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Grant Denyer serenades one of Australia's oldest Deal or No Deal contestants

<p>In the latest feelgood episode of <em>Deal or No Deal</em>, 94-year-old contestant Phyllis Goldsack was given the chance to win $100,000. </p> <p>As one of the oldest contestants on the show, Phyllis kept everyone entertained as she challenged the banker.</p> <p>In one particularly sweet moment, game show host Grant Denyer serenaded her with a special song.</p> <p>A clip of the moment was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption: "We're not crying, you're crying," and the crying emoji. </p> <p>"Okay the deal is, if I serenade you, with the song of your choosing, you get $800 from my pocket," Grant told Phyllis in the show. </p> <p>The audience were touched when Phyllis revealed that her late husband only ever sang her one song when he proposed, <em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">You Are My Sunshine.</em></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're not crying, you're crying! 😭<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DealOrNoDealAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DealOrNoDealAU</a> 6.00 Weeknights on <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel10AU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@channel10au</a> and 10 Play. <a href="https://t.co/CVR0M5rq7y">pic.twitter.com/CVR0M5rq7y</a></p> <p>— Deal Or No Deal Australia (@DealOrNoDealAUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DealOrNoDealAUS/status/1756942546767339956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"Should we do it one more time maybe?" Grant asked Phyllis who eagerly replied: "yes, you sing it for me". </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">The crowd joined in and serenaded the 94 year old. </span></p> <p>“Thank you, you know you have made me feel so happy,” she told Grant. </p> <p>Although Phyllis did not win the $100,000, she went home $9,255 richer, which was the best offer she received from the banker. </p> <p>“That’s why I do this show!” Grant said. </p> <p><em>Images: X</em></p>

"Soulless": Stan Grant finally breaks silence over Voice defeat

<p>Stan Grant has finally broken his silence over the devastating Voice to Parliament defeat, saying the nation failed to "shoulder the load" of Indigenous Australians.</p> <p>In his first public comments since the referendum results were announced, the Indigenous journalist said the resounding No vote was a "judgment on me and all the others like me", along with generations of Indigenous people.</p> <p>His scathing comments came during an address at the Australian National University's Crawford Leadership Forum, where the former <em>Q+A</em> host reflected on the referendum result.</p> <p>"The voice was never about resentment, it was never about identity - it was a release, it was a moment to lay our burdens down," he said.</p> <p>"But Australia would not shoulder that load. Instead, we got a lecture about unity."</p> <p>"Those who own history claimed for themselves history's final word: 'No'."</p> <p>Grant went on to say that the overwhelming defeat of the referendum made clear that there would be no further advancements in the rights of Indigenous Australians during his lifetime, as long as it was left up to the public. </p> <p>"We have laid the sod over (my ancestors), sealed them in," he said.</p> <p>"I thought in me they may be able to speak, that those two sides of me might find a common voice. But we said 'No' to that."</p> <p>"My country has buried my ancestors for a second time. I am hearing the cold-hearted 'no' of a country so comfortable it need not care."</p> <p>"A country that feels, right now, soulless. A country of numbers, and no words but one: 'No'."</p> <p>Grant finished his scathing tirade by calling out the Yes campaign for not "letting the Voice speak", while also calling for more radical change, saying the Voice proposal was "shushed, shrunk small enough to fit into politics". </p> <p>"In the consultants' suites and the lawyers' dens, it was determined that if the voice was made so inoffensive, people may say 'Yes'."</p> <p>"Instead, it was so inoffensive people found it so easy to say 'No'."</p> <p>"The constitution is not our problem - our conscience is our problem."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Q+A</em></p>

Legal

Stan Grant's wife Tracey Holmes quits the ABC

<p>Veteran senior ABC journalist Tracey Holmes has announced her resignation from the public broadcaster, marking the end of an era for the network. This decision follows closely on the heels of her high-profile husband, Stan Grant, walking away from his role as host of the ABC's <em>Q&A</em> program, citing exhaustion due to persistent racial abuse.</p> <p>Holmes took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram to make her resignation public, leaving many to wonder about her future in the world of journalism.</p> <p>Holmes, a prominent figure in Australian journalism, has been a familiar face to ABC viewers for decades. With a career spanning over three decades, her contribution to the field of sports reporting has been nothing short of remarkable. However, as she shared her decision to part ways with the ABC, Holmes alluded to the exciting prospect of Paris 2024, which will mark her 14th Olympic Games as a journalist, reporter, and broadcaster. This time, though, it won't be under the ABC's banner since her resignation will take effect on November 30.</p> <p>In her heartfelt message to colleagues and listeners, Holmes expressed her gratitude and promised to continue her career in the future. "For now though, to channel a former governor of California in his former life as The Terminator, 'I'll be back,' that's a promise," she declared. Her departure from the ABC may be a farewell, but it's certainly not a permanent one.</p> <p>Holmes's career at the ABC began in 1989, and her groundbreaking role as Australia's first female host of the sports program, <em>Grandstand</em>, made her an icon in the world of sports journalism.</p> <p>Her trailblazing work has not only inspired countless aspiring journalists but also garnered the recognition she truly deserves. Earlier this year, she received the Australian Sports Commission's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, an accolade that cements her status as one of the most influential sports broadcasters in the country.</p> <p>Her decision to leave the ABC is undoubtedly a significant moment in Australian media. The circumstances surrounding her departure, coupled with her husband Stan Grant's recent exit, raise questions about the state of journalism and the challenges faced by those in the public eye. Grant cited exhaustion and racial abuse as reasons for his departure, highlighting the harsh realities that journalists and broadcasters often face.</p> <p>While Holmes may be bidding farewell to her long-standing role at the ABC, her departure by no means signifies the end of her illustrious career. As she prepares for her 14th Olympic Games, she's poised to continue making a significant impact in the world of sports journalism. Her resilience and determination, in the face of challenges that forced her and her husband to step away from high-profile positions, serve as a testament to her unwavering commitment to the craft.</p> <p>As we await her next move, the Australian media landscape is left with a void that will be hard to fill. Holmes leaves behind a legacy that future journalists can only aspire to match, and her impact on the industry will be felt for years to come.</p> <p>While the ABC bids her farewell, we can be certain that the world has not seen the last of this pioneering journalist. Paris 2024 beckons, and with it, a new chapter in the remarkable career of Tracey Holmes.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy7OVPzvUXF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy7OVPzvUXF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tracey Holmes (@traceyleeholmes)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

"A mean country": Stan Grant shares his thoughts on the Voice referendum

<p>Stan Grant has opened up about his thoughts on the Voice referendum campaigns, admitting it is becoming harder to defend Australia's "mean" reputation. </p> <p>The former ABC presenter appeared as a social guest on a special two-part episode of the podcast <em>Blak Matters</em>, with each part airing just before the Voice vote on October 14th. </p> <p>In the podcast, Grant spoke about his recent trip to Europe, working with the Constructive Institute in Denmark, and how difficult it has become to speak positively about living in Australia. </p> <p>“When you’re overseas, you’re almost an ambassador for your own country, you have to explain your country to other people,” Mr Grant said.</p> <p>“And it really saddened me that the word I kept coming back to was ‘mean,’ and I think we have become an increasingly mean country. I think there’s an absence of kindness in our country."</p> <p>“You hear it in things like ‘if you don’t know, vote no.’ That’s a mean thing to say.”</p> <p>Grant went on to criticise the "noise" surrounding the Voice, saying there has been very little constructive debate about the issue and too much fear mongering. </p> <p>“This is also the first referendum of the 24/7 news cycle and social media and that’s elevated and amplified the noise,” Mr Grant said.</p> <p>“For a lot of people, when you add uncomfortable questions of history and race, they’re barbecue stoppers."</p> <p>“If you want to stop the party, talk about racism, or talk about history. No one wants to go there."</p> <p>“And we have a referendum that lands right at that point of history and race and politics amplified by 24/7 news media, and a toxic social media weaponised by 24/7 news media coverage.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Listnr</em></p>

Travel Trouble

"I'm home": Paramedics grant dying grandmother's final wish

<p>Dedicated paramedics have made an emotional pit stop at the beach for a dying grandmother who wanted to see the ocean one last time. </p> <p>The ambos were transporting 94-year-old Shirl McHugh to the hospital when the grandmother asked to make a stop at Newcastle's Bar Beach: her favourite spot. </p> <p>Shirl told the paramedics she wanted to "feel the salt breeze one last time", as she had a feeling she wouldn't be leaving the hospital. </p> <p>When they stopped at the beach, the great-grandmother relaxed and told paramedic Brittaney Banks, "I'm home".</p> <p>Thankfully, Ms McHugh was able to bask in a beautifully fine day to take in the famous stretch of beach, which is busy with swimmers, surfers, lifesavers and families most days.</p> <p>Shirl, who was a respected member of her church as well as the wider community, died just 15 hours after her stop at the ocean. </p> <p>The NSW ambulance shared Shirl's story to their Instagram page, with paramedic Brittaney Banks recalling the emotional day. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyK0y_Ns8j5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyK0y_Ns8j5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by NSW Ambulance (@nswambulance)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"When I opened the doors of the ambulance, Shirley said 'I'm home', and breathed a sigh of relaxation… it's one of those jobs I will remember forever," Brittaney said. </p> <p>Her granddaughter expressed her gratitude on social media, thanking the ambulance crew for respecting the special request from the stylish great-grandmother known to many as 'Shirl the Pearl'.</p> <p>"Thank you ladies for fulfilling my Nan's final wish on her way home," Emma Brown wrote. </p> <p>"She had such a beautiful soul, it was really my pleasure," Ms Banks replied.</p> <p>"I am so glad we could bring her home."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

"Get the medic": Grant Denyer collapses in first-look trailer for Amazing Race

<p>The Amazing Race Australia is back and more dramatic than ever, after Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer collapsed on set, needing medical attention. </p> <p>The first-look teaser of the celebrity edition of the reality show has come out, and showcased some of the most tense scenes of the season. </p> <p>The 45-year-old Logie winner is at the centre of the scene, as footage showed him lying on the ground as paramedics struggle to give him urgent medical attention, while his wife Chezzi watches on. </p> <p>“Can we get the medic? He’s shaking, he’s shivering,” a voice said. </p> <p>The upcoming season of the show will feature stars Grant Denyer and his wife, Jackie Gillies and husband Ben, Bec Judd and sister Kate Twigley, and <em>Australian Survivor </em>player "King" George and sister Pam. </p> <p>A few of the other stars competing this season are <em>The Voice Australi</em>a co-host Darren McMullen and his nephew Tristan, <em>Kath and Kim</em> comedian Peter Rowsthorn and his daughter, and <em>Too Hot To Handle</em> stars Harry and Teddy. </p> <p>The show is set to air in October on <em>Ten, </em>and the stars will work with their loved ones to compete for $100,000 to their chosen charity, as they race against the clock to complete challenges in countries including India, Cambodia, Malaysia and Borneo.</p> <p><em>Image: Ten</em></p>

Chezzi Denyer's serious health update sparks concern

<p>Grant Denyer’s wife, Chezzi Denyer's most recent update has sparked concern after she shared a photo of herself with a bandage on her right eye. </p> <p>“The lengths we will go to just to promote our award-winning Podcast – It’s All True?” she captioned the photo of her looking despondent on Instagram. </p> <p>Fans expressed their concern in the comments. </p> <p>"Oh my I pray that you are ok x I have been in hospital too many times this year. Amazing the ones that have looked after me, we are so blessed!" one wrote. </p> <p>"Get well soon and sending healing hugs of strength your way," commented another. </p> <p>"Ohhh what happened?" a third added. </p> <p>"What happened? I hope you're okay now ❤️" commented a fourth. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwxHX3LvbcC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwxHX3LvbcC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by ｃｈｅｚｚｉｄｅｎｙｅｒ (@chezzidenyer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>It turns out that the 43-year-old had contracted a serious eye infection, and opened up about it on this week's episode of <em>It’s All True?</em> - the podcast she hosts with her husband. </p> <p>“I had a very sore eye last week,” Chezzi said. </p> <p>“I said to Grant I think maybe I have a stye. I haven’t had a stye since I was about 15. In fact, I think I only ever had one. I wasn’t quite sure, I just knew it was really sore.”</p> <p>She added that her eye turned into a big "puff ball" after watching the <em>Wicked </em>musical and smoke from the show appeared to irritate her eye. </p> <p>When she woke up the next morning, her eye was completely swollen and "gunky", and Grant quipped that it looked like she had “eight eyelids on one eye”. </p> <p>After visiting the hospital, she was told she had periorbital cellulitis, a serious eye infection which if untreated could lead to vision loss. </p> <p>She also had a staph infection which added to her periorbital cellulitis.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

Terminally ill teacher convicted of child abuse granted end-of-life permit

<p>A convicted child abuser from Adelaide, who was imprisoned for his acts of paedophilia against students during his tenure as a music teacher, has been authorised to pursue assisted dying, according to an exclusive report by <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/exclusive-adelaide-news-jailed-paedophile-teacher-malcolm-day-given-end-of-life-permit-voluntary-assisted-dying/cab7e95c-f3b1-4dbd-ae0d-cc8dbfee22c0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>.</p> <p>Malcolm Day, aged 81, has emerged as the first incarcerated individual in Australia to receive approval for voluntary assisted dying following a terminal illness diagnosis, reportedly linked to cancer.</p> <p>Having received a 20-year prison sentence last June, Day's remaining term spans 17 years.</p> <p>Navigating the 11-step process required for accessing voluntary assisted dying in South Australia, Day's application is reported to be in its concluding stages, potentially reaching completion within the next few days.</p> <p>Dr Philip Nitschke, the director of the pro-euthanasia organisation Exit International, acknowledged that an incarcerated individual availing themselves of this scheme was an inevitable eventuality.</p> <p>"By the sounds of it, he satisfies all the conditions of the South Australian assisted dying legislation," Dr Nitschke told 9News. "So there should be no impediment… he should be given the option that any other person would have if they were terminally ill."</p> <p>During the 1980s, Day, while serving as a music teacher in South Australia, inflicted profound and lasting harm upon two of his students. After grooming and exploiting his victims, he vehemently refuted all allegations when investigated by educational authorities.</p> <p>When Day was sentenced, his legal representative, Stephen Ey, acknowledged the real possibility of his client passing away behind bars, saying at the time that it was "a real prospect... given his age."</p> <p>According to the latest data from SA Health, since the initiation of voluntary assisted dying in January of this year, 39 terminally ill residents of South Australia have opted to peacefully conclude their lives after being granted the necessary permits.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Legal

Stan Grant reveals big career move after quitting ABC

<p>Following his departure from the ABC due to racial abuse, Stan Grant has unveiled his next career move. He is now set to embark on a new journey as a journalism professor at Monash University in Melbourne.</p> <p>Grant made public on Tuesday his decision to resign from his permanent role at the ABC. This move comes several months after he took a leave of absence due to the racial abuse he endured. His departure from his position as the host of Q+A occurred in May, a step he took following an onslaught of "relentless racial filth" directed at him subsequent to his participation in a panel discussion centred around colonialism in anticipation of King Charles' Coronation.</p> <p>Monash University has now revealed that Grant has been selected to lead as the inaugural Director of the Constructive Institute for the Asia Pacific region within its Faculty of Arts. In this capacity, Grant will spearhead various projects and discussions aimed at embracing global solutions, nuanced perspectives, and meaningful dialogues within newsroom environments. Simultaneously, he will take on the role of a journalism professor.</p> <p>While the Constructive Institute is primarily located in Denmark, Grant is scheduled to travel there for a six-week period, commencing on Wednesday. Despite this, he will remain based in Sydney, dividing his time between Melbourne, Denmark and Sydney for his responsibilities.</p> <p>Expressing his enthusiasm, Grant stated, 'This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me. It aligns with my values and draws on my 40 years in journalism, as well as my commitment to doing public interest journalism better in a way that serves the public at a time when the stakes couldn't be higher for our country and for the world." </p> <p>Grant's mission includes efforts to reform what he perceives as a toxic news culture. Professor Katie Stevenson, the Dean of Monash University's Faculty of Arts, praised Grant's appointment, affirming that he is ideally positioned to champion a journalism approach centred on solutions and democracy. She remarked, "Beyond the Institute's mission, our media students will have the privilege of drawing upon Stan's rich experience and knowledge of media, and his passion to change news culture for the better,"</p> <p>Although Grant confirmed his departure from the ABC as a permanent staff member weeks prior, he emphasised that his relationship with the public broadcaster remains amicable. He conveyed his willingness to collaborate with the network in the future, citing his eagerness to pursue other endeavours.</p> <p>In recent weeks, the ABC announced that Grant would not be resuming his role as the host of Q+A, yet highlighted that he would be exploring "fresh undertakings" within them.</p> <p><em>Images: Q+A / Instagram</em></p>

"I fell asleep in the fire escape": Grant Denyer's pain meds confession

<p>Grant Denyer has opened up about the "horrific" time he was on strong pain medication, which at the peak of his reliance, led him to wander off in only his underwear and socks. </p> <p>The former<em> Sunrise</em> presenter recalled the incident on the <em>Jess Rowe Show Podcast</em> and how it left his then-girlfriend Chezzi, with "PTSD" after she spent four hours looking for him in the Sydney CBD.</p> <p>The pair were staying at a hotel in Sydney’s Chinatown when the incident occurred. </p> <p>“I wanted some scotch one night, for whatever reason, and just went wandering around town in my undies, got lost in the fire escape on the way back to the apartment,” he said in the podcast. </p> <p>“I did not know where my apartment was and fell asleep in the fire escape.</p> <p>“It took Chez three or four hours to find me.”</p> <p>In another part of the interview he opened up on the effects of the medication. </p> <p>“When you are under the influence of that kind of power of medication and in that much pain, when you close your eyes at night you go into your worst nightmares immediately and it is every night,” he explained. </p> <p>“So I would come down and think there was a home invasion, I would be crawling down with a broken back to fight off people I thought were there attacking and raping Chez.</p> <p>“This would happen daily.”</p> <p>He added that the pain meds left him in such a daze that whenever he woke up couldn't "differentiate what was real and what wasn’t.”</p> <p>At the time, Denyer had a reliance on both endone and morphine following a monster truck accident in 2008 which left him with a severe spinal injury. </p> <p>The former <em>Sunrise </em>presenter was training for the Monster Truck Championships at Dapto Showground when the accident occurred, and had only been dating Chezzi for "a couple of weeks", which forced her "straight into carer nurse mode”.</p> <p>Denyer also opened up about the incident on the couple's podcast <em>It’s All True?</em></p> <p>“As soon as you close your eyes you go into your worst nightmares. The things that you are afraid of the most are the first things that happen the moment you fall asleep and you start dreaming.</p> <p>“It is traumatic as every time you sleep and then when you wake up you can’t tell what is real and what isn’t," he said in 2020.</p> <p>Chezzi also explained her side of the story and said that when she found him in the fire exit, he was covered in filth. </p> <p>“It was pretty gross and it broke my heart,” she said.</p> <p>Despite the challenges, the couple's love has prevailed as the pair have been married since 2009 and share three daughters, Sunday, Sailor and Scout.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

"We did it. We survived": Chezzi Denyer's emotional revelation about baby girl

<p>Chezzi Denyer is celebrating a "huge leap" made by her youngest daughter Sunday. </p> <p>Sunday, 2, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when she was a baby and had to wear a hip brace for nine months.</p> <p>Hip dysplasia occurs when a hip joint doesn't develop properly, and if left untreated can damage the joint over time which causes hip pain and arthritis. </p> <p>Now, almost a year after getting her hip brace, Sunday is running around "unstoppable," and her proud mum took to Instagram to share the highs and lows of the past year. </p> <p>She began the post by encouraging parents who are experiencing a similar diagnosis to "hang in there." </p> <p>"The nights are long and the days even longer when you’re got a baby in a brace or a spica cast," she continued. </p> <p>"It’s absolute torment seeing your baby in pain or uncomfortable. <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">You think you won’t be able to cope.</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p>"The lack of sleep. The constant discomfort. The lump in your throat when you encourage your baby to go in for another procedure. Another general anaesthetic. The fear you feel in the pit of your stomach. Trying to keep your eyes on the end goal. </p> <p>"You need to be strong for them.</p> <p>"The heat of the cast. The pressure points. The dry sore skin you massage and moisturise where you can. And the mess. The spica cast mess and the smell…" she wrote. </p> <p>She then listed all of the medical appointments, procedures and tests they had to go through for the past year and how challenging it was having to adjust. </p> <p>“Adapting and changing your entire life for an indefinite period can be paralysing - New prams, specially created car seats, cots, mattresses, high-chairs, specially made clothes, nappies, accessories, activities.</p> <p>“Having to stop work, take leave, giving up daycare with little hope of getting your days back down the track, not being able to travel easily, having to sacrifice activities with older kids, nursing your toddler for hours unable to do much else, trying to keep them occupied when they can’t move and they’re bored… all of these might seem trivial to someone on the outside...</p> <p>“But when you’re in it, every single thing you know or you’ve learnt or even want to do must change to accommodate your hippy baby, and that too can be terrifying," she added. </p> <p>She also shared how "hard and tiring and stressful and scary" it was to take care of not only your baby, but yourself, and encouraged other parents to feel and express these emotions when they can. </p> <p>The wife of former <em>Sunrise</em> weather presenter Grant Denyer also expressed her gratitude towards all the mums that have helped her throughout this journey. </p> <p>“I remember so many experienced parents telling me that their child once was in a cast or a brace and how they remember the time well.</p> <p>“Many of those kind-hearted parents telling me their child now runs or dances etc and you wouldn’t even know… and when I was deep in it, it felt like that was a lifetime away.</p> <p>“But here we are, one year on from getting the rhino brace on, and little Sunday is running around unstoppable.”</p> <p>Although Sunday is "not out of the woods" yet as she will need an operation or two when she is around four years old, the mum of three couldn't help but express how proud she was. </p> <p>“I am celebrating this milestone with so much pride. I’m so proud of her. She’s incredibly resilient.. but I’m also proud of me. We did it. We survived.</p> <p>“We have come out the other side and we are stronger for it. And I hope that can help some other parents either going through this or about to. Xxx,” her post ended.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Grant Hackett's baby joy

<p>Grant Hackett and his wife Sharlene have welcomed a baby daughter to their growing family. </p> <p>The Aussie swimming legend shared the heart-warming news with two photos of their baby girl on Instagram, revealing their daughter's sweet name. </p> <p>"Our little angel," Hackett began in the post shared on Sunday.</p> <p>"Olympia Grace Hackett (Oly) has come into the world on the 4th of August 2023, at 1.43pm weighing 3.555kgs.</p> <p>"Mum and dad are very proud (albeit mums a bit tired) and her big bro, Edward thinks it's pretty cool too."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvldVKBvWfs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvldVKBvWfs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grant Hackett (@grant__hackett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>One of the photos shows Hackett holding Olympia in his arms while her big brother Edward, four, leaned over keenly to get a look.</p> <p>Olympia is also half-sister to twins Jagger and Charlize, 15, from Hackett's first marriage to singer Candice Alley.</p> <p>The announcement post was flooded with messages of well wishes, with many fans pointing out the similarities in the baby girl's name to Hackett's astonishing Olympic career. </p> <p>One person wrote, "Congratulations Grant, Shar and Edward. What a fitting name!"</p> <p>The family also received comments from fellow athletes Michael Phelps, who wrote a simple, "Congrats to the Hackett family!!😍"</p> <p>Aussie swimmer Libby Trickett also shared a comment, writing, How amazing! Congratulations team 😍."</p> <p>Grant and Sharlene have been married for almost three years, tying the knot in a secret ceremony in December 2020.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

Grant Denyer’s heartwarming message ahead of Logies

<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b727879d-7fff-a32c-2640-3e071597eeed"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Former <em>Sunrise</em> presenter Grant Denyer has shared a heartwarming message, just days ahead of this year's Logies.</p> <p dir="ltr">Denyer took to Instagram on Thursday to reminisce about the moment he won a Logie Award in 2018, sharing a clip of his heartfelt acceptance speech.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This still hits me in the feels five years later,” he captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">He then went on to explain the deep impact winning the award had on him. </p> <p dir="ltr">“For a kid who was carrying tripods and washing the news cars in a country TV station during his school holidays ... this was the greatest moment of my professional life and I’ll cherish the s*** out of it forever.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I mean, I grew up in awe of Daryl, Bert & Rove ... and in that moment, the same shy, hardworking, big dreaming kid ... joined them 🤯.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Humbled, emotional & choc-a-block full of gratitude 🙏🏻 My cup was not only filled that day but overflowing." </p> <p dir="ltr">He then wished this year's Logies contenders the best of luck and added: "may it be as magical as it was for little ol’ me on that hallowed night of nights." </p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll never forget it. #tvweeklogies.” </p> <p dir="ltr">In the clip, an emotional Denyer cheered in excitement as he got the award and thanked his tearful wife Chezzi and everyone who had given him a second chance. </p> <p dir="ltr">Fellow celebrities and fans alike applauded the beloved presenter and reminisced the moment with him. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You’re the best GD!” TV personality Angie Kent wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You truly are. And so is that magic woman @chezzidenyer.Big love to you both! This gave me all the gooseys,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">Denyer replied: “It gives a certain tingle, doesn’t it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">TV presenter Joel Creasey and <em>Ten</em> executive producer Chris Walker both commented with a hand clapping emoji. </p> <p dir="ltr">One fan wrote: “Well deserved and you stand out because you are humble.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” commented another. </p> <p dir="ltr">In another comment Denyer replied to a fan and revealed that he cried after winning the Logie. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Won’t lie, had a proper little cry to myself when I went backstage in the darkness,” he wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another fan commented the impact that moment had on their lives: “I still watch this from time to time to remind myself that anything is possible with the right mindset.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“A truly inspirational moment in television from a truly inspirational, kind and amazing person.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Denyer replied: “Things can always get better, you can always get yourself out of a hole and sunshine is nice to stand in, so it’s worth fighting for.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Another fan noted that there wasn’t a dry eye in the house the night Denyer won.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram/ 9Now</em></p>

Stan Grant's replacement announced

<p>Months after Stan Grant's shock departure from ABC's <em>Q+A</em> program, his replacement has been announced to take over the coveted hosting gig. </p> <p>Grant walked away from the program earlier this year after a seemingly endless barrage of criticism and racism over his coverage of King Charles coronation, saying he was stepping away from the show indefinitely. </p> <p>On Monday morning, the national broadcaster announced his replacement, more than two months after Grant's final <em>Q+A</em> show. </p> <p>Patricia Karvelas is set to replace Grant as host of the show for the remainder of the year, as ABC confirmed Grant is still on indefinite leave. </p> <p>Karvelas will continue to host <em>Breakfast</em> on Radio National from Tuesday to Friday, and has been filling in as the program’s temporary anchor following Grant absence.</p> <p>The broadcaster’s director Justin Stevens said Karvelas “has been doing an outstanding job as fill-in host and we’re delighted she has agreed to continue in that role”.</p> <p>Stan Grant's sudden departure shocked audiences, as he called out the racist vitriol he was constantly subject to as a public figure, while also condemning ABC for not speaking up in his defence. </p> <p>"Racism is a crime. Racism is violence. And I have had enough,” he wrote at the time of his departure. </p> <p>“I am writing this because no one at the ABC — whose producers invited me onto their coronation coverage as a guest — has uttered one word of public support,” he wrote. </p> <p>“Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me."</p> <p>“I don’t hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure.”</p> <p>Grant will continue to stay on at ABC and contribute to “a number” of different programs, with Justin Stevens commending him as “one of the country’s finest journalists, storytellers and broadcasters”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC</em></p>

Sneak peek into Grant Denyer’s countryside home

<p dir="ltr"><em>Better Homes and Gardens</em> host Johanna Griggs has shared a sneak peek into Grant Denyer’s countryside home, for an upcoming episode of the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday, Joh took to Instagram to share a snippet from the episode she filmed with the former <em>Sunrise</em> star, who has spent the last few years renovating his home in Bathurst.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On this week’s show @johgriggs7 catches up with @grantdenyer who has carved out a life in the countryside, renovating a stunning country home and even raising a herd of Scottish highland cows 🐮,” the caption read.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the video, Joh visited Grant’s home and took in the incredible natural views and even fed Grant’s highland cows in a unique bonding moment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So Grant, what has more pressure, working in live TV or out here in a paddock with cows?” Joh jokingly asks in the clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Well, actually, there’s a lot of similarities to be honest,” Grant replied.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You’ve gotta watch your back!” he added when a cow headed straight towards a nervous-looking Joh.</p> <p dir="ltr">They then moved into Grant’s open plan living room which boasted plenty of natural light and beautiful views of the countryside.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This has got to be one of the most serene, beautiful kitchens I’ve ever seen,” Joh said as the camera panned around the kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair even joked about how big the bench top was and Grant joked that it was “5.8 Grants Denyers long.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To which Joh quipped: “and two Johannas,” which elicited a fit of giggles among the two.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuiPOI9B4No/?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/CuiPOI9B4No/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Johanna Griggs AM (@johgriggs7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Fans took to the comments to share their awe over Grant’s home.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That view from the kitchen window 🙌🏻” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh this will be fabulous. Two of my favourite people in one place. Their home is stunning,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wow that’s just a magnificent Kitchen. What a view,” wrote a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">Grant lives in the idyllic property with his wife Chezzi and three daughters Sunday, Scout and Sailor.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Why Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa is the best thing we've ever seen

<p>Hold onto your chocolate bars, folks, because director Paul King has done it again! After his stroke of genius in casting Hugh Grant as the dastardly villain in <em>Paddington 2</em>, King couldn't resist the temptation to work with Grant once more. This time, he enlisted the British star for a truly magical role in the upcoming Roald Dahl prequel, <em>Wonka</em> (set to release on December 15 by Warner Bros.). But brace yourselves, because Grant's appearance as an Oompa Loompa is bound to leave you in stitches.</p> <p>During the official premiere of the <em>Wonka</em> trailer in London, which was attended by lucky guests treated to a buffet overflowing with Wonka-inspired sugary delights, King took a moment to explain his decision to cast Grant as a pint-sized, green-haired Oompa Loompa. The hilarious deadpan performance in the final moments of the trailer speaks for itself!</p> <p>In delving into the backstory of Willy Wonka, played by the brilliant Timothée Chalamet, King found himself diving headfirst into Dahl's books for inspiration. When it came to the Oompa Loompas, King discovered that although Dahl didn't grant them much dialogue, their songs were packed with incredible sarcasm, judgment, and cruelty directed at the kids in the story.</p> <p>“So I was really just thinking about that character; somebody who could be a real shit, and then — ah! Hugh!” he told the London premiere crowd. “Because he’s the funniest, most sarcastic shit I’ve ever met.”</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dckc2RcL69s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>As for his leading star, Chalamet, King's praise was somewhat more refined, or so he claims: “It was a very short list of people who could play Willy Wonka, and really, it was him. I really do think he’s the most incredible actor of his generation, because he’s got this incredible ability to dive very deep into his own personal emotions and convey things with the turn of an eye — he’s very, very controlled, very smart and incredibly emotionally intuitive.”</p> <p>While acknowledging the daunting task of following in the footsteps of acting legends like Johnny Depp and the original Wonka himself, Gene Wilder, King was confident that Chalamet would rise to the occasion. "I think he manages to bring that sort of mayhem and mischievousness but with a deep emotional grounding," he said, "which is really quite extraordinary.”</p> <p>So, get ready to embark on a sugar-coated adventure with Hugh Grant's hilariously sarcastic Oompa Loompa and Timothée Chalamet's awe-inspiring portrayal of Willy Wonka. It's going to be one wild, chocolate-filled ride that will leave your sides splitting and your sweet tooth satisfied.</p> <p><em>Images: Warner Bros</em></p>

Movies

Grant Denyer's wife's surprise family update

<p dir="ltr">Grant and Chezzi Denyer are celebrating their expanding family, after announcing the birth of their new niece Evie Belle.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chezzi couldn’t hide her excitement as she took to Instagram to post a few photos of the newborn.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Introducing little Evie Belle - The latest Denyer addition,” she captioned the post on her Instagram Story.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations @kendallcupcakee and Lachie... We are smitten!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo showed an adorable baby Evie, born to Grant’s sister Kendall, fast asleep and wrapped in a star blanket.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a surprising twist, Chezzi shared that Evie is just one of four babies their extended family have welcomed in the past week, with Evie being the second among the line up of newborns.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Actually 4 magical babies born in our family over the past week,” she announced in a follow up post with a collage of all four of her new nieces and nephews peacefully sleeping.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How glorious. So special. Evie, Grayson, Adelaide and Evie.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Babies are pure joy and sent from heaven and these four are the cutest, most special little ‘bebes’,” she gushed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so grateful. Biggest congratulations to their mums and dads,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Grant and Chezzi have four children of their own Sailor, 10, Scout, six, and Sunday, two.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Grant and Chezzi Denyer head up all-star cast in new show

<p> The celebrity cast for Channel 10’s 2023 <em>The Amazing Race Australia</em> season has been revealed, with 11 teams set to take off on a thrilling journey across the globe. </p> <p>Beau Ryan will return as host, overseeing the contestants as they race for victory, and a $100,000 prize to hand to their chosen charity, in a race described as “heading in a new direction”, with twists and turns at every stop along the way.</p> <p>The 11 duos set to compete are bringing a wide range of skill sets to the race, with stars from sports to entertainment, comedy, and music strapping on their running shoes. </p> <p dir="ltr">Grant Denyer and his wife, Chezzi Denyer, are one of those 11 teams, with the pair joking that the whole competition will be more like a holiday from their kids than anything else - though Chezzi added that she’s also looking forward to their daughters seeing her “kick butt” on screen. As for their charity, they’ve selected Lifeline Central West.</p> <p>Emma Watkins and her sister, Hayley Watkins, are excited to spend some time together over the course of their adventure, as well as “meeting the people that we get to see and the different countries” - especially for Hayley, who hasn’t had the opportunity to do a lot of travel. They’ll be racing to raise money for the Leonie Jackson Memorial Fund. </p> <p>Peter Rowsthorn will be racing alongside his daughter, Frankie Rowsthorn, hoping that their humour will win over allies, while promising a barrel of laughs along the way. They’ll be racing for a cause close to their hearts, All Stars for Autism, as Peter explained “my grandson has autism, so we’re doing it for him.”</p> <p>Jana Pittman will be keeping it in the family too, racing with her son Cornelis Rawlinson. The former Olympian is excited to have quality time with Cornelis - the eldest of her six children - and feels honoured to have been asked to participate. Meanwhile, he has other priorities, with his sights firmly set on “the food”. They’ll be competing on behalf of The Royal Hospital for Women.</p> <p>Darren McMullen and his nephew, Tristan Dougan, will be joining the others, and promise a foolproof plan to get them through - even if they aren’t quite able to agree on who’s the brains behind the entire operation. They’ve selected Feel the Magic as their charity, noting that the children involved are “an inspiration for all of us.”</p> <p>Dane Simpson will be joined by his dad, Bow Simpson, as Dane looks to showcase the man who pops up so often throughout his comedy routines, certain that Australians everywhere are going to fall in love with him. They’ll be racing to win the $100,000 for the Dharriwaa Elders Group Incorporated.</p> <p>Alli Simpson and her mum, Angie Simpson, are another team racing to raise funds for a cause that means a lot to their family - Dementia Australia. As Alli explained, “my grandma, my dad's mum Chrissie, has gone down really fast with dementia in the last few years. It's been really difficult for us to watch. We just want to do as much as we can to prevent other families [from] feeling the pain that we do."</p> <p dir="ltr">Bec Judd will have her sister, Kate Twigley, at her side for the journey, bringing their competitive spirit and excitement to do it “together as sisters” to the competition. They’ll be racing on behalf of Impatient Advocacy - A Nicole Cooper Foundation.</p> <p>George Mladenov is no stranger to the world of reality TV competition - though his sister, Pamela Mladenov, may be a fresh face. George is sure they’ll bring drama to the screen, as they race for the Bankstown Women's Health Centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ben Gillies and his wife, Jackie Gillies, are hoping that the race experience will bring them closer, and teach them how to “live in the moment”. Self-confessed competitive souls, they have their sights set on the grand prize, which they hope to bring home to the Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation. </p> <p>And last but not least, Harry Jowsey is bringing his best friend, Teddy Briggs, along for the ride. And while they don’t expect to be “the best at this”, they’ve guaranteed that viewers are in for a fun time with their antics, and hope to bring some money to Beyond Blue with their efforts.</p> <p><em>Images: Ten </em></p>

Stan Grant’s new book asks: how do we live with the weight of our history?

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/heidi-norman-859">Heidi Norman</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p> <p>This month, journalist and public intellectual Stan Grant published his fifth book, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460764022/the-queen-is-dead/">The Queen is Dead</a>. And last week, he abruptly stepped away from his career in the public realm, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-19/stan-grant-media-target-racist-abuse-coronation-coverage-enough/102368652">citing</a> toxic racism enabled by social media, and betrayal on the part of his employer, the ABC.</p> <p>“I was invited to contribute to the ABC’s coverage as part of a discussion about the legacy of the monarchy. I pointed out that the crown represents the invasion and theft of our land,” <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-19/stan-grant-media-target-racist-abuse-coronation-coverage-enough/102368652">he wrote</a> last Friday. “I repeatedly said that these truths are spoken with love for the Australia we have never been.” And yet, “I have seen people in the media lie and distort my words. They have tried to depict me as hate filled”.</p> <p>Grant has worked as a journalist in Australia for more than three decades: first on commercial current affairs – and until this week, as a main anchor at the ABC, where he was an international affairs analyst and the host of the panel discussion show Q+A. The former role reflects his global work, reporting from conflict zones with esteemed international broadcasters such as CNN. His second book, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460751985/talking-to-my-country/">Talking to my Country</a>, won the Walkley Book Award in 2016.</p> <hr /> <p><em>Review: The Queen is Dead – Stan Grant (HarperCollins)</em></p> <hr /> <p>In this new book, Grant yearns for a way to comprehend the forces, ideas and history that led to this cultural moment we inhabit. The book, which opens with him grappling with the monarchy and its legacy, is revealing in terms of his decision to step back from public life.</p> <p>Released to coincide with <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronation-arrests-how-the-new-public-order-law-disrupted-protesters-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-205328">the coronation</a> of the new English monarch, Charles III, The Queen is Dead seethes with rage and loathing – hatred even – at the ideas that have informed the logic and structure of modernity.</p> <p>Grant’s work examines the ideas that explain the West and modernity – and his own place as an Indigenous person of this land, from Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharawal country. That is: his work explores both who he is in the world and the ideas that tell the story of the modern world. He finds the latter unable to account for him.</p> <p>“This week, I have been reminded what it is to come from the other side of history,” he writes in the book’s opening pages. “History itself that is written as a hymn to whiteness […] written by the victors and often written in blood.”</p> <p>He asks “how do we live with the weight of this history?” And he explains the questions that have dominated his thinking: what is <a href="https://theconversation.com/whiteness-is-an-invented-concept-that-has-been-used-as-a-tool-of-oppression-183387">whiteness</a>, and what is it to live with catastrophe?</p> <h2>The death of the white queen</h2> <p>In his account, his rage is informed by the observation that the weight of this history was largely unexplored on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s death last September. The death of the white queen is the touchpoint always returned to in this work – and the release of the book coincides with the apparently seamless transition to her heir, now King Charles III.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=917&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=917&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=917&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1152&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1152&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527406/original/file-20230522-29-dcc0ot.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1152&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>In the lead-up to the coronation, “long live the king” echoed across the United Kingdom. Its long tentacles reached across the globe where this old empire once ruled, robbing and ruining much that it encountered. The death of the queen and the succession of her heir occurred with ritual and ceremony.</p> <p>Small tweaks acknowledged the changing world – but for the most part, this coronation occurred without revolution or bloodshed, without condemnation – and without contest of the British monarchs’ role in history and the world they continue to dominate, in one way or another.</p> <p>Grant argues the end of the 70-year rule of Queen Elizabeth II should mark a turning point: a global reckoning with the race-based order that undergirds empire and colonialism. Whereas the earlier century confidently pronounced the project of <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-power-of-yindyamarra-how-we-can-bring-respect-to-australian-democracy-192164">democracy</a> and liberalism complete, it seems time has marched on.</p> <p>History has not “ended”, as Francis Fukuyama <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-end-of-history-francis-fukuyamas-controversial-idea-explained-193225">declared</a> in 1989 (claiming liberal democracies had been proved the unsurpassable ideal). Instead, history has entered a ferocious era of uncertainty and volatility.</p> <p>Grant reminds us that people of colour now dominate the globe. Race, <a href="https://theconversation.com/racism-is-real-race-is-not-a-philosophers-perspective-82504">as we now know</a>, is a flexible and slippery made-up idea, changing opportunistically to include and exclude groups, to dominate and possess.</p> <p>Grant examines this with great impact as he considers the lived experience of his white grandmother, who was shunned when living with a black man, shared his conditions of poverty with pluck and defiance, then resumed a place in white society without him.</p> <p>And writing of his mother, the other Elizabeth, Grant elaborates the complexity of identity not confined to the colour of skin, but forged from belonging to people and kinship networks, and to place – which condemns the pseudoscience of <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/speeches/power-identity-naming-oneself-reclaiming-community-2011">blood quantum</a> that informed the state’s control of Aboriginal lives. This suspect race science has proved enduring.</p> <p>Grant’s account of the death of the monarch is a genuine engagement with the history of ideas to contemplate the reality of our 21st-century present.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527467/original/file-20230522-27-ts8u8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Grant argues the end of the queen’s 70-year rule should mark ‘a global reckoning with the race-based order that undergirds empire and colonialism’.</span> <span class="attribution">Yui Mok/AP</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Liberalism and democracy = tyranny and terror</h2> <p>In several essays now, Grant has engaged with the ideas of mostly Western philosophers and several conservative thinkers to explain the crisis of liberalism and democracy. Grant argues that, like other -isms, liberalism and democracy have descended into tyranny and terror.</p> <p>The new world order, dominated by <a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-stan-grant-on-how-tyrants-use-the-language-of-germ-warfare-and-covid-has-enabled-them-204183">China</a> and people of colour, is in dramatic contrast to the continued rule of the white queen and her descendants.</p> <p>In this, perhaps more than his other books and essays, Grant moves between big ideas in history – the <a href="https://theconversation.com/criticism-of-western-civilisation-isnt-new-it-was-part-of-the-enlightenment-104567">Enlightenment</a>, modernity and democracy – to consider himself, his identity, and his own lived experience of injustice, where race is an undeniable organising feature.</p> <p>In this story he explains himself, as an Indigenous person, “an outsider, in the middle”; “an exile, living in exile, struggling with belonging”; living with the “very real threat of erasure”.</p> <h2>Love, friendships, family, Country</h2> <p>In the final section of the book, Grant’s focus switches to the theme of “love”, and to friendships, family and Country. He speculates that his focus on these things is perhaps a mark of age.</p> <p>Now, he accounts for the things in life that are truly valuable – and this includes deep affection for the joy that emanates from Aboriginal families. Being home on his Country, paddling the river, he finds quiet and peace.</p> <p>The death of the monarch of the British Empire, who ruled for 70 years, should speak to the history of empire and colonial legacy and all its curses – especially in settler colonial Australia. Yet her passing – which coincides with seismic change in the global economic order with China’s ascendance and the decline of the United States and the UK, the global cultural order and the racial order – has been largely unexamined in public discourse in Australia.</p> <p>The history of colonisation and of ideas that have debated ways to comprehend the past have been a feature of Grant’s intellectual exploration, including on the death of the queen. As he details in his new book, the reaction from some quarters to this conversation has exposed him to unrelenting and racist attack.</p> <p>In this work and in others, exploration of the world of ideas to understand the past and future sits alongside accounts of the everyday; of the always place-based realities of Aboriginal accounts of self.</p> <p>The material deprivations and indignities, the closely held humility that comes with poverty and powerlessness - shared socks, a house carelessly demolished, burials tragically abandoned – are countered by another reality: the intimacy of most Aboriginal lives, characterised by deep love, affection, laughter and belonging. These place-based, “small” stories Grant shares sit alongside the bigger themes of modern history, such as democracy and freedom.</p> <p>In this latest work, Grant details his sense of “betrayal” at the discussion he sought about the monarch’s passing and the discussion that was actually had, the history of ideas and his own place in this.</p> <p>And now, of course, he has announced his intention to exit the public stage. Racism, we are reminded, is an enduring feature of the modern world – a world yet to allow space for an unbowing, Wiradjuri-Kamilaroi-Dharawal public intellectual.<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/204756/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/heidi-norman-859">Heidi Norman</a>, Professor, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</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/stan-grants-new-book-asks-how-do-we-live-with-the-weight-of-our-history-204756">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Q+A / ABC</em></p>

Books

"Are you coming back?" ABC loses another host

<p><em>ABC News Breakfast</em> host Michael Rowland has announced he’s “taking a break” one day after criticising the public broadcaster for failing Stan Grant.</p> <p>Rowland made the announcement live on air that he will be “off on a break” and hosting had been “a real honour”.</p> <p>He later took to Twitter, writing, “Take care and see you soon”.</p> <p><em>ABC</em> bosses have insisted Rowland is going on a “long-planned holiday” and will return to the show in a month's time.</p> <p>Rowland urged the public broadcaster to call out racism more quickly and effectively after Grant revealed he was leaving Q+A.</p> <p>Grant announced he was taking an indefinite break as host of Q+A on May 19 after he received “racial filth” on social media.</p> <p>Rowland said in response to Grant’s racial abuse, “It hasn't just been weeks and months, it's been years that Stan's been copping this. Racism is a scourge.</p> <p>“We all need to do better and that includes the <em>ABC</em> in calling it out and calling it out more quickly than we have in this country,” he added.</p> <p>That same day Rowland posted a video of Grant’s compelling monologue alongside the caption, “Racism is a scourge. We all need to do better in calling it out, and that includes the ABC.”</p> <p>Finance presenter on <em>ABC</em> News Breakfast Madeline Morris is said to join Rowland’s co-host Lisa Miller for the “next little while”.</p> <p>After announcing his departure, Rowland thanked viewers at home.</p> <p>“I just want to use this semi-regular opportunity to thank all of you, our viewers, you have been fabulous for this show in the time that I've been on the show, it's been great presenting to you,” he said.</p> <p>“If it wasn't for you, the viewers, none of us would be here doing what we do, so it's been a real honour.”</p> <p>One of his shocked co-hosts said, “That sounds kinda final. Are you coming back?", <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">to which Rowland just smiled and didn’t respond.</span></p> <p>Lisa Millar jokingly replied, “Absolutely! And he's bringing presents because that's the rule: wherever you're travelling to, come back with gifts.”</p> <p>A spokesperson for <em>ABC</em> told <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>, “Michael is on a long-planned holiday and will be back on air 26 June.”</p> <p>TV producer Robert McKnight responded to Rowland’s announcement, saying, “Very sorry to hear this. Michael is one of the best! Good luck to you, Michael.”</p> <p>One Twitter user said the news was “very upsetting”.</p> <p>“First I lose Stan Grant on Q&A. Now I loose you getting me through my mornings,”</p> <p>She added, “Very angry reporters and presenters have been abandoned by their employers.”</p> <p>There has been no suggestion Rowland feels “abandoned” by the <em>ABC</em>.</p> <p>Rowland’s criticising of the <em>ABC</em> followed an appearance on the program by Ian Hamm, chair of the First Nations Foundation.</p> <p>“Stan does his job very well. I think he has taken on the role of poking the bear of Australia where it's uncomfortable from time to time,” Hamm said.</p> <p>“There is risk with that. The pushback of those who don't like it and who perhaps want Aboriginal people to be more compliant and pleasant.”</p> <p>He added, “Stan's not walking away. He's just taking a break as anybody should in this circumstance.”</p> <p>Hamm said 2023 in particular, given Australians voting on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in November would raise lingering tensions.</p> <p>“Australia does have race relations problems and all it takes is scratching the surface and some very unpleasant sores can be exposed.”</p> <p>“I have great hope for my nation, but I'm also realistic enough to know that this is not an easy journey.</p> <p>“He's not alone and the rest of us are behind him and like him, we're not walking away. And we intend to pursue the right place for our people in this country.”</p> <p>Rowland’s news led another <em>ABC</em> reporter to comment, “Hope you're OK”.</p> <p>Rowland has presented on <em>ABC</em> <em>News Breakfast</em> since 2010 when he joined Virginia Trioli on the sofa.</p> <p>Following his almost 13-year run as host, he’s become a fan favourite on the program.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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