Our Journalists

Jodie Munro O’Brien is digital journalist for the Courier Mail and Sunday Mail. Over the course of her career, the award winning journalist has covered everything from breaking news, crime, court, the military, local government, education and religion. She has also worked as an investigative journalist and as a features/lifestyle reporter in Australia and overseas.

@jodieobrien

Jodie Munro O'Brien

Latest

Lifestyle

** Please do not use. This is on hold for a feature, 2024. Thank you**Leia O'Brien, 14, gets used to wearing a mermaid tail in Crystal River as she enjoys the mermaid encounter. Picture: SuppliedTaken with a Gopro.

‘Everybody wants to be a mermaid’: How to be a mermaid in 2025

A Queensland family’s attempt to see wild manatees turned into an unexpected opportunity to become mythological creatures instead.

QLD News

Fluke was recently found on the side of a road during the last week of September, 2024 with a slashed throat. The now approximately 4-month-old border collie cross (possibly a border collie staffy cross) is now in the care of Queensland (Gold Coast-based) rescue group, Domestic Animal Rescue and Education (aka DARE, Inc or DARE Rescue), a No kill Charity in specialising in Border Collies and working breeds. Picture: facebook.com/darerescueinc

Puppy with slit throat left for dead beside major Qld highway

A rescue group is seeking help after a puppy was found on the side of a Queensland motorway with a slashed throat, following a “deliberate” act. WARNING: Distressing

Full ListQLD News

A customer shoots at the newly opened Gold Coast Indoor Shooting Centre. The public shooting gallery is on the same premises as the Southport Indoor Pistol Club at 76 Ferry Rd, Southport on the Gold Coast: Picture: Jodie Munro O'Brien** This photo has been flipped from its original**

Your ultimate guide to every gun club in Queensland

A new public shooting gallery catering to unlicensed shooters as young as 11 has opened as firearm sports experience a surge in popularity. See our exclusive list of all gun clubs in Queensland.

QLD News

Janelle Spies, 33, from Noosa runs through the Brisbane Domestic Airport as a koala to surprise her sisters in this screenshot from a now viral video. Picture: Supplied

‘Mortified’: Sister’s very Aussie airport welcome goes viral

Footage of a Queensland woman running through an airport dressed as an enormous koala to welcome unsuspecting family members home has gone viral.

Lifestyle

** Please DO NOT USE. ON HOLD (Sept 2024) ** : Charles-Etienne Pretet, also known as Charly Pretet, 38, of Noosaville-based Terra Firma Dining, cooks using open fire cooking inspired by the traditional Argentinian method of Asado at the Shelter Pererenan restaurant in Pererenan, Bali on March 20, 2024. Mr Pretet helped open the restaurant's new dedicated open fire cooking space. Picture: Valeria Ramirez ** Please DO NOT USE. ON HOLD (Sept 2024) **

Queensland chef’s ‘fire dining’ sparks global demand

Swapping fine dining for ‘fire dining’ in an effort to connect with people has resulted in unexpected opportunities on a global scale for a Queensland-based chef.

QLD News

** Please DO NOT USE. On hold for the CM, Aug 2024, thank you** Rae Saheli of the Gold Coast has combined her love of clay target shooting (also known as shotgun shooting) with art to create sculptures., jewellery and other items.This is one of her pieces, a shot aluminium leather cuff.Ms Saheli shot 250 bullet rounds for her piece ‘Frentic Flower’ this year, which will be showcased as part of the SWELL Sculpture Festival, Queensland’s biggest outdoor sculpture exhibition on the Gold Coast in September. Picture: instagram.com/rae_saheli_artist** Need to check the name of that flower**

Shot to the he….art

A Queensland artist’s career has blossomed since she combined her passion for shooting with her love of art with the newest masterpiece to debut at the annual Swell Sculpture Festival.

QLD News

A rarely seen yellow-bellied sea snake has given birth after beaching off the coast of Townsville. Picture: Jeremy’s Reptile Relocations Townsville/Facebook

UPDATED: ‘Never seen it before’: Venomous sea snake’s surprise

A sea snake found beached in Queensland and taken to a nearby veterinary clinic has shocked staff after they came back to check on it, astounded by what they discovered. SEE THE VIDEO

QLD News

FOR COURIER MAIL USE ONLY: Susan George and Dwayne Drummond, both now 59, were forced to live in this modified van for 18 months after being pushed out of affordable rental housing on North Stradbroke Island thanks to the number of homes being turned into Airbnb's - in recent years. Picture: Supplied,

‘We lost everything’: Airbnbs blamed for homelessness on popular island

Formal complaints have been filed over the burgeoning number of Airbnb’s pushing out regular rental houses on a popular Queensland island, with some long-term residents now homeless.

QLD News

Hidden crisis: Dark secrets of Qld coastal towns swallowed by Airbnb

A hidden crisis is “swallowing” three Queensland towns whole – and if you’ve visited them, you might be part of the problem.

ExclusiveQLD News

** PLEASE DO NOT USE. FOR COURIER MAIL STORY ONLY SEPT-OCT 2023**Baxter the beagle cowering in the corner of a backyard in fear during his rehoming, after being released from an unnamed research institution in Queensland. Picture: Supplied ** DO NOT USE. FOR COURIER MAIL STORY ONLY. **

The broken beagle: Heartbreaking face of Qld’s hidden animal testing shame

Baxter cowered in the corner of the yard, afraid of everyone. He’d been locked in a cage for years, subjected to cruel experiments. Now Qld’s secret animal testing industry can be exposed.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/jodie-munro-obrien/page/2