Independent Australian news and analysis across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
James Mitchell Most travelers assume the map is complete—every corner of the world cataloged and conquered. Then they learn about Hang Sơn Đoòng (Son Doong Cave) in Vietnam, the largest cave passage by volume on Earth, a place so hidden it wasn’t known to the outside world until 1990. This guide strips away the glossy Instagram filters … Read more
Michael Landon built a reputation as one of television’s most beloved fathers, first on Bonanza and then Little House on the Prairie. But decades after his death from pancreatic cancer, the public still wrestles with personal questions about his marriages, his health, and his character. This article pulls together verified facts and firsthand accounts to … Read more
Albert Namatjira’s watercolour landscapes made him a national name in mid-century Australia — and then a prison cell made him a symbol. Raised at Hermannsburg mission, he became a nationally celebrated painter (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia), yet in 1958 he was convicted under Australia’s discriminatory welfare laws for supplying alcohol to an … Read more
There’s a particular kind of footballer whose name surfaces in conversation not because of flashy headlines, but because of the quiet, relentless work they do on the field. Liam Martin is one of those names for rugby league fans, a Penrith Panthers forward whose journey from a country town to the NRL’s biggest stage has … Read more
You’ve probably seen her commanding the stage as the godmother of all bosses in Ted Lasso, or belting out a tune that makes the rafters shake. Hannah Waddingham has a presence that’s hard to miss, but there’s a tangle of questions that follow her around—some about her family, some about her training, and a few … Read more
There’s a certain comfort in revisiting the faces that defined our teen years, and few are as emblematic as the woman who told us, in no uncertain terms, that she was the Chosen One. When you grew up watching her slay vampires or navigating the treacherous halls of high school, it’s natural to wonder what … Read more
Most people know Danny Trejo as the tough guy with the scarred face and the commanding screen presence. But behind the Hollywood roles is a comeback story that started in some of California’s toughest prisons, where he fought, survived, and eventually found a path out. What’s less known is the time he spent inside — … Read more
You probably remember the dry wit from Australia’s Got Talent or the voice that woke Melbourne up on ABC Radio. But before the TV lights and the morning microphone, Red Symons was the guitarist with the sharp tongue in Skyhooks, one of Australia’s most successful 1970s rock bands. This article pulls together the verified facts … Read more
Imagine training as an elite triathlete, then waking up from a bike crash unable to walk or talk. That’s the reality Alexa Leary faced at 19 when a 70 km/h accident left her with a traumatic brain injury. Just three years later, she’d break a world record in the Paralympic pool. This is how a … Read more
Few guitarists shaped rock music as quietly as Jeff Beck. He never chased fame, yet his playing influenced generations of musicians, and when he died on 10 January 2023 at age 78 from bacterial meningitis, the news surprised fans worldwide. Born: 24 June 1944 · Died: 10 January 2023 · Age at death: 78 · … Read more