Monday 30 April 2001

Canberra threatened with European court over deportation, The Australian, 30 April, 2001.

Canberra threatened with European court over deportation: [1 Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 30 Apr 2001: 3.
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[Brian John Burgess] came to Australia under the British Boy's Movement for Australia at the age of 17. He was employed as a sales agent for several airlines including Ansett and Compass, did modelling assignments and was featured on the MBF Get To Know Your Heart campaign.
In his early 40s, Burgess became depressed, began drinking and fell into debt, losing his $1.7 million home. He saw importing cocaine as a way out, and in 1996 he pleaded guilty to importing 2kg of cocaine with a street value of $656,200 and was sentenced to four years in prison.
AN international human rights group has condemned the conduct of Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock and is threatening to take the Australian Government to the European Court of Human Rights over the deportation of a businessman convicted of cocaine smuggling.
Brian John Burgess lived in Australia for 31 years but was deported to Britain at the end of his jail term without the opportunity to say goodbye to Jenny, his wife of 30 years, or his three children, all under 17.
Burgess came to Australia under the British Boy's Movement for Australia at the age of 17. He was employed as a sales agent for several airlines including Ansett and Compass, did modelling assignments and was featured on the MBF Get To Know Your Heart campaign.
In his early 40s, Burgess became depressed, began drinking and fell into debt, losing his $1.7 million home. He saw importing cocaine as a way out, and in 1996 he pleaded guilty to importing 2kg of cocaine with a street value of $656,200 and was sentenced to four years in prison.
The International Federation of Human Rights has written to John Howard saying it is considering applying to the European Court of Human Rights if an amicable solution of the issue is not reached.
The federation claims the Government did not take into account factors including the hardship Burgess's wife and three children would suffer if he was deported.
It is critical of Mr Ruddock's conduct, saying he had not read recommendations made by his own officers and that there have been "substantial breaches of international legislation relating to this matter", including breaches of the international convention on civil and political rights, the rights of children and "the psychological torture Mr Burgess, his children and his wife have been subjected to".
The family has repeatedly appealed to Mr Ruddock, but has received little response.
The federation's letter to the Prime Minister states: "These Australian children were ignored and denied the right to have received a reply from the duly elected minister ... We strongly condemn the silence, attitude and handling of this case."
Mrs Burgess said her children had been expecting their father home on his release in July last year. However, Mr Burgess was handcuffed and taken to the airport.
"Ruddock has punished the children by taking their father away," she said. "He was always a good dad. Unfortunately he lost the plot for a time, but he didn't deserve to be sentenced twice."
Mr Burgess is now working as a marketing manager for a drug rehabilitation centre in London.
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Caption: Deported:; Photo: Photo
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Monday 16 April 2001

National road toll halved, The Australian, 16 April, 2001.

National road toll halved: [2 Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 16 Apr 2001: 5.
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The death of an eight-year-old girl near the far north Queensland town of Cardwell brought that state's death toll to four. The girl was travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle that hit a bridge railing on the Bruce Highway. Three people also died on Victoria's roads.
WHILE no one is breaking out the champagne quite yet, police say this year's Easter national road toll looks like it will be significantly down on last year's.
By last night, 14 people had died on the nation's roads, in contrast to 27 for the Easter holiday period last year and 23 in 1999.
NSW, which had a disastrous Christmas-New Year holiday period with 40 people dying on the roads, showed the most improvement. Only one person, an 11-year-old boy, had died. Police said the boy had been riding an unregistered motorcycle on a country road near Scone when he lost control on Saturday evening.
The death of an eight-year-old girl near the far north Queensland town of Cardwell brought that state's death toll to four. The girl was travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle that hit a bridge railing on the Bruce Highway. Three people also died on Victoria's roads.
A West Australian driver who died after his car hit a wild pig about 100km northeast of Perth on Saturday brought the state toll to four.
The Northern Territory and South Australia recorded one fatality each.
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Tuesday 10 April 2001

Car race officials on death charges, The Australian, 10 April, 2001.

Car race officials on death charges: [1 Edition]

John Stapleton AAP. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 10 Apr 2001: 5.
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Police reported at the time that [Todd Wilkes] braked heavily following his speed trial, crashed through a barricade and into a concrete wall. The car burst into flames. Paramedics managed to re-start Wilkes's heart but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at hospital.
TWO motor racing officials were summonsed yesterday on manslaughter charges over the death of one of Australia's leading drag racers at a Sydney raceway, and a further two officials are expected to be issued with summonses today.
Todd Wilkes, known to drag racing fans as "Judge", died of multiple injuries and severe burns when his car hit a wall before bursting into flames at Eastern Creek Raceway on February 25.
Police suspended all operations at the raceway for several days following the accident. Wilkes, 29, a computer programmer from Queensland, was driving his street-legal Giocattolo, a twin-turbo V8 capable of speeds of more than 300km/h.
Police reported at the time that Wilkes braked heavily following his speed trial, crashed through a barricade and into a concrete wall. The car burst into flames. Paramedics managed to re-start Wilkes's heart but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at hospital.
Two officials from the Australian Racing Drivers Club and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports were summonsed on manslaughter charges yesterday and will appear in Blacktown Local Court on May 17. A further two officials from the racing bodies are expected to be issued with summonses today.
The names of the officials have not been released. Both the ARDC and CAMS yesterday refused to comment on the summonses.
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Certificate Training Course Microsoft Outlook, News Limited, 10 April, 2001.


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Friday 6 April 2001

Buy your own nature reserve - COUNTRY MATTERS, The Australian, 6 April, 2001.

Buy your own nature reserve - COUNTRY MATTERS: [1 Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 06 Apr 2001: 36.
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The property covers sectioned rainforest and bushland with a 2.5 kilometre drive-through safari featuring more than 250 head of deer of four different species, fallow, red, rusa and chital, the latter originating from India and regarded as one of the most beautiful species in the world.
Other features include a koala habit, home to 15 koalas all bred at Forest Glen, as well as a koala cuddling photographic area particularly for Japanese and American tourists.
Forest Glen was carved out of native bushland more than 20 years ago by New Zealander Rick Diesal and changed hands several times in rapid succession before Buck Gibson and his family bought it in 1992.
THE deer, emus and kangaroos come right up to the car window. It's not every day someone inspecting a property gets so much attention from the locals.
But a rare opportunity has come up to buy your very own nature reserve, Forest Glen Sanctuary on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
The 23-hectare wildlife sanctuary, set in the western foothills of Buderim township on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is up for sale with price expectations of about $2.5 million.
Forest Glen won the 1998, 1999 and 2000 Sunshine Coast tourism awards for excellence and is pitched at the international and domestic markets.
The property covers sectioned rainforest and bushland with a 2.5 kilometre drive-through safari featuring more than 250 head of deer of four different species, fallow, red, rusa and chital, the latter originating from India and regarded as one of the most beautiful species in the world.
Emus, kangaroos and wallabies also roam the estate. Most of the animals are not penned.
Other features include a koala habit, home to 15 koalas all bred at Forest Glen, as well as a koala cuddling photographic area particularly for Japanese and American tourists.
Thanks to digital technology, high-quality photographs of tourists with the koalas can be e-mailed anywhere in the world within minutes.
There is also a southern hairy-nosed wombat habitat and a nocturnal house with possums, bandicoots and sugar gliders.
Forest Glen was carved out of native bushland more than 20 years ago by New Zealander Rick Diesal and changed hands several times in rapid succession before Buck Gibson and his family bought it in 1992.
"The business needed stability," Mr Gibson said. "We have rejuvenated the park and given it a new lease of life. We're selling for family reasons. I am sure when they're older my kids will say: `Why did you sell, Dad?'
"Forest Glen is a very good purchase for a family business. It would be a great opportunity for a family with several members and a wide range of interests. There is ample opportunity to enhance the financial performance without huge outlays."
Mr Gibson said much of their business came from being an integral part of package tours for the region. Entrance to the park is $37 for a family of five. The park has an annual turnover in the order of $1 million a year, with net profit of $230,000-$270,000 and gross trading profit in excess of $700,000.
A breakdown of revenue indicates that 52 per cent of revenue comes from park admissions, 20 per cent from the retail shop, 12 per cent from koala photographs and 15 per cent from cafe sales.
Facilities include Rainforest Lodge, with a fully licensed cafe and function area, barbecues and picnic grounds, amenities and children's play area, retail gift and souvenir shop, administration office and boardroom. Devonshire teas are served overlooking a rainforest bush garden.
There are two residences, the main homestead, a four-bedroom brick home, and a four-bedroom weatherboard cottage. Ten full- and part-time staff work at the sanctuary, including wildlife experts, tour guides and caterers. All can stay on as required.
Agent Peter Flaskas from Hayes and Co at Maroochydore said that despite the business being well established and profitable it still offered growth potential, with the low dollar creating opportunities.
Unused land along the Bruce Highway, if utilised imaginatively, could generate additional income, he said.
Illustration
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