It was just a quick snack and drinks while on their honeymoon in Greece — and it turned into a whopping bill.
Newlyweds Alex and Lindsay Breen ordered just one beer, one cocktail and a dozen oysters — and were then hit with a staggering $850 bill by the DK Oyster bar on the island of Mykonos.
The Canadian couple were in disbelief when they saw the eyewatering tab, with restaurant waiters handing them menus without prices.
“We went to the oyster bar for a bite to eat and a drink,” Lindsay said.
“They immediately said, ‘Do you want oysters?’ We said yes and he said, ‘A dozen?’, so we said yes because a dozen is a typical order.
“My husband ordered a beer and I asked for a cocktail menu and he came back with the beer but I had to ask again for a cocktail menu and he started rhyming off different kinds of alcohol he had, vodka, gin but I asked for a menu.”
Alex Breen with his beer and oysters at the restaurant in Greece. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Kennedy News and Media
The waiter eventually brought her a menu “but it didn’t have the brand or the drinks”.
Lindsay gave in and ordered an Aperol spritz.
When they had finished the oysters, the waiter tried to persuade them to order crab legs.
“When we’d finished the oysters, he was trying to get us to have crab legs and thank goodness we didn’t,” Lindsay said.
She said the waiter then tried to pressure them into having dessert.
“The guy came back with a huge trolley of desserts and he says, ‘So of course we’re having cake today’, and starts putting different desserts on our table and we said we didn’t want them and he started getting offended that we didn’t want to take them, so I can see how people would be pressured to take more,” she said.
“As we kept refusing what he was trying to give us, he was getting more frustrated.”
When the couple were ready to leave, they asked for the bill — but rather than giving it to them at the table, Alex was taken to a back room to pay.
Lindsay Breen with her cocktail. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Kennedy News and Media
On being shown the massive bill, Alex was shocked and asked for a breakdown, which they gave him in Greek.
Feeling under pressure and getting a “sketchy vibe”, Alex paid the bill.
“He definitely felt intimidated and he’s the friendliest guy, so even if the bill was double he probably would have paid it to avoid any problems,” Lindsay said.
“It was pretty crazy. I’m glad in hindsight that we didn’t cause an argument or refuse to pay because it could have ended up worse for us.
“They know when you’re tourists and they take advantage.”
{“menuItems”:[{“label”:”Best TV sales 2022″,”anchorName”:”#best-tv-sales-2022″},{“label”:”Which of these retailers offer free delivery?”,”anchorName”:”#which-of-these-retailers-offer-free-delivery”},{“label”:”Which type of TV is best?”,”anchorName”:”#which-type-of-tv-is-best”},{“label”:”TV shopping tips”,”anchorName”:”#tv-shopping-tips”}]}
Advances in TV technology allow us to enjoy more immersive entertainment experiences than ever. With the pandemic accelerating the decline of movie theaters, consumers have realized that it’s perfectly possible to recreate cinematic experiences in the comfort of their own homes.
Of course, this often comes at a rather dear cost. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best TV sales for you to shop right now. These deals are sure to take your enjoyment of your favorite movies, TV shows, video games and more to the next level.
For more information, check out our guide to the 12 best TVs in Australia.
Best TV sales 2022
Up to 35% off on Amazon
From 4K UHD and OLED to QLED, whatever bells and whistles you’ve been hoping to have included in your next TV can be found on Amazon.
shop now
Up to 29% off on eBay
eBay is your one-stop shop for a wide variety of TVs available from an enormous range of sellers. It’s the perfect place to find your new lounge room centerpiece.
shop now
Which of these retailers offer free delivery?
Amazon: Free delivery on eligible items with an Amazon Prime membership.
eBay: Free delivery on eligible items with an eBay Plus membership.
Kōgan: Free delivery on eligible items or with a Kogan First membership.
Appliances Online: Free delivery around Australia.
Which type of TV is best?
There are a plethora of styles of TV to choose from. Here’s a quick run-down of a few of the most common characteristics of modern TVs.
SmartTV
Smart TVs set themselves apart with built-in functionality incorporating popular apps such as Netflix and Prime Video. In the streaming age, these TVs are understandably very popular. If you don’t want to blow your budget on a smart TV, you can instead simply connect a digital media player such as Chromecast to a compatible TV.
4K vs. 8K
Unless you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth splashing out on a 4K TV. These increasingly affordable models simply look better than lower-resolution alternatives.
The same cannot be said for 8K TVs. The problem with these ultra-high resolution TVs is that barely any content exists that takes full advantage of the huge screen size. You’ll have to settle for upscaled video of smaller resolutions and the results aren’t great.
LED LCD vs. OLED vs. QLED
Light-emitting diodes (LED) refer to how your TV generates light. LED LCD TVs are the most common, utilizing backlighting and LEDs to create various colors as the TV demands.
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens are considered the current gold standard. They do not feature a backlight, meaning they can deliver true, absolute blacks in a way LCD TVs cannot.
Quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) screens are an emerging technology that adds an extra layer of “quantum dots” which dynamically glow when exposed to LED backlighting. For more information, check out our complete guide to OLED vs QLED TVs.
TV shopping tips
Budget for accessories: If you plan to add elements such as soundbars and digital media players to your TV set-up, don’t forget to factor in their cost.
Refresh rate – the higher the better: When purchasing a TV, you might feel like your head is about to explode with all the technical jargon you’re taking in. But something that’s important to keep in mind is refresh rate, which dictates how smooth motion appears on your screen. Go for 120Hz if you can.
Screen size: Don’t get carried away with the largest screen size you can afford. Consider your living area and how much TV you actually need.
Go for HDR: High-dynamic range (HDR) TVs feature more colors and contrast than non-HDR TVs and are worth purchasing if the added cost isn’t too prohibitive for you.
Rangers’ first step towards the Champions League ended in some despair with a 2-0 defeat by Union St-Gilloise in the first leg of their third qualifying round in Belgium.
The Ibrox side’s exciting journey to the Europa League final last season whetted the appetite for European football’s elite club competition. However, amid a passive first-half performance by the Light Blues, the home side took the lead in the 27th minute when Captain Teddy Teuma opened the scoring with a shot which asked questions of Jon McLaughlin’s attempt to save.
A labored display from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side continued after the break and a Dante Vanzeir penalty in the 76th minute doubled the Belgian side’s lead.
The return game is at Ibrox next Tuesday and Rangers will have to come up with something really special if they are to face either Monaco or PSV Eindhoven in the playoff.
The Scottish Cup winners traveled in good spirits to Belgium despite missing injured winger Ryan Kent and defender John Souttar, with the latter replaced by James Sands. Wales international Rabbi Matondo made his competitive debut and fellow new signing Malik Tillman was in from the start.
McLaughlin kept his place in goal over last season’s No 1, Allan McGregor, for a match played 30 miles outside of Brussels at Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven as USG’s ground was not up to scratch for a European tie.
It was a mainly controlled opening to the game by Rangers. In the seventh minute a left-footed free-kick from the edge of the box by Borna Barisic drew a fine save at his near post by Anthony Moris, who then saved long-distance drives from Sands and Tillman.
However, clear-cut chances remained elusive and when USG – who are owned by the Brighton owner Tony Bloom – eventually came alive they were soon rewarded. In the 25th minute Vanzeir slid a cross from Simon Adingra, on loan from Brighton, just past the near post.
James Tavernier (left) up against Loïc Lapoussin in Belgium Photograph: Laurie Dieffembacq/Belga/AFP/Getty Images
But two minutes later, after Rangers failed to mop up danger inside their box, the ball fell to Teuma and he fired the ball through the hands of McLaughlin, changing the mood of the game.
Rangers were no more cohesive at the start of the second half.
Just before the hour mark wing-back Bart Nieuwkoop drove inches wide of McLaughlin’s left-hand post from the edge of the box. Van Bronckhorst acted in the 67th minute with defenders Ridvan Yilmaz and Ben Davies coming on to make their debuts, with Barisic and Ryan Jack making way.
But it soon got worse for the visitors. In the 71st minute McLaughlin made saves from Adinga and then Vanzeir but as a VAR check stopped play, referee Irfan Peljto decided Teuma’s drive, which hit the arm of defender Connor Goldson, was deserving of a penalty. Vanzeir sent McLaughlin the wrong way.
McLaughlin then denied Vanzeir to prevent it becoming 3-0 with James Tavernier clearing off the line in added time. Rangers have the chance to recover the tie next week but a vast improvement will be required.
Just 2.6 gigalitres have been recovered to date through the fund.
Nationals leader David Littleproud was water minister in 2018 when he teamed up with the NSW and Victorian water ministers to strike the agreement, which they said would protect local communities by imposing strict criteria that banned buybacks if an assessment found the loss in irrigation water would have a negative economic impact.
Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek accused the former government of hiding the report and claimed it never wanted to deliver water recovery.
“The report shows that under current policy settings, there is virtually no way that the money can be spent in the remaining timeframe,” Plibersek said.
Nationals Water spokesperson Perin Davey rejected Plibersek’s claim, said the socio-economic test was included in the basin plan from the outset, and argued the 2018 rules merely made explicit the plan’s original intention.
“Look up chapter seven,” Davey said. “All the basin plan ministers did in 2018 was agree on the assessment criteria.
“It’s not the Nats’ fault, just ask [former Victorian Water Minister] Lisa Neville. She agreed to it.
“The socio-economic test has to stay, it’s the only thing giving communities certainty they won’t be sold down the river.”
The Wilderness Society urged Plibersek to commit to a “step change” in environmental protection and warned her not to strive for “incremental improvement on what a former government did”.
“The performance of previous governments is woefully inadequate as a benchmark for what we need now. We simply can’t let that historic neglect shape our vision of what is needed,” Tim Beshara, Wilderness Society policy and strategy manager, said.
Greens water spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Plibersek must remove the socio-economic test and immediately re-start voluntary farmer buybacks.
loading
“My message to Minister Plibersek is: go and buy the water,” Hanson-Young said.
“Putting up the white flag is surrendering to big corporate irrigators. The minister has tools in her toolkit de ella to start returning large amounts of water to the system right now.
The 450 gigalitre water recovery plan is part of the $13 billion Murray Darling Basin Plan initiated by the Howard government in 2007, which was designed to recover the equivalent of 3200 gigalitres, following advice from CSIRO that urgent action was needed to address the over-allocation of irrigation entitlements.
More than 2100 gigalitres of water have been recovered under another 2750 gigalitre environmental target.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.
“I don’t believe he’s running for reelection,” Maloney said when asked if the President should run again during a congressional primary debate in New York’s 12th district.
Responding to the same question, Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is running against Maloney following redistricting, said it’s “too early to say” and that it “doesn’t serve the purpose of the Democratic Party” to deal with the question until after midterms . Maloney’s other opponent, Suraj Patel, simply answered, “Yes.”
Democrats have privately shared concerns about Biden, who is 79 and struggling with poor approval ratings, running for a second term in the 2024 election. The President and his aides de el have pushed back on any idea that he wo n’t run for a second term, and most Democrats have publicly said they will support Biden if he runs for a second term.
But a CNN poll out last month found 75% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters want the party to nominate someone other than Biden in the 2024 election, a sharp increase from earlier this year.
Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota went further than Maloney in an interview last week, stating he doesn’t want Biden to run for president in 2024.
“I have respect for Joe Biden. I think he has — despite some mistakes and some missteps, despite his age, I think he’s a man of decency, of good principle, of compassion, of empathy, and of strength. But to answer your question directly, which I know is quite rare, uh no, I don’t,” Phillips said in an interview on the Chad Hartman radio show on WCCO-AM.
“I think the country would be well served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats to step up,” Phillips added.
Egg lovers across the country may have to get used to seeing near-empty shelves, as Coles and Woolworths supermarkets continue to face shortages amid a decreased supply from farmers.
Over the course of the pandemic, Aussie customers have become accustomed to reduced supplies of essential food items, with eggs just the latest to be added to the list.
Coles has placed restrictions on eggs, with customers only allowed to buy no more than two cartons in one shop.
For more Food related news and videos check out Food >>
A Coles spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au it was continuing to monitor supply and work hard with suppliers to improve availability.
“(We) will keep customers updated on any changes,” the spokesperson said.
Woolworths stores do not currently have any restrictions in place, with eggs continuing to be delivered into stores on a regular basis despite the constrained supply.
Woolies and Coles say they are continuing to work with suppliers to meet demand. Credit: Getty Images
A spokesperson attributed the shortage to a reduction in the output of locally produced eggs at a number of farms across the country.
“While we continue to deliver eggs to our stores regularly, customers may notice reduced availability at the moment and we thank them for their patience and understanding,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re in close contact with our suppliers and are working to increase the availability of eggs in stores as soon as possible.”
Australian Eggs managing director Rowan McMonnies said while some were pinning the blame on free-range eggs for the empty shelves, there is actually a host of contributing factors.
“Free-range production is more complex than other systems as there are more variables to manage, including seasonal weather conditions,” he said.
“Egg farmers are usually able to meet demand across the year through planning but COVID disruption has made this difficult.”
According to McMonnies, when lockdown ended last year, egg demand dropped significantly, which sent a signal to farmers that people did not want as many eggs.
The reason for the decrease in supply should not be boiled down to the production of free-range eggs, says Australian Eggs managing director Rowan McMonnies. Credit: Getty Images
However, demand has bounced back much faster than expected, and demand for eggs has increased over the past 12 months.
“Retail volumes are only down slightly on this time last year, which was at an elevated position due to the COVID lockdowns,” McMonnies said.
“Cafes and restaurants appear to have also bounced back faster than anticipated as diners have made up for lost time.”
McMonnies reassured customers that the egg industry was strong and that a range of production systems meant customers would continue to have a variety of choices.
“Egg farmers will respond to the current shortages to ensure demand will be met going forward.”
Jetpack Joyride, one of my favorite iOS games of all time, is getting a sequel that will be available exclusively on Apple Arcade. You’ll be able to play Jet Pack Joyride 2 on Apple’s $4.99-per-month games subscription service beginning August 19th.
Jet Pack Joyride 2 looks like it will carry over a lot of what you might know from the first; it’s a side-scrolling shooter where the goal is to dodge obstacles, survive as long as you can, and get a lot of coins. But Jet Pack Joyride 2 will also be a “story-driven experience” with new mechanics, according to an Apple press email — which is honestly enough for me to want to play it immediately.
If you want to get an idea of what you can expect, Apple has a trailer and some screenshots on the Jet Pack Joyride 2 App Store page. And if you want to brush up on your jetpacking skills before the sequel is released, check out the Arcade-exclusive Jetpack Joyride Pluswhich has no ads or in-app purchases, or the original Jetpack Joyride.
I look forward to driving the UFO.Image: Apple
If you feel like you’ve heard of Jet Pack Joyride 2 before, you’re not wrong. Developer Halfbrick soft-launched the game in select regions on iOS and Android in March 2021, according to Touch Arcade. Halfbrick pulled it from Google Play and the App Store on February 28ththough, saying it had “entered a new closed phase of development for an indefinite period.”
Apple is adding a few other games to Arcade in August as well, including Amazing Bombermanand Apple Arcade versions of My Talking Tom and Love You to Bits. But Apple announced in July that 15 games would be leaving the service, and as MacRumors observed, they’re now gone.
When Nigel Avery says he hasn’t counted New Zealand’s medal tally at the Commonwealth Games, it’s possibly because he hasn’t the time to.
With just under a week still remaining at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, the New Zealand team were already more than halfway to surpassing their medal tally from the Gold Coast four years ago – which was the country’s second-most successful performance.
Two more gold medals at the track in London on Tuesday (NZ time) by the dominant duo of Ellesse Andrews and Aaron Gate, and a backstroke win in the pool from Andrew Jeffcoat gave the Kiwis 13 gold already – they won 15 in 2018 and 14 at the 2014 event in Glasgow – and New Zealand tallied 26 in total by the end of day five.
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
David Liti is defending his 2018 title in Birmingham early on Thursday (NZT).
“I haven’t really counted them,” Avery, the NZ team’s chef de mission, said in Birmingham on Wednesday morning (NZ time).
“My dad has, he’s telling me ‘I think it’s going to be this’.
“With the cycling crew on the track down in London, that first day must have been one of their best ever – but they’ve had more of them. And likewise with swimming, their success has been outstanding.
“You’d probably have to say, even without ringing up the statistics, that we’re in pretty good shape. the [NZ athletes’] villages are really buzzing.”
So where to from here? New Zealand’s record Commonwealth Games gold medal haul of 17 from Auckland in 1990 is under serious threat and the team still have some huge gold medal chances in Birmingham.
Here are the pick of them, and when they will come for gold, in chronological order, as a big day six beckons for the team in black:
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Sam Gaze wins gold in the mountain biking in 2018.
Sam Gaze: Defends the men’s mountainbike crown he won in sensational circumstances four years ago but without competition from fellow Kiwi Anton Cooper this time, after Cooper withdrew the day before the race (which starts at 10:30pm Wednesday) with Covid-19.
David Litti: The team’s strongman will defend his +109kg weightlifting crown at 5:30am Thursday (NZT), and he might be required at the end of the Games to handle the extra medal baggage coming home.
Paul Cole: The world No 2 will be up against Joel Makin of Wales for men’s singles squash gold around 6am Thursday and then Joelle King will be seeking to rebound from her semifinal loss to chase gold in the women’s and mixed doubles, the latter in a formidable lineup with Coll. That gold medal match is early on Monday (NZT).
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
High jumper Hamish Kerr of New Zealand.
Hamish Kerr: The men’s high jumper sprung to national attention with his bold showing at the Tokyo Olympics last year and showed that he wasn’t a flash in the pan when gaining bronze at the world indoor champs earlier this year. His final starts at 6am Thursday.
Lewis Clareburt: Already a star of the games, one of Wellington’s favorite sons looks primed to add a third medal in the men’s 200 individual medley at the pool (6.07am Thursday NZT). Out to stop him will be Australians Mitchell Larkin and Brendon Smith (second behind Clareburt in the 400IM), England’s Tom Dean (the Olympic 200 free champ) and Scotland’s Duncan Scott, who took bronze in the 400IM after beating Dean in the 200 free this week.
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather starts in her best event, the 400m freestyle at 6.37am but is up against superstars Ariarne Titmus (Australia) and teenage Summer McIntosh of Canada.
Simon Stacpoole/Photosport
Maddi Wesche was a confident qualifier in the women’s shot put.
Maddi Wesch: The 23-year-oldis also chasing shot put gold, and she eased through qualifying, with her final scheduled for 7:05am Thursday. Wesche was seventh at the recent world champs and will fight out gold with Canada’s Sarah Mitton and Jamaica’s Daniell Thomas-Dodd. Mitton threw 27cm further than Wesche at the worlds in Oregon to finish fourth.
Aaron Gate and his fellow cyclists: Just because the track events have ridden off into the distance, doesn’t mean NZ aren’t eyeing up a handful more medals on the road.
Gate and fellow team pursuit gold medalist Tom Sexton will set off in the men’s time trial just after 11pm Thursday (NZT), as Gate bids to become the first New Zealand athlete to win four golds at one Commonwealth Games. On current form you wouldn’t bet against him.
The women’s time trial lineup is also stacked with potential winners/medallists: Henrietta Christie, Mikayla Harvey and Georgia Williams. The women race off in staggered starts from 9pm Thursday.
The women’s trio will be joined by Niamh Fisher-Black and Ella Harris in the women’s road race at 7pm Sunday (NZ time), while Patrick Bevin will be one to watch in the men’s event starting at 11:30pm the same day.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Tom Walsh is the warmest of gold medal favorites in the shot put.
Tom Walsh: The two-time Olympic bronze medalist is heavily favored to win his second Commonwealth Games men’s shot put gold on Saturday (6:06am NZT) and has fired a pre-competition warning to his rivals, including fellow Kiwi Jacko Gill.
Julia Ratcliffe: One of three NZ women’s hammer throwers in Birmingham, Ratcliffe won the title on the Gold Coast and she and team-mates Lauren Bruce and Nicole Bradley are contenders in Birmingham when the medals get handed out on Sunday (6am NZ time).
Jeremey Gunning admits he is worried people will think the worst of him.
He sits on a chair in the center of Ballarat’s Trades Hall, surrounded by a display of photographs which share the most personal and darkest moments of his life with the world.
“I seem confident, but on the inside, I worry about the judgement,” he said.
The photograph display shows Mr Gunning, with wild hair and a long beard, his dog, a large stack of firewood and his car and a 1970s van parked in the bush near Creswick.
Next to those images taken during his 18 months living homeless are others from some of his proudest and happiest moments.
Jeremey Gunning is sharing his journey through photos in a Ballarat exhibition. (ABC News: Rochelle Kirkham)
He accepts a scholarship at a Federation University event in one image and smiles with a group of people he is now working with in his role as a peer support worker at Uniting Ballarat.
Mr Gunning receives a study scholarship at a Federation University event. (Supplied: Federation University)
Homelessness Week exhibition
Mr Gunning’s story is part of the Experiencing Homelessness exhibition open to the public this week.
It aims to break down the stigmas of homelessness and encourage community action.
Mr Gunning took this photo on his first day of homelessness in the bush near Creswick. (Supplied: Jeremey Gunning)
He said his photo selection highlighted his journey from the bush to a unit in Creswick and how support from Uniting’s Street 2 Home program got his life back on track.
“I thought it was important to show people the generosity that is required to help people out of homelessness. It works,” Mr Gunning said.
Mr Gunning’s experience of homelessness began three years ago when he was battling depression, experiencing deteriorating physical health and lost his job.
Mr Gunning wants to break down stigmas of homelessness to encourage more kindness. (ABC News: Rochelle Kirkham)
He had worked his whole life but said he gave up when his issues felt overwhelming.
He bought a rundown van for $400 and headed out to the bush near Creswick, then Mount Franklin and Slaty Creek, with his dog.
Mr Gunning lived in a 1970s van he bought for $400.(Supplied: Jeremey Gunning)
He had no income and didn’t sign up for Centrelink benefits until Uniting Street 2 Home workers found him camped out and offered practical help and ultimately, a home.
Collecting firewood became a daily job to fuel the large fire that heated his van and cooked his food.
The smell of smoke masked his body odour.
Mr Gunning’s fire was his only cooking source while he was living in the bush.(Supplied: Jeremey Gunning)
“So many of my photos are of my fire,” Mr Gunning said. “It was pretty cold out there.”
He said his disability made it harder to get firewood so he adapted as he went along.
“The fire was a big part of my journey,” he said.
Mr Gunning’s dog was his companion while he lived in the bush.(Supplied: Jeremey Gunning)
Mr Gunning was diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia, a degenerative condition which causes problems with balance, co-ordination, slurred speech, muscle stiffness and cramps.
Uniting’s support to move into a unit led to improvements in his physical and mental health, a new study venture in community services and a job as a peer support worker with the program that helped him.
Mr Gunning’s exhibition features pictures taken while he was living rough.(ABC News: Rochelle Kirkham)
“It has been a funny week for me,” Mr Gunning said while looking at his display of photos with his son.
“There has been a lot of reflection and a lot of memories that have come up.”
He said everyone’s journey into, through and out of homelessness was completely different. Yo
“It is emotional, it is ours, we own it,” he said.
“By me doing this, I hope I am challenging the stigma that is attached to homelessness. I need to tell my story because there is stigma, and it needs to go.
Community call to action
Juelz Sanders organized the Experiencing Homelessness exhibition.(ABC News: Rochelle Kirkham)
Street 2 Home case worker and homelessness exhibition coordinator Juelz Sanders said the exhibition was an “incredible opportunity” for the community to listen and understand.
She said the situation was dire and services needed community help because they could not meet demand on their own.
Uniting Ballarat has had to turn away 570 people who were seeking help at reception so far this year, because there were no appointments left to meet them.
Senior manager homelessness Adam Liversage said it was concerning and heartbreaking for staff.
“That unmet demand is increasing, and we are projecting that there will be 1200 people we aren’t going to get to [by the end of the year],” he said.
“This is the first time we are seeing such a demand on our services.”
Adam Liversage says the demand for services is unprecedented.(ABC News: Rochelle Kirkham)
There are currently almost 180 households waiting for housing and support on the over 25s priority list in Ballarat, including 84 families.
“We are seeing interest rate increases and the median rental prices increase to $419 in Ballarat,” Mr Liversage said.
“That is unaffordable on any Centrelink benefit and for those on the average incomes as well.”
People feel judged
The Ballarat Experiencing Homelessness exhibition shares many other heartbreaking stories of homelessness.
Beck, not their real name, spent three years living in her car with her two dogs after a family relationship breakdown and violence and trauma in the family home.
“I think one of the hardest things for me when I was homeless was the way people look at you,” she wrote in a display for the exhibition.
“The way they would stare, or point, or mutter things, or look at you with pity or disgust.
“Many people assume you’re a drug addict or I hear them say ‘something is wrong with her that she is homeless’, but they have no idea what’s happened or is happening in your life.”
Mr Gunning’s photos show how support helped him through homelessness. (ABC News: Rochelle Kirkham)
Uniting Ballarat is hosting a Take Action Day on Friday to encourage residents to sign up to volunteer and donate items like sleeping bags, non-perishable food and blankets.
Ms Sanders said her biggest wish was for people to be kind and understanding of people experiencing homelessness.
“It is an incredible opportunity for us to listen as a community and for the community to really understand,” she said.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is expected to announce a 30-day shut down of the Orange Line on Wednesday to address long overdue maintenance, sources tell 5 Investigates. The expected full-line shutdown comes as the transit agency grapples with federal mandates to improve safety across the system, which includes addressing deferred maintenance across the system. Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker was set to hold a press conference at 12:30 pm on Wednesday with MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak and MassDOT secretary Jamey Tesler to discuss “accelerated infrastructure upgrades to the MBTA to improve service, safety and reliability for riders.”Last week, the MBTA halted plans for a partial monthlong shutdown of a section of the Orange Line to allow officials more time to explore if additional work could be done during an extended shutdown. Service between Oak Grove and Wellington stations on the Orange Line was originally set to be suspended for track and signal maintenance before the MBTA announced the delay to the project. “The MBTA continues to prioritize safety enhancements and address additional track work and maintenance associated with the Federal Transit Administration directives,” the MBTA said in a statement last week. “This includes projects that address track conditions in need of most repair and those that currently have substantial speed restrictions.” One of four safety directives released by the Federal Transit Administration earlier this year highlighted a section of the Orange Line south of Tufts Medical Center that had been under speed restrictions since 2019. The MBTA has used previous short-term shutdowns to install hundreds of feet of new track on the southbound Orange Line tracks between Back Bay and Massachusetts Avenue stations. The construction allowed the MBTA to lift a speed restriction that was approximately 1,500 feet long, raising train speeds from 10 mph to 25 mph. “When all track work is completed in this area, the speed will be able to be increased to 40 mph,” the MBTA said. The Orange Line had an average weekday ridership of 102,358 passengers in May of 2022, according to stats provided by the MBTA. Only the Red Line carriers have more passengers, with an average of 129,050 customers on weekdays, according to MBTA stats. The Green Line averages 82,585 passengers on weekdays while the Blue Line averages 27,732. MBTA ridership stats since 2016Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who suggested last week that longer MBTA shutdowns could be key to getting the system back to a better state, said it’s time to actually address the issues. “We can’t keep putting band aids on situations and trying to nibble around the edges,” Wu said. “We have to get down to real fixes.”Wu is an Orange Line rider herself. “For me, this is a very personal issue and so I want to make sure we are not just focusing on what needs to be done but doing it with the speed and thoroughness and comprehensiveness that our residents deserve,” Wu said. in service needs to have alternatives that would involve shuttle buses or other options,” Wu said. “That is where the city could be a real partner, so we will work very closely with the MBTA and provide any support if this is to happen.”Last week, an Orange Line train passenger jumped off a bridge into the Mystic River and dozens of other passengers evacuated through the windows of the MBTA train after it caught on fire on a bridge just south of Wellington Station. About 200 people were on the train at the time of the incident. Many evacuated through four windows on the train that were removed.
MEDFORD, Mass. —
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is expected to announce a 30-day shut down of the Orange Line on Wednesday to address long overdue maintenance, sources tell 5 Investigates.
The expected full-line shutdown comes as the transit agency grapples with federal mandates to improve safety across the system, which includes addressing deferred maintenance across the system.
Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker was set to hold a press conference at 12:30 pm on Wednesday with MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak and MassDOT secretary Jamey Tesler to discuss “accelerated infrastructure upgrades to the MBTA to improve service, safety and reliability for riders.”
Last week, the MBTA halted plans for a partial monthlong shutdown of a section of the Orange Line to allow officials more time to explore if additional work could be done during an extended shutdown.
Service between Oak Grove and Wellington stations on the Orange Line was originally set to be suspended for track and signal maintenance before the MBTA announced the delay to the project.
“The MBTA continues to prioritize safety enhancements and address additional track work and maintenance associated with the Federal Transit Administration directives,” the MBTA said in a statement last week. “This includes projects that address track conditions in need of most repair and those that currently have substantial speed restrictions.”
One of four safety directives released by the Federal Transit Administration earlier this year highlighted a section of the Orange Line south of Tufts Medical Center that had been under speed restrictions since 2019.
The MBTA has used previous short-term shutdowns to install hundreds of feet of new track on the southbound Orange Line tracks between Back Bay and Massachusetts Avenue stations. The construction allowed the MBTA to lift a speed restriction that was approximately 1,500 feet long, raising train speeds from 10 mph to 25 mph.
“When all track work is completed in this area, the speed will be able to be increased to 40 mph,” the MBTA said.
The Orange Line had an average weekday ridership of 102,358 passengers in May of 2022, according to stats provided by the MBTA.
Only the Red Line carriers have more passengers, with an average of 129,050 customers on weekdays, according to MBTA stats. The Green Line averages 82,585 passengers on weekdays while the Blue Line averages 27,732.
MBTA ridership stats since 2016
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who suggested last week that longer MBTA shutdowns could be key to getting the system back to a better state, said it’s time to actually address the issues. “We can’t keep putting band aids on situations and trying to nibble around the edges,” Wu said. “We have to get down to real fixes.”
Wu is an Orange Line rider herself.
“For me, this is a very personal issue and so I want to make sure we are not just focusing on what needs to be done but doing it with the speed and thoroughness and comprehensiveness that our residents deserve,” Wu said.
“Any disruption in service needs to have alternatives that would involve shuttle buses or other options,” Wu said. “That is where the city could be a real partner, so we will work very closely with the MBTA and provide any support if this is to happen.”
Last week, an Orange Line train passenger jumped off a bridge into the Mystic River and dozens of other passengers evacuated through the windows of the MBTA train after it caught on fire on a bridge just south of Wellington Station.
About 200 people were on the train at the time of the incident. Many evacuated through four windows on the train that were removed.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23917902/Jetpack_Joyride_2_Gameplay_06.png)
