Tradie's warning after gruesome find in Melbourne home
Michael Schulze, owner of leak detection company 1300FINDLEAK, was called to a Brunswick home this week where he found not one, but two fist-sized clusters of mushrooms thriving in the lounge area.
The culprit? A long-term, unattended leak from the bath.
'It was very, very wet. On a scale from 1 to 10, it was a 10 for sure,' Schulze told Yahoo News Australia.
'It's not pleasant at all.'
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Schulze explained that litres of stagnant water had built up under the bath, causing dampness to spread through the walls and across the property.
The result: mushrooms, and the release of potentially toxic spores into the air.
'The tenants didn't seem fussed about it, but most people don't really know the dangers of breathing in mould and being around damp areas. You can get really sick,' he warned.
The health risks of indoor mushrooms
Mushrooms aren't just a sign of extreme dampness, which can lead to structural damage.
They also pose a significant health risk.
According to Health Victoria, inhaling mushroom spores can cause respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
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Exposure to mycotoxins can even lead to nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Schulze knows this first-hand, having suffered a prolonged illness last year before discovering mould growing under his bed.
'I was just getting sick all the time,' he said.
How to avoid a fungal invasion
So, how do you prevent mushrooms from turning your home into a fungal paradise?
Schulze says there are telltale signs of water build-up to watch out for.
'First signs to look out for would be bubbling paint or discolouration of paint,' he explained. Mould, especially black mould, is another clear indicator. And if mushrooms appear, the situation has likely reached a critical point.
'There's a lot of people out there with leaks, but when people have them, they don't seem to get a leak detector… They just call a plumber… But we look at leaks all day every day.'
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Herald Sun
a day ago
- Herald Sun
‘A sign of trust, not weakness': One thing you need to talk to your partner about today
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's one of the most important relationships — if not the most important — we have in our lives. But one major barrier is holding Australians back from having an equally important conversation with their partner — and it could to be their detriment. Though almost one in two (49 per cent) people speak to their loved one about their mental health at least once a week — and one in five (19 per cent) do so every day, research by News Corp's Growth Distillery with Medibank found that one in three Australians across all generations don't talk about it at all, out of fear of becoming a burden to their significant other. A further one in four said they were afraid of being misunderstood, dismissed or perceived as weak. Georgia Grace is a certified sex and relationship practitioner, somatic therapist and author based in Sydney. 'We need to get better at treating mental health disclosures as a sign of trust, not weakness,' she said. 'If you want intimacy — emotional, sexual, or otherwise — you have to make space for the imperfect stuff. That's where real connection happens.' Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needed to have the most important conversation of their life. Fear of being a burden or misunderstood aren't the only barriers holding Australians back from confiding in their partner about their mental health, Grace said. Another key driver is fear of losing the relationship itself, 'especially if in the past they have tried to ask for help or express they weren't OK and they were ignored or punished'. Indeed, one in four respondents shared that they were afraid of negative repercussions. One in two Australians speak to their partner about their mental health at least once a week, new research has found. Picture: David Swift 'Shame may also be getting in the way — a lot of people still carry the belief that struggling mentally makes them weak, broken or unlovable,' she said. 'So instead of opening up, they hide it, and that can become its own kind of pain. It might also be the fact that they don't know how to talk about their emotions, or they don't have the language to express what they're feeling. Many of us haven't been given the tools, so it can feel easier to let it go unsaid.' 'Hiding often does the most damage' Linda Williams is a senior psychologist and clinical lead at digital youth mental organisation ReachOut. Given your partner 'is one of the closest people to you, in most cases, they'll be able to tell something is wrong', she said. Of Australians' relationships, an overwhelming 81 per cent of respondents said that the one had the most trust in is the one they share with their partner, followed by close friends (75 per cent), parents (73 per cent) and children (71 per cent). 'It can be hard watching someone you love struggle, and not knowing why or how you can help,' Ms Williams said. 'If you don't open up about your experiences, you risk misunderstandings. They might feel like you don't trust them, which can put strain on your relationship.' Grace agreed. 'Hiding often does the most damage. When you're not talking about what's going on, the relationship starts running on assumptions, silence, and second-guessing,' she said. 'Your partner might start thinking you're pulling away, not interested, or emotionally unavailable when really, you're just trying to survive. That disconnect can create tension, resentment, or emotional shutdown. Believing that you always have to be 'the strong one' and that no one ever helps you can become a self-fulfilling prophecy,' Grace warned. 'If you never ask for help or never share what you're feeling … our partners aren't mind-readers.' 'You don't have to tell them everything at once' There is no 'right' time to disclose a mental health problem you might have with your partner — 'no perfect milestone or script'. But, Grace said, 'sooner is usually better, especially if it's starting to affect how you show up in the relationship'. 'It's probably best not to 'unload' on a first date. Being open about your mental health is important, however, be intentional with what you share, as it can feel really overwhelming for your date if they feel like they need to go into 'therapist mode',' she advised. When you do decide to broach the conversation, it can be helpful to 'think of a few key things you want to share'. 'But you don't need to over-rehearse — you're allowed to be clunky,' Grace said. Senior psychologist and clinical lead at ReachOut, Linda Williams. Picture: Supplied Sex and relationships therapist Georgia Grace. Picture: Richard Dobson 'You don't have to tell them everything at once. Start small: (you could say) 'I've been dealing with something lately that I want share with you',' she continued. 'Be clear on what you need from them — is it support, space, or just someone to listen? You also may not know just yet and that's OK, but it'll be important to reflect on this and give them information when you're ready. (And) expect that they might not respond perfectly. That's not a sign to shut down, as they also may not have the right tools. It's a starting point for deeper understanding.' Whether you've been together three months or 30 years, time and place is key to an effective chat. 'Choose a moment when you both have time and aren't distracted, not when you're both racing out the door on the way to work,' Grace said. 'In longer-term relationships, it's also important to discuss mental health before you feel like it's about to explode. If you trust the person and want something real with them, it's worth talking about.' 'You can't pour from an empty cup' As for what to do if you're the one being confided in, 'listen more than you speak', Grace said. 'Don't try to fix it, because you probably can't. Also, your partner isn't a problem that needs to be fixed — they are a person in the process of living,' she added. 'Don't minimise it. Don't jump into problem-solving mode unless they ask for it. Say something like, 'Thanks for telling me. I'm here, even if I don't have the perfect words.' 'And check in again later, not just once. That's how you show someone you're in it with them.' As the listener, Ms Williams noted that 'you might feel powerless to help, and that's OK'. 'But you can help them manage their day-to-day experiences, encourage them to get professional support and help them feel less alone,' she said. 'Looking after yourself is an important part of looking after someone else. You can't pour from an empty cup. Talking to someone you can trust can take some of the pressure off and help you navigate this tough time.' Originally published as 'A sign of trust, not weakness': One thing you need to talk to your partner about today
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
‘A sign of trust, not weakness': One thing you need to talk to your partner about today
It's one of the most important relationships — if not the most important — we have in our lives. But one major barrier is holding Australians back from having an equally important conversation with their partner — and it could to be their detriment. Though almost one in two (49 per cent) people speak to their loved one about their mental health at least once a week — and one in five (19 per cent) do so every day, research by News Corp's Growth Distillery with Medibank found that one in three Australians across all generations don't talk about it at all, out of fear of becoming a burden to their significant other. A further one in four said they were afraid of being misunderstood, dismissed or perceived as weak. Georgia Grace is a certified sex and relationship practitioner, somatic therapist and author based in Sydney. 'We need to get better at treating mental health disclosures as a sign of trust, not weakness,' she said. 'If you want intimacy — emotional, sexual, or otherwise — you have to make space for the imperfect stuff. That's where real connection happens.' Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needed to have the most important conversation of their life. Fear of being a burden or misunderstood aren't the only barriers holding Australians back from confiding in their partner about their mental health, Grace said. Another key driver is fear of losing the relationship itself, 'especially if in the past they have tried to ask for help or express they weren't OK and they were ignored or punished'. Indeed, one in four respondents shared that they were afraid of negative repercussions. 'Shame may also be getting in the way — a lot of people still carry the belief that struggling mentally makes them weak, broken or unlovable,' she said. 'So instead of opening up, they hide it, and that can become its own kind of pain. It might also be the fact that they don't know how to talk about their emotions, or they don't have the language to express what they're feeling. Many of us haven't been given the tools, so it can feel easier to let it go unsaid.' 'Hiding often does the most damage' Linda Williams is a senior psychologist and clinical lead at digital youth mental organisation ReachOut. Given your partner 'is one of the closest people to you, in most cases, they'll be able to tell something is wrong', she said. Of Australians' relationships, an overwhelming 81 per cent of respondents said that the one had the most trust in is the one they share with their partner, followed by close friends (75 per cent), parents (73 per cent) and children (71 per cent). 'It can be hard watching someone you love struggle, and not knowing why or how you can help,' Ms Williams said. 'If you don't open up about your experiences, you risk misunderstandings. They might feel like you don't trust them, which can put strain on your relationship.' Grace agreed. 'Hiding often does the most damage. When you're not talking about what's going on, the relationship starts running on assumptions, silence, and second-guessing,' she said. 'Your partner might start thinking you're pulling away, not interested, or emotionally unavailable when really, you're just trying to survive. That disconnect can create tension, resentment, or emotional shutdown. Believing that you always have to be 'the strong one' and that no one ever helps you can become a self-fulfilling prophecy,' Grace warned. 'If you never ask for help or never share what you're feeling … our partners aren't mind-readers.' 'You don't have to tell them everything at once' There is no 'right' time to disclose a mental health problem you might have with your partner — 'no perfect milestone or script'. But, Grace said, 'sooner is usually better, especially if it's starting to affect how you show up in the relationship'. 'It's probably best not to 'unload' on a first date. Being open about your mental health is important, however, be intentional with what you share, as it can feel really overwhelming for your date if they feel like they need to go into 'therapist mode',' she advised. When you do decide to broach the conversation, it can be helpful to 'think of a few key things you want to share'. 'But you don't need to over-rehearse — you're allowed to be clunky,' Grace said. 'You don't have to tell them everything at once. Start small: (you could say) 'I've been dealing with something lately that I want share with you',' she continued. 'Be clear on what you need from them — is it support, space, or just someone to listen? You also may not know just yet and that's OK, but it'll be important to reflect on this and give them information when you're ready. (And) expect that they might not respond perfectly. That's not a sign to shut down, as they also may not have the right tools. It's a starting point for deeper understanding.' Whether you've been together three months or 30 years, time and place is key to an effective chat. 'Choose a moment when you both have time and aren't distracted, not when you're both racing out the door on the way to work,' Grace said. 'In longer-term relationships, it's also important to discuss mental health before you feel like it's about to explode. If you trust the person and want something real with them, it's worth talking about.' 'You can't pour from an empty cup' As for what to do if you're the one being confided in, 'listen more than you speak', Grace said. 'Don't try to fix it, because you probably can't. Also, your partner isn't a problem that needs to be fixed — they are a person in the process of living,' she added. 'Don't minimise it. Don't jump into problem-solving mode unless they ask for it. Say something like, 'Thanks for telling me. I'm here, even if I don't have the perfect words.' 'And check in again later, not just once. That's how you show someone you're in it with them.' As the listener, Ms Williams noted that 'you might feel powerless to help, and that's OK'. 'But you can help them manage their day-to-day experiences, encourage them to get professional support and help them feel less alone,' she said. 'Looking after yourself is an important part of looking after someone else. You can't pour from an empty cup. Talking to someone you can trust can take some of the pressure off and help you navigate this tough time.'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Mysterious illness lands newlywed on honeymoon in ICU
It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, but for one Aussie newlywed, it soon became a holiday nightmare. Layton McCann was on his honeymoon with his new wife Whitney in Mexico after spending two weeks in the United States. They arrived in the coastal resort town of Playa Del Carmen but within days their start to married life began to take a turn. Mr McCann begun to experience severe abdominal pain with the couple quickly calling the hotel doctor. The doctor gave Mr McCann something for his pain and then left. Mrs McCann's sister, Bronte Holland, told the DailyMail her sister called the doctor back after 10 minutes as his condition had not improved and he was in intense pain. Layton and Whitney McCann enjoying their honeymoon Credit: Facebook It has ended up in a lengthy hospital stay, ruining their honeymoon. 'They sent him to hospital and he's been there now for nearly two weeks,' she said. The hospital stay showed that Mr McCann had contracted an infection that led to pancreatitis and he was rushed to intensive care - but they're unsure of what caused it. The couple's Mothers flew to Mexico to support the newlyweds the same day Mr McCann was put in an induced coma and placed on a ventilator. The family considered medically evacuating Mr McCann but he was too unstable to travel. 'I'm a nurse and from what my sister's telling me, they're doing a really good job taking care of him. They've been checking his bloods, doing CT scans every day,' Ms Holland said. Layton and Whitney enjoy their honeymoon before disaster struck Credit: Facebook 'My sister's travel insurance also set up a doctor in Australia she can liaise with.' Despite this, Ms Holland said the language barrier added additional stress to an already pressure-filled situation. The couple are facing additional costs for staying on in Mexico, despite health insurance covering Mr McCann's medical bills. 'Everyone's stressed and everyone's a mess,' Ms Holland said. 'It just breaks my heart and I feel so helpless. She's my baby sister and there's just nothing we can do for them. It's awful.' A Go Fund Me page has been set up which you can donate to here.
