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The Booklist

A weekly newsletter for book lovers from books editor Jason Steger.

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Tragedy

Family pay tribute to ‘loving, devoted father’ after crash

David Drozd (top right), 49, and Jason McMahon (bottom right), 42, were killed in a multi-vehicle crash near Lithgow on Friday.

Two people died and 15 were injured in the horror crash attended by more than 80 emergency personnel.

Revealed: NSW’s most complained about councils

Darvan Sinnetamby’s concerns about plans to build a sports complex at Lane Cove Golf Course prompted him to make a complaint about Lane Cove Council to the NSW Ombudsman.

The NSW Ombudsman received the most complaints about Central Coast Council in 2022-23, but Lane Cove had the highest rate of grievances.

Do you own Sydney’s oldest Opal card?

Eighty-six of the original Opal cards issued in December 2012 are still in use today.

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Title Deeds

The Millennials of Sydney’s prestige property market living lavishly in 2023

Forget the cashed-up downsizers, tech billionaires, and international buyers who usually dominate the high-end property market. This year it was all about the 20 and 30-somethings.

Medical industry braces for vape addiction as first stage of ban begins

Data collected by NSW Health, which has the most up-to-date vaping statistics in Australia, suggests 16.5 per cent of young people in that age group vaped either daily or occasionally in 2021 and 2022.

From New Year’s Day, all imported disposable vapes – with or without nicotine – will be banned as the first stage of the government’s crackdown to eventually limit vaping to people with a prescription.

Road crash data remains ‘secret’ after one of the worst years for road fatalities on the

Australia’s two most populous states have recorded a more than 20 per cent spike in roads deaths for 2023.

A snake handler at the Brisbane International.

Deadly snake holds up play during Thiem’s match

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem was taking on Australian youngster James McCabe when an eastern brown snake slithered onto the court.

Why Warner the destroyer deserves a fond farewell in Sydney

David Warner celebrates a century before lunch on the first day of the SCG Test in 2017.

I know how hard it is to do what he has done through 111 Tests, so I hope that David’s harshest critics acknowledge his talent and contribution and forgive his human frailties.

Greg Chappell
Greg Chappell

Former Australian Test batsman

Analysis
New Year

The stories that shone some light in the darkness of 2023

This was, in so many ways, a horrific year. Thank God for the Tillies.

Campaign to remove Trump from state ballots kicks into gear

Donald Trump at the UFC 296 mixed martial arts event in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Challenges are under way in several US states, based on an obscure clause of a constitutional amendment enacted after the Civil War that disqualifies officials who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding office.

British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for ‘The Full Monty’ and ‘Michael Clayton’, dies at 75

British actor Tom Wilkinson died suddenly at his home on Saturday.

Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in The Full Monty, Michael Clayton and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, has died, his family said.

Opinion
Renting

Being a Sydney renter is a moving tale, but all my evictions have all been honourable

If you’re a tenant, you become accustomed to mistreatment. But I’ve embraced the slowmadic lifestyle and you can too.

Jayce Carrano
Jayce Carrano

Freelance Writer

Asher Keddie in Strife, inspired by Mia Freedman’s book Work Strife Balance.

Why Asher Keddie is the queen of barely contained chaos

Drawing from Mia Freedman’s book Work Strife Balance, Keddie’s character in the series Strife, Eve, is imbued with humanity and humour.

How Lisa McCune’s childhood dream is on the verge of coming true

Lisa McCune stars in Planet Lulin on ABC ME.

The former Blue Heelers star has always loved science fiction - now she gets to play a kooky alien grandmother in Planet Lulin.

Topless massages to private flights: CEO mishaps around the world in 2023

It was a weird year.

While some chief executives seemed to relish the spotlight, Elon Musk chief among them, others were inadvertently thrust into social media’s harsh glare.

Here’s the ticket: What these Australians are excited for in 2024

What’s on your cultural list for 2024?

We asked some familiar faces and voices to share their culture hit lists for the new year.

I’m done with outrage, but in 2024 I plan to chat … hard

So here’s my suggestion for a communal new year’s resolution: let’s make 2024 a year for forthright discussion – without all the vitriol.

Parnell Palme McGuinness
Parnell Palme McGuinness

Columnist and communications adviser

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Harry Connick Jnr on preparations for the NYE concert, seeing in the new year on Sydney Harbour and what he’s most looking forward to about performing at one of the worlds most iconic locations.

‘It’s endless’: Jazz superstar Harry Connick Jnr’s favourite Sydney digs

The New Orleans native will be performing at the Sydney Opera House during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Kate Halfpenny and her husband, Chris, at Barwon Heads on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Opinion

My new year’s resolutions? Have more fun, foster a child and get a tattoo

Only half of Baby Boomers make a new year’s resolution, compared to 92 per cent of Gen Z. You’d be surprised how few people follow through with them.

Kate Halfpenny
Kate Halfpenny

Regular columnist

Sydney

Adam Magnus used this image to promote his celebrant business and to groom a mother to abuse her 11-year-old child.
Exclusive
Crime

‘My wife has no idea’: Byron celebrant’s secret life as a paedophile

The marriage celebrant groomed a mother to get to her 11-year-old girl, but he was unaware his messages were sent to detectives.

1000 trains, ticket changes and 8.5 tonnes of fireworks: Your Sydney New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve Sydney 2024.

Transport officials and police are bracing for Sydney’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in years.

Gambling tax concessions for clubs to crack $1 billion

The top gambling tax rate for clubs is 26.55 per cent.

The Productivity Commission warned more than a decade ago the community was not getting value for money from concessions for clubs, but the money keeps flowing.

The suburb where we all scream for ice-cream

Missed by that much. Various sightings of the elusive ice cream van that torments the residents of Leichhardt.

There’s a challenge for anyone around Leichhardt in summer – get the local lead-footed ice-cream van to stop.

Modernism for the masses: reviving a retro masterpiece that costs two cars

A Lendlease brochure promoting the Beachcomber model of home in the 1960s.

Nino Sydney was called ‘the hero of Australian suburbia’ because he designed homes for everyone – and his work could inspire better ways of living today.

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SEE AND DO

Investigative journalist Jake Adelstein of The Evaporated: Gone with the Gods.

In a rough year for podcasts, these 10 were the most earbud-worthy

The year’s best listens took original approaches and told engrossing stories.

Jason Momoa reprises his role as the laidback underwater superhero in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Weary Aquaman sequel proves it’s just as well DC is starting over

Despite Jason Momoa’s laid-back charm, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom raises more questions than it answers.

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Traveller

Sport

David Warner celebrates a century before lunch on the first day of the SCG Test in 2017.

Why Warner the destroyer deserves a fond farewell in Sydney

I know how hard it is to do what he has done through 111 Tests, so I hope that David’s harshest critics acknowledge his talent and contribution and forgive his human frailties.

Greg Chappell
Greg Chappell

Former Australian Test batsman

Deadly snake holds up play during Thiem’s match in Brisbane

Deadly snake holds up play during Thiem’s match in Brisbane

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem was taking on Australian youngster James McCabe when an eastern brown snake slithered onto the court.

Cameron Green at Edgbaston during the most recent Ashes series.

Green credentials: Why all-rounder is being seriously considered for open position

There’s a strong push for Cameron Green to open the batting for Australia once David Warner retires after the Sydney Test against Pakistan.

Ellyse Perry and Pat Cummins.

Australia’s all-conquering skipper, and the player of her generation: The stars of our top XIs for 2023

The importance of skipper Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja to Australia’s Test side has been reflected by the pair being the only players to retain their places in our team of the year.

With Olympic medals and World Cup wins, is Norway the best sporting nation in the world?

Is a country with the population of Sydney the world’s top sporting nation?

With champions such as Erling Haaland, Casper Ruud and Ada Hegerberg, Norway is a small but mighty country when it comes to sport.

Cameron Green

Money is an unstoppable force in cricket, and the game needs to evolve or perish

Producing cricketers takes years of fertiliser and water from mums, dads, coaches, ground staff, councils and a myriad of volunteers, so cashed-up privateers should be making a serious contribution to the bottom line.

Geoff Lawson
Geoff Lawson

Cricket columnist

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari visit Taronga Zoo on Saturday.

Tsitsipas adopts eye of the tiger in hunt for Australian Open revenge

Last time Stefanos Tsitsipas was in Australia, he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. This time, he wants a grand slam title.

Racing

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