Sydney

Winner of the inaugural Stella Runway 2016 Designer of the Year Award, Genevieve Igara-Falevai, the designer and founder of Wantok Clothing, showcased her label’s unique on 21 October.

An accidental fashion designer, Genevieve passed on a career in economics to follow her passion to create beautiful garments with a Papua New Guinean twist.

Starting her label in 2015, Genevieve has been awarded Miss Pacific Islands Pageant Project Runway 2015 and 2016; Stella Runway 2016 Designer of the Year; and dresser for Miss Papua New Guinea 2015 and 2016.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, but died a short time later, Sydney media reported.

Reports on social media confirmed the deceased was Holoua Tonga, a Tongan player at Balmain Rugby Club.

An emotional message was posted to the club’s Facebook page this morning said:

“We are sorry to pass on the news that Holoua Tonga passed away this morning after a motorcycle accident on the way to work.

Heavy bursts of rain and gusty south-easterly winds are expected throughout the morning on Friday, before the rain eases to showers in the afternoon and into the weekend.

Weatherzone meteorologist Tristan Meyers said the Sydney basin was forecast to reach a top of 22 degrees on Friday, a far cry from the scorching 40-degree heat Sydneysiders endured before storms swept through about 2pm on Thursday.

And as New South Wales prepares for severe weather police have reactivated their arson taskforce.

Emergency services have been placed on high alert before expected near record-breaking temperatures and strong gusty winds, which could turn much of the state into a tinderbox.