Tuesday 19 April 2005
Saturday 16 April 2005
Nursing pay rises slated, The Australian, 16 April, 2005.
Nursing pay rises slated, applauded: [1 Preprints Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 16 Apr 2005: C25.
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Abstract
Nursing home operators, largely run by charities and churches, claimed the increase would put financial pressure on more than 900 NSW operators and lead to wage pressures in nursing homes around Australia.
Secretary of the NSW Nurses' Association Brett Holmes said the decision represented a significant wage increase for aged nurses. He said when the wage case began there were vocationally trained nurses, known as "assistants in nursing", who had dedicated their lives to the industry but were earning as little as $25,000. Their base wage now goes to $30,900.
Out of step with his colleagues, chairman of Moran Healthcare Douglas Moran, one of the largest provider of aged-care services in Australia, described the increase as justice for the dedication and hard work from nurses dealing with increasingly difficult cases as hospitals failed to cope with an ageing population.
AGED-CARE nurses in NSW have received an immediate 6 per cent pay rise following a two-year campaign by the Nurses' Association which had already seen wages rise 11 per cent since 2003. There will be a further 6 per cent rise next year, bringing the total rises to 23 per cent in three years.
Nursing home operators, largely run by charities and churches, claimed the increase would put financial pressure on more than 900 NSW operators and lead to wage pressures in nursing homes around Australia.
In handing down the pay rise , the full bench of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission cited increased work value, including more acute levels of care and the long-term shortage of nurses.
Aged and Community Services Association spokesman Paul Sadler said federal Government funding did not cover the increased wages bill. He said the decision would cost operators $38.2 million in the next year, and a further $40.5 million from March next year.
"This is on top of pay increases in August 2004 which cost the industry $36 million," he said. "The industry is on a financial knife-edge. No industry can absorb pay increases of nearly $115 million in three years -- yet that's what's facing nursing homes in NSW."
Secretary of the NSW Nurses' Association Brett Holmes said the decision represented a significant wage increase for aged nurses. He said when the wage case began there were vocationally trained nurses, known as "assistants in nursing", who had dedicated their lives to the industry but were earning as little as $25,000. Their base wage now goes to $30,900.
"People pay more per hour for the veterinary services for their dog than they do for the care of their ageing mother," he said. "Theaged-care sector is relying on the passion and goodwill of nurses to care for our most vulnerable members."
Out of step with his colleagues, chairman of Moran Healthcare Douglas Moran, one of the largest provider of aged-care services in Australia, described the increase as justice for the dedication and hard work from nurses dealing with increasingly difficult cases as hospitals failed to cope with an ageing population.
"It has been causing me some concern for some time," he said. "I know how hard the nurses work, and with the cost of living continuously increasing I have to agree with the increase. We have to be fair in our thinking on these things. I visit my facilities, I see the hard work they are all doing, and I think our churches and charities and other operators have to be realistic about this."
Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott said the government had provided an extra $2.2 billion to the aged-care sector in last year's budget. "Some of that money was to ensure that nurses in the aged-care sector were better paid so we certainly are in favour of paying nurses appropriately," he said.
ORIGINAL COPY
ORIGINAL COPY
Saturday 9 April 2005
Comrades recall four of the finest, Weekend Australian, 9 April, 2005.
Comrades recall four of the finest: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 09 Apr 2005: 2.
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Abstract
Four of the nine personnel who died, lieutenants Matthew Goodall, Paul Kimlin and Jonathan King and Leading Seaman Scott Bennet were also based there as part of Squadron 817.
During the service four friends and colleagues of the men, voices cracking with emotion, told of those they had lost. Lieutenant Commander Matt Bradley recalled his friend Lieutenant Goodall, or "Guber", as a talented officer who loved life and couldn't wait to see "real" operations.
Although saddened by the tragedy and despair he had witnessed in Indonesia, he had revelled "in the fact of helping others". Lieutenant King was remembered as an officer who stood out from the crowd and whose social life in his student years earned him affectionate notoriety.
THE Last Post concluded and for one long minute all that could be heard was the sound of birds in the distance and the murmur of babies as 2000 naval personnel and their families saluted as one.
They had gathered yesterday at HMAS Albatross at Nowra, on the NSW south coast, where the Sea King helicopter that went down on the Indonesian island of Nias on Saturday was based.
Four of the nine personnel who died, lieutenants Matthew Goodall, Paul Kimlin and Jonathan King and Leading Seaman Scott Bennet were also based there as part of Squadron 817.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie told the memorial service yesterday that he stood before the congregation "with great sadness".
"They are irreplaceable and they will always be remembered by their shipmates, by the navy, by the air force and by the nation," he said. "Nothing I say can bring comfort or ease the pain of those who the knew them best.
"While no words will suffice ... remember your friends and shipmates died doing what they loved. The nation is mourning with you."
During the service four friends and colleagues of the men, voices cracking with emotion, told of those they had lost. Lieutenant Commander Matt Bradley recalled his friend Lieutenant Goodall, or "Guber", as a talented officer who loved life and couldn't wait to see "real" operations.
Although saddened by the tragedy and despair he had witnessed in Indonesia, he had revelled "in the fact of helping others". Lieutenant King was remembered as an officer who stood out from the crowd and whose social life in his student years earned him affectionate notoriety.
"When the girlfriends were around he was a nice guy, when it was just the guys the evil twin came out and we all knew we were in for a wild night," his friend Lieutenant Leith Sherwin said.
But when the chips were down, he said, it was "Kingie" he turned to for support.
The service was told that Lieutenant Kimlin, who served his country in several theatres, was defined by his love of flying.
And Leading Seaman Bennet was remembered as a popular figure on base, known for his warmth, humour and compassion, and his unconditional love for his wife, Terren, and their two young sons, Jarrad and Courtney.
A national memorial service will be held at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday.
Thursday 7 April 2005
Medic's three-day countdown to death, The Australian, 7 April, 2005.
Medic's three-day countdown to death: [6 NSW Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 07 Apr 2005: 5.
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Abstract
NAVY medic Petty Officer Stephen Slattery, part of the medical team sent to the Indonesian island of Nias to help victims of the Easter Monday earthquake, was told of his deployment only on Wednesday of last week.
Petty Officer Slattery, 38, met his wife in the early 1990s at the former HMAS Nirimba naval base at Quakers Hill in Sydney's northwest where she was employed as a domestic and he worked in the medical centre.
[Noelene] said he had been devoted to his work at the naval medical centre at HMAS Kuttabul, on Sydney's Garden Island, never complaining about the long hours.
NAVY medic Petty Officer Stephen Slattery, part of the medical team sent to the Indonesian island of Nias to help victims of the Easter Monday earthquake, was told of his deployment only on Wednesday of last week.
By Thursday he was on the way. By Saturday he was dead, one of the nine Australian defence force personnel killed when the Sea King helicopter they were travelling in crashed on Nias while coming in to land on a soccer field.
His death has left behind his heartbroken wife Noelene and her two children he raised as his own -- Tracy, 32, and Shaun, 29.
Petty Officer Slattery, 38, met his wife in the early 1990s at the former HMAS Nirimba naval base at Quakers Hill in Sydney's northwest where she was employed as a domestic and he worked in the medical centre.
Friends and family who gathered at the family home at Cranebrook in Sydney's west to support Noelene yesterday described their relationship as "a real love match" and his death as "the worst tragedy".
"He can't be replaced," said Noelene. "He was completely devoted to me." Laughing briefly through her tears, she suggested to her women friends, who were sticking close by her side, that they were jealous.
"He liked to take me away on romantic weekends," she said. "I will never find another one like him. He was just wonderful, he truly was, and he just loved the kids. He never said, `These are my step-children'. He said, `These are my daughter and my son'. He was a good man."
Until yesterday, when the family broke its silence, few personal details had emerged about the ninth victim of the Sea King crash.
He was remembered as a good-hearted man with a fun-loving personality and a unique sense of humour. He loved fishing, golf and a good gossip over the back fence, but, above all, he loved his family.
Noelene said he had been devoted to his work at the naval medical centre at HMAS Kuttabul, on Sydney's Garden Island, never complaining about the long hours.
"He loved his work," she said. "He wasn't worried about going (to Nias). That was part of his job."
While Shaun was too upset to speak, Tracy spoke highly of a man who never let the children down.
"He was like a brother, he was our dad," Tracy said.
"I have known him for half my life. There was nothing he wouldn't do for us kids. He went out of his way for us. We were always clowning around together. He was exceptionally supportive. There were things going on with me, and he would never hesitate to step out and help."
Petty Officer Slattery also leaves two grandchildren, Joelene, 7, and Thomas, 5.
Friday 1 April 2005
Falling wall prevents boys' fire escape, The Australian, 1 April, 2005.
Falling wall prevents boys' fire escape: [7 NSW First Edition]
Annabelle McDonald, John Stapleton. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 01 Apr 2005: 6.
Abstract
Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and pulled Mathew Davies, 9, and Shane Davies, 6, out of the back of the burning house at about 7.30am yesterday. But ambulance officers were unable to revive them.
Neighbours said Mathew and Shane were good boys, but cheeky, and would often climb out of the bathroom window to go and play around the neighbourhood. But they said this time a wall collapsed on the pair, preventing them from making their escape.
Shane was to have celebrated his seventh birthday this Saturday. He was known as the quiet one. Mathew was known as more flamboyant, but both were regarded as inseparable.
"MUM, Mum," the two boys yelled from the bathroom inside their blazing Housing Commission home in the NSW Hunter Valley early yesterday morning.
"Get to the window, boys, get to the bathroom window," their mother, Lyn Andrews, screamed back.
"But then the screaming stopped, and there was nothing," a neighbour and friend of the family said yesterday.
Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and pulled Mathew Davies, 9, and Shane Davies, 6, out of the back of the burning house at about 7.30am yesterday. But ambulance officers were unable to revive them.
It was the second tragedy to hit the region in a fortnight, coming after a triple murder-suicide of the Winter family near Maitland. A funeral service for the family took place on Wednesday.
Neighbours said Mathew and Shane were good boys, but cheeky, and would often climb out of the bathroom window to go and play around the neighbourhood. But they said this time a wall collapsed on the pair, preventing them from making their escape.
Neighbour Jamie Baxter said the boys "tried wetting a blanket and sticking it over themselves but the wall caved in".
Ms Andrews and three other siblings, Kelly-Ann, who turned 13 this week, Brian, 12, and Lewis, 2, were taken to Maitland Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. They were later discharged.
Shane was to have celebrated his seventh birthday this Saturday. He was known as the quiet one. Mathew was known as more flamboyant, but both were regarded as inseparable.
"We were going to have a party at the house on Saturday," 14- year-old Jamie said.
Their distressed father, who had not been living with the family in recent times, would only give his name as "Pommy" Davies.
When asked how he was coping he said: "You have no idea. I wasn't here at the time. I raced over but ... it's bad, it's pretty bad."
A Department of Housing spokesman said there were two fire alarms hard-wired into the house's ceiling and there was no indication the alarms had malfunctioned.
Carl Skully immunisation The Australian 2005
John Stapleton
CLEARLY embarrassed by stories that he was not just some sort of lunatic vegetarian but that he did not believe in immunising his children, NSW leadership contender Carl Scully blamed the brutal ALP machine for the adverse propoganda. He took the unusual step yesterday of issuing a statement rejecting the stories that he did not support the immunisation of children.
CLEARLY embarrassed by stories that he was not just some sort of lunatic vegetarian but that he did not believe in immunising his children, NSW leadership contender Carl Scully blamed the brutal ALP machine for the adverse propoganda. He took the unusual step yesterday of issuing a statement rejecting the stories that he did not support the immunisation of children.
``It's come to my attention that an envelope containing a paper I wrote about immunisation back in 1992 is being mailed - from an Eastern suburbs postcode - to all NSW ALP Caucus members,'' he said.
``Let me make it absolutely clear that long ago I changed my views on this issue. For many years now, I have endorsed the policy of the NSW Health Department to have all young children immunised.''
Mr Scully went on to say that if the members of the NSW ALP Caucus were interested in any other parts of his history deemed relevant to the leadership race, ``I'm offering to make available a geography assignment I did in Year 9, a crayon drawing from year 1 and some fingerprinting I did in Kindy. Caucus members should contact my office if they are interested.''
When The Australian asked to see these juvenile masterworks his spokesman said: ``I think you should recognise the sarcastic tone. You should appreciate sarcasm. He is not allowing himself to be intimidated by the machine.''
The spokesman said he did not know if Mr Scully's children were immunised and as a leadership contender the important issue was not his private views but that he supported Health Department policy.
Chinese Dissidents Sydney Writers Festival, The Australian. Uncertain date.
John Stapleton
THEIR lives have weaved together in unusual ways; from the days in the late 1980s and early 1990s when as virtual unknowns they used to gather for alcohol fuelled parties at a house near Sydney University. All were Chinese expatriates or descendents distressed by the massacre in Tiananmen Square. This week, after not having seen each other for many years, they are once again together at the Sydney Writer's Festival, their international reputations now firmly established.
THEIR lives have weaved together in unusual ways; from the days in the late 1980s and early 1990s when as virtual unknowns they used to gather for alcohol fuelled parties at a house near Sydney University. All were Chinese expatriates or descendents distressed by the massacre in Tiananmen Square. This week, after not having seen each other for many years, they are once again together at the Sydney Writer's Festival, their international reputations now firmly established.
Back in the 1980s, when her house became a gathering point for Chinese writers and artists, Mabel Lee was a lecturer in Chinese literature at Sydney University, little known outside her field. One of her guests, Yang Lian, was a revolutionary poet who had been banned in China but he and his wife Yo Yo were completely unkown in the West. How times have changed.
As a result of translating three of Yang Lian's poetry books into English Mabel Lee went on to meet Nobel Prize winning author Gao Xingjian, and to translate his revered novel Soul Mountain.
Yang Lian has published ten books of poetry and become a regular on the international literary circuit. His wife Yo Yo, too, has finally come into her own. Her first novel to be published in English, Ghost Tide, came out in March.
Sydney Writer's Festival director Caro Llewellyn said the presence of all three are a result of the determined inclusion of regional literature. ``This year we have a larger contingent from Asia than ever before. There is a lot of interest in Chinese literature in the West. China is the next big thing, as any economist or futurist will tell you, so for us to hear these voices is very important.''
For Mabel, Yang and Yo Yo, the significance is as much personal as literary. ``There were a lot of Chinese artists and writers in Sydney, and there were always parties here, almost every weekend,'' Mabel recalls of those events in her house more than 15 years ago. ``We would cook these huge vats of food, but no matter how much we cooked they would always demolish it. And they loved their liquor!!''
Yang remembers writing some of his most significant work at Mabel's house; where he would lock himself in the study for days at a time. ``This place was dramatically important to us, our first home outside of China. There were huge drinkings, huge cookings, I would get lost in Australian wines,'' he said.
Yo Yo, the pen name of Liu Youhong, is thrilled that once again Sydney has become her saviour; for it was through the workings of Mabel and local literary agent Lyn Tranter that her novel Ghost Tide has been published. She said when she flew in from the UK, where they now live, she was very emotional. ``As a writer in exile, I can call this place a home,'' she said. ``I get very sentimental. I feel some secret mystery link, Sydney is very very special.''
The Sydney Writer's Festival has gone from strength to strength since it began in 1998. There will be 241 separate events this year, up form 175 last year, as well as web casting of the major events. The festival itself expanded its geographical boundaries to incorporate events in Newcastle, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains and Sydney's western suburbs.
Euthenasia Killing Me Softly Philip Nitschke & Fiona Stewart, The Australian, 2005
John Stapleton
ONLY four years ago Alan Plowman, once one of the country's leading diving and trampoline coaches, won the World Masters Springboard Diving Championship. All his life he had been healthy and active.
ONLY four years ago Alan Plowman, once one of the country's leading diving and trampoline coaches, won the World Masters Springboard Diving Championship. All his life he had been healthy and active.
Then in 2002 disaster struck. He was diagnosed with ``multiple-system-atrophy'', a condition similar to Parkinson's disease. Now he is in a wheelchair and barely able to speak.
Mr Plowman, 81, negotiated the complexities of a rain-drenched Sydney yesterday to attend the launch of Philip Nitschke's first book ``Killing Me Softly: Voluntary Euthanasia and the Road to the Peaceful Pill,'' written in conjunction with his partner Dr Fiona Stewart.
While reviled by some, for many elderly people Dr Nitschke, Australia's very own Dr Death, is a hero.
Mr Plowman, as a passionate supporter of voluntary euthanasia, just wishes there were more like him. ``I don't have much control over a lot of things,'' he whispers. ``I definitely like the idea of a peaceful pill. It is controlling my own destiny.
Mr Plowman, as a passionate supporter of voluntary euthanasia, just wishes there were more like him. ``I don't have much control over a lot of things,'' he whispers. ``I definitely like the idea of a peaceful pill. It is controlling my own destiny.
``The time is not now, but I want the option of a dignified exit.''
There are strong fears in the right-to-die movement that the Howard government will use its coming control of the Senate to railroad through an amendment to the Criminal Code known as the Suicide Related Materials Offences Bill. The Bill bans any attempt to promote euthanasia by email, telephone or internet. Dr Nitschke slammed the proposed legislation. ``It is the electronic version of book burning on a topic of great importance to elderly Australians,'' he said. ``There will be an outcry. It might not be vital to John Howard, but it is vital to the over 75s who want to know what is available.''
There are strong fears in the right-to-die movement that the Howard government will use its coming control of the Senate to railroad through an amendment to the Criminal Code known as the Suicide Related Materials Offences Bill. The Bill bans any attempt to promote euthanasia by email, telephone or internet. Dr Nitschke slammed the proposed legislation. ``It is the electronic version of book burning on a topic of great importance to elderly Australians,'' he said. ``There will be an outcry. It might not be vital to John Howard, but it is vital to the over 75s who want to know what is available.''
Dr Nitschke said the ``peaceful pill'', a barbituate based concoction which makes death fast and easy, could revolutionise euthanasia just as the contraceptive pill transformed birth control a generation ago. He said when they had an exit strategy in place terminally ill people stopped worrying and their quality of life often improved. ``People want something that is simple, reliable and not technically difficult,'' he said. ``It is a paradox, but the acquisition of a reliable lethal drug prolongs life. Their spirits lift. It is a very therapeutic answer.''
Mr Plowman's wife of 35 years, Aniele, also a passionate supporter of euthanasia, said it was outrageous the government was trying to make things harder for the elderly. ``It is amazing how much tougher politicians make life for people already in tough positions. They should just butt out.''
Penguin Publisher Bob Sessions said they took up the book because it was a topic of potential interest to everyone: ``As in we are all going to die.'' He said he also had a personal interest, as he had watched his own son die in agony from cancer. He said the law prevented them from publishing a recipe on how to make the ``peaceful'' pill. ``I personally believe it is an option that should be there for people,'' he said.
Bob Carr Retiring as Premier of NSW, The Australian, 2005
John Stapleton
RELAXED, happy and engaged, this was a Bob Carr we had not seen for a very long time.
Returning to his old alma mater, Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School in Sydney's south yesterday, the soon-to-be former Premier of NSW beamed at reporters, shook hands with teachers and appeared genuinely interested in what students had to say.
Returning to his old alma mater, Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School in Sydney's south yesterday, the soon-to-be former Premier of NSW beamed at reporters, shook hands with teachers and appeared genuinely interested in what students had to say.
It was a long way from the stressed, imperious Carr that used to sweep into press conferences, make his announcements from on high, pick two of easiest pushovers he could see in the press pack, answer their questions and be gone. Or the Carr who, opening this, that or the other, used to bullet straight from his chauffer driven car into the arms of his waiting advisers, bureaucrats and press officers; and look decidely awkward if any normal voter got within cooee of him.
``He's just not interested, is he?'' people would mutter in his wake; and the media would often agree.
Yesterday he got leisurely out of his car and smiled genially at the waiting television crews, the school principal and the school captains. ``It is great to be back,'' he said expansively; proceeding to reminisce about his three years at the school beginning in 1957.
Yesterday he got leisurely out of his car and smiled genially at the waiting television crews, the school principal and the school captains. ``It is great to be back,'' he said expansively; proceeding to reminisce about his three years at the school beginning in 1957.
``You are kidding!'' Carr exclaimed when told by 8-year-old Jarrod Longbottom, that he had read 17 books this year as part of the Premier's Reading Challenge. ``That is fantastic. I am very impressed.''
When told that some kids had read 20 books, some even more, the Premier exclaimed: ``This is unbelievable. I am going to strike a special award for this school. When I was this age I can't remember books being in the school. This is really exceptional.''
What was different this time was not only his great good cheer, but that he actually seemed to mean what he was saying.
As his visit wound up, he held the umpteenth press conference of his career. He denied, unconvincingly, that he was any more jovial than usual; or that he felt any sense of relief. Then he turned to a small group of students and commented that it must be very interesting for them to watch people from radio stations, newspapers and television channels. ``Their job is to cut that up and distort it to make me look ridiculous,'' he said, continuing to beam at everyone with, as his favourite Abraham Lincoln once said, ``malice for none''.
As his visit wound up, he held the umpteenth press conference of his career. He denied, unconvincingly, that he was any more jovial than usual; or that he felt any sense of relief. Then he turned to a small group of students and commented that it must be very interesting for them to watch people from radio stations, newspapers and television channels. ``Their job is to cut that up and distort it to make me look ridiculous,'' he said, continuing to beam at everyone with, as his favourite Abraham Lincoln once said, ``malice for none''.
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