Elise Van Aken

Oct 23, 2023 | thewest.com.au | Elise Van Aken

Western Australia’s generous spirit has driven our State to donate more than $86 million to causes through GoFundMe, new figures reveal, with the community backing the biggest fundraiser in the website’s history — to bring 26-year-old police officer Ella Cutler home. It comes as Perth has been revealed as the most generous local government area in the State on GoFundMe, with more than $6.2 million in donations, followed by Stirling at $4.9 million and Wanneroo at $3.7 million.

Oct 23, 2023 | thewest.com.au | Elise Van Aken

A 76-year-old Acacia Prison detainee has died in hospital after prison guards found him unresponsive in his cell. Prison staff were conducting evening checks on Sunday around 7pm when they found the man, according to the Department of Justice.

Oct 22, 2023 | thewest.com.au | Elise Van Aken

Nicolas Cage may not have made it up from the set of WA’s own Hollywood production to our biggest fundraiser of the year, but has made his presence felt with a generous donation to Telethon. Hosting the panel, Channel 7’s Rick Ardon told viewers just after 2pm on Sunday the Telethon NRMA Call Centre received a “very special phone call” overnight. The star of the new thriller The Surfer, which is being filmed in Yallingup, Cage called in to make a personal donation of $5000.

Oct 22, 2023 | thewest.com.au | Elise Van Aken

The magic (and at times horror) of live TV is that anything can happen, and Perthians will be all too familiar that many of the best Telethon moments happen after dark. The Telethon Slumber Party took over the broadcast again on Saturday night from 2am to 7am, featuring Famous Sharon and some other guy (who happens to be The West Australian’s Ben O’Shea).

Oct 21, 2023 | thewest.com.au | Elise Van Aken

Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage has stepped onto the sand for another day of filming in WA’s South West, revealing his tattooed arms as he works on the upcoming psychological thriller. Cage was spotted on set at a Yallingup beach, looking cool in an O’Neill wetsuit vest and dark sunglasses, surrounded by production crew and showing off his collection of tattoos.