Latest news with #Tasmanian-born
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
UFC champ Conor McGregor set to visit Perth for wild event
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor is expected to visit Perth when the proposed Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship takes over RAC Arena in July. It comes as the two main fights on the July 19 card were announced by BKFC across social media on Wednesday. WA Combat Sport's Commission is due to make a final decision on whether the event will go ahead this week, while Sports Minister Rita Saffioti conceded she would not have the event pulled if the commission approves it. Australian athlete Alex 'Godly Strong' Simon, who has openly talked about spending time in prison as a young man, is taking on former UFC fighter turned BKFC champion 'Big' Ben Rothwell for the proposed main fight. The pair will fight for the inaugural BKFC super heavyweight title — a new weight class for athletes above 120kg. Rothwell, the current heavyweight BKFC champion and MMA veteran, could walk away with two belts if he defeats the Australian. Alex Simon, when speaking to the Secrets of The Underworld Podcast in May, said his weight had reached a maximum of 181kg when pursuing a career in powerlifting after a short stint in prison as a young man. The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is set to make its Australian debut in Perth on July 19. Credit: Supplied 'Pretty much we robbed a drug dealer, but it was like a home invasion and it was armed,' the Sydneysider told the podcast. After being released, Simon undertook a career in powerlifting, breaking Australian strongman records at the age of 24. He has since turned his attention to combat sports and could fight on his biggest stage yet at RAC Arena if all goes ahead. Fighting on the co-main event is Tasmanian-born athlete 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings, who became the first ever BKFC female champion and a well-respected voice in the ongoing fight against domestic violence abusers. She will face French-Canadian boxer Jade Masson-Wong. The female athletes have a collective Instagram following of more than 300,000 people. They both also work as OnlyFans content creators, offering both fight-related and adult-only content. The promotional poster also said New Zealand-born heavyweight Haze 'The Huntsman' Hepi will appear. It is unknown how many bouts will be on the July card. Both the Australian Medical Association and the opposition have slammed the Labor Government ahead of the proposed event. In a letter to the Premier, Ms Saffioti and other Ministers, AMA WA President Michael Page expressed 'profound concern' and said the lack of protective gear made bare knuckle boxing worse. RAC Arena — which is owned and operated by government statutory authority Venues West — advertised ticket sales across social media and on their website on Wednesday despite the event being formally approved. BKFC President David Feldman further quashed any suggestion the event was being cancelled by labelling the July 19 event as the 'beginning of a new era for combat sports in Australia.'. 'Australia has long been on our radar,' he said. 'The energy, the fans, and the venue are all perfect for showcasing BKFC.' The WA Combat sports commission told The West Australian the event was still under consideration on Wednesday. Tickets currently available on Ticketek for the RAC Arena event are starting at $151 with the next available tier at $302. The highest available tickets — classed as 'The Notorious Access' — are going for an eye-watering $6000.
ABC News
04-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Star AFL recruiting pair Derek Hine and Todd Patterson will be in charge of Tasmania Devils list
The Tasmania Devils have pulled off a stunning double coup, securing the services of a pair of recruiting gurus who will construct the club's inaugural AFL, VFL, AFLW and VFLW lists. Former Collingwood list manager and head recruiter Derek Hine has been lured to Tasmania and will take the role as the club's first ever head of recruiting, while Tasmanian-born Melbourne AFLW list manager Todd Patterson has also committed as the team's first head of list management and strategy. Mr Hine is best known for his time at the Magpies where he helped build teams that claimed the 2010 and 2023 AFL premierships, contested the 2018 grand final and were perennial finals contenders since his appointment in 2003. Under his tenure, Collingwood drafted Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas in 2005. Former Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine (centre) will be the Devils' head of recruiting. ( ) Mr Hine also oversaw the selection of Steele Sidebottom and Jordan De Goey, as well as trades that secured Jack Crisp from Brisbane and Tasmanian Jeremy Howe from Melbourne. Mr Hine and Mr Patterson's first task will likely be assembling the club's inaugural VFL list, which is set to take the field next year. They'll then move into helping construct the Devils' inaugural AFL team, which is set to play its first game in 2028. Mr Hine will initially split his time between Melbourne and Hobart. In a statement, Devils chief executive Brendon Gale said Mr Hine's recruitment was a "significant addition" to the club and that "his passion for talent identification and team building aligns perfectly with our vision for the Tasmania Devils". "It's a really exciting time for football in the state," he said. Pair to access salary war chest Mr Patterson, who hails from Launceston, will return to his home state following a 16-year stint in Victoria, with an eight-year stint at Melbourne, which included women's talent identification and ultimately a six-year term as the club's AFLW list manager. The Demons won the AFLW flag in 2022 and have been a long-time powerhouse of the women's competition. Todd Patterson will join the Devils as the club's head of list management and strategy. ( Melbourne Football Club ) Tasmania's women's team is slated to enter the AFLW in 2027, making the Devils the first club in history to field a women's team before a men's side. Both Mr Patterson and Mr Hine will officially start later this month, and have been employed on full-time, permanent contracts. The pair will be handed about a dozen first-round picks, which will be spread across the 2027, 2028 and 2029 drafts, and which could still possibly include the number one pick in 2027. Some of those will likely need to be traded for established players. The Tasmania Devils are slated to enter the AFLW in 2027, while the men's team is due to enter the league in 2028. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden ) Mr Patterson and Mr Hine will also likely have access to a salary war chest that will be used to lure players from other clubs, as well as to uncontracted free agents from other clubs across two trade periods. The appointments come as The proposed stadium, which is expected to cost more than $775 million, is a non-negotiable requirement of the Devils entering the AFL, but has been met with strong community opposition. It has bipartisan support in the state's lower house but will need the vote of at least two independent upper house members to progress.
Sky News AU
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Legacy is still up for debate': Queen Mary speaks on misunderstood royal in new documentary film 'Danner of Denmark'
Queen Mary of Denmark is set to star in a new film spotlighting a controversial royal figure who, much like herself, rose from humble beginnings to leave a lasting legacy. The Tasmanian-born royal appears in Danner of Denmark, a film set to premiere at Frederiksborg Castle on May 1. The documentary delves into the story of Countess Danner, born Louise Christine Rasmussen, and the evolving interpretations of her role in Danish society. On Monday, the Danish Royal House released a series of images showing the 53-year-old monarch examining historical artefacts connected to the Countess, including her birth certificate and jewellery. "The film tells the story of one of history's most significant female figures, and the objects help to illustrate how Countess Danner's history as a role model and norm breaker is closely intertwined with Denmark's history," the palace said. "The Queen also talks about the Countess' religious beliefs and about the defamatory writings that document Countess Danner's role as a complex historical figure who divided the waters in her time, and whose legacy is still up for debate to this day." Countess Danner, who married King Frederik VII in 1850, was born into poverty and raised by a single mother. She trained as a dancer at the Copenhagen Opera's ballet school and later opened a fashion shop after leaving the stage. Her relationship with then-Prince Frederik began in the 1840s, though it sparked fierce opposition due to her working-class background and illegitimate child. In 1850, she was made Frederik's morganatic wife, a union that granted her the title Countess Danner but excluded any children from the line of succession. Despite being shunned by the upper echelons of Danish society, Countess Danner lived happily with the King at Jægerspris Castle and continued her philanthropic work after his death in 1863. In 1873, she founded Frederick the VII's Foundation for Poor Women from the Working Class. She died the following year, leaving the castle in her will to support disadvantaged women. Queen Mary has long expressed admiration for Danner's story. In November, she gave a speech at the unveiling of a four-metre bronze statue of the Countess, made by artist Kirsten Justesen, in Copenhagen. "The story of Countess Danner is also the history of Denmark," the mother-of-four said during the ceremony. "A monument is a memorial, and in Countess Danner's case, it will stand as a symbol of her importance for women's liberation, social awareness and social mobility. "She never forgot her origins." Parallels have often been drawn between Queen Mary and Countess Danner- both women began their lives as commoners and went on to marry future Kings of Denmark. They also share a passion for charity work. Mary is a patron of the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), supporting maternal health initiatives in developing nations, and serves on the International Committee of Women Leaders for Mental Health. She also founded The Mary Foundation to combat social isolation and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Danner of Denmark will be on display as part of a special exhibition at Frederiksborg Castle until November 16.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Australia's newest Great Walk on Flinders Island reveals a forgotten story of survival
The aquamarine water is so clear and warm it could be in the Caribbean, and the white silica beaches framed by granite boulders are reminiscent of the Seychelles. The giveaway is the tangerine lichen spattered on the rocks—a clear sign that this is the Australian island state of Tasmania (Lutruwita). But this isn't the Bay of Fires (Larapuna), famed for the magnificent contrasting hues of its coastal landscape. I'm on Flinders Island, a remnant of the submerged plain that once formed a land bridge across the notorious Bass Strait from Tasmania to mainland Victoria. 'Flinders Island is like the Bay of Fires on steroids,' says Tasmanian-born wilderness guide Gracie Hartshorn. She co-leads our group of nine alongside Liam McGuire, from Canberra, on the Flinders Island Walking Adventure, which in 2024 was named Australia's 13th Great Walk. A Great Walk in Australia is a multi-day guided walking experience that immerses travelers in the country's wilderness areas. These walks are designed to be eco-luxury and comfortable. Experienced guides lead small groups on these walking adventures that usually include gourmet food, wine, and comfortable accommodations. As we set off for the first leg of our 26-mile adventure, along a deserted beach under sapphire skies, I note the island also receives far fewer tourists than its mainland doppelganger. (Related: What it's like to hike Australia's Great Ocean Walk.) Named by British explorer Matthew Flinders during his 1801 to 1803 circumnavigation of Australia, our 515-square-mile island home for the next six days and five nights is characterized by lonely beaches, rolling cattle pastures, and hulking mountains including the granite massifs of Strzelecki National Park at its southern end. Most of its roads are unsealed and wallabies outnumber locals. The island's remoteness makes it one of Australia's best-kept travel secrets, accessible only via a 30-minute small-plane charter flight or an eight-hour journey on the weekly barge from Bridport on mainland Tasmania. Based at an exclusive 'eco-comfort camp' nestled in coastal bushland, the walking adventure traces the island's most scenic trails offering a mix of terrain, vistas, wildlife spotting, and cultural history. Day two takes us on a rollicking seven-mile loop around Mount Killiecrankie (1,037 feet), where wind- and rain-sculpted boulders resemble a giant wombat (the island is home to its own subspecies) and an old man's face. Yellow-throated honeyeaters chatter in the eucalyptus trees while wallabies keep the beat with the thump-thump of their outsized feet as we hike towards Stacky's Bight, an idyllic, protected cove made for a lunchtime swim. Infectiously cheerful camp host Tahli Sanders welcomes us back each night with a hearty evening meal starring beef and lamb sourced from local farmers, island-made condiments, and native ingredients including saltbush. 'We're as eco-friendly here as we can be,' he says, firing up the barbecue. Later, I drift off watching satellites track across the star-spangled southern sky through the see-through roof of my dome tent. (Related: How this photographer got the photo of her dreams in Tasmania.) During a bushwalk on the ragged Darling Range at the island's heart, Liam explains how Palawa/Pakana (Aboriginal Tasmanians) managed the landscape with firestick farming long before European farmers arrived. 'Firestick farming is when land is purposely burnt to encourage fresh growth and create the perfect hunting ground,' he tells us. The island's original Aboriginal inhabitants, we learn, mysteriously ceased to be full-time occupants around 4,000 years ago. While cultural living sites can still be found across the 52 islands of the Furneaux Group, the most significant site is linked to more recent residents. 'This is the site of an attempted cultural genocide,' announces Hartshorn upon our arrival at the former Aboriginal settlement of Wybalenna, where a red brick chapel rises from a barren, windswept corner of the west coast. (Related: Why Aboriginal Australians are still fighting for recognition.) Following a series of brutal frontier conflicts in Tasmania, the Palawa/Pakana population decreased from approximately 15,000 upon colonization in 1803 to around 300 by the early 1830s. Englishman and 'Aboriginal conciliator' George Augustus Robinson convinced most of the survivors to resettle on Flinders Island in 1833. 'He promised that they would be safe and could continue their culture there,' Hartshorn says. The reality was anything but, explains cultural educator Trish Hodge, a descendant of Mannalargenna, a clan leader and warrior who died at Wybalenna. 'Once they arrived there, he [Robinson] pretty much immediately ruled out cultural practices,' Hodge tells me. 'They weren't allowed to have their ceremonies or speak their language. Their names were changed, and they were forced to go to church.' Compounded by horrific living conditions (survivor Fanny Smith told of being flogged, chained up, and forced to sleep in a box), the settlement's population had dwindled to just 47 when it was abandoned in 1847. Survivors including Truganini, storied incorrectly as the 'last Aboriginal Tasmanian,' were relocated to the mainland. In a cemetery near the chapel, at least 107 Palawa/Pakana remain buried in unmarked graves. 'It's an incredibly sad place, but it's also a powerful symbol of resilience,' says Hodge. 'I was taught in school that we didn't exist. But we are still here, and our community is still strong.' (Related: Australia hands control of its newest national parks to Indigenous peoples.) The release of freehold land on Flinders Island in the late 19th century took the island in a new direction as 'freemen' (free settlers and ex-convicts) arrived to build a life here. Even today, many locals in the tight-knit farming community—numbering around 1000—can trace their ancestry to convicts and shipwrecked sailors. After a rewarding scramble to the summit of Mount Strzelecki (2,566 feet), the island's highest peak, on our fifth day, we stop by the tiny main town of Whitemark for a celebratory drink at the historic Flinders Interstate Hotel. I pull up a stool beside Alan Wheatley, a local of 73 years, who tells me that his grandparents settled here after sailing up from Hobart (Nipaluna) with his parents in the 1920s and couldn't get back. At Bowman's Store, established in 1921, I meet fourth-generation islander Claire Bowman, who recently moved back to the island with her young family after 16 years away. 'When I had kids, I wanted them to enjoy the same childhood as I did, surrounded by nature,' she says. Diving into the gin-clear waters of Trousers Point Beach after our final walk of the trip, a mile-long meander around a lichen-encrusted headland backdropped by Mount Strzelecki, it's easy to understand the appeal of living on an island where the Tasmanian wilderness provides the entertainment. Between its staggering natural beauty and rich history alone, it's an incredible place simply to walk in. (Related: A culinary guide to Tasmania's Huon Valley, from apple pie to agritourism.) Trails on this Great Walk adventure—all of which are accessible to independent walkers—are graded easy to moderate, and you should be fit to hike up to seven hours per day. Independent walkers should understand that the logistics behind planning a hike like this one on your own can be daunting. All 13 Great Walks have a single operator and are designed to offer an exclusive guided wilderness walking experience that you can't get anywhere else. This trip was created with the support of Tasmanian Expeditions/World Expeditions. Travel with National Geographic to Australia to explore the Daintree Forest with an indigenous guide, and see fairy penguins on the beaches of Bicheno, Tasmania. Click here for more information. Sarah Reid is an award-winning Australian freelance travel writer specializing in adventure and regenerative travel. Follow her on Instagram @sarahreidtravels.
National Geographic
24-04-2025
- National Geographic
See Australia's wild beauty—and dark history—on its newest Great Walk
The aquamarine water is so clear and warm it could be in the Caribbean, and the white silica beaches framed by granite boulders are reminiscent of the Seychelles. The giveaway is the tangerine lichen spattered on the rocks—a clear sign that this is the Australian island state of Tasmania (Lutruwita). But this isn't the Bay of Fires (Larapuna), famed for the magnificent contrasting hues of its coastal landscape. I'm on Flinders Island, a remnant of the submerged plain that once formed a land bridge across the notorious Bass Strait from Tasmania to mainland Victoria. 'Flinders Island is like the Bay of Fires on steroids,' says Tasmanian-born wilderness guide Gracie Hartshorn. She co-leads our group of nine alongside Liam McGuire, from Canberra, on the Flinders Island Walking Adventure, which in 2024 was named Australia's 13th Great Walk. A Great Walk in Australia is a multi-day guided walking experience that immerses travelers in the country's wilderness areas. These walks are designed to be eco-luxury and comfortable. Experienced guides lead small groups on these walking adventures that usually include gourmet food, wine, and comfortable accommodations. As we set off for the first leg of our 26-mile adventure, along a deserted beach under sapphire skies, I note the island also receives far fewer tourists than its mainland doppelganger. (Related: What it's like to hike Australia's Great Ocean Walk.) Lonely island This Aerial view shows the remote Stanley Island (left) and Flinders Island (right), home to important Aboriginal sites, including Wybaleena, also known as the 'Aboriginal Settlement.' Photograph by Suzanne Long, Alamy Stock Photo Hikers climb to the top of the 2,566-foot-tall Mount Strzelecki, the highest peak on Flinders Island. Photograph by Andrew Bain, Alamy Stock Photo Named by British explorer Matthew Flinders during his 1801 to 1803 circumnavigation of Australia, our 515-square-mile island home for the next six days and five nights is characterized by lonely beaches, rolling cattle pastures, and hulking mountains including the granite massifs of Strzelecki National Park at its southern end. Most of its roads are unsealed and wallabies outnumber locals. The island's remoteness makes it one of Australia's best-kept travel secrets, accessible only via a 30-minute small-plane charter flight or an eight-hour journey on the weekly barge from Bridport on mainland Tasmania. Based at an exclusive 'eco-comfort camp' nestled in coastal bushland, the walking adventure traces the island's most scenic trails offering a mix of terrain, vistas, wildlife spotting, and cultural history. Day two takes us on a rollicking seven-mile loop around Mount Killiecrankie (1,037 feet), where wind- and rain-sculpted boulders resemble a giant wombat (the island is home to its own subspecies) and an old man's face. Yellow-throated honeyeaters chatter in the eucalyptus trees while wallabies keep the beat with the thump-thump of their outsized feet as we hike towards Stacky's Bight, an idyllic, protected cove made for a lunchtime swim. Infectiously cheerful camp host Tahli Sanders welcomes us back each night with a hearty evening meal starring beef and lamb sourced from local farmers, island-made condiments, and native ingredients including saltbush. 'We're as eco-friendly here as we can be,' he says, firing up the barbecue. Later, I drift off watching satellites track across the star-spangled southern sky through the see-through roof of my dome tent. (Related: How this photographer got the photo of her dreams in Tasmania.) Forgotten history During a bushwalk on the ragged Darling Range at the island's heart, Liam explains how Palawa/Pakana (Aboriginal Tasmanians) managed the landscape with firestick farming long before European farmers arrived. 'Firestick farming is when land is purposely burnt to encourage fresh growth and create the perfect hunting ground,' he tells us. The island's original Aboriginal inhabitants, we learn, mysteriously ceased to be full-time occupants around 4,000 years ago. While cultural living sites can still be found across the 52 islands of the Furneaux Group, the most significant site is linked to more recent residents. 'This is the site of an attempted cultural genocide,' announces Hartshorn upon our arrival at the former Aboriginal settlement of Wybalenna, where a red brick chapel rises from a barren, windswept corner of the west coast. (Related: Why Aboriginal Australians are still fighting for recognition.) Following a series of brutal frontier conflicts in Tasmania, the Palawa/Pakana population decreased from approximately 15,000 upon colonization in 1803 to around 300 by the early 1830s. Englishman and 'Aboriginal conciliator' George Augustus Robinson convinced most of the survivors to resettle on Flinders Island in 1833. 'He promised that they would be safe and could continue their culture there,' Hartshorn says. The reality was anything but, explains cultural educator Trish Hodge, a descendant of Mannalargenna, a clan leader and warrior who died at Wybalenna. 'Once they arrived there, he [Robinson] pretty much immediately ruled out cultural practices,' Hodge tells me. 'They weren't allowed to have their ceremonies or speak their language. Their names were changed, and they were forced to go to church.' Compounded by horrific living conditions (survivor Fanny Smith told of being flogged, chained up, and forced to sleep in a box), the settlement's population had dwindled to just 47 when it was abandoned in 1847. Survivors including Truganini, storied incorrectly as the 'last Aboriginal Tasmanian,' were relocated to the mainland. In a cemetery near the chapel, at least 107 Palawa/Pakana remain buried in unmarked graves. 'It's an incredibly sad place, but it's also a powerful symbol of resilience,' says Hodge. 'I was taught in school that we didn't exist. But we are still here, and our community is still strong.' (Related: Australia hands control of its newest national parks to Indigenous peoples.) Island life today The release of freehold land on Flinders Island in the late 19th century took the island in a new direction as 'freemen' (free settlers and ex-convicts) arrived to build a life here. Even today, many locals in the tight-knit farming community—numbering around 1000—can trace their ancestry to convicts and shipwrecked sailors. On the Flinders Island Great Walk, hikers and walkers can explore the island's beautiful landscape, its dark history, and the resilience of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Photograph by Andrew Bain, Alamy Stock Photo After a rewarding scramble to the summit of Mount Strzelecki (2,566 feet), the island's highest peak, on our fifth day, we stop by the tiny main town of Whitemark for a celebratory drink at the historic Flinders Interstate Hotel. I pull up a stool beside Alan Wheatley, a local of 73 years, who tells me that his grandparents settled here after sailing up from Hobart (Nipaluna) with his parents in the 1920s and couldn't get back. At Bowman's Store, established in 1921, I meet fourth-generation islander Claire Bowman, who recently moved back to the island with her young family after 16 years away. 'When I had kids, I wanted them to enjoy the same childhood as I did, surrounded by nature,' she says. Diving into the gin-clear waters of Trousers Point Beach after our final walk of the trip, a mile-long meander around a lichen-encrusted headland backdropped by Mount Strzelecki, it's easy to understand the appeal of living on an island where the Tasmanian wilderness provides the entertainment. Between its staggering natural beauty and rich history alone, it's an incredible place simply to walk in. (Related: A culinary guide to Tasmania's Huon Valley, from apple pie to agritourism.) How to do it Castle Rock, the prominent granite boulder on the eastern coast of Flinders Island, is a short walk from a nearby car park. It is one of many sights that hikers and walkers may see on one of Australia's accessible Great Walks in various national parks and natural areas. Photograph by Alexander Cimbal, Alamy Stock Photo Trails on this Great Walk adventure—all of which are accessible to independent walkers—are graded easy to moderate, and you should be fit to hike up to seven hours per day. Independent walkers should understand that the logistics behind planning a hike like this one on your own can be daunting. All 13 Great Walks have a single operator and are designed to offer an exclusive guided wilderness walking experience that you can't get anywhere else. This trip was created with the support of Tasmanian Expeditions/World Expeditions. Travel with National Geographic to Australia to explore the Daintree Forest with an indigenous guide, and see fairy penguins on the beaches of Bicheno, Tasmania. Click here for more information. Sarah Reid is an award-winning Australian freelance travel writer specializing in adventure and regenerative travel. Follow her on Instagram @sarahreidtravels.
