Tuesday 30 September 2003

Museum theft 'not for cash', The Australian, 30 September, 2003.

Museum theft `not for cash': [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 30 Sep 2003: 7.
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The controversy over Mr van Leeuwen's collecting mania spilled over into the Independent Commission Against Corruption, whose investigations eventually uncovered his identity and enveloped the museum and its director, Mike Archer.
Mr van Leeuwen, a passionate collector and skilled taxidermist since his boyhood in Holland, appears to have been humiliated by his role as a pest exterminator at the museum and the way he was treated by other staff.
THE man who stole more than 2000 items from the Australian Museum in Sydney says he did it for the passion of collecting, not for money.
Talking publicly for the first time, to the ABC's Four Corners, the man at the heart of the scandal that has enveloped the 176-year- old institution said he was was a Clark Kent type by day and a fanatical taxidermist by night.
Hank van Leeuwen, a pest controller at the museum, had free access to millions of rare and scientific specimens built up by generations of scientists.
Items he allegedly stole included skulls of the extinct Tasmanian tiger.
The controversy over Mr van Leeuwen's collecting mania spilled over into the Independent Commission Against Corruption, whose investigations eventually uncovered his identity and enveloped the museum and its director, Mike Archer.
ICAC raided Mr van Leeuwen's home in March and took away more than 2000 items.
Mr van Leeuwen, a passionate collector and skilled taxidermist since his boyhood in Holland, appears to have been humiliated by his role as a pest exterminator at the museum and the way he was treated by other staff.
He says his skill as a taxidermist was overlooked, perhaps because of his lack of education.
He told ICAC that he started with one skull from a suburban storage area but later drove home in one of the museum's four-wheel drives with the luggage compartment filled with animal skulls.
He described his obsession for collecting as a mad passion. "It takes hold of you after a while and you just ... lose the concept of it," he said.
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Monday 29 September 2003

Forbes wins heaven's game for club victims, The Australian, 29 September, 2003.

Forbes wins heaven's game for club victims: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 29 Sep 2003: 2.
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A YEAR on from Bali and things are starting to look up for the [Forbes] rugby union club in NSW's central west.
"Forbes were never going to be beaten this weekend." Mr [Richard Barwick] said the season had been built on emotion flowing from October 12.
"A lot of players have very strong memories of Bali and this is one more step in the healing process." All year the club has played in memorial jumpers which had sewn below the club logo the words `Never Forgotten'.
A YEAR on from Bali and things are starting to look up for the Forbes rugby union club in NSW's central west.
Twenty five members of the club went to Bali for the end of season celebrations and many of them were in the Sari Club at the time of the explosion.
Three players, Greg Sanderson, 27, Paul Cronin, 31 and Brad Ridley, 32, were killed. They were all first or second grade players.
At the weekend, the club, known as the Platypi, won the first and second grade Central West rugby union grand final, the first time it has done so. Many of the players were Bali survivors.
There was a record attendance at the Forbes grounds of almost 4000 people.
Commentators noted that if the missing players were looking down, they would be smiling at the achievements.
"The club has had an absolutely magnificent 24 hours, firstly securing the second grade title, culminating with a first grade victory," club member Richard Barwick said.
"Forbes were never going to be beaten this weekend." Mr Barwick said the season had been built on emotion flowing from October 12.
"It has a symbolic year, not just for the players but for the community, who have been so strong," he said.
"A lot of players have very strong memories of Bali and this is one more step in the healing process." All year the club has played in memorial jumpers which had sewn below the club logo the words `Never Forgotten'.
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Sydnhey's Pell made prince of church, The Australian, 29 September, 2003.

Sydney's Pell made prince of church: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 29 Sep 2003: 3.
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"As Archbishop of Sydney my appointment also recognises the contribution of the Catholic community to Australian life. I will continue working to maintain and deepen this tradition of service."


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ARCHBISHOP of Sydney George Pell last night became only the seventh Australian to be made a cardinal.
Dr Pell said the appointment was a signal honour.
"The Ancient College of Cardinals reflects the unity and universality of the Catholic church, both wonderful blessings," he said.
"As Archbishop of Sydney my appointment also recognises the contribution of the Catholic community to Australian life. I will continue working to maintain and deepen this tradition of service." Dr Pell was one of 30 new cardinals named by the Pope last night. He also designated a 31st cardinal but did not name him.
The group will be elevated at a consistory on October 21, coinciding with the celebrations marking John Paul's 25th anniversary as pope.
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Friday 26 September 2003

Four in finals for UN award, The Australian, 26 September, 2003.

Four in finals for UN award: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 26 Sep 2003: 2.
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The Australian's European correspondent Peter Wilson and photographer John Feder are finalists in the Best Print and Photo Journalism categories for their work in Iraq.
FOUR journalists on The Australian have been selected as finalists in the prestigious UN 25th Anniversary Media Peace Awards.
The awards were initiated in 1978 and promote understanding and awareness on humanitarian and social justice issues.
The Australian's European correspondent Peter Wilson and photographer John Feder are finalists in the Best Print and Photo Journalism categories for their work in Iraq.
They are being honoured for a series of articles detailing the recovery of a boy who was severely injured during the conflict in Iraq.
Senior journalist Elisabeth Wynhausen and investigations editor Natalie O'Brien are among finalists for the category Women's Rights and Issues, for their groundbreaking series on the sex slave trade in Australia.
The winners will be announced in Melbourne next month.
Credit: Peter Wilson, John Feder, Elisabeth Wynhausen, Natalie O'Brien
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Thursday 25 September 2003

Nelson flags single senior certificate, The Australian, 25 September, 2003.

Nelson flags single senior certificate: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 25 Sep 2003: 4.
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FEDERAL Education Minister Brendan Nelson has flagged replacing the eight different Year 12 qualifications with a single certificate, in another move towards nationalising the state-based school system.
In Queensland Education Department director-general Ken Smith said he was happy to take part in discussions at a national level regarding Dr Nelson's proposal, but like the others claimed his system was the nation's best.
FEDERAL Education Minister Brendan Nelson has flagged replacing the eight different Year 12 qualifications with a single certificate, in another move towards nationalising the state-based school system.
Dr Nelson told ABC Radio he felt it was time a debate was held to determine the best way to assess Year 12 students for university entry.
The different systems in each state meant that students did not have the same opportunity for admission to tertiary education.
"It is important that we drive towards a nationally consistent method of assessing the skills and abilities of young people when they leave secondary education," he said.
But the states have indicated only cautious support for the idea, with most saying they would be unwilling to change their own systems of assessment, which varies from two years of continuous assessment to reliance almost exclusively on final year exams.
NSW Education Minister Andrew Refshauge said while he was prepared to discuss the issue, NSW had already been through a major revamp of its Higher School Certificate and and we would not want to "reduce the value of our HSC or dumb it down".
South Australian Education Minister Trish White had a similar response.
In Victoria, Education Minister Lynne Kosky was keeping out of the debate.
But in Queensland Education Department director-general Ken Smith said he was happy to take part in discussions at a national level regarding Dr Nelson's proposal, but like the others claimed his system was the nation's best.
Western Australia's Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter said Mr Nelson's call for a national debate on Year 12 assessments was a diversion from thedebate over higher education changes.
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Monday 22 September 2003

Handgun buyback widens, The Australian, 22 September, 2003.

Handgun buyback widens: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 22 Sep 2003: 6.
The scheme began on July 1 and there has been a staggered start from the states. Latest available figures show that 2702 firearms have been bought back in Queensland, 2094 in Victoria, 569 in WA, 441 in Tasmania, 356 in the NT and 354 in the ACT.

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THE last two states to join the federal Government's National Handgun Buyback Scheme, NSW and South Australia, will come on board at the beginning of October.
NSW Police Minister John Watkins announced yesterday the amnesty in NSW would run from October 1 until March 31.
The scheme began on July 1 and there has been a staggered start from the states. Latest available figures show that 2702 firearms have been bought back in Queensland, 2094 in Victoria, 569 in WA, 441 in Tasmania, 356 in the NT and 354 in the ACT.
Mr Watkins said the two previous gun amnesties and the gun buyback scheme had led to the surrender of 207,215 firearms.
"This amnesty means no questions asked," he said. "It's a final warning to those with illegal weapons -- hand them to police now."
Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the federal Government was happy with the progress of the scheme and was working with the Sporting Shooters Advisory Council to make sure it ran smoothly.
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Reforming Divorce Law and the Status of Fatherhood, Dads on the Air, 22 September, 2003.

As the co-founder and program director of Dads On The Air, and as the only one o the small band of volunteers with a journalistic background, for a decade from 2000-2009 I wrote the weekly flyers.

With the passing of time, they are becoming hard to locate.







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