Sunday 23 March 2008

Eight moggies missing in Gosnells



as posted on PerthNow

A THIEF is on the prowl in Gosnells snatching at least eight cats from back yards, a resident claims.

Would-be pet detective Neill Barry, 32, is leading the investigation into the missing moggies.

Mr Barry is pining for his 10-year-old cat Zeus, who was snatched three weeks ago from his home in Eastwood Way.

Suspicions that a ``catnapper'' was at large arose when his next-door neighbour _ whose two pets, Felix and Molly, also disappeared _ heard a male voice calling ``Puss, puss, puss'' at 2.15 one morning.

"I was woken by the dog barking,'' Nigel Haggarty said. ``If I'd had a decent torch, I would have been able to see the culprit.''
Mr Barry said all eight cats were stolen at night.

"The number of cats and the way they are being stolen is pretty disturbing,'' he said.

He has placed posters at Woolworths on Albany Highway and at the Gosnells railway markets seeking information on other cats that have disappeared from Eastwood Way and neighbouring area.

"At first, I thought the cats may have been taken by a fox, or the victim of bait, but after our neighbour heard somebody calling their cat we thought it may be something more sinister,'' Mr Barry said.

RSPCA spokeswoman Marianne Harrison said: ``There's always the possibility that someone in the community is upset about cats roaming around at night, but it could be a number of other things.''

A spokesman for Gosnells Council said it was hard to reunite cats with their owners because unlike dogs, cats did not have to be registered.

But cat havens were ``bursting at the seams''.

"If there was a cat Act we would want it to include a curfew restriction so that cats need to be inside between dusk and dawn,'' Ms Harrison said.


as posted on PerthNow

Friday 21 March 2008

Carpenter loses another MP



as posted on TheWest


WA Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale has announced she will quit politics at the next State election.

Ms McHale is the second female Labor MP to announce their resignation in less than a week. Swan Hills backbencher Jaye Radisich announced last week that she would not contest the next State election.

Flanked by Premier Alan Carpenter, Ms McHale said her decision would allow her to pursue other challenges outside the political sphere.

She told the Premier of her decision two weeks ago.

“I think in our living we make the decision when the time is right… for me the time is right,” Ms McHale said.

The mother of one said politics could be tough but she had no regrets about her time in politics.

She planned to pursue other opportunities in the State.

Mr Carpenter admitted he was concerned so many female politicians were leaving the parliament.

“Nobody likes to see good people leave the parliament but I understand her decision,” Mr Carpenter said.

“We are lucky we have so many good strong women contributing to the State.”

Ms McHale was elected to Parliament as the member for the then seat of Thornlie in 1996.

She became a Minister in the first cabinet of Premier Geoff Gallop in 2001

She was appointed Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth; Disability Services; and Culture and the Arts.

Since then she has also held the portfolios of Indigenous Affairs, Tourism and Consumer Protection.

Ms McHale said the area of child protection had been one of her more difficult portfolios.

She came under fire while Minister for Community Development after 11-month-old Perth baby Wade Scale died in tragic circumstances after the DCD ignored concerns raised by relatives.

The WA Government agency responsible for child protection was criticised by a coroner for the way it handled the case.

The baby drowned in a bath and had consumed adult medication.

KAREN HODGE

as posted on TheWest

Warman prevails in Riverside Open

as posted on CollieMail


Promising Gosnells junior Jamie Warman won the Riverside Open after a tense wait for the final group, taking the title by one shot.

The diminutive Warman, the youngest in the field , posted a 73 on Sunday morning to add to his 74 from Saturday to be in the clubhouse early on 147. Overnight leader after a 71 on Saturday and defending champion, Pinjarra’s Paul Tuckey struggled early but with four holes remaining, he and playing partners Trevor Johns from Collie and Jason Trainor (Pinjarra) had remained in sight of the winning total.

Trainor and Tuckey dropped out of contention on the penultimate hole, needing a miracle eagle on the last, but a birdie on the final hole would have been enough for Johns to force a tie.

After a superb drive his approach left him with a putt to effectively take the title, as Warman had already travelled back to Perth due to other commitments, and as such would have forfeited the possible play-off. Unfortunately for Johns, a relative newcomer to Collie, his putt slipped by and left the youngster with the win.

Johns finished runner-up on a countback from Tuckey after he was able to birdie the last to draw level on 148.

Trainor took fourth on 149.

“Last in, first home” was the catch cry for Steven Ireland as he played steady golf all weekend to capture the nett section.

Having not entered the competition until there was a late withdrawal, “Stumpy” knew what he had to shoot to win and although almost blowing his chance over the final stages, a fortuitous birdie on the last did the job as he finished with a total of 140 to claim the win over Colin Giblett on countback.

Giblett similar to Warman finished with a pair of 70s from morning rounds to set up a score to chase.

In an all Collie’s top five Ed Riley was third on 141 with Wayne Waywood and Trevor Lawrence fourth and fifth respectively on 143.

Individual gross winners were Mike Stirk (Waroona) on Saturday with 73 and past winner David Carbon (Collesloe) on Sunday after a par 72.

Individual nett wins went to Rob Osborne (Kwinana) on Saturday with 70 and Brian McGuane (Gosnells) on Sunday with a 67.

Overall the event attracted a field of 154 players from 26 clubs.

The Riverside open was preceded by the TBS fourball Par event on the Friday.

A large field of 158 players took part and Greg Bell and Wayne Waywood took out the event after a countback on a score of +12.

Brian Banks and Peter Ellery finished an unlucky second.

Next on +10 were Steven Ireland and Jason Kelly, in his first round with an official handicap.

Other pairs to finish at the top of the list were Kwinana visitors, R Osborne and D Johnson (+10), Graham Williams and Troy Sheppard, Marek Golinski and Ed Riley, Jim Tyler and Rod Simmonds and Peter Gray and Mike Daley, all with +9.

The Gross event was won by Rob Hewison and Hudson Hopewell, after an impressive 65 stokes for +7, from Scott Healy and Warren Colgan on +4.

John Michalak claimed bragging rights when he scored 21 points to win Scroungers last Thursday.

Dean Rakich had 37 off the stick to post 20 points followed by Tony Barker-May (19) and Ross Davidson, Bryan Simpson, Neil Motion, Mick Pokrywka and Kevin Ireland on 18 points. Rhonda McGill topped the ladies.

Peter Gray had 34 points to win last week’s Veterans competition from Alan Kent on 28 with Steve Farquhar and John Wray on 27.

Novelties were won by AK, R Alp and J Wray.

Scroungers is on today.

There will be an 18 Hole Stableford for a Club Trophy on Easter Saturday.

A Sweepstakes is scheduled for Monday for those keen and then back to normal with Tuesday Leisure day and Vets golf.

as posted on CollieMail

Minister reflects on honour of serving Western Australia

as posted on MediaNewswire

Sheila McHale says it has been a privilege to serve the people of Western Australia for almost 12 years as part of the Gallop and Carpenter Governments. Ms McHale today announced she had made the decision to leave State politics at the next election.


Media-Newswire.com) - Sheila McHale says it has been a privilege to serve the people of Western Australia for almost 12 years as part of the Gallop and Carpenter Governments.

Ms McHale today announced she had made the decision to leave State politics at the next election.

“It has been a honour to represent the people of WA as a Minister and as the member for Kenwick,” Ms McHale said.

The Minister was elected to Parliament as the member for the then seat of Thornlie in 1996 and in 2001 became a Minister in the first cabinet of Premier Geoff Gallop.

She was appointed Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth; Disability Services; and Culture and the Arts.

Since then, she has also held the portfolios of Indigenous Affairs, Tourism and Consumer Protection.

Ms McHale said some of her achievements had been delivering significant increases in Government spending to the areas of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Community Development and Disability Services.

“It was very gratifying to recently announce details of WA’s new half-billion museum and also unveil the exciting $73million Ignite package of arts initiatives - the biggest ever by a WA Government,” she said.

“I have also been proud to help the State win exciting tourism events, encourage more direct flights to WA and work closely to deliver better outcomes for the disability sector.”

Premier Alan Carpenter, who was with Ms McHale for her announcement, paid tribute.

“Sheila has been an excellent Minister across a broad range of portfolios,” Mr Carpenter said.

“Her commitment to culture and the arts in WA will leave a positive and long-lasting legacy of unprecedented proportions.”

The Premier also said that Ms McHale had been a loyal friend and hard-working colleague who would be greatly missed.

“Sheila has been a tenacious Minister who has always handled her responsibilities with the upmost integrity and professionalism,” he said.

“I am pleased she will continue as a Minister until the next election.”

Ms McHale said her decision would allow her to pursue other challenges outside the political sphere.

Minister's office - 9213 6900

as posted on MediaNewswire

WA schools excel in national indigenous education awards

as posted on MediaNewswire

Schools in Western Australia are leading the way in improving the educational performances of Aboriginal students after achieving outstanding results in a national awards program. Seven WA schools have been named among the "High Achievement' winners in the Dare to Lead Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards, announced on Friday by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.


(Media-Newswire.com) - Schools in Western Australia are leading the way in improving the educational performances of Aboriginal students after achieving outstanding results in a national awards program.

Seven WA schools have been named among the ‘High Achievement’ winners in the Dare to Lead Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards, announced on Friday by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.

WA Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the achievements highlighted the creative and dedicated work being done in WA schools to give Aboriginal students a better future.

“The winning schools are demonstrating that by having a clear vision and working together with indigenous students and the wider indigenous community, improved outcomes for Aboriginal students can be achieved,” Mr McGowan said.

“The work being done by these schools is making a real and positive difference to the lives of Aboriginal students.”

Winning schools in the High Achievement category received $6,000 and a commemorative plaque. They include:
Swan View Senior High School in partnership with Governor Stirling Senior High School and Lockridge Senior High School -The Midland Indigenous Youth Program is a joint initiative of these three schools. It works with industry and indigenous organisations to provide opportunities for Aboriginal students to complete Year 12, as well as supporting them to move into meaningful and sustainable education, training or employment. The schools have indigenous student populations of between 11 per cent and 20 per cent.

Yule Brook Community College, Maddington - In 2001, the school formed a working party to begin the process of engaging with the local Aboriginal community. The resulting Aboriginal Community Agreement has contributed to significant improvements in school enrolments and graduation rates and a reduction in suspension rates. Of the school’s 205 students, 65 are indigenous.
Aranmore Catholic College, Leederville -The leadership and commitment of the school’s Aboriginal Student Support team has contributed to a significant increase in Aboriginal student enrolments over the past eight years and an increase in indigenous student leadership opportunities.

Winning schools in the Achievement category receive $1,000 and a Certificate of Achievement. They include:
Challis Early Childhood Education Support Centre, Armadale -The Kartajin Danjoo school-based initiative is building a culture that treats education as a high priority. The school has built solid partnerships with the Aboriginal community and the initiative, although in its infancy, has already led to an improvement in attendance.

East Kenwick Primary School, Kenwick -The school has made significant progress in literacy and numeracy, with 100 per cent of its Aboriginal students achieving the Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment benchmark. The school’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for indigenous students have received strong community support.

The Dare to Lead Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards recognise schools that demonstrate high levels of effective leadership, indigenous community involvement and improvements in outcomes.

The winning schools were determined by a panel of indigenous and non-indigenous educators which assessed each school’s application against set criteria.

Minister's office - 9222 9111

as posted on MediaNewswire

Day one ..

the following reply was given ...

Thankyou for your enquiry. Council meetings are conducted under the provisions of the City of Gosnells Standing Orders Local Law 2003, a co...