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The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
City's most popular pool excluded as council tests the waters with $2 entry trial
IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season. While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge. Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future. Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night. Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there. "We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said. "I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work." Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair". Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6. According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit. Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting". "We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said. "What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives." Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost. Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included. "I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said. "What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning. Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive. "I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said. The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools. According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million. City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled". IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season. While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge. Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future. Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night. Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there. "We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said. "I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work." Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair". Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6. According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit. Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting". "We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said. "What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives." Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost. Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included. "I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said. "What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning. Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive. "I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said. The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools. According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million. City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled". IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season. While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge. Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future. Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night. Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there. "We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said. "I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work." Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair". Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6. According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit. Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting". "We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said. "What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives." Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost. Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included. "I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said. "What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning. Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive. "I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said. The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools. According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million. City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled". IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season. While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge. Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future. Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night. Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there. "We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said. "I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work." Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair". Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6. According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit. Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting". "We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said. "What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives." Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost. Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included. "I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said. "What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning. Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive. "I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said. The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools. According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million. City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled".
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Desperate Aussie Olympian breaks down as she pleads for help to care for her ill grandma
Australian Olympian Dominique du Toit and her mother Christy have issued a heartbreaking plea to the Australian government for help to care for the rugby star's grandmother, who has been diagnosed with dementia. Du Toit was born in Zimbabwe, and at the age of four, she and her family emigrated to Australia. The 28-year-old cross-code star would go on to represent Australia's Women's 7s side on 96 occasions on the World SVNS Series. She was also included in the Women's 7s squads for the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. Her grandmother, Dawn, later followed them to Australia, moving Down Under 13 years ago on a sponsored aged parent visa, following the passing of her husband. But speaking during an emotional interview with Channel 9's A Current Affair, the family revealed that Dawn has been diagnosed with dementia and now requires full-time care. That has left them in a horrible situation, with the family struggling to afford the staggering fees for Dawn's care because she is unable to obtain a Medicare card despite having previously applied for permanent residency after she arrived in Australia. Dominique (right) revealed that her grandmother Dawn (centre) had been diagnosed with dementia and required full-time care (pictured left: Dominique's mother, Christie) 'Granny's dementia has deteriorated a fair bit,' Du Toit said to Nine's A Current Affair. 'She Ended up in hospital after having a fall, breaking her hip and both elbows. [She was] in hospital for quite a few months. That was when they were like: "She can't stay at home she needs professional full-time care".' Dawn's family found a care home for her on the Sunshine Coast. Her mum, Christy, added: 'Mum has had a tough life. She came out of an orphanage at 16 and she's given us, her kids a great upbringing and great opportunities. She has never asked us for anything.' However, she then revealed that administrators working in the health care system had phoned her to ask if she knew how much her mother's care would cost. They explained the fees, per day, were a staggering $1,250. Christy explained she had been told that she thought it was $78-per-day, but the administrators informed her that this price was only for people who had a Medicare card. Christy, Dawn and Dominique were all moved to tears during the interview as they spoke about the horrible situation. Christy said: 'Mum has been here 13 years. She's not going anywhere, she has got nowhere to go. 'No one has been able to help us get mum settled somewhere. There's just no answer,' Christy said. She added that she had been up all night worrying about the situation. 'This is my last option. I have no other road. So at this stage, we have not paid the bill but the bill is mounting up. I'm not sure where that money is going to be found to pay that bill. She added that she has reached out to Aged Care Australia, the government and Medicare but has still received no help on the matter. Daily Mail Australia has contacted The Department of Home Affairs and The Department of Health and Aged Care for comment. In a statement to A Current Affair, The Department of Home Affairs said: 'Due to privacy reasons, the Department cannot comment on individual cases. 'All non-citizens applying for a visa to enter or remain in Australia are considered on an individual basis, in accordance with migration legislation.' Du Toit (second from left) was originally born in Zimbabwe, but her family moved to Australia when she was young Du Toit, who recently has switched to play rugby league for the Cronulla Sharks, added that she was grateful to Australia for the opportunities that the country had given her but hoped that could be the same for her grandmother. 'I'm very proud to call myself an Australian,' She said. 'It is the greatest honour I've ever received pulling on the Australian jersey and representing my country in Rugby 7s. 'I just really want those opportunities and that safety to be afforded to my granny.' The family are now looking for a suitable home where Dawn can receive the care she needs without a Medicare card until she receives permanent residency.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fighting back against online predators
Despite improved home security and CCTV, every house is exposed to online attacks at any time. A computer is the modern-day version of a skeleton key that can open any lock. Which is why Sampson wants to tell his story. It is about one case in which he says he was a bit player. On March 3, 2007, Sampson was on call when he was told to head to Rosebud Police Station to carry out an arrest warrant from South Australia. It was for the murder of a 15-year-old girl killed on a beach at Horseshoe Bay, about 80 kilometres from Adelaide. Sampson knew it well. His family had owned a holiday house there, and he spent most summers on that beach. When police raided the unit, Garry Francis Newman was in his lounge room chatting online to a 14-year-old girl in Perth. Newman was 48. For 18 months, Newman had pretended to be a teenage rock guitarist as he pursued Carly Ryan online. He killed her when his pathetic masquerade was exposed. 'Newman was on the computer in the lounge room,' Sampson says. 'His son was there. Newman was clearly grooming another victim.' When the police officer examined the computer, he found three usernames: Brando, Gary and Gotza. The user Brando was logged in. When Sampson accessed the computer, there was a live chat on screen. It was clear the middle-aged man had taught himself to communicate as a teenager using adolescent slang and computer abbreviations. It was also clear he had many identities. It was found he had 200 identities. One was Brandon Kane, a Texan musician living in Melbourne. First 'Kane' chatted to a South Australian girl who was a friend of Carly's. Soon, Ryan was also in the chat. It is a classic predator move – gain trust through a friend, club or online social group. The target accepts the online identity because their friends appear to know him. Kane flattered and flirted with Carly as they talked about meeting. She wanted the guitarist to come to her home in Stirling, near Adelaide, for her 15th birthday on the 2007 Australia Day long weekend. Kane said he couldn't because he was flying back to the US for a brief visit, but his dad, Shane, would like to come over and meet her. Carly's mother, Sonya, was eventually persuaded to add the interstate guest. Shane turned up, and it was soon clear he was a creep. A court would later hear that Carly said the middle-aged man had been 'feeling her up'. Sonya kicked him out and followed up by emailing him, telling him not to come anywhere near her daughter again, and if he did, she would go to the police. She would later discover Shane had bought the 15-year-old sexually provocative clothing. Newman returned home filthy that his plans had been thwarted. Within three weeks, using his cyber character Shane, he had persuaded Carly to meet, this time near Horseshoe Bay. Carly, knowing her mother would never agree, told her she was going to have a sleepover at a friend's house. Newman drove nearly 850 kilometres to kill. It was not a crime of passion. 'His anger fuelled a sense of vengeance,' Sampson says. On February 20, sitting in the dunes, Newman gave the vulnerable teenager marijuana, then hit her in the head with a rock. He turned her facedown, pressing her face in the sand to smother her. Convinced she was dead, he began to walk away. 'Then she coughed, and so he came back to drag her into the shallows to drown her,' says Sampson. Newman had convinced himself he was smart by manipulating kids (he had earlier threatened online to butcher a girl in Singapore who saw through his tactics). But investigator Sampson says: 'He was an idiot who left a trail of evidence.' So much so, he was raided and arrested at Rosebud less than two weeks later. Sampson says that even though Newman faced a mountain of evidence, 'he remained defiant and decided to plead not guilty'. When the officer was testifying in a small court, Sampson recalls: 'Newman would lean towards you and glare to try and intimidate. He was an absolute prick.' He even chose to glare at the judge – not a good idea, as she was the one who decided his sentence. In her final remarks, Justice Trish Kelly of the South Australian Supreme Court, didn't miss. 'It was a terribly cruel thing you did to this beautiful, impressionable 14-year-old child,' she said. 'I say 'child' because that's what she was – a child who fell in love with the idea of the handsome, musically inclined and rather exotic Brandon Kane. The real man was an overweight, balding, middle-aged paedophile with sex and murder on his mind. Loading 'When your deception came unravelled, you killed Miss Ryan. You left in your wake a devastated and inconsolably grief-stricken mother, family and friends. 'You were sexually obsessed with Miss Ryan to the degree that, when you could not get your own way, you prepared to, and did, kill her.' Newman was given life with a minimum of 29 years. Carly's mother, Sonya Ryan, says she knew that if he hadn't been convicted he would have continued to prey on teenage girls. 'I knew Carly wouldn't be the last. He was grooming multiple girls, one in Singapore and one in the US.' Loading Ryan has spent more than 15 years using her daughter's death to try to protect others, turning herself into an expert in the field and a tireless lobbyist for change. She set up the Carly Ryan Foundation to educate adolescents on how to navigate social media safely and to provide laws to protect children. 'Out of the grief came clarity, and I could see what was coming,' she says. 'I am grateful I am doing something Carly would want me to do. We have to create shields to protect our children.' Eventually, politicians listened and passed what is known as Carly's Law in federal parliament. The legislation makes it an offence for an adult to masquerade as a minor online. It allows police to move in before the child has been successfully groomed and has a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail. Ryan became South Australian of the Year in 2013, and was made an officer of the Order of Australia in 2021. Ryan, who is in the US talking to politicians about introducing Carly's Law, says the online world is more dangerous for kids than ever before. She knows such crimes are international and require an international defence. In the federal police operation Blackheath, officers identified 47 offenders who tricked young people to perform sexually explicit acts online. The predators record the images to sell to international pay-for-view platforms. Police found about 100 victims in the US, Britain, Russia, Denmark, Argentina, South Korea, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Italy, South Africa, Germany and France. The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation receives about 100 reports a month of children being targeted online. 'Children now carry mini-computers in their pocket,' says Ryan. 'Wherever children are online, there are predators. 'AI is really concerning. It is a new tool for criminals. With AI, children can be groomed in minutes.
The Age
13-06-2025
- The Age
Fighting back against online predators
Despite improved home security and CCTV, every house is exposed to online attacks at any time. A computer is the modern-day version of a skeleton key that can open any lock. Which is why Sampson wants to tell his story. It is about one case in which he says he was a bit player. On March 3, 2007, Sampson was on call when he was told to head to Rosebud Police Station to carry out an arrest warrant from South Australia. It was for the murder of a 15-year-old girl killed on a beach at Horseshoe Bay, about 80 kilometres from Adelaide. Sampson knew it well. His family had owned a holiday house there, and he spent most summers on that beach. When police raided the unit, Garry Francis Newman was in his lounge room chatting online to a 14-year-old girl in Perth. Newman was 48. For 18 months, Newman had pretended to be a teenage rock guitarist as he pursued Carly Ryan online. He killed her when his pathetic masquerade was exposed. 'Newman was on the computer in the lounge room,' Sampson says. 'His son was there. Newman was clearly grooming another victim.' When the police officer examined the computer, he found three usernames: Brando, Gary and Gotza. The user Brando was logged in. When Sampson accessed the computer, there was a live chat on screen. It was clear the middle-aged man had taught himself to communicate as a teenager using adolescent slang and computer abbreviations. It was also clear he had many identities. It was found he had 200 identities. One was Brandon Kane, a Texan musician living in Melbourne. First 'Kane' chatted to a South Australian girl who was a friend of Carly's. Soon, Ryan was also in the chat. It is a classic predator move – gain trust through a friend, club or online social group. The target accepts the online identity because their friends appear to know him. Kane flattered and flirted with Carly as they talked about meeting. She wanted the guitarist to come to her home in Stirling, near Adelaide, for her 15th birthday on the 2007 Australia Day long weekend. Kane said he couldn't because he was flying back to the US for a brief visit, but his dad, Shane, would like to come over and meet her. Carly's mother, Sonya, was eventually persuaded to add the interstate guest. Shane turned up, and it was soon clear he was a creep. A court would later hear that Carly said the middle-aged man had been 'feeling her up'. Sonya kicked him out and followed up by emailing him, telling him not to come anywhere near her daughter again, and if he did, she would go to the police. She would later discover Shane had bought the 15-year-old sexually provocative clothing. Newman returned home filthy that his plans had been thwarted. Within three weeks, using his cyber character Shane, he had persuaded Carly to meet, this time near Horseshoe Bay. Carly, knowing her mother would never agree, told her she was going to have a sleepover at a friend's house. Newman drove nearly 850 kilometres to kill. It was not a crime of passion. 'His anger fuelled a sense of vengeance,' Sampson says. On February 20, sitting in the dunes, Newman gave the vulnerable teenager marijuana, then hit her in the head with a rock. He turned her facedown, pressing her face in the sand to smother her. Convinced she was dead, he began to walk away. 'Then she coughed, and so he came back to drag her into the shallows to drown her,' says Sampson. Newman had convinced himself he was smart by manipulating kids (he had earlier threatened online to butcher a girl in Singapore who saw through his tactics). But investigator Sampson says: 'He was an idiot who left a trail of evidence.' So much so, he was raided and arrested at Rosebud less than two weeks later. Sampson says that even though Newman faced a mountain of evidence, 'he remained defiant and decided to plead not guilty'. When the officer was testifying in a small court, Sampson recalls: 'Newman would lean towards you and glare to try and intimidate. He was an absolute prick.' He even chose to glare at the judge – not a good idea, as she was the one who decided his sentence. In her final remarks, Justice Trish Kelly of the South Australian Supreme Court, didn't miss. 'It was a terribly cruel thing you did to this beautiful, impressionable 14-year-old child,' she said. 'I say 'child' because that's what she was – a child who fell in love with the idea of the handsome, musically inclined and rather exotic Brandon Kane. The real man was an overweight, balding, middle-aged paedophile with sex and murder on his mind. Loading 'When your deception came unravelled, you killed Miss Ryan. You left in your wake a devastated and inconsolably grief-stricken mother, family and friends. 'You were sexually obsessed with Miss Ryan to the degree that, when you could not get your own way, you prepared to, and did, kill her.' Newman was given life with a minimum of 29 years. Carly's mother, Sonya Ryan, says she knew that if he hadn't been convicted he would have continued to prey on teenage girls. 'I knew Carly wouldn't be the last. He was grooming multiple girls, one in Singapore and one in the US.' Loading Ryan has spent more than 15 years using her daughter's death to try to protect others, turning herself into an expert in the field and a tireless lobbyist for change. She set up the Carly Ryan Foundation to educate adolescents on how to navigate social media safely and to provide laws to protect children. 'Out of the grief came clarity, and I could see what was coming,' she says. 'I am grateful I am doing something Carly would want me to do. We have to create shields to protect our children.' Eventually, politicians listened and passed what is known as Carly's Law in federal parliament. The legislation makes it an offence for an adult to masquerade as a minor online. It allows police to move in before the child has been successfully groomed and has a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail. Ryan became South Australian of the Year in 2013, and was made an officer of the Order of Australia in 2021. Ryan, who is in the US talking to politicians about introducing Carly's Law, says the online world is more dangerous for kids than ever before. She knows such crimes are international and require an international defence. In the federal police operation Blackheath, officers identified 47 offenders who tricked young people to perform sexually explicit acts online. The predators record the images to sell to international pay-for-view platforms. Police found about 100 victims in the US, Britain, Russia, Denmark, Argentina, South Korea, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Italy, South Africa, Germany and France. The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation receives about 100 reports a month of children being targeted online. 'Children now carry mini-computers in their pocket,' says Ryan. 'Wherever children are online, there are predators. 'AI is really concerning. It is a new tool for criminals. With AI, children can be groomed in minutes.
The Age
10-06-2025
- The Age
Cassius Turvey's brother spared more jail time for skate park assault
The older brother of murdered schoolboy Cassius Turvey has avoided more jail time for an attack at a skate park that left an innocent man with significant facial injuries requiring surgery. Jay Mills, 32, appeared in Perth District Court on Monday, a month after he attended the same building to witness two men be convicted of murdering his 15-year-old brother in a violent and unprovoked assault in Middle Swan. The court was told Mills was out with a friend getting food for a barbecue on Australia Day in 2022 when the pair stopped at a skate park in Midvale just after 8.30pm. Mills and his co-offender saw the 19-year-old victim on a brand-new pit bike, approached him and demanded he hand it over, claiming it had been stolen. But the court was told the bike hadn't been stolen, and the teenager refused to give over the vehicle which led to Mills punching him to the face. The victim fell to the ground with his jaw broken in two places and nose broken. A group of youngsters standing nearby watched the interaction unfold. The assault sparked a manhunt, with police releasing an X-ray of the victim's injuries, CCTV footage and a description of the incident, leading to Mills' arrest in April 2022. He was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm, the judge calling the assault 'completely unprovoked' that has left the victim in constant pain and having flashbacks and nightmares.
