Latest news with #OAM
7NEWS
4 days ago
- 7NEWS
Family of outback murderer Bradley John Murdoch remember him as ‘devoted father, father-in-law, and proud Poppy'
One of Australia's most famous outback murderers has died while serving a life sentence for the murder of a British backpacker in the early 2000s. Bradley John Murdoch died in palliative care on Tuesday night. According to his family, the 67-year-old had lung cancer that had spread to his brain. On Wednesday, lawyer Christopher Dale OAM released a statement on behalf of the family, who described him as a 'deeply loved' and 'deeply missed' man. 'To many, Bradley Murdoch is known only for the events that led to his conviction in 2005 for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, a crime for which he has always denied responsibility from his arrest until his death,' the statement said. 'But to those who truly knew him, he was much more than the headlines. 'Brad was a devoted father, father-in-law, and proud Poppy who never missed a chance to brag about his grandchildren. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and friends.' In 2001, Peter Falconio, 28, and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, were driving about 300km from Alice Springs, when they were flagged down by Murdoch, who claimed the car the couple was driving had mechanical issues. Murdoch protested that he was innocent in the shooting murder of Falconio, but was found guilty in 2005 and sentenced to 28 years, or life, without parole. 'Throughout his years in custody, Brad was well liked and respected by fellow inmates and correctional officers alike,' the statement from the family said. 'He earned the affectionate title of 'Uncle' from many Indigenous prisoners, recognising his efforts to offer guidance, support, and practical help whenever he could. 'Brad had a generous spirit. He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold, known for his quick wit, his talent for fixing or building just about anything, and his incredible skills in the kitchen. 'Above all, he was someone who, no matter the circumstances, always extended a helping hand to those around him. 'Following the broadcast of the television series Murder in the Outback in 2020, which questioned key aspects of the case that led to his conviction, Brad believed there was one final avenue of hope: a Petition for Mercy. 'For three years, Brad placed his trust in former criminal lawyer Andrew Fraser, who acted as his legal representative and claimed to be working closely with a team of three King Counsels to draft the petition. 'It was later revealed that all three KCs had not been involved in Brad's matter for years. 'This revelation was a crushing blow to Brad, who had clung to that hope in good faith. 'We understand that the public perception of Bradley will always be shaped by his conviction, but our intention is simply to share the man we knew, the version of him that was rarely, if ever, seen beyond our family and close friends. 'He was deeply loved. He will be deeply missed.' Despite various police searches in the last 20 years, Falconio's body has never been found. The NT introduced a 'no body no parole' law in 2016, preventing people convicted of murder from being able to qualify for parole unless they give up the location of the victim's body. Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This exploration of love is what we need right now
Despite it feeling like the world has gone mad, politically at least, there are always examples of love in our midst. It's an idea that inspired Dr Nur Shkembi's extraordinary new show, Five Acts of Love. 'In this current moment, it is difficult not to see love in proximity to the tumult and turmoil of the world,' she says. 'We see love manifesting in great numbers, as solidarity between friends, communities and between complete strangers in various movements across the globe. We also see the love of individuals, and of humanity, or even nature, as a form of resistance, ever evolving, anew.' Walking into the cavernous, darkened space at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, featuring each work spotlit with the light creating shapes and shadows on the floor, it feels almost like theatre. That's precisely what Shkembi intended. 'Even your eyes having to adjust, it takes a moment. So you do slow down in the space and kind of immerse [yourself]. That's the magic of exhibition-making,' she says. 'You have to move your body and move to engage with [the works]; it changes the way you move through the gallery.' An extraordinary array of art is featured, some new, some old, made by many of this country's top artists: Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Hoda Afshar, Megan Cope, Eugenia Flynn, D Harding, Saodat Ismailova, Khaled Sabsabi, Larissa Sansour and Søren Lind, Yhonnie Scarce, Ali Tahayori and the late Hossein Valamanesh. Loading 'There is a lot of vulnerability; the artists are sharing very deeply personal histories, personal struggles, speaking to identity and also different forms of intimacy,' Shkembi says. The works speak about family, memory, grief, yearning and resilience. The fact Shkembi works regularly with many of the artists adds another dimension, according to Shelley McSpedden, senior curator at ACCA. Shkembi, who received an OAM for outstanding service to visual arts this year, worked with McSpedden and Dr Emma Clarke, then ACCA's First Nations curator, to create the exhibition. Clarke has since moved to the NGV as head of Indigenous art.
The Age
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
This exploration of love is what we need right now
Despite it feeling like the world has gone mad, politically at least, there are always examples of love in our midst. It's an idea that inspired Dr Nur Shkembi's extraordinary new show, Five Acts of Love. 'In this current moment, it is difficult not to see love in proximity to the tumult and turmoil of the world,' she says. 'We see love manifesting in great numbers, as solidarity between friends, communities and between complete strangers in various movements across the globe. We also see the love of individuals, and of humanity, or even nature, as a form of resistance, ever evolving, anew.' Walking into the cavernous, darkened space at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, featuring each work spotlit with the light creating shapes and shadows on the floor, it feels almost like theatre. That's precisely what Shkembi intended. 'Even your eyes having to adjust, it takes a moment. So you do slow down in the space and kind of immerse [yourself]. That's the magic of exhibition-making,' she says. 'You have to move your body and move to engage with [the works]; it changes the way you move through the gallery.' An extraordinary array of art is featured, some new, some old, made by many of this country's top artists: Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Hoda Afshar, Megan Cope, Eugenia Flynn, D Harding, Saodat Ismailova, Khaled Sabsabi, Larissa Sansour and Søren Lind, Yhonnie Scarce, Ali Tahayori and the late Hossein Valamanesh. Loading 'There is a lot of vulnerability; the artists are sharing very deeply personal histories, personal struggles, speaking to identity and also different forms of intimacy,' Shkembi says. The works speak about family, memory, grief, yearning and resilience. The fact Shkembi works regularly with many of the artists adds another dimension, according to Shelley McSpedden, senior curator at ACCA. Shkembi, who received an OAM for outstanding service to visual arts this year, worked with McSpedden and Dr Emma Clarke, then ACCA's First Nations curator, to create the exhibition. Clarke has since moved to the NGV as head of Indigenous art.
The Age
02-07-2025
- General
- The Age
Royal ruse is still an honour
'My name appeared in the recent King's Birthday 2025 Honours List, but it was not me,' says David Pigott of North Parramatta. 'However, I received a letter from my local club congratulating me on being awarded an OAM. I intend to frame the letter. Fellow C8-ers, mum's the word.' Brian Byrne of Flinders can get a little hung up on redundant terminology at times: 'The Bride and I had a chuckle when I opined that, in this weather, roofers' phones would be 'ringing off the hook'. We had to agree that the only valid word in this statement was 'the'.' Doing Tuesday's Superquiz, I learned that death cap mushrooms (very topical) were introduced to Australia,' notes Joe Barry of Lalor Park. 'The question is why?' Ian Costley of Belrose gets across the animal pedestrian (C8) discussion: 'Some years ago, visiting Tokyo, I noticed a group of police waiting patiently on the side of a six-lane freeway opposite the Imperial Palace with barricades, ready to close the road. My driver explained that it is an annual event when a mother duck and her ducklings decide to cross to the Imperial gardens. Lucky duck.' 'Cars and tool sheds are but two of many cane toad (C8) mitigation strategies,' reckons Tim Ingall of Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. 'Young lads working in the cane fields were known to play 'cane toad golf' at night with a 9-iron after a can or three of XXXX.' George Zivkovic of Northmead now provides his Gilligan's Island right of reply: 'Granny, with respect to those Gilligan's Island (C8) savants, alI I can say is that Casey Jones and Maynard G Krebs must have met on the mainland before deciding to move to Honolulu and team up and run that charter boat. I'm only disappointed that McHale and the crew of the PT73 didn't rescue the castaways.' 'With all this talk of Gilligan's Island, the unanswered question is: 'What happened to Ginger (who was allergic to cats)?'' asks Pasquale Vartuli of Wahroonga. We can report that Ginger (Tina Louise) is the last living castaway, at the ripe old age of 91. The last time Granny saw her strut her stuff was as Brad Pitt's record producer in the indie flick Johnny Suede.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-07-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Royal ruse is still an honour
'My name appeared in the recent King's Birthday 2025 Honours List, but it was not me,' says David Pigott of North Parramatta. 'However, I received a letter from my local club congratulating me on being awarded an OAM. I intend to frame the letter. Fellow C8-ers, mum's the word.' Brian Byrne of Flinders can get a little hung up on redundant terminology at times: 'The Bride and I had a chuckle when I opined that, in this weather, roofers' phones would be 'ringing off the hook'. We had to agree that the only valid word in this statement was 'the'.' Doing Tuesday's Superquiz, I learned that death cap mushrooms (very topical) were introduced to Australia,' notes Joe Barry of Lalor Park. 'The question is why?' Ian Costley of Belrose gets across the animal pedestrian (C8) discussion: 'Some years ago, visiting Tokyo, I noticed a group of police waiting patiently on the side of a six-lane freeway opposite the Imperial Palace with barricades, ready to close the road. My driver explained that it is an annual event when a mother duck and her ducklings decide to cross to the Imperial gardens. Lucky duck.' 'Cars and tool sheds are but two of many cane toad (C8) mitigation strategies,' reckons Tim Ingall of Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. 'Young lads working in the cane fields were known to play 'cane toad golf' at night with a 9-iron after a can or three of XXXX.' George Zivkovic of Northmead now provides his Gilligan's Island right of reply: 'Granny, with respect to those Gilligan's Island (C8) savants, alI I can say is that Casey Jones and Maynard G Krebs must have met on the mainland before deciding to move to Honolulu and team up and run that charter boat. I'm only disappointed that McHale and the crew of the PT73 didn't rescue the castaways.' 'With all this talk of Gilligan's Island, the unanswered question is: 'What happened to Ginger (who was allergic to cats)?'' asks Pasquale Vartuli of Wahroonga. We can report that Ginger (Tina Louise) is the last living castaway, at the ripe old age of 91. The last time Granny saw her strut her stuff was as Brad Pitt's record producer in the indie flick Johnny Suede.
