Latest news with #ChrisDawson
West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Editorial: Be grateful, and enjoy our great State
As West Australians, we have a lot to be thankful for. Not just for our beautiful beaches, or for our breathtaking natural wonders, or for our vast natural resources that make our economy the envy of the world. In celebration of WA Day, we asked some of WA's most recognisable Sandgropers what they loved most about this great State. The common thread? The people. 'We can almost pick each other out of a crowd,' famous Bunbury export Natalie Barr said. 'There's something about West Australians. 'We tell it like it is. We own what we say. And I reckon that's because we know deep down that we come from the best place on Earth.' In fact, Governor Chris Dawson said it was the people of WA that was its 'greatest treasure'. 'It is those people, and the over 3 million like them, which make this State not just a large space on a map. But a place we are all proud to call home,' he said. Premier Roger Cook reckons 'we're a friendly, welcoming bunch'. 'Maybe it's our isolation, or maybe it's just the WA way, but our sense of community is second to none,' he said. Meanwhile, Acting Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds lauded the West Aussie spirit of 'backing the underdog', 'believing in a fair go' and 'having a crack'. 'This State has a wildness to it, a vastness but also a warmth. A community spirit that's generous, honest, and quietly proud,' he said. Speaking of proud, WA has been home to some of the world's most important medical breakthroughs, famous musicians and actors and athletes that have gone on to win gold at the Olympics. Some, like American actress Kate Walsh, have swapped the lights of Hollywood for the glorious beaches of Perth, which she has made her adopted home. 'I love the diversity of WA, both geographically and culturally,' Walsh tells us. 'I have never seen a place like Margaret River or Denmark or the Kimberley, or the simple beauty of the moonrise over the Perth river, and how the light makes everyone look pink and beautiful when they have a sunset swim in April.' And faced with uncertain times, and turmoil in parts of the globe, we reflect on how lucky we are to live here, to be able to bring our families up safely without the fear of war or violence. Where there is access to world-class health care, education, and jobs, with our resources industry pumping billions of dollars into the country's economy every year. It's in recognition of that role in the nation's economic growth that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will bring his Cabinet to Perth on Tuesday. Today, thousands of West Australians, from Karratha in the north, to Albany in the south and Geraldton in between, will gather to celebrate our State and recognise its history. Wherever you are, and whatever you choose to do to, Happy WA Day.
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Huge honour for young WA nurse at Volunteer awards
Lancelin local Bree Del Borrello has a reputation for keeping cool in a crisis. The enrolled nurse is known among her community for her calm and confident demeanour in high-pressure emergencies — traits that have made her stand out during her time volunteering for St John Ambulance. But the moment she was crowned WA's Young Volunteer of the Year for her efforts, Ms Del Borrello admitted she didn't known how to respond. 'I did not expect to win at all,' she told The Sunday Times. 'I just thought it was going to be a really nice night, and then when they called my name I just froze for a bit.' Ms Del Borrello started her volunteering journey in 2018 at Perth Children's Hospital. Credit: Supplied The 25-year-old has been donating her time and energy to St John WA's Lancelin sub centre since 2022 alongside her mother-in-law and her partner, Tyler. Ms Del Borrello started her volunteering journey in 2018 at Perth Children's Hospital, where she currently works as a nurse in the emergency department. 'I'd always hear stories about the need for volunteers and it just felt fitting to give back to my community with the skills I already had,' she said. With more than 1000 operational hours and hundreds more spent mentoring and training new volunteers, Ms Del Borrello's contributions, mentorship and commitment to public health through St John WA have made an extraordinary impact. All Winners, pictured with His Excellency Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia; Tina Williams Volunteering WA CEO; and Volunteering Minister Hannah Beazley. Credit: Supplied Her calm, confident presence in high-pressure emergencies ensures the best outcomes for patients, while her leadership creates a welcoming and supportive volunteer community. Beyond frontline work, Ms Del Borrello educates the public on first aid, engaging all ages in lifesaving skills. Her selfless contributions, mentorship, and commitment to public health make her an role model and an asset. 'It's such a huge honour, there were so many amazing nominations. It hasn't truly sunk in yet to be honest.' Hosted by Volunteering WA, the peak body for volunteering, the awards recognise the outstanding contributions of volunteers and organisations across the State, highlighting their impact on the social, cultural, economic, and environmental wellbeing of our communities. This year, 21 finalists were shortlisted from 230 nominations; with winners announced alongside special addresses from Governor of Western Australia, Chris Dawson AC APM, and Minister for Volunteering Hannah Beazley MLA. Ms Del Borrello has a reputation for keeping cool in a crisis. Credit: Supplied WA volunteers contribute 400 million hours of time and create $64 billion in economic value every year. And according to recent data, the future is promising, with West Australians under 25 volunteering at a higher rate (78.2 per cent) than any other age group — considerably higher than in the rest of Australia (70.5 per cent). With studies finding that people who volunteer reporting higher levels of life satisfaction, Ms Del Borrello encouraged anyone thinking of trying it out to go for it. 'Don't hesitate,' she said. 'It's one of the most rewarding things that you can do, to give back. It's such an honourable thing and it doesn't have to be hours and hours. Everything makes a big difference.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Barclay absent for second year as Gordon family tops rich list
Whisky magnate Glenn Gordon and his family are the wealthiest people in the Channel Islands, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, while Sir Frederick Barclay is not included for a second Gordon, who runs William Grant & Sons, is worth £6.39bn with his family, according to the list, an increase of £779m from Jersey-based businessman tops the list for the second year running, in the absence of Sark's Sir Frederick, who has not appeared on the list since Frederick topped the list in 2023 with £6.4bn but was not included last year due to a lack of data to estimate his wealth. No information was given as to why Sir Frederick was not included in the list for Rich List reveals the wealth of the 350 richest people in the British Isles in Chris and Sarah Dawson, of retail stores The Range and Wilko, are second on the list for the Channel Islands and are worth £ third place is Jersey-based co-founder of Moneysupermarket Simon Nixon, with a worth of £ richest family are Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins of Specsavers - in fourth place for the islands overall - with a total wealth of £ financier and Bristol City FC shareholder Steve Lansdown is fifth on the list and is worth £1.25bn. How much are they worth? 1. Glenn Gordon and family (£6.398bn, up £779m) 29th nationally2. Chris and Sarah Dawson (£2.6bn, up £100m) 64th nationally3. Simon Nixon (£1.95bn, up £70m) 86th nationally4. Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins (£1.539bn, down £48m) 107th nationally5. Steve Lansdown (£1.25bn, up £82m) 127th nationally The Rich List for 2025 saw the sharpest decline in UK billionaires in the guide's 37-year history, from 165 in 2024 to156 this number of billionaires dropped for the third consecutive combined wealth of the UK's richest people is more than £772bn - a sum larger than the annual GDP of compiler of the list, Robert Watts, said the people included on the list were changing. "Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling," he said. "We are also finding fewer of the world's super rich are coming to live in the UK."He added: "Our research continues to find a wide variety of self-made entrepreneurs building fortunes not just from artificial intelligence, video games and new technologies but also mundane, everyday items such as makeup, radiators and jogging bottoms."
Sydney Morning Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
City of Perth mulled no-protest zone around Government House after secret meeting
The City of Perth council considered imposing a no-protest zone around Government House after a meeting with WA Governor Chris Dawson that remains shrouded in secrecy. Documents released under Freedom of Information laws and obtained by WAtoday show the proposal came to the council in January 2024 after an unnamed person — whose identity has been suppressed — raised safety concerns with former lord mayor Basil Zempilas. The concerns related to arrests made over antisocial behaviour, high traffic and more than two dozen buses on St Georges Terrace. The plan involved removing the 'implied licence' of people to protest by standing on the footpath in front of the heritage-listed Government House. A PowerPoint presentation of the proposal detailed how the city had begun liaising with WA Police on developing a new process which would see signage installed prohibiting loitering or obstruction of the footpath. Under the process developed by the city, local government rangers would be empowered to issue two warning notices to those found failing to abide by the requests. Then the matter would be referred to police, and non-compliance was to be met with move-on notices or arrest. The blanket ban appears to have been the only remedy explored, with the administration admitting that changes to the existing footpath had not been considered. The slide detailing the city's consultation with stakeholders was redacted from the presentation released under FoI laws, as was the reason the proposal was being raised in an informal council forum.
The Age
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
City of Perth mulled no-protest zone around Government House after secret meeting
The City of Perth council considered imposing a no-protest zone around Government House after a meeting with WA Governor Chris Dawson that remains shrouded in secrecy. Documents released under Freedom of Information laws and obtained by WAtoday show the proposal came to the council in January 2024 after an unnamed person — whose identity has been suppressed — raised safety concerns with former lord mayor Basil Zempilas. The concerns related to arrests made over antisocial behaviour, high traffic and more than two dozen buses on St Georges Terrace. The plan involved removing the 'implied licence' of people to protest by standing on the footpath in front of the heritage-listed Government House. A PowerPoint presentation of the proposal detailed how the city had begun liaising with WA Police on developing a new process which would see signage installed prohibiting loitering or obstruction of the footpath. Under the process developed by the city, local government rangers would be empowered to issue two warning notices to those found failing to abide by the requests. Then the matter would be referred to police, and non-compliance was to be met with move-on notices or arrest. The blanket ban appears to have been the only remedy explored, with the administration admitting that changes to the existing footpath had not been considered. The slide detailing the city's consultation with stakeholders was redacted from the presentation released under FoI laws, as was the reason the proposal was being raised in an informal council forum.
