p> <p>Technological upgrades should focus on reducing delays, not just internal efficiencies.</p> <p>And to better support families, an independent claims advocate could help navigate the process, ensuring no one is left to struggle alone.</p> <h2>Has ASIC gone far enough?</h2> <p>While ASIC’s review is a step in the right direction, it does not fundamentally overhaul flawed claims-handling practices.</p> <p>The recommendations lack enforceability, relying on voluntary compliance.</p> <p>Also, the role of insurers within super remains largely unaddressed, despite death benefits being tied to life insurance policies. This often causes further complications and delays.</p> <p>Ensuring insurers adopt and apply ASIC’s recommendations will be critical for meaningful change.</p> <p>Most importantly, super funds must remember that behind every claim is a grieving family. No one should have to fight for what they are owed during one of the most stressful times in their life.<!-- 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/253419/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>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/natalie-peng-1369555">Natalie Peng</a>, Lecturer in Accounting, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></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/behind-every-claim-is-a-grieving-family-death-benefits-inquiry-demands-change-but-lacks-penalties-253419">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Legal

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"Why are you attacking my dad?": I'm A Celeb finalist reveals behind-the-scenes heartbreak

<p>The emotional on-air reunion between <em>I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here</em> contestant Matty J and his wife, Laura Byrne, along with their two children, Marlie-Mae and Lola Ellis, was a heartwarming moment <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/abrupt-viewers-stunned-by-i-m-a-celeb-winner-s-reveal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during Sunday’s finale</a>. However, behind the scenes, Byrne has opened up about the significant challenges she faced while participating in the momentous event.</p> <p>In the lead-up to the finale, Byrne undertook an exhausting journey from Sydney to South Africa with their two young daughters. Speaking on the <em>Life Uncut</em> podcast, she detailed the arduous travel experience, which involved “three separate flights” and 24 hours of transit. “That in itself was really hard," she said. "It was like 24 hours by the time we got door to door. Midnight transfer with two children who were absolutely f***ing ropable.” </p> <p>The long journey was only the beginning of the difficulties though. Upon arrival, Byrne and the children had to share a single room with inadequate sleeping arrangements, all while preparing for a demanding day on set.</p> <p>Byrne also revealed that the experience of managing two young children on a chaotic production set was overwhelming. “I felt like I was the emotional buffer between the children and production … I felt like I’d just been flogged for days. It was hard. It was really hard for me,” she said.</p> <p>During the finale, Matty J and his fellow top three contestants – <em>Big Brother</em> star Reggie Bird and retired NRL player Sam Thaiday – were reunited with their families before participating in the final challenge. While this was an exciting moment for viewers, it was an emotionally challenging experience for the family.</p> <p>Matty J recalled the moment he had to part ways with his children soon after reuniting. “When we had our reunion, it was maybe half an hour I think where we had time together and then they’ve got to pull us apart,” he said. “The kids don’t get it, the kids don’t understand. They’re like, ‘I’ve just met my dad, and then I’ve got to go.’ And then we did that trial where we had to have s**t poured on our heads, and Lola’s in tears being like, ‘Why are you attacking my dad?’”</p> <p>Byrne explained that their children were repeatedly reunited with their father, only to be separated again. This happened three times – during the initial reunion, the final trial and then the announcement of the winner. The constant cycle of emotional reunions and abrupt separations took a toll, particularly on their youngest daughter, Lola.</p> <p>After the winner was announced, Byrne and the children expected Matty J to return home with them, but he was kept on set for several more hours. “They kept Matt on set until 6 o’clock and we went home earlier. And it was so hard on Lola particularly,” Byrne revealed. “And then I had to deal with her big emotions around ‘Why is my daddy not coming home?’ And it felt like this unfair false start.”</p> <p>She admitted that the combination of exhaustion, sleep deprivation and trying to manage the emotional needs of their children made the experience incredibly difficult. Byrne also shared that she had been against Matty J’s participation in the reality show right from the outset. “I wasn’t a supporter of it in the first place,” she admitted, reinforcing that the experience had only confirmed her concerns.</p> <p>Even Matty J himself struggled with the demands of the show. He confessed that he broke down early in his time at camp, an emotional moment that wasn’t shown on TV. “I just burst out crying, and I was like, ‘I f**king cannot do this,’” he recalled, explaining that a moment of solitude while washing dishes left him questioning his decision. “What have I f**king done? This is a nightmare.”</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">It appears that, for the Byrne-Johnson family, what seemed like a joyful televised reunion was, in reality, a deeply exhausting and emotional ordeal.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Network 10</em></p>

TV

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Aussie mums rally behind woman who confronted daughter's bully

<p>A group of mums have rallied behind a pregnant woman who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/mother-breaks-silence-after-confronting-daughter-s-bully" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stormed</a> into her daughter's classroom to confront the 12-year-old who was bullying her. </p> <p>The mother from Adelaide made headlines after she walked into her daughter's classroom at St Paul's College in Gillies Plains, north-east Adelaide, on Monday, where she launched into an expletive-ridden tirade at her daughter's bully. </p> <p>The mother told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/sa/mother-of-adelaide-bullying-victim-speaks-out-after-angry-st-pauls-college-spray-caught-on-social-media--c-17621578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seven News</a></em> that she and her husband had pleaded with the school to intervene in her daughter's alleged bullying, but said that fell on deaf ears.</p> <p>"I don't want my daughter to be another statistic. I don't want to have to bury my child," she said. "She was crying, she was devastated that this child told her to go and hang herself."</p> <p>After the woman lashed out at her daughter's bully, she issued an apology saying, "What everybody has seen of me is not who I am as a mother or as a person."</p> <p>However, many thought she had nothing to apologise for, as many women rallied behind her online saying they would have done the same thing if their child was being bullied. </p> <p>Young mum and personal trainer Jess Dickson stood up for the woman, saying for a mum to "lose her s**** like  that" shows that she genuinely believed her daughter's life was at stake. </p> <p>"The tonality, and the frustration, and the fear, and just the 'f*** you' in her voice it really shows that this was a final straw for this mum," she said in a TikTok video. </p> <p>"Now in the past year, multiple children have committed suicide because of bullying because no one stands up for them. Teachers and parents might not see it, and the parents of the bullies probably just say, 'Oh no, that's not my kid'."</p> <p>Many agreed with Ms Dickson's take, saying they would "rather attend court than their child's funeral". </p> <p>"Team Mumma Bear all the way... Personally, I would have been right there beside her if my kid was in the same school," one mum wrote. </p> <p>"Soooo on team Mama Bear. I fear I would be a bit more psychotic," another agreed. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Even calm people can fly into a rage behind the wheel. Here’s how to curb your road rage – before it’s too late

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/milad-haghani-1454675">Milad Haghani</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>If someone bumps into us on the footpath or in the mall, we’re generally quite forgiving. We instinctively apologise or step aside, and usually don’t scream at, stalk, or attack the other person.</p> <p>But put us in a car, and <a href="https://x.com/Boenau/status/1755234912540459059">something changes</a>. People who appear calm in everyday life suddenly tailgate, honk, or shout at strangers. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753524002467?casa_token=76NSmREtG8MAAAAA:yFEcndOLjARRfthZMFwOQ3UmPeqgJEwSuAvkaA51rH8fA7v8RzHDamohBhf8Ai7jb3Nrp98pz4I">Problems at work</a> or home can suddenly explode in the form of righteous anger toward other road users.</p> <p>Road rage <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457523000192">increases crash risk</a>, and victims of road rage incidents often have <a href="https://www.mynrma.com.au/media/press-releases/2024/nrma-releases-worrying-road-rage-data">children in the car</a> with them.</p> <p>So, why does driving <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437524000914?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email">bring out the worst in us</a>? And more importantly, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457521001755?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email">what can we do about it</a>?</p> <h2>Road rage remains common</h2> <p><a href="https://www.mynrma.com.au/media/press-releases/2024/nrma-releases-worrying-road-rage-data">Recent</a> <a href="https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/research/road-rage-study.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">surveys</a> indicate road rage remains common in Australia.</p> <p>In September 2024, insurer NRMA <a href="https://www.mynrma.com.au/media/press-releases/2024/nrma-releases-worrying-road-rage-data">reported</a> a survey of 1,464 of its members in two states found many had witnessed road rage incidents such as:</p> <ul> <li>tailgating (71%)</li> <li>drivers beeping other drivers (67%)</li> <li>drivers gesturing angrily at other drivers (60%)</li> <li>drivers deliberately cutting in front of other vehicles (58%)</li> <li>drivers getting out of their car to confront to confront another driver (14%)</li> <li>stalking (10%)</li> <li>physical assault (4%).</li> </ul> <p>Another insurer, Budget Direct, <a href="https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/research/road-rage-study.html">reported</a> last year on a survey of 825 people that found about 83% had experienced shouting, cursing, or rude gestures from other people on the road (up by 18% since 2021).</p> <p>And of the female respondents, 87% reported they’d copped this kind of behaviour from other road users.</p> <p>Common triggers for driver anger include tailgating, perceived rudeness (such as not giving a “thank you” wave), and witnessing another person driving dangerously.</p> <p>Aggressive driving behaviours tend to be more common in <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.031918298391749">younger, male drivers</a>.</p> <p>Road rage is a global problem, with studies finding road rage remains common in places such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457509002012?casa_token=G4nhNdF3olAAAAAA:8tdP0GyMiwN4_n4fekvQB-EiUSLa8Q2sgbpMhfUNWh0w9YqeiWft1aPY2ZSFLngcSFZAHfMOQhA">Japan</a>, the <a href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/nearly-80-percent-of-drivers-express-significant-anger-aggression-or-road-rage/">US</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369847805000884">New Zealand</a> and the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369847898000096">UK</a>, but the degree varies significantly from country to country.</p> <h2>Who is more likely to fly into a rage on the road?</h2> <p>Some of us are more likely than others to fly into a rage while driving. One way researchers <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847815001722">measure</a> this is via a testing tool known as the <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/rokada/psyctest/driving.pdf">Driving Anger Scale</a>.</p> <p>Data from many studies using this test show drivers who are more prone to anger in general are <a href="https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/driving-anger-as-a-psychological-construct-twenty-years-of-resear">more likely to turn that anger into aggression</a>. They get annoyed by more things, are quicker to act on their feelings, take more risks, and as a result, are more likely to be involved in anger-related crashes.</p> <p>Research suggests that while female drivers experience anger just as much as male drivers, they are less likely to act on it in a <a href="https://www.turkpsikiyatri.com/PDF/C18S3/en/angerExpression.pdf">negative way</a>.</p> <p>Female drivers tend to feel more intense anger in certain situations, such as when <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847815001722#f0010">faced with hostile gestures or traffic obstructions</a>, compared to their male counterparts.</p> <h2>What can I do to reduce my road rage?</h2> <p>In a car, we’re physically separated from others, which creates a sense of distance and anonymity – two factors that lower our usual social filters. Encounters feel fleeting.</p> <p>There’s a good chance you won’t be held accountable for what you or say or do, compared to if you were outside the car. And yet, we perceive the stakes as high because mistakes or bad decisions on the road can have serious consequences.</p> <p>This mix of isolation, stress, and the illusion of being in a bubble is a perfect recipe for heightened frustration and anger.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457521001755?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email">Research</a> suggests techniques drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy may help.</p> <p>These include learning to identify when you are starting to feel angry, trying to find alternative explanations for other people’s behaviour, using mindfulness and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847815001758">relaxation</a> and trying to move away from the trigger.</p> <p>The American Automobile Association also <a href="https://exchange.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Road-Rage-Brochure.pdf">suggests</a> you can reduce road rage incidents by being a more considerate driver yourself – always use your indicator, avoid cutting others off and maintain a safe distance from other cars.</p> <p>Try to stay calm when other drivers are angry, and allow extra time in your journey to reduce stress.</p> <p>If driving anger is a frequent issue, consider seeking support or <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/anger-management">anger management resources</a>.</p> <p>Avoiding — or at least being aware of — <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847821002667">anger rumination</a> can make a big difference. This happens when someone replays anger-inducing events, like being cut off in traffic, over and over in their mind. Instead of letting it go, they dwell on it, fuelling their frustration and making it harder to stay calm.</p> <p>Recognising this pattern and shifting focus — like taking a deep breath or distracting yourself — can help stop anger from escalating into aggression.</p> <p>More broadly, public awareness campaigns highlighting the link between anger and risky driving could also encourage more drivers to seek help.</p> <p>The next time you get behind the wheel, try to remember the other driver, the cyclist, or pedestrian is just another person — someone you might pass on the street without a second thought.</p> <p>We’re often good at forgiving minor missteps in non-driving contexts. Let’s try to bring that same patience and understanding to the road.<!-- 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/244402/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/milad-haghani-1454675">Milad Haghani</a>, Senior Lecturer of Urban Risk &amp; Resilience, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </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/even-calm-people-can-fly-into-a-rage-behind-the-wheel-heres-how-to-curb-your-road-rage-before-its-too-late-244402">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

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True meaning behind common Aussie road sign

<p>Thousands of drivers past this Australian road sign every day - but very few know what it means. </p> <p>A confused motorist took to Reddit to share an image of the road sign they spotted on the Northern Territory's Stuart Highway, which featured a picture of a hand. </p> <p>He and and his travel companion assumed the sign meant there was a spot to wash your hands or windows nearby, however they were both wrong. </p> <p>The sign, which was part of a larger rest area sign, indicates there is Aboriginal artwork in the area. </p> <p>"According to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (South Australia), published in 'Road Sign Guidelines' issued 28/03/2023, it means 'Aboriginal Attractions'," one person commented </p> <p>"Yep, usually rock art or some other Aboriginal site," said another.</p> <p>It is often seen in national parks and is the same symbol used nationally. </p> <p>People shared their own hilarious assumptions with one writing: "Warning, jazz hands in 2km", while another commented: "Beware of swarming ants".</p> <p>"Love that it's for indigenous art, but my first thought was a warning to tourists to not put bare skin on the bitumen," another commented. </p> <p>Others admitted they never paid any particular attention to the sign. </p> <p>"Oh I've never seen this before! And think it's great. Honestly my brain went to kids craft area for some reason but why would a random regional picnic stop have a kids craft area," one wrote. </p> <p>"I genuinely thought someone had just spray painted the sign with their hand on it. i have never seen this," another commented. </p> <p>A third person added their own hilarious interpretation saying: "This is so cool, have never seen one of these before. I have to admit my first thought was 'car scene in the titanic' though."</p> <p><em>Image: Reddit/ Google</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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The reason behind Sam Armytage’s shock split from husband

<p dir="ltr">New details have emerged over the possible reason behind Sam Armytage’s shock <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/breakups-are-hard-sam-armytage-announces-shock-split-from-husband">split</a> from her husband. </p> <p dir="ltr">The former <em>Sunrise</em> host announced her separation from husband Richard Lavender on Friday, telling <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, "Yes, Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it’s somewhat lessened by the fact it’s amicable and we wish the best for each other."</p> <p dir="ltr">Samantha and Richard began dating in April 2019 and announced their engagement in June 2020, getting married just a few months later on New Year’s Eve 2020. </p> <p dir="ltr">The news of their split comes just weeks before what would’ve been their fourth wedding anniversary. </p> <p dir="ltr">While news of the split came as a shock to most people last week, an insider told <em><a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/twist-in-samantha-armytages-shock-split-from-husband-richard-lavender-013315451.html">Yahoo Lifestyle</a></em> the break-up has apparently been widely speculated within the TV industry for months now thanks to one telling clue.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the source, Armytage’s move from Channel Seven to the Nine Network - ahead of her upcoming hosting gig of <em>The Golden Bachelor</em> - was a major hint that something was not right in the couple’s relationship. </p> <p dir="ltr"> "As soon as Sam announced she was leaving Seven for Nine and making a big TV comeback, we all started suspecting something had happened as her main reason for initially quitting Sunrise was to be with him and settle down away from the industry," the source claimed. </p> <p dir="ltr">After the split was confirmed, many began speculating on the reason behind their separation, and while some publications claimed that tension between Armytage and Lavender's daughters was the reason, nothing has been confirmed. </p> <p dir="ltr">The insider tells <em>Yahoo Lifestyle</em>, "Sam’s been keeping the details pretty quiet but the impression everyone gets is she just wasn’t ready to retire and give everything up yet, which is more likely to have caused tensions as Rich is notoriously private."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Why do I get so anxious after drinking? Here’s the science behind ‘hangxiety’

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/blair-aitken-1510537">Blair Aitken</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-rothman-2231560">Rebecca Rothman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>You had a great night out, but the next morning, anxiety hits: your heart races, and you replay every conversation from the night before in your head. This feeling, known as hangover anxiety or “<a href="https://adf.org.au/insights/what-is-hangxiety/">hangxiety</a>”, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hup.2623">affects around 22%</a> of social drinkers.</p> <p>While for some people, it’s mild nerves, for others, it’s a wave of anxiety that feels impossible to ride out. The “Sunday scaries” may make you feel panicked, filled with dread and unable to relax.</p> <p>Hangover anxiety can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Here’s why it happens, and what you can do about it.</p> <h2>What does alcohol do to our brains?</h2> <p>A hangover is the body’s way of recovering after drinking alcohol, bringing with it a range of symptoms.</p> <p><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/23/5691">Dehydration and disrupted sleep</a> play a large part in the pounding headaches and nausea many of us know too well after a big night out. But hangovers aren’t just physical – there’s a strong mental side too.</p> <p>Alcohol is a nervous system depressant, meaning it alters how certain chemical messengers (or neurotransmitters) behave in the brain. Alcohol relaxes you by increasing <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22857-gamma-aminobutyric-acid-gaba">gamma-aminobutyric acid</a> (GABA), the neurotransmitter that makes you feel calm and lowers inhibitions. It decreases <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22839-glutamate">glutamate</a> and this also slows down your thoughts and helps ease you into a more relaxed state.</p> <p>Together, this interaction affects your mood, emotions and alertness. This is why when we drink, we often feel more sociable, carefree and willing to let our guard down.</p> <p>As the effects of the alcohol wear off, your brain works to rebalance these chemicals by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886918305762">reducing GABA and increasing glutamate</a>. This shift has the opposite effect of the night before, causing your brain to become more excitable and overstimulated, which can lead to feelings of anxiety.</p> <p>So why do some people get hangxiety, while others don’t? There isn’t one clear answer to this question, as several factors can play a role in whether someone experiences hangover-related anxiety.</p> <h2>Genes play a role</h2> <p>For some, a hangover is simply a matter of how much they drank or how hydrated they are. But genetics may also play a significant role. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12699">Research</a> shows your genes can explain almost half the reason why you wake up feeling hungover, while your friend might not.</p> <p>Because genes influence how your body processes alcohol, some people may experience more intense hangover symptoms, such as headaches or dehydration. These stronger physical effects can, in turn, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hup.2623">trigger anxiety during a hangover</a>, making you more susceptible to “hangxiety.”</p> <h2>Do you remember what you said last night?</h2> <p>But one of the most common culprits for feeling anxious the next day is often <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0091450915604988">what you do while drinking</a>.</p> <p>Let’s say you’ve had a big night out and you can’t quite recall a conversation you had or something you did. Maybe you acted in ways that you now regret or feel embarrassed about. You might fixate on these thoughts and get trapped in a cycle of worrying and rumination. This cycle can be hard to break and can make you feel more anxious.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107619">Research</a> suggests people who already struggle with feelings of anxiety in their day-to-day lives are especially vulnerable to hangxiety.</p> <p>Some people drink alcohol to unwind after a stressful day or to make themselves feel more comfortable at social events. This often leads to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9756407">heavier consumption</a>, which can make hangover symptoms more severe. It can also begin a cycle of drinking to feel better, making hangxiety even harder to escape.</p> <h2>Preventing hangover anxiety</h2> <p>The best way to prevent hangxiety is to limit your alcohol consumption. The <a href="https://adf.org.au/reducing-risk/alcohol/alcohol-guidelines">Australian guidelines</a> recommend having no more than ten standard drinks per week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day.</p> <p>Generally, the more you drink, the more intense your hangover symptoms might be, and the worse you are likely to feel.</p> <p>Mixing other drugs with alcohol can also increase the risk of hangxiety. This is especially true for party drugs, such as ecstasy or MDMA, that give you a temporary high but can lead to anxiety as they wear off and you are <a href="https://adf.org.au/insights/drug-comedowns">coming down</a>.</p> <p>If you do wake up feeling anxious:</p> <ul> <li> <p>focus on the physical recovery to help ease the mental strain</p> </li> <li> <p>drink plenty of water, eat a light meal and allow yourself time to rest</p> </li> <li> <p>try <a href="https://www.headspace.com/mindfulness/mindfulness-101">mindfulness meditation</a> or deep breathing exercises, especially if anxiety keeps you awake or your mind races</p> </li> <li> <p>consider journalling. This can help re-frame anxious thoughts, put your feelings into perspective and encourage self-compassion</p> </li> <li> <p>talk to a close friend. This can provide a safe space to express concerns and feel less isolated.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Hangxiety is an unwelcome guest after a night out. Understanding why hangxiety happens – and how you can manage it – can make the morning after a little less daunting, and help keep those anxious thoughts at bay.<!-- 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/240991/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/blair-aitken-1510537">Blair Aitken</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychopharmacology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-rothman-2231560">Rebecca Rothman</a>, PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology, School of Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</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/why-do-i-get-so-anxious-after-drinking-heres-the-science-behind-hangxiety-240991">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

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Incredible reason behind Aussie woman's 5,500km outback ride

<p>Sarah Wheeler has been travelling through the New South Wales outback for the last four and a half months, doing it entirely on horseback. </p> <p>The 26-year-old Aussie plans to ride  5,500 kilometres through outback Queensland and New South Wales to raise awareness about the rare cancer that killed her mum in 2022, a little over a decade after her father passed away. </p> <p>With around four months left on her trip, Wheeler and her two horses, Shifty and Sally, are slowly trekking across some of the most remote and rugged parts of the country in a trip that has never been done before. </p> <p>"I'd always thought about doing something like this throughout my life," Wheeler told <em>Yahoo News</em>. </p> <p>"So after my parents died, I went out and bought two horses and, yeah, set off on a five-and-a-half-thousand-kilometre horse ride to honour and remember, and grieve."</p> <p>Wheeler set off with her horses from her hometown Rowena in western NSW in May, and has since travelled across long stretches of highways, desolate plains and rocky terrain and has now passed the halfway mark. </p> <p>She explained that in recent weeks she has also been trekking on foot and has contact with other people only when she stops in towns for supplies or when she feeds her horses, using a support vehicle. </p> <p>"The car travels 10 kilometres at a time so that I can keep replenishing my horses, with both food and water. Ten kilometres takes me two hours, sometimes a bit longer, and I'm usually in the saddle for six to eight hours a day," she told the publication. </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/C89KIgsxb_A/?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/C89KIgsxb_A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sarah Wheeler - The Outback Long Ride (@_beneaththebrim)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"The most challenging thing has probably been the saddles and saddle pads and cleanliness — that's all so important. I have to wash my saddle blankets every second day. Otherwise, things just start happening, like fungus type of stuff."</p> <p>She added that while "this has been one of the hardest things I have ever done", the friendliness and support of locals has been a highlight of her trip. </p> <p>"Everyone's so lovely and inviting and, yeah, I just I didn't think that I was going to see that to this extent," she said. "People want to invite me in and feed me, they just want to help me as much as they can."</p> <p>Remembering her late parents' legacy, Wheeler said she wants everyone to know just how "remarkable" they both were.</p> <p>"They were like everything this world needed and more," she said. "They were very kind and genuine and humble."</p> <p>Wheeler's ride is raising awareness and funds for two key charities: <a href="https://pancare-gi-cancer.raisely.com/sarah-wheeler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pancare Foundation</a>, the lead organisation supporting families and funding research for upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, which claimed the life of her mother, and A Daughter’s Way, her own charity supporting rural families experiencing grief. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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From cauldrons to cardigans - the lurking prejudices behind the name ‘Granny’

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-burridge-130136">Kate Burridge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/catherine-barrett-12661">Catherine Barrett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a></em></p> <blockquote> <p>“Honestly, I can’t wait to have grandkids and spoil them — but I don’t want to be called ‘Granny’” (overheard on the No. 96 tram in Melbourne)</p> <p>“I love it. It’s not the word that needs to change, it’s our culture” (Deborah, proud granny)</p> </blockquote> <h2>What’s wrong with “granny”?</h2> <p>From its debut in the early 1600s, “granny” has been more than an affectionate term for grandma — and a cursory glance at its history tells a depressingly familiar story.</p> <p>First, the instability and decline of words associated with women. “Granny” joins a long list of words, particularly for older women, that that have acquired negative meanings — spinsters were originally spinners; sluts were untidy people; slags and shrews were rogues; scolds were poets; bimbos were men, and so on. Many started life referring to men, but quickly narrowed to female application — and with this sexual specification came further decline.</p> <p>Right from the start, grannies were also people engaged in trivial (often self-serving) chatter; in other words, grannies were gossips, tell-tales and nosy parkers. In the 1700s, more negative meanings piled on — grannies became fussy, indecisive or unenterprising persons, and in many places stupid as well.</p> <p>The online crowdsourced Urban Dictionary now has a flourishing of additional disparaging senses for “granny” that have yet to make it into more mainstream collections.</p> <p>In sport, grannies refer to those who perform poorly, or they’re a kind of dead leg injury (which leaves you “<a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Granny">hobbling around</a> like an old granny for the rest of the day”).</p> <h2>“Don’t be a granny”!</h2> <p>Tellingly, the negative uses of granny have never been restricted to women — one <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Folk_speech_of_South_Cheshire.html?id=_6ETAAAAQAAJ&amp;redir_esc=y">19th-century dictionary</a> defines “granny” as “a simpleton: used of both sexes”. It’s another telling asymmetry in our lexicon. Terms for women are insulting when used of men (“Dad, don’t be such a granny”), but terms designating men when used of women have little or no affront. If you were to call a women a grampa or an old man, there’s really no abuse — it just seems odd.</p> <p>Unflattering “granny” compounds are plentiful in English: a “granny knot” is one that’s inexpertly tied, while “granny gear” is an extremely low first gear. New ones are arriving all the time: “granny weed” is low-quality marijuana that is old or dried out; “granny shot” is said of a basketballer with little skill; “granny mode” in video games is a slower speed than normal, “granny pants” (like other “granny-like” items) are naff “old lady” styles (in the fashion world, the phrase ‘not your granny’s’ describes edgy or trendy clothes — not fashion choices made or worn by grandmothers). The Oxford English Dictionary gives 29 “granny” compounds, but provides not a single compound with “grandpa”, “grampa” or “gramps”.</p> <p>These terms for one’s grandfather have also been remarkably stable over time. This dictionary gives a single definition: “One’s grandfather. Also used as a familiar form of address to one’s grandfather or to an elderly man”. Even Urban Dictionary, not known for its politeness, has little in the way of slangy senses for “grandpa” or “gramps” — the closest are playful entries referring to older men or grandfathers. You might compare “codger” or “geezer” — sure, they’re not exactly flattering, but they don’t pack anywhere near same punch as do “crone”, “hag”, “battle-axe”, “old bat”, “old bag” and so on.</p> <h2>Granny goodness and greedy granny</h2> <p>Current films, comics and games reveal another way words for women evolve. To set the scene, consider the fate of “witch”, now a slur for older women. Originally, witches could be male sorcerers, but when used of women they became something very nasty — witches were females who had dealings with the devil. Our jokey image of witches these days can’t capture the potency of this word in early times, but it has never completely shed its connotations of evil. We still retain abusive epithets like “(old) witch” and also expressions like “witches’ cauldron” to describe sinister situations. And now here’s granny in the very same cauldron.</p> <p><a href="https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Granny_Goodness_(DC)">Granny Goodness</a> is one of the most well-known evil grannies in entertainment. Known for her cruelty and manipulation, this super villain hides under a façade of grandmotherly affection. <a href="https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Granny_(Granny)">Granny</a> is a survival video game where the main antagonist, Granny, is a hideously sadistic serial killer who locks people in her house and taunts them for days before brutally killing them.</p> <p>Then there’s <a href="https://dishonored.fandom.com/wiki/Vera_Moray">Granny Rags</a>, a mad, decrepit old woman whose vulnerable and destitute appearance conceals a very dark nature underneath. Of course, there are sometimes dark older male figures too, but they’re not explicitly grandfathers (for example, Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars or Dr Wily, an older, mad scientist who creates robotic menaces to achieve world domination). And they’re not in the same league as those decrepit, old, malicious women — the “witches” of pop culture.</p> <p>And now there’s the <a href="https://www.bigw.com.au/product/greedy-granny/p/89891">Greedy Granny</a> toy for the little ones. The aim is to steal from this grasping grandma and get away with it.</p> <h2>Words make worlds</h2> <p>Words are declarations of social attitudes and belief systems. Through the way we speak, the words we use and our interactions, the language reveals and reinforces psychological and social roles — status, power dynamics and relationships. Here is some context for grannies:</p> <p>• older women are <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2437426/HILDA-SR-med-res.pdf">the lowest income earning family group</a></p> <p>• 34% of single older women <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2437426/HILDA-SR-med-res.pdf">live in poverty</a></p> <p>• 60% of older women <a href="https://officeforwomen.sa.gov.au/womens-policy/womens-employment-and-economic-status/superannuation">leave paid work with no super</a> and women with super have <a href="https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/au/pdf/2021/addressing-gender-superannuation-gap.pdf">28% less than men</a></p> <p>• 60% of older women rely entirely <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Economic_security_for_women_in_retirement/Report/c09">on the old age pension</a></p> <p>• 40% increase in <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/specialist-homelessness-services-annual-report/contents/older-clients">homelessness for older women</a></p> <p>• older women are more likely to <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/speeches/safety-and-security-older-women">experience workplace discrimination</a></p> <p>• 23% of women aged 60 years+ have experienced <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/22-01_prevalence-of-elder-abuse.pdf">intimate partner violence</a>.</p> <h2>Don a granny cardy</h2> <p>Negative senses of expressions have a saliency that will dominate and eventually expel other senses. This transformation has a name: <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Forbidden_Words.html?id=b2rCLYHjDMgC&amp;redir_esc=y">Gresham’s Law of Semantic Change</a> (“bad meanings drive out good”).</p> <p>So what can be done to help drag “granny” out of this semantic abyss?</p> <p>Many older women are giving themselves the term and doing this playfully or as a way to reclaim power (for example the <a href="https://www.pastagrannies.com/">Pasta Grannies</a> and the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-30/granny-grommets-albany-western-australia-middleton-beach/102398172">Granny Grommets</a>). Reframing expressions in this way may not neutralise them, but it can make us more aware of the lurking prejudices.</p> <p>And why not slip into a cardigan? September 22 marks the world’s first <a href="https://www.celebrateageing.com/cardiganpride.html">Cardigan Pride Festival</a>. Australians around the country will don cardigans in a call to combat the inequalities older women face — and to show they’ve got older women’s backs (and shoulders) covered.<!-- 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/238200/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><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-burridge-130136"><em>Kate Burridge</em></a><em>, Professor of Linguistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/catherine-barrett-12661">Catherine Barrett</a>, Director, Celebrate Ageing Ltd, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </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/from-cauldrons-to-cardigans-the-lurking-prejudices-behind-the-name-granny-238200">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Family & Pets

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Surcharges are added to most purchases, but what are the rules behind these extra fees?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138">Steve Worthington</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>You head to the register at the cafe to pay for your lunch, swipe your card and suddenly realise you’ve been hit with an extra small but unexpected charge.</p> <p>It might be listed on your receipt as a service or merchant fee, but either way it’s because you’ve used a credit or debit card.</p> <p>With the pandemic accelerating the use of cards instead of cash – <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2023/jun/cash-use-and-attitudes-in-australia.html#:%7E:text=Cash%20payments,-The%20CPS%20suggests&amp;text=In%20value%20terms%2C%20the%20cash,cent%20by%20value%20in%202022.">only 13% of Australians use cash</a>, dropping from 27% in the last five years – these extra charges have become mainstream.</p> <p>However, as was highlighted by National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Irvine during a <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Corporations_and_Financial_Services/FinancialAbuse">parliamentary inquiry</a> into bank charges last week, they are often applied, in varying amounts, by businesses for reasons not always in line with their original purpose.</p> <p>Irvine slammed as <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/credit-card-surcharges-should-be-banned-or-regulated-nab-boss-says-20240830-p5k6jm">“outrageous”</a> a 10% surcharge he was forced to pay when he recently bought a cup of coffee at a Sydney cafe. “I don’t like the lack of transparency and lack of consistency,” he said.</p> <p>But most Australians are making these extra payments every day, without question. So how did this end up happening – and what can you do about it?</p> <h2>Card surcharges in Australia</h2> <p>At the start of this century, payments for goods and services were mainly made by cash, paper cheques, credit and debit cards.</p> <p>The first two of these options would eventually be deposited into a bank account by the merchant who ran the business. The latter two would be processed by the bank or financial institution which would charge the business a merchant service fee.</p> <p>For debit cards this might be a fixed fee. But for credit cards it would be proportionate with the value of the goods or services.</p> <p>The Reserve Bank of Australia became concerned the use of credit cards was greater than that of debit cards and <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/consultations/201106-review-card-surcharging/background.html">introduced surcharging in January 2003</a>. The intention was to lower the cost to the merchant of accepting debit cards and change customer behaviour.</p> <p>This has been achieved, as both the volume and value of paying by debit cards now exceeds the volume and value of paying by credit cards.</p> <p>However, the reality in 2024 is that card surcharges have become commonplace, and in a wide variety of payment situations.</p> <h2>It’s estimated to cost us billions</h2> <p>It is difficult to calculate the total cost of surcharging to Australian consumers since they became legal more than 20 years ago, because the rates charged vary widely.</p> <p>But at last week’s inquiry, Labor MP Jerome Laxale suggested it added up to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/banking/card-surcharges-are-costing-us-billions-but-can-they-be-avoided-20240830-p5k6o8.html">A$4 billion</a> in the last year.</p> <p>Surcharges can be imposed by small to medium enterprises such as your local cafe, doctor’s surgery, your energy supplier, or when you use a card to pay your council rates.</p> <p>As an example, my rates are payable by card, with a surcharge of 1.10% for Mastercard and Visa credit, and 0.55% for eftpos and Mastercard and Visa debit cards.</p> <h2>When surcharges can be applied</h2> <p>Many merchants charge the same rate for all their card payments and some fail to alert customers to the extra fee before accepting the payment at their terminal, which they are required to do.</p> <p>Indeed, even on a receipt for payment, the surcharge can be described by the merchant as a “handling” or “merchant” fee.</p> <p>The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges">(ACCC)</a> regulates surcharging and demands the merchant prove a surcharge is justified.</p> <p>Furthermore, the ACCC says if there is no way for a consumer to pay without paying a surcharge – that is, they can’t pay by cash or cheque – then the business must include the surcharge in <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing/price-displays#toc-display-of-surcharges">the displayed price</a>.</p> <h2>Penalties for misuse</h2> <p>The ACCC can take merchants to court to enforce these regulations and there have been some examples of this in recent history.</p> <p>In July 2021, <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/nine-entertainment-pays-penalties-for-alleged-excessive-payment-surcharges#:%7E:text=The%20ACCC%20alleged%20that%20these,Deputy%20Chair%20Mick%20Keogh%20said.">Nine Entertainment paid penalties totalling $159,840</a>, plus $450,000 redressing customers, for charging subscribers and advertisers excessive surcharges.</p> <p>The ACCC specifies that the surcharge must not be more than it costs the merchant to use that payment type.</p> <p>As guidance to the merchants, it also offers <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges">the average costs for different payment types</a>: eftpos less than 0.5%, Mastercard and Visa Debit 0.5%–1% and Mastercard and Visa credit 1%–1.5%.</p> <p>However, despite the ACCC setting guidelines for the amounts that can be charged, many surcharges are above this guidance and in some cases more than 2.0% for all cards.</p> <p>Some merchants do charge different surcharging rates, depending on the cards they accept, be it eftpos, Mastercard or Visa. In theory, the surcharge rate is meant to be determined by the merchant service fee, which is negotiated between the merchant and their bank.</p> <p>Larger merchants, such as the supermarkets, department stores and energy companies, can negotiate low rates (reportedly as low as one cent a transaction). But smaller merchants with less negotiating clout will have higher service fees.</p> <p>The arrival of new payment players, such as <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/square-vs-stripe/">Square and Stripe</a>, has offered businesses an alternative banker of card payments, which can then use surcharging as part of their merchant service fees.</p> <h2>Surcharging overseas</h2> <p>The <a href="https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/finance-funding/making-receiving-payments/electronic-cash-payments/index_en.htm">European Union</a> already has a long-standing ban on surcharging, while in the United States, surcharging is illegal in some states.</p> <p>Other countries, including the United Kingdom, have tried surcharging on card payments, only to abandon them as it was rorted by some merchants and became an unnecessary expense for consumers.</p> <p><a href="https://bluenotes.anz.com/posts/2023/07/anz-news-surcharge-steve-worthington-australia#:%7E:text=In%202018%20the%20UK%20Treasury,their%20hard%2Dearned%20money%E2%80%9D.">A statement</a> released by the UK Treasury when it banned the practice in 2018 described surcharges as</p> <blockquote> <p>Hidden charges for paying with a debit or credit card, which will help millions of UK consumers to avoid rip-off fees when spending their hard earned money.</p> </blockquote> <h2>What can you do about it?</h2> <p>Before surcharging was allowed by the Reserve Bank in January 2003, acceptance by merchants of payments was just another cost of doing business. And it seems many consumers have just accepted surcharges as part of their transactions.</p> <p>There are ways to avoid them, the most obvious being to use cash. Using eftpos involves charges, but they are less than those imposed on credit and debit cards.</p> <p>The Reserve Bank is working on implementing a so-called <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/debit-cards/least-cost-routing/#:%7E:text=What%20is%20least%2Dcost%20routing,'merchant%2Dchoice%20routing'.">“least-cost routing”</a> system that defaults to the lowest cost network when processing payments. Unfortunately, this is yet to be widely adopted by businesses.<!-- 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/237964/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><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-worthington-138"><em>Steve Worthington</em></a><em>, Adjunct Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </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/surcharges-are-added-to-most-purchases-but-what-are-the-rules-behind-these-extra-fees-237964">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Money & Banking

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Even after the government’s aviation crackdown, Australia will lag behind on flyers’ rights

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>When it comes to consumer protections for airline passengers, Australia has long been dragging its feet.</p> <p>The limited protections we do have rely heavily on the general <a href="https://consumer.gov.au/index.php/australian-consumer-law">Australian Consumer Law</a>. The “consumer guarantees” provided in this law only require services to be delivered in the arguably vague framework of a “reasonable time”.</p> <p>That might be okay if we’re just getting a sofa delivered from a furniture retailer. The cost of a late delivery is low.</p> <p>But these guarantees were not tailored to the unique impacts delayed or cancelled flights can have on travellers. Australia’s lack of aviation-specific protections has long been a severe <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">pain point</a> for flyers, only heightened by pandemic disruption.</p> <p>The government’s much-awaited <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">Aviation White Paper</a>, released in full on Monday, promised to address this issue. At the heart of the reforms, Australia will get a new aviation ombud scheme, and a new charter of customer rights for passengers.</p> <p>The recognition that new protections are needed is a step in the right direction. But this once-in-a-generation white paper missed the chance to achieve far more, by moving Australia to the style of consumer protection that have now been offered for 20 years in <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">Europe</a>.</p> <h2>Why is air travel unique?</h2> <p>Airline customers have a reasonable expectation of arriving at their destination, at (or close to) the time published by the airline in its schedule at the time the reservation was paid and ticketed.</p> <p>If this can’t be achieved, they should at least arrive at some amended time that was advised far enough in advance to allow related reservations and bookings to be adjusted.</p> <p>Air travel has to be punctual because it doesn’t have any substitutes. On even a modest deadline, driving from Perth or even Sydney to Melbourne, for example, is not a comparable option.</p> <p>And a passenger’s options to adapt their travel plans diminish as the departure date approaches. In the final days before travel, hotel cancellation deadlines pass and alternative connecting flight options sell out or spike in price.</p> <p>In some cases, travelling to a specific event can become pointless for a passenger if a delay is lengthy enough.</p> <h2>Australia is playing catch-up</h2> <p>In contrast with Australia, aviation-specific protections have long existed in many other developed economies.</p> <p>In the European Union (EU), for example, <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al24173">regulations</a> make clear that airlines have specific obligations and responsibilities in the event of delays, cancellations and denied boardings. This includes the <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/ec-regulation-261-2004/">right to compensation</a> of up to €600 (A$988).</p> <p>These protections and the levels of compensation payable for failure to meet specified requirements for different kinds of flights are comprehensively legislated.</p> <p>Canada has a <a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-150/index.html">slightly different approach</a> – smaller regional carriers have different obligations to mainline operators. But as with the European regulation, it imposes an obligation to get the passenger to the ticketed destination, or to refund the ticket if the journey has become pointless.</p> <p>The absence of such legislated protections in Australia means we typically have to rely on the goodwill of the airline when things go wrong.</p> <h2>Real action has been delayed</h2> <p>The centrepiece proposal of the <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper">white paper</a> is to create a new ombud scheme with “the power to direct airlines and airports to provide remedies to consumers and investigate customer complaints about airlines’ and airports’ conduct”. This will replace the existing <a href="https://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/General/Default.aspx">Airline Customer Advocate</a>.</p> <p>A new charter of customer rights, to be produced by the scheme, will aim to give flyers “greater certainty about what they can expect when flights are cancelled and delayed” and require airlines to be more transparent about their performance.</p> <p>The white paper noted the poor on-time performance of Australian carriers. It also pointed out that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Airlines%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Report.pdf">identified</a> problems with consumer protections for air travel in Australia as far back as 2017. But its proposals offer no real quantifiable or enforceable improvements to consumer rights.</p> <p>Despite the well-established models in comparable countries – many of which have <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-had-an-aviation-ombudsman-passengers-could-get-compensation-for-cancelled-flights-235679">followed the EU’s lead</a> – Australians will need to wait for yet another discussion process to be complete before they see what protections may eventually be introduced.</p> <p>The government’s white paper has largely just kicked the can down the road.</p> <p>At a minimum, passengers on Australian carriers deserve the assurances given to those travelling in and from Europe: in the event of a cancellation or long delay, that they will be transported to their destination on an alternative flight as quickly as possible.</p> <p>They should also be given appropriate meals and accommodation until they can make this onward journey, receive compensation for lengthy delays, and have the option to return home with a full refund if their travel has become pointless.<!-- 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/237469/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/ian-douglas-2932">Ian Douglas</a>, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</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/even-after-the-governments-aviation-crackdown-australia-will-lag-behind-on-flyers-rights-237469">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Domestic Travel

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Shocking theory behind grandma's broad daylight murder-suicide

<p><strong><em>Warning: This article contains distressing content that some readers may find upsetting. </em></strong></p> <p>Court papers have revealed the sinister reason behind why a grandmother allegedly killed her daughter-in-law before killing herself. </p> <p>Terminally ill ex-probation officer Kathleen Leigh, 65, fatally shot 45-year-old Marisa Galloway, who shares a child with Leigh’s son, Zachariah Reed, on a New York street before taking her own life. </p> <p>Now Ms Galloway’s grieving parents, Nancy and John, have filed an emergency court petition claiming Mr Reed has run off to his “multimillion-dollar home” in Chicago with their grandchild Lili under the pretext of “mourning” his mother’s death.</p> <p>He has also barred the Galloways from any contact, either in person or via technology, with the child.</p> <p>“Clearly, [Mr Reed’s] mother had a deliberate plan to kill Marisa in order to provide custody for her son,” the court papers charge, according to an exclusive report by the <em><a title="nypost.com" href="https://nypost.com/2024/08/18/us-news/killer-nyc-granny-carried-out-slay-suicide-to-give-son-full-custody-of-child-heartbreaking-suit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a></em>. </p> <p>“Unfortunately, [Mr Reed] has demonstrated an absolute intention to further those same goals of his mother as he has refused to provide us with any access to Lili at all in almost 3 weeks.”</p> <p>According to legal papers filed on Friday, the grandparents, who live a 12 hour drive away in New Jersey, are asking a Manhattan Supreme Court judge to pass on Marisa’s parenting time, hashed out in a 2022 custody agreement with Mr Reed.</p> <p>They are also asking that Mr Reed be forced to live in the New York until Lili is 18 so that she can keep a close relationship with her grandparents and with her half-sister, Mariel, the 1-year-old daughter Marisa had with a sperm donor who currently lives with the grandparents. </p> <p>“While Marisa was always the best mother, we would love to be involved with all aspects of taking care of an infant, toddler, and ultimately the little girl that Lili currently is,” Nancy wrote.</p> <p>Nancy said she is “extremely uncomfortable” being forced to file the petition but worried Lili would become estranged from her mum’s side of the family if they didn’t intervene.</p> <p>The grandmother laid out the history of Marisa and Mr Reed’s “tumultuous relationship” since the pair split and their “contentious” custody battle while she also claimed the pair dated before Marisa became pregnant but said their relationship ended “driven by the interference of [Mr Reed’s] mother.”</p> <p>On the day of the heinous crime on July 26th 2024, Marisa was loading her car and had put Mariel in her seat with plans to visit her parents for a few days. </p> <p>She was approached by Leigh while she was putting something in the boot, and shot her once in the back of the head and again in the back before taking her own life.</p> <p>Before her heinous crime, Leigh scrawled a seven-page letter “For Police” describing how she felt Marisa was trying to alienate Lili from her dad and saying she suspected Marisa of abusing Lili, despite child services clearing Marisa in two probes launched by Mr Reed.</p> <p>“She took away the child’s mother in order to make her son happy … it’s shocking,” a law-enforcement source had told the <em>New York Post</em> of Leigh right after the alleged murder-suicide.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Manhattan Supreme Court</em></p>

Legal

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Australia rallies behind grieving mum after Carlton train tragedy

<p>Australians have rallied together to raise money for the wife of a hero father who died along with his daughter after they were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/father-remembered-for-instinctive-act-of-bravery-before-train-tragedy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragically struck</a> by a train. </p> <p>Anand Runwal, 40, and his two-year-old daughter were killed at Sydney's Carlton train station on July 21 after a pram carrying the twin girls fell onto the train tracks. </p> <p>One of the twins miraculously survived and was rescued by police who crawled under the train when they heard her crying. </p> <p>Now, nearly $140,000 has been raised for his wife, Poonam, who reportedly flew back to India to be with family and bury her husband, according to the <em>Daily Mail</em>. </p> <p>“In the face of this unimaginable loss and grief, we come together as family, friends and colleagues to support the family of Anand Runwal, a hero who sacrificed everything to try and save his twin daughters during the Carlton Train Station tragedy,” the fundraiser read.</p> <p>“Anand was a calm, humble and friendly person who was liked by everyone he associated with.</p> <p>“Let’s surround the Runwal family with love, kindness, and generosity. Every donation, share, and message of support brings comfort and hope to those affected by this tragedy.”</p> <p>The fundraiser has exceeded its initial goal of $20,000 and has now been closed. </p> <p>Nadeen Ahmed, who runs the <em>Indians in Sydney</em> Facebook group has shared Poonam's reaction to the generosity of everyone who donated. </p> <p>“They initially wanted to raise $20,000 to help her with her immediate expenses but they were overwhelmed by the response and people’s generosity,” Ahmed told the<em> Daily Mail</em>.</p> <p>"They ended up raising almost $140,000 in just a couple of days, which they never expected.</p> <p>"They raised so much they decided to close the fundraiser and that money has now all been transferred to Mrs Runwal," she continued.</p> <p>“It’s a very hard situation for her, knowing what to do. She’s heading back to India to be with family because it is going to take months and months for her to deal with this tragedy.”</p> <p>NSW Police Superintendent Paul Dunstan was one of many who praised Runwal’s "brave and heroic" act. </p> <p>NSW Premier Chris Minns, who lives close to the station, also praised the father's "instinctive act of bravery", adding “that’s not going to bring him or his little daughter back, but it shouldn’t go unremarked upon in the face of a terrible, terrible accident.</p> <p>“He gave his life to try and save his children.”</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Man behind viral "democracy manifest" arrest dies

<p>Jack Karlson, the man behind one of Australia's most famous viral memes, has died aged 82. </p> <p>Karlson shot to fame after footage of his 1991 arrest outside the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbane went viral in 2009 when someone uploaded it to the internet. </p> <p>"Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest," he said during the arrest. </p> <p>"What is the charge? Eating a meal - a succulent Chinese meal?"</p> <p>"Have a look at the headlock here. See that chap over there?" he went on.</p> <p>"Get your hand off my penis! This is the bloke who got me on the penis before."</p> <p>Reports at the time suggested that Karlson had been arrested on suspicion of being criminal that was high on Queensland police's wanted list. </p> <p>While he did have a criminal history himself as he was known for several prison escapes throughout his life, he insisted that he was the wrong man. </p> <p>The reporter who reported Karlson's arrest 33 years ago, Chris Reason, confirmed Karlson's death in a social media post on X, tweeting that "Mr Democracy Manifest has died".</p> <p>A fundraiser had been set up for Karlson by his niece in June after he was reportedly diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed surgery for cataracts. </p> <p>“I know Jack’s video has given a lot of people joy and he has inspired many memes, t-shirts and other things over the years but Jack himself is doing it quite tough,” his niece wrote on the fundraiser at the time. </p> <p>“He has never had much money but has always been generous to family and friends. He lives week to week in regional QLD with the help of a voluntary carer.</p> <p>“Hoping people can dig deep – I think he’s worth at least a beer, maybe even a 6-pack.”</p> <p>In an update last week, his niece said that he wasn't doing well. </p> <p>“He has been in Hospital for two weeks now,” she wrote.</p> <p>“He has had multiple procedures but things are not looking good.</p> <p>“One thing that did lift his spirits was that the GoFundMe was taking off. He has been really appreciative of the donations and the comments.”</p> <p>A documentary about his life is currently in production and set to be released in early 2025. </p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Buckingham Palace finally reveals what's behind the iconic balcony

<p>One of the royal family’s most photographed moments is when they walk onto the famed balcony at Buckingham Palace, and now you can see what goes on behind the curtains. </p> <p>Buckingham Palace is opening its East Wing to the public for the first time, after a five year renovation. </p> <p>Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art, told <em>7NEWS</em>: “Everybody knows the facade of Buckingham Palace, with the members of the family on the balcony appearing over the centuries, but I think a lot of people probably think, ‘Gosh what’s behind, what’s through the curtains’.”</p> <p>The East Wing features a corridor that leads to the iconic balcony and is adorned with thousands of artworks and artefacts. </p> <p>During the renovation, more than 3000 pieces of art were taken out, restored, and returned, including the lavish wallpaper, which took about three months to remove and put back on. </p> <p>“It was painstakingly taken off the walls. It took about three months, then cleaned and they put it back up,” Nicola Turner Inman, Curator of Decorative Art at the Royal Collection Trust, told <em>7NEWS</em>.</p> <p>The East Wing will open from next week, and royal fans will finally get to see the main corridor that stretches out across the entire length of the residence. </p> <p>“I’m hoping they are surprised and amazed by the variety of pieces that they see from the royal collection here,” de Guitaut told the outlet. </p> <p>The King's latest portrait will also be a part of the tour. </p> <p>“I think the King is very pleased to see the rooms back looking as resplendent as they do,” de Guitaut said.</p> <p>Tickets for the East Wing are reportedly sold out for this summer, but more tickets will be made available next year, so no royal fan will miss out.</p> <p><em>Images: 7NEWS</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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Karl Stefanovic reveals real meaning behind "controversial" tattoo

<p>Karl Stefanovic has revealed the real meaning behind his own tattoo fail. </p> <p>The <em>Today</em> show host opened up about his youthful mistake during an appearance on Nova's <em>Jase & Lauren show</em>, as they were discussing unfortunate tattoos. </p> <p>Stefanovic showed off the Japanese phrase inked on his shoulder to hosts Jason Hawkins, Lauren Phillips and Clint Stanaway, and explained that he found out it was mistranslated 20 years after he got it. </p> <p>"I got this when I was at uni. Look at that bad boy!" Stefanovic said on the show.</p> <p>When asked what the tattoo was supposed to mean he answered: "Well, it's controversial, because when I got it done, I wanted to say to be real and to love, right?" </p> <p>"And then, like, 20 years later, I'm in this pool with this Japanese lady and I said 'what does this mean?' She goes, 'it doesn't mean that'," he continued. </p> <p>"And I said, well what does it mean? She goes, it means you really love yourself!"</p> <p>A clearly amused Lauren replied: "Perfect!"</p> <p>Stefanovic isn't the only star who has a tattoo with an error. Ariana Grande,  Christina Aguilera and Hayden Panettiere are some of the other famous names who have made the same mistake. </p> <p>Back in the 2000s Britney Spears also got a tattoo with the wrong translation. </p> <p>According to the New York Times, the pop star wanted the word "mysterios" written in Chinese characters on her hip, but ended up with a word that translated to "strange" instead. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ Nine</em></p> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ob-smartfeed-wrapper feedIdx-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="outbrain_widget_0" class="OUTBRAIN" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" data-src="//celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/karl-stefanovic-discovered-tattoo-meaning-20-years-later/184996a1-6709-4aef-8f8e-d61ad95da58b" data-widget-id="AR_8" data-external-id="70508f2b6f72d5ccede0a8c344e8e8b2" data-ob-mark="true" data-browser="chrome" data-os="macintel" data-dynload="" data-idx="0"> <div class="ob-widget ob-feed-layout AR_8" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; width: auto; min-width: 0px; clear: both;"> <div class="ob-widget-header" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 24px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: #303030; direction: ltr; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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Queen Mary’s wedding dressmaker reveals process behind iconic gown

<p dir="ltr">The Danish designer and dressmaker who designed Queen Mary’s wedding gown has recalled the “rather terrifying” process of making the iconic dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">Birgit Hallstein created the custom gown for the Aussie-born royal for her to marry Prince Frederik in 2004, as the designer recalled having to adhere to an unusual royal tradition when creating the dress. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hallstein said that she put the finishing touches on the dress on the wedding day: a decision that was mentioned to her by Mary's new mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hallstein admits the old tradition, which involves doing the final loops and stitches the morning of the wedding, also helped her process in the long run. </p> <p dir="ltr">"[It] was a thing I did because it's a tradition in some families, but honestly I don't remember if Queen Margrethe would have mentioned such a thing," Hallstein told <em><a href="https://style.nine.com.au/latest/queen-mary-of-denmark-20th-wedding-anniversary-wedding-dressmaker-birgit-hallstein-interview/9f0c57eb-2d7b-44fd-ae0b-487d1b3592a5">9Honey</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Maybe, because she knows a lot of those things... I am sure we talked about it, but anyway it was practical to gather the dress on the day because it's big."</p> <p dir="ltr">The process for Hallstein began in November 2003, as she admitted it was the most important garment she had ever worked on.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It was rather terrifying," she admitted with a laugh.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's a bit like an exam, just a really big one, because if you fail everyone will see."</p> <p dir="ltr">Hallstein worked in a dedicated space at Amalienborg Palace to deliver the gown as well as the outfits worn by the bridesmaids, page boys and flower girls.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The sewing took hundreds of hours, starting in January 2004 and ending right before the wedding," she recalled.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was also the added pressure of adhering to royal traditions and protocols around the use of the antique veil and the lace attachment to the petticoat, which was from Queen Margrethe's private collection.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There are rules to follow, [you're] not allowed to cut in it and only skilled repairs [are allowed]," Hallstein said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I had to hide around two or three metres of the antique lace in between layers of organza inside the dress to make sure it was not damaged by high heels, chairs, cars and carriages during the day."</p> <p dir="ltr">In a social media post to mark 20 years since the world got their first look at the classic gown, the dressmaker explained to fans that "the wedding gown consists of three parts".</p> <p dir="ltr">“There's a big tulle petticoat, edged with almost 60 yards of Chantilly lace, on this a big light blue silk bow were placed, to make sure the first born would be a son," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Hounsfield-Klein-Zabulon/ABACA/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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“Selfish” husband leaves wife behind for first class upgrade on their honeymoon

<p dir="ltr">A woman has shared her frustration over a journey she took with her new husband to their honeymoon destination. </p> <p dir="ltr">The wife’s “selfish” husband was quick to ditch her on their way to Mexico for their honeymoon after he was offered an upgrade to business class. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman took to Reddit to share the story of what began at the airport shortly after their wedding, while also explaining that as a frequent flyer, she had racked up a hefty amount of points. </p> <p dir="ltr">In comparison, her new husband is an anxious flyer, who often relies on her to keep him calm during take off and landing. </p> <p dir="ltr">“When I booked our flights I requested to use my points if an upgrade to business class became available, but made it clear I only wanted this upgrade if two seats became available... and then I basically forgot about it,” the wife explained in a Reddit thread.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then comes the day of our flight. I was so excited for this trip, I checked us in online, all is going well, and then when we go to board, the employee scanning our boarding passes stops us.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“She says it seems that my husband was upgraded to business class, but only him and asks if that is okay.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The wife immediately replied, “No, we are on our honeymoon and would like to stay together”, however, her husband interjected, saying, “No it’s fine, I’ll go to business class.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Approximately 500 of her hard earned points went to his upgrade, while she was left alone in economy for the trip. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stunned by his response, she said: “I look at him in complete shock and he tells me that I fly all the time and have been in business class before, but he hasn’t. So he deserves a chance to experience it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I see we are holding up the line, so I feel like I just need to agree and get on the plane.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To say I am p***ed off is an understatement.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After boarding the flight, the woman became overcome with emotion over her new husband’s actions. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Within maybe five to 10 minutes of sitting there, trying to hold back tears because my husband left me alone on our flight during our honeymoon — and use my points for his upgrade no less, he starts to text me saying he feels anxiety over flying.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead of expressing sympathy, she decided to ignore his texts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I stopped looking at my phone,” the wife said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just one hour into the flight, her husband began looking for her in economy class.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He comes to the back of the plane to find me, offers me half of his business class breakfast and asks me why I was ignoring him... because he was scared and needed me to tell him it’d be okay since I am such an experienced flyer,” she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I told him maybe he should have thought about that before leaving me alone before our honeymoon even really began.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He gets angry, tells me that this may be the only time he gets to fly business class and he was giving me half his breakfast to make up for it so I could at least be supportive of his genuine fear.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When they landed in Mexico, she tried to just “move on and forget” about what her husband did so they could enjoy their honeymoon.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But he guilt tripped me about not comforting him via text before take off and now I am wondering if I am being unreasonable and should have just let him enjoy his time in business class and assure him it’d be okay?” she wondered.</p> <p dir="ltr">She asked the internet whether she was being the a**hole for not being supportive of her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many jumped to the wife’s defence, with one suggesting, “Definitely not the a**hole. Tell your husband actions have consequences and since he wanted to be in business class without you, he gets to fly without you. The fact he did this on your honeymoon trip just makes it worse.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

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Why millions of Aussies are falling behind on superannuation savings

<p>Millions of Aussies are falling behind on their superannuation savings, with nearly one in two Australians on track for a grim retirement. </p> <p>According to research from superannuation and investments company Vanguard, this huge number of Australians have no idea how much they are playing in fees to their super funds, which can greatly impact how much you have in savings when your retirement day comes. </p> <p>“We are coming up against a stubborn statistic in our retirement research again this year — almost one in two Australians still don’t know what they pay in super fees,” Vanguard Investments Australia managing director Daniel Shrimski said.</p> <p>Also adding to the confusion of how much is needed for comfortable gold year is different companies sharing conflicting numbers on what figures to strive for in your superannuation.</p> <p>Superannuation consultancy company Australian Retirement Trust’s latest research shows the average superannuation balance for someone age 35 to 44 is $92,700, however this should be closer to $156,000 to be on track for a “comfortable retirement”.</p> <p>The average worker aged 55 to 64 has $285,900 in super but a 60-year-old needs close to $453,000 in retirement savings, ART said.</p> <p>“In the past 12 months, only one in five of us has checked our super balance,” Australian Retirement Trust executive general manager Anne Fuchs said, adding 70 per cent of Australians feel they don’t have enough money to retire on.</p> <p>“We talk to members all the time who have reached the end of their working life full of regret, wishing they had done something earlier. Australia has a monster problem whereby not enough of us are engaging with our super."</p> <p>“The earlier you start paying attention and understanding how your money is invested ... then you’ll really be able to finish work and put your feet up.”</p> <p>Financial consultancy Link Wealth director and financial adviser Joshua Lee told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/new-research-shows-aussie-superannuation-savings-falling-short-of-retirement-needs--c-14507773" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a> that one of the most important tips for Australians is to take notice and understand their superannuation payments and what they pay in fees.</p> <p>“Take notice of what your account is doing,” he said.</p> <p>“Look at your statement when it comes in every year so you can understand what fees are being deducted from your account because that will have an impact on how much money you have come retirement.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Retirement Life

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Edwina Bartholomew reveals the truth behind her unconventional marriage

<p>Edwina Bartholomew has shared why she doesn't live with her husband full time, and why the unconventional arrangement works for their family. </p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> star first spoke about her unusual situation with husband Neil Varcoe in 2023, when she admitted the married couple no longer slept in the same room. </p> <p>Now, speaking candidly to <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/sunrise-edwina-bartholomew-career-family/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Now to Love</em></a>, Bartholomew has share more insight into their marriage arrangement and how it first began. </p> <p>“Strangely, it works,” Edwina said. </p> <p>“We were never ‘date night’ people, but now we’re apart, we go to that extra effort when we’re together to go out for dinner, lunch or to a movie.”</p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> presenter went on to share that the reason Neil first moved out of the city was so he could recover from chronic fatigue syndrome, which he’s been battling for six years.</p> <p>Neil now lives in the Central West of NSW, three hours from where Edwina lives in Sydney. </p> <p>“I think he’s the best he’s been for a number of years just by virtue of having that space to recover – eating healthily, exercising, having a really regimented routine,” she said.</p> <p>“He’s actually really good, which is fantastic, because for a while he definitely wasn’t and it was challenging for both of us. As a wife, it’s hard to see your husband go through that, and hard for him to miss out on things because he can’t physically be there.”</p> <p>Unsure how long the arrangement will last, Edwina hasn't ruled out moving to the country in the future to be with her husband. </p> <p>"I think I'd miss the adrenaline of all the back-and-forth, and the excitement,” she admitted. “But sure, one day, it would be lovely to be able to have a family life that’s based in the country – in the distant future.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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