With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of legendary Australian alternative rock singer and songwriter Ron S Peno, frontman of Died Pretty, at 68 years old.

The news comes after nearly a five-year battle with oesophageal cancer, one that he valiantly fought with 'a resolute positivity and a profound depth of character' as mentioned in an official statement posted by the members of Died Pretty on their Facebook page.

Peno was with his wife Charity and son Zebadiah when he passed away at his home in South Yarra, Melbourne, last Friday, August 11.

Died Pretty’s statement, titled 'WITH GREAT SADNESS', expounded on Peno’s legacy.

Peno was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2019. Image Credit: Facebook/Died Pretty

'For the 40 years Ron entertained us as Died Pretty's frontman, he was never less than always charismatic. He has provided warm and enduring memories for those who shared the stage with him and for his audience.’

‘For many, he is the soundtrack of their lives. He leaves us a legacy of extraordinary recordings that will continue to be treasured into the future,' it said.

The band also extended their deep gratitude to the people who cared for Peno and to everyone who donated to him and sent messages of love during his time of need.

Born in Gosford, NSW, Peno was early on in the music scene. In the early 80s, he was a part of punk bands The Hellcats, the 31st, and Screaming Tribesmen.

He later found fame as the frontman of the iconic Died Pretty, which experienced its most tremendous success in 1993 with the release of their fifth album Trace and its charting top 40 single ‘Harness Up’.

Source: YouTube/stereomusicvideo​

The band had planned to make a live comeback with a tour booked for October this year.

Died Pretty reformed in 2016 and toured regularly.

Due to Peno’s ongoing cancer treatment and drummer Chris Welsh’s lung cancer diagnosis, those plans were cancelled last July.

Although it’s a tragic time for Aussie music lovers, we’ll always be grateful for the immense talent Peno has given us, and his incredible voice in many of our favourite songs will live on in our hearts forever.

In related news, the nation is also mourning the loss of Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, a respected epidemiologist and one of Australia’s significant figures during the COVID-19 pandemic, who died at 70.

Throughout the pandemic, Professor McLaws was frequently on our television screens, providing invaluable advice to Australians. She even worked for a major advisory panel with the World Health Organisation, capping a long and distinguished career of limiting the spread of dangerous diseases.

Professor McLaws is regarded as a ‘guiding light’ of the country during the worst of the COVID pandemic. Image Credit: YouTube/Pathology Technology Australia

Professor McLaws devotedly urged Australians to abide by the necessary restrictions and health guidelines during the pandemic.

She would not be swayed from her guiding principles in supporting the latest science, notably when she once called out the government for lacking swift enforcement of rapid antigen tests in the early days of COVID-19.

Just before she was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours list, she revealed she had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in January 2022.

‘I was so tired,’ she said of her official diagnosis.

‘The next day, my husband knew that I was really unwell. Thank God he’s the perfect husband, and he rang the ambulance because I couldn’t make any sense out of any question.’

The results came in via a doctor after a trip to a Sydney hospital and an MRI scan.

‘I said, “Oh my God, I’ve got brain cancer,” and (the doctor) nodded.’

Her husband, Richard Flook, officially shared the news on Sunday, August 13, and said they would plan her funeral service at Emmanuel Synagogue in the next few days.

He said she had been 'so well cared for by the nurses and doctors at Wolper Hospital in Woollahra and had enjoyed the visits of her many friends, who have been so supportive of her and our family’.

After her diagnosis, she took sick leave from both UNSW and the WHO, and during her time of need, she received an incredible outpouring of love and support from the public.

She supported Carrie Bickmore’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer initiative, which was organised to raise donations for research on brain tumours.

Source: YouTube/ABC News​

When talking to ABC News, she expressed her gratitude for the help she had received.

'Now all of a sudden, the Australian community’s caring for me,' she said, adding: 'I have been very fortunate to be well-organised by doctors and nurses.'

Despite all her achievements, however, she remained incredibly humble.

'I assume that I will die,' she stated.

'I don’t know when. And I’m just enjoying life and friends, and I think that’s what you must do.'

Friends and colleagues expressed their regret over the tragic news, profound admiration for her, and heartfelt sympathy for her family.

Professor McLaws is survived by children Zachary and Zia and her husband.

Throughout her professional life, McLaws tremendously impacted medical research, particularly in epidemiology and infection prevention. Her legacy will last long after her passing, for her values of reason and information, her devotion to her students and colleagues, and her unwavering commitment to doing the right thing for the Australian public.

May we all remember Professor McLaws and all her guidance during the pandemic and appreciate her contributions to medicine, science and our nation.

Key Takeaways

• Ron S Peno, frontman of Australian alternative rock band Died Pretty, has died after a lengthy battle with oesophageal cancer.
• Died Pretty had their peak commercial success in 1993 with their fifth album Trace, which included a top 40 single.
• Peno's last round of cancer treatment and drummer Chris Welsh's diagnosis with lung cancer led to the cancellation of the band's planned comeback tour in October this year.
• Renowned epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws, who provided crucial advice during the COVID-19 pandemic, passed away at 70.
• Professor McLaws had a distinguished career in controlling the spread of diseases and was recognised for her contributions with an Officer of the Order of Australia.
• Diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022, she publicly announced her condition and sought to raise awareness for brain tumour research.
• Numerous tributes have poured in from Australians grateful for Prof McLaws' calm and practical advice during the pandemic, lauding her as a voice of reason.

Rest in peace, Ron S Peno and Professor Mary-Louise McLaws. Our thoughts and prayers are with your families at this difficult time.

 

[Rob44]

Thanks Rob. Yes there are the majority of people who do not get a side effect from the Covid Vaccine but there are many that do.
My niece in the USA told me, after a study was done, that everyone will get a side effect from the Vaccine, either mild or severe but while everyone suffer from a side effect about 85% of those people get over it within the period of one month while the remaining 15% have been found to still suffer 18 months after they received the shots.
As for the medication you suggested I can't take many medications but the ones you are mentioning are practically opioids and my GP will not prescribe them in any ways or form because they are addictive. He won't even prescribed me the 50 milligrams of Tramadol which are very weak and he said they are addictive and the Government have put a restriction on them.
Is there a method in the madness of our Government.?................ I REALLY WONDER what is behind it all.
Cheers mate.

Yes; both that I have mentioned are opioids. I can live with that. My mother had the most appalling Osteoporosis for some 10 years before she died. She had been put on opioids of some sort and her view was that she didn't give a damn about the addictive aspect as long as the pain was kept bearable. Being a nurse from the days before antibiotics she had a precise and sharp tongue for idiot younger GPs who did not appreciate what pain really meant. One of them was stupid enough to call her a drug addict to her face; I don't think he realised that nurses can answer back.

The English poet Coleridge claimed to be an opium-taker; it didn't stop him from writing some remarkable poetry and perhaps the opium helped it along a bit..........? Panadeine was also something of an opioid as was Codeine. Again now restricted drugs, but excellent pain-relievers for some things although not others. If our governments had a sensible attitude to heroin addiction, namely making it available to addicts under medically controlled circumstances, as was once the case under the British NHS, it would help addicts get a clean "shot' and reduce the illegal drug trade. But then there is the "moral" issue, whatever that might mean.

Let us hope that the continuing overseas research into Covid, Long-covid and the Covid vaccines will produce a satisfactory resolution , and that the bug and its after-affects attenuate with time.

 

[Kelpie]

There definitely is a thing called long covid.
My friends son who is a police officer and never took aday of work, has now been off work for 6 months due to pain and bad fatigue .
I haven't got my taste or smell back since my first bout of Covid in December 2021.
I had finished my first 2 vacations in the beginning of October 2021. I still had it bad for two weeks. Loss both smell and taste ,I probably have 30 % back.
The people in my house who were not vaxed including hubby didn't get it.

I had it again Jan this year Was pretty sick for 3 days , then completely better , hubby had been vacinated for 4 months and this time caught it. He was very ill . Severe body ache, coughing, headache and fever of 39 at times 40 for about 5 days.

My daughter is a nurse and works in the operating room, She has has 2 shots as have most doctors she works with. They all refuse the boosters because they know what what they can do.

My 18 year old who has bad asthma but had it under control since having the booster shots can't get her asthma under control and has has a few hospital admissions , the last one which was a month ago the doctor asked us if anything brought it on, I replied yes, we believe it's from the booster shots as her asthma has not been better since then. He looked at the nurses and all their expressions said it all. He never said a thing , he never denied it or admitted it.

She had covid the end of may this year after catching it from a patient she was looking after in hospital while on Uni placement. I have to say Bankstown hospital was full of covid patients and this was only end of may this year.

I think face mask should still be mandatory especially in crowded places.

I'm not sure which state you are in but St Vincent's hospital in Sydney have a clinic for long covid

Thanks Susanne, at least you confirmed what I have been trying to convey to this forum.
Like the son of your friend, I have been feeling terrible for a long time now and according to the specialist that diagnosed me with Long Covid, there is nothing much I can do but just wait and hope that it will eventually go away. Not a very good prognosis but I am hoping that it will soon pass.
I live in NSW and when I will see my GP next I will tell him about the St Vincent hospital ad see if I can get a referral. But as he doesn't believe in Long Covid nor that the vaccines can cause severe reaction, (perhaps because he didn't get any side effects himself), I won't be holding my breath.
It is a bit like people who had back backs and severe pains, and people saying that it wasn't right because they never suffered from it.
AS THE SAYING GOES, YOU HAVE TO FIRST SUFFER FROM BACK PAINS BEFOR YOU WILL COME TO REALISE HOW BAD IT CAN BE.

 

[Kelpie]

Apropos Long-Covid. From an article in ScTech Daily, reporting research from Pennsylvania State University, USA ( Penn State University October 14th, 2021). The stats are that 1 in 2 non-vaccinated people from a data set of a quarter million people who have caught C19 suffer from some form of Long-Covid. Any GP who refuses to accept this is a fool, but remember, most medical doctors are NOT scientists trained to think scientifically at Medical School. They need to have done a PhD for that.

"The researchers conducted a systematic review of 57 reports that included data from 250,351 unvaccinated adults and children who were diagnosed with COVID-19 from December 2019 through March 2021. Among those studied, 79% were hospitalized, and most patients (79%) lived in high-income countries. Patients’ median age was 54, and the majority of individuals (56%) were male.

The researchers analyzed patients’ health post-COVID during three intervals at one month (short-term), two to five months (intermediate-term) and six or more months (long-term).

According to the findings, survivors experienced an array of residual health issues associated with COVID-19. Generally, these complications affected a patient’s general well-being, their mobility or organ systems. Overall, one in two survivors experienced long-term COVID manifestations. The rates remained largely constant from one month through six or more months after their initial illness.

The investigators noted several trends among survivors, such as:

• General well-being: More than half of all patients reported weight loss, fatigue, fever or pain.
• Mobility: Roughly one in five survivors experienced a decrease in mobility.
• Neurologic concerns: Nearly one in four survivors experienced difficulty concentrating.
• Mental health disorders: Nearly one in three patients were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorders.
• Lung abnormalities: Six in ten survivors had chest imaging abnormality and more than a quarter of patients had difficulty breathing.
• Cardiovascular issues: Chest pain and palpitations were among the commonly reported conditions.
• Skin conditions: Nearly one in five patients experienced hair loss or rashes.
• Digestive issues: Stomach pain, lack of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting were among the commonly reported conditions.

“These findings confirm what many health care workers and COVID-19 survivors have been claiming, namely, that adverse health effects from COVID-19 can linger,” said co-lead investigator Vernon Chinchilli, chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. “Although previous studies have examined the prevalence of long COVID symptoms among patients, this study examined a larger population, including people in high-, middle- and low-income countries, and examined many more symptoms. Therefore, we believe our findings are quite robust given the available data.”

Another SciTech article reporting work by the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, last December indicates the possibility that C19 affects the RNA molecule (which is essential to our metabolism from what I understand) and researchers from Boston University have a similar idea. C19 is a bastard of a virus that gets everywhere in the body including into one's nerves and can cause long-term damage. Vaccination does not guarantee immunity, same as with the yearly flu vaccine, but it offers the opportunity that it may hinder severity of infection even if it doesn't prevent it. What angers me is that our useless governments not only have allowed the bug to run riot since December 2022, but have done absolutely nothing to enable social (including financial) support for those who suffer from Long-covid.

Good luck; we all need it!

Thanks Robb much appreciated. You confirm what I have been saying with all your researches on the subject. Unless you are a Doctor yourself you are a wealth of knowledge and for this I thank you.
But what about what I said in a previosu post of mine where the Vaccines can cause all of that and more.?
One day I was very sick and I could hardly breath. I was told to go to the hospital and to call an ambulance. I am very stubborn and I drove myself there and the doctor in charge of emergency on that day told me that I was an odds on bet that I had an hearth attack of some form but after doing some tests including Xray and blood tests, he came to see me and told me the same thing, the vaccine would have caused all that. He told me that he didn't want to get vaccinated but he was told that if he wasn't getting it done he was not allowed to work in the hospital anymore. He told me of his experience where he saw with his own eye people daying after receiving the vaccine and that he was forbidden to say anything about it but he told me because he didn't care and because he thought that it was wrong to cover it up.

 

[Kelpie]

Yes; both that I have mentioned are opioids. I can live with that. My mother had the most appalling Osteoporosis for some 10 years before she died. She had been put on opioids of some sort and her view was that she didn't give a damn about the addictive aspect as long as the pain was kept bearable. Being a nurse from the days before antibiotics she had a precise and sharp tongue for idiot younger GPs who did not appreciate what pain really meant. One of them was stupid enough to call her a drug addict to her face; I don't think he realised that nurses can answer back.

The English poet Coleridge claimed to be an opium-taker; it didn't stop him from writing some remarkable poetry and perhaps the opium helped it along a bit..........? Panadeine was also something of an opioid as was Codeine. Again now restricted drugs, but excellent pain-relievers for some things although not others. If our governments had a sensible attitude to heroin addiction, namely making it available to addicts under medically controlled circumstances, as was once the case under the British NHS, it would help addicts get a clean "shot' and reduce the illegal drug trade. But then there is the "moral" issue, whatever that might mean.

Let us hope that the continuing overseas research into Covid, Long-covid and the Covid vaccines will produce a satisfactory resolution , and that the bug and its after-affects attenuate with time.

Yes; both that I have mentioned are opioids. I can live with that. My mother had the most appalling Osteoporosis for some 10 years before she died. She had been put on opioids of some sort and her view was that she didn't give a damn about the addictive aspect as long as the pain was kept bearable. Being a nurse from the days before antibiotics she had a precise and sharp tongue for idiot younger GPs who did not appreciate what pain really meant. One of them was stupid enough to call her a drug addict to her face; I don't think he realised that nurses can answer back.

The English poet Coleridge claimed to be an opium-taker; it didn't stop him from writing some remarkable poetry and perhaps the opium helped it along a bit..........? Panadeine was also something of an opioid as was Codeine. Again now restricted drugs, but excellent pain-relievers for some things although not others. If our governments had a sensible attitude to heroin addiction, namely making it available to addicts under medically controlled circumstances, as was once the case under the British NHS, it would help addicts get a clean "shot' and reduce the illegal drug trade. But then there is the "moral" issue, whatever that might mean.

Let us hope that the continuing overseas research into Covid, Long-covid and the Covid vaccines will produce a satisfactory resolution , and that the bug and its after-affects attenuate with time.

Let's hope mate.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Thanks Susanne, at least you confirmed what I have been trying to convey to this forum.
Like the son of your friend, I have been feeling terrible for a long time now and according to the specialist that diagnosed me with Long Covid, there is nothing much I can do but just wait and hope that it will eventually go away. Not a very good prognosis but I am hoping that it will soon pass.
I live in NSW and when I will see my GP next I will tell him about the St Vincent hospital ad see if I can get a referral. But as he doesn't believe in Long Covid nor that the vaccines can cause severe reaction, (perhaps because he didn't get any side effects himself), I won't be holding my breath.
It is a bit like people who had back backs and severe pains, and people saying that it wasn't right because they never suffered from it.
AS THE SAYING GOES, YOU HAVE TO FIRST SUFFER FROM BACK PAINS BEFOR YOU WILL COME TO REALISE HOW BAD IT CAN BE.

You don't need a referral

 

[Suzanne rose]

Thanks Susanne, at least you confirmed what I have been trying to convey to this forum.
Like the son of your friend, I have been feeling terrible for a long time now and according to the specialist that diagnosed me with Long Covid, there is nothing much I can do but just wait and hope that it will eventually go away. Not a very good prognosis but I am hoping that it will soon pass.
I live in NSW and when I will see my GP next I will tell him about the St Vincent hospital ad see if I can get a referral. But as he doesn't believe in Long Covid nor that the vaccines can cause severe reaction, (perhaps because he didn't get any side effects himself), I won't be holding my breath.
It is a bit like people who had back backs and severe pains, and people saying that it wasn't right because they never suffered from it.
AS THE SAYING GOES, YOU HAVE TO FIRST SUFFER FROM BACK PAINS BEFOR YOU WILL

TO REALISE HOW BAD IT

Thanks Susanne, at least you confirmed what I have been trying to convey to this forum.
Like the son of your friend, I have been feeling terrible for a long time now and according to the specialist that diagnosed me with Long Covid, there is nothing much I can do but just wait and hope that it will eventually go away. Not a very good prognosis but I am hoping that it will soon pass.
I live in NSW and when I will see my GP next I will tell him about the St Vincent hospital ad see if I can get a referral. But as he doesn't believe in Long Covid nor that the vaccines can cause severe reaction, (perhaps because he didn't get any side effects himself), I won't be holding my breath.
It is a bit like people who had back backs and severe pains, and people saying that it wasn't right because they never suffered from it.
AS THE SAYING GOES, YOU HAVE TO FIRST SUFFER FROM BACK PAINS BEFOR YOU WILL COME TO REALISE HOW BAD IT CAN BE.

Long COVID Support | Join the community

Looking for information on Long COVID in Australia or want to connect with other people experiencing it? Access free support and resources today.

www.longcovidsupport.org.au

 

[Suzanne rose]

Thanks Robb much appreciated. You confirm what I have been saying with all your researches on the subject. Unless you are a Doctor yourself you are a wealth of knowledge and for this I thank you.
But what about what I said in a previosu post of mine where the Vaccines can cause all of that and more.?
One day I was very sick and I could hardly breath. I was told to go to the hospital and to call an ambulance. I am very stubborn and I drove myself there and the doctor in charge of emergency on that day told me that I was an odds on bet that I had an hearth attack of some form but after doing some tests including Xray and blood tests, he came to see me and told me the same thing, the vaccine would have caused all that. He told me that he didn't want to get vaccinated but he was told that if he wasn't getting it done he was not allowed to work in the hospital anymore. He told me of his experience where he saw with his own eye people daying after receiving the vaccine and that he was forbidden to say anything about it but he told me because he didn't care and because he thought that it was wrong to cover it up.

Post-Acute & Long COVID Clinic​

1. Home
2. About Us
3. What's New

Long COVID Clinic: Please note, we are contending with significant demand, and are progressing referrals as fast as possible.

What is Long-COVID?​

The Post COVID condition or "Long-COVID" is the persistence of new or unexplained symptoms and signs that last for more than 12 weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus).

The symptoms of Long COVID may affect one or several parts of the body and may vary in severity from being hardly noticeable to impacting daily activities. Some symptoms are more severe in people sick with acute COVID disease. However, Long COVID can still occur in people who did not require hospitalisation with acute COVID and those vaccinated against COVID-19.

There is not one specific test for Long COVID, and the diagnosis requires an expert assessment from a health care professional such as a Physician or General Practitioner.

For more information, please read the WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Post COVID 19 condition page and watch the short "What are common Long COVID symptoms" video.

What are the symptoms of Long COVID?​

Common symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Cough
• "Brain fog" or difficulty thinking clearly
• Headache
• Loss of smell or taste
• Hair loss
• Poor concentration
• Sleep disturbance
• Heart palpitations (racing heartbeat)
• Reduced exercise tolerance

For most people, the symptoms of Long COVID will improve with time. However, the path to recovery may be slow, and some factors can make the journey even longer if not identified and treated.

There are practical and valuable management strategies that many have found helpful in returning to their life "pre-COVID".

Each person is different, so your recovery journey post-COVID requires a personalised approach. Recovery takes time, so we encourage you to use the self-management resources and complete all the pre-clinic assessments before your first appointment with the Long COVID service.

 

[Kelpie]

Post-Acute & Long COVID Clinic​

1. Home
2. About Us
3. What's New

Long COVID Clinic: Please note, we are contending with significant demand, and are progressing referrals as fast as possible.

What is Long-COVID?​

The Post COVID condition or "Long-COVID" is the persistence of new or unexplained symptoms and signs that last for more than 12 weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus).

The symptoms of Long COVID may affect one or several parts of the body and may vary in severity from being hardly noticeable to impacting daily activities. Some symptoms are more severe in people sick with acute COVID disease. However, Long COVID can still occur in people who did not require hospitalisation with acute COVID and those vaccinated against COVID-19.

There is not one specific test for Long COVID, and the diagnosis requires an expert assessment from a health care professional such as a Physician or General Practitioner.

For more information, please read the WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Post COVID 19 condition page and watch the short "What are common Long COVID symptoms" video.

What are the symptoms of Long COVID?​

Common symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Cough
• "Brain fog" or difficulty thinking clearly
• Headache
• Loss of smell or taste
• Hair loss
• Poor concentration
• Sleep disturbance
• Heart palpitations (racing heartbeat)
• Reduced exercise tolerance

For most people, the symptoms of Long COVID will improve with time. However, the path to recovery may be slow, and some factors can make the journey even longer if not identified and treated.

There are practical and valuable management strategies that many have found helpful in returning to their life "pre-COVID".

Each person is different, so your recovery journey post-COVID requires a personalised approach. Recovery takes time, so we encourage you to use the self-management resources and complete all the pre-clinic assessments before your first appointment with the Long COVID service.

Thanks Suzanne for your invaluable help. I will have to follow up on that but I also have to consider the health conditions of my wife who can't travel much.
I must be a bad case because I suffer from nearly all of those symptoms and also the running nose. But I am very confident that I will eventually get over it. After all I AM A TOUGH OLD BAST...D.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Thanks Suzanne for your invaluable help. I will have to follow up on that but I also have to consider the health conditions of my wife who can't travel much.
I must be a bad case because I suffer from nearly all of those symptoms and also the running nose. But I am very confident that I will eventually get over it. After all I AM A TOUGH OLD BAST...D.

Also there is a clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital. Hopefully you will feel better soon

 

[Littleboy8]

Thanks Susanne, at least you confirmed what I have been trying to convey to this forum.
Like the son of your friend, I have been feeling terrible for a long time now and according to the specialist that diagnosed me with Long Covid, there is nothing much I can do but just wait and hope that it will eventually go away. Not a very good prognosis but I am hoping that it will soon pass.
I live in NSW and when I will see my GP next I will tell him about the St Vincent hospital ad see if I can get a referral. But as he doesn't believe in Long Covid nor that the vaccines can cause severe reaction, (perhaps because he didn't get any side effects himself), I won't be holding my breath.
It is a bit like people who had back backs and severe pains, and people saying that it wasn't right because they never suffered from it.
AS THE SAYING GOES, YOU HAVE TO FIRST SUFFER FROM BACK PAINS BEFOR YOU WILL COME TO REALISE HOW BAD IT CAN BE.

And chronic body pain