Tuesday 13 October 2009

School flu risk alert

as posted here

FORMER Gosnells Primary School P&C president Peter Evans has urged parents to check if their children have access to hand cleaning supplies at public schools following the swine flu pandemic.

“It seems like a question you should not have to ask your kids, but you may be surprised by the answer you receive,” Mr Evans said.

“We teach our kids to wash their hands when they go to the toilet at home but they don’t have soap available at school.

“Now, with swine flu around, people are getting quite worried that their kids aren’t protected when they are at school.”

Mr Evans said a public high school that his daughter attended did not even have soap dispensers installed.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said hand washing was a primary defence against the spread of infectious disease and should be available in every toilet.

“The subject of school hand hygiene has been discussed at many health forums of late, particularly in regard to reducing the spread of the H1N1 pandemic flu, as well as other contagious illnesses.”

She said the department had been aware of the problem for some time.

“However, a solution is yet to be found, not only in WA, but the whole of Australia, and it requires funds, resources and the backing of politicians.”

The spokeswoman said the Health Act 1911 was not binding on government.

“So our legislation cannot be used to force government schools to provide soap, toilet paper and hand drying facilities in student toilets.”

She said hand hygiene was managed by school principals.

“Unfortunately… paper towels and soap are often the first to go under budget cuts, and as toilets are often subject to vandalism, their loss can be justified.”

She said research was under way for a hand washing system which may solve many hygiene concerns in schools.


as posted here

Monday 12 October 2009

Pomersbach's journey off limits with Moody

as posted here

Tim Clarke
October 12, 2009 - 1:43PM
Understandably happy with an opening day-night win in the one day game, Warriors coach Tom Moody also sees green shoots of recovery in Luke Pomersbach's return to cricket over the weekend - although how he got there was off limits.

Following WA's nail-biting two-wicket win over Queensland in the Ford Ranger Cup yesterday, the Warriors will go into tomorrow's four-day clash with the Bulls in good spirits.

While Ashley Noffke's debut form was the highlight of the weekend, Pomersbach's 75 for club side Gosnells was another bright note after his nightmare off season saw him banned from driving and playing after a drunken night of madness.

Moody said today he was pleased to see his enfant terrible getting back on track - despite the controversy over his being handed an extraordinary driving licence last week after telling a court he was unable to use public transport.

"Luke is doing exceptionally well, he is working very hard outside the group and it was good to see him get amongst the runs at the weekend," Moody said.

"I am sure he is looking to build on that and get a few three figures on the board."

Asked whether he was relieved Pomersbach's issues with Transperth had not affected his form, Moody walked away.

With Luke Towers to come into the Warriors squad for Theo Doropoulos, Steve Magoffin comes into the 12 and likely to replace either Brad Knowles or Michael Hogan in the line-up

While Noffke's performance with bat and ball steered WA home, Moody was not backing away from the early brittle signs from the WA batsmen which dogged their season in all forms last year.

"It is nice to win in any circumstance, in a way an ugly win like that is nice to get under your belt," Moody said

"We knew very well we can play a lot better than that - I think we bowled and fielded very well, our batting is something we can improve on.

"I hope the top six or top seven players today can take more responsibility as the season goes forward. We need our senior players to stand up."

Queensland ruled out all-rounder James Hopes for the clash, after he missed Sunday's Ford Ranger Cup loss to the Warriors due to a glute injury.

He will sit out the four-day fixture in order to regain full fitness ahead of Australia's one-day tour of India.

The Bulls have recalled left-arm quick Scott Walter into the 12-man squad, with the 20-year-old almost certain to be named in the XI for what would be just his second first-class fixture.

Walter made his first-class debut against WA last year but managed just eight overs before succumbing to a hamstring injury.

Queensland are expected to unleash a four-pronged pace attack of Walter, Ben Laughlin, Ben Cutting and Grant Sullivan to complement spinner Chris Simpson.

Leg-spinner Daniel Doran was omitted from the original 13-man squad.

Batsmen Glen Batticciotto and Wade Townsend remain in contention to make their first-class debuts for the Bulls.

Queensland squad: Chris Simpson (capt), Glen Batticciotto, Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Ben Cutting, Chris Hartley, Nick Kruger, Ben Laughlin, Nathan Reardon, Grant Sullivan, Wade Townsend, Scott Walter (12th man to be named).

WA squad: Marcus North (capt), David Bandy, Brett Dorey, Michael Hogan, Brad Knowles, Steve Magoffin, Shaun Marsh, Ashley Noffke, Wes Robinson, Luke Ronchi, Luke Towers, Adam Voges. (12th Man to be named).

with AAP


as posted here

Saturday 10 October 2009

Perth vigil for tsunami victims

as posted here

CHALPAT SONTI
October 9, 2009
Perth's Samoan community was supposed to celebrate this weekend. Instead they will mourn.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that killed about 170 people in their homeland last month, Samoans based in WA will get together on Sunday to remember the victims, who include members of their own families.

And they hope the wider WA community joins them.

Sunday is traditionally called "White Sunday" in Samoa, an annual event celebrating young people.

But this year, it would be "tainted with sadness", said Reverend Konelio Tali, of the Samoan Congregational Church of Perth.

"Many villages in Samoa will not be celebrating White Sunday because of the tsunami," he said.

"This is because many children have been killed while many are still unaccounted for, while at the same time many parents who have lost their children will not be celebrating White Sunday due to their own loss."

Reverend Tali's Gosnells-based church will hold a tribute to the memory of the children who lost their lives, with a collection to aid villages affected by the disaster.

The service will take place at the Uniting Gosnells Church, Hicks St, from 11am.


as posted here

72-year-old woman bashed for nothing

as posted here

POLICE are searching for the culprit of a vicious attack on a 72-year-old woman at Kenwick Train Station on Thursday night.

The woman was asked for a cigarette before being pushed backwards.

The robber then searched the fallen woman and repeatedly struck her over the head when he couldn’t find anything of value.

He took off in a northerly direction while the victim sought refuge at a nearby home.

The woman has suffered bruising to her face and jaw, and a fracture to her left shoulder as a result of the attack.

The offender is described as being between 18 and 25 years of age, around 180 cm tall with a tanned complexion and short wavy black hair.

He was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.


as posted here

Ghost walks get underway on Halloween night

as posted here

The City of Gosnells begins its annual Ghost Walk season on Halloween night, Saturday October 31.

Trained guides will lead groups of people along a 5.5km bush track under the moonlight in search of the spirits of our old pioneers.

In the 1860s the Mason and Bird timber mill company employed more than 100 men to create a thriving community in the Orange Grove hills. Those men and their families come alive on the City’s ghost walks as volunteers assume the role of our early pioneers to provide a glimpse of the past.

Come along and meet Joe Dart – an English convict who became the best teamster in the company. He was buried in Kenwick Cemetery and his descendants still live in the area.

Ghost Walks are held from October to March and the cost is $15 per adult, $9.50 per child or $41 for a family of two adults and two children.

Cost includes a delicious supper at the end of the Ghost Walk.

This event is suitable for family groups and bookings are essential.

For more information or to make a booking, please call Leisure Services on 9452 9901.


as posted here

Thursday 8 October 2009

Bikies unite to fight anti-association laws

as posted here

The Attorney General, Christian Porter, says he is not concerned by plans to establish a council of bikie gangs in Western Australia.

Seven bikie gangs in Perth and the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club are expected to join forces next week as part of the United Motorcycle Club of WA.

The council is similar to those set up in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, and will be used to fight the State Government's proposed anti-association laws.

Mr Porter says the Government will push ahead with the legislation.

"These organisations can meet as often as they like, and make whatever arguments or noises they feel fit," he said.

"But this Government won't be reversing its position, which is to bring in legislation which will allow these organisations to be declared unlawful.

"I've got no surprise whatsoever that they're going to do whatever they can to oppose it, because it's bad news for bikie gangs, But that won't stop us. That's why we're doing it, we will progress this legislation."


as posted here

Pomersbach shouldn't be on the roads

as posted here

Luke Pomersbach is a privileged young man. He’s also a dill.
They are the only conclusions we can draw from yesterday’s court case, where the WA and international cricketer was granted an extraordinary driver’s licence after losing his regular licence for drunken driving.

Pomersbach was arrested in August after crashing a four-wheel-drive vehicle into a skip bin and a pergola in City Beach, and then pushing a police officer through a window.

He was subsequently fined $3500 by the court and $10,000 by the Western Australian Cricket Association, which also barred him from representing his State until 2010, dependent on his response to counselling. He was allowed to continue playing with his club Gosnells.

This week Pomersbach turned up in court again to apply for an extraordinary licence to allow him to travel from his home in Scarborough to training and games with the club.

He claimed he’d been forced to catch taxis when his father couldn’t drive him.

Questioned by the magistrate why he didn’t use public transport the elite sportsman claimed it was inconvenient waiting for buses in Gosnells.

Anyway, he reckoned he did not know how to catch public transport, having not used it since school.

Given that every day tens of thousands of Perth commuters use trains and buses to travel to and from their destinations and that Scarborough and Gosnells are on main routes, Pomersbach’s case had little credibility.

The court should also have taken into account his mammoth earnings from his contracts with Australian cricket and the Indian Premier League that would have easily covered taxi fares.

The decision that has allowed this irresponsible young man back on the road confirms there are different rules for the rich and famous.


as posted here

Day one ..

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