**From The Sunday Times (Perth) **
Corrupt cop jailed for burglaries
16dec04
A FORMER West Australian police officer and army veteran was yesterday sentenced to five and a half years in jail after admitting his part in the theft of $40,000 from the home of a drug dealer.
Gary Edward Fitzgerald, 34, was a senior constable at Fremantle police station when he took part in two separate burglaries at the home of the dealer earlier this year.
Fitzgerald, who previously served as a peacekeeper in Cambodia while in the army, pleaded guilty earlier this week to aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary and two counts of corruption arising from the thefts.
Western Australia's District Court was told that on March 8, 2004, Fitzgerald and his associate Julian Murray went to the Sorrento home and were preparing to break in when the owner returned.
After Fitzgerald produced his badge and identified himself and Murray as police officers, the owner let them into his house where they found $16,000 in cash.
After accepting a bribe of $2,000 each to make the matter "go away", the two men then stole the remainder of the cash with the exception of $1,000. Murray also took two ounces of methylamphetamine.
Three months later, a uniformed, on-duty Fitzgerald swapped his unmarked police car for another criminal associate's vehicle, and drove them both to the same dealer's home so his associate could steal a further $25,000.
In sentencing Fitzgerald, Judge Peter Williams yesterday said Fitzgerald's actions struck at the administration of justice, while discounting assertions his judgment had been impaired because he suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his army service.
"In my view, these offences constitute a serious and gross example of police corruption," Judge Williams said.
"The transcript indicates that you had become fully assimilated with your criminal associates and that this offence is part of an ongoing organised corrupt activity."
Fitzgerald, who has been sacked from the police force, will have to serve at least three and a half years in jail before he can be considered for parole.
Outside court, Fitzgerald's father Terry, also a former army veteran and retired police officer, said he supported his son.
"Gary realises he has made monumental error of judgment in his life, which is something that will stay with him for the rest of his life," Mr Fitzgerald told ABC radio.
"But he just wants to pay his debt to society now and get on with his new life when he comes out."
Murray was earlier sentenced to two years and four months in jail for one count of burglary.
From the Australian Press
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AussieMark
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
HORROR AT WEST BEACH
17dec04
AN afternoon of fun with four mates ended in horror yesterday when two Great White sharks killed a teenager in a ferocious attack off West Beach.
Nick Peterson, 18, was riding on a small surfboard being towed by a dinghy just 400m off West Beach when the attack occurred about 3.15pm.
Mr Peterson had been "scurfing" – a popular trend which involves towing a surfboard behind a boat – when a Great White at least 4m long surged at him. He tried to fend off the shark but disappeared within seconds.
A second Great White then joined the attack, striking at the boat as three of Mr Peterson's former Sacred Heart College schoolmates tried to strike it with paddles.
They raced back to shore, alerting Anna and Frank Criscitelli – who were about to launch their boat – of the attack.
Mrs Criscitelli said they screamed: "Help – help us ... our mate's been taken by a shark. Don't go out, don't go out – sharks, sharks."
Mrs Criscitelli, 31, of Glenelg, said she could not believe what she was hearing and initially thought it was a joke.
"They were screaming at us that their mate had been taken by a shark," she said.
"They said it spun him around their boat, under the boat and a second shark ripped him to pieces.
"They said it was as big and as wide as their boat".
Witness Chris Niemoeller was swimming about 50m from the boys when he heard yelling.
"I could see these two huge fins come out of the water," he said. "It was just ferocious.
"One minute he was on the surfboard and he tried to beat it off and the next there was just a pool of blood.
"It was over in three seconds. He didn't stand a chance – he was just gone."
Thivo Kulasingam, 32, and his wife, Thanujah Haran, 30, of West Beach, were standing in front of the West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club when the attack occurred.
"We could see the shark just circling the boat around and around," Mr Kulasingam said.
"Then the shark started banging up against the boat – the noise was so loud we could hear it from the shore.
"There were three guys in the boat and two of them grabbed some paddles and started to bash the shark away but it kept attacking."
Experts did not rule out that the larger Great White was the same shark that has been stalking Adelaide's beaches in the past weeks.
The hunt, by air and sea, began about 3.30pm, supported by police patrols along the beach alerting beachgoers of the attack.
However the beach was not closed to public, police instead leaving it to beachgoers to make their own judgment on swimming.
Sea Rescue Squadron Rear Commodore Fraser Bell said an attack involving two sharks was "unprecedented" and might result in further attacks.
"I've never heard of two white pointers attacking human beings in this way," he said.
"He's (the shark) had a taste and he'll come back for more."
"It's just an absolute tragedy. They were just boys out there having a good time.
"The weather's just perfect and they were just doing what young lads do."
Chief Inspector David Lusty, of Sturt police, said a witness found the undamaged surfboard shortly before 4pm.
About an hour later, searchers began finding human remains between Henley and Grange jetties.
"It was quite horrific but also quite quick," he said of the attack.
Mr Peterson and his three friends had been out on the water for about 30 minutes when the attack occurred.
It is believed he headed to the beach after finishing work for the day as a paver.
The death has rocked the close-knit Sacred Heart College community – where all four boys attended school.
Mr Peterson, originally from Ardrossan, was so popular he was voted house captain last year and was a role model to other Year 12s.
SHC principal Chris Blake described the incident as a "tragedy".
"He was just a great young person," he said. "It is incredible. It is hard to believe. We are terribly, terribly sad."
SHC boarding director Richard Maddigan said Mr Peterson was a keen surfer who loved the water.
He is the second man to be killed by a shark in Australian waters within a week.
Mark Thompson, 38, was killed on Saturday by a shark while spear fishing at Opal Reef off Cairns in north Queensland.
The last fatal shark attack off an Adelaide beach was in 1991, when 19-year-old Adelaide university student Jonathon Lee was killed by a white pointer, while diving off Aldinga Beach, in the southern suburbs.
HORROR AT WEST BEACH
17dec04
AN afternoon of fun with four mates ended in horror yesterday when two Great White sharks killed a teenager in a ferocious attack off West Beach.
Nick Peterson, 18, was riding on a small surfboard being towed by a dinghy just 400m off West Beach when the attack occurred about 3.15pm.
Mr Peterson had been "scurfing" – a popular trend which involves towing a surfboard behind a boat – when a Great White at least 4m long surged at him. He tried to fend off the shark but disappeared within seconds.
A second Great White then joined the attack, striking at the boat as three of Mr Peterson's former Sacred Heart College schoolmates tried to strike it with paddles.
They raced back to shore, alerting Anna and Frank Criscitelli – who were about to launch their boat – of the attack.
Mrs Criscitelli said they screamed: "Help – help us ... our mate's been taken by a shark. Don't go out, don't go out – sharks, sharks."
Mrs Criscitelli, 31, of Glenelg, said she could not believe what she was hearing and initially thought it was a joke.
"They were screaming at us that their mate had been taken by a shark," she said.
"They said it spun him around their boat, under the boat and a second shark ripped him to pieces.
"They said it was as big and as wide as their boat".
Witness Chris Niemoeller was swimming about 50m from the boys when he heard yelling.
"I could see these two huge fins come out of the water," he said. "It was just ferocious.
"One minute he was on the surfboard and he tried to beat it off and the next there was just a pool of blood.
"It was over in three seconds. He didn't stand a chance – he was just gone."
Thivo Kulasingam, 32, and his wife, Thanujah Haran, 30, of West Beach, were standing in front of the West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club when the attack occurred.
"We could see the shark just circling the boat around and around," Mr Kulasingam said.
"Then the shark started banging up against the boat – the noise was so loud we could hear it from the shore.
"There were three guys in the boat and two of them grabbed some paddles and started to bash the shark away but it kept attacking."
Experts did not rule out that the larger Great White was the same shark that has been stalking Adelaide's beaches in the past weeks.
The hunt, by air and sea, began about 3.30pm, supported by police patrols along the beach alerting beachgoers of the attack.
However the beach was not closed to public, police instead leaving it to beachgoers to make their own judgment on swimming.
Sea Rescue Squadron Rear Commodore Fraser Bell said an attack involving two sharks was "unprecedented" and might result in further attacks.
"I've never heard of two white pointers attacking human beings in this way," he said.
"He's (the shark) had a taste and he'll come back for more."
"It's just an absolute tragedy. They were just boys out there having a good time.
"The weather's just perfect and they were just doing what young lads do."
Chief Inspector David Lusty, of Sturt police, said a witness found the undamaged surfboard shortly before 4pm.
About an hour later, searchers began finding human remains between Henley and Grange jetties.
"It was quite horrific but also quite quick," he said of the attack.
Mr Peterson and his three friends had been out on the water for about 30 minutes when the attack occurred.
It is believed he headed to the beach after finishing work for the day as a paver.
The death has rocked the close-knit Sacred Heart College community – where all four boys attended school.
Mr Peterson, originally from Ardrossan, was so popular he was voted house captain last year and was a role model to other Year 12s.
SHC principal Chris Blake described the incident as a "tragedy".
"He was just a great young person," he said. "It is incredible. It is hard to believe. We are terribly, terribly sad."
SHC boarding director Richard Maddigan said Mr Peterson was a keen surfer who loved the water.
He is the second man to be killed by a shark in Australian waters within a week.
Mark Thompson, 38, was killed on Saturday by a shark while spear fishing at Opal Reef off Cairns in north Queensland.
The last fatal shark attack off an Adelaide beach was in 1991, when 19-year-old Adelaide university student Jonathon Lee was killed by a white pointer, while diving off Aldinga Beach, in the southern suburbs.
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
Vigilantes warned: don't hunt the killer sharks
17dec04
VIGILANTES have been warned not to hunt down and kill the Great White sharks involved in yesterday's fatal attack.
Senior Sergeant Bob McDonald, from police water operations, said he advised those looking for vengeance to think twice before they embarked on a mission of revenge.
Killing a shark was against the law and people were most likely to kill the wrong one, Sen-Sgt McDonald said.
"It is human nature to want revenge and this is a very emotive event because of the ferocity of the attack," he said.
"I can appreciate people wanting to do it, but if they do get a shark, it is not lawful and they are probably achieving nothing. There is no way of knowing if they will actually get the right one."
Sen-Sgt McDonald said authorities had no plans to hunt the shark themselves because it would be hard to find them and their first priority was the victim.
"To hunt down two sharks would be an extremely hard task because we don't know where they have gone," he said.
"They could be anywhere."
Great Whites were a protected species and the criteria to gain permission to hunt a shark was "extremely strict" and so far, untested in SA.
"Great Whites are a protected species and only the Government or fisheries are able to issue such advice," Sen-Sgt McDonald said.
A spokesman for acting Premier Kevin Foley said the Government was not commenting on any aspect of a hunt at this stage but was leaving it to police.
Shark expert Andrew Fox said any hunt would likely net the wrong shark and applauded the decision not to hunt at this stage.
"In tragedies such as this there is always speculation about hunting the shark but never has there been any evidence of a `rogue shark' that hunts people," Mr Fox said.
"In most cases they are not likely to attack again."
Mr Fox said the sharks could still be in the area although they were known to travel up to 70km or more a day.
"The fact that there were reports of two sharks suggests to me that they were following a food source or perhaps one shark was following a breeding female," he said.
Sen-Sgt McDonald said the search would resume today.
If a decision is made to kill the sharks, a professional fisherman would be hired.
Twenty West Beach Life Saving Club members were among those helping to find any trace of the victim yesterday.
"We've put three boats into the water and two four-wheel-drives are patrolling the beach hoping to find a survivor," club vice-president Peter Finck said.
"But it's not looking good at this stage."
"Unfortunately there is not much we can do but help in the rescue effort."
Committee members also were discussing whether to continue with club activities this week.
Police also warned beachgoers in the West Beach area to stay out of the water yesterday, but few people still dared to venture out for a paddle in the hours after the attack.
West Torrens Mayor John Trainer, whose council includes West Beach, said the death could have a detrimental effect on the area, a popular spot for holiday-makers and locals.
"A catastrophe like this could naturally cause a great deal of apprehension among beachgoers," he said.
Yesterday's attack was the 20th recorded shark fatality in SA's history.
"There's been 20 fatalities out of 46 attacks in South Australia, that's an unusually high proportion," Mr Fox said.
Vigilantes warned: don't hunt the killer sharks
17dec04
VIGILANTES have been warned not to hunt down and kill the Great White sharks involved in yesterday's fatal attack.
Senior Sergeant Bob McDonald, from police water operations, said he advised those looking for vengeance to think twice before they embarked on a mission of revenge.
Killing a shark was against the law and people were most likely to kill the wrong one, Sen-Sgt McDonald said.
"It is human nature to want revenge and this is a very emotive event because of the ferocity of the attack," he said.
"I can appreciate people wanting to do it, but if they do get a shark, it is not lawful and they are probably achieving nothing. There is no way of knowing if they will actually get the right one."
Sen-Sgt McDonald said authorities had no plans to hunt the shark themselves because it would be hard to find them and their first priority was the victim.
"To hunt down two sharks would be an extremely hard task because we don't know where they have gone," he said.
"They could be anywhere."
Great Whites were a protected species and the criteria to gain permission to hunt a shark was "extremely strict" and so far, untested in SA.
"Great Whites are a protected species and only the Government or fisheries are able to issue such advice," Sen-Sgt McDonald said.
A spokesman for acting Premier Kevin Foley said the Government was not commenting on any aspect of a hunt at this stage but was leaving it to police.
Shark expert Andrew Fox said any hunt would likely net the wrong shark and applauded the decision not to hunt at this stage.
"In tragedies such as this there is always speculation about hunting the shark but never has there been any evidence of a `rogue shark' that hunts people," Mr Fox said.
"In most cases they are not likely to attack again."
Mr Fox said the sharks could still be in the area although they were known to travel up to 70km or more a day.
"The fact that there were reports of two sharks suggests to me that they were following a food source or perhaps one shark was following a breeding female," he said.
Sen-Sgt McDonald said the search would resume today.
If a decision is made to kill the sharks, a professional fisherman would be hired.
Twenty West Beach Life Saving Club members were among those helping to find any trace of the victim yesterday.
"We've put three boats into the water and two four-wheel-drives are patrolling the beach hoping to find a survivor," club vice-president Peter Finck said.
"But it's not looking good at this stage."
"Unfortunately there is not much we can do but help in the rescue effort."
Committee members also were discussing whether to continue with club activities this week.
Police also warned beachgoers in the West Beach area to stay out of the water yesterday, but few people still dared to venture out for a paddle in the hours after the attack.
West Torrens Mayor John Trainer, whose council includes West Beach, said the death could have a detrimental effect on the area, a popular spot for holiday-makers and locals.
"A catastrophe like this could naturally cause a great deal of apprehension among beachgoers," he said.
Yesterday's attack was the 20th recorded shark fatality in SA's history.
"There's been 20 fatalities out of 46 attacks in South Australia, that's an unusually high proportion," Mr Fox said.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
$1m for murder reward
17dec04
A $1 MILLION reward will be offered in a bid to convict the graveyard killer of Mersina Halvagis.
An inquest into Ms Halvagis's death will finally be held more than seven years after she died.
Convicted killer and serial rapist Peter Dupas will be named at the inquest as prime suspect.
Ms Halvagis, 25, was repeatedly stabbed while tending her grandmother's grave at Fawkner Cemetery on November 1, 1997.
The police case is believed to establish several links between Dupas and the crime scene and includes a sketch produced from a witness account.
Detectives are also believed to be chasing new information found in the latest review of the case.
They hope a $1 million reward will encourage anyone with information about Ms Halvagis's murder to come forward.
A request from Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon to the State Government for formal approval of the reward will be made by Christmas.
The decision to hold an inquest and raise the reward was made on Wednesday at a meeting between Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Coghlan, QC, State Coroner Graeme Johnstone and homicide detectives.
The inquest is likely to be opened early next year.
It may then be adjourned until after the Court of Appeal decides the outcome of Dupas's appeal against his latest murder conviction.
Dupas, 51, received his second life sentence without parole last August when he was convicted of murdering Margaret Maher, whose mutilated body was found by the side of a road in Somerton on October 4, 1997.
Ms Maher, 40, was killed four weeks before Ms Halvagis was murdered.
When Dupas was found guilty of Ms Maher's murder and sentenced to life in jail, he was already serving a life term for the stabbing and mutilation murder of Northcote psychotherapist Nicole Patterson, 29, on April 19, 1999.
Police have also linked Dupas to the 1997 murder of great-grandmother Kathleen Downes, 95, who was stabbed in the neck in a Brunswick nursing home eight weeks after Ms Halvagis's murder.
Mrs Downes was stabbed in her room on New Year's Eve, 12 weeks after the death of Ms Maher.
Dupas had three convictions for rape before his first killing, but served less than 18 years in jail for the three rape sentences.
Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said last night he would approve the $1 million reward as soon as he received a formal request from police.
"Mr and Mrs Halvagis have been tireless in their pursuit of justice and it is certainly pleasing to see the latest developments," Mr Haermeyer said.
"I hope they provide some solace to them."
The $1 million reward for information leading to Ms Halvagis's killer will be the fourth to be offered from the State Government's major crimes reward fund.
The others, which have not prompted enough new information to lay charges, were in the unsolved murders of Jane Thurgood-Dove, Vicki Jacobs and Sarah MacDiarmid.
Ms Halvagis's father, George, lobbied strongly for the establishment of the $1 million reward scheme, which the State Government announced in mid-2003.
Mr Halvagis has contacted police, state ministers, the DPP and the Coroner regularly in a bid to get her case to court.
A police brief of evidence linking Dupas to Ms Halvagis's murder was submitted to State Coroner Graeme Johnstone more than a year ago.
The inquest has been delayed repeatedly over recent years because of other pending legal matters involving Dupas.
$1m for murder reward
17dec04
A $1 MILLION reward will be offered in a bid to convict the graveyard killer of Mersina Halvagis.
An inquest into Ms Halvagis's death will finally be held more than seven years after she died.
Convicted killer and serial rapist Peter Dupas will be named at the inquest as prime suspect.
Ms Halvagis, 25, was repeatedly stabbed while tending her grandmother's grave at Fawkner Cemetery on November 1, 1997.
The police case is believed to establish several links between Dupas and the crime scene and includes a sketch produced from a witness account.
Detectives are also believed to be chasing new information found in the latest review of the case.
They hope a $1 million reward will encourage anyone with information about Ms Halvagis's murder to come forward.
A request from Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon to the State Government for formal approval of the reward will be made by Christmas.
The decision to hold an inquest and raise the reward was made on Wednesday at a meeting between Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Coghlan, QC, State Coroner Graeme Johnstone and homicide detectives.
The inquest is likely to be opened early next year.
It may then be adjourned until after the Court of Appeal decides the outcome of Dupas's appeal against his latest murder conviction.
Dupas, 51, received his second life sentence without parole last August when he was convicted of murdering Margaret Maher, whose mutilated body was found by the side of a road in Somerton on October 4, 1997.
Ms Maher, 40, was killed four weeks before Ms Halvagis was murdered.
When Dupas was found guilty of Ms Maher's murder and sentenced to life in jail, he was already serving a life term for the stabbing and mutilation murder of Northcote psychotherapist Nicole Patterson, 29, on April 19, 1999.
Police have also linked Dupas to the 1997 murder of great-grandmother Kathleen Downes, 95, who was stabbed in the neck in a Brunswick nursing home eight weeks after Ms Halvagis's murder.
Mrs Downes was stabbed in her room on New Year's Eve, 12 weeks after the death of Ms Maher.
Dupas had three convictions for rape before his first killing, but served less than 18 years in jail for the three rape sentences.
Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said last night he would approve the $1 million reward as soon as he received a formal request from police.
"Mr and Mrs Halvagis have been tireless in their pursuit of justice and it is certainly pleasing to see the latest developments," Mr Haermeyer said.
"I hope they provide some solace to them."
The $1 million reward for information leading to Ms Halvagis's killer will be the fourth to be offered from the State Government's major crimes reward fund.
The others, which have not prompted enough new information to lay charges, were in the unsolved murders of Jane Thurgood-Dove, Vicki Jacobs and Sarah MacDiarmid.
Ms Halvagis's father, George, lobbied strongly for the establishment of the $1 million reward scheme, which the State Government announced in mid-2003.
Mr Halvagis has contacted police, state ministers, the DPP and the Coroner regularly in a bid to get her case to court.
A police brief of evidence linking Dupas to Ms Halvagis's murder was submitted to State Coroner Graeme Johnstone more than a year ago.
The inquest has been delayed repeatedly over recent years because of other pending legal matters involving Dupas.
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AussieMark
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**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
TV crush boy out of coma
17dec04
A PLUCKY prep student who was almost killed when a 68cm TV fell on his head has stunned doctors by making an extraordinary recovery.
William Hillsley, 5, was in a coma for 6 1/2 weeks after the TV crushed his head in June, and neurosurgeons warned he might never wake up.
But William has defied doctors' expectations by pulling out of his coma and learning to talk and walk again.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike yesterday warned families to beware if buying large-screen TVs this Christmas amid soaring numbers of similar injuries.
"The growth of big-screen TVs has coincided with an increase in the number of children injured by falling TVs," she said.
"This year Victoria is on track to record 50 of these injuries, up from 28 three years ago."
Royal Children's Hospital surgeons said William would have died if they had not sliced away a large piece of his skull to release immense pressure.
William's mum, Lindy, said she was stunned to see her son recover so dramatically so they could go home in time for Christmas.
The TV was on an antique cabinet when it fell. The cabinet also toppled, but its open doors acted as a brace, preventing it from crushing William.
Ms Hillsley, a single mum, was cooking dinner in their home in Mathoura in southern NSW, when the accident happened.
"We were dancing to music and I think he went to change a CD or something," she said.
"I went from the kitchen to the lounge room and if I'd been three seconds sooner, I would have caught the TV."
William was bleeding heavily as he was raced by ambulance to hospital in Echuca, then by plane to the Royal Children's.
After surgeons operated, William spent a month in intensive care and 6 1/2 weeks in a coma.
"There were three neurosurgeons in the room reading from the MRI scans saying it would be six months to a year before he woke up, if he woke up," Ms Hillsley said.
But some time later, William opened his eyes and gave his mum his first tiny smile since the accident. "I couldn't believe it was real," Ms Hillsley said.
William has progressed in leaps and bounds after months of speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
He can talk again, walk with a little help, colour in a picture, hold a drink and has good concentration and listening skills.
Ms Pike yesterday warned parents to buy only TVs with an anchor point at the back of the set and appropriate fittings to bolt it to a stand or a cabinet.
TV crush boy out of coma
17dec04
A PLUCKY prep student who was almost killed when a 68cm TV fell on his head has stunned doctors by making an extraordinary recovery.
William Hillsley, 5, was in a coma for 6 1/2 weeks after the TV crushed his head in June, and neurosurgeons warned he might never wake up.
But William has defied doctors' expectations by pulling out of his coma and learning to talk and walk again.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike yesterday warned families to beware if buying large-screen TVs this Christmas amid soaring numbers of similar injuries.
"The growth of big-screen TVs has coincided with an increase in the number of children injured by falling TVs," she said.
"This year Victoria is on track to record 50 of these injuries, up from 28 three years ago."
Royal Children's Hospital surgeons said William would have died if they had not sliced away a large piece of his skull to release immense pressure.
William's mum, Lindy, said she was stunned to see her son recover so dramatically so they could go home in time for Christmas.
The TV was on an antique cabinet when it fell. The cabinet also toppled, but its open doors acted as a brace, preventing it from crushing William.
Ms Hillsley, a single mum, was cooking dinner in their home in Mathoura in southern NSW, when the accident happened.
"We were dancing to music and I think he went to change a CD or something," she said.
"I went from the kitchen to the lounge room and if I'd been three seconds sooner, I would have caught the TV."
William was bleeding heavily as he was raced by ambulance to hospital in Echuca, then by plane to the Royal Children's.
After surgeons operated, William spent a month in intensive care and 6 1/2 weeks in a coma.
"There were three neurosurgeons in the room reading from the MRI scans saying it would be six months to a year before he woke up, if he woke up," Ms Hillsley said.
But some time later, William opened his eyes and gave his mum his first tiny smile since the accident. "I couldn't believe it was real," Ms Hillsley said.
William has progressed in leaps and bounds after months of speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
He can talk again, walk with a little help, colour in a picture, hold a drink and has good concentration and listening skills.
Ms Pike yesterday warned parents to buy only TVs with an anchor point at the back of the set and appropriate fittings to bolt it to a stand or a cabinet.
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AussieMark
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**From The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) **
Sacked for having a baby
December 17, 2004
WHEN Maree Cunningham was lying in hospital recovering from the birth of her child, her employer wrote her a letter.
Instead of saying "congratulations" it told her she was sacked.
The 45-year-old had been working as insurance supervisor for the Greater Building Society for just two months when she unexpectedly fell pregnant.
Not meeting the 12-month threshold to qualify for maternity leave, Ms Cunningham asked for just two months unpaid leave but says she was denied.
During months of negotiations and appearances before the Industrial Relations Commission, the building society offered her, at various stages, 10 and 20 weeks' pay and a part-time job in another area, but all she wanted was to keep her job.
Ms Cunningham left work three days before her due date in late October after seeking six weeks sick leave to recover from her planned caesarean section.
At the same time as the birth, the building society sent her a letter terminating her employment.
"I was devastated," the Newcastle mother of two told The Daily Telegraph.
"All I wanted was my job and to have a baby, it's going to be very hard for me to re-enter the workforce."
Ms Cunningham said the letter even asked her to return her uniform within six days, even though she was bedridden after undergoing a caesarean section.
"It was just disgusting the way it was done," she said.
The United Services Union said she had been treated disgracefully.
"Instead of the usual joy, Maree spent the months leading up to the birth of her baby trying desperately to hold on to her job," president Michael Want said.
The Industrial Relations Commission yesterday referred the matter to arbitration, however Ms Cunningham may instead pursue her case through the anti-discrimination board.
The building society's human resources manager Tim Hopson said the United Services Union's claims were "inflammatory in nature, factually wrong and do not reveal the Greater's various attempts to reach an amicable solution between the parties".
"The matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW and, until the matter is heard, it would be unprofessional and irresponsible to make further comment," he said.
"The Greater will continue to act with integrity and professionalism in all dealings with its valued staff and clients."
Sacked for having a baby
December 17, 2004
WHEN Maree Cunningham was lying in hospital recovering from the birth of her child, her employer wrote her a letter.
Instead of saying "congratulations" it told her she was sacked.
The 45-year-old had been working as insurance supervisor for the Greater Building Society for just two months when she unexpectedly fell pregnant.
Not meeting the 12-month threshold to qualify for maternity leave, Ms Cunningham asked for just two months unpaid leave but says she was denied.
During months of negotiations and appearances before the Industrial Relations Commission, the building society offered her, at various stages, 10 and 20 weeks' pay and a part-time job in another area, but all she wanted was to keep her job.
Ms Cunningham left work three days before her due date in late October after seeking six weeks sick leave to recover from her planned caesarean section.
At the same time as the birth, the building society sent her a letter terminating her employment.
"I was devastated," the Newcastle mother of two told The Daily Telegraph.
"All I wanted was my job and to have a baby, it's going to be very hard for me to re-enter the workforce."
Ms Cunningham said the letter even asked her to return her uniform within six days, even though she was bedridden after undergoing a caesarean section.
"It was just disgusting the way it was done," she said.
The United Services Union said she had been treated disgracefully.
"Instead of the usual joy, Maree spent the months leading up to the birth of her baby trying desperately to hold on to her job," president Michael Want said.
The Industrial Relations Commission yesterday referred the matter to arbitration, however Ms Cunningham may instead pursue her case through the anti-discrimination board.
The building society's human resources manager Tim Hopson said the United Services Union's claims were "inflammatory in nature, factually wrong and do not reveal the Greater's various attempts to reach an amicable solution between the parties".
"The matter is before the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW and, until the matter is heard, it would be unprofessional and irresponsible to make further comment," he said.
"The Greater will continue to act with integrity and professionalism in all dealings with its valued staff and clients."
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AussieMark
- Category 5
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- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) **
Sun burn horror while in childcare
December 17, 2004
THESE are the horrific burns that had a three-year-old girl screaming in pain for a week, shocking the doctors who treated her.
Little Rebecca suffered such severe sunburn that her shoulders and much of her back were badly blistered.
Rebecca has been treated by her local doctor, the Mount Druitt Medical Centre, and Mount Druitt hospital in the week since she was burnt.
Ointments, antibiotics and gel were prescribed to give her some relief and prevent scarring. But still she spent most nights howling with pain.
Rebecca's mother, Elizabeth, said she found her daughter distressed with sunburn and being treated with wet towels when she collected her from a childcare centre at 3.20pm on December 8.
Rebecca was dressed in a light summer top with thin straps but had been wearing a hat, her mother said.
Elizabeth said when she questioned staff as to why her child was so burnt she was told her daughter had been only "a little bit sunburnt".
The owner of the $40-a-day childcare centre in Sydney's west said he was not to blame for the girl's injuries.
A spokesman said while it was possible the injuries could have been sustained at the centre, which has a play area shaded by trees, it was more likely Rebecca received her burns elsewhere.
"She did not have blisters when she left here, she was a light pink," he said.
"We don't know if afterwards she went home and played outside – that could have exacerbated it. I am not going to say that it was not us 100 per cent – a proportion of the blame could come back on us.
"We have a lot of shade here from the trees. It meets DOCS [Department of Community Services] standards and we are building marquees to go above and beyond those standards."
A Rooty Hill father said four of his children had attended the centre without complaint.
"There's good shade in there. It's pretty hard to believe those burns happened here," he said.
Sun burn horror while in childcare
December 17, 2004
THESE are the horrific burns that had a three-year-old girl screaming in pain for a week, shocking the doctors who treated her.
Little Rebecca suffered such severe sunburn that her shoulders and much of her back were badly blistered.
Rebecca has been treated by her local doctor, the Mount Druitt Medical Centre, and Mount Druitt hospital in the week since she was burnt.
Ointments, antibiotics and gel were prescribed to give her some relief and prevent scarring. But still she spent most nights howling with pain.
Rebecca's mother, Elizabeth, said she found her daughter distressed with sunburn and being treated with wet towels when she collected her from a childcare centre at 3.20pm on December 8.
Rebecca was dressed in a light summer top with thin straps but had been wearing a hat, her mother said.
Elizabeth said when she questioned staff as to why her child was so burnt she was told her daughter had been only "a little bit sunburnt".
The owner of the $40-a-day childcare centre in Sydney's west said he was not to blame for the girl's injuries.
A spokesman said while it was possible the injuries could have been sustained at the centre, which has a play area shaded by trees, it was more likely Rebecca received her burns elsewhere.
"She did not have blisters when she left here, she was a light pink," he said.
"We don't know if afterwards she went home and played outside – that could have exacerbated it. I am not going to say that it was not us 100 per cent – a proportion of the blame could come back on us.
"We have a lot of shade here from the trees. It meets DOCS [Department of Community Services] standards and we are building marquees to go above and beyond those standards."
A Rooty Hill father said four of his children had attended the centre without complaint.
"There's good shade in there. It's pretty hard to believe those burns happened here," he said.
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AussieMark
- Category 5
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) **
Raid nets $2.5m cannabis
December 17, 2004
RAID on a Sydney home uncovered cannabis plants worth more than $2.5 million.
Police today said officers involved in a covert operation on the property at Rock Street, Yagoona, raided the house about 6pm (AEDT) yesterday.
The officers found the house had been converted into a number of cannabis growing rooms with sophisticated lighting, electrical and ventilation equipment.
They located more than 500 canabis plants and a large amount of processed leaf and stems.
One man was arrested allegedly running from the premises and a second was found hiding amongst the plants.
A 36-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were both charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of prohibited plant and refused bail.
They will appear at Burwood Local Court later today.
Raid nets $2.5m cannabis
December 17, 2004
RAID on a Sydney home uncovered cannabis plants worth more than $2.5 million.
Police today said officers involved in a covert operation on the property at Rock Street, Yagoona, raided the house about 6pm (AEDT) yesterday.
The officers found the house had been converted into a number of cannabis growing rooms with sophisticated lighting, electrical and ventilation equipment.
They located more than 500 canabis plants and a large amount of processed leaf and stems.
One man was arrested allegedly running from the premises and a second was found hiding amongst the plants.
A 36-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were both charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of prohibited plant and refused bail.
They will appear at Burwood Local Court later today.
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AussieMark
- Category 5
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From The Courier Mail (Brisbane) **
Four life terms for slain children
17dec04
A TAXI driver slaughtered three of his children, severely wounded another and stabbed his wife when his complicated domestic situation got the better of him, a court was told yesterday.
The man, who cannot be named under child protection laws, will spend at least the next 25 years in jail for the attacks after being sentenced to four life jail terms.
The Supreme Court in Brisbane was told the 33-year-old used a knife to murder his five-year-old son and daughters, 2, and four months, at a unit complex at Woodridge, south of Brisbane, on September 3 last year.
He also slashed his wife and stabbed his youngest son, then aged 11 months.
The court was told three of the children were from his marriage, but one of the daughters was a child the man had fathered with his girlfriend.
It appeared the man, who had ongoing relationships with both women, had become angry after an argument on the phone with his girlfriend and he told her she would never see their daughter again.
The court was told the man was with his wife and the four children in the unit on the day of the murders. After the phone call, he punched the woman – who eventually escaped with the youngest boy – before getting a knife and attacking the other members of his family.
He then left and was later found by police in a nearby park with self-inflicted stab wounds to the stomach.
The court was told psychiatric evidence showed the man did not have a defence of unsoundness of mind, but he may have exhibited signs of a syndrome known as "amok" or "cathard" – an explosive disorder which could have been brought on by the domestic situation.
The man pleaded guilty to three counts of murder (of the three children), one of attempted murder (for the attack on the youngest boy) and another of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (on the wife).
Justice John Helman sentenced the man to life in jail on each of the murder counts and also for the attempted murder of his youngest son. He jailed him for a concurrent eight years' jail for the attack on his wife.
"It is difficult to contemplate the scene of horror confronted by those who saw what you did to your children," Justice Helman told the defendant.
He said he accepted the man was remorseful, had no previous convictions and that his wife and girlfriend had been gracious in their assessment of his actions.
Under Queensland law the man, as a multiple murderer, had to be sentenced to a minimum 20 years without parole, but Justice Helman used his discretion to impose a 25-year non-parole period.
Earlier, prosecutor Carl Heaton described the complicated domestic troubles which began when the wife was expecting their third child and returned to New Zealand for family support.
Mr Heaton said while she was away her husband began a relationship with another woman who he met at their church.
When the wife returned from NZ there was friction between the two women, although neither fully realised the extent of the man's relationship with the other.
Mr Heaton said that on the day of the murders the man had been upset with his girlfriend because she had been to a child support agency about him and he also believed she was seeing a former boyfriend.
Four life terms for slain children
17dec04
A TAXI driver slaughtered three of his children, severely wounded another and stabbed his wife when his complicated domestic situation got the better of him, a court was told yesterday.
The man, who cannot be named under child protection laws, will spend at least the next 25 years in jail for the attacks after being sentenced to four life jail terms.
The Supreme Court in Brisbane was told the 33-year-old used a knife to murder his five-year-old son and daughters, 2, and four months, at a unit complex at Woodridge, south of Brisbane, on September 3 last year.
He also slashed his wife and stabbed his youngest son, then aged 11 months.
The court was told three of the children were from his marriage, but one of the daughters was a child the man had fathered with his girlfriend.
It appeared the man, who had ongoing relationships with both women, had become angry after an argument on the phone with his girlfriend and he told her she would never see their daughter again.
The court was told the man was with his wife and the four children in the unit on the day of the murders. After the phone call, he punched the woman – who eventually escaped with the youngest boy – before getting a knife and attacking the other members of his family.
He then left and was later found by police in a nearby park with self-inflicted stab wounds to the stomach.
The court was told psychiatric evidence showed the man did not have a defence of unsoundness of mind, but he may have exhibited signs of a syndrome known as "amok" or "cathard" – an explosive disorder which could have been brought on by the domestic situation.
The man pleaded guilty to three counts of murder (of the three children), one of attempted murder (for the attack on the youngest boy) and another of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (on the wife).
Justice John Helman sentenced the man to life in jail on each of the murder counts and also for the attempted murder of his youngest son. He jailed him for a concurrent eight years' jail for the attack on his wife.
"It is difficult to contemplate the scene of horror confronted by those who saw what you did to your children," Justice Helman told the defendant.
He said he accepted the man was remorseful, had no previous convictions and that his wife and girlfriend had been gracious in their assessment of his actions.
Under Queensland law the man, as a multiple murderer, had to be sentenced to a minimum 20 years without parole, but Justice Helman used his discretion to impose a 25-year non-parole period.
Earlier, prosecutor Carl Heaton described the complicated domestic troubles which began when the wife was expecting their third child and returned to New Zealand for family support.
Mr Heaton said while she was away her husband began a relationship with another woman who he met at their church.
When the wife returned from NZ there was friction between the two women, although neither fully realised the extent of the man's relationship with the other.
Mr Heaton said that on the day of the murders the man had been upset with his girlfriend because she had been to a child support agency about him and he also believed she was seeing a former boyfriend.
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AussieMark
- Category 5
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- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From The Courier Mail (Brisbane) **
Lights go out during surgery
17dec04
NURSES at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital had to use hand pumps to operate the ventilators of at least four seriously ill patients during a power blackout on Tuesday.
And the State Opposition has accused hospital managers of staging a cover-up of the incident by lying to journalists about the blackout – a claim the hospital has denied.
At least 14,000 southeast Queensland premises lost power in blackouts on Tuesday – the second hottest day this year and the first major challenge to the power network since a report earlier this year found power companies had underspent on maintenance.
Yesterday, a PA Hospital spokeswoman said that when normal power supplies were cut because of a blackout in the area, backup generators clicked into operation.
But the generators were then turned off by circuit-breakers, causing the hospital to resort to battery power.
Chairman of surgery David Theile confirmed four patients already in surgery or being prepared for operations had procedures cancelled immediately because there was no power for vital medical equipment.
One woman was already in surgery and doctors had to close an incision and end the procedure, which was completed yesterday.
Dr Theile said no patient's care was compromised.
"If you can say a disaster like this goes well, this one did in the circumstances," Dr Theile said.
A hospital spokeswoman said four people on ventilators were "provided manual assistance".
She said the cause of the shutdown was being investigated.
Acting Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney said the hospital and the Government had spent the past two days denying there was any blackout as they attempted to reassure Queenslanders about the reliability of the system.
He said it now appeared the incident was more serious than was revealed on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, a hospital spokesman told Brisbane radio station 4BC: "We lost power briefly for 15 to 20 minutes this afternoon. That's the mains power. However, our emergency generators kicked in straight away which maintains emergency and essential services throughout the hospital."
Lights go out during surgery
17dec04
NURSES at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital had to use hand pumps to operate the ventilators of at least four seriously ill patients during a power blackout on Tuesday.
And the State Opposition has accused hospital managers of staging a cover-up of the incident by lying to journalists about the blackout – a claim the hospital has denied.
At least 14,000 southeast Queensland premises lost power in blackouts on Tuesday – the second hottest day this year and the first major challenge to the power network since a report earlier this year found power companies had underspent on maintenance.
Yesterday, a PA Hospital spokeswoman said that when normal power supplies were cut because of a blackout in the area, backup generators clicked into operation.
But the generators were then turned off by circuit-breakers, causing the hospital to resort to battery power.
Chairman of surgery David Theile confirmed four patients already in surgery or being prepared for operations had procedures cancelled immediately because there was no power for vital medical equipment.
One woman was already in surgery and doctors had to close an incision and end the procedure, which was completed yesterday.
Dr Theile said no patient's care was compromised.
"If you can say a disaster like this goes well, this one did in the circumstances," Dr Theile said.
A hospital spokeswoman said four people on ventilators were "provided manual assistance".
She said the cause of the shutdown was being investigated.
Acting Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney said the hospital and the Government had spent the past two days denying there was any blackout as they attempted to reassure Queenslanders about the reliability of the system.
He said it now appeared the incident was more serious than was revealed on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, a hospital spokesman told Brisbane radio station 4BC: "We lost power briefly for 15 to 20 minutes this afternoon. That's the mains power. However, our emergency generators kicked in straight away which maintains emergency and essential services throughout the hospital."
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AussieMark
- Category 5
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From The Sunday Times (Perth) **
12 years for 'snakehead' smuggler
17dec04
THE mastermind of a people-smuggling syndicate who received more than $US1million ($1.3 million) from asylum-seekers was yesterday jailed for 12 years.
Hasan Ayoub, convicted in November of two counts of people-smuggling, sat emotionless in the West Australian District Court as Judge Peter Nisbet sentenced him to two terms of imprisonment.
During his three-week trial, the 34-year-old was referred to as the "people-smuggling snakehead" who masterminded the operation to bring 399 Iraqi, Iranian, Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum-seekers from Indonesia to Australia in two boats in 2001.
"A supply line fed refugees from the Middle East and Afghanistan to you in Indonesia where you cynically took advantage of the endemic corruption in that country to buy the Customs and immigration officials and the police to assist you in your illegal activities," Judge Nisbet said.
"Your actions involved the cynical manipulation and abuse of the trust of people who are often at the lowest ebb of their lives, having fled their countries, their families and their jobs in many cases to avoid persecution."
The first boat, the Flinders, landed on Christmas Island in March 2001 and the second, the Nullawarre, almost a month later, with people paying as much as $US12,000 to board either of the vessels.
The court was told that when up to 400 asylum-seekers tried to board the Flinders it began to sink and people were forced to return to the shore.
Passengers separated from families were allowed to rejoin the boat and were ferried to the ill-equipped vessel by smaller boats before it departed with about 200 asylum- seekers on board.
Judge Nisbet said the circumstances surrounding the despatching of the two boats was "distressing", particularly because Ayoub sent the asylum-seekers to Australia knowing they might have their refugee status challenged.
He said the conditions on the small, overcrowded boats must have been "appalling".
Extradited from Thailand in July 2003 to face the charges, Ayoub, a Pakistani national also known as Naeem Ahamad Chaudry, refused to co-operate with Australian authorities.
Judge Nisbet said that when Ayoub went to trial he attempted to disguise himself in order to confuse prosecution witnesses who would not be able to identify him.
But the identification evidence against Ayoub was strong, said Judge Nisbet, and there was no dispute the 34-year-old was the man seen in a video surveillance film taken by Australian authorities in Jakarta.
"People smugglers like you need to be effectively deterred," he said. "And undoubtedly the word will get back to would-be people-smugglers to Australia that .. .when they are caught they are sent to jail for considerable periods of time."
The judge said that while people-smuggling was an "appalling crime" warranting severe punishment, the two offences were part of a "continuing course of conduct" and the 10- and 12-year jail terms he was sentenced to should be served at the same time. The 34-year-old has been in custody since 2001 and will be eligible for parole in 2008.
12 years for 'snakehead' smuggler
17dec04
THE mastermind of a people-smuggling syndicate who received more than $US1million ($1.3 million) from asylum-seekers was yesterday jailed for 12 years.
Hasan Ayoub, convicted in November of two counts of people-smuggling, sat emotionless in the West Australian District Court as Judge Peter Nisbet sentenced him to two terms of imprisonment.
During his three-week trial, the 34-year-old was referred to as the "people-smuggling snakehead" who masterminded the operation to bring 399 Iraqi, Iranian, Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum-seekers from Indonesia to Australia in two boats in 2001.
"A supply line fed refugees from the Middle East and Afghanistan to you in Indonesia where you cynically took advantage of the endemic corruption in that country to buy the Customs and immigration officials and the police to assist you in your illegal activities," Judge Nisbet said.
"Your actions involved the cynical manipulation and abuse of the trust of people who are often at the lowest ebb of their lives, having fled their countries, their families and their jobs in many cases to avoid persecution."
The first boat, the Flinders, landed on Christmas Island in March 2001 and the second, the Nullawarre, almost a month later, with people paying as much as $US12,000 to board either of the vessels.
The court was told that when up to 400 asylum-seekers tried to board the Flinders it began to sink and people were forced to return to the shore.
Passengers separated from families were allowed to rejoin the boat and were ferried to the ill-equipped vessel by smaller boats before it departed with about 200 asylum- seekers on board.
Judge Nisbet said the circumstances surrounding the despatching of the two boats was "distressing", particularly because Ayoub sent the asylum-seekers to Australia knowing they might have their refugee status challenged.
He said the conditions on the small, overcrowded boats must have been "appalling".
Extradited from Thailand in July 2003 to face the charges, Ayoub, a Pakistani national also known as Naeem Ahamad Chaudry, refused to co-operate with Australian authorities.
Judge Nisbet said that when Ayoub went to trial he attempted to disguise himself in order to confuse prosecution witnesses who would not be able to identify him.
But the identification evidence against Ayoub was strong, said Judge Nisbet, and there was no dispute the 34-year-old was the man seen in a video surveillance film taken by Australian authorities in Jakarta.
"People smugglers like you need to be effectively deterred," he said. "And undoubtedly the word will get back to would-be people-smugglers to Australia that .. .when they are caught they are sent to jail for considerable periods of time."
The judge said that while people-smuggling was an "appalling crime" warranting severe punishment, the two offences were part of a "continuing course of conduct" and the 10- and 12-year jail terms he was sentenced to should be served at the same time. The 34-year-old has been in custody since 2001 and will be eligible for parole in 2008.
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rainstorm
tropicalweatherwatcher wrote:**From The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) **
Sun burn horror while in childcare
December 17, 2004
THESE are the horrific burns that had a three-year-old girl screaming in pain for a week, shocking the doctors who treated her.
Little Rebecca suffered such severe sunburn that her shoulders and much of her back were badly blistered.
prayers are with her
Rebecca has been treated by her local doctor, the Mount Druitt Medical Centre, and Mount Druitt hospital in the week since she was burnt.
Ointments, antibiotics and gel were prescribed to give her some relief and prevent scarring. But still she spent most nights howling with pain.
Rebecca's mother, Elizabeth, said she found her daughter distressed with sunburn and being treated with wet towels when she collected her from a childcare centre at 3.20pm on December 8.
Rebecca was dressed in a light summer top with thin straps but had been wearing a hat, her mother said.
Elizabeth said when she questioned staff as to why her child was so burnt she was told her daughter had been only "a little bit sunburnt".
The owner of the $40-a-day childcare centre in Sydney's west said he was not to blame for the girl's injuries.
A spokesman said while it was possible the injuries could have been sustained at the centre, which has a play area shaded by trees, it was more likely Rebecca received her burns elsewhere.
"She did not have blisters when she left here, she was a light pink," he said.
"We don't know if afterwards she went home and played outside – that could have exacerbated it. I am not going to say that it was not us 100 per cent – a proportion of the blame could come back on us.
"We have a lot of shade here from the trees. It meets DOCS [Department of Community Services] standards and we are building marquees to go above and beyond those standards."
A Rooty Hill father said four of his children had attended the centre without complaint.
"There's good shade in there. It's pretty hard to believe those burns happened here," he said.
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AussieMark
- Category 5
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Credit card sting traps thousands
THOUSANDS of Victorians have been caught in an alleged credit card scam which could leave them without money over Christmas.
Up to 4000 ANZ Bank Visa card holders have been unknowingly hit by charges of about $50 credited to software company Topup International.
The company, operating from a central Australian town, said it was taking legitimate payments for software upgrades by its customers.
Visa card holders contacted yesterday said they had never authorised any payments.
About 6000 transactions worth $300,000 have been uncovered so far with most of the affected credit card users still unaware of the situation.
Customers who have contacted the bank have had their cards cancelled, although there has been no widespread freezing of all affected accounts.
The ANZ said the possible security breach was being investigated and customers would receive full refunds if the transactions were found to have been fraudulent.
"We're not exactly sure how it happened," spokesman Paul Edwards said. "At this stage it's not clear whether there's been fraudulent activity, the investigation should be finished by Friday."
Lyn Currie was one ANZ customer trapped, suffering five transactions of about $50 before noticing the missing money.
"Why isn't there some way they can stop this Topup International?"
Victim John Drummond from Mooroolbark, said he was careful about who he gave credit details to and had never authorised a $55.50 payment to Topup International.
With his credit card now cancelled, Mr Drummond is facing a Christmas without buying power.
"If you're relying on your credit card to put petrol in the tank or buy Christmas presents, then it's going to be pretty tough," he said.
The ANZ said all customers would have payments refunded if the transactions were proved to be fraudulent.
Credit card holders were urged to check their bank statements for any dubious payments.
"If people have identified these transactions in their statements, they should get in contact with us," he said.
The Commonwealth Bank, which is leading the investigation because Topup International is its client, said it would treat the matter very seriously.
"We are investigating this matter as an alleged fraud," a spokesman said.
Credit card sting traps thousands
THOUSANDS of Victorians have been caught in an alleged credit card scam which could leave them without money over Christmas.
Up to 4000 ANZ Bank Visa card holders have been unknowingly hit by charges of about $50 credited to software company Topup International.
The company, operating from a central Australian town, said it was taking legitimate payments for software upgrades by its customers.
Visa card holders contacted yesterday said they had never authorised any payments.
About 6000 transactions worth $300,000 have been uncovered so far with most of the affected credit card users still unaware of the situation.
Customers who have contacted the bank have had their cards cancelled, although there has been no widespread freezing of all affected accounts.
The ANZ said the possible security breach was being investigated and customers would receive full refunds if the transactions were found to have been fraudulent.
"We're not exactly sure how it happened," spokesman Paul Edwards said. "At this stage it's not clear whether there's been fraudulent activity, the investigation should be finished by Friday."
Lyn Currie was one ANZ customer trapped, suffering five transactions of about $50 before noticing the missing money.
"Why isn't there some way they can stop this Topup International?"
Victim John Drummond from Mooroolbark, said he was careful about who he gave credit details to and had never authorised a $55.50 payment to Topup International.
With his credit card now cancelled, Mr Drummond is facing a Christmas without buying power.
"If you're relying on your credit card to put petrol in the tank or buy Christmas presents, then it's going to be pretty tough," he said.
The ANZ said all customers would have payments refunded if the transactions were proved to be fraudulent.
Credit card holders were urged to check their bank statements for any dubious payments.
"If people have identified these transactions in their statements, they should get in contact with us," he said.
The Commonwealth Bank, which is leading the investigation because Topup International is its client, said it would treat the matter very seriously.
"We are investigating this matter as an alleged fraud," a spokesman said.
Last edited by AussieMark on Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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AussieMark
- Category 5
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- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Double trouble drink
AN experiment has shown women cannot drink alcohol the same as men.
An experiment with two men and two women for an education video found the women had more than double the blood alcohol concentration after consuming exactly the same amount of alcohol as the men.
Dr Robert Kaldawi from the Academy of Health Education of Victoria, which runs alcohol and drug education programs, said the experiment provided a warning about festive drinking.
After four drinks in two hours, the men had an estimated blood alcohol concentration of .02 and the women .06.
After six drinks over three hours, the men blew .03 on a preliminary breath testing device and the women .07.
And while the women recorded the same BAC reading, their level of drunkenness was dramatically different.
Women would take an average seven hours to return to zero BAC and the men would take three hours.
Jenny, who blew .07 was convinced she had a blood alcohol concentration of no more than .02 and showed no signs of being drunk on the video Know Your Limit.
The second woman, Alicia, was "off her face" despite recording the same BAC as Jenny, Dr Kaldawi said.
"Everybody is different and you can say two people can have same BAC and have different levels of drunkenness," he said.
It was important for people to understand it was impossible to gauge their ability to drive by the way they felt, Dr Kaldawi said.
"You could be very tolerant to alcohol and feel fine but be way over the limit," he said.
"It's not just how much you drink but how your body reacts to alcohol and your metabolism."
Dr Kaldawi said he had seen cases where a person had one standard drink and blew a reading of .03 or .04. The liver would take up to four hours to remove the alcohol from the body.
He said fitness, muscle to fat ratio, gender and other factors controlled how the body reacted to alcohol.
Dr Kaldawi's Academy of Health Education of Victoria runs drink-driver education programs and other educational programs, which includes the video.
Double trouble drink
AN experiment has shown women cannot drink alcohol the same as men.
An experiment with two men and two women for an education video found the women had more than double the blood alcohol concentration after consuming exactly the same amount of alcohol as the men.
Dr Robert Kaldawi from the Academy of Health Education of Victoria, which runs alcohol and drug education programs, said the experiment provided a warning about festive drinking.
After four drinks in two hours, the men had an estimated blood alcohol concentration of .02 and the women .06.
After six drinks over three hours, the men blew .03 on a preliminary breath testing device and the women .07.
And while the women recorded the same BAC reading, their level of drunkenness was dramatically different.
Women would take an average seven hours to return to zero BAC and the men would take three hours.
Jenny, who blew .07 was convinced she had a blood alcohol concentration of no more than .02 and showed no signs of being drunk on the video Know Your Limit.
The second woman, Alicia, was "off her face" despite recording the same BAC as Jenny, Dr Kaldawi said.
"Everybody is different and you can say two people can have same BAC and have different levels of drunkenness," he said.
It was important for people to understand it was impossible to gauge their ability to drive by the way they felt, Dr Kaldawi said.
"You could be very tolerant to alcohol and feel fine but be way over the limit," he said.
"It's not just how much you drink but how your body reacts to alcohol and your metabolism."
Dr Kaldawi said he had seen cases where a person had one standard drink and blew a reading of .03 or .04. The liver would take up to four hours to remove the alcohol from the body.
He said fitness, muscle to fat ratio, gender and other factors controlled how the body reacted to alcohol.
Dr Kaldawi's Academy of Health Education of Victoria runs drink-driver education programs and other educational programs, which includes the video.
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AussieMark
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- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Crown casino sued
CROWN casino is being sued by five financial victims of disgraced former Geelong mayor Frank De Stefano.
Crown, along with St George Bank, is accused of knowingly cashing stolen cheques used by De Stefano to gamble away more than $11 million.
The Supreme Court writ alleges they aided De Stefano by cashing cheques drawn from his clients' trust accounts between 1993 and 2000. Crown said it would defend itself in court.
De Stefano was jailed last year for 10 years after pleading guilty to the theft of $8.6 million.
Crown casino sued
CROWN casino is being sued by five financial victims of disgraced former Geelong mayor Frank De Stefano.
Crown, along with St George Bank, is accused of knowingly cashing stolen cheques used by De Stefano to gamble away more than $11 million.
The Supreme Court writ alleges they aided De Stefano by cashing cheques drawn from his clients' trust accounts between 1993 and 2000. Crown said it would defend itself in court.
De Stefano was jailed last year for 10 years after pleading guilty to the theft of $8.6 million.
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AussieMark
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- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From The Sunday Times (Perth) **
SW HOLIDAY BEACHES ON SHARK ALERT
SOUTH-WEST beaches are on alert after record shark sightings along the popular coastline.
As thousands of holidaymakers head south for the Christmas holiday, The Sunday Times can reveal there have been sightings on seven of the past 11 days at the Margaret River beach, near Prevally.
There were only 14 reportedsightings there during the whole of last season.
There have been further sightings along the coast from near the Busselton jetty, Quindalup, Dunsborough, Rocky Point, Cowaramup, Kilcarnup and Gnarabup.
In 15 summers, Margaret River lifeguard Fred Annesley, a former Iron Man athlete, has never had as many reports this early in the season. "In the past two or three years there have been a lot more sightings than usual, but they've really started up this year," he said. "It's becoming a regular occurrence. I want to know why. I don't want to have to deal with a shark attack."
The unprecedented number of sightings comes just five months after the fatal attack on champion surfer Brad Smith near Gracetown.
Surfers, who blame increased commercial crayfishing for a rise in shark activity in the past two years, have started a campaign to get fishermen away from beaches and surfbreaks.
Surfers have a $22,000 fighting fund and are handing out 5000 stickers saying: "Shark Hazard. No Craypots At South-West Beaches."
Campaign organiser Richard Stone said: "We are not just concerned about the safety of surfers, but also swimmers and divers. All beach users."
Fishermen say there is no evidence to back the claim.
Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council has admitted it is concerned that the sightings could hit tourism in the region's busiest time.
SW HOLIDAY BEACHES ON SHARK ALERT
SOUTH-WEST beaches are on alert after record shark sightings along the popular coastline.
As thousands of holidaymakers head south for the Christmas holiday, The Sunday Times can reveal there have been sightings on seven of the past 11 days at the Margaret River beach, near Prevally.
There were only 14 reportedsightings there during the whole of last season.
There have been further sightings along the coast from near the Busselton jetty, Quindalup, Dunsborough, Rocky Point, Cowaramup, Kilcarnup and Gnarabup.
In 15 summers, Margaret River lifeguard Fred Annesley, a former Iron Man athlete, has never had as many reports this early in the season. "In the past two or three years there have been a lot more sightings than usual, but they've really started up this year," he said. "It's becoming a regular occurrence. I want to know why. I don't want to have to deal with a shark attack."
The unprecedented number of sightings comes just five months after the fatal attack on champion surfer Brad Smith near Gracetown.
Surfers, who blame increased commercial crayfishing for a rise in shark activity in the past two years, have started a campaign to get fishermen away from beaches and surfbreaks.
Surfers have a $22,000 fighting fund and are handing out 5000 stickers saying: "Shark Hazard. No Craypots At South-West Beaches."
Campaign organiser Richard Stone said: "We are not just concerned about the safety of surfers, but also swimmers and divers. All beach users."
Fishermen say there is no evidence to back the claim.
Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council has admitted it is concerned that the sightings could hit tourism in the region's busiest time.
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rainstorm wrote:tropicalweatherwatcher wrote:**From The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) **
Sun burn horror while in childcare
December 17, 2004
THESE are the horrific burns that had a three-year-old girl screaming in pain for a week, shocking the doctors who treated her.
Little Rebecca suffered such severe sunburn that her shoulders and much of her back were badly blistered.
prayers are with her
Rebecca has been treated by her local doctor, the Mount Druitt Medical Centre, and Mount Druitt hospital in the week since she was burnt.
Ointments, antibiotics and gel were prescribed to give her some relief and prevent scarring. But still she spent most nights howling with pain.
Rebecca's mother, Elizabeth, said she found her daughter distressed with sunburn and being treated with wet towels when she collected her from a childcare centre at 3.20pm on December 8.
Rebecca was dressed in a light summer top with thin straps but had been wearing a hat, her mother said.
Elizabeth said when she questioned staff as to why her child was so burnt she was told her daughter had been only "a little bit sunburnt".
The owner of the $40-a-day childcare centre in Sydney's west said he was not to blame for the girl's injuries.
A spokesman said while it was possible the injuries could have been sustained at the centre, which has a play area shaded by trees, it was more likely Rebecca received her burns elsewhere.
"She did not have blisters when she left here, she was a light pink," he said.
"We don't know if afterwards she went home and played outside – that could have exacerbated it. I am not going to say that it was not us 100 per cent – a proportion of the blame could come back on us.
"We have a lot of shade here from the trees. It meets DOCS [Department of Community Services] standards and we are building marquees to go above and beyond those standards."
A Rooty Hill father said four of his children had attended the centre without complaint.
"There's good shade in there. It's pretty hard to believe those burns happened here," he said.
that's sad to hear that Rebecca was sunburned. My sister is quite fair skinned, but I'm not quite fair skinned, I can tan up well without getting a sun burn. A sunburn like that is not a pretty sight to see. I feel sorry for her and hope she gets better with time.
Jim
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AussieMark
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- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Holiday carnage hits home
25dec04
FAMILY has been torn apart and two teenage friends killed in a horror start to the holiday road toll.
Police have pleaded for drivers to take care after two double fatalities in a night of carnage on Victorian roads.
Little Ceyda Resuloglu, 8, lost her 37-year-old mother, Seniha, and 14-year-old sister, Betul, when the family 4WD rolled in Ballarat.
Her dad, Recep Ali Resuloglu, a teacher and community worker, was fighting for his life in hospital last night, while her brother, Furkan, 17, rushed to return from holidays in Turkey.
In a separate accident, a carload of teenage friends slammed into a pole in Wellington Rd, Clayton, about 4am yesterday as they drove home from Chapel St, South Yarra.
Passengers Ashlea Fox, 17, and Adrian Chater, 19, died in the crash, while Xavier Stevens, 18, was in a critical condition.
The driver, who walked away from the crash, was charged with two counts of culpable driving and one count of negligently causing serious injury.
He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday afternoon and was released on bail to reappear on March 16.
Ashlea's distraught mother, Kerry, said Christmas would never be the same again.
She said her daughter was looking forward to her 18th birthday next month, had already handed out invitations, bought a car and was as happy as she had seen her.
"She was an absolutely wonderful daughter," she said. "She had a big heart and would do anything for anyone. She was really looking forward to turning 18."
Two girls miraculously survived because they decided to get out of the car an hour earlier.
Teenagers Rebecca Stewart, 19, and Brittany Kandetzki, 15, said they were grateful to be alive.
The pair were riding in the car only an hour before the fatal crash and made a last-minute decision to go home.
Both had been at the Notting Hill Hotel with the group in Clayton and only hours later shared tears together at the accident site.
Ms Stewart said she was shocked at the tragedy, and grateful to be alive.
"I would have been in the back and it was completely destroyed. I spoke to them about 3.15am. I'm very grateful.
"I know we'll miss them because they were really great people.
"It really hits you because I said 'See ya tomorrow' just as they left.
"I didn't know it was going to be the last time I would see them."
Ms Kandetzki said she walked away because she had been arguing with Xavier Stevens.
"I was going to go with them but I had a fight with Xavier, so I didn't want to go," she said.
"It's a shock. I can't imagine what the families are going through, especially this close to Christmas."
Grief-stricken relatives gathered at Mr Resuloglu's Royal Melbourne Hospital bedside while Ceyda was cared for by grandparents.
His brother-in-law, Osman Koroglu, said the tragedy had devastated the family and sent shockwaves through the entire Turkish community.
But he believed Mr Resuloglu would recover and they would slowly rebuild their lives.
"He's going to make it. He's a very good father and he will get over this. And we will get back to, not to a normal life, but we will get back to what we used to do."
He said his sister-in-law, Seniha, had been happy and made everything around her vibrant, but was too grief-stricken to speak of his niece Betul.
Islamic Council of Victoria president Yasser Soliman -- who has known Mr Resuloglu for many years -- said the teacher at Isik College in Broadmeadows was a devoted family man.
"It is very sad that his wife and daughter have passed away and I just hope he pulls through for his other daughter and son," Mr Soliman said.
The Broadmeadows family were returning from holiday in Adelaide when the accident happened, about 6pm on Thursday.
Their 4WD is believed to have skidded out of control for almost 150m before rolling another 50m.
Sgt Peter Bellion, of the major collision investigation unit, said speed and an under-inflated tyre appeared to be factors in the accident.
The annual Christmas road toll last night stood at seven, with fatalities in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW adding to the four already in Victoria.
Holiday carnage hits home
25dec04
FAMILY has been torn apart and two teenage friends killed in a horror start to the holiday road toll.
Police have pleaded for drivers to take care after two double fatalities in a night of carnage on Victorian roads.
Little Ceyda Resuloglu, 8, lost her 37-year-old mother, Seniha, and 14-year-old sister, Betul, when the family 4WD rolled in Ballarat.
Her dad, Recep Ali Resuloglu, a teacher and community worker, was fighting for his life in hospital last night, while her brother, Furkan, 17, rushed to return from holidays in Turkey.
In a separate accident, a carload of teenage friends slammed into a pole in Wellington Rd, Clayton, about 4am yesterday as they drove home from Chapel St, South Yarra.
Passengers Ashlea Fox, 17, and Adrian Chater, 19, died in the crash, while Xavier Stevens, 18, was in a critical condition.
The driver, who walked away from the crash, was charged with two counts of culpable driving and one count of negligently causing serious injury.
He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday afternoon and was released on bail to reappear on March 16.
Ashlea's distraught mother, Kerry, said Christmas would never be the same again.
She said her daughter was looking forward to her 18th birthday next month, had already handed out invitations, bought a car and was as happy as she had seen her.
"She was an absolutely wonderful daughter," she said. "She had a big heart and would do anything for anyone. She was really looking forward to turning 18."
Two girls miraculously survived because they decided to get out of the car an hour earlier.
Teenagers Rebecca Stewart, 19, and Brittany Kandetzki, 15, said they were grateful to be alive.
The pair were riding in the car only an hour before the fatal crash and made a last-minute decision to go home.
Both had been at the Notting Hill Hotel with the group in Clayton and only hours later shared tears together at the accident site.
Ms Stewart said she was shocked at the tragedy, and grateful to be alive.
"I would have been in the back and it was completely destroyed. I spoke to them about 3.15am. I'm very grateful.
"I know we'll miss them because they were really great people.
"It really hits you because I said 'See ya tomorrow' just as they left.
"I didn't know it was going to be the last time I would see them."
Ms Kandetzki said she walked away because she had been arguing with Xavier Stevens.
"I was going to go with them but I had a fight with Xavier, so I didn't want to go," she said.
"It's a shock. I can't imagine what the families are going through, especially this close to Christmas."
Grief-stricken relatives gathered at Mr Resuloglu's Royal Melbourne Hospital bedside while Ceyda was cared for by grandparents.
His brother-in-law, Osman Koroglu, said the tragedy had devastated the family and sent shockwaves through the entire Turkish community.
But he believed Mr Resuloglu would recover and they would slowly rebuild their lives.
"He's going to make it. He's a very good father and he will get over this. And we will get back to, not to a normal life, but we will get back to what we used to do."
He said his sister-in-law, Seniha, had been happy and made everything around her vibrant, but was too grief-stricken to speak of his niece Betul.
Islamic Council of Victoria president Yasser Soliman -- who has known Mr Resuloglu for many years -- said the teacher at Isik College in Broadmeadows was a devoted family man.
"It is very sad that his wife and daughter have passed away and I just hope he pulls through for his other daughter and son," Mr Soliman said.
The Broadmeadows family were returning from holiday in Adelaide when the accident happened, about 6pm on Thursday.
Their 4WD is believed to have skidded out of control for almost 150m before rolling another 50m.
Sgt Peter Bellion, of the major collision investigation unit, said speed and an under-inflated tyre appeared to be factors in the accident.
The annual Christmas road toll last night stood at seven, with fatalities in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW adding to the four already in Victoria.
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AussieMark
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- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Meters bungling taxi fares
25dec04
MELBOURNE'S taxi passengers may have been slugged 20 per cent more in fares because of faulty meters.
The new meter system, in operation since September, has been hitting some passengers with the night-time surcharge at all times of the day.
"All fares run through this system," Victorian Taxi Operators Group president Geoff Bell revealed yesterday.
"Every fare is subject to a potential problem."
The taxi industry is furious it has taken the State Government months to act on the problem, claiming it was alerted at least eight weeks ago.
"We are disappointed that the Government has rushed through a system that is not fully tested and it's the industry that will carry a black mark," Mr Bell said.
He said the new system automatically links the meter to the clock in the taxi's EFTPOS machine.
The problem is that some clocks are not logging the right time.
Some have instead counted backwards and there are growing instances of clocks switching the meter to the night-time tariff at the wrong time of the day.
Mr Bell, who runs 11 cabs, said he and at least two meter manufacturers notified the Victorian Taxi Directorate and the Government after drivers started to complain that their fare meters were going haywire.
"These drivers are pulling their hair out," one industry source said.
"Their meters are stuck and they can't work so they have to go home. I've been fixing at least two meters a week since September," he said.
Mr Bell said taxi drivers had little control over the system and were getting frustrated.
"I had one driver log on at 4am but according to the clock in the EFTPOS machine it was 11am. At the end of the shift it showed him logging off at 5am the same day -- so the system was counting backwards," he said.
Another meter manufacturer said it was impossible to tell how widespread the problem was, but he had also started running into problems two months ago.
"It's not a minor problem and it needs to be fixed," he said.
"The unfortunate part is the taxi driver has no control over it and charging the wrong fare may endanger them.
"If a passenger picks it up the driver's likely to get a punch in the nose," he said.
A spokesman for the Department of Infrastructure confirmed the problem and asked taxi passengers to be on the lookout.
"There has been a small number of instances where the late night surcharge has been activated at the incorrect time," the spokesman said.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said the Government was working with the EFTPOS manufacturer to fix the problem.
The late night surcharge should only apply to trips beginning between midnight and 5am. If passengers notice that the meter is displaying "fare 2" outside these times, then they should be alert to a potential problem.
Meters bungling taxi fares
25dec04
MELBOURNE'S taxi passengers may have been slugged 20 per cent more in fares because of faulty meters.
The new meter system, in operation since September, has been hitting some passengers with the night-time surcharge at all times of the day.
"All fares run through this system," Victorian Taxi Operators Group president Geoff Bell revealed yesterday.
"Every fare is subject to a potential problem."
The taxi industry is furious it has taken the State Government months to act on the problem, claiming it was alerted at least eight weeks ago.
"We are disappointed that the Government has rushed through a system that is not fully tested and it's the industry that will carry a black mark," Mr Bell said.
He said the new system automatically links the meter to the clock in the taxi's EFTPOS machine.
The problem is that some clocks are not logging the right time.
Some have instead counted backwards and there are growing instances of clocks switching the meter to the night-time tariff at the wrong time of the day.
Mr Bell, who runs 11 cabs, said he and at least two meter manufacturers notified the Victorian Taxi Directorate and the Government after drivers started to complain that their fare meters were going haywire.
"These drivers are pulling their hair out," one industry source said.
"Their meters are stuck and they can't work so they have to go home. I've been fixing at least two meters a week since September," he said.
Mr Bell said taxi drivers had little control over the system and were getting frustrated.
"I had one driver log on at 4am but according to the clock in the EFTPOS machine it was 11am. At the end of the shift it showed him logging off at 5am the same day -- so the system was counting backwards," he said.
Another meter manufacturer said it was impossible to tell how widespread the problem was, but he had also started running into problems two months ago.
"It's not a minor problem and it needs to be fixed," he said.
"The unfortunate part is the taxi driver has no control over it and charging the wrong fare may endanger them.
"If a passenger picks it up the driver's likely to get a punch in the nose," he said.
A spokesman for the Department of Infrastructure confirmed the problem and asked taxi passengers to be on the lookout.
"There has been a small number of instances where the late night surcharge has been activated at the incorrect time," the spokesman said.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said the Government was working with the EFTPOS manufacturer to fix the problem.
The late night surcharge should only apply to trips beginning between midnight and 5am. If passengers notice that the meter is displaying "fare 2" outside these times, then they should be alert to a potential problem.
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AussieMark
- Category 5
- Posts: 5858
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 6:36 pm
- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Dad loses child fight
25dec04
A BABY whose mother is under investigation over the deaths of its three siblings will stay in foster care.
The father was refused sole custody of the couple's surviving son.
A Children's Court judge doubted the boy's father had the capacity to care for the nine-week-old boy, who has complex medical needs.
The father had asked the court for sole temporary custody on the basis that his wife would not live at their home.
But the judge said she accepted evidence from a Department of Human Services child protection worker who said the man would have trouble keeping his wife away.
The judge said the man's dependence on his wife and her overbearing style would make it hard to withstand pressure from her to see the baby.
The father had said that family and friends would help him care for the infant.
But the child's grandmother has said that she feared the couple would flee overseas if the father regained custody.
"The only family member who has actually given evidence, named by (the father) as someone available to help him . . . is now clearly not on speaking terms with the family," the judge said.
The judge extended the foster care order on the child until April when a date will be set for a full hearing of the matter.
The child was placed in state custody after police investigated the mother over the deaths of the three other children.
The woman's first child, a girl, 4, fell to her death from a block of flats while overseas in 2001.
The next year, a six-week-old son died from respiratory problems and, a year later, her four-year-old son died in his sleep.
A Children's Court was told the mother sought medical attention for her four-year-old daughter and four-year-old son about 200 times each.
Dad loses child fight
25dec04
A BABY whose mother is under investigation over the deaths of its three siblings will stay in foster care.
The father was refused sole custody of the couple's surviving son.
A Children's Court judge doubted the boy's father had the capacity to care for the nine-week-old boy, who has complex medical needs.
The father had asked the court for sole temporary custody on the basis that his wife would not live at their home.
But the judge said she accepted evidence from a Department of Human Services child protection worker who said the man would have trouble keeping his wife away.
The judge said the man's dependence on his wife and her overbearing style would make it hard to withstand pressure from her to see the baby.
The father had said that family and friends would help him care for the infant.
But the child's grandmother has said that she feared the couple would flee overseas if the father regained custody.
"The only family member who has actually given evidence, named by (the father) as someone available to help him . . . is now clearly not on speaking terms with the family," the judge said.
The judge extended the foster care order on the child until April when a date will be set for a full hearing of the matter.
The child was placed in state custody after police investigated the mother over the deaths of the three other children.
The woman's first child, a girl, 4, fell to her death from a block of flats while overseas in 2001.
The next year, a six-week-old son died from respiratory problems and, a year later, her four-year-old son died in his sleep.
A Children's Court was told the mother sought medical attention for her four-year-old daughter and four-year-old son about 200 times each.
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