Bo Vette-Welsh: Up here they believe if one succeeds we all succeed"
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Mt Isa teen's story published internationally thanks to outback writers' group
When teenager Jasmine Harvey received a WhatsApp message saying she would soon be an internationally published author, she thought it was a scam. "I was midway through my walk and I got a notification, my music paused … it was really just a shock." The 14-year-old from Mount Isa in Queensland's outback was one of 11 winners in an international writing competition where the prize was every writer's dream — to become a published author. "I don't think it has sunk in yet; it's still sort of a fever dream," she said. Jasmine said she has always been an enthusiastic reader but only dabbled in creative writing. So when the Mount Isa Library launched its Young Writers Group last year, she signed up. "I didn't think anyone else would be into writing," Jasmine said. The city's Young Writers Group is a fortnightly workshop for people aged 14 to 21. Facilitator Kaitlin Ryan started the program at the beginning of 2024 after noticing the library was not attracting many teenagers and young adults. "At the start, we didn't think we'd get anyone coming in [for the sessions]," Ms Ryan said. Eighteen months later, up to a dozen young people turn up at every session. Ms Ryan said it had been such a success that another group for even younger writers, aged nine to 12, had been launched. "It gives them a safe space to connect with other young people, to share the same goals and interests," she said. "And it's a skill they can take far into their lives, not just as a hobby." That has been the experience for 14-year-old Rory Jones, who joined the group last year after a friend roped him into it. He said the social aspects of the sessions had benefits beyond developing and honing writing skills. "It's kind of like therapy," Rory said. In a town centred around mining and engineering and sports-based recreational activities, the group has been a much-appreciated creative outlet for Riley Casey. At 18, she is one of the older members of the group. She said she enjoyed mentoring fellow writers in a city where the arts remained "a bit of a niche". "There's not too much out here," Ms Casey said. But as a young and hopeful writer in a remote part of the country, she was unsure what the future held for creative people her age. "I do feel slightly stuck because of the cost-of-living crisis; everything's quite expensive," she said. "How can you make a living as an artist?" Jasmine Harvey credited the support and guidance she received from the writing group with getting her short, dystopian story The Keeper published. "When I started, I wasn't ready to share anything at all that I had written, but then I could slowly share stuff with other people, I could get feedback," she said. The Once Upon In Our Minds competition was founded in 2022 by a fellow writer, 11-year-old Ridhhaan Jaiin. Jasmine, determined to get her work to a wider audience, found the competition while researching opportunities for young writers online. Aspiring writers aged five to 16 from across the globe submit their short stories according to three age categories. The winning works are published in a collection available for purchase online. Jasmine's 2,500-word story features alongside the winning collection of 11 short stories, in the competition's third iteration. Competition organisers said her story stood out for its originality and emotional resonance, securing her a well-deserved spot among the winners. Each day, the teenager eagerly awaits the delivery of a physical copy of her first published work. "I haven't had a copy in my hands yet; it's still sort of surprising," she said.
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Cause of death revealed as Julian McMahon, 56, dies after private battle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australian actor Julian McMahon has sadly passed away at the age of 56. The beloved actor died on Thursday in Clearwater, Florida, after a private battle with cancer, his wife, Kelly, confirmed in a statement to Deadline. 'With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer,' she said in a statement to Deadline. Actor Julian McMahon has died aged 56. Picture:'Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible. We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. And we wish for all of those to whom Julian brought joy, to continue to find joy in life. We are grateful for the memories.' McMahon's acting career began in 1989, with a role on the short-lived Australian soap opera The Power, The Passion before landing a stint on Home and Away. The actor then made the move to the US where he achieved success on various TV shows. McMahon was well-loved both in both the US and Australia. Here with Swinging Safari co-stars Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue, Asher Keddie. Picture: Jonathan Ng He was cast in Another World, in 1993, followed by recurring roles Profiler, Charmed, and, his most famous role yet, Nip/Tuck, which ran for six seasons, . McMahon with Nip/Tuck co-star Dylan Walsh. Picture:McMahon scored a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Nip/Tuck. In the plastic surgery drama, McMahon played Dr. Christian Troy, earning himself a Golden Globe nomination for this portrayal in the series. Most recently, he starred in the Stan Original Film The Surfer, which was filmed in Australia and co-starred Nicolas Cage. His father was Former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon. Picture: Bob Finlayson His mother was beloved philanthropist Lady Sonia McMahon. The Aussie star's last role came earlier this year in Netflix's White House mystery drama The Residence. McMahon with wife Kelly Paniagua. Picture:He was also married to Dannii Minogue from 1994 to 1995. Picture: Getty The actor with second wife Brooke Burns. Picture: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images In the series, he played the character of Stephen Roos, who is portrayed as the Australian Prime Minister. Notably, McMahon's real-life father, Sir William McMahon, also served as Prime Minister of Australia. His mother was the late philanthropist Lady Sonia McMahon. The actor was also married to singer and actress Dannii Minogue, who he met on the set of Home and Away in 1991. They were married from 1994 to 1995. McMahon was also married to former Baywatch star Brooke Burns from 1999 to 2001. Together, they share a daughter, Madison Elizabeth, 25. He went on to marry his wife Kelly in 2014. Originally published as Cause of death revealed as Julian McMahon, 56, dies after private battle
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Peter Snowden unearths spring contender with Raging Force bringing up hat-trick at Rosehill
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Raging Force, Sydney's winter two-year-old sprint find, seems destined for stardom after another exciting win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Champion jockey Tommy Berry is the number one ticketholder in Raging Force's growing fan club after a dominant win in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m). Berry said the promising young sprinter is simply 'too good' to be racing at this stage of the season. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Raging Force definitely has stakes potential,' Berry said. 'He is still learning his craft but I loved the way he took that gap in the straight. 'He still has to make more improvement which I think he will. He's improving with every start and you don't see how good they are until they race against the better quality of horses because that brings the best out of them.' Trained by the maestro Peter Snowden, Raging Force was confidently backed into $1.70 favouritism and completed a hat-trick of wins when he scored easily by 2¼ lengths from Horseshoe Hill ($7) with nearly three lengths to Lull ($21) third. Raging Force showed promise at the early season barrier trials but pulled up sore when unplaced on debut in the Breeders Plate. Snowden gave the two-year-old plenty of time to recover and waited until winter to take the gelding back to the races, winning the Red Crown at Muswellbrook first-up, then winning by a big margin at the Kensington midweeks before making the rise to Sydney Saturday grade look routine. 'Raging Force was very good today,' Berry said. 'I was very proud of the way he reacted to the situation that unfolded in the first furlong and a half. 'When he jumped so well I was a bit positive to try and hold that lead but they went quick and I let them cross. 'He got his head up for two or three strides but then came back under me. It just shows his versatility, how 'smart' he is now and how much he is willing to work with us. 'I could have sent him to the line without the stick today but I did that last time and I thought I would help him find the line as he has tougher tasks ahead. 'I still feel he will be better at 1200m and 1400m when he can get into a rhythm, relax, and it is not all 100 miles an hour. He is simply too good for them at the moment.' Raging Force continues the outstanding season of leading syndicator Scott Darby of Darby Racing which has already yielded more than 100 winners including the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes, Group 2 wins in The Ingham, Shannon Stakes, and Ajax Stakes, Group 3 wins in the Sydney Stakes, Brisbane Cup, Sweet Embrace Stakes, Newcastle Stakes, Parramatta Cup, Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Liverpool City Cup, plus a host of Listed races. 'I purchased Raging Force at the Classic Sale for $150,000. We bought him purely on type, he is a lovely horse,' Darby said. 'He will have two weeks off then we will plan a spring campaign for him.' The promising rising three-year-old is a son of Snowden's former crack sprinter Cosmic Force, winner of the 2019 Pago Pago Stakes by seven lengths before finishing unplaced as favourite to Kiamichi in the Golden Slipper. Snowden wasn't on track at Rosehill but his stable representative Aaron Lau confirmed there are plans to set Raging Force for some of the better three-year-old races in spring. 'We're going to tip him out for a couple of weeks. Obviously, the spring isn't far, it will be on our doorstep very shortly,' Lau said. 'We just wanted to get today over and done with and see where he stood. He was up against a few last start winners and Bjorn's horse (Baker, trainer of Horseshoe Hill) goes very well, as does Blake Ryan's, he rates his horse (Just Awesome) as well so it was nice to see Raging Force do it today. 'He's got a great attitude, a lovely, big action and he's probably better on top of the ground as well. He's very progressive and it's exciting going forward.' Raging Force's hat-trick of winter wins means he is 'officially in the black' with nearly $170,000 prizemoney – and the promise of a lot more to come. Berry said Raging Force's improvement from race to race was evident in the first 200m of his Rosehill Win. 'All he wants to do is relax and when he jumped he put his head straight on his chest but I thought we will end up three pairs back on the fence so I had to push him along to hold the lead,' he said. 'Then they wanted to go too quick so I asked him to come back and after a couple of strides he was sweet. 'I stayed about a length and a half back so I had options to go around them if I needed but I could see Regan's horse (Bayliss on Just Awesome) runs around a bit. I thought he is going to give us some room at some point and he did. 'But I think Pete's masterstroke was to take him away to Muswellbrook and then even after that another trip away to Wyong for the trials as education. 'He may have still won those two races anyway but I don't think he would have executed as well today if he had not had those trips away.' Originally published as Tommy Berry declares Raging Force a stakes contender as gelding brings up hat-trick with impressive win at Rosehill
