Latest news with #PaulLittle
Agriland
a day ago
- Sport
- Agriland
Over €18,000 raised by Roscommon farmer's Shannon swim
A farmer from Co. Roscommon has raised €18,000 by completing a 230km swim of the River Shannon. Paul Little, who is from a suckler and sheep farming background in Co. Roscommon, won the 'Ireland's Fittest Farmer' competition at last year's National Ploughing Championship. He proved he is well worth that title, after swimming from Dowra, Co. Cavan to Limerick city over the course of seven days. He started out on August 10, and finished at Curraghgour Boat Club in Limerick yesterday (Sunday, August 17), where his family, friends and supporters were waiting. A Facebook page - Paul's Shannon Swim 2025 - was set up so those interested in Paul's mammoth swim could keep a track of his progress. Throughout the swim, Paul was assisted by family and friends who travelling by boat and kayaks. They helped him navigate the river and lakes he swam through, as well as keeping him supplied with food and water. The swim was in aid of North West STOP-Suicide Prevention, which is a community-based, voluntary charity that was founded in 2004 by families who had lost loved ones to suicide. Its primary aim is to prevent suicide by providing accessible, free, confidential counselling services. A fundraising target of €2,500 was set. However, that figure, although significant itself, has been exceeded almost nine times over, with some €18,000 raised so far, and donations continuing to come in as of today (Monday, August 18). A link to the fundraiser page can be found on Paul's Shannon Swim 2025 Facebook page. In a video posted to the Facebook page before he set out on the swim, Paul explained what motivated him to do it. He said: "Anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge. I have always been very active and I also have a big connection to the water. "I grew up beside Cavetown Lake where I spent many of my younger days fishing, swimming and kayaking. I met my now wife 14 years ago in Carrick Rowing Club on the Shannon, as well as many other lifelong friends. "Swimming the Shannon will be a dream come through for me. As well as that, though, I want to raise awareness for mental health and raise as much money as I can for an incredible charity," he added. "I have teamed up with North West Stop-Suicide Prevention, a charity close to many people's hearts. It is a charity based in the north-west of Ireland that supports anyone who needs it," Paul said.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Top expert reveals shocking first sign of type of dementia that hits in your 30s - 'patients think it's normal'
If someone close to you has become a heavy drinker since they hit their thirties, check in with them—a top expert has warned that it might be a sign they have dementia. While dementia is most often associated with the elderly, it can affect people of all ages. One type in particular, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is most often diagnosed in men and women aged between 45 and 65, but there have been confirmed cases of it in people decades younger. The first signs of FTD are often related to changes in behaviour; people can become rude or violent, struggle with their words or communication, or start to behave in impulsive or risky ways. But as these behaviours are often mistaken for another health condition, or simply written off as an unpleasant blip in someone's usually calm and collected demeanour, people can end up very, very unwell before they get the help they need. Paul Little, CEO of Vesper Bio, a biotech firm working to improve the lives of people diagnosed with FTD, said that a misdiagnosis can have serious repercussions. Speaking to the FT, he explained: 'There are patients as young as 29 that's not uncommon, who get frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 'Often times it's misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or some form of midlife crisis, because in some cases, there's a behavioural component. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FT Partner Content (@ftpartnercontent) 'The patient may start drinking heavily, may get into trouble with the police and end up in the wrong form of help.' He added that there is no cure for FTD, and that tragically it is never just the person who is diagnosed who suffers—it has massive ramifications which ripple outwards, destroying the lives and dreams of everyone close to them. Mr Little continued: 'It's invariably fatal when you get the disease, it's catastrophic for families, because you will see changes in behaviour and changes in language that mean that the patient themselves is unable to work. 'It means that caregivers also have to give up jobs, and these are the most fruitful, best parts of life for earning money and building families.' Figures released by the Alzheimer's Society reveal that there are around 70,800 people in the UK living with early-onset, or young-onset, dementia, which is defined as when symptoms start before the age of 65. The causes of dementia in younger people are essentially the same as for older patients. In the case of Alzheimer's, proteins build up in the brain, forming plaques and tangles. With vascular dementia, this is caused by problems with the blood supply to the brain, and might be the result of heart disease. FTD is a rarer form of the condition, and affects 16,000 people in the UK. It leads to a loss of cells in the front and side of the brain which are the areas that control behaviour, hence why it might cause changes to how people interact with others, or care for themselves. Although it can progress slowly, survival time after an FTD diagnosis is between just two and 12 years. Concerns have been raised about a rise in cases of young-onset dementia in the UK. A study of GP practice records in England in 2022 revealed an alarming 69 per cent increase since 2014 (from 28,800 cases).
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Myer family reveal ritzy new look for Toorak estate aiming to be Melbourne's second $100m home
The Myer family's sprawling, $100m Toorak estate Cranlana has been green-lit for an incredible renovation that could transform it into Melbourne's most prestigious home. The 62 Clendon Rd property is now approved for a new pool with a neighbouring wellness centre, several outbuildings an interior redesign and a striking tennis court zone in its expansive gardens. It remains the city's most expensive active property listing, after hitting the market in spring last year with a $96m-$105m asking price. RELATED: Arrotex pharma boss billionaire Dennis Bastas firming as $100m+ Toorak buyer Myer family: First look inside Toorak's Cranlana estate being sold by retail empire founders Toorak's $50m Besen estate quietly sold off in one of 2025's biggest deals That sum has subsequently been trumped by the more than $100m sale of nearby mansion Coonac, by former Essendon Football Club president Paul Little and his Melbourne University chancellor wife Jane Hansen. But Myer Family Investments have now revealed plans for a Heritage Victoria-approved overhaul to the 1.14ha landmark they are understood to have been seeking since prior to it being offered for sale. An initial deadline for buyers interested in the home was set for November 11 in 2024, but Toorak locals and industry sources had indicated there were question marks over how feasible a renovation would be at the heritage listed property. The release of a selection of renders, and details that include a new pool, a 20-car basement garage and modernised living spaces within the home surprised many of these parties. The home is approved for a new pool with an accompanying wellness centre in its expansive gardens. The impressive residence and gardens as they are today. The property is being sold by Myer Family Investments (MFI), whose chairman is Rupert Myer. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui. Marshall White listing agent Marcus Chiminello would not discuss prospective buyers' views on the home, but said the new imagery showed what could be achieved. 'The approved plans would transform it into one of Melbourne's most impressive residences,' Mr Chiminello said. 'And it could be done in a pretty short timeline.' Cranlana has been owned by the Myer family since Sidney Myer and wife Merlyn bought it in 1903. It's Italianate style has been celebrated as a part of Toorak's heritage, while its grounds and the home itself have been used to host philanthropic and family events. He added that strong transactions continued in Toorak, with the right homes still attracting strong offers — while noting that $100m was now seen as the top end of the city's housing market. A more modern interior could now be established for the home by its next owners. Renders show that while the home is slated for a potential update, it would still retain much of its period charm and character. 'There are now probably a handful of properties worth these figures, but it's just whether they will ever come up for sale,' Mr Chiminello said. The agent said that there would be a six week window of high activity in Melbourne's most illustrious suburbs following the federal election, with about three more weeks still to go. Sales records show Mr Chiminello has had a bumper May, selling the Robertson St, Toorak, home of landscape architect to Melbourne's elite Jack Merlo on May 20. The home had been listed for $16m-$17m. He has also sold luxury homes in Armadale and a penthouse in Toorak since the federal election. Meanwhile there has been a $50m sale of the family home of the late Marc and Eva Besen, who established one of the city's wealthiest families with children including Sussan fashion label boss Daniel Besen. A redesign would look to enhance the home's sense of space and use of natural light. The 62 Clendon Rd, Toorak, property offers plenty of space as it stands. It is understood the home was sold by Kay & Burton's Ross Savas and Nick Kenyon, who also handled the $100m-plus sale of Coonac for Mr Little and Ms Hansen. Michael Gibson has also recently sold 17 Linlithgow Rd, Toorak, above expectations in a boardroom auction. Industry sources have indicated that the home sold for $12.61m, well above the $9.6m-$10.2m that had been listed as part of its expressions of interest. Mr Gibson confirmed the home had six parties attend a private auction on Tuesday, May 20, and that it was on the market at $10m . It was the second this month that they had taken to a private auction for more than $10m. 'The depth of that segment in the market is incredibly strong ... it has never been stronger,' Mr Gibson said. 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: Must-know home design transforming Australian suburbs, killing off beige box builds Landscape architect and gardener Jack Merlo moving into fourth Toorak mansion in five years HIA: Australia forecast to miss 1.2 million new homes construction target Originally published as Myer family reveal ritzy new look for Toorak estate aiming to be Melbourne's second $100m home
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
From the Pocket: Essendon must stop pining for the past after finding a semblance of stability
It was all trundling along nicely for Essendon. The club spent the past month gently tempering expectations, reminding everyone that this is a long-term project, that there will be bad losses and barren patches, but to stay the course. On field, they weren't beating much, but they were winning, they were defending, and they were having a crack. Coach Brad Scott was getting the most out of a limited but willing team. That all came unglued on Saturday night, when they were trounced by a red-hot Western Bulldogs. Essendon reverted to type and sank back into the pack. Almost immediately, the club was batting away suggestions that Scott's coaching tenure was under threat, and that Bombers great James Hird was the man to replace him. In response to Caroline Wilson's suggestion that the wolves were circling, the former Essendon chair Paul Little reportedly told the veteran reporter: 'You never say never to anything. It hasn't been an easy time for the club these past few years. There may come a time where there is a need for a restructure. If I felt I could add value to the club, and if they felt I could help, I would consider it.' That was quickly quashed on Nine's Footy Classified, a program whose entire purpose suddenly seems to be to repudiate what has been reported on Channel Seven an hour earlier. One show says it's on, another says it's off. The dogs bark, the caravan moves on, and the rest of us are left scratching our heads. Hird came within a whisker of reclaiming the Essendon coaching job in September 2022. Kevin Sheedy, his chief backer, was on Lindsay Fox's luxury yacht, sailing around the world with hundreds of movers and shakers to celebrate the trucking magnate's 85th birthday. He was confident that Hird would be appointed, and that the old Essendon was back. Back on dry land a fortnight later, he was informed his man had missed out. Essendon is an unusual football club. For years now it has been very political, riven by factions, dictated to by coterie groups and deferential to its past. It has presented as a club that can't let go, and still pines for the glory years. It manifests in many ways. You see it in the axe-grinding columns Allan Hird phones into the Herald Sun. You see it in the former players who run for board positions. You see it in lifers like former list boss Adrian Dodoro, who strutted around like he owned the place, became the king of October, drafted the wrong players, and then took the club to the Fair Work Commission. To his credit, president David Barham has sought to cut ties with the past. 'Harking back to the 80s, 90s or the 2000s and wishing we could return to that just causes drama and disunity,' he said at the AGM last year. 'The competition is so far removed from those times, it is almost a completely different game.' Barham has made mistakes and rubbed plenty of people up the wrong way. He sacked a coach, rolled a president, and appointed the shortest tenured CEO in corporate history. But he's honest about what has gone wrong, and what needs to change. He called it 20 years of 'quick fixes and shortcuts'; 20 years of scandals, sugar hits, false dawns, bad trades, draft busts, and schadenfreude; 20 years of Stephen Dank, Andrew Thorburn, Hird and Dodoro. Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion On Footy Classified on Tuesday night, striking the right balance between bewilderment and defiance, Scott sat next to the man who was said to be in line to replace him. Scott spins a good game. But he and the people who employ him are right. For the first time in a long time at Essendon, there is clarity and a semblance of stability and sanity. To defer to the past, to pine for once what was, and to jump at shadows would rank among the biggest mistakes in recent times at a club that has made more than most. This is an extract from Guardian Australia's free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFL world reacts amid staggering news about James Hird and Nathan Buckley
James Hird has released a statement denying an interest in returning as Essendon coach, after a stunning report on Monday night linking his return with former club chairman Paul Little. And Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley has expressed his interest in becoming the inaugural coach of the Tasmania team. Caroline Wilson revealed on Channel 7 on Monday night that she believes Hird still holds a desire to coach Essendon, after holding the role between 2011 and 2015. Hird unsuccessfully applied for the Bombers job when Brad Scott got it in 2023. Scott's future has been shrouded in uncertainty over the last few months, and scrutiny has intensified after their 91-point loss to Western Bulldogs last weekend. On Channel 7 program 'The Agenda Setters', Wilson reported that Little is a chance to return to the Bombers' board - and it could help Hird return to the head-coaching role. "We can reveal that Paul Little, the former chairman of Essendon and very generous benefactor who was there as chairman during 2013, 2014 and 2015, those acrimonious days, has not ruled out, in fact has left the door very much open to a return to the Essendon board," Wilson said. "A return that, in my view, would include James Hird as coach. "All year, this story has been festering. We started to hear when the club re-signed Brad Scott until the end of 2027 that there was some unrest from some of the old guard, who weren't happy about the re-signing. They didn't think it was necessary. My belief is that James still harbours an ambition to coach Essendon. I am absolutely convinced of that." Hird later released a statement to his employer Channel 9 denying the claims. "It's news to me and I haven't spoken to Paul Little for months. I nearly fell of the couch when I heard it," he said. Little told Channel 7: "You never say never to anything" and that there "may come a time when there is a need for a restructure. If I felt I could add value to the club, and if they felt I could help, then I would consider it." On Hird he said: "I consider him a friend both inside, but more importantly, outside of football." RELATED: 'Positive' new details emerge amid Cyril Rioli and Hawthorn situation AFL world shattered as Collingwood coach breaks down in presser Speaking on Channel 9 program 'Footy Classified', Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said the Hird rumours would provide an unnecessary distraction for the playing group. "It's not good for the club," he said. "James obviously denied that, and you believe James in that situation, and this is what happens when you lose by 91 points. "Unfortunately things like this happen, whether it's from a coterie member or someone around the club. It's the last thing those within the football club need because they just want to get on with being the club they hope to be." Earlier on Monday, former Collingwood coach Buckley admitted he still has the desire to coach and is intrigued by the Tasmania Devils job. The Devils will join the AFL in 2028 and plan to enter a team in the VFL next season. Buckley, who stepped down as Magpies coach in 2021, revealed he's met with Devils chief executive Brendon Gale twice to discuss a senior role with the expansion club. "There's a chance," he said on SEN radio when asked if he could coach the Tasmania team. "The initial (contact) was from him and then the second one was from me to understand the challenge that the Devils faced and how they are going to build that club. To put my two cents' in, I suppose, and then to learn as much as I possibly could about it. "There's a couple of really good football people I believe would go really well down there. I put their names forward and put them in front of Brendon." Buckley said he's "still exploring" what the challenge of coaching Tasmania would look like. "That coaching bug is still there, (but) I'm really enjoying what I'm doing at the moment," he said in regards to his media roles. "An existing club versus the Devils; they're two very different propositions. So to understand more about the Devils is to understand whether you think it fits and whether you're energised by it. That challenge is so different to what I've experienced." AFL fans reacted to the news about Hird and Buckley on social media, with a wide range of opinions. Bring back HIRD — Domitian Legio 🇦🇺 🇺🇲 🏴 (@James_LFC) May 19, 2025 Since Kevin Sheedy's departure in 2007, James Hird has one of the best coaching record out of any EFC coach since 07. With a clean air and coaching experiences with GWS and Port Melbourne, he deserves another opportunity to coach Essendon. — Alex Sar #DonTheSash (@alexmatthewsar) May 19, 2025 Do it Nath — @wallopfam (@cfc_1892) May 19, 2025 Not that i would ever really want him associated with any club other than the Pies, i hope he gets the job and wins the bloody flag in his first year. He deserves it. Go for it @ncb_cfc . Pies fans will follow you all the way…. Well unless its us you end up playing haha — LEIGH S (@sweet68) May 19, 2025
