The bitcoin boom spawned new billionaires and videos of beach parties and Lamborghinis. The crypto crash brought devastation for small investors and bankruptcy for many companies.
Blockchain technology underpins crypto and has been hailed as a world-changing innovation, but does it have any use beyond creating speculative financial instruments?
– More secure voting? –
A “blockchain-based mobile voting app”, I tweeted, would mean “we won’t have to wait for results, or have any questions on its validity”.
So far, experiments have been very small scale.
“From the American perspective, every single district runs its own voting programme,” he said.
“Centralizing the voting system in one digital place would be pretty risky -– then all you have to do is corrupt the blockchain and you could corrupt democracy.”
Blockchain at heart is a ledger, a way of storing transactions that is — according to fans — secure, transparent and permanent.
Diehl said it was “absurd” that the blockchain was “going back to things that were solved a millennium ago to justify its own existence”.
“The blockchain isn’t solving anything here.”
The blockchain emerged from a 2008 white paper on bitcoin, which was conceived as an alternative to fiat currency.
Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency. There are now more than 10,000 others sitting on many different blockchains.
Diehl pointed out that cryptoassets are speculative instruments not suitable for payments.
“It just doesn’t happen. You want something that’s going to be stable so the price of your coffee is the price of your coffee next week.”
Want to know where your handle came from? Some supermarkets believe the best way for you to find out is to access a blockchain-based system capable of tracking the fruit from the tropics of Central America to your cornerstore.
Carrefour told AFP earlier this year that shoppers would be able to scan a QR code and discover the provenance of an array of products.
Diehl pointed out that digital supply chain management has been around for years and is perfectly adequate without blockchain.
“If I have a carton of apples and report that I put 100 percent of them on the truck, but then I skim off 50 percent for myself, the blockchain is not going to prevent that.”
Kmart shoppers have been warned after a sophisticated new scam involving air fryers was uncovered last week.
The ruse involves a deceiving post from a page called “Mega Sale” that purports to advertise the Philips 4.1L air fryer for $3 at Kmart stores.
In reality, that model of air fryer retails for $199 at the department chain.
At first glance, the Facebook post looks believable, including an official-looking Kmart price tag that reads: “Philips 4.1L air fryer Black with warranty $3.”
Additionally, the post tells shoppers they have a limited amount of time to snap up the deal because of high demand and the closure of Philips’ warehouse in Russia.
“Due to the closure of their warehouses with household goods in Russia. Philips company makes mega sale on the goods and Philips Air Fryer [is] one of them, promotional price till August 15 only $3,” the caption on the scam post reads.
“Hurry up, freebie will end soon!”
The elaborate scam used to con shoppers into buying more than they bargained for. Credit: Supplied (Facebook)
There was a mixed response online as some people identified the post as a scam straight away, however, others bought into it.
One of those who realized what it was tried to warn others in a Kmart shoppers Facebook group.
“Just saw this, please tell friends and family to be careful,” she wrote.
“I know many will look at this photo and see it’s a scam, but there are many people with disabilities or people who are elderly who aren’t as savvy.”
Despite her efforts, one-by-one disappointed shoppers admitted that they had been scammed.
“I fell for it and lost $500 – I pray others don’t do the same,” said one.
Another said: “My elderly mum fell for it, she felt it to me last night. Am now on the phone on the phone to the bank trying to help her.”
Kmart shoppers are being told to keep their money close to their chest after a sophisticated new scam involving air fryers was uncovered last week. Credit: Brent Lewis/Bloomberg
PerthNow understands that once an unwitting customer signs up for the air fryer, “Mega Sale” use customer credit card details to make more unauthorized payments.
Shockingly, some users claimed in the comment section that the scam was genuine and they were enjoying the use of their $3 air fryer — likely part of the scam.
“Thought that it was not the original, some kind of fake,” said one.
“But after I printed it out I was pleasantly surprised, it is the original. I advise everyone to take part, and I went to cook my husband dinner!”
This isn’t the first scam involving Kmart products this year. In July scammers claimed Kmart was selling the Nintendo Switch for just $2.95.
The ACCC’s Scamwatch says phishing scams – like this fake Kmart Facebook post – work by fooling consumers into believing they’re dealing with a genuine retailer.
“Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organization the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” it said.
“They will take you to a fake website that looks like the real deal but has a slightly different address. For example, if the legitimate site is ‘www.realbank.com.au’, the scammer may use an address like ‘www.reallbank.com’.
“If you provide the scammer with your details online or over the phone, they will use them to carry out fraudulent activities, such as using your credit cards and stealing your money.”
Scamwatch encourages consumers to report scams here.
An infamous restaurant notorious for ripping off and intimidating its customers on a popular tourist island in Greece has been found tens of thousands of dollars.
DK Oyster bar in Mykonos has been forced to cough up $44,740 after being found to be in violation of several codes.
The country’s Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias instructed the Cyclades Regional Tourism Agency to conduct a thorough investigation of the restaurant after an incident involving American tourists who were charged a staggering $866 for two drinks and a portion of crab legs.
During the probe, the agency found the eatery had breached several codes, for which it was slapped with the fine.
It came after Brenda Moulton and her daughter Kaylea hit DK Oyster with a lawsuit after being strong-armed into paying the astronomical tab.
Brenda Moulton and her daughter Kaylea. Credit: Youtube
The pair were on holiday and enjoying the idyllic Platys Gialos beach when they were given the scare of their lives.
On refusing to pay the bill, they were surrounded by three waiters and the manager and told they would not be allowed to return to the US.
“I told them that two mojitos and two crab legs cannot make 600 euros. I will not pay you,” Brenda said.
The manager then allegedly threatened them: ”I will call the police. They will keep you here and you will not return to your homeland. We can easily find where you live.”
Feeling intimidated, Brenda quickly paid up — but it was not over yet.
On leaving the restaurant, Brenda started warning people about the bar and its outrageous prices — prompting staff to again confront her.
“The boss of the store came out furious and approached us in a threatening mood,” she said.
“I immediately raised my voice. I shouted at him.”
The owner of DY Oyster denies the complaints but the restaurant has a reputation for eyewatering bills and disgraceful behaviour.
Newlyweds Lindsay and Alex Breen with their expensive drinks and oysters. Credit: The West Australian
Newlyweds Alex and Lindsay Breen were hit with a staggering $850 bill by the restaurant after dropping in for a “quick snack”.
The Canadian couple ordered just one beer, one cocktail and a dozen oysters, with Alex being taken to a back room to pay after questioning the huge bill.
“It was pretty crazy,” Lindsay said. “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.”
Theodora McCormick and her husband. Insert: The beers and oysters they ordered. Credit: The West Australian
Holidaymakers Theodora McCormick and her husband were horrified when they were slapped with a $730 tab for two beers, two cocktails and a dozen oysters.
When they complained, “hulking” male waiters intimidated them into paying.
The owner of the DK Oyster, Dimitrios Kalamaras, has since branded the Breens “liars” — and labeled other customers complaining as influencers looking for a free meal.
“Unfortunately, all of us who work in the hospitality sector have been approached by notorious influencers who, instead of making their living by advertising products and services to their audience, they put pressure on certain businesses for exorbitant fees and free meals,” he said .
DK Oyster’s rates poorly on TripAdvisor, getting just 2.5 out of five stars.
Many reviewers give it a measly one star, labeling it “terrible”, a “rip off” and “a complete con”.
Even the Greek media have taken to calling the restaurant “notorious” and “infamous”, reporting on accusations of bullying tactics, a lack of menus and inflated bills.
Kmart Australia customers have been warned to be wary of a sophisticated new scam targeting air fryer fans and bargain hunters.
Several fake Facebook posts are currently circulating across social media pages in Australia, advising shoppers to pick up a Philips 4.1L air fryer for just $3.
Watch the video to see how the scam works.
For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>
The posts include a fake photograph of an air fryer display at one Kmart store, with a price tag advertising the low price.
This particular model of Philips air fryer typically retails for as much as $199.
The posts claimed the low price stemmed from the closure of the company’s overseas warehouses – which was not true.
The scam Facebook post includes this fake image of a Kmart air fryer display. Credit: Facebook
“Due to the closure of their warehouses with household goods in Russia. Philips company makes mega sale on the goods and Philips Air Fryer [is] one of them, promotional price till August 15 only $3,” the caption on the scam post reads.
“Hurry up, freebie will end soon!”
A concerned shopper shared the news of the scam on a popular Kmart Facebook group, urging Australians to be cautious.
“Just saw this, please tell friends and family to be careful,” she wrote.
“I know many will look at this photo and see it’s a scam, but there are many people with disabilities or people who are elderly who aren’t as savvy.”
Unfortunately, some revealed they’d failed for the scam.
‘I fell for it’
“I fell for it and lost $500 – I pray others don’t do the same,” said one.
Another said: “My elderly mum fell for it, she felt it to me last night. Am now on the phone on the phone to the bank trying to help her.”
It’s believed that once shoppers sign up to receive the $3 air fryer, the fraudsters then use their credit card details to take out more unauthorized payments.
In a disturbing twist, many social media users are posting on one of the scammers’ Facebook posts – encouraging others to take the group up on the deal.
“Thought that it was not the original, some kind of fake,” said one.
“But after I printed it out I was pleasantly surprised, it is the original. I advise everyone to take part, and I went to cook my husband dinner!”
Consumers are being urged to be wary of Facebook posts like this. Credit: Facebook
In recent months, Australian consumers have been alerted about similar scams involving Kmart and ALDI products.
In July, fraudsters took aim at Kmart fans by offering Nintendo consoles for just $2.95. Weeks later, ALDI customers were also targeted in a sophisticated scam that offered LG flat screen televisions for free.
Thousands of Australians fell for both retail scams, prompting a warning from social media users.
“This is a scam. Granted it’s a sophisticated and very convincing scam – but it’s still a scam,” one said Facebook user.
The ACCC’s Scamwatch says phishing scams – like this fake Kmart Facebook post – work by fooling consumers into believing they’re dealing with a genuine retailer.
“Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organization the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” it said.
“They will take you to a fake website that looks like the real deal, but has a slightly different address. For example, if the legitimate site is ‘www.realbank.com.au’, the scammer may use an address like ‘www.reallbank.com’.
“If you provide the scammer with your details online or over the phone, they will use them to carry out fraudulent activities, such as using your credit cards and stealing your money.”
Scamwatch encourages consumers to report scams here.
Wake up, eat, go to work, come home, eat, sleep, repeat.
Living the dream, huh?
“Personally, I believe I’m not meant to work. I’m meant to do this all day,” says an audio track on TikTok that went viral for its candid message: working a 9-to-5 job is no longer the ideal lifestyle for many.
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One video that uses this audio shows a woman sitting at a cafe, enjoying a coffee and croissant. Ella’s phone camera pans around, revealing a dozen others leisurely doing the same.
It has over three million views.
The video-based app has become a hub for Gen Zs and Millennials to create apathetic and pessimistic commentary about their disillusionment towards work.
What’s fueling this? Toxic workplace culture, minimal flexibility, no work life balance and of course, the pandemic.
Deloitte’s Global 2022 Gen Z & Millennial Survey revealed four in 10 Gen Zs and nearly a quarter of Millennials would like to leave their jobs in two years.
Roughly a third would do so without another job lined upthe report found.
However, if you love what you do, is it true that you’ll never work a day in your life?
Engineer-turned-career-development practitioner Naishadh Gadani said the dream job is “an overly simplistic and misused term”.
“Rather than thinking of it as a dream job, we should be questioning whether it’s a fulfilling job,” Mr Gadani told ABC News.
“Questions like: What fulfills me? What brings me happiness? What kind of workplace or organization do I like? – [these] can help us.”
Juliette had ‘golden ticket’ job but quit and now works casually in hospitality
Juliette, 22, from Victoria, landed her first white-collar job from her sister’s roommate at the time, who worked in the public service.
After hearing that she was looking for trainees who required no qualifications, Juliette applied and was offered the job.
“It was a golden ticket because I was 20, had no qualifications past a mediocre ATAR, and was now working full-time and getting paid a decent wage.
“I received a lot of praise from friends and family. It was a job that my family could gloat about,” she said.
After nine months into the job, Juliette quit. She said she felt like a failure.
Juliette on her first day of her public service job. (Supplied: Juliette Melody Grace)
“I had spent months toying with the idea of whether money or my mental health was more important,” she said.
Four months after she quit, Juliette traded full-time work for a casual job in hospitality and she has never been happier.
“My job isn’t who I am. I don’t base my worth on my productivity within capitalism.”
Despite her reduced working hours, coupled with a rising cost of living, Juliette remains “optimistic” about the future.
“As bad as things are economically, it’s just a cycle. There are bigger problems than my wallet.”
Alex’s dream was to play in a band. I realized it was not as glamorous as it sounded
Alex, 32, was in his first year of university when a friend asked what he wanted to do for a career.
“She said to ignore the money and say the first thing that came to mind. I blurted out: ‘I want to play in a band.’
“That’s the moment I decided playing in a band was my ‘dream job’,” he said.
While it’s not his “dream job”, Alex’s day job is in the aerospace industry.(Supplied: Alex Carrette)
However, as Alex became more involved in Brisbane’s music scene, he saw how the life of a band member wasn’t as glamorous as their fans might suspect.
“Playing shows to hundreds of fans sounds incredible, but this is only a small part of a touring musician’s life,” he said.
Over the years, Alex decided he wouldn’t let a job consume his identity, so he allowed himself to simply “have a job.”
His current “day job” is working in the aerospace sector. But he hasn’t given up on ditching the 9-to-5 routine.
“I’ve recently gotten into making my own YouTube videos as well as editing them for clients. So, that’s another possibility,” he explained.
Alex said his ideal situation would be to play local shows in small venues, as opposed to touring nationally or internationally.
“I don’t see that as a failure. So long as I’m enjoying playing music, that’s a success in my mind,” he said.
Owning a home is ‘unachievable’ for Ishara, but she believes this is no longer the dream for young people
During primary school, Ishara Sahama, 23, dreamed of becoming a vet.
It wasn’t until her final years of high school — when she gravitated towards the humanities and social sciences field.
After graduating university with a major in geography in 2019, Ms Sahama spent a few years volunteering and gaining work experience.
She now works part-time in the social enterprise and entrepreneurship space.
“Ever since I started working, I’ve seen people who are either in their mid-20s-30s, or in their 40-50s, resign from the public sector and move to private, or vice-versa,” Ms Sahama said.
Ishara Sahama says “the Australian dream” is a luxury that doesn’t reflect the realities of young people. (Supplied: Ishara Sahama)
“Pushing young people to pick a dream job — or will it into existence — can be detrimental to their personal growth.”
“The past two years have changed the way work is conducted. A 9-to-5 job, five days a week can be condensed to four days,” she said.
“And, yet, people who do or don’t have this work structure may still struggle to keep up with Australia’s rising cost of living.”
Ms Sahama saves on certain costs by living with her family, paying for petrol and groceries, costs that have only increased over time.
While these costs are manageable for her, Ishara feels indifferent when it comes to buying a home.
“The idea of owning, or leasing, a property in the future is now unachievable for me, considering current economic circumstances,” she said.
“The ‘Australian Dream’ is a luxury and a privilege. It doesn’t reflect everyday realities of young people who must change and adapt to the workforce in a post-COVID world.”
We’ve all been hearing a lot about inflation but it’s shrinkflation that shoppers really need to worry about.
Shrinkflation is where manufacturers charge the same or even more for smaller servings, betting on most consumers not noticing the difference.
And with rate rises and cost-of-living pressures hitting many hard households, these reductions are offering less and less value for money
Consumer group Choice has been getting tip-offs from peeved Aussies about products that have been downsizing, recently verifying Smith’s crinkle cut potato chips had been trimmed by 5g — or about three chips — to 170g per pack.
Shrinkflation is where manufacturers charge the same or even more for smaller servings, betting on most consumers not noticing the difference. Credit: The West Australian
There has also been a 20g drop in large packs of Red Rock Deli potato chips to 165g and boxes of Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes have shed 30g.
And sweet-toothed shoppers have been left with a sour taste with Cadbury family-sized chocolate blocks going from the once-standard 250g to 180g.
The latest to drop weight is Maltesers, with a spokeswoman for manufacturer Mars Wrigley saying it was “facing unprecedented cost pressures” like many Australian businesses.
“From time to time, external factors make it necessary for product changes so that we can continue to ensure the availability of our products to all Australians,” she said.
Choice spokesman Liam Kennedy said shrinkflation was a global trend that was expected to continue.
“Most of the examples that we see, a lot of the tips we receive, are in that snack area, cereals,” Mr Kennedy told The West Australian.
But it has hit pet food too, with bags of Purina One cat food contracting by 100g to 1.4kg but costing more.
Choice says ‘shrinkflation’ is a global trend expected to continue. Credit: Rebecca Le May/The West Australian
Owner Nestle blamed that on recipe changes and higher costs for raw materials, packaging and transport, Mr Kennedy said.
“A lot of business are feeling that right now,” he added.
Elizabeth Jackson, a food supply chain systems expert at Curtin University, warned shoppers to expect ongoing pain at the checkout, mainly due to high transport costs, saying the current inflation spike was reminiscent of that seen in the oil crisis of 1973.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics inflation data showed transport cost jumped the most of 11 expense categories in the year to June, up 13.1 per cent.
“The products that have been escalating so greatly have been those we can’t do without, your staples — fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, cooking oil, pasta,” Dr Jackson said. “We can’t get away from it.
“But why people are feeling it so much is we’ve actually been experiencing unnaturally low prices.
“In 2011, food inflation got as low as -3.2 per cent, so we’ve been enjoying things too much and we’re just getting back to reality now, and we don’t like it.”
‘Shrinkflation’ has been spotted mainly in snack foods but also in pet food. Credit: Danella Bevis/Danella Bevis
Those previously unusually low prices were caused by retailers engaging in price wars, squeezing the margins of primary producers, she said.
But now, on top of costs including fertilizer and fuel soaring, the freight transport sector was battling labor problems, faced with an aging truck driver workforce and a struggle to attract young workers.
“What we’re experiencing now, we need to get used to. This is business as usual for the foreseeable future,” Dr Jackson said.
Choice’s latest Consumer Pulse survey, which polled 1083 Australian households, found 23 per cent were struggling to get by, up from 18 per cent in June last year.
Drivers are bracing for the looming end to the fuel excise cut next month as new figures show Bunbury is the nation’s most expensive regional center for petroleum, with the average household shelling out an eye-watering $122.70 each week.
According to the Australian Automobile Association’s latest Transport Affordability Index covering the June quarter, that’s $20 per week higher than the national regional average and amounts to $6,381 per year.
Bunbury took out the unenviable gong because research showed its residents tended to drive longer distances than people in other regional centers, the association said.
Perth motorists are far better off for fuel costs despite getting fleeced at the bowser, ranking the second cheapest capital city behind Adelaide, with the average household now forking out $95.71 per week or almost $4977 per year.
How many WA families are paying for fuel. Credit: The West Australian
Hobart is the nation’s most expensive capital city with fuel costing residents $102.63 per week on average.
This is followed by Darwin ($99.84), Sydney ($99.13), Canberra ($98.92), Brisbane ($98.15) and Melbourne ($97.29).
Scarborough woman Taylor Donovan, 30, says a full tank of fuel for her Kia Sportage is costing her on average $130 a week.
Before recent fuel price surges, it cost her about $65 a week, and Mr Donovan says it’s now “ridiculous”.
Taylor Jade Donovan says current prices are “ridiculous”. Credit: daniel wilkins/The West Australian
“Are we not paying enough? Expensive fuel on top of car registration, insurance, licensing … it’s just full on,” she told The Sunday Times.
“It needs to be paid. It’s affecting me, everyone.
“I feel for the families.
“If I had kids, I’d become best friends with the mums and carpool to and from school and sports.”
Bunbury resident Claudia Stiglmayer, 23, said she is spending at least an average of $80 to $100 on fuel every week and is fed up with the “disruptive” changes to her budget.
“It gives you whiplash, honestly. Prices will be quite high then they’ll go low again,” she said.
“People get comfortable and complacent and then it will spike.
“It interferes with my budget and I can’t get into a solid routine financially…it’s very disruptive.”
Nationally, the average weekly fuel cost jumped to $100.39 – the first time it has passed $100 since the index’s inception in 2016.
“Despite the temporary excise cut, fuel prices are rising and continue to be a significant contributor to cost of living pressures across both regional and metropolitan Australia,” managing director Michael Bradley said.
The excise cut finishes at the end of next month.
Drivers are bracing for the looming end to the fuel excise cut next month as new figures show Bunbury is the nation’s most expensive regional center for petroleum, with the average household shelling out an eye-watering $122.70 each week.
Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
The index also showed that total transport costs – covering everything from car loan repayments to servicing, tires and public transport – for the average Perth household was just over $380 per week or $19,782 annually.
That compares to the national capital city average of just over $412 per week or $21,435 annually.
Bunbury stood out again, with total transport costs of almost $363 per week or $18,868 annually compared to a regional average of nearly $343 per week or $17,835 annually.
Sydney is still Australia’s most expensive capital city for transport costs averaging $486.18 per week, followed by Melbourne at $461.01 per week and Brisbane at $454.52 per week.
RAC general manager of external relations Will Golsby noted the change in Perth’s fuel price cycle from weekly to fortnightly in October was making it harder for motorists to save money by filling up on the cheapest days.
Since late June, Coles Express has reverted to a weekly cycle, with Viva Energy, which sets the prices at the outlets, telling FuelWatch it was in response to a period of extreme price volatility and to provide more competitive options for drivers.
While BP and 7-Eleven then followed, it’s too early to call if this is a permanent shift, FuelWatch manager Ben Derecki says.
If unleaded petrol is too expensive, Ms Donovan now won’t fill up a full tank.
“I’ll wait for later in the week when it might be cheaper – I’ve never had to do that before.”
Watching her daughter’s chest rise and fall – with the help of machines – Natasha Wagner sat anxiously waiting for news of a liver that six-year-old Evie so desperately needed.
But when doctors came into the room announcing they had found a “match”, the mum was struck with fear.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: A stranger saved Evie’s life
For more Health & Wellbeing related news and videos check out Health & Wellbeing >>
“The one they found was from a man in his 40s who had died of an aggressive brain tumor,” Natasha tells 7Life.
“So Evie would have a one-in-1000 chance of getting the same tumor.”
However, without the organ transplant, specialists gave Evie just 24 to 48 hours to live.
Without a new liver, Evie was given 24-48 hours to live. Credit: Instagram/ tashwagner
Natasha was left with two, terrible choices.
Pray that another liver would be found for her little girl within a day – or go ahead with the transplant and hope a brain tumor never emerged.
The Melbourne mum chose the latter.
Growing up in the dark
Evie was born healthy, with “absolutely no indication she had anything remotely wrong”, the mum of seven explains.
And as she entered her first year of school, she was just a “normal” kid.
So when Natasha was invited to speak at a 10-day forum in India, she jumped at the chance, leaving her husband Erich to care for the kids.
Natasha says her daughter’s skin looked like an Oompa Loompa. Credit:
instagram/tashwagner
But the moment she stepped foot off the plane after her 13-hour flight, her phone lit up.
“My eldest daughter said Evie looked a little yellow,” Natasha says.
“I told her to take Evie to hospital.”
While Natasha worked to get a flight home, Evie was admitted to hospital and doctors began running tests.
They discovered the little girl had an enlarged liver and began treating her with medication while trying to uncover the cause.
Finally, after a circuitous five-day trek home, Natasha went straight to the hospital and ran to her daughter’s side.
Evie was fitted with a nasogastric tube, which pumped nutrients and medication directly into her stomach.
With her oxygen levels too low, she was ventilated and transferred into the ICU.
“No one wants to see their loved ones with tubes and wires coming out of everywhere,” Natasha says.
‘Oompa Loompa’
From a liver biopsy and genetic testing, doctors worked around the clock to find a reason for Evie’s continuing deterioration.
With a collapsed lung, her skin turned bright yellow overnight.
Evie underwent an emergency organ transplant after doctors discovered she had Wilson’s disease. Credit:
instagram/tashwagner
“Her tummy just grew and grew, the bottoms of her feet and her eyes they were so yellow – she looked like an Oompa Loompa from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the mum describes.
“She looked like she was pregnant.”
Desperate to try to soothe her daughter’s suffering, Natasha turned to alternate methods.
“Honestly .. I don’t know how I functioned on a daily basis,” she says.
“I hired a healer who put crystals on her stomach.”
It’s been two years since Evie’s transplant and she is a happy and healthy school girl. Credit:
instagram/tashwagner
Unable to eat or move, Evie’s arms were stretched above her head to allow her lungs to inflate.
As Natasha watched on helplessly, doctors revealed that her little girl now needed a liver transplant.
Just as the mum started to process the news, the transplant team revealed they had found a donor.
The man was in his 40s and had died from an aggressive brain tumor.
death’s doorstep
Sitting the mum down, the transplant team explained that, if she were to accept the liver, Evie would have a one-in-1000 chance of contracting the same disease that took the donor’s life.
“I didn’t know what to do. I called my husband and he didn’t know either,” Natasha says.
“I just had all of these questions, could we even reject it, could she wait for another one?”
The parents turned to their children, a doctor, for advice.
Natasha is sharing Evie’s story to help encourage others to become organ donors. Credit:
instagram/tashwagner
“She said, ‘Take it, she (Evie) needs it’,” Natasha says.
After her parents agreed to the transplant, Evie was quickly taken into surgery – and for 12 agonizing hours, Natasha waited for news.
“I was just sitting there watching people walk past, thinking how lucky we are,” she says.
“How lucky we are that, if the surgery is a success, Evie will go on to live a normal full life.”
positive mindset
Natasha’s positivity was met with great news, as the transplant was declared successful.
Evie received a split liver, meaning half the donor’s liver went to her and the other half to another individual in need.
The six-year-old spent three days in an induced coma to allow her body to recover.
Meanwhile, doctors revealed they finally found the cause of her liver failure – Wilson’s disease.
The rare genetic disorder is a result of a build up of excess copper.
The mum of seven will be forever grateful to the stranger who saved her Evie’s life. Credit:
instagram/tashwagner
Evie was slowly woken up and just two days later she bravely took her first post-op steps.
“The surgeon came in after we had been on the ward for about eight days,” Natasha says.
“He basically said Evie had been on death’s door and how lucky she was because she had 24-48 hours left to live.”
Evie continued to excel and was discharged from hospital shortly after.
Two years on
It’s now two years since the transplant and the young girl is happy and healthy.
She takes just one daily dose of anti-rejection medication and still has checkups with her GP.
And thankfully, there are no signs of any brain tumor.
Her mum will always be grateful for the stranger who gave her daughter life.
“It is just the most selfless gift,” Natasha says.
“I will never be able to say thank you to Evie’s donor but every day I think about him.
“If there wasn’t a donor at that exact time I wouldn’t have my little girl right now.”
organ donation
Looking back at Evie’s time fighting for life in hospital, Natasha thinks of the friendships she made with other parents of children who received organ transplants.
But she confesses, her mind is with those kids who died waiting.
“Two weeks after Evie left hospital, a little boy died,” she solemnly reveals.
“Every day people die waiting for an organ – there is a lot of fear around organ donation and there really doesn’t need to be.”
Information on organ donation can be found via the Australian Government Organ and Tissue Authority.
The authority says it takes just one minute to register as an organ donor – and that up to seven lives can be saved from a single person.
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ALDI Australia is set to open a new pop-up dumpling truck – offering a takeaway feed for less than $1.50 per serve.
For one night only, diners can purchase six Urban Eats dumplings for a low price of just $1.44.
But the offer is only at the ALDI Bankstown Central car park in Sydney’s west between 5pm and 7pm on Friday, August 12.
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A family of four can expect to enjoy a feed from just $5.76.
The gyoza flavors to choose from include the fan-favorite prawn and the new seasonal addition to the range – chicken.
Aldi Australia is set to open a new pop-up dumpling truck – offering a takeaway feed for less than $1.50 per serve. Credit: David Thomson Photography
The truck proves just how easy it is for Aussies to enjoy a “fakeaway” dinner any time of the week without breaking the bank.
“At a time when consumers are feeling the pinch, it’s rewarding to provide an option for people to still enjoy their Friday night rituals when they shop with us,” said Andrew King, ALDI’s Frozen Food Buying Director.
“The dumpling truck demonstrates how good food doesn’t have to hurt your pocket.
“You can dish up quick, delicious and affordable Friday dinners at home for less than $1.50 a serve.
The gyoza flavors to choose from include the fan-favorite prawn and the new chicken. Credit: David Thomson Photography
“We are so proud of our curated convenience range of frozen food items that have been developed by our trusted supplier partners and are a firm favorite with our customers for good reason.”
Shoppers can recreate the “restaurant-quality” meal at home with the supermarket chain’s dumpling range.
New research commissioned by ALDI found almost half (46 per cent) of Aussies are paying between $15 and $20 on a takeaway food order per person, at least $13.56 more than the cost of a serving from the range.
The truck proves just how easy it is for Aussies to enjoy a “fakeaway” dinner any time of the week without breaking the bank. Credit: David Thomson Photography
The truck will be pitched up at ALDI Bankstown Central, Chapel Road on Friday, August 12, from 5pm to 7pm, while stocks last.
The prawn will cost just 25c per gyoza while the chicken is priced at 23c per dumpling, which is the equivalent price of the individual dumplings or gyoza if bought direct from ALDI’s freezers.
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We’ve all been hearing a lot about inflation but it’s shrinkflation that shoppers really need to worry about.
Shrinkflation is where manufacturers charge the same or even more for smaller servings, betting on most consumers not noticing the difference.
And with rate rises and cost-of-living pressures hitting many hard households, these reductions are offering less and less value for money
Consumer group Choice has been getting tip-offs from peeved Aussies about products that have been downsizing, recently verifying Smith’s crinkle cut potato chips had been trimmed by 5g — or about three chips — to 170g per pack.
Shrinkflation is where manufacturers charge the same or even more for smaller servings, betting on most consumers not noticing the difference. Credit: The West Australian
There has also been a 20g drop in large packs of Red Rock Deli potato chips to 165g and boxes of Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes have shed 30g.
And sweet-toothed shoppers have been left with a sour taste with Cadbury family-sized chocolate blocks going from the once-standard 250g to 180g.
The latest to drop weight is Maltesers, with a spokeswoman for manufacturer Mars Wrigley saying it was “facing unprecedented cost pressures” like many Australian businesses.
“From time to time, external factors make it necessary for product changes so that we can continue to ensure the availability of our products to all Australians,” she said.
Choice spokesman Liam Kennedy said shrinkflation was a global trend that was expected to continue.
“Most of the examples that we see, a lot of the tips we receive, are in that snack area, cereals,” Mr Kennedy told The West Australian.
But it has hit pet food too, with bags of Purina One cat food contracting by 100g to 1.4kg but costing more.
Choice says ‘shrinkflation’ is a global trend expected to continue. Credit: Rebecca Le May/The West Australian
Owner Nestle blamed that on recipe changes and higher costs for raw materials, packaging and transport, Mr Kennedy said.
“A lot of business are feeling that right now,” he added.
Elizabeth Jackson, a food supply chain systems expert at Curtin University, warned shoppers to expect ongoing pain at the checkout, mainly due to high transport costs, saying the current inflation spike was reminiscent of that seen in the oil crisis of 1973.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics inflation data showed transport cost jumped the most of 11 expense categories in the year to June, up 13.1 per cent.
“The products that have been escalating so greatly have been those we can’t do without, your staples — fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, cooking oil, pasta,” Dr Jackson said. “We can’t get away from it.
“But why people are feeling it so much is we’ve actually been experiencing unnaturally low prices.
“In 2011, food inflation got as low as -3.2 per cent, so we’ve been enjoying things too much and we’re just getting back to reality now, and we don’t like it.”
‘Shrinkflation’ has been spotted mainly in snack foods but also in pet food. Credit: Danella Bevis/Danella Bevis
Those previously unusually low prices were caused by retailers engaging in price wars, squeezing the margins of primary producers, she said.
But now, on top of costs including fertilizer and fuel soaring, the freight transport sector was battling labor problems, faced with an aging truck driver workforce and a struggle to attract young workers.
“What we’re experiencing now, we need to get used to. This is business as usual for the foreseeable future,” Dr Jackson said.
Choice’s latest Consumer Pulse survey, which polled 1083 Australian households, found 23 per cent were struggling to get by, up from 18 per cent in June last year.
