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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Chilling new details emerge after the decomposed bodies of two men were found inside a Surry Hills inner-city terrace
Grim new details have emerged after the decomposed bodies of two elderly men were found inside a rundown terrace. Police made the grisly finds after they received a request to conduct a welfare check at a Cleveland Street home in Sydney 's inner-city Surry Hills on Thursday. The bodies of the men, aged in their 70s and 80s were found in different levels of the home, which was so decrepit that some shocked locals thought it was abandoned. Police say a woman was living with the bodies of two men for almost a month. Eleanor Barker, 63, has since spoken with detectives. Police say she isn't suspected of any wrongdoing involved the deaths. No arrests or charges have been laid. A police source told the Sydney Morning Herald the discovery was being considered as 'a sad story at this stage'. Neighbours told Nine News that Ms Barker had appeared 'upbeat' in recent days. Other neighbours recalled Ms Baker regularly but had not seen the men for 'quite some time'. The only obvious signs of the tragedy on Friday were police tape at the property and dozens of officers examining the home. Described as a hoarder's house, the home was infested with rats and birds. From the street, it appeared rundown, with piles of discarded items strewn across the front of the terrace. 'I mean I've always seen this house, I didn't know if people lived in it, but it doesn't really look like people do,' neighbour Aisha Mingai said. Police and forensic officers combed the property on Friday, where detectives seized electrical cables. Officers also doorknocked neighbours to gather more information. Police are now working to determine why the deaths went unreported for so long. Police also hope that autopsies will shed light of how and when the men died. The bodies were so decomposed that the identities of the men are yet to be confirmed. However, it's understood their bodies had no obvious signs of injury Neighbour Mitchell Morri told Nine News he often saw the men outside the house. 'They're really nice, I'd always pass them on the street. One of the guys used to have a VB longneck out the front,' he said. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Street sweeper Shaun Turner wins at FWC against Darebin Council over Acknowledgement of Country sacking
A worker has scored a major victory at the Fair Work Commission after he was unfairly sacked from an inner-city Victorian council for objecting to an Acknowledgement of Country. Shaun Turner, a street sweeper with Darebin City Council, was dismissed from his full-time position at the council in June last year following interruptions he made to acknowledgment remarks at an earlier meeting in April. The council claimed he said 'the Acknowledgement of Country is not necessary' and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 'do not deserve an acknowledgment at the start of meetings'. The council also accused him of speaking in a tone that was perceived as disrespectful, sarcastic and aggressive. Mr Turner claimed he had simply questioned why the acknowledgment statement was necessary because it was the first time it had been done at a toolbox meeting and said 'if we need to be thanking anyone it's the people who have worn the uniform and fought for out country to keep us free'. He also denied speaking in the aggressive or inappropriate tone. The council also claimed he made a derogatory comment about a colleague, but Mr Turner said he was 'entrapped' or induced to do so by a council officer. At later a meeting in May, Mr Turner also said 'it is getting out of hand and people are losing it, it is now being done at the opening of a postage stamp' and 'I don't need to be welcomed into my own country'. An Acknowledgement of Country is a common practice that regularly precedes formal events where a speaker recognises the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land where the event or meeting takes place. The council delivered its termination letter to Mr Turner on June 3, claiming he had 'not provided a work environment that fostered mutual respect and working relationships free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation' and had 'engaged in racial discrimination and vilification by inciting and encouraging hatred, serious contempt for, revulsion or serious ridicule against another person because of their race'. But this week, FWC deputy president William Clancy ruled that Mr Turner's dismissal was 'harsh' and 'unreasonable' and employees did not need to 'act in complete deference to their employer's views'. 'The proposition underlying the respondent's (Darebin council) case appears to be that there will be a valid reason for dismissal if an employee fails to act in complete deference to their employer's views and, moreover, does not adopt them,' he said. 'I do not accept this proposition. 'In the absence of a single witness to his actions attesting to having felt disrespect, Mr Turner was dismissed because he did not embrace the delivery of an Acknowledgement of Country at a toolbox meeting and instead employed sarcasm when expressing his opinion that Acknowledgements of Country are at risk of being overused.' Mr Clancy found the worker had declared that acknowledgments were warranted on special occasions. 'Offence was taken because Mr Turner held a contrary view,' Mr Clancy said. He also found the council's termination letter contained errors. 'The respondent (council) asserted in the termination letter that … Mr Turner confirmed he had said 'the Acknowledgment of Country is not necessary' and that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 'do not deserve an acknowledgment at the start of meetings' … This is not correct,' Mr Clancy said. 'Mr Turner did not confirm these two statements at that meeting.' He also rejected Mr Turner's alleged inappropriate tone as a valid reason for dismissal. Darebin chief executive Michael Tudball, in a statement from Thursday morning, said the council respected the court process and FWC's authority. 'I want to take this opportunity to reiterate our unwavering commitment to providing everyone with a safe working environment at Darebin,' he said. 'That includes physical safety, cultural safety, and emotional safety. 'At council we have an ongoing commitment to recognise, respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures in the community and our organisation.' Mr Turner is seeking to be reinstated to his job.
