South-East growth “underestimated”

as posted here

16/Oct/2009

By Tim Slater, Comment News

THE State Government’s new planning blueprint has “dangerously underestimated” growth in Armadale, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Gosnells, according to Armadale MLA Alannah MacTiernan.
“The Directions 2031 document has allowed for only 58,000 additional population but a proper analysis of urban zoned land and developer intention shows the real figure is 142,300,” Ms MacTiernan said.

This is spread across the region, with Armadale’s expected population increase 65,000, Serpentine-Jarrahdale 47,300 and Gosnells 30,000.

“The Government’s wrong estimates will also affect the bureaucracies planning schools, hospitals and community services and will mean our area will be short-changed in these facilities,” Ms MacTiernan said.

She said unless the error was recognised and amended, the south-east corridor would no longer attract high priority for infrastructure and job creation.

“It is going back to the bad old days of the Court Government which plunged Armadale and Gosnells into a black hole with its massive expansion of Carousel Shopping Centre in Cannington,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“We must work together to get this draft plan modified and the region’s status as a high-growth area recognised.”

as posted here

Washing hands with soap can prevent disease and save lives, stress UN experts

as posted here

Washing hands with soap can prevent disease and save lives, stress UN experts

People should wash their hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing as a precaution against influenza A(H1N1) virus

15 October 2009 – The simple act of washing hands with soap can drastically reduce deaths from preventable diseases, which are killing thousands of people everyday, a group of United Nations human rights experts stressed as they marked Global Handwashing Day.“While access to water and sanitation are critical to the protection of human health, we must remember that these are only effective when combined with good hygiene,” emphasized Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, the UN Independent Expert on human rights, water and sanitation.
She noted that washing hands with soap “at critical moments, especially after defecating, before handling food, and after coughing and sneezing,” is crucial for the prevention of disease, adding that promoting this life-saving activity is part of a State’s human rights obligations.
Anand Grover, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, emphasized that children face the greatest risks from bad hygiene, which can lead to potentially fatal diseases.
Good hand washing practices are said to be the single most effective way to avoid contracting diseases, such as acute respiratory illnesses and diarrhoea-related diseases like cholera and dysentery, he noted in a news release. These diseases cause 3.5 million deaths among children under five each year and they are preventable.
In addition, hand washing with soap will be a crucial way to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.
“Large sums of money are being spent as we speak on awareness-raising to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus – with similar prioritization, handwashing could reduce the spread of not only H1N1 virus, but many other equally dangerous communicable diseases. In fact, handwashing with soap could halve the number of children dying each year from diarrhoea,” said Mr. Grover.
“The school environment is a crucial place for hygiene promotion, since children will often take these lessons home, and it will influence other family members,” according to Mr.
Vernor Muñoz, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, highlighted the fact that schools are crucial place for promoting good hygiene, since children can take these lessons home and influence family members.
“We have observed various projects which are based on this premise and are very successful. However, it is crucial that the school environment also provides adequate sanitation facilities,” he said.
The three experts stressed that promoting handwashing with soap must be a priority at the national level, and that States are obliged to ensure that public places, including public hospitals, schools and prisons, have appropriate facilities for good hygiene.
“Hygiene is a central part of the human rights obligations related to water, sanitation and health, and we call upon all States to comply with these obligations,” they stated.
The worldwide observance of Global Handwashing Day began in 2008 – which was also the UN International Year of Sanitation – and was spearheaded by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The Day is an initiative of the Public Private Partnership for Handwashing which brings together multilateral organizations, local community groups and the private sector.


as posted here

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

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

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