Sunday 20 April 2008

Calls for traffic calming after baby's death



as posted on ABCNews


Residents on a street in the Perth suburb of Thornlie, where a baby was killed on Friday, will sign a petition calling for the road to be made safer.

The 11-month-old girl was being pushed in a stroller by her mother when they were hit by a car which careered out of control after clipping another vehicle at high speed.

The baby girl died at the scene from head injuries.

The 24-year-old driver will appear in court next week on charges of dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Resident Ray Lapham says people are constantly speeding on the street and he will be collecting signatures and calling on Gosnells Council to improve safety.

"[We need] another roundabout or the odd speed bump, more police presence, or even a radar up on one of these poles, or a permanent radar," he said.

"Maybe something might get done eventually."

Gosnells Mayor Olwen Searle says council will consider any petition it receives, but denies there is a problem with hoons in the area.

"No more than other municipality anywhere in the metropolitan area," she said.

"I would think there is just as much, no more no less, than what everyone else has to endure."



as posted on ABCNews

Friday 18 April 2008

D'Orazio's rail plan for Perth

as posted on WABusinessNews


Newly rejoined Labor backbencher John D'Orazio has put forward a plan for a new passenger rail line in Perth's northern and eastern suburbs, which would link up with the existing train network.

In a letter to the City of Stirling, the member for Ballajura outlined his plan for a circle route running from the intersection of Reid Highway and Mitchell Freeway along Reid and Tonkin highways, to Gosnells Station on the Armadale line.

At its Tuesday night council meeting, the city voted to further investigate Mr D'Orazio's plan, although it said the new line should terminate at Stirling Station instead of a proposed site near Warwick.

The city is halfway through drafting its own 25-year transport strategy, which includes a similar circle route linking all five existing train lines, through Reid and Tonkin highways and the Fremantle to Forrestfield freight line.

Mr D'Orazio is a former WA police minister. He was forced to quit the Labor party after corruption allegations aired by the Corruption and Crime Commission but has claimed vindication since the Parliamentary Inspector of the CCC said the CCC should not have made its original findings.

He was readmitted to the Labor party despite the objection of premier Alan Carpenter. Mr D'Orazio's seat disappers in an electoral redistribution and he is known to want the new seat of Morley.




as posted on WABusinessNews

Thursday 17 April 2008

Catalyst program gives people chance to learn

as posted on TheWest


t was a 30-year wait, but it’s now changed Alex Prudnicki’s life.

The Perth man, 50, has finally stepped back into a classroom again - and he might come out of it with a tertiary qualification.

Mr Prudnicki, who has suffered depression for eight years, enrolled in Mission Australia’s Catalyst program in February.

Seven weeks into the course, his friends and family are already noticing his improved confidence and self-esteem.

“This is about challenging myself,” Mr Prudnicki said.

“I have suffered from depression for many years… you find yourself in a black hole and there is no light at the end of the tunnel but I have been fortunate along the way that when I realised I needed help I was lucky to find some wonderful people.”

He “landed on his feet” when placed at Mission Australia’s Wattle House community centre in the Perth suburb of Maddington during a Work for the Dole scheme nearly a year ago.

He has not looked back since noticing a poster at the centre about a new Catalyst program and deciding to give it a go.

The former tradesman, businessman and youth worker never dreamed of going to university but says being back in the classroom had changed his life.

“It’s very exciting and along with all that goes the things that normal students get, like the anxiety of doing an essay.

“I haven’t done any studies for about 30 years but the concept of this program is to challenge yourself.”

Mr Prudnicki admitted that while studying was hard work, it was also a lot of fun and he was surrounded by encouraging and positive people.

He barely thought about his depression these days and was even tossing up the idea of studying for a degree at university after the course.

Mission Australia officially launched the new Catalyst program tonight.

The Woodside-sponsored course is aimed at providing people who may not normally access university education with enrolment in a course at Edith Cowan University.

The course encourages people experiencing significant life challenges to change their situation through hitting the books.

Catalyst program co-ordinator Louise Oakley said students needed to have a desire to learn, are able to commit to a 12-week program and have a health care card.

Ms Oakley said it was about encouraging students to examine, contemplate and question the world around them, and at the same time build self-esteem.

The program provides accredited university courses in a community setting where the students feel familiar and comfortable.

Volunteers from corporate and community sectors will provide one-on-one support to course participants at weekly meetings.

Woodside vice president of sustainable development Vanessa Guthrie said the company believed that education created opportunities not just for the person but for the community.

Mission Australia started the Catalyst program in Sydney three years ago.

It is based on the successful Clemente program model in the USA which operates worldwide.

KAREN HODGE

as posted on TheWest

Day one ..

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