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Jessica Mauboy shares rare glimpse at her pregnancy

<p>Jessica Mauboy has shared a rare look at her pregnancy with a series of behind-the-scenes photos from the ARIA Awards last month. </p> <p>The singer, who performed at the awards show in a glossy black trench coat and leather jumpsuit, shared the photos on Instagram, while fans previously caught a glimpse of her growing baby bump, now she has revealed more of her pregnancy journey. </p> <p>Backstage, Mauboy is pictured cradling her baby bump and even cheekily comparing her belly to another performer’s.</p> <p>The pictures come months after she was spotted wearing oversized clothes while performing. </p> <p>In September the former Voice Australia coach announced that she is set to welcome her first child together with husband Themeli Magripilis next year. </p> <p>Magripilis and Mauboy met when the singer was 18 and out clubbing with friends in her hometown, Darwin. </p> <p>After seven years of long-distance romance, Magripilis moved to Sydney in September 2016 to live with Mauboy, and they often travelled back to Darwin together to visit family. </p> <p>The couple got engaged in 2019, after Magripilis proposed to her but because of the pandemic, their wedding was delayed. </p> <p>The pair married in a small church in in Darwin on July 2022, with the reception at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.</p> <p>Mauboy previously told <em>Sunrise </em>their wedding was “a long time coming”.</p> <p>“We always spoke about it (getting married) and we would talk about how strong our families are and they get along really well.” </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Woman opts to end her own life while waiting for aged care help

<p>A heartbroken son has shared the devastating story of how his chronically-ill mother decided to end her own life rather than endure a months long wait for aged care funding. </p> <p>After a hearing of the Senate Inquiry into the Aged Care Bill, it was determined that tens of thousands of Australians are waiting to receive their home care packages after being approved for the financial support. </p> <p>Home care packages, which are government-funded through MyAgedCare allow Australians to access support in their own home, including nursing, food preparation, cleaning and help with personal hygiene.</p> <p>It is intended to stave off or avoid moving into costly residential aged care, allowing elderly Australians to remain at home longer. </p> <p>However, 2GB's Ben Fordham spoke to one devastated man about his mother Ellen's struggle with accessing her funds, as she ultimately died waiting for her support. </p> <p>"My mum suffered severe COPD for several years while she was waiting for an upgraded package," Mark told the program. </p> <p>COPD is short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a progressive inflammation in the lungs and airways that makes it difficult to breathe.</p> <p>"Her pride wouldn’t allow any of her boys to take care of her or to bathe her so she got approved for the assisted dying and actually a few months ago proceeded with (it)."</p> <p>He added, "She passed while waiting for the upgraded package."</p> <p>Fordham was devastated by the call and the suffering of so many vulnerable people. </p> <p>"We are chasing answers from the Australian government on this because people are dying while waiting for home care packages," he said.</p> <p>"When you’ve got Ellen choosing euthanasia instead, you know that you’ve got a serious problem."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 2GB </em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.16px; font-family: Inter, sans-serif;"> </p>

Caring

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Mother jailed after hiding her baby in a drawer for three years

<p>A mother from Chester in northern England who concealed her baby daughter in a bed drawer for the first three years of her life has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for what authorities described as an extreme case of child neglect.</p> <p>The child, born in March 2020 in a bathtub, was kept secret from the outside world. She was unregistered, had never met another person besides her mother, and spent her formative years confined to a drawer under a bed.</p> <p>“The child had spent much of its life hidden in a bedroom at the address, even sleeping in a drawer under the bed,” police said in a statement.</p> <p>The neglect left the girl severely underdeveloped and malnourished, with untreated medical conditions, including a cleft palate. Authorities only discovered her plight in February 2023, when the mother’s partner heard unusual noises upstairs and found the malnourished child.</p> <p>Social workers and police arrived shortly after, uncovering a scene described as shocking and heartbreaking. A social worker testified in court about finding the child rocking back and forth in the drawer, adding that the mother showed no remorse and treated the situation with indifference.</p> <p>Investigations revealed the mother would occasionally feed the baby “milky Weetabix” with a syringe and change her nappy. “As time went on, the mother went to work and took her other children to school and left the child in the drawer, alone for hours on end,” the Crown Prosecution Service said. “The baby’s growth and physical and mental development was severely impacted by the lack of care, attention and food and the restrictions of a life spent in a drawer.”</p> <p>By the time she was rescued, the nearly three-year-old child could not crawl, walk or talk. Her physical and mental development was likened to that of a 10-month-old. She suffered from dehydration, swollen limbs and poor muscle tone, conditions attributed to the extreme neglect.</p> <p>The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in October to four charges of child cruelty spanning the girl’s life until her rescue. During sentencing at Chester Crown Court, prosecutors detailed the grim life the child endured, noting that she had never celebrated a birthday, Christmas or seen daylight.</p> <p>“This child has never known the joy of a family celebration or simple acts of love,” said Senior Crown Prosecutor Rachel Worthington.</p> <p>The court also heard that the mother claimed she was in an abusive relationship with the child’s father and hid the pregnancy out of fear.</p> <p>Since being placed in care, the child has shown remarkable improvement but faces a long road ahead. She has started interacting with others and undergoing surgeries to address her cleft palate.</p> <p>Detective Constable Rachel Di Nicola expressed hope for the child’s future while condemning the mother’s actions. “The shocking neglect was on an indescribable scale and the suffering the child experienced will impact them for the rest of their life,” she said.</p> <p>“All those involved in the case have been left deeply shocked by what we uncovered, and we have all been amazed by the way the child has recovered since they were discovered, and we hope that this recovery continues.”</p> <p><em>Images: Chester Crown Court</em></p>

Legal

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Elle Macpherson reveals the reason for her divorce

<p>Elle Macpherson has revealed how her controversial cancer treatment played a major part in her divorce from billionaire Jeffrey Soffer. </p> <p>The supermodel made the bombshell claim in her new memoir, <em>Elle: Life, Lessons and Learning to Trust Yourself</em>, sharing how she was still married to Soffer in 2017 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. </p> <p>Macpherson <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/shockingly-irresponsible-elle-macpherson-slammed-for-holistic-cancer-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refused chemotherapy</a> from 32 doctors, revealing that her decision took a toll on her marriage.</p> <p>“My diagnosis of breast cancer, followed by my final choice of Dr C’s holistic approach to recovery… was not one that Jeff could trust or feel at ease about,” she candidly wrote.</p> <p>“And really this process was the straw that broke the camel’s back… it opened up the floodgates and everything changed,” she emotionally added. “Our marriage was over and we both knew it.”</p> <p>Macpherson and Soffer split that year after four years of marriage. </p> <p>Earlier this year, Macpherson was widely slammed after revealing that she did not have chemotherapy after being diagnosed HER2-positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma: a type of breast cancer characterised by a higher level of a protein that can help breast cells multiply quickly.</p> <p>The 60-year-old said that her former husband wasn't the only one who didn't agree with her health choices, sharing that she didn't tell her family about her plans to forgo traditional treatment. </p> <p>“I didn’t tell my family in Oz, not even my parents,” she stated of her cancer diagnosis in her memoir. “I didn’t want to put them in a situation where they were worrying from afar and I knew that my choices were different from what they may have imagined was good for me.”</p> <p>“The hardest part was making the decision on how to heal,” she added. “The saddest part was the lack of understanding from people close to me.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Billy Farrell/BFA/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Relationships

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Distraught bride explains why no one showed for her wedding

<p>The heartbroken bride who went viral after no one showed up to her wedding has updated her followers on the events leading up to the big day. </p> <p>Kalina Marie, a bride from the US, went <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/what-did-we-do-bride-shares-heartbroken-reaction-to-empty-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">viral</a> after she took to TikTok to share the gut-wrenching video of the moment her and her new husband Shane stepped inside the lavishly decorated hall with their son, as they tried to come to terms with the fact that only a handful of people showed to celebrate with them. </p> <p>“FIVE PEOPLE SHOWED UP!!!!!!! Like, are you kidding me!?!? As you see in the video, we enter the venue. And no one is there," she wrote in the caption of the video before adding, “It just makes me think, like, why? What did we do? Am I that bad of a person?"</p> <p>Her video raked up millions of views with many people sharing words of encouragement, and thousands of people asking for an update on the situation.</p> <p>Hundreds of comments asked Kalina if she had heard from any of the invitees who didn't show up, wondering if they had provided her with a reason. </p> <p>In response to the comments, Kalina made another video to share some context with her followers.</p> <p>She first explained that and her husband, who have been together for nine years, got engaged in 2019 and weren’t able to have their wedding when they had intended to, due to the pandemic.</p> <p>In January this year, they announced they were finally tying the knot in October and for the past 10 months, Ms Marie said she has been “blabbing about it” all over Facebook.</p> <p>“I created a Facebook event and invited everyone I could and also sent out over 25 invitations to our elders and those not on social media to make sure they were included as well,” she said in a video.</p> <p>Ms Marie said she received notice from 40 who said they would be coming to the big day, so she planned for that number by setting up the venue accordingly and ensuring her mum had catered enough food.</p> <p>She also made sure to check in with everyone the week of to confirm their attendance, and said “at least 20 people” had gotten back to her saying they were coming, leaving her asking why those people chose not to show up at the last minute. </p> <p>“If I could answer that, I would tell you. And no, I haven’t really received a lot of messages explaining why people weren’t there or giving me excuses,” she said.</p> <p>However, the newlywed said she was actually grateful for this because it meant she could get a clear understanding of who actually cared about her and her husband.</p> <p>“We’ve been having to deal with the grief of deleting a lot of people out of our lives,” she admitted. </p> <p>“For the most part, we’ve done a lot of re-evaluating our lives and just spending a lot of time appreciating what we have and what we had.”</p> <p>To anyone who has had something similar happen to them, Ms Marie says: “I am truly very sorry as I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”</p> <p>The comments section of the video was again flooded with words of support and encouragement for the newlyweds, as one person wrote, “My heart aches for you,” while another called it “cruel” and “unbelievable.”</p> <p>Others emphasised that it was a powerful learning moment: “You really find out who your friends are when you have a wedding. Sorry, you went through this,” insisted one commenter.</p> <p>“The people who didn’t turn up you don’t need in your life,” another reassured.</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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"I miss her daily": Fergie opens up on friendship with Diana

<p>As the Duchess of York wraps up her visit Down Under, she has shared some of her most cherished memories in an interview with <em>9Honey</em>.</p> <p>Following a busy schedule of meet and greets as part of her book tour, Sarah Ferguson opened up on her friendship with the late Princess Diana, who, like the duchess, is a beloved member of the royal family.</p> <p>"The thing about Diana was that she had the best sense of humour of any single person I know – that's quite a big thing, so it's a really big hole because she'd get my sense of humour," the duchess told the publication.</p> <p>"It's really, really hard to really make me cackle with laughter like she used to.</p> <p>"And so, yes, I miss her daily, and I think in the '80s it was just her and I, wasn't it?"</p> <p>The two women were brought together by their marriages to then Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, and the royal affectionately recalled their strong bond.</p> <p>"There isn't anybody else to know, really, what we know because there was no social media and it was just newspaper headlines.</p> <p>"I was so proud of her, what she achieved, and she would be SO proud of her grandchildren.</p> <p>"Oh, my goodness. Can you imagine? She would be just loving every moment.</p> <p>"She was a great lady, and she still is a great lady."</p> <p>The <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">duchess</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">was originally scheduled to visit Australia in October, after she was invited by her Western Australia-based publisher, Serenity Press to showcase her commitment to literature, wellness and empowerment. However, she postponed her visit to not overshadow the King and Queen's tour. </span></p> <p>The <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">soon to be grandmother of four</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">celebrated the launch of her newest books including </span><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Flora &amp; Fern: Wonder in the Woods</em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> which is a children's book, and  Fabulous Food Art, which is a cookbook she created in collaboration with Melbourne mother and TikTok star Laleh Mohmedi, of Jacob's Food Diaries.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Image: </span>Alisdair Macdonald/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Bride's touching tribute to late father on her wedding day

<p>"Who's going to walk me down the aisle?" those were the first words 13-year-old Bianca Accurso told her mother when she found out her father had passed away. </p> <p>"I knew from that moment that I needed to feel like he was going to be there right there with me [on my wedding day]," the now mum-of-one told <em>Yahoo Lifestyle</em>. </p> <p>"It was always important for me to acknowledge my dad in a special way at my wedding as he was my first love and whole world."</p> <p>Bianca kept her promise to her teenage self when she got married earlier this year, and the way she did it was by tracking down the man who owned her late father's car, and asking him if she could use it on her big day. </p> <p>"When going down the path of planning, I was writing down all that we needed to organise and tick off and ‘cars’ was one of the many things on the list," she recalled. </p> <p>Her husband had asked her what car she wanted for the special day, and she quickly responded "an XY GT just like my Dad’s". </p> <p>It was only when she brought up the topic of wedding cars to her mum that she had her "light bulb moment". </p> <p>"I literally then had a light bulb moment and said out loud, ‘Hey imagine if I could get it..’. I asked my Mum to see if she still had the transfer papers and contact details of the male that she sold it to after Dad had passed." </p> <p>It didn't take long for her to find the contact details for a man named Harold, while the phone call started a little awkwardly, once he realised who she was, they started talking like they were long lost friends. </p> <p>"I then proceeded to ask if he still owned my dad’s GT, to which he responded, ‘I would never sell it’. I had total goosebumps," Bianca said.</p> <p> </p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important; width: 537px; max-width: 100%;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7430359178104802561&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40loverslenssocials%2Fvideo%2F7430359178104802561&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FoQ4D7LDJFHhEO47CqjA4ACqIYzZIQoCfAOeHfE%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1730498400%26x-signature%3DZNBsHGDfkYMa0%252F22tUjN3D3RPjE%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>"I then told Harold the real reason why I had called and explained to him my wish of driving to my wedding in my Dad’s GT. There was no hesitation and he quite literally responded, ‘I would be absolutely honoured to do that for you, count me in.’ I was speechless. The butterflies were fluttering in my tummy... it was a meant-to-be moment."</p> <p>People were moved by Bianca's story which she posted on TikTok, with the video gaining almost a million views. </p> <p>"Your father is watching down crying and praising that man for taking time out of his day to make yours even better ❤️❤️," one person wrote.</p> <p>"The pure joy and happiness on your face ❤️ your dad may have not walked you down the aisle but he made sure you arrived in style..bless this beautiful man for doing this for you on your special day🥰🥰🥰,"  another added. </p> <p>Bianca recalled the moment she saw the car for the first time, saying: "seeing my Dad’s car after 10 years was indescribable."</p> <p>"My smile said it all. It looked like it had never been touched. I could picture my Dad in the driver's seat with me buckled in tightly by his side.</p> <p>"When we were driving in it, it was pure joy and happiness! We were just so present and tried to enjoy every last moment. Harold made us feel so comfortable and gave us a ride that we will never forget."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ TikTok</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Aussie mum jailed after faking her own death for major insurance payout

<p>A Perth woman who faked her own death to secure a $700,000 insurance payout has been sentenced to three years behind bars. </p> <p>Karen Salkilld, 43, an F45 gym franchise owner, claimed she died in a car accident in Broome in December 2023. </p> <p>The mother-of-two, also provided a falsified death certificate, a coroner report and funeral documents, when she made the claim in January.</p> <p>A month later, she received more than $718,000 from Insuranceline, which she accessed by posing as her former partner who was the beneficiary of the sum and opening a bank account in her name. </p> <p>The "relatively sophisticated" scheme was initially successful, until police became suspicious and froze her account after she moved large amounts of the money around, according to<em> Nine News</em>. </p> <p>Salkilld had to visit Palmyra Police Station in person to certify her fake documents, but after three visits, officers realised something was up and arrested her in March. </p> <p>There is no evidence that her former partner knew of the crime. </p> <p>The fitness instructor admitted that she got the idea from a movie after she fell into debt, although she didn't specify which one. </p> <p>"Your offending could not be described as opportunistic," Judge Vicki Stewart told Perth District Court said in sentencing the fitness instructor. </p> <p>"It was calculated and required both effort and persistence."</p> <p>"You were living beyond your means and over-committed yourself," Stewart added. </p> <p>Salkilld pleaded guilty to gaining benefit by fraud and knowingly using a false record to defraud, and was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday. </p> <p>She was ordered to pay a $101,771 compensation to the insurance company. A restitution order for funds in the bank account was also issued - one for $549,195 and another for $67,995 - with the latter being held in the bank's fraud recoveries account. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>Nine News</em> outside court after the sentencing, Salkilld's estranged sister Ann said "it doesn't surprise me that she is capable of doing things like that."</p> <p>She will be eligible for parole in February 2026.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News </em></p>

Legal

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Jackie O donates profits from her new memoir

<p>Jackie O has revealed that she plans to donate all the profits from her book, just days after going public with the details of her past <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tearful-jackie-o-reveals-past-drug-addiction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drug addiction</a>. </p> <p>The radio host shared the news of her past addiction live on air last week, admitting she was abusing prescription drugs and also had an alcohol addiction, which led to her checking into the Betty Ford Centre in Palm Springs, California to seek treatment.</p> <p>In a lengthy statement on her Instagram, Jackie O shared that she had received messages from people who are also battling with addiction, but are financially unable to get the same level of help. </p> <p>"Since sharing my story last week, I've been deeply moved by the thousands of messages I've received from people facing challenges similar to mine but unable to afford rehab," she wrote online. </p> <p>"I was fortunate enough to have access to treatment and I recognise how privileged that makes me. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same opportunity. Which is why all my profits from my book which is on sale tomorrow will be donated to Odyssey House Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre."</p> <p>Jackie O's memoir, <em>The Whole Truth</em>, shares more information about her battle with addiction, while also revealing secrets about her private life and extensive career. </p> <p>She ended the post with a message of thanks for the many people who have supported her and opened up to her with similar stories.</p> <p>"Thank you to everyone who has shared their personal stories with me. I'm still reading through your messages and will do my best to respond to each one. Your honesty and support means the world to me."</p> <p>Henderson opened up about her experience with addiction in a planned reading from her memoir on <em>The Kyle and Jackie O Show</em> last Thursday, where she told her co-host Kyle Sandilands, "I was scared to tell people and say this out loud, I know people will look at me differently and judge me, but I was in a really dark place."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Mother helps raise over $1 million for her children ahead of her death

<p>A single mother from America has left an enduring financial legacy to her two young children in the weeks before her untimely death. </p> <p>Erika Diarte-Carr, 30, started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-erika-and-her-children-with-funeral-expenses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in order to cover costs of her own funeral, as well as providing funds to raise her two kids,  Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5.</p> <p>After setting the fundraising goal for $5,000 USD, generous members of her community spread the word of her selfless actions, with the fundraiser now reaching over $1.7 million USD and counting. </p> <p>Titled “Support Erika: A Mother planning her own funeral”, the page has garnered more than 38,000 individual donations.</p> <p>The page reads, “Dear family, friends and to all of those of you who may or may not know know me..."</p> <p>“My name is Erika Diarte-Carr. I am 30 years old and a single mother of two beautiful children. Jeremiah (7) and Aaliyah (5). ❤️ They are my whole life, light and soul. My children are my fight and what keep me going.”</p> <p>The mother then shared the tragic details of her cancer journey, as she recalled being diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer in May 2022 after presenting for “normal shoulder surgery”.</p> <p>“By that point, the damage had already been done. In that moment, mine and my kids’ entire lives had changed forever, as well as all of those around us,” she wrote.</p> <p>On top of her cancer diagnosis, Erika was hit with another blow in January 2024 as she was diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome, which resulted in rapid weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, and further debilitating symptoms the mother claimed had “taken so much away” from her family.</p> <p>The page was updated in mid-September upon advice Ms Diarte-Carr had just three months to live and that treatments would “no longer help”.</p> <p>The mother added to the GoFundMe page how the excess funds would be allocated, writing, “For anyone’s concern, all the funds that have exceeded my funeral costs goal will be now put into a trust fund for my babies that way I can leave behind something for them and I can still ensure they are going to be ok as they grow up."</p> <p>On October 4th, the mother thanked donors and announced she and her family were able to take one final trip together hoping to leave her kids with “memories that’ll last a lifetime”.</p> <p>Just days later, Erika's cousin shared a post to social media to announce that Erika had passed away on October 12th.</p> <p>“It is with a heavy heart that this is the final update I will be giving for my cousin Erika,” she wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>“She fought a long and hard battle. She was strong and held on as long as she could for her babies. I know she was so thankful for all of your support and love and prayers.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

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Nicole Kidman bids farewell to her mother at intimate funeral

<p>Nicole Kidman has said a tearful goodbye to her beloved mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, during an intimate funeral service held at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lavender Bay, Sydney.</p> <p>The 57-year-old Oscar winner was supported by her husband, country music star Keith Urban, and their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, as family and close friends gathered to honour Janelle’s life.</p> <p>84Janelle Kidman, 84, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/nicole-kidman-confirms-heartbreaking-family-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away in early September</a> after a long illness. The family, including Nicole's sister, journalist Antonia Kidman, and Janelle’s eight grandchildren, shared moving tributes at the service. Among them was TV host Lucia Hawley, the eldest of the grandchildren, who gave a heartfelt speech.</p> <p>The service was also attended by a number of notable figures from Australia’s entertainment industry, including actor Russell Crowe, broadcaster Peter Overton, and his wife, television personality Jessica Rowe.</p> <p>The news of her mother's passing reached Nicole while she was in Venice, Italy, for the Venice Film Festival on September 8, where she was being honoured with the Best Actress award for her role in the upcoming thriller <em>Babygirl</em>. Unable to attend the ceremony, director Halina Reijn accepted the award on her behalf and read a touching message from Kidman, in which the actress expressed her grief.</p> <p>“Today, I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after my brave and beautiful mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, had just passed,” Kidman’s statement began. “I’m in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me, she guided me, and she made me. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking. My heart is broken.”</p> <p>Janelle Kidman’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, but she had reportedly been battling health issues since 2016 when she suffered a suspected heart scare. Her passing comes nearly a decade after the death of her husband, Dr Antony Kidman, who died of a heart attack in Singapore in 2014.</p> <p>Kidman, who divides her time between Nashville, Manhattan, and Australia, remains close to her family despite her international career, often speaking about the pivotal role her mother played in her life and career.</p> <p><em>Images: 9News / Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Cal Wilson's husband shares heartfelt tribute one year after her passing

<p>It's been one year since Cal Wilson tragically passed away, and now her husband has shared a moving tribute in her memory. </p> <p>Chris Woods took to Instagram to reflect on life since his wife's passing, and looked back on all "the little things" that made her special. </p> <p>“It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since you left us. Some days feel endless without you, while others rush by in a blur, reminding me just how quickly time passes. Not a moment goes by that I don’t miss you and feel a pang of sadness for all that you’ve missed,” he began.</p> <p>“You’d be so proud of Mr. Bear; he’s blossomed into an amazing person, full of resilience and kindness. Your love and warmth are woven into him, things I worried might fade but have only grown stronger.</p> <p>“Today, we’re focusing on all the good memories—the joy, laughter, and love you brought into our lives. We want to embrace the balance of a little sadness with a lot of joy, just as you would have wanted.</p> <p>“As we slowly move forward towards the next chapter, your people have been our rock, showing us all the love and kindness that you embodied. We are so fortunate to have them by our side. The cats are as mischievous as ever, and their affectionate antics constantly remind us of all the joy you brought into our lives.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DA9SzFozgaH/?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/DA9SzFozgaH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Cal Wilson (@calbowilson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Even in what turned out to be your darkest moments, you shone so brightly on the telly and we’re incredibly proud of all that you achieved on Bake Off this season. We’ll cherish your final appearance.</p> <p>“Love surrounds us, and every day we throw the curtains wide, thinking of you. We’ll always remember the little things that made you, you.”</p> <p>The New Zealand comedian and TV personality tragically passed away on October 11 2023 at the age of 53 following a short <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/cal-wilson-s-cause-of-death-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">battle with cancer</a>. Her management confirmed at the time that she died with her family by her side. </p> <p>Fans were quick to share their words of encouragement to Woods and the couple's son Digby, with one saying: “Lots of love to you all for today." </p> <p>“This made me cry. I only ever knew Cal from tv, but what an amazing human she was just from my perspective. But, I can see in your words just how much she meant to you both. While the pain of loss will never fully subside, I’m sending my best to you both," another commented. </p> <p>"Sending you all my love today, Chris and Digby,” commented another.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Relationships

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Charlise Mutten's grieving mother speaks out about her daughter's killer

<p>The heartbroken mother of Charlise Mutten has spoken out about her "amazing little girl", and how she will never forgive herself for starting a relationship with the man who would go on to kill the nine-year-old. </p> <p>In her first TV interview, Kallista Mutten revealed what the final days were like between her, Charlise and Justin Stein - Kallista's partner - who was jailed for life in August after being found <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/unspeakably-vicious-judge-hands-down-verdict-to-justin-stein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guilty</a> of Charlise's murder. </p> <p>In the days before the young girl's death in January 2022, the trio were celebrating Christmas in the Blue Mountains. </p> <p>Kallista revealed that during their holiday, Stein had asked Charlise to call him "daddy", saying he was “always going to be a father figure”. </p> <p>“That was a very touching moment for both of us because she’s always longed for a dad,” she told <em>60 Minutes</em>. </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/DBDz4pqhG4e/?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/DBDz4pqhG4e/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 60 Minutes Australia (@60minutes9)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Kallista and Justin met in 2018 in prison and formed their relationship on wanting to build a better life together, but Kallista now says she will always hate herself for trusting him. </p> <p>“I am forced to live with the fact that I trusted someone with my daughter and that because of my trust in someone, I put my daughter in harm’s way,” She said. </p> <p>"I hate myself for it. I really do. It’s taken this for me to wake up and realise that I already had someone that loved me … He’s a monster, pure evil.”</p> <p>The grieving mum opened up about the nature of her relationship, admitting that her time with Stein had been erratic, in no small part due to their drug use, but she never believed he was capable of what happened. </p> <p>“The thought of what she had gone, would’ve gone through, that’s … that’s what breaks me,” Ms Mutten said. “There is just not enough justice that will make it better for me and my family.”</p> <p>Ms Mutten said she understands why she was judged by those who blamed her for her daughter's death and now knows “Charlise deserved more”. </p> <p>“I do take accountability of the things that I have done,” she said. “I wish I had been there more for her and, like, I see that now and I’ve got to live with that.”</p> <p>While Kallista continues to mourn the loss of her daughter, she hopes Charlise is remembered as a bundle of joy with a kind soul. </p> <p>“We just had this amazing connection and that she just absolutely, she was my number one fan,” she said. “She just was just the most incredible amazing little girl.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: 60 Minutes / NSW Police / Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Great-grandmother celebrated her 93rd birthday by skydiving

<p dir="ltr">A great-grandmother from the Gold Coast has proved that age is just a number, by celebrating her 93rd birthday by going skydiving. </p> <p dir="ltr">Betty Gregory first got a taste for the thrill of being in the sky when she was just 17 and working in England's Royal Air Force.</p> <p dir="ltr">She told <em><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/queensland-great-grandmother-jumps-out-of-plane-to-celebrate-93rd-birthday/707b554c-f6e4-47a5-b63f-b05370bfaaad">Today</a></em>, "I was 17 and I was doing a photographic course where I had to go up in a plane to do some aerial photography training."</p> <p dir="ltr">"I had to crawl past the pilot's legs, where they'd taken a panel out of the nose and installed this camera on a framework and I could see all the little fields with animals and cars on little tiny roads and I thought it would be very nice to do a jump."</p> <p dir="ltr">After she landed safely on the ground, Betty tried to convince the pilot to take her back up and let her do a jump, but to no avail. </p> <p dir="ltr">She put the idea on the back burner, vowing to herself to do the skydive at some stage in the future. </p> <p dir="ltr">Fast forward a few decades, when Betty had settled on the Gold Coast and started a family, she began thinking of the skydive once more. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I saw them landing on Kirra Beach and I thought, 'Now there's an idea, I'll do that for my 80th birthday,'" she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">So she did, and she pledged to go again on her 85th birthday for her second skydive. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I was going to do another one at 90, but COVID-19 happened and everything was cancelled," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Then, for my 91st birthday, my son came up from Victoria and I asked if he also wanted to jump, he said 'well, I suppose if you can do it at 91, mum, I can do it at 68.'"</p> <p dir="ltr">As Betty’s love for jumping out of planes grew, she decided not to wait until her 95th birthday to do it again. </p> <p dir="ltr">"The numbers of my age are getting quite high, so I thought maybe I won't leave it for 95, I'll do it at 93 instead," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Betty admitted she's even gotten friendly with the tandem jumper who lets her manoeuvre the parachute handles so she can spend a little bit longer sailing through the skies.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's exhilarating, it really is - I really enjoy it," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Today </em></p>

Domestic Travel

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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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Fresh claims about Queen Elizabeth's health in her final days

<p>Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shared a sad claim about Queen Elizabeth and her secret health battle that she was going through before her death in 2022. </p> <p>Johnson reflected on his relationship with the former monarch in his upcoming memoir, <em>Unleashed</em>, detailing his final meeting with the Queen at Balmoral Castle just days before she died.</p> <p>In the book, he explained that the Queen had been battling bone cancer and was worried about the deterioration of her condition.</p> <p>“I had known for a year or more that she had a form of bone cancer, and her doctors were worried that at any time she could enter a sharp decline,” Johnson wrote in an excerpt obtained by the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13901877/BORIS-JOHNSON-meeting-Queen-inspirational-words-wisdom.html">Daily Mail</a></em>.</p> <p>Before their meeting, Johnson claimed the Queen’s private secretary, Edward Young, warned him that her health had “gone down quite a bit over the summer.”</p> <p>“She seemed pale and more stooped, and she had dark ­bruising on her hands and wrists, probably from drips or injections,” Johnson wrote.</p> <p>He continued, “But her mind – as Edward had also said – was completely ­unimpaired by her illness, and from time to time in our ­conversation she still flashed that great white smile in its sudden mood-lifting beauty.”</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth died just two days after their final meeting. </p> <p>According to Johnson, the Queen “had known all ­summer that she was going, but was determined to hang on and do her last duty” by overseeing the “peaceful and orderly transition” of power from him to his successor Liz Truss.</p> <p>Johnson isn’t the first person to have claimed the late monarch was diagnosed with cancer during her final years, as royal author Gyles Brandreth wrote about rumours Her Majesty had a rare form of myeloma, a bone marrow cancer, in his book, <em>Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait</em>.</p> <p>He explained that the diagnosis “would explain her tiredness and weight loss and those ‘mobility issues’ we were often told about during the last year or so of her life.”</p> <p>However, the Queen’s official cause of death was listed as “old age” and the palace has never disclosed any other medical records.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/UPI/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Caring

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King Charles gives woman "the surprise of her life" on 87th birthday

<p>King Charles has given a woman "the surprise of her life" for her 87th  birthday. </p> <p>Alice Ryce was visiting Dumfries House for her special day, when she bumped into the monarch who was walking around the grounds. </p> <p>The sweet interaction happened last week, but was only just shared to social media on Tuesday, and showed the birthday girl chatting with His Majesty. </p> <p>"Whilst enjoying a visit to the estate, which is open to the public, Alice unexpectedly met His Majesty, who was delighted to share in her special day," the caption in the video read. </p> <p>"The King was in Ayrshire to support the work of The King's Foundation, headquartered at Dumfries House. Happy birthday, Alice!"</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/DAQ8jRSIPFi/?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/DAQ8jRSIPFi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Dumfries House (@dumfrieshouse)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>King Charles was wearing a light coloured suit and surrounded by minimal staff and security. He also wore a pair of sunglasses and carried an outdoor walking stick. </p> <p>While it's not uncommon for those celebrating their 100th birthday to get a birthday message from the King, it's very rare for anyone else to receive a birthday message from the monarch, let alone chat with him. </p> <p>Just hours after the clip was posted it gained over 30,000 likes with hundreds of comments, many of them sending their birthday wishes to Alice.</p> <p>"How wonderful!! The King always seems so approachable and such a generous person, so glad to see him looking fit and healthy. And what a wonderful surprise for Alice on her birthday, one she’ll never forget! Happy Birthday Alice and God Save The King!!" one wrote. </p> <p>"Awe she must have been so happy to see you King Charles. What a lucky day for both of you," another added. </p> <p>"What a lovely surprise for Alice," a third wrote. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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Arrests made after woman ends her life in "suicide pod"

<p>Police in Switzerland have made several arrests in connection with a woman's death in the Australian-made "suicide pod". </p> <p>The 'Sarco' capsule was used for the first time by a 64-year-old American woman who was “immune compromised” and had been in “severe pain” for “at least two years”. </p> <p>The pod is designed for the user to push a button that injects nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber, with the person inside then supposed to fall asleep and die of suffocation in a few minutes.</p> <p>The Sarco machine (short for sarcophagus) was invented by Australian Dr Philip Nitschke, who has been nicknamed “Dr Death”, said the machine had performed exactly as it had been designed", with the woman's death occurring as "expected". </p> <p>“It looked exactly as we expected it to look. My guess is that she lost consciousness within two minutes and that she died after five minutes,” Dr Nitschke told Dutch media.</p> <p>“We saw sudden, small contractions and movements of the muscles in her arms, but she was probably already unconscious by then.”</p> <p>Dr Nitschke claimed the woman “almost immediately” pressed the button, adding, “She didn’t say anything. She really wanted to die.”</p> <p>However, despite the woman's wishes to take her own life, Swiss police announced that several people were taken into custody over the woman's death and are now facing criminal charges, suspected of “inducement and aiding and abetting suicide.”</p> <p>The arrests took place despite the fact that Dr Nitschke had previously told AP that his organisation received advice from lawyers in Switzerland that the use of the Sarco would be legal in the country, where active euthanasia is banned but assisted dying has been legal for decades.</p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Exit International </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Nicole Kidman reveals her past struggles with bullying

<p>Nicole Kidman has revealed how before she was a household name and an award-winning performer, she was bullied and teased relentlessly through her childhood.</p> <p>The Aussie actress opened up about her struggles in the new documentary series, <span id="U8417448510243ZD"><em>In Vogue: The 90s</em> on Disney+, </span>which gives viewers an inside look at the fashion world during the decade of supermodels.</p> <p>The 57-year-old admitted that it wasn’t until the fashion world invited her into its inner-circle that she felt comfortable in her own skin due to being bullied throughout her childhood.</p> <p>“I mean, I was a red-headed, fair-skinned girl who was almost 5’11 at the age of 14,” she said.</p> <p>“I would get teased, and it wasn’t kind. So every time I was given access to that whole world, you feel like a little girl who’s been given the chance to step into this sort of fantasy world.”</p> <p>As Kidman rose to fame in the 90s, she was approached by legendary designer John Galliano, who wanted to dress her for the 1997 Oscars.</p> <p>Revealing what was going through her mind when the iconic designer reached out, Kidman delved into some of her struggles from her youth regarding her body image and what it meant to her to have a dress designed specifically for her.</p> <p>“Can you believe it?” Kidman rhetorically asked. “My whole life, I wanted to be 5’2” and curvaceous and suddenly, being 5’11 and completely sort of skinny and flat chested was like, ‘Great, we can dress you.’ ”</p> <p>“I grew up watching Audrey Hepburn and Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly — all these women whose style was created with the designers that they’re affiliated with,” Kidman continued, speaking of ushering in a new era in red carpet fashion.</p> <p>“They just loved fashion. So I remember thinking, but of course, this should be brought into Hollywood now, and we should be wearing the things that are made in these gorgeous little salons in Paris. Because that’s what they used to do, so why aren’t we still doing it?”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Kate Middleton confirms the end of her chemotherapy

<p>The Princess of Wales has confirmed that she has finished chemotherapy and is now focused on staying cancer free. </p> <p>Kate Middleton, who announced in March that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for an undisclosed type of cancer, shared the update on social media with a deeply personal message. </p> <p>"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," she began in the video, which was shot last month in Norfolk. </p> <p>"The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she continued.</p> <p>“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.</p> <p>“With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.</p> <p>“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”</p> <p>Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all feature alongside Kate in the video, as they're surrounded by nature, with the couple even showing a rare display of public affection. </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/C_s6SukNNne/?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/reel/C_s6SukNNne/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Princess said that going forward her focus would be on “doing what I can to stay cancer-free” but was “looking forward to being back at work”, with plans to undertake a light program of engagements until the end of the year. </p> <p>“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she added.</p> <p>“Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”</p> <p>She then thanked the public for their support, saying how grateful the family were and how they  had “drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time”.</p> <p>"Everyone's kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling."</p> <p>“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright,” she concluded.</p> <p>The Princess of Wales plans to support her family at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday in November and host her annual televised <em>Together At Christmas </em>carol service at Westminster Abbey the following month. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ Kensington Palace</em></p> <p> </p>

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