After more than 70 years since they volunteered to fight in the Second World War, brothers Arthur and Wilfred Chapman of The Gap have received official recognition.
The Gap RSL Sub Branch accorded the War Medal 1939-45 and the Australian Service Medal to the Chapman brothers for their service during the war. The brothers enlisted in the military separately. Arthur joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 and Wilfred followed suit, enlisting in the army in 1942.
Only Wilfred came back alive from the war. Arthur was shot down in his first assignment in Holland. In 1943, he was declared “killed in action.” Upon his return to the country, Wilfred worked on the family farm.
Medals for Sacrifice
Arthur’s sacrifice was further recognised with the granting of the 1939-45 Start with Clasp, the Defence Medal and the Air Crew Europe Star.
Wilfred’s family received the awards for the brothers. The family expressed joy over the granting of the medals especially since the death of Arthur had an enduring impact on the family. Since Arthur never married and never had children, Wilfred’s family received the medals for him.
The Chapman family sees the ceremony as a good way for the younger generation to appreciate the sacrifices and heroism of the past generation.
Wilfred’s grandchildren intend to wear the medals on the upcoming Anzac Day on April 25.
In probably one of Brisbane’s most controversial cases today, The Gap’s Simona Zafirovska has gained media notoriety as the girl who bludgeoned her own mum to death. In October of last year, Simona’s mum, Radica, was found dead in her bedroom, with twenty blows to her face.
According to reports, it was Simona who rang 000 alerting the police by saying an intruder might have trespassed in their home at The Gap. Within days of the incident, investigations revealed probable cause and the police charged Simona with the murder of her mother Radica.
Simona’s Statements in Court Denies She Killed Her Mum
During the initial court hearings, 20-year-old Simona was adamant in relating to the court how she woke up in fear to the sound of an intruder in the house on the eve of her mum’s murder. “There was a thumping sound like a heavy footstep on the wooden floor in the hallway. I had the doona over my head but I could hear muffled voices or murmuring,” she said.
“I saw a red sensor light flashing which indicated to me that someone was very close to the outside of my bedroom door. I was too scared to open the door or call out to my mum. I called 000 for help,” she continued in one of her statements.
Crown Prosecutor Matthew Hynes related the killing to the court saying, “It was a pretty gruesome murder.” According to Mr Hynes, Simona’s comments to the police hours after the killing could very well be seen as “lies” proving “consciousness of guilt.”
In his statements in court, Mr Hynes explained how the police were wary of Simona during investigations on the circumstances surrounding the killing. The time when the police arrived at the crime scene and the manner by which they saw her were particularly suspicious. According to them, everything seemed to be “staged.” The police found the front door ajar while the daughter of the deceased reportedly looked “immaculate.” For someone who claimed to have just woken up, Simona’s hair appeared to be well done, police reports said.
Photo Credit: Perth Live News/Facebook
The murder weapon, a floorboard, was reportedly found “hidden behind a shelf in her bedroom.” DNA evidence was absent either on Simona or the said weapon. Hence, no plea of guilt was entered by the accused 20-year-old university student.
As to the lack of DNA evidence on her, Mr Hynes said that she “might have had time to clean her hands” since her mother may have been murdered the night before. After all, the murder weapon was found well hidden in her bedroom.
Justice Martin Daubney, on his part, was reportedly unconvinced that the accused was asleep during her mother’s killing, as well as when the intruder entered her bedroom to hide the murder weapon. Justice Daubney denied Simona’s recent application for bail on the ground that she is a “flight risk.”
Simona’s Original Plans of Leaving Brisbane for Macedonia
Simona, who technically grew up in Macedonia, holds a dual passport. Her Macedonian passport is currently in police custody. “She could apply to the Macedonian embassy for another passport and may get one if they are not alerted to the fact that she should not be allowed to obtain one,” Mr Hynes said.
According to Justice Daubney, the evidence on record revealed that, seven days prior to the death of her mum, the 20-year-old accused spoke to a certain bank about wanting to obtain a “significant” loan in the amount of $275,000. It was said that she would use the money to go to Macedonia because she needs “to look after someone.”
Aside from talking to a bank, it appeared that Simona “also inquired about a flight” and even made tentative flight bookings. As if by an odd coincidence, the departure dates on her tentative bookings were the exact day of her mum’s violent death.
Photo Credit: Viet Tran/Facebook
During preliminary investigations at the crime scene, the police had talked to neighbour Jack Randall. He told them there sounded like arguments at the Zafirovska house early that morning. “It just sounded like murmuring of two people having a really slight minor argument, not too big, nothing that would lead to a killing, I mean that’s tragic,” Mr Randall said. He added that he heard it between 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. but that he could not make out the words as to what it was about since he had his headphones in.
When asked in court as to the matter, however, Simona explained in refute, “I had a good relationship with my mother prior to her passing. We never had any arguments, however, due to our Macedonian heritage, we are very loud talkers.”
Simona Points to A Possible Suspect
The young accused, who has not yet entered a plea, once told the court how another person could have a more credible motive to kill her mum. According to her, a man named “Jack” had “pulled a gun on her” mum in April and May while they were in Macedonia last year. Simona believed that her mum and Ljupche “Jack” Neshovska had a rocky relationship. The two married in 2012 but their relationship appeared to have ended in August although they did not file for divorce.
In a recent interview with other members of the media, however, Mr Neshovska heavily denied Simona’s allegations against him. He claimed his relationship with Radica was not volatile and there was never an instance when he “put a gun to Radica’s head.”
“That was not true, I do not own a gun. I don’t know why she would say that. My culture does not allow me to do something like that,” Mr Neshovska said. According to him, he was in Macedonia at the time of Radica’s killing. Moreover, he also claimed that he and Radica were chatting via the Viber mobile app until 2:40 a.m. on the day she was killed.
Motive for Killing Still Unknown
Up to this day, the reason behind the Radica Zafirovska death remains a mystery. The circumstantial case against Simona is undoubtedly heavy. For the sake of due process, however, the court is considering further investigations and hearings. A lot of possibilities and angles are still being looked into in the case. If Simona indeed bludgeoned her own mum to death, what could have caused her to do so? On the other hand, if she did not do it, then who did, and why? Despite the additional details revealed in court to show probable cause, a lot of questions still remain to be answered.
His name is Tom Holliday. He owns a business called Sonder Digital Marketing. Nowadays, everyone knows him as The Gap’s Running Cat Man. Many have been curious about this humorous young fellow. One day, he just ran around the suburb wearing his cute cat unitard. Little did he know at that time just how viral a figure he would become after that run.
How it All Began
In an interview with other members of the media, Mr Holliday confessed that he first wore the cat attire to visit a friend’s house. According to him, his friends told him, “That is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Then I went for a run in it once as a joke and I had that much attention, it was hilarious. It was the funniest, happiest run I’ve ever been on. It’s just good vibes,” he said.
The Gap’s Running Cat Man is thankful for the overwhelmingly positive reactions that he continues to get from everyone because they motivate him to keep on running. The 22-year-old Mr Holliday was overweight by 30kg three years ago. Today, he has not only lost the excess weight and become fit. He also helps to brighten anyone’s day on the street with his distinctive attire.
“You get tired and think ‘I’m so over this’, but then you see a little kid laughing and go back to being happy and you can’t help but keep running,” Mr Holliday shared.
As to his amusing feline fitness wear, Mr Holliday said, “It’s hot so … [it’s] not like it’s an advantage. Some days I just don’t want to wear it, but it won’t be the same if I don’t.”
On his Newfound Online Fame
Prior to his first run, Mr Holliday admits that he was quite concerned about what people will think. His mum and brother discouraged him to do what he was about to do back then. “I felt so much anxiety the first time, but the reaction was awesome. Now it’s getting to a new level. People go crazy on their horns and waving,” he said.
“I’m usually in the zone when I’m running but I do see lots of people taking photos. I don’t know where they’re ending up,” he added.
A man once blocked Mr Holliday as he was running with his feline fitness wear. In that brief moment, the man started filming him.
“I was like ‘hey, how you going?’ but he just kept filming me and I had to run around him. It was the strangest thing ever,” an amused Mr Holliday said.
Pictures and videos of him in his cat attire has spread like wildfire all over social media. In less than a week, Mr Holliday became widely known as The Gap’s Running Cat Man.
“I did have a friend ask if it was me but I just said ‘no, I don’t know what that is’,” he quipped.
What started out as a supposed joke became seriously (yet hilariously) trending, and strangely inspiring too. Who would have known that running around the neighbourhood in an eye-catching cute attire would instantly change the life of the wearer. Just like that, Mr. Tom Holliday has become The Gap’s unofficial mascot.
To know where The Gap’s Running Man will be or where he is up to, interested readers can check out and follow his Facebook page.
Sharon Callaghan and daughters Hayley and Amy are getting rid of their long locks to take part in a fund-raising and awareness program by the Leukaemia Foundation.
The women, who all work at Coles at The Gap, will be taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave on March 18 at The Gap Village. Aside from shaving their heads, the Callaghans are also conducting some fundraising activities such as bake sales and boot camps.
Hayley said that they have discussed it among themselves and thought that it would be unique to do it as a family. Hayley’s grandmother is a cancer survivor and is now in remission, while her grandfather passed away due to cancer.
This is the first time that the women will be shaving their heads completely. They hope that doing it as a family will spark more interest from the community.
To find out more about the World’s Greatest Shave, head over to their website or visit their Facebook page.
Ritual HQ in The Gap has held a successful open day fundraising February 4, with charity money going to the education of underprivileged children in Tanzania.
The open day fundraising included car wash for $20, lots of fun activities, raffles, kid games and fitness contests. According to Ritual HQ’s Facebook page, they managed to raise around $1500 from the event.
All proceeds from the charity day will go to YES Arusha, a Brisbane-based non-profit organisation supporting the education of some 56 students at Haradali Primary and Secondary Schools.
YES Arusha partners with groups and individuals who wish to sponsor a kid’s education. Aside from education sponsorship and support, the non-profit group also provides a safe haven to children traveling long distances to attend school.
Environmental group, Save Our Waterways Now (SOWN), has received the Lord Mayor’s Green Heart Award for 2017 for its efforts in cleaning up and rehabilitating the waterways and habitats in Brisbane’s north and west.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk hailed the group as a perfect example of an organization group giving back to the community at a grassroots level.
Established in the 1990s, SOWN is dedicated to promoting community awareness, informing the people about the importance of creek and waterway habitats as well as the revival and protection of these waterways.
If you wish to learn more about the activities of SOWN or get involved, head over to their website at www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au
All proceeds from the charity day will go to YES Arusha, a Brisbane-based non-profit organisation supporting the education of some 56 students at Haradali Primary and Secondary Schools.
