Latest news with #Kogarah
News.com.au
06-08-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Twist after cheerful pup was seen catching a Sydney bus
Passengers on the 476 bus route yesterday morning had a surprise visitor after three-year-old American staffordshire terrier Athena boarded and took a seat among commuters. Photos posted to a local San Souci community group show Athena wearing a big smile and a blue puffer jacket as she sat proudly in her chosen seat, just three rows from the back of the bus. San Souci local Katerina Hatzi first raised the alarm online after receiving a photo from her brother Nik, a fellow commuter, who asked her to 'post it to the community page'. 'After three stops he overheard someone calling out 'Who's dog is this' and he realised nobody owned the dog,' Ms Hatzi told Nine. Nik kept a watchful eye on the canine until she casually disembarked at her destination. Witnesses revealed that Athena hopped on the bus at Weeney Street on Rocky Point Road and travelled over 5km to Kogarah station where she exited. Onlooker Sarah Winwood revealed little Athena was 'so stressed at Kogarah station'. 'She was so friendly, I was worried she would jump on the tracks as he couldn't work out how to get off the platform. Some guys picked her up in their work clothes to get her to safety,' she added. The men then took her to station guards, who contacted Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (SDCH) in Strathfield. A staff member at Kogarah train station told that Athena was a 'friendly little thing'. 'We collected the dog around 7.17am and secured her until 9.20am when council came and collected the dog,' they said. 'She was a friendly little thing and we looked after her well.' A photo of Athena has since posted to the 'Lost' section of SDCH's website along with her new Pet ID: 263851. Speaking to a spokesperson for SDCH revealed that they have gotten in contact with Athena's owner who is currently overseas. It's not known who was looking after Athena at the time. 'She was microchipped but they were old details,' they said. 'Her owner is overseas but a family member has been in contact and hopefully we can get that sorted out. 'She's a beautiful bundle of joy, and seemed very happy and quite chuffed with herself following her big adventure.' 'Staff have been showering her with love and affection,' they said. They also revealed that she had actually been waiting to catch a train at Kogarah before she was safely secured. SDCH is reminding animal owners to ensure their pet's microchips are up to date and that they are wearing a collar with identifiable information. Athena, who has been affectionately nicknamed 'San Souci's favourite commuter', has become an overnight sensation, with social media naturally taking a shine to her. 'Look how well behaved she is sitting on the bus,' remarked one person. 'It seems like she's taken this route before, clever girl,' said another. 'Athena is starring in her own Disney adventure,' wrote a third. Are dogs allowed on the bus? Companion animals are allowed on NSW buses, with permission from the driver. However, unlike Athena, they are not allowed to sit on the seats. According to Transport NSW, 'the animal must be restrained in a suitable box, basket or other container at all times while on board.' Pets are not allowed on trains and metros or at any of stations. Assistance animals with a valid form of accepted accreditation are allowed on all public transport.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Yahoo
Remarkable ending after dog's 'little adventure' on Aussie bus
Picture this. You jump on board the bus, and as you search for a seat, one little head makes you do a double-take. Among those sitting on the 477 is a dog, happily perched alone and enjoying a midweek ride. This is what happened on Tuesday when an American Staffordshire Terrier named Athena was spotted travelling between Sans Souci in Sydney's south and Kogarah Station. The three-year-old dog rode the bus for over 15 minutes, with travellers delighted — and baffled — by the perfectly content pet joining them for the almost 4km journey. "She got off at the train station with the intention of catching a train somewhere," a Sydney Dogs & Cat Home (SDCH) spokesperson told Yahoo News. "She seemed very familiar with the area, like she'd done that route with her owner before. She was very confident." After making her way through the train station and sitting at the platform, train staff stopped her — with the spokesperson joking to Yahoo she clearly "hadn't paid for travel". 🚗 Aussies warned about little-known winter threat looming over pets 👀 Amazing footage reveals 'weird' discovery on pet dog inside home 😲 Driver slammed for 'outright stupid' dog act risking $592 fine Train staff notified the local council, who in turn reached out to SDCH, and Athena was taken to the shelter. "She was full of joy and excitement in her little parker [jacket]," the spokesperson explained. "She's adorable." Beloved dog enjoys her own 'adventure' while owner is overseas The details in Athena's microchip weren't up-to-date, but thankfully, SDCH was able to track down her owners, who are currently overseas. A relative was tasked with looking after her while they were away, however, the curious dog slipped away while their back was turned. "She's clearly loved and looked after," the spokesperson said. The shelter confirmed to Yahoo that it has made plans for Athena to be collected by the owner's relative on Thursday. "Athena's just gone for a little adventure," the spokesperson said. Who can blame her. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Daily Mail
06-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Dog catches the bus to a Sydney train station - as search begins for her owner
A clever Staffy-cross has taken Sydney by storm after boarding a bus solo and cruising through the suburbs to a train station. The stylish pup, dressed in a smart little jacket, was spotted hopping aboard a bus near Weeney Street on Rocky Point Road, before cruising down to Kogarah Station like a seasoned commuter. Once at the station, bemused but compassionate Sydney Trains staff welcomed the four-legged traveller with open arms, ensuring she was safe and calm. She is now being cared for by Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in South Strathfield, where staff are hoping her owners come forward soon. 'We're in the process in looking for her humans,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'She's had lots of treats and lots of love.' The bus-hopping pup has become an overnight sensation, with Aussies marvelling at her cheeky independence. 'She looks so happy,' one said. 'She looks so proud of her accomplishment being on that bus. Hopefully the owners can be contacted if she has a chip,' a second added. 'On a day out with her coat on. Looks like he having a good time. I hope they find her owner,' a third said. Many Aussies were left wondering what the dog was doing. 'How on earth did she pull it off,' one asked. 'Where was she trying to go,' a second added. Anyone who recognises her or has information is urged to contact the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
ABC News
11-06-2025
- ABC News
Edwin Kumar deported back to Sydney after US sentencing for AN0M bugged phone sting
A tech whiz caught up in what the Australian Federal Police (AFP) dubbed the biggest organised crime sting in its history has avoided prison in the United States and is back free in Sydney. Edwin Harmendra Kumar avoided spending more time in a California jail cell after facing a San Diego court in March. Court records state he was sentenced to a four-year jail term to be followed by three years' supervised release, though was deported having already spent three years in custody. Little has been known about what happened to Kumar, who was one of two Australian nationals extradited three years ago to the United States over the distribution of the specialised AN0M devices used to facilitate crimes. Kumar, from Kogarah in Sydney's south, was also one of dozens of arrested in the AFP's Operation Ironside in 2022. The joint Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and AFP investigation involved planting the mobile devices into organised crime networks. In reality, the AFP was able to watch live as crime figures organised drug importations, kidnappings and murders. Kumar was enlisted as a one of several 'distributors' of AN0M, tasked with taking subscription payments and providing technical support to criminals. According to court documents he pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering in February — a charge reserved for members of organised crime networks regardless of what role they played. According to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, Kumar was caught in messages bragging about bringing kilograms of cocaine from Belgium to Australia on fishing boats. He has never been charged or convicted of any drug offences in relation to Operation Ironside. When contacted this week, Kumar's American lawyer Victor Sherman said he told the judge "it was time to go home" for the former Sutherland Shire computer master. The original indictment naming Kumar in the case revealed criminals were being charged $1,700 for six months' access to the the AFP-bugged service in Australia. In total, the syndicate Kumar was a part of netted $15 million from distributing the devices into the criminal underworld, court documents state. Kumar was extradited to the US in 2023 where he was charged with racketeering and faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in an American prison. He was originally named in the indictment alongside Australia's most wanted man Hakan Ayik, who remains in custody in Türkiye for leading a transnational drug empire. Part of the case against Kumar was that he was part of the enterprise led by Mr Ayik that saw them unwittingly run and distribute the messaging platform infiltrated by police. Law enforcement had dubbed Mr Ayik and other Australia drug dealers caught up in the sting as an "Aussie cartel" at the time. The other Australian arrested at the time Osemah Elhassen, was picked up from his base in Colombia and extradited to America in May 2023. He was jailed for five years in a San Diego court in November 2024. The FBI claimed the investigation thwarted 150 murders, saw them seize more than 12 tonnes of cocaine and took 300 firearms off the streets.
The Age
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Focusing on the younger set
'Don't let anyone tell you that oldies are not technically minded,' says Nola Scott of Estella. 'I, aged 90-plus, taught my masseuse, aged 20-something, how to use Google camera on her smartphone.' All these bangin' takes on cracker night (C8) have led to numerous recollections of folks getting inventive with one's fireworks, which will be today's focus, starting with Joan Hayward of Narrawallee: 'My father provided the highlight of cracker night for the neighbourhood kids. He'd fill a balloon with oxyacetylene, tape a row of Tom Thumbs to it, then as it slowly rose into the air, he'd light the lowest Tom Thumb. The result? Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! KABOOM! I swear the whole landscape shook.' Peter Nelson of Moss Vale recalls that 'when holidaying in Coffs Harbour in 1960, friends I was staying with showed me how to put a marble in a four-foot steel rod with a tuppenny bunger and watch the marble fly out at lightning speed. Could have killed someone.' 'Choko projectiles (C8) remind me of the 1950s when we Kogarah kids had an airgun but couldn't afford the pellets,' says Rhonda Ellis of Lismore. 'We'd shoot at each other using the berries from a privet hedge. Yes, it hurt.' 'Some 65 years ago, I discovered that toaster element wire wound around the fuse of a double bunger and connected to a car battery would light the bunger,' writes Peter Crowfoot of Normanhurst. 'A friend and I buried a number of these wired bungers along both sides of a local forest walking path and ran wires from each one back to a hiding place. When suitable (i.e. non-adult) test subjects appeared and were in position, we connected the wires to a battery in random order. The result was pandemonium, as we had hoped. Note: no person was injured by this experiment.' 'Wendy Illingworth and her Madeiran boomerangs (C8) has provided proof, once again, of the adage that once you can fake authenticity, you're on the road to success,' declares Marcus Daniel of Bellingen. 'The next challenge is to fake sincerity, then you've really got it made.' Regarding the possibility of aliens watching from above (C8) as we carry our dogs' deposits around in little bags, Jack Dikian of Mosman thinks 'should they be able to read our companions' mind -– it would be 'My name isn't Rover, and I am not specially a good boy'.'
