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A-list Hollywood star’s son dies at just 33

<p>Gary Sinise, known for his A-list Hollywood movie roles, has shared that his son has passed away at the age of 33. </p> <p>The 68-year-old announced that McCanna “Mac” Sinise passed away on January 5th after a five-and-a-half year battle with chordoma, a rare form of cancer. </p> <p>The Gary Sinise Foundation took to Instagram to share a picture of Mac with the caption, “In Honour &amp; Memory of McCanna ‘Mac’ Sinise 1990-2024.”</p> <p>In a message shared on the <a href="https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/mac-tribute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gary Sinise Foundation website</a>, Sinise opened up about the devastating loss of his son. </p> <p>“Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can,” he wrote.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C33KTEfN06g/?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/C33KTEfN06g/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Gary Sinise Foundation (@garysinisefoundation)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“As parents, it is so difficult losing a child. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one. We’ve all experienced it in some way. Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s just damn hard." </p> <p>“Our family’s cancer fight lasted for 5 ½ years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on. While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it.”</p> <p>“He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying,” Sinise went on."</p> <p>Sinise shared his story because he and his family “hope to shine a little bit of light on what has been a difficult time.”</p> <p>“Mac was truly a light for all of us,” he added. "An incredible inspiration to those who knew and loved him, he faced his battle with grace, courage, and love. Even with one setback after another, he never stopped living and learning, creating, and giving, and loving."</p> <p>He continued, “Thank you, Mac. You will live in our hearts forever. We were blessed to have you in our lives as son, brother, and friend … and we will miss you and love you for eternity.”</p> <p>Gary Sinise, who has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Tony, is known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in <em>Forrest Gump</em>, as well as his roles in <em>Apollo 13</em> and <em>The Green Mile,</em> and TV shows such as <em>CSI: NY.</em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Iconic Star Trek actor dies suddenly at age 73

<p dir="ltr">Iconic <em>Star Trek: Enterprise</em> actor Gary Graham has passed away suddenly at the age of 73. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actor’s ex-wife Susan Lavelle confirmed the news in an emotional facebook post, sharing their family’s devastation over his death. </p> <p dir="ltr">The family chose not to disclose his cause of death, only writing that his passing was “sudden” and came as a “shock”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It is with deep profound sadness to say that Gary Graham, my ex-husband, amazing actor and father of our beautiful only child together, Haylee Graham, has passed away today,” Lavelle wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are completely devastated, especially our daughter Haley. His wife, Becky, was by his side.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to share some of her favourite things about her ex-husband, writing that he was “Funny, sarcastic sense of humour but kind, fought for what he believed in, a devout Christian and was so proud of his daughter, Haylee.”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsusanashleylavelle%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0XTf8xMGFeD96Ehnk6a8X7RcKQYDxdHvvm3S82J24FX3eaNwtVo3Uax6H4SvQW3YKl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="777" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">“This was sudden, so please pray for our daughter as she navigates through this thing called grief,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Fly high into the heavens Gar!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you for our journey and thank you for the gifts you left me in acting, my love of horses and most importantly, our daughter.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Gary shot to fame in Hollywood for his role in the ‘80s series <em>Alien Nation</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">He stayed in the world of sci-fi as he played Vulcan Ambassador Soval on <em>Star Trek: Enterprise</em> between 2001 and 2005.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gary also starred in TV series such as <em>Starsky and Hutch</em> and <em>The Dukes of Hazzard</em>, before acting alongside Tom Cruise in the film <em>All the Right Moves</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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David Crosby’s cause of death revealed

<p dir="ltr">Rock legend David Crosby’s cause of death has finally been revealed almost three months after the shocking <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/rock-legend-dies-at-81" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the initial statement, Crosby’s wife shared that the music icon passed after “a long illness,” but his former <em>Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young </em>partner, Graham Nash has shared further details.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <em>Kyle Meredith With… </em>podcast, Nash told him that Crosby was rehearsing just hours before his shock death.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was rehearsing for a show to do in Los Angeles with a full band. After three days of rehearsals, he felt a little sick,” Nash said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And he'd already had COVID and he had COVID again. And so he went home and decided that he would take a nap, and he never woke up. But he died in his bed and that is fantastic,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nash also shared his grieving process, and how “astonishing” it was that Crosby lived up to 81 despite battling ill-health, but added his death was still “a shock”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was kind of like an earthquake, you know? You get the initial shock and then you figure out that you survived. But these aftershocks kept coming up, and they’re diminishing in size as I go along,” Nash said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Crosby had battled with ill-health for many years, after being diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1994 and receiving a liver transplant that same year. In the following years, Crosby was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and had to use insulin to keep it under control.</p> <p dir="ltr">Throughout his career the icon had won numerous awards including the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for Crosby, Stills, and Nash. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.</p> <p dir="ltr">Crosby is survived by his wife Jan Dance, his sons Django and James, and his daughters Erika and Donovan.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Happy Days actor dies from Covid complications

<p>Gary Friedkin, the beloved actor who famously appeared in Happy Days and Star Wars, has died at the age of 70, with a statement revealing the cause as "complications of COVID-19".</p> <p>The accomplished actor passed away on December 2 in hospice care with his brother and sister-in-law by his side. He faced a "difficult three-and-a-half weeks in the medical intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, due to complications of COVID-19.”</p> <p>Tributes are now pouring in for the actor, with former Happy Days co-star Anson Williams telling The Post "Gary was a light of joy and inspiration that will be evergreen to all who see his work for generations to come. Garry Marshall once said, 'Gary makes my heart smile’."</p> <p>Friedkin, also known as "Kishka" to family friends, began his four-decade long career in Hollywood with the Chevy Chase comedy Under the Rainbow in 1981.</p> <p>Standing at 1.2 metres tall, Friedkin was a dedicated and treasured member of Little People of America. He attended many conventions and made lifelong friendships through the organisation.</p> <p>Some notable highlights from his acting days include his role as Clarence, a cook at Arnold's restaurant, on Happy Days, as well as an Ewok in Star Wars. He also appeared in many blockbusters such as Blade Runner and on TV in episodes of The Twilight Zone, The Practice and Chicago Hope.</p> <p>"While Gary may have been short of stature, he was a giant amongst his family and friends," reads his obituary.</p> <p>"His legacy will live on as stories are told and retold for years to come by all who loved him."</p> <p><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

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“That is what makes him a predator”: Graham Norton names worst ever guest

<p>Graham Norton has called out his "least favourite guest" on his long-running talk show in his new tell-all book. </p> <p>The BBC presenter was on a book tour for his new memoir <em>Forever Home</em> in his native Dublin when he opened up about the star's "chilling" behaviour before he even arrived on set. </p> <p>Two years before the avalanche of allegations about convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein came to light in 2017, he appeared on Graham's famous red sofa. </p> <p>He joined<em> Doctor Who</em> actor David Tennant, Oscar winner Olivia Colman and singer Jessie J in 2015. </p> <p>“I often talk around who my least favourite guest was, but someone reminded me, I have a really good answer to this now,” Norton said, according to Irish news outlet <a title="www.joe.ie" href="https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/graham-norton-worst-guest-756066?fbclid=IwAR16hRsekgbR7OCKoYxJMIzG08n1nkAKcuASfa4ErXuXOpByUu3Y0X3WXeE">Joe</a>.</p> <p>“And actually, it was weird, because he asked for my e-mail. And he e-mailed me something very nice, a complimentary thing. And then he decided he wanted to be on the show, because he was going to promote something."</p> <p>“And it was a show that was fully booked, so I replied saying ‘Oh, thank you so much, but the show is fully booked’. He e-mailed back: ‘What if I blah de blah de blah’."</p> <p>“And he e-mailed back again, ‘But I think...’, and I just had to turn to my booker and say ‘Can you please deal with this?’ And at the time, I thought that sort of attitude, that kind of ‘Oh no, I’m going on’, that is what makes you a very good producer."</p> <p>“But of course, now that we know what we know, that is what makes him a predator. It was that kind of weird, tunnel-vision thing. And it was sort of chilling in retrospect, because I was just laughing at those emails. But you realise ‘Oh my God, that is an insight into how that man is’.”</p> <p>Weinstein is serving  a 23-year prison sentence after a New York jury found him guilty of sexual assault. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

TV

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Gary Ablett's wife shares details on son's rare disease

<p dir="ltr">Jordan Ablett, the wife of retired Geelong footballer Gary Ablett, has opened up about their son Levi’s medical conditions, and how he may never speak.</p> <p dir="ltr">Three-year-old Levi has a rare degenerative disease which Gary and Jordan first spoke publicly about in 2020.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-87c10d96-7fff-7acd-1c6d-8c4698e46c75"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Now, Jordan has spoken about the difficulties she faces communicating with her baby boy days before the start of this year’s Good Friday fundraising appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital, for which she is an ambassador.</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/CcG9kwhPNOa/?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/CcG9kwhPNOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JORDAN ABLETT (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It’s really difficult from a practical point of view, but also really difficult just being his mum and not being able to hear his voice or know what he needs. When he gets upset, I have to guess what the problem is,” she told the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/vweekend/the-abletts-cherish-son-levis-smiles-and-laughter-through-his-heartbreaking-silence/news-story/0b0d74ce8510736fbaee0a777786049f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Although I will say, despite him not being able to communicate, I do feel as though I’ve really learnt to understand him over the years - I have had to put a lot of confidence in my parenting.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jordan said food and drink could also be a challenge for Levi, with a risk of him aspirating if they weren’t blended enough and got into his lungs.</p> <p dir="ltr">She added that a wide team of people at the Royal Children’s Hospital monitored his health, and that being an ambassador for the hospital’s fundraiser was “the absolute least I can do for the kids”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a mum who relies heavily on the RCH (Royal Children’s Hospital) for my son’s care, I fully understand how important it is that we be generous so that the children can continue to receive world-class care,” she wrote on the Instagram post announcing her role as an ambassador.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These kids are bright lights and we all want to see them shine.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f16641a-7fff-939c-aace-dd2652052089"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Your support is truly heartfelt by all impacted by the RCH.”</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/CMeWQMJMJEk/?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/CMeWQMJMJEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JORDAN ABLETT (@jordan_ablett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Jordan first opened up about her son’s condition on an episode of <em>The Significant Others</em> podcast, including the moment she and her husband received the news of his diagnosis.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it, I just remember absolutely breaking down,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s one thing to receive a diagnosis which just confirms that Levi has a rare and degenerative disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, it’s another thing to understand that it is life-threatening and that’s like a whole other ball game and a whole other situation in itself because that stuff you just can’t prepare for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is a very short life expectancy, which is why I constantly say to people when they ask about Levi that we are literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-feef34e8-7fff-ad39-02f7-0c6a74e91120"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Good Friday Appeal (Facebook)</em></p>

Caring

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Christmas album in the works for Gary Barlow

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the weather warms and the year draws to a close, it’s almost that time for the Christmas music to be played again in preparation for the festive season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While everyone has their favourite festive album and classic that they go back to each December, this year there’s a new album coming from a songwriting legend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gary Barlow will be the latest musician dropping a yuletide album, as he follows in the footsteps of fellow Take That member Robbie Williams, who topped the UK charts with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Christmas Present </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">two years ago. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column, “Gary has seen the likes of Michael Buble and Robbie Williams enjoy success at Christmas and wants a piece of the action.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“After such a rough couple of years for us all, he’s keen to pull it out the bag for his fans and end 2021 on a high.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gary, who released the single </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Incredible Christmas</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> last year, faces tough competition, as Sir Elton John and Ed Sheeran are also set to release a duet in the upcoming festive season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to his Christmas album, Gary is also unveiling his own range of wine called Gary Barlow Organic in partnership with Benchmark Drinks. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The wines feature unique blends of Spanish flavours, and are set to be the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his festive album on the way, a new range of wines and an upcoming tour with songstress Leona Lewis, it’s like Christmas has come early!</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Music

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"We were worried": MasterChef’s Gary Mehigan’s stark admission about George Calombaris

<p><em>MasterChef</em> judge Gary Mehigan has made a stark admission about his former co-star George Calombaris’ well-being after he was sacked from his gig on Channel 10 in June. </p> <p>The 52-year-old told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/we-feared-for-george-calombariss-mental-health-dumped-masterchef-judge-gary-mehigan/news-story/e975d85d4da41c332e121b077d6c5edd" target="_blank"><em>The Daily Telegraph</em> </a>on Monday that he had broken down in tears over the judge shake-up, especially in light of George’s high-profile underpayment scandal. </p> <p>"We were worried about his mental health - I just thought no human can go through all this and come out in one piece at the end of it,” he explained. </p> <p>His exit from <em>MasterChef</em> was part of an even bigger slew of issues for George, who had been fined for underpaying his restaurant staff by nearly $8 million, just days before. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9vOqhFtmb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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/Bz9vOqhFtmb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by George Calombaris (@gcalombaris)</a> on Jul 15, 2019 at 9:43pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The 40-year-old was given a penalty of $200,000 for underpaying 515 of his staff members between 2011 and 2017 and will also have his business’ audited for the next three years. </p> <p>George made headlines for this high-profile case and went on to break down in tears during an interview with ABC’s <em>7.30</em>, in which he issued an apology to his employees and took full responsibility for not correctly paying his staff. </p> <p>Gary assured concerned fans that his former co-host is “in a much better place now.''</p> <p>“He's focused entirely on the business and leaving <em>MasterChef</em> is good for him at the moment,” he said.</p> <p>In July, it was reported all three <em>MasterChef</em> judges, George, Gary and Matt Preston, had abruptly quit the show following an ongoing pay dispute. </p> <p>The network’s CEO Paul Anderson said in a statement: “Despite months of negotiations, Ten has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.</p> <p>“We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years”.</p> <p>Anderson confirmed in his statement there will be a twelfth season of <em>MasterChef</em> with new judges airing in 2020. </p> <p><em>For confidential support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank">www.lifeline.org.au</a>.</em></p>

Mind

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Poem on growing older

<p><em><strong>Graham Poynter, 79, drove semi-trailers interstate and locally for the final 30 years of his working life. This verse was written when he was 65 just after returning from a long truck trip. He’s now retired and travels with his wife in a car and caravan to various parts of Australia. It’s just that he likes driving.</strong></em></p> <p align="center"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How am I? Let me tell you.</span></p> <p align="center">My joints all ache.</p> <p align="center">My muscles hurt.</p> <p align="center">Don’t think I’ll see out another shirt.</p> <p align="center">I’ve put on weight.</p> <p align="center">Can’t touch my toes.<br /> Just a couple of things amid other woes.</p> <p align="center">I’m always tired.</p> <p align="center">Can’t sleep at night.</p> <p align="center">Each morning I feel I’ve been in a losing fight.</p> <p align="center">When I try to think my mind goes numb.</p> <p align="center">I never used to be this dumb.</p> <p align="center">My body hurts.</p> <p align="center">I cannot run.</p> <p align="center">For me life seems to have lost it’s fun.</p> <p align="center">My sight is fair.</p> <p align="center">My hearing too.</p> <p align="center">There are so many things I can no longer do.</p> <p align="center">I do my best.</p> <p align="center">It’s not enough.</p> <p align="center">Living now has become so tough.</p> <p align="center">So now I must believe what I’m told.</p> <p align="center">They tell me it’s that I’ve become too old.</p> <p align="center">The time has come and I must agree</p> <p align="center">There can be no big future plans for me.</p> <p align="center">We are getting old when life has gone so fast</p> <p align="center">That there is not much ahead and so much in the past.</p> <p align="center">No longer the thought of setting the world on fire.</p> <p align="center">My thoughts now are that I should retire.</p> <p align="center">So now I think it’s time to take a rest.</p> <p align="center">It’s the one thing left that I can do best.</p> <p>PS. I guess I was just having a whinge because I did continue for a further seven years… </p> <p><em><strong>Do you have a poem or story to share? <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/community/contributor/community-contributor/" target="_blank">Click here</a></span> to share your story with Over60.</strong></em></p>

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