Latest news with #MelJones
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Station worker's 'remarkable' recovery from rare Murray Valley encephalitis
A young station worker who contracted a rare mosquito-borne virus while working in outback Queensland is making a remarkable recovery after a four-month battle for survival. Isaac Pearce spent 126 days in intensive care after becoming infected with Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) while working near Normanton, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, early this year. The 25-year-old walked out of the Townsville University Hospital ICU last week, and will continue his rehabilitation at Rockhampton Hospital. Mr Pearce is one of just three people in Queensland to be infected with the deadly disease in the past five years, Queensland health figures show. Mr Pearce's mother, Mel Jones, said her son had to learn to walk again. "His stomach stopped working, he couldn't swallow, and it's messed with his heart," she said. Mr Pearce was found unconscious after complaining of a headache while working at a cattle station. He was flown to Townsville Hospital on February 14 , with swelling and inflammation of the brain, and placed on life support. Mr Pearce thanked the medical staff who helped him pull through. "It was pretty rough and even though I was a bit mean sometimes, people still cared," he said. Townsville Hospital and Health Service ICU clinical director Siva Senthuran described the recovery as "remarkable". Infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Professor Paul Griffin said MVE was one of a number of mosquito-borne viruses that could, in rare cares, cause inflammation of the brain. Professor Griffin said mortality rates could be up to 20 per cent, and noted experts were concerned about a rise in mosquito-borne diseases, as the climate changed. "There can be lasting consequences, including not returning to the same level of brain function afterwards or even not surviving that infection," he said. "It's a timely reminder to take steps to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes where we see activity of this virus." Dr Senthuran said while it would take months for Mr Pearce to recover, he was progressing faster than expected. Mr Pearce said his transfer to Rockhampton Hospital would mean he could continue his recovery closer to his home and family in Gladstone.
Int'l Cricket Council
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Blockbuster commentary panel revealed for the Ultimate Test
Former Australia star Mel Jones was excited at the prospect of calling a South Africa-Australia clash in a Test final. 'Test cricket continues to deliver some of the most captivating stories in our sport, and this WTC Final at Lord's promises to be another. South Africa and Australia both bring rich traditions and exciting talent to the pitch. 'It is a privilege to call this match from the commentary box, and I am sure fans around the world are in for an unforgettable Test.' Jiostar will be producing a Hindi feed from their production hub in Mumbai to be aired across the Star Sports Network and JioHotstar. Commentary talent feature Anant Tyagi, Abhinav Mukund, Varun Aaron, Sanjay Banger and Aakash Chopra. Deep Dasgupta will lead the coverage from the venue, anchoring the pre- and post-match presentations while also contributing to live match analysis and commentary. His presence on-ground brings viewers closer to the action on and off the field. With Sunset+Vine as production services partner and NEP as equipment services partner, the ICC TV's production will feature a minimum of 48 cameras, complemented by an array of analytical tools and visual enhancements to elevate the broadcast experience. High-speed fixed cameras, Spidercam, and Batcam will be among the range of specialty cameras to be deployed for the coverage. The High-speed fixed cameras from BBG Sports, will capture the pivotal moments of cricketing action in detail, Spidercam will deliver its iconic aerial coverage, whereas Batcam will give a sweeping aerial view via drone and ground-level visuals with a roving buggy cam, thus enhancing the viewing experience. To help with accurate and efficient decision-making by match officials, the Decision Review System (DRS) will be in place, along with Hawk-Eye's Smart Replay system. Hawk-Eye will also provide Piero graphics, adding deeper tactical insights and analysis. On-air graphics will be delivered by AE Live, with in-depth cricket data and analytics from CricViz enhancing the broadcast storytelling with key statistics and insights. To illustrate fielding positions and strategies in real time, Quidich Innovation Labs will provide the Field Plot and Field 360° virtual field model. Beyond live match coverage, ICC TV will also produce a wide range of non-live content, including daily player profiles, team features, match-day previews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, giving fans an all-access look at the stories unfolding on and off the field. These will be available on the ICC social channels and the official website,
Otago Daily Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Oamaru businesses get makeover
Three Oamaru businesses have had a makeover as part of a city-centre revitalisation project. Thames St businesses Soul, Surf & Skate, Spark and Morcomm Systems Ltd have had the top level of their two-storey building facades painted. The makeover is part of the Central Oamaru Masterplan, the fourth in five community-led projects aimed at revitalising the town centre. Waitaki District Council community and economic development manager Mel Jones said the project was about protecting the heritage of the buildings and to generate more foot traffic. "Each building has undergone careful restoration and received a fresh coat of paint, adding colour and energy to the street while remaining true to its historic roots. "It is about how can we get more interest and more people into the CBD," she said. Mrs Jones said the facade improvement project was due to the efforts of many business owners and the council team that included Virginia Barlow (VBA Ltd), Kristina Lowe (McBrimar), Laura Byars (National Group), and council officers David Campbell and Chloe Searle. "The collaborative project with building owners was developed on the go and was about how do we build trust and move forward together," Mrs Jones said. She said in the "tough economic climate" it made sense to work collaboratively with business owners to make the budget go further and to encourage co-operation. "It's great they can all work together with different ideals, but it all blends together." Funding for the project has come from a combination of contributions by building owners, $15,000 from the Waitaki Heritage Fund, and the government's Better Off Funding. The next phase of the Facade Improvement community-led project is the repair and restoration of the building verandas and the installation of new signs. The final cost of the project will be known upon completion, Mrs Jones said. Painter Peter Keogh has been working with the business owners to help paint and restore the facades, she said. The MorComm Systems Ltd building was originally designed in 1879 by architect Thomas Forrester as a store for bookseller James Cagney. MorComm building co-owner Shirley Morris said they had "wanted to restore their building for some time but there had always been other priorities". "Working with the project team has been great. we were able to bounce ideas off each other and collaborate on things like shared scaffolding, which made the work easier and more cost-effective for everyone," Mrs Morris said. The online community reaction to the project has been divided, with some questioning whether the government Better Off funding could have been better spent on more vital services such as water, while other Oamaru residents were more positive about the upgrade. "These buildings look stunning, well done to the business owners," one person posted. Another said "the paint job is world class". Mrs Jones hoped the project would inspire other heritage building owners to consider facade renovations. Three other projects have been completed to date as part of the CBD revitalisation initiative, the Underland Artscape Trail Moa murals at Oamaru Creek; the lower Thames St streetscape pilot and a Heritage Building forum.
Otago Daily Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Facades restored as Oamaru businesses get makeover
Three Oamaru businesses have had a makeover as part of a city-centre revitalisation project. Thames St businesses Soul, Surf & Skate, Spark and Morcomm Systems Ltd have had the top level of their two-storey building facades painted. The makeover is part of the Central Oamaru Masterplan, the fourth in five community-led projects aimed at revitalising the town centre. Waitaki District Council community and economic development manager Mel Jones said the project was about protecting the heritage of the buildings and to generate more foot traffic. "Each building has undergone careful restoration and received a fresh coat of paint, adding colour and energy to the street while remaining true to its historic roots. "It is about how can we get more interest and more people into the CBD," she said. Mrs Jones said the facade improvement project was due to the efforts of many business owners and the council team that included Virginia Barlow (VBA Ltd), Kristina Lowe (McBrimar), Laura Byars (National Group), and council officers David Campbell and Chloe Searle. "The collaborative project with building owners was developed on the go and was about how do we build trust and move forward together," Mrs Jones said. She said in the "tough economic climate" it made sense to work collaboratively with business owners to make the budget go further and to encourage co-operation. "It's great they can all work together with different ideals, but it all blends together." Funding for the project has come from a combination of contributions by building owners, $15,000 from the Waitaki Heritage Fund, and the government's Better Off Funding. The next phase of the Facade Improvement community-led project is the repair and restoration of the building verandas and the installation of new signs. The final cost of the project will be known upon completion, Mrs Jones said. Painter Peter Keogh has been working with the business owners to help paint and restore the facades, she said. The MorComm Systems Ltd building was originally designed in 1879 by architect Thomas Forrester as a store for bookseller James Cagney. MorComm building co-owner Shirley Morris said they had "wanted to restore their building for some time but there had always been other priorities". "Working with the project team has been great. we were able to bounce ideas off each other and collaborate on things like shared scaffolding, which made the work easier and more cost-effective for everyone," Mrs Morris said. The online community reaction to the project has been divided, with some questioning whether the government Better Off funding could have been better spent on more vital services such as water, while other Oamaru residents were more positive about the upgrade. "These buildings look stunning, well done to the business owners," one person posted. Another said "the paint job is world class". Mrs Jones hoped the project would inspire other heritage building owners to consider facade renovations. Three other projects have been completed to date as part of the CBD revitalisation initiative, the Underland Artscape Trail Moa murals at Oamaru Creek; the lower Thames St streetscape pilot and a Heritage Building forum.
TTG
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TTG
Gary Barlow discovers how Melbourne is a ‘bit different'
The Take That lead singer going Down Under for the second series of his Food and Wine Tour and in the second episode Melbourne, Victoria takes centre stage. From racing tractors through stunning vineyards to ocean aged bottles of wine stored in underwater wine cellars, the singer experiences the very best of this compact state. Barlow's Victorian adventure starts in Melbourne, a sports-mad city known for its unbeatable music, art, unmistakable sporting landmarks and coffee culture. Long term friend Minogue welcomes Barlow to her hometown, where they meet at the famous ACDC Laneway and learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee. They then head to the Mornington Peninsula to sample food and wine at one of Australia's leading cool climate wineries with the quirky name – Ten Minutes by Tractor. After this, the pair are put through their paces by Aussie cricket legend, Mel Jones, in the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) before Barlow travels to the mussel-bound waters of Port Phillip Bay to enjoy a taste of the seaside. Reflecting on his seafood adventure, Barlow said, 'I think what we've had here this afternoon, the mussels and the wine, is not just a taste of the ocean, not just a taste of Victoria, but also, what could be, my defining taste of Australia.' If you're inspired by Barlow's adventures, you can experience all the activities listed below for yourself. Tune in to ITV on 9 May 2025 to catch the episode. It will also be available on demand 24 hours after airing.
