**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
The farm folk do like to be beside the seaside
THE dry and dusty grain fields of central Eyre Peninsula have made way for surf and sandy beaches, with Wudinna residents making their pilgrimage to be by the water
More than half of the farming district's 1550 population have travelled the 100km to Venus Bay to holiday for up to a month, leaving Wudinna deserted but significantly boosting the Far West Coast town's usual population of 35.
Among those left behind, publican Tony Griffin said yesterday it was very much "Wudinna by the water" at Venus Bay.
"For the farmers, some of them who are neighbours here in Wudinna also have neighbouring shacks at Venus Bay – it feels a bit like the whole town has been up and moved to the coast," he said. "The farmers get down there and go from shack to shack intermingling.
"Wudinna is left pretty flat. You can drive around town and only see 10 cars. It is a mass exodus."
Mr Griffin said a poor grain harvest meant farmers had completed harvesting in early December and left for their shacks early.
Wudinna Foodland manager Nadine McKenna, 26, said the store had been fairly quiet since Christmas, despite holidaymakers at Venus Bay travelling back to Wudinna for supplies.
Not only has Venus Bay proved a good holiday destination for Wudinna residents, those who bought their shacks some time ago are finding them a good investment, with prices reaching as high as $450,000.
Farmer Leon Sampson, 50, said he had holidayed at Venus Bay every year of his life. "It gets a bit hot out there at Wudinna," he said.
"Usually it is about 10C cooler over here. It suits us to be here because it's a quieter time on the farm.
"We've got the sandhills on the farm, but we don't have the water."
Mr Sampson's daughter Lucy, 20, and her three friends have had 80 summer holidays at Venus Bay between them. Although she now studied in Adelaide, Miss Sampson said it had been a tradition to have holidays at Venus Bay. "It's where all of my friends from Wudinna are going to be over summer, so it's the place to go," she said.
From the Australian Press
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AussieMark
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
Fuel alert for drivers of older vehicles
DRIVERS with older vehicles have been told not to panic at the demise of lead replacement petrol.
The petroleum industry says lead replacement petrol needed by many pre-1986 cars will disappear from service stations quickly through this year.
Already some South Australians stations have dropped the product.
People with pre-1986 cars can run them on modern unleaded or premium unleaded petrol but, in many cases, also will need to squirt in an additive to protect the engine.
"There is no need to panic," RAA fuel industry analyst Wendy Bevan said.
"It is a gradual phasing out of LRP. So far, the RAA has approved an additive called Valvemaster but we are evaluating others, too."
She said RAA members with pre-1986 cars could contact the technical services department on 8202 4689 to see if their car model needed an additive. All cars built from 1986 were designed to run on unleaded fuel and are unaffected.
While some cars built before then can run on unleaded or higher-octane premium unleaded petrol, others needed super petrol which contained lead.
When super leaded petrol was banned oil companies supplied lead replacement petrol. That gave the octane rating of the former super leaded petrol and contained anti-valve recession properties – to protect the cylinder valves in the engine.
The Australian Institute of Petroleum says: "Only cars that require LRP to protect against valve-seat recession will need to take additional action.
"These cars generally require premium unleaded petrol and an anti-valve seat recession additive."
Fuel alert for drivers of older vehicles
DRIVERS with older vehicles have been told not to panic at the demise of lead replacement petrol.
The petroleum industry says lead replacement petrol needed by many pre-1986 cars will disappear from service stations quickly through this year.
Already some South Australians stations have dropped the product.
People with pre-1986 cars can run them on modern unleaded or premium unleaded petrol but, in many cases, also will need to squirt in an additive to protect the engine.
"There is no need to panic," RAA fuel industry analyst Wendy Bevan said.
"It is a gradual phasing out of LRP. So far, the RAA has approved an additive called Valvemaster but we are evaluating others, too."
She said RAA members with pre-1986 cars could contact the technical services department on 8202 4689 to see if their car model needed an additive. All cars built from 1986 were designed to run on unleaded fuel and are unaffected.
While some cars built before then can run on unleaded or higher-octane premium unleaded petrol, others needed super petrol which contained lead.
When super leaded petrol was banned oil companies supplied lead replacement petrol. That gave the octane rating of the former super leaded petrol and contained anti-valve recession properties – to protect the cylinder valves in the engine.
The Australian Institute of Petroleum says: "Only cars that require LRP to protect against valve-seat recession will need to take additional action.
"These cars generally require premium unleaded petrol and an anti-valve seat recession additive."
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
Melbourne to control regional air security
SOUTH Australia's regional airports will receive counter-terrorism protection – from Melbourne.
Adelaide has been overlooked as a base for new police rapid-response teams. Four teams of eight Australian Federal Police officers will be based in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. They will service 146 regional airports around the country – including those in SA, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and the ACT.
They will not have their own dedicated planes and will have to rely on existing aircraft in an emergency.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison, who announced the $21 million program yesterday, denied it was tokenistic.
"The Government is committed to ensuring regional aviation passengers are safe, secure and protected to the maximum possible extent," he said.
The State Opposition, however, expressed concern terrorism "can strike anywhere" and sought assurances SA would be treated equally.
"If there is any hint of a problem I want to know SA will get the highest priority," transport spokesman Robert Brokenshire said.
A spokesman for Senator Ellison said the work of the response teams would be based on "intelligence-led policing". "In other words, if it is determined that it is really important the teams visit SA, you will be given priority over other states," he said. A spokeswoman for Premier Mike Rann said the Government had received advice from its own security officials the arrangements being put in place by the Commonwealth were "satisfactory". The police teams will form part of the Howard Government's "Securing our Regional Skies" plan.
They will work closely with regional airports and local authorities to assess terrorist threats, improve security measures and train local staff. The package includes:
$8.5 million for hand-wand metal detector screening devices.
$6.9 million for police training and security exercises.
$6.5 million for regional airline and airport staff security training.
$3.3 million for installation of 24-hour closed circuit television at some airports.
$1.5 million to strengthen cockpit doors on places carrying more than 30 passengers, and
$1 million for a public awareness campaign to encourage travellers to report suspicious behaviour.
Not all passengers travelling out of regional airports would be screened.
"We never said that everyone would be screened or that we will have 100 per cent security. It's something you just can't do," Senator Ellison said.
"You can't have an air security officer on every corner."
Melbourne to control regional air security
SOUTH Australia's regional airports will receive counter-terrorism protection – from Melbourne.
Adelaide has been overlooked as a base for new police rapid-response teams. Four teams of eight Australian Federal Police officers will be based in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. They will service 146 regional airports around the country – including those in SA, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and the ACT.
They will not have their own dedicated planes and will have to rely on existing aircraft in an emergency.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison, who announced the $21 million program yesterday, denied it was tokenistic.
"The Government is committed to ensuring regional aviation passengers are safe, secure and protected to the maximum possible extent," he said.
The State Opposition, however, expressed concern terrorism "can strike anywhere" and sought assurances SA would be treated equally.
"If there is any hint of a problem I want to know SA will get the highest priority," transport spokesman Robert Brokenshire said.
A spokesman for Senator Ellison said the work of the response teams would be based on "intelligence-led policing". "In other words, if it is determined that it is really important the teams visit SA, you will be given priority over other states," he said. A spokeswoman for Premier Mike Rann said the Government had received advice from its own security officials the arrangements being put in place by the Commonwealth were "satisfactory". The police teams will form part of the Howard Government's "Securing our Regional Skies" plan.
They will work closely with regional airports and local authorities to assess terrorist threats, improve security measures and train local staff. The package includes:
$8.5 million for hand-wand metal detector screening devices.
$6.9 million for police training and security exercises.
$6.5 million for regional airline and airport staff security training.
$3.3 million for installation of 24-hour closed circuit television at some airports.
$1.5 million to strengthen cockpit doors on places carrying more than 30 passengers, and
$1 million for a public awareness campaign to encourage travellers to report suspicious behaviour.
Not all passengers travelling out of regional airports would be screened.
"We never said that everyone would be screened or that we will have 100 per cent security. It's something you just can't do," Senator Ellison said.
"You can't have an air security officer on every corner."
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
Police free of alcohol, drugs
POLICE on duty in South Australia are drug and alcohol free.
Not a single officer for the past two years has tested positive while working.
The revelation is in contrast to police shame in NSW over drug and alcohol abuse.
SA Police has declined to comment on how many officers were tested while on duty.
The Advertiser, however, has established under Freedom of Information none has returned positive readings since January, 2003.
The finding has prompted strong praise from the State Government and Opposition.
"We consider SA has the finest police force in Australia," acting Police Minister John Hill said yesterday.
Mr Hill said SA Police was "a force to be reckoned with" and the drug and alcohol-free results were not surprising.
The Advertiser asked for details of the number and nature of incidents of SA Police testing positive for drugs – including cannabis, amphetamines and morphine – and alcohol whilst on duty, and what action, if any had been taken against offending officers.
The Ethical and Professional Standards Service advised there were none.
A spokeswoman for Police Commissioner Mal Hyde said illicit drug use was "not a significant problem" for police in the state. "But we need to continue to be vigilant to prevent any problems from emerging," she said.
Mr Hill said police did "an outstanding job of carrying out very difficult and dangerous work, often in trying situations". "They have also had a tremendous success rate in terms of drug busts, their work on child protection, their work on outlaw bikie gangs and other crime investigations – as well as their vigilance on upholding high standards of road safety," he said.
Opposition police spokesman Robert Brokenshire welcomed the finding. "I'm pleased about that but not surprised," he said.
"Our police have had the best reputation and we need to keep that positive record.
"The commissioner wouldn't tolerate that sort of stuff and our police know that.
"Notwithstanding that, everyone needs to be vigilant for their safety and that of the community."
In NSW, seven officers recently have tested positive for drugs after dealing with life-threatening incidents.
NSW Police have organised rehabilitation treatment and counselling for officers suffering from drug or alcohol problems. Police Minister John Watkins has vowed to crack down on the abuse, promising the "strongest testing regime" in Australia.
Police free of alcohol, drugs
POLICE on duty in South Australia are drug and alcohol free.
Not a single officer for the past two years has tested positive while working.
The revelation is in contrast to police shame in NSW over drug and alcohol abuse.
SA Police has declined to comment on how many officers were tested while on duty.
The Advertiser, however, has established under Freedom of Information none has returned positive readings since January, 2003.
The finding has prompted strong praise from the State Government and Opposition.
"We consider SA has the finest police force in Australia," acting Police Minister John Hill said yesterday.
Mr Hill said SA Police was "a force to be reckoned with" and the drug and alcohol-free results were not surprising.
The Advertiser asked for details of the number and nature of incidents of SA Police testing positive for drugs – including cannabis, amphetamines and morphine – and alcohol whilst on duty, and what action, if any had been taken against offending officers.
The Ethical and Professional Standards Service advised there were none.
A spokeswoman for Police Commissioner Mal Hyde said illicit drug use was "not a significant problem" for police in the state. "But we need to continue to be vigilant to prevent any problems from emerging," she said.
Mr Hill said police did "an outstanding job of carrying out very difficult and dangerous work, often in trying situations". "They have also had a tremendous success rate in terms of drug busts, their work on child protection, their work on outlaw bikie gangs and other crime investigations – as well as their vigilance on upholding high standards of road safety," he said.
Opposition police spokesman Robert Brokenshire welcomed the finding. "I'm pleased about that but not surprised," he said.
"Our police have had the best reputation and we need to keep that positive record.
"The commissioner wouldn't tolerate that sort of stuff and our police know that.
"Notwithstanding that, everyone needs to be vigilant for their safety and that of the community."
In NSW, seven officers recently have tested positive for drugs after dealing with life-threatening incidents.
NSW Police have organised rehabilitation treatment and counselling for officers suffering from drug or alcohol problems. Police Minister John Watkins has vowed to crack down on the abuse, promising the "strongest testing regime" in Australia.
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
Cream of world crop
TOPPING the state in Year 12 is an achievement but some of these students are among the best in the world.
Yesterday, these eight found they had topped their school in the International Baccalaureate diploma.
Three South Australian students also achieved a perfect IB score of 45/45 – ranking them as top students internationally.
Pembroke School students Tom O'Connor and Catherine Reid and Mercedes College student Kate Manos achieved 45, which equates to a Tertiary Entrance Ranking of 99.95.
The top score is only achieved by about 60 students worldwide and puts them in the top 0.02 per cent for IB students.
"I got called by the principal and I was absolutely surprised to get the score, it is utterly fantastic," Tom, 17, said. "I have been going pretty well throughout the year and everything just fell into place."
He said IB "suits a different kind of person".
"It is a lot more work . . . but it was a question of really challenging myself," he said.
Australasia's IB representative, Greg Valentine, said a score of 45 "puts you in that very top band, you can't get higher than that".
"These kids really are the sorts of candidates who are going to get scholarship offers to go to universities anywhere, in the world," he said.
About 60,000 students in 117 countries sit the IB, which allows graduates to apply for worldwide universities.
The IB diploma is an alternative to the SACE.
All eight achieved IB scores of 40 or above, equating to TERs from 99.80 to 99.95. "It it such a wide ranging program," Meng Yang Wang, 17, from Glenunga International High School, said. Holly Scicluna, 17, from Woodcroft also said there was "a good spread of subjects". Tom Gieroba, from Mercedes, said the IB group in the school was "really supportive". Misha Saloukradze, 16, from Glenunga, said the IB course offered a "good curriculum".
Most have applied to study law or medicine at the University of Adelaide or Flinders.
Cream of world crop
TOPPING the state in Year 12 is an achievement but some of these students are among the best in the world.
Yesterday, these eight found they had topped their school in the International Baccalaureate diploma.
Three South Australian students also achieved a perfect IB score of 45/45 – ranking them as top students internationally.
Pembroke School students Tom O'Connor and Catherine Reid and Mercedes College student Kate Manos achieved 45, which equates to a Tertiary Entrance Ranking of 99.95.
The top score is only achieved by about 60 students worldwide and puts them in the top 0.02 per cent for IB students.
"I got called by the principal and I was absolutely surprised to get the score, it is utterly fantastic," Tom, 17, said. "I have been going pretty well throughout the year and everything just fell into place."
He said IB "suits a different kind of person".
"It is a lot more work . . . but it was a question of really challenging myself," he said.
Australasia's IB representative, Greg Valentine, said a score of 45 "puts you in that very top band, you can't get higher than that".
"These kids really are the sorts of candidates who are going to get scholarship offers to go to universities anywhere, in the world," he said.
About 60,000 students in 117 countries sit the IB, which allows graduates to apply for worldwide universities.
The IB diploma is an alternative to the SACE.
All eight achieved IB scores of 40 or above, equating to TERs from 99.80 to 99.95. "It it such a wide ranging program," Meng Yang Wang, 17, from Glenunga International High School, said. Holly Scicluna, 17, from Woodcroft also said there was "a good spread of subjects". Tom Gieroba, from Mercedes, said the IB group in the school was "really supportive". Misha Saloukradze, 16, from Glenunga, said the IB course offered a "good curriculum".
Most have applied to study law or medicine at the University of Adelaide or Flinders.
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
A 20-million step to help beat cancer
COLIN Ricketts' ambition for 25 years has been to do something for children with cancer.
In 1980, Mr Ricketts' son, Luke, at five months of age, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour.
While Luke defied expectations to make a full recovery and live into adulthood, many children do not.
Mr Ricketts, 47, of Hahndorf, yesterday embarked on a solo 16-month trip walking anti-clockwise around Australia to raise money for the McGuinness McDermott Foundation, other childhood cancer causes and hospitals for children in every state.
He is aiming to raise $100,000 and already has $23,000 in pledges and donations.
"We are the lucky ones. We are the happy story rather than others when it comes to cancer," Mr Ricketts said.
"Anything I can do to help any family not go through childhood cancer – or if it's only one family this helps – then I've done my job."
Two years ago, Mr Ricketts completed a walk between Melbourne and Adelaide to raise funds for the McGuinness McDermott Foundation.
The journey only fuelled his enthusiasm to complete the trip around Australia.
A Lions club member, he hopes for the support of Lions clubs around Australia to raise funds and help him increase awareness of childhood cancer in communities nationwide. "I'll be walking between 30 and 40 kilometres a day with some rest days, pushing a three-wheeled baby jogger," he said.
"I'm very fitness conscious. I was an umpire at SANFL league level and I regularly do athletics. By the end I would have taken 20 million steps."
Mr Ricketts left yesterday from the Samuel Way Building of the Women's and Children's Hospital at noon. His first overnight stay was at Hahndorf.
A 20-million step to help beat cancer
COLIN Ricketts' ambition for 25 years has been to do something for children with cancer.
In 1980, Mr Ricketts' son, Luke, at five months of age, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour.
While Luke defied expectations to make a full recovery and live into adulthood, many children do not.
Mr Ricketts, 47, of Hahndorf, yesterday embarked on a solo 16-month trip walking anti-clockwise around Australia to raise money for the McGuinness McDermott Foundation, other childhood cancer causes and hospitals for children in every state.
He is aiming to raise $100,000 and already has $23,000 in pledges and donations.
"We are the lucky ones. We are the happy story rather than others when it comes to cancer," Mr Ricketts said.
"Anything I can do to help any family not go through childhood cancer – or if it's only one family this helps – then I've done my job."
Two years ago, Mr Ricketts completed a walk between Melbourne and Adelaide to raise funds for the McGuinness McDermott Foundation.
The journey only fuelled his enthusiasm to complete the trip around Australia.
A Lions club member, he hopes for the support of Lions clubs around Australia to raise funds and help him increase awareness of childhood cancer in communities nationwide. "I'll be walking between 30 and 40 kilometres a day with some rest days, pushing a three-wheeled baby jogger," he said.
"I'm very fitness conscious. I was an umpire at SANFL league level and I regularly do athletics. By the end I would have taken 20 million steps."
Mr Ricketts left yesterday from the Samuel Way Building of the Women's and Children's Hospital at noon. His first overnight stay was at Hahndorf.
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AussieMark
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**From The Advertiser (Adelaide) **
Democrats to support IR Bill
THE Democrats have dismissed criticism of South Australia's controversial industrial relations Bill as a "knee-jerk reaction".
Democrats spokesman Ian Gilfillan said the proposed government legislation offers "significant reforms".
He rejected claims by some business leaders that harmonious and constructive industrial relations would be destroyed if the Bill was passed.
"I think when one looks at some of these bogies a little more closely, one realises they are phantoms rather than factual threats," he said.
Mr Gilfillan has said that subject to minor amendments, the Democrats believe the Government's proposals "will do some positive things".
The party is now expected to support the Bill in the Legislative Council next month.
"I do not believe the exploitation of a workforce or the intimidation of business can be productive to the prosperity of the state," Mr Gilfillan said.
He argued it would be "quite foreign to the ethic of SA" to strenuously oppose measures that would prevent either of those occurring.
"There is this dire fear that this legislation will destroy contract arrangements," he said.
"The fact is that unless the (Industrial Relations) Commission is totally prejudiced or corrupt, it will interpret the difference between employees and contractors. There is no way the Democrats will support devious ways to get around what are genuine employer/employee arrangements."
Mr Gilfillan said he supported the involvement of the union movement in industrial relations negotiations, but did not believe any legislation should force workers to join a union.
"It should never be mandatory – there should always be an alternative," he said.
Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright is on holidays and was unavailable for comment, but a spokeswoman said the Industrial Law Reform (Enterprise and Economic Development-Labour Market Relations) Bill would be a priority when Parliament resumes next month.
Democrats to support IR Bill
THE Democrats have dismissed criticism of South Australia's controversial industrial relations Bill as a "knee-jerk reaction".
Democrats spokesman Ian Gilfillan said the proposed government legislation offers "significant reforms".
He rejected claims by some business leaders that harmonious and constructive industrial relations would be destroyed if the Bill was passed.
"I think when one looks at some of these bogies a little more closely, one realises they are phantoms rather than factual threats," he said.
Mr Gilfillan has said that subject to minor amendments, the Democrats believe the Government's proposals "will do some positive things".
The party is now expected to support the Bill in the Legislative Council next month.
"I do not believe the exploitation of a workforce or the intimidation of business can be productive to the prosperity of the state," Mr Gilfillan said.
He argued it would be "quite foreign to the ethic of SA" to strenuously oppose measures that would prevent either of those occurring.
"There is this dire fear that this legislation will destroy contract arrangements," he said.
"The fact is that unless the (Industrial Relations) Commission is totally prejudiced or corrupt, it will interpret the difference between employees and contractors. There is no way the Democrats will support devious ways to get around what are genuine employer/employee arrangements."
Mr Gilfillan said he supported the involvement of the union movement in industrial relations negotiations, but did not believe any legislation should force workers to join a union.
"It should never be mandatory – there should always be an alternative," he said.
Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright is on holidays and was unavailable for comment, but a spokeswoman said the Industrial Law Reform (Enterprise and Economic Development-Labour Market Relations) Bill would be a priority when Parliament resumes next month.
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AussieMark
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**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Ready, set, hear we go
LARA Hollow-Williams had never heard her feet pound the track until a few months ago.
The 23-year-old hearing and vision impaired athlete had relied on her finely tuned intuition. But now thanks to an innovative new hearing aid, Hollow-Williams can hear her lightning steps on the dash to the finish line.
Born in Wodonga but now based in Queensland, Hollow-Williams decided just two years ago to get serious about an athletics career.
Now representing Australia in the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Hollow-Williams has a daunting event card, starting with her first event today.
Ready, set, hear we go
LARA Hollow-Williams had never heard her feet pound the track until a few months ago.
The 23-year-old hearing and vision impaired athlete had relied on her finely tuned intuition. But now thanks to an innovative new hearing aid, Hollow-Williams can hear her lightning steps on the dash to the finish line.
Born in Wodonga but now based in Queensland, Hollow-Williams decided just two years ago to get serious about an athletics career.
Now representing Australia in the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Hollow-Williams has a daunting event card, starting with her first event today.
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AussieMark
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**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Spray the way to hit overdose
MELBOURNE doctors have found they can treat heroin overdoses and reduce needle-stick injuries with a nasal spray form of the heroin-reversal drug Narcan.
The nasal spray also reduced the agitation of drug users after they were treated, resulting in fewer acts of violence against ambulance officers.
The spray could eventually be available to welfare workers, police and the general public.
Narcan reverses the effects of heroin, which can include impaired breathing and unconsciousness.
Professor Anne-Maree Kelly, director of the Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research at Western Hospital, said the nasal spray was a real breakthrough.
A Melbourne trial found with a single dose of the spray the effects of heroin overdose were reversed in 74 per cent of victims.
More than 150 overdose victims were part of the trial, with 84 receiving Narcan as a nasal spray, and 71 receiving the traditional injection.
The average age of patients was 30, more than 70 per cent were men
and most were treated in a house.
Prof Kelly said the nasal dose was exactly the same as the injectable dose, which was not particularly concentrated.
A spray attachment was fitted to the end of a syringe in place of a needle and sprayed into the victim's nose, similar to a cold and flu spray.
In 26 per cent of cases, victims did not respond to the nasal dose, which Prof Kelly said could indicate there were also other drugs present.
"The implications are really quite exciting for the survival of these patients," she said.
"Most of these people overdose in the company of somebody else . . . and if this sort of thing was widely available they could be treated immediately and not wait for an ambulance to respond."
The spray also dramatically reduced the risk of needle-stick injuries.
"Using a syringe exposes health care workers, including ambulance officers, to a degree of risk as many people carry blood borne viruses that may be transmitted to the treating person through exposure such as needle-stick injuries," Prof Kelly said.
"It needs to be easy to use if it is going to be used by untrained people, community outreach workers, police or family members," she said.
A positive side effect of the nasal Narcan was a reduced rate of violence among patients.
Many drug overdose victims become agitated when they come round after receiving Narcan.
"The rate of violence was much lower in nasal spray, which we think is due to smoother absorption of the Narcan instead of all the heroin being turned off like a switch," Prof Kelly said.
Ten of the 71 victims treated with injectable Narcan were agitated or violent compared with two of the 84 people treated with nasal Narcan.
Spray the way to hit overdose
MELBOURNE doctors have found they can treat heroin overdoses and reduce needle-stick injuries with a nasal spray form of the heroin-reversal drug Narcan.
The nasal spray also reduced the agitation of drug users after they were treated, resulting in fewer acts of violence against ambulance officers.
The spray could eventually be available to welfare workers, police and the general public.
Narcan reverses the effects of heroin, which can include impaired breathing and unconsciousness.
Professor Anne-Maree Kelly, director of the Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research at Western Hospital, said the nasal spray was a real breakthrough.
A Melbourne trial found with a single dose of the spray the effects of heroin overdose were reversed in 74 per cent of victims.
More than 150 overdose victims were part of the trial, with 84 receiving Narcan as a nasal spray, and 71 receiving the traditional injection.
The average age of patients was 30, more than 70 per cent were men
and most were treated in a house.
Prof Kelly said the nasal dose was exactly the same as the injectable dose, which was not particularly concentrated.
A spray attachment was fitted to the end of a syringe in place of a needle and sprayed into the victim's nose, similar to a cold and flu spray.
In 26 per cent of cases, victims did not respond to the nasal dose, which Prof Kelly said could indicate there were also other drugs present.
"The implications are really quite exciting for the survival of these patients," she said.
"Most of these people overdose in the company of somebody else . . . and if this sort of thing was widely available they could be treated immediately and not wait for an ambulance to respond."
The spray also dramatically reduced the risk of needle-stick injuries.
"Using a syringe exposes health care workers, including ambulance officers, to a degree of risk as many people carry blood borne viruses that may be transmitted to the treating person through exposure such as needle-stick injuries," Prof Kelly said.
"It needs to be easy to use if it is going to be used by untrained people, community outreach workers, police or family members," she said.
A positive side effect of the nasal Narcan was a reduced rate of violence among patients.
Many drug overdose victims become agitated when they come round after receiving Narcan.
"The rate of violence was much lower in nasal spray, which we think is due to smoother absorption of the Narcan instead of all the heroin being turned off like a switch," Prof Kelly said.
Ten of the 71 victims treated with injectable Narcan were agitated or violent compared with two of the 84 people treated with nasal Narcan.
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AussieMark
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**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Plea to pony thief
THE festive season was ruined for a Melbourne family when their pony was stolen on Christmas Eve.
The Lauritz family of Patterson Lakes woke on Christmas morning to find the pony missing.
Georgina Lauritz, who broke in the pony 12 years ago and cared for him since, said she was heartbroken by his disappearance. "I'm just breaking up inside," she said.
Ms Lauritz has offered a reward for anyone who helps find the pony, and believes Junior was stolen as a Christmas present for someone.
But she is not seeking revenge -- she just wants her treasured pal back.
"If they could just put him back I would be more than happy," she said.
"All would be forgotten."
Meghan Pappa, four, also hopes Junior returns. She is the latest of a generation of children in the area to have grown riding the black shetland.
"Lots of kids have come down and learned to ride on him," Ms Lauritz said. "He's extremely friendly and would go with anyone."
"In horse terms he's bomb-proof. You could set a fire cracker off next to him and he wouldn't flinch."
Plea to pony thief
THE festive season was ruined for a Melbourne family when their pony was stolen on Christmas Eve.
The Lauritz family of Patterson Lakes woke on Christmas morning to find the pony missing.
Georgina Lauritz, who broke in the pony 12 years ago and cared for him since, said she was heartbroken by his disappearance. "I'm just breaking up inside," she said.
Ms Lauritz has offered a reward for anyone who helps find the pony, and believes Junior was stolen as a Christmas present for someone.
But she is not seeking revenge -- she just wants her treasured pal back.
"If they could just put him back I would be more than happy," she said.
"All would be forgotten."
Meghan Pappa, four, also hopes Junior returns. She is the latest of a generation of children in the area to have grown riding the black shetland.
"Lots of kids have come down and learned to ride on him," Ms Lauritz said. "He's extremely friendly and would go with anyone."
"In horse terms he's bomb-proof. You could set a fire cracker off next to him and he wouldn't flinch."
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Union demands safety changes
MELBOURNE firefighters yesterday threatened to push for 16 fire engines to be taken off the road.
Claiming a new maintenance program has led to the trucks being dangerously under serviced, the firefighters' union demanded proof the trucks had been properly serviced.
The United Firefighters Union said that unless they saw the service certificates by tomorrow, firefighters would call for WorkSafe to declare the trucks unsafe.
Victoria's chief fire officer Tony Murphy dismissed the claims and said the new program had improved the maintenance of vehicles. He said the program cost more, not less, and had been designed in consultation with the makers of the fire trucks.
Union demands safety changes
MELBOURNE firefighters yesterday threatened to push for 16 fire engines to be taken off the road.
Claiming a new maintenance program has led to the trucks being dangerously under serviced, the firefighters' union demanded proof the trucks had been properly serviced.
The United Firefighters Union said that unless they saw the service certificates by tomorrow, firefighters would call for WorkSafe to declare the trucks unsafe.
Victoria's chief fire officer Tony Murphy dismissed the claims and said the new program had improved the maintenance of vehicles. He said the program cost more, not less, and had been designed in consultation with the makers of the fire trucks.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Cars just too hot
PARENTS are being warned not to leave their children unattended in cars this summer.
State Children's Minister Sherryl Garbutt, child accident prevention group Kidsafe and the Metropolitan Ambulance Service at Camberwell said ambulance service tests found the temperature inside a parked car could rise to 30C hotter than the temperature outside -- rising from 29C to 60C in 20 minutes.
Cars just too hot
PARENTS are being warned not to leave their children unattended in cars this summer.
State Children's Minister Sherryl Garbutt, child accident prevention group Kidsafe and the Metropolitan Ambulance Service at Camberwell said ambulance service tests found the temperature inside a parked car could rise to 30C hotter than the temperature outside -- rising from 29C to 60C in 20 minutes.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Seven voices to share equal billing
AUSTRALIA'S leading ladies, glamorous and gloriously gowned gave a rousing rendition of There's No Business Like Show Business in Melbourne yesterday.
And if anyone should know, they should -- they are the stars of Australia's Leading Ladies, and were in town to promote their concert at Her Majesty's Theatre.
The show is a gathering of superb Australian female vocalists -- Rhonda Burchmore, Judi Connelli, Sharon Millerchip, Marina Prior, Geraldine Turner and Anne Wood and compere Nancye Hayes.
The concert of music theatre classics -- from the Gershwins and Irving Berlin to Stephen Sondheim and Jules Steyne -- premiered at the Brisbane Festival in September, where it sold out almost overnight.
Producer Mark Collier-Vickers described the show as a rare collaboration.
"It allows us to see these seven A-team women on stage: each with their own distinct sound and style, but all of them able to bring a house to its feet," he said.
There will be four shows, from February 11 to 13.
Seven voices to share equal billing
AUSTRALIA'S leading ladies, glamorous and gloriously gowned gave a rousing rendition of There's No Business Like Show Business in Melbourne yesterday.
And if anyone should know, they should -- they are the stars of Australia's Leading Ladies, and were in town to promote their concert at Her Majesty's Theatre.
The show is a gathering of superb Australian female vocalists -- Rhonda Burchmore, Judi Connelli, Sharon Millerchip, Marina Prior, Geraldine Turner and Anne Wood and compere Nancye Hayes.
The concert of music theatre classics -- from the Gershwins and Irving Berlin to Stephen Sondheim and Jules Steyne -- premiered at the Brisbane Festival in September, where it sold out almost overnight.
Producer Mark Collier-Vickers described the show as a rare collaboration.
"It allows us to see these seven A-team women on stage: each with their own distinct sound and style, but all of them able to bring a house to its feet," he said.
There will be four shows, from February 11 to 13.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Praying for the pitter patter of little paws
SUMATRAN tiger Binjai made her debut at Melbourne Zoo yesterday.
Part of an international breeding program, Binjai was brought here from Rotterdam Zoo in Holland and will be mated with the zoo's other tiger Ramalon once she turns three in August.
Sumatran tigers are the most endangered of all tigers with fewer than 400 still surviving in the wild.
Fears for the wild population have intensified since the Asian tsunami crisis with conservationists saying it could have a devastating effect.
Melbourne Zoo senior curator Jan Steele said the tigers' limited resources had been wiped out by the waves.
Praying for the pitter patter of little paws
SUMATRAN tiger Binjai made her debut at Melbourne Zoo yesterday.
Part of an international breeding program, Binjai was brought here from Rotterdam Zoo in Holland and will be mated with the zoo's other tiger Ramalon once she turns three in August.
Sumatran tigers are the most endangered of all tigers with fewer than 400 still surviving in the wild.
Fears for the wild population have intensified since the Asian tsunami crisis with conservationists saying it could have a devastating effect.
Melbourne Zoo senior curator Jan Steele said the tigers' limited resources had been wiped out by the waves.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Man dies after crash
A 22-year-old Victorian man has become Tasmania's first road fatality for the year after a crash north of Hobart.
Police said the accident happened about 1.35am yesterday when the man lost control of his sedan and hit a light pole south of Cleary's Gates on the Brooker Highway.
The man was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital with extensive burns, but died later in the morning. His passenger was admitted to hospital for observation.
Man dies after crash
A 22-year-old Victorian man has become Tasmania's first road fatality for the year after a crash north of Hobart.
Police said the accident happened about 1.35am yesterday when the man lost control of his sedan and hit a light pole south of Cleary's Gates on the Brooker Highway.
The man was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital with extensive burns, but died later in the morning. His passenger was admitted to hospital for observation.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Mobile bill hits survivor
A CRANBOURNE man survived the tsunami in Sri Lanka only to learn he will have to foot the bill for his mobile phone.
Paul Frost, 29, lost his clothes, passport, camera, wallet, and his Orange phone in the torrent.
Returning from the traumatic trip on Friday, Mr Frost went into an Orange store yesterday and was told he would have to pay $450 for a similar phone.
Mobile bill hits survivor
A CRANBOURNE man survived the tsunami in Sri Lanka only to learn he will have to foot the bill for his mobile phone.
Paul Frost, 29, lost his clothes, passport, camera, wallet, and his Orange phone in the torrent.
Returning from the traumatic trip on Friday, Mr Frost went into an Orange store yesterday and was told he would have to pay $450 for a similar phone.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Dogs flee fireworks
BIG dogs look tough, but the sharp crack of fireworks was enough to freak this big girl.
The malamut was found roaming Melbourne's western suburbs on New Year's Day after escaping from her back yard in terror during the previous night's festivities. She was one of hundreds of dogs -- most wearing no form of identification -- who ended up at Melbourne's animal shelters over the new year break.
The Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne received 102 dogs from Friday to Monday, and 75 at the Pearcedale shelter, which covers four outer-Melbourne council areas. More than 50 were taken in to care on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day alone.
At the RSPCA, busy staff received 112 animals over the three days from December 31 to January 2.
Just four animals were microchipped and 44 had other identification on their collars.
Of the 700 animals the shelter received from December 13 to January 2, just 69 -- less than 10 per cent -- had any form of identification.
RSPCA shelter manager Andrew Foran said about half of the animals had been reclaimed late yesterday. January 1 is traditionally the busiest day of the year at the East Burwood shelter as frantic owners return from celebrating the new year to find their pets missing.
Mr Foran said there had been fewer animals injured this year as they escaped from yards in fear of the fireworks.
Lost Dogs Home chief executive Dr Graeme Smith said the female malamut had a microchip, but her owners must have moved house and not updated their details -- contact numbers were disconnected.
Dr Smith said animals that came in to the North Melbourne shelter with identification were quickly reunited with their owners.
"Quite a few of them had identification. For those who had identification we were able to contact owners and in a lot of cases we didn't even impound them," Dr Smith said.
He said most dogs who came in over the new year period would be reclaimed by owners.
"We know from previous New Year's Eves that most of these animals we have got in are firecracker or storm affected, not dumped, and they will be claimed as soon as owners can possibly do it."
Dogs flee fireworks
BIG dogs look tough, but the sharp crack of fireworks was enough to freak this big girl.
The malamut was found roaming Melbourne's western suburbs on New Year's Day after escaping from her back yard in terror during the previous night's festivities. She was one of hundreds of dogs -- most wearing no form of identification -- who ended up at Melbourne's animal shelters over the new year break.
The Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne received 102 dogs from Friday to Monday, and 75 at the Pearcedale shelter, which covers four outer-Melbourne council areas. More than 50 were taken in to care on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day alone.
At the RSPCA, busy staff received 112 animals over the three days from December 31 to January 2.
Just four animals were microchipped and 44 had other identification on their collars.
Of the 700 animals the shelter received from December 13 to January 2, just 69 -- less than 10 per cent -- had any form of identification.
RSPCA shelter manager Andrew Foran said about half of the animals had been reclaimed late yesterday. January 1 is traditionally the busiest day of the year at the East Burwood shelter as frantic owners return from celebrating the new year to find their pets missing.
Mr Foran said there had been fewer animals injured this year as they escaped from yards in fear of the fireworks.
Lost Dogs Home chief executive Dr Graeme Smith said the female malamut had a microchip, but her owners must have moved house and not updated their details -- contact numbers were disconnected.
Dr Smith said animals that came in to the North Melbourne shelter with identification were quickly reunited with their owners.
"Quite a few of them had identification. For those who had identification we were able to contact owners and in a lot of cases we didn't even impound them," Dr Smith said.
He said most dogs who came in over the new year period would be reclaimed by owners.
"We know from previous New Year's Eves that most of these animals we have got in are firecracker or storm affected, not dumped, and they will be claimed as soon as owners can possibly do it."
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
Pupils prove perfect
WAITING a month longer than their friends to receive their final school results was stressful for Jessica Rae and Sonja Hornung.
But the wait proved worth it yesterday when the Presbyterian Ladies' College students received their International Baccalaureate results, both achieving a perfect score of 45.
As well as studying for her IB Jessica served as PLC school captain.
She said the broad nature of the IB program was what attracted her.
"Looking back now at the skills I have gained I don't think I could have gotten that out of VCE," she said.
For Sonja, one of her best memories from the two-year course will be the friendships she made with other students.
"It's really nice because there is only 20 of us and you get to know everyone really well," she said.
"I think that was one of the things that made it a great experience."
Both girls yesterday joined four of their classmates to receive their results from the school.
The overall feeling among the six was relief it was finally over and they had their results.
Their IB scores will be translated into an equivalent ENTER score.
All six intend to study at university.
Vice-principal Carolyn Elvins said the school was proud of the girls and impressed with their results.
"They have done really well, we expect that 90 per cent of them will be in the top 6 per cent in the state," she said.
"I was delighted for them because they have worked really hard for this."
The IB program is offered at the school as an alternative to VCE.
Students must study two languages as well as one subject in humanities, science, maths and the arts.
Students also complete three 50-hour blocks of extra-curricular activity in community service, active living and creativity as well as a philosophical subject -- theory of knowledge -- in which they examine the bases of knowledge.
More than 60,000 people around the world study each year for their IB Diploma.
In Victoria 23 schools offer the program with the Kilmore International School, Carey Grammar and Lauriston Girls' School among those with students who achieved a perfect score of 45.
Pupils prove perfect
WAITING a month longer than their friends to receive their final school results was stressful for Jessica Rae and Sonja Hornung.
But the wait proved worth it yesterday when the Presbyterian Ladies' College students received their International Baccalaureate results, both achieving a perfect score of 45.
As well as studying for her IB Jessica served as PLC school captain.
She said the broad nature of the IB program was what attracted her.
"Looking back now at the skills I have gained I don't think I could have gotten that out of VCE," she said.
For Sonja, one of her best memories from the two-year course will be the friendships she made with other students.
"It's really nice because there is only 20 of us and you get to know everyone really well," she said.
"I think that was one of the things that made it a great experience."
Both girls yesterday joined four of their classmates to receive their results from the school.
The overall feeling among the six was relief it was finally over and they had their results.
Their IB scores will be translated into an equivalent ENTER score.
All six intend to study at university.
Vice-principal Carolyn Elvins said the school was proud of the girls and impressed with their results.
"They have done really well, we expect that 90 per cent of them will be in the top 6 per cent in the state," she said.
"I was delighted for them because they have worked really hard for this."
The IB program is offered at the school as an alternative to VCE.
Students must study two languages as well as one subject in humanities, science, maths and the arts.
Students also complete three 50-hour blocks of extra-curricular activity in community service, active living and creativity as well as a philosophical subject -- theory of knowledge -- in which they examine the bases of knowledge.
More than 60,000 people around the world study each year for their IB Diploma.
In Victoria 23 schools offer the program with the Kilmore International School, Carey Grammar and Lauriston Girls' School among those with students who achieved a perfect score of 45.
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AussieMark
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- Location: near Sydney, Australia
**From the Herald Sun (Melbourne) **
A golden girl called Nugget
THE birth of a wombat named Nugget was so unexpected that the wildlife park staff did not find the joey in its mother's pouch until it was a month old.
But the first wombat born at Adelaide's Cleland Wildlife Park in 38 years has emerged to delight the holiday crowds.
"We're all pretty chuffed about it," said animal attendant Karen Davis. "It's not something that we expected to happen, so we are pretty excited it did. We found the joey in the pouch during a routine check."
Nugget, a common wombat, was born last June and emerged fully from the mother's pouch only last week. She is 30cm long and weighs about 5kg.
Visitors have close views of Nugget and her mother through a new glass-fronted enclosure.
Ms Davis said Nugget would stay with her mother until she was about 18 months old, and would be an adult in two to three years.
A golden girl called Nugget
THE birth of a wombat named Nugget was so unexpected that the wildlife park staff did not find the joey in its mother's pouch until it was a month old.
But the first wombat born at Adelaide's Cleland Wildlife Park in 38 years has emerged to delight the holiday crowds.
"We're all pretty chuffed about it," said animal attendant Karen Davis. "It's not something that we expected to happen, so we are pretty excited it did. We found the joey in the pouch during a routine check."
Nugget, a common wombat, was born last June and emerged fully from the mother's pouch only last week. She is 30cm long and weighs about 5kg.
Visitors have close views of Nugget and her mother through a new glass-fronted enclosure.
Ms Davis said Nugget would stay with her mother until she was about 18 months old, and would be an adult in two to three years.
Last edited by AussieMark on Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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) **
Short and sweet for short story winner
A VISIT to England to see ageing parents during a cold snap has taken a surprise turn for Jacqueline Tritt. The Melbourne writer has won $5000 and first place in the Herald Sun/ Collins Booksellers Short Story Competition with Guilt Trip.
The Beaconsfield grandmother, a retired science teacher, migrated from England in 1964 and returned there last year to visit her parents, the event that inspired her story.
Guilt Trip tells of an Australian woman who travels to England, argues with her mother and is filled with a desire to flee her former home.
"I visited my parents last October and I wouldn't like to say it's too autobiographical because that would be a bit rude," said Mrs Tritt, a creative writing student.
"As a migrant you are pulled between the two places, in two directions," she said.
Second place and $1000 was won by Tiggy Johnson of Cockatoo with Breathing in the Cold about two friends who pull a prank that goes horribly wrong.
Angela King of Cleveland, Queensland, won third place and $500 for her story Found, exploring the character of a young woman about to leave her share house to travel overseas.
The annual competition attracted more than 1000 entries, which explored themes from surviving cancer to embracing motherhood, and genres such as childhood memories, horror stories and fantasy.
The wining entries are being published in the Herald Sun from today.
Short and sweet for short story winner
A VISIT to England to see ageing parents during a cold snap has taken a surprise turn for Jacqueline Tritt. The Melbourne writer has won $5000 and first place in the Herald Sun/ Collins Booksellers Short Story Competition with Guilt Trip.
The Beaconsfield grandmother, a retired science teacher, migrated from England in 1964 and returned there last year to visit her parents, the event that inspired her story.
Guilt Trip tells of an Australian woman who travels to England, argues with her mother and is filled with a desire to flee her former home.
"I visited my parents last October and I wouldn't like to say it's too autobiographical because that would be a bit rude," said Mrs Tritt, a creative writing student.
"As a migrant you are pulled between the two places, in two directions," she said.
Second place and $1000 was won by Tiggy Johnson of Cockatoo with Breathing in the Cold about two friends who pull a prank that goes horribly wrong.
Angela King of Cleveland, Queensland, won third place and $500 for her story Found, exploring the character of a young woman about to leave her share house to travel overseas.
The annual competition attracted more than 1000 entries, which explored themes from surviving cancer to embracing motherhood, and genres such as childhood memories, horror stories and fantasy.
The wining entries are being published in the Herald Sun from today.
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