Owen Jacques
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🧔Over-excited dad 🏖ABC Sunshine Jacques.Owen@abc.net.au👨💻 he/him/hey you Tweets are mine, and do not represent the views of my employers
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Articles by Owen Jacques
Gymnastics coach Jamie Cannon fined after assaulting two teen athletes
A long-time gymnastics coach has received a fine and no conviction after pleading guilty to assaulting two female teenage athletes. Jamie Glen Cannon faced four charges of common assault. The court heard there was no sexual intent in the offending. Cannon was given a single fine of $2,500 and ordered to pay each teenager $1,000 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.
Sam Wood to fight for bail on domestic violence charges as he's moved to prison
Online fitness trainer and former reality TV contestant Sam Wood will take his fight for bail to the highest court in Queensland. Mr Wood, who is facing domestic violence charges, spent his first night in prison since his application for bail was rejected by a magistrate on the Sunshine Coast. If you need help immediately, call emergency services on Triple Zero.
Influencers, businesses sever ties with reality star Sam Wood after DV charges
As Australian influencer and reality TV star Sam Wood remains behind bars on the Sunshine Coast facing domestic violence charges, businesses and colleagues are cutting tieswith him and his fitness empire. Some of the country's most followed personalities have over the past 24 hours publicly emphasised that while they would not comment on any accusations, they have zero tolerance of domestic and family violence in all its forms. Sam Wood is the face of a home fitness program.
Man carjacked at Mount Coolum shopping centre, prompting 160km pursuit
Two men have been charged over an alleged carjacking on the Sunshine Coast. Police say a man threatened a 55-year-old man with a knife and demanded his car keys at a shopping centre on David Low Way just before 6:30pm on Monday. Officers tracked the vehicle with the help of a police helicopter, then used tyre spikes to slow the vehicle at Ebbw Vale. Police say the vehicle was abandoned in Bundamba, where the driver fled on foot. A 26-year-old Mount Coolum man was arrested shortly after.
Former Bachelor star and fitness influencer Sam Wood charged with domestic violence offences
Fitness influencer and former Bachelor contestant Sam Wood is due to face court this morning on multiple domestic violence charges following his arrest in Noosa on the weekend. Sam Wood has become the face of a home fitness program. (Supplied: 28 by Sam Wood, Facebook) Mr Wood was arrested after police were called to a property on the Hastings Street beachfront on Friday night amid reports of domestic violence.
Former Bachelor star and fitness influencer Sam Wood charged with domestic violence offences
“Tried to pit me against him”: Pro Bowl LB slams CBS for using him “like a puppet” while recalling alleged plan to criticize Ray Rice Ray Rice was the subject of one of the NFL's biggest controversies of the mid-2010s. Now, over a decade later, a former teammate of his has opened up …
Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane residents moving to Darling Downs
Tucked away in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland, Dave Summerville lived in one of the most desirable areas in the country: a short drive from beautiful beaches, rainforest and mountains. But he was sick of it. "The Sunshine Coast became far too busy. The beach was no longer an attraction, you couldn't get a park," he said. Dave Summerville left the Sunshine Coast hinterland after finding the area was getting too busy.
Program: Chicken breeders tip surge in demand over bird flu egg fears
Chicken breeders are bracing for a surge in demand for backyard hens amid fears the potential spread of the H5 bird flu could affect supermarket egg supplies. So far, no Australian poultry farms have recorded a bird flu infection.
Bird flu fears could increase demand for backyard hens, seller says
Chicken breeders are bracing for a surge in demand for backyard hens amid fears the potential spread of the H5 bird flu could affect supermarket egg supplies. The poultry industry has not reported any cases of bird flu in its animals so far, but the federal Agriculture Department has recorded more than 300 infection events.
Sunshine Coast philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson remembered
Philanthropists Roy Thompson OAM, 95, and wife Nola Thompson are being remembered for their generosity. The pair died in recent weeks after decades of donations and support for community organisations Tributes continue to flow for the pair whose donations made such an enormous impact. Mr Thompson's funeral will be held next week in Maroochydore. A Sunshine Coast couple who helped transform the region through their generosity has died, as the coastal city honours the couple's incredible legacy.
Historic Gympie Fire Station now empty as town calls for heritage listing
Sitting atop a high ridge, a heavy red-brick Art Deco building has loomed over the gold-rush town of Gympie for the best part of a century. The bells and sirens of the Gympie Fire Station have rung out since 1940, a mainstay in the town even as trucks, equipment and training evolved. The fire station in 1955, about 15 years after it first began operating for the town.
Chinese-launched rocket lights up Australian skies as it's bound for orbit
A Chinese rocket has lit up the skies across Queensland and northern New South Wales overnight, as it passed over north-eastern Australia. University of Southern Queensland astrophysicist Professor Jonti Horner said the Zhuque 2E Block 2 rocket was launched about 6.20pm from a Chinese satellite launch centre and was visible over Queensland about 20 minutes later last night. He says it was a commercial launch from China carrying about six tonnes of payload.
Couple launches youth housing organisation to combat Sunshine Coast rental crisis
A couple on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland say they were told landlords "did not want" young people like them, during their exhaustive search for a rental property. They have now launched a youth housing organisation to work on solutions that will help young people better access housing. The pair says the group is already exploring how it could use modular homes and rent-to-buy models to help young people. Amber Barry and Saxon O'Neill should not be struggling to find a rental.
Teen motorbike rider dies in Townsville Hospital after road crash
A 14-year-old boy has died, three days after he was struck by an oncoming vehicle while riding a motorbike on a country road. The teenager had been riding along Lindeman Drive at Bloomsbury, north of Mackay, at about 2.30pm on Saturday when he was hit by a van travelling the other way. The boy suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown by helicopter to Townsville Hospital. On Tuesday afternoon, Queensland Police confirmed the boy had died in hospital.
Manual cars can be hard to find, but new drivers are still earning the licence
Roxsy Francis is working very hard to stay calm. Her bright smile is failing to hide the pressure she is under outside the transport department. "Feeling pretty nervous," she said. "I'm very excited, though." The 18-year-old is moments away from taking her second driving test. The Department of Transport sits along a busy two-lane arterial road in Nambour on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, a daunting start for any would-be driver.
Qld man charged for "concerning posts" by Joint Counter Terrorism Team
A 48-year-old Queensland man has been arrested by the state's Joint Counter Terrorism Team over allegations he encouraged acts of violence against political institutions. The man was charged after officers searched a property in Bowenville, outside Dalby, after the man allegedly uploaded a number of "concerning posts" to an encrypted social media site. He has been charged by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
Maroochy Beach Gymnastics dispute highlights risk of rifts in junior sport
An internal dispute involving members of one of Queensland's largest gymnastics clubs has shone a spotlight on the governance of volunteer-run junior sporting clubs. Allegations of "bullying, conflicts of interest, and a lack of financial transparency" have plagued the not-for-profit Maroochy Beach Gymnastics Club for at least 18 months.
Tropical Cyclone Maila falls to tropical low ahead of Qld landfall this week
Tropical Cyclone Maila has been downgraded into a tropical low, as the system weakens on its path towards Australia The system was a category five storm only days ago, when it ravaged parts of the Pacific region. The former tropical cyclone is may track through the Coral Sea towards the far north Queensland coast this week. A tropical cyclone that has battered and flooded parts of Papua New Guinea is expected to continue running out of steam as it beats a path towards the Australian coastline.
Truck driver charged over Sunshine Coast crash that killed three-year-old girl
A man has been charged with drug driving over a truck crash that killed a three-year-old girl and left a toddler in a critical condition. The 56-year-old driver has been charged with "driving a motor vehicle while a relevant drug is present". He is due to face Caloundra Magistrates Court on April 23. A 56-year-old man has been charged with drug driving over a truck crash that killed a three-year-old girl and critically injured her one-year-old sister.
Claims only 'the rich' will soon be able to afford sustainably wild-caught Australian seafood
Australian seafood is set to become more expensive unless fuel supplies return to normal. Mooloolaba Fisheries general manager Paul Schenk claims, without change, "only the rich" will be able to afford wild-caught seafood. Seafood Industry Association is urging customers to choose Australian seafood over imports. Already a luxury, sustainably sourced, wild-caught Australian seafood will soon be unaffordable to the average household.
Queensland's first recovery village for eating disorder survivors opens on Sunshine Coast
A Queensland couple has opened a first-of-its-kind recovery village to help eating disorder survivors ease back into their normal lives without relapsing. Mark and Gaye Forbes, co-founders of eating disorder support service endED, have developed the eight-unit village to provide short-term, supported accommodation for those not yet ready to return home.
High-powered e-bike use among children prompts call for more action to stop 'preventable injuries'
Falling off a bike and suffering a scrape is part of growing up, but the surge in popularity of high-powered e-bikes across Australia is leading to children sustaining potentially deadly "hidden" injuries instead, a doctor has warned. As bans on children riding e-mobility devices are being considered by several states, a frontline surgeon says more must be done to stop "preventable injuries".
Birdsville nears annual rainfall in two days as Brisbane and Gold and Sunshine coasts face wet weather
Parts of outback Queensland have been drenched with almost a year's worth of rainfall in just two days, prompting new flood alerts and concerns for where the water will go as the showers ease. As the weekend unfolds, it will be north Queensland's turn to break out the umbrellas before the heavier rain starts early next week.
Sunshine Coast live-music venue Solbar to shut down after more than 20 years
The Sunshine Coast's longest-running live music venue Solbar is shutting down, after more than 20 years providing a stepping stone for Australian artists. Its looming closure has led to an immediate outpouring of tributes from artists and industry. The venue first opened in Coolum in 2001 before moving to Ocean Street in Maroochydore, where it helped build the street into a live music and late-night entertainment precinct.
Sunshine Coast's iconic venue Solbar to shut down after more than 20 years
Home is like a holiday for Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth, 42, called his move from Hollywood glitz to the Australian Outback the "greatest decision" he's made after not enjoying his time in Los Angeles. The "Crime 101" star said coming home to "paparazzi and all the sort of the …
Intense rainfall risk for south-east Queensland as whole state set for 'wet and stormy' weekend
South-east Queensland is bracing for heavy rainfall with up to 200mm to fall in some areas today. A severe weather warning stretches from the Sunshine Coast to Gold Coast and west through southern Queensland. Much of Queensland is set for a wet and stormy weekend too. South-east Queensland is being told to brace for an intense soaking from today, with up to 200 millimetres to fall in some coastal areas.
E-bike seller uses fake compliance stickers to skirt crackdown
Online e-bike sellers are agreeing to use fake compliance stickers to help riders avoid police detection. The federal government reintroduced a national standard for e-bikes late last year. The government says changes to national consumer law could follow, which could include mandatory safety standards and bans on unsafe products. Overseas e-bike stores are agreeing to add fake compliance stickers to high-speed bikes to help buyers avoid being busted by police.
Brisbane temperatures to reach high 30s as Cairns and Townsville face soaking rain
Brisbane is enduring its hottest Australia Day since 1998, with temperatures set to soar towards 40 degrees Celsius. Doctors are warning people to drink lots of water, seek shade and watch for symptoms of heat stroke. A severe heatwave warning is in place until at least Wednesday, with sweltering conditions across the state. South-east Queensland is set to swelter through its hottest Australia Day this century, with Brisbane facing its highest maximum temperature since 1998.
Native trees poisoned along beach in exclusive township where homes sell for millions
Six Australian native trees on public land have been poisoned along a beachside strip of an exclusive Queensland town Noosa's Sunshine Beach is one of the country's most sought-after addresses, with buyers including former prime minister Kevin Rudd The Noosa Council is investigating and warns of maximum fines of more than $140,000 Six Australian native trees have been poisoned on public land along one of Queensland's most expensive and exclusive beachside streets.
Queensland to have brief break from heat and storms, with more forecast by the weekend
After a soaking November that drenched parts of Queensland with more than double -- and sometimes triple -- the average monthly rainfall totals, this week could deliver a very brief reprieve from the storms and the scorching heat. Much of the state fell under heatwave warnings over the past week, but temperatures and humidity levels will begin falling slightly today, then further into Tuesday.
Her 8yo son was killed in an e-motorbike crash. Now she wants new rules to protect kids
Zeke William Hondow lived on wheels, from red plastic push-trikes to balance bikes as a toddler, then riding bigger and better things as he got older. His snowy blonde hair often poked out from under a helmet, making his excited blue eyes shine even brighter. So when Zeke's big sister, Tiana, rang to say he had crashed on the way home from his school, but was OK, their mother Kloe Weedon expected grazes and scratches. Moments later, her world was ripped away.
Man in custody after 'catastrophic' crash that killed his partner and stepdaughter
A man in police custody since a "catastrophic" crash killed a 30-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl has been confirmed as the partner of the woman driving and father and stepfather of the children in the vehicle. The woman was in a vehicle with her two daughters and two sons, one of them a toddler, when it rolled early on Friday morning in the Indigenous community of Doomadgee, about 400 kilometres north of Mount Isa.
Queensland premier promises change after boy dies in e-bike crash on Sunshine Coast
An eight-year-old boy died when two e-bikes collided head-on at the Sunshine Coast on Thursday. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has promised to reform e-bike laws in the wake of the tragedy. Police are investigating the crash and are appealing for witnesses or drivers with dashcam footage to come forward. The death of an eight-year-old boy on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has prompted Premier David Crisafulli to promise to reform electric bike laws.
Lightning strike kills 21-year-old woman at sporting complex at Cooroy
A 21-year-old woman has died after being struck by lightning on the Sunshine Coast. The woman was struck at the Cooroy Sporting Complex near Noosa just before 5:30pm. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Gymnasts allege body shaming, humiliation, before being forced out
The parents of seven children who trained at a Queensland gymnastics club have complained to management about alleged bullying, body-shaming and humiliation by a coach. The club found the allegations could not be substantiated and later shut down the squad the children trained in, but said the decision was not linked to the complaints. Gymnastics Australia has launched an investigation after the ABC contacted the authority about allegations of body-shaming at the club.
Super Netball's Sunshine Coast Lightning enters new Global Sports Fund Management Group ownership
Australia's only regional club in the Super Netball league is being taken over after being co-founded by the NRL's Melbourne Storm almost a decade ago. The Sunshine Coast Lightning was created in 2016 for the then-emerging league as a partnership between the Storm and the University of the Sunshine Coast. Since then, the club has grown into one of Australia's most successful women's sporting teams, winning back-to-back premierships in 2017 and 2018 and reaching the finals in six of nine seasons.
BHP alliance to sack 750 workers, blaming Qld government mining royalties
One of Queensland's biggest coal miners will cut about 750 jobs across its operations, blaming the impact of high royalties imposed by the state government. The BHP Mitsubishi Alliance says its Saraji South mine at Dysart will be mothballed from November.
What happened to Andrew Burow? Human remains found, charges laid as investigation continues
It started as a missing person case before evolving into a homicide investigation spanning six crime scenes in five council areas across South East Queensland. This week police found human remains, thought to be those of 56-year-old cybersecurity manager Andrew Burow, in a shallow grave more than 200 kilometres west of his Brisbane home. Two men have been charged with torture, and harrowing details have emerged about what the Kelvin Grove father may have endured after he disappeared.
Queensland government dumps major state forest wind farm project
A massive wind turbine project proposed for pine forest areas in Queensland has been dumped by the state government. The 1,200 megawatt project had the potential to deliver enough power for one-in-four Queensland homes. The Queensland government will repeal the laws that made the proposal possible. A 1,200 megawatt wind farm that was proposed to deliver enough energy to power nearly 500,000 homes will be dumped by the Queensland government because of community concerns.
Court shown photos of 'severely beaten' Brisbane man during bail hearing
A man charged with the torture of a missing Brisbane man has been denied bail after appearing in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today. Anthony Thomas Perrett, 38, has been charged with torturing Andrew Burow, 56, a cybersecurity senior manager from Kelvin Grove. The court heard police had found photos showing the "severely beaten" Brisbane man, who has been missing for more than a week.
Wildlife rangers search for Noosa crocodile after potential sighting
Authorities are continuing to search for a crocodile reportedly seen in a Sunshine Coast waterway, hundreds of kilometres south of its typical Queensland habitat. Rangers have been scouring the area from the air, land and water following the potential sighting by long-time angler James Graham. He said he spotted the croc-shaped silhouette on his "fish finder" on the weekend, prompting a search of the Noosa River that continued last night.
Noosa fisherman captures underwater image of possible crocodile sighting
An experienced angler has captured what he believes is a "very clear" image of a crocodile at Noosa. Gladstone's Boyne River, about 300km north of Noosa, is "commonly considered the southern boundary of typical crocodile habitat". The environment department is investigating. A fisherman on Queensland's Sunshine Coast believes he has captured a picture of a crocodile on his underwater equipment, despite the area being 300 kilometres out of the reptile's usual habitat.
Teens charged with murder after stabbing death of Zdravko Bilic on Sunshine Coast
Two teenage boys have been charged with murder following the stabbing death of 57-year-old Zdravko Bilic on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. A 15-year-old boy from West Woombye and a 17-year-old from Beerwah will appear in the Maroochydore Childrens Court this morning. Loading
Police lock down Sunshine Coast street after man's fatal stabbing in Warana
Zdravko Bilic, 57, was found dead in his yard with two stab wounds to his stomach on Monday night. The street in Warana on the Sunshine Coast remains closed as police investigate. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Police have closed the Sunshine Coast street where 57-year-old Zdravko Bilic was found dead for more than 24 hours as they scour the area for evidence.
Man known to child charged with manslaughter, domestic violence over baby's death at Gympie lake
A 42-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a seven-month-old baby boy who was pulled from a lake by his mother at a park outside Gympie over the weekend. Police say the man is known to the child and will face the charge with domestic violence as an aggravating factor. He was arrested in the Ipswich suburb of Bundamba on Tuesday afternoon.
Investigation continues into death of baby pulled out of Chatsworth Park lake
Detectives are investigating the death of a baby boy who was found unresponsive near a lake on the outskirts of Gympie on the weekend. The cause of death remains unclear after a post-mortem examination and police are awaiting additional test results. Police are interviewing witnesses and appealing for information. Police are awaiting test results to determine how a seven-month-old boy died after being found unresponsive at a Queensland campsite.
Bus driver stabbed in throat marks fifth major attack in four months
The stabbing of a Sunshine Coast bus driver's neck at the weekend has become the fifth high-profile attack on bus drivers and passengers in just four months, according to the industry's major union. Warning: This article contains graphic images The 67-year-old man was stabbed at Caloundra station. He has been recovering since having surgery. An alleged offender has been charged with serious assault, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place.
Seven-month-old baby dies after entering lake at roadside campsite
Police are investigating the death of a seven-month-old boy who drowned in a lake at a roadside stop north of Gympie. Multiple triple-0 calls were made to emergency services about 10.30am on Saturday after the baby was found at the lake at Chatsworth Park. He was taken to Gympie Hospital by ambulance in a life-threatening condition but police said he had since died. Police are holding a press conference later on Monday, where investigators will give more details about the incident.
Calls to make 'mind-blowing' Sunshine Coast coral reef a marine reserve
The state government is installing up to 15 mooring points to reduce the impact of boat anchors on the Mudjimba corals. But there are no restrictions on anchoring or fishing on the reef and calls are growing to make the area a marine reserve to boost protections. Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson says more legislated restrictions may happen, but only if the community supports them.
Sunshine Coast motorbike rider and her canine co-pilot fined by police
A Queensland woman has been fined for riding with her pooch on her motorbike in a harness she bought online. Officers from Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol stopped the motorbike rider and her furry friend at Alexandra Headland last Saturday to question the 35-year-old Maroochydore woman. She said she bought the harness, that allowed her dog to travel between her arms as she rode, online. "Yeah, no, I didn't know [it was illegal]," she said.
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