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West Australian
6 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Eddie McGuire: Tasmania warned to build Hobart stadium or new AFL team could go elsewhere
Former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire has a blunt message for Tasmania: if you don't want a team in the Australian Football League, the competition has other options. As the Tasmanian parliament debates whether to bring down its Liberal government, potentially ending prospects of the Devils becoming the league's 19th team, Mr McGuire slammed critics of plans to build a football stadium in Hobart for the team. 'What Tasmania doesn't need is every week to have an advertisement that they are a second-rate state,' he told The Nightly. 'I think Tasmania deserves to be finally seen for the great state that it is.' Even though the government and Labor opposition support building the stadium, Tasmania faces a $1 billion budget deficit next financial year. The deficit has added to pressure to cancel the project, which the AFL has made a condition of allowing the team into the competition in 2028. The parliament is expected to vote on Thursday afternoon to dismiss Premier Jeremy Rockliff. It is not clear if Labor leader Dean Winter has enough votes to take over, and the acting governor may call an election, which would likely be fought over the $945 million stadium, which critics say the state cannot afford. 'An election would certainly put the full formation of the team and the issuance of a licence at risk,' Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale said. Mr McGuire, one of the AFL leaders who approved the expansion, said the island state's existing football ovals were 'fourth rate' and would not attract enough spectators, including Victorians who would want to fly to Hobart to see their teams play. 'You want to be careful 18 club presidents don't sit down and say 'we will be be $400 million better off' without the team,' he said. 'There is a fair bit of investment from the AFL. It will probably cost $30 million a year. If you start saying no and it becomes too much of a pain in the neck, people may say: 'We could have a third team in Perth, or one of the central coast of NSW, or Darwin or Alice Springs. We need to get on it with or go to plan B.' 'The whole philosophy of this exercise was to take it to world-class level rather than having a game of footy in the wind and rain. The teams need to look like Collingwood at the MCG, Adelaide at Adelaide Oval or Brisbane at the new Olympic stadium.' The Liberal Party won an election in Tasmania 16 months ago, but defections have left it without a majority in parliament. Most MPs have indicated they plan to vote against a 'confidence' motion in the government today, a step that requires the premier or resign or seek a new election. It will be up to Lieutenant Governor Christopher Shanahan, the state's top judge, to decide whether to grant the request. Both sides traded barbs on Thursday morning. 'This has been a selfish grab for power,' Mr Rockliff said. Mr Winter, the Labor leader, said: We are going to an election because the Liberals have broken the budget and want to sell off Tasmania's assets.' Complicating the situation, Parliament has not passed a budget for next year, which means there is no legal provision to pay public servants from July 1.
Herald Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Eddie McGuire's ultra-rare home swap with ex-Allied Chemicals boss Ian Hicks revealed as Toorak home listed for sale
A Toorak house at the centre of an ultra-rare house swap between former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire and a wealthy businessman has been listed for sale. Records show the 4 Dunraven Ave home previously owned by the Melbourne businessman and AFL identity Mr McGuire, is now being sold by Ian Hicks — the former head of Applied Chemicals and Applied International. The ritzy address in the heart of Toorak's marketing material even reveals it comes with its own moat for a 'floating restaurant' ambience. RELATED: Inside $18m Toorak mansion with infinity pool, wine cellar, rooftop kitchen, bar Inside Chrissie Swan's $2.86m dual-residence Hawthorn East home with retro design flair Arrotex pharma boss billionaire Dennis Bastas firming as buyer of $100m+ Coonac in Toorak Mr Hicks is also a long-time philanthropist, having been recognised as an Officer of the order of Australia in 2021 for his support of the National Gallery of Victoria, time spent as president of MS Australia and financial support for the Australian Ballet. But in a bizarre twist, additional documents have revealed Mr Hicks sold his former home in the suburb to Mr McGuire's wife Carla for $11.75m in 2008. A few months later, Mr Hicks wound up buying the then chief executive of Channel 9's former home for $4.05m. While such exchanges are not unheard of in the city's most illustrious postcode, industry sources have indicated that they can arise due to the difficulty many wealthy homeowners face in finding a new home to relocate to. Forbes Global Properties' Mike Gibson is handling the latest listing of 4 Dunraven Ave, which now has a $7.8m-$8.5m asking price, but would not discuss the home's ownership — past or present. However, Mr Gibson said the property designed by celebrated architect Wayne Gillespie was among a very limited selection of homes available for sale in the well-heeled neighbourhood at present — with the suburb's property market getting close to taking a winter break. The agent added that despite limited new listings expected between now and August, there were significant numbers of buyers actively looking in Toorak — and the Dunraven address could appeal to a number of them. 'Generally, the houses that people want are turn key — and in the case of Dunraven, it's lock-up-and-leave,' Mr Gibson said. The striking three-bedroom, three-bathroom house comes with an impressive indoor-outdoor entertainment space where the rear living room extends to a glass-ceiling conservatory with stacking glass doors that open out to a wrap around water feature being described as a freshwater moat. The agent said while conservatory's were uncommon in the suburb, to have one open up to the outside in such a way was exceptionally rare. Extensive marble features in the Miele kitchen, while travertine stone floors stretch from the culinary heart of the home through most of the ground floor, out to the conservatory and to a second outdoor entertainment area that features a pool and spa, flanked by a wall studded with candle alcoves. A gym and bathroom complete the ground level. The bedrooms are upstairs, including a main with its own balcony behind French doors, built-in wardrobes, a marble ensuite and black out curtains. Two more bedrooms include one with an ensuite. 'And it's in a cracking spot, close to the Toorak Village,' Mr Gibson added. Expressions of interest for 4 Dunraven Ave close at 5pm on June 3. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: PropTrack: See what homes in every Melbourne suburb will be worth in 2030 Victoria faces $5.4bn choice between level crossing removals and almost 20,000 social homes Italian house price record soars to $284m AUD, 164m Euro, as Aussies eye vineyards, estates
Sydney Morning Herald
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The unassuming parish where a future pope was once an altar boy
Chicago: On a sunny Friday morning the day after Pope Leo XIV was crowned, Terri Crowley and her husband, John, drove an hour across the city to take a look at the pope's childhood church. St Mary of the Assumption Church in Riverdale, on Chicago's south side, is a shell of its former self, having closed in 2011. There is debris and glass littering the floor, graffiti on the walls and a gaping hole in the roof. But this unassuming parish in an unloved part of town is where the new leader of the Catholic Church sang in the choir, served as an altar boy and attended school. 'We're truly blessed. Words can't describe it,' Terri said of the home town hero's rise. 'It was really amazing to see he had dual citizenship, too. We really appreciated that – that he had a global perspective on everything.' The Crowleys get around a lot themselves: often to Australia. As it turns out – purely by coincidence – Terri's nephew is Mason Cox, the 211-centimetre, Texas-born ruckman for the ladder-leading Collingwood Football Club. They've visited Melbourne to see him play. Sport is religion in Chicago. The biggest question locals had once Cardinal Robert Prevost became the new pope was which major league baseball team he supported: the Cubs or the White Sox. The Cubs shared a social media post proudly claiming him as one of theirs; his brother John quickly corrected the record. 'Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong. It's Sox,' he told NBC Chicago. And on the scoreboard at the White Sox's home ground, punters attending a game against the Miami Marlins on Friday night were greeted by a large billboard congratulating 'the south side's very own Pope Leo XIV'. The Pope's baseball allegiance was even a topic of speculation at a special morning Mass inside the ornate Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the archbishop of Chicago, which was rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
The Age
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The unassuming parish where a future pope was once an altar boy
Chicago: On a sunny Friday morning the day after Pope Leo XIV was crowned, Terri Crowley and her husband, John, drove an hour across the city to take a look at the pope's childhood church. St Mary of the Assumption Church in Riverdale, on Chicago's south side, is a shell of its former self, having closed in 2011. There is debris and glass littering the floor, graffiti on the walls and a gaping hole in the roof. But this unassuming parish in an unloved part of town is where the new leader of the Catholic Church sang in the choir, served as an altar boy and attended school. 'We're truly blessed. Words can't describe it,' Terri said of the home town hero's rise. 'It was really amazing to see he had dual citizenship, too. We really appreciated that – that he had a global perspective on everything.' The Crowleys get around a lot themselves: often to Australia. As it turns out – purely by coincidence – Terri's nephew is Mason Cox, the 211-centimetre, Texas-born ruckman for the ladder-leading Collingwood Football Club. They've visited Melbourne to see him play. Sport is religion in Chicago. The biggest question locals had once Cardinal Robert Prevost became the new pope was which major league baseball team he supported: the Cubs or the White Sox. The Cubs shared a social media post proudly claiming him as one of theirs; his brother John quickly corrected the record. 'Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong. It's Sox,' he told NBC Chicago. And on the scoreboard at the White Sox's home ground, punters attending a game against the Miami Marlins on Friday night were greeted by a large billboard congratulating 'the south side's very own Pope Leo XIV'. The Pope's baseball allegiance was even a topic of speculation at a special morning Mass inside the ornate Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the archbishop of Chicago, which was rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
The Guardian
06-02-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
I'm told there is an age at which falling over becomes ‘having a fall'. But I'm not nearly ready for that
First things first: I tripped and fell – I did not, as my family teases, have a fall or, even more ridiculous, have a turn. Here's what happened. It was a bright, hot morning early this new year. It was the morning after a late night with family. I was weary. Doubtless dehydrated. I'd had three strong coffees and no breakfast when I set out much later in the morning than usual for a standard five or six-kilometre jaunt with Olive the collie-cross. About half an hour in I realised I'd forgotten to take a daily medication. No harm, I thought. I'd take it when I got home, as I'd done once or twice before. About halfway across a long bridge, the glare stinging my eyes (in my weariness I'd forgotten sunnies and just had my Collingwood Football Club cap – always guaranteed to get a scowl from the many wearing Sydney Swans caps), I stopped to rewind the audiobook I was holiday-listening to – Elizabeth Strout's wonderful Tell Me Everything. I felt suddenly woozy and very thirsty. The ground seemed to shimmer, mirage-like, when I refocused on it from my phone. The dog pulled on her lead. I staggered forward, tripped and went arse over, breaking the fall with my right elbow. Olive yelped. Cyclists and joggers had to swerve. People went 'oohh'. I mean, a whole lot of people went really 'oooooohhhhh'. It seemed like nothing to me. I was quickly sitting, the dog squatting on my lap alternately licking the blood from my elbow and growling at the many concerned witnesses who were asking me if I was okay and what had happened. I had to pat Olive, to calm her and let her know I was okay. 'It's okay – I'm fine. Thanks. I just kind of … tripped,' I insisted. More and more people stopped to look. But mostly they all wanted to know if I was okay. The passing traffic slowed. It was a scene. I don't like scenes. I don't want to be at the centre of them. Ever. But here I was. 'What happened?' a cyclist asked, one of the many worried people now circled above me, brows furrowed. 'I don't know – what's wrong with him?' someone else said. 'He had a fall. He was walking fast the other way and he just went down. Like ooof!' 'Is he okay?' 'Yes, I'm okay,' I said. 'Thank you. I just fell is all. I'm going to get up now.' 'Noooo,' came a collective chorus. 'Don't. Get. Up.' 'Why not – I'm absolutely fine,' I said. 'I'm calling an ambulance,' a woman said. 'Right now.' She dialled 000. The chorus: 'Yes. Good idea.' 'Please don't,' I said. 'I'm good, really. I don't need an ambulance.' Next I heard her say into the phone, 'I don't know what's wrong with him – I think he had a fall. He seems okay … yes, actually, he looks not so old, in okay shape …' (Bless that woman.) 'I just fell – too much coffee. Late night. You know,' I said. Next came a series of questions intended, I now realise, to test my acuity. Where did I live? I gave the correct address. What's with the Collingwood cap? I explained that it was kind of like being unable to choose your family. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Who's the current prime minister? 'Albo. For the time being.' People nodded consensus. 'Yeah – I think he's definitely okay.' They were talking about me. (This reminds me of when the gerontologist asked my then 86-year-old dad, then succumbing to dementia, in late 2007, who the PM was. 'Unfortunately it's John Howard,' Dad responded, 'until we kick him out of office next week.' He was right!) Someone kindly offered me water. It helped a lot. A man gave me a hand up. This convinced the woman to cancel that ambulance. I stood against the railing. The dog, both paws protectively on my foot, looked up anxiously. The crowd dissipated. Olive and I doubled back across the bridge. We walked together with a posse of those who'd stopped to help me. One bloke made me key his number into my phone in case it happened again. Another gave me more water. One woman (a nurse) made me vow to go to the doctor. I did. I've done all the tests. I'm fine. Though I do feel oddly mortal in a way I've never quite done before, having always enjoyed robust good health, high energy levels and – being a bloke – generally considering myself bulletproof. I'm told there is an age at which falling over or tripping or whatever becomes 'having a fall'. I did have a significant birthday last year. But I don't feel nearly ready for that. Amid the odd, sometimes socially isolated pattern that is my life – work at home with my dogs, walk many kilometres alone daily, get lost in writing and books and domestic stuff, otherwise exercise alone in the neighbourhood – I sometimes forget about how my local community is actually made up of other actual people and not just humans attached to dogs whose names I know. Despite the world having done its best to promote its unfathomable capacity for human heartlessness and cruelty these past couple of years, the random kindness and concern I was shown was deeply touching, societally connecting – and even spiritually nourishing. It made me recheck my immense good fortune and, not least, my faith in the goodness of others and kindness as an end in itself. Paul Daley is a Guardian Australia columnist
