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"It loses its value": Calls for the Last Post to be canned from Anzac Day footy

<p>A radio host has called for the Last Post to be canned from the majority of Anzac Day football games, saying it has lost its meaning over the years, leaving people with "bugle fatigue". </p> <p>An Anzac Day AFL match has taken place every year at the MCG on Anzac Day since 1995, with Collingwood and Essendon going head to head year after year.</p> <p>It was the brainchild of then Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy who had also served in the Australian Army during his playing days for Richmond.</p> <p>The game started as a one off-match, which quickly snowballed into an entire round of games, while the NRL also joined in and created their own Anzac Day matches.</p> <p>Traditionally, each game starts with a ceremony of recognition of our veterans and a performance of the Last Post. before the game kicks off. </p> <p>The addition of the several extra games, all which begin with the Last Post, prompted radio host Greg 'Marto' Martin from Brisbane's <em>Triple M Breakfast with Marto, Margaux & Dan</em> to call for The Last Post to be scrapped from all matches, except the annual fixture between Essendon and Collingwood. </p> <p>"Football has now turned [The Last Post] into a gimmick," he said.</p> <p>"Back in 1995 when Kevin Sheedy, the coach of Essendon, he said, 'Let's have an Anzac Day clash at the MCG,' I reckon it's the most… spine tingling three minutes or so." </p> <p>"97,000 at the MCG… not one person yelling out while that's being played and, the honour that they give to all serving soldiers and returned soldiers is quite extraordinary."</p> <p>"But now what's happened, as football always does, and I'm not just talking AFL I'm talking rugby league as well, they've taken a wonderful thing and they've gone, 'Oh that's good —'"</p> <p>Margaux interrupted saying: "How can we capitalise!"</p> <p>Marto continued, "So what's going to happen this week in all eight games of the AFL and all eight games of the rugby league… every single one of them will play this [The Last Post] and you'll get ANZAC - you'll get bugle fatigue."</p> <p>"We have to stop it somewhere."</p> <p>Margaux said, "It gets saturated, so it loses its value. They all think they are doing the right thing, but all they are doing is turning it into a mockery."</p> <p>The AFL has confirmed that all nine matches across round seven will hold special Anzac observance ceremonies ahead of each game, with AFL General Manager Commercial Peta Webster saying, "Anzac Day is one of our country's most important national occasions so I'd encourage all fans attending matches throughout the round to arrive early to soak up the atmosphere and pre-match formalities that will no doubt be another moving tribute to the sacrifices of our past and present service men and women."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Travel Trouble

Dreading footy season? You’re not alone – 20% of Australians are self-described sport haters

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hunter-fujak-290599">Hunter Fujak</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/heath-mcdonald-92440">Heath McDonald</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>With the winter AFL and NRL seasons about to start, Australia’s sporting calendar is once again transitioning from its quietest to busiest period.</p> <p>For many, the return of the AFL and NRL competitions is highly anticipated. But there is one group whose experience is very different: the approximately 20% of Australians who hate sport.</p> <p>We are currently conducting research to better understand why people feel this way about sport and what their experiences are like living in a nation where sport is so <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1329878x15616515">culturally central</a>. We have completed surveys with thousands of Australians and are now beginning to interview those who have described themselves as “sport haters”.</p> <h2>Australia, a ‘sports mad’ nation</h2> <p>Australia has long been described as a “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970902955588">sports mad nation</a>”, a reasonable assertion given the Melbourne Cup attracted crowds of <a href="https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2178266">more than 100,000 people</a> as far back as the 1880s.</p> <p>Australia’s sport passion is perhaps most evident today from the number of professional teams we support for a nation of 26 million people, one of the highest per capita <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Heath-Mcdonald/publication/326140082_Are_Sport_Consumers_Unique_Consumer_Behavior_Within_Crowded_Sport_Markets/links/5e9465fd92851c2f529c4322/Are-Sport-Consumers-Unique-Consumer-Behavior-Within-Crowded-Sport-Markets.pdf">concentrations</a> in the world.</p> <p>In addition to our four distinct football codes – Australian rules football, rugby league, rugby union and soccer – we have professional netball, basketball, cricket and tennis. In all, there are more than <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/kb/structure-of-australian-sport">130 professional sport teams in Australia</a> today (across both genders).</p> <p>Australia also hosts – and Australians attend – major sport events at a rate wildly disproportionate to the size of our population and economy. <a href="https://www.blackbookmotorsport.com/news/f1-australian-grand-prix-record-crowd-melbourne-albert-park/">Formula One</a>, the <a href="https://ausopen.com/articles/news/record-breaking-australian-open-ao-2024-numbers">Australian Open</a>, the <a href="https://nbl.com.au/news/nbl-sets-new-season-attendance-record">National Basketball League</a>, the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-attendance-records-tumble-as-fans-flock-back-to-footy-20230902-p5e1ib.html">National Rugby League</a> and <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/64-of-aussie-population-watched-matildas-new-deakin-research-claims-797902">Matildas</a> have all recently broken attendance or television viewership records.</p> <h2>Why people hate sport</h2> <p>The ubiquity of sport in our culture, however, conceals the fact that a significant portion of people strongly and actively dislike sport. Recent <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14413523.2023.2233342">research</a> by one of the co-authors here (Heath McDonald) has begun to shine light on this cohort, dubbed “sport haters”.</p> <p>Sport haters account for approximately 20% of the Australian population, according to two surveys we have conducted of nearly 3,500 and more than 27,000 adults. Demographically, this group is significantly more likely to be female, younger and more affluent than other Australians.</p> <p>Their strong negative sentiments are reflected in the most common word associations <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14413523.2023.2233342">study participants</a> used to describe sport. In the case of AFL, these were: “boring”, “overpaid”, “stupid/dumb”, “rough”, “scandal” and “alcohol”.</p> <p>While the reasons for disliking sport vary from person to person, research shows there are some common themes. The first is in childhood, where negative experiences participating in sport or attending games or matches can lead to a life-long dislike of all sport. As one professed sport hater said in an <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/1zxfyt/guys_who_do_not_like_sports_can_you_explain_why/">online forum devoted to men who don’t like sport</a>: "My brother would force me to play soccer against my will all the time as children. I think that is where my resentment for physical sport comes from because the choice was taken away from me by my twat of a brother."</p> <p>Sport hatred can also derive from social exclusion or marginalisation. Sport has historically been a male-centric domain that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0277539587900525">celebrates</a> masculinity and can lead to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/taylor-swift-effect-sports-fandom-nfl/103486274">toxic behaviour</a>, which can exclude many women and some men.</p> <p>Sport has also had to overcome racism, perhaps most symbolically visible by AFL player Nicky Winmar’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-17/nicky-winmar-indigenous-afl-racism-anniversary/102222960">iconic protest</a> in 1993. In addition, individuals with a disability still face <a href="https://www.sportaus.gov.au/integrity_in_sport/inclusive-sport/understanding-our-diverse-audiences/people-with-disability#:%7E:text=People%20with%20disability%20receive%20the,than%20adults%20who%20don't.">barriers</a> that result in lower rates of sport participation.</p> <p>Here, the current <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/taylor-swift-effect-sports-fandom-nfl/103486274">Taylor Swift effect</a> is noteworthy. The singer’s attendance at National Football League games, including the Superbowl, resulted in huge spikes in television viewership. Through her association, Swift helped make the sport more <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096969892300317X#bib122">psychologically accessible</a> for many women and girls.</p> <p>The <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AvjrDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT125&dq=Contesting+national+Culture&ots=1_lQuBpKK7&sig=dMb-5s0PgpUumUTSFeEKZiNq0dg#v=onepage&q=Contesting%20national%20Culture&f=false">cultural dominance</a> of sport also fuels its detractors, with many critical of sport’s media saturation and its broader social and even political prioritisation. (The <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-16/macquarie-point-stadium-dominates-election-campaign-day-one/103473124">debate in Tasmania</a> over the controversial AFL stadium proposal is a good case in point.)</p> <p>From a media perspective, Australia’s particularly strict <a href="https://theconversation.com/regardless-of-the-rules-sport-is-fleeing-free-tv-for-pay-and-it-might-be-an-avalanche-154640">anti-siphoning</a> laws have ensured that sport remains front and centre on free-to-air television programming.</p> <p>Sport’s cultural dominance also fosters resentment for overshadowing people’s non-sporting passions and pursuits, as well as creating societal out-groups. Journalist Jo Chandler’s <a href="https://libraryedition.smedia.com.au/lib_a/Default.aspx#panel=document">2010</a> description of moving to Melbourne is no doubt shared by many: "In the workplace, to be unaligned is deeply isolating. Team tribalism infects meetings, especially when overseen by male chiefs. In shameful desperation, I’ve played along."</p> <p>In life, it’s fairly easy to avoid most products you might dislike. But given sport’s ubiquity, simply tuning out is sometimes not an option.</p> <h2>The Anti-Football League, a club for haters</h2> <p>In 1967, two Melbourne journalists, Keith Dunstan and Douglas Wilkie, launched an anti-sport club in response to this growing cultural dominance. In his founding address to the <a href="https://www.academia.edu/7584522/Football_is_a_Fever_Disease_Like_Recurrent_Malaria_and_Evidently_Incurable_Passion_Place_and_the_Emergence_of_an_Australian_Anti_Football_League">Anti-Football League</a>, Wilkie made clear who the club was for: "All of us who are tired of having football personalities, predictions and post mortems cluttering our newspapers, TV screens and attempts at alternative human converse – from beginning-of-morning prayers to the last trickle of bed time bathwater – should join at once."</p> <p>Membership quickly reached the thousands. Soon, a Sydney branch was launched, bringing national membership to a high of around 7,000. According to sport historian Matthew Klugman, members found joy in being “haters”.</p> <p>"…they wanted to find a shared meaning in their suffering, not to extinguish it, but to better enjoy it."</p> <p>This led to some curious rituals, with members ceremonially cremating footballs or burying them. An Anti-Football Day was also launched, taking place on the eve of the Victorian Football League Grand Final.</p> <p>The club would go on to experience periods of both prosperity and hiatus over the years, but has been dormant since <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/vale-keith-dunstan-gentle-footy-hater-cyclist-and-master-of-words-20130911-2tklh.html">Dunstan’s death</a> in 2013.</p> <p>With eight more years to go in Australia’s so-called “<a href="https://this.deakin.edu.au/career/golden-decade-of-sport-ahead-for-australia">golden decade of sport</a>”, which began with <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/womensbasketballworldcup/2022">2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney</a> and culminates with the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, it may be time sport haters to start a new support group.</p> <p>If you consider yourself a sport hater, and are interested in contributing your experience to our ongoing research, please provide your contact information <a href="https://researchsurveys.deakin.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_a4CqHyqipjYj5SC">here</a>.<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/223733/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hunter-fujak-290599"><em>Hunter Fujak</em></a><em>, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/heath-mcdonald-92440">Heath McDonald</a>, Dean of Economics, Finance and Marketing and Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT 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/dreading-footy-season-youre-not-alone-20-of-australians-are-self-described-sport-haters-223733">original article</a>.</em></p>

"What a legend": Michael J Fox receives emotional standing ovation

<p>Michael J Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, made a surprise appearance at the BAFTA Awards in London. </p> <p><em>The Back to the Future</em> actor came onstage in a wheelchair, but he insisted on standing up at the podium to present the Best Film award. </p> <p>The star-studded audience all rose to their feet and gave the actor a standing ovation. </p> <p>When presenting the award, Fox described cinema as "magic" which can "change your life".</p> <p>"Five films were nominated in this category tonight and all five have something in common. They are the best of what we do," he said. </p> <p>He added that films can bring people together "no matter who you are or where you're from".</p> <p>"There's a reason why they say movies are magic because movies can change your day.</p> <p>"It can change your outlook. Sometimes it can change your life."</p> <p>Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1990s, rarely makes public appearances. </p> <p>Many fans were pleasantly surprised at his appearance as he presented the night’s biggest award, Best Film, to <em>Oppenheimer</em>.</p> <p>"I was in tears the moment Michael J Fox came on the stage," one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p> <p>"THE MAN IS A LEGEND"</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">i was in tears the moment Michael J Fox came on the stage 😥😥😥</p> <p>THE MAN IS A LEGEND <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTAs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTA2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTA2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uud368S9gb">pic.twitter.com/Uud368S9gb</a></p> <p>— RanaJi🏹 (@RanaTells) <a href="https://twitter.com/RanaTells/status/1759323180060299726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Michael J Fox. Absolute hero. What a legend," wrote another. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Michael J Fox. Absolute hero. What a legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/62lxpCy3mn">pic.twitter.com/62lxpCy3mn</a></p> <p>— Jules 🌼 (@JulesItsjules) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulesItsjules/status/1759320058583568638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"All those stars in the room, and still the biggest and most affectionate reaction is for Michael J Fox, because the man is a legend," added a third. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">All those stars in the room, and still the biggest and most affectionate reaction is for Michael J Fox, because the man is a legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a></p> <p>— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tweet_Dec/status/1759319831696855281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"He's a total legend and wonderful human," wrote a fourth. </p> <p>The actor has spoken <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candidly</a> about his experience with Parkinson's over the years, and has said that he has made peace with the degenerative nature of the disease. </p> <p>In a previous interview with AARP magazine profile, the actor admitted that he did not fear death. </p> <p>“I am genuinely a happy guy. I don’t have a morbid thought in my head — I don’t fear death. At all," he told the publication. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

All the footy stars are getting married!

<p>Love was in the air, and wedding bells rang joyfully as AFL star Jack Silvagni and his beautiful bride, Grace Phillips, sealed their love in a heartwarming ceremony over the weekend.</p> <p>The couple, who have been together since 2014, took the plunge into marital bliss in a picturesque setting in Noosa, Queensland. Their love story, culminating in a beautiful union, is a testament to the power of love and commitment.</p> <p>As the 25-year-old Carlton forward and his stunning bride exchanged vows, they did so in the company of their nearest and dearest. The joyous occasion was made even more special as it coincided with a wave of AFL weddings, with teammates Mitch McGovern and Matt Kennedy also embracing the off-season to celebrate their nuptials.</p> <p>Jack Silvagni, the eldest son of Carlton legend Stephen Silvagni and model Jo Silvagni, looked every bit the dashing groom in his suit, but the true star of the day was of course his radiant bride, Grace Phillips.</p> <p>She donned an enchanting ivory off-the-shoulder gown by Kyha Studios, setting hearts aflutter as she walked down the aisle. The couple shared their first photo as newlyweds on Instagram, a picture-perfect moment captured in time, and their caption, "19•10•23 🤍", was a simple but powerful declaration of their love.</p> <p>The Carlton Football Club, recognising the significance of the day, congratulated the newlyweds with heartfelt wishes on their official Instagram account, "Congratulations Jack and Grace 💍💕." It was a wonderful show of support from their football family, acknowledging that love and happiness transcend the boundaries of the game.</p> <p>Surrounded by a guest list that included their closest friends and family, the day was filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments. Silvagni's Carlton teammates, Patrick Cripps, Jack Martin and Sam Docherty, were in attendance to witness this beautiful chapter in their lives.</p> <p>Silvagni's proposal to Phillips last year marked the beginning of their journey towards this day. Their engagement, shared on the same day as Richmond's Tom Lynch and Olivia Burke, was a special moment that foreshadowed the love-filled year ahead. Burke, the Senior Marketing Manager for Kyha Studios, wore the same brand that Phillips chose for her wedding dress, adding a poetic touch to their story.</p> <p>In the world of football, love clearly knows no bounds, as Western Bulldogs star Jason Johannisen also recently tied the knot, marrying Logan Shine in Bali. And Carlton star Mitch McGovern also found his forever love over the weekend, marrying Kirsten Prater in South Australia.</p> <p>With so much love in the air, it's clear that the AFL community knows how to celebrate both on and off the field. Silvagni and Phillips' wedding day was not just a celebration of their love, but a reminder that love conquers all and brings joy to everyone it touches. We wish the newlyweds a lifetime filled with love, happiness, and memorable moments.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

“One of a kind larrikin": Footy legend passes away at 38

<p>Footy legend Damien Medwin has tragically passed away aged 38 in Tasmania’s north after a fatal car crash on Sunday. </p> <p>Tributes have poured in for the NSW and NT player and father of three, after his body was found in a car submerged in water on the state's northwest. </p> <p>Stowport Cricket Club’s Nic Bellinger has said that Medwin was always the first person “put a positive spin on things when the chips were down”.</p> <p>He was described by his heartbroken family and friends as "the life of the party." </p> <p>“Damien is well known all over our state and country through his many contacts from sport and friendships,” Bellinger added. </p> <p>“Over his lifetime, he was always leaving a positive impact with the people who he came into contact with.”</p> <p>Bellinger launched a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/damien-boony-medwin-and-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe </a>campaign on Tuesday to help support Medwin's grieving wife Bec and his three children, Hudson, Jordy and Marni. </p> <p>He said that the family have a “long, tough road ahead” as they grieve the loss of a “very loving husband”. </p> <p>As of Thursday the campaign has raised over $62,000 with the highest donation at $2,500. </p> <p>The football legend played for eight different clubs in his lifetime, with stints in both NSW and NT. </p> <p>He was a player and assistant coach for the Circular Head Saints Football Club, before his tragic death. </p> <p>The football club have released a statement and said that they were “devastated” by the “sudden and tragic passing of our life member, teammate, club legend and friend”.</p> <p>“He was the clubs leading goal kicker on several occasions and was made life member at the end of 2018, just as the club went into recess,” they said.</p> <p>“He was a one of a kind larrikin who filled the room with smiles and laughter.</p> <p>“Our lives are better for knowing him and sharing so many wonderful memories with such a treasured friend. Boony and his beautiful family have had a huge impact on our club for many years.”</p> <p>Medwin was also a senior assistant for the Forest-Stanley Football Club, who have also paid tribute to the football great. </p> <p>“Words can’t describe the pain of the loss of you mate! Everyone’s mate, our coach & player. You were always positive, our number 13,” they said. </p> <p>“You made people so welcome. You gave us hope even when the chips were down.”</p> <p>Emergency services were called to the scene at 9:30am on the day the car was found, according to a spokesman for the Tasmanian Police. </p> <p>“Initial inquiries indicate the man was travelling west on Backline Road, Forest in a silver Ford Territory when the vehicle has left the road coming to rest in water,” the spokesman said.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

News

Michael J. Fox gets mushy over 35 years of wedded bliss with Tracy Pollan

<p>In a tremendous display of tenderness, Michael J. Fox, the time-traveling heartthrob from Back to the Future, has taken to Instagram to pay tribute to his wife, Tracy Pollan, on their momentous 35th wedding anniversary. </p> <p>The 62-year-old star couldn't resist pouring his heart out, and he wrote, "35 years of [laughter], living, listening, and loving you, @tracy.pollan. Thank you for it all. Forever yours, Mike." </p> <p>Pollan, unable to contain her overflowing affection, gushed in the comments, "Love you so much!!!" Oh, the lovebirds! This display of love and adoration didn't stop there. Tracy took to her own Instagram account to pen a tribute to her hubby. "35 years!!!" she exclaimed, "Happy anniversary, my love. Here's to many more glorious adventures together. I could not love you more." Cue the swooning!</p> <p>The couple didn't stop at heartfelt messages either. They also shared a collection of adorable photos that showcased their journey of love and togetherness.</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/CuwsTfyrq3b/?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/CuwsTfyrq3b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This isn't the first time Fox has let his feelings flow like the DeLorean's exhaust. Just last month, he wished his beloved wife a happy 63rd birthday with an Instagram post that melted hearts worldwide. He referred to her as his "forever summer girl," his love, his best friend, and the most beautiful, amazing mum to their four stupendous kids. </p> <p>Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Fox and Pollan's love story started on the set of <em>Family Ties</em> in 1985, where they played love interests. Little did they know that their on-screen chemistry would spark a real-life romance. At the time, Fox was involved with Nancy McKeon, while Pollan was seeing Kevin Bacon (yes, the <em>Footloose</em> guy). Fate had different plans, though, and the couple found themselves reuniting in 1988 on the set of <em>Bright Lights, Big City</em>. Talk about a plot twist!</p> <p>Within seven months of their reunion, Fox and Pollan were engaged and soon walked down the aisle, sealing their fate as one of Hollywood's most enduring and beloved power couples. Together, they have gracefully navigated the highs and lows of marriage and are proof that true love can withstand the test of time (and maybe a little flux capacitor magic).</p> <p>Their love story expanded to include four children: Sam, 34, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 21. Clearly, their love multiplied like Marty McFly's time-travelling adventures.</p> <p>But it's not just lovey-dovey romance that makes this couple shine. Fox has openly praised Pollan for being his rock during his battle with Parkinson's Disease, which began in the early '90s. He once revealed in an interview, "Tracy was just like, 'You've got a stone in your shoe. We'll do what we can until you can get it out. In the meantime...you can hold my hand, and we'll get over that.'" Now that's love that defies the laws of physics.</p> <p>So, let's raise a glass to Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan as they celebrate 35 years of marital bliss. May their love continue to shine like the Flux Capacitor, and may their adventures together never run out of 1.21 gigawatts of excitement. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever afters!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Michael J Fox shares rare photos of lookalike son

<p dir="ltr">Michael J Fox has shared a few rare photos of his eldest son, Sam, in a sweet birthday tribute.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Back To The Future</em> actor took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a series of photos in celebration of his lookalike son’s 34th birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy birthday to my big bouncing baby boy, you are the best. Proud to be your pops. Love you!” he captioned the photos.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first photo showed his son blowing out a few candles on a huge chocolate ganache cake.</p> <p dir="ltr">The second photo showed the father-son duo beaming as they sat next to each other on a boat ride and in the third photo, Fox can be seen planting a big kiss on his son’s cheeks.</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/Cs3tLlOLCBb/?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/Cs3tLlOLCBb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Sam is the eldest of the four children Fox shares with his wife Tracey Pollen. They are also parents to twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 21.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans took to the comments to share their birthday wishes to Sam.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy birthday Sam ❤️” read one comment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Chip off the old block. Very handsome. 😍Happy Birthday!!” wrote another fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Never realised how much he looks like you until now! Happy birthday.,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gosh, he looks SO much like you at that age!” gushed a fourth.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Father of fallen teen footy player speaks out

<p>Castlemaine Football Netball Club, and the wider AFL Central Victoria community, are in mourning after losing one of their own over the weekend. </p> <p>Dallas Keogh-Frankling, an up-and-coming CFNC Under 18s player, was participating in an away game at the Kyneton Showgrounds when he was tackled. </p> <p>While the 17-year-old got up from the collision, even going on to play the rest of the game, he collapsed after the game, and passed away awaiting hospital transfer. </p> <p>His father, who had been with Dallas at the time of the tragedy, told the <em>Herald Sun</em> that, “late in the last quarter he was tackled on the boundary line by two people.</p> <p>“His arms were pinned and he landed on the ball next to the gates where people come onto the field.”</p> <p>Mark Frankling also reported that Dallas had gotten up “straight away”, but that on his way to the bench he could be seen grasping “his guts”, and that when Mark had gone to check on his son, he’d noted that he “might have broken ribs”.</p> <p>It was after the team’s coach had addressed the boys in the changing rooms that Dallas’ condition took a turn for the worst, with Mark recalling how he’d “looked over and saw his face was in a bit of pain, and I asked him if he was all right.</p> <p>“His eyes rolled in the back of his head, I yelled for the ambulance, and then he came to.”</p> <p>Mark had been certain things would be alright if Dallas - whose face looked “grey” - could just get to the hospital, and followed the ambulance his son was taken in.</p> <p>However, when he arrived at Kyneton Hospital, he could see paramedics attempting to revive his teenage son - and while he “came back … he flatlined again”.</p> <p>Dallas was meant to be transferred to Melbourne for further treatment, but tragically passed away before that could occur. </p> <p>“They worked again on bringing him back,” Mark said. “I held his hand and it felt cold. After an hour-and-a-half, they couldn’t bring him back.</p> <p>Mark and the rest of Dallas’ family are now asking the coroner to investigate, hoping for some answers into why Dallas - who was healthy and had no known pre-existing medical conditions - had died under these circumstances, because they “don’t want this to happen to anyone else.</p> <p>“I don’t want this to happen to any other kid, I don’t think Dallas would want this either.”</p> <p>As Mark went on to explain, he wanted “only good things” to come out of it, certain that his son would have wanted his friends to continue playing, rather than hanging up their boots in the wake of Dallas’ passing. </p> <p>“That’s life,” Mark said, “things can happen, accidents can happen. I just don’t want this to affect the footy club.” </p> <p>“But I want only good things to come from this. Dallas would still want them to play footy instead of not playing footy.</p> <p>“That’s life, things can happen, accidents can happen, I just don’t want this to affect the footy club.”</p> <p>According to Mark, Dallas had been “growing up so well”, devoting his life to the sport that he loved, and confessed that “it’s still hard to comprehend I won’t be driving him to footy, and him telling me what he’s going to do today.”</p> <p>“He was just a great kid. There was never a bad word about him. He had great people around him, quiet and polite.”</p> <p>The same message carried on across Castlemaine Football Netball Club’s heartfelt tribute to their young star - in which they also confirmed the heartbreaking news - with many of Dallas’ friends and teammates taking to the comments to share their messages of love and loss. </p> <p>“Dallas loved his football, he loved his Club, and he loved his team mates,” they wrote. “It is unfathomable to us that he is gone. At the behest of his family, training will continue to be offered this week to honour the fact that he would never want his death to dampen our love of the game …</p> <p>“To our wider football and netball community who have provided condolences, sent personal messages and posted tributes - we feel your support.</p> <p>“Our focus is now on Dallas’s family, his teammates, friends, and our wider Club community as we process his loss and come to terms with our collective grief.”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcastlemainefnc%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02M48rZWpbd9kF8Y4ZsUvjhePYW89J74kkBDSKdGTZBCLZJME4UVNwioD9RaxjYKvvl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="738" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><em>Images: Facebook, 9News / Nine</em></p>

Caring

Iconic Aussie author caught up in bizarre book ban

<p>Australian author Mem Fox, best known for her iconic <em>Possum Magic </em>book, has become the latest writer caught up in Florida’s wave of book bans. </p> <p>Her 1988 release <em>Guess What?</em> is the target, facing the ban in schools throughout Duval County over allegations of “pornography” in its depictions of nudity.</p> <p>The 2022 Florida law, part of the parental rights in conservative governor Ron DeSanti’s education bill, prohibits adults from distributing on school premises any content “of a person or portion of the human body which depicts nudity or sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sexual battery, bestiality, or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to minors".</p> <p>Punishment for not complying includes a third-degree felony, which can mean a prison sentence of up to five years for any individual caught. </p> <p>The book asks children to guess the identity of character Daisy O’Grady with a series of questions - all yes or no - before finally revealing that she’s actually a witch. </p> <p>Illustrations through <em>Guess What?</em> - created by illustrator Vivienne Goodman - see Daisy going about her day-to-day routine, including one key ‘problem’ activity: taking a bath. </p> <p>It’s this scene that caused the trouble for Fox, with some dubbing it “pornographic”. </p> <p>However, it isn’t the first time that<em> Guess What? </em>has come into question for its depictions - past reviews took issue with its images of dead fish in underwear as well. </p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/05/GuessWhat_Embed.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>Fox doesn’t seem too concerned about the ban though, with her agent even telling <em>The Guardian </em>that “Duval County is a county of 997,000 people in Florida. It is not important."</p> <p>As Fox herself said on <em>ABC Radio</em>, “it's pitiful, isn't it? It's like, the Americans keep killing each other with guns and then they do things like this as well.</p> <p>"You just feel sorry for them, you just think, 'people, you're so unsophisticated, you're so pitiful'.”</p> <p>She went on to note that Americans had treated her well in the past, in her 100-plus visits to the country over the course of her career. </p> <p>"They were so kind to me, they were so, so good, so generous, so warm-hearted, so affirming,” she said. “I just grieve for them.”</p> <p>And when it came to the bath time scene, she was firm in her stance that it is “completely appropriate. </p> <p>"She's washing herself, she's sort of sitting in this sink, you can't see any of her private parts at all.</p> <p>"The whole book is about guessing who this person is, it turns out to be a witch in the end."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty, Facebook</em></p>

Books

Iconic footy commentator reveals tragic diagnosis

<p dir="ltr">Broadcasting legend Sandy Roberts has shared the details of his ongoing health battle, after being diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 73-year-old has returned to the MCG as he is fronting a new campaign to help save the lives of others, and himself, by trying to find a cure.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have so many great, fond memories of this mighty ground,” says the former Channel 7 AFL commentator in the campaign launch.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is my greatest call ... help me find a cure for myeloma.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Roberts’ cancer was found last year after he had a fall and had to undergo a series of x-rays.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite always staying active during his retirement, he has broken his ribs in the fall, while the scans also showed the much more sinister diagnosis.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If I hadn’t fallen down the stairs, I wouldn’t have known I had multiple myeloma,” Roberts exclusively told <a href="https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/broadcasting-legend-sandy-roberts-facing-frightening-health-battle-with-incurable-cancer-c-10658323" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7NEWS</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The doctor finished up saying, ‘Of course, you’ve also got cancer’. Well, you could have blown us down with a feather. I mean, we had absolutely no idea … I mean, what’s he talking about?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Myeloma is a rare type of blood cancer, with experts saying that it is one of the few cancers in the 21st century that remains incurable.</p> <p dir="ltr">”Almost 30 per cent (of sufferers) die within 18 months of being diagnosed,” Roberts said during the campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr">For 40 years, Roberts was the face of Channel Seven sport, with his unique commentary being known for his cheeky and witty takes on sporting games.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since being diagnosed, Roberts has undergone chemotherapy and radiation, which has left him desperately sick and having to remain in hospital for extended stays.</p> <p dir="ltr">”I lost weight and I was weak and lethargic ... yeah, it wasn’t pleasant,” Roberts said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Roberts’ wife, Carolyn, said the illness had taken an emotional toll on him and his entire family.</p> <p dir="ltr">”Sometimes you want to fall into a hole, you definitely do,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And there were times when I’d go into the bedroom and cry, and I’m sure Sandy did the same, but you’ve got to keep going.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With new treatments helping him feel much stronger, he is thrilled to be the face of the long overdue awareness campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr">The campaign is aimed to raise awareness for the overlooked type of cancer, while experts are also asking for donations to help fund their research into a cure.</p> <p dir="ltr">”Experts within Myeloma Australia and around the world are saying that a cure is very close,” Roberts said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So fingers crossed it’s REALLY close.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Seven</em></p>

Caring

Rare sighting as famous friends step out in support of Michael J. Fox

<p>Michael J. Fox has been joined by a host of his famous friends for a screening of his upcoming documentary. </p> <p>The new documentary explores the <em>Back to the Future</em> star's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease, and the changes in his life and condition as he gets older. </p> <p>In a show of support for the actor, his celebrity mates joined together for a screening of <em>Still</em> at New York's Lincoln Center. </p> <p>Among the famous faces was actress Meg Ryan, who has not been spotted in public for more than six months. </p> <p>The former rom-com queen, best known for starring roles in films like <em>When Harry Met Sally</em>, <em>Sleepless in Seattle</em> and <em>You’ve Got Mail</em>, lives a more quiet life outside of the spotlight these days.</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/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?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/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tracy Pollan (@tracy.pollan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ryan hasn’t appeared on screen since the 2015 film <em>Ithaca</em>, which she also directed.</p> <p>However, she is plotting a return to screens later this year, with Ryan starring in and directing the film <em>What Happens Later</em>, which is currently in production.</p> <p>Ryan was among a star-studded group of famous friends supporting J. Fox for the premiere of his doco, with stars including Bill Murray, Denis Leary, Joan Jett, Katie Couric, Mariska Hargitay, and Debra Messing. </p> <p>The screening of the documentary comes after Michael J. Fox <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> that his battle with the disease is getting more difficult. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna be 80,” he said in a preview for an upcoming episode of the American current affairs program <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">CBS Sunday Mornin</em>g, according to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Page Six</em>.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">In the clip, Journalist Jane Pauley tells Fox that he has “not squandered” but that his condition will eventually “make the call” as to when it’s his time to go.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“Yeah, it’s, it’s banging on the door,” the actor said.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher.”</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

“I’m not gonna be 80": Michael J. Fox's tragic admission

<p>Beloved actor Michael J. Fox is acknowledging how difficult his more than 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease has become.</p> <p>“I’m not gonna be 80,” the Back to the Future star said in a preview for an upcoming episode of the American current affairs program <em>CBS Sunday Mornin</em>g, according to <em>Page Six</em>.</p> <p>In the clip, Journalist Jane Pauley tells Fox that he has “not squandered” but that his condition will eventually “make the call” as to when it’s his time to go.</p> <p>“Yeah, it’s, it’s banging on the door,” the actor said.</p> <p>“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher.”</p> <p>Fox revealed that he had surgery to remove a benign tumour on his spine, but the procedure “messed up” his walking and so he started to “break” other parts of his body, including his arm, elbow, face and hand.</p> <p>He added that the “big killer” of Parkinson’s disease is “falling” and can also be “aspirating food and getting pneumonia”, pointing out that it is “all these subtle ways that gets you.”</p> <p>You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s,” he said. “So – so I’ve been – I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it.”</p> <p>The actor was diagnosed with the brain disorder at just 29. He has since become a leading advocate for research on the condition, with the launch of the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help educate the public and fund studies.</p> <p>He has previously revealed that he does not fear death.</p> <p>“I’m really blunt with people about cures. When they ask me if I will be relieved of Parkinson’s in my lifetime, I say, ‘I’m 60 years old, and science is hard. So, no,’” he admitted in an AARP magazine profile in December 2021.</p> <p>“I am genuinely a happy guy. I don’t have a morbid thought in my head — I don’t fear death. At all.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

“Game-changer”: Michael J Fox shares huge medical news

<p dir="ltr">Michael J Fox has shared news of a medical breakthrough into Parkinson’s disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 61-year-old – who was diagnosed with the disease in 1991 – was thrilled to share the news, despite suffering a “terrible year”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fox told <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2023/04/12/michael-j-fox-parkinsons-biomarker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Stat News</em></a> that he had broken multiple bones after a fall, including some in his hand and face, but has said that in some ways he is “feeling better”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite his own personal battle, the <em>Back to the Future</em> star was overjoyed to share the breakthrough in Parkinson’s research.</p> <p dir="ltr">The study – funded by Fox’s charity organisation that aims to find a cure for Parkinson’s – found that a key Parkinson's pathology can now be identified by examining spinal fluid from living patients, allowing earlier intervention.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s all changed. It can be known and treated early on. It’s huge,” he said</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is the thing. This is the big reward. This is the big trophy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The findings, published in <em>The Lancet Neurology</em>, are the result of a 1,123-person study that Fox’s foundation has put hundreds of millions of dollars into since it began in 2010.</p> <p dir="ltr">An editorial in the medical journal has also called this research “a game-changer in Parkinson’s disease diagnostics, research, and treatment trials”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In late 2022 the actor opened up about his struggle with Parkinson’s in his emotional acceptance speech for the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/michael-j-fox-reveals-more-details-about-his-struggle-with-parkinson-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jean Hershel Humanitarian Award</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the speech he said that the hardest part “was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation,” but has since felt relieved after an “outpouring of support” from the public and his peers.</p> <p><em>Image: Frazer Harrison for Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

Jamie Foxx hospitalised

<p>Corinne Foxx, eldest daughter of American actor Jamie Foxx, has shared the news of her father’s hospitalisation.</p> <p>Taking to social media with a post on behalf of the entire Foxx family, Corinne revealed that Jamie “experienced a medical complication”, and that thanks to “quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery.” </p> <p>The 29-year-old actress went on to add that the family were grateful from the thoughts and prayers of Jamie’s followers, and that they were requesting privacy during their difficult time. </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/Cq9NCSnu3gq/?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/Cq9NCSnu3gq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Corinne Foxx (@corinnefoxx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>A source informed <em>TMZ</em> that Jamie’s condition had been so serious that members of the actor’s family had raced in from out of town to see him in hospital, but that “he’s communicating now, and that’s good news.” </p> <p>The scare comes just weeks after Jamie returned to the set of his film <em>Back in Action</em>, in the wake of reports breaking that the star had fired multiple people working on the project - an executive producer and two directors. </p> <p>“There have been some issues on set and Jamie has had a major ‘meltdown’ over it all,” a source told<em> The Sun</em> at the time. “He demanded the problems be sorted immediately and sacked four of the production staff, as if that would magically improve the situation.</p> <p>“Some people working on it are totally fed up with how this has played out and Jamie has become pretty unpopular.”</p> <p>It remains unclear whether or not Jamie’s illness will impact the filming schedule for <em>Back in Action</em>. As recently as days before his incident, Jamie had been seen recording scenes with co-star Cameron Diaz in England. </p> <p>Cameron had previously announced her retirement from acting, but credited Jamie with getting her back on board when she signed up to star alongside him - in their third film project together - when she declared on social media that “only you [Jamie Foxx] could get me back in action. I can’t frickin’ wait it’s gonna be a blast!”</p> <p>And while rumours have swirled that Cameron intended to resume her retirement following the reported on set ‘drama’, a source stressed to<em> Page Six </em>that this was not the case. </p> <p>“When you are in a position of authority, sometimes you have to make decisions to let people go who do not share the same vision as you,” the source said, before explaining that they would be surprised to learn of any lingering tensions between the film’s two stars. </p> <p>“Cameron is a businessperson and understands that this is necessary at times and, honestly, Jamie is the only reason that she is doing this film and they are still very close.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

News

Great Scott! Michael J. Fox poses with new pup

<p>Michael J. Fox has a new furry friend, and fans are saying the pup resembles the dog from the <em>Back to the Future</em> movies.</p> <p>The 61-year-old icon shared a post on Instagram featuring himself snuggled up with his adorable new dog, whom he named Blue.</p> <p>The star captioned his post, “Hey Blue, welcome to your new home!”</p> <p>Fans of Fox flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the new pup as well as comparing the dog’s looks to Dr Emmet Brown’s dog in the <em>Back to the Future</em> trilogy.</p> <p>The dog featured in the trilogy, the infamous Einstein, was a similar breed to Fox’s new furry friend.</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/CpePqBRr3A5/?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/CpePqBRr3A5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>People wrote comments such as, “Einstein came back using the time machine,” and “Aww he looks like a baby Einstein!”</p> <p>The dog in the films was a fully grown sheepdog that went on some serious adventures with Fox’s character, Marty McFly and Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd.</p> <p>Several A-list stars also took to the comments on Fox’s post.</p> <p>“Oh my gosh!! So cute 🥰,” wrote Julianne Moore.</p> <p>Jennifer Grey from <em>Dirty Dancing</em> expressed her thoughts through a series of emojis, commenting, “💞🐶👅🐶👅💞,"</p> <p>Fox is known to be a dog lover, having mourned the loss of his previous dog, Gus, in April of 2021.</p> <p>When he announced the loss of Gus on Instagram, he captioned his post, “Gus - great dog and loyal friend, we'll miss you.”</p> <p>The actor has mentioned several times how much of a “wonder dog” Gus had been over the years.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram/Reddit</em></p>

Family & Pets

Back to the Future stars reunite

<p>It’s been 37 years since the cinematic masterpiece, Back to the Future part 1, graced our screens. You might be wondering where they are now, although the appropriate question would be, “when the hell are they?”</p> <p>The Back to the Future stars joined up at a fan convention in Portland, USA, and the excitement from fans sighting Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Thomas Wilson used up a lot more energy than 1.21 gigawatts.</p> <p>Last year, Fox and Lloyd came together on stage at Comic-Con in New York in an emotional display, which brought fans in the audience to tears.</p> <p>On stage, Fox said, referring to his co-star Lloyd, “The best part of the movie was working with Chris,” going on to say he was a genius, also revealing there was “immediate chemistry” between the pair.</p> <p>Fox played the iconic Marty McFly in the 1985 movie. Director Robert Zemeckis had originally cast Eric Stolz as Marty, however, due to conflict with his schedule on Family Ties, Stolz couldn’t continue with the project.</p> <p>Stolz started filming in November 1984 but was replaced by early January. Aside from the schedule conflict with Stolz, it was reported that early footage was also underwhelming. Now that’s heavy!</p> <p>Fox officially joined the production in mid-January of 1985.</p> <p>Fox played Marty McFly in all three Back to the Future movies, Great Scott!</p> <p>The fans are on a sweet nostalgia trip seeing the cast back together after over three decades.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Movies

“What a disgrace”: Grace Tame slams footy star’s child abuse verdict

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: This article includes mentions of child sex abuse (CSA) and child exploitation material.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Activist Grace Tame has slammed the Australian legal system after former NRL star Brett Finch avoided jail time for sharing child sex abuse (CSA) material.</p> <p dir="ltr">Finch, a former halfback, pleaded guilty to one charge of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child abuse in August, but was sentenced to a $1000 two-year good behaviour bond on Wednesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 41-year-old was under the influence of drugs when he left a series of messages on a gay chat-line expressing a desire to perform sex acts on young boys.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, Finch admitted to feeling disgust at himself for making the calls, saying his intention behind them was to obtain cocaine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Tame shared her outrage in a series of posts on social media on Wednesday night, describing the verdict as a shame on Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This pathetic verdict is a shame on our nation. The fact that Judge Phillip Mahony accepted the distorted narrative alleged by Brett Finch that his production of child abuse material was a means of scoring drugs shows just how undervalued children are in Australia,” she wrote over a screenshot of a news story about Finch’s sentencing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The buck continues to stop with innocent lives. What a disgrace.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Let’s be real here: of all the avenues to score cocaine, a paedophile ring is probably THE LAST PLACE you’d need to look. In the words of Robin Williams, ‘that’s like getting chemotherapy because YOU’RE TIRED OF SHAVING YOUR HEAD’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 27-year-old said that whether his story was true or not, the outcome of his actions remains the same.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It does not change the fact that he produced child exploitation material,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It does not change the fact that he engaged with convicted paedophiles, therefore aiding and enabling the cycle of abuse culture and providing the social cue of legitimacy to a crime against humanity.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In response to his claims that the messages were just “s**t talk”, Ms Tame said it served to “dehumanise and objectify” children.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah, that’s all it ever is, isn’t it, just “s**t talk?” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s just “s**t talk” to dehumanise and objectify an underage member of your own species.”</p> <p dir="ltr">During Finch’s sentencing, Judge Phillip Mahoney described the content of the athlete’s messages as “highly depraved” and “morally reprehensible”.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years, the Crown had asked that Finch be sentenced to full-time custody.</p> <p dir="ltr">Judge Mahoney found that there were some exceptional circumstances surrounding Finch’s offending, accepting that he had been motivated by a “patently absurd” attempt to source drugs rather than out of sexual interest in children.</p> <p dir="ltr">He noted that Finch hadn’t created or shared any images and had acted alone and while under the influence, with the offending being “entirely unsophisticated”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I accept that he is genuinely remorseful for his offending conduct,” the judge said, noting Finch’s lack of a criminal record and his involvement in junior football coaching and charity work.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court heard that Finch was at the height of his drug use at the time, which had started in 2013 and peaked with his use of 12 to 25 grams of cocaine a week.</p> <p dir="ltr">There was evidence that he failed to adapt to life after his NRL career, and that he was ashamed of his actions and had been abused in public, prompting him to rarely leave his home following the arrest.</p> <p dir="ltr">Under his release order, Finch must be of good behaviour, not travel interstate or overseas without permission, and must undergo drug testing and treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>If you or someone you know have been a victim or affected by child sexual abuse, support is available. You can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380 for support.</em></p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-0aeebea0-7fff-4515-96fd-837a56bf31c7"></span></em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram / Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

Michael J Fox reveals more details about his struggle with Parkinson's

<p>Michael J. Fox has delivered an emotional and heartfelt speech, during which he recalled keeping his life-changing Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret, in fear it would impact his career.</p> <p>The famed actor was diagnosed with the disorder in 1991, at only 29 years old. It wasn’t until seven years after that he made public his health battle.</p> <p>As he accepted the Jean Hershel Humanitarian Award (an honorary Oscar recognising his philanthropic efforts), Fox said the “uncertainty” of his condition caused him to stay silent the entire time.</p> <p>"I was told I only had 10 years left to work. That was s---ty. That's what happened," he told the crowd, as per People magazine. "The hardest part of my diagnosis was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation. I only knew it would get worse. The diagnosis was definite, the progress was indefinite and uncertain."</p> <p>"Then I entered into seven years of denial, trying to make sense of it all," he recalled. "The kid who left Canada convinced that he would make anything happen, at least by working hard and by believing, now had a tall order in front of him.” He said he told "very few people" about his diagnosis and they all kept his "secret".</p> <p>"Then there were all kinds of doctors who helped me understand the physical processes that were at work, or not at work, in my brain, as the case may be," he shared. "Finally, I felt like I needed to tell everybody. I understood it would have a huge impact on my career."</p> <p>Fox eventually spoke about his diagnosis with American journalist Barbara Walters and the aftermath of the intimate interview surprised him.</p> <p>"What happened next was remarkable," he remembered. "The outpouring of support from the public at large, the beautiful reaction from all of my peers in the entertainment business, all of you, thank you, and the people that I worked with, was transformative."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Caring

Michael J Fox shares sad family news

<p>Michael J Fox has revealed that his mother Phyllis died in late September at age 92. </p> <p>The actor shared the news during his appearance at the 2022 New York Comic Con on Saturday, where he also reunited with his <em>Back to The Future</em> co-star Christopher Lloyd. </p> <p>Michael remembered Phyllis by recalling a funny anecdote about how she thought he was being overworked when he was filming <em>Family Ties</em> in the daytime and <em>Back to the Future</em> at night in the 1980s.</p> <p>He said, "I was 23 years old, and I called her, she was in Canada, and I said, 'They want me to do this Steven Spielberg movie, but I have to do it at night and I have to do <em>Family Ties</em> in the daytime.' And she said, 'You'll be too tired,"' he shared. </p> <p>The 61-year-old star told his mom in response, "I live for this kind of tired. It'll be okay."</p> <p>He then added, "To this day — well, till two weeks ago — my mother thought it was a really bad idea for me to do <em>Back to the Future</em>. She loved the movie, [but she was right], I got tired."</p> <p>During his Comic Con appearance, Michael also updated his fans on how his Parkinson's disease is progressing, and how he remains optimistic despite his ongoing health battle. </p> <p>"Well, in the last year I've broken my cheek, my eye socket, my hand, my elbow … my shoulder. I had a rough year of getting beat up. But that was really cool because it made me realise … with gratitude, it's sustainable," he stated.</p> <p>"If you can find something to be grateful for, if you can find something and say, 'Well, that's good,' … It'll always get better… I'm very optimistic." </p> <p>"I'd say optimism is thinking that things are more likely to get better than they are to get worse. If you believe in that, and you are grateful for it, that'll sustain you the rest of your life," he added.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

Steve Price unloads on women's footy

<p>Steve Price and Peter Helliar have gone toe-to-toe on <em>The Project</em>, as Price was forced to defend his controversial opinion on the "substandard" AFLW. </p> <p>Price, whose opinion piece was published in the <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a_NEW&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Fsteve-price-why-female-footy-is-substandard-and-doesnt-deserve-focus-or-funding-it-gets-from-afl%2Fnews-story%2F559552f19f1c3029abacd048e954ae93&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-high-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a> on Friday, slammed the women's AFL competition for being lacklustre compared to the men's competition, and was "not deserving of the attention and funding it gets.”</p> <p>Carrie Bickmore broached the article with Price, saying, “Let’s talk about your article on the AFLW last week that got a few people worked up.”</p> <p>“You knew exactly what you were doing and executed it perfectly."</p> <p>As Steve began to defend his views, he went on to say women's AFL games are drawing in minimal crowds, and games are resulting in very few points scored. </p> <p>He doubled down by saying the ambition of the AFL to expand the women's teams so rapidly was misguided, saying there was "not enough talent".</p> <p>Helliar quickly interjected and defended young sportswomen, saying the AFLW is only in its infancy and will continue to get better. </p> <p>He said, "I think of my sisters who are footy mad and they would have loved to have dreamt the opportunity - the opportunity to have dreamed to play AFLW."</p> <p>'This is better than it was four years ago, it will continue to get better."</p> <p>Price responded, "Let me clear up what I am saying simply. I think the AFL went too early and too hard. There is not enough talent to fill 18 teams."</p> <p>"They should have gone more quietly and you wouldn't have the issues you are having at the moment. The media exposure is extraordinary for something that is not very good."</p> <p>Helliar then asked whether the Price simply didn't like women playing physical sport, before Price defended his take by listing other sports he enjoyed watching women play.</p> <p>Price cut the debate short by shutting down Helliar, saying, "I don't think you understand writing a column is about an opinion that you have and that is my opinion. I don't mind that you don't agree with it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project</em></p>

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"It loses its value": Calls for the Last Post to be canned from Anzac Day footy

Dreading footy season? You’re not alone – 20% of Australians are self-described sport haters