Tag Archives: oceania

Haven is only 15 but his unusual ‘side hustle’ has earned him thousands of dollars

2025-12-03 FreeNews

Exclusive: When Sydney teenager Haven Sun finishes school for the day, he often can't go home to relax or watch TV like many other students his age.

Instead, he spends hours driving around with his parents, re-stocking and maintaining the five vending machines he owns around the city.

The 15-year-old is making thousands of dollars in extra pocket money each month after buying a fleet of snack vending machines and installing them around Parramatta and Blacktown in Sydney's west.

Haven Sun vending machines

Sun discovered he had a knack for business after stumbling across other vending machine entrepreneurs online.

"I watched a few videos on YouTube about vending machines that I thought were interesting," Sun explained.

"I asked my family and they said you can go ahead… so I got a few small vending machines and reinvested them into bigger ones.

"Everything I've done here, it's all self-taught and learned online and from people I know."

With some family help, Sun bought a few machines and started renting them to small businesses and warehouses around the area.

Sun's year 10 commerce classes taught him an old-school sales technique.

"We cold-called about 200 businesses over the span of a month," Sun said.

"There's also formal emails I send out to hotels, motels, warehouses and distribution centres."

Once business began booming, Sun applied for a bank loan of around $5600 to refurbish his fleet and soon launched his business Xgreen Vending.

On a good week, one of Sun's busiest machines can bring in around $570 in gross sales.

Haven Sun vending machines

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at previously told nine.com.au that profit margins can often be razor-thin.

But if you get it right, it can sometimes feel like easy money.

"It's a lot of work to maintain these things," Sun said, adding that he spends around 10 hours per week travelling to his machines.

Vending machine side hustles have become a popular way for everyday Australians to make money on the side – there's even a Facebook group with over 30,000 people asking for advice, offloading machines or trying to buy second-hand units.

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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Sea World pilot ‘used cocaine’ day before crash tragedy

2025-12-02 FreeNews

A helicopter pilot involved in one of Australia's worst air disasters was seen taking cocaine at a party a day before the fatal crash, a coroner has heard.

Ashley Jenkinson, 40, was among four people who died when his Sea World chopper collided mid-air with another helicopter outside the Gold Coast theme park on January 2, 2023.

Two people told an inquest into the tragedy they saw the pilot inhale a white substance they assumed was cocaine at a 2022 New Year's Eve party.

Ashley Jenkinson was killed when two choppers collided in the Gold Coast in January.

Industrial oil salesman Stephen Gill said Jenkinson used cocaine numerous times a year and may have taken it in the early hours of January 1, a day before the fatal crash.

Gill testified he entered a shed at the party about 8pm and saw a "white powder substance" on a toolbox.

Asked by counsel assisting Ryan Nattrass when had he seen the pilot use cocaine before, Gill said: "Four or five times a year. Probably three or four lines throughout the night".

Gill saw the pilot last use cocaine at midnight on January 1 and could have taken it at 3am, coroner Carol Lee heard.

Digital marketing company director Ross Meadows testified at the coronial inquiry in Brisbane on Tuesday he had been "best mates" with Jenkinson.

He saw the pilot inhaling a white substance in the shed about 9pm at the 2022 party, Lee heard.

"I saw a white substance. I assumed it was cocaine," Meadows said.

The pilot inhaled a single line of the substance, Lee heard, with Meadows remarking at the time: "Nothing good comes from that shit".

Jenkinson tested positive to cocaine during an autopsy, Lee previously heard.

He was "unlikely to have been directly affected by the drug at the time of the accident," a previous Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found.

Meadows said he had been taught by Jenkinson how to fly helicopters, describing him as a "phenomenal pilot".

"He was a very serious person," he said.

Meadows did not think to report his mate to aviation authorities and did not speak to him about cocaine use, Lee heard.

"He was his own person. I'm not responsible," he said.

Jenkinson was killed along with British newlyweds Ronald and Diane Hughes – aged 65 and 67 – and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, in the horror crash.

Under cross-examination from Tadros family barrister Gerard Mullins KC, Meadows said he knew cocaine and flying did not mix.

"An important part of a helicopter organisation targeting tourists is to promote themselves as a safe operator? Did it not occur to you to let them know of this illegal cocaine use?" Mullins said.

"No," Meadows said.

Vanessa Tadros' son Nicholas was aged just 10 when he lost his leg in the crash.

He attended the inquest on Tuesday with his father, Simon Tadros.

Meadows' company had provided social media marketing for Sea World Helicopters, Lee heard.

Sea World owner Village Roadshow Theme Parks sold its joy flights operation to Sea World Helicopters in 2019.

The inquest is due to hear from Sea World Helicopters executives next week.

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Human remains found in Brisbane charity warehouse fire

2025-12-02 FreeNews

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire in a charity warehouse in Brisbane's south-west after human remains were found inside.

Fire took hold of Citipointe West Marketplace on Freeman Road in Durack on Friday before 7am.

Police were not able to gain access to the building until later that evening, about 6pm, when human remains were found inside.

Those remains have since been identified as a 44-year-old man.

Police say investigations into the cause and circumstances of the fire are ongoing and have appealed for anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam to come forward.

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Locals up in arms about council decision to ban dogs from popular beach

2025-12-02 FreeNews

Sydneysiders are up in arms about a council decision banning dogs from a popular beach in the city's affluent eastern suburbs.

Woollahra Council in October approved 21 changes to dog walking areas after an increase in pet ownership in recent years.

Most of the changes involved an increase in the number of places where dogs can be walked on or off leash, but one move resulted in dogs being prohibited from Kutti Beach in Vaucluse.

Sydneysiders are up in arms about a council decision to prohibit dogs from a popular beach in the affluent eastern suburbs.

Locals were not happy to learn about the new rule, particularly since it is only one of two dog-friendly beaches in the eastern suburbs.

Penny Marr is a former local who travels 30 minutes just to take her dog Daisy to swim at Kutti Beach.

She is also a dog and family photographer who was planning to picture her clients at the beach in summer, and now has to find a new location.

"The only people that really go to Kutti Beach are dog people, because everyone knows there's dogs there, and there's so many other beaches for people to choose from who don't have a dog," she said.

"I just feel like it's really unfair."

Dog owners can still walk their pets two kilometres away at Rose Bay Beach.

The NSW government said the beach has possible pollution, which could increase the risk to children, the elderly and the sick.

Marr said, "Humans can't swim there, and I won't let my dog swim there".

"My dog got sick at Rose Bay from drinking water that was coming down into it," she said.

Other locals complained that the council's decision was "disappointing" and
"unfair" on social media.

"This is extremely disappointing. One of the only places I can take my dog and daughter to enjoy as a family. I have been here loads and never once have I seen dog poo left behind or any issues," James Maile added.

"Such an incredible shame. Very disappointing decision," Bridget Gysbers said.

Kutti Beach, Vaucluse

Kutti Beach was an on-leash dog beach and residents had been hopeful that council would make it an off-leash site.

But council said 90 per cent of feedback from the community was from residents who raised issues about dogs at the beach, including them being off leashes and poo left behind.

"At just 80 metres long, Kutti Beach is the smallest of our harbourside swimming beaches and becomes packed with children and families in summer, meaning dogs have been in very close proximity to people in a crowded area, which presented both safety and hygiene issues," a council spokesperson said.

Signs have gone up around the beach, and council rangers are notifying dog owners of the changes.

No fines will be issued in the next few weeks as the council increases awareness.

An online petition has been set up to challenge the council's decision and has already attracted more than 1700 signatures at the time of publication.

"The council's decision does not reflect the interests of its residents who cherish these rare places where dogs can be free," petition organiser Chelsea Shear said.

"I urge Woollahra Council to reconsider their stance and make Kutti Beach a designated off-leash area once again. Let's preserve its status as a haven for dog lovers and their best friends."

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