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Couple who found love in chemotherapy raise funds for final trip

<p>Ainslie Plumb, 22, and Joe Fan, 29, found love in an unexpected place, at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. </p> <p>The couple met in 2022 while they were both undergoing leukaemia treatment. </p> <p>“We met at an event for young people with cancer and became friends following that,” Plumb told <em>7News</em>. </p> <p>“(We) would hang out during our hospital stays, I asked him out in October 2022 and (we) have been together ever since.” </p> <p>While Plumb successfully entered remission, last October, Fan was told that he was now terminal, as doctors had run out of options to treat his Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. </p> <p>With only months left to live, Fan, who has actively given back to the hospital and cancer community by playing his violin for patients and staff and worked with the Queensland Youth Cancer Service, has one final wish - to travel. </p> <p>The couple have set a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-joe-live-his-dreams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a>, to help raise funds which cover flights, accommodation and specialised travel insurance, for Fan's final trip.</p> <p>“I go through my cancer treatments and observe the toll that takes on my physical and mental wellbeing,” Fan said.</p> <p>“The end of a trip can hopefully mark the start of another — and I have held onto hope, looked forward and dreamed for one more trip, more time, one more experience with that someone I love.”</p> <p>Their first destination will be Taiwan and Hong Kong, where Fan's parents are from and where he spent a majority of his childhood. </p> <p>They also intend to travel to New Zealand and Western Australia to swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo in the state’s north.</p> <p>“We’re aiming at going at the end of February to give us time to co-ordinate with his doctors around his appointments and infusions, which are all booked in advance,” Plumb said. </p> <p>“We recently reached 75 per cent on the fundraiser and are hoping to hit 100 per cent perhaps by the end of January.”</p> <p>As of today, the couple have successfully raised over $21,000 from their $20,000 goal, and have thanked everyone in their community and strangers for their support. </p> <p>“Truly, words do not suffice,” the couple said.</p> <p><em>Images: 7News </em></p>

Relationships

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Private island on sale for a price cheaper than most homes

<p dir="ltr">A private island is up for grabs in Queensland, for a price that is cheaper than an average home in most Australian cities.</p> <p dir="ltr">Poole Island, situated in the Whitsundays, comes with two homes that were built in the 1800s and 1980s, and has an asking price of just under $1 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">This comes after a contract fell through when a would-be buyer couldn’t be contacted, so the 20ha island is back on the market.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can confirm that we have not been able to contact the purchaser,” Private Islands Online Australia’s Richard Vanhoff told <em>7NEWS.com.au.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“We have tried ourselves, and we are also going on advice from the purchaser’s solicitor, who has also not been able to contact him.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The island is now accepting offers over $995,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other features of the island include a handmade rock swimming pool and a 215m runway to cater for small aircraft or a helicopter that flies in from Airlie Beach or Bowen.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the listing, the pool itself is equipped with a new windmill pump that continuously pumps water into the pool so there’s “no need for chemicals or cleaning as the crystal clear water is in abundance”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The island also has a slipway for any boat owners or those who love to fish, and a stone shed where you can store various machinery including tractors and slashers.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Private Islands Online Australia</em></p> <p> </p>

Real Estate

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Mental health: how living in the city and country compare

<p>Is it better to live in a city or in the countryside? While urban dwellers may benefit from more employment opportunities, better access to public services alongside cultural activities and entertainment, people who live in rural areas often argue they have a better sense of community and greater access to nature.</p> <p>A number of studies have sought to determine whether city or country is better for mental health by drawing on national survey data from the <a href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/">UK Household Longitudinal Study</a> (UKHLS). This is a national survey which has followed approximately 40,000 UK households since 2009. Each year, data is collected on a range of social, economic and behavioural factors.</p> <p>This is what some of these studies have found when it comes to mental health and where you live:</p> <h2>Physical activity</h2> <p>Research has shown that physical activity can reduce <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379719302466?casa_token=_QxDT_feTekAAAAA:Sd_9jfW0ukJY1fUCkUx43sTEGHkNBiwqViPI4-HfSx-LngPhuxBjGMRQrokDmpYlZIwzR7wDzA">anxiety</a> and <a href="https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17111194">depression</a>, alongside <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223980.2018.1470487">improving mood</a> and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/tbm/article-abstract/10/5/1098/5921063?login=true">wellbeing</a>. Indeed, UK health guidelines recommend physical activity for the <a href="https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222">treatment of depression</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/physical-activity-guidelines-adults-and-older-adults/physical-activity-for-adults-and-older-adults-19-and-over-text-of-the-infographic">improved quality of life</a>.</p> <p>One easy way of getting more physical activity in your life is through active travel – such as cycling or walking on your way to work or running errands.</p> <p>So how does urban or rural dwelling impact on this? According to UKHLS research which looked at data from 35,295 people in the UK, urban residents were 64% more likely than rural residents to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00038-014-0578-2">engage frequently in active travel</a>. This is likely because there are more active travel opportunities in urban environments where there are shorter distances between facilities, shops, offices and homes.</p> <p>Research shows that the more active travel a person does, the better their <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140520300487">mental health</a>. In fact, the mental health benefits of active travel may be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28153647">just as good</a> as physical activity for leisure. So, based on this measure, people living in the city may have better mental health overall.</p> <p>But while urban life may offer more opportunities for active travel compared to living in the countryside, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still many ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily life for mental health benefits wherever you live.</p> <h2>Access to green space</h2> <p>Access to green space (such as parks) is believed to support many aspects of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3">health and wellbeing</a> – including your <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09638237.2020.1755027?journalCode=ijmh20">mental health</a>.</p> <p>To investigate whether nearby green space was related to mental wellbeing, data from the 2009-2010 UKHLS study was combined with data on the proportion of green space within different areas of England. The analysis found the amount of local green space did not actually <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4401-x">predict mental wellbeing</a>.</p> <p>What this suggests is that while green space may be important for mental wellbeing, having it nearby doesn’t necessarily mean people will engage with it. As such, we can’t assume rural living is inherently more beneficial just because nature is more accessible.</p> <p>This aligns with the findings of a 2021 study, which showed that living near green space <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87675-0#Sec2">did not improve mental health outcomes</a>. However, the analysis did find that the more frequently a person visited green spaces, the better their mental wellbeing. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126">Meaningful engagement with green spaces</a> (such as taking photographs) may also be more important for reaping the mental health benefits of nature.</p> <p>As such, urban living may be just as good as rural dwelling when it comes to the mental health benefits of green space.</p> <h2>Air quality</h2> <p>Numerous studies have found links between high levels of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6447209/">air pollution</a> and <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/exposure-to-air-pollution-linked-with-increased-mental-health-service-use-new-study-finds">poorer mental health</a>. A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161813X22001668?via%253Dihub">review of 111 studies</a> even suggests that polluted air may cause changes in the brain regions that control emotions. This may increase the risk of developing anxiety and depression compared to those who breathe cleaner air.</p> <p>To investigate the impact of air pollution on mental health, researchers combined data on air pollution from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with UKHLS survey data, alongside data from the British Household Panel Survey (which looked at 10,000 UK households and ran from 1991 to 2009). This allowed them to analyse data from the years 1991-2014.</p> <p>The analysis found that people who were exposed to higher levels of air pollution reported lower levels of <a href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/research/publications/524260">life satisfaction</a>. The study indicated that the negative effect of air pollution on life satisfaction can be equivalent to major life events, such as divorce.</p> <p>In general, urban areas have between <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanplh/PIIS2542-5196(21)00255-2.pdf">two to four times the levels of air pollution</a> than rural areas, suggesting people who live in cities may be more likely to experience worse mental health as a result. However, the agricultural industry also generates <a href="https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/aqeg/2800829_Agricultural_emissions_vfinal2.pdf">high levels of air pollution</a> meaning some rural dwellers in certain settings may also be at risk.</p> <h2>Regional variation in wellbeing</h2> <p>Of course, these are just a few of the factors that affect a person’s day to day mental health – and it appears neither city nor country living is significantly better than the other when it comes to your mental health.</p> <p>Indeed, research has found that the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00343404.2019.1645953?needAccess=true">region of the country</a> you live in may be more important when it comes to your mental health than whether you live in the city or the countryside. There are many factors that may explain this effect, including the cost of living in certain areas, alongside local politics and a person’s economic status.</p> <p>Where we live is clearly very important when it comes to our mental health. But the place that works best for your mental health will depend largely on broader social and economic factors as well as which aspects of your lifestyle are most important to you.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/mental-health-how-living-in-the-city-and-country-compare-200402" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a></em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">.</span></p>

Mind

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Missing Queensland Cup rugby league player found dead

<p dir="ltr">A missing Queensland rugby league player has been found dead after an accident in a Barcelona nightclub.</p> <p dir="ltr">Redcliffe Dolphins player Liam Hampson, 24, was on holiday with several other teammates when he disappeared and was not seen for 30 hours.</p> <p dir="ltr">Reports from Spanish outlet La Vanguardia say that workers found Liam in the leisure complex at nightclub Sala Apolo.</p> <p dir="ltr">It suggested that Liam fell from a height of 10m and that police will be treating his death as an accident. </p> <p dir="ltr">The devastating news has broken family and friends who banded together desperate for Liam to come back home. </p> <p dir="ltr">Gold Coast Titans player AJ Brimson and Brisbane Broncos duo Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars, first took to Instagram in efforts to track Liam down.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch1ppxzrCCP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch1ppxzrCCP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Liam Hampson (@hampo101)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Liam’s father Brett, took to Facebook announcing the heartbreaking news and asked for privacy as the family comes to terms with their loss. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Waking up to the news no one wants to hear, we are devastated to find out that Liam had an accident and sadly has not survived," he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We are heartbroken to say the least. Liam had a heart of gold and was a much loved son, brother, grandson, uncle and friend. Words can not express our grief.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We can not thank his mates enough for being there with Liam having the time of his life and assisting in the search for our boy. Our thoughts are with them.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We are asking the media to respect our privacy as we work through this time."</p> <p dir="ltr">Liam’s sister Tiarna, also confirmed the shocking news remembering him as the “best brother”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We are devastated to find out Liam had an accident and did not survive," Tiarno wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We are so heartbroken. Liam was the best brother I ever could of asked (sic) for and made me a better person.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We cannot express our grief.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We cannot thank the boys he was travelling with enough for assisting with his search and made sure his last days were the best of his life. Going to miss you so much, Liam."</p> <p dir="ltr">Liam was an up and coming rugby league player after playing three seasons for Tweed Seagulls before his move to Redcliffe for 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook/Instagram</em></p>

News

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Leaked email advises landlords to increase rent amid housing crisis

<p dir="ltr">A real estate agency in Brisbane has come under fire over a leaked email in which landlords were advised to consider raising rents by more than 20 percent amid Australia’s worsening rental crisis.</p> <p dir="ltr">The email, sent by Ray White East End, asked landlords to consider whether their properties were being “under-rented” and advised them to increase rents by “above 20 percent” - more than double the rate of inflation - with potential earnings of an extra $10,000 a year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our property managers have been reviewing all our lease renewals and on average recommending a 17% rent increase on the leases renewed in October &amp; November this year,” the email said, per <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/17/brisbane-real-estate-agency-advises-landlords-to-increase-rents-by-over-20-amid-housing-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As we are planning December lease renewals, the average lease renewal recommendation is above 20%. This can be as much as $10,000 per year in additional rental income.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The agency said that “many landlords are not being provided with the information to make an informed decision” about rent increases, claiming that landlords were being advised to sign long-term leases with increases of $5 to $20 a week.</p> <p dir="ltr">The email also said that most tenants “are agreeable” to the increases and would understand that it is “fair and reasonable” based on what is available on the market.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On average, apartments in West End/Highgate Hill/South Brisbane/Brisbane CBD are renting for one bedroom $480 to $520+ [a week and for] two bedrooms $675 to $850+ [a week],” the email said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you are not achieving these rents (at a minimum), you should be asking why?”</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes as the Queenlsand government prepares to hold a housing summit to address rising homlessness and rental stress across the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">Penny Carr, the chief executive at advocacy organisation Tenants Queensland, said the email was an example of “opportunistic price-gouging” that is happening across Australia at the moment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Rents are unaffordable for people at the moment and tenants are having to absorb increases because of fear of not finding another property or becoming homeless,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We should only allow rent increases above CPI if they’re justifiable and there’s been major work to the property or something’s had to be replaced.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Carr said rent increases have been due to vacancy rates and supply and demand, and that the email dispels the myth that a land tax proposed by the government last year for interstate investors is to blame.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Ray White East End principal realtor Luke O’Kelly said rental affordability relies on investors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Over the past 12 months, Brisbane has had some of the strongest population growth in the country and this has most clearly shown up in rental growth,” Mr O’Kelly said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Right now, Brisbane doesn’t have enough homes for those that want to live here … with rents rising so quickly, Brisbane needs more property investors.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fiona Caniglia, executive director of not-for-profit housing and homelessness organisation Q Shelter, said the timing of the email couldn’t be worse.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is disappointing to hear this the week of the emergency housing summit to be honest,” she told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/dont-have-enough-homes-rental-agency-ray-white-tries-to-increase-rent-by-20-per-cent/news-story/e4ff2ab4807fffe3b50b90fe81069156" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We already know that many vulnerable Queenslanders are struggling to secure a rental property in the first place.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are record numbers of people showing up for the small number of properties listed right across Queensland. Such an increase will only benefit those on higher incomes and will of course again negatively affect vulnerable Queenslanders, forcing more people into homelessness.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ray White’s chief economist Nerida Conisbee defended the email in a statement shared with the outlet, saying that the market is currently ideal for investors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Right now, Brisbane doesn’t have enough homes for those that want to live here,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is making it tough for renters but does make it a good place to invest. While red hot house price growth is unlikely to start up again in the near future, yields are increasing as rents rise.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With Australians paying an extra $7.1 billion in rent over the past year and the average renter spending $62 more a week than this time last year, Greens housing and homelessness spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather said the email showed that urgent action is needed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s this sort of flagrant price-gouging that demonstrates exactly why we need a national two-year freeze on rent increases,” he said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-605890c5-7fff-934e-a79a-b24009315c32"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Loretta Lynn was more than a great songwriter – she was a spokeswoman for white rural working-class women

<p>Loretta Lynn’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/arts/music/loretta-lynn-dead.html">death at the age of 90</a> marks the end of a remarkable life of achievement in country music.</p> <p>Her dramatic life story – retold in the 1980 award-winning film “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080549/">Coal Miner’s Daughter</a>,” based on <a href="https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/loretta-lynn/coal-miners-daughter/9781538701690/">Lynn’s 1976 biography</a> – made Lynn a household name. She grew up in poverty in a small Kentucky mining town, marrying and starting a family as a teenager before reaching unprecedented heights of commercial success as a recording artist of modern country music.</p> <p>But as a <a href="https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/music/faculty/faculty-directory.host.html/content/shared/arts-sciences/music/new-faculty-profiles/vander-wel-stephanie.html">scholar of gender and country music</a> and author of “<a href="https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p084959">Hillbilly Maidens, Okies, and Cowgirls: Women’s Country Music, 1930-1960</a>,” I know that Lynn represented more than just star power and fame in country music – she spoke to the concerns of women, especially white working-class women in rural and suburban America.</p> <h2>Speaking up, singing out</h2> <p>Lynn’s rise in the 1960s took place when country music appeared tied to conservative politics. It was a time when Merle Haggard’s “<a href="https://academic.oup.com/california-scholarship-online/book/28551/chapter-abstract/238414028?redirectedFrom=fulltext">Okie from Muskogee</a>,” with its attacks on counterculture, marijuana and draft-card burning, became a populist anthem for the country’s cultural conservatives.</p> <p>In contrast, Lynn’s songwriting continued the legacy of <a href="https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-kitty-wells-20120717-story.html">Kitty Wells</a>, <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/09/25/country-music-hall-famer-jean-shepard-dead-82/76568704/">Jean Shepard</a> and other women in country music who were willing to speak up about the concerns of American women.</p> <p>Lynn’s songs defied societal expectations by connecting her musical representations of working-class and rural women to broader social issues affecting women across the U.S.</p> <p>She aimed for her music to articulate the fears, dreams and anger of women living in a patriarchal society. It railed against those who idealized women’s domestic roles and demonized outspoken feminists.</p> <h2>‘There’s gonna be some changes’</h2> <p>Specifically, for a generation of predominantly white women in the 1960s and 1970s who did not identify as urban or college-educated feminists, Lynn’s music offered candid conversations about their private lives as wives and mothers.</p> <p>As Lynn <a href="https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/loretta-lynn/coal-miners-daughter/9781538701690/">stated in her autobiography</a>, her audience recognized her as a “mother and a wife and a daughter, who had feelings just like other women.”</p> <p>She did this through clever and witty songwriting and lyrical techniques that combined the vernacular of her audience with her resonant voice.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the song arrangements of Owen Bradley of Decca Records directed Lynn’s musical talents to a broad audience. He combined the edgier sound of honky-tonk instrumentation – electric guitars, pedal steels and fiddles – with the polish of the Nashville sound by including the smooth sounding vocal harmonies of the vocal quartet the <a href="http://www.jordanaires.net/">Jordanaires</a>, as heard in numerous country, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll recordings.</p> <p>This provided a sound of strength and conviction to accompany Lynn’s bold and forthright songs as she laid bare the double standards of gender roles. </p> <p>With her assertive and resonant voice, Lynn, in her 1966 track “<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/loretta-lynn-best-lyrics-songwriting-175002/">Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)</a>,” warns men not to expect women to be waiting at home, sexually available for them after they’d spent the night drinking: </p> <blockquote> <p>Well, you thought I’d be waitin’ up when you came home last night</p> <p>You’d been out with all the boys and you ended up half tight</p> <p>Liquor and love, they just don’t mix</p> <p>Leave that bottle or me behind</p> <p>And don’t come home a drinkin’ with lovin’ on your mind</p> </blockquote> <p>In a similar vein, Lynn, who <a href="https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/loretta-lynn/coal-miners-daughter/9781538701690/">claimed that her songs about wayward husbands</a> were inspired by her fraught marriage to Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn, confronted the “other woman” in songs such as 1966’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough” and 1968’s “Fist City.” </p> <h2>A lasting legacy</h2> <p>Fully aware that her personalized accounts became political messages for her fan base of women, Lynn co-wrote and recorded “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/10/04/loretta-lynn-the-pill/">The Pill</a>” in 1975. It was a rare foray into the topic of women’s reproductive rights for country music. In typical fashion, though, Lynn approached the issue from the perspective of a rural working-class woman: </p> <blockquote> <p>I’m tired of all your crowin’</p> <p>How you and your hens play</p> <p>While holdin’ a couple in my arms</p> <p>Another’s on the way</p> <p>This chicken’s done tore up her nest</p> <p>And I’m ready to make a deal</p> <p>And ya can’t afford to turn it down</p> <p>‘Cause you know I’ve got the pill</p> </blockquote> <p>The song’s sexual innuendos about cavorting roosters and hens incorporated the double entendres and humor of early blues and country, while providing a frank discussion about female sexual pleasure. It also addressed the right for women to take control over their bodies and reproduction.</p> <p>The song came out just two years after <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/410/113/">the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade</a>, granting women the ability to govern their own reproductive health through abortion.</p> <p>Indeed, Lynn commented on the Supreme Court’s ruling in her autobiography “Personally, I think you should prevent unwanted pregnancy rather than get an abortion. It would be wrong for me. But I’m thinking of all the poor girls who get pregnant when they don’t want to be, and how they should have a choice instead of leaving it up to some politician or doctor who don’t have to raise the baby.”</p> <p>Her recording “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/10/04/loretta-lynn-the-pill/">The Pill</a>” spoke to married women who wanted to be able to space out their children and prevent unwanted pregnancies so that they could pursue educational and professional opportunities. </p> <p>In interviews, Lynn discussed at length how female listeners flocked to her after concerts, relieved to find a public figure with whom they felt comfortable to discuss birth control. </p> <p>Not everyone was thrilled, though. Male country <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/after-country-stations-banned-loretta-lynns-the-pill-it-became-her-biggest-pop-hit">disc jockeys banned</a> “The Pill” from the airwaves. Nonetheless, the recording became her biggest seller in 1975 and furthered Lynn’s reputation as a spokeswoman for white rural working-class women. </p> <p>Her music also inspired the women in country music who followed her to further explore issues of gender roles. Lynn’s legacy lives on in the music of female country artists – such as <a href="https://www.reba.com/">Reba McEntire</a> and <a href="https://www.mirandalambert.com/">Miranda Lambert</a> – who learned from Lynn how to create music that confronts and triumphs over the societal obstacles that women face.</p> <p>While all of country music will mourn the death of Lynn, it is perhaps her female fans who will feel the loss more acutely. Lynn gave them a social and political voice, and helped make country music a genre relevant to the complexities of women’s lives.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/loretta-lynn-was-more-than-a-great-songwriter-she-was-a-spokeswoman-for-white-rural-working-class-women-191932" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Music

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“We need answers”: Parents of man shot by police speak out

<p dir="ltr">The parents of a man who was shot and killed by a police officer on a Queensland beach have spoken about how they were told the heartbreaking news.</p> <p dir="ltr">Luke Gilbert was with his girlfriend at Airlie Beach, Townsville, when he allegedly approached police with a pen knife in the early hours on the morning of Saturday, October 1.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 24-year-old allegedly continued advancing towards the patrolling officers when he was shot five times.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ad2fc8d6-7fff-dc87-9780-c25d1c364773"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">After police rendered first aid to him, Luke was transported to Proseperine Hospital but died a short time later.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">AIRLIE BEACH: A man aged in his 20’s and allegedly armed with a knife was fatally shot by police in Airlie Beach this morning (October 1) <a href="https://t.co/cBz4wyfM3u">https://t.co/cBz4wyfM3u</a> <a href="https://t.co/mGcTxtosUo">pic.twitter.com/mGcTxtosUo</a></p> <p>— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/QldPolice/status/1575945897787109377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">His parents, Nicola and Darren Gilbert, told <em>9News</em> of the tragic moment when police informed them that their son had died.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Two police officers came in and they just stood, they didn’t even ask us to sit down, and they just stood at the kitchen bench and just said, ‘We’ve very sorry to tell you but your son has died’,” Ms Gilbert said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Luke, who grew up in Western Australia, was working in Townsville at the time of the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Gilbert has called for an explanation for why his son was shot, describing it as a “massive failing” of police.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What happened? We need answers,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is a massive failing of the Queensland Police.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the police union, officers had no choice but to shoot Luke after he allegedly “lunged” at them with the knife.</p> <p dir="ltr">The officers fired four or five shots at Luke after he continued to approach them despite them drawing their weapons and telling him to stop.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ian Leavers, the President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union, said Luke had “all of a sudden produced a knife from his hoodie and started threatening police”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The police have tried to further engage and they have retreated and moved from that location and tried and continue to communicate with that male person,” he told reporters.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At a point, (he) has lunged at police and they’ve had no other alternative but to use their firearm.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Police did all they could to try and resolve this matter peacefully.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As police swarmed the popular tourist spot on Saturday to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Superintendent Graeme Paine said officers were speaking to several witnesses and that the incident was captured on CCTV.</p> <p dir="ltr">Several people in the area at the time also captured the shooting on video.</p> <p dir="ltr">In one clip, shots can be heard in the background and a man says, “They just f***ing shot him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought they were gonna get him with a taser.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They just f***ing shot him c***s. He just kept walking to the cops.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of the news, the 24-year-old’s brother Zac shared an emotional tribute on Facebook.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t know how to say this It’s not even sinking in yet and it doesn’t seem real,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Life will never be the same, he deserved a lot better than this! I can’t believe this has happened, he's at rest now.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Luke’s brother claimed that police used “excess force” after the 24-year-old pulled out a knife “for reasons unknown right now”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For all those who don't know this, my brother was on a night out with his girlfriend and as far as we know luke walked up to two police officers, they were talking and then for reasons unknown right now, luke pulled out a pen knife (4cm) and in reaction to that the officers shot 4 to 5 times at my brother and 1 of them being fatal,” Zac wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s a lot of speculation in the media about the circumstances surrounding the loss of my brother but just know the truth is excess force was used on him which killed him and that can never be undone, they didn’t try the taser, the baton or the pepper spray first they went straight for the guns carelessly.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The incident is being investigated by the Ethical Standards Committee on behalf of the state coroner.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-eb938256-7fff-1bf8-14d1-92cd0fe3a9d7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: 9News / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Queensland man who claims to be King Charles’ son drops new bombshell

<p dir="ltr">The Queensland man who claims to be the son of the newly crowned King Charles III and Camilla is ready to take the monarch to court over paternity claims.</p> <p dir="ltr">Simon Dorante-Day has regularly made headlines around the world after coming out and claiming that he was King Charles III and Camilla’s secret son. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 56-year-old now says he is willing to take the new King to court and prove once and for all that he is their son. </p> <p dir="ltr">He revealed that he has been in discussions with a judge and his barrister about whether or not Charles is above the law. </p> <p dir="ltr">“And the answer to that was no - they told me that we don’t see any reason why he is,” Mr Dorante-Day told <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/queensland-man-who-claims-to-be-charles-and-camillas-son-drops-dna-bombshell-after-queens-death-c-8211844" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“And secondly, Camilla and her family are certainly not above the law. So that argument’s already been had and settled.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A lot of people were concerned that when Charles rose to be monarch that it would damage my case. But it’s not going to make any difference legally, it’s still pressing ahead the same way.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Dorante-Day was advised by the Family Court that if he were to come back with evidence “nice and neatly stamped” then the King and Camilla would have to take action. </p> <p dir="ltr">“…then there’s no reason to deny an application for a DNA test.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He confessed that before the Queen’s passing on September 8, he sent her a letter asking her to convince Charles to do the right thing.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, her death put a stop to his plan of getting the late Queen Elizabeth II involved but he said that that brought up some anger.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her death brought up some different emotions, some anger. Because she’s been across all this and she’s been aware of all this, knows that it’s been going on. And she let that happen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, by that same token, now I’m looking to the future and I’m thinking - ‘Well I’m not dealing with her any more, I’m dealing with him.’ So there’s that element of it too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite all the hurdles, Mr Dorante-Day said he won’t back down and knows the truth and will one day get his answer. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They owe me - as a ward of the state, as an adopted child - the truth about what happened and that primarily is the driving factor. That’s always what I wanted.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Couple makes winning profit selling home to Lleyton and Bec Hewitt

<p dir="ltr">A Queensland couple has made a hefty $550,000 after selling their Burleigh Heads home to tennis superstar Lleyton Hewitt and his wife Bec - having lived in the home for just five weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">Katie and Jeremy Langston bought ‘The Palms’ at auction in May 2021, paying $3.75 ($NZD 3.89) million for one of the state’s most photographed homes.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the couple put the four-bedroom mansion back on the market just months later for $4.3 ($NZD 4.46) million after realising they wanted to move back to Koala Park.</p> <p dir="ltr">Within six days of the home hitting the market once again, marketing co-agents Conal Martin of Kingfisher Realty and Harcourts Coastal agent Ed Cherry had received eight offers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We only lived in it for about five weeks,” Mr Langston told <em><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/meet-the-couple-who-sold-their-house-to-tennis-legend-lleyton-hewitt-and-his-wife-bec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We moved out before we put it on the market. Even though we were living in Queensland's home of the year [for] 2021, we were homesick for Koala Park, so we found the perfect location in the same street we lived in previously and sold The Palms to the Hewitts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Though they walked away with a handsome sum after <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/property/real-estate/bec-and-lleyton-hewitt-list-melbourne-mansion-after-big-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Hewitts spent $4.305 million</a> to snap up the home, Mr Langston said it wasn’t about the money at all.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We thought ‘we can have our dream house anywhere’ and this is not where we wanted it,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We wanted to be in Koala Park and so we are building a beautiful house there now.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We engaged the builder of The Palms, JG Design and Construct, and have just finalised the plans to build our dream home in the area we love.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Langston’s former home has been the subject of a fair amount of publicity, having the process of building documented on Instagram before it became the most viewed house in Australia after it was first listed for sale in May 2021.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-939616b2-7fff-9d3a-454e-fc4de4b4da73"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Originally sold fully furnished, the home boasted luxe features including a sunken fireplace, glass-edged pool and outdoor kitchen in the entertaining area, as well as Italian terrazzo tiles, stone feature walls, custom brass fittings and Harbour American oak flooring.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Aussie speedster Steven Bradbury sells luxe apartment

<p dir="ltr">Aussie Olympian Steven Bradbury has sold his beachside investment apartment in Queensland after holding onto it for over a decade.</p> <p dir="ltr">The gold medallist skater listed the four-bedroom ground-floor apartment in the coastal suburb of Kings Beach in Caloundra earlier this year and has gone on to offload the flat for an undisclosed price.</p> <p dir="ltr">After 11 years of owning the apartment, Bradbury initially <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/unit-2-kings-palazzo-4-6-orvieto-terrace-kings-beach-qld-4551-2017750581" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> the home for $2 million in May before agents Danelle Wiseman and Jonathan Pattinson of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate revised the price to $1.8 million, per <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/steven-bradbury-times-his-run-perfectly-with-kings-beach-pad-20220517-p5am5r.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Even with the reduction, Bradbury’s potential earnings were more than double the amount his investment company, Pricefinder, paid in 2011.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prior to its sale on August 16, the home was maintained as a weekender and rental with an asking price of $660 a week in rent.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sitting just metres aware from the surf of King’s Beach, the 111-square-metre flat includes plenty of luxe amenities, such as its two courtyards - with one on each floor - timber herringbone hard floors in the living areas, and a large granite waterfall bench in the well-appointed kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The flat also has access to the amenities offered by the Kings Palazzo complex, including a pool and BBQ area shared with just 11 other apartments.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bradbury, a four-time Olympian, shot to fame after his unlikely win at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, getting through the semi-final and earning gold in the final after his competitors all crashed in the final seconds.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite trailing behind them all, Bradbury was able to skate into first place, giving rise to the phrase “doing a Bradbury” for winning as an underdog.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, Bradbury took to Instagram to reflect on that fateful win 20 years later.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll always be seen as an overnight success, but it took me many years of sweat, tears and plenty of blood to get there and I’ll always appreciate those who helped me and backed me against the odds,” he <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaBaljsvBl5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Courage, belief, determination and a little luck, all helped me to be the original #lastmanstanding, and now it’s fantastic to see our next generation of @ausolympicteam legends taking our Winter Olympic Dream into the future!”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-414adfac-7fff-b93d-0e1b-4618063616c7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @stevenbradburyofficial (Instagram) / Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate</em></p>

Real Estate

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Young girl wants to be paramedic after saving own mum's life

<p dir="ltr">A nine-year-old girl has set her sights on becoming a paramedic after she performed lifesaving CPR on her mum with the help of an emergency dispatcher.</p> <p dir="ltr">When Charli Johnson’s mum, Sharon, fainted as a result of a viral infection while the pair were home alone in July, the young girl knew exactly what to do next.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I checked if she was awake and still breathing, and I went and called trip-0,” Charli said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought something was wrong so I knew what to do.”</p> <p dir="ltr">At the start of the call to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), emergency medical dispatcher Anne Barklimore can be heard asking for Charli’s suburb and name, to which she replied, “Helensvale, Charli”.</p> <p dir="ltr">During the call, Charli told Ms Barklimore that her mum had stopped breathing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She just kneeled to the ground and she just fainted,” Charli said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Is she awake?” Ms Barklimore asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No, I don’t think so. I think she just stopped breathing,” Charli said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Barklimore then talked Charli through how to perform CPR, and the pair counted the pumps together.</p> <p dir="ltr">With Ms Barklimore’s guidance over the phone, Charli performed chest compressions on her mother for about 17 minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One, two, three four - that’s the speed you’re going Charli. You’re doing a great job,” Ms Barklimore told Charli during the call.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are doing such a good job Charli, and that you knew to call triple-0, I am so proud of you … and your mum is going to be so proud of you.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Johnson can then be heard crying after regaining consciousness.</p> <p dir="ltr">Charli said that Ms Barklimore’s instructions were helpful, but that performing CPR was still a challenge, especially on her mum.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a bit scary, especially doing it on my mum,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Barklimore said she recognised Charli was young from the first moment she heard her voice and praised her for her calm composure.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She answered the questions calmly and directly - that’s so important,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I was proud. As a mother, I just thought, 'She's nine and she doesn't know what's happened to her mum'. </p> <p dir="ltr">"She held it together. So many older people don't have that composure — it was quite surprising.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She saved her mum’s life that day.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Gavin Nichols, one of the first paramedics to arrive on the scene, said it was unusual to see a young person performing CPR on their mum, and that seeing a child know to call triple-0 and provide information clearly and directly was an important lesson for other families.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You don’t know when you’re going to have your emergency,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"So it's really important to have your friends and family aware of what to do when that emergency happens."</p> <p dir="ltr">Charli was honoured for her bravery and composure by the QAS on Friday morning, receiving a teddy bear dressed in a paramedic uniform and an award.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her mum said she was “very proud” of her daughter, who says she now wants to be a paramedic so she can teach other kids how to do CPR.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm surprised Charli did what she did," Ms Johnson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We'd gone over our address, my phone number — we hadn't actually done it for a while, but she's obviously retained it.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She's a bit of a ratbag at home, so she did surprise me."</p> <p dir="ltr">To hear the full recording of Charli’s call to triple-0, head <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-19/nine-year-old-girl-saves-mums-life-on-triple-0-call/101350536" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d0d848e6-7fff-bab6-64ab-9d5a98b1435d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Caring

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"She didn't add any smiley faces!" Woman fired for not using emojis

<p>A Queensland woman has won an unfair dismissal case, after the ex-wife of the business owner demanded she was fired immediately over sending a text message that didn’t include any smiley face emojis.</p> <p>According to the Fair Work Commission (FWC), Phoebe Wang who was overseeing her ex-husband’s Sens and Goya cafes on the Gold Coast had smashed her phone on the counter, jumped up and down while screaming “Kristen Gordon must be fired” immediately after receiving messages from her about a staffing issue.</p> <p>Ms Gordon had been employed by the business for about 14 months and was a casual working full-time hours. Part of her job included rostering staff and time sheets.</p> <p>Her colleague, who was there at the time of the incident, told the FWC she asked to see the messages to understand why Ms Wang was so angry however, she found the messages to be normal.</p> <p>Allegedly, Ms Wang said that Ms Gordon was arguing with her because there were no emojis included.</p> <p>Ms Gordon told the FWC that she had been told Ms Wang repeatedly stated she “didn’t add any smiley faces! There are no emotions!”.</p> <p>Ms Gordon went on to say she was unaware her “completely reasonable text message” had caused so much upset.</p> <p>The next day after working a full shift, Ms Gordon was told by a manager they were forced to dismiss her. Fair Work Commissioner Chris Simpson concluded that Ms Gordon was dismissed at this point, despite any attempts for it to appear otherwise.</p> <p>Commissioner Simpson ordered Sens Catering Group Pty Ltd to pay Ms Gordon $5357.80, plus 9.5% superannuation.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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5 minutes with author Sally Piper

<p dir="ltr">In the Over60 “5 Minutes With” series, we ask book writers about their literary habits and preferences. Next up is Sally Piper who is debuting her third book, <em>Bone Memories</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Piper worked as a nurse and nurse educator, specialising in neurosurgical critical care and decided to use her experience in people’s vulnerabilities to write her books.</p> <p dir="ltr">With <em>Bone Memories</em>, Piper explores grief, family, murder and media representation of female victims of crime. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Bone Memories</em> is out now and can be purchased <a href="https://www.uqp.com.au/books/bone-memories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and enjoy the <a href="https://d3f44jafdqsrtg.cloudfront.net/book-clubs/BookClubNotes_Bone-Memories.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book club notes</a> with your friends.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>What inspired you to write Bone Memories?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The story grew first from questions I had about how victims and survivors of a crime might memorialise the site where their trauma had occurred. I wondered whether being close to this ground brought people comfort or if proximity to it harmed them further. I wondered what it made their grief look and feel like when they moved across that ground and how that relationship might affect them or change over time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Through the story, I hoped to explore how trauma lives in the body and for some people how it also lives in the land where that trauma occurred; how history and geography for some are inextricably linked. And I wanted to explore how people reconcile this link or what happens if they are unable to.</p> <p dir="ltr">Equally, I often think about the effect that witnessing violence has on children, even if they have little or no memory or understanding of the event. Would they have some innate sense that they had witnessed something terrible? If so, how might this play out as they matured?</p> <p dir="ltr">In writing Bone Memories, I hoped to answer these questions. But as is often the case with any writing project, once you get into it, doors open to other thinking as well. With this story I was once again drawn into what forces impact upon women's safe and free movement through the world (something I explored in my previous novel,<a href="https://www.uqp.com.au/books/the-geography-of-friendship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The Geography of Friendship</a>), but this time I looked at it in the way that the media represents female victims of crime; how some crimes against women are reported with a sympathetic narrative, one that elicits intense social empathy, and at other times women are essentially blamed for their own deaths.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong> Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">I read widely and often around obscure topics, which inevitably takes me down rabbit holes of thinking, so ideas I hadn’t previously considered important suddenly become so. This is the best kind of information gathering, because it is unexpected. It is also one of the reasons I never plan my stories, allowing them to evolve organically. And neither do I allow myself to know the ending of a novel. Because if I get surprises along the way, then it is my hope that readers will too.   </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>How do you deal with writer’s block?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Writer’s block is a phrase I won’t use in relation to my writing practise. It sounds too much like a disease that I’m at risk of ‘catching’. When I’m struggling to start or progress a work it is usually because I haven’t thought enough about what it is I want to say. Or as Jonathan Franzen puts it: ‘the blank page in the mind has to be filled before you have the courage to face the actual blank page.’ Which is to say, think first, write later. If I get stuck, I go back to the original questions I began the story with: What do I want this story to say? What are the themes and issues I want it to address? Who are the stakeholders? Not being able to find the words is often because I have lost sight of the answers, or I need to ask myself new or better questions.</p> <p dir="ltr">There is also something else that can stop a work in its tracks, which masquerades as writer’s block: procrastination. But procrastination is a defence mechanism, another word for fear or a lack of self-belief. It protects us from criticism. It keeps us safe from failure. It saves us digging deeply into the personal stuff of what we’re writing about, which is often the place where the gold is found. The solution then is to find courage, trust yourself and persevere.  </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>What is your work schedule like when you're writing?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">When working on a new project, I write most days, mainly in the morning. The afternoon is usually spent editing that morning’s work, often after a bushwalk, an activity I call writing away from the desk. Once away from the work, I see it through a different lens: an editorial one. I find the rhythm of walking allows for clearer thinking, helped in no small part by fresh air and the calming beauty of the bush. With this clarity I can usually work out what isn’t working in the story, and often why as well, so that I come back with a solution. Sometimes I cut the walk short because I’m excited to get back and make the changes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Do you expect Bone Memories to become a TV series?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">I think every writer has a secret dream that their story will be reimagined for the screen, and there certainly is more scope for these opportunities now with the rise of streaming services such as Netflix and Stan. When this dream came true for my second novel, The Geography of Friendship, which is to be made into a 6-part TV series by Aquarius Films and Rose Byrne’s Dollhouse Pictures, I was absolutely thrilled to think that the characters in that story would be reimagined in this way. So, it is hard not to hope for the same thing for my third novel, Bone Memories. It is a deeply human, family-centric story with strongly realised characters and a sharp eye for the Australian landscape, so I think it would make an excellent adaptation. But of course, I’m not at all biased!</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Fiona Muirhead/Supplied</em></p>

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"Only the good die young": Tragic twist in honeymoon death

<p dir="ltr">The newlywed bride who died in a tragic golf buggy incident on Hamilton Island was due to get married last year but instead it was delayed because of Covid. </p> <p dir="ltr">Marina Hanna, 29, and husband Robbie Morgan were due to get married on July 24, 2021 but because of lockdown and density limits they decided to delay their ceremony. </p> <p dir="ltr">But it wasn't until June 11, 2022, that the loved-up pair were finally able to say their vows in a lavish ceremony at Sydney’s Doltone House.</p> <p dir="ltr">The newlyweds then finally made their way to Queensland’s Hamilton Island for their honeymoon. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pair were travelling on a golf buggy - the main form of transportation on the island on June 20 when Morgan did a U-turn, causing the buggy to tip over.</p> <p dir="ltr">A doctor, off-duty dentist and off-duty firefighter rushed to the scene and desperately performed CPR for 35 minutes on Marina, who unfortunately could not be revived.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(This) is proof that the good die young,” Robbie’s brother Matty said of Marina’s passing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Queensland Police Inspector Anthony Cowan announced in a press conference that Marina was not wearing a seatbelt while in the buggy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was just a tragic accident with a golf buggy,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There may have been some inexperience driving those type of vehicles while turning it has rolled on its side and the woman has fallen out and sustained life-threatening injuries.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It just appears inexperience in driving that type of vehicle, turned too quick and rolled on its side and unfortunately, it has ended up with this result.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It appears there was no seatbelt worn at this point in time; we come back to the Fatal Five but now is not the time to dwell on what they should have done.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Inspector Cowan confirmed that no drugs, alcohol or dangerous driving caused the accident.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Aussie town welcomes first baby in 15 years

<p dir="ltr">A remote Australian town has welcomed its first baby in 15 years with the father just making the delivery after trekking a crazy 280km. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jessie Harvey rushed to Richmond Hospital in outback Queensland about 3am on April 30 when she started experiencing contractions. </p> <p dir="ltr">There were no midwives or births at Richmond Hospital and the doctor who had checked Jessie fainted soon after telling her she was 8cm dilated.</p> <p dir="ltr">The hospital called for help from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and staff were relieved to have someone experienced on hand.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the only problem was Jessie’s partner Sam McGrath was 280km away working on a remote cattle station at East Creek, Woodstock when he received the surprising news. </p> <p dir="ltr">He immediately jumped into his ute and drove the hundreds of kilometres and shockingly made it in time for his son’s birth. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I had just taken a sip out of my coffee when I got the call. I grabbed my bag and chucked it on the ute then had to high-tail it into town,” he told Daily Mail Australia. </p> <p dir="ltr">RFDS doctor Shima Ghedia helped deliver baby Darby who was welcomed into the world with cheers after being the first baby born in 15 years in the remote town. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It was honestly amazing everyone was so stoked, so happy to see a child being born [at Richmond],” Sam said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was pretty well a cheering vibe, everyone was quite ecstatic.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Queensland couple mistakenly charged $15k for flights to Melbourne

<p dir="ltr">A couple looking forward to going on their much needed holiday have been instead wrongly charged $15,000.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Dennis and Pat Amor from Queensland were organising a trip to Melbourne to visit some family after two years of no flights thanks to the pandemic. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pair called Qantas to help book the tickets and provided their credit card details – but were instead informed that their booking was rejected.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Pat however revealed that their booking was in fact not rejected and that the Qantas staff member had instead processed it 15 times. </p> <p dir="ltr">"It's never declined and she apparently tried to push it over and over again,” she told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-couple-15000-dollar-qantas-bill-booking-error/b9dcb551-90d3-437c-8ed0-e36117cdd0a7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The horrified couple had to check with Mastercard to see what the issue was and were shocked to find they were charged 15 times for the flights.</p> <p dir="ltr">"They just said there was a bill of $15,000 on the card, being 15 transactions had gone through, so we were really flummoxed," Pat revealed. </p> <p dir="ltr">They tried to get in touch with Qantas once again and time after time were unable to get through.</p> <p dir="ltr">Eventually, a staff member got in touch who said they would sort it out with the finance team and call them later that day. They didn’t. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mastercard however has since returned $11,000 of the couple’s money – but at the time of writing, $4,000 remains outstanding. </p> <p dir="ltr">Qantas claims that the issue is with the Amor’s credit card and not with them, which Mastercard has refuted. </p> <p dir="ltr">To top it off, the upset couple were told they could not fly Qantas until the matter was resolved and were required to use leftover credit from Jetstar to book their tickets. </p> <p dir="ltr">"It doesn't seem fair to us. We are frustrated. We are angry."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: A Current Affair</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Reporter stops live broadcast to save drowning child

<p dir="ltr">A Channel 7 reporter has been hailed a hero after rescuing a child during his live broadcast.</p> <p dir="ltr">Paul Burt was in Surfers Paradise in Queensland when a 10-year-old boy behind him got caught in a rip.</p> <p dir="ltr">Burt immediately stopped his reporting and jumped into the water to help the child who was with his family of inexperienced swimmers from Pakistan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There was a 10-year-old boy ... that got dragged out into this fierce gutter, and of course into this rip,” Burt told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/gold-coast/gold-coast-reporter-stops-live-cross-to-save-drowning-boy-in-rough-surf-c-6693814" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> after rescuing the boy. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Being of a light weight he managed to stay afloat and come in adjacent to the southern side of the gutter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“About four or five of us jumped in and basically pulled him back to the beach.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that the boy had taken in a “fair bit of water in” and was treated by paramedics on scene.</p> <p dir="ltr">Burt took the opportunity to warn swimmers not to risk their lives because they may not get that lucky.</p> <p dir="ltr">Watch the incredible footage <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/gold-coast/gold-coast-reporter-stops-live-cross-to-save-drowning-boy-in-rough-surf-c-6693814" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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Grandma of child left on bus gives health update

<p>Queensland toddler Nevaeh Austin, who was left on a Central Queensland bus for six hours, appears to be defying the 5% chance of survival she was given by doctors – and now her family want answers over the near-fatal incident.</p> <p>The three-year-old was left in the back of a bus on a sweltering day outside her childcare centre in Gracemere. Now breathing on her own, the family want answers.</p> <p>The toddler remains in intensive care in a stable condition at the Queensland Children's Hospital after she was revived on the floor of Le Smileys childcare centre Wednesday afternoon in Gracemere, south of Rockhampton.</p> <p>Her grandmother Ms Parker said she is angry and doesn't understand how it happened, after she was “forgotten” by staff at 9:30am.</p> <p>"You do not expect a phone call saying 'I'm sorry'. That doesn't cut it. It's not good enough.</p> <p>"This is a little girl. She's someone's daughter. She's someone's granddaughter. She's someone's sister. She's someone's best friend.</p> <p>It comes after police revealed Nevaeh was the only child driven on the Central Queensland childcare centre bus before she was left inside for about six hours, she was then found unconscious in 28 degree heat around 3:15pm.</p> <p>Ms Parker says she will fight to ensure this never happens again.</p> <p>"I'll make sure this never happens again. I'll die fighting for it. I will give up my life for my grandchildren. I'll give up my life for my children," she said.</p> <p>The toddler’s mother and father remain at her bedside at a children's hospital in Brisbane, where she was transported by air on Wednesday. Her father, Shane Austin, shared doctors are treating Nevaeh for possible kidney failure and are conducting a deep brain scan.</p> <p>He said his daughter was the loudest and most energetic child and at the heart of her daycare centre but remains gravely ill, adding that the family were deeply distraught. Doctors have confirmed the child is in a stable condition.</p> <p>Detective Inspector Shadlow did not want to speculate as to whether Nevaeh would make a full recovery.</p> <p>"We will leave no stone unturned in relation to the investigations," he said.</p> <p>"We will also have photographic and our scientific, forensic officers attending the scene [on Thursday], just so we can cover every base and get to the bottom of exactly what has happened."</p> <p>The team will also look at who was coming and going from the centre throughout the day. Detective Inspector Shadlow said the staff involved were "cooperating to a degree", but legal advice had been sought.</p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, Arial; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;"> </p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, Arial; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;"><em>Images: Nine </em></p>

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