Latest news with #AndrewMortimer
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NRL world saddened over 'horrible' revelation about Bulldogs hero Steve Mortimer
NRL fans are sending well-wishes and expressing their sadness for Steve Mortimer over devastating new details in the Canterbury Bulldogs legend's sad plight. Mortimer was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and is now in a care home. The 68-year-old played 272 games for the Bulldogs across a legendary career, winning four premierships with the club and captaining them in the 1984 and 1985 title victories. He also played 16 State of Origin games for NSW and nine Test matches for Australia. The legendary halfback led the Blues to their first Origin series victory in 1985. However the Bulldogs and Blues legend was been battling the effects of dementia for nearly a decade, and this weekend his family shone a heartbreaking new light on his condition - four years after it become public knowledge. Mortimer's beloved Bulldogs are first on the NRL ladder after 12 rounds in 2025, but son Andrew isn't sure his father is aware. "It's is a shame because they are absolutely killing it," Andrew told the . Andrew revealed his father struggles to complete full sentences, and is slowly declining. "I don't know whether dad is thinking of something but can't articulate it, or he's not thinking it, but there's not much verbally, unfortunately," he said. 'I would say he's on a slow decline. I'm sure people who see him a few months apart, or a year, would see significant change. He is seemingly calm, somewhat at peace with the situation and probably somewhat oblivious. 'I would suggest that he's probably at the stage where he's observing life around him, rather than fully participating. We know that you don't get cured from dementia. You don't improve so, for us, it's quality of life. We try to take the approach: 'what he can do', not 'what he can't do'." Mortimer was moved into a dementia ward in 2022, and his extended family visit him multiple times per week. They take him on regular outings, which often includes watching footy. The devastating new details come on the 40th anniversary of Mortimer's famous triumph in the 1985 Origin series. Fans and pundits have flooded social media with messages of support for Mortimer after learning the new details of his plight. Commentator Arthur Stanley wrote: "I worked with Steve in his role as Ambassador at Stadium Australia for many years. Never met a more decent family." One Bulldogs fan wrote: "Turvey is why I'm a Bulldog, heartened to know he has wonderful love and support." Another wrote: "Beautiful man. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times. It's so sad to see this at his age. My mother in law is going though the same thing, it's a horrible disease." RELATED: Roosters flip Origin debate on its head as Shark banned for ugly act Legend's Origin call backfires as Manly flops expose grim DCE truth Another commented: "What a horrible disease. Turvey is a Bulldogs legend and is handling this like one." While another message read: "As an opposition fan I couldn't help but admire Steve Mortimer. His battles with Slippery Morris were always incredible. It's so sad to read about his dementia battle but his family are clearly wonderful and caring; it must be so tough to witness the deterioration though." Absolute legend 👏🏾 he'd even come and shake my hand and say G'day to me when I was working in the tunnel on game day cc @AndrewMortimer — Mo Ali (@Makbulldog) May 25, 2025 As an opposition fan I couldn't help but admire Steve Mortimer. His battles with Slippery Morris were always incredible. It's so sad to read about his dementia battle but his family are clearly wonderful and caring; it must be so tough to witness the deterioration though. — Martin (@hammersaint) May 24, 2025 I knew his father Ian as the leader of the Wagga Police Boys Club, played against Chris Mortimer as kids, and then worked with Steve in his role as Ambassador at Stadium Australia for many years. Never met a more decent family. — Arthur Stanley (@Art_Stanley_) May 25, 2025 What a horrible disease. Turvey is a Bulldogs legend and is handling this like one 🙏🏻❤️ — Alice (@Aliceh_1936) May 24, 2025
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
NRL legend's son opens up about his dad's harrowing battle with dementia
The son of rugby league legend Steve Mortimer has opened up about his dad's ongoing battle with dementia, revealing the footy great now struggles to complete a full sentence. Mortimer, 68, was diagnosed with the brain disease at the age of 60 having taken countless knocks during his illustrious playing career. He now lives in a nursing home to receive the full-time care he needs. Affectionately nicknamed 'Turvey, Mortimer's condition has progressively impacted his memory and everyday life to the point where he struggles to remember his brilliant football career. His family visit him several times a week, with the beloved husband, father and grandfather now living in a childlike state. 'It's hard to know exactly what dad is thinking,' son Andrew told News Corp while on an outing with his dad. 'But we go through it, don't we, dad? I don't know whether dad is thinking of something but can't articulate it or he's not thinking it but there's not much verbally, unfortunately. 'I would say he's on a slow decline. I'm sure people who see him a few months apart, or a year, would see significant change. He is seemingly calm, somewhat at peace with the situation and probably somewhat oblivious. 'My reading of (dad's cognitive condition) is that he's taking in part in what's happening around him but processing that, and then articulating or engaging in a conversation, is close to impossible. 'I would suggest that he's probably at the stage where he's observing life around him, rather than fully participating. We know that you don't get cured from dementia. You don't improve so, for us, it's quality of life. We try to take the approach: 'what he can do', not 'what he can't do'. 'His body language is more or less the same as at any point in his life, as in the warm approach dad always had with everyone. He has never been a man of status. He has always been reasonable, fair and available to anyone and everyone.' When asked if Steve can complete a full sentence, Andrew replied: 'Unlikely'. Mortimer, who won three premierships with the Bulldogs in the 1980s and led the NSW Blues to their first ever State of Origin series win against Queensland in 1985, is sadly probably not aware of the success Canterbury are having this year. 'I don't think so,' Andrew revealed. 'Which is a shame because they are absolutely killing it. 'But we watch the games, either at his home or if we're out-and-about, we will grab a beer or coffee and watch the game, usually at one of the local bowling clubs in and around Revesby, or a cafe. But, as time goes on, not so much. It is what it is.' In 2023, Mortimer's wife, Karen, and their kids Andrew, Matt and Erin, shared when they begun to question whether something was wrong with him. 'He was often misplacing things like his keys, wallet, and phone,' Erin said. 'It was his struggle to find easy words like car, remote, and TV. He'd often get frustrated when he couldn't find the word, and be hard on himself. 'His paranoia and constant asking where mum was and then forgetting only a short while later to then ask again, was telling.' Andrew was running a small business with his father, but noticed he was writing longwinded emails and the incoherence of those messages raised alarm bells. Matt noticed changes in his dad that seemed uncharacteristic for him. 'I'm like: you're ageing really quickly, something's off,' he said. For Karen, a trip to London in 2019 was when she noticed her husband was in trouble. The couple had visited the city many times before but when going to fetch a coffee, he took an hour and a half to return. Mortimer told his wife: 'I got lost'. During Covid lockdown, Erin said: 'It was a horrible time for everyone but around this time we watched him spiral even more. 'They were complete mood swings which would come out of nowhere, and his attitude towards mum, and Andrew would worsen. 'It was very hard to watch on occasions. We learnt how to work with them, and not against them, sometimes with the assistance of dad being given medication.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Calls for bigger bins outside city centre
The recent rollout of larger litter bins in York should be extended beyond the city centre, as existing ones elsewhere struggle to cope, a local campaigner has said. York Council recently introduced larger 240l litter bins in an attempt to stop them overflowing. Liberal Democrat activist Andrew Mortimer said the council should consider installing these bins outside shops and takeaways by the Hull Road and Melrosegate junction to replace ones that regularly overflow. Jenny Kent, the council's environment spokesperson, said its waste collection teams were working to keep the city as tidy as possible despite being stretched. The new bins have been installed at the southern end of Parliament Street, in Stonebow, Duncolme Place and along Blake Street. A council report stated there were plans to install bins in Station Road, close to York Station by the Cholera Burial Ground, this year. It added other sites could be considered for new bins as and where appropriate. The council has also bought a compact Goupil vehicle designed to pass through narrow spaces in the city centre to collect and clean bins more quickly. Staff will also be working on new shift patterns that cover longer hours and seven days a week from this spring, following a successful trial during the Christmas Market period. An extra road sweeper has also been added to the council's fleet this year. Speaking at the council's Environment Decision Session on April 29, Mortimer said suggestions that the rollout of larger litter bins could take place were welcome, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He said: "But the report only seems to deal with the city centre, there's a high concentration of takeaways at Hull Road shops and existing bins there are regularly overflowing at the weekend with pizza boxes. "This seems like the ideal location to trial a larger bin." Environment executive member Kent said: "When we've got nine million visitors a year there will be bins overflowing on a hot summer's day but that doesn't mean there isn't a schedule in place. "Those bins will be collected and if they haven't been, there's a good reason for it, it doesn't mean that someone doesn't care or that there isn't a system. "Our teams are stretched as they are in all local authorities, but some of the pictures I see on a daily basis of what they've cleaned up before we've had breakfast is revolting. "They don't give up and they put up with complaints, they're the unsung heroes of our city." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Wheelie bins set for roll-out to nearly 6,000 homes Fines for urinating in the street and dog fouling Bin workers to switch to four-day weeks York City Council
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Campaigner calls for bigger bins outside York city centre
The recent rollout of larger litter bins in York should be extended beyond the city centre, as existing ones elsewhere struggle to cope, a local campaigner has Council recently introduced larger 240l litter bins in an attempt to stop them Democrat activist Andrew Mortimer said the council should consider installing these bins outside shops and takeaways by the Hull Road and Melrosegate junction to replace ones that regularly Kent, the council's environment spokesperson, said its waste collection teams were working to keep the city as tidy as possible despite being stretched. The new bins have been installed at the southern end of Parliament Street, in Stonebow, Duncolme Place and along Blake Street.A council report stated there were plans to install bins in Station Road, close to York Station by the Cholera Burial Ground, this year. It added other sites could be considered for new bins as and where council has also bought a compact Goupil vehicle designed to pass through narrow spaces in the city centre to collect and clean bins more will also be working on new shift patterns that cover longer hours and seven days a week from this spring, following a successful trial during the Christmas Market extra road sweeper has also been added to the council's fleet this year. Speaking at the council's Environment Decision Session on April 29, Mortimer said suggestions that the rollout of larger litter bins could take place were welcome, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said: "But the report only seems to deal with the city centre, there's a high concentration of takeaways at Hull Road shops and existing bins there are regularly overflowing at the weekend with pizza boxes."This seems like the ideal location to trial a larger bin."Environment executive member Kent said: "When we've got nine million visitors a year there will be bins overflowing on a hot summer's day but that doesn't mean there isn't a schedule in place."Those bins will be collected and if they haven't been, there's a good reason for it, it doesn't mean that someone doesn't care or that there isn't a system."Our teams are stretched as they are in all local authorities, but some of the pictures I see on a daily basis of what they've cleaned up before we've had breakfast is revolting."They don't give up and they put up with complaints, they're the unsung heroes of our city." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Bins overflowing with pizza boxes' - call for wider rollout of bigger litter bins
The rollout of larger litter bins in York should be extended beyond the city centre as existing ones elsewhere struggle to cope, a local campaigner has said. Liberal Democrat activist Andrew Mortimer said York Council should consider installing larger bins outside shops and takeaways by the Hull Road and Melrosegate junction to replace ones which regularly overflow. Labour's Cllr Jenny Kent, the council's environment spokesperson, said the authority's waste collection teams were working to keep the city as tidy as possible despite being stretched. It follows the roll out of larger 240l litter bins in recent months to boost capacity and stop them overflowing as regularly or getting blocked. The scheme has seen new bins installed at the southern end of Parliament Street, in Stonebow, Duncolme Place and along Blake Street. A council report stated there were plans to install bins in Station Road, close to York Station by the Cholera Burial Ground, this year. It added other sites could be considered for new bins in the future as and where appropriate. The council has also bought a compact Goupil vehicle designed to pass through narrow spaces in the city centre to collect and clean bins more quickly. Staff will also be working on new shift patterns covering longer hours and seven days a week from this spring following a successful trial during winter's Christmas Market period. An extra road sweeper has also been added to the council's fleet this year. Speaking at a council Environment Decision Session on Tuesday, April 29, campaigner Mr Mortimer said that the rollout of larger litter bins was welcome. Mr Mortimer said: 'But the report only seems to deal with the city centre, there's a high concentration of takeaways at Hull Road shops and existing bins there are regularly overflowing at the weekend with pizza boxes. 'This seems like the ideal location to trial a larger bin.' Environment Executive member Cllr Kent said the council was doing its best to stay on top of waste. The Labour executive member said: 'When we've got nine million visitors a year there will be bins overflowing on a hot summer's day but that doesn't mean there isn't a schedule in place. The row of shops and takeaways by the the Hull Road and Melrosegate junction, in York. Picture is from Google Street View 'Those bins will be collected and if they haven't been there's a good reason for it, it doesn't mean that someone doesn't care or that there isn't a system. 'Our teams are stretched as they are in all local authorities, but some of the pictures I see on a daily basis of what they've cleaned up before we've had breakfast is revolting. 'They don't give up and they put up with complaints, they're the unsung heroes of our city.'
