A home in Marsden Park, in Sydney's north-west has been sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting on Thursday night police were called to Steeple Place following reports of multiple shots being fired a car was found torched at a park on Oramzi Road Officers from the Cumberland Police Area Command were on the scene with Fire and Rescue NSW crews The vehicle was destroyed and police established crime scenes at both locations and started inquiries into the incidents. Officers are investigating whether the two incidents were linked and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... 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And I was kind of known around town back home as someone who had moved to LA and ‘You mind coming to dinner with me and some of my girlfriends from school?’ I was like who took it one step further and were each other’s prom dates in high school what are the chances that Munn happened to be besties with Marsden’s sister as the Enchanted actor is seven years older than his future co-star Marsden’s success could have fizzled after Party of Five and Munn could have never made it to Hollywood They both are way too talented and attractive not to be famous actors After both individually finding fame in Hollywood the Best of Me actor says the two reconnected and I can’t get over the New Girl actress’ sweet reaction to seeing him again: Olivia ran up to me at a GQ party in LA years later we went to Applebee's back in the day!’ And I was like I would have remembered you!’ It's just so funny New customers can stream Apple TV Plus for free for a whole week before paying $9.99 a month you can start watching Your Friends and Neighbors and then start paying for a subscription so you are ready for Season 2 Or that Marsden would be Golden Globe-nominated for a reality sitcom about jury duty Yet that’s where these two stand as they head into filming their first official project together I couldn't be happier that these two actors from the same hometown are reuniting on such a successful project you will then be prompted to enter your display name Conan O'Brien Will Forever Be Tied To The Simpsons But Kumail Nanjiani Hilariously Detailed Out How Minimal His 'Actual Contribution' Was I Just Found Out How Much Met Gala Tickets Cost Ahead Of Disney’s Live-Action Lilo And Stitch Remake An Animatronic Stitch Scanned Tickets At A Movie Theater (And The Viral Video Is Great) the author’s deep respect for young people was obvious his love for and commitment to others was just as extraordinary The last time I heard from my friend John Marsden was exactly a week ago, when he emailed to congratulate me about something. A writer of his calibre, a principal of two schools – yet he always took the time to write. Not just cursory one-sentence emails, but wonderful, philosophical musings about parenting, politics, about the powerful and the powerless. Read moreDecades ago, John – who worked full-time as a teacher for much of his career – took his students to an abattoir when they told him they were bored of their text Bless the Beasts and Children. You can’t do that these days but this was the sort of teacher John was. He believed young people should fully engage with their world, and he understood that they had more courage than adults were generally prepared to concede. John Marsden was a literary and educational giant, but as a friend and mentor he was someone very special – someone who instinctively understood the most vulnerable-feeling person in a room, including a first-time Chinese-Cambodian author who could present onstage but couldn’t look any individual adult in the eye because she’d been taught that this was culturally rude. John taught me, by example, that shyness was not a barrier to getting things done or to having strong convictions. Every time I wrote a book he read it and cheered me on. I still can’t believe I will never see him again. But always philosophical about life, he once wrote to tell me: I was trying to figure out this morning, in a vague existential sort of way, why we attach so much importance to our lives when, without a religious belief, it’s hard to know why they have any value or purpose of meaning. Needless to say, I couldn’t come up with any answers :-) John’s smiley face emoticon conclusion said everything – about his inquiring mind, his ability to hold doubt central to his life, and yet still feel cheerful hope despite not finding definite answers. His joy was a hard-won one, and his love and concern for others was expansive. I will never forget my friend John Marsden. He was not just admired, but so loved by all those whose lives he changed. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment Monash University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU View all partners Celebrated author and educator John Marsden best known for his dystopian young adult Tomorrow series The bestselling author of more than 40 books, Marsden spent his early years in country Victoria and Tasmania, before moving to Sydney when he was ten. There, he attended the strict Kings School, where he “got in endless trouble” as a secondary student and “defied every rule and regulation” His difficult early life seemed to feed into his work as a writer and teacher of young people, including founding two alternative schools in Victoria: Candlebark, a prep to year seven school, in Romsey (founded in 2006), and a secondary school, the Alice Miller School in Macedon (in 2016) Reflecting on the Tomorrow series, which has sold millions of copies worldwide, he wrote I resented the control adults had over my life I got sick of being told what to do and when to do it I daydreamed occasionally of a world where the adults miraculously disappeared he was able to give licence to his daydreams I read his early novels in high school. Those were the days when friends passed books around, before phones. I can picture the bedroom where I encountered So Much To Tell You (1987) about a traumatised teen who confronts her wounds through writing a diary – and the friend who owned it whose own family life had splinters of darkness But it was the Tomorrow series that hooked me: afternoons spent as a 20-something in the Northcote library As a children’s writer and creative writing teacher I’ve tried to stay loyal to that young-adult self I listen to them and hear the stories beneath their stories He helped me understand what young-adult fiction could do to counteract negative or cynical stories about “young people today” Alice Pung, Marsden’s friend and fellow young-adult author, wrote today: John was an introvert – sometimes could barely look another adult in the eye – but when he spoke to young people it was truly transformative: he wiped the boredom from their faces After a “lonely and disturbing” time during his first stint at university (he dropped out of four different degrees before studying teaching), Marsden spent time in a psychiatric hospital and that was a product of family and school,” he reflected in 2018 starting his degree eight years after leaving the hospital Marsden was an English teacher when he set himself the goal of writing his first novel in three weeks Marina is an elective mute who has suffered severe trauma Her voice is restored through the keeping of a diary The book won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award in 1988 chosen by the group for her strength as a writer The first Tomorrow novel, Tomorrow When the War Began A group of kids are on a camping trip when their country town is taken over by an invading force These country kids use their resourcefulness and knowledge of the landscape to fight back and free their families By putting agency and action in the hands of kids questions of ethics and morality become fluid – and the philosophy rather than politics of war becomes the focus The Tomorrow series was translated into multiple languages The books shaped the reading appetites of more than one generation of young people The first novel was adapted into a movie in 2010 The series has been criticised for contributing to xenophobia through its invasion narrative But Marsden has said this was not his intention and that he wouldn’t write the books now due to “horror at the way refugees who have come to Australia have been treated” The capacity for teenagers to survive and thrive against the odds to care for each other and put others lives before their own As one of his characters, Chris, writes in book two, The Dead of the Night: “I live in the light / but carry the dark in me”. In her book, On John Marsden Alice Pung notes: “A young adult has to spend some time in the dark to have sharper vision” Marsden also wrote a number of books for younger readers. His arresting 2008 picture book The Rabbits connects a history of colonisation to environmental devastation Tan describes it as “an invitation to think deeply” about who we are and who we might become but it regularly asks us to look closely at things we might want to turn away from Marsden’s philosophies of children’s literature carry over into the schools he established. In a promotional video for the Alice Miller school Marsden reminds us adolescence is not just a time of academic learning but of intellectual growth – as well as social and emotional growth The schools foster students’ sense of self-efficacy An overnight camping trip at the Alice Miller school sees students heading out into the bush on their own to cook dinner sleep in a tent and make their own way back This stands in stark contrast to a risk averse overprotective adult culture that wants to protect children from difficulty Marsden expanded on these philosophies in books like The Art of Growing Up (2019) and Take Risks: Raising Kids Who Love the Adventure of Life (2021) In 2018, he called running a school “probably the most intense and complicated job I’ve had in my life” In Marsden on Marsden (2000) he talks about first encountering a girl like Marina in So Much to Tell You during his stint in a psychiatric hospital Sometimes characters give us writers a chance to rehearse how we make sense of a life Life’s about a hell of a lot more than being happy It’s about feeling the full range of stuff: happiness I want to go right up close to the beauty and the ugliness Marsden spent his writing and teaching life looking right up close at the beauty and the ugliness teachers or media wanted to paint teenagers as lazy or soft he saw their extraordinary capacity for feeling and action as his books continue to be read and lived through by generations to come Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time who wrote the popular young adult fiction Tomorrow books confirmed his death in a letter to parents The multi-award winning and bestselling author’s 1993 novel Tomorrow When the War Began was a major hit that was adapted into a film and TV series He established two schools in the Macedon Ranges north-west of Melbourne: the arts-based Alice Miller independent secondary college in Macedon (founded in 2016) and Candlebark School in Romsey (founded in 2006) the Alice Miller and Candlebark schools said Marsden had been struggling with his health for some time and had stepped down as principal this year “Yet he remained deeply connected to the school and its happenings dropping into Candlebark for lunch every day and chatting with students and staff,” the email said which he described as one of the three most memorable and rewarding teaching experiences of his long career playfulness and connection; it was clear how much they meant to him.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Marsden in a social media post on Wednesday night “John Marsden wanted young Australians to read more and his writing made that happen,” Albanese said he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people’s character His was a great Australian voice that spoke to all ages John’s work will live long in our national memory.” Marsden was one of Australia’s most beloved and successful authors Celebrated Australian children’s author Andy Griffiths said Marsden was “a passionate storyteller teacher and staunch advocate for young people” “His ability to connect with teenagers was truly phenomenal and his dedication to expanding their imaginations and horizons through his bestselling books and innovative schools was inspirational,” Griffiths said in a statement to this masthead sharp intelligence and fearlessness in speaking his mind no matter who he offended or what the cost.” including at Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop and Fitzroy Community School he worked in various jobs including in an abattoir and in the emergency ward in a hospital (the job he most likened to working as a school principal),” the Alice Miller and Candlebark schools said in a separate media statement John’s contribution to young adult literature was revolutionary His unflinching honesty in addressing complex themes resonated with readers globally earning him numerous awards including the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award.” the principal of the Alice Miller and Candlebark schools said in an email to parents that she was comforted that Marsden had been able to attend the grade 6 graduation last Thursday night “The grade 6s spoke in heartfelt and reverential ways about what the school meant to them and how grateful they were to John for creating it,” Ryan wrote “These were the experiences that John carried with him in his final days.” Ryan said Marsden “lived for schools” and was prouder of his contribution to education than the millions of books he sold said she had emailed him as recently as last week Marsden in the science lab of the Alice Miller School in 2016.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen who attended Geelong Grammar while Marsden taught there in the 1980s described the late author as a standout teacher “Very sad to hear of the passing of John Marsden,” he wrote on X “He was one of the standout teachers through my schooling – in many ways similar to the character of John Keating in Dead Poets Society.” Melbourne writer and broadcaster Daniel James paid tribute to Marsden’s impact on him after visiting his high school “I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be near the writer I am today if John Marsden hadn’t visited Euroa High School a couple of times,” James wrote on X “He challenged us and gave us inventive exercises that have always stayed with me and sparked my curiosity Marsden’s 2019 book The Art of Growing Up was the source of some criticism for his characterisation of “toxic parenting” contributing to domestic violence and describing bullying as often being prompted by the “unlikeable behaviours” of the child being bullied editor and arts administrator Esther Anatolitis said she was saddened to hear of Marsden’s death Anatolitis said Marsden was generous with his time while she was working with young writers’ organisation Express Media and in his efforts with the John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers “He was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement as our patron generously funding a new prize for young writers,” she wrote “We didn’t always agree but I always knew his ethic was genuine Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here The multi-award winning and bestselling author\\u2019s 1993 novel Tomorrow He established two schools in the Macedon Ranges north-west of Melbourne: the arts-based Alice Miller independent secondary college in Macedon () and Candlebark School in Romsey () \\u201CYet he remained deeply connected to the school and its happenings dropping into Candlebark for lunch every day and chatting with students and staff,\\u201D the email said playfulness and connection; it was clear how much they meant to him.\\u201D \\u201CJohn Marsden wanted young Australians to read more and his writing made that happen,\\u201D Albanese said he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people\\u2019s character John\\u2019s work will live long in our national memory.\\u201D Marsden was one of Australia\\u2019s most beloved and successful authors Celebrated Australian children\\u2019s author Andy Griffiths said Marsden was \\u201Ca passionate storyteller teacher and staunch advocate for young people\\u201D \\u201CHis ability to connect with teenagers was truly phenomenal and his dedication to expanding their imaginations and horizons through his bestselling books and innovative schools was inspirational,\\u201D Griffiths said in a statement to this masthead sharp intelligence and fearlessness in speaking his mind no matter who he offended or what the cost.\\u201D including at Geelong Grammar\\u2019s Timbertop and Fitzroy Community School and in the emergency ward in a hospital (the job he most likened to working as a school principal),\\u201D the Alice Miller and Candlebark schools said in a separate media statement John\\u2019s contribution to young adult literature was revolutionary earning him numerous awards including the Children\\u2019s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award.\\u201D \\u201CThe grade 6s spoke in heartfelt and reverential ways about what the school meant to them and how grateful they were to John for creating it,\\u201D Ryan wrote \\u201CThese were the experiences that John carried with him in his final days.\\u201D Ryan said Marsden \\u201Clived for schools\\u201D and was prouder of his contribution to education than the millions of books he sold kind and intensely private,\\u201D she said Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes \\u00E0 Court \\u201CVery sad to hear of the passing of John Marsden,\\u201D he wrote on X \\u201CHe was one of the standout teachers through my schooling \\u2013 in many ways similar to the character of John Keating in Dead Poets Society.\\u201D Melbourne writer and broadcaster Daniel James paid tribute to Marsden\\u2019s impact on him after visiting his high school \\u201CI can honestly say that I wouldn\\u2019t be near the writer I am today if John Marsden hadn\\u2019t visited Euroa High School a couple of times,\\u201D James wrote on X \\u201CHe challenged us and gave us inventive exercises that have always stayed with me and sparked my curiosity Marsden\\u2019s 2019 book The Art of Growing Up was the for his characterisation of \\u201Ctoxic parenting\\u201D contributing to domestic violence and describing bullying as often being prompted by the \\u201Cunlikeable behaviours\\u201D of the child being bullied editor and arts administrator Esther Anatolitis said she was saddened to hear of Marsden\\u2019s death Anatolitis said Marsden was generous with his time while she was working with young writers\\u2019 organisation Express Media \\u201CHe was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement as our patron generously funding a new prize for young writers,\\u201D she wrote \\u201CWe didn\\u2019t always agree but I always knew his ethic was genuine Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens Marsden’s death was confirmed in a letter from one of two schools he founded saying: ‘He died at his desk in his home The Australian author John Marsden, beloved for young adult novels including the Tomorrow series and The Rabbits, has died aged 74. Alice Miller School, one of two schools that Marsden founded in Victoria, confirmed his death in a letter to parents. “He died at his desk in his home, doing what he loved, writing,” the statement read. The Guardian has confirmed his death separately, but no cause of death has yet been given. On Thursday, his publisher Pan Macmillan remembered him as “the great statesman of Australian literature.” “John Marsden profoundly impacted the world of literature, particularly with his enthralling young adult novels such as the Tomorrow series, which we have previously described as ‘the best series for Australian teens of all time’,” the publisher said. “His ability to encapsulate the essence of youth struggles and aspirations in his works has left an indelible mark on readers worldwide.” who illustrated Marsden’s book The Rabbits “Best wishes to John’s family, friends and students, and all those whose lives he changed for the better, through empathy and challenge and story, asking us to be dangerously curious, to not turn away, to see others, to see other ways of seeing, to embrace the risk of caring about all of it - simply because it’s the right thing to do,” Tan wrote on Instagram. Marsden was born in 1950 and grew up in both Kyneton His great-great-great-great uncle was the colonial Anglican clergyman and magistrate Rev Samuel Marsden Marsden’s mother encouraged education and reading the Marsdens moved to Sydney and he was sent to the King’s School Marsden wrote that he “barely” survived the strict school “having ignored or defied most of the school rules during his years there” he wrote a letter for the school magazine criticising the school’s prefect system that caused a controversy and gave him a taste of the power of language Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Free newsletterGet the most important news as it breaks Read moreFrom the beginning he set out to write for young people, having watched as the young adult genre blossomed in the US. He finished his first complete novel in just three weeks: So Much to Tell You, which was published in 1987, won many awards and would go on to be studied by countless Australian students. Over the next 40 years he wrote and edited 40 books, including Letters from the Inside, The Rabbits and the hugely successful Tomorrow series, beginning with Tomorrow, When the War Began. The seven books in the series, published between 1993 and 1999, imagined a group of teenagers waging a guerrilla war on enemy forces surrounding their home town of Wirrawee. Marsden said he first had the idea when he was a teenager, “fantasising about a world without adults, because pretty much all the adults I encountered were authoritarian, were not interested in fairness or justice … they were really a bloody nuisance”. along with the three books in a sequel series were bestsellers in both Australia and the US and were translated into five languages When the War Began were distributed to hundreds of thousands of teenagers after it was voted the book most likely to inspire a love of reading Marsden sold millions of books globally; in Australia alone he sold an estimated 3m books the American Library Association placed Tomorrow Where the War Began at number 41 on its list of the 100 best books for teens published between 1966 and 2000 It was also voted Australia’s favourite Australian book in a 2013 government poll including the prestigious Lloyd O’Neil award for his contributions to Australian publishing in 2006 Marsden continued to work as a teacher full-time He bought a property near Hanging Rock where he ran writing camps for school groups and founded and served as principal at two schools in regional Victoria: Candlebark “Running a school is probably the most intense and complicated job I’ve had in my life The only thing I can compare it to is when I worked in the emergency department at Sydney Hospital when I was about 19,” he told the ABC in 2018 The Book Thief author Markus Zusak reflects on a giant of Australian writing - who always took the time to say hello Hinton of Australian literature – we should probably start there Just as whole generations worldwide recall devouring Hinton’s The Outsiders so do at least a few generations of Australians recall their relationship with Tomorrow When the War Began – all seven books of the series Not to mention everything else John Marsden created I first came across John’s books at a railway station near the education campus of UNSW in Oatley when I was 20 A girl I knew from the course was raving about the Tomorrow series Some middle-aged man writing so authentically about teenagers John Marsden in the art room of his arts-based secondary school all you indignantly see is people you consider not that great getting it done I remember the first book of his I ever read and my year 9 class was reading Letters from the Inside It was then that I fully understood what John Marsden was able to do It hit me incredibly hard: This bastard’s the real deal he was like that person who could give a speech to thousands of people but you felt like he was talking just to you It’s tempting at times like these for us contemporaries to climb from the woodwork to claim how well we knew him – but I didn’t really know John Marsden at all I’d just published my third book to not much success and that what mattered to him most was not the highs of so-called success Author and former teacher Markus Zusak.Credit: Tim Bauer There are thousands of stories out there about John Marsden the man There were books that might see him demonised there would often be a whisper that he was wearing a shirt he’d just bought on the way because he’d only remembered he was doing it 45 minutes beforehand He was also the guy who could make everyone take a stand Whenever someone says to me about their book it’s just a young adult novel,” I’m able to say “You can take the just out of that sentence.” After all one of our country’s most successful and prolific writers was exactly that – a YA novelist One thing clear to everyone was that if John Marsden was passionate about something The question of what John leaves behind is almost beyond asking There are whole tribes of memorable characters from the team players and heroes to the upstarts and the loners there are two things that distinguish him most Every writer will tell you that finding your voice is the hardest thing to get and the easiest thing to lose – and John Marsden had it always he leaves behind an army of readers who adore him – young people who fell in love with books thanks to him and his life’s purpose we lost a giant of Australian writing last week Markus Zusak’s latest book Three Wild Dogs (and the Truth) is out now Hinton of Australian literature \\u2013 we should probably start there Just as whole generations worldwide recall devouring Hinton\\u2019s The Outsiders so do at least a few generations of Australians recall their relationship with Tomorrow When the War Began \\u2013 all seven books of the series I first came across John\\u2019s books at a railway station near the education campus of UNSW in Oatley when I was 20 It hit me incredibly hard: This bastard\\u2019s the real deal It\\u2019s tempting at times like these for us contemporaries to climb from the woodwork to claim how well we knew him \\u2013 but I didn\\u2019t really know John Marsden at all Markus.\\u201D IT WAS JOHN FREAKING MARSDEN I\\u2019d just published my third book to not much success and it\\u2019s something I\\u2019ll never forget he\\u2019s both a legend and an urban legend there would often be a whisper that he was wearing a shirt he\\u2019d just bought on the way because he\\u2019d only remembered he was doing it 45 minutes beforehand he\\u2019s also a Joyce Carol Oates or even a Dylan-like character \\u2013 he always seemed to be working as if writing were as essential to his existence as breathing He collaborated brilliantly with some of the greats: and and Scot Gardner aren\\u2019t a bad place to start it\\u2019s just a young adult novel,\\u201D I\\u2019m able to say \\u201CYou can take the just out of that sentence.\\u201D After all one of our country\\u2019s most successful and prolific writers was exactly that \\u2013 a YA novelist Every writer will tell you that finding your voice is the hardest thing to get and the easiest thing to lose \\u2013 and John Marsden had it always he leaves behind an army of readers who adore him \\u2013 young people who fell in love with books thanks to him and his life\\u2019s purpose Markus Zusak\\u2019s latest book is out now by Jessie Tu | December 19 Acclaimed Australian writer John Marsden died yesterday The author of the beloved Tomorrow series and The Rabbits wrote and edited over 40 books in his lifetime who confirmed his death in a statement to parents.“He died at his desk in his home Both the Alice Miller School and Candlebark School notified parents of Marsden’s passing via email informing them that the founder had been battling health issues for some time and had left his role as principal earlier this year dropping into Candlebark for lunch every day and chatting with students and staff,” the email Marsden attended the schools’ Year 6 graduation last Thursday night — something the principal Sarita Ryan said she is comforted by.  “The grade 6s spoke in heartfelt and reverential ways about what the school meant to them and how grateful they were to John for creating it,” Ryan explained Marsden was one of Australia’s most celebrated and successful authors with his books adapted into films and TV series and translated into more than 15 languages His works were recognised as stories that contained genuine depictions of the emotional and psychological lives of teenagers including Australian author Alice Pung.  In 2017, Pung contributed to Black Inc.’s Writers on Writers series reflecting on the influence Marsden’s works has had on her own writing “I keep coming back to John Marsden,” she wrote in the essay “What makes him so fascinating to me is that he approaches writing for young adults with a whole philosophy of what it means to be a teenager – a philosophy that’s embedded in the two schools he runs but also in his early experiences with mental illness and hospitalisation His perspective raises interesting questions about YA fiction – how much darkness is allowed before you are considered a “bad influence”?”  Fellow author Andy Griffiths praised the late author as a “passionate storyteller Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the prolific writer describing him as someone who “wanted young Australians to read more and his writing made that happen.” he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people’s character,” the post read “His was a great Australian voice that spoke to all ages He went on to study arts and law at the University of Sydney — “because it was just the expected thing to do,” he once said But the experience left him with a gaping hole.  “When I got there, I found it alienating and so huge that I couldn’t connect with anything or anyone,” he said in 2018 and went to see a counsellor eventually who suggested I discontinue the course and seek professional help He then took a job as a cleaner while trying to figure out his next steps and eventually saw a psychiatrist and admitted himself into a “psych hospital” which helped him build “a new life.”  Eight years later, he enrolled in a primary teaching course in a country town and “loved it from the first day.”“Teaching was exhilarating for me,” he once said Inspired by the popularity of young adult fiction in the US Marsden set out to write stories for teenagers translated into nine languages and picking up numerous awards including the Christopher Medal and named Best Book of the Year by the Children’s Book Council His subsequent books were all highly successful When the War Began which was published in 1993 it was also voted Australia’s favourite Australian book in a government poll Marsden would go on to write and publish another six books in the series Darkness be my friend and Burning for Revenge “I wanted to write a book that would show teenagers in a different light,” Marsden explained in an interview in 2018 “The Tomorrow series is about a hypothetical war where Australia is invaded is not included in the roundup.They’re up in the mountains where they’ve been camping so they’re able to wage war against the invaders.”  Four years after the final book in the series was published Marsden released the first book (While I Live) in a sequel trilogy titled The Ellie Chronicles which followed the heroine Ellie’s survival in post-war life When the War Began was adapted for screen in 2010 In 2014, he published his first novel for adults a historical novel which followed a 13-year-old orphan and his new life in a convict settlement in 18th-century NSW It won the Christina Stead Award for Best Novel of 2015 after teaching at a variety of schools including Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop and Fitzroy Community School Marsden founded his own schools in regional Victoria: Candlebark in 2006 and the arts-based Alice Miller in Macedon In another media statement released by the schools overnight Marsden was revealed to have worked in a range of occupations: “Prior to his career in education and in the emergency ward in a hospital,” the statement read.  The late journalist George Negus once described Marsden as “one of Australia’s most simultaneously popular and controversial authors” John has copped a fair bit of flak,” Negus said in November 2004 on ABC TV’s George Negus Tonight In recent years, Marsden’s views have caused some controversy. His 2019 book The Art of Growing Up was described as “a cross between a review of classic literature and an angry rant about the people and practices he doesn’t like.” He was also criticised for his view that bad mothers were responsible for men’s rage: “Men who feel rage as a result of the failure of their mothers to effectively manage the inevitable eventual separation between mothers and their sons … are highly likely to project that rage onto future intimate partners The comment earned him a celebrity Ernie Award but Marsden defended his views All of these discussions … it’s all at quite a shallow level a superficial level and the reality of the day to day life of working in a school involves so much more thought time and energy and so these things aren’t easily turned into slogans or quick judgments.” Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 – www.kidshelp.com.au If you or someone you know is experiencing text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au Bullying No Way – www.bullyingnoway.gov.au The Alannah and Madeline Foundation – www.amf.org.au/bullying by Jessie Tu Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Linda Reynolds has labelled her party’s election loss a “comprehensive failure” and said the Liberal Party needs to look at quotas or targets for women the Prime Minister didn’t hesitate: universal affordable early childhood education and care a sweep of female politicians took over safe Liberal seats in WA Donald Trump’s hate politics is finally doing some good It’s showing other countries what they don’t want their governments to look like The way forward for the Liberal Party isn’t to double down on reactionary politics Whoever wins will be tasked with leading the party after its worst result in history Women’s Agenda is published by the 100% women owned and run Agenda Media Advertising and partnerships support our independent journalism We acknowledge and pay respect to the past present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" The Federal Government and NSW Government have committed a total of $150 million to progress the planning for the Bandon Road Corridor Upgrade and Extension project With additional funding allocated for the corridor Transport for NSW is commencing the concept design phase The funding committed will enable Transport for NSW to recommence the upgrade project engage with stakeholders and the community and prepare a concept design environmental assessment and business case for the future delivery of identified priority works Transport for NSW will liaise with key stakeholders and residents along the corridor as the project investigations progress Arup Australia Pty Limited has been awarded the contract for the Concept Design and Review of Environmental Factors (REF) of the Bandon Road Upgrade and Extension project While the concept design and review of environmental factors is being developed we have identified an early safety works opportunity to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists at Vineyard Station Feedback for the Early Safety Works proposal closed on Sunday 6 April 2025 March 2025 - Bandon Road Upgrade and Extension on track with design contract awarded and early safety works (PDF, 560.94 KB) Arup Australia Pty Limited has been awarded the contract for the Concept Design and Review of Environmental Factors (REF)t of the Bandon Road Upgrade and Extension project Over the next year the concept design and review of environmental factors report will be developed with the community consultation planned in Q2 2026.  an early safety works project has been identified at the corner of Riverstone Parade and Bandon Road which will improve safety for pedestrians and motorists and access to Vineyard Train Station The Bandon Road Upgrade and Extension Project connects Richmond Road This corridor will provide an extra road connection between Richmond Road and Windsor Road and reduce traffic congestion within Riverstone and provide alternative access across the North West Growth Area The finalised Bandon Road corridor is part of the North West Growth Centre Road Network Strategy The Bandon Road corridor was finalised in 2019 Community consultation on the preferred Bandon Road corridor started in August 2016 Finalising this corridor was the result of a formal consultation process and community and stakeholder engagement carried out over several years This finalised corridor has been sent to NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure to include in precinct plans for the North West Growth Area We are currently developing concept design and environmental assessment Click here to view larger version of map (PDF, 283.66 KB) Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us We will keep the community informed as the project progresses please fill in the subscription form below For further information about this project Email: nwga@transport.nsw.gov.au Privacy Statement: Transport for NSW is committed to protecting your personal information We will not publish or disclose your personal information to any third parties unless you consent or as authorised by law Aggregated or depersonalised information which does not identify you may be published or disclosed to third parties Providing personal information is voluntary however we rely on your participation to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information obtained and we may not be able to communicate with you directly if you do not provide your personal information Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present Marsden was born in 1950 in Melbourne and grew up primarily in Victoria and Tasmania before beginning a teaching career Marsden wrote his first book in an attempt to entice his students into reading So Much to Tell You began a prolific and highly successful writing career; at the time of his death Marsden had written 40 novels and won multiple awards including the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for his debut novel His work has been translated and published around the world Marsden earned international success and acclaim with this seven-book series selling millions of copies and having the first in the series chosen for the American Library Association’s (ALA) Best Books for Young Adults list in 1996 Marsden’s passion for teaching continued through his life and he founded two schools in regional Victoria: Candlebark Pan Macmillan Australia is deeply saddened by the passing of John Marsden a cherished author and beloved member of Pan Macmillan Australia We know many in the literary community and readers across the world share our grief This legendary Australian author of more than 40 books over his distinguished writing career leaves a legacy that will forever be remembered and celebrated John Marsden profoundly impacted the world of literature particularly with his enthralling young adult novels which we have previously described as ‘the best series for Australian teens of all time’ His ability to encapsulate the essence of youth struggles and aspirations in his works has left an indelible mark on readers worldwide John’s books were a masterclass in the creation of characters John’s dedication to crafting stories that resonate with young and adult audiences alike has earned him numerous accolades His contribution to literature extends beyond his writing influencing generations through teaching and advocacy for education and the Candlebark and Alice Miller schools that he founded John was honoured with the Lloyd O’Neil Award for his contribution to Australian publishing John Marsden – the great statesman of Australian literature We honour his legacy and are privileged to have been a part of his remarkable journey Author Alice Pung writes: and when he gave a speech he always addressed the students or young people in the room instead of the eminent adults Author and Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin writes: John had a huge compassion and respect for young people even if this meant circumventing social norms to write for them with genuine authenticity He wasn’t afraid to write into dark places and explore the underside of what it meant to be human and for this he attracted criticism along with generations of young readers who felt seen and understood He was an unapologetically vocal and progressive thinker who also wrote books for adults that challenged the ways we might parent or educate our children and for this he was also occasionally lambasted Yet I don’t know of any other writer as deeply interested and invested in childhood and education as John John Marsden wanted young Australians to read more John’s work will live long in our national memory Creative Australia head of literature Wenona Byrne writes: his characters reflected the deep respect and admiration John had for young people – they were brilliant John Marsden was a brilliant writer who inspired millions of us not just in Australia but around the world His legacy as an author and an educator is profound We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family Category: Daily obituary The actor famously played the wealthy Lon Hamilton Karwai Tang/WireImage; Jemal Countess/Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty Transport has developed a proposal for a four-lane divided road along Townson Road and Burdekin Road linking Richmond Road Marsden Park in the west and Burdekin Road The length of the project is about 3.6 kilometres View or download a larger version of the map (PDF, 8.12 MB) Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) granted Special Infrastructure Contribution (SIC) funding for Transport for NSW to develop a proposal for the upgrade of Townson and Burdekin Road Transport completed this work and further development of this project is ongoing.  Transport for NSW invited feedback from the community on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for Townson and Burdekin Road Upgrade We have prepared a submissions report (PDF, 2.63 MB) which summarises and responds to the feedback received from the community and stakeholder For more information see our September 2024 community update (PDF, 477.24 KB) We are finalising the submissions report following the display of the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) Stage 2 and concept design improving road capacity to meet future traffic growth supporting residential and employment growth improving connectivity to the West Schofields precinct and encouraging active transport along the corridor Transport for NSW is seeking feedback on the environmental impact assessment called the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the Townson and Burdekin Road upgrade Transport for NSW held its second and final community session online on Wednesday 21 September to provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions and seek further information The video of this session can be viewed below The REF is open for comment until Monday 24 October 2022 Transport for NSW sought community feedback on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for Townson and Burdekin Road Upgrade Thank you to all those who made a submission on the REF we will prepare a report and publish online Transport for NSW will continue to provide the community with updates as the project progresses We have prepared a submissions report (PDF, 8.51Mb) which summarises and responds to the community’s feedback for this project is available Transport for NSW will continue to keep the community updated as the project progresses Transport for NSW sought feedback in February and March 2021 on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for Townson and Burdekin Road Upgrade To ensure the health and safety of the community and our staff we replaced face to face community information sessions with online information sessions on the NSW Roads Facebook page Transport for NSW held a number of community sessions in July and August to help inform our future road plans in the North West Growth Area We invited feedback until the 16 August 2019 and where applicable we are contacting individual residents to discuss their concerns We will keep the community informed as the design progresses Transport has completed this work and further development of this project is now being managed by DPHI.  For further information about this project please contact Privacy Statement: Transport for NSW is committed to protecting your personal information Information collected via the subscribe to Garfield Road upgrades will enable us to email you relevant information regarding projects along this corridor Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country. We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present. IKEA has established itself as an international leader in big-business decarbonisation, and the Swedish furniture retailer’s sustainable initiatives have continued to be felt in Australia with the unveiling of a new large-scale solar project at its Marsden Park site. The $2.9 million commercial solar PV and battery project at the Sydney warehouse is set to generate up to 70 per cent of the energy needed to run its round-the-clock warehouse operations. 4000 solar panels now cover 9000 sqm of rooftop space at the distribution warehouse with a generation capacity of 2035KW. The establishment of the new solar project means the site’s renewable energy generation capacity has been boosted from 26 per cent to 70 per cent. As well as powering the day-to-day warehouse operations it will also charge the electric vehicles used for home deliveries at the site. Once the installation of a 1MW battery is complete, energy generated by the panels will also be able to be stored. “This new project we are proud to launch today at our Marsden Park distribution centre is a standout example of the kind of investments we are making; not only because they are good for the planet and taking our renewable energy ambitions to the next level, but because they benefit our business, too,” IKEA Australia Country Sustainability Manager Renea Robson says. Since FY16 IKEA Australia has cut its operational climate footprint by 89 per cent while growing revenue by 68 per cent. It now uses 100 per cent renewable electricity in retail operations, and has solar panels installed on nine out of 10 ‘big blue box’ stores in addition to the Marsden Park distribution centre. The Marsden Park project was delivered by Smart Commercial Solar, which expressed its pride at achieving a renewable project of this scale while improving cost efficiencies. “What I’m most proud of in this project is how Smart has evolved with technology and the market to make solar and battery storage a cost-effective, practical solution for businesses. It’s proof that clean energy isn’t just the right choice – it’s now the smart choice,” Smart Commercial Solar Chief Technology Officer Kealy Day says. For more than 30 years, Australasian Transport News (ATN) and its digital platform Fully Loaded have been the leading source of intelligence for owners and managers of medium to large transport businesses. but the page you are looking for doesn't exist Email: admin@theaustraliatoday.com.au Phone: +61 (03) 8375 0295 © Designed with ❤ Media Clock Aerial view of the Marsden Park distribution centre IKEA Australia has officially unveiled a massive solar project at its Marsden Park distribution centre in Sydney one of IKEA’s last mile delivery partners who were given a glimpse into the 4,000 solar panels and 1MW battery that define the project Electric vehicles used for home deliveries can be charged at the site which will also power IKEA’s operations “This milestone is not only a significant achievement in the retail and broader business landscape but also a powerful example of how businesses can grow revenue while reducing their climate footprint,” said ANC “We continue to be inspired by IKEA’s leadership in sustainability and we’re excited to keep moving forward on our journey towards more sustainable smiles we’re creating greener logistics solutions that make a real difference for our customers and the planet.” the renewable energy project is set to generate up to 70 per cent of the energy needed to run round-the-clock warehouse operations at Marsden Park That’s an onsite increase up from 26 per cent according to IKEA the solar panels take up around 9,000m² of space on the rooftop Installation of the battery was provided by Smart Commercial Solar “What I’m most proud of in this project is how Smart has evolved with technology and the market to make solar and battery storage a cost-effective practical solution for businesses,” said Smart Commercial Solar Chief Technology Officer “It’s proof that clean energy isn’t just the right choice – it’s now the smart choice.” ANC also partners with Costco and Temple & Webster Australia Post has welcomed the opportunity to deploy new charging infrastructure and is committed to reducing carbon emissions from its.. Operation of 20 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) has begun this week Centurion has announced DHL Supply Chain Australia has bolstered its transport services offering with a new investment in Tasmania All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media His death was confirmed by the two schools he founded who wrote in a letter to parents that “he died at his desk Marsden was first published in 1987 with his debut novel So Much To Tell You He would go on to write and edit more than 40 books The Tomorrow series were hugely successful When the War Began as the book most likely to inspire a love of reading in young people and funded the printing and distribution of the book to hundreds of thousands of teenagers Tomorrow was named Australia’s favourite Australian book through a government poll in 2013 said in a statement that John’s “ability to encapsulate the essence of youth struggles and aspirations in his works has left an indelible mark on readers worldwide In a post commemorating the author’s death this morning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said John Marsden “wanted young Australians to read more and his writing made that happen” he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people’s character.” “John’s work will live long in our national memory.” Marsden became an English teacher at the age of 28 and continued teaching full time for much of his career an alternative primary school in regional Victoria In a eulogy written by author Alice Pung, Marsden was described as a literary and educational giant, and dear friend. “I still can’t believe I will never see him again. But always philosophical about life, he once wrote to tell me: John’s smiley face emoticon conclusion said everything – about his inquiring mind, his ability to hold doubt central to his life, and yet still feel cheerful hope despite not finding definite answers. His joy was a hard-won one, and his love and concern for others was expansive.” Copyright © Star Observer 2025 . All rights reserved. Website by G Squared Copyright © City Hub 2025 . All rights reserved. lust – a former top model reflects on the age of #MeTooThe #MeToo movement gave former high-flying international fashion model turned author Laurie Marsden pause to reflect Here the global activist answers questions about her newly published memoir MEN and Me Too MEN and Me Too is just out – what’s it about and why should people read it resiliency and fighting for the kind of life you want I tell my story through various encounters with men and because men have always been an important part of my life I think people should read it because it’s entertaining and informative the kind of eternal question of how to take or create opportunities while still maintaining your personal integrity will resonate with readers and are still relevant today I do think I had the ability to set boundaries and that was key in a world that was dominated by men (and remains so) I was a teenager when I started my first career quite naïve and from a conservative Catholic background I navigated my way through that cut-throat industry and became a top model My memoir flows through and describes all these years but there’s also no denying the glamour and fun of it all One of my favorite chapters in on Joe Eula who was a legendary illustrator and creative director of Halston for 10 years – and my friend and worked with Milton Greene on Marilyn’s “black shoot” I hear there’s a few celebrities in your book Subscribe for updatesI couldn’t really tell my story without including them It took you seven years to write this book It started in a writer’s group in Sag Harbor which I joined just to get back into the craft I had articles published previously but had drifted away from writing when I became a therapist I decided to give it a go again and was blessed to be with some first-rate writers in the Hamptons which has a rich history as an artists’ and writers’ haven As I was bringing samples in weekly to review wrote “MEN and me too” on the back of the piece that day and we ended up moving back to Australia just before the pandemic Then I became involved in a case against an agent in France and became an activist I gave speeches to the French senate via Zoom and went to Brussels to address the EU parliament trying to change laws to protect women and supporting our survivor group as well I didn’t abandon my book but kept at it as best I could I even reconnected my Sag Harbor’s Writer’s group and ran sessions via Zoom from here Last year I decided it was finished and time to get it out there as they impacted my life and are important stories to tell But there are so many more good men stories in the book I think the book shows how diverse interactions and relationships are because it’s a real insider look at the industry and the era the 1980s and 1990s were exciting cultural decades Laurie lives in Brisbane with her husband and two children Subscribe for updatesAvid Reader in West End will host an authors’ event with Laurie Marsden on March 27;  she will also be at Books@Stones If you believe that this is a technical error, please contact us and tell us the location of this page. my Mummy would come with a lantern from the Philippines But I still want to continue it because I know seeing the Christmas lights brought joy to my mum and I want to continue doing it for others."Key PointsCelebrating Christmas is something big for many Filipinos like Nina Sheryll Nuñez.The Nuñez family lives in the suburb of Marsden Park NSW There are over 2,100 Filipinos living in the area.In the spirit of Christmas the Nuñezs is putting up a Christmas light display to bring joy and help support those with autism this Christmas.LISTEN TO THE PODCASTA Filipino family in Marsden Park shines light on those with autism this Christmas14:50PlayGive joyThe Nuñez's home in Steeple Place Marsden Park stands out among their neighbourhood as it is completely lit up during Christmas.Their entire house is adorned with Christmas lights Credit: SBS Filipino/Annalyn Violata"Each year as we add more decors to our display so have the number of children and families we've met have grown too," happily shares mother-of-two and homeowner," Nina Sheryll Nuñez.The Nuñez is surprised that "not just one night but children and families would frequently come back to see the Christmas light display"."We are happy that even though our two children are now both grown ups there are still many children who appreciate what we do."The Nuñez residence and their Christmas light display in 2017 2022 and 2024 (photos from left to right) Credit: Nina Nuñez and SBS FilipinoThe family lives in Marsden Park in New South Wales where over 14,600 people reside 14.7 per cent or 2,154 people are from the Philippines according to the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.Spirit of ChristmasIt's been seven years since the Nuñezs started their annual Christmas light display from a few parols brought by Nina's mother from the Philippines.When Nina's mum passed away in 2021 she decided to continue their Christmas light display and their support of some of Nina's favourite charity organisations."It's very personal for us He has no choice because I really love what I do.""We started in 2017 when we first moved in I just didn't expect the turnout this year to be really really good," Nina says.Along with their Christmas light display Nina also donates annually to her favourite charity organisations."In the past years I've always donated to popular charities like Cancer Council I teamed up with Aspect or the Autism Spectrum Australia.""When I heard about Aspect because it's centred on autism I said it seemed unique so I said for the first time I'd do it through our lights display to support an organisation I'd never heard of before."On my own little way masaya ako na makatulong sa mga charity na kagaya ng Aspect.Nina Sheryll Nuñez"I am very thankful to those who support what we do and to those who appreciate our simple way Even those who come to see our Christmas light display would be able to help to if they please," Nina says.Aside from their entire family the Nuñezs' pets are also part of what they do."Every Christmas our pets also come out upon people's request then we bring them out."The Nuñez's pets - from just Nookie and Jookie who gave birth to Wookie and Zookie - are part of the Christmas festivities and then the following year they added Jookie."Now they have four as the two gave birth to Wookie and Zookie."The Nuñezs' pet dogs are popular on social media with over 28,000 followers on Instagram.ThankfulNina Sheryll was just 19 years old when she moved to Australia from the Philippines And in her more than two decades in Australia her complete and happy family."I had been super blessed all these years and for me Christmas time is for everyone."So even though I don't have young children anymore I thought that doing something on Christmas even just a small display that I can give back to the community."Every Christmas it has become a yearly tradition for Nina and her family to give gifts to all their families neighbours and even to people they have known to come to their Christmas light display over the years Credit: Nina Nuñez (Facebook)"I've been working for my company for over 13 years now in various positions I was a payroll accounting manager for a few years when I started with them I shifted to IT and accounting."For Nina even in simple things like volunteering her time if she's needed she can already help others."I'm very thankful for this 2024 I've recovered a bit from previous experiences."I'm also thankful that I'm surrounded by family and of course good health I'm okay with that.""For 2025 I look forward to a bigger Christmas display I'm looking at how I can continue helping others and in my little way support charities through my donations too to my favourite charities."RELATED CONTENTBig festivities food and family: What Filipinos in Australia miss about Christmas in the Philippines Celebrated Australian author John Marsden has passed away at 74 Marsden shaped the literary appetites of generations His untimely death leaves a void in Australian literature While the official John Marsden cause of death remains private John Marsden was born in rural Victoria and spent his childhood in Tasmania before moving to Sydney at age ten His education at the strict Kings School shaped his rebellious nature His struggles with authority inspired his stories Marsden dropped out of four university degrees before pursuing teaching A period of mental health challenges led him to a psychiatric hospital He later described himself as “emotionally illiterate” during this phase These experiences informed his empathetic portrayal of young people in his novels Also Read: Vanuatu Earthquake: Rescue Efforts Intensify as Death Toll Rises a traumatised teenager regaining her voice through diary entries winning the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award in 1988 “I resented the control adults had over my life I daydreamed occasionally of a world where the adults miraculously disappeared.” This sentiment underpinned his most famous work When the War Began follows seven teenagers fighting back after their town falls under foreign military occupation chronicling their resourceful guerrilla tactics The series sold over three million copies worldwide and introduced young readers to moral complexity He centred the teenagers’ agency in action and decision-making The Dead of the Night: “I live in the light / but carry the dark in me.” the series faced criticism for its portrayal of non-Anglo invading forces Marsden acknowledged the concerns and said he would not write the books today due to his horror at Australia’s treatment of refugees Marsden’s later novels delved deeper into difficult themes an abandoned teen in a psychiatric hospital Marsden’s ability to present the inner lives of troubled teens was a hallmark of his work He used letters and diaries as narrative tools giving characters the agency to articulate their struggles Marsden collaborated with illustrator Shaun Tan on the picture book The Rabbits (1998) The story allegorises colonialism and environmental destruction presenting a haunting vision of a land consumed by invaders Tan described the book as “an invitation to think deeply” about identity and environmental stewardship The illustrations and sparse text leave a lasting impression showcasing Marsden’s versatility as a writer Marsden extended his impact beyond writing by founding two alternative schools in Victoria: Candlebark (2006) and Alice Miller School (2016) These schools champion experiential learning and self-efficacy Marsden believed adolescence was a critical period for intellectual “An overnight camping trip at the Alice Miller school sees students heading out into the bush on their own to cook dinner sleep in a tent and make their own way back.” This philosophy stood in stark contrast to the risk-averse culture of modern education Marsden’s works never shied away from difficult subjects He believed in showing the full range of human emotions When the War Began: “Life’s about a hell of a lot more than being happy Marsden carried this belief into his writing and teaching portraying teenagers as capable of handling complexity Fellow young-adult author Alice Pung described Marsden as an introvert who could transform young minds it was truly transformative: he wiped the boredom from their faces.” Marsden’s legacy lives on through his characters and the lessons they impart His ability to write stories that resonate deeply with readers cemented his place in Australian literary history John Marsden’s death marks the end of an era, but his works remain timeless. Through novels like Tomorrow, When the War Began, he inspired readers to think, feel, and grow. Marsden’s stories reflect his empathy, resilience, and belief in the power of young people. His contributions to literature and education ensure his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Author of the 'Tomorrow' series - including 'Tomorrow: When the War Began' John Marsden has died aged 74. But the educator also set out on an unconventional way to educate generations more, establish Candlebark School in 2006, followed by its sibling school, the Alice Miller School. Current Principal Sarita Ryan has remembered John for his "respect for young people" and says "freedom of childhood was what John was all about." John Marsden(ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky) Published: 13h agoSun 4 May 2025 at 10:45pm Published: 13h agoSun 4 May 2025 at 10:30pm Published: 14h agoSun 4 May 2025 at 10:00pm Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio This is probably not the page you’re looking for Our website is currently undergoing maintenance If you're having issues please let us know through our feedback form On 22 April council decided to proceed with its proposal to create a new joint-venture company combining MMH and Northport together with investment partners Port of Tauranga and Tupu Tonu (Ngāpuhi Investment Fund Ltd) Making this change required an amendment to our recently adopted Te Mahere Roa | Long Term Plan 2024-2034 A month-long consultation period ended on 28 March and we are grateful to everyone that has taken the time to share their thoughts on the proposal This summary document provides an overview of the main points raised in the feedback received You can read the full feedback in the appendix of this report This item from the 22 April council meeting agenda is the background information and staff advice and recommendations that was provided to support council’s deliberations and decision-making Council’s shareholding in MMH is our largest investment and the port is a critical piece of infrastructure for this region We believe this will set Northport up for the future by simplifying MMH’s ownership structure combining the port and land-based assets and bring full control of Northport under a single ownership umbrella and ensuring half of the shareholding is held here in Te Taitokerau The proposal provides an opportunity for hapū and iwi investment partners to come on board It would also give council a bigger stake in the revenue-generating elements of the assets Investment revenue helps subsidise rates and pay for the services we deliver it’s proposed that council’s additional investment will have no impact on rates but would be funded through a combination of borrowings and the sale of other property holdings You can read more in our consultation document below There’s a lot to consider with this proposal and we’ve put together a consultation document to try and explain things as clearly as possible General Enquiries0800 002 004Stay connected: Call us toll-free between 8am and 4:30pm Incident Hotline0800 504 639The 24/7 NRC Incident Hotline: Report pollution or marine incidents toll free The Tallawong to St Marys (T2SM) passenger rail corridor will be a major transport link between Sydney’s North West and South West Growth Areas The corridor will connect with the Western Sydney International Airport (WSIA) Precinct and surrounding future employment areas See full-size map The corridor was identified in the Long Term Transport Master Plan 2012 as one of Sydney’s 19 major transport corridors requiring preservation This is to ensure the cost efficient and long term development of the transport network The route is approximately 15km from the current Tallawong Stabling Facility site to St Marys Station Along the planned route is Schofields Station and the Marsden Park growth area.  The T2SM Corridor Preservation study will define and protect a corridor for two potential rail services:   We will share updates as they become available Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns This account of humanity’s magical yet toxic relationship with rocks and minerals is filled with glittering details the 14-year-old high priest of a meteor-worshiping cult in Syria learned that his cousin had died and that he was to be installed in his place The teenage priest – later known as Emperor Elagabalus – brought his cult’s sacred stone with him to the capital built it an enormous temple on the Palatine Hill and ordered Romans to worship it above all other deities he was beheaded by his own soldiers and his body was dumped in a sewer metals – these materials from the depths of the Earth and from distant space – have inspired reverence and horror It’s likely that the first murderer used a rock Our connection with the mineral world is bone deep travel writer Philip Marsden follows the seam of this story from the defunct tin mines around his Cornish home to the untapped gold deposits of Svaneti And what lies behind our often impractical desire to dig He tells of a boyhood spent on his parents’ driveway sifting for shiny nuggets collecting “muddy lumps of rock which when broken open revealed sparking geodes … quartz in a dozen shades gleaming galena … Their presence in my room left me with an enduring sense which only later was I able to articulate – that another world lay hidden inside this one.” Marsden is an intrepid guide: abseiling off cliffs and down abandoned minesFor our species can be painted on to almost any surface – art’s foundation stone “Some cosmic shift took place in that action,” he writes the Earth could be subtly remade and modified and abstractions created Travelling east through Europe, Marsden lays bare the Earth’s revelations, from silver to radium, aerolite, mercury, copper, gold and lithium, showing how each has had an alchemical effect on us. He is an intrepid guide: abseiling off cliffs and down abandoned mines, kayaking across the Netherlands, rattling through Georgia in a clapped out marshrutka He rummages through Goethe’s mineral collection and licks the white fluff growing from the wall of a Slovenian mercury mine His enthusiasm for the subject is contagious and he writes with a rock-collector’s eye for glittering details One senses this is a book he has been longing to write for years there was some evidence of reciprocity: the human sacrifices sunk in peat bogs; the deliberately broken and buried swords and spears of the bronze age A healthy vein of guilt ran through ancient Iranian Egyptian and Greek beliefs about metals – that they are the flesh of the gods and to extract them is to tear the divine body and Under a Metal Sky is littered with the toxic tailings of uninhibited greed Today’s emperors look once more to rocks from space but The internet billionaire Naveen Jain has one of the largest collections of meteorites in the world “Every single thing we value on Earth,” he has said there’s one floating somewhere between Mars and Jupiter that would deliver enough precious metals to make everyone on the planet a billionaire Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns Under a Metal Sky: A Journey Through Minerals, Greed and Wonder by Philip Marsden is published by Granta (£20). To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com Credit: DisneySPOILERS AHEAD FOR PARADISE EPISODE 7 the world ends with a bang and not a whimper Not just any bang but a supervolcanic eruption beneath the ice in Antarctica which sets off a tsunami 30 storeys high moving at a rate of 1000km an hour Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Australians, we’re sorry to tell you, we’re among the first to go, along with New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa. Onscreen, the characters bemoan that Melbourne and Sydney are completely underwater. By lunchtime in Washington D.C., the whole southern hemisphere is submerged, and the full-scale of destruction of the American capital is only five hours away. With the imminent demise of Earth, every nuclear power sets off their arsenal of missiles, aimed at each other’s most populous cities, in case there’s a scramble for resources in whatever is left of the world. This is how the world ends on Paradise, the post-apocalyptic political thriller that debuted on January 26 with the twist that everything that’s taking place is in an underground bunker built for 30,000 handpicked survivors. Handpicked by a cabal of billionaires, head by the villainous tech mogul Samantha who’s really calling the shots. All season, Paradise has been parsing the trauma of what it’s like to survive the unsurviveable and all the pain, guilt and, in some characters’ cases, scheming that goes along with this new world. Paradise is streaming on Disney+. Credit: Brian Roedel/DisneyThe seventh episode, which premiered this week on Disney+, flashes back to the day the world ended, and it is the most intense hour of television to drop so far this year. The series itself has been inconsistent, but this episode is an absolute banger. Your jaw is hanging open, your heart is beating fast and a whole new slate of nightmares can be added to your already teeming collection of paranoid apocalyptic scenarios. What fun! Amid the chaos on screen, two characters are being propelled forward by the crazy momentum of the story – US President Cal Bradford, played by charisma bomb James Marsden, and his secret service protection officer Xavier Collins, portrayed by the inimitable Sterling K Brown. “It feels like a film, a really big budget action film,” Marsden told The Nightly of his experiencing making episode seven. “But also with crazy amounts of emotion and drama, and that was intense. “I know we’re actors presenting a fake world to everybody, but there something on set, an eerie feeling. It wasn’t like everyone knew they were just doing some goofy science fiction thing. It was scary. “It just provides a scenario that is provocative, and hopefully starts a conversation. On set, there was this weird quiet, and I could sense that everyone was thinking, ‘How close are we to this? Jesus, what would this be like for me if I were in this situation?’.” Paradise premiered in the week after the 2025 Presidential Inauguration and the timing of a series that sketches out an end-of-the-world plot in which billionaires and politicians warned about climate disaster chose to build an escape hatch for themselves, was not lost on anyone. “It was such an interesting experience for us in and around the inauguration because obviously there are parallels that people are drawing, quite readily, even though it wasn’t anybody’s intention for the show to be as reflective of a possible present or near future,” Brown recalled. Sterling K. Brown has won three Emmys for his previous work. Credit: Brian Roedel/Disney“That said, we draw inspiration from what’s around us, and it does make you ask sincere questions about the nature of capitalism and politics and the kind of bedfellows they are, and the real power, especially as you see a strange thing being played out in the States right now with regards to the richest man in the world.” Paradise was not meant to coincide with the upheaval unleashed in the first few weeks of the current administration. Marsden said series creator Dan Fogelman started writing the show a decade ago while Brown added that the production had been delayed by the actors and writers strike of 2023. If it had stuck to schedule, it wouldn’t be coming out now, and sparking the same tenor of conversations. “It was meant to be thought provoking because I think any good storytelling makes you question the world in which you live,” Brown added. “But I don’t think it was ever intended to be quite as close as it ended up being. “It probably helps the show, but I won’t say it was done purposefully. That would make me feel like a gross person. I don’t like that it’s as close to reality as it is.” Such a vivid depiction of the day of the apocalypse inevitably triggers conversations – what do you think it’ll look like, would you be a survivor, what is your contribution in a dystopian world? Paradise episode seven is streaming now. Credit: DisneyParadise has brought up these hypotheticals with Marsden and his friends. “I thought about this stuff a lot. It’s really the lesser of two evils. You could argue that being one of the lucky ones to be surviving would be almost more torturous on your soul, and its own version of a prison, more so than staying behind and not surviving. “Am I with my family, with my friends? The insurmountable guilt I would be feeling as well. But also, it’s necessary to have somebody to survive and carry on for humanity. It’s a fun little existential conversation to have, for sure.” Brown, who went to Stanford University in the cradle of Silicon Valley, said he knows people – “this is not even a joke” – who have bought plots of land in undeveloped parts of the US for the worst case scenario. “I went (to college) with some people who think outside of the box a little bit, you know what I’m saying? Because times are unpredictable,” he said. “The way the first days of (this) president have gone have a lot of people wondering, ‘Oh snap, this is not a game being played right now’.” Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. Please check your spelling and if you still can't get to the right page try heading to the homepage for a look around If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from Golf Industry News A fresh and exciting attraction has just arrived at Marsden Golf Driving Range south of Brisbane withthe grand opening of its new 9-hole putt-putt course this family-friendly addition is set to enhance the recreational options available at the stand-alone golfing venue The newly unveiled putt-putt course features a par-22 layout that promises to challenge both novice and seasoned golfers alike With traditional obstacles designed to disrupt straightforward shots players will need to employ skill and strategy to navigate the various hazards Whether a competitive player or just looking for a fun outing the course is crafted to provide enjoyment for everyone Pricing for the putt-putt course is accessible and affordable there’s a special rate of $29 for a group of four and for those looking to get the most out of their visit players can enjoy a second round of putt-putt at half price.  the Marsden Golf Driving Range has introduced a value-packed package for families a family can add 200 range balls and hire clubs to their day’s activities This package provides a full golfing experience combining the putt-putt challenge with a chance to practice their golfing skills at the adjacent range the new putt-putt course it is set to become a popular destination for family outings Bookings are not required, with the putt-putt course open to the public seven days per week, 9am to 7pm. Interested parties can visit the Marsden Golf Driving Range website at www.marsdengolf.com.au or contact their customer service directly on (07) 3803 4753 for more information.  prompting frustration from Kelso residents All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe street was closed between Ilumba Way and Sunbright Road on October 21 2024 to allow for the roadworks to be carried out over 14 weeks The new roundabout at the intersection of Marsden Lane and Hughes Street is being constructed as part of the overall development plans for the Marsden Heights area it is understood the road closure period was extended by six weeks to a date in mid-March 2025 and now Bathurst's Regional Council's website has been updated to say it will be a 24-week project following the latest advice from Hynash Constructions it means Marsden Lane will reopen in early April The Western Advocate contacted Hynash Constructions for information about the delays but hadn't received a response at time of publication Andrew Rajkovic is among the Kelso residents who have grown frustrated with the delays in reopening Marsden Lane Kelso fenced off with a "road closed" sign displayed Picture by Alise McIntoshThe closure has been inconvenient for residents who have had to account for the extra travel time that the detour adds to their trips "Marsden Lane is seen as a bit of an arterial road that leads out to link up to Limekilns Road," he said it extended travel time trying to get across town because you can't use that." Mr Rajkovic said it also forced him to take a property he owns off the market The home is located on Marsden Lane within the road closure area which he said meant inquiry was unable to be generated from people driving past or seeing the "open home" signs so it was a waste of time trying to sell the property," he said Mr Rajkovic contacted both the council and Hynash about the delays and said he was told by Hynash that the initial delay was weather-related that it had been "near-perfect weather all summer" "to actually need to take 14 weeks to build a roundabout and to do some stormwater along the side of the road "It boggles the mind that it can take that long." I have been a journalist at the Western Advocate since 2014. 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