Financial help for caregivers of cancer patients

By Shaimaa Khalil Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Olivia Newton-John was a UK-born, Australian-raised recording artist who shot to superstardom in the US. It's no wonder that Hollywood is mourning her and that tributes have come from her star friends from Britain as well. But Australia has and will always claim her as its "darling" and "sweetheart". Obituary: Olivia Newton-John This is where she started her musical career, even though she grew up wanting to be a vet and then a policewoman. Newton-John formed a girl group with three other school friends at 14 and started performing in a café run by her sister's boyfriend. Australians grew up with a young Olivia Newton-John on their screens. She appeared on many talent shows. She sang Summertime aged 15 on a televised talent competition and landed a role on the TV … [Read more...] about Olivia Newton-John: Australia mourns a national sweetheart

Juliana Sargeant always thought she was too busy to volunteer. But when the South Canterbury woman saw first-hand the importance of volunteering, after she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, she decided to get involved. In the past few weeks, volunteers and the vital work they do has been celebrated in South Canterbury with two events. Joining in the celebrations was Sargeant, now a South Canterbury Plunket co-ordinator, who shared her story to the 50 attendees at Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury’s 15-year-anniversary event. READ MORE: Volunteering a family affair for two Timaru sisters Plunket Timaru to move its six sites into one hub Temuka woman retiring from voluntary role after almost 32 years “Everyone’s too busy these days, too busy working, too busy earning money, but there’s always things you can do,” Sargeant said. “Obviously being a mum of three, it’s hard to find the time do anything.” However, several years ago, she needed help looking … [Read more...] about South Canterbury woman journey from ‘too busy’ to volunteer co-ordinator

At right, Hal Prince, Stephen Sondheim, and Mary Rodgers at the Rodgers-Guettel Christmas party in 1965. Photo: Courtesy of the Rodgers-Beaty-Guettel family In the four years between her explosive separation from Jerry Beaty in 1957 and her Mexican wedding to Henry Guettel in 1961, Mary Rodgers (1931–2014) composed the music for Once Upon a Mattress, ushered the show to Broadway and London, assisted Leonard Bernstein on his Young People’s Concerts, and wrote songs for everyone from Bing Crosby to Captain Kangaroo. All this while raising three young children and juggling many unlikely husband prospects, including the producer Hal Prince; a married editor she called Boston Jack; her Mattress lyricist, Marshall Barer, who was gay; and a CIA operative named Cord Meyer. Finally, there was the man she had met and fallen hard for at Oscar Hammerstein’s farm when she was barely a teenager: Stephen Sondheim. Would their affection take the turn they’d described in a song they … [Read more...] about A Trial Marriage to Stephen Sondheim

Published 7 January 2019 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing After years at the heart of government, Mark Drakeford today starts in the top job. BBC Wales' political correspondent Daniel Davies has spoken to friends, colleagues and opponents of the Welsh Labour leader about his politics, personality and the sort of first minister he will be. Mark Drakeford's political awakening came early. Nationalist fervour swept his home town of Carmarthen when Gwynfor Evans was elected as Plaid Cymru's first MP in 1966. At grammar school, Mr Drakeford remembers groups of pupils marching around chanting political slogans. English-only road signs lay piled on the ground, torn down the night before. The political climate fired the imagination of the young Drakeford, a clarinet-playing cricket fan. Trashing road signs was, he thought, a "fantastic thing to be doing", he told me. … [Read more...] about Mark Drakeford: From Latin degree to Wales’ leader

By Yaroslav Lukov & Francesca Gillett Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A beluga whale that became stranded in France's Seine river had to be put down, ending a dramatic rescue mission that captivated world audiences. Officials say vets took the decision as the four-metre (13ft) mammal was being moved in a refrigerated truck. Overnight, rescuers spent nearly six hours lifting the 800kg (1,763lb) whale from the river using a crane and nets. They had planned to release the animal in the sea but its health deteriorated after failing to eat. "It is with heavy hearts we announce that the beluga did not survive," Sea Shepherd France conservation group wrote in a Twitter post on Wednesday. "We are devastated by this tragic outcome that we knew was very likely," it added. Meanwhile, Florence Ollivet-Courtois, a vet for the local … [Read more...] about France whale: Beluga put down during dramatic rescue mission

A new sinking lid policy for pokie machine numbers in the Mackenzie District does not go far enough according to the Problem Gambling Foundation. An extraordinary district council meeting in Fairlie on Tuesday adopted changes to its Class 4 Gambling and TAB Venue Policy, following the decision to revoke the existing policy in June 2021. Class 4 refers to pokie machines in clubs, pubs and TABs – locations other than casinos and previously council had a 65 machine limit with 36 operating and no sinking lid policy. The council had sought feedback on three options - to impose a sinking lid, to lower the overall number or to impose no change or opt for another option. READ MORE: Problem Gambling Foundation says south Auckland pokie machine profits cause for concern Wellington council poised to start ditching 'dirty money' pokie machines Pokie machines continue to blight South Auckland More could be done to ensure decline of gaming machines, says Problem Gambling … [Read more...] about Pokies gradually on the way out in Mackenzie District