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Bindi Irwin’s 18 sweetest moments!

To celebrate Bindi's seventeenth birthday, here’s a look back at 18 of her sweetest moments.
Bindi and Steve Irwin

To celebrate Bindi’s eighteenth birthday, here’s a look back at 18 of her sweetest moments.

It’s hard to believe Bindi Irwin is turning 18! It seems like only yesterday that she was a little rug rat scampering about with her father, Steve Irwin.

But the tot in khaki has grown up before our very eyes. In fact, the wildlife warrior recently admitted to Entertainment Tonight that there is a special person in her life! “There is someone special in my life right now, and I’m really happy with that. Life is wonderful at the moment,” she smiled coyly.

With her father never far from her mind, Bindi revealed that she has a list from her late dad that any future beau must tick. “Dad always said you can’t date till you’re 40, and he has to be able to swim across our largest crocodile pond before he can go out with you,” she laughed.

Bindi revealed in an interview with People magazine that she still grieves for The Crocodile Hunter, who died suddenly in 2006 after a sting ray accident, when she was only eight years old: “That kind of sadness never goes away. It’s like losing a piece of your heart that you never get back.”

Bindi said that after her father died, “so many adults came up to me and said, ‘Honey, time heals all wounds’…That is the biggest lie you will ever hear. It doesn’t.”

In spite of her immense loss, Bindi continues to carry on his good work as a young conservationist and wildlife champion. “You can take the path that leads you down the aisle of sadness, or you can say, ‘I’m never going to let this person’s memory die. I’m going to make sure everything they worked for continues.”

The animal activist is adamant about making her loved-ones proud. “Mum and Dad are truly my heroes. And I have to say, so is my little brother Robert. He’s 11 and he’s just the most amazing boy. He’s so much like Dad sometimes it’s a bit scary. Dad is and always will be my living, breathing superhero.”

We think Bindi is turning into quite the hero herself and Steve would be so incredibly proud of his eldest child. Click through the gallery to check out her journey!

We cannot believe how much Bindi Irwin has grown up! She really takes after her inspiring father, Steve Irwin.

The sweet wildlife crusader was the apple of her late father’s eye. Bindi continues to carry on his good work as a young conservationist and wildlife champion. “You can take the path that leads you down the aisle of sadness, or you can say, ‘I’m never going to let this person’s memory die. I’m going to make sure everything they worked for continues,” she has mused.

The Irwin’s were three peas in a pod.

There aren’t many families that can rock a photo while riding an elephant… in khaki no less!

The family were inseparable…

And their bond was only strengthened with the arrival of the youngest Irwin, Robert.

Our heart broke for the family when Steve tragically died in 2006. Bindi was only eight years old when she delivered a moving speech about her daddy, her hero. Looking back at the loss she said, “that kind of sadness never goes away. It’s like losing a piece of your heart that you never get back.”

Bindi Irwin’s moving words at Steve’s memorial service: “My Daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him… When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.”

Bindi has always been clear that never wants want her dad’s passion to end. Here she holds a koala as she meets the one and only Dalai Lama.

The star is a complete natural with wildlife and has no qualms rubbing shoulders with A-listers like Oprah.

Bindi is all smiles with her mum and Zac Efron at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

The ever-doting big sister, Bindi looks at little Robert as one of her heroes.

“He’s 11 and he’s just the most amazing boy. He’s so much like dad sometimes it’s a bit scary.”

The wildlife warrior is every bit her father’s girl. She used to watch her dad catch crocs and now she is following in his footsteps – with his signature smile and passion.

The inspiring teen continues to amaze us with her earnest desire to make wildlife a priority.

She may be saving the planet but Bindi still have time to be a regular teen.

In November of 2015, Bindi Irwin was crowned the winner of the coveted mirror ball in the US version of Dancing with the Stars. Watch the incredible moment Bindi dances for her late dad in the next slide.

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A huge happy birthday to our favourite care-free-crusader. No doubt your father would be incredibly proud of everything you’ve done and achieved!

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Runway Weekend is back

Runway Weekend is back in 2016 and it's bigger and better!
Runway Weekend

Sydney’s iconic fashion, beauty and style event is powered by Australia’s best-loved magazine brands including ELLE, The Australian Women’s Weekly and Cosmopolitan, and supported by Harper’s BAZAAR, SHOP Til You Drop, OK!, Woman’s Day, Dolly and NW as well as our headline sponsor, Myer.

The two-day ultimate fashion and beauty extravaganza takes place in Pitt St Mall and Westfield Sydney, in partnership with Myer, with activations from Bauer Media brands ELLE, The Australian Women’s Weekly and Cosmopolitan. There will also be runway shows every 30 minutes featuring Australia’s top designers, insider workshops, free hair styling with The Dyson Supersonic and the opportunity to meet the fashion industry’s biggest experts throughout the Pitt St precinct. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with top brands such as Myer, Dilmah Tea, Rockmans, Table Eight, beme, Dyson Supersonic and more.

Be treated to back-to-back runway shows as well as interactive live fashion and beauty activations. It is an unmissable event that gives everyone a backstage pass to the S/S 2017 trends before the season begins.

Highlights across the two days include stunning runway shows, luxe giveaways, style sessions with the magazine fashion editors, plus a performance by songstress and one of Runway Weekend’s Ambassadors, Bonnie Anderson, who will energise the crowd with a selection of songs, including her hit single Blackout. Don’t miss out!

When: Friday 26th and Saturday 27th August 2016

Where: Pitt St Mall and Westfield Sydney

How: Tickets to runway shows are free but limited – register now to avoid disappointment.

Ticket Description – Friday

Join us for TGIF brownies with The Australian Women’s Weekly, Cosmopolitan’s Bachelor of the Year casting, Gelato Messina, Myer pop-up, Dilmah Tea tasting, fashion editor meet-and-greet, goodie bags and more!

Ticket Description – Saturday

Join us for a jam-packed day with back-to-back runway shows every 30 minutes, Myer pop-up, Dilmah Tea tasting, goodie bags and a live performance by songstress Bonnie Anderson!

FULL EVENT ITINERARY:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26: THE BAUER MEDIA POD

BE YOUR OWN COVER STAR COMPETITION

9.30AM—6.30PM

Cosmopolitan, ELLE and The Australian Women’s Weekly showcase some of the most iconic magazine covers and style looks. Bring out the Angelina Jolie, Oprah and Kim Kardashian in you and pose for your choice of these three iconic magazine covers in your best street, work and high-fashion style looks, for your chance to win our exclusive Runway Weekend prize. Winners are personally selected by our renowned fashion editors of Cosmopolitan, ELLE and The Australian Women’s Weekly.

Find out more

GET RUNWAY READY WITH AN EXCLUSIVE FREE HAIR STYLE WITH THE DYSON SUPERSONIC

9.30AM—6.30PM, 15-minute sessions

Dyson Supersonic hair experts will be on hand at our pop-up activation within Pitt Street Mall to help you get runway ready with a fantastic free hair style. Make sure you register so you don’t miss out!

Find out more

GIFT BAGS

9.30AM—6.30PM

A small gift from us to you. Engage with our exclusive sponsor pop-ups throughout Westfield Sydney Brandspace and receive your Runway Weekend gift bag to take home. Pick up your passport at our Runway Weekend pop-up in Pitt Street Mall and have it stamped at each pop-up and runway show you visit. You’ll need at least four stamps before you collect your gift from our Runway Weekend pop-up.

Find out more

TGIF BROWNIES WITH THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY

10.30AM—11.30AM

We are launching Runway Weekend with a bang this year… with free brownies! Kick-start your Friday with home-made chocolate brownies triple tested by The Australian Women’s Weekly’s very own Test Kitchen & Food Studio– it’s a sure way to guarantee a great finish to the week. There are even more exciting events for foodies throughout the day so be sure to come back for more.

Find out more

BONNIE ANDERSON MEET & GREET

1.00PM—3.00PM

The Australia’s Got Talent star known for her hit songs Raise the Bar and Blackout, Bonnie Anderson, is one of Runway Weekend’s ambassadors and will be hosting a meet & greet in our Runway Weekend pop-up space in Pitt Street Mall. Don’t miss the chance to say hello, take photos with Bonnie herself.

Find out more

GELATO MESSINA CART

3.30PM—6.00PM

We promised more for the foodies, and here it is. Visit our Gelato Messina cart for free ice-cream to treat your afternoon cravings. Try some Gelato Messina’s signature flavours such as milk chocolate peanut fudge and salted caramel white chocolate at Runway Weekend, you won’t be disappointed!

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ARE YOU COSMOPOLITAN’S NEXT HOTTEST BACHELOR?

4.30PM—6.30PM

Cosmopolitan magazine is launching their first scouting event for the hottest bachelor at Runway Weekend. Come along to Pitt Street Mall and nominate your brother/colleague/boss/best friend/the cutest bachelor you know for this year’s Cosmopolitan Bachelor with Tinder 2016!

Find out more

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST: RUNWAY SHOWS

MEET THE FASHION EDITORS

12.00PM & 2.00PM

Meet the masterminds who work behind the scenes to create looks straight from the pages of your favourite magazine. Mattie Cronan from The Australian Women’s Weekly, Dannielle Cartisano from ELLE, and Charlotta Backlund from Cosmopolitan will be on the runway to give their top tips on this season’s hottest trends.

Register now

OPENING EVENT RUNWAY SHOW, SPONSORED BY ELLE, THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY & COSMOPOLITAN

12.15PM

Runway Weekend is here, and you don’t need to be part of the fashion elite to experience the hottest, newest and latest in designer fashion stocked by Myer. From the high street to designer fashion, watch this season’s exclusive picks from the teams at ELLE, The Australian Women’s Weekly and Cosmopolitan. Get in early and register your spot now.

Register now

RUNWAY READY, SPONSORED BY ELLE, THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY & COSMOPOLITAN

2.15PM

Looking for the perfect outfit for Spring/Summer? Then go no further than this exclusive runway show, where you will see a selection of the latest designers and trends from Myer selected for the runway by the teams at ELLE, The Australian Women’s Weekly and Cosmopolitan. Get in early and register your spot now.

Register now

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST: THE BAUER MEDIA POD

BE YOUR OWN COVER STAR COMPETITION

9.30AM—6.30PM

Cosmopolitan, ELLE and The Australian Women’s Weekly showcase some of the most iconic magazine covers and style looks. Bring out the Angelina Jolie, Oprah and Kim Kardashian in you and pose for your choice of these three iconic magazine covers in your best street, work and high-fashion style looks, for your chance to win our exclusive Runway Weekend prize. Winners are personally selected by our renowned fashion editors of Cosmopolitan, ELLE and The Australian Women’s Weekly.

GET RUNWAY READY WITH AN EXCLUSIVE FREE HAIR STYLE WITH THE DYSON SUPERSONIC

9.30AM—6.30PM, 15-minute sessions

Dyson Supersonic hair experts will be on hand at our pop-up activation within Pitt Street Mall to help you get runway ready with a fantastic free hair style. Make sure you register so you don’t miss out!

GIFT BAGS

9.30AM—6.30PM

A small gift from us to you. Engage with our exclusive sponsor pop-ups throughout Westfield Sydney Brandspace and receive your Runway Weekend gift bag to take home. Pick up your passport at our Runway Weekend pop-up in Pitt Street Mall and have it stamped at each pop-up and runway show you visit. You’ll need at least four stamps before you collect your gift from our Runway Weekend pop-up.

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST: RUNWAY SHOWS

WEAR IT YOUR WAY, WITH ROCKMANS, BEME, TABLE EIGHT & THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY

11.00AM, 3.00PM & 3.30PM

Find your Spring fashion inspiration with Rockmans, beme and Table Eight as they join The Australian’s Women’s Weekly at Runway Weekend. Take a seat and view their new season collections on the catwalk at 11am, 3pm and 3.30pm. Join us after the runway to take a closer look at the product with an exclusive offer to shop the runway looks in store and online.

Register now

REFRESHINGLY INSPIRED WITH DILMAH TEA & THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY

11.30AM

Dilmah’s Refreshingly Inspired fashion show celebrates the most feminine season of all. Spring’s luscious, sensuous looks come together, in pieces that drape and float, from brunch to lunch and elegant high tea. Also get your pretty on at Dilmah’s Refreshingly Inspired pod, on Friday 26th August and Saturday 27th August 2016. Located at the Myer grand staircase, in the food court at Pitt St Mall, Sydney.

Register now

BONNIE ANDERSON PERFORMANCE & RUNWAY READY, SPONSORED BY ELLE, THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY & COSMOPOLITAN

2.00PM

As a part of the Runway Weekend ambassador team, Australia’s Got Talent star Bonnie Anderson is performing her hit songs on the runway. Don’t miss her once-in-a-lifetime performance while watching our showcase of latest designer trends from around the world, selected by our very own fashion editors from Cosmopolitan, ELLE and The Australian Women’s Weekly.

Register now

DISCOVER THIS SEASON’S HOTTEST HAIR TRENDS WITH DYSON SUPERSONIC & ELLE

4.00PM

Make this season’s hottest trends your own with an exclusive style session from the team at Dyson Supersonic. Find out what’s in fashion and how to recreate gorgeous shiny hair at home. Seats are limited so register now to ensure you don’t miss out!

Register now

Keep your friends up to date on social media by hashtagging #RUNWAYWEEKEND2016!

Register now

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Socialite Lady Susan Renouf passes away from ovarian cancer

Prominent Australian socialite, Lady Susan Renouf, has tragically died from ovarian cancer on her 74th birthday.
Lady Susan Renouf

Lady Renouf, Susie, to her friends, was a celebrated beauty, who married – and divorced three rich and famous men, including former Liberal leader, Andrew Peacock, millionaire horse breeder Robert Sangster and NZ blue blood Sir Frank Renouf.

She was diagnosed with the deadly disease in 2013.

“I put the phone down and I think I went back to sleep for a while. I woke up and I thought, ‘this is a terrible dream. I dreamt the doctor rang and told me I had cancer,'” she reflected of her shock diagnosis during an interview with Good Weekend in 2013.

She first became a household name back in 1963 when she wed Liberal politician Andrew Peacock. They were married for 15 years and shared three daughters together, Jane, Ann and Caroline.

In 1978 she tied the knot with British gambling magnate Robert Sangster, with whom she won the 1980 Melbourne Cup with.

Her third and final marriage to New Zealand-born financier Sir Frank Renouf saw her secure her title. Following their eventual divorce, the vivacious personality became a fixture on the Melbourne social scene.

Look back at her illustrious life in the player below. Post continues after the video…

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On Friday, her daughter Ann took to Instagram to honour her late mother with a touching black-and-white family photo.

“Happy Birthday Mummy, we love you sooooo much, rest now in peace xxxxxxx .”

Our thoughts are with Susan’s family at this difficult time.

Lady Susan Renouf’s daughter Ann shared this touching family snap via Instagram to honour her late mother.

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The return of your favourite Australian classics

You asked and they listened!
The return of your favourite Australian classics

While we won’t be seeing A Country Practice back on air tomorrow, we can now raise our hopes of seeing reruns of our favourite Aussie shows.

Earlier this week, the powers that be – Screen Producers Australia and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance – came to an agreement that will make replaying Australian programs a whole lot easier.

“This is a ground-breaking agreement,” Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner says.

“[It] will unlock the potential that digital technology offers for the benefit of the Australian production industry, Australian broadcasters, and to the Australian viewer.”

A Country Practice

Previous agreements saw restrictions placed on the number of time television shows could be aired or streamed. In accordance with the Actors Television Repeats and Residuals Agreement, almost no Australian TV dramas were re-licensed. The market just could not afford to pay performers to air their work multiple times.

However, the new agreement sees all this change. It takes our TV industry into the 21st Century.

With actors’ rights now including payment for catch-up TV and views on streaming services, upcoming Aussie shows will have the flexibility to be replayed in line with viewer demands.

But, in terms of shows such as The Flying Doctors returning to TV, it will be up to the performers to decide if it can be replayed.

Matthew Deaner explains that these shows still operate under their old contracts but the agreement allows for renegotiation.

E-Street

“The new framework that we have announced provides for an agreed framework by which performers may agree to a variation in their original contracts to better allow for re-use,” he told TV Tonight.

“The key is that all performers on a particular show will need to do this in order to receive the benefit.”

What this means is that a path has been opened up for classic Aussie shows to return. It won’t happen overnight and all the parties involved – actors, networks and producers – will have to agree to reruns. But now, the process will happen a lot faster.

Our bet is that once one brave cast and producers gets the ball rolling, we will see a lot more soaps and dramas get on board. And we can’t wait to have our favourite shows at our fingertips!

This story originally appeared on TV WEEK.

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Lady Susan Renouf dies of ovarian cancer at age 74

One of Australia’s long-time, well-loved socialites has today lost her battle with ovarian cancer.

Prominent Australian socialite Lady Susan Renouf has died today on her 74th birthday after losing her battle with ovarian cancer.

Scroll down for video

She was diagnosed in 2013 and was in palliative care for acute kidney failure.

Her daughter Ann posted a sweet tribute on Instagram, captioning it: “Happy birthday Mummy, we love you sooooo much, rest in peace”

Lady Renouf was well-known for her heavily publicised marriages to prominent Liberal politician Andrew Peacock, British gambling millionaire and racing identity Robert Sangster, and then New Zealand businessman Sir Frank Renouf.

She was admired for her love of fashion, hats and the glamorous life, and was looked upon as Australia’s version of Jackie Kennedy.

The socialite never once let her diagnosis bring her down, and always kept her sense of humour and love for the social life.

Lady Renouf has three daughters, Ann Peacock, Jane Chapple-Hyam and Caroline Cordeaux.

Long-time entertainment reporter Peter Ford told 3AW radio this morning: “She was a spirited woman, she was very brave, particularly in the last six weeks, she put up an extraordinary fight.”

Rest in peace, Susan, you will be missed.

VIDEO: Lady Susan Renouf’s cheeky sense of humour

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Forget Pokémon Go – how about Chardonnay Go?

There’ll be no catching cute characters here…
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If you haven’t heard of the mobile game Pokémon Go, you must be living a very sheltered life. It’s everywhere.

But one mother has decided to invent her own adult version of the game.

Comedian Dena Blizzard recently posted a YouTube video called Chardonnay Go – and it’s as exciting as you’d expect.

The video, titled ‘Chardonnay Go: A ‘Pokémon Go’ game for moms’, sees Blizzard explain the premise of the game: “Did you know there’s an app for moms called Chardonnay Go, where you can actually find glasses of Chardonnay all over your neighbourhood?”

She then runs out of her house excitedly, finding glasses of chardy all over the streets.

Genius.

Now, pass the vino, please!

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The power of the 30-day challenge

A month might not sound like a long time, but you can achieve a lot in 30 days.
The power of the 30-day challenge

What can you achieve in 30 days? Well, quite a lot actually, which is why the 30-day challenge model has become so popular over the last few years.

30-days is plenty of time to create a new habit, learn a new skill or simply enjoy the sense of fulfilment that comes from challenging yourself to try something new.

There are 30-day challenges for almost every area of our lives from health and fitness to personal finance, so whatever your personal goals are there is bound to be a challenge to suit you.

Exercise

While you probably won’t achieve your personal fitness or weight loss goals within a month, embarking on a 30 day health and fitness challenge is a great way to get off to a good start.

“America’s toughest trainer,” Jillian Michaels, created the 30-day Shred as a way for people to get fast results.

The idea is that you complete an intense 20-minute work out every day for 30 days. The workout has several different levels and is available on DVD and on Michael’s YouTube channel.

If you’re looking for a more tailored approach, the 30 day fitness challenge website has a range of exercise challenges to suit every fitness level. Popular challenges include the 30 day plank challenge, the 30 day abs challenge and the 30 day squat challenge.

Fashion

If you find yourself wearing the same outfits week in, week out then a 30-day fashion challenge might help you discover a whole new look.

Fashion blogger Andrea Michelle hosts the Fox in Flats style dare challenge every few months. Followers use a list of daily prompts such as ‘mixed prints,’ ‘double denim’ and ‘beachy’ to inspire women to mix up their look.

Followers are invited to share pictures of their fashion creations on social media.

Personal finance

If you want to improve your financial position then taking a 30-day financial challenge might be a good place to start.

The 30-day financial make over challenge promises to transform your personal finances.

Fiscal Literacy, who are the creatures of the challenge say that anyone willing to commit to their financial rules will benefit from the challenge. The intention of the ‘30 Day Financial Makeover Challenge’ is to help participants take control of their personal finances, build a budget, control spending, free up cash to pay off debt, and start saving.

Creativity

If you want to challenge your creativity then Fat Mum Slim’s popular photo a day challenge might be a good way to begin.

The challenge, which was started by blogger Chantelle Ellem in 2012 has become a phenomenal success and has attracted a global following.

Ellem posts a list of prompts such as ‘weekends are for’ and ‘something to be happy about’ and encourages people to think creatively before snapping a photo and sharing it on Facebook or Instagram.

If you want to join in then keep an eye on Chantelle’s facebook page for the latest prompts, there is a new list every month.

Although we have only shared five 30-day challenges there are many many more out there. If there is an area of your life that you think will benefit from the power of the 30-day challenge then start with Google and Pinterest – the perfect challenge is waiting to inspire you.

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Tom Hiddleston finally address Taylor Swift conspiracy theories

As the world theorises over the true nature of Hiddleswift's romance, man of the moment Tom Hiddleston himself is setting the record straight.
Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter the 35-year-old actor confirmed their love is the real deal.

When quizzed if he was dating the singer for publicity, he responded, “Well, um. How best to put this? That notion is – look, the truth is that Taylor Swift and I are together, and we’re very happy.”

“Thanks for asking. That’s the truth. It’s not a publicity stunt,” he added.

Taylor and Tom are currently in the Gold Coast as he films the latest Thor flick.

However fans were quick to point out how strange it was that the Thor heavyweight referred to his main squeeze as “Taylor Swift” as opposed to simply “Taylor.”

In a separate interview with MTV News he added of Tay, “We are together and we’re very happy.”

His newfound romance isn’t the only thing worth celebrating as the British beau has just landed his first Emmy nomination for Lead Actor in a Limited Series of Movie thanks to his role in the AMC mini-series, The Night Manager.

Watch Tom dodge questions about Taylor in the player below. Post continues…

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“I could not be more delighted,” the star told MTV News from his Brisbane base while he films Thor: Ragnarok

So can we expect him to bring along his stunning partner to the 2016 Emmys, which will be held on September 18?

“I don’t. I didn’t even know I could,” he admitted to E! News.

Tom insists he and Taylor are the real deal.

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Don’t believe in ghosts? These stories will change your mind

Our readers share their chilling supernatural encounters that are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.

An antique store owner in the U.K. has uploaded a video of CCTV footage that appears to have captured a ghost on film, The Mirror reports.

The footage shows a framed photo fall from the wall, followed by a mysterious glowing light, presumably the ghost, rising from the floor.

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Shop owner Danny Parker says that the bizarre and possibly paranormal incident is just one of many that have occurred over the last 12 months.

“We have been open a year [and] we have had probably 50 incidents happen,” Parker said. “We have lots of things moving and falling in our antiques centre.”

“The day after a skeleton fell off its stand, another picture fell off which had been hung up for a couple of months. Once it hits the floor, and orb floats up.”

“I’m a non-believer, so it does make you think twice if there is something else out there.”

And whether or not you believe this particular ghost story, our readers have some compelling evidence for others.

Check out their spooky tales below. Just make sure you don’t read them in the dark.

“WHEN I was in my early 20s I was travelling in Europe. One night, I had the most vivid dream about my brother. He was sitting on a toilet in terrible agony. It disturbed me so much that I went and found a pay phone the next morning and called home for the first time in months – my stunned mother told me my brother had been hospitalised with yellow fever the night before, and had been close to death. He recovered but I will never forget that dream, or the sense of foreboding it instilled in me.” Stuart Cohen

“WHEN I was young I was asleep in my bed and woke to see a little man wearing a hat standing at my bedroom door. As a child, I didn’t like my sheets and blankets tucked in tight so Mum always made sure they were loose. When I saw this figure at my bedroom door I panicked and crawled under my blankets and covered my head. The next morning I awoke in a sheer panic – I was stuck under the covers, which were tucked in so tightly around me I struggled to get out. Years later, mum and dad told me my brother had seen the same little man in the same place (we had swapped rooms after the incident). I have not been able to sleep in total darkness ever since – to this day I have the hall light on.” Lorraine Connell

“WHEN my oldest son was six, he brought my phone to me as I was drying my hair in the bathroom. I checked it – no messages, no missed calls. I thought ‘daft child!’ but before I could say anything it rang. It was my friend, in a flat panic because her son had been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. The phone was on silent and I never would have heard it anyway over the noise of the dryer. When I asked my son why he brought it to me he said ‘I don’t know. I just knew you needed it’.” Donna Roberts

“I LOST a friend to a tragic accident when I was a teenager. As the years passed I thought about him less and less until it had been a long time since I’d thought about him at all. Then one night I had a dream unlike any other I’ve had before or since. He and I were walking side-by-side and he was telling me he was okay, and he was happy. I told him I wished it was real, and he cheekily replied, ‘Who says it isn’t?’ The next morning I woke up, logged onto Facebook and realised it was the anniversary of his death. I am terrible with dates at the best of times – even now, thinking about it, I couldn’t tell you the date he died. As crazy as it sounds, I believe my dream was real.” Karen Collier

“I USED to work as an assistant nurse in a palliative care facility. I had never had a patient pass away while I was present but one night, I was checking a patient’s pulse when her heart stopped, with my hand still on hers. From that moment on, the rest of the high care dementia patients called me by her name. I can’t explain it. I feel like a part of her passed through me, I didn’t know her that well but feel privileged.” Tori Sedgman

“MY DAUGHTER was two when I overheard her having a long conversation with someone in our back garden. There was no one there. Suddenly, she started running to the back fence saying, ‘Don’t go Nonna!’ Her grandmothers are alive so I asked her if she was talking to the Nonnas we visit. She said, ‘No, she had blue eyes like me!’ The ONLY person in our family with blue eyes was my own Nonna, who passed away before my daughter was born. My daughter is named after her and I know it was her.” Mary Manna

“WHEN my daughter was two, she came and told me there was a man sitting on her bed. My first thought was ‘Silly child, there are no men in this house,’ but I decided to humour her and go and have a look. Sure enough, it was my dad, who had passed the previous year. I told my daughter it was only grandad, but she was scared so I told her she needed to tell him to leave, which she did, only to remark ‘Oh! He’s gone!’ She hasn’t seen him since.” Donna Roberts

“I CATCH glimpses of my late husband and hear him speaking to me quite often. Nothing spooky about it – it’s just normal.” Sylvia Long

“MY AUNT’S grandchildren said they saw a lady waving at them from the roof. They went on to describe their great-aunt down to the birthmark on her face. They also asked why her mother “walked funny” without ever knowing that she walked with a limp.” Mary Manna

“I WAS asleep beside my husband when I was suddenly physically pinned to my bed. I couldn’t move or speak. It was terrifying.” Erin McLeod

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Ten things only women with curly hair will understand

Duped into crappy anti-frizz products and only a handful of workable hairstyles? Writer Jessica Leahy says having curly hair is no easy task.
Beyonce

A few weeks ago I was sitting at an inner city salon in Sydney getting my hair braided into manageable corn rows. I get this done when I want to be lazy and want to go a week without giving my arms their brutal daily workout of brushing my unruly curly mane. Anywho, about three lines into the rad ghetto-inspired hairstyle a young woman sitting next to me, her hair slicked back with a whiffy white cream slapped all over, gently tapped the afro-salon hairdresser on the arm and calmly said: “It’s really burning now, should I go over to the basin?”

Without the slightest bit of alarm the hairdresser nodded and guided the woman over to the sink where she washed out her once vibrant springy curls to straw straight tresses.

While the idea of cooking your follicles to point of straight haired conformity might seem extreme, it is but a reality for the many frizzy haired females walking this earth.

Ask any woman with even the slightest hint of a wave what the best invention of the last 100 years is and it won’t be the aeroplane or the internet, it will be the GHD. A device that has gifted them with poker straight locks without having to risk their face on the surface of an ironing board while a trusted friend whizzed over it with the clothes iron – that’s a true story.

That’s right folks, having curly hair can be a beeyatch, a painful, burning, scary beeyatch.

So straight (haired) community, before you complain to your coiled haired gal pals about the annoyances of your lank mane, please consider the following home truths that only curly haired girls would know.

No so polished: Anne Hathaway princess with a semi-fro in The Princess Diaries.

A curly haired woman will never know the romantic touch of a lover’s hand running through their locks

Curly haired girls don’t care what stage of love making they are in, as soon as someone goes for the hair pull our thoughts are immediately transfixed on just how the heck we are going to brush out the mess that’s just been made?!

Rain makes us look like “cool girls”

While every other female shrieks and scurries for shelter at the slightest drop of rain, a bit of drizzle actually does wonders for curly haired girls. The light moisture takes away the frizz and revitalises our locks so we just look so chill walking in the rain – totally one with the elements. *Disclaimer: If our hair has been flat-ironed straight we will shriek and scurry with the best of them and think, ‘To hell with the cool girl cover!’

Just ’cause we got hair like Diana Ross don’t mean we can sing like her.

Having curly hair makes you Queen of Karaoke… apparently

While science has not yet been consulted on the correlation between curly hair and vocal ability society doesn’t seem to give a damn. When curly haired sisters find themselves at a karaoke bar they are immediately thrust to the stage with pressuring comments like: “Can she sing? Of course she can sing – she’s got hair like Diana Ross!” FYI: Curly haired people are just like straight haired people – some of us can sing and some of us definitely can’t so please don’t force us to pick up the mic and disappoint strangers.

Fashion blogger Man Repeller reveals her curl hair woes.

Not any comb will do

Picture this, you go away with girlfriends and someone says, “Oh gosh darn it, I forgot my hairbrush – can I borrow yours?” Now of course you oblige but if you are a true curly haired woman, you will watch that thing like it was your first born. It’s taken you years to find something to un-matt your mane without ripping out your painfully slow growing hair so like a boomerang, you’re are going to make damn sure that thing comes back.

Dangling earrings only means danger

A pair of expensive ear accessories dripping with the sharp intricate edges of Bvlgari jewels only spells disaster for the curly hair. We would spend more time trying to untangle them from our tresses than enjoying having them on.

Embrace your curls like Merida in Brave!

Every little girl thinks you’re a Disney Princess

This one is kind of hard to understand since Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel and every other major character from the Disney monarchy has lush straight hair but honestly it’s so cute walking down the supermarket aisle and hearing little girls whisper, “Look mummy, that Princess has pretty hair!”

Ahem, curls don’t always get the girls. Case in point Bradley Cooper in American Hustle.

Don’t call me lazy, I wash my hair errrrryday

Most Curly haired women must at least wet their hair every day to even stand the slightest goddamn chance of having any hair cooperation at all.

Where the heck is the conditioner?!

As far as the curly hairs are concerned shampoo can go to another planet – conditioner is our only true friend. And in those times when we’ve jumped the gun and washed our hair with shampoo without first checking for conditioner, we will spend the rest of the day looking like we survived an ambush from a wild boar.

Despite the commentary the author of this article, Jessica Leahy (pictured) does like her curly hair and wouldn’t trade it in for anything else.

Curly haired peeps can’t get bobs

We just can’t and nothing more needs to be said about this.

Big hair = big personality

Good luck trying to be a wallflower – the straight haired community just won’t let you. Our hair is big and loud so be proud!

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