Performer Rob Guest died in Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital morning after suffering a massive stroke on Tuesday. Best known as the world's longest-serving Phantom of the Opera, the 58-year-old died peacefully with family members by his side. His unexpected death has raised public concern about stroke as the English-born performer did not appear to have health issues. According to the Australian Stroke Foundation, strokes are Australia's second single biggest killer and a leading cause of disability.
A new feature-length animated film from the Australian director of the brilliant and disability-themed "Harvey Krumpet" is expected to be released in early 2009. "Mary and Max" by Adam Elliot is "a simple tale of pen-friendship between two very different people; Mary Dinkle, a little chubby lonely eight year old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max Horovitz, a 44 year old, severely obese, Jewish man with Asperger's Syndrome living in the chaos of New York," according to imdb.com.
Newly appointed Transport and Disability Services Minister Simon O'Brien has had to temporarily relinquish his portfolios after suffering a suspected heart attack. The Government today confirmed Mr O'Brien, 48, a member of the Legislative Council, was suffering from a heart condition. Premier Colin Barnett said he would assume Mr O'Brien's ministerial responsibilities in the meantime.
Australia is close to setting the world record for percentage of GDP going to families as welfare, ahead of former communist nations and traditional welfare hubs such as Sweden. In the Menzies era, just 1 per cent of gross domestic product was devoted to what the Australian Bureau of Statistics defines as "family and child benefits". More information
HEALTH authorities are investigating 10 serious complaints of medical negligence and sexual assault at a northern NSW hospital by an overseas-trained obstetrician and gynaecologist living in a homeless shelter in Surry Hills. Roman Hasil's NSW medical registration was suspended in February after a damning report by New Zealand health authorities found he had botched a quarter of female sterilisations in 2005 and 2006 and drank on the job. More information
Health and Disability News for Australian Seniors:
Australian pensioners are living below the poverty line. Yet unless political pressure is brought to bear, Australian pensioners don't look like getting a much-needed pay rise any time soon. Pensioners are now in desperate need, and it does not matter who the leader or what the motive, so long as a much-needed rise in pensions can be delivered sooner rather than later. How long will it be before their avoidable misery ends?
Coming Events:
Comedy legend Jerry Lewis, 82, returns to Australia for the first time in eight years to perform a string of stage shows - including Perth. The hysterical theatrics kick off in at the Sydney Opera House on October 26 and concludes in Perth on Wednesday, November 5. Lewis is also performing at the 2008 Victoria Racing Club Chairman’s Dinner at Flemington on Thursday October 30, black tie gala dinner event to launch the Melbourne Cup Carnival. He now raises in excess of $130 million each year making him the most successful fundraiser ever.
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