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Olympic hero "fighting for her life" in intensive care

xxIn the world of gymnastics, few names shine as brightly as that of Mary Lou Retton. The Olympic gold medallist and legendary American gymnast has long been celebrated for her incredible contributions to the sport, etching her legacy into the annals of history. But now, a dark cloud of concern hovers over this American icon, as she battles a rare and relentless adversary: a severe form of pneumonia. The shocking news has shaken the hearts of fans and sports enthusiasts worldwide, as the daughter of the 55-year-old Retton shared the news that she is "fighting for her life" in an intensive care unit, unable to breathe on her own for over a week now. McKenna Kelley, Retton's daughter, recently set up a <a href="https://www.spotfund.com/story/a2e0582c-e62f-4e5b-a586-18349014f761" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fundraising account</a> to share her mother's grave situation and the urgency of her need for support. The emotional plea disclosed that Mary Lou Retton was uninsured, leaving the burden of her healthcare costs in the hands of her loved ones and well-wishers. In an emotionally charged post on the fundraising platform, Kelley wrote: "My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life." While respecting her mother's privacy, Kelley refrained from divulging further details about the nature of the pneumonia that has gripped Retton's life, instead requesting the one thing we can all offer – our prayers. Mary Lou Retton's remarkable gymnastics career needs no introduction. She etched her name into the annals of history during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, securing her place as one of the greatest gymnasts in history. At those Summer Games, Retton achieved an astonishing feat by winning five medals, including a groundbreaking gold in the individual all-around competition, a first for any American woman. Her achievements garnered her the title of Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1984, a testament to her indomitable spirit and unparalleled dedication to her craft. At the time of writing, the fundraising account dedicated to supporting Mary Lou Retton had received an overwhelming outpouring of love and support. With more than 2,000 donors and counting, the campaign has already raised over $US300,000, surpassing its original goal of $US50,000. The outpouring of generosity underscores the enduring impact and admiration that Mary Lou Retton has left in the hearts of many. Beyond the gymnasium, Retton's influence extended into the world of entertainment, appearing in movies and TV shows, including a memorable stint on Baywatch in 1993 and the film Naked Gun 33 ¹/₃: The Final Insult in 1994. She also served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during President George W. Bush's administration, underscoring her enduring commitment to promoting physical health and well-being. In recognition of her remarkable contributions to the world of gymnastics, Mary Lou Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and became the first woman to be honored by the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. Her legacy extended to the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 1992, and in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia, a street and park bear her name, a lasting tribute to her enduring impact. Images: Instagram

Caring

"Hero we need": Fed-up tradie disrupts Bunnings traffic

A tradie at his wit's end has pulled a petty stunt to fire back at Bunnings customers who “use the trade entry as easy access” and held him up. The tradie shared his stunt to the Tradie Mayhem Facebook group alongside images of the row of parked cars at the Artarmon Bunnings, which sparked his frustrated act. The man said he did it for all tradespeople who have been “held up during the week at Bunnings by people that use the trade entry as easy access, taking their sweet time” after parking in the easy access area. “I double parked blocking them all in at Artarmon Bunnings,” he said. The staff announced over the speaker system that his ute needed to be moved, to which he responded, “just made me take my time and let them know that’s how we feel during the week when we’re trying to get work done and are held up by them”. Initial responses were positive, praising the tradie and labelling him as the “hero we need”. “Tradie privilege, don‘t think so,” one member commented. “It‘s so they can load their vehicle instead of dragging it through the car park. If you’re driving a normal car park outside and enjoying some exercise.” “Love this, trade yard always packed with cafe dwellers,” a third wrote. Some individuals shared their frustrations of having to share the space with the general public, calling for the original poster to “pester Bunnings about it”. “Bring back the trade only access to Bunnings before 8-9 am that they had during Covid.” Others were quick to point out a major flaw in the tradie's argument, saying the undercover parking is not reserved for tradies but a loading area of things that cannot be taken through checkout. The loading bays are for any customers who are temporarily loading timber or bulky items in the trade yard. <a href="https://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a> asked Artarmon Bunnings for a comment about the stunt, and the warehouse manager said the area in question was a “load and go area”. “We don’t usually have too many long waits there, but there is the occasional one-off when a customer will come in and park on the side or right in the middle of the driveway,” he said. “We did have a little shortage of our load and go guys that usually work down there, but that is currently being fixed.” The manager said the fact the area was only one lane for a busy, multi-use loading area meant that there can be waits, but there was a staff member there to direct the traffic. “But because it is one lane obviously our main priority is our customers and getting them in and out of here as quickly as possible. “Unfortunately, other stores have five lanes, we only have one. “There are occasional customers who want to get through and load personal items because it’s easier to bring down to the car, so we are looking at getting it to be the best system possible.” Image credit: Facebook

Home & Garden

New Zealand police farewell four-legged hero

A beloved member of the New Zealand Police Force has been farewelled, after Dunedin police dog Gill died from cancer. The 10-year-old was the oldest police dog working in Dunedin’s police dog section when he passed away. Senior Constable Tim Roy, who fostered Gill as a pup, worked with the German Shepherd for most of his operational years, according to a <a href="https://www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one-magazine/farewell-dunedins-oldest-police-dog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “He’s been an amazing dog right up until the end," Roy said. "Gill was everything I could have asked for and more as a handler. He was big, strong, fearless, super driven, loved to work and known for his deafening excited howl when being deployed. “Gill was more than an outstanding police dog. His goofy personality, playfulness and loyalty were what made him extra special.” Sergeant Mike Calvert, head of the Dunedin Dog Section, described the canine as a strong all-round police dog with numerous successful tracks and catches. “He also thrived as an AOS-qualified dog, and as recently as last month was taking part in AOS callouts and training days,” Calvert said. “Old age hadn’t slowed him up and he kept his place on AOS leaving Tim’s younger dog Leo, aged 3, to pick up the active running around for general patrol dog work.” Senior Constable Reuben Whalley, who worked with Gill in Christchurch, described him as “a lovely dog” who could switch off from work and enjoy family life at home. Gill, who’s policing career began back in 2013, has done more than catch criminals and find people, having fathered a litter of puppies in 2016 and featured on the 2017 and 2023 Police Dog Trust Calendars. “Gill just loved to please his handler, whether responding to jobs or taking part in the softer side of community policing, including community events and Christmas parades," Calvert said. "It’s a shame he didn’t get to enjoy retirement." Images: New Zealand Police

Family & Pets

Why this mum who stabbed a man to death was hailed a hero by her sons

UK mother Sarah Sands stabbed a paedophile to death after finding out her children were sexually abused. The paedophile, Michael Pleasted, aged 77, was stabbed eight times in 2014 in a “determined and sustained attack” that saw him bleed to death. Pleasted was already a convicted paedophile and had legally changed his name from Robin Moult to conceal a long past of abusing children. Ms Sands’ three children told her Pleasted, who lived across the road from the family in London, had abused them. She took matters into her own hands. “For paedophiles, if you touch children, there has to be consequences,” Ms Sands told BBC Breakfast. “And hiding behind name changes … it has to be taken away from them. That right to change their name has to taken away from them.” Her children, who have waived their anonymity, said they think their mum is a hero for killing their abuser. Bradley, who was 11 at the time, said: “I thought, ‘hats off’. I’m not going to deny it.” Alfie added: “It did make us feel safer. It didn’t slow down the nightmares. But it did give us a sense of security because you didn’t have to walk down the street thinking he was going to come around the corner. “He lived literally across the road from us. I could open that window over there and I’d see his house.” Pleasted’s council flat overlooked a playground and school in Canning Town, East London. However, nobody knew of his past because he had changed his name and his crimes predated the sex offenders' register. Ms Sands was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of loss of control after trial in 2015, and was eventually jailed for seven and a half years after having her sentenced increased by the Court of Appeal. She said she originally intended to threaten Pleasted, who was on bail awaiting trial, to make him plead guilty so her children did not have to give evidence in court. Labour MP Sarah Champion told the BBC some offenders are using name changes to avoid criminal records checks needed for jobs – including working with children. “Once they have changed their names, they are able to get a new driving licence and passport in that name. That enables them to get a new DBS (disclosure and barring service) check,” she said. The UK Home Office said it has already carried out a review of the issue and the UK already has strict rules in place to deal with sex offenders living in the community. Image: BBC

Family & Pets

Fisherman declared a hero after Tanzanian crash efforts

After a plane crashed in Tanzania’s Lake Victoria on November 6, one fisherman who nearly lost his life trying to save the trapped pilots has spoken about his efforts. The passenger plane was carrying 43 people when the pilots attempted to land at Bukoba airport after encountering problems and enduring bad weather. Majaliwa Jackson, who was officially declared a hero and awarded 1 million Tanzanian shillings ($AU 665 or $NZ 725), told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63540823" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a> from hospital of the panic he felt when he saw the passenger plane approaching from the wrong direction before crashing into the lake. Mr Jackson told the outlet that he rushed to the scene with three other fishermen, helping to open the rear door by smashing it with a rowing oar and allowing passengers seated towards the back of the plane to be rescued. After moving to the front of the plane and diving into the water, Mr Jackson said he and one of the other pilots communicated by making signs through the cockpit window. "He directed me to break the window screen. I emerged from the water and asked airport security, who had arrived, if they have any tools that we can use to smash the screen,” he said. "They gave me an axe, but I was stopped by a man with a public announcement speaker from going down and smashing the screen. He said they were already in communication with the pilots and there was no water leakage in the cockpit.” But, when he dived back in and waved goodbye to the pilot after he was stopped from smashing the screen, the pilot then indicated he wanted to be rescued. Mr Jackson then attempted to pull the cockpit emergency door off by tying a rope from it to other boats, but he was knocked unconscious when the rope broke and struck him in the face. “The next thing I knew I was here at the hospital,” he said. In addition to his monetary reward, Mr Jackson was offered a job with the firefighting and rescue brigade, as well as training in rescue operations to sharpen his skills. The pilots were among 19 confirmed fatalities from the crash. Emergency crews used ropes to pull the plane, which had been completely submerged, closer to shore. Airline Precision Air previously said that 26 passengers had been rescued and taken to hospital, but has since said there were only 24 survivors. Kagera police commander William Mwampaghale said that the crash occurred at around 8.50am local time on Sunday. “When the aircraft was about 100m mid-air, it encountered problems and bad weather. It was raining and the plane plunged into the water,” he said. Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said an extensive investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the crash, and that the government would cover the costs of funerals for the 19 victims. Image: Getty Images

International Travel

Hero dad coward-punched while trying to rescue car crash victim

A 63-year-old father is fighting for his life after being coward-punched in the head while helping a teen in a car accident. Rob Seddon rushed to help a 17-year-old who crashed his Toyota Corolla into a caravan outside his home on Skyhawk Ave in Hamlyn Terrace on the Central Coast around 10pm on Saturday. Along with other neighbours, Mr Seddon assisted the teen before they were ambushed by a group of males who attacked them. Mr Seddon was allegedly hit from the back on the head which caused him to fall backwards, hit his head and lose consciousness. He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition where he underwent brain surgery and remains in intensive care in a coma. Mr Seddon’s 21-year-old son was also allegedly attacked and suffered a broken nose. “I could hear the sheer horrible noises from this guy that was being hurt, I had tears in my eyes, I knew it was bad,” neighbour Diane Gardner told Nine News. “It was absolutely horrible. You could hear his pain and he wanted help.” Police are asking anyone with information about the alleged attackers to come forward. The 17-year-old driver who crashed into Mr Seddon’s caravan was breathalysed at the scene and returned a positive blood-alcohol reading. He was then charged with negligent driving and drink-driving on P-plates. Images: Nine News

Caring

“He’s my hero”: 5-year-old saves baby sister from burning cot

A little boy who suffered severe burns after saving his 18-month-old sister has been praised for his heroics during an out-of-control accident in July last year. Jade, a NSW mum-of-four, was supposed to be asleep during an afternoon nap-time with her kids, but two of her youngsters were still awake and had found a gas lighter. The young mum said her five-year-old son Aspen and another of his siblings started several small fires around the room and blew them out, when they lit their younger sister Nirveya’s cot - which she was sleeping in - thinking it could be blown out just as easily. But, the plastic netting around her cot quickly went up, helping the fire spread. Aspen attempted to rescue his infant sister from her burning cot, but struggled to lift her out. “He tried to save her but she was too heavy and so he blames himself,” Jade told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/nsw-boy-saves-infant-sister-from-burning-cot/eec9fae2-f013-4d52-823f-54a36b2e9ce7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. “He could not get her out. But to me, he bought time at the expense of him being burnt.” With the cot collapsing under his weight, the pair fell into the fire and Aspen shielded his little sister from the flames. “It burnt me when I covered her,” Aspen said. Waking up to “screaming and the fire alarm going”, Jade said she ran to the bedroom, where she saw Nirveya’s cot “completely consumed” by the fire. “The flames (were) as tall as I was: you could feel it, the heat from the door,” she recalled. “I just reached in, grabbed her and put her on the floor.” With an ambulance on the way, Jade’s sister Aisha arrived at the house at the same time as a stranger, who would go on to give Aspen immediate treatment for his burns. “As he approached he said he was a burns specialist; that he was close by at a friend’s event, a party, and got an alert,” Aisha said. Aspen’s brave actions meant his little sister - who could have been engulfed in the fire - was left with one minor burn to her nose. "All thanks for Aspen, she (Nirveya) could have been disfigured from the fire if she was consumed with it," Jade said. But, Aspen wasn’t so lucky, and faces years of treatment and operations after the cot’s plastic netting burnt into his arm. “I don’t think he quite knows how special (it is) … what he has done,” Jade said. “He’s my hero … he’s her hero.” His mum said Aspen just sees the physical wounds on his body, which has been difficult. "He says at school he wants to cover his burns because he wants the kids to still play with him and he doesn't want to get bullied for his burns," she said. Though Nirveya and Jade carry mental scars from the accident, with her young daughter waking “up a lot during the night” ever since, the strength of her son gives Jade strength too. “I think, ‘If you can do it buddy, I can do it too. You’ve been through so much’,” she said. Image: A Current Affair

Family & Pets

"You are the real heroes": Chris Hemworth’s wife thanks flood heroes

Chris Hemworth’s wife Elsa Pataky has <a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/elsa-pataky-chris-hemsworth-instagram-message-floods-northern-nsw-praising-heroes/541f1150-eff4-4616-925d-3d094510c4f7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> a tribute to some real-life heroes as the floods continue to devastate northern NSW and Queensland. The 45-year-old model, who lives in Byron Bay with her actor husband, took to Instagram to thank the heroes who were out saving lives. “Northern Rivers and beyond had been hit by the worst floods in history. People have spent hours waiting on rooftops to be rescued,” she wrote in a post accompanying several images depicting the devastation. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Caj6nGov5la/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Caj6nGov5la/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Elsa Pataky (@elsapatakyconfidential)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Thanks to all those who are able to help save people and animals stranded by the floodwaters, you are the real heroes. “So amazing to watch how everyone pulls together in a disaster and helps the community. Our hearts go out to those affected by the floods. Stay safe!” Days earlier, Pataky shared her own experience with the flood crisis, revealing how the floodwaters had stopped her from taking her daughter to school. In a video she shared online, Pataky can be seen abandoning the car and heading to school on foot. “I don’t think [we] will make it to school today,” she captioned the clip. Her message comes as approximately 400,000 people from Lismore, Brisbane and Ballina have been forced to evacuate. On Wednesday, the national death toll from the floods stood at 10, after bodies were recovered in Lismore and Glen Esk, Queensland. Images: @elsapatakyconfidential (Instagram)

News

Turning sporting heroes into NFTs? Here’s how it works

<div>Last week, to the likely chagrin of many an Aussie cricket fan, Steve Smith became the latest public figure to hop on the NFT gravy-train, joining <a href="https://www.glorious.digital/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glorious Digital</a>, a Kiwi-owned NFT studio and marketplace launched by former All Blacks rugby great Dan Carter.The deal will see Smith put his face and name up for sale as digital tokens, shilling this new form of online memorabilia for a hefty price tag. On Instagram Smith wrote, “I can’t wait to connect with you guys in new and innovative ways.” But what does ownership of a Steve Smith NFT actually mean?What are NFTs?NFTs, short for Non-Fungible Tokens, are units of data stored on a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/explainer-cryptocurrency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blockchain</a>, which is a type of digital ledger that records ownership. In blockchain technology, the information about each transaction is recorded in a “block” which is broadcast to every computer or network in the system. The block contains data about the transaction and the identity of the blocks before and after it, so that all the blocks can be linked in a chain. This makes them completely secure, because blockchains are replicated across every computer linked to the network. If one user’s copy of the blockchain differs from the rest, then it’s clearly a fraud. “If nobody is in charge, then everyone is in charge,” said Mark Ferraretto, an IT legal specialist who spoke to Cosmos last year. “Blockchain reflects this by allowing anyone to become part of the blockchain.”Blockchains are most famously used to record cryptocurrency, but NFTs aren’t actually a cryptocurrency, though they work in a similar way and are often purchased using cryptocurrencies like Etherium.So, what’s the point of an NFT?Generally speaking, an NFT is a token of ownership. It gives its owner rights to a piece of digital media, like an artwork, photograph, GIF or meme. That’s why it’s been leapt upon by digital creatives as a new way to market their work. Some NFTs have famously made people absurdly rich. Last year, a piece of digital art by the artist Mike Winkelmann – professionally known as Beeple – <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/11/22325054/beeple-christies-nft-sale-cost-everydays-69-million" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sold for US$69 million</a> through auction-house Christie’s. Paris Hilton, celebrity heiress, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/06/how-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-are-shaking-up-the-art-world" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">owns more than 150 NFTs</a>, including a virtual Chihuahua preening on a marble pedestal designed as an ode to her deceased pet, and which she displays on screens around her house.But ownership of an NFT is a tricky concept. <a href="https://studiolegal.com.au/blog/nft-ownership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFTs have in-built smart contracts that specify the owner’s rights</a>. In some cases, owning an NFT might grant you exclusive rights to the art or media it encodes, but in many cases owning an NFT of an artwork only gives you the rights to the NFT itself, while the original artwork may well be freely available elsewhere, on the internet or in the real world. An artist can transfer the copyright of the work to the purchaser, but they may also retain the copyright. Which begs the question: what exactly is the point? Do NFTs have actual value? Like many economic products, an NFT’s value is exclusively tied to the fact that people perceive it to be valuable. Whether the value of any or all NFTs will hold depends on the power of the market. The <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/prices-for-nfts-have-plunged-but-that-doesnt-mean-they-will-disappear-11619465199" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">average price of an NFT sank by 70%</a> between February and April last year, but some commentators ascribed that to the weeding out of “gimmicky” tokens. For some people, an NFT is a collectible, like an insanely expensive but less tangible football card. As for Steve Smith NFTs? Think of them as digital memorabilia, and play on.Image credits: Getty Images</div><div id="contributors">This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/society/turning-sporting-heroes-nfts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Amalyah Hart. </div>

Art

Beyond Cyrano de Bergerac’s nose – the real man behind the swashbuckling hero

There’s something quite striking missing in Peter Dinklage’s performance of Cyrano de Bergerac. In the upcoming musical film, Cyrano is missing his iconic large nose. Cyrano’s nose has been integral to popular images of the character ever since Edmond Rostand’s swashbuckling 1897 verse drama <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1254/1254-h/1254-h.htm">Cyrano de Bergerac</a>. This connection became even more so after Gérard Depardieu’s take on the role in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099334/">1990</a>. In every iteration of Cyrano’s tale till now, his large nose causes him trouble and affects how people perceive him. In the new film, Dinklage’s form of dwarfism, called achondroplasia, as <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58678918">one critic wrote</a>, “serves the same purpose the character’s oversize schnoz originally did, lending Cyrano an outsider quality that he must overcompensate for in personality”. Cyrano is a witty wordsmith and staggeringly proficient swordsman, able to defeat his opponents with both verbal and physical deftness. For instance, in one scene in the Depardieu film, Cyrano duels and vanquishes a vicomte who insults his nose. He does this while improvising an elaborately complex poem called a ballade. Despite such prowess, his looks limit him. Secretly in love with his dazzling cousin Roxane, Cyrano is held back by shame at his physical appearance. He can only find selfless, vicarious satisfaction by feeding lines of passionate poetry to his rival-cum-alter-ego, the handsome but ineloquent hero Christian, who wins Roxane’s heart. In each new retelling of the story of Cyrano we see the fragile romantic hero tormented by his own perceived lack – it is easy to forget that another Cyrano lurked still further in the background: the real-life playwright, satirist, novelist, and duellist <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Savinien-Cyrano-de-Bergerac">Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac</a> (1619-55). Because of his taste for bluster and grandiose self-mythologisation, we know relatively little for certain about the historical Cyrano. <h2>A colourful life</h2> As a young man, the real Cyrano was taught by the idiosyncratic polymath <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/gassendi/">Pierre Gassendi</a> and mixed in free-thinking “libertine” circles. He was known to spend time with writers such as Paul Scarron and Tristan l’Hermite. It’s even believed that perhaps at the fringes of these circles was the great comic playwright Molière. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OAXX-tr0gzg?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> In his short life, Cyrano proved himself to be a talented and adaptable writer. He never settled down to one genre for long (tragedy, comedy, letters, fiction and more) but maintained a strong intellectually satirical vein throughout. The impressive verbal ingenuity we see in Rostand’s play is also reflected in Cyrano’s various writings, perhaps most cruelly in his witty <a href="https://www2.unil.ch/ncd17/index.php?extractCode=1643">fat-shaming</a> of the actor known as Montfleury. <h2>A would-be astronaut</h2> The real Cyrano was very adept at self-construction and even self-mythologisation. As a young soldier, he fostered rumours that he had routed 100 attackers at once. He claimed some symbolic kinship to classical heroes and warriors by styling himself “Hercule” de Bergerac. Unsurprisingly, both these elements find their way into Rostand’s play. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5e8apSFDXsQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> While the persona Cyrano adopts for himself as protagonist and narrator of his philosophical novel <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comical_History_of_the_States_and_Empires_of_the_Moon">L’Autre monde</a> is somewhat more modest and cryptic (the name of its hero “Dyrcona”, a near-anagram for Cyrano). The first-person, pseudo-autobiographical fiction he spins here is even more outlandish. In this tale of adventure and daring, he claims to have travelled through outer space to visit the Moon and the Sun and to have conversed with the curious inhabitants of both. As well as inspiring a scene in Rostand’s play, the novel also anticipates the various philosophical travel narratives of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Letters">Montesquieu</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/eight-surprising-things-its-time-you-knew-about-gullivers-travels-88061">Jonathan Swift</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-voltaires-candide-a-darkly-satirical-tale-of-human-folly-in-times-of-crisis-157131">Voltaire</a> in the following century. Indeed, Dyrcona’s discussions with his various otherworldly interlocutors cover a range of theological, scientific, political, philosophical, and “libertine” topics – from theories of atomism to biblical accuracy, from cannibalistic orgies to the existence of God. Knowing that the text was philosophically and theologically contentious, he did not publish the work during his lifetime. It was published in a heavily sanitised version entitled Histoire comique (Comical Story) in 1657. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440450/original/file-20220112-25-70qd7h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="Illustration of Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac." /> Portrait of playwright Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrano_de_Bergerac#/media/File:Savinien_de_Cyrano_de_Bergerac.JPG" class="source">Wikimedia</a> L’Autre monde remains Cyrano’s most popular work and has various quirks to interest the modern reader. Among other things, the novel anticipates caravans (some moon-dwellers own mobile houses) and audiobooks (small boxes which read chapters out loud). Some of Cyrano’s other fabrications are rather more fantastic: hunting weapons that simultaneously cook the game they shoot, intercontinental flight with the help of bottles of evaporating dew, musical communication, and poetry as a means of currency. One of the most suggestive moments of the novel for many comes when the moon-dwellers explain how a large nose is the marker of someone “spiritual, courtly, affable, noble-minded, [and] liberal”. This leads us back to Cyrano’s actual nose: was it purely Rostand’s invention? Yes and no. Contemporary illustrations of Cyrano show him to be relatively well-endowed nasally but never quite reaching the grotesque extremes we find in Rostand. Even so, in his overall encapsulation of Cyrano’s swagger, ebullience, and creative verve, it is fair to say that Rostand’s depiction was very much on the nose.<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/174811/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-harris-1306409">Joseph Harris</a>, Professor of Early Modern French and Comparative Literature, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/royal-holloway-university-of-london-795">Royal Holloway University of London</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/beyond-cyrano-de-bergeracs-nose-the-real-man-behind-the-swashbuckling-hero-174811">original article</a>. Image: Universal Pictures

Movies

Hero jogger rescues family pets from burning home

Image: Youtube A good Samaritan has been caught on a California home's Ring security camera rescuing a cat, a rabbit and two dogs from a stranger's house. The hero, who has since been identified as Paul Murphy, was jogging past on the street when he saw smoke surrounding the family home. The homeowners, who were not home at the time, had no idea what was happening nor that their four pets were in danger until Murphy contacted them through their Ring surveillance camera. Courtney Polito, one of the homeowners, said she saw Murphy "running back and forth" on their porch. "So I answered it and he said, 'Hello, do you see there's smoke coming out of the top of your house?'" Polito said. Polito proceeded to share the home access code with Murphy as smoke alarms started going off. Murphy then ran in and out of the house to save the Politos' four pets. Had Murphy not helped when he did, the family would have lost everything. "The fire department said 10 more minutes and the house would have been gone," Polito said. Polito's husband, Tony, also told the outlet that to enter a stranger's house when it's on fire to rescue pets "takes a certain type of person." Murphy was able to get out of the house by the time firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire, but it's unclear what Murphy did in the meantime with the animals. Courtney Polito said she is looking forward to showing Murphy how grateful she and her family are for his help, and is looking forward to giving him "a hug.

Caring

Spider-Man’s Tom Holland fulfils sweet promise to young hero

Marvel superstar Tom Holland doesn’t merely play a superhero on screen – he’s proved time and time again just how principled and generous he is in real life, too. Most recently, he kept his word to a little boy who saved his sister from a dog attack. Bridger Walker was only six years old when he defended his four-year-old sister from a dog attack in 2020. The children were playing outside their home in Wyoming when a German Shepherd mix ran towards Bridger’s sister and he intervened. He ended up <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDXgF2TgYZD/" target="_blank">needing 90 stitches and undergoing a two-hour surgery</a> following the July 2020 attack. Upon hearing the news, celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sent messages of support to Bridger both publicly on social media and privately, praising him for his courage. At the time, Holland promised Bridger that he could visit the set of the most recent Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and photos shared by the Walker family on Instagram show that he kept his promise to the young boy. <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmQuR8pNMv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmQuR8pNMv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Robert Walker, JD (@robertwalker307)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sharing photos from the set visit, including several of Bridger in his own Spider-Man mask, and one where Holland, as Spider-Man, is carrying Bridger through the air, Bridger’s dad Robert explained just how much the visit meant to their family. He thanked Holland, Holland’s brother Harry, and Spider-Man co-star Zendaya, along with the entire cast and crew, for this “dream-come-true adventure”. He continued to describe their day on set, writing, “When we first arrived on set, I was a little apprehensive that once the “curtain was pulled back” that the magic of the movies would be lost for the kids. The opposite was true! “Tom, Zendaya, Harry, @lifeisaloha, @tonyrevolori, and the entire cast/crew made our kids feel like stars. ✨ They don’t just act the part of friendly neighborhood heroes - that’s what they truly are. “The look on the kids’ faces was priceless when we rounded the blue-screen to see Tom, in full costume, high above the set on a light post. It was emotional to see him waive at the kids like he was the one that was supposed to be excited - not the other way around. A short time later, Tom and Zendaya came over. I will never forget the grace and kindness they showed our children. “We have loved seeing the reviews for @spidermanmovie. While there are so many reasons it will go down as one of the best ever - I personally think it is because the cast and crew are good, kind, and passionate people. Individuals who heard about a little boy’s injury, who wanted to make it right. People who were willing to stop a very busy day of shooting to make my little boy smile, and give him a chance to “web-swing” with his hero. Thank you again to everyone who played some role in Bridger’s special day “hanging” with Spider-Man. 🕷🕸 “ Image: Instagram

Movies

Young HERO with autism jumps out Maccas drive-thru window to save choking customer

Image: Kare11 A 15-year-old McDonald’s worker potentially saved a customer’s life by jumping through the drive-thru window after she noticed the woman choking on a chicken nugget. Sydney Raley was working a shift at McDonald’s in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, handing customers their orders in the drive-thru when she realised something was wrong with the person she was serving. “I noticed that she was coughing profusely, and her daughter just had this look on her face like sheer terror,” she told the local news station KARE11. “I could tell, oh crap, she’s choking!’ Just seeing that visceral reaction I knew I had to act fast.” Sydney had done first-aid training when she was 11 years old, so she immediately jumped out the drive-thru window and told the customer to get out of the car and instructed her daughter to call for help. The Heimlich manoeuvre didn't work the first few times, so she called upon another customer who was waiting for his food to come and help. The other customer was able to dislodge the chicken nugget stuck in the woman's throat. “It could’ve ended a lot worst but I am super thankful for that bystander who helped so much,” she said. Police officers from Edina Police Department arrived at the scene to assist the woman and rewarded Sydney with $100 – from the fund police use to give back to those who do good in the community. Just after emergency services had arrived at the McDonald's, Sydney's parents arrived to pick her up. Her father Tom told CNN they saw the ambulance and police car out the front and for a moment were worried they were there for something to do with Sydney. He told the station he is extremely proud of her. "I always tell her she has a gift, because she's autistic," said Tom. "She can remember anything – do anything." The police Sergeant was also proud of the 15-year-old. "We’re very proud of Sydney. She’s a great example of how all of us – no matter our age or position – can make a difference in our communities," Sergeant Scott Mittelstadt said, according to the department's Facebook post.

Caring

Heroes who found Cleo Smith honoured

The heroes of the WA Police who helped find Cleo Smith have been been celebrated at a special dinner hosted by Premier Mark McGown and Governor Kim Beazley. Cleo's parents travelled from Carnarvon to Perth to say an emotional thank you to the officers from Taskforce Rodia, the name given to the operation to find their missing four-year-old daughter. Western Australia police officers rescued Cleo 18 days after she went missing from the Blowholes Campground, which make headlines around the world. Cleo's mum Ellie and stepdad Jake Gliddon arrived at the dinner, along with 140 officers, many of whom were presented with a medal honouring their painstaking work in finding Cleo. Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde, the head of Taskforce Rodia, became a familiar face of the operation, keeping the public updated on a daily basis with the latest news from the investigation. Also in attendance was Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine, the man who, along with three other officers, found Cleo at a house not far from her own family home. Police bodycam footage of Blaine carrying little Cleo out of the house went global. Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch spoke to <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/wa-police-heroes-who-found-cleo-smith-honoured-at-government-house-ceremony-c-4763477" target="_blank">7News</a> before the ceremony began, saying it was a good day for the taskforce to be commended. “What a great day to recognise the officers who worked so hard on the job,” he said. “All the guys and girls, the analysts, the specialists, the officers, the detectives - it’s a team effort, it’s not just one person, it’s everyone.” Cleo's accused abductor, Terence Kelly, will appear in court next week. Image credits: WA Police

News

Hero dog honoured for saving over 100 koalas

Image: Nine News A former rescue dog who saved over 100 koalas during the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires has been honoured for his work in the United Kingdom. Bear, a six-year-old Australian koolie, was honoured by the International Fund for Animal Welfare at the House of Lords earlier this week. He appeared via video link to accept the award. Bear’s handler Romane Cristescy, of the University of the Sunshine Coast, couldn’t be prouder of the former rescue dog. “We think Bear really deserved this award,” she said. “He’s been such a good boy in helping us find and rescue a lot of koalas, especially during the bushfires but he works throughout the year to help us in our job to make a better and safer place for koalas. “We’ll give bear extra pats and extra play for his award.” Bear was one of two dogs honoured during the ceremony. Jasper, a cockapoo, won “Animal of the Year” for his work in supporting frontline NHS staff through the pandemic. Bear’s boundless energy made him a perfect candidate for the Detection Dogs for Conversation program at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He was trained to recognise the scent of koalas’ fur. Over the 2019-2020 bushfire season Bear is credited with saving 100 marsupials after the habitats were scorched. Once he’d detect their smell, Bear would drop silently to the ground at the base of the tree, to ensure it is not disturbed. A total of 33 people lost their lives in the fires which burned across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Three billion animals are estimated to have died over, 24 million hectares of land was burnt, and 3000 homes were lost.

Family & Pets

“My hero turns 8!”: Michael Bublé pens sweet message for son

Michael Bublé has shared a sweet series of photos to celebrate his son’s eighth birthday after battling cancer. When Bublé received the news of his son Noah's diagnosis with cancer at the age of three in 2016, the singer’s music career was put on hold. Fortunately, Noah was cancer free a year later, prompting the star to pen the song Forever Now about his son. Four years later, Bublé took to Instagram to celebrate his “hero” Noah as he celebrated his eighth birthday. “Today my hero turns 8!” the star captioned the photos. <img style="width: 400px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843542/240585983_259572712654946_7521505066095890307_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2ae40b140be348ee9a8959ac869da25e" /> Image: Michael Bublé / Instagram “I’ve never met anyone as brave… I’ve never known anyone as kind or as good-hearted… And I’ll never truly be able to express how proud I am, or how deep and profound Mommy’s and my love is for you. “You’ve blessed our lives in every way. “We hope God blesses you on your special day. “Happy birthday, Noah B.” <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843541/240825422_519076625863896_35171094723905959_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8b96333e7e6543948db32da772cdbc23" /> Image: Michael Bublé / Instagram Following his break from music, Bublé returned to the stage for an emotional performance at Dublin’s Croke Park in 2019. “My first show back, I played Croke and I cried for like two hours afterwards,” he said. “It was too emotional for me. I was too happy. Noah is great, thank God.” Bublé married Argentinian actress Luisana Lopilato in 2011, and the couple share Noah, his younger brother Elias, five, and sister Vida, three. Image: Michael Bublé / Instagram

Caring

COVID-19 heroes honoured by new Barbie range

Women in science and medicine are being honoured with a miniature version of themselves in the form of a Barbie doll. Toymaker Mattel has recognised the work of six women across STEM who have made significant contributions to the fight against COVID-19 by modelling new Barbies after them. Professor Sarah Gilbert, one of the co-developers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, is one of the honourees, with her Barbie sharing her long auburn hair and oversized black glasses. “It’s a very strange concept having a Barbie doll created in my likeness,” Gilbert said in an interview for Mattel. “I hope it will be part of making it more normal for girls to think about careers in science.” <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/CSKIFZwl7c9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSKIFZwl7c9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Barbie (@barbie)</a> </div> </blockquote> Amy O’Sullivan, the emergency room nurse who treated the first COVID-19 patient at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn and appeared on the cover of Time magazine for its 100 Most Influential People list, also received a doll version of herself. Other honourees include Dr Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a Canadian psychiatrist who spoke out against racism in healthcare, frontline doctor Audrey Cruz, who fought discrimination, and Jacqueline Goes de Jesus, the Brazilian biomedical researcher who led the genome sequencing of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil. <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/CSKN4QuFL_2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSKN4QuFL_2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Chika Stacy (@chikastacy)</a> </div> </blockquote> Finally, Australian Dr Kirby White, who pioneered a washable and reusable surgical gown for frontline workers to use during the pandemic, received a doll in her honour. To support her work, $5 from each eligible doctor, nurse, and medical doll sold in Australia will be donated by Barbie to <a rel="noopener" href="https://gownsfordoctors.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR3DoOlLlqp06mby2LE06j3zIMFEOJMrH7cyhApl6TeHfmxE80Pi6bhBiDI%2F" target="_blank">Gowns for Doctors</a>, the initiative she started to supply GPs with the gowns. “This donation from Barbie will mean many more doctors across Australia will be able to receive a box of reusable protective gowns and many patients and children will be able to seek care from their doctor,” the Bendigo GP said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 🇦🇺👩‍⚕️ <a href="https://twitter.com/Barbie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Barbie</a> launches 6 new dolls celebrating female scientists - including Australian Dr Kirby White. Dr White pioneered Gowns for Doctors, an initiative behind surgical gowns that can be washed & reused by frontline workers during the pandemic. ▶️ More: <a href="https://t.co/PHYXvyFIu5">https://t.co/PHYXvyFIu5</a> <a href="https://t.co/PwnL6J4I8o">pic.twitter.com/PwnL6J4I8o</a> — Australia in the US 🇦🇺🇺🇸 (@AusintheUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/AusintheUS/status/1422923782180777986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2021</a></blockquote> “Australia is once again facing increasing COVID-19 case numbers and this donation will allow Gowns for Doctors to upscale our efforts to support those clinics in need.” In the UK, Gilbert chose Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), a nonprofit organisation inspiring girls to pursue a career in STEM, to receive a financial donation from the company. Image: Mattel

Caring

Meet Benjamin Jesty: The unsung hero of vaccinations

More than 250 years before the first case of COVID-19 was announced, another deadly virus - smallpox - was spreading across Europe. The smallpox epidemic led to the development of the first vaccine, credited to Gloucestershire physician, Edward Jenner. However, the technique which Jenner became famous for had been pioneered more than 20 years earlier by a Dorset dairy farmer whose social status prevented him from receiving any credit. It wasn’t until microbiologist Patrick Pead, who was holidaying in Dorset in 1985, found a booklet in a Worth Matravers village called ‘Benjamin Jesty: The First Vaccinator’. “I thought ‘that’s not right, it was Edward Jenner’,” he said. “We went to the churchyard and saw his tombstone and that day changed my life.” <img style="width: 500px; height:307.37704918032784px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842847/_119356027_561b6ee2-0976-4b53-ac10-2677da1907fa.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/806cca2aa4094d378377c4193b187d8e" /> Image: Julia&keld / Find a Grave Over the following years, Pead went to work, piecing together what little information was known about Jesty. This included the tracking down of the only portrait of the famer, which was believed lost for more than a century before it turned up on the other side of the world. Jesty’s story starts in 1774, when the farmer deliberately infected his family with cowpox to protect them from the smallpox virus, which was the leading cause of death at the time. Most people became infected during their lifetimes, with about 30 percent of those infected not surviving. However, Jesty had contracted cowpox as a boy and knew that milkmaids seemed to somehow be immune from smallpox. Using pus taken from lumps on a cow’s udder, he scratched the infectious material into the skin of his wife and two sons using a stocking needle. Though his wife eventually recovered after being seriously ill, Jesty was vilified. “The last trial for witchcraft had been less than 40 years earlier,” Pead said. “Jesty was reviled, people were suspicious. “In those days, everybody would go to church on Sunday and the human body was sacred but here was a guy taking something from a beast and poking it into a human body.” Jesty’s experiments were later proved to be successful after attempts to infect his sons with smallpox failed, indicating they were immune. Edward Jenner is believed to have heard of Jesty’s experiments through his dining club, carried out a similar test in 1796 on an eight-year-old boy, but his findings were rejected by The Royal Society. After additional experiments, and with support from his colleagues and the king, Jenner was awarded a total of £30,000 ($AUD 56,270 or $NZD 59,360) by parliament between 1802 and 1807. But, Jesty’s efforts were not unrecognised, with doctors and clergy calling for his recognition in the discovery. Despite their attempts to give him credit where it was due - including in the commission of Jesty’s portrait - Jenner’s well-connected supporters succeeded, leaving Jesty to become a footnote in the history of medicine. In his quest to uncover more about Jesty, Mr Pead was able to locate the portrait - which had passed to the Pope family of the Eldridge Pope Brewery in Dorchester - after receiving the phone number of a Pope family descendent in South Africa. “I rang them straight away - it was about 10 o’clock at night. They said, ‘it’s hanging here above the fireplace in the family home’,” he said. After a drawn-out process, the portrait returned to the UK and was restored over two years. The painting finally went on display, first in Dorchester’s Dorset Museum, then at the Wellcome Collection galleries. Interest in Jesty’s story has grown ever since, and Pead has written books and articles, given hundreds of talks, and was awarded a Fellowship of the Historical Association for his efforts. “I’m a scientist working in medicine and I know all of the progress is built on the findings of others,” he said. “Vaccination wasn’t plucked out of the air by Benjamin Jesty or by Edward Jenner, it was built on out of what went before - that’s why Jesty does deserve recognition.” Image: Wellcome Collection

Body

Rude passenger quelled by “hero” traveller

A flying traveller has been praised for stepping up to an annoying fellow passenger. In a video posted to social media app <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.walker.twins/video/6981226155932192005?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank">TikTok</a> by the user Walker Brothers, a passenger’s bare feet can be seen stretched out onto the armrest in front of them. “Had to do something,” the video caption read. While the passenger is comfortably resting their foot on the armrest, the other traveller reaches for his bottle of water. <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="6981226155932192005"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.walker.twins" target="_blank" title="@the.walker.twins">@the.walker.twins</a> Had to do something 🥴 <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airplane" target="_blank" title="airplane">#airplane</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/travel" target="_blank" title="travel">#travel</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/situation" target="_blank" title="situation">#situation</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/viral" target="_blank" title="viral">#viral</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou" target="_blank" title="foryou">#foryou</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Into-The-Thick-Of-It-6964101918863969030" target="_blank" title="♬ Into The Thick Of It! - The Backyardigans">♬ Into The Thick Of It! - The Backyardigans</a></blockquote> In the clip, you can see as he tips a splash of water over the man’s foot. The footage has since gone viral, with many people praising the flyer’s actions. “Great one. Amazing someone would do that in the first place,” one person wrote. “I can’t even imagine having that level of audacity to put my foot on a stranger’s armrest, like HOW,” wrote another. Others believed he had been too nice in his response. “I would have locked hands with it, wouldn’t have let go no matter how hard they pulled. It’s my foot now,” one person said. “Should have asked the flight attendant for a boiling cup of water,” another added.

Travel Trouble

10-year-old boy dies a hero after rescuing little sister

A 10-year-old boy has died a hero after he tragically jumped into a river to save his little sister after she fell in. Little Ricky Lee Sneve was with his father and siblings at Big Sioux River in Hudson, South Dakota on Saturday when his little sister Chevelle fell into the water. Nicole Eufers, Ricky’s mother, explained that a number of siblings had fallen in and while his father jumped in to get two of them while Ricky went for his sister. Ricky was able to push Chevelle back to the shore, but when his father Chad Sneve turned around, he was missing. "He saved his sister's life and took his own," Ms Eufers told the Argus Leader. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841808/ricky-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0e6d3b6df73842e7a0d43da4d2748f33" /> Ricky's disappearance led to a large-scale rescue operation. However, only a few hours later, the sheriff's office confirmed they had found the body of the 10-year-old. "We unfortunately have a tragic update to the situation in Hudson," the release said. "The dive team recovered the body of the 10-year-old boy. We ask that you please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time. "Our sympathies are with the family and the first responders who assisted in the recovery." A GoFundMe has been set up by Ms Eufers' brother after Ricky's death. "Ricky Lee was a very intelligent and smart young boy who loved his family and was an adventurous little guy," Ricky's uncle Ricky Eufers wrote. "He’d do anything to help his mom or anyone at that, without ever being asked. Ricky gave his life trying to do what he knew was best. "Please help my sister Nicole have some relief in these absolutely difficult times. All donations will be sent to her relief."

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Meet Benjamin Jesty: The unsung hero of vaccinations

Rude passenger quelled by “hero” traveller

10-year-old boy dies a hero after rescuing little sister

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Olympic hero "fighting for her life" in intensive care

"Hero we need": Fed-up tradie disrupts Bunnings traffic

New Zealand police farewell four-legged hero

Why this mum who stabbed a man to death was hailed a hero by her sons

Fisherman declared a hero after Tanzanian crash efforts

Hero dad coward-punched while trying to rescue car crash victim

“He’s my hero”: 5-year-old saves baby sister from burning cot

"You are the real heroes": Chris Hemworth’s wife thanks flood heroes

Turning sporting heroes into NFTs? Here’s how it works

Beyond Cyrano de Bergerac’s nose – the real man behind the swashbuckling hero

Hero jogger rescues family pets from burning home

Spider-Man’s Tom Holland fulfils sweet promise to young hero

Young HERO with autism jumps out Maccas drive-thru window to save choking customer

Heroes who found Cleo Smith honoured

Hero dog honoured for saving over 100 koalas

“My hero turns 8!”: Michael Bublé pens sweet message for son

COVID-19 heroes honoured by new Barbie range

Meet Benjamin Jesty: The unsung hero of vaccinations

Rude passenger quelled by “hero” traveller

10-year-old boy dies a hero after rescuing little sister

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