Tag Archives: oceania

Massive figure raised for ‘one in a million’ dad killed in workplace accident

Tributes continue to pour in for Perth father Barry Breslin after he was killed in a workplace accident in Perth last Thursday.

The fiance and father of a three-year-old was working at a site on the Mitchell Freeway in Greenwood when he was struck by a concrete grate.

Breslin was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital but died a short time later.

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Barry Breslin

Breslin was born and raised in Ireland's north-west County Donegal and moved to Perth in 2011.

A message shared on behalf of Breslin's fiancee Melissa, his son Tommy, and his family said he touched the hearts of many.

"He was always up for a laugh, whether it be greasing the door handles of a digger, giving yoghurt as sunscreen or being there to celebrate with his family and friends," his family said.

"Duke was one in a million.

"He was a family man at heart and a loyal friend to many around him, he will be sadly missed but not forgotten."

A fundraiser to support Breslin's family has raised more than $587,000 since it was established on Saturday.

Flight bringing Aussies home from Lebanon due to land in Sydney

A mercy flight is bound for Australia with more than 200 citizens who've escaped Lebanon on board, while the federal government is also promising more flights

More than 3700 Australians wanting to depart Lebanon are now registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

A total of 904 have already evacuated Beirut Airport on assisted flights and 349 are on their way home from Cyprus, due to touch down in Sydney at about 7pm.

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Another two flights are leaving Beirut tonight, with vulnerable and displaced people given top priority.

"We are encouraging people to get whatever commercial flights they can," NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said.

As evacuation efforts ramp up overseas, rallies have been held across Australia on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

The Israeli communities' cries were made loud and clear outside corridors of power in Canberra.

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"As an ambassador, as an Israeli, as a Jew and as a human being, it is sad," Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said.

It was a solemn commemoration in Canberra but with rallies around the country, the majority of Australians are growing weary, with a new poll showing more than half the community oppose the marches.