Latest news with #Perth-born
Perth Now
30-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Christien de Garis returns to Perth as 7NEWS news director
Award-winning journalist Christien de Garis has been appointed as the news director of 7NEWS Perth. Seven announced the appointment, which will take effect in October, on Wednesday. The Perth-born reporter has more than 20 years experience in broadcast news and government communications. He began his career with Seven West Media's regional newspapers in Bunbury and Kalgoorlie before moving to the ABC and Network 10. He has worked as a senior crime reporter in Perth and Sydney, and has received several media awards for his reporting in WA. 'Coming home to Perth to lead one of the most talented newsrooms in the country is a massive honour,' de Garis said. 'I've worked with many of the team over the years, as a journalist and as an advisor. 'That time outside the newsroom only deepened my belief in journalism's power and purpose. 'I'm proud to return and help build on strength, legacy and momentum on 7NEWS Perth.' 7NEWS news and current affairs director Ray Kuka said de Garis was a 'fierce newsman with deep WA roots, strong leadership and a sharp editorial mind'. 'His appointment is a true homecoming, and I'm excited to see him lead this exceptional newsroom,' he said. 'He is an old-school journo who loves exposing hypocrisy, holding power to account and chasing the kinds of stories that get people talking. 'He also knows how to craft great television, from crime rounds to award-winning current affairs.' Seven West Media chief executive Maryna Fewster congratulated de Garis on his appointment and said she was looking forward to watching 7NEWS Perth grow under his leadership. 'Our newsroom is unique in Australian media – a fully integrated news operation that blends the very best of broadcast journalism in 7NEWS with the heart of SWM's publishing business,' she said. 'We have two notably experienced journalists leading our newsroom in Christien and Christopher Dore, the editor-in-chief of publishing including The West Australian and The Nightly, who will build a formidable partnership leading their teams that are such an institution in our State. 'It's no secret that our connection to the community is at the heart of the remarkable success of both 7NEWS in Perth and The West Australian and its print and digital footprint throughout the State.'
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tributes pour in after legendary Australian singer and TV star dies following shock health battle: 'The music industry has lost an icon'
Tributes have flooded in for legendary Australian singer Doug De Kroo, who died aged 84 this week at a regional NSW hospital, after a short battle with pneumonia. The Perth-born singer was one half of the iconic Aussie '60s vocal group The De Kroo Brothers, who enjoyed enormous success across the country. His death was confirmed on Tuesday in a statement from Australian band The Road Runners. 'It is with extreme sadness to let everyone know that legendary rocker Doug De Kroo passed away on Monday from complications of pneumonia at Bellingen Hospital,' the statement began. 'Doug will be greatly missed by his family, bandmates and friends... Also the Australian Rock 'n' Roll fraternity in general.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. They added De Kroo's legacy would live on through his incredible music. 'His music with The De Kroo Brothers will live on not only on the internet but also on the treasured vinyl records they released during the '60s,' they wrote. The performer was born Doug Brewer and took on the stage surname De Kroo to perform alongside his bandmate Leo as The De Kroo Brothers. Their journey began in Perth and flourished in Sydney from 1960 onwards. They quickly made their mark with Columbia Records, releasing their debut single On The Job Too Long in March 1960, followed closely by Loveland. Despite their early efforts, commercial success proved elusive until they joined Festival Records, where their breakthrough hit (And Her Name Was) Scarlet climbed into the Australian Top 10 in September 1963. Their success was boosted by a string of high-profile TV appearances on some of the most popular shows of the day, including Channel Nine's Bandstand, The Graham Kennedy Show and Teen Time. They toured extensively, including supporting Cliff Richard and the Shadows on their Australian and New Zealand tour in 1961. Their music, characterised by an upbeat rockabilly sound, resonated deeply with audiences, cementing their place in the Australian rock 'n' roll scene. Heartbroken fans took to social media to pay tribute to Doug. 'Very sad news. The DeKroo Bros, Australia's answer to The Everly Bros,' one person wrote. 'The music industry has lost an icon today. Condolences to his family,' a second added. Doug De Kroo continued to enrich the local Australian music community until shortly before his passing. He established a music teaching business in Sydney and remained active in various rockabilly groups. His passion for music and dedication to his craft extended well beyond the stage, and his passing marks the end of an incredible chapter in Australian music history. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Perth Now
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Heath Ledger's final act of kindness to Perth chef revealed
Head chef Gurps Bagga of Sauma restaurant in Northbridge has rubbed shoulders with many acclaimed cooks and celebrities in his time, but no memories burn as brightly as his encounter with late Perth-born actor Heath Ledger in 2007. The Indian spice master recalled one busy Saturday night at his family's former Fremantle restaurant Maya, which he believes was likely Ledger's final dining experience in Australia before his death in New York in January 2008. 'He rang me. There was a phone call one Saturday, we were really busy, we had no table, and someone just said I was there. And they said, 'Hey, this guy wants to book a table, and he's saying he's Heath Ledger,'' Chef Gurps recalled. Aware the Dark Knight star was in town due to media buzz, and with Ledger's father Kim having dined at Maya previously, the chef made an effort to squeeze him in. Even if it was just a prankster 'taking the mickey', the chef said he felt it was worth giving the actor a couple of hours to show. 'We booked him a table, and yes, it was him. He came with his family, and he came to eat, and he was the loveliest, most polite guy,' he said. Chef Gurps Bagga of Sauma. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian So vivid is the encounter, Chef Gurps can even recite the Oscar winner's order almost two decades later. 'He ordered a lamb rogan Josh, and he ordered a palak paneer. And his dad goes, 'I thought you were having lamb?' And he goes, 'Can't I order two?' the chef recalled. Enjoying their sumptuous meal, the chef told his staff not to approach the star or 'hassle him for anything' as there had been reports of his fragile mental state. However, to the contrary, Chef Gurps said the actor appeared in good spirits surrounded by loved ones. And he appreciated the restaurant's hospitability. 'Before he left, he turned back and he said thank you to all of us, shook all of our hands and he left, which was very nice of him,' the chef added. 'I rang up The Sunday Times. I said, 'He was eating at Maya. He was not sad. He was very happy with his family. He was laughing. We were joking around... And suddenly I started getting calls from all over the world.' Maya closed in 2016 after 26 years in the Bagga family. Pictured is a Goat Curry made by Chef Gurps Bagga. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian Now at the helm of Sauma, Chef Gurps said Ledger's loved ones have followed him across and will occasionally reminisce about the wholesome dinning experience they shared all those years ago. With family remaining a strong value in his kitchen, the chef continues to serve dishes he would prepare as a child with his father in India, whom he sadly lost several months ago. Describing him as 'my mentor, my guru', Chef Gurps holds a special place in his heart for the family's goat curry recipe which he revealed is largely his father's creation.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
More beauty than beast in new production at Perth's Crown Theatre
There was more beauty than beast represented in the Perth personalities who adorned the red carpet for Saturday's Beauty and the Beast premiere at Crown Theatre – and the same could be said for the show. At the final opening for a national tour attended so far by 1.2 million Australians, anticipation and nostalgia built right from the prologue voiced by Angela Lansbury (Miss Potts in the original Disney animated feature) and the opening glimpses of a jaw-dropping set that required 23 trucks to get to Perth and a team of 70 to unload them across thousands of hours. Faithfulness to the original continued; there is no danger of a modern reimagining in this saccharine-sweet production, which despite the vocal prowess of Belle (Perth-born Shubshri Kandiah) and the Beast (Brendan Xavier) unfortunately is slightly lacking in truly memorable numbers in the context of a 2.5-hour run time. The obvious exceptions are of course Be Our Guest, a showstopping number bringing all the production's technical might including projected backdrops of dancers' onstage patterns, milked to the max through an extended tap finale with 2400 lights; Belle, which shows off a French provincial town created with 30 tonnes of flying scenery and 50 tonnes of automation and staging; and Beauty and the Beast, simply and touchingly rendered by Jayde Westaby as Mrs Potts. The character of Gaston has more prominence than in the film and the charismatic Jackson Head brings excellent comedic value to it, with a ridiculous Jim Carrey vibe. To the extent that the gent on one side mentioned the resemblance at interval and the gent on the other was unable to prevent himself Googling Jim Carrey pictures during the performance, distracting us somewhat from Olivier Award nominee Matt West's excellent choreography displayed to full effect in Gaston (fun fact, the song's cast clink mugs 800-plus times). Despite being centred around the love story of Belle and the Beast the production's real emotional punch somehow comes not from them or even the relationship between Belle and father Maurice (Perth-raised Rodney Dobson) but from the enchanted castle objects whose attachment to humanity is, like the Beast's, dropping away with each petal from the magic rose. Lumiere (Rohan Browne), Cogsworth (Gareth Jacobs), Mrs Potts and Madame the wardrobe (Alana Tranter) are the heart of the show, providing pathos as well as laughs and magic (Lumiere's flames are real; Mrs Potts' spout smokes; Tranter's squeals are pitch-perfect comedy). Eason Ma was sweet as Chip the cup, head inserted into the side of the cup, body cleverly concealed in the stage furniture, though truth be told the disembodied head was at times striking me as a little on the weird side of cute. Particularly next to the larger-than-life Gaston, clearly an audience favourite, the Beast is somewhat disadvantaged. His role swings from suddenly roaring too loud and upsetting the other characters, to playing the fool for laughs, lacking the dark, conflicted tragedy this role could otherwise represent. Perhaps more height and bulk in the costuming would have made him a more imposing figure, but perhaps also would more attention given to parts of the show that feel rushed.
The Age
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
More beauty than beast in new production at Perth's Crown Theatre
There was more beauty than beast represented in the Perth personalities who adorned the red carpet for Saturday's Beauty and the Beast premiere at Crown Theatre – and the same could be said for the show. At the final opening for a national tour attended so far by 1.2 million Australians, anticipation and nostalgia built right from the prologue voiced by Angela Lansbury (Miss Potts in the original Disney animated feature) and the opening glimpses of a jaw-dropping set that required 23 trucks to get to Perth and a team of 70 to unload them across thousands of hours. Faithfulness to the original continued; there is no danger of a modern reimagining in this saccharine-sweet production, which despite the vocal prowess of Belle (Perth-born Shubshri Kandiah) and the Beast (Brendan Xavier) unfortunately is slightly lacking in truly memorable numbers in the context of a 2.5-hour run time. The obvious exceptions are of course Be Our Guest, a showstopping number bringing all the production's technical might including projected backdrops of dancers' onstage patterns, milked to the max through an extended tap finale with 2400 lights; Belle, which shows off a French provincial town created with 30 tonnes of flying scenery and 50 tonnes of automation and staging; and Beauty and the Beast, simply and touchingly rendered by Jayde Westaby as Mrs Potts. The character of Gaston has more prominence than in the film and the charismatic Jackson Head brings excellent comedic value to it, with a ridiculous Jim Carrey vibe. To the extent that the gent on one side mentioned the resemblance at interval and the gent on the other was unable to prevent himself Googling Jim Carrey pictures during the performance, distracting us somewhat from Olivier Award nominee Matt West's excellent choreography displayed to full effect in Gaston (fun fact, the song's cast clink mugs 800-plus times). Despite being centred around the love story of Belle and the Beast the production's real emotional punch somehow comes not from them or even the relationship between Belle and father Maurice (Perth-raised Rodney Dobson) but from the enchanted castle objects whose attachment to humanity is, like the Beast's, dropping away with each petal from the magic rose. Lumiere (Rohan Browne), Cogsworth (Gareth Jacobs), Mrs Potts and Madame the wardrobe (Alana Tranter) are the heart of the show, providing pathos as well as laughs and magic (Lumiere's flames are real; Mrs Potts' spout smokes; Tranter's squeals are pitch-perfect comedy). Eason Ma was sweet as Chip the cup, head inserted into the side of the cup, body cleverly concealed in the stage furniture, though truth be told the disembodied head was at times striking me as a little on the weird side of cute. Particularly next to the larger-than-life Gaston, clearly an audience favourite, the Beast is somewhat disadvantaged. His role swings from suddenly roaring too loud and upsetting the other characters, to playing the fool for laughs, lacking the dark, conflicted tragedy this role could otherwise represent. Perhaps more height and bulk in the costuming would have made him a more imposing figure, but perhaps also would more attention given to parts of the show that feel rushed.
