Died Pretty frontman dies after long illness; Albanese says Matildas an ‘inspiration’ ahead of quarter-final – as it happened

Ron S Peno was diagnosed in 2019 with oesophageal cancer and died in his home in Melbourne yesterday evening. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

6.24am BST

What we learned today, Saturday 12 August

Here’s a summary of the key developments on the blog today:

• Excitement built across the nation, as Australians woke up to the day of the defining World Cup moment for the Matildas with their quarter final clash against France.

• Police announced that a motorcyclist in Victoria died yesterday evening after being hit by a car, and then run over by another car while lying on road.

• Korumburra residents offered organ donations to their pastor in a critical condition after suspected mushroom poisonings.

• The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, paid tribute to the Matildas he said inspire the younger generation to play team sport.

• We learned the sad news that the frontman of alternative rock band Died Pretty, Ron S Peno, died at the age of 68.

Enjoy the rest of your afternoon – here’s hoping the Matildas pull off the win!

Updated at 6.24am BST

6.11am BST

And with that sad news, we are going to be closing this live news blog soon as the live match blog fires up for the Matilda’s clash this afternoon against France. You can follow all the action here:

As Australians around the country are getting ready to cheer on the Tillies, this is just one message of support our managing editor Alison Rourke captured on the water temperature reading at Manly beach in Sydney today.

Go Matildas! Message on the water temperature reading at Manly today. Photograph: Alison Rourke/The Guardian

Updated at 6.13am BST