Latest news with #TheAdvertiser
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Advertiser documentary While I Was Sleeping, about Ben Hyde's miraculous survival, wins INMA Award
A documentary telling former Advertiser deputy editor Ben Hyde's miraculous story of survival after a crash that nearly claimed his life has won a top gong at one of the world's most prestigious media awards. While I Was Sleeping took home Best New Video Product or Feature at the International News Media Association (INMA) Awards in New York on Thursday, beating out finalists from across the globe. The powerful documentary, produced by a small team of just Ben, Neely Karimi, Ruicheng Liang and Steven Grice, tells how, in 2021, he was hit by a drugged driver travelling 170km/h and left for dead in a burning wreck. In While I Was Sleeping, Ben speaks to those who helped save his life as he pieces together how – against all odds – police, good Samaritans, medical experts and a powerful support network helped put him back together again. Alongside the documentary, The Advertiser created a strong road safety campaign in 2024 called Arrive Alive – with 41 stories over the course of three months which were viewed by more than 1.5 million people across social media platforms. This campaign was always bigger than Ben. In the lead up, the state's police commissioner lost his teenage son in a hit-run and, at the documentary's launch, Premier Peter Malinauskas revealed his own life had been touched by road tragedy. Ben said it was incredibly humbling to have the documentary recognised and awarded on the global stage, heralding the pioneering long-form video project produced entirely from Adelaide's newsroom. 'While this is 'my' story, the reality is it is the work of a small army of people, including many skilled hands inside the newsroom, the talent from the documentary who trusted me to tell the story, and my incredible family, who have given nothing but love and support,' Ben said. South Australians embraced the Arrive Alive campaign and heeded its message, with the state's road toll and number of serious injuries falling year-on-year from 2023 to 2024. 'While I always knew there was a compelling story to tell, the documentary always also aimed to serve a broader purpose around road safety, resilience and celebrating our everyday heroes, whose amazing stories are often left untold,' Ben said. 'I'm hopeful this award will further help that legacy and allow the important messages to reach even more people.'
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Supermarket boss attacks ‘gutless trolls'
A supermarket boss has called out trolls who directed racially abusive comments at a junior employee featured in a social media post for the store. Drakes Supermarket created a post on its Facebook page to promote a competition, but it was filled with offensive comments and memes from people attacking the young staff member. Drakes Supermarket director John-Paul Drake fired back at the trolls in an open message to the people who hid behind a keyboard to hurt his team with hateful, rude and racist comments. In a statement posted to his Instagram page on Monday, Mr Drake did not hold back when he told the people responsible for the disgusting comments to 'f**k off'. 'This is completely unacceptable,' he said in the statement. 'Drakes is about people. 'Drakes is here to serve everyone in our community … if you treat others with respect, you're welcome in our stores. 'If that makes you uncomfortable, you're free to shop somewhere else. That's your choice. 'But don't come into our stores or onto our pages and attack my team, who turn up everyday to serve their communities with pride. 'Racism has no place in our society. And you have no place in our stores.' Mr Drake told The Advertiser that he could not believe in a country that was built on multiculturalism, he had to call out this extremely shameful behaviour. He said there was absolutely no excuse or place for racism in any form and even less so when it was directed at his team. 'Everyone should feel comfortable in calling out this kind of behaviour,' he said. 'No one should feel comfortable when they see or read it. 'The customer might always come first, but you lose the right to be a customer when you abuse my team. 'My people are my biggest asset, and I have no qualms standing up for them and for what is right.' Many people have supported the supermarket boss for standing up for his employee. 'Well done JP for standing up to faceless gutless trolls. Hold your head high young fella,' one person commented. 'Amazing young lad, amazing supermarket, awesome boss,' a customer said.
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Drakes Supermarket boss John-Paul Drake's explosive tirade against racial abuse directed at junior employee
A supermarket boss has called out trolls who directed racially abusive comments at a junior employee featured in a social media post for the store. Drakes Supermarket created a post on its Facebook page to promote a competition, but it was filled with offensive comments and memes from people attacking the young staff member. Drakes Supermarket director John-Paul Drake fired back at the trolls in an open message to the people who hid behind a keyboard to hurt his team with hateful, rude and racist comments. In a statement posted to his Instagram page on Monday, Mr Drake did not hold back when he told the people responsible for the disgusting comments to 'f**k off'. 'This is completely unacceptable,' he said in the statement. 'Drakes is about people. 'Drakes is here to serve everyone in our community … if you treat others with respect, you're welcome in our stores. 'If that makes you uncomfortable, you're free to shop somewhere else. That's your choice. 'But don't come into our stores or onto our pages and attack my team, who turn up everyday to serve their communities with pride. 'Racism has no place in our society. And you have no place in our stores.' Mr Drake told The Advertiser that he could not believe in a country that was built on multiculturalism, he had to call out this extremely shameful behaviour. He said there was absolutely no excuse or place for racism in any form and even less so when it was directed at his team. 'Everyone should feel comfortable in calling out this kind of behaviour,' he said. 'No one should feel comfortable when they see or read it. 'The customer might always come first, but you lose the right to be a customer when you abuse my team. 'My people are my biggest asset, and I have no qualms standing up for them and for what is right.' Many people have supported the supermarket boss for standing up for his employee. 'Well done JP for standing up to faceless gutless trolls. Hold your head high young fella,' one person commented. 'Amazing young lad, amazing supermarket, awesome boss,' a customer said.
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
‘So much emotion': Valerie and owners reunited at last
World-wide sensation, Valerie the miniature sausage dog, has been reunited with her owners after spending 529 days in the wild on Kangaroo Island. The fugitive dachshund miraculously survived in the wilderness after she slipped out of her play pen and disappeared into the bush, leaving owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock devastated. After 17 months apart, the nervous couple from New South Wales returned to Kangaroo Island to finally hold their beloved pup in their hands again after all this time. Ms Gardner said she was 'speechless' and 'bawled' her eyes out when she saw Valerie wagging her tail and heard her bark for the first time since her disappearance. 'We were very nervous coming in today but the reaction was just priceless,' Mr Fishlock told The Advertiser. 'I bawled my eyes out and just seeing her come up and wag her tail and bark, I'm speechless. 'Just so much emotion.' After spending so much time as a free animal in the wild, many questioned if Valerie would still long for the affection her two human owners could offer. Those fears were squashed though, as the elusive pup was over the moon when she saw her parents, showering them with plenty of kisses and cuddles. Although presumably ready to return to the luxuries of her regular home, Valerie changed a bit from her days in the bush. 'She has definitely grown and put on some lean muscle,' Ms Gardner revealed. Valerie's rescue was no easy feat. Thousands of volunteers, across more than 1000 hours, travelling a combined 5000km, combed the island for signs of Valerie over 529 days. Spearheaded by local wildlife rescue group Kangala Wildlife Rescue, the adventurous sausage dog was recaptured on April 25. The team used CCTV surveillance, and meticulous tracking methods to eventually lure the perhaps untrusting dachshund close enough for capture. Sharing an update on Valerie after she was caught, the wildlife group revealed she had been given the all clear from the vet to return to New South Wales with her family. 'Valerie is in perfect health and ready for her parents and the next chapter of her life,' the group wrote on Facebook. Valerie the Dachshund Credit: Facebook 'After 529 days on foot, riding in the car was a little challenging but after a gentle reintroduction and lots of little trips she's doing great. 'The long drive home should be a walk in the park for her now.' Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock are yet to share video of the moment they reunited with Valerie.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Rising Aussie cage fighters aged 21 and 22 are mourned after dying in horror car crash
Two rising Australian mixed martial arts stars, aged 21 and 22, have tragically died following a horror car crash in South Australia on Sunday. Luke Marko, 21 and Sami Adnan, 22, were returning from a training session in the Adelaide Hills when the incident took place. Police received reports of a serious crash just after 5pm on Sunday involving a Holden sedan on Echunga Road near to the Hahndorf Football Club in Paechtown. According to The Advertiser, their vehicle is understood to have crashed into a tree. Officers state the two men suffered critical injuries and sadly died at the scene. Both men have been remembered by members of the mixed martial arts community, including Jobair Rafiq, who was close to both fighters. Rafiq said both men were 'humble' and 'upcoming champions'. 'Luke was an amazing kid, very humble and came to help out at our gym… he was there the day we opened, helping out,' he told The Advertiser, speaking on jiu-jitsu fighter Marko. '(He was a) very strong young kid but very humble.' He also praised, Adnan, a mixed martial arts fighter, as not only a good competitor but also as a humble individual who wanted to give back to the community. 'Sami used to go to the same mosque as me… he was always there to help out and always listened to his elders and wanted to be better in life,' Rafiq said. 'In our mosque every Saturday we have open nights so all the young kids, rather than be in the club or streets, they would come to the gym and we used to have wrestling training and soccer going on. 'Sami would come in and, given his knowledge, would help out and be part of the community. 'These kids were always trying to do good… always stayed clean, they were upcoming champs and always wanted to do something good.' Tributes have been paid on social media to the pair, with South Australia MMA training facility Arruda Team writing on Facebook: 'We are all completely shocked and shattered by the news of Luke and Sami's passing. 'Two incredibly talented athletes taken way too soon. 'We send our love to Sami and Luke's family and friends.' South Australia police state that their deaths are the 26th and 27th lives lost on roads in the state so far this year.
