Wednesday 30 September 2009
Voting Starts ...
My Postal vote package came yesterday, and I have ticked the appropriate boxes, but the curious thing is that only my package came, my wifes does not seem to have arrived yet, I understand that different areas are sent out at different times, but I don't understand why my wife's should not be delivered on the same day, we do live in the same house and we are both on the rates as rate payers, but for some reason her package has not come, has she been denied the right to vote, we shall see ... curious thing about this election it simply requires you to tick the boxes of the 6 candidates that you would like to fill the 6 vacant positions, you must not tick more that 6 boxes, but there seems to be nothing stopping you from ticking less than 6 boxes, so if you felt that only one of the candidates was worthy of the position you could just tick one box, one imagines that the six candidates with the most ticks are elected, as we have reverted back to the first past the post system as opposed to the preferential voting system, I would predict that we will have a less than 30% uptake on the vote this year, I feel that the council could spend a lot more effort promoting these elections ...
Tuesday 29 September 2009
Nature at its best
as posted here
THE City of Gosnells Eco Walks and Talks season is on again and with wildflowers in full bloom now is the time to experience nature at its brightest.
Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie urged people not to miss the chance to enjoy walking through Ellis Brook Valley with naturalist Marc Lane and see some of Perth’s most spectacular bush reserves.
“Each walk allows you to discover new wildflowers and local birds, insects and animals,” Mr Cowie said.
“In October and November there are also night stalks at Ellis Brook Valley and Mary Carroll Park respectively, where people can bring their torches and spotlights for a guided night-time ramble to discover the local nocturnal animals.”
Mary Carroll Park is one of Perth’s main breeding wetlands and a haven for waterbirds, songbirds, migratory birds, reptiles and turtles.”
People can enjoy a range of special activities such as Breakfast with Friends on October 4, where breakfast in the park is followed by an informative walk around the lake learning about bush site rehabilitation and observing waterbirds.
Also at Mary Carroll Park on November 1, the Adventure with Nature walk offers a stroll around the lake and the opportunity to discover a unique ecosystem with naturalist Eric McCrum.
Mr Cowie said other walks included the Wetlands Ramble at the Brixton Street Wetlands in Kenwick on October 24. “This walk is followed by morning tea with live music by Peta Lithgo and Malaika,” he said.
“At the Flora Walk on November 7, people can also discover the amazing and unique plant life at Brixton Street.”
Friends of Ellis Brook Valley, Friends of Mary Carroll Park and Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands run the walks with support from the City.
For a brochure or more information contact Leisure Services on 9452 9901 or visit www.gosnells.wa.gov.au
as posted here
THE City of Gosnells Eco Walks and Talks season is on again and with wildflowers in full bloom now is the time to experience nature at its brightest.
Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie urged people not to miss the chance to enjoy walking through Ellis Brook Valley with naturalist Marc Lane and see some of Perth’s most spectacular bush reserves.
“Each walk allows you to discover new wildflowers and local birds, insects and animals,” Mr Cowie said.
“In October and November there are also night stalks at Ellis Brook Valley and Mary Carroll Park respectively, where people can bring their torches and spotlights for a guided night-time ramble to discover the local nocturnal animals.”
Mary Carroll Park is one of Perth’s main breeding wetlands and a haven for waterbirds, songbirds, migratory birds, reptiles and turtles.”
People can enjoy a range of special activities such as Breakfast with Friends on October 4, where breakfast in the park is followed by an informative walk around the lake learning about bush site rehabilitation and observing waterbirds.
Also at Mary Carroll Park on November 1, the Adventure with Nature walk offers a stroll around the lake and the opportunity to discover a unique ecosystem with naturalist Eric McCrum.
Mr Cowie said other walks included the Wetlands Ramble at the Brixton Street Wetlands in Kenwick on October 24. “This walk is followed by morning tea with live music by Peta Lithgo and Malaika,” he said.
“At the Flora Walk on November 7, people can also discover the amazing and unique plant life at Brixton Street.”
Friends of Ellis Brook Valley, Friends of Mary Carroll Park and Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands run the walks with support from the City.
For a brochure or more information contact Leisure Services on 9452 9901 or visit www.gosnells.wa.gov.au
as posted here
Report cards for schools only fair
as posted here
Educators have widely opposed the Federal Government's push to publish school performance information online at the end of this year because of fears it will stigmatise schools that perform poorly.
Teachers and principals have threatened to boycott the next round of national tests in May unless the Government passes laws to prevent the creation of so-called "league tables" that rank schools based on raw scores. They argue that "naming and shaming" struggling schools will damage students and school communities.
The new online report card will allow parents to compare all schools' performance in national literacy and numeracy tests, the percentage of students graduating from Year 12 and how well each school has progressed in lifting student performance.
Controversy on whether this should be available publicly has been red hot in the Eastern States, with NSW passing laws to fine newspapers for using the information to create league tables that compare schools.
But few from the Eastern States realise that WA has been leading the rest of the nation in giving parents access to school comparisons - and the sky has not yet fallen.
Each year, _The West Australian _publishes Year 12 academic results for private and public schools and ranks the top 50. It also prints the results of national literacy and numeracy tests from State schools. It is only fair that private schools should also have to reveal their performance.
Attempts by the teachers' union and others to prevent publication of school performance data is akin to censorship. A school can't address poor standards if it doesn't know whether they've fallen.
This newspaper has championed school transparency because public money goes into State and independent schools and the community has a right to know how well those schools are doing their job.
Critics also argue that revealing school comparisons will put too much emphasis on literacy and numeracy at the expense of other subjects.
But surely the main purpose of schooling is to ensure that children get a sound foundation in those skills. Every other part of the curriculum depends on those basics.
There are also complaints that teachers are "teaching to the test". But if setting compulsory tests requires students to learn some skills and then demonstrate them, then surely that is a positive outcome.
And if it forces schools to look at ways to improve their students' performance, even better.
as posted here
Educators have widely opposed the Federal Government's push to publish school performance information online at the end of this year because of fears it will stigmatise schools that perform poorly.
Teachers and principals have threatened to boycott the next round of national tests in May unless the Government passes laws to prevent the creation of so-called "league tables" that rank schools based on raw scores. They argue that "naming and shaming" struggling schools will damage students and school communities.
The new online report card will allow parents to compare all schools' performance in national literacy and numeracy tests, the percentage of students graduating from Year 12 and how well each school has progressed in lifting student performance.
Controversy on whether this should be available publicly has been red hot in the Eastern States, with NSW passing laws to fine newspapers for using the information to create league tables that compare schools.
But few from the Eastern States realise that WA has been leading the rest of the nation in giving parents access to school comparisons - and the sky has not yet fallen.
Each year, _The West Australian _publishes Year 12 academic results for private and public schools and ranks the top 50. It also prints the results of national literacy and numeracy tests from State schools. It is only fair that private schools should also have to reveal their performance.
Attempts by the teachers' union and others to prevent publication of school performance data is akin to censorship. A school can't address poor standards if it doesn't know whether they've fallen.
This newspaper has championed school transparency because public money goes into State and independent schools and the community has a right to know how well those schools are doing their job.
Critics also argue that revealing school comparisons will put too much emphasis on literacy and numeracy at the expense of other subjects.
But surely the main purpose of schooling is to ensure that children get a sound foundation in those skills. Every other part of the curriculum depends on those basics.
There are also complaints that teachers are "teaching to the test". But if setting compulsory tests requires students to learn some skills and then demonstrate them, then surely that is a positive outcome.
And if it forces schools to look at ways to improve their students' performance, even better.
as posted here
Monday 28 September 2009
Perth ‘bouncing back for international property buyers’
as posted here
The city of Perth in Western Australia is seeing its property market bounce back after a recent slump, it has been stated.
Perth went from being one of the cheapest places in the country to being more expensive than Sydney by 2006, valuation manager at Propell National Valuers Travis Coleman told the New York Times.
This boom was followed by a 12 per cent slump in prices, but the paper noted that the market in the city is now recovering, aided by the development of new mineral and gas projects in the state.
It observed that the average price in the city for a home is now AU$375,000 (£202,000).
The best place for those moving abroad to buy in Perth is the suburb of Bassendean, according to St George Bank.
In a list of the top locations in the country for value, the lender said it is "one of the few suburbs within the inner ring which still has a median house price below AU$500,000."
The other district it recommended in the city was Thornlie, due to its combination of affordability and proximity to amenities.
Written by Jamie Musk
as posted here
The city of Perth in Western Australia is seeing its property market bounce back after a recent slump, it has been stated.
Perth went from being one of the cheapest places in the country to being more expensive than Sydney by 2006, valuation manager at Propell National Valuers Travis Coleman told the New York Times.
This boom was followed by a 12 per cent slump in prices, but the paper noted that the market in the city is now recovering, aided by the development of new mineral and gas projects in the state.
It observed that the average price in the city for a home is now AU$375,000 (£202,000).
The best place for those moving abroad to buy in Perth is the suburb of Bassendean, according to St George Bank.
In a list of the top locations in the country for value, the lender said it is "one of the few suburbs within the inner ring which still has a median house price below AU$500,000."
The other district it recommended in the city was Thornlie, due to its combination of affordability and proximity to amenities.
Written by Jamie Musk
as posted here
Petrol tipped to fall to $1 a litre
as posted here
THE price of petrol is heading back toward $1 a litre, an economist says amid continuing falling prices.
Nationally, the cost of unleaded fell by almost a cent in the past week, fresh figures from the Australian Institute of Petroleum reveal.
CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian says the fall in prices is far from finished.
"The key Singapore unleaded fuel price fell by over 12 per cent last week,'' he said, adding it was the biggest weekly decline in nearly eight months.
"This should translate into further savings for Aussie motorists.''
The strength of the Australian dollar against the greenback and oil companies' cutting of their margins in recent weeks mean the good news for motorists will continue.
"CommSec expects petrol prices to fall by two to three cents a litre over the next fortnight,'' Mr Sebastian said.
"In fact, motorists in some capital cities could be paying close to $1 a litre at the low point in the discounting cycle with the assistance of shopper dockets.''
as posted here
THE price of petrol is heading back toward $1 a litre, an economist says amid continuing falling prices.
Nationally, the cost of unleaded fell by almost a cent in the past week, fresh figures from the Australian Institute of Petroleum reveal.
CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian says the fall in prices is far from finished.
"The key Singapore unleaded fuel price fell by over 12 per cent last week,'' he said, adding it was the biggest weekly decline in nearly eight months.
"This should translate into further savings for Aussie motorists.''
The strength of the Australian dollar against the greenback and oil companies' cutting of their margins in recent weeks mean the good news for motorists will continue.
"CommSec expects petrol prices to fall by two to three cents a litre over the next fortnight,'' Mr Sebastian said.
"In fact, motorists in some capital cities could be paying close to $1 a litre at the low point in the discounting cycle with the assistance of shopper dockets.''
as posted here
Online report card plan teeters
as posted here
State Education Minister Liz Constable has not ruled out rejecting Federal plans to introduce a new online school report card system, saying that she has to work through some "complex issues" before attending a national education meeting today.
Her support is crucial to the introduction of the report cards - one of the Federal Government's education changes - that have already provoked criticism that they would lead to so-called league tables that name and shame underperforming schools.
The WA State School Teachers Union and the WA Secondary School Executives Association are outraged about the online reporting system, which will group schools according to the socioeconomic backgrounds of their students, then rank them based on academic performance.
It is aimed at improving use of resources and will give parents unprecedented information on how schools fare. It could become a political headache because it will expose struggling schools without providing promised information on each school's resources or how it improves the lives of students affected by poverty or other disadvantage.
Dr Constable would not say whether she supported the system and had not yet decided what proposal to put forward because she was still working through complex detail. "There are a range of perspectives and options that will still be looked at before a final decision is made," she said.
Education specialist Barry McGaw, who designed the system, said schools would be grouped with about 60 other "like schools" with students from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. An elite private school such as Presbyterian Ladies College could be grouped with King's School in Sydney and an indigenous school in the Northern Territory could be grouped with a similarly remote WA school.
Each school will be ranked according to how well students do in the national literacy and numeracy test done by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Union secretary David Kelly said the tests were a useless way of comparing students and ranking schools by the results was "farcical". "This is a form of league tabling and it is again the Government trying to abrogate responsibility and justify itself by showing the community that it is caring and is going to make schools accountable or responsible," he said.
The union would support any boycott by principal and teacher groups.
Secondary school Executives Association head Rob Nairn said he opposed the plan because of its "dangerous" simplicity. It had to have protections to prevent exploitation of the material for league tables.
WA Council of State School Organisations president Robert Fry said it was moderate league tabling that would encourage transparency and give parents important information
as posted here
State Education Minister Liz Constable has not ruled out rejecting Federal plans to introduce a new online school report card system, saying that she has to work through some "complex issues" before attending a national education meeting today.
Her support is crucial to the introduction of the report cards - one of the Federal Government's education changes - that have already provoked criticism that they would lead to so-called league tables that name and shame underperforming schools.
The WA State School Teachers Union and the WA Secondary School Executives Association are outraged about the online reporting system, which will group schools according to the socioeconomic backgrounds of their students, then rank them based on academic performance.
It is aimed at improving use of resources and will give parents unprecedented information on how schools fare. It could become a political headache because it will expose struggling schools without providing promised information on each school's resources or how it improves the lives of students affected by poverty or other disadvantage.
Dr Constable would not say whether she supported the system and had not yet decided what proposal to put forward because she was still working through complex detail. "There are a range of perspectives and options that will still be looked at before a final decision is made," she said.
Education specialist Barry McGaw, who designed the system, said schools would be grouped with about 60 other "like schools" with students from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. An elite private school such as Presbyterian Ladies College could be grouped with King's School in Sydney and an indigenous school in the Northern Territory could be grouped with a similarly remote WA school.
Each school will be ranked according to how well students do in the national literacy and numeracy test done by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Union secretary David Kelly said the tests were a useless way of comparing students and ranking schools by the results was "farcical". "This is a form of league tabling and it is again the Government trying to abrogate responsibility and justify itself by showing the community that it is caring and is going to make schools accountable or responsible," he said.
The union would support any boycott by principal and teacher groups.
Secondary school Executives Association head Rob Nairn said he opposed the plan because of its "dangerous" simplicity. It had to have protections to prevent exploitation of the material for league tables.
WA Council of State School Organisations president Robert Fry said it was moderate league tabling that would encourage transparency and give parents important information
as posted here
WA trucking industry hits slump
as posted here
Cortlan Bennett, Business Editor
Lesmurdie owner-operator Steven Marijanich said some drivers had seen the warning signs, but many had ignored them.
``People think the money's going to last for ever and then they go out and buy all the brand new gear and all of a sudden, boom!'' he said.
`I've been saying it for years _ as soon as the Beijing Olympics were over, everything stopped.
``People laughed at me, but it happened. There was no more demand for steel and iron ore out of China.
``A lot of local industry just stopped _ I think it shocked everyone _ because since October, things have just been dead.
``We're earning about 40 per cent of what we were last year and some would be lucky to be earning that.''
Huntingdale-based A&F Transport is really feeling the pinch.
The husband-and-wife team of Arthur and Fiona Wheatcroft bought four trucks during the boom, in addition to the one Mr Wheatcroft was driving, and set up their own transport firm.
But being close to $1 million in debt, and with only enough work for one truck a few days a week, they're on the brink of collapse.
``It's bad. It's really bad,'' Mrs Wheatcroft said. ``It's been bad from October last year.
``Apparently when the Beijing Games were on, everything got shut down over there _ all the steel mills _ and they're still not running at 100 per cent.
``It's been a double-whammy for everybody.
``During the boom, we were making up to $4000 a truck each week. Now we've got one truck going and it's not even working every day.
``I've actually let all my drivers go because I've got nothing for them.''
``We're not sure what we're going to do. We don't know whether we're going to fold or try to persevere and keep going.''
Like many owner-drivers, Mrs Wheatcroft said her husband was so busy during the boom that he bought one truck after another to keep up.
He employed drivers and the next thing he knew he was running his own business.
Mrs Wheatcroft quit her full-time job at the Health Department to run the administrative side.
``If I had a crystal ball, I wouldn't have given up my job,'' she said.
``We're not the only ones _ don't get me wrong _ there are so many people out there in our position.
``They're all saying it's the worst the industry has even been in.
``It's a nightmare. So many of our friends have folded.''
Casuarina owner-operator Peter Swift said many ambitious drivers had themselves to blame.
``Everybody said the boom was going to last 10 years _ it lasted five,'' he said.
``The last one was the biggest and everybody was greediest.
``A lot of the industry has got itself to blame. Blokes who had one or two trucks now have 20 trucks and they're out there now trying to turn work over.
``It's pretty hard. What's happening is work's got that quiet that the general blokes are jumping into our (specialist) work and cutting the guts out of it.''
``I can ride it out, but it just irks me that there's work there but you just can't do it for the rates that are offered _ the big companies are dictating the rates now.''
Mr Marijanich agreed.
``Blokes are taking loads to Port Hedland and then they're sitting there waiting for a backload to make up the money they lost going up there,'' he said.
``And they're sitting there for two weeks, waiting. They still have to make money and so they flog each other for the work.''
Mr Swift said bigger companies were also squeezing out smaller operators.
``With Gorgon, they brought Linfox (Logistics) in from over east, but they haven't got a very good record of looking after sub-contractors,'' he said.
Linfox confirmed this week that it had secured the transport contract for the Gorgon gas project, but there were no jobs for WA drivers yet.
However the company said that would change as the project got closer.
Transport Workers Union WA spokesman Tim Dawson said there was no doubt truckers were ``doing it hard'', but he was hopeful new resources projects would create more work.
``There's no doubt some of these projects in the North-West are going to help, but it doesn't help the bloke sitting at home now when they're threatening to repossess his house or his truck, does it?'' he said.
as posted here
Cortlan Bennett, Business Editor
September 26, 2009 06:00pm
WA'S trucking industry has hit the skids, according to owner-drivers, as the economic crisis bites hard.It's a far cry from a year ago, when the resources boom created a driver shortage and a flurry of new-truck sales.
Drivers say the double whammy of the global financial crisis and the end of the Beijing Olympics _ which had created a huge resource demand for infrastructure projects _ have forced many out of business and others to ruthlessly undercut each other.Lesmurdie owner-operator Steven Marijanich said some drivers had seen the warning signs, but many had ignored them.
``People think the money's going to last for ever and then they go out and buy all the brand new gear and all of a sudden, boom!'' he said.
`I've been saying it for years _ as soon as the Beijing Olympics were over, everything stopped.
``People laughed at me, but it happened. There was no more demand for steel and iron ore out of China.
``A lot of local industry just stopped _ I think it shocked everyone _ because since October, things have just been dead.
``We're earning about 40 per cent of what we were last year and some would be lucky to be earning that.''
Huntingdale-based A&F Transport is really feeling the pinch.
The husband-and-wife team of Arthur and Fiona Wheatcroft bought four trucks during the boom, in addition to the one Mr Wheatcroft was driving, and set up their own transport firm.
But being close to $1 million in debt, and with only enough work for one truck a few days a week, they're on the brink of collapse.
``It's bad. It's really bad,'' Mrs Wheatcroft said. ``It's been bad from October last year.
``Apparently when the Beijing Games were on, everything got shut down over there _ all the steel mills _ and they're still not running at 100 per cent.
``It's been a double-whammy for everybody.
``During the boom, we were making up to $4000 a truck each week. Now we've got one truck going and it's not even working every day.
``I've actually let all my drivers go because I've got nothing for them.''
``We're not sure what we're going to do. We don't know whether we're going to fold or try to persevere and keep going.''
Like many owner-drivers, Mrs Wheatcroft said her husband was so busy during the boom that he bought one truck after another to keep up.
He employed drivers and the next thing he knew he was running his own business.
Mrs Wheatcroft quit her full-time job at the Health Department to run the administrative side.
``If I had a crystal ball, I wouldn't have given up my job,'' she said.
``We're not the only ones _ don't get me wrong _ there are so many people out there in our position.
``They're all saying it's the worst the industry has even been in.
``It's a nightmare. So many of our friends have folded.''
Casuarina owner-operator Peter Swift said many ambitious drivers had themselves to blame.
``Everybody said the boom was going to last 10 years _ it lasted five,'' he said.
``The last one was the biggest and everybody was greediest.
``A lot of the industry has got itself to blame. Blokes who had one or two trucks now have 20 trucks and they're out there now trying to turn work over.
``It's pretty hard. What's happening is work's got that quiet that the general blokes are jumping into our (specialist) work and cutting the guts out of it.''
``I can ride it out, but it just irks me that there's work there but you just can't do it for the rates that are offered _ the big companies are dictating the rates now.''
Mr Marijanich agreed.
``Blokes are taking loads to Port Hedland and then they're sitting there waiting for a backload to make up the money they lost going up there,'' he said.
``And they're sitting there for two weeks, waiting. They still have to make money and so they flog each other for the work.''
Mr Swift said bigger companies were also squeezing out smaller operators.
``With Gorgon, they brought Linfox (Logistics) in from over east, but they haven't got a very good record of looking after sub-contractors,'' he said.
Linfox confirmed this week that it had secured the transport contract for the Gorgon gas project, but there were no jobs for WA drivers yet.
However the company said that would change as the project got closer.
Transport Workers Union WA spokesman Tim Dawson said there was no doubt truckers were ``doing it hard'', but he was hopeful new resources projects would create more work.
``There's no doubt some of these projects in the North-West are going to help, but it doesn't help the bloke sitting at home now when they're threatening to repossess his house or his truck, does it?'' he said.
Sunday 27 September 2009
Four schools made independent
as posted here
By Tim Slater, Comment News
Neerigen Brook Primary School principal Megan Barnett welcomed the announcement, saying it had the full support of staff and parents and was endorsed by the school council.
“The big thing for us will be having flexibility with staffing for people who really want to be at Neerigen and being able to keep good staff here,” Ms Barnett said.
“We run a merit selection process here so we will still follow all the Education Department standards for choosing staff.”
She said staff and parents would have more say in important matters including teacher selection.
Campbell Primary School principal Peter Glendinning said the school applied for independent status because it would provide more flexibility to support teaching and learning.
“It's about the businesses of the school essentially and to be able to create some flexibilities in terms of the way the school is managed,” Mr Glendinning said.
“It just gives us the opportunity to manage some of the businesses of the school that generally had been done centrally.”
Education Minister Liz Constable said principals could work with their schools to form the best local solution to their problems rather than relying on a one-size fits all approach.
She said establishing independent public schools was a key election commitment of the State Government and will hand greater control to schools while still providing systematic support and benefits, such as access to professional development programs.
Three other local schools who missed out on the first round were Mundijong Primary School, Kelmscott Senior High School and Yule Brook College.
Ms Constable said schools that were not selected could work with the Education Department to strengthen their bid for consideration in the next intake of Independent Public Schools next year.
as posted here
By Tim Slater, Comment News
FOUR local primary schools, Neerigen Brook, Campbell, Bletchley Park and Challis and the Challis Early Childhood Education Centre were among 34 schools statewide that were selected to become independent by a panel of teaching experts.
The independent status, starting from next year, will give the schools increased independence over decisions on budgets, hiring teachers, curriculum and student expulsions.Neerigen Brook Primary School principal Megan Barnett welcomed the announcement, saying it had the full support of staff and parents and was endorsed by the school council.
“The big thing for us will be having flexibility with staffing for people who really want to be at Neerigen and being able to keep good staff here,” Ms Barnett said.
“We run a merit selection process here so we will still follow all the Education Department standards for choosing staff.”
She said staff and parents would have more say in important matters including teacher selection.
Campbell Primary School principal Peter Glendinning said the school applied for independent status because it would provide more flexibility to support teaching and learning.
“It's about the businesses of the school essentially and to be able to create some flexibilities in terms of the way the school is managed,” Mr Glendinning said.
“It just gives us the opportunity to manage some of the businesses of the school that generally had been done centrally.”
Education Minister Liz Constable said principals could work with their schools to form the best local solution to their problems rather than relying on a one-size fits all approach.
She said establishing independent public schools was a key election commitment of the State Government and will hand greater control to schools while still providing systematic support and benefits, such as access to professional development programs.
Three other local schools who missed out on the first round were Mundijong Primary School, Kelmscott Senior High School and Yule Brook College.
Ms Constable said schools that were not selected could work with the Education Department to strengthen their bid for consideration in the next intake of Independent Public Schools next year.
as posted here
Vigilant- Motto of Royal Western Australian Regiment
as originally posted here
As pointed out many times previously i am a person who regards themself as a West Australian before being an Ausralian. as a consequence i have a great deal of interest in Western Australian history, epecially those areas which tend to get buried in the greater Australian mythos. one particular area where this is true is in military history.
Western Australia has a surprisingly strong military tradition; in 1831 the Governor of the Swan River Colony, Captain James Stirling, made it compulsory for all male colonists between 15 and 50 to register in the militia. in 1861 the colony formed the Western Australian Defence Force, with units of the WA Volunteer Militia initially located in Perth, Fremantle and Pinjarra. the Pinjarra unit was so successful that it eventually raised a second unit- the Pinjarra Mounted Rifle Company who survive to this day in the form of the 10th Light Horse Regiment. control of the WADF units was enhanced when the tradition of officer elections reposed in such volunteer units was removed in favour of appointments by the governor; by 1875 all officers had to pass a number of tests to prove their abilities. although seemingly obvious to a later generation these requirements for essentially reservist units were not merely revolutionary for Colonial Australia but the British Empire.
by the time the colony of Western Australia surrendered its soveriegnty to the new Commonwealth of Australia, the WADF had some 250 officers and 5000 men. this total includes those men engaged in action during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War, where they were highly valued units even amongst other Australian forces. this is an even more remarkable achievement given that population of the new state was barely some 40 000; or in other words 15% of the population was serving in a military uniform of one kind or another; compared to an historical average of 5% or less for most democracies.
unfortunately this is about as detailed as you can get on-line- not much more detailed once you include the two books published a decade ago dealing with the Officers of the WADF and some historical information on the WADF as a whole. the sad fact is that much of the relevant documentation of the WADF was sent East once Federation was underway. even the resources of the State Library are somewhat limited in this regard. and as anybody who has a passing knowledge of Australian history will tell you- the country stops exisiting once you move east of Victoria and New South Wales.
and it would probably surprise few people that this is a lot more than existed even 5 years ago. slowly the details are being reconstructed as sandgropers rediscover our role in our own as well as the nation’s military history- and this goes for our erstwhile brothers and sisters in the other forgotten states- Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. one project that is of particular interest out of the Territory is the attempt to establish Aboriginal Military history. the current ARA unit NORFORCE is actually a direct descendant of one such unit, also called NORFORCE and composed mostly of Aboriginals, in WW2. the old NORFORCE was responsible for North Queensland and the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of WA- details of its operations help to flesh out the details of the Pilbara Regiment’s history.
it is not simply in military history that WA washes out. much of the moneys dispersed under the Bicentennial committees for history projects went predominantly to Victorian and New South Wales or Indigenous candidates with a consequent bias in those directions. the one great positive in the explosion of the internet has been the realisation that we are in danger of losing our history in the West. as a high school student i did a history project on the City of Gosnells; the council and state libraries had three books between them and the council offices had a photocopied sheet with a couple of pictures. now the website for the City of Gosnells has a whole section devoted to the history of the municipality from Beckenham to Seaforth and Canning Vale to Orange Grove.
the funny thing about reading about the WA back in the 1890s and 1900s is how similar the circumstances were to now; in the 1980s census there were 800 000 people in WA; 25 years later it is almost triple that. the exact same thing happened between the 1880s and 1911. and both expansions were fueled by mining booms- gold in the 1890s and iron ore in the 1990s. ironically, also, both came on the backs of a financial crisis and were ostensibly ended by consolidation of the various individuals and companies into a few. equally fascinating is the history of the Forrest family; Western Australia was known as ‘John Forrest’s Empire’ in the 1890s and his great grandson, Andrew Forrest, is WAs richest man now. of course there are a great many differences, but it is the many similarities that fascinate me. Americans might want to scan the numbers of their citizens here for a future president- Herbert Hoover, 31st President, was an important figure in gold exploration in the 1890s, founding the first ‘Sons of Gwalia’ mine (5million ounces and counting).
if the internet has been a boon to the crazies and extremists it has also been a boon to local and amauteur historians. perhaps if you have a spare couple of hours you might like to look up your local history again- or even for a first time. it will be interesting at least.
as originally posted here
As pointed out many times previously i am a person who regards themself as a West Australian before being an Ausralian. as a consequence i have a great deal of interest in Western Australian history, epecially those areas which tend to get buried in the greater Australian mythos. one particular area where this is true is in military history.
Western Australia has a surprisingly strong military tradition; in 1831 the Governor of the Swan River Colony, Captain James Stirling, made it compulsory for all male colonists between 15 and 50 to register in the militia. in 1861 the colony formed the Western Australian Defence Force, with units of the WA Volunteer Militia initially located in Perth, Fremantle and Pinjarra. the Pinjarra unit was so successful that it eventually raised a second unit- the Pinjarra Mounted Rifle Company who survive to this day in the form of the 10th Light Horse Regiment. control of the WADF units was enhanced when the tradition of officer elections reposed in such volunteer units was removed in favour of appointments by the governor; by 1875 all officers had to pass a number of tests to prove their abilities. although seemingly obvious to a later generation these requirements for essentially reservist units were not merely revolutionary for Colonial Australia but the British Empire.
by the time the colony of Western Australia surrendered its soveriegnty to the new Commonwealth of Australia, the WADF had some 250 officers and 5000 men. this total includes those men engaged in action during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War, where they were highly valued units even amongst other Australian forces. this is an even more remarkable achievement given that population of the new state was barely some 40 000; or in other words 15% of the population was serving in a military uniform of one kind or another; compared to an historical average of 5% or less for most democracies.
unfortunately this is about as detailed as you can get on-line- not much more detailed once you include the two books published a decade ago dealing with the Officers of the WADF and some historical information on the WADF as a whole. the sad fact is that much of the relevant documentation of the WADF was sent East once Federation was underway. even the resources of the State Library are somewhat limited in this regard. and as anybody who has a passing knowledge of Australian history will tell you- the country stops exisiting once you move east of Victoria and New South Wales.
and it would probably surprise few people that this is a lot more than existed even 5 years ago. slowly the details are being reconstructed as sandgropers rediscover our role in our own as well as the nation’s military history- and this goes for our erstwhile brothers and sisters in the other forgotten states- Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. one project that is of particular interest out of the Territory is the attempt to establish Aboriginal Military history. the current ARA unit NORFORCE is actually a direct descendant of one such unit, also called NORFORCE and composed mostly of Aboriginals, in WW2. the old NORFORCE was responsible for North Queensland and the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of WA- details of its operations help to flesh out the details of the Pilbara Regiment’s history.
it is not simply in military history that WA washes out. much of the moneys dispersed under the Bicentennial committees for history projects went predominantly to Victorian and New South Wales or Indigenous candidates with a consequent bias in those directions. the one great positive in the explosion of the internet has been the realisation that we are in danger of losing our history in the West. as a high school student i did a history project on the City of Gosnells; the council and state libraries had three books between them and the council offices had a photocopied sheet with a couple of pictures. now the website for the City of Gosnells has a whole section devoted to the history of the municipality from Beckenham to Seaforth and Canning Vale to Orange Grove.
the funny thing about reading about the WA back in the 1890s and 1900s is how similar the circumstances were to now; in the 1980s census there were 800 000 people in WA; 25 years later it is almost triple that. the exact same thing happened between the 1880s and 1911. and both expansions were fueled by mining booms- gold in the 1890s and iron ore in the 1990s. ironically, also, both came on the backs of a financial crisis and were ostensibly ended by consolidation of the various individuals and companies into a few. equally fascinating is the history of the Forrest family; Western Australia was known as ‘John Forrest’s Empire’ in the 1890s and his great grandson, Andrew Forrest, is WAs richest man now. of course there are a great many differences, but it is the many similarities that fascinate me. Americans might want to scan the numbers of their citizens here for a future president- Herbert Hoover, 31st President, was an important figure in gold exploration in the 1890s, founding the first ‘Sons of Gwalia’ mine (5million ounces and counting).
if the internet has been a boon to the crazies and extremists it has also been a boon to local and amauteur historians. perhaps if you have a spare couple of hours you might like to look up your local history again- or even for a first time. it will be interesting at least.
as originally posted here
Friday 25 September 2009
WA to push ahead with anti-bikie legislation
as posted here
as posted here
The State Government intends to push ahead with its plans for legislation to outlaw motorcycle gangs, despite South Australia's anti-bikie laws being deemed invalid by the Supreme Court today.
Revelations that South Australia's anti-bikie laws are invalid has cast doubt on similar legislation elsewhere in the nation.
Attorney-General Christian Porter said he intended to proceed irrespective of the South Australia decision.
"The central reason why we did not rush legislation into parliament in this sitting was because we were aware of this impending South Australia decision and wanted to analyse the outcome to see how we could avoid difficulties with our own legislation," Mr Porter said.
SA was the first State or territory to introduce anti-bikie laws aimed at dismantling the motorcycle clubs.
SA's legislation empowered police to ask magistrates to place control orders on bikie gang members, effectively banning them from associating with each other.
Eight members of the Finks motorcycle club had control orders imposed on them, but two - Sandro Totani and Donald Hudson - challenged the orders in court, arguing they were unconstitutional.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, the Full Court of the SA Supreme Court declared the control orders, made under section 14 of the Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008, invalid.
NSW has enacted similar laws while Queensland and Western Australia were set to follow suit.
as posted here
Wednesday 23 September 2009
National report deems Thornlie a property hotspot
as posted here
as posted here
THORNLIE is one of two suburbs in Perth that has been identified as having the strongest value for home buyers, according to a report released last week.
The National Hotspots report from St George Bank said Thornlie was one of a few areas in Perth where affordable houses could still be bought relatively close to the City with quality amenities.
The current median house price for the suburb is $365,000.
St George Bank chief economist Besa Deda said the property market had proved resilient compared with the share market during the economic slowdown and over the past 10 years.
“Savvy home buyers and investors should look outside the square and consider the areas which have not attracted the same level of attention as traditional blue-ribbon locations,” Ms Deda said.
The other suburb was Bassendean.
as posted here
Thornlie precinct set for new look
as posted here
as posted here
THE City of Gosnells is set to give the Thornlie civic precinct a major facelift, thanks to Federal Government funding.
The precinct, which is between the Thornlie skate park, Leisure World and Thornlie library, will be redesigned to create better access for all three facilities and to encourage positive behaviour.
City of Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie said the work was being undertaken to address community concerns raised in a 2007 review.
“The review contained recommendations for design changes based on designing out crime principles, and also programming initiatives,” he said.
“Together these recommendations are intended to minimise the potential for anti-social behaviour and address access issues for the skate park, library and leisure centre users to ease current conflict.”
Mr Cowie said the council recognised that many different age groups used the area and the aim was to ensure the needs and requirements of all the users were taken into account.
“There is solid evidence to show that creating a better environment also encourages better behaviour,” he said. “Work to make it easier to access one facility without going through another will also reduce issues.
“The City has a proven track record of developing excellent facilities for many different users and this project will add to that list.”
The Thornlie Civic Precinct Revitalisation Project begins this month, with funding from the Government’s Safer Suburbs Plan.
A concept plan is on display at Thornlie library and Leisure World and works are expected to be completed by December.
as posted here
Saturday 19 September 2009
Brothers cleared in Muslim school fraud trial
Two directors of a Muslim girls school in Kenwick have been cleared on charges they stole $355,000 of federal and state funds and transferred the money to Afghanistan.
The jury took just over two hours to reach their not guilty verdicts for brothers Anwar Sayed, 50, and Zubair Sayed, 33.
Flanked by their lawyers and friends, the two men rejoiced at their acquittals.
Anwar Sayed gave a triumphant wave and said he was "relieved" the trial had ended in his favour while Zubair Sayed said he felt "vindicated" by the verdict.
The brothers had pleaded not guilty to stealing more than $355,000 in April 2007 from the company which ran the Muslim Ladies' College of Australia.
The school was situated in Bickley Road on land owned by Anwar Sayed.
Zubair Sayed transferred the money from a bank in Cannington to a Pakistani bank account which his older brother - who was overseas at the time - could access so he could set up a school in Afghanistan.
The case against the two men - who were both directors of Muslim Link Australia - was based on claims Anwar Sayed had no legal entitlement to the money and that he did not have a genuine belief that he was allowed to withdraw the funds from the company account.
Prosecutors during the trial - which started last Monday - told the jury that documents showing Anwar Sayed was to be paid deferred salary and rent were fake, and that he did not inject enough of his own money that was covered by the $355,000 withdrawal.
The State also claimed the public funding from the Commonwealth and State governments was to help keep the Kenwick school running and to improve the facilities, and not to help set up another school in Afghanistan.
Prosecutor Alan Troy also accused the men of concealing the transfer by taking the funds without notifying key people within the school and company.
Defence lawyers for the brothers argued the Commonwealth funding was only for ''recurrent expenditure'' such as rent and salary, and as such, Anwar Sayed was legally entitled to the money that was owed to him.
The Commonwealth funding did not cover capital expenditure, so improvements could not take place with those grants.
Anwar Sayed's lawyer, Mark Trowell, QC, said his client had only taken about 30 per cent of what he was actually owed, and if it was not for his contributions, the school would not have got off the ground.
Zubair Sayed's lawyer, Andrew Skerritt, told the jury the 33-year-old had organised the overseas transfer because he was privy to the deferred rent and salary agreements signed in 2002, so he genuinely believed the money belonged to his brother.
Anwar Sayed had deposited almost $340,000 into the school over several years and the bank statements would support that, Mr Trowell said.
as posted here
School founder would have bolted if guilty: lawyer
as posted here
JOSEPH SAPIENZA
September 17, 2009
A man accused of stealing $355,000 from the Perth school he founded would have taken a lot more money and fled Australia if he acted dishonestly, a court has heard.
Anwar Sayed, 50, and his brother Zubair Sayed, 33, are on trial for stealing the money - provided through Federal and State government funding - from the parent company of the Muslim Ladies College, in Kenwick, and siphoning it to an account in Pakistan.
Both have denied stealing the money, claiming the money belonged to Anwar Sayed.
They say that because Sayed had ploughed more than $1 million of his own money into the school, he was legally entitled to withdraw the money from the school's bank account in April 2007 and use it to help set up a sister college in Afghanistan.
Sayed was in Pakistan when the money was transferred, but returned to Perth later that year. The prosecution says the money in dispute was federal and state funding for upkeep of the Kenwick school.
Defence lawyer Mark Trowell, QC, told a Perth District Court jury yesterday that Sayed had taken only about 30 per cent of what he was owed by the school.
Documents showed Sayed deferred his salary and rental income for four years until 2007, while he made cash deposits totalling at least $330,000 to the school, Mr Trowell said.
Sayed also deferred an annual rental income of $289,000 over four years and an average $35,000 a year in salary.
As one of three directors of the company, Sayed was authorised to withdraw funds from the company's account at his discretion, Mr Trowell said.
He added that no effort had been made by the two men to conceal the overseas transfer, as Zubair Sayed had given a bag containing cheque books to a staff member - which included the cheque butt in question - while the other signatory on the cheque "had no objection to the transfer".
The jury is expected to deliver a verdict today.
as posted here
JOSEPH SAPIENZA
September 17, 2009
A man accused of stealing $355,000 from the Perth school he founded would have taken a lot more money and fled Australia if he acted dishonestly, a court has heard.
Anwar Sayed, 50, and his brother Zubair Sayed, 33, are on trial for stealing the money - provided through Federal and State government funding - from the parent company of the Muslim Ladies College, in Kenwick, and siphoning it to an account in Pakistan.
Both have denied stealing the money, claiming the money belonged to Anwar Sayed.
They say that because Sayed had ploughed more than $1 million of his own money into the school, he was legally entitled to withdraw the money from the school's bank account in April 2007 and use it to help set up a sister college in Afghanistan.
Sayed was in Pakistan when the money was transferred, but returned to Perth later that year. The prosecution says the money in dispute was federal and state funding for upkeep of the Kenwick school.
Defence lawyer Mark Trowell, QC, told a Perth District Court jury yesterday that Sayed had taken only about 30 per cent of what he was owed by the school.
Documents showed Sayed deferred his salary and rental income for four years until 2007, while he made cash deposits totalling at least $330,000 to the school, Mr Trowell said.
Sayed also deferred an annual rental income of $289,000 over four years and an average $35,000 a year in salary.
As one of three directors of the company, Sayed was authorised to withdraw funds from the company's account at his discretion, Mr Trowell said.
He added that no effort had been made by the two men to conceal the overseas transfer, as Zubair Sayed had given a bag containing cheque books to a staff member - which included the cheque butt in question - while the other signatory on the cheque "had no objection to the transfer".
The jury is expected to deliver a verdict today.
as posted here
Muslim school directors had no right to money: court
as posted here
JOSEPH SAPIENZA
September 16, 2009
Two brothers who allegedly stole $355,000 in public funding for a Perth Muslim girls' school and siphoned the funds to Pakistan had no legal entitlement to the money, a Perth court was told yesterday.
Anwar Sayed, 50, and his younger brother, Zubair, 33, have been on trial in the Perth District Court for more than a week, accused of stealing the money from Muslim Link Australia – a company that ran and helped set up the Muslim Ladies College in Kenwick – in April 2007.
The brothers were directors of Muslim Link Australia. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming Anwar Sayed was entitled to the money that was transferred out of the Commonwealth Bank account to a bank in Karachi, Pakistan.
It is claimed the money - granted to pay for maintenance and upkeep of the school - was transferred to set up a sister Islamic school in Kabul, Afghanistan.
During closing remarks, prosecutor Alan Troy said the school's board or treasurer did not approve any transaction for the brothers.
He further claimed Anwar Sayed had not put enough of his own money into the company to warrant the $355,000 withdrawal.
''There was no entitlement to this money that was transferred,'' he said.
''The prosecution does not say this is a case that Anwar Sayed did not put a single cent in to the school. But any money that he had contributed prior to April 16, 2007, was less than the money that was transferred out.''
Mr Troy said deferred lease, salary and rent agreements from the school to Anwar Sayed - who owned the land on which the school was built - were a ''recent invention, a falsity''.
''Those (lease, salary and rent) documents are not genuine, and only came into existence after the (police) search so as to justify what had happened in April,'' Mr Troy said.
Mr Troy questioned why Anwar Sayed did not take his salary from the beginning of 2005, when Federal and State government funding began to flow to the school.
He also noted the company accountant did not acknowledge the deferred rent - which indicated the agreements were spurious.
Mr Troy said another member of the company was forced to sign blank cheques, and that signatory only found out about the transfer in question a long time after it was made.
''It was a deliberate and underhand procedure,'' Mr Troy said of the transaction.
''It was quarantined and confined to the two accused.
''They took $355,000 from the account ... without convening a meeting, without notifying the accountant. They were the only people who knew about it.''
Lawyers for the two accused men will present their closing submissions this morning.
as posted here
JOSEPH SAPIENZA
September 16, 2009
Two brothers who allegedly stole $355,000 in public funding for a Perth Muslim girls' school and siphoned the funds to Pakistan had no legal entitlement to the money, a Perth court was told yesterday.
Anwar Sayed, 50, and his younger brother, Zubair, 33, have been on trial in the Perth District Court for more than a week, accused of stealing the money from Muslim Link Australia – a company that ran and helped set up the Muslim Ladies College in Kenwick – in April 2007.
The brothers were directors of Muslim Link Australia. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming Anwar Sayed was entitled to the money that was transferred out of the Commonwealth Bank account to a bank in Karachi, Pakistan.
It is claimed the money - granted to pay for maintenance and upkeep of the school - was transferred to set up a sister Islamic school in Kabul, Afghanistan.
During closing remarks, prosecutor Alan Troy said the school's board or treasurer did not approve any transaction for the brothers.
He further claimed Anwar Sayed had not put enough of his own money into the company to warrant the $355,000 withdrawal.
''There was no entitlement to this money that was transferred,'' he said.
''The prosecution does not say this is a case that Anwar Sayed did not put a single cent in to the school. But any money that he had contributed prior to April 16, 2007, was less than the money that was transferred out.''
Mr Troy said deferred lease, salary and rent agreements from the school to Anwar Sayed - who owned the land on which the school was built - were a ''recent invention, a falsity''.
''Those (lease, salary and rent) documents are not genuine, and only came into existence after the (police) search so as to justify what had happened in April,'' Mr Troy said.
Mr Troy questioned why Anwar Sayed did not take his salary from the beginning of 2005, when Federal and State government funding began to flow to the school.
He also noted the company accountant did not acknowledge the deferred rent - which indicated the agreements were spurious.
Mr Troy said another member of the company was forced to sign blank cheques, and that signatory only found out about the transfer in question a long time after it was made.
''It was a deliberate and underhand procedure,'' Mr Troy said of the transaction.
''It was quarantined and confined to the two accused.
''They took $355,000 from the account ... without convening a meeting, without notifying the accountant. They were the only people who knew about it.''
Lawyers for the two accused men will present their closing submissions this morning.
as posted here
Friday 18 September 2009
$98.4 million for kindergartens in WA
as posted here
The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth
17 September, 2009
Media release
$98.4 million for kindergartens in WA
The Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth Kate Ellis today announced $98.4 million to help build a world-class early childhood education system in Western Australia.
This significant investment will boost the number of kindergarten hours that eligible Western Australian children will receive in the coming years.
“Early childhood education is the foundation of the Government’s education revolution,” Ms Ellis said.
“We know that the quality of learning experiences during the early years of a child’s life set the stage for all future learning and development. And that is why we are making this major funding commitment.”
Ms Ellis said each state and territory has a different starting point, so will take different approaches to improving early childhood education, such as boosting the number of places, increasing the number of hours and reducing cost.
Welcoming the announcement, WA Education Minister Liz Constable said the increased hours of attendance would be offered at all public, independent and Catholic schools in WA by 2013.
“WA already offers 11 hours of early learning a week and has around 95 per cent participation and the Western Australian Government is committed to maintaining the state’s high rate of kindergarten participation and increasing the hours to 15 per week,” Dr Constable said.
“Schools will progressively be added each year on a district-by-district basis. The first group of schools for 2010 will be announced in coming weeks.
“By 2013 all WA children will have access to 15 hours of kindergarten by a university-trained early childhood teacher every week, 40 weeks per year.
“A priority for us is to improve the participation of Indigenous children to help close the gap between the achievements of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.”
The funding follows an agreement between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to implement the Council of Australian Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education.
The National Partnership supports the Government’s election commitment that by 2013, in the year before they start full time school all children will have access to 15 hours a week of quality early childhood education for 40 weeks a year, to be delivered by a university-trained early childhood teacher.
“The national partnership will help make kindergarten services more affordable and accessible for families,” Ms Ellis said.
“The Rudd Government has committed $970 million over five years to early childhood education through the national partnership. Of this major investment, $955 million will go directly to the states and territories to achieve universal access to early childhood education.”
The Rudd Government’s Universal Access initiative will also be supported by a range of early childhood reforms, including the implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework, which began in July 2009. This framework provides guidance to parents and early childhood educators to support early learning.
The Government has also committed $126.6 million nationally over four years to support the training and retention of more, better qualified early childhood professionals.
“Governments across Australia are working together to create a world-class early childhood education system, so that our children can have the best possible start in life,” Ms Ellis said.
Further details on the National Partnership for Early Childhood Education and Universal Access to childhood education can be found on the Early Childhood Policy Agenda page at www.deewr.gov.au.
Media Contact:
media@deewr.gov.au
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079
as posted here
The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth
17 September, 2009
Media release
$98.4 million for kindergartens in WA
The Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth Kate Ellis today announced $98.4 million to help build a world-class early childhood education system in Western Australia.
This significant investment will boost the number of kindergarten hours that eligible Western Australian children will receive in the coming years.
“Early childhood education is the foundation of the Government’s education revolution,” Ms Ellis said.
“We know that the quality of learning experiences during the early years of a child’s life set the stage for all future learning and development. And that is why we are making this major funding commitment.”
Ms Ellis said each state and territory has a different starting point, so will take different approaches to improving early childhood education, such as boosting the number of places, increasing the number of hours and reducing cost.
Welcoming the announcement, WA Education Minister Liz Constable said the increased hours of attendance would be offered at all public, independent and Catholic schools in WA by 2013.
“WA already offers 11 hours of early learning a week and has around 95 per cent participation and the Western Australian Government is committed to maintaining the state’s high rate of kindergarten participation and increasing the hours to 15 per week,” Dr Constable said.
“Schools will progressively be added each year on a district-by-district basis. The first group of schools for 2010 will be announced in coming weeks.
“By 2013 all WA children will have access to 15 hours of kindergarten by a university-trained early childhood teacher every week, 40 weeks per year.
“A priority for us is to improve the participation of Indigenous children to help close the gap between the achievements of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.”
The funding follows an agreement between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to implement the Council of Australian Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education.
The National Partnership supports the Government’s election commitment that by 2013, in the year before they start full time school all children will have access to 15 hours a week of quality early childhood education for 40 weeks a year, to be delivered by a university-trained early childhood teacher.
“The national partnership will help make kindergarten services more affordable and accessible for families,” Ms Ellis said.
“The Rudd Government has committed $970 million over five years to early childhood education through the national partnership. Of this major investment, $955 million will go directly to the states and territories to achieve universal access to early childhood education.”
The Rudd Government’s Universal Access initiative will also be supported by a range of early childhood reforms, including the implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework, which began in July 2009. This framework provides guidance to parents and early childhood educators to support early learning.
The Government has also committed $126.6 million nationally over four years to support the training and retention of more, better qualified early childhood professionals.
“Governments across Australia are working together to create a world-class early childhood education system, so that our children can have the best possible start in life,” Ms Ellis said.
Further details on the National Partnership for Early Childhood Education and Universal Access to childhood education can be found on the Early Childhood Policy Agenda page at www.deewr.gov.au.
Media Contact:
media@deewr.gov.au
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079
as posted here
Thursday 17 September 2009
School theft verdict
as posted here
In the District Court in Perth two brothers have been found not guilty of stealing more than $300,000 in government grants given to a Muslim school.
Anwar and Zubair Sayed stood trial accused of stealing the money while they were directors of the Muslim Ladies College in the Perth suburb of Kenwick.
It was alleged the money was transferred to an account in Pakistan with the intention of creating a sister school in Afghanistan.
The brothers denied any wrongdoing and today it took a jury three hours to acquit them.
as posted here
Two charged after police chase
as posted here
POLICE used stingers to stop an allegedly stolen Holden Statesman and end a pursuit through Perth's southern suburbs last night.
It will be alleged the car was stolen from Shelley at about 8.30pm last night and was later used in an aggravated burglary in Shelley.
A police chase began after the driver refused to stop for a patrol car on Gosnells West Rd in the early hours of the morning.
Police followed the car through Maddington onto Tonkin Hwy, where officers had laid tyre-puncturing stingers near the Kelvin Rd intersection.
The car was driven for several hundred metres on flat tyres before veering into scrub.
Two men were arrested after being tracked through the bush by a police dog.
A 25-year-old Maddington man was charged with aggravated burglary, car theft, reckless driving, failing to stop and not having a driver's licence. He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates court today.
A 17-year-old man from Forrestfield was charged with car theft and will appear in Armadale Children’s Court on Monday.
as posted here
POLICE used stingers to stop an allegedly stolen Holden Statesman and end a pursuit through Perth's southern suburbs last night.
It will be alleged the car was stolen from Shelley at about 8.30pm last night and was later used in an aggravated burglary in Shelley.
A police chase began after the driver refused to stop for a patrol car on Gosnells West Rd in the early hours of the morning.
Police followed the car through Maddington onto Tonkin Hwy, where officers had laid tyre-puncturing stingers near the Kelvin Rd intersection.
The car was driven for several hundred metres on flat tyres before veering into scrub.
Two men were arrested after being tracked through the bush by a police dog.
A 25-year-old Maddington man was charged with aggravated burglary, car theft, reckless driving, failing to stop and not having a driver's licence. He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates court today.
A 17-year-old man from Forrestfield was charged with car theft and will appear in Armadale Children’s Court on Monday.
as posted here
Fire at cannabis operation
as posted here
Police say faulty wiring in a hydroponic cannabis operation sparked a fire in a Perth home.
Emergency service crews were called to the Gosnells home yesterday.
A search uncovered an elaborate hydroponic set up in 3 bedrooms of the house.
Police found a number of mature cannabis plants, about 6 kilograms of cannabis and a shotgun.
A 46 year old Gosnells man has been charged with numerous offences and is due in court next week.
as posted here
Police say faulty wiring in a hydroponic cannabis operation sparked a fire in a Perth home.
Emergency service crews were called to the Gosnells home yesterday.
A search uncovered an elaborate hydroponic set up in 3 bedrooms of the house.
Police found a number of mature cannabis plants, about 6 kilograms of cannabis and a shotgun.
A 46 year old Gosnells man has been charged with numerous offences and is due in court next week.
as posted here
Stingers used to halt high-speed chase
as posted here
CHLOE JOHNSON
September 17, 2009 - 9:27AM
Two Perth men took police on a speedy pursuit this morning after stealing two vehicles during the night.
Police said a 25-year-old Maddington man and his 17-year-old accomplice from Forrestfield stole a Holden Statesman from a Maddington home about 8.30pm.
The duo used that car to drive to a house in Shelley, where police claim they stole another car, which they abandoned nearby.
Police said they spotted the Holden driving along Gosnells Road early this morning.
They attempted to stop the car but it continued to speed through several streets in Maddington and on to Tonkin Highway.
The vehicle came to a halt after police laid stingers on the road to puncture the car's tyres, causing it to veer off the road and into bushland.
Both men fled the car into the bush but were later found hiding in scrubland by police dogs.
Police did not say how fast the car was driving in the chase, but said it was well above designated speed limits.
The 25-year-old faces 11 charges including aggravated burglary and stealing a motor vehicle. He will appear in Perth's Magistrate's court today.
The 17-year-old was charged with stealing a motor vehicle and will appear in the Armadale Children's Court on September 21.
as posted here
CHLOE JOHNSON
September 17, 2009 - 9:27AM
Two Perth men took police on a speedy pursuit this morning after stealing two vehicles during the night.
Police said a 25-year-old Maddington man and his 17-year-old accomplice from Forrestfield stole a Holden Statesman from a Maddington home about 8.30pm.
The duo used that car to drive to a house in Shelley, where police claim they stole another car, which they abandoned nearby.
Police said they spotted the Holden driving along Gosnells Road early this morning.
They attempted to stop the car but it continued to speed through several streets in Maddington and on to Tonkin Highway.
The vehicle came to a halt after police laid stingers on the road to puncture the car's tyres, causing it to veer off the road and into bushland.
Both men fled the car into the bush but were later found hiding in scrubland by police dogs.
Police did not say how fast the car was driving in the chase, but said it was well above designated speed limits.
The 25-year-old faces 11 charges including aggravated burglary and stealing a motor vehicle. He will appear in Perth's Magistrate's court today.
The 17-year-old was charged with stealing a motor vehicle and will appear in the Armadale Children's Court on September 21.
as posted here
Two charged after police chase
as posted here
September 17, 2009 08:30am
TWO men have been charged following a pursuit through Perth's southern suburbs last night.
It will be alleged the men last night stole a Holden Statesman which was later used in an aggravated burglary in Shelley.
A pursuit began after the driver refused to stop for a police patrol car on Gosnells West Rd.
Police followed the car through Maddington onto Tonkin Hwy, where officers had laid tyre-puncturing stingers near the Kelvin Rd intersection.
The car was driven for several hundred metres on flat tyres before veering into scrub.
The two men were arrested after being tracked through the bush by a police dog.
A 25-year-old Maddington man was charged with aggravated burglary, car theft, reckless driving, failing to stop and not having a driver's licence. He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates court today.
A 17-year-old man from Forrestfield was charged with car theft and will appear in Armadale Children’s Court on Monday.
as posted here
September 17, 2009 08:30am
TWO men have been charged following a pursuit through Perth's southern suburbs last night.
It will be alleged the men last night stole a Holden Statesman which was later used in an aggravated burglary in Shelley.
A pursuit began after the driver refused to stop for a police patrol car on Gosnells West Rd.
Police followed the car through Maddington onto Tonkin Hwy, where officers had laid tyre-puncturing stingers near the Kelvin Rd intersection.
The car was driven for several hundred metres on flat tyres before veering into scrub.
The two men were arrested after being tracked through the bush by a police dog.
A 25-year-old Maddington man was charged with aggravated burglary, car theft, reckless driving, failing to stop and not having a driver's licence. He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates court today.
A 17-year-old man from Forrestfield was charged with car theft and will appear in Armadale Children’s Court on Monday.
as posted here
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Eco walks and talks celebrate nature at its best
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The Eco Walks and Talks season is on again and with the wildflowers in full bloom – now is the time to experience nature at its best.
City of Gosnells CEO Ian Cowie urged people not to miss the opportunity to enjoy walking through Ellis Brook Valley with naturalist Marc Lane and see some of Perth’s most spectacular bush reserves.
“Each walk allows you to discover new wildflowers and local birds, insects and animals,” Mr Cowie said.
“In October and November there are also night stalks at Ellis Brook Valley and Mary Carroll Park respectively, where people can bring their torches and spotlights for a guided night time ramble to discover the local nocturnal animals.
“Mary Carroll Park is one of Perth’s major breeding wetlands and a haven for waterbirds, songbirds, migratory birds, reptiles and turtles.
“People can enjoy a range of special activities such as Breakfast with Friends on 4 October, 2009 – where nature lovers can enjoy a breakfast in the park followed by an informative walk around the lake learning about bush site rehabilitation and observing waterbirds building their nests.
“Also at Mary Carroll Park on 1 November, the Adventure with Nature walk offers a pleasant stroll around the lake and the opportunity to discover a unique ecosystem with naturalist Eric McCrum,” he said.
Mr Cowie said other walks included the Wetlands Ramble at the Brixton Street Wetlands in Kenwick on 24 October.
“This walk is followed by morning tea with live music by Peta Lithgo and Malaika,” he said.
“At the Flora Walk on 7 November, people can also discover the amazing and unique plant life on offer at Brixton Street.”
The walks are run by the Friends of Ellis Brook Valley, Friends of Mary Carroll Park and Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands and supported by the City of Gosnells.
A gold coin donation is asked to support the work of the Friends groups.
If you would like a brochure or more information please call Leisure Services on 9452 9901 or visit www.gosnells.wa.gov.au
as posted here
The Eco Walks and Talks season is on again and with the wildflowers in full bloom – now is the time to experience nature at its best.
City of Gosnells CEO Ian Cowie urged people not to miss the opportunity to enjoy walking through Ellis Brook Valley with naturalist Marc Lane and see some of Perth’s most spectacular bush reserves.
“Each walk allows you to discover new wildflowers and local birds, insects and animals,” Mr Cowie said.
“In October and November there are also night stalks at Ellis Brook Valley and Mary Carroll Park respectively, where people can bring their torches and spotlights for a guided night time ramble to discover the local nocturnal animals.
“Mary Carroll Park is one of Perth’s major breeding wetlands and a haven for waterbirds, songbirds, migratory birds, reptiles and turtles.
“People can enjoy a range of special activities such as Breakfast with Friends on 4 October, 2009 – where nature lovers can enjoy a breakfast in the park followed by an informative walk around the lake learning about bush site rehabilitation and observing waterbirds building their nests.
“Also at Mary Carroll Park on 1 November, the Adventure with Nature walk offers a pleasant stroll around the lake and the opportunity to discover a unique ecosystem with naturalist Eric McCrum,” he said.
Mr Cowie said other walks included the Wetlands Ramble at the Brixton Street Wetlands in Kenwick on 24 October.
“This walk is followed by morning tea with live music by Peta Lithgo and Malaika,” he said.
“At the Flora Walk on 7 November, people can also discover the amazing and unique plant life on offer at Brixton Street.”
The walks are run by the Friends of Ellis Brook Valley, Friends of Mary Carroll Park and Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands and supported by the City of Gosnells.
A gold coin donation is asked to support the work of the Friends groups.
If you would like a brochure or more information please call Leisure Services on 9452 9901 or visit www.gosnells.wa.gov.au
as posted here
Tuesday 15 September 2009
Parents will receive individual student reports from today
as posted here
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Minister for Education. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Minister for Social Inclusion
Deputy Prime Minister
14 September, 2009
Media release
Parents will receive individual student reports from today
From today, parents of students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 that sat the 2009 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will receive a report on their child’s individual performance.
Parents will receive a Student Report (format attached below) which will outline their child's performance on an achievement scale for each assessment area of reading, writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation and numeracy.
Results across the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 literacy and numeracy assessments are reported on a scale from Band 1 to Band 10.
The achievement scale represents increasing levels of skills and understanding demonstrated in the assessments.
The scale clearly identifies the national average for the grade and in a number of States, the scale also shows the school average for the grade and subject.
Of course, the information contained in the Student Report should be considered together with school-based assessments and reports.
Before the start of the next school year, the new Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will publish school profiles online for the very first time.
The profile of each school, government and non-government, will provide accurate data on individual school performance and important, relevant data about school context.
The school profiles will include school level results from the 2008 and 2009 literacy and numeracy assessments, painting a much clearer picture of school performance around the country.
These transparency measures will give parents, teachers and the public much better information about how schools are going and allow governments to target additional resources to schools which may be struggling.
The Rudd Government has made it perfectly clear that we are not interested in simplistic league tables which rank schools according to raw test scores because they do not actually tell us very much about how a school and their students are going.
The Rudd Government believes parents want and need comprehensive, meaningful information about how their child is doing at school, particularly in relation to the key learning areas of literacy and numeracy.
Together with the new National Curriculum currently under development, the Education Revolution will achieve a renewed focus on the foundation skills of literacy and numeracy.
The Rudd Government believes it’s time we stopped averting our eyes from poor performance and ensure every Australian child is receiving a world class education.
Last week the 2009 NAPLAN National Summary Report was released by the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA).
The 2009 NAPLAN Summary Report is available at NAPLAN website.
More information visit the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website.
The Principles and Protocols for Reporting on Schooling in Australia is also available on the MCEECDYA website.
Student Report ( PDF 217KB)
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office Phone: 02 6277 7758
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office Emai: media@dpm.gov.au
as posted here
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Minister for Education. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Minister for Social Inclusion
Deputy Prime Minister
14 September, 2009
Media release
Parents will receive individual student reports from today
From today, parents of students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 that sat the 2009 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will receive a report on their child’s individual performance.
Parents will receive a Student Report (format attached below) which will outline their child's performance on an achievement scale for each assessment area of reading, writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation and numeracy.
Results across the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 literacy and numeracy assessments are reported on a scale from Band 1 to Band 10.
The achievement scale represents increasing levels of skills and understanding demonstrated in the assessments.
The scale clearly identifies the national average for the grade and in a number of States, the scale also shows the school average for the grade and subject.
Of course, the information contained in the Student Report should be considered together with school-based assessments and reports.
Before the start of the next school year, the new Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will publish school profiles online for the very first time.
The profile of each school, government and non-government, will provide accurate data on individual school performance and important, relevant data about school context.
The school profiles will include school level results from the 2008 and 2009 literacy and numeracy assessments, painting a much clearer picture of school performance around the country.
These transparency measures will give parents, teachers and the public much better information about how schools are going and allow governments to target additional resources to schools which may be struggling.
The Rudd Government has made it perfectly clear that we are not interested in simplistic league tables which rank schools according to raw test scores because they do not actually tell us very much about how a school and their students are going.
The Rudd Government believes parents want and need comprehensive, meaningful information about how their child is doing at school, particularly in relation to the key learning areas of literacy and numeracy.
Together with the new National Curriculum currently under development, the Education Revolution will achieve a renewed focus on the foundation skills of literacy and numeracy.
The Rudd Government believes it’s time we stopped averting our eyes from poor performance and ensure every Australian child is receiving a world class education.
Last week the 2009 NAPLAN National Summary Report was released by the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA).
The 2009 NAPLAN Summary Report is available at NAPLAN website.
More information visit the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website.
The Principles and Protocols for Reporting on Schooling in Australia is also available on the MCEECDYA website.
Student Report ( PDF 217KB)
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office Phone: 02 6277 7758
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office Emai: media@dpm.gov.au
as posted here
Pistol whipped man treated
as posted here
A man has been treated in hospital after being pistol whipped at a house in Thornlie.
Police say the victim was assaulted after inviting 2 men into his house just after 11:00 pm last night.
An argument broke out between the men and the victim was hit with a pistol.
He managed to lock himself in a bedroom and call police as the men stole a laptop and left the house.
The man has been treated in hospital for minor injuries.
as posted here
A man has been treated in hospital after being pistol whipped at a house in Thornlie.
Police say the victim was assaulted after inviting 2 men into his house just after 11:00 pm last night.
An argument broke out between the men and the victim was hit with a pistol.
He managed to lock himself in a bedroom and call police as the men stole a laptop and left the house.
The man has been treated in hospital for minor injuries.
as posted here
Man pistol whipped during fight
as posted here
A MAN was pistol whipped and doused with pepper spray in what police suspect was a drug deal gone wrong in Thornlie last night.
Police say two men went to a house in Elliot Place at about 11pm and argued with an occupant inside the property.
During the dispute, one of the intruders produced a gun which he bashed the victim with. The other intruder then sprayed the man and another occupant with pepper spray.
The two victims managed to lock themselves in a room and later emerged to discover a laptop had been stolen.
Police enquiries are continuing.
as posted here
A MAN was pistol whipped and doused with pepper spray in what police suspect was a drug deal gone wrong in Thornlie last night.
Police say two men went to a house in Elliot Place at about 11pm and argued with an occupant inside the property.
During the dispute, one of the intruders produced a gun which he bashed the victim with. The other intruder then sprayed the man and another occupant with pepper spray.
The two victims managed to lock themselves in a room and later emerged to discover a laptop had been stolen.
Police enquiries are continuing.
as posted here
Thornlie man attacked with gun and pepper spray
as posted here
A man was pistol-whipped and doused in pepper spray during a fight at his Thornlie home overnight.
A police spokeswoman said two men visited the man at his Elliot Place house about 11pm.
An argument began and the resident fell to the ground after being hit with the gun.
He escaped to a back bedroom and when he emerged he found his laptop had been stolen and the men had left.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333000.
as posted here
A man was pistol-whipped and doused in pepper spray during a fight at his Thornlie home overnight.
A police spokeswoman said two men visited the man at his Elliot Place house about 11pm.
An argument began and the resident fell to the ground after being hit with the gun.
He escaped to a back bedroom and when he emerged he found his laptop had been stolen and the men had left.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333000.
as posted here
Schools wait in line
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FIVE local primary schools and two high schools have applied to become independent public schools from next year.
They are Bletchley Park Primary School in Southern River, Campbell Primary School in Canning Vale, Mundijong Primary School, Neerigen Brook Primary School, Challis Primary and Early Childhood Education Centre, Kelmscott Senior High School and Yule Brook College in Maddington.
Education Minister Liz Constable said the Department of Education and Training had received 102 expressions of interest from schools throughout WA.
“It is clear this initiative has been seen by many different schools as offering the kinds of flexibilities they need to ensure their students have the best possible learning opportunities,” Dr Constable said.
She said the process of deciding which schools will be given independent status for next year was already under way.
An induction program for principals, registrars and school councils would start in October.
“These schools are still public schools, with all the support and backing of the public school system in WA,” Dr Constable said. “However, they will have more ownership of overall school direction, teacher selection, education programs, values and ethos, discipline and behaviour management.”
There would also be strict accountability measures in place and the schools needed to abide by legislation and industrial agreements.
Schools that are unsuccessful this year will automatically be considered for 2011 when applications are reopened for new entrants.
as posted here
FIVE local primary schools and two high schools have applied to become independent public schools from next year.
They are Bletchley Park Primary School in Southern River, Campbell Primary School in Canning Vale, Mundijong Primary School, Neerigen Brook Primary School, Challis Primary and Early Childhood Education Centre, Kelmscott Senior High School and Yule Brook College in Maddington.
Education Minister Liz Constable said the Department of Education and Training had received 102 expressions of interest from schools throughout WA.
“It is clear this initiative has been seen by many different schools as offering the kinds of flexibilities they need to ensure their students have the best possible learning opportunities,” Dr Constable said.
She said the process of deciding which schools will be given independent status for next year was already under way.
An induction program for principals, registrars and school councils would start in October.
“These schools are still public schools, with all the support and backing of the public school system in WA,” Dr Constable said. “However, they will have more ownership of overall school direction, teacher selection, education programs, values and ethos, discipline and behaviour management.”
There would also be strict accountability measures in place and the schools needed to abide by legislation and industrial agreements.
Schools that are unsuccessful this year will automatically be considered for 2011 when applications are reopened for new entrants.
as posted here
30 join race for council
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THE race is on for the October 17 local government elections, with 30 candidates vying for 14 seats in Armadale, Gosnells and Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
In Armadale, 13 candidates will contest six seats in the first-past-the-post contest for four-year terms.
Donna Shaw and Jim Stewart will contest Heron ward, June MacDonald and Bret Busby (Lake), Ruth Butterfield and Mark Dadd (River), Laurie Scidone and Caroline Wielinga (Jarrah), and Laurie Sargeson and Graham Wallace (Palomino).
There will be a three-way contest for Minnawarra between George Scott, Trevor Bourne and Matt Norman.
Councillors John Knezevich (Minnawarra) and Jim Everts (Palomino) will not re-contest their seats.
With no opponents, Guenter Best will retain his seat of Neerigen.
In Gosnells, the ward system has been eliminated, leaving 12 candidates to battle it out for six seats in a city-wide contest.
They are Roger Drew, Terry Brown, Olwen Searle, Ron Hoffman, Jennifer Napolitano, Susan Iwanyk, Salim Youssef, Julie Brown, Simon Tarnawskyj, Karen Jayne Jones, Frank Fretz and Daniel Stevens.
In Serpentine-Jarrahdale, five candidates will contest two seats, with Jackie Marsh, Tom Hoyer and Alex McHoul up for the Central ward and Denyse Needham and Ann-Marie Lowry (South).
North West councillors Kevin Murphy and Beth Brown, and Byford councillor Merri Harris have been re-elected unopposed.
All councillors will be elected via postal voting, which is being supervised by the WA Electoral Commission.
as posted here
THE race is on for the October 17 local government elections, with 30 candidates vying for 14 seats in Armadale, Gosnells and Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
In Armadale, 13 candidates will contest six seats in the first-past-the-post contest for four-year terms.
Donna Shaw and Jim Stewart will contest Heron ward, June MacDonald and Bret Busby (Lake), Ruth Butterfield and Mark Dadd (River), Laurie Scidone and Caroline Wielinga (Jarrah), and Laurie Sargeson and Graham Wallace (Palomino).
There will be a three-way contest for Minnawarra between George Scott, Trevor Bourne and Matt Norman.
Councillors John Knezevich (Minnawarra) and Jim Everts (Palomino) will not re-contest their seats.
With no opponents, Guenter Best will retain his seat of Neerigen.
In Gosnells, the ward system has been eliminated, leaving 12 candidates to battle it out for six seats in a city-wide contest.
They are Roger Drew, Terry Brown, Olwen Searle, Ron Hoffman, Jennifer Napolitano, Susan Iwanyk, Salim Youssef, Julie Brown, Simon Tarnawskyj, Karen Jayne Jones, Frank Fretz and Daniel Stevens.
In Serpentine-Jarrahdale, five candidates will contest two seats, with Jackie Marsh, Tom Hoyer and Alex McHoul up for the Central ward and Denyse Needham and Ann-Marie Lowry (South).
North West councillors Kevin Murphy and Beth Brown, and Byford councillor Merri Harris have been re-elected unopposed.
All councillors will be elected via postal voting, which is being supervised by the WA Electoral Commission.
as posted here
Turning a new page
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STAFF are busy stacking books on shelves as the new Amherst Village Community Centre in Southern River prepares to open to the public on Tuesday, September 29.
Thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and other materials available for use by the community have been moved in.
Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie said the Amherst Village Community Centre would cater for people of all ages, providing a place where the community could come together.
“The City of Gosnells is thrilled to provide residents with a state-of-the-art community centre that will have a modern library, function area and somewhere for young people to enjoy themselves,” Mr Cowie said.
“It will be a vital element of an area which is now well established with restaurants, shops, entertainment and services.”
The centre will also have a strong youth focus and the City’s youth services team is busy preparing programs for people aged from 12 to 25.
Young people will have access to computers, a digital film suite, recording studio and recreational equipment such as a pool table, table soccer, table tennis, Wii and an outdoor area with barbecues.
The facility is at the corner of Warton Road and Holmes Street.
as posted here
STAFF are busy stacking books on shelves as the new Amherst Village Community Centre in Southern River prepares to open to the public on Tuesday, September 29.
Thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and other materials available for use by the community have been moved in.
Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie said the Amherst Village Community Centre would cater for people of all ages, providing a place where the community could come together.
“The City of Gosnells is thrilled to provide residents with a state-of-the-art community centre that will have a modern library, function area and somewhere for young people to enjoy themselves,” Mr Cowie said.
“It will be a vital element of an area which is now well established with restaurants, shops, entertainment and services.”
The centre will also have a strong youth focus and the City’s youth services team is busy preparing programs for people aged from 12 to 25.
Young people will have access to computers, a digital film suite, recording studio and recreational equipment such as a pool table, table soccer, table tennis, Wii and an outdoor area with barbecues.
The facility is at the corner of Warton Road and Holmes Street.
as posted here
Council veteran calls it quits
VETERAN Gosnells councillor and former mayor Pat Morris has decided not to contest her seat at the election.
Cr Morris has been a councillor for 23 years and was mayor for two terms from 1989 to 1993 and 1999 to 2007.
“I think I’m the longest-serving mayor the City has ever had and I’ve been absolutely satisfied with everything that has been achieved within my term as the mayor and a councillor,” she said.
Cr Morris praised the working relationship she had with former chief executive Stuart Jardine and the council’s directors during her second term as mayor.
“We achieved some absolutely monumental changes with our executive team of how Gosnells is today,” she said.
“I’ve seen some amazing changes to our city from a tiny community of 5000 people in Thornlie when I moved there 50 years ago to somewhere between 95,000 and 100,000 people today.”
Cr Morris said she would remain active in the community and keep busy with her extended family. She said she would miss daily contact with residents.
“I’ve always been a committed community representative for them and that’s what I’ll miss.”
as posted here
Monday 14 September 2009
Drugs, knife netted during traffic stop
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DANIEL EMERSON
September 13, 2009 - 3:32PM
Police have charged a Huntington man with a range of drug related offences after pulling over a car and allegedly finding illegal substances and a weapon yesterday.
The 22-year-old man was pulled over on Wellington Street in Perth at about 12.30am by traffic officers who allegedly found a knife on a passenger and MDMA tablets in a clip seal bag in the car.
The driver was taken to a police station where police allege cannabis was found hidden in his clothing.
Police later searched the man's home in Huntingdale where officers allegedly found a hydroponic cannabis-growing operation and more of the drug.
The man has been charged with possessing and intending to sell cannabis and MDMA, possession of cannabis and cultivating a prohibited plant.
He is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrate's court on Friday.
as posted here
DANIEL EMERSON
September 13, 2009 - 3:32PM
Police have charged a Huntington man with a range of drug related offences after pulling over a car and allegedly finding illegal substances and a weapon yesterday.
The 22-year-old man was pulled over on Wellington Street in Perth at about 12.30am by traffic officers who allegedly found a knife on a passenger and MDMA tablets in a clip seal bag in the car.
The driver was taken to a police station where police allege cannabis was found hidden in his clothing.
Police later searched the man's home in Huntingdale where officers allegedly found a hydroponic cannabis-growing operation and more of the drug.
The man has been charged with possessing and intending to sell cannabis and MDMA, possession of cannabis and cultivating a prohibited plant.
He is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrate's court on Friday.
as posted here
TERRY BROWN - CANDIDATE
I am a currently serving as Councillor for your City of Gosnells and have resided in Kenwick for past 31 years with significant experience working for local communities in the following roles;
· Chairman of Gosnells Neighbourhood Watch committee
· 18 years as WACSSO councillor representing 32 government school P&C committees
· Member of Bickley Ward Progress and Ratepayers association
· Eight years as member of the Maddington/Kenwick Sustainable Community Leadership Network
· Eight years as member of the Gosnells Safe City Taskforce
· Neighbourhood Watch program in Kenwick
· Established the East Kenwick Safety House committee and program
I have a clear understanding of sports clubs, schools, business and commerce, seniors and youth’s interests, having assisted as an independent, impartial decision maker, vigorously and honestly representing community interests.
Be assured I have the time, energy and local knowledge to be your voice in your Council.
Address: 1 Oakley Court Kenwick W.A. 6107
Tel: 94599693 (H) 94599693 (Fax)
Email: teb [AT] tpg.com.au
· Chairman of Gosnells Neighbourhood Watch committee
· 18 years as WACSSO councillor representing 32 government school P&C committees
· Member of Bickley Ward Progress and Ratepayers association
· Eight years as member of the Maddington/Kenwick Sustainable Community Leadership Network
· Eight years as member of the Gosnells Safe City Taskforce
· Neighbourhood Watch program in Kenwick
· Established the East Kenwick Safety House committee and program
I have a clear understanding of sports clubs, schools, business and commerce, seniors and youth’s interests, having assisted as an independent, impartial decision maker, vigorously and honestly representing community interests.
Be assured I have the time, energy and local knowledge to be your voice in your Council.
Address: 1 Oakley Court Kenwick W.A. 6107
Tel: 94599693 (H) 94599693 (Fax)
Email: teb [AT] tpg.com.au
Sunday 13 September 2009
Thornlie skate park to get a major facelift
as posted here
The City of Gosnells is set to give the Thornlie Civic Precinct a major facelift thanks to Federal Government funding.
The precinct – which sits between the Thornlie Skate Park, Leisure World and Thornlie Library – will be redesigned to create better access for all three facilities and to encourage positive behaviour.
City of Gosnells CEO Ian Cowie said the work was being undertaken to address community concerns raised in a 2007 review.
“The review contained recommendations for design changes based on designing out crime principles and also programming initiatives,” he said.
“Together these recommendations are intended to minimise the potential for anti-social behaviour and address access issues for the Skate Park, library and leisure centre users to ease current conflict.”
Mr Cowie said the Council recognised that many different age groups used the area and the aim was to ensure the needs and requirements of all the users were taken into account.
“There is solid evidence to show that creating a better environment also encourages better behaviour,” he said.
“Work to make it easier to access one facility without going through another will also reduce issues.
“The City has a proven track record of developing excellent facilities for many different users and this project will add to that list.”
The Thornlie Civic Precinct Revitalisation Project begins in September 2009 with funding secured from the Australian Government’s Safer Suburbs Plan.
Mr Cowie said the Federal Government support was much appreciated.
“Infrastructure needs in our fast-growing City cannot be met without assistance from other levels of government. This project is an example of local and Federal governments working together to deliver results to the community.”
A concept plan of the scope of works taking place is on display at Thornlie Library and Leisure World and works are expected to be completed by December 2009.
as posted here
The City of Gosnells is set to give the Thornlie Civic Precinct a major facelift thanks to Federal Government funding.
The precinct – which sits between the Thornlie Skate Park, Leisure World and Thornlie Library – will be redesigned to create better access for all three facilities and to encourage positive behaviour.
City of Gosnells CEO Ian Cowie said the work was being undertaken to address community concerns raised in a 2007 review.
“The review contained recommendations for design changes based on designing out crime principles and also programming initiatives,” he said.
“Together these recommendations are intended to minimise the potential for anti-social behaviour and address access issues for the Skate Park, library and leisure centre users to ease current conflict.”
Mr Cowie said the Council recognised that many different age groups used the area and the aim was to ensure the needs and requirements of all the users were taken into account.
“There is solid evidence to show that creating a better environment also encourages better behaviour,” he said.
“Work to make it easier to access one facility without going through another will also reduce issues.
“The City has a proven track record of developing excellent facilities for many different users and this project will add to that list.”
The Thornlie Civic Precinct Revitalisation Project begins in September 2009 with funding secured from the Australian Government’s Safer Suburbs Plan.
Mr Cowie said the Federal Government support was much appreciated.
“Infrastructure needs in our fast-growing City cannot be met without assistance from other levels of government. This project is an example of local and Federal governments working together to deliver results to the community.”
A concept plan of the scope of works taking place is on display at Thornlie Library and Leisure World and works are expected to be completed by December 2009.
as posted here
Local residents can now safely recycle household batteries
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City residents can now safely dispose of household dry-cell batteries at recycling bins delivered to locations around the City of Gosnells.
City of Gosnells CEO Ian Cowie said the bins were located in the City’s Administration Building on Albany Highway, Gosnells, the Operations Centre in Maddington, the Kenwick Library, Knowledge Centre in Gosnells and Leisure World in Thornlie.
“I am delighted the City can be a part of this ground breaking new recycling initiative,” Mr Cowie said.
“The program is being administered by the Dry-Cell Battery Working Group and involves all five of Perth’s metropolitan regional councils – including the Southern, Eastern, Western, Mindarie and Rivers Regional Councils.”
It is estimated that more than 18 million household batteries are thrown away in WA each year and by eliminating household batteries from ordinary household rubbish, they can be recycled into a range of valuable new products such as streetlights, car parts and building materials, rather than going to waste.
The new battery recycling bins accept most household batteries including AA and AAA cells (single use and rechargeable), C and D sized batteries, watch batteries and 6 and 9V batteries.
For more information go to www.zerowastewa.com.au/recovery/community/batteries/
as posted here
City residents can now safely dispose of household dry-cell batteries at recycling bins delivered to locations around the City of Gosnells.
City of Gosnells CEO Ian Cowie said the bins were located in the City’s Administration Building on Albany Highway, Gosnells, the Operations Centre in Maddington, the Kenwick Library, Knowledge Centre in Gosnells and Leisure World in Thornlie.
“I am delighted the City can be a part of this ground breaking new recycling initiative,” Mr Cowie said.
“The program is being administered by the Dry-Cell Battery Working Group and involves all five of Perth’s metropolitan regional councils – including the Southern, Eastern, Western, Mindarie and Rivers Regional Councils.”
It is estimated that more than 18 million household batteries are thrown away in WA each year and by eliminating household batteries from ordinary household rubbish, they can be recycled into a range of valuable new products such as streetlights, car parts and building materials, rather than going to waste.
The new battery recycling bins accept most household batteries including AA and AAA cells (single use and rechargeable), C and D sized batteries, watch batteries and 6 and 9V batteries.
For more information go to www.zerowastewa.com.au/recovery/community/batteries/
as posted here
Local Government Elections - Saturday 17 October 2009
as posted here
ORDER OF BALLOT DRAW
Drawn at 4pm Thursday 10 September 2009 at the City of Gosnells Administration Building.
Local Government Elections - Saturday 17 October 2009
DREW, Roger
BROWN, Terry
SEARLE, Olwen
HOFFMAN, Ron
NAPOLITANO, Jennifer
IWANYK, Susan
YOUSSEF, Salim
BROWN, Julie
TARNAWSKYJ, Simon
JONES, Karen Jayne
FRETZ, Frank
STEVENS, Daniel
as posted here
One must note that one of the currently sitting Councillors [Cr Patricia (Pat) Morris AM JP Honorary Freeman (Mrs)] does not seem to have re-nominated, does this mean that she has/wiil retire for the local government scene ...
ORDER OF BALLOT DRAW
Drawn at 4pm Thursday 10 September 2009 at the City of Gosnells Administration Building.
Local Government Elections - Saturday 17 October 2009
DREW, Roger
BROWN, Terry
SEARLE, Olwen
HOFFMAN, Ron
NAPOLITANO, Jennifer
IWANYK, Susan
YOUSSEF, Salim
BROWN, Julie
TARNAWSKYJ, Simon
JONES, Karen Jayne
FRETZ, Frank
STEVENS, Daniel
as posted here
One must note that one of the currently sitting Councillors [Cr Patricia (Pat) Morris AM JP Honorary Freeman (Mrs)] does not seem to have re-nominated, does this mean that she has/wiil retire for the local government scene ...
Man faces ecstasy, cannabis charges
as posted here
A 22-year-old man is facing a string of drug charges after police allegedly found ecstasy and cannabis in his car and house yesterday morning.
Police also allegedly found a knife on the man's passenger when his car was stopped by police on Wellington Street in Perth just before 12.30am.
It will be alleged a further search of the vehicle located a number of tablets in a clip seal bag which police believe was MDMA.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to a police station where it will be further alleged an amount of cannabis was found hidden in his clothing.
A Huntingdale house was searched where police found a hydroponic set-up and a further amount of cannabis.
The man was charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply, possess a prohibited drug and cultivate a prohibited plant.
He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. Two other people will be summonsed over related offences.
as posted here
A 22-year-old man is facing a string of drug charges after police allegedly found ecstasy and cannabis in his car and house yesterday morning.
Police also allegedly found a knife on the man's passenger when his car was stopped by police on Wellington Street in Perth just before 12.30am.
It will be alleged a further search of the vehicle located a number of tablets in a clip seal bag which police believe was MDMA.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to a police station where it will be further alleged an amount of cannabis was found hidden in his clothing.
A Huntingdale house was searched where police found a hydroponic set-up and a further amount of cannabis.
The man was charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply, possess a prohibited drug and cultivate a prohibited plant.
He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday. Two other people will be summonsed over related offences.
as posted here
Saturday 12 September 2009
Case closed on Dante Arthurs sex assault police blunder
as posted here
EXCLUSIVE: THE Police officers who botched an investigation into an indecent assault by sex monster Dante Arthurs will face no disciplinary action.
The decision comes after a corruption probe found they made ``an honest error'' -- three years before Arthurs raped and killed schoolgirl Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia Shu.
The Corruption and Crime Commission findings, released to The Sunday Times this week, determined there was no misconduct by police over their investigation of the attack against an eight-year-old girl in a Canning Vale park in December, 2003.
The inquiry found that police made ``an honest error'' in failing to forensically test Arthurs' blood-spattered shorts after he was charged with indecent assault and deprivation of liberty over the incident.
Arthurs was charged by police at the time, but after a review of the evidence the DPP discontinued the prosecution.
Police have been under intense scrutiny that their failure to test the shorts and the conduct of two officers in a heavy-handed video interview, deemed inadmissible by the DPP, may have ultimately contributed to Sofia's death by allowing Arthurs to go free.
But the CCC investigation found that any suggestion the events could have prevented Sofia's death, less than three years later, was ``no more than speculation''.
Eight-year-old Sofia's naked body was found by her 14-year-old brother on the floor of a toilet cubicle at Livingston Marketplace Shopping Centre at Canning Vale on June 26, 2006.
In November 2007, Arthurs was sentenced to life for Sofia's murder, with a minimum of 13 years before being eligible for parole.
At that time, Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said it appeared that police had bungled the investigation into the 2003 attack, in which the girl was grabbed from behind and dragged towards trees, but managed to bite the offender and free herself.
He requested the CCC conduct an independent investigation.
In a statement to The Sunday Times, CCC Commissioner Len Roberts-Smith QC said he had sent a letter to Mr O'Callaghan advising that the CCC did not have the statutory function to comment about any possible impact the failure of the 2003 police investigation may have had on Sofia's murder.
In the statement, Mr Roberts-Smith said the CCC had found that:
While the decision to not have Arthurs' clothing forensically tested was ``extremely unfortunate'', it was ``an honest error'' and there was no misconduct by the police officers involved.
While the two detectives who conducted the forceful video interviews with Arthurs in 2003 did not engage in misconduct under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act, they had not followed police regulations, and
The internal police investigation into the actions of two detectives who conducted the interviews with Arthurs in 2003 was conducted adequately.
Sofia's mother, Josephine, and the DPP yesterday declined to comment.
as posted here
EXCLUSIVE: THE Police officers who botched an investigation into an indecent assault by sex monster Dante Arthurs will face no disciplinary action.
The decision comes after a corruption probe found they made ``an honest error'' -- three years before Arthurs raped and killed schoolgirl Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia Shu.
The Corruption and Crime Commission findings, released to The Sunday Times this week, determined there was no misconduct by police over their investigation of the attack against an eight-year-old girl in a Canning Vale park in December, 2003.
The inquiry found that police made ``an honest error'' in failing to forensically test Arthurs' blood-spattered shorts after he was charged with indecent assault and deprivation of liberty over the incident.
Arthurs was charged by police at the time, but after a review of the evidence the DPP discontinued the prosecution.
Police have been under intense scrutiny that their failure to test the shorts and the conduct of two officers in a heavy-handed video interview, deemed inadmissible by the DPP, may have ultimately contributed to Sofia's death by allowing Arthurs to go free.
But the CCC investigation found that any suggestion the events could have prevented Sofia's death, less than three years later, was ``no more than speculation''.
Eight-year-old Sofia's naked body was found by her 14-year-old brother on the floor of a toilet cubicle at Livingston Marketplace Shopping Centre at Canning Vale on June 26, 2006.
In November 2007, Arthurs was sentenced to life for Sofia's murder, with a minimum of 13 years before being eligible for parole.
At that time, Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said it appeared that police had bungled the investigation into the 2003 attack, in which the girl was grabbed from behind and dragged towards trees, but managed to bite the offender and free herself.
He requested the CCC conduct an independent investigation.
In a statement to The Sunday Times, CCC Commissioner Len Roberts-Smith QC said he had sent a letter to Mr O'Callaghan advising that the CCC did not have the statutory function to comment about any possible impact the failure of the 2003 police investigation may have had on Sofia's murder.
In the statement, Mr Roberts-Smith said the CCC had found that:
While the decision to not have Arthurs' clothing forensically tested was ``extremely unfortunate'', it was ``an honest error'' and there was no misconduct by the police officers involved.
While the two detectives who conducted the forceful video interviews with Arthurs in 2003 did not engage in misconduct under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act, they had not followed police regulations, and
The internal police investigation into the actions of two detectives who conducted the interviews with Arthurs in 2003 was conducted adequately.
Sofia's mother, Josephine, and the DPP yesterday declined to comment.
as posted here
Voluntary Contributions
I was in the kitchen this morning and I noticed a piece of paper on the bench, my family like many seem to love to fill any flat surface in the house with objects, I am the sort of person that believes that everything has a place, and that if you pick up something it usually has a place for it to go back too (workplace training), but anyway I live in a house of a reasonable level of clutter, but back to the piece of paper, I picked it up as I do and noticed that it was a Statement, I thought this was unusual for this sort of thing to be lying around, as my wife handles the family accounts and very well considering the limited income that we live on (my fault, lack of ambition, I am a low income wage earner) usually she would have this in her book of bills and would pay it as soon as possible. The thing that struck me about this particular bill or as it says it was a statement, not a tax invoice as such but a statement, but clearly at the bottom of the sheet it says Total Balance Owing, this particular statement had a total owing of $63.50, my first thought was to have a look at the statement date, it was for July so my first thought is why has it not been paid, believing that if it had been paid it would be in its appropriate place in the wifes bill book, the statement is like any other statement has charges on it and Cash payments listed, I can see that my wife has made payments on some of the charges but two of the charges appeared to be outstanding on amount of $3.50 for Culture Fusion Incursion NAIDOC Week, my wife and children being of Aboriginal decent, I was curions why this had not been paid and intend to ask if it had been paid as it should, but the other "Charge" was Voluntary Contributions, an amount of $60, hence the total at the bottom owing of $63.50, I can understand the amount of $3.50, but for the life ov me I can not understand why we have a statement telling me that we "owe" $60.
Now I understand that the issue of Voluntary Contributions in Public Schools is a hotly discussed issue, and I have heard of Principals getting in to a lot of trouble because of the way that they word letters sent out to parents demanding payment of these contributions, now the amount in itself of $60 is not unreasonable, but clearly it has the word "voluntary" in front of it, now myself, which you can probably tell by my poor grammar am the result of a Public Education, but I found it hard to understand how a voluntary contribution can we consider an amount owing ...
I do admit to owing money, we have a mortgage, credit cards and utility bills, I consider these to be a debt that has to be paid, and if someone gives me a statement with an amount owing I believe that they should justify this amount, and if they cannot then they should give me an statement that reflects the amount that I owe.
A few, not most, would say "just pay it", a few people will just pay it because its say it is owed, but the point is it is not an amount that is owed, 400 years ago under the reign of Queen Elisabeth I the education system that we now have started to form, before that only the rich had any chance of an education, now days, education is compulsory, we have the choice of a public education or a private education that we must pay for, I personally see no advantage in a private education, and the fact is an institution or business that trades as a private school is only doing so to make money, a business by definition must strive to increase it profits, which may mean downgrading its services, obviously there are private schools out there that provide a high level of education but they are well and truly way out of my income level, and yes by denying my children that level of education I feel guilty, but to be made to feel guilty because I don't pay $60 to my child's public school is so wrong if I was financially independent I would have them in the best school but then again I believe they need the social education that only a public school can provide.
Now if you take the word "contribution" in to account it does get quite messy, basically it implies a payment or a gift, now if you say a voluntary payment, well why would you, but if you say a voluntary gift this makes sense, so whats the problem, well State Schools are consider to be a State Government Entity and State Government Entities are not entitled to receive tax deductible gifts, or so I if I do pay this contribution I can not claim it as a gift on my tax return, fair enough, if I give money to my local church I can claim it, but if I give money to my local underfunded school it is a gift of pure charity one that I can choose to volunteer if I wish and it should not be consider a debt ...
Now I understand that the issue of Voluntary Contributions in Public Schools is a hotly discussed issue, and I have heard of Principals getting in to a lot of trouble because of the way that they word letters sent out to parents demanding payment of these contributions, now the amount in itself of $60 is not unreasonable, but clearly it has the word "voluntary" in front of it, now myself, which you can probably tell by my poor grammar am the result of a Public Education, but I found it hard to understand how a voluntary contribution can we consider an amount owing ...
I do admit to owing money, we have a mortgage, credit cards and utility bills, I consider these to be a debt that has to be paid, and if someone gives me a statement with an amount owing I believe that they should justify this amount, and if they cannot then they should give me an statement that reflects the amount that I owe.
A few, not most, would say "just pay it", a few people will just pay it because its say it is owed, but the point is it is not an amount that is owed, 400 years ago under the reign of Queen Elisabeth I the education system that we now have started to form, before that only the rich had any chance of an education, now days, education is compulsory, we have the choice of a public education or a private education that we must pay for, I personally see no advantage in a private education, and the fact is an institution or business that trades as a private school is only doing so to make money, a business by definition must strive to increase it profits, which may mean downgrading its services, obviously there are private schools out there that provide a high level of education but they are well and truly way out of my income level, and yes by denying my children that level of education I feel guilty, but to be made to feel guilty because I don't pay $60 to my child's public school is so wrong if I was financially independent I would have them in the best school but then again I believe they need the social education that only a public school can provide.
Now if you take the word "contribution" in to account it does get quite messy, basically it implies a payment or a gift, now if you say a voluntary payment, well why would you, but if you say a voluntary gift this makes sense, so whats the problem, well State Schools are consider to be a State Government Entity and State Government Entities are not entitled to receive tax deductible gifts, or so I if I do pay this contribution I can not claim it as a gift on my tax return, fair enough, if I give money to my local church I can claim it, but if I give money to my local underfunded school it is a gift of pure charity one that I can choose to volunteer if I wish and it should not be consider a debt ...
Friday 11 September 2009
Friends, family rally to help bashed man
as posted here
Family and friends of a newly married father of one who was bashed unconscious at a Gosnells party last month have rallied together to help his family financially while he learns to walk and talk again.
Mathew Double was at a party on Walter Street in Gosnells on August 2 when a group of juveniles were seen hanging around cars out the front of the home about 12.30am.
Police allege an argument began between the man and members of the group became physical, spilling out on to the street.
Mr Double was later found unconscious in a nearby park.
He was in a coma in Royal Perth Hospital for several weeks.
Mr Double's former colleagues and friends at Bossong Engineering in Welshpool, which he joined as an apprentice 17 years ago, have rallied to do whatever they can to help his wife Karlene and teenage daughter.
Financial controller Janice Bossong spoke of the horror she felt when hearing of what happened to "the six foot six giant" she treated like a son.
"I'm devastated," Ms Bossong said.
"Mat started with us as a 15-year-old apprentice, as a naughty little boy …we have seen him grow into a lovely man.
"We've always wished him the best and this situation…there is nothing good about it - it's awful.
"We feel helpless really."
The bank has frozen the Double's mortgage repayments for three months but Ms Bossong said that provided just a small window of financial reprieve.
Twelve of Mr Double's former colleagues have asked that a day of their holiday pay be donated to the family.
A quiz night and dinner and racing night at Gloucester Park have been organised for September 24 and 25.
Donations of prizes for the quiz night and money donated by strangers have been coming in thick and fast.
"One man who cleans ovens said he'd never done this before (donated money) but was sending a voucher our way…that really touched me," Ms Bossong said.
"I was impressed and delighted from the worst that could happen to the opposite - its put (my) faith back in human nature."
For details about the events call 9212 2345.
as posted here
Family and friends of a newly married father of one who was bashed unconscious at a Gosnells party last month have rallied together to help his family financially while he learns to walk and talk again.
Mathew Double was at a party on Walter Street in Gosnells on August 2 when a group of juveniles were seen hanging around cars out the front of the home about 12.30am.
Police allege an argument began between the man and members of the group became physical, spilling out on to the street.
Mr Double was later found unconscious in a nearby park.
He was in a coma in Royal Perth Hospital for several weeks.
Mr Double's former colleagues and friends at Bossong Engineering in Welshpool, which he joined as an apprentice 17 years ago, have rallied to do whatever they can to help his wife Karlene and teenage daughter.
Financial controller Janice Bossong spoke of the horror she felt when hearing of what happened to "the six foot six giant" she treated like a son.
"I'm devastated," Ms Bossong said.
"Mat started with us as a 15-year-old apprentice, as a naughty little boy …we have seen him grow into a lovely man.
"We've always wished him the best and this situation…there is nothing good about it - it's awful.
"We feel helpless really."
The bank has frozen the Double's mortgage repayments for three months but Ms Bossong said that provided just a small window of financial reprieve.
Twelve of Mr Double's former colleagues have asked that a day of their holiday pay be donated to the family.
A quiz night and dinner and racing night at Gloucester Park have been organised for September 24 and 25.
Donations of prizes for the quiz night and money donated by strangers have been coming in thick and fast.
"One man who cleans ovens said he'd never done this before (donated money) but was sending a voucher our way…that really touched me," Ms Bossong said.
"I was impressed and delighted from the worst that could happen to the opposite - its put (my) faith back in human nature."
For details about the events call 9212 2345.
as posted here
Parents get payout over baby death
as posted here
The State Government has made an ex-gratia payment of $14,440 to the parents of 11-month-old Grace Moorby, who was killed by a drink driver in 2007.
The payment was granted to Tania and Jamie Moorby on "compassionate grounds in recognition of personal circumstances". The sum was equivalent to the stamp duty payable on the purchase of their new home.
Benjamin Alan Butler was sentenced last November to three years, eight months jail for the death of Grace and injuries to Mrs Moorby.
Butler crashed into the Moorbys' Thornlie front yard on April 18, 2007, with a blood alcohol reading of 0.166.
as posted here
The State Government has made an ex-gratia payment of $14,440 to the parents of 11-month-old Grace Moorby, who was killed by a drink driver in 2007.
The payment was granted to Tania and Jamie Moorby on "compassionate grounds in recognition of personal circumstances". The sum was equivalent to the stamp duty payable on the purchase of their new home.
Benjamin Alan Butler was sentenced last November to three years, eight months jail for the death of Grace and injuries to Mrs Moorby.
Butler crashed into the Moorbys' Thornlie front yard on April 18, 2007, with a blood alcohol reading of 0.166.
as posted here
Thursday 10 September 2009
Perth man puts faith in lotto nines for Superdraw
as posted here
STAFF at a Perth lottery centre have been left stunned by a player who insisted they wait until 9.09am yesterday to print his ticket for the $20 million Superdraw.
The man walked into the Good Fortune Lottery Centre in Maddington at 9.01 yesterday - September 9, 2009 - to buy a ticket for Saturday's Superdraw, a Lotterywest spokeswoman said.
Staff member Gloria King put his ticket request through the lottery terminal but was quickly stopped by the man, who was adamant that they wait until exactly 9.09am to print out his ticket.
Ms King said the man told her the number nine was very lucky for him.
"He told me the number nine is a very lucky number, and I'll be really interested to see if he wins," she said.
"As soon as we printed his ticket out, I printed one out for myself and my staff!"
Yesterday's date of 9/09/09 was the last of the single-digit dates for 1001 years, Lotterywest says
What's more, the words "Wednesday" and "September" are each made up of nine letters.
Tickets for Saturday's $20 million Superdraw will be on sale at Lotterywest retail outlets around the state until 6pm on Saturday.
as posted here
STAFF at a Perth lottery centre have been left stunned by a player who insisted they wait until 9.09am yesterday to print his ticket for the $20 million Superdraw.
The man walked into the Good Fortune Lottery Centre in Maddington at 9.01 yesterday - September 9, 2009 - to buy a ticket for Saturday's Superdraw, a Lotterywest spokeswoman said.
Staff member Gloria King put his ticket request through the lottery terminal but was quickly stopped by the man, who was adamant that they wait until exactly 9.09am to print out his ticket.
Ms King said the man told her the number nine was very lucky for him.
"He told me the number nine is a very lucky number, and I'll be really interested to see if he wins," she said.
"As soon as we printed his ticket out, I printed one out for myself and my staff!"
Yesterday's date of 9/09/09 was the last of the single-digit dates for 1001 years, Lotterywest says
What's more, the words "Wednesday" and "September" are each made up of nine letters.
Tickets for Saturday's $20 million Superdraw will be on sale at Lotterywest retail outlets around the state until 6pm on Saturday.
as posted here
New laws extend smoke-free zones to cars, alfresco, Royal Show Article from: PerthN
as posted here
WA smokers have been put on notice as major reforms are set to accelerate the growth of smoke free communities throughout the State, says AMA(WA).
“Legislation passed by the Upper House last night to extend smoking restrictions to areas such as alfresco restaurants and in cars carrying children, is an historic step forward in the fight against the dangers of passive smoking,” said association President Prof Gary Geelhoed.
“And later this month the Royal Show will become the world’s largest smoke free community event when smoking is banned anywhere within the Showground.
“Last year more than 400,000 people attended the show -- half of them under 17 -- and it’s fantastic that this number of children will be able to spend a day at the show without inhaling second hand smoke.”
Prof Geelhoed said the community and the medical profession owed a debt of thanks to Alfred Cove MLA, Dr Janet Woollard, for her determination to push her private member’s Bill through Parliament, despite intense lobbying by the hotel and tobacco industry to derail the legislation.
“This legislation still has some formalities to go through in Parliament, but it will eventually save lives and reduce many smoking-related illnesses as well as lower the rate of respiratory diseases among children,” said Prof Geelhoed.
“It will also lower absenteeism in the workplace and reduce the cost of healthcare in WA which is already facing huge funding difficulties.”
Prof Geelhoed said Healthway and the Royal Agricultural Society deserved praise for taking the responsible healthy step of having a smoke-free Royal Show.
“Thousands of grateful parents and grand parents will know their kids can spend a day at the show without facing the risk of second-hand tobacco smoke,” he said.
“We should remember that only a few years ago our kids had to sit at Subiaco Oval with 40,000 football spectators and be drowned in smoke.”
as posted here
WA smokers have been put on notice as major reforms are set to accelerate the growth of smoke free communities throughout the State, says AMA(WA).
“Legislation passed by the Upper House last night to extend smoking restrictions to areas such as alfresco restaurants and in cars carrying children, is an historic step forward in the fight against the dangers of passive smoking,” said association President Prof Gary Geelhoed.
“And later this month the Royal Show will become the world’s largest smoke free community event when smoking is banned anywhere within the Showground.
“Last year more than 400,000 people attended the show -- half of them under 17 -- and it’s fantastic that this number of children will be able to spend a day at the show without inhaling second hand smoke.”
Prof Geelhoed said the community and the medical profession owed a debt of thanks to Alfred Cove MLA, Dr Janet Woollard, for her determination to push her private member’s Bill through Parliament, despite intense lobbying by the hotel and tobacco industry to derail the legislation.
“This legislation still has some formalities to go through in Parliament, but it will eventually save lives and reduce many smoking-related illnesses as well as lower the rate of respiratory diseases among children,” said Prof Geelhoed.
“It will also lower absenteeism in the workplace and reduce the cost of healthcare in WA which is already facing huge funding difficulties.”
Prof Geelhoed said Healthway and the Royal Agricultural Society deserved praise for taking the responsible healthy step of having a smoke-free Royal Show.
“Thousands of grateful parents and grand parents will know their kids can spend a day at the show without facing the risk of second-hand tobacco smoke,” he said.
“We should remember that only a few years ago our kids had to sit at Subiaco Oval with 40,000 football spectators and be drowned in smoke.”
as posted here
Second teen charged over Gosnells party bashing
as posted here
Police have charged a second teenager over the bashing of a 34-year-old man at a Gosnells party last month.
Mathew Double was at a party on Walter Street in Gosnells on August 2 when a group of juveniles were seen hanging around cars out the front of the home about 12.30am.
Police allege an argument began between the man and members of the group became physical, spilling out on to the street.
Mr Double was later found unconscious in a nearby park.
The newly married father of one was in a coma in Royal Perth Hospital for several weeks.
He recently regained consciousness but cannot talk or walk.
A 17-year-old Coolbellup youth has been charged with grievous bodily harm and will face the Perth Children's Court today.
Two weeks ago a 15-year-old boy was also charged with grievous bodily harm.
as posted here
Police have charged a second teenager over the bashing of a 34-year-old man at a Gosnells party last month.
Mathew Double was at a party on Walter Street in Gosnells on August 2 when a group of juveniles were seen hanging around cars out the front of the home about 12.30am.
Police allege an argument began between the man and members of the group became physical, spilling out on to the street.
Mr Double was later found unconscious in a nearby park.
The newly married father of one was in a coma in Royal Perth Hospital for several weeks.
He recently regained consciousness but cannot talk or walk.
A 17-year-old Coolbellup youth has been charged with grievous bodily harm and will face the Perth Children's Court today.
Two weeks ago a 15-year-old boy was also charged with grievous bodily harm.
as posted here
Tuesday 8 September 2009
School founder owed 'more than $1 million'
as posted here
JOSEPH SAPIENZA
September 8, 2009 - 3:44PM
A man accused of stealing $355,000 in government funding from a WA school and siphoning the money to Pakistan has argued the money was just part of more than $1 million owed to him by the school.
Anwar Sayed, 50, was a director of Muslim Link Australia Limited, which oversaw the running of the Muslim Ladies' College on Bickley Road in Kenwick.
The school was founded and operated by Mr Sayed on land he owned.
On April 16, 2007, he instructed his younger brother and fellow company director Zubair Sayed, 33, to transfer $US300,000 ($355,000) out of the Muslim Link account into a bank account in Pakistan, to which Anwar Sayed had access.
Both men are on trial for acting dishonestly and stealing about $355,000 in public funding from the company. The prosecution claims the money, which was supposed to be used for the ongoing operation of the school, was being used to set up a sister school in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Today, Anwar Sayed's lawyer Mark Trowell, QC, told a Perth District Court jury his client denied stealing the money and acting dishonestly. He said Anwar Sayed was "legally entitled" to the funds because it was money owed to him by the school.
At the time of the transaction, Mr Trowell said Anwar Sayed was "owed much more" than $355,000, considering he had invested a total of $1.2 million in the school by cash and in the way of deferred salary and rent.
"The school started with nothing, except good will and hope," Mr Trowell said.
At one point, Anwar Sayed deposited $340,000 into the account to keep the non-profit school operational.
"The school was obliged to rely on the generosity of Anwar Sayed to survive," Mr Trowell added.
He said the school was acting in accordance with the conditions of the funds received from the Commonwealth and State governments.
The court was told Federal funding was available for "general recurrent expenditure" such as rental and salary, while State funding did not impose such conditions. The two separate avenues of public funding were not "one of the same" as the prosecution claimed, Mr Trowell said.
He added the school had acted in accordance with the terms of the grants because it was paying money for rent and remuneration for services to his client.
It was also claimed Anwar Sayed had the legal right to take the money and that he had a genuine belief that he was legally entitled to it.
Documents showing proper agreements for deferred rental and salary payments to Anwar Sayed would also be shown to the court, including an agreement between the school and Anwar Sayed for the school to pay his mortgage payments of at least $1900 per month.
"If it was not for him, the school would not be there," Mr Trowell said.
Zubair Sayed's defence lawyer Andrew Skerritt said his client did take steps to transfer the money overseas to a bank in Karachi, Pakistan, as he believed it was his brother's money and that he was entitled to it.
"He wasn't stealing any money, he was just sending it to his brother because it belonged to him," Mr Skerritt said.
The two men have admitted the overseas money transfer took place and the company received public funding for a period of time. They also admitted being directors of Muslim Link Australia Limited at the time.
The trial continues.
as posted here
JOSEPH SAPIENZA
September 8, 2009 - 3:44PM
A man accused of stealing $355,000 in government funding from a WA school and siphoning the money to Pakistan has argued the money was just part of more than $1 million owed to him by the school.
Anwar Sayed, 50, was a director of Muslim Link Australia Limited, which oversaw the running of the Muslim Ladies' College on Bickley Road in Kenwick.
The school was founded and operated by Mr Sayed on land he owned.
On April 16, 2007, he instructed his younger brother and fellow company director Zubair Sayed, 33, to transfer $US300,000 ($355,000) out of the Muslim Link account into a bank account in Pakistan, to which Anwar Sayed had access.
Both men are on trial for acting dishonestly and stealing about $355,000 in public funding from the company. The prosecution claims the money, which was supposed to be used for the ongoing operation of the school, was being used to set up a sister school in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Today, Anwar Sayed's lawyer Mark Trowell, QC, told a Perth District Court jury his client denied stealing the money and acting dishonestly. He said Anwar Sayed was "legally entitled" to the funds because it was money owed to him by the school.
At the time of the transaction, Mr Trowell said Anwar Sayed was "owed much more" than $355,000, considering he had invested a total of $1.2 million in the school by cash and in the way of deferred salary and rent.
"The school started with nothing, except good will and hope," Mr Trowell said.
At one point, Anwar Sayed deposited $340,000 into the account to keep the non-profit school operational.
"The school was obliged to rely on the generosity of Anwar Sayed to survive," Mr Trowell added.
He said the school was acting in accordance with the conditions of the funds received from the Commonwealth and State governments.
The court was told Federal funding was available for "general recurrent expenditure" such as rental and salary, while State funding did not impose such conditions. The two separate avenues of public funding were not "one of the same" as the prosecution claimed, Mr Trowell said.
He added the school had acted in accordance with the terms of the grants because it was paying money for rent and remuneration for services to his client.
It was also claimed Anwar Sayed had the legal right to take the money and that he had a genuine belief that he was legally entitled to it.
Documents showing proper agreements for deferred rental and salary payments to Anwar Sayed would also be shown to the court, including an agreement between the school and Anwar Sayed for the school to pay his mortgage payments of at least $1900 per month.
"If it was not for him, the school would not be there," Mr Trowell said.
Zubair Sayed's defence lawyer Andrew Skerritt said his client did take steps to transfer the money overseas to a bank in Karachi, Pakistan, as he believed it was his brother's money and that he was entitled to it.
"He wasn't stealing any money, he was just sending it to his brother because it belonged to him," Mr Skerritt said.
The two men have admitted the overseas money transfer took place and the company received public funding for a period of time. They also admitted being directors of Muslim Link Australia Limited at the time.
The trial continues.
as posted here
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