Latest news with #Podmore
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inside the search for missing backpacker Carolina Wilga
Police found the 1995 Mitsubishi Delica had run into mechanical problems, and believed Wilga had tried to use recovery board and bits of wood to free the car, which had become bogged in a patch of mud. However, like in Podmore's case, there was no sign of the backpacker. Details about the ensuing days remain a mystery, but the hunt for Wilga came to an end on Friday when she was rescued by a station owner returning from Beacon along a remote bush road. Tania Henley told media Wilga stumbled out from the bushes and waved her down. Wilga has offered little insight into her 11 nights in the bush, but said she survived by sleeping in a cave, drinking from puddles and using the sun as her guide. Loading Bush survivalist instructor Mike Cook said it was clear the backpacker had luck on her side. 'It's a harsh environment, and it's quite difficult to navigate without aids … it's difficult to get any sort of sense of where you are, if you're not familiar with solar navigation,' he said. 'It sounds like she had some idea about trying to sort of pick a direction and head west after she decided to leave her car.' Cook said any traveller looking to drive east in WA should be conscious of the lack of water in the region as it borders the desert. 'You have to go with the mindset that if you did break down, you should be right for a solid week, at least with sufficient water and stuff like that,' he said. Wilga's van was stocked with days' worth of food and water. The traveller said she was disorientated when she decided to walk away from the area carrying no supplies. Searchers confirmed the bushland was hard going, with low shrubbery and very little distinct terrain to help someone who was lost. Posting to social media from Fiona Stanley Hospital on Tuesday, Wilga joked she would need to gain '12 kilos back' after her ordeal, but still has not spoken about what she went through. Celebrity agent and public relations expert Max Markson said the backpacker, who spent her fifth night in hospital on Tuesday, would probably be fielding calls from media outlets across the country wanting to share her story, with Nine's 60 Minutes and Seven's Spotlight showing interest. Loading 'They're the ones who would do the story and do it properly – as opposed to 15 minutes, they'd do 30 minutes of television,' he said. Markson said Wilga could ask for between $50,000 and $100,000 to exclusively share her ordeal. 'I think it's really important to have someone who can not just represent her for this deal, but for other deals that will happen – I'm sure there'll be a magazine deal at one stage,' he said.
The Age
4 days ago
- The Age
Inside the search for missing backpacker Carolina Wilga
Police found the 1995 Mitsubishi Delica had run into mechanical problems, and believed Wilga had tried to use recovery board and bits of wood to free the car, which had become bogged in a patch of mud. However, like in Podmore's case, there was no sign of the backpacker. Details about the ensuing days remain a mystery, but the hunt for Wilga came to an end on Friday when she was rescued by a station owner returning from Beacon along a remote bush road. Tania Henley told media Wilga stumbled out from the bushes and waved her down. Wilga has offered little insight into her 11 nights in the bush, but said she survived by sleeping in a cave, drinking from puddles and using the sun as her guide. Loading Bush survivalist instructor Mike Cook said it was clear the backpacker had luck on her side. 'It's a harsh environment, and it's quite difficult to navigate without aids … it's difficult to get any sort of sense of where you are, if you're not familiar with solar navigation,' he said. 'It sounds like she had some idea about trying to sort of pick a direction and head west after she decided to leave her car.' Cook said any traveller looking to drive east in WA should be conscious of the lack of water in the region as it borders the desert. 'You have to go with the mindset that if you did break down, you should be right for a solid week, at least with sufficient water and stuff like that,' he said. Wilga's van was stocked with days' worth of food and water. The traveller said she was disorientated when she decided to walk away from the area carrying no supplies. Searchers confirmed the bushland was hard going, with low shrubbery and very little distinct terrain to help someone who was lost. Posting to social media from Fiona Stanley Hospital on Tuesday, Wilga joked she would need to gain '12 kilos back' after her ordeal, but still has not spoken about what she went through. Celebrity agent and public relations expert Max Markson said the backpacker, who spent her fifth night in hospital on Tuesday, would probably be fielding calls from media outlets across the country wanting to share her story, with Nine's 60 Minutes and Seven's Spotlight showing interest. Loading 'They're the ones who would do the story and do it properly – as opposed to 15 minutes, they'd do 30 minutes of television,' he said. Markson said Wilga could ask for between $50,000 and $100,000 to exclusively share her ordeal. 'I think it's really important to have someone who can not just represent her for this deal, but for other deals that will happen – I'm sure there'll be a magazine deal at one stage,' he said.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Island Spice food truck catches fire, rendered unusable, owner says
CHICOPEE — Dee Fernando, owner of Sri Lankan restaurant Island Spice, said her food truck caught fire Thursday morning while on the way to a catering event. Fernando was emotional as she relayed information to a reporter about what had happened. 'My cousin was driving the truck, and I was in the back when it started smoking,' she said, in tears. The food truck, which has been up and running since 2022, is unusable, she said. 'This truck was more than a kitchen on wheels — it was a piece of our heart and your community,' a Facebook post about the fire said. Fernando said she spent thousands of dollars getting the proper equipment for the truck to protect it from fires and to make sure it was up to code. The truck started smoking while Fernando was on her way to a catering gig at the University of Massachusetts Amherst between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., said Stacey Podmore, a family friend. Podmore reported the claim to Island Spice's insurance company and had been with the family for a few hours, sorting out next steps. 'I'm not sure how much it will cost to replace it all,' Fernando said. Podmore explained Fernando had recently purchased other new equipment and lost out on the UMass Amherst job. There were no injuries in the fire. 'Health-wise, everyone's OK, but there's devastation otherwise,' Podmore said. 'The family has been through so much. It's just one thing after another.' The brick-and-mortar Island Spice restaurant is in Chicopee center. Lawmakers decry FirstLight dam's 300-gallon oil spill into Conn. River UMass Amherst designated 'hostile campus' by Council on American Islamic Relations Religion Notes: June 5, 2025 Springfield first in the state to propose regulations banning 'gas station weed' Read the original article on MassLive.
Otago Daily Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Podmore inquest: Family condemn sports leadership
The mother and stepfather of Olivia Podmore say Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport NZ chose medals over the welfare of their daughter. This week saw the final few days of the coronial inquest into the death of the former Olympic cyclist. Six months of harrowing evidence revealed the enormous pressure she was under after unwittingly exposing an affair between a coach and another athlete - leading to stigma and isolation within her team. Olivia died in a suspected suicide in 2021, one day after the Tokyo Olympics - which she wasn't selected for - ended. A subsequent investigation into Cycling New Zealand (Cycling NZ) revealed bullying and a lack of accountability. Olivia's mother Nienke and her stepfather Chris Middleton told RNZ's Susie Ferguson on the Saturday Morning programme that the inquest revealed the institutions responsible for elite athlete care prioritised medals and image over well-being. "You think, how could it possibly be allowed to happen in this modern time? You know what's going on, yet they turned a blind eye." Though Cycling NZ and HPSNZ expressed remorse during the inquest, her parents questioned the sincerity. The coroner's findings are expected in the coming months, but the inquest has already revealed an alarming number of red flags. A 2018 independent review revealed a litany of failings - not just among Cycling NZ's leadership, but deep systemic issues in the wider high-performance system. Despite this, the report was "amended" by the national body ahead of the report's publication to exclude key details documenting the treatment of Podmore. For Olivia's family, this pattern of ignored complaints and censorship raises a key question. Why now? Parents doubt promised reforms Despite Cycling NZ and HPSNZ's insistence that athlete well-being is now a top priority, Nienke and Chris said they have little faith in real change within the organisation. The inquest revealed repeated missed opportunities to support Olivia. Emails were sent. Concerns were raised. But little was done. "There were quite a few, people that tried to alert people at the top. But it just got stonewalled every time." Both organisations issued public statements asserting that athlete wellbeing is now central to their strategy. HPSNZ said it has "significantly reshaped its systems" since 2021, while Cycling NZ told the inquest Olivia's experience "should never have happened." But the Middletons are calling for deeper accountability, including independent oversight and changes in leadership. "How do you suddenly change your culture and become a whole different beast? "The advice wasn't taken then. So why would it be different? 'The whistleblower was blamed' - isolation and rumours Among the most heartbreaking revelations of the inquest was how Podmore was treated after exposing a coach-athlete affair. Team dynamics shifted sharply, with Podmore becoming isolated from peers and unsupported by staff. She was subjected to social exclusion and persistent rumours. "One of the things that people don't realise... after this coach-athlete affair was that for quite a few years - because they had named suppression like people actually thought Olivia was the one having the affair," Nienke said. "So it was not only did she have the shame of being the whistleblower... she had the shame of that as well. A double whammy, if you like." She believed the emotional strain was compounded by this distortion of events. 'She did everything right' Nienke said her daughter did everything right, and despite battling stigma and rejection she kept training and racing. "I'm just surprised that throughout this process with everything that was going on that she didn't actually lose her composure at all on the track or in the cycling environment. "Whereas if it was myself, I probably would have, there would have been some big outburst or... but she never ever lost her load." Although proud of her daughter, Nienke said, in the end, Olivia was exhausted by the system she trusted. "She's never had a proper platform to showcase how talented she was at cycling. "She's never actually gone into an Olympic cycle with a proper chance and a clean slate to show what she can do." Where to get help Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@ What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Otago Daily Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Podmore inquest: sports leadership 'turned a blind eye'
The mother and stepfather of Olivia Podmore say Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport NZ chose medals over the welfare of their daughter. This week saw the final few days of the coronial inquest into the death of the former Olympic cyclist. Six months of harrowing evidence revealed the enormous pressure she was under after unwittingly exposing an affair between a coach and another athlete - leading to stigma and isolation within her team. Olivia died in a suspected suicide in 2021, one day after the Tokyo Olympics - which she wasn't selected for - ended. A subsequent investigation into Cycling New Zealand (Cycling NZ) revealed bullying and a lack of accountability. Olivia's mother Nienke and her stepfather Chris Middleton told RNZ's Susie Ferguson on the Saturday Morning programme that the inquest revealed the institutions responsible for elite athlete care prioritised medals and image over well-being. "You think, how could it possibly be allowed to happen in this modern time? You know what's going on, yet they turned a blind eye." Though Cycling NZ and HPSNZ expressed remorse during the inquest, her parents questioned the sincerity. The coroner's findings are expected in the coming months, but the inquest has already revealed an alarming number of red flags. A 2018 independent review revealed a litany of failings - not just among Cycling NZ's leadership, but deep systemic issues in the wider high-performance system. Despite this, the report was "amended" by the national body ahead of the report's publication to exclude key details documenting the treatment of Podmore. For Olivia's family, this pattern of ignored complaints and censorship raises a key question. Why now? Parents doubt promised reforms Despite Cycling NZ and HPSNZ's insistence that athlete well-being is now a top priority, Nienke and Chris said they have little faith in real change within the organisation. The inquest revealed repeated missed opportunities to support Olivia. Emails were sent. Concerns were raised. But little was done. "There were quite a few, people that tried to alert people at the top. But it just got stonewalled every time." Both organisations issued public statements asserting that athlete wellbeing is now central to their strategy. HPSNZ said it has "significantly reshaped its systems" since 2021, while Cycling NZ told the inquest Olivia's experience "should never have happened." But the Middletons are calling for deeper accountability, including independent oversight and changes in leadership. "How do you suddenly change your culture and become a whole different beast? "The advice wasn't taken then. So why would it be different? 'The whistleblower was blamed' - isolation and rumours Among the most heartbreaking revelations of the inquest was how Podmore was treated after exposing a coach-athlete affair. Team dynamics shifted sharply, with Podmore becoming isolated from peers and unsupported by staff. She was subjected to social exclusion and persistent rumours. "One of the things that people don't realise... after this coach-athlete affair was that for quite a few years - because they had named suppression like people actually thought Olivia was the one having the affair," Nienke said. "So it was not only did she have the shame of being the whistleblower... she had the shame of that as well. A double whammy, if you like." She believed the emotional strain was compounded by this distortion of events. 'She did everything right' Nienke said her daughter did everything right, and despite battling stigma and rejection she kept training and racing. "I'm just surprised that throughout this process with everything that was going on that she didn't actually lose her composure at all on the track or in the cycling environment. "Whereas if it was myself, I probably would have, there would have been some big outburst or... but she never ever lost her load." Although proud of her daughter, Nienke said, in the end, Olivia was exhausted by the system she trusted. "She's never had a proper platform to showcase how talented she was at cycling. "She's never actually gone into an Olympic cycle with a proper chance and a clean slate to show what she can do." Where to get help Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@ What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
