'I didn't know the word lesbian': How LGBTIQA+ lives have changed across decades
Cheryl Szollosi, 62, who stayed closeted for 10 years to keep her job in the Air Force, said she found it amazing that young people today could just be themselves.
"They are so lucky - I wish I could have done that at my age," Ms Szollosi said.
"It's just a sign of the times."
ACM masthead, The Courier spoke with three people from different generations about their experiences growing up LGBTQA+.
Helen Watson, 77, grew up in a small country town near Shepparton, VIC.
"I didn't know anyone who was LGBTQ+. It's not to say they weren't there, but I didn't know them," Ms Watson said.
"I think a lot of people lived quietly and out of sight."
Ms Watson realised she was different in her early 20s, around the 1970s.
"I didn't know the words, lesbian, gay, trans. None of those were part of my vocabulary. None of them were part of what I understood," she said.
But Ms Watson's father told her a story about a family in Melbourne who were extremely well-known.
"The tragedy that befell them happened when the daughter had left her husband and gone off with another woman. It was very clear. That was bad," she said.
The 77-year-old said she spent years finding a community for her to belong to.
"It was not easy. I was in my late 40s to find one," she said.
Ms Szollosi knew "there was something wrong" when she was in primary school.
"I just knew I was different, but don't know what it was," the 62-year-old said.
"Then I joined the Air Force. This was in the 1980s when it was illegal to be gay. So I had to be closeted for 10 years.
"I was just mortified that I could lose my job just for being who I was."
Ms Szollosi finally came out and told her mum when she was 33 years old.
"My mum never spoke to me after I came out to her," she said.
Ms Martinez started talking to her friends about being queer when she was 15 years old.
"For me, I think it just means how I choose to live and who I choose to be with, and it's just different from the norm," the 27-year-old said.
"I had a very close community of friends who we flocked together - some of my friends were queer or some were straight, but very comfortable with everyone.
"It's a very diverse community as well. I just think it's free to be whatever you want to be."
Last year, Ms Martinez first introduced her girlfriend to her family.
"[They] were all fine with it. Some of them said that it was not new information to them," she said.
Ms Martinez said each year she would do something with the community to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.
It was the day that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation's list of psychiatric diseases in 1990.
Having witnessed society's changing attitudes toward the LGBTIQA+ community, Ms Szollosi said things were getting better and better.
"Now, we have got equality rights, marriage rights. But we are still a minority," Ms Szollosi said.
"As a community, we all bond together. We look after each other."
When Laura Martinez, 27, introduced her girlfriend to her family, they welcomed her with open arms, a stark contrast to what coming out was like in years past.
Cheryl Szollosi, 62, who stayed closeted for 10 years to keep her job in the Air Force, said she found it amazing that young people today could just be themselves.
"They are so lucky - I wish I could have done that at my age," Ms Szollosi said.
"It's just a sign of the times."
ACM masthead, The Courier spoke with three people from different generations about their experiences growing up LGBTQA+.
Helen Watson, 77, grew up in a small country town near Shepparton, VIC.
"I didn't know anyone who was LGBTQ+. It's not to say they weren't there, but I didn't know them," Ms Watson said.
"I think a lot of people lived quietly and out of sight."
Ms Watson realised she was different in her early 20s, around the 1970s.
"I didn't know the words, lesbian, gay, trans. None of those were part of my vocabulary. None of them were part of what I understood," she said.
But Ms Watson's father told her a story about a family in Melbourne who were extremely well-known.
"The tragedy that befell them happened when the daughter had left her husband and gone off with another woman. It was very clear. That was bad," she said.
The 77-year-old said she spent years finding a community for her to belong to.
"It was not easy. I was in my late 40s to find one," she said.
Ms Szollosi knew "there was something wrong" when she was in primary school.
"I just knew I was different, but don't know what it was," the 62-year-old said.
"Then I joined the Air Force. This was in the 1980s when it was illegal to be gay. So I had to be closeted for 10 years.
"I was just mortified that I could lose my job just for being who I was."
Ms Szollosi finally came out and told her mum when she was 33 years old.
"My mum never spoke to me after I came out to her," she said.
Ms Martinez started talking to her friends about being queer when she was 15 years old.
"For me, I think it just means how I choose to live and who I choose to be with, and it's just different from the norm," the 27-year-old said.
"I had a very close community of friends who we flocked together - some of my friends were queer or some were straight, but very comfortable with everyone.
"It's a very diverse community as well. I just think it's free to be whatever you want to be."
Last year, Ms Martinez first introduced her girlfriend to her family.
"[They] were all fine with it. Some of them said that it was not new information to them," she said.
Ms Martinez said each year she would do something with the community to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.
It was the day that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation's list of psychiatric diseases in 1990.
Having witnessed society's changing attitudes toward the LGBTIQA+ community, Ms Szollosi said things were getting better and better.
"Now, we have got equality rights, marriage rights. But we are still a minority," Ms Szollosi said.
"As a community, we all bond together. We look after each other."
When Laura Martinez, 27, introduced her girlfriend to her family, they welcomed her with open arms, a stark contrast to what coming out was like in years past.
Cheryl Szollosi, 62, who stayed closeted for 10 years to keep her job in the Air Force, said she found it amazing that young people today could just be themselves.
"They are so lucky - I wish I could have done that at my age," Ms Szollosi said.
"It's just a sign of the times."
ACM masthead, The Courier spoke with three people from different generations about their experiences growing up LGBTQA+.
Helen Watson, 77, grew up in a small country town near Shepparton, VIC.
"I didn't know anyone who was LGBTQ+. It's not to say they weren't there, but I didn't know them," Ms Watson said.
"I think a lot of people lived quietly and out of sight."
Ms Watson realised she was different in her early 20s, around the 1970s.
"I didn't know the words, lesbian, gay, trans. None of those were part of my vocabulary. None of them were part of what I understood," she said.
But Ms Watson's father told her a story about a family in Melbourne who were extremely well-known.
"The tragedy that befell them happened when the daughter had left her husband and gone off with another woman. It was very clear. That was bad," she said.
The 77-year-old said she spent years finding a community for her to belong to.
"It was not easy. I was in my late 40s to find one," she said.
Ms Szollosi knew "there was something wrong" when she was in primary school.
"I just knew I was different, but don't know what it was," the 62-year-old said.
"Then I joined the Air Force. This was in the 1980s when it was illegal to be gay. So I had to be closeted for 10 years.
"I was just mortified that I could lose my job just for being who I was."
Ms Szollosi finally came out and told her mum when she was 33 years old.
"My mum never spoke to me after I came out to her," she said.
Ms Martinez started talking to her friends about being queer when she was 15 years old.
"For me, I think it just means how I choose to live and who I choose to be with, and it's just different from the norm," the 27-year-old said.
"I had a very close community of friends who we flocked together - some of my friends were queer or some were straight, but very comfortable with everyone.
"It's a very diverse community as well. I just think it's free to be whatever you want to be."
Last year, Ms Martinez first introduced her girlfriend to her family.
"[They] were all fine with it. Some of them said that it was not new information to them," she said.
Ms Martinez said each year she would do something with the community to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.
It was the day that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation's list of psychiatric diseases in 1990.
Having witnessed society's changing attitudes toward the LGBTIQA+ community, Ms Szollosi said things were getting better and better.
"Now, we have got equality rights, marriage rights. But we are still a minority," Ms Szollosi said.
"As a community, we all bond together. We look after each other."
When Laura Martinez, 27, introduced her girlfriend to her family, they welcomed her with open arms, a stark contrast to what coming out was like in years past.
Cheryl Szollosi, 62, who stayed closeted for 10 years to keep her job in the Air Force, said she found it amazing that young people today could just be themselves.
"They are so lucky - I wish I could have done that at my age," Ms Szollosi said.
"It's just a sign of the times."
ACM masthead, The Courier spoke with three people from different generations about their experiences growing up LGBTQA+.
Helen Watson, 77, grew up in a small country town near Shepparton, VIC.
"I didn't know anyone who was LGBTQ+. It's not to say they weren't there, but I didn't know them," Ms Watson said.
"I think a lot of people lived quietly and out of sight."
Ms Watson realised she was different in her early 20s, around the 1970s.
"I didn't know the words, lesbian, gay, trans. None of those were part of my vocabulary. None of them were part of what I understood," she said.
But Ms Watson's father told her a story about a family in Melbourne who were extremely well-known.
"The tragedy that befell them happened when the daughter had left her husband and gone off with another woman. It was very clear. That was bad," she said.
The 77-year-old said she spent years finding a community for her to belong to.
"It was not easy. I was in my late 40s to find one," she said.
Ms Szollosi knew "there was something wrong" when she was in primary school.
"I just knew I was different, but don't know what it was," the 62-year-old said.
"Then I joined the Air Force. This was in the 1980s when it was illegal to be gay. So I had to be closeted for 10 years.
"I was just mortified that I could lose my job just for being who I was."
Ms Szollosi finally came out and told her mum when she was 33 years old.
"My mum never spoke to me after I came out to her," she said.
Ms Martinez started talking to her friends about being queer when she was 15 years old.
"For me, I think it just means how I choose to live and who I choose to be with, and it's just different from the norm," the 27-year-old said.
"I had a very close community of friends who we flocked together - some of my friends were queer or some were straight, but very comfortable with everyone.
"It's a very diverse community as well. I just think it's free to be whatever you want to be."
Last year, Ms Martinez first introduced her girlfriend to her family.
"[They] were all fine with it. Some of them said that it was not new information to them," she said.
Ms Martinez said each year she would do something with the community to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.
It was the day that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation's list of psychiatric diseases in 1990.
Having witnessed society's changing attitudes toward the LGBTIQA+ community, Ms Szollosi said things were getting better and better.
"Now, we have got equality rights, marriage rights. But we are still a minority," Ms Szollosi said.
"As a community, we all bond together. We look after each other."
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The Advertiser
6 days ago
- The Advertiser
Rescue mission successful after dogs stuck in wombat hole reunited with family
Two adventurous dogs have been reunited with their loving family after spending a cold night trapped in a wombat burrow. On Monday, July 7, Anna Woodbury was walking along the Aslings Beach footpath opposite Eden cemetery, located on the South Coast of NSW, when she heard a muffled bark. "I stood there for a while, and I heard another one. I thought, 'This doesn't sound right. This sounds like a little dog trapped'," she told Bega District Newsan ACM masthead. "What really concerned me was that I thought someone might have fallen in the overgrown part and hurt themselves or got trapped. "Your imagination runs riot. "I called Triple Zero, and they were wonderful with all their sirens on. "They hopped into the bushes and got down and discovered that the dogs were quite hidden." Anna said so many people walked along the picturesque path on the Far South Coast, but no-one had heard anything, so she felt as though it was meant to be. "They were very lucky little dogs because they had been there overnight. They were really exhausted, and the barks were getting weak," she said. "I was just so glad that I didn't dismiss it and think it was some dog way down the beach or something. "It was really a fluke." Initially, the rescuers worked to assist one trapped dog from the burrow, but to everyone's surprise, a second dog emerged from the same hole shortly before the pair were taken to Eden Veterinary Clinic. At 5pm the previous day, Liz Jarrett had returned home from the snow and was unpacking her car when her two "escape artist" pets disappeared. "They obviously didn't miss us too much because they weren't too keen to hang around," she said with a laugh. Jigsaw, an 11-year-old black rottweiler kelpie, and Ellie, a seven-year-old purebred kelpie, ran off, only to be found when Anna heard Jigsaw's muffled cries 21 hours later. "They [run off] sometimes and come back the next day, but because it started thunderstorming, we went for a drive but couldn't find them," Liz said. "We have three young kids, and we've had to tell them to be careful because Jigsaw will run out if he gets the opportunity. "When there's thunder and lightning, Jigsaw likes to pace around and freak out, so I guess he was very distressed not being able to get out," Liz said. Cami Hartnett, the founder of Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training, said dogs who struggle during storms aren't being difficult; they're often experiencing real fear or panic. "Support starts with creating a safe, quiet space and staying close if possible," Cami said. "Calming tools like white noise, Mutt Muffs, or enrichment items can help in the moment. "Long-term desensitisation using low-volume storm sounds paired with positive reinforcement can gradually shift their response. "If your dog is highly distressed, speak with a vet or behaviour professional. Support is available." Gabby Knight from Eden Veterinary Clinic agreed. She said creating a safe environment with an owner was certainly beneficial, while pheromone-based products, thunder shirts, medication, and desensitisation were other options. Two adventurous dogs have been reunited with their loving family after spending a cold night trapped in a wombat burrow. On Monday, July 7, Anna Woodbury was walking along the Aslings Beach footpath opposite Eden cemetery, located on the South Coast of NSW, when she heard a muffled bark. "I stood there for a while, and I heard another one. I thought, 'This doesn't sound right. This sounds like a little dog trapped'," she told Bega District Newsan ACM masthead. "What really concerned me was that I thought someone might have fallen in the overgrown part and hurt themselves or got trapped. "Your imagination runs riot. "I called Triple Zero, and they were wonderful with all their sirens on. "They hopped into the bushes and got down and discovered that the dogs were quite hidden." Anna said so many people walked along the picturesque path on the Far South Coast, but no-one had heard anything, so she felt as though it was meant to be. "They were very lucky little dogs because they had been there overnight. They were really exhausted, and the barks were getting weak," she said. "I was just so glad that I didn't dismiss it and think it was some dog way down the beach or something. "It was really a fluke." Initially, the rescuers worked to assist one trapped dog from the burrow, but to everyone's surprise, a second dog emerged from the same hole shortly before the pair were taken to Eden Veterinary Clinic. At 5pm the previous day, Liz Jarrett had returned home from the snow and was unpacking her car when her two "escape artist" pets disappeared. "They obviously didn't miss us too much because they weren't too keen to hang around," she said with a laugh. Jigsaw, an 11-year-old black rottweiler kelpie, and Ellie, a seven-year-old purebred kelpie, ran off, only to be found when Anna heard Jigsaw's muffled cries 21 hours later. "They [run off] sometimes and come back the next day, but because it started thunderstorming, we went for a drive but couldn't find them," Liz said. "We have three young kids, and we've had to tell them to be careful because Jigsaw will run out if he gets the opportunity. "When there's thunder and lightning, Jigsaw likes to pace around and freak out, so I guess he was very distressed not being able to get out," Liz said. Cami Hartnett, the founder of Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training, said dogs who struggle during storms aren't being difficult; they're often experiencing real fear or panic. "Support starts with creating a safe, quiet space and staying close if possible," Cami said. "Calming tools like white noise, Mutt Muffs, or enrichment items can help in the moment. "Long-term desensitisation using low-volume storm sounds paired with positive reinforcement can gradually shift their response. "If your dog is highly distressed, speak with a vet or behaviour professional. Support is available." Gabby Knight from Eden Veterinary Clinic agreed. She said creating a safe environment with an owner was certainly beneficial, while pheromone-based products, thunder shirts, medication, and desensitisation were other options. Two adventurous dogs have been reunited with their loving family after spending a cold night trapped in a wombat burrow. On Monday, July 7, Anna Woodbury was walking along the Aslings Beach footpath opposite Eden cemetery, located on the South Coast of NSW, when she heard a muffled bark. "I stood there for a while, and I heard another one. I thought, 'This doesn't sound right. This sounds like a little dog trapped'," she told Bega District Newsan ACM masthead. "What really concerned me was that I thought someone might have fallen in the overgrown part and hurt themselves or got trapped. "Your imagination runs riot. "I called Triple Zero, and they were wonderful with all their sirens on. "They hopped into the bushes and got down and discovered that the dogs were quite hidden." Anna said so many people walked along the picturesque path on the Far South Coast, but no-one had heard anything, so she felt as though it was meant to be. "They were very lucky little dogs because they had been there overnight. They were really exhausted, and the barks were getting weak," she said. "I was just so glad that I didn't dismiss it and think it was some dog way down the beach or something. "It was really a fluke." Initially, the rescuers worked to assist one trapped dog from the burrow, but to everyone's surprise, a second dog emerged from the same hole shortly before the pair were taken to Eden Veterinary Clinic. At 5pm the previous day, Liz Jarrett had returned home from the snow and was unpacking her car when her two "escape artist" pets disappeared. "They obviously didn't miss us too much because they weren't too keen to hang around," she said with a laugh. Jigsaw, an 11-year-old black rottweiler kelpie, and Ellie, a seven-year-old purebred kelpie, ran off, only to be found when Anna heard Jigsaw's muffled cries 21 hours later. "They [run off] sometimes and come back the next day, but because it started thunderstorming, we went for a drive but couldn't find them," Liz said. "We have three young kids, and we've had to tell them to be careful because Jigsaw will run out if he gets the opportunity. "When there's thunder and lightning, Jigsaw likes to pace around and freak out, so I guess he was very distressed not being able to get out," Liz said. Cami Hartnett, the founder of Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training, said dogs who struggle during storms aren't being difficult; they're often experiencing real fear or panic. "Support starts with creating a safe, quiet space and staying close if possible," Cami said. "Calming tools like white noise, Mutt Muffs, or enrichment items can help in the moment. "Long-term desensitisation using low-volume storm sounds paired with positive reinforcement can gradually shift their response. "If your dog is highly distressed, speak with a vet or behaviour professional. Support is available." Gabby Knight from Eden Veterinary Clinic agreed. She said creating a safe environment with an owner was certainly beneficial, while pheromone-based products, thunder shirts, medication, and desensitisation were other options. Two adventurous dogs have been reunited with their loving family after spending a cold night trapped in a wombat burrow. On Monday, July 7, Anna Woodbury was walking along the Aslings Beach footpath opposite Eden cemetery, located on the South Coast of NSW, when she heard a muffled bark. "I stood there for a while, and I heard another one. I thought, 'This doesn't sound right. This sounds like a little dog trapped'," she told Bega District Newsan ACM masthead. "What really concerned me was that I thought someone might have fallen in the overgrown part and hurt themselves or got trapped. "Your imagination runs riot. "I called Triple Zero, and they were wonderful with all their sirens on. "They hopped into the bushes and got down and discovered that the dogs were quite hidden." Anna said so many people walked along the picturesque path on the Far South Coast, but no-one had heard anything, so she felt as though it was meant to be. "They were very lucky little dogs because they had been there overnight. They were really exhausted, and the barks were getting weak," she said. "I was just so glad that I didn't dismiss it and think it was some dog way down the beach or something. "It was really a fluke." Initially, the rescuers worked to assist one trapped dog from the burrow, but to everyone's surprise, a second dog emerged from the same hole shortly before the pair were taken to Eden Veterinary Clinic. At 5pm the previous day, Liz Jarrett had returned home from the snow and was unpacking her car when her two "escape artist" pets disappeared. "They obviously didn't miss us too much because they weren't too keen to hang around," she said with a laugh. Jigsaw, an 11-year-old black rottweiler kelpie, and Ellie, a seven-year-old purebred kelpie, ran off, only to be found when Anna heard Jigsaw's muffled cries 21 hours later. "They [run off] sometimes and come back the next day, but because it started thunderstorming, we went for a drive but couldn't find them," Liz said. "We have three young kids, and we've had to tell them to be careful because Jigsaw will run out if he gets the opportunity. "When there's thunder and lightning, Jigsaw likes to pace around and freak out, so I guess he was very distressed not being able to get out," Liz said. Cami Hartnett, the founder of Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training, said dogs who struggle during storms aren't being difficult; they're often experiencing real fear or panic. "Support starts with creating a safe, quiet space and staying close if possible," Cami said. "Calming tools like white noise, Mutt Muffs, or enrichment items can help in the moment. "Long-term desensitisation using low-volume storm sounds paired with positive reinforcement can gradually shift their response. "If your dog is highly distressed, speak with a vet or behaviour professional. Support is available." Gabby Knight from Eden Veterinary Clinic agreed. She said creating a safe environment with an owner was certainly beneficial, while pheromone-based products, thunder shirts, medication, and desensitisation were other options.
ABC News
28-06-2025
- ABC News
After Operation Midnight Hammer, pilots reveal realities of marathon B-2 bomber missions
There are very few Americans who know what it's like to fly a B-2 stealth bomber and even fewer that have piloted one for more than 30 hours straight. One of those people is retired Air Force Lieutenant General Steven Basham, who said he was stunned by the "flawless execution" of last weekend's operation, when American pilots conducted a 37-hour non-stop mission targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. Before retiring last year, General Basham flew B-2s in 1999 over Serbia, the bomber's first use in combat, and again in 2003 over Iraq. He gave the ABC an insight into what it takes to prepare and complete such a marathon operation. To qualify for his own missions, General Basham needed to complete a 24-hour flight simulation as well as a 24-hour "sortie" mission. The training regime included rehearsing mid-air refuelling, safely landing after being awake for an entire day and managing simulated defences and bomb runs. After years of training, he received the call-up. "I remember the surreal feeling when they said, 'We're actually going to go,' and, of course, my wife doesn't know," he said. "For her, this is like any other night in the last month. I've been going in the evening and coming back home the next morning. It's not lost on me that on this particular occasion, I didn't come back on the next morning." A 31-hour mission awaited him, and it would not be the only one. "Even though we had adjusted our body clocks for many, many weeks prior to the mission, I remember still waking up early and I remember packing my larger than normal lunch." But even with eight sandwiches and some trail mix in hand, General Basham recalls he wasn't very hungry. "You will eat just because it gives you something to do," he said. "My appetite really wasn't there. "Too many butterflies filling up your stomach — no room for any food." He intentionally brought "bland" food to not upset the stomach on such a long journey. Coffee was his main fuel to stay alert along with the occasional catnap, but the adrenaline made it hard to sleep. "You do not want to let down your nation and so you're going to do everything you can to not fail," he said. "That's not going to allow you to sleep." In the air, he and the other pilot ran through each step they would undertake in the hours ahead, while ensuring the weapons were in check and the bomber was continuing to perform as needed. They would also maintain communication with other aircraft, like fuel tankers. Retired Air Force Colonel Melvin Deaile has also piloted the $US2.2 billion ($3.4 billion) aircraft. He took part in the longest ever B-2 bomber mission, flying 44 hours from the US into Afghanistan in 2001. "All my kids were told is: 'Dad's going to work, I don't know when I'll be back,'" he said. "After 9/11 there was a hint that the president may want a response. "We didn't plan on 44 hours. I think the original sortie was 38 to 40 hours." To help him stay awake, Colonel Deaile had been prescribed amphetamines cleared for crew use, known as "pep pills". He said his mission initially involved four bomb runs over different target complexes. But after flying out of Afghanistan, he was directed to go back in and complete another run, which extended his total mission time. "When we went back into the country I dropped some more pep pills," he said. "Because you think the mission's over, you can kind of let down, but then we had to get another tanker, I had to program new bombs and the other guy had to hit the gas." The extreme length of time in the small cockpit also takes a toll on the bladder. The high altitudes and pressurised cockpit mean pilots need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. "We calculated we drank a bottle of water an hour which meant we had to go pee once an hour," he said. "We didn't want to fill up the chemical toilet too much. It's not designed to hold 44 hours' worth of pee. "So we made an agreement that we would only use the toilet for number twos and we would use the 'piddle packs' for number ones." He described a piddle pack as like "a zip-lock bag with kitty litter in it … and the kitty litter combines with it to make it more gel-like so it doesn't leak". During 44 hours locked in the cockpit with very little room to move, Colonel Deaile estimates he and the other pilot produced 80 piddle packs. Both pilots said flying back to base was when the adrenaline started to run thin and the lack of sleep kicked in. Colonel Deaile said, from his experience, the most challenging part of being a bomber pilot was mid-air refuelling. "You have to be within 12 feet (3.7 metres) of another aircraft, and you've got to hold the jet in position I would say probably for roughly 20 to 30 minutes … because that's how long the boom is," he said. On General Basham's first flight in 1999 there was nowhere to sleep, so he and the other pilot sent a note back as soon as possible and small cots were installed inside all the bombers. "The hardest part of a marathon is not typically the physical part, it's the mental part, and a long duration sortie is like that marathon," he said. After debriefing back at base in Missouri, he returned home from the 31-hour mission, and remembers cracking a beer at 9am, sitting in a recliner and watching TV. That afternoon it was his turn to mow the lawn, and before the sun had set he had returned to normal life. General Basham flew B-2 bombers for about nine years and took part in multiple missions that spanned more than 30 hours. Colonel Deaile flew B-2s from 1998 to 2002 but Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan would be the only long-distance mission he would take part in. "I've never said I want to crawl in the cockpit and be there again for two days," he said. "Once was enough." Last week's mission into Iran involved seven of America's 19 B-2 bombers. Operation Midnight Hammer was shrouded in deception and secrecy. A separate package of decoy bombers was sent west over the Pacific, and were picked up by keen flight trackers and reported by news outlets. But the main strike team headed east undetected, catching even the most experienced aviators off guard. "I should have realised that, no, there was something else going on. "That's how well this was executed." The aircraft unloaded more than a dozen Massive Ordnance Penetrators, also known as bunker busters, on the Iranian nuclear facilities. The weapons, weighing 30,000 pounds (13.6 tonnes), had never been used before in combat. General Basham said he remembers the "clunk" he felt when releasing weapons from the aircraft, but he had never carried a bomb that came even close to that weight. "I look forward to hearing from the pilots one day [about] dropping a 30,000-pound bomb, because that's a significant amount of weight to lose in a short amount of time," he said. There have been questions over the impact the 14 bunker buster bombs had on their targets. CNN and other outlets reported on a leaked early US intelligence assessment that suggested the strikes only set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months. President Donald Trump and his administration have attacked the outlets and journalists who reported on the early assessment, accusing them of insulting the aviators. "I think CNN ought to apologise to the pilots of the B-2s, I think MSNBC ought to apologise. Cable networks are real losers, you're gutless losers," the president said. He has repeatedly said the strikes "obliterated" the desired targets and his defence secretary held a press conference to rebut the reports. Retired now at 59, General Basham said he didn't think the pilots would be bothered by the political drama unfolding. "They're not gonna worry about those things," he said. "There's the political world and the policy world – that's not the world we live in. "We live in the world where we're asked to do a mission, we did our mission successfully, we'll let others determine the efficacy of that. "But in the end I couldn't be more proud of the pilots, the maintainers, the planners, the intelligence community, everyone, and what they did to make this happen."
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- The Advertiser
How inheriting a dog named Jeffrey changed a young woman's life
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76.
