Had a lot of trouble convincing the features editor that the continuing use of electric shock treatment on people with drug issues was a good story. Don't think it ran in the end. The Australian could be a very frustrating paper to work for.
Friday, 12 April 2002
Wednesday, 10 April 2002
Ice, Electric Shock Treatment and Psychiatric Abuses, The Australian, 19 April, 2002.
Although a lot of work went into it I could not convince them to run this story.
Tuesday, 9 April 2002
$60m payout to seniors, The Australian, 9 April, 2002
$60m payout to seniors: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 09 Apr 2002: 3.
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Abstract
The measure means seniors who earn $20,000 a year or less and couples who earn $16,306 each pay no tax. Over these income levels the offset reduces by one dollar for every eight dollars earned and cuts out at a much higher level than previously, $37,840 for singles and $29,122 each for a couple. To be eligible men must be at least 60 years old and women 56.5.
ALMOST 60,000 seniors who failed to properly fill in their tax returns can expect a cheque for up to $2000 from the Tax Office within the next six weeks.
The seniors have not claimed an estimated $60 million in benefits promised as a pre-election sweetener by the Howard Government. Payments for those who have missed out on the Senior Australians Tax Offset, which lifted the tax-free threshold, will range from $20 to $2000.
The measure means seniors who earn $20,000 a year or less and couples who earn $16,306 each pay no tax. Over these income levels the offset reduces by one dollar for every eight dollars earned and cuts out at a much higher level than previously, $37,840 for singles and $29,122 each for a couple. To be eligible men must be at least 60 years old and women 56.5.
Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody said yesterday about 170,000 people have claimed for the last financial year.
A recent Tax Office review identified 57,000 seniors who had not claimed the offset and a further 2000 who did not receive it due to a processing error.
"Our priority is to ensure senior Australians get their payments plus any interest as quickly and easily as possible," Mr Carmody said.
Monday, 8 April 2002
Friday, 5 April 2002
Anzac taxi ban 'rank', say old diggers, The Australian, 5 April, 2002.
Anzac taxi ban `rank', say old diggers: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 05 Apr 2002: 3.
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Abstract
The taxi drivers get up early to wash their cabs, decorate them with Australian flags, ferry the veterans in the march and then provide them with dinner at theRSL club in Dee Why before returning them home. Full-time taxi driver Marie O'Connor, 75, who has been driving the veterans for the past 20 years, said: "We can't do it without the police. The veterans, the darling pets, look forward to this all year.
FOR 45 years a fleet of taxis from Sydney's northern beaches has ferried ageing and crippled war veterans through the Anzac Day march.
But changing safety standards, and mounting fears of litigation, mean the tradition could be over.
Sixty Manly-Warringah taxi drivers voluntarily gave time, money and fuel to support the annual event. But the drivers have been told police can no longer provide an escort to whisk the motorcade into the city. Organisers say that without police assistance, they will not be able to keep going.
Staff at Collaroy's RSL Veterans Home, Australia's largest, said it would be impossible to get the veterans -- many in their 80s and 90s, some incontinent and unable to walk -- up at 4am and leave them assembled on a city street without toilets.
The taxi drivers get up early to wash their cabs, decorate them with Australian flags, ferry the veterans in the march and then provide them with dinner at theRSL club in Dee Why before returning them home. Full-time taxi driver Marie O'Connor, 75, who has been driving the veterans for the past 20 years, said: "We can't do it without the police. The veterans, the darling pets, look forward to this all year.
"We pick them up, take them home, give them a hug. We are all proud to be involved; it is an absolute privilege."
Retired doctor Malcolm Stening, 89, who served throughout World War II, said: "Being able to go in a taxi gives us the opportunity to participate. It is important for ex-servicemen to show their respects on Anzac Day."
The police officer at the centre of the row, Sergeant Alec Vogt, VIP co-ordinator for Traffic Services, said to make the motorcade safe by contemporary standards would use more specialist resources than were available.
Illustration
Caption: Free ride: Politicians`Darling pets': Ms O'Connor and Dr; Photo: Photo
A plot with the lot in the country, The Australian, 5 April, 2002.
A plot with the lot in the country: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 05 Apr 2002: 26.
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Abstract
Burnewang North, 180km from Melbourne and 60km from Bendigo, is expected to fetch more than $4 million at auction later this month.
In 1884, Burnewang North was bought and redeveloped by the Hunter family, prominent horse-breeders who made a fortune from the Bendigo gold fields. In 1955 it passed to the Clarke family.
Prominent Melbourne businessman Andrew Fairley, whose interests include the exclusive resort Turtle Island in Fiji, bought the property in 1984. He has renovated the 70square homestead and developed Burnewang North to its current standard.
* Rural
HERE'S a rural property that has just about everything: a magnificent homestead, famous gardens and handsomely irrigated paddocks -- and heaps of history to boot.
Burnewang North, 180km from Melbourne and 60km from Bendigo, is expected to fetch more than $4 million at auction later this month.
"It's a fascinating blend of history, gracious country living and farming," said Elders agent Bob Sherwell.
The 970ha property is part of the Burnewang Run bought by Joseph Bell in 1854. It became a relief station for Cobb and Co on the run between Ecucha and Bendigo/Heathcote.
Still on the property are the original, preserved 1860 Cobb and Co receiving shed and stables -- solid bush pole construction with vertical timber slabs. A small weatherboard cottage used by relief drivers and the original sheaf-hay storage shed remain intact.
In 1884, Burnewang North was bought and redeveloped by the Hunter family, prominent horse-breeders who made a fortune from the Bendigo gold fields. In 1955 it passed to the Clarke family.
Prominent Melbourne businessman Andrew Fairley, whose interests include the exclusive resort Turtle Island in Fiji, bought the property in 1984. He has renovated the 70square homestead and developed Burnewang North to its current standard.
Mr Fairley spends so little time in Australia nowadays he felt he couldn't devote the attention it deserved.
Burnewang North's garden was designed by Edna Walling, who created gardens for many of Australia's big estates during the 30s and 40s.
She is renowned for her use of stone and dense greenery with few flowers. The garden at Burnewang North is particularly valuable because so few original Walling designs remain.
Renovation of the main homestead has combined the atmosphere of the original 1850s overseer's house with the the grand 1920s residence.
Other houses on the estate include a substantial Victorian four- bedroom homestead, a four-bedroom overseer's residence, a gardener's cottage and a weatherboard jackeroos' cottage fitted for guest accommodation.
Illustration
Caption: Be it ever so humble:And that's just the main house at; Photo: Photo
Wednesday, 3 April 2002
My mate the Queen Mum, The Australian, 3 April, 2002. Page One.
My mate the Queen Mum: [2 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 03 Apr 2002: 1.
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THE decades-long friendship began innocuously enough. In the 1970s, the now retired Anglican bishop of Wangaratta, Robert Beal, began sending telegrams to the Queen Mother on her birthday.
THE decades-long friendship began innocuously enough. In the 1970s, the now retired Anglican bishop of Wangaratta, Robert Beal, began sending telegrams to the Queen Mother on her birthday.
He was always fascinated by her charisma. "I'm 72 -- I'm of a vintage when World War II was on, the king and queen were very special to us and politicians didn't mean much."
When telegrams "went off the scene", Bishop Beal began to write.
No doubt, he suggests, the local postman thought him quite mad. But the correspondence triggered an invitation from the Queen Mother's private secretary: if he was ever in England, she would like to meet him.
Thus it was that the pair struck up their unusual friendship, when Bishop Beal and his wife, Valerie, first went to lunch at Clarence House in 1978.
Whenever he was in England, he was invited. "As the years went on, there was always an invitation to lunch," says Bishop Beal. "For her 100th birthday there was another invitation.
"Whenever you went to Clarence House, there were always eight or so guests, and it was like arriving for a big party. There was nothing starchy about it. She generated an enormously warm and friendly atmosphere. She had an extraordinary ability to put everybody at ease. There was always a drink thrust in your hand the minute you arrived. She loved her gin and Dubonnet. I always sat on her right. She was great company and a larger-than-life person."
When the afternoon was over the Queen Mother said: "Give my love to Australia, I love that saying, `Good on you, mate'."
She was, he says, quoting the title of one of her biographies, The Last Great Edwardian Lady. "You were in the presence of history. It was just a privilege over the years to enjoy her friendship."
More reports -- Page 6
Monday, 1 April 2002
Thursday, 28 March 2002
Tuesday, 26 March 2002
Monday, 25 March 2002
Teen crime taken by force, The Australian, 25 March, 2002.
Teen crime taken by force: [1 Edition]
Martin Chulov, John Stapleton. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 25 Mar 2002: 4.
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Abstract
Alleged incidents causing concern include the firebombing of a deputy principal's car, a student bringing a 9mm handgun to school and the alleged recruitment of students into a Red Dragon gang, one of several offshoots of the notorious 5T crime group.
Twelve months ago former detective Tim Priest told the NSW Parliament gangs had infiltrated southwestern Sydney schools. There are new claims that local high schools are being held to ransom by gangs.
THE NSW Government has been forced to establish a taskforce on gang and teenage-related violence in schools after a string of scandals, particularly in Sydney's southwest.
NSW Police Minister Michael Costa said yesterday the taskforce would bring together education officials and the police.
Alleged incidents causing concern include the firebombing of a deputy principal's car, a student bringing a 9mm handgun to school and the alleged recruitment of students into a Red Dragon gang, one of several offshoots of the notorious 5T crime group.
At Cabramatta, a centre for heroin supply in Sydney, four out of five students were born overseas. There had long been concern that students were being recruited to sell the drugs on the streets because they were less likely to be busted by police and more likely to receive lenient sentences if they were.
Twelve months ago former detective Tim Priest told the NSW Parliament gangs had infiltrated southwestern Sydney schools. There are new claims that local high schools are being held to ransom by gangs.
Last week, disillusioned and bitter after the appointment of Cabramatta's local Labor member for parliament, Reba Meagher, over his head, Mr Priest quit his new government adviser's job.
Mr Costa conceded yesterday that Mr Priest's advice was prescient.
Asked whether the spectre of gangs in schools had been raised before and ignored by the Government, Mr Costa said: "You'll have to ask my predecessor about that."
He said he had only become aware of the problem in the past fortnight.
Illustration
Caption: Hard lines: Mr Costa, right, and Deputy Commissioner Dave Madden discuss strategy; Linsday Moller; Photo: Photo
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