Monday, 19 September 2005

Skills for life under the big top become a question of degrees, The Australian, 19 September, 2005.

Skills for life under the big top become a question of degrees: [2 All-round First Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 19 Sep 2005: 6.
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As they did in Sydney yesterday, young hopefuls will line up in Brisbane today, Adelaide tomorrow and Perth on Wednesday to compete for admission to Australia's only degree circus course, a Bachelor of Circus Arts.
Ms [Fiona Spurrell] said some 30 students had so far graduated from the three-year course and were entertaining audiences around the world. She said many were finding work in corporate entertainment, product launches, stunt work, on cruise ships and in performing arts companies such as Circus Oz and Cirque du Soleil.
WOODY Allen used to joke that as a child with parents who worked in the circus, he couldn't wait to grow up and run away to join an accounting firm.
But for kids who have ever dreamed of life under the big top, this is the week.
As they did in Sydney yesterday, young hopefuls will line up in Brisbane today, Adelaide tomorrow and Perth on Wednesday to compete for admission to Australia's only degree circus course, a Bachelor of Circus Arts.
Taught at Swinburne University in Melbourne and funded by the commonwealth Government, it is one of only five such courses in the world.
One of yesterday's hopefuls, Tom Worrell, 19, said it took him three months to summon up the courage to apply and he had been nervous for a week about theaudition. His acrobatic speciality is the backward walkover.
"I taught myself everything in my own bedroom at home," he said. "I was doing a Bachelor of Science and I realised I would rather perform.
"I have always been flexible and danced since I was 12 years old. And I have an obsession with the circus. This is my chance to get training in the skills you can't teach yourself at home."
Administrator for the National Institute of Circus Arts, Fiona Spurrell, said yesterday's group was particularly talented. She said the institute was having a real impact in raising standards, not just among young hopefuls but across the industry.
"These kids are different to your average university students; they are very physical and passionate about having a physical career," she said. "It is what they enjoy doing. They are extremely active and already have considerable skills. Typically, they have been competing at high levels in gymnastics, swimming, diving, dancing, extreme sports or martial arts."
Ms Spurrell said some 30 students had so far graduated from the three-year course and were entertaining audiences around the world. She said many were finding work in corporate entertainment, product launches, stunt work, on cruise ships and in performing arts companies such as Circus Oz and Cirque du Soleil.
The National Institute of Circus Arts, established in 2001, grew out of several regional art projects that identified a great interest among young people in entering the performing and circus arts.
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Wall-to-wall publicity may make or break sales - LATHAM DIARIES, The Australian, 19 September, 2005.

Wall-to-wall publicity may make or break sales - LATHAM'S DIARIES: [1 All-round Country Edition]

John Stapleton, Natasha Robinson. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 19 Sep 2005: 4.
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Duncan Johnston, chief executive of Collins Booksellers Group, a franchise of 33 stores, said the company was expecting good sales in city stores but not in country areas. "About 20 of our stores are in large regional towns and a lot of them are saying `[MARK Latham] who?"' he said. "Whereas in the city, we already have quite a few orders and we expect a lot more to come in the door. The booksellers are rapt in the media attention.
Booksellers Association president Derik Dryden was concerned too many details had come out in the media and people would feel no need to buy the book. "When Loner, Latham's biography, was released it took off with a huge rush and died a week later," Mr Dryden said. "We still have 60 copies in the back room ... We call it Loser, not Loner.
"I saved [SIMON CREAN] and now he's backgrounding against me. This is how they usually get caught: retailing the words in too many places. Simple Simon. Bitter Simon.
MARK Latham may have missed his chance to strut the world stage but, in one respect at least, he looks likely to go one up on former US president Bill Clinton.
Booksellers are predicting The Latham Diaries, which go on sale today, could outsell Mr Clinton's mammoth autobiography My Life in Australia.
The blanket coverage of revelations from Mr Latham's diaries has led to such interest from the book-buying public that its publishers have decided to bring forward its release by two days, creating a logistical nightmare for Melbourne University Press.
"It is very difficult," said chief executive Louise Adler. "We are dealing with the geographical expanse that is Australia."
Ms Adler said booksellers believed the 450-page tome could sell as well as My Life, which broke publishing records in the US for a non-fiction book.
"The publicity is unprecedented for a political book in Australia," she said.
Ms Adler said Mr Latham was "thrilled to bits" with the response to the book. "We're all delighted. I think it's been a terrific response."
Duncan Johnston, chief executive of Collins Booksellers Group, a franchise of 33 stores, said the company was expecting good sales in city stores but not in country areas. "About 20 of our stores are in large regional towns and a lot of them are saying `Mark who?"' he said. "Whereas in the city, we already have quite a few orders and we expect a lot more to come in the door. The booksellers are rapt in the media attention.
"Keep it going -- it might be the only way his book sells."
Booksellers Association president Derik Dryden was concerned too many details had come out in the media and people would feel no need to buy the book. "When Loner, Latham's biography, was released it took off with a huge rush and died a week later," Mr Dryden said. "We still have 60 copies in the back room ... We call it Loser, not Loner.
"I'm worried, with all the interviews and everything. Do people feel they have all the dirt and there's no need to read the book? ... I wonder how it can sustain sales."
The manager at Mary Ryan's Books in Brisbane said the shop had quite a few orders and were expecting the Diaries to sell well.
Readings bookshop in Carlton, Melbourne, was forced to create a sign advising readers the book was not on sale until today. The shop has taken about 70 orders.
But not everyone was keen to purchase what one customer described as "that Latham vitriol".
"All the crap I've heard coming out of that ingrate's mouth in the past week has been more than enough for me," said customer Roger Manning. "I've got better things to spend my money on."
LATHAM ON ...
... PROTESTS
"Yesterday I wandered around to the front of the building to have a look at the union protest/riot. Part of me wanted to join in, to grab a sledge-hammer and rip and tear against the Tories and their tin-pot parliament. Still, I know how these guys feel, and good on them for having a go."
- August 20, 1996
... SIMON CREAN
"I saved Crean and now he's backgrounding against me. This is how they usually get caught: retailing the words in too many places. Simple Simon. Bitter Simon.
Ungrateful Simon."
- November 30, 2004
... TORY GRUBS
"Behind the scenes the Coalition are a dirty piece of work. For all their talk of God and family, the Tories are a bunch of grubs - one hand on the Bible and theother up their clacker."
- November 20, 1996
... ROSS CAMERON
"Ross Cameron, the brilliant but creepy Liberal member for Parramatta, has talked me into participating in his youth leadership forum. I rather suspect it's a front for mobilising young Christian soldiers, plus some quality box for Ross."
- February 14, 1997
... JOHN HOWARD
"Our side was reinforced by (former Australian fast bowler) Merv Hughes and the middle-order batting wizardry of John Howard.
Actually, he's hopeless. He's also a smelly little bastard. The rest of us boys tubbed up with a group shower after the match but not the PM. He must have thought Big Merv was a soap catcher."
- March 14, 1997
... PAUL KEATING
"Keating calls from Shanghai. 'Only maddies can lead this country and get things done. Look at me. I'm as mad as a cut snake.' He ended the call by telling me to 'stay in the crouch', as if we were commandos in the jungle. I might be known as a maddie myself, but I am nowhere near this guy's league."
- October 12, 1999
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Wave of publicity can make or break sales - LATHAM'S DIARIES, The Australian, 19 September, 2005.

Wave of publicity can make or break sales - LATHAM'S DIARIES: [2 All-round First Edition]

John Stapleton, Natasha Robinson. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 19 Sep 2005: 4.
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Bookshops are reporting healthy numbers of orders. But not everyone is keen to buy what one Melbourne customer called "that [Mark Latham] vitriol". "All the crap I've heard coming out of that ingrate's mouth in the past week has been more than enough for me," said Roger Manning. "I've got better things to spend my money on."
Booksellers Association president Derik Dryden was concerned too many details had come out in the media and people would feel no need to buy the book. "When Loner, Latham's biography, was released it took off with a huge rush and died a week later," Mr Dryden said.
HE may have missed his chance to strut the world stage but, in one respect at least, Mark Latham looks likely to go one up on former US president Bill Clinton.
Booksellers are predicting The Latham Diaries, which go on sale today, could outsell Mr Clinton's mammoth autobiography, My Life, in Australia.
The blanket coverage of revelations from Mr Latham's diaries has led to such interest from the book-buying public that its publishers have decided to bring forward its release by two days, creating a logistical nightmare for Melbourne University Press.
"It is very difficult," said chief executive Louise Adler. "We are dealing with the geographical expanse that is Australia."
Ms Adler said booksellers believed the 450-page tome could sell as well as My Life, which broke publishing records in the US for a non-fiction book.
"The publicity is unprecedented for a political book in Australia," she said.
Ms Adler said Mr Latham was "thrilled to bits" with the response to the book. "We're all delighted. I think it's been a terrific response."
Duncan Johnston, chief executive of Collins Booksellers Group, a franchise of 33 stores, said the company was expecting good sales in city stores but not in country areas. "About 20 of our stores are in large regional towns and a lot of them are saying `Mark who?"' he said. "Whereas in the city, we already have quite a few orders and we expect a lot more to come in the door. The booksellers are rapt in the media attention. Keep it going -- it might be the only way his book sells."
Booksellers Association president Derik Dryden was concerned too many details had come out in the media and people would feel no need to buy the book. "When Loner, Latham's biography, was released it took off with a huge rush and died a week later," Mr Dryden said.
"I'm worried, with all the interviews and everything. Do people feel they have all the dirt and there's no need to read the book? ... I wonder how it can sustain sales."
Bookshops are reporting healthy numbers of orders. But not everyone is keen to buy what one Melbourne customer called "that Latham vitriol". "All the crap I've heard coming out of that ingrate's mouth in the past week has been more than enough for me," said Roger Manning. "I've got better things to spend my money on."
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Friday, 16 September 2005

Conroy 'role' in MP's death, The Australian, 16 September, 2005. Page One.

Conroy `role' in MP's death: [3 All-round Metro Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 16 Sep 2005: 1.
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Mr [MARK Latham], 44, said last night that despite Senator [Stephen Conroy] being one of the "culprits" in Wilton's death he was promoted by the Labor Party.
Mr Latham also claimed Senator Conroy became abusive towards fellow Labor colleague Stephen Smith after the West Australian MP agreed to help Mr Latham campaign during last year's election.
Mr Latham and Senator Conroy fell out in the lead up to the October election, when Mr Latham announced plans to seek amendments to the free trade agreement between the US and Australia.

MARK Latham has accused Labor's deputy leader in the Senate, Stephen Conroy, of being partly to blame for the political environment which led to the suicide of Victorian MP Greg Wilton five years ago.
Mr Latham, 44, said last night that despite Senator Conroy being one of the "culprits" in Wilton's death he was promoted by the Labor Party.
"In that episode, failing to support Greg, Stephen Conroy, after the next election, he was promoted to deputy leader in the Senate. For his sins he was promoted," Mr Latham said.
In June 2000, Wilton killed himself on his second attempt. He gassed himself in his car in bushland outside Melbourne, less than three weeks after he attempted to take the lives of his two young children in the same way.
Mr Latham said Wilton had experienced a marriage breakdown and an "incident was made public". "He was in a devastated state, suffering depression and he needed people to support him and help him," he said on the ABC's Enough Rope.
"Far from supporting him, some of those, I suppose they became enemies inside the party, put around in the media that he was going to lose his pre-selection. He would be out of his seat."
Mr Latham said by that stage Wilton had nothing left in his life except his spot in parliament. "That triggered his suicide. It was a tragedy that instead of Labor people supporting him from the top down, the culture was he was a political number rather than a human life."
Mr Latham said the incident illustrated that there was something fundamentally sick within the ALP.
Senator Conroy could not be contacted last night.
Mr Latham also claimed Senator Conroy became abusive towards fellow Labor colleague Stephen Smith after the West Australian MP agreed to help Mr Latham campaign during last year's election.
"I can honestly say I have never had an agenda like Stephen Conroy in the last election campaign," Mr Latham told The Australian.
"When Stephen Smith was coming on to the campaign team to do the advancing and all that, the deputy leader in the Senate rang him up to abuse him, saying, `What are you doing helping Latham?' I have never had an agenda like that."
Mr Latham and Senator Conroy fell out in the lead up to the October election, when Mr Latham announced plans to seek amendments to the free trade agreement between the US and Australia.
After the defeat, Mr Latham accused Senator Conroy of treachery as increasingly damaging stories about his leadership appeared in the media.

Also published on news.com.au


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Monday, 12 September 2005

Detainees in hunger strikes, suicide bid, The Australian, 12 September, 2005.

Detainees in hunger strikes, suicide bid: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Tom Richardson, John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 12 Sep 2005: 6.
THREE asylum-seekers were in hospital last night after a suicide attempt by a detainee in South Australia and a hunger strike by two Bangladeshis in NSW.
"The department has a duty of care towards detainees it takes seriously," the spokesman said. "If the health or wellbeing of a detainee is threatened by his or her own actions, then the department, through the detention services provider, will ensure the detainee receives necessary treatment and supervision."
Two Bangladeshi nationals were removed from the Villawood detention centre in western Sydney on Thursday after a prolonged hunger strike and remained in hospital last night. A departmental spokesman said the men were in a stable condition.

Full Text


THREE asylum-seekers were in hospital last night after a suicide attempt by a detainee in South Australia and a hunger strike by two Bangladeshis in NSW.
Zimbabwean Peter Jackson Mode, 24, was taken unconscious from the Baxter detention centre late on Saturday night after slashing his wrists with broken glass.
He was discovered by a fellow detainee.
Last month Mr Mode's ankle was broken in a struggle with six guards after he intervened on behalf of another detainee who had refused to go to the management isolation unit. Police are making inquiries into the incident.
Mr Mode was conscious last night and in a stable condition in hospital in Port Augusta.
A spokesman for the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs would not discuss his medical treatment "for privacy reasons".
"The department has a duty of care towards detainees it takes seriously," the spokesman said. "If the health or wellbeing of a detainee is threatened by his or her own actions, then the department, through the detention services provider, will ensure the detainee receives necessary treatment and supervision."
The incident follows warnings from refugee advocate groups that the mental health of asylum-seekers in detention continues to decline.
Rural Australians for Refugees spokesman John Highfield said the attempted suicide was "further evidence that these detention centres are factories for mental health problems".
He said Mr Mode was in a "very depleted mental state", having been released from hospital with a broken ankle only to be locked up in the notorious Red One high security compound.
Two Bangladeshi nationals were removed from the Villawood detention centre in western Sydney on Thursday after a prolonged hunger strike and remained in hospital last night. A departmental spokesman said the men were in a stable condition.
"The department does not respond to these sorts of actions," he said. "These men are protesting their detention. Their protest will not change the outcome of their cases.
"The cases are decided on their merits. Both men have been in the country for some time and have been repeatedly found to have no legal right to a visa. From information available to the Department of Immigration, neither qualify for a visa on any grounds."


Also published on news.com.au


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Distress lingers at Ground Zero, The Australian, 12 September, 2005.

Distress lingers at Ground Zero: [1 All-round Country Edition]

John Stapleton, Additional reporting: Annabelle McDonald and Jonathan Porter. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T.[Canberra, A.C.T] 12 Sep 2005: 4.
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His brother [Andrew Knox] was on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Centre's north tower, working as a construction project manager, when American Airlines Flight 11 cut into the building. With co- workers he made his way to the roof, hoping to be rescued. By mobile phone a co-worker was heard to say: "Andrew, I can't breathe". He replied: "I can't breathe either". Those were the last words heard from him.
"It never goes away. It's constantly on the news and there's been Bali, Madrid and London, constant reminders every day," his twin Paul Gyulavary said. "What he achieved in his short life is remarkable. He lived the life of 10 people.
MANY families of those killed in the Twin Towers on September 11 four years ago still struggle to forgive. They will never forget.
Stuart Knox, 33 -- principal of the small school at Woomera in outback South Australia -- said yesterday was a hard day.
His brother Andrew was on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Centre's north tower, working as a construction project manager, when American Airlines Flight 11 cut into the building. With co- workers he made his way to the roof, hoping to be rescued. By mobile phone a co-worker was heard to say: "Andrew, I can't breathe". He replied: "I can't breathe either". Those were the last words heard from him.
"Four years down the track, the feelings are still the same," said his twin brother Stuart. "All of the families would like there to be some justice for Osama bin Laden."
Andrew Knox was a passionate unionist and ALP supporter, and his brother believes that he would have probably stood for parliament. "I am past the anger at his life being cut short, but I look at the fact that it was tied into such a political event.
"This world, since September 11, hasn't gotten any better. You look not just at Bali but all the other terrorist acts. I can certainly empathise with the families of Bali and London."
Architect Peter Gyulavary, 44, who had lived in the US for 20 years and worked on major infrastructure projects around the world, was on the 91st floor of the World Trade Centre's south tower.
"It never goes away. It's constantly on the news and there's been Bali, Madrid and London, constant reminders every day," his twin Paul Gyulavary said. "What he achieved in his short life is remarkable. He lived the life of 10 people.
"Peter's body was recovered intact. His soul is no longer at Ground Zero. When I think about Peter I don't think about how he died but how he lived."
Mr Gyulavary said the terrorist attacks have left a burden on Muslims across the world. "Islamic leadership groups in Australia should come out more loudly and more constantly against the attacks."
A memorial bench in Gosford and a star near the Southern Cross are what Jacqui van Deinsen and her husband have to remember their daughter Lesley Thomas, who died at the age of 40. The family arranged to have a star named after their daughter.
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