as posted here
HMAS Ovens powered slowly through the frigid depths of the Tasman Sea, the crew of the 90mlong Oberon-class submarine manning their posts in silence.
Their enemy, a Soviet submarine sent to spy on the Australian coastline, lurked somewhere nearby.
It was 1971, the height of the Cold War, and the Ovens was busy playing its part in the cloak-and-dagger battle for intelligence supremacy raging between the US and the Soviet Union.
Gosnells resident Fred Lawrence, 64, who was the petty officer in charge of sonar on the Ovens at the time, said their mission had been to stay undetected and keep track of the enemy sub’s movements.
“We caught up with her somewhere down near Tasmania,” he said. “It was an old Russian submarine. She’d come down out of the Pacific, right down our east coast and came as far west as Albany before she turned around and went back.”
Yesterday, Mr Lawrence and nine other original members of the Ovens’ 60-strong crew gathered at the WA Maritime Museum, where the submarine now rests on display, to commemorate 40 years since the vessel was launched.
But despite the passage of time, the old sailors remained reluctant to give away too much detail about the missions they ran during the Cold War, much of which has never been officially acknowledged by the Australian Government.
Mt Hawthorn resident Lloyd Blake, who was a petty officer on the Ovens, said most Australians were oblivious to the secret contribution Australian Cold War submariners had made beneath the waves.
Mr Blake said that during the 60s, Australian sailors training on British submarines had been involved in secret sea battles with Russian vessels on “mystery tours” in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
By 1969, Australian Oberon-class subs, such as the Ovens, were leading the espionage war against the Soviets in the southern hemisphere.
Crews would leave port in Australia with no knowledge of their mission and remain submerged for up to six weeks.
“Spooks and language specialists” were passengers, Mr Blake said. “We were able to get within 5m of a big (enemy) ship, photograph her and record her sound signature and slip away totally undetected,” he said.
JOSEPH CATANZARO
as posted here
Monday 8 June 2009
Thursday 4 June 2009
Skimmers caught on video
as posted here
Police are looking for two men caught on camera using a fake bank card to withdraw money from Perth automatic teller machines.
Police say the men were withdrawing money from a Victorian woman's account.
It is believed her card details and personal identification number [PIN] were obtained using a skimming device.
They took the money from ATMs in Willeton, Malaga and Maddington during February.
Detective Rulan Carr from the Major Fraud Squad says police are trying to establish whether there are links to a number of skimming devices found on Perth ATMs in recent months.
"This is not obviously a solely operated incident and obviously the indication is that there's more than one person or maybe people involved," he said.
Police have also released a picture of a man seen removing a skimming device from an ATM in the northern Perth suburb of Carine on April 13.
as posted here
Police are looking for two men caught on camera using a fake bank card to withdraw money from Perth automatic teller machines.
Police say the men were withdrawing money from a Victorian woman's account.
It is believed her card details and personal identification number [PIN] were obtained using a skimming device.
They took the money from ATMs in Willeton, Malaga and Maddington during February.
Detective Rulan Carr from the Major Fraud Squad says police are trying to establish whether there are links to a number of skimming devices found on Perth ATMs in recent months.
"This is not obviously a solely operated incident and obviously the indication is that there's more than one person or maybe people involved," he said.
Police have also released a picture of a man seen removing a skimming device from an ATM in the northern Perth suburb of Carine on April 13.
as posted here
Compass sells Gosnells markets for $6m
as posted here
Compass Hotel Group has sold the Gosnells Railway Markets for nearly $6 million, with funds to be used to retire debt and working capital.
The company said it sold the markets, a non-core asset, for $5.675 million, which reflected a 13.5 per cent premium to valuation and an 18.3 per cent discount to the book value.
Details of the buyer was not provided and comment was being sought from Compass at time of publishing.
Compass said it will use funds generated from the sale to retire debt and, subject to St George Bank approval, inject working capital into the group.
"Compass continues to look at various options to strengthen the Company's balance
sheet including the divestment of non core assets," it said.
The company had purchased the markets as part of a package deal that included the adjacent Gosnells Hotel.
as posted here
Compass Hotel Group has sold the Gosnells Railway Markets for nearly $6 million, with funds to be used to retire debt and working capital.
The company said it sold the markets, a non-core asset, for $5.675 million, which reflected a 13.5 per cent premium to valuation and an 18.3 per cent discount to the book value.
Details of the buyer was not provided and comment was being sought from Compass at time of publishing.
Compass said it will use funds generated from the sale to retire debt and, subject to St George Bank approval, inject working capital into the group.
"Compass continues to look at various options to strengthen the Company's balance
sheet including the divestment of non core assets," it said.
The company had purchased the markets as part of a package deal that included the adjacent Gosnells Hotel.
as posted here
WA’s lucky Lotto run continues
as posted here
4th June 2009, 10:15 WST
WA has continued its amazing lucky Lotto streak with a $1 million winning ticket from last night’s draw sold in Perth’s eastern suburbs.
Last night’s entire Lotto Division One amount was scooped by one winning ticket, sold at Summerfield News & Lotto in Girrawheen.
It is the third win for West Australian punters this week, with a Gosnells man winning $1.5 million on Monday and a Morley syndicate claiming a $1.4 million prize.
Persistence paid off for the middle-aged Gosnells man, who was one of only two winners nationally in the draw, who described himself as a regular Lotto player.
When asked what his plans were for spending his new found fortune, the man was looking forward to sharing the money with his children, who were not yet aware of the news.
“I want to use the money to focus on the kids and put some away for a rainy day,” he said.
A group of regular customers made up the Morley syndicate run by Lucky Charm Express that won $1.4 million in the Saturday Lotto draw.
It was the fifth Division One ticket sold at the outlet since 2004.
Meanwhile, three Division One winners have fronted the Lotterywest head office to claim prizes collectively worth more than $3.4 million.
Two of the winners claimed their new fortunes from the Saturday and Monday Lotto draws, while a Division One prize from the Saturday Lotto draw on May 23 has finally found its rightful owner.
A Perth man in his 50s was the first of three winners, claiming a $514,000 prize.
The man told Lotterywest he would be quietly keeping the news to himself and has plans to use his winnings to help others.
“I want to be a philanthropist and I want to help young people who can’t help themselves,” he said.
The winning ticket was purchased at Coolbellup Newsagency in Perth’s southern suburbs.
Two other WA Division One winning tickets in the draw, purchased at Shepherds News in Fremantle and Riverton Newsagency, are yet to be claimed.
PERTH
JAYNE RICKARD
as posted here
4th June 2009, 10:15 WST
WA has continued its amazing lucky Lotto streak with a $1 million winning ticket from last night’s draw sold in Perth’s eastern suburbs.
Last night’s entire Lotto Division One amount was scooped by one winning ticket, sold at Summerfield News & Lotto in Girrawheen.
It is the third win for West Australian punters this week, with a Gosnells man winning $1.5 million on Monday and a Morley syndicate claiming a $1.4 million prize.
Persistence paid off for the middle-aged Gosnells man, who was one of only two winners nationally in the draw, who described himself as a regular Lotto player.
When asked what his plans were for spending his new found fortune, the man was looking forward to sharing the money with his children, who were not yet aware of the news.
“I want to use the money to focus on the kids and put some away for a rainy day,” he said.
A group of regular customers made up the Morley syndicate run by Lucky Charm Express that won $1.4 million in the Saturday Lotto draw.
It was the fifth Division One ticket sold at the outlet since 2004.
Meanwhile, three Division One winners have fronted the Lotterywest head office to claim prizes collectively worth more than $3.4 million.
Two of the winners claimed their new fortunes from the Saturday and Monday Lotto draws, while a Division One prize from the Saturday Lotto draw on May 23 has finally found its rightful owner.
A Perth man in his 50s was the first of three winners, claiming a $514,000 prize.
The man told Lotterywest he would be quietly keeping the news to himself and has plans to use his winnings to help others.
“I want to be a philanthropist and I want to help young people who can’t help themselves,” he said.
The winning ticket was purchased at Coolbellup Newsagency in Perth’s southern suburbs.
Two other WA Division One winning tickets in the draw, purchased at Shepherds News in Fremantle and Riverton Newsagency, are yet to be claimed.
PERTH
JAYNE RICKARD
as posted here
Lotto winnings rain down on WA
as posted here
June 04, 2009 10:30am
WA has scored a rare Lotto hat-trick following a third division one win during the past week.
A ticket bought at Summerfield News & Lotto in Girrawheen has taken out the entire $1 million division one prize in last night's draw.
WA punters also scored division one wins in Saturday and Monday night Lotto draws.
A syndicate run by Lucky Charm Express in Morley won almost $1.4 million in the Saturday Lotto draw.
A middle-aged Gosnells man has claimed a $1.5 million prize from this week's Monday Lotto draw.
The man, a regular Lotto player , has told told Lotterywest he intends to share his winnings with his children.
"I want to use the money to focus on the kids and put some away for a rainy day," he said.
as posted here
June 04, 2009 10:30am
WA has scored a rare Lotto hat-trick following a third division one win during the past week.
A ticket bought at Summerfield News & Lotto in Girrawheen has taken out the entire $1 million division one prize in last night's draw.
WA punters also scored division one wins in Saturday and Monday night Lotto draws.
A syndicate run by Lucky Charm Express in Morley won almost $1.4 million in the Saturday Lotto draw.
A middle-aged Gosnells man has claimed a $1.5 million prize from this week's Monday Lotto draw.
The man, a regular Lotto player , has told told Lotterywest he intends to share his winnings with his children.
"I want to use the money to focus on the kids and put some away for a rainy day," he said.
as posted here
Neighbouring suburbs dominate property listings
as posted here
Chalpat Sonti
June 4, 2009 - 7:01AM
Looking to buy a house? You're most likely to be in luck in the south eastern part of Perth, new figures show.
An analysis by RP Data has found almost one in ten of all houses in the neighbouring suburbs of Thornlie, Canning Vale and Gosnells were listed for sale in the state in the past year.
With 463, 461 and 350 properties listed respectively, the south eastern suburbs headed the rankings for WA, ahead of Port Kennedy and Ballajura (both 332).
With the rise in listings came a fall in prices, with all three south eastern suburbs recording drops in the median price of between 5 and 6 per cent. All bar Canning Vale of the top five suburbs had average prices below that of Perth as a whole.
It was a different story as far as units went, with Scarborough leading the way.
Of the 1390 units in the seaside suburb, 304, or 22 per cent, were listed for sale. Unit prices fell 6.8 per cent over the year.
A similar percentage of units were up for sale in Como, with 263 listed. Prices held up better in the south Perth locale, down just 0.6 per cent.
Maylands, where 218 units were listed, was next, ahead of South Perth with 179 and Rockingham (131, or 26 per cent of all units). Prices plunged 8.8 per cent in Maylands and 7.5 per cent in Rockingham, but South Perth reversed the trend with the average increasing 2.5 per cent.
RP Data senior research analyst Cameron Kusher said low consumer demand led to a build up in the number of properties for sale.
Top five suburbs - houses
Suburb, average price, 12-month growth, total listings, total dwellings
Thornlie, $362,250, -5.3 per cent, 463, 5177
Canning Vale, $493,000, -5.2 per cent, 461, 3965
Gosnells, $310,500, -5.9 per cent, 350, 3913
Port Kennedy, $370,000, -3.9 per cent, 332, 2563
Ballajura, $395,000, -3.4 per cent, 332, 4330
Top five suburbs - units
Suburb, average price, 12-month growth, total listings, total dwellings
Scarborough, $400,000, -6.8 per cent, 304, 1390
Como, $432,500, -0.6 per cent, 263, 1172
Maylands, $290,000, -8.8 per cent, 218, 2174
South Perth, $495,000, 2.5 per cent, 179, 1602
Rockingham, $245,000, -7.5 per cent, 131, 504
as posted here
Chalpat Sonti
June 4, 2009 - 7:01AM
Looking to buy a house? You're most likely to be in luck in the south eastern part of Perth, new figures show.
An analysis by RP Data has found almost one in ten of all houses in the neighbouring suburbs of Thornlie, Canning Vale and Gosnells were listed for sale in the state in the past year.
With 463, 461 and 350 properties listed respectively, the south eastern suburbs headed the rankings for WA, ahead of Port Kennedy and Ballajura (both 332).
With the rise in listings came a fall in prices, with all three south eastern suburbs recording drops in the median price of between 5 and 6 per cent. All bar Canning Vale of the top five suburbs had average prices below that of Perth as a whole.
It was a different story as far as units went, with Scarborough leading the way.
Of the 1390 units in the seaside suburb, 304, or 22 per cent, were listed for sale. Unit prices fell 6.8 per cent over the year.
A similar percentage of units were up for sale in Como, with 263 listed. Prices held up better in the south Perth locale, down just 0.6 per cent.
Maylands, where 218 units were listed, was next, ahead of South Perth with 179 and Rockingham (131, or 26 per cent of all units). Prices plunged 8.8 per cent in Maylands and 7.5 per cent in Rockingham, but South Perth reversed the trend with the average increasing 2.5 per cent.
RP Data senior research analyst Cameron Kusher said low consumer demand led to a build up in the number of properties for sale.
Top five suburbs - houses
Suburb, average price, 12-month growth, total listings, total dwellings
Thornlie, $362,250, -5.3 per cent, 463, 5177
Canning Vale, $493,000, -5.2 per cent, 461, 3965
Gosnells, $310,500, -5.9 per cent, 350, 3913
Port Kennedy, $370,000, -3.9 per cent, 332, 2563
Ballajura, $395,000, -3.4 per cent, 332, 4330
Top five suburbs - units
Suburb, average price, 12-month growth, total listings, total dwellings
Scarborough, $400,000, -6.8 per cent, 304, 1390
Como, $432,500, -0.6 per cent, 263, 1172
Maylands, $290,000, -8.8 per cent, 218, 2174
South Perth, $495,000, 2.5 per cent, 179, 1602
Rockingham, $245,000, -7.5 per cent, 131, 504
as posted here
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Thunderstorms sound the start of winter
as posted here
June 02, 2009 09:00am
THUNDERSTORMS have swept through Perth overnight and this morning, sounding the arrival of winter in spectacular fashion.
Heavy rain and hail fell in Perth's northern suburbs last night while an electrical storm lit up the sky in southern suburbs and dumped some heavy rain.
Send us your lightning pictures
Storms returned this morning, with heavy rain falling across the metropolitan area.
Roads into the city were clogged with traffic as drivers slowed in treacherous conditions.
Overnight Anketell, in the southern suburbs, had 18mm; Jarrahdale 8mm; Gidgegannup 10mm, Mundaring 4mm, Champion Lakes 5mm and Rottnest 4mm
Perth had 4mm last night and a further 2mm this morning before the showers cleared.
Thunderstorms brought more rain this morning to the metropolitan area and some agricultural areas across the South West and southern Wheatbelt areas.
Since 9am Perth has recorded 2mm, but there were heavier falls at Gosnells with 10mm; Champion Lakes 4.6mm and Lancelin 4mm.
In the South-West, Collie East recorded 12mm and Witchcliffe 15mm.
Further inland Katanning had 11mm; Wagin 14mm, Pingelly 8mm and Narrogin 7mm since 9am. Beverley recorded 13mm and Bencubbin 5mm.
The storms are expected to clear today with a a few showers on Wednesday, clearing on Thursday ahead of a fine spell lasting through till early next week.
TODAY'S FORECAST:
A shower or two, although with lengthy fine periods. The chance of a morning
thunderstorm. Light winds becoming moderate SW'ly by the afternoon.
Precis: Shower or two. Morning storm risk.
City: Max 22
Mandurah: Max 20
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday Shower or two. Min 9 Max 20
Thursday Early shower then fine. Min 6 Max 18
Friday Fine. Min 3 Max 19
Saturday Fine. Min 4 Max 20
Sunday Fine. Min 4 Max 20
Monday Fine. Min 4 Max 21
as posted here
Two more become Lotto millionaires
as posted here
TWO more WA Lotto players have joined the millionaires' club after buying tickets in long weekend draws.
A punter who bought a ticket at The Lucky Charm Express in Morley for the Saturday draw has taken out a $1.4m share of the division one prize.
The other winner bought their ticket for Monday Lotto from West Gosnells Newsagency and has won $1.5m.
The two wins come less than a week after a university student from Perth came forward after 10 months to claim a $13m OZ Lotto prize.
as posted here
TWO more WA Lotto players have joined the millionaires' club after buying tickets in long weekend draws.
A punter who bought a ticket at The Lucky Charm Express in Morley for the Saturday draw has taken out a $1.4m share of the division one prize.
The other winner bought their ticket for Monday Lotto from West Gosnells Newsagency and has won $1.5m.
The two wins come less than a week after a university student from Perth came forward after 10 months to claim a $13m OZ Lotto prize.
as posted here
Mortgage belt heads charge
as posted here
The ailing mortgage belt has been resuscitated with increased activity of first home buyers helping some of WA's largest local government areas.
Figures from property analyst RP Data show the City of Stirling - WA's most populous local authority - led the way for house sales in the state in the first three months of this year, accounting for 8 per cent of all activity.
However, Wanneroo, with about 60,000 fewer people and in the heart of the mortgage belt, almost matched it in numbers of sales, with Joondalup, Rockingham and Gosnells close behind.
RP Data national research director Tim Lawless said the figures showed buyers were taking advantage of "perfect buying conditions" of low interest rates, falling prices and the first home buyers boost (a $14,000 grant to buy established homes or $21,000 to buy a new one).
The housing market had been divided into two, those priced above or below $600,000, with fewer sales occurring in the former bracket and more in the latter.
Houses priced under $500,000 accounted for 70 per cent of the market nationally, up from 65 per cent last year.
But it was at an even lower level - houses priced between $300,000 and $400,000 - where most of the action was.
"No surprises here, this is where first home buyers are most concentrated," Mr Lawless said.
The jump in activity was not as noticeable in regional areas, where properties with a price tag of less than $300,000 accounted for about half the market.
Meanwhile the Housing Industry Association said sales of detached new homes in WA fell by 4 per cent in the three months to April 30, going against a national trend.
However, sales of all new homes increased slightly.
HIA chief economist Harley Dale said he expected home building activity to show it was well and truly on the road to activity from this month, due to low interest rates and the first home owners grant boost for new houses.
New home starts nationally could increase by 11 per cent in the next six months, Dr Dale said.
WA local government areas recording largest number of sales in three months to March
LGA, percentage of WA sales, percentage of national sales, median house price
Stirling, 8, 1.3, $570,000
Wanneroo, 7.8, 1.2, $410,000
Joondalup, 7.1, 1.1, $490,000
Rockingham, 5.8, 0.9, $365,000
Gosnells, 5.5, 0.9, $365,000
as posted here
The ailing mortgage belt has been resuscitated with increased activity of first home buyers helping some of WA's largest local government areas.
Figures from property analyst RP Data show the City of Stirling - WA's most populous local authority - led the way for house sales in the state in the first three months of this year, accounting for 8 per cent of all activity.
However, Wanneroo, with about 60,000 fewer people and in the heart of the mortgage belt, almost matched it in numbers of sales, with Joondalup, Rockingham and Gosnells close behind.
RP Data national research director Tim Lawless said the figures showed buyers were taking advantage of "perfect buying conditions" of low interest rates, falling prices and the first home buyers boost (a $14,000 grant to buy established homes or $21,000 to buy a new one).
The housing market had been divided into two, those priced above or below $600,000, with fewer sales occurring in the former bracket and more in the latter.
Houses priced under $500,000 accounted for 70 per cent of the market nationally, up from 65 per cent last year.
But it was at an even lower level - houses priced between $300,000 and $400,000 - where most of the action was.
"No surprises here, this is where first home buyers are most concentrated," Mr Lawless said.
The jump in activity was not as noticeable in regional areas, where properties with a price tag of less than $300,000 accounted for about half the market.
Meanwhile the Housing Industry Association said sales of detached new homes in WA fell by 4 per cent in the three months to April 30, going against a national trend.
However, sales of all new homes increased slightly.
HIA chief economist Harley Dale said he expected home building activity to show it was well and truly on the road to activity from this month, due to low interest rates and the first home owners grant boost for new houses.
New home starts nationally could increase by 11 per cent in the next six months, Dr Dale said.
WA local government areas recording largest number of sales in three months to March
LGA, percentage of WA sales, percentage of national sales, median house price
Stirling, 8, 1.3, $570,000
Wanneroo, 7.8, 1.2, $410,000
Joondalup, 7.1, 1.1, $490,000
Rockingham, 5.8, 0.9, $365,000
Gosnells, 5.5, 0.9, $365,000
as posted here
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