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JFK's agent speaks out on 55th anniversary of assassination: "I should have been faster"

<p>The secret service agent, who leapt to shield President John F Kennedy after he was shot, has spoken out about the unforgettable turn of events on the 55th anniversary of the assassination.</p> <p>Agent Clint Hill was the first to react, jumping out of a following car and jumping on the back of the presidential limousine, after former marine Lee Harvey Oswald pulled the trigger at President JFK three times.</p> <p>However, before Mr Hill could position himself as a human shield, a bullet pierced the President’s head.</p> <p>In an interview with <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/"><strong><u>The Sun</u></strong></a> </em>on the anniversary of the assassination, now 86-year-old Mr Hill said he will never be able to forget the day that changed history.</p> <p>“One thing that I’ve never been able to erase from my mind is being on the back of the car looking down at the president, who was lying with his face in Mrs Kennedy’s lap,” Mr Hill said. </p> <p>“The right side of his face is up and I can see that his eyes are fixed. There’s blood everywhere.</p> <p>“I can see the gunshot wound. In the room that’s in the skull I can see that there is no more brain matter left,” he said. </p> <p>“That is something I could never, and have never been able to, erase from my mind.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 405.6666666666667px; height: 500px;" src="/media/7822094/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2cdb89303572412e8d02e6d3b4fd492c" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Clint Hill</em></p> <p>“At the time I never thought ‘I might be killed’ or ‘I won’t see my kids again’,” Mr Hill said.</p> <p>“I didn’t think of that at all. That was the farthest thing from my mind. My goal was to get there to form a cover for them so no more damage could be done.”</p> <p>The former secret service agent also discussed the guilt he still feels today for not being fast enough.</p> <p> “I think I should have been faster,” he said. </p> <p>“My job was to protect them and I was unable to do that.</p> <p>“If I had been slightly faster I may have been able to prevent the president’s fatal wound and that has bothered me ever since. It always will - I’m sure.”</p> <p>Mr Hill also discussed the impact the assassination had on his personal life after suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.</p> <p>From 1976-1982, Mr Hill cut himself off from everyone in his life except for his wife and two children.</p> <p>"I self medicated with alcohol during that period of time,” Clint confessed. </p> <p>“I just didn’t care about anything and I didn’t want to have any contact with anybody.</p> <p>“Friends would come by and I wouldn’t even acknowledge that they were there. I just ignored everything.”</p> <p>In 1982, he was slowly able to reclaim his life back.</p> <p>“I quit drinking, quit tobacco, started to work out a little bit. And I began to gradually get better and better,” he said. </p> <p>“And finally by 1990 I was able to go back to Dallas and walk the streets of Dealey Plaza up into the Texas School Book Depository and look up at the sixth floor window where Oswald shot from and then come away knowing that I had really done everything I could do that day.”</p> <p>Mr Hill said the secret service have a much harder job to protect the President today.</p> <p>“The challenges are much greater to protect the president, whoever it might be,” he said. </p> <p>“And the fact that President Trump does generate a great deal of animosity from various sections of society, it is something that is very concerning."</p>

News

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Princess Eugenie releases never-before-seen wedding photo: "The greatest day of my life"

<p>On October 12, Princess Eugenie said “I do” to her boyfriend of seven years Jack Brooksbank.</p> <p>The Queen’s granddaughter looked breathtaking in a stunning Peter Pilotto gown and now, she has shared a never-before-seen photo from her big day.</p> <p>The 28-year-old posted the black and white photo to her Instagram account, which showed her donning a massive smile alongside her beau.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqfSQgZF-Xo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqfSQgZF-Xo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">#tbt to THE greatest day of my life</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Nov 22, 2018 at 8:10am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“#tbt to THE greatest day of my life,” Eugenie captioned the sweet snap.</p> <p>Eugenie’s wedding dress featured long sleeves, a sweeping train and a low back, which allowed her to proudly show off her scoliosis scars.</p> <p>The Queen also loaned her the emerald York tiara to wear for her ceremony in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.</p> <p>Following the ceremony and the couple’s carriage procession, they celebrated with guests at their reception in Royal Lodge.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo43MillrLq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo43MillrLq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are pictured at Royal Lodge, Windsor ahead of the private dinner, following their Wedding. Princess Eugenie's evening dress was designed by Zac Posen, who was inspired by the beauty of Windsor and the surrounding countryside. The White Rose of York is subtly embroidered on both the shoulder and back which hold together the cape. Princess Eugenie is wearing diamond and emerald drop earrings which were a Wedding gift from the Groom. Princess Eugenie also wears a hair slide belonging to Her Majesty The Queen. For more detail on the Dress and Jewellery, visit: https://bit.ly/2NF0Q2b</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/hrhthedukeofyork/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> The Duke of York</a> (@hrhthedukeofyork) on Oct 13, 2018 at 2:31pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>For the reception, Eugenie changed into a blush and ivory silk dress from designer Zac Posen.</p> <p>The glamorous gown was reportedly inspired by the beauty of Windsor and the symbol of the House of York, the White Rose of York.</p> <p>Eugenie also let her neatly styled bun out for the reception, using one of the Queen’s hair slides to secure the front section. </p>

Relationships

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Duchess Kate’s cheeky Christmas gift to Prince Harry

<p>Although they have plenty of wealth to spare, the Royal Family have one interesting rule when it comes to the gifts they exchange at Christmas.</p> <p>Rather than splurging on expensive products, the royals exchange cheap and hilarious gag gifts at Sandringham House on Christmas Eve.</p> <p>And it turns out, Duchess Kate made the room erupt into fits of laughter after Prince Harry opened the present she picked for him one year.</p> <p>Before he was in a relationship with Meghan, Kate bought her brother-in-law a grow-your-own girlfriend.</p> <p>Playfully poking fun at Harry’s love life, Kate got him the cheap gift which grows up to six times its size.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 332.0552147239264px; height: 500px;" src="/media/7822096/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/85f85b77ee1d4f70b49a9588d2719d7f" /></p> <p>Reportedly, Kate would set Harry up on blind dates in his younger years and when he met Meghan, he sought approval from his sister-in-law.</p> <p>Royal reporter Katie Nicholl said of the duo’s bond: “Harry and Kate are very close, she’s been like a mentor to him and he wanted her seal of approval.”</p> <p>“Kate is different to Meghan in many ways but she has made great strides to help Meghan settle in.”</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/"><strong><em style="font-weight: inherit;"><u>Daily Star Online</u></em></strong></a>, last year Meghan gifted the Queen a singing toy hamster.</p> <p>Although the gift was a risk, it left Her Majesty in “hysterics”.</p> <p>“It was so funny, especially when the corgis tried to take hold of the toy,” a royal insider told the publication.</p> <p>“[The Queen] laughed and said, ‘They can keep my dogs company!’"</p> <p>The hilarious gift exchange takes place at 6 pm in the red drawing room.</p> <p>What are your family's Christmas traditions? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Family & Pets

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The sneaky spot huge snake was hiding in elderly man’s home

<p>An elderly man was in for a shock after a slithery reptile made itself comfortable by coiling up inside an upright piano inside his home.</p> <p>Earlier this month, the man found a carpet python originally hiding in his laundry at his home in Drayton, an outer suburb of Toowoomba located in the southeast of Queensland.</p> <p>By the time he called Ally Wilkinson, a licensed snake catcher from Toowoomba Snake Catchers 24/7, the reptile slithered up inside the musical instrument as he sought refuge.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwww.raptinreptiles.com.au%2Fvideos%2F329070741205578%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“They get into some interesting places that’s for sure,” Ms Wilkinson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/sneaky-snakes-bizarre-hiding-spot-elderly-mans-home-023454296.html" target="_blank">Yahoo7</a>.</p> <p>With the help of the resident, Ms Wilkinson was able to get to the snake after moving around furniture to gain access to the nook the reptile decided to hide in.</p> <p>The curious creature curled up in the back corner of the instrument, forcing Ms Wilkinson to poke at it to have it adjust its position.</p> <p>“Once I was able to get into where he was, it was actually easy to get it,” said Ms Wilkinson.</p> <p>“It was very dirty from the dust and spiderwebs in there.”</p> <p>It is assumed the snake made its way inside the home through the backyard door.</p> <p>“He kept an eye on it and knew exactly where it went, which made my job a lot easier when I got there,” Ms Wilkinson said of the slithering resident.</p> <p>The elderly man didn’t seem too fussed when it came to having the python around, as his yard constantly sees venomous snakes paying a visit, but he wanted it gone before he headed off to work.</p> <p>“Just in the house is a bit too close for comfort,” said Ms Wilkinson.</p> <p>According to the snake catcher, the snake could have potentially been dangerous.</p> <p>“Better to avoid them in general and get a professional out who can remove them safely,” she said. </p>

Home & Garden

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Bad news if you're flying in or out of these Aussie airports

<p>Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at two major airports due to damaging winds currently facing the region.</p> <p>Crowds of frustrated travellers are currently facing cancelled or delayed flights at Sydney and Melbourne airports.</p> <p>Sydney Airport only has one runway out of three operating due to the intense winds, which are travelling up to 69km/h, causing trouble for planes during take-off and landing.</p> <p>The extreme weather has seen international and domestic flights cancelled or delayed, with a Qantas plane travelling from Los Angeles being forced to divert elsewhere because of strong winds.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">⚠ 🌬 Due to strong winds, single runway operations are currently in effect. International and Domestic terminals are experiencing some flight delays. Please contact your airline for more information.</p> — Sydney Airport ✈️ (@SydneyAirport) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyAirport/status/1065704035485806592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">22 November 2018</a></blockquote> <p>“International and domestic terminals are experiencing some flight delays. Please contact your airline for more information,” tweeted Sydney Airport earlier this morning.</p> <p>Melbourne airport has also been affected, as the number of incoming and outgoing flights have been reduced.</p> <p>Flights from Brisbane to Sydney have been cancelled or delayed until further notice.</p> <p>Also affected are passengers from Hobart, who planned to travel to Sydney and Melbourne. Some services from Canberra have also been cancelled.</p> <p>Qantas and Virgin Australia have advised passengers of the delays.</p> <p>“Sydney and Melbourne Airports have reduced the number of flights allowed to arrive and depart each hour, which is impacting all airlines,” said Virgin Australia in a statement.</p> <p>“This may also affect flights arriving and departing into other destinations across the network.</p> <p>“Virgin Australia is working hard to minimise delays for passengers and get everyone on their way as quickly and safely as possible.”</p> <p>Qantas asked passengers to make sure their contact details in their flight booking was correct in case there were changes to their journey that they needed to be contacted about.</p> <p>Angry passengers took to social media to vent their frustrations as they wait for updates on their flights.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Its mental!! <a href="https://t.co/BcuPIQMCku">pic.twitter.com/BcuPIQMCku</a></p> — leo (@lenman74) <a href="https://twitter.com/lenman74/status/1065714556427657217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">22 November 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">What the hell us going on with <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginAustralia</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyAirport</a> ?? What a joke there must be 1000 people queuing <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7NewsSydney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@9NewsSyd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstSyd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@10NewsFirstSyd</a> <a href="https://t.co/XtewdXVKWb">pic.twitter.com/XtewdXVKWb</a></p> — Katie M (@holykatie) <a href="https://twitter.com/holykatie/status/1065706550709248000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">22 November 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">At Sydney airport to fly to Melbourne when met with crowds &amp; chaos. Zero announcements for 45 minutes, no staff in the queue &amp; then once my flight closed I’m told to wait in a v long line to get rebooked or call reservations?! <br />Not cool <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginAustralia</a></p> — Zaahir Edries (@zaahir_edries) <a href="https://twitter.com/zaahir_edries/status/1065712684513996800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">22 November 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Chaos at domestic <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginAustralia</a> bag drop this morning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sydneyairport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sydneyairport</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tn9VxORHcG">pic.twitter.com/Tn9VxORHcG</a></p> — Stephen Mudd (@muddhism) <a href="https://twitter.com/muddhism/status/1065704014182895616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">22 November 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Those who are travelling today are advised to contact their airline before reaching the airport.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Australia’s most trusted brands revealed – and the winner will surprise you

<p>With Aussie’s around the country shopping up a storm for the upcoming holiday season, a new survey shows which retailers have the trust of consumers and the four that have lost trust from customers.</p> <p>According to results of the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7755-net-trust-score-general-brands-201811200006" target="_blank">Roy Morgan Net Trust Score</a> survey, there has been a “big shake up” since July, as the list of top 10 most trustworthy retailers may have the same two companies taking first and second spot, but there are four companies removed from the list completely.</p> <p>ALDI and Bunnings have the right to celebrate, as the two companies have remained first and second, with Qantas and the ABC taking out third and fourth place respectively.</p> <p>NRMA dropped down two spots since July, as they moved down to seventh place from their previous fifth position. With Bendigo Bank creeping down to ninth place from seventh place.</p> <p>The four companies that have lost their customers' trust include Samsung, Myer, RACQ and IGA, with the major brands being booted from the list altogether.</p> <p>Taking their spots was Aussie favourite Kmart (5th), ING (6th), Toyota (8th) and Target (10th).</p> <p>With the rising popularity of Kmart and Target, it comes as no surprise that they’ve made their way onto the top 10, with a massive following behind them.</p> <p>The survey is conducted by asking a panel of 600,000 consumers about which retailers they trust and distrust. The list is then compiled once the results are finalised.</p> <p>The companies that were ranked the most untrustworthy were AGL, AMP, ANZ, CBA, Coles, Facebook, NAB, Shell, Telstra and Westpac.</p> <p>The industries that received the lowest ratings were Banking, Media and Mining and Petroleum.</p> <p>The highest scores were given to Retail, Consumer Products and Supermarkets.</p> <p>“Trust is vital to the success of any business, but the key message of the Roy Morgan Net Trust Score survey is that growing distrust can be a disaster, leading to customer churn, loss of market share and in some cases a long slide into oblivion,” said Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, in a statement.</p> <p>“Trust is not just a ‘marketing’ or ‘comms’ issue – it goes to the heart of corporate culture and governance for every company.</p> <p>“Whether it’s Facebook, the big banks or our major utilities, directors and their management teams need to think about the social drivers of trust and distrust – ethics, believability, integrity and transparency.”</p> <p><strong>Australia’s most trusted brands:</strong></p> <ol> <li>ALDI</li> <li>Bunnings</li> <li>Qantas</li> <li>ABC</li> <li>Kmart</li> <li>ING</li> <li>NRMA</li> <li>Toyota</li> <li>Bendigo Bank</li> <li>Target</li> </ol> <p>Do you agree with this list? Who would make your top 10? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Money & Banking

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The easy way you could lose your driver's licence this Christmas

<p>We’ve been told time and time again to put away our phones when behind the wheel, but it seems as if the message still isn’t hitting home with many drivers.</p> <p>With close to 850 people a week caught using their mobile phones while driving, over the Christmas period laws are about to get a whole lot tougher, with 10 demerit points added to your licence if you’re caught taking part in the illegal activity.</p> <p>Statistics show that 15 per cent of motorists are choosing not to follow the rules because they believe they won’t get caught, and in the last financial year, authorities saw a 20 per cent increase of people who use their phones while on the road.</p> <p>Australian police have handed out close to 42,000 fines regarding illegal mobile phone use.</p> <p>“If you get caught over the Christmas period and you’ve been caught before, you are almost certainly going to lose your licence,” said Peter Khoury, a spokesperson for the NRMA to <a rel="noopener" href="https://tendaily.com.au/news/australia/a181113npk/lose-10-demerit-points-if-you-use-your-phone-while-driving-this-christmas-20181114" target="_blank"><em>10 News First</em></a>.</p> <p>“On top of all of that, the number of people being killed because of this behaviour is far too high,” he said.</p> <p>When looking at the numbers, it’s scary to see so many fatalities on the road being caused by mobile phone use – 1 in 15 to be exact.</p> <p>And that number keeps growing, despite campaigns and constant reminders for drivers to put their phones away. The risky habit has increased by 18 per cent since 2014-15.</p> <p>“There are more smartphones in this country per capita than anywhere else and we know that young people in particular are at risk. When you look at fatalities among young people, about 40 per cent are as a result of people using their phones,” said Mr Khoury.</p> <p>Mr Khoury has offered his advice for those that find it hard to ditch the habit.</p> <p>“If the temptation is too great, put the phone in the glove box. If you can reach the glove box, put it in the boot.”</p> <p>To combat the issue even further, new technology is currently being tested throughout NSW that gives police the opportunity to look inside people’s cars to see if they are using their mobile phones.</p> <p>The NRMA is on board with the initiative as long as it comes with warning signs.</p> <p>“Education … backed up by strong enforcement is the most effective way to stop people using their phones illegally behind the wheel,” said Mr Khoury.</p> <p>Depending on the state you live in, the consequences may differ.</p> <p>Most states introduce double demerits throughout the holiday period.</p> <p><strong>Mobile phone use penalties per state:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/mobilephones/know-the-rules.html" target="_blank">New South Wales</a>: Five demerit points and a fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/driver-safety/mobile-phones-and-driving" target="_blank">Victoria</a>: Four demerit points and a $476 fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/mobile-phones" target="_blank">Queensland</a>: Three demerit points and a $391 fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/offences-and-penalties#summaryofoffences" target="_blank">South Australia</a>: Three demerit points and a $334 fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rsc.wa.gov.au/Rules-Penalties/Browse/Mobile-Phones" target="_blank">Western Australia</a>: Three demerit points and a $400 fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.police.tas.gov.au/what-we-do/traffic-policing/traffic-tuesday/21-mobile-phones/" target="_blank">Tasmania</a>: Three demerit points and a $300 fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://police.act.gov.au/road-safety/safe-driving/driver-distraction" target="_blank">Australian Capital Territory</a>: Four demerit points and a $548 fine</li> <li><a rel="noopener" href="https://nt.gov.au/driving/driving-offences-and-penalties/traffic-offences-and-penalties" target="_blank">Northern Territory</a>: Three demerit points and a $250 fine</li> </ul>

Legal

News

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Fergie shares what Princess Diana would tell Kate and Meghan

<p>In a new interview with <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Good Morning Britain</em>, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has opened up about the emotional thoughts that flooded her mind at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding on May 19.</p> <p>Fergie, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, explained that the wedding was so “moving” that she broke down in tears at Windsor Castle.</p> <p>“It was nerve wracking, and I was glad I didn’t trip over with those high heeled shoes on,” she said about her royal 'comeback'.</p> <p>“The minute I started to walk (from the car) I kept thinking of Diana in my heart and I thought of my mum and my father who would say, ‘Come on, the show goes on get on with it!’ He always taught me to walk tall.</p> <p>“It was quite extraordinary. I really sort of looked around and thought, ‘Are they [cheering] for me?’</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 310px; height: 500px;" src="/media/7822067/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8ed60e1603cb45da98ce54d7804947d9" /></p> <p>“And someone went, ‘Fergie’ and it was like the old Fergie was back.</p> <p>“I felt that sense of support from the crowds which was very kind,” she said.</p> <p>“As I came around the corner (of the church), the thing that made me cry was the kind people (in the crowds) who had been so lovely, plus Jack (Brooksbank, her new son-in-law) was standing there, and coming towards me with open arms.</p> <p>“It was just very moving.”</p> <p>Fergie said that she spent the day remembering Princess Diana, her childhood friend who also married into the Royal Family.</p> <p>“I was really happy for my friend Diana, who I love,” she added.</p> <p>“I felt very, very honoured and grateful for Harry and Meghan to invite me. That is a big, big point.</p> <p>“It was very kind of them and I can’t thank them enough for doing that.”</p> <p>The Duchess of York said the People’s Princess, Diana, would have nothing but love for her two daughters-in-law.</p> <p>“She’d really just be so proud. Even before they got married, Diana would have been just literally going, ‘I can’t believe these boys have done so well.’</p> <p>“They are such a credit to her. I miss her. No one made me laugh better than her. She was hilarious,” she said.</p> <p>“She had this enormous compassion and I honestly think she’d be so proud of the wonderful Meghan and Catherine as well, she’d want to embrace them and say, ‘You’re doing well.’”</p> <p>During the interview, Fergie also gushed about her daughter Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo__xuAgO9w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo__xuAgO9w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Jack and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making our day so special and for all the wonderful wishes as we start married life laughing together. @alexbramall</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Oct 16, 2018 at 9:01am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“The love between Jack and Eugenie is enormous … they are twin flames … they are meant to be together,” she said “We were so proud and gosh I wanted to cry.</p> <p>“To see Eugenie blossom like she has and to be so brave with her scoliosis.”</p>

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Happy anniversary! Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrate 71 years of marriage

<p>On November 20, Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary together.</p> <p>The royal couple said “I do” to each other on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p>According to <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Town &amp; Country</em>, many were not initially excited about the couple’s union as their engagement was shortly after World War II and Philip was considered to be “too German” by some.</p> <p>However, the duo’s love triumphed over their adversity and the wedding ended up being a particularly popular event.</p> <p>The then future-Queen purchased her wedding dress using clothing coupons she had received from the rationing during WWII.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 392.9577464788733px; height: 500px;" src="/media/7822040/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bfe6e1b8224441c8a8e2a2a8de85f46d" /></p> <p>This year, the royals quietly celebrated their anniversary after the Queen visited the Headquarters of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Parliament Square to mark the 150th anniversary of its royal charter.</p> <p>The couple, who share four children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren together, have made special tributes to each other over the years.</p> <p>For their 50th wedding anniversary, the Queen made a speech in honour of her husband.</p> <p>“All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking,” she said.</p> <p>“Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner. He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."</p> <p>During the same celebration for their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Philip shared the secret to their long-lasting marriage.</p> <p>“I think the main lesson we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient in any happy marriage… You can take it from me, the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance,” he said.</p> <p>Last year for their 70th wedding anniversary, the palace released a new portrait of the couple to the public.</p> <p>The special photo of the Queen and Prince Philip was taken by Matt Holyoak in early November 2017.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">To mark The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's 70th Wedding Anniversary, new photographic portraits have been released worldwide. <a href="https://t.co/Jl6elndhFe">pic.twitter.com/Jl6elndhFe</a></p> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/932006703217995776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>The royal family’s official Twitter account revealed that the photos were framed by Thomas Gainsborough’s portraits of King George III and his wife, Queen Charlotte.</p> <p>King George and Charlotte were married for 57 years. </p> <p>Congratulations to the Queen and Prince Philip on their special milestone!</p>

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The bizarre tradition the Queen will make Duchess Meghan and her mum do on Christmas Day

<p>Next month, Duchess Meghan will enjoy her first Christmas as an official member of the Royal Family with her mum Doria Ragland.</p> <p>And according to a royal expert, both guests will partake in a very bizarre royal tradition while they are away at Sandringham House.</p> <p>Royal expert and editor of <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Majesty</em> magazine, Ingrid Stewart, claims that each member of the family, including the former actress’ husband Prince Harry, is weighed before and after they devour their traditional Christmas dinner, reported <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/"><strong><em style="font-weight: inherit;"><u>The Sun</u></em><u>.</u></strong></a></p> <p>Ingrid revealed that the Queen asks each of her guests to “weigh themselves” using a pair of antique scales when they first arrive at the estate in Norfolk for the Christmas period.</p> <p>The unusual ritual was created to ensure that the monarch’s guests are having a great time and are “well fed”.</p> <p>The tradition, which applies to all members of the royal clan, dates back to King Edward VII’s reign in the early 1900s.</p> <p>Although the rules have been bent to allow Doria to join the family for the holidays, the sacred tradition means both Meghan and her mum will be weighed when they arrive and leave the residence.</p> <p>On Christmas Day, the royals will enjoy a traditional turkey dinner at lunchtime after attending two church services together in the morning.</p> <p>After walking off their meal on the grounds of the Sandringham estate, they will then indulge in an afternoon tea spread, which features a “gargantuan iced cake”.</p> <p>In the evening, the family enjoy a candlelit dinner in the dining room.</p> <p>For the Christmas Day meals, guests are expected to “enter the dining room in order of seniority”.</p> <p>Like most families, “paper hats are donned, but not by the Queen”.</p> <p>What are your Christmas traditions? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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A British royal has just snuck into Sydney!

<p>Just a month ago, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were in Australia on their royal tour to support the 2018 Invictus Games and mingle with fans Down Under.</p> <p>Now, another member of the Royal Family has arrived in the country on official duty.</p> <p>Prince Andrew arrived in Sydney this week to attend various engagements surrounding his Pitch@Palace initiative.</p> <p>The Duke of York shared a photo of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge to social media along with a caption.</p> <p>He wrote, "Good morning Sydney! #pitchatpalace On Tour Sydney takes place later today @sydoperahouse!"</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqVtaT5gfi5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqVtaT5gfi5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Good morning Sydney! #pitchatpalace On Tour Sydney takes place later today @sydoperahouse!</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/hrhthedukeofyork/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> The Duke of York</a> (@hrhthedukeofyork) on Nov 18, 2018 at 2:55pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This is the second year Prince Andrew has travelled to Sydney for the initiative, which focuses on supporting Entrepreneurs.</p> <p>Named “Pitch@Palace 2.0”, the program "gives Entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet the people who can help make their business dreams become a reality”.</p> <p>It also gives entrepreneurs access to mentors and advisors, distribution systems and supply chains, connections and investment.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjzqLgHgTpq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjzqLgHgTpq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A wonderful and proud day celebrating Her Majesty’s birthday and @hrhthedukeofyork for his first Trooping the Colour as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. #troopingthecolour</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Jun 9, 2018 at 7:24am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>According to the official website, Pitch@Palace also has a global component that helps "build access and connectivity around the world".</p> <p>Prince Andrew will also travel to Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and the Gold Coast for the program over the next nine days.</p> <p>Although the Royal Family are heavily watched, it’s not impossible for members to fly into countries undetected.</p> <p>In June, Prince Andrew’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, also arrived in Sydney unnoticed.</p> <p>The 30-year-old was later spotted around Sydney attending a lunch and touring St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.</p> <p>The Queen’s granddaughter spent 90 minutes meeting hospital staff and patients.</p> <p>"What she wanted to come to see, in particular, was the mental health department. She has a specific interest in that, as well as in HIV," a hospital spokesman said.</p> <p>"She also toured the emergency department and inpatient wards and she went to Caritas, our mental health unit, and met with staff, psychiatrists, nursing staff and patients."</p> <p>"The staff were very struck by her personal interest in their endeavours, particularly in mental health."</p> <p>"She was delightful. The staff were really blown away. She was very, very present."</p> <p>"She's like her mum (Sarah, Duchess of York) and her late aunt (Diana, Princess of Wales) and was extremely engaged and interested."</p> <p>Prince Andrew and his daughters have visited Australia several times as Fergie’s sister, Jane, has lived in the country for more than 30 years.</p>

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Fall in love with incredible India

<p>India can be daunting for travellers. With visas to organise, fear of “Delhi belly” and constant crowds. </p> <p>But it doesn’t have to be difficult.</p> <p>Product Coordinator Louise Shuhin spent one week in India in June on a <em>MyDiscoveries</em> tour.</p> <p>The first step was to organise a visa and Ms Shuhin says it was surprisingly easy. Tourists are allowed a visa for India for up to 60 days.</p> <p>“We applied for our Indian visa online,” Ms Shuhin says.</p> <p>“You will need to include a small photo and upload an image of your passport, but it is a simple and easy process that can be done at home with access to a printer.”</p> <p>The tour offered premium hotels and transport, so all Ms Shuhin had to worry about was soaking up the Indian atmosphere.</p> <p>The Taj Mahal in Agra was the highlight for everyone on the tour, she says. The famous white building was designed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. He planned to build a black version of the Taj Mahal across the river, a mirror image of the stunning white version we all know, but he died before it could be completed.</p> <p>“The Taj Mahal should be a place that every person visit before they die,” Ms Shuhin says.</p> <p>“As you approach the Taj Mahal you get the feeling that the building is coming towards you and it becomes bigger and bigger.</p> <p>“Once up close you gain an appreciation for Emperor Shah Jahan’s attention to detail – honouring his 22 years of marriage by spending 22 years to complete the mausoleum. You are able to walk up the 22 steps and enter the mausoleum to view Mumtaz Mahal’s grave and pay respects.”</p> <p>The mausoleum is decorated in marble and stunning frescos. Even the gates are a work of love and art. Visitors can also tour the “guest house” and view the foundations of the Back Taj which was intended as Shah Jahan’s Mausoleum.</p> <p>Ms Shuhin’s tour also took her to the Amber Fort in Jaipur. The magnificent fort comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble.</p> <p>“Once inside we were able to explore the palace, which has key features such as Ganesh Gate, and Mirror Palace displaying the most stunning, fresco and mirror mosaics and coloured glasses,” Ms Shuhin says.</p> <p>Tourists are given the option of taking an elephant ride or a Jeep tour. Ms Shuhin says the Amber Fort was swarming with street vendors selling everything from pens to bags and umbrellas. The tour guide made her feel comfortable to navigate through the crowd and make her way to the fort.</p> <p>Shopping tours offered the chance to learn how precious gems such as ruby and emerald are polished and to learn how marble is crafted, carved and created.</p> <p>India, Ms Shuhin says, is somewhere everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. It’s much less daunting on an organised tour. </p> <p><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/my-discoveries-india-tour-review-taj-mahal-a-highlight/">MyDiscoveries</a></span>. </em></p>

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Why you need to visit the Yarra Valley

<p>Melbourne’s Yarra Valley is a gourmet delight. It has everything that you love – wine, chocolate, cheese, beer and strawberries. Whether you go for a week, or a weekend, you will indulge. </p> <p>If you’re wondering where to start, Yarra Valley tourism has put together some great trail maps on its website based around loose themes such as wine, art and family-friendly excursions. </p> <p>Here’s our pick of the top 8 places you should see in the Yarra. But be careful, you may never want to leave. </p> <p><strong><u><a href="http://coombeyarravalley.com.au/">1. Coombe – The Melba Estate</a></u></strong></p> <p>Coombe was once the home of opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and, as you would expect, it’s a home of grandeur and elegance. Coombe is set on seven acres of stunning gardens. The restored motor house and clock tower now house a gourmet restaurant which serves up seasonal estate-grown produce for breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea from Tuesday through to Sunday. Coombe also produces award-winning wines, which you can taste at the cellar door. Make sure you visit the gallery and the cottage garden ‘avenue’ where you will find the oldest swimming pool in Victoria.<br /><strong>Open</strong>: Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 9:30am-5pm, Friday and Saturday 9:30am-3:30pm, open public holidays<br /><strong>Where</strong>: 673-675 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream</p> <p><strong>2. </strong><strong><u><a href="http://www.gatewayestate.com.au/">Yarra Valley Gateway Estate</a></u></strong></p> <p>Who doesn’t love a fresh, hand-picked strawberry? At Yarra Valley gateway estate visitors can grab a basket and head into the indoor strawberry patch. Entry is free and you may pick as little or as much as you like. The strawberries are charged by weight. A normal 250-gram punnet costs around $4. Strawberries can be picked all year round, however, in winter there are times when the patch is closed to allow the plants to recover. Check with the estate ahead of time to ensure it’s open. Yarra Valley Gateway Estate also sells picnic hampers, local produce and fine wine.<br /><strong>Open</strong>: Monday - Friday, 9am-5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9am - 5pm<br /><strong>Where</strong>: 667 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream</p> <p><strong>3. </strong><strong><u><a href="http://coldstreambrewery.com.au/">ColdStream Brewery</a></u></strong></p> <p>Fancy a cold brew? Coldstream Brewery is housed in a former wool store on Maroondah Highway. You’ll know you’ve found it when you see the large shivering man on the roof. According to the owners, the shivering man represents taking the plunge and doing something for yourself. Coldstream microbrewery creates handcrafted beer and cider. The best way to experience it is to taste your way through a paddle at the bar. Afterwards grab a pizza to share and maybe a pint of your favourite beer to linger over.<br /><strong>Open</strong>: Sunday - Thursday, 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday, 11am - 11pm<br /><strong>Where</strong>: 694 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream</p> <p><strong>4. </strong><strong><u><a href="https://yvd.com.au/">Yarra Valley Dairy </a></u></strong></p> <p>Who doesn’t love cheese? Yarra Valley Dairy is renowned for producing award-winning fresh, soft cheeses made in distinctly Italian and French styles. The dairy farm produces both cow and goat cheeses. The one you must try is the Persian fetta. Of course, it’s only right to have a glass of wine with your cheese. The dairy has cheese and wine tasting, cheese plates, regional produce and coffee and tea. Head to the website and you will find some great recipes for using all the cheese you have bought.</p> <p><strong>Open</strong>: Daily 10.30am-5pm<br /><strong>Where</strong>: 70-80 McMeikans Road, Yering</p> <p><strong>5. </strong><strong><u><a href="https://www.yeringfarmwines.com/a/Yarra_Valley_Vineyard_Cellar_Door_Winery_Accommodation_Wine_Sales">Yering Farm Wines</a></u></strong></p> <p>Fancy sipping a glass of silky aged red in front of an open fire in a rustic woolshed? This is the place for you. Yering Farm wines specialise in limited release, handcrafted, boutique wines. The harvest typically commences with Pinot Noir in the first or second week of March and finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon in early May. This is a working farm. You can often wave to the owners as you come up the driveway and you can expect to see ducks waddling around. The rustic tasting room can be found in a shed. Pull up a stool or lean on the worn wooden bar and sample some of the best wines this region has to offer.</p> <p><strong>Open</strong>: Daily 10am-5pm<br /><strong>Where</strong>: 19-21 St Huberts Road, Yering</p> <p><strong>6. </strong><strong><a href="https://visityarravalley.com.au/tarraWarra-museum-of-art">TarraWarra Museum of Art </a></strong></p> <p>This gallery is the cultural jewel of the Yarra Valley, an award-winning architectural building that sprawls over rolling green hills with commanding regional views. But what is inside is just as wonderful. TarraWarra has seasonally changing exhibitions of modern art. More than 70 temporary themed exhibitions have been presented to date, including the collections of the gallery’s founders, philanthropists Eva Besen AO and Marc Besen AO. <u><a href="http://twma.com.au/exhibitions.%C2%A0">Click here to find out about current exhibitions</a></u>. <br /><strong>Open</strong>: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm, open 7 days a week from Boxing Day to Australia Day<br /><strong>Where</strong>: <span>313 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Tarrawarra</span></p> <p><strong><u><a href="https://visitdandenongranges.com.au/activity/william-ricketts-sanctuary">7. William Ricketts Sanctuary</a></u></strong><br />William Ricketts spent much of his life living with aboriginal communities in central Australia. Ricketts believed that Australians could learn from the Indigenous people and should adopt some of their practices, particularly in regard to the environment. He created this sanctuary as a place for quiet reflection and replenishing the spirit. More than 90 scultpures are distributed through the property, carved into rocks and tree trunks or dotted along paths. You just have to see it to believe it. </p> <p><strong>Open:</strong> Daily 10am-4:30pm</p> <p><strong>Where:</strong> 1402 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Mount Dandenong</p> <p><strong> 8. </strong><strong><u><a href="https://www.yvci.com.au/">Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery</a></u></strong></p> <p>We promised you chocolate and here it is. Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery has free entry and free chocolate tastings. It would be impossible to work your way through the thousands of different kinds on offer. Watch as European chocolatiers handcraft the creations on site. If you can drag yourself away from the chocolate, head to the cafe. Grab a seat and admire the view over the expansive lawns, wetlands and sculpture gardens.<br /><strong>Open</strong>: Daily 9am-5pm<br /><strong>Where</strong>: 35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen</p> <p>Have you visited the Yarra Valley before? If so, tell us about your trip in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/what-to-do-in-the-yarra-valley-food-wine-chocolate/">My Discoveries.</a> </strong></span></em></p>

Domestic Travel

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5 tips on avoiding crowds while travelling

<p>Don’t let the frustration of dealing with pushy travellers ruin your trip.</p> <p><strong>1. Book tickets in advance </strong></p> <p>Purchase tickets online before you leave home and skip the crowds and endless lines at your destination. Smart travellers can avoid the queue when visiting abroad – the London Eye, Britain’s Houses of Parliament, Italy’s Vatican Museums, and the Louvre in Paris all help you keep your cool with online ticket sales.</p> <p><strong>2. Talk to people </strong></p> <p>Your hotel’s concierge or the assistant at the tourist office know their city’s attractions inside and out. Have a chat and get their take on the best times to visit popular sites.</p> <p><strong>3. Sign up for special tours</strong></p> <p>Often special organisations get after-hours or behind-the-scenes access to famous places. You’ll get a guided tour and beat the rush. A note of caution – these tours can be costly, but if large crowds routinely ruin your experience, splashing a little extra cash will save your sanity.</p> <p><strong>4. Visit during the week </strong></p> <p>For shorter lines, fewer people, and better opportunities to interact and enjoy the attraction, stop by during the week. In many cases, you’ll have the place to yourself. Take it one step further, and head to museums, galleries or tourism hot spots after 2pm when visiting school groups will have returned to class.</p> <p><strong>5. Watch the weather </strong></p> <p>Spooked travellers often cancel their plans when there are reports of a storm on the approach. While some travel advisories are the real deal, sometimes they’re not as bad as they sound. By keeping an eye on weather broadcasts, brave souls can often score great last-minute deals or empty attractions.</p> <p><em>This article first appeared in <span><strong><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/tips/tips-on-avoiding-crowds">Reader’s Digest</a></strong></span>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;keycode=WRA85S"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>offer.</strong></span></a></em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Travel Tips

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5 best places to go cruising

<p>Cruising is the best way to travel. You unpack once and can see dozens of different destinations. It’s easy. It’s affordable. </p> <p>But where should you go? Some places are better to see by ship than others. Here’s our top 5: </p> <p><strong>1. Australia</strong></p> <p>Our country has an incredible coastline. Options for cruising are varied. In November a short cruise heads out of Sydney Harbour bound for Melbourne and the race that stops the nation – The Melbourne Cup. It’s a great way to get a taste for cruising and to take a few days out to relax. </p> <p>Most cruise lines including P&amp;O and Royal Caribbean offer cruises through the Great Barrier Reef. Shore excursions on these often turn into water excursions as you explore the underwater coral and marine life. </p> <p>Kimberley Cruises are fast gaining popularity. This remote and harsh environment is hard to access via land. But absolutely stunning when viewed from the water. </p> <p><strong>2. New Zealand</strong></p> <p>Milford Sound on New Zealand’s South Island is stunningly beautiful, especially when seen by boat. The deep water allows ships to get close to the waterfalls as they drop into the ocean. It’s a sight you simply can’t experience from land. On the North Island you can’t go past Auckland with its spectacular volcanic islands – including Waiheke, known affectionately as wine island for the growing number of wineries ashore. </p> <p><strong>3. The Caribbean</strong></p> <p>The Caribbean is the world’s top pick for cruising. With so many exotic islands and stunning coconut-tree framed beaches to explore it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. </p> <p>What is more stunning is the diversity you will find as you cruise. Dominica has been dubbed the “nature island”. Curacao was once the centre of the slave trade, and has strong links to the Netherlands, Cuba has sugar-cane, communist history and fantastic music, and Jamaica is all about rum and reggae. </p> <p><strong>4. Alaska</strong></p> <p>Glaciers, polar bears and dog sleds. If ice adventures get your heart racing, you can’t go past a cruise in Alaska. </p> <p>In the summer months you can also spot bald eagles, orca whales and caribou from your deck chair. And there’s nothing quite like parking beside an enormous glacier and hearing the roar as a slice tumbles into the ocean. No need to get cold or trek for miles – you can do it all from the comfort of a cruise ship. </p> <p><strong>5. Europe</strong></p> <p>European river cruises are the ultimate sophistication. They allow you to travel easily through countries and experience the best of European culture without unpacking once. </p> <p>See opera in Vienna, drink beer in Germany and marvel at the Eiffel tower in Paris. It’s all possible and far easier on a cruise. </p> <p><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/five-best-places-to-go-cruising/">My Discoveries</a></span>. </em></p>

Cruising

Health

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How to minimise the Christmas binge

<p>The Christmas season can be a stressful time of the year for many, not to mention putting a big dent in our bank balances – and on our dietary health. I’m sure we’re all familiar with that feeling of being uncomfortably full by the evening of Christmas Day.</p> <p>For many, the holiday celebration will always be a day of excess to some degree, but it doesn’t have to be a time of absolute gluttony.</p> <p>Accepting that around Christmas your diet will probably have larger portion sizes and be a little unhealthier than usual is quite important, says Lisa Renn, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the <span><a href="https://daa.asn.au/">Dietitians Association of Australia</a></span>.</p> <p>“Christmas is not the time of year to be perfect. Healthy eating is not perfect – it never has to be – and if you know that you’re allowed to have some extra treats, you’re probably less likely to overindulge,” says Renn.</p> <p>However, with the festive season now bulging at the seams as retailers try to extend it beyond just the big day itself, many people have several Christmas parties throughout December. This constant stream of events can lead many of us to let our guard down health-wise, as we get into the spirit of Christmas before it has even begun.</p> <p>With such events, portion control is very important, says Catherine Saxelby, accredited nutritionist from <a href="http://www.foodwatch.com.au/">Foodwatch</a>.</p> <p>“Don’t eat two restaurant-sized meals a day – a lot of people have a big Christmas lunch at work, and then go home and eat a full-cooked dinner there as well. Try just having a salad or a sandwich for dinner instead and you’ll probably feel just as full,” advises Saxelby.</p> <p>Nonetheless, for most of us it’s the 25th of December that is the hardest time of year to resist indulgence. Even one day of enormous excess can undo dieting work if you’re trying to lose weight.</p> <p>“If someone wasn’t exercising and was increasing food and alcohol consumption over the week of Christmas, they could probably expect an increase of three to five kilograms over that period,” according to Lisa Renn.</p> <p>One way to minimise this potential weight gain is to provide healthy options if you’re hosting an event, or to bring your own to share with others.</p> <p>While it’s important to have vegetables and salads to balance out the fatty foods, another healthy alternative is to swap out sausages, and bulky beef and pork for leaner protein choices such as seafood.</p> <p>Dessert is often where we tend to go overboard on Christmas, so it’s always a good idea to have smaller portions of heavy dishes like Christmas pudding. A fruit platter is also a popular choice, especially if it’s a hot day.</p> <p>Another easy way to eat healthier around Christmas is to avoid giving – or receiving – unhealthy food gifts like shortbread or chocolate. Instead, opt for a gourmet mustard, chutney or fancy salad dressing to encourage healthier eating.</p> <p>It’s also important to note that the excess of food available isn’t the only reason people overeat during the holiday season. While it is a time of joy and sharing, Christmas events can also be a difficult time for many – family tensions might be simmering below the surface at lunch, or it may be the first Christmas since a loved one has passed away.</p> <p>“It’s well recognised that there are other emotional triggers that can cause overeating, so if you’re aware of them, you can pull back and realise that food isn’t necessarily going to help,” says Saxelby.</p> <p><strong>Maintaining healthy eating goals beyond Christmas</strong></p> <p>A common trend around this time of year is for mass overindulgence at Christmas, followed by jumping straight into a difficult, almost ascetic diet as a New Year’s resolution.</p> <p>According to Lisa Renn, the key to maintaining healthy eating goals is to practise moderation rather than completely denying yourself. If you set yourself difficult rules to follow, you’re more likely to break them, which will make maintaining your health even more difficult.</p> <p>“This need for perfection in our diets drives rebellion, it drives overeating, and it drives an unhealthy relationship. Nobody’s perfect!” explains Renn.</p> <p>Instead, a good way to allow yourself some leeway when trying to eat healthy is to follow the 80:20 rule. That means that 80 per cent of your diet is focussed on healthy choices, and the other 20 per cent allows treats and unhealthier foods.</p> <p>“Healthy eating resolutions need to be SMART: small, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based. Remember that losing weight is difficult and takes time,” says Saxelby.</p> <p>How do you prevent yourself from over-indulging around Christmas? Share your tips with us in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Jamie Feggans. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/how-to-minimise-the-christmas-binge.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a></span>.</em></p>

Body

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Michael Schumacher’s family release haunting new video of the F1 driver

<p>Michael Schumacher’s family has released never-before-seen footage of the F1 legend as he talked about his successful career, only two months before the tragic accident that would change his life forever.</p> <p>Considered the best F1 driver the world has ever seen, Schumacher spoke about his struggles with self-confidence and who he respects most in the profession in the haunting footage that was posted on his website.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hX7LF20uz3s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The interview is dated October 30, 2013, only two short months before his skiing accident in the French Alps which occurred on December 29 the same year.</p> <p>Schumacher, who is now 49, said he never imagined his career to skyrocket the way it did, but it was his self-doubt that garnered him his many accolades.</p> <p>“Records is one thing. Doubts … I think it is very important to not be over confident – to be sceptical, to look for improvements,” he said.</p> <p>“Yeah, I always felt I am not good enough, I have to work, and that was one part of the recipe that made me what I became.</p> <p>“Talent in motorsport, as in any sport, is important – but that’s not all. You need really to develop lots of different skills.”</p> <p>He also commended his team, as he said his success wasn’t solely due to him.</p> <p>“Success, as in any situation of life or in most I know, is about teamwork,” he said.</p> <p>“Yourself, you do what you do. As a team, you will be much stronger. Formula 1 is a team work, and definitely not a one-man show.”</p> <p>He also mentioned how despite the challenges F1 drivers face, the sport has become much less demanding throughout his 17-year career due to the advancements in car technology.</p> <p>“Formula One is very tough. It used to be a lot harder – no power brakes, no power steering – in the past compared to nowadays,” he said.</p> <p>“But anyway, it is one of the toughest sports you can do, so a lot of preparation is needed.”</p> <p>The seven-time world champion looked back at his career highlights, and said it was his first win with Ferrari in 2000 that was the most emotional.</p> <p>Schumacher had an impressive run as he consecutively won championships after his first win. Those wins included Benetton in 1994 and 1995, then five back-to-back with the Prancing Horse from 2000-2004.</p> <p>The racing icon had a total of 91 grand prix wins by the end of his career.</p> <p>“Twenty-one years no championships with Ferrari, four years myself failing, then finally, in a great race to achieve it, win the world championship,” he said.</p> <p>When asked who he admires most in the adrenaline filled sport, he said it was Finland driver Mika Hakkinen, his rival driver and the 1998 and 1999 world champion for McLaren.</p> <p>“The most respected guy in all those years was definitely Mika Hakkinen. Great fights, but stable private relationships,” he said, as he mentioned how his secret to success was to learn from other drivers.</p> <p>“To develop yourself, to find other steps, you not only look at the car; you look at yourself, you look at other drivers.</p> <p>“And you’re not only looking at your front drivers, you’re looking at everybody. So, I did, because everybody has something special that I wanted to know.”</p> <p>Schumacher went on to mention his immense admiration for technical mastermind Ross Brawn, who he credits his success to.</p> <p>“If you go back to the various teams I have driven for, the various missions – Benetton, after four or five years building it up to the championship, same with Ferrari, we tried the same with Mercedes in less time – is there one thing in common, I would say yes there is: Ross Brawn. Think about it.”</p> <p>But surprisingly, a young Michael Schumacher didn’t grow up admiring F1 drivers, but rather a German soccer player: Toni Schumacher (no relation).</p> <p>“In the young days of karting, I looked around and yes, I saw Ayrton Senna or Vincenzo Sospiri, but my real idol was Toni Schumacher, because he was a great soccer player,” he said.</p> <p>Schumacher is currently undergoing treatment at his Lake Geneva residence, where he is receiving round-the-clock care from a team of medical professionals. His family are known to be notoriously private of his condition.</p>

Caring

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Lisa Curry’s son rushed to hospital: “My poor bub”

<p>“My poor bub after surgery,” Lisa wrote, as she posted a photo of Jett, 24, to Instagram as he laid in a hospital bed with a sling around his arm.</p> <p>She went on to say: “Such a shame to be out of action for months. I know plenty of people go through it but as a mum it’s always tough to see your kid work so hard and then become a spectator.</p> <p>“Rest, recover, come back bigger and stronger. Go Jett go.”</p> <p>But despite the painful injury, Jett seems to be recovering well as the photo showed him looking relaxed while he listened to music.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqcFohJAMo1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqcFohJAMo1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">My poor bub after surgery... such a shame to be out of action for months. I know plenty of people go through it but as a mum it’s always tough to see your kid work so hard and then become a spectator.... rest, recover, come back bigger and stronger 💪🏻Go Jett Go💪🏻 @jertkenny</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/lisacurry/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Lisa Curry AO</a> (@lisacurry) on Nov 21, 2018 at 2:22am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Jett also took to Instagram to share an image of his X-ray scan, which showed a plate of metal screws embedded in his arm.</p> <p>He captioned it: “Sup”.</p> <p>The lifeguard shared that his injury came a day before his birthday as he was chasing an opponent during a game of Oztag and hurt his shoulder.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:449.6487119437939px;" src="/media/7822062/curry-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f54798a2f06143ceb2a1f7419c6e3861" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo: Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jertkenny/?hl=en">@jertkenny</a></em></p> <p>“This is what happens when 85kg goes shoulder first into the ground,” he wrote on Instagram underneath a photo of his injury.</p> <p>“Just mowing a guy down in oztag. Wasn’t getting away from me.”</p> <p>His posts were met with an abundance of well-wishers, as they hoped Jett would recover quickly from the nasty injury.</p> <p>A broken shoulder usually heals in six weeks and those recovering from the sprain are forced to wear a sling until the break is healed.</p>

Caring

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Michael Schumacher’s son opens up about his father’s injuries

<p>In what is considered a rare admission, Michael Schumacher’s son has reportedly said that he “finds it hard” to cope due to his father’s injuries, according to a friend.</p> <p>Five years ago, racing legend Michael Schumacher was critically injured in the French Alps while skiing during a family holiday.</p> <p>His son Mick, 19, stays silent much like the rest of his family when discussing the current situation of Michael.</p> <p>According to Nicklas Nielson, who is allegedly a close friend of Mick’s, Michael’s condition “remains a mystery”.</p> <p>Speaking to Danish newspaper <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bt.dk/formel-1/dansk-stortalent-skriver-kontrakt-med-schumacher" target="_blank"><em>BT</em></a>, Mr Nielson said: “Mick does not say he is sad about his father. He just said sometimes that it is sometimes hard.</p> <p>“I know him very well, also privately. He is a very quiet and calm guy. Very nice and welcoming and he talks to everyone.</p> <p>“It was completely closed and not talked about. I still do a little karting with Ralf Schumacher and his team and nobody talks about it.”</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0GI8zHOcU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0GI8zHOcU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">#Repost @f1 with @get_repost ・・・ LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Congratulations to Mick Schumacher, who secured his first F3 win on Saturday. It came at Spa, where, in 1992, his father Michael took the first of his record 91 F1 wins. Congratulations too for the other F3 winners this weekend - Jehun Daruvala and Dan Ticktum 👏🏆👨‍👦 . #F1 #Formula1 #F3 #Spa #Schumacher #Father #Son #Motorsport #Spa #SpaFrancorchamps @mickschumacher @circuit_spa_francorchamps</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/mickschumacher/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Mick Schumacher</a> (@mickschumacher) on Jul 29, 2018 at 4:31am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>After colliding with a rock and injuring his head while skiing, it's believed Michael has been left unable to move, even after two major operations that saved his life.</p> <p>It is reported that he is receiving round-the-clock care at his Switzerland retreat.</p> <p>Mr Nielson speculated that while Michael may be on the road to recovery, he will officially leave the retreat once he is “completely rehabilitated”, but he went on to say that it is hard to predict exactly what is happening.</p> <p>Michael is considered a racing legend as the German competed in Formula One for Jordan Grand Prix, Benetton, Mercedes and Ferrari, who he had the longest relationship with.</p> <p>He is the only driver to date to win seven Formula One World Championships – five of them he won consecutively.</p> <p>The official Formula One website says that Michael is “statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen”.</p>

Caring

Lifestyle

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Carrie Bickmore gets emotional over concerns for new baby

<p>The due date of Carrie Bickmore’s third child is just weeks away but the popular radio and TV host has candidly opened up regarding her worries about the looming birth.</p> <p>Speaking on her radio show Carrie and Tommy for the last time before her maternity leave begins, the 37-year-old got teary as she discussed her concerns.</p> <p>Bickmore revealed that she was mainly worried about the impact the new baby would have on the special bond between her other two children, Ollie, 11, and Evie, three.</p> <p>“They’re so cute together,” Carrie said.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqbaq0xhX29/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqbaq0xhX29/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">It was an emotional last break of the show for 2018! Carrie is off on maternity leave about to have baby number three. . . . We wish you the best of luck Carrie and can’t wait to meet the new bub. . . . Carrie and Tommy return in 2019!</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/carrietommyshow/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Carrie and Tommy</a> (@carrietommyshow) on Nov 20, 2018 at 8:10pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“They’re a little team. He (Ollie) never thought he was going to get a baby brother or sister and then he got a little sister and they’re seven years apart and they’re joined at the hip,” she continued.</p> <p>“And I know families of three and I know they’ll all love each other so much, but I don’t want anything to happen to their bond. So it makes me a little sad,” she said.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqWw-53HfRb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqWw-53HfRb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Love watching these two do life together. 💖 Despite the 7 year gap they are so close. I am laying in bed at 6.30pm (gotta love maternity leave!) thinking about how their relationship might change a little when number 3 arrives. 🤔 hope they stay super close 🙏</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bickmorecarrie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Carrie Bickmore</a> (@bickmorecarrie) on Nov 19, 2018 at 12:46am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Despite her concerns, <em>The Project</em> host said she was happy her family was growing.</p> <p>“I’m very excited about my expanding family.</p> <p>“Ollie thinks we’re having a boy and Evie thinks we’re having a girl so one of them is going to be very disappointed and one very excited," she added.</p> <p>Carrie had Ollie with her first husband, Greg Lange, who sadly passed away in 2010 after suffering from brain cancer.</p> <p>Evie was born after Carrie met her current partner, Chris Walker, who worked as a TV producer for <em>The Project</em>.</p> <p>Last week, Carrie also temporarily said farewell to her chair on the panel of <em>The Project</em> in the lead up to the arrival of her new baby.</p>

Family & Pets

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Banana pavlova trifle

<p>This delicious banana pavlova trifle is sure to be a hit at your upcoming Christmas party. Not only is it easy to whip up, but it’s the perfect summer treat for when you’re craving something sweet and refreshing for the warm December evenings.</p> <p><strong>Serves:</strong> 8</p> <p><strong>Prep:</strong> 40 mins</p> <p><strong>Cooking:</strong> 75 mins</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <ul> <li>2 cups (500ml) mango nectar</li> <li>½ cup caster sugar</li> <li>4 tsp gelatin powder</li> <li>12 passionfruit, halved</li> <li>8 bananas (Lady Finger)</li> <li>250g mascarpone</li> <li>¼ cup icing sugar</li> <li>1 cup (250g) thick vanilla custard</li> <li>300ml thickened cream, whipped</li> <li>Little pavlovas</li> <li>4 egg whites</li> <li>1 cup caster sugar</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method:  </strong></p> <ol> <li>To make the little pavlovas; preheat oven to 100°C fan forced. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Draw 6 x 10cm circles on one piece of paper. Turn the paper over so pencil mark facing down.</li> <li>Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, 1 spoon at a time, beating constantly until meringue is thick and glossy. Spoon or pipe 24 little meringue onto the second tray. Spoon the remaining meringue onto the rounds to fill the circles. Bake both trays for 60-75 minutes or until they feel crisp and dry on the surface. Turn the oven off and leave the oven door ajar for 2 hours.</li> <li>Meanwhile, whisk mango nectar, sugar and gelatine together in a medium saucepan to combine. Place over medium heat, heat for 4 minutes until hot, not boiling. Set aside for 10 minutes. Remove the pulp from the passionfruit. Spoon 2 tablespoons into a bowl, cover and refrigerate. Strain the remaining passionfruit, pressing down on the seeds to remove as much juice as possible – you should have 150ml. Discard the seeds. Stir the passionfruit juice into the mango mixture. Pour into a 7-cup capacity trifle bowl. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or until set.</li> <li>Peel 6 bananas and slice into rounds. Arrange over jelly. Break the pavlovas into large pieces, arrange over the banana. Gently stir the mascarpone and icing sugar together. Fold through the custard and cream. Spoon over the pavlova. Refrigerate until ready to serve.</li> <li>Just before serving, peel and slice remaining bananas. Arrange the little meringues and banana slices over the trifle. Drizzle with reserved passionfruit. Serve.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Tips</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>To save time, replace homemade pavlova with 150g store bought meringues or pavlova.</li> <li>On a hot summer’s day, place the mixing bowl and beaters into the freezer for 15 minutes to get cold before whipping the cream.</li> </ul> <p><em>Recipe and image courtesy of <span><a href="https://australianbananas.com.au/">Australian Bananas</a></span>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

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How to be a good neighbour: Etiquette experts share their top tips

<p>In an era when our heads are invariably in our phones and time is a precious commodity, our relationships with our neighbours perhaps aren’t the formative relationships they used to be.</p> <p>But friendship aside, there is a relationship to be had with the people who live around us by virtue of non-negotiable geography.</p> <p>So, if you’re always going to be around your neighbours, here are some sure-fire ways to making sure you’re being a good one, according to etiquette experts.</p> <p><strong>Don’t be a stranger</strong></p> <p>According to the director of the <u><a href="https://asoe.com.au/">Australian School of Etiquette</a></u>, Zarife Hardy, do the thing so many of us seem to be avoiding these days: introduce yourself.</p> <p>“Talk to them. Get to know them,” Hardy says, acknowledging not only is it the right thing to do, but it can also work in your favour eventually, too.</p> <p>“If you find yourself solo parenting at any stage, you will be less frustrated by fighting siblings if you know there is outside help available.”</p> <p><strong>Be a good sport</strong></p> <p>“Treat your neighbours as you would have them treat you,” Hardy says.</p> <p>“Your new blower awaits you in the garage, you’ve tidied your driveway, paths and garden to your heart’s content. While you’re at it, clear your neighbour’s footpath and nature strip. You have had a great vegetable season, share your harvest with your neighbour.”</p> <p>Etiquette expert at <span><a href="http://www.goodmanners.com.au/">The Good Manners Company</a></span>, Anna Musson, agrees.</p> <p>“If you live in a house, bring your neighbour’s bins in. It’s amazing how this 30-second gesture can foster great neighbourly relations.”</p> <p><strong>Personal space</strong></p> <p>Hardy says proper etiquette would be to call before visiting.</p> <p>More than that, she says it’s not appropriate for children or pets to roam free on other people’s property without express permission.</p> <p>“Make sure your children are familiar with these rules and make sure any pets don’t use their yard,” she says.</p> <p><strong>Keep the volume down</strong></p> <p>Musson says keeping the volume down would “be the number-one neighbourly complaint”.</p> <p>“Loud footsteps, using the lawn mower before 9am, talking loudly and pumping music [are bad manners],” she says.</p> <p>“If you are going to have a party, let your neighbours know ahead of time and let them know what time the party will be finishing so they’ll know when to expect some quiet time. If it’s possible you should always invite them.”</p> <p><strong>Be mindful of the balcony</strong></p> <p>“Love barbecuing on your balcony? Consider the stink of barbecued fish or worse, cigarette smoke,” Musson says.</p> <p>“Balconies are not the sacred outdoor space in apartments that they used to be. The best tip for managing your cigarettes or barbecue is to chat or knock on your neighbour’s door, ask if the smoke, music or barbecue bothers them and invite them in for a drink from time to time.”</p> <p><strong>It’s never good form to park on the grass</strong></p> <p>“Park on the street and preferably in front of your own house if you can manage it,” Musson says.</p> <p>“This is especially true for trailers and boats and – worst of all, old cars that you’re doing up.”</p> <p><em>Written by Zara McDonald. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/living/this-is-how-often-you-should-be-replacing-your-bed-linen-20180828-h14jrf-760518/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Domain.com.au.</strong></span></a></span> </em></p>

Home & Garden

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Sweet potato scones

<p>Good news! These scones are heart-friendly. They're low in saturated fat because they're made with oil instead of butter. So, tuck in!</p> <p><strong>Makes:</strong> 12 scones</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <ul> <li>1 3/4 cups (245g) plain flour</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon salt</li> <li>1 tablespoon baking powder</li> <li>pinch of nutmeg</li> <li>1 cup (250g) cooked, mashed orange sweet potato</li> <li>1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil</li> <li>1/4 cup (60ml) low-fat milk</li> <li>1 large egg, lightly beaten</li> <li>2 tablespoons brown sugar</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 210°C.</li> <li>Sift flour, salt, baking powder and nutmeg into a small bowl. Stir together sweet potato, oil, milk, egg and sugar in a medium bowl. Stir in flour mixture just until evenly moistened.</li> <li>Turn dough out onto a floured work surface. Pat out to a 2cm-thick round. Cut into rounds with a 6cm biscuit cutter. Place rounds on a baking tray about 2.5cm apart.</li> <li>Gather up remaining dough. Pat into a circle; cut out remaining scones.</li> <li>Bake until golden, 12-15 minutes. Serve warm.</li> </ol> <p><em>This article first appeared in <span><strong><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/sweet-potato-scones">Reader’s Digest</a></strong></span>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;keycode=WRA85S"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>offer</strong></span></a>.</em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Food & Wine

Finance

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Fake text message alert: New Medicare SMS scam costing people thousands

<p>A new Medicare SMS scam is making the rounds costing those who fall victim to the trap thousands of dollars.</p> <p>The scam, which is currently circulating, is texting unsuspecting targets fake messages claiming to be from the healthcare service.</p> <p>The message includes a link, which when clicked on, leads to a convincing yet fake Medicare website that offers a bogus rebate.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.54574132492115px;" src="/media/7822087/6497150-6416157-image-a-42_1542847476805.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d43ee4d07b8942a1b3cc0d92965258fc" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>What users see when they click on the link provided.</em></p> <p>The messages are being sent out to obtain personal information to possibly use for further fraudulent activity.</p> <p>Stay Smart Online, an Australian Cyber Security Centre program, is advising those who are on the receiving end of the message to not click on any links provided, whether they claim to be from myGov or Medicare.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:284.70031545741324px;" src="/media/7822088/6497156-6416157-image-a-43_1542847491237.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9209c9eda8a34d3397beeec90f097a02" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>A screenshot of the fake website.</em></p> <p>myGov has said that when sending out emails, text messages or attachments, they will never include hyperlinks or websites.</p> <p>To access emails from Medicare, it is recommended for people to log into their official myGov account at <a rel="noopener" href="https://my.gov.au/LoginServices/main/login?execution=e1s1" target="_blank">my.gov.au</a>.</p> <p>When reaching the website, make sure the URL has <a rel="noopener" href="https://over60.monday.com/" target="_blank" class="router">https://</a> in front of it, so you know it’s secure.</p> <p>Another way to identify a fake text or email is to check whether the sender has addressed you by name. If not, then it is not a legitimate message.</p> <p>Hank Jongen, the Department of Human Services General Manager, said the department is working with authorities such as the Australian Federal Police and Australian Cyber Security Centre to put a stop to the scam.</p> <p>“People who have received this text and provided their personal details should contact our Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126,” Mr Jongen told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6416157/Experts-reveal-new-Medicare-SMS-phone-scam-costing-na-ve-users-thousands-dollars.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail Australia</a>.</em></p> <p>Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6416157/Experts-reveal-new-Medicare-SMS-phone-scam-costing-na-ve-users-thousands-dollars.html" target="_blank"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a>, a spokesperson from the Australian Cyber Security Centre said that the message has been tracked back to a website in the UK.</p> <p>“The ACSC is aware of a Medicare-themed phishing campaign via SMS, with scammers seeking elicit information from members of the public.</p> <p>“The ACSC is working closely with our colleagues in the United Kingdom to take down this malicious website domain as soon as possible.”</p> <p>With SMS being a popular communication tool for scammers, victims of fraud should report the incident to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN).</p> <p>“This scam serves as a timely reminder to be vigilant about scam messages and to always think twice, before providing your personal information online,” said the ACSC spokesperson.</p> <p>Have you or anyone you know received this suspicious text message from Medicare? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Legal

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Urgent safety recall: BIG W reissues warning for dangerous Christmas decoration

<p>BIG W has reissued an urgent recall for one of its Christmas decorations over safety fears.</p> <p>The item, a Christmas wreath candle holder, <span>“could catch fire and remain alight longer than permitted”, the discount retailer confirmed – </span>which could result in “potential burns or fire causing property damage, serious injury or death”.</p> <p>A BIG W spokeswoman told <a href="https://finance.nine.com.au/2018/11/21/16/49/big-w-reissues-recall-for-christmas-wreath-candle-holders-over-fire-fears">9Finance</a> that the reissue of the product recall was not related to a new incident.</p> <p>"I can confirm there have been no reported incidents with this product, however, we have reissued the recall due to the fact that the 2017 Christmas wreath design was not included in the 8 November recall," they told 9Finance.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 381.459px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821887/1-big-w-recall-notice.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c513e48a71f14e2683f2b06208fbf25c" /></p> <p>The discount department store posted the a “<a href="https://www.bigw.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/h5e/hfc/12507381628958.pdf">Product Safety Recall</a>” message on its website on November 8: “BIG W takes product safety seriously and wishes to advise customers of a product recall on the following product: Pink and gold candle holder. Green and silver candle holder.”</p> <p>Now the recall includes four colours: Pink and gold (689023), green and silver (689054), white and green (609304) and red and green (609303).</p> <p><img style="width: 395px; height: 303px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821888/1-big-w-pink-xmas-candle-wreath.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/20a1c2d9eadd494cb56afd84c825d5d4" /></p> <p>The company explained in the original safety notice that the defect could “catch fire and remain alight longer than permitted by the Consumer Protection Notice No.12 of 2011”, which could result in “potential burns or fire causing property damage, serious injury or death”.</p> <p><img style="width: 396px; height: 298px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="/media/7821889/1-big-w-green-xmas-candle-wreath.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/43371f0df72d4b22b0fe579a1b50721c" /></p> <p>The discount chain has urged customers to take immediate action, stating: “Customers should immediately cease using the candle and return it to any BIG W store for a full refund. No proof of purchase is required.”</p> <p>The original notice ended, “BIG W apologises to its customers for any inconvenience caused by this recall.”</p> <p>The Christmas decoration was sold at BIG W in-store and online across Australia from September 21, 2018 to November 7, 2018.</p> <p>If you or someone you know has purchased this Christmas candle wreath from BIG W, please contact 1300 244 999 for further information or visit <a href="http://www.recalls.gov.au">www.recalls.gov.au</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

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Get in first: ALDI to launch massive sale on appliances

<p>ALDI has unveiled the home appliance range that will feature in this week’s Special Buys sale.</p> <p>The German budget supermarket will offer an impressive range of home products at an affordable price.</p> <p>The sale, which launches on November 24, includes a fridge and a washing machine, both priced at $299, and a bagless vacuum cleaner for $44.</p> <p>To help loyal fans transition into the summer weather, ALDI is also selling a $599 split system air conditioning unit and a $299 free-standing freezer.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="/media/7822055/image_.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bb700408189849d68c7b383dd1d95154" /></p> <p>The Special Buys sale will allow customers to purchase the products at almost half the price of leading brands.</p> <p>ALDI’s upright $299 fridge has a 239L capacity, five glass shelves, a crisper and reversible door.</p> <p>In comparison, a 240L single-door fridge from Westinghouse is currently being sold at Harvey Norman for $679.</p> <p>By shopping at ALDI, shoppers could save an impressive $380.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 487px; height: 238px;" src="/media/7822052/3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/16964fbb579449889e466cdbe5a4275c" /></p> <p>For those who are looking to purchase a new bagless vacuum cleaner, the sale will include ALDI’s new cyclonic 2000 watt version, priced at $44.95.</p> <p>ALDI is also selling a $299 six kilogram top loader washing machine, which is $300 cheaper than LG’s 6.5 kilogram top loader.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 480px; height:243px;" src="/media/7822053/4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c5b66b1d320547abbabe1925564ae2d1" /></p> <p>The supermarket chain is also offering a 20L microwave oven for $49.99, a $399 electric upright cooker and a $299 BBQ.</p> <p>Will you be making a trip to ALDI this weekend for the sale? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

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George Clooney triggers welfare fraud investigation against Melbourne family

<p>Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney has launched an investigation against a former military general and his family in Melbourne after it is alleged he claimed close to $500,000 in welfare benefits.</p> <p>James Hoth Mai, a retired war general from South Sudan, has been accused of obtaining a large amount of money from the civil war.</p> <p>According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Mr Mai’s family, which consist of his wife and son, have received over $470,000 in benefits since 2006 from the Australian government, as shown in records provided by Centrelink.</p> <p>The couple were also living in a home that was under the housing commission scheme until 2014 and moved out once Mr Mai’s son Ngouth Oth Mai bought a $1.5 million abode in Narre Warren.</p> <p>None of the family members have reportedly declared their earnings since 2009.</p> <p>While Ngouth Oth Mai had a car importer business under his name, the AFP says that the company provided no solid form of income and was most likely used to launder money into the country.</p> <p>Surprisingly, the man on the front line of the investigation is none other than Clooney, who was responsible for discovering the family’s collection of luxury vehicles.</p> <p>The actor is outraged, as he claims that senior military officials have obtained large sums of money from the civil war that doesn’t belong to them.</p> <p>“This is pretty explosive stuff, not only are they committing these crimes which they have been accused of, but they are profiting off it,” said Clooney during a press conference.</p> <p>The AFP have placed a restraining order on the family house as they claim it was purchased from the money obtained from their criminal activity.</p>

Money & Banking

Entertainment

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Prince Charles' entire 70th birthday photo album revealed

<p>Last week, the heir to British throne, Prince Charles, celebrated his 70th birthday.</p> <p>Celebrations for the Prince of Wales included a lavish birthday dinner hosted by the Queen, a limited-edition stamp collection in tribute to the milestone and the release of a BBC documentary, which gave fans a rare behind-the-scenes look into his life.</p> <p>Now, two never-before-seen official portraits have been released of the Prince and his family to mark the event.</p> <p>One of the portraits shows a precious moment between young Prince Louis and his grandfather as Prince Charles cuddles him.</p> <p>The sparkle of joy in Louis’ eyes and Charles’ big smile reveals just how special their bond is.</p> <p>The other photo, which is currently on the cover of the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em style="font-weight: inherit;">Sunday Times </em></strong></span></a>magazine in the UK, shows the Charles and his family posing for a photo in the palace gardens.</p> <p>The image shows Prince Louis grabbing Prince Charles’ face while the rest of the clan look on smiling.</p> <p>The sweet family photos were taken by royal photographer of 15 years, Chris Jackson.</p> <p>Speaking to the <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Sunday Times</em>, Jackson said the photoshoot was the “happiest” he has ever seen Prince Charles.</p> <p>"It was lovely chaos with the children," he said.</p> <p>"He is a very hands-on grandfather. He was holding hands with George and Charlotte, and bouncing Louis up and down for a long time."</p> <p>He said Prince George, 5, was happy to be sitting on his grandfather’s knees while the photos were taken.</p> <p>"[Charles] is someone with a sense of pride for his family," he added.</p> <p>"A sense of pride for what his children are achieving."</p> <p>The photographer shared more candid snaps of Charles that were captured during the filming of the documentary, <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70.</em></p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the entire birthday album. </p>

Art

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The impact of “Little Women” 150 years on

<p><strong><em>Ryna Ordynat is a PhD candidate in History at Monash University. </em></strong></p> <p>It’s 150 years since <em>Little Women</em> by Louisa May Alcott was published and, in the time since, the book has never been out of print. The story of the March sisters struck a chord with readers – especially young girls – early on, and continues to resonate today.</p> <p>The book’s continuing popularity is evident in the many film, theatre and TV adaptations. In 2018 alone, it was adapted into <span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6495094/">a film set in our modern-times</a></span> and a heavily stylised <span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/05/little-women-review-pbs-bbc/560144/">TV mini-series</a></span>, starring Emily Watson and Maya Thurman-Hawke. It is scheduled for yet <span><a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a22002071/little-women-adaptation-greta-gerwig-saoirse-ronan-timothee-chalamet/">another major Hollywood adaptation in 2019</a></span>, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Meryl Streep, Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan.</p> <p><em>Little Women</em> follows the lives of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – as they endure hardships, learn life lessons and build enduring bonds on their passage from childhood to womanhood. The first part of the book depicts the girls’ childhoods – their struggles with poverty and their own personalities and faults, and how they overcome these obstacles. The second part is about them entering womanhood, marrying and becoming good wives, mothers and women.</p> <p>The genteel poverty the March family endures is based on the real poverty the Alcott family experienced. The difference is that the poverty of the Alcott family was mostly imposed on them by Louisa’s father, <span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_Bronson_Alcott">Amos Bronson Alcott</a></span>, a famous Transcendentalist educational reformer in his day.</p> <p>In stark contrast to the book, and at a time when social conventions actively discouraged and frowned upon women undertaking paid employment, Bronson Alcott’s noble willingness to, as he put it, <span><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=9A7W4RKHLXYC&amp;dq=louisa+may+alcott&amp;lr=&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s">“starve or freeze before he will sacrifice principle to comfort” </a></span>resulted in him not supporting his family financially. This forced his wife and daughters to provide for the family, and in Louisa’s case to write for money.</p> <p>Bronson was wholly supported and encouraged by his wife, Abigail (Marmee in <em>Little Women</em>), to the complete bafflement and increasing frustration of Louisa. One of Alcott’s biographers suggests that the familiar sentimental tone in <em>Little Women</em> of poverty being dictated by circumstance, and something we should learn to bear, comes from her trying to cope with, and somehow justify her father’s outrageous lack of concern for the <span><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Louisa_May_Alcott.html?id=9OB_2sFqYtsC&amp;source=kp_book_description&amp;redir_esc=y">family’s financial wellbeing</a></span>.</p> <p>Louisa Alcott was devoted to and dominated by her parents, especially her father. His worldview was based on the romanticised and spiritual idea of inherent goodness and perfection of human beings. For many years, Bronson Alcott insisted to his daughter on the need for simple stories for boys and girls about how to overcome selfishness and anger, faults which he constantly pointed out in Louisa. Eventually, Bronson’s ideas made their way into <em>Little Women</em>, where the March sisters strive to achieve their perfect “womanliness”.</p> <p>Louisa was a problem and a disappointment to her father – she was impatient and energetic, always “subject of her instinct” and showing what Bronson called <span><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=9A7W4RKHLXYC&amp;dq=louisa+may+alcott&amp;lr=&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s">early signs of “impending evil”</a></span>. Alcott made the choice to remain unmarried, yet – against her wishes, but mainly due to the demands of her publisher and her growing fan base – she did make Jo marry in the end.</p> <p>Alcott may never have written <em>Little Women</em> at all had she been more financially successful in the types of gothic fiction she excelled at and enjoyed writing. But she dreaded debts <span><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=9OB_2sFqYtsC&amp;dq=editions:yjioZcBIkHEC&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjKpoSAgZfdAhXCM94KHRMtAjoQ6AEIKTAA">“more than the devil”</a></span>. And her publisher pressured her with continuous requests for a book for girls – and a promise to publish her father’s book, <span><em><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HGnopNYgga4C&amp;pg=PA115&amp;source=gbs_toc_r&amp;cad=4#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">Tablets, if she wrote one</a></em></span>.</p> <p>The death of Jo’s younger sister Beth is a memorable and tragic event in <em>Little Women</em>. Beth is the shyest of the sisters and lives a very secluded life. Her death is portrayed by Alcott as a sort of “self-sacrifice” as she gives up her life knowing that it has had only private, domestic meaning.</p> <p>Alcott’s sister Elizabeth or “Lizzie”, did in fact die due to complications of scarlet fever. Beth’s death in the book is written to resemble a <span><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=9ebLwkriWEC&amp;dq=children+victorian+literature&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s">typical trope of Victorian literature</a></span> – the sentimental, suffering, pathetic yet angelic “ideal” child. But Lizzie died in 1858, aged 22: in pain, angry and frightened, resenting the invisible, stifling life that was imposed on her <span><a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=9OB_2sFqYtsC&amp;dq=editions:yjioZcBIkHEC&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjKpoSAgZfdAhXCM94KHRMtAjoQ6AEIKTAA">largely by her parents</a></span>. She may also have suffered from anorexia. Alcott witnessed the death of her sister in horror.</p> <p>Ultimately, <em>Little Women’s</em> themes of love, grief and sisterly bonds still appeal to us. As <span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-little-women-meryl-streep-greta-gerwig-20180703-story.html">Robin Swicord, who will produce the upcoming 2019 film adaptation</a>,</span> says: “It’s really taking a look at what it is for a young woman to enter the adult world.” (She adds that, “given the material, it’s always going to be romantic”.)</p> <p>Yet many of the themes and morals of this book are sentimentalised and outdated today. They were inserted for reasons of convention, in order to provide moral instruction, or to appeal to the requests of a publisher.</p> <p>Alcott wrote <em>Little Women</em> because her father wanted her to, and he dictated its terms, morals and lessons. It was an instant and enduring success, even though she did not want to write it, and it forced her to relive some of the most difficult years of her life. For readers (and viewers) today, understanding these circumstances enables a much more authentic, multi-layered and complex interpretation.</p> <p>Do you remember how old you were when you first read <em>Little Women</em>? Tell us in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Ryna Ordynat. Republished with permission of <span><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/little-women-at-150-and-the-patriarch-who-shaped-the-books-tone-102565">The Conversation.</a></strong></span> </em></p> <p><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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102565/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p>

Books

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Bride replaces wedding vows with fiancé’s cheating text messages

<p>A heartbroken bride has confronted her fiancé at the altar of her wedding ceremony after finding out that he was cheating on her the night before their big day.</p> <p>Casey* was celebrating her final night of being unmarried with her bridesmaids when she received a text message from an unknown number, reported <a href="https://www.whimn.com.au"><strong><em><u>Whimn.</u></em></strong></a></p> <p>Casey was expecting a congratulatory message but instead received a series of screenshots from a conversation involving her boyfriend of six years, Alex*, and another woman.</p> <p>The conversations between Casey’s boyfriend and the ‘other’ woman, who she described as looking the “complete opposite of her”, went back months.</p> <p>The sender wrote to Casey: “I wouldn’t marry him. Will you?”</p> <p>The texts also included selfies of the pair and immediately Casey knew “there was no questioning the legitimacy” of the screenshots.</p> <p>Casey said every message was a “dagger to her heart”, but didn’t know what to do as the wedding would be taking place in a few hours and it was already paid for.</p> <p>So she hatched a plan for the next day. </p> <p>“I was going to go ahead with the wedding as expected, and ‘out’ him in front of our friends and family,” she said.</p> <p>After walking down the wedding aisle the following day, Casey announced there would be “no wedding” instead of reading her vows.</p> <p>“It seems Alex is not who I thought he was,” she told her guests, before reading out every single message he had sent to the other woman.</p> <p><em>"Your body is f***ing incredible. And s** do you know how to use it. I wish my GF (girlfriend) had half the skills you do."</em></p> <p><em>"I miss you so much…I’ve never had this kind of connection before."</em></p> <p>All colour left Alex’s face and Casey let her weeping eyes rise and meet his.</p> <p>The embarrassed groom didn’t have anything to say but walked out of the church in shame with his best man close behind him.</p> <p>“I love all of you and as horrible as this is, I’m glad you all are here,” Casey bravely told her guests.</p> <p>“There will not be a wedding reception today, but instead, there will be a celebration of honesty, finding true love and following your heart even when it hurts.”</p> <p>Although it was not the day Casey has planned, she said despite the heartbreak, the reception was “one hell of a party”.</p> <p><em>*Names changed for confidentiality </em></p>

Technology