Latest news with #sentimentalValue
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie family's powerful message to cruel thieves who ransacked their home after it was caught in a landslide
An Aussie family who were forced to evacuate their home after a dangerous landslide have issued a stern message to opportunistic looters. Leonie Morgan and her family were some of the 39 people who were evacuated after heavy rain triggered a landslide in their Newcastle suburb on May 23. Ms Morgan, her husband, and their four children have spent the last month living in hotels while waiting for the all-clear to return to their New Lambton home. On a trip home to grab essentials, the family were devastated to find thieves had taken advantage of their misfortune and stolen precious belongings. Ms Morgan shared photos of the damage online, showing how their home had been turned upside down and ransacked by thieves. She told the ABC on Thursday that 'everything valuable is gone,' including several items of huge sentimental value. 'My husband's father died when he was eleven and the only thing he has from his father was a pocket watch and that's gone,' Ms Morgan said. 'They took my grandmother's pearls I'd inherited.' At least two other homes on the street were also looted. Ms Morgan's husband managed to board their home up with wooden panels in an attempt to stop any further theft. But on the family's second visit, they found their door had been partially kicked in. 'People are still trying to get in, not that there is anything left to take,' she said. 'It is frustrating that people can break into our properties and steal our belongings, but we're not allowed to go into our own properties.' The family left a sign outside their home directly addressing the thieves. 'Hi visitors, our home has already been robbed and ransacked. All the good stuff is gone! Be safe, the homeowners. 'P.S - watch your step, the ground is unstable. P.P.S Smile for the many cameras.' NSW Police said a 28-year-old man was arrested in the early hours on Wednesday after he was allegedly caught fleeing one of the evacuated homes. Officers searched him and allegedly found stolen bank cards, perfume bottles, electronics, watches, and other jewellery items. He was charged with several offences, including breaking and entering, and granted conditional bail. The City of Newcastle Council said it had hired additional security to monitor the homes while owners were away. 'In addition to regular police patrols of the area, security services have been engaged to patrol the boundary of the danger area,' it said. However, Ms Morgan and several other residents have questioned what measures the council actually took, given the number of robberies. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the City of Newcastle Council for comment.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie council's incredible find in landfill: 'Talk about a stroke of luck'
An Aussie family mourning the loss of their beloved patriarch has been reunited with his "priceless" war medals after they were accidentally thrown out and taken to a tip. Thanks to the efforts of a keen-eyed council worker who made the incredible discovery among the mountains of rubbish, the sentimental medals have now made it home. Lockyer Valley Regional Council, in Queensland's southeast, revealed the amazing outcome on Monday, sharing with the local community that the medals had been found. "Talk about a stroke of luck," the council said. "Fate intervened last week when an eagle-eyed council worker made a needle-in-the-haystack discovery at Gatton Landfill. "Tim, one of council's heavy machinery operators, was working at the facility when an unusual container caught his eye in a pile of rubbish, prompting him to take a closer look," the council continued. "Opening it up, he was startled to find four official war medals inside and immediately reported the surprise find to his supervisor." After posting about the find on social media, the post quickly attracted thousands of responses from Aussies around the country, including the daughter of the Aussie digger who had been awarded the medals. "I found out that a heap of my deceased dad's stuff was taken to the Gatton dump the week before," she said, explaining that when she visited the tip to ask about the items, she was told they were likely buried. The woman, who did not respond to Yahoo's request for further comment, didn't explain exactly how her father's belongings were accidentally taken to the tip, but made it clear how devastated she was by the loss, and just how grateful she is to have the medals returned. Aussie's 'incredible' 500-year-old discovery hidden behind invasive weed Council's innovative solution to quiet crisis in Aussie suburbs Incredible discovery centimetres from train tracks "They were in an old hexagon chocolate tin with my dad's favourite black Bundy rum polo shirt, and a couple of yellow post-it notes with the last shopping lists he gave me. Sounds silly to have them like that, but it was sentimental to me," she wrote. "He was the best man in the world. I am very grateful to have his medals back, and they are now with my mum." In Australia, war medals are typically held by veterans who served in the military or by their families who keep them as cherished mementos of a loved one's service. These medals may have been awarded for participation in major conflicts such as World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or more recent deployments in the Middle East. For many Australians, they carry emotional and historical significance, representing personal sacrifice, national service and family pride. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
