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Clint Eastwood celebrates arrival of new granddaughter

<p>Clint Eastwood's youngest daughter, Morgan Eastwood, has welcomed her first child with husband Tanner Koopmans. </p> <p>The 27-year-old revealed that she'd given birth to a daughter named Cleo two weeks ago in an Instagram post shared over the weekend. </p> <p>"Two weeks with our Cleo," she captioned the post with a series of photos, giving fans their first look at her adorable baby girl. </p> <p>In the first photo, baby Cleo was swaddled in a blanket with a small smile on her face as she slept in the hospital crib. </p> <p>Another photo showed the new parents smiling down at their beautiful bub as they enjoyed a seaside stroll as a family. </p> <p>She included a few other shots of baby Cleo at home with her, Tanner and their beloved bulldog. </p> <p>Family and fans were quick to congratulate the couple. </p> <p>"She’s for real and our lives are already better! So happy for you! So happy for all of us! ❤️❤️❤️" Morgan's mum and Clint's ex-wife Dina commented. </p> <p>"I have looked at slide three 8,742 times" the first-time grandma gushed in another comment. </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/DAucKTAPZeM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAucKTAPZeM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Morgan Eastwood (@morganeastwood)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"She is the definition of Bundle of Joy 😍 Congratulations beautiful family!" wrote one fan. </p> <p>"Congratulations Morgan she is beautiful!!! What a blessing," another added. </p> <p>The birth of baby Cleo makes the Hollywood legend a grandfather of six. </p> <p>Morgan, who has stayed out of the spotlight and works as a freelance writer, announced her pregnancy back in May with a photo of her baby bump and the caption "Our baby". </p> <p>A month later she tied the knot with Tanner, with her father walking her down the aisle during her intimate ceremony at Mission ranch in Carmel, California. </p> <p>The ceremony was attended by 130 guests, according to the <em>Daily Mail</em>, including Morgan's mum, as well as her seven siblings. </p> <p>Morgan is Clint's only child with Dina before the couple separated in 2012. </p> <p>Prior to his relationship with Dina, Clint had an "open marriage" with Maggie Johnson that lasted from 1953-1984, where they welcomed daughter Allison, 52, and son Kyle, 56. </p> <p>In total the actor has welcomed eight children with six different women. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Charlise Mutten's mum breaks silence

<p>Kallista Mutten, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Charlise Mutten, has broken her silence in her first ever television interview. </p> <p>Nine-year-old Charlise was brutally murdered by her mother's then fiancée Justin Stein at his family home in the Blue Mountains, Sydney in January 2022. </p> <p>In August, Stein was sentenced to life in jail without parole, after he was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/jury-decides-fate-of-accused-murderer-justin-stein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty</a> of Charlise's murder, having shot the little girl twice before dumping her body in a barrel. </p> <p>Since Charlise's murder, Kallista had been harassed in public and abused by people on public transport to the extent she could no longer go outside. </p> <p>In an upcoming interview for <em>60 Minutes</em> that will air this Sunday night, Kallista broke her silence. </p> <p>"I'm not this monster, this unfit mother," she told reporter Dimity Clancey in a newly released preview. </p> <p>"Charlise deserved more."</p> <p>"I miss her so much, she believed in me," she continued through tears. </p> <p>Many have blamed her for the horrific murder that happened while Charlise was in her care. At the time, Charlise was visiting her mum and Stein in Sydney for Christmas from the Gold, where she lived with her grandparents. </p> <p>She spent the night of January 11 alone with Stein at his property in the Blue Mountains, while her mother stayed at a caravan about a 90-minute drive away. </p> <p>"I hate myself for it, I really do," Kallista said. </p> <p>The preview also showed footage of an agitated Stein pacing around the police interview room, while blaming Charlise's mum for the murder. </p> <p>"It was all her. I can't sit here and cover for her," he said. </p> <p>Kallista denied having any involvement in her daughter's death and broke down in tears during a hearing, where she read a victim's impact statement via audio video link. </p> <p>"(Charlise) just longed for you to be her dad. I just hate myself for being so wrong about you," she said at the time. </p> <p>"I am forced to live with fact I trusted someone and because of my trust I put my daughter in harm's way."</p> <p>In the <em>60 Minutes</em> preview, a police detective said that Stein "weaved a web of wicked lies and deception", with Kallista describing her former partner as "pure evil". </p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Is owning a dog good for your health?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tania-signal-2209329">Tania Signal</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p>Australia loves dogs. We have one of the <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-many-pets-are-there-in-australia/#ftn1">highest rates of pet ownership</a> in the world, and one in two households has <a href="https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AMAU008-Pet-Ownership22-Report_v1.6_WEB.pdf">at least one dog</a>.</p> <p>But are they good for our health?</p> <p>Mental health is the <a href="https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AMAU008-Pet-Ownership22-Report_v1.6_WEB.pdf">second-most common reason</a> cited for getting a dog, after companionship. And many of us <a href="https://www.scratchpetfood.com.au/australian-dog-survey/">say</a> we “feel healthier” for having a dog – and let them sleep in our bedroom.</p> <p>Here’s what it means for our physical and mental health to share our homes (and doonas) with our canine companions.</p> <h2>Are there physical health benefits to having a dog?</h2> <p>Having a dog is linked to lower risk of death over the long term. In 2019, a <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.119.005554">systematic review</a> gathered evidence published over 70 years, involving nearly four million individual medical cases. It found people who owned a dog had a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who did not own a dog.</p> <p>Dog ownership was linked to increased physical activity. This lowered blood pressure and helped reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.</p> <p>The review found for those with previous heart-related medical issues (such as heart attack), living with a dog reduced their subsequent risk of dying by 35%, compared to people with the same history but no dog.</p> <p>Another recent <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-41254-6">UK study</a> found adult dog owners were almost four times as likely to meet daily physical activity targets as non-owners. Children in households with a dog were also more active and engaged in more unstructured play, compared to children whose family didn’t have a dog.</p> <p>Exposure to dirt and microbes carried in from outdoors may also <a href="https://healthland.time.com/2012/07/09/study-why-dogs-and-cats-make-babies-healthier/">strengthen immune systems</a> and lead to less use of antibiotics in young children who grow up with dogs.</p> <h2>Health risks</h2> <p>However, dogs can also pose risks to our physical health. One of the most common health issues for pet owners is <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/other-allergy/pet-allergy#:%7E:text=Allergies%20to%20pets%20and%20other%20animals%20are%20a,hard%20to%20work%20out%20what%20is%20causing%20symptoms">allergies</a>.</p> <p>Dogs’ saliva, urine and <a href="https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/pet-dander">dander</a> (the skin cells they shed) can trigger allergic reactions resulting in a <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/cat-and-dog-allergy#:%7E:text=Pet%20allergies%20occur%20when%20your%20immune">range of symptoms</a>, from itchy eyes and runny nose to breathing difficulties.</p> <p>A recent <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9352935/">meta-analysis</a> pooled data from nearly two million children. Findings suggested early exposure to dogs may increase the risk of developing asthma (although not quite as much as having a cat does). The child’s age, how much contact they have with the dog and their individual risk all play a part.</p> <p>Slips, trips and falls are another risk – <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20226954/#:%7E:text=Injury%20rates%20were%20highest%20among,for%20injuries%20to%20the%20extremities.">more people</a> fall over due to dogs than cats.</p> <p>Having a dog can also expose you to <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dog-cat-bat-and-human-bites#:%7E:text=Dog%20bites.%20Most%20dog%20bites%20are%20caused">bites and scratches</a> which may become infected and pose a risk for those with compromised immune systems. And they can introduce zoonotic diseases into your home, including <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5319273/#:%7E:text=Viral%20infections%20such%20as%20rabies,staphylococcus%20aureus%20are%20the%20most">ring worm</a> and <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/campylobacter">Campylobacter</a>, a disease that causes diarrhoea.</p> <p>For those <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/sleeping-with-dogs#risks-and-side-effects">sharing the bed</a> there is an elevated the risk of allergies and picking up ringworm. It may result in lost sleep, as dogs move around at night.</p> <p>On the other hand some owners report feeling more secure while <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/sleeping-with-dogs#tips">co-sleeping with their dogs</a>, with the emotional benefit outweighing the possibility of sleep disturbance or waking up with flea bites.</p> <p>Proper veterinary care and hygiene practices are essential to minimise these risks.</p> <h2>What about mental health?</h2> <p>Many people know the benefits of having a dog are not only physical.</p> <p>As companions, dogs can provide significant emotional support helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2023/lending-a-paw-for-defence-veterans-clear-evidence-that-assistance-dogs-help-improve-mental-health/">post-traumatic stress</a>. Their presence may offer comfort and a sense of purpose to individuals facing mental health challenges.</p> <p>Loneliness is a <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/social-isolation-and-loneliness">significant</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-12/loneliness-australia-federal-government-urged-to-do-more/103441076">growing</a> public health issue in Australia.</p> <p>In the dog park and your neighbourhood, dogs can <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122085">make it easier</a> to strike up conversations with strangers and make new friends. These social interactions can help build a sense of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-64079-4">community belonging</a> and reduce feelings of <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-are-the-benefits-of-companion-animals-to-human-health/#social-benefits">social isolation</a>.</p> <p>For <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07334648231214425">older adults</a>, dog walking can be a valuable loneliness intervention that encourages social interaction with neighbours, while also combating declining physical activity.</p> <p>However, if you’re experiencing chronic loneliness, it may be hard to engage <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/soan/22/5/article-p459_2.xml">with other people</a> during walks. <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7770-5#Sec19">An Australian study</a> found simply getting a dog was linked to decreased loneliness. People reported an improved mood – possibly due to the benefits of strengthening bonds with their dog.</p> <h2>What are the drawbacks?</h2> <p>While dogs can bring immense joy and numerous health benefits, there are also downsides and challenges. The responsibility of caring for a dog, especially one with behavioural issues or health problems, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/1/1/7">can be overwhelming</a> and create financial stress.</p> <p>Dogs have shorter lifespans than humans, and the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/heartstrings/202211/why-do-we-grieve-losing-a-pet-so-deeply">loss of a beloved companion</a> can lead to depression or exacerbate existing mental health conditions.</p> <p>Lifestyle compatibility and <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/350">housing conditions</a> also play a significant role in whether having a dog is a good fit.</p> <p>The so-called <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/animals-and-us/202109/are-pets-good-us-we-think-they-are">pet effect</a> suggests that pets, often dogs, improve human physical and mental health in all situations and for all people. The reality is more nuanced. For some, having a pet may be more stressful than beneficial.</p> <p>Importantly, the animals that share our homes are not just “tools” for human health. Owners and dogs can mutually benefit when the welfare and wellbeing of both are maintained.<!-- 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/238888/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/tania-signal-2209329">Tania Signal</a>, Professor of Psychology, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</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/is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health-238888">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Family & Pets

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Chilling vision of missing family emerges

<p>A video filmed in New Zealand's west coast is the first "credible" sighting of a father and his kids who went missing three years ago. </p> <p>Tom Phillips along with his daughter Jayda, now 11, son Maverick, 9 and daughter Ember, 8, disappeared from the New Zealand town of Marokopa in December 2021. </p> <p>There have been hundreds of sightings of Phillips reported to police since then, with many of them unverified, and the children nowhere in sight.</p> <p>But now, new footage shot on the evening of October 3, showed all four of them marching through a grass field in Marokopa, in a single file with camouflage gear and heavy backpacks.</p> <p>The video, filmed by pig hunters, was handed to police and has since prompted a large-scale search of farmland in the area this week, which unfortunately failed to locate Phillips and his children. </p> <p>In the footage, the family seemed unaware they were being filmed from afar, with one of the witnesses describing them as "equipped for the bush". </p> <p>The children's mother, Catherine, has seen the video and instantly recognised her kids. </p> <p>“I’m so happy that they’re all there," she told the <em>New Zealand Herald</em>. </p> <p>"I’m so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive."</p> <p>The pig hunters who filmed the footage recalled their short encounter with the children. </p> <p>“The children asked: ‘Who else knows we’re here?’ And then they just kept on walking. They were all packed up, they had big packs on. I think the father sort of kept them moving,” Farmer John McOviney told the New Zealand Herald.</p> <p>In another interview with radio station <em>Newstalk ZB</em>, McOviney said that Phillips was carrying a large rifle. </p> <p>NZ Police Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders has also confirmed the sighting was being treated as "credible". </p> <p>"While nothing further of significance was located, investigators will now assess information gathered to determine any next steps," he said. </p> <p>"This is the first time all three of the children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring for the children's wider family."</p> <p>While police remain tight-lipped about what their next steps are, they said : "Our focus is very much on the safe return of Jayda, Maverick and Ember to their whānau [the Maori word for family] and we are doing all that we can to make that happen.”</p> <p>Phillips and his three children first went missing on September 11, 2021, and an arrest warrant was issued for Phillips shortly after their disappearance. </p> <p>He does not have legal custody over his children is alleged to have breached a custody order by taking them. The children are believed to have had no education or contact with others since their disappearance. </p> <p>Members of the public have been warned not to approach Phillips if they spotted him, as he may be armed. </p> <p><em>Images: TVNZ/ Waikato Police</em></p>

Legal

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Why Lisa Marie Presley kept son's body at home for two months after his death

<p>Lisa Marie Presley was so heartbroken by the loss of her only son, Benjamin Keough, at just 27-years-old in 2020, that she kept his body in her home for two months after his death. </p> <p>The star revealed this in her memoir <em>From Here to the Great Unknown</em>, which was finished by her daughter Riley Keough after the 54-year-old’s death in January 2023, according to <em>Page Six</em>. </p> <p>In the book, Lisa Marie opened up about the extent of her grief, saying that she had to force herself to "fight" to stay alive for her remaining children, and one of the ways she coped was not saying goodbye to Benjamin right away. </p> <p>“My house has a separate casitas bedroom and I kept Ben Ben in there for two months. There is no law in the state of California that you have to bury someone immediately,” Lisa Marie wrote. </p> <p>“I found a very empathetic funeral homeowner. I told her that having my dad in the house after he died was incredibly helpful because I could go and spend time with him and talk to him. She said, ‘We’ll bring Ben Ben to you.’”</p> <p>The room was kept at around 12 degrees celsius to preserve his body, and the star continued saying that she felt “fortunate that there was a way that I could still parent him, delay it a bit longer so that I could become okay with laying him to rest.”</p> <p>Another reason why she decided to keep his body was because she wasn't sure whether to bury him in Hawaii or at Graceland,  the Memphis estate where Elvis died and is buried.</p> <p>At one point, Riley and Lisa Marie decided to honour Benjamin by getting matching tattoos of his name, which was inscribed in the same place where Benjamin had his tattoos.</p> <p>Riley recalled the odd moment Lisa Marie brought in the tattoo artist into her home. </p> <p>“Lisa Marie Presley had just asked this poor man to look at the body of her dead son, which happened to be right next to us in the casitas. I’ve had an extremely absurd life, but this moment is in the top five," Riley wrote in the memoir. </p> <p>Lisa Marie acknowledged that it was odd, and soon after the tattoo day, they "got the vibe" that Benjamin wanted to be laid to rest. </p> <p>“Even my mum said that she could feel him talking to her, saying ‘This is insane, Mum, what are you doing? What the f**k!”</p> <p>The family held a funeral for Benjamin in Malibu, and he was buried at Graceland alongside Elvis, and now Lisa Marie as well. </p> <p><em>Image: Copetti/Photofab/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Breaking the silence on prostate cancer: man’s family legacy highlights importance of early detection

<p>James Murray, 55, an architect from Melbourne, always knew he was living with a genetic "time bomb." A fifth-generation prostate cancer sufferer, his family’s battle with the disease spans over 170 years. From his great-great-grandfather, who chronicled his symptoms in 1847, to his uncles and father who also faced the disease, prostate cancer has been a grim constant in his family.</p> <p>“My family has what's been called a ‘spectacular history’ with prostate cancer,” James reflects. “But that’s not the kind of thing you want to hear. My great-great-grandfather had it, though they couldn’t test for it back then. My grandfather died from it, my father got it, and both of his brothers had it as well. It’s been a constant in our family for generations.”</p> <p>James' great-great-grandfather, Robert William Felton Lathrop Murray, a soldier and the founder of the <em>Hobart Town Gazette</em>, documented his battle with the disease long before modern medicine could provide a diagnosis. Since then, generation after generation of Murrays has grappled with the same fate. </p> <p>For James, however, early detection was key. Diagnosed in February 2022, he underwent surgery just a few months later in May, removing what doctors described as an aggressive form of the disease. But his story, unlike his ancestors, had a different ending.</p> <p>“In a way, we’ve been cursed by prostate cancer," explains James. "But it’s also been a blessing because it made us all hyper-aware of the importance of early detection. My dad was incredibly diligent, and that saved his life. He made sure I was on top of my PSA testing from my mid-40s, and that’s how we caught it early for me.” </p> <p>Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing and early detection are now recognised as crucial, particularly for men with a family history of prostate cancer. Yet, dangerous myths surrounding prostate cancer testing continue to cost lives, warns Associate Professor Weranja Ranasinghe, Deputy Leader of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand’s (USANZ) GU-Oncology Special Advisory Group.</p> <p>“Many men believe that they need to have urinary symptoms to be concerned about prostate cancer,” explains Ranasinghe. “The reality is that most prostate cancers develop without any symptoms at all. Urinary symptoms are not reliable – most of these symptoms are caused by non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate but advanced cancer can also give you urinary symptoms. So it is important to get checked.”</p> <p>An even greater barrier, however, is the outdated belief that prostate cancer screening requires an invasive rectal exam. Ranasinghe stresses that this is no longer the case: “A simple PSA blood test, combined with advanced imaging like MRI, is now the standard approach. Many men are avoiding tests due to this outdated fear, but in the GP setting, a rectal exam is currently not required for detecting prostate cancer."</p> <p>With over 26,000 Australian men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) is raising awareness during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month about the importance of early testing and debunking these misconceptions.</p> <p>Ranasinghe also points out that men with a strong family history should be particularly vigilant. “Men with female relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer are also at an increased risk of prostate cancer due to the same genetic mutations. So we recommend that men with a strong family history get a PSA test at the age of 40, which is earlier than the recommended age.”</p> <p>For James Murray, the decision to undergo surgery quickly after his diagnosis proved life-saving. “When my PSA levels started rising in February 2022, I wasn’t shocked," he recalls. "I had always known this day would come. It wasn’t something I feared, but more something I was prepared for. I told myself, ‘Okay, it’s here, let’s deal with it,’ and I just focused on getting through the surgery as quickly as possible.”</p> <p>James feels fortunate compared to his uncles, whose diagnoses came much later in life, leading to more severe outcomes. His surgery went well, and he's had a quick recovery, returning to work and feeling grateful that they caught it early. That's why James is advocating for early PSA testing, particularly for men with a family history of prostate cancer. He plans to ensure his 19-year-old son is aware of the need for testing in the future.</p> <p>"We often see men wait until a friend or relative is diagnosed before thinking about getting a prostate cancer PSA test done," says Ranasinghe. "This reactive approach is dangerous. Men need to be proactive and take ownership of their prostate health and talk to their GPs about this, just like they would with cholesterol or other routine health checks."</p> <p>As prostate cancer awareness grows, James hopes his story will encourage others to get tested. It’s something no one wants to face, but the sooner you catch it, the better chance you have.</p> <p>For more information on prostate cancer screening and to find a urologist, visit the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) at <a href="https://www.usanz.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.usanz.org.au</a>.</p> <p><em>Images: Supplied</em></p>

Caring

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Police commissioner faces his son's killer in court

<p>The South Australian police commissioner has faced the young man accused of killing his son in a hit and run in an Adelaide court, sharing an emotional statement about his family's grief. </p> <p>Randhawa, 19, was behind the wheel when he struck Charlie Stevens, 18, who was out celebrating schoolies with his friends. </p> <p>Randhawa has pleaded guilty to aggravated driving without due care and leaving an accident scene after causing death, as Charlie died from his irreversible brain injuries following the crash. </p> <p>“Not a single day goes by when we don’t talk about Charlie, when we don’t talk about him together, there is not a day when we don’t shed a tear thinking about our son and how much we miss him,” Commissioner Grant Stevens said. </p> <p>“Charlie would have been 19 on the 28th of April this year, but instead of celebrating it, it took all our efforts just to get through the day. And we know that that grief is with us for the rest of our lives.”</p> <p>Mr Stevens then addressed Randhawa directly as he said, “We acknowledge you have taken responsibility for what you have done and we are sure this has been difficult for you.”</p> <p>“But you get to move on and the people close to you still have you in their lives. We don’t have Charlie and we want you to remember that.”</p> <p>Charlie’s sister Sophie Tregloan also addressed Randhawa, saying, “Do I hate you? Yes, I absolutely do – but what I hate most is what you’ve taken from myself and my family.”</p> <p>“You have taken so much from us in a split second dumb decision. It’s Charlie’s heart I will miss the most. He was kind, inclusive of all, a pillar of strength.”</p> <p>Randhawa then delivered an emotional apology to the Stevens’ family, saying, “You’re always on my mind and so is Charlie and you will be forever.”</p> <p>“There’s so much I’d like to say but mostly I want to say I’m sorry, and I’m sorry Charlie.”</p> <p>Judge Joanne Tracey is still considering an appropriate sentence for Randhawa, who is out on bail.</p> <p><em>Image credits: SA Police / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Brisbane radio host becomes grandfather at just 37

<p>Brisbane's B105 radio host Matty Acton revealed on Wednesday that he became a grandpa for the first time at just 37 years old. </p> <p>The radio host took to Instagram to share a few adorable snaps with his granddaughter, leaving many of his followers confused. </p> <p>"Welcome to the family Illyria Fay Acton 👶🏻 We love and adore you," he wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>It didn't take long for his followers to voice their confusion with one writing, "Congratulations to all! But how the hell are you a Grandpa? I thought you were 30-something!"</p> <p>"Hang on… Grandpa? The math ain’t mathing," another said.</p> <p>"Everyone madly googling Marty’s age lol 😂," another quipped before congratulating the radio host. </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/DAmyFNOvHD4/?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/DAmyFNOvHD4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Matty Acton (@mattyacton)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>It turns out the reason why Matty is a grandpa at a relatively young age is pretty simple. </p> <p>Matty met his wife Esther when he was 18 through his flatmate while he was living in Toowoomba. </p> <p>Esther, who is three years older than Matty, already had three-year-old Ethan when the couple met, and since then Matty has raised Ethan as his own, with the couple also sharing another son  Xander, 10, and daughter Eden, seven.</p> <p>Ethan and his wife Madison welcomed their first child on Monday, and Matty announced the happy news to his listeners on Tuesday.</p> <p>The radio host recalled how meeting his granddaughter for the first time reminded him of when his youngest was born, saying  "It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life."</p> <p>"The last time we were here we were leaving with Eden. If everyone can now call me granddaddy it would be greatly appreciated."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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John Amos' daughter recalls how she learned of her father's death

<p>John Amos, actor known for his role as James Evans Sr. on <em>Good Times, </em>passed away on August 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes. </p> <p>It wasn't until Tuesday, October 1 that his death was confirmed by his publicist, Belinda Foster, and not long after his son Kelly Christopher Amos confirmed it in a statement to <a href="https://people.com/john-amos-dead-roots-and-coming-to-america-actor-was-84-7510157" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>People</em></a>. </p> <p>"It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned," he said at the time. </p> <p>“He was a man with the kindest heart ... loved the world over. Many fans considered him their TV father.”</p> <p>“He lived a good life, and his legacy will endure through his remarkable work in television and film. My father loved acting, most recently appearing as himself in Suits LA and in our documentary America’s Dad, chronicling his journey as an actor.</p> <p>“He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support during this time.”</p> <p>Now, his daughter Shannon Amos, has revealed that she only learned about his death when it was reported by the media on Tuesday. </p> <p>She paid tribute to her late father in a video shared to Instagram that showed them dancing to the song<em> Dance with My Father</em> by Luther Vandross.</p> <p>"I am without words…Our family has received the heartbreaking news that my Dad, John Allen Amos, Jr., transitioned on August 21st," Shannon wrote in the caption.</p> <p>"We are devastated and left with many questions about how this happened 45 days ago, learning about it through the media like so many of you.</p> <p>"This should be a time of honoring and celebrating his life, yet we are struggling to navigate the wave of emotions and uncertainties surrounding his passing. Still, there is some semblance of peace in knowing my father is finally free," she continued, before thanking everyone for their "outpouring of love". </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/DAmTuS4x6ug/?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/DAmTuS4x6ug/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Shannon Amos | Health & Wellness | Retreats (@officialshannonamos)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>John Amos passed away at the age of 84. </p> <p>His children had disagreed on his care, which became public last year after she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtPYytYRyBx/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=19da7b24-9405-46b8-a697-309f9886c8c3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised concerns </a>that her father was "a victim of elder abuse and financial exploitation". She even raised her concerns to law enforcement as John was hospitalised at the time. </p> <p>However, he released a statement via his publicist insisting that he was fine. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Aussie family's refusal to sell family home could land them a $60m fortune

<p>An Aussie family that repeatedly said no to selling their much-loved family home to developers could land them a $60million in Australia's booming property market, but the defiant family refuses to sell. </p> <p>A year ago, the Zammit family from Quakers Hill in Sydney's north west caught worldwide attention when they refused to sell their  20,000 sqm parcel of land to developers who had purchased all the other land around them. </p> <p>The family received offers of up to $50m to sell their home to complete the new development named The Ponds, but they refused to sell. </p> <p>That didn't deter developers who are still offering the owners a massive amount of cash to sell their homes, with offers reportedly around $60m now, meaning the family have earned another $10m or 20 per cent over the past year. </p> <p>According to PropTrack home prices in Quakers Hill have risen by 8.5 per cent over the past 12 months, meaning that the Zammits would have earned at least another $4.25 million.</p> <p>The median price of a home in Quakers hill is now at $1.172m, around a decade ago it was $700,000.</p> <p>Last year, one of the property owners,  Diane Zammit, 50, told <em>news.com.au</em> that the neighbourhood used to be “farmland dotted with little red brick homes and cottages." </p> <p>“Every home was unique and there was so much space – but not any more. It’s just not the same,” she said.</p> <p>It is estimated that 50 houses could fit on the block of land if they chose to sell, but some of their neighbours reportedly don't want them to, as they like living in a cul-de-sac. </p> <p>Ray White Quakers Hill agent Taylor Bredin previously praised the family for staying put. </p> <p>“The fact that most people sold out years and years ago, these guys have held on. All credit to them," he told <em>7News</em>.</p> <p>“Depending on how far you push the development plan, you’d be able to push anywhere from 40 to 50 properties on something like this, and when subdivided, a 300 square metre block would get a million dollars.”</p> <p><em>Images: Channel 7</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Thief gambles away $64k raised for alleged murder victim's family

<p>A gambling addict has been sentenced to 400 hours unpaid community service after admitting to stealing $64,000 from a GoFundMe page intended for a grieving family. </p> <p>Lachlan Morganti, 26, was sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a single charge of theft, as magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz sentenced him to a two-year community corrections order and 400 hours of unpaid work.</p> <p>The court was told that Morganti set up the fundraising page on behalf of the family of allegedly murdered woman Hannah McGuire, who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-were-our-whole-damn-sky-tributes-flow-after-alleged-murder-of-young-teacher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> on April 5th this year.</p> <p>He had become acquainted with the family, who managed The National Hotel in Clunes, through their support of the Clunes Cricket Club where he played. </p> <p>“Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold,” the fundraiser read.</p> <p>“All proceeds will go towards funeral costs and other expenses the family may need during this tough time.”</p> <p>In just a few days, the GoFundMe page raised more than $64,000 in generous donations from the community. </p> <p>The funds dropped in Morganti’s bank account on April 24th, but he almost immediately began to gamble with it, losing the full amount in four to five days.</p> <p>After his arrest, Morganti told police he had an “uncontrollable” gambling addiction and internally justified it by believing he would only use a small portion to fix his mounting gambling debts.</p> <p>“I accept the act of creating the GoFundMe was meant as an altruistic act, that it was intended as a selfless act to benefit the grieving McGuire family,” Ms Mykytowycz said. </p> <p>“However, the temptation to use this money to recover previous debts became overwhelming and self-indulgent.”</p> <p>In a statement to the court, Hannah's mother Debbie McGuire said it was important to note no one from their family had asked for support or for Morganti to start the GoFundMe, adding that Morganti had the “audacity” to attend Hannah’s funeral among many of those whose contributions he had stolen.</p> <p>“Not only did the accused violate our trust, but he had a complete disregard of the trust and generosity of an entire community,” she said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe / news.com.au</em></p>

Legal

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Mother's heartbreaking farewell at bullied daughter's funeral

<p><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Warning: This article contains discussions about suicide that some readers may find distressing. </span></em></p> <p>The mother of 12-year-old Charlotte Frances O’Brien, a victim of relentless bullying, broke down at her daughter's funeral in a <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">heartbreaking farewell, </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">expressing her anguish and grief. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Charlotte, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, Sydney, tragically took her own life on September 9, leaving her family, friends and community devastated.</span></p> <p>Hundreds of mourners gathered at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Bossley Park on Friday for the solemn service. Many wore pink ribbons in their hair, a tribute to Charlotte’s favourite colour. The student body of her primary school was given the day off to attend the funeral.</p> <p>As the service began, Charlotte’s parents, Mat and Kelly, struggled to hold back tears as they carried their daughter’s casket, adorned with lavender and butterflies, through the church. During an emotional eulogy, Kelly expressed her profound love for her daughter, saying, "I will grieve the life you never had."</p> <p>Kelly described Charlotte as her soulmate and best friend, recalling moments of joy and love they shared. “The first moment I held her in my arms will always be the best day of my life," she said tearfully. "I knew within a moment of being her mother that I had met my soulmate."</p> <p>Charlotte's stepfather, Mat, also spoke lovingly of her, recalling her kindness, bravery and the special bond they shared. He read from her final Father’s Day card, where she affectionately described him as “more than a captain”, expressing the deep love she held for him.</p> <p>A poignant slideshow of Charlotte’s life played during the service, accompanied by the song "You Are Not Alone". The photos showed Charlotte smiling and laughing with friends, celebrating birthdays and cuddling her newborn brother, offering glimpses of her joy-filled yet short-lived childhood.</p> <p>The service concluded with Kelly clutching a stuffed penguin, a symbolic farewell to her beloved daughter. Outside the church, mourners gathered around, throwing petals onto the hearse before it departed for the cemetery.</p> <p>While Charlotte’s parents did not directly address the bullying their daughter endured, the presiding priest highlighted the alarming statistic that one in three children worldwide are bullied, urging the community to reflect on their role in combating this issue. “There is a responsibility in the world, starting at home and in our communities. We must grow our hearts and minds in God’s work and continue to move forward,” he said.</p> <p>Charlotte’s death has left a lasting impact on her family, friends, and school community, sparking renewed conversations about the urgent need to address bullying in schools and beyond.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</em></span></p> <p><em style="font-weight: bolder; background-color: #ffffff; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box;">SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</em></p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Bindi Irwin's sweet nickname for Robert revealed

<p>Anyone who grew up with siblings is all too familiar with the quirky yet endearing nicknames that seem to stick with us over time. </p> <p>For Robert Irwin, big sister Bindi was the first to give him a nickname, and the moment it happened was caught on camera. </p> <p>In a home video shared on TikTok, a young Bindi can be seen excitedly talking to her father, the late Steve Irwin. </p> <p>"I've got some news," Steve says in the clip. </p> <p>"We're not going home, we're going to the hospital... Mummy just had a baby. She's had a little baby boy, and his name is Robert Clarence Irwin."</p> <p>Donning her iconic khaki uniform from Australia Zoo, the young wildlife warrior could not be more excited to be a big sister, saying: "I'm more excited than Mummy and you!" </p> <p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 548px; max-width: 100%; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7394995762217733392&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40robertirwin%2Fvideo%2F7394995762217733392%3Fembed_source%3D121374463%252C121451205%252C121439635%252C121433650%252C121404359%252C121351166%252C72778571%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_blank%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Dwww.skynews.com.au%252Flifestyle%252Fcelebrity-life%252Fbrian-for-short-bindi-irwins-sweet-nickname-for-brother-robert-revealed-in-resurfaced-home-video%252Fnews-story%252Ff54c68817c6db1bd2740a2d65e4c5447%26referer_video_id%3D7394995762217733392&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2Fd2e3d05f363d4cafb03f3b8877e4f244_1721781651%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1727564400%26x-signature%3DqfH%252BN6M9O5jYn3IuA3O8SF04Tac%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>While cradling her baby brother, Bindi, who must've thought long and hard about the nickname said: "I think by the way he is, I'll call him Brian."</p> <p>Despite Steve's reminder that her brother's name is Robert, Bindi playfully insists "but I'll call him Brian for short".</p> <p>The clip then cuts to Steve holding baby Robert, tearing up as he tells the camera: "It's like the whole reason you've been put on Earth, is to do this." </p> <p>Fans flooded the comment section, with one saying: "The way Steve just accepted his name was Brian 😂😂😂"</p> <p> "Steve's nod. that's a parent choosing their battles with a toddler 😂" another added. </p> <p>"I swear, Steve Irwin was the Dad so many of us needed and wanted!" a third commented. </p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Tragedy as Aussie dad dies on dream cruise holiday with family

<p>The community has rallied together for the family of an Aussie father-of-two who tragically passed away while on a cruise holiday. </p> <p>Edward Langley was on holiday with his family and they had a stopover at Vanuatu, where the tragedy occured. </p> <p>Mr Langley  “unexpectedly fell on the footpath”, according to a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/edward-langley?cdn-cache=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page set up for his family,  and they believe he may have died from a heart attack or stroke, although the official cause of death is still not known.</p> <p>The fundraiser, set up by a friend of Mr Langley’s wife, Heidi, has exceeded the campaign goal of $10,000, with $11,075 raised for the grieving family at the time of writing. </p> <p>“Our hearts goes out to Heidi … and the rest of the family,” the fundraiser read. </p> <p>“Our deepest and most sincere condolences to each of you. We can’t even begin to understand what you are all going through now.”</p> <p>"Hopefully we can all make a difference in helping [Heidi] and the family in this unsure and devastating time with the sudden loss of her husband, Edward," the fundraiser states. </p> <p>“There has been a few requests on how friends and family can support and help her, so this is just one way to donate and help in a way that we all know is hard and expensive. </p> <p>“I want to thank you all for the smallest amount and if you can share this page it would be highly appreciated.</p> <p>“I want to thank you on behalf of Heidi and hope that we can come together, to not only celebrate Edwards life but also support this family that needs all of us now more than ever.”</p> <p>Many have expressed their condolences in the comments and sent their prayers to his family. </p> <p>“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but please know that my thoughts are with you constantly,” one person wrote.</p> <p>“This is absolutely devastating. so sorry to hear — we’ll be praying,” another commented. </p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

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Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

<p>An elderly mother and her disabled son are at risk of being separated over the woman's aged care home's red tape. </p> <p>Anne Deans, 81, moved into an aged care facility in July and hoped that she would be able to bring her son, Mark, who suffers from Down's syndrome with her. </p> <p>Mark, 56, has always lived with his mother, and despite his disability, has lived a full life and has dabbled in acting, appearing on Aussie TV hit <em>Blue Heelers</em>.</p> <p>But now, the mother and son have been left in limbo by a bureaucratic battle. </p> <p>Despite the family's history and Mark's disability, the government refuses to fund a place for Mark at Anne's aged care home, stating that aged care is "not an appropriate service for people aged under 65".</p> <p>"People with Down's syndrome have a life expectancy of 60 years. That's if we're lucky. So Mark is experiencing all of the age issues that my Mum is," Mark's sister Sharon said.</p> <p>Sharon and her sister Michelle have been lobbying on Mark's behalf, with Michelle saying, "I don't know why it's so hard. There's so much red tape."</p> <p>"There's so many hills to jump, just to have a mum and a son together. It doesn't make any sense."</p> <p>Anne is digging in and appealing to the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells for help. </p> <p>"I brought him up all these years, and all of a sudden someone's going to walk in and take him out," Anne told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/victoria-red-tape-threatens-to-tear-man-with-disability-from-his-mum/df4ef75b-6df1-4507-8a73-dfae0b258e08" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p>"It is damn ridiculous. They should open up their eyes and see what it's doing. He's not going anywhere. I don't know how I'm going to stop it, but I will."</p> <p>In a statement, Ms Wells said, "While Aged Care is generally not suitable for people under the age of 65, we recognise there are exceptional circumstances where people may need to enter aged care before this age, including when there is no suitable accommodation for them."</p> <p>"The New Aged care Act includes exceptional circumstances for people to enter Aged Care before they turn 65, including when they would otherwise be at risk of homelessness."</p> <p>"There are processes in place to support people to explore their options and ensure they have safe and appropriate accommodation."</p> <p>"We encourage Mark to continue to work with Ability First Australia and the Aged Care Assessment Teams to explore all the options."</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p>

Family & Pets

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"You will be so missed": Slain brothers farewelled in emotional funeral

<p>Ben and Russell Smith, who were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/grief-stricken-father-breaks-silence-after-sons-found-dead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatally stabbed in their Blue Mountains home</a>, have been farewelled in an emotional funeral. </p> <p>More than 750 people gathered to pay tribute to the young boys, aged 9 and 11, as the boy's father delivered a heartbreaking eulogy. </p> <p>Mourners embraced outside the church, with father Nick Smith saying his children were “the biggest pleasures and joys of our lives”.</p> <p>“Boys, it’s been an absolute, absolute privilege to be your father. I hold you so deeply in my heart,” Mr Smith said.</p> <p>“You are loved by your family, through your friends, through the community, through the school, through your soccer club, through the Panthers, throughout society."</p> <p>“You will be so missed. You had such beautiful little lives, such beautiful, beautiful adventures, and we had so much more adventure to come." </p> <p>He said Russell was "outgoing, kind, determined, caring and thoughtful, adventurous and just a heart of gold, who no matter what wanted to help". </p> <p>Mr Smith described his other son Ben as a "sweet boy", adding, "The one name you gave yourself was Ben Jelly, and it stuck."</p> <p>Mr Smith said he would make sure his sons are “never forgotten”.</p> <p>“You were such wonderful, cheeky, funny, charismatic boys,” he said. “You made the world a better place."</p> <p>“You’re my world. You’re my little Ben, my Russ, you’re my best crew. I’m gonna miss you two so much. Your memories are your legacy. I love you so much. I will never stop loving you. No one else will either.”</p> <p>The boys’ 42-year-old mother, Trish Smith, has been charged with their murder. </p> <p><em>Image credits: NSW Police </em></p>

Family & Pets

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"I need answers": Devastated widow vows to stage hunger strike

<p>A woman who lost her husband and son in the devastating crash at a pub in Victoria last year has vowed to stage a protest, just days after the driver of the car was dismissed of all charges. </p> <p>In November 2023, 66-year-old William Swale was behind the wheel of his BMW when he suffered a medical episode, crashing into the beer garden of The Royal Daylesford Hotel, killing five people. </p> <p>Charges against Mr Swale were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/charges-dropped-over-crash-that-killed-five-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> on Thursday, after a magistrate ruled the evidence against him was “so weak”.</p> <p>Mr Swale's lawyers successfully argued his actions were not voluntary because he was in a state of severe hypoglycaemia, as he is an insulin-dependent diabetic. </p> <p>After hearing that the charges were dropped, Ruchi Bhatia, whose husband Vivek, their son Vihaan, 11, were killed as a result of the crash, says the ruling is as though she has lost them all over again. </p> <p>Ruchi and her nine-year-old son were also injured in the crash, but survived after spending months in hospital. </p> <p>Speaking for the first time since the deadly incident, Bhatia expressed her pain and said it feels like her life has been torn apart again, recalling the horrifying moment she woke in hospital to learn her husband and eldest son did not make it.</p> <p>“Still today I don’t believe that they are not with me,” she told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/daylesford-beer-garden-crash-victim-ruchi-bhatia-plans-protest-after-driver-charges-dismissed-c-16164598" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>.</p> <p>“We were just having fun, we were outside, we were all together and the next moment they were gone and I’m never going to see them again.”</p> <p>In court on Thursday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin found the prosecution case was flawed and decided not to commit Swale to stand criminal trial, as all charges were dropped and Mr Swale walked out of court a free man. </p> <p>Despite the ruling, Bhatia is demanding answers and says her fight for justice is far from over.</p> <p>“He stopped the car in the middle of the road — why did he start his engine again? I need answers for that,” she said.</p> <p>Bhatia and her family are planning to protest, which will include a hunger strike. </p> <p>While Bhatia said she knew the protest wouldn't bring back her family, she said they needed justice to move on from the tragedy. </p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Readers response: What do you regret not appreciating more when you were younger?

<p>When it comes to ageing, we often learn to appreciate things that we often dismissed when we were younger. </p> <p>We asked our readers what they have only truly started to appreciate with age, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. </p> <p><strong>Ross Forbes</strong> - Being brought up on a farm in a family environment where I was taught excellent work ethics and the value of community.</p> <p><strong>Alice McMurdo</strong> - The beauty of the scenery in Scotland and not taking the opportunity to see more of the beautiful countryside when I had the chance. </p> <p><strong>Pat Isaacs</strong> - My health and energy.</p> <p><strong>Esther Miller</strong> - Not having to pay bills. I now understand why my daddy was always telling us cut off the light, shut the door, stop wasting food, do not pour more milk than you are going to drink. I remember him saying "wait till you have to pay for it yourselves". Lesson learned.</p> <p><strong>Marie Chong</strong> - My parents. </p> <p><strong>Rosalie Jones</strong> - Movement without pain. </p> <p><strong>Michelle Nightingale</strong> - My family. </p> <p><strong>Sally O'Neill</strong> - Being happy and free, not having any responsibilities to worry about.</p> <p><strong>Chris Gray</strong> - My mum. If only I had known what I now know.</p> <p><strong>Margie Buckingham</strong> - My ability to always be employed and buy my first house at 21. Also, my upbringing and great start my parents gave me by ensuring I went to a good school and studied hard.</p> <p><strong>Kerri Anderson</strong> - Being younger. </p> <p><strong>Linda Kauffman</strong> - My mother. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Jamie Durie returns to Aussie TV with new show featuring his family

<p>Jamie Durie is set to return to Aussie TV screens with his new renovation show, <em>Growing Home</em>, and this time it will feature his young family. </p> <p>The international award-winning landscape designer and seven-time Logie-winning host of shows such as<em> Backyard Blitz</em>,<em> The Block</em> and many more, will showcase his skills through the process of building a sustainable and luxury dream home for, and with his family. </p> <p>“After 26 years making TV shows all over the world, this is the show I’ve always wanted to make. And if we’re creating a show around sustainability, then my family and I need to do it first and practise what we preach,” he said in an interview for <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em>.</p> <p>Durie has called this the biggest challenge of his career. </p> <p>It’s been “five long years of planning and researching the most eco-friendly partners, methods and technologies we can find, and we’re finally ready to build this house,” Durie said. </p> <p>Durie will film alongside his wife singer/songwriter Ameka Jane, who is equally committed to sharing real-life stories with the world, and creating a more authentic life. </p> <p>“I think there is a common misconception that ‘sustainable’ or ‘eco-friendly’ means that it’s complicated or that we have to compromise on style and function,” Jane said. </p> <p> “We want to show Australia how easy and accessible it is to create a green home on any scale. Small changes can make a big impact. I was a green novice at the start of this mission, so if I can do it, anyone can.”</p> <p>Their two kids, three-year-old daughter Beau and 18-month-old son Nash, will also make appearances on the show. </p> <p><em>Growing Home </em>aims to show an honest depiction of the struggles and accomplishments of building in the Northern Beaches, while educating on sustainability and what a greener future for Australia could look like. </p> <p>While no exact date has been released for the show, it is set to air soon on Channel 7 and 7Plus. </p> <p>You can watch a teaser for the show <a href="https://www.growinghomewithjamiedurie.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ Growing Home with Jamie Durie</em></p>

TV

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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>

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