By RNZ A think tank is challenging the Ministry of Education to prove that modern classrooms are good for children’s learning.The ministry has encouraged large, open-plan rooms that accommodate several classes and teachers in…
Tag Archives: oceania
Landlord ordered to pay tenants $38K for living in slug-riddled garage
A couple living in a mouldy, slug-riddled garage have been awarded $38,000 from their landlord who should not have been renting out the space in the first place. The couple responded to an advert for a two-bedroom self-contained…
Queen Elizabeth funeral: Inside St George's Chapel where the Queen was laid to rest
NZ Herald’s Adam Pearse reporting from Windsor Castle, London It took just minutes for a 70-year monarch to disappear, the velvet-covered catafalque supporting her coffin sinking beneath the floor of a chapel she will never arise…
'An extraordinary life': Australia's oldest man dies, aged 110
Relatives have paid tribute to Australia's oldest man, Frank Mawer, after he died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, aged 110.
Mawer's son, Barry, said his dad had contracted COVID-19 several weeks ago, and the virus had weakened him.
"He lived life to the full even in recent months. He insisted on sitting up for meals, he did his exercises every day, and had plenty of visitors," Barry said.
"He went to have his afternoon nap on Saturday afternoon and never woke up."
Mawer, who celebrated his 110th birthday on August 15, took the title of Australia's oldest man in July last year after the passing of a 111-year-old Queensland man, Dexter Kruger.
When Mawer died he was living in the home of one of his sons, Philip, in Central Tilba, on the NSW south coast.
However, up until November last year he was living independently, in his own apartment in Gymea in Sydney's south.
Mawer lived what many have described as an extraordinary life.
Born in 1912, he married his sweetheart Elizabeth, an Irish immigrant, in 1939 – together they raised six children.
READ MORE: Britain and the world say final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II
After more than 70 years of marriage, Elizabeth died in 2011, aged 92.
"It was a long marriage to a lovely girl," Mawer commented.
At the time of Mawer's death, his extended family had grown to 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.
Mawer and his family were well known on the NSW Central Coast where they holidayed every year at the Blue Lagoon Beach Resort in Bateau Bay in a tradition lasting more than 60 years.
The caravan park even named a street there in Mawer's honour.
When asked in 2020 for his advice on the secret to living to such a grand old age, Mayer said avoiding three common vices – smoking, drinking and gambling – was key.
"These are three things you can choose. The way you live makes a difference. And the schooling costs of my six children was a worthy investment," Mawer said at the time.
READ MORE: Funeral plan for King Charles III underway, security expert says
While he was a teetotaller for 80 years, Mawer said he did have one weakness he indulged in – Portuguese tarts from a nearby local bakery.
HammondCare, whose staff looked after Mawer while he lived on his own and later in his son's home, also paid tribute to him.
HammondCare Chief Executive and former NSW premier Mike Baird said Mawer was "a most inspiring individual" and "a gracious man and a man of faith".
"HammondCare is proud to have helped him live his life to the full to the end."
King Charles III coronation likely months away as family and nation grieves
King Charles III has been the new British monarch since the moment of his mother's death, but even after the burial of Queen Elizabeth II, he is likely to wait months before his coronation.
The coronation ceremony will be the culmination of the current moment of change in the monarchy, and a sign that official mourning for the Queen has ended.
Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne in February 1952, but was not crowned until June 1953.
LIVE UPDATES: What midnight outside the Palace in the hours after Queen's death looks like
Likewise, Charles, despite having now been acclaimed as King of the UK and the Commonwealth nations – including Australia – may not be crowned until next year.
For the past 900 years the coronation has been held in London's Westminster Abbey, the BBC reports.
The first monarch crowned there was William the Conqueror, and Charles will be the 40th.
It is an Anglican religious service, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the climax of the ceremony, he will place St Edward's Crown on Charles's head – a solid gold crown, dating from 1661.
This is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels and is only worn by the monarch. It weighs a hefty 2.23kg.
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was heralded as the start of a new 'Elizabethan era' for Britain with a young and beautiful new monarch.
READ MORE: A look back on the Queen's visits to Australia
Just 25 when she ascended the throne in February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II was 27 — and a mum of two young children — when she was officially sworn in on a rainy day in London
The pomp and ceremony of her coronation provided a welcome distraction for Britons who had endured the upheaval of World War II and was ground breaking.
It was the first and only British coronation to be fully televised, as TV cameras weren't allowed inside the abbey during her parents' coronation.
The Queen gave her permission for this radical move, against official advice – revealing the monarch's willingness to move with the times.
The coronation unified Britain as 10.4 million people watched in the homes of friends and neighbours, and 1.5 million watched in public places such as pubs and cinemas.
And it was the first major world event to be broadcast globally. In the United States 85 million people watched recordings of the highlights.
The ceremony wasn't only a big moment for the Queen; it also saw a young Prince Charles make history.
The new king, then four, became the first royal child to witness their mother being crowned sovereign. His sister Princess Anne was too young to attend the coronation.
READ MORE: Queen dies peacefully after being placed under medical supervision
Charles was one of more than 8000 people, representing 129 nations and territories, who gathered inside the Abbey to witness the coronation ceremony.
Now King Charles III will take centre stage at his coronation.
For many British and Commonwealth citizens, the hope will be it can be a similar unifying event to his mother's amid economic disruption and the upheaval of the Ukraine war.
READ MORE: Australians can expect 'shock to system' from new King
George and Charlotte just two kids saying farewell to 'Gan Gan'
As millions across the globe watched the Queen's funeral, the eyes of the world were also on two young children.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked behind Her Majesty's coffin as it was carried into Westminster Abbey with their father Prince William, and mother Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The image of the great-grandchildren saying goodbye was always going to be reminiscent of another two children, caught firmly in the gaze of the world.
LIVE UPDATES: World stops to farewell Queen Elizabeth II
Just over 25 years ago Prince William and Prince Harry walked alongside their father Charles, then the Prince of Wales, trailing the coffin of Diana, who had died weeks earlier after a car crash in Paris.
Etched on the faces of the young princes was the sadness of losing their mother too soon.
'Much like how King Charles III has publicly grieved his mother while taking on a role he's waited his entire life to fulfil, there will be times when duty will come first for these children. But for now, with the eyes of the world on them, they are just two kids saying goodbye to their great-grandmother.'
Now they will guide the next generation through their grief, as they come to terms with their own.
Aged nine and seven, the siblings were the two youngest mourners at Westminster Abbey. Their brother Louis did not attend.
READ MORE: Brothers united in grief and memory but turmoil never far from sight
Second and third in line for the throne after the Queen's death, for George and Charlotte this is an introduction into a world of expectation and service.
Their father, William, is surely best-placed to guide them after his own experience as a young man.
Much like how King Charles III has publicly grieved his mother while taking on a role he's waited his entire life to fulfil, there will be times when duty will come first for these children.
READ MORE: From black hats to brooches, funeral guests wear quiet tributes to the Queen
Standing at Wellington Arch, Charlotte appeared overcome with emotion and cried as her mother comforted her.
Royal Commentator Dickie Arbiter described the day as "significant in their lives".
"Their parents would have said: 'We're burying Gan Gan tomorrow, would you like to come?', and they would have said 'Yes', absolutely no argument."
READ MORE: Why Prince Harry did not salute at Queen's funeral
"They are very sensible children, they are very switched on… They knew what this was all about."
But for now, with the eyes of the world on them, they are just two kids saying goodbye to their great-grandmother.
One of the most recognisable women on the planet, but who they called 'Gan Gan'.
Why Prince Harry did not salute at Queen's funeral
Prince Harry has been seen walking beside his brother Prince William as they follow their grandmother Queen Elizabeth's funeral procession.
However, the 38-year-old's experience has had pointedly different moments to his only sibling, who is now heir to the throne.
One being that he was unable to perform a salute during key moments, including inside Westminster Hall for the State funeral and while passing the Cenotaph.
LIVE UPDATES: World stops to farewell Queen Elizabeth II
The Duke of Sussex was not permitted to make the symbolic gesture as he passed the war memorial because he is no longer a working royal.
This is also why the King's brother Prince Andrew was not allowed to, the two men bowing their heads instead.
Another more visible difference was that Harry and Andrew were not allowed to wear military uniforms. Instead the pair donned morning suits.
READ MORE: From black hats to brooches, funeral guests wear quiet tributes to the Queen
READ MORE: A look back on the Queen's visits to Australia
Harry served in the British Army for 10 years and was twice deployed to Afghanistan.
He lost his three honorary military titles when he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020.
Prince Andrew served in the Falklands War in 1982 during his 22 years in the Royal Navy.
He was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in January after facing a US civil action over sexual assault allegations,
King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince William wore military uniforms.
Young royals not expected to attend Queen's funeral
More than 2000 people will be in attendance when Queen Elizabeth II is farewelled during her state funeral at Westminster Abbey, but some young royals are believed to be missing the historic event.
Prince William and his wife Catherine's nine-year-old son Prince George and seven-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte will attend the service, while four-year-old Prince Louis is not expected to be present at the funeral.
George, who is now second in line to the throne, and Charlotte will walk through Westminster Abbey with the royal family in procession behind the queen's coffin as it is carried by pallbearers today.
READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II's funeral: What time it starts, how to watch it and who will attend
The funeral's order of service showed that George and Charlotte will walk together behind their parents.
They will be followed by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other royal family members.
Prince Harry and Meghan's children Lilibet and Archie are also not expected to attend the funeral.
The funeral guest list will include hundreds of global leaders and other political figures as all nations with which the UK has diplomatic relations have received invitations.
Up to 500 foreign dignitaries are expected to attend.
Among those will be Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern, and US President Joe Biden.
Here's who we know will be at the funeral on Monday.
READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II's funeral: What time it starts, how to watch it and who will attend
Australian guests attending the Queen's funeral
Albanese will lead Australia's delegation of officials as well as 10 "ordinary and exceptional" Aussies who were selected to attend
The attendees, in fact, are not so ordinary.
They include current Australian of the Year and retired tennis star Dylan Alcott; Aboriginal elder, artist and Ngan'gityemerri language group activist Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann; and Queensland's Local Hero 2022, Saba Abraham, an Eritrean refugee who played a vital role in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The guests also include special needs dentist Dr Trudy Lin, research, training and education pioneer Professor Helen Milroy, and Valmai Dempsey, one of the ACT's longest-serving volunteers.
Kim Smith, a local Tasmanian hero; Danny Abdallah, the Sydney father who co-founded the i4give Foundation; and Helen Milroy, the 2021 WA Australian of the Year are the remaining invitees who will attend.
Chris Waller, who trained superstar racehorse Winx as well as some of the Queen's own steeds, was the tenth Aussie to be given an invite, but he won't be attending the funeral due to COVID-19.
Governor-General David Hurley, acting High Commissioner to the UK Lynette Wood and RSL president Greg Melick are other Australian officials who will attend.
Albanese's partner, Jodie Haydon, will also be at the funeral, as will Hurley's wife, Linda.
Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will reportedly attend the commemorations as a Victoria Cross recipient.
All Victoria Cross and George Cross holders – military awards for gallantry – receive invites.
Horse trainers Gai and Robert Waterhouse told the Sydney Morning Herald they had accepted an invitation to the funeral from Lord Chamberlain Andrew Parker, and would travel on the federal government's VIP flight to London, although they are not part of Australia's official delegation.
British royals attending the Queen's funeral
An extensive list of British royals is expected to be in attendance, starting with the Queen's children: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.
Camilla, Queen Consort, Sir Tim Laurence and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will of course be alongside them.
Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also be there.
Princes William and Harry, along with their wives, Catherine, the Princess of Wales and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will all also be in attendance.
They will be joined by Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra and Prince Richard of Gloucester will also attend the service.
European and other royals attending the Queen's funeral
The Danish royal family has confirmed the attendance of Australia's own Crown Princess Mary, along with her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, and Queen Margrethe II.
Having just celebrated her Golden Jubilee, the Danish queen was one of the longest-serving royals behind Queen Elizabeth II.
Four members of Spain's royal family will be present as Spain's former monarch Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia join King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands will be at the funeral, as will King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.
King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway have also confirmed their attendance, along with Romania's Custodian of the Crown, Margareta, and Prince Consort Radu.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will be in attendance and Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf Queen Silvia have also reportedly accepted their invitation.
Japanese news outlet Asahi Shimbun reported, citing Imperial Household Agency officials, that a Japanese emperor has only attended the funeral of a foreign head of state or royal family member on one previous occasion, when then-Emperor Akihito attended the funeral of Belgian King Baudouin in 1993.
Jordan's King Abdullah II, who remembered the Queen as an "iconic leader" and "beacon of wisdom and principled leadership", will also be attending her funeral.
British guests attending the Queen's funeral
Less than two weeks after being asked to form a government by Elizabeth II, Liz Truss will lead the UK's political attendees, less than two weeks after being asked to form government by the late monarch.
Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have yet to publicly confirm their attendance but will certainly will be there.
Almost 200 UK Queen's Birthday honour recipients will also join the congregation.
The palace said that number included those who "made extraordinary contributions to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have volunteered in their local communities".
Other world leaders attending the Queen's funeral
US President Joe Biden was among the first world leaders to announce that he would be flying in, and was set to be joined by his wife, Jill Biden.
The leaders of most Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand and Canada, are also expected to attend.
New Zealand media reports Ardern will be joined by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, Māori King Kiingi Tūheitia, former governor-general Dame Silvia Cartwright and others.
At least four other Pacific Island nations will be represented: Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Samoa.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Governor-General Bob Dadae, Solomon Islands Governor-General David Vunagi, Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natanopo and Governor-General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani and Samoan Head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II will be in attendance, their governments say.
Albanese said the countries had accepted "transport" help to get to London.
"We offered passage to senior representatives from all 10 Pacific countries which are Commonwealth members," he said, a few days before two RAAF jets left Sydney on Thursday night..
"Final lists are being settled."
France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy's Sergio Mattarella, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro and South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol are among the presidents attending.
Local media reports Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife will also be attending.
Irish President Michael Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin are also expected to be among the mourners.
European Council President Charles Michel would attend, an EC spokeswoman confirmed to 9news.com.au.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would also be there, according to the Guardian.
World leaders not invited to the Queen's funeral
Unsurprisingly, several major leaders will not be offered invitations to the funeral.
A senior British government source told CNN Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Myanmar General Min Aung Hlaing would not be invited.
In the case of Russia and Belarus, the source said their exclusion was due to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, which Belarus has supported.
In the case of Myanmar, it is because of the treatment of the Rohingya people, the source said.
Palace protocol is not to reveal invitees to family events, and it has not commented on the guest list.
Earlier this month, Myanmar's ruling junta sentenced the UK's former ambassador to the country to a year in prison over immigration charges.
Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan are three of the countries that haven't been asked to send a representative, according to Britain's PA Media news agency.
Representatives from North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited "only at ambassadorial level", PA added.
– Reported with Associated Press and CNN
'Love quadrangle' behind Brisbane man's woodchipper death
When Bruce Saunders was found in a woodchipper, only his legs were remaining.
But Saunders was dead before his body was fed into the machine after unwittingly becoming embroiled in a "love quadrangle", the Brisbane Supreme Court has been told.
Gregory Lee Roser, 63, and Sharon Graham, 61, are on trial after being charged with the murder of "good natured" Saunders.
READ MORE: Welfare cash boost for five million Aussies tomorrow
Police initially believed Saunders, 54, died in an industrial accident while clearing a friend's rural property near Gympie north of Brisbane in November 2017.
When emergency crews responded to a call they found Saunders in the woodchipper at the Goomboorian property.
"All that was left of the body was the legs from about just above the knees down," crown prosecutor David Meredith told the jury on Monday in his opening address.
"It is not the prosecution's case that he was killed by… the chipper. He was killed and put into the chipper to hide the fact that it was murder."
Roser and Graham had been planning Saunders' murder for up to six months, the prosecutor said.
He said Graham was in a de facto relationship with Saunders after they had met online, purchasing a house together.
But Saunders was "worth a great deal more to her dead than alive", he said.
He had made out a will and taken out a life policy in favour of Graham that was originally for $500,000 but increased to $750,000 a week before his death, the court heard.
Meredith said the court was expected to hear a police recording of Graham calling the insurance company days after Saunders' death inquiring about collecting the insurance, telling them that police had decided it was an industrial accident.
"The prosecution says Sharon Graham had a powerful motive for wanting Bruce Saunders dead," Meredith said.
Graham had asked Roser to help kill Saunders in a plan that evolved over time, the prosecutor said.
First they planned for Roser to break into Saunders' Nambour house and kill him.
Another plan involved Roser shooting Saunders at his workplace.
Finally they decided to kill him and make it look like an accident, bringing in another man Peter Koenig.
Koenig pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in June 2022, the jury was told.
He is expected to give evidence during the four-week trial, saying Graham asked him and Roser to murder Saunders, Meredith said.
He said Roser was eventually the one who killed Saunders by hitting his head with an iron bar before the body was fed into the chipper.
Graham was living with Saunders but at the time was in a relationship with Roser and may have also had "intimate relations" with Koenig.
"This is a love quadrangle because Peter Koenig, Greg Roser and Bruce Saunders were all in love it seems at least at some stage with Sharon Graham," Meredith said.
Everything you need to know about the Queen's funeral
The final journey of Queen Elizabeth II is nearing its end as her coffin moves to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral.
Enormous crowds are gathering across the United Kingdom to pay their respects to the beloved monarch as she lied in state, with many more camping on the street to secure their spot ahead of her final farewell.
LIVE UPDATES: Final mourner attends Queen's lying-in-state
When and where is Queen Elizabeth II's funeral?
A state funeral will be held today Monday, September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London.
After the funeral, the coffin will travel in procession to Wellington Arch and then on to Windsor where the Queen will be laid to rest next to her husband, Prince Philip.
What time will the funeral start in Australia?
The Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey is expected to start just after 7.50pm AEST (10.50am in London).
More specifically, the coffin leaves the Palace of Westminster, where it is lying-in-state, at 7.44pm and arrives at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at 7.52pm for the service to begin.
About 8.55pm Australian time, the Last Post will sound, followed by two minutes' silence across the entire United Kingdom.
A commitment service will be held the same day at St George's Chapel, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. This will be at 1am AEST (4pm local time).
A private burial will be held with the King and members of the royal family that evening.
How to watch the Queen's funeral
You can watch the funeral on Channel 9, 9Now and via this special link.
Nine's rolling coverage started from Buckingham Palace at 5am with Today hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon, followed by Today Extra hosted by David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys.
From midday, Georgie Gardner and David Campbell marked the end of our longest reigning monarch with three hours of coverage honouring The Queen's amazing life.
At 3pm Tracy Grimshaw, Peter Overton, Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon will lead Nine's coverage from Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
Special state-based editions of 9News will be broadcast from 6pm (5.30pm Adelaide, 4pm Perth), before we return to England at 7pm and roll right through the evening, featuring coverage from the BBC headed by the world's pre-eminent royal expert Huw Edwards live and commercial-free.
You will also be able to follow live updates in our 9News blog.
Who will be there?
The royal family, including the Queen's four children and grandchildren are expected to attend.
King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince William, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan will be among the family members at Westminster Abbey.
READ MORE: Who will be at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral?
World leaders and monarchs will also be among the many gathered to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley will attend.
As will US President Joe Biden, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Japanese Emperor Naruhito, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol and Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro.
READ MORE: The countries banned from Queen Elizabeth's funeral
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will attend.
Members of Europe's other royal families will also likely attend.
It is not known if former US Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump will attend.
In addition to the famous and powerful names in attendance will be 10 'ordinary and exceptional' Australians. Click the gallery below to see who they are.
Will there be a public holiday in Australia?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australians will be given a public holiday on September 22 to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II
The day will officially be called the "National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty The Queen".
Why the Queen's funeral is at Westminster Abbey
Her funeral will be the first state funeral in Britain since Sir Winston Churchill in January 1965.
And it will be the first funeral of a monarch at Westminster Abbey since King George II in 1760.
The first monarch to have a funeral at Westminster was Edward the Confessor in 1066.
Since 1760, the tradition has been for the funerals of a monarch to take place at St George's Chapel in Windsor, where the Queen will be laid to rest after the state funeral.
But the Queen decided to break with tradition because of the special role Westminster Abbey has played throughout her life.
Her father, King George VI was coronated there in 1937.
She married Prince Philip there 10 years later.
And then in 1953 she had her own coronation there, crowned as Queen on June 2.
Royal tradition has dictated funerals for British monarchs be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
However, the Queen said she wanted to break from tradition to have her funeral held in Westminster Abbey.