Monday, 27 October 2003

Aussie 'shot by Israelis', The Australian, 27 October, 2003.

Aussie `shot by Israelis': [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 27 Oct 2003: 3.
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A US activist was also injured in the incident last Friday. Canberra-based ISM activist Michael Shaik said he believed the two were wounded when Israeli soldiers drove into the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
AN Australian student and peace activist has reportedly been shot by Israeli troops in the Palestinian city of Nablus.
Joshua Taaffe, 24, believed to be a student at the University of Western Australia, is also a member of the International Solidarity Movement. American Rachel Corrie, who was killed when run over by an Israeli bulldozer in March, was a member of that group, which has peace activists stationed in Nablus.
A US activist was also injured in the incident last Friday. Canberra-based ISM activist Michael Shaik said he believed the two were wounded when Israeli soldiers drove into the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
He said the Israeli soldiers were randomly firing their weapons into the street. Mr Shaik claims two Israeli military jeeps entered the camp and began shooting.
He said Mr Taaffe and US volunteer Mark Turner, also 24, had escorted a group of children to safety and stayed on to observe the conduct of the Israeli soldiers, which the ISM sees as one of its functions.
Mr Turner's right leg was grazed by a bullet, while Mr Taaffe was wounded in both legs when a bullet passed through his left thigh and into his right.
The pair are in Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.
ISM reported Mr Taaffe as saying: "I was more terrified than I have ever been in my life. Many of the patients are very anxious that the troops will return overnight tonight. As terrified as I was, I eventually realised that it must be so much worse for the Palestinians because there is nothing protecting them or restraining the soldiers from shooting."
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Exposing the Infrastructure, Dads on the Air, With Noel Giblett of LifeLine, 27 October, 2003.








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Thursday, 23 October 2003

Protesters hit streets of three cities - Bush & Hu, The Australian, 23 October, 2003.

Protesters hit streets of three cities - Bush & Hu: [2 All-round First Edition]

Brendan O'Keefe, John Stapleton, Ashleigh Wilson. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 23 Oct 2003: 4.
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THOUSANDS of demonstrators gathered and marched in three cities last night to protest against the visits of George W. Bush and Hu Jintao, both of whom arrived yesterday.
About 5000 anti-war, anti-Bush and anti-[Hu] protesters packed Sydney's Town Hall Square to "send a message" to John Howard andthe visiting leaders.
Labor MP Harry Quick, who sparked debate about how Mr Bush should be greeted in parliament, sported a white armband as he toldthe crowd: "I'm going to wear it in the House of Representatives tomorrow to show George Bush that we don't want to be part of his coalition of the willing."

THOUSANDS of demonstrators gathered and marched in three cities last night to protest against the visits of George W. Bush and Hu Jintao, both of whom arrived yesterday.
About 5000 anti-war, anti-Bush and anti-Hu protesters packed Sydney's Town Hall Square to "send a message" to John Howard andthe visiting leaders.
Greens senator Bob Brown said that in Mr Hu's China, Mr Howard, Labor leader Simon Crean and Senator Brown himself would be locked up in jail if they tried to establish political parties.
Senator Brown said Australians should send a message to Mr Howard that they must not be locked out of their own parliament.
He asked the crowd to tug a forelock and cover their mouths with their hands. "I just wanted to see what President Bush will see when he addresses the Australian parliament," he said.
Labor MP Harry Quick, who sparked debate about how Mr Bush should be greeted in parliament, sported a white armband as he toldthe crowd: "I'm going to wear it in the House of Representatives tomorrow to show George Bush that we don't want to be part of his coalition of the willing."
In Melbourne, about 150 anti-Bush demonstrators marched through the heart of the city from the State Library to Federation Square, where Catholic bishop Hilton Deakin addressed a rally. Police said the crowd was 500, while organisers estimated numbers at about 2000.
About 150 protesters turned out to Brisbane's King George Square yesterday for a mock trial of Mr Bush.
Iraqi refugee and artist Towfiq Al-Qady told the rally he mourned the deterioration of his home country.
"The country is very sad because we have occupation, not liberation," he said.
Australian Hazara Ethnic Society president Hassan Ghulam said that Mr Bush also had left a mess in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan has not been liberated," he said. "The foundation is very much the same."
A protester wearing a Bush mask was then put on mock trial, accused of terrorism and human rights abuses.
He was "sentenced" to a variety of punishments, including having to work in hospitals in Afghanistan and Iraq, and being compelled to appear on CNN admitting he "stole" the presidential elections.
Demonstrators will converge on Canberra today to protest against Mr Bush's address to the parliament and the security measures banning them from the house.

FIRST EDITION:

City protests target visiting leaders - Bush & Hu: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Brendan O'Keefe, John Stapleton, Ashleigh Wilson. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 23 Oct 2003: 4.
THOUSANDS of demonstrators gathered and marched in three cities last night to protest against the visits of George W. Bush and Hu Jintao, both of whom arrived yesterday.
About 5000 anti-war, anti-Bush and anti-[Hu] protesters packed Sydney's Town Hall Square to "send a message" to John Howard and the visiting leaders.
Labor MP Harry Quick, who sparked debate about how Mr Bush should be greeted in parliament, sported a white armband as he told the crowd: "I'm going to wear it in the House of Representatives tomorrow to show George Bush that we don't want to be part of his coalition of the willing."

Full Text

THOUSANDS of demonstrators gathered and marched in three cities last night to protest against the visits of George W. Bush and Hu Jintao, both of whom arrived yesterday.
About 5000 anti-war, anti-Bush and anti-Hu protesters packed Sydney's Town Hall Square to "send a message" to John Howard and the visiting leaders.
Greens senator Bob Brown said that in Mr Hu's China, Mr Howard, Labor leader Simon Crean and Senator Brown himself would be locked up in jail if they tried to establish political parties.
Senator Brown said Australians should send a message to Mr Howard that they must not be locked out of their own parliament.
He asked the crowd to tug a forelock and cover their mouths with their hands. "I just wanted to see what President Bush will see when he addresses the Australian parliament," he said.
Labor MP Harry Quick, who sparked debate about how Mr Bush should be greeted in parliament, sported a white armband as he told the crowd: "I'm going to wear it in the House of Representatives tomorrow to show George Bush that we don't want to be part of his coalition of the willing."
In Melbourne, about 150 anti-Bush demonstrators marched through the heart of the city from the State Library to Federation Square, where Catholic bishop Hilton Deakin addressed a rally. Police said the crowd was 500, while organisers estimated numbers at about 2000.
About 150 protesters turned out to Brisbane's King George Square yesterday for a mock trial of Mr Bush.
Iraqi refugee and artist Towfiq Al-Qady told the rally he mourned the deterioration of his home country.
"The country is very sad because we have occupation, not liberation," he said.
Australian Hazara Ethnic Society president Hassan Ghulam said that Mr Bush also had left a mess in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan has not been liberated," he said. "The foundation is very much the same."
A protester wearing a Bush mask was then put on mock trial, accused of terrorism and human rights abuses.
He was "sentenced" to a variety of punishments, including having to work in hospitals in Afghanistan and Iraq, and being compelled to appear on CNN admitting he "stole" the presidential elections.
Demonstrators will converge on Canberra today to protest against Mr Bush's address to the parliament and the security measures banning them from the house.
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Monday, 20 October 2003

Fan letter for Dads On The Air show, 20 October, 2003.


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Friday, 17 October 2003

Stranger than Fiction, The Australian, 17 October, 2003.

Stranger than fiction - John Stapleton: [3 All-round Metro Edition]

The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 17 Oct 2003: 3.
THE colourful descriptions of the life of Australia's latest Booker Prize winner, DBC Pierre, are all true, he claims.
DBC (Dirty But Clean) Pierre, born in Australia as Peter Warren Finlay, was a surprise winner this week of the Booker Prize -- one of the world's most prestigious and, normally, stuffy literary awards -- for his novel Vernon God Little.
[Pierre] left Australia when he was six years old to live in Mexico. He now lives in Ireland.

Full Text

THE colourful descriptions of the life of Australia's latest Booker Prize winner, DBC Pierre, are all true, he claims.
He has been shot at by a neighbour in Mexico, had his face reconstructed after a serious accident and been both a drug addict and a conman.
DBC (Dirty But Clean) Pierre, born in Australia as Peter Warren Finlay, was a surprise winner this week of the Booker Prize -- one of the world's most prestigious and, normally, stuffy literary awards -- for his novel Vernon God Little.
"I am not pulling your leg," he told ABC television last night.
He said that for 42 years he had "lived very quickly" to rack up the colourful tales and that many other parts of his life had not been told.
No one walked around with a "life assessment" in their heads, he said, and he was finding it interesting to read the abridged versions of his life with all the "salty bits" left in.
Pierre said some of the energy that drove his first large work came from his own regrets and his own life story.
Pierre left Australia when he was six years old to live in Mexico. He now lives in Ireland.
He said that when he has returned to Australia, he has felt like something of an outsider.
But he also believed our present culture, which made many promises that could not be fulfilled, was producing many more young outsiders.
Vernon God Little had recently been optioned by a European film- maker, he said.
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Wednesday, 15 October 2003

Suffering pontiff lives his teachings: Pell, The Australian, 17 October, 2003

Suffering pontiff lives his teachings: Pell: [2 All-round First Edition]

John Stapleton, Vanessa Walker. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 17 Oct 2003: 10.
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GEORGE Pell, shortly to become the nation's seventh cardinal, made his final public appearance last night as Archbishop of Sydney before leaving for Rome for his elevation to the College of Cardinals.
At a packed mass last night at the Catholic Church's most historic Australian cathedral, St Mary's in Sydney, Dr Pell led a congregation of more than 3000 in a celebration of the Pope's life and silver jubilee.
GEORGE Pell, shortly to become the nation's seventh cardinal, made his final public appearance last night as Archbishop of Sydney before leaving for Rome for his elevation to the College of Cardinals.
Dr Pell will receive the red hat signifying his elevation from Pope John Paul II on Tuesday. This means he will be one of the 135 senior clergy who will elect the next pope.
At a packed mass last night at the Catholic Church's most historic Australian cathedral, St Mary's in Sydney, Dr Pell led a congregation of more than 3000 in a celebration of the Pope's life and silver jubilee.
He said John Paul II had repeated and developed his central themes in many different forms of teaching, explaining the liberating effect of truth.
He said some of the Pope's politically incorrect encyclicals -- including those condemning abortion and euthanasia -- had caused great debate in the secular world.
"There's no easy courting of popularity, no shirking of challenges," Dr Pell said.
"The centre of the Pope's work is the question of the meaning of human life." Dr Pell said there was a radical secular view that if a life was made of suffering, there was no point in living.
"John Paul has addressed this intellectually, and more recently with the public performance of his duties at such great cost," he said.
The Pope, 83, is suffering from Parkinson's disease and has been in increasingly ill health.
"He struggles wearily on, helped only by Christ's power driving him on irresistibly," Dr Pell said. "We thank God for his presence ... for his teaching and his character."
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Monday, 13 October 2003

The Disaster of Child Support, With Alsion Pearce and Paul Henman, Dads On The Air, 13 October, 2003.






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Monday, 6 October 2003

The Inquiry Special, With Special Guest Chairwoman Kay Hull MP, 6 October, 2003.






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Thursday, 2 October 2003

Family perishes in holiday disaster, The Australian, 2 October, 2003. Page One.

Family perishes in holiday disaster: [2 All-round First Edition 1]

Amanda Hodge, John Stapleton, Vanessa Walker. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 02 Oct 2003: 1.
Show highlighting
The Piper Aztec plane had just taken off at about 11.40am when witnesses heard a bang and saw smoke rising from scrub about 2km from the Mareeba airstrip on the Atherton Tablelands.
Gerald and Caroline Mall, their son David, 10, and two daughters, Amy, 7, and Elysse, 5, left their southern Sydney home at Connells Point a week ago to spend time in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria town of Karumba before arriving in Mareeba on Sunday.
The smouldering wreck, above, of the plane that crashed at Mareeba yesterday, killing a family of five. Left: victim Elysse Mall, 5. Right: A Piper Aztec similar to the crash plane
A SYDNEY family of five, including three children aged 10 and under, died yesterday after their twin-engine aeroplane crashed in flames into bushland seconds after taking off from a north Queensland airstrip.
The Piper Aztec plane had just taken off at about 11.40am when witnesses heard a bang and saw smoke rising from scrub about 2km from the Mareeba airstrip on the Atherton Tablelands.
Ambulance officers, State Emergency Service workers and firefighters were on the scene within minutes, but found the plane had disintegrated.
Gerald and Caroline Mall, their son David, 10, and two daughters, Amy, 7, and Elysse, 5, left their southern Sydney home at Connells Point a week ago to spend time in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria town of Karumba before arriving in Mareeba on Sunday.
The father of three, a director of avionics with Sydney company Heli-Muster and a pilot for 20 years, had told staff at the airstrip on his arrival on Sunday that he had just bought the plane and planned to take his family to Cairns for a brief trip.
"He came over and introduced himself when they arrived and wanted to know if he could buy fuel on Monday, but he didn't turn up until this morning," an airport fuel attendant said.
"He seemed like a very friendly, casual bloke, and I was going to offer them a lift down to Cairns, but they had already arranged a car."
Australian Transport Safety Board spokesman Peter Saint said two senior investigators would begin interviewing witnesses and picking through the remains of the aircraft today, but conceded the extent of the fire could hamper investigations. "Fire can complicate matters a hell of a lot because very often gauges will be destroyed," he said.
Mr Mall had not registered a flight plan before takeoff, and the emergency beacon was not activated.
Heli-Muster general manager Peter Russell said Mr Mall was a long- standing staff member.
"He was a very respected member of this staff and we will miss him very much," he said.
The NSW Education Department's District Superintendent for St George, Ken Olah, said a support plan was being put in place for students and staff of Connells Point Public School, which all three children attended.
"We will have a team of counsellors available for students, a staff welfare officer and an employee counsellor available to staff," Mr Olah said.
The smouldering wreck, above, of the plane that crashed at Mareeba yesterday, killing a family of five. Left: victim Elysse Mall, 5. Right: A Piper Aztec similar to the crash plane
Main picture:
Graham Crouch
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