Monday, 7 August 2006

Caves'secret lay in lumps of clay, The Australian, 7 August, 2006.

Caves' secret lay in lumps of clay: [1 All-round Country Edition]

John Stapleton, Leigh Dayton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 07 Aug 2006: 6.
Until 20 years ago, most scientists thought the Jenolan Caves were only a few thousand years old. More recent estimates put them at between 90 million and 100 million years old, similar in age to the limestone caves near Qumran, in the Israeli-occupied territory of the West Bank, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
The proof came thanks to a meeting with Horst Zwingmann of CSIRO Petroleum Resources at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
Dr Zwingmann then applied his technique -- a variation of radioactive dating -- to the minerals that had crystallised when a previously unknown volcano spewed ash into the caves. The technique showed the crystals were formed 340 million years ago.

Full Text

IT was good clay -- the kind you could use for patching up leaks in sewers and water pipes.
In fact, that is exactly what workers at NSW's Jenolan Caves used to do with the lumps of the tan-and-white material they found scattered around the site, little knowing its geological significance.
It took researchers hunting for minerals in the overlooked clay to unlock its secret -- it was 340million years old.
That means the popular tourist site, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, has the world's oldest known open caves, beating the Dead Sea Scroll caves by more than 240 million years.
"Even in geological terms, 340 million years is a very long time," University of Sydney geologist Armstrong Osborne said.
Until 20 years ago, most scientists thought the Jenolan Caves were only a few thousand years old. More recent estimates put them at between 90 million and 100 million years old, similar in age to the limestone caves near Qumran, in the Israeli-occupied territory of the West Bank, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
"Those of us who thought they were really old couldn't find any evidence," Dr Osborne said as he revealed the path he took in establishing when the caves were formed.
The proof came thanks to a meeting with Horst Zwingmann of CSIRO Petroleum Resources at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
Dr Zwingmann told him how he had devised a way to help companies find oil after realising reserves were more likely to be present in areas containing minerals of a certain age.
He had developed a technique to date minerals and it was this method that was applied to the clay found in the Jenolan Caves.
The project began at the Australian Museum, where researchers Ross Pogson and David Colchester used X-ray and electron microscope technology to identify minerals in the clay suitable for testing.
Dr Zwingmann then applied his technique -- a variation of radioactive dating -- to the minerals that had crystallised when a previously unknown volcano spewed ash into the caves. The technique showed the crystals were formed 340 million years ago.
"This study shows how industry-focused research techniques can also be used to solve more general geological mysteries," Dr Zwingmann said.
He and his colleagues have published the findings in the latest issue of the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences.

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Critical mass targets Pell on condoms, The Australian, 7 August, 2006.

Critical mass targets Pell on condoms: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 07 Aug 2006: 5.
Aboriginal deacon Frank Cain received a standing ovation yesterday when he told the congregation he was proud to be involved in the painting of a mural a week ago, on one of the internal walls of St Vincent's, which marked an escalation in the conflict.
"We are not social workers, welfare workers, and we are certainly not a medical team handing out contraceptives and syringes, as Cardinal Pell bluntly states in The Australian. Neither are we extremists causing trouble, as Cardinal Pell again states in The Australian.
Father [Gerry Prindiville], criticised for his lack of empathy with the local community and with Aboriginal spirituality, led the mass yesterday morning but was forced to listen while his largely left- wing parishioners repeatedly condemned or questioned the church and its hierarchy.

Full Text

CARDINAL George Pell was repeatedly criticised during mass yesterday in Redfern for saying that handing out syringes and condoms was not the way to help the Aboriginal community.
The Archbishop of Sydney made the comments to The Weekend Australian in support of the parish's conservative clergy, now at loggerheads with their turbulent inner-city congregation with its strong liberal Catholic tradition.
Aboriginal deacon Frank Cain received a standing ovation yesterday when he told the congregation he was proud to be involved in the painting of a mural a week ago, on one of the internal walls of St Vincent's, which marked an escalation in the conflict.
"This mural is not a sacrilege in any way, shape or form," he said.
"We are not social workers, welfare workers, and we are certainly not a medical team handing out contraceptives and syringes, as Cardinal Pell bluntly states in The Australian. Neither are we extremists causing trouble, as Cardinal Pell again states in The Australian.
"We ask that the church respect the mural for its theological and spiritual symbolism, cultural nature and reconciliation themes."
The parish acquired a strong social justice agenda under the 30- year leadership of Father Ted Kennedy, who died in 2005. Since then, there has been a growing divide between the clergy and parishioners, including the mentally ill, alcoholic and Aboriginal.
The unauthorised mural, painted without the permission of parish priest Gerry Prindiville, quoted John Paul II: "Your dreaming is your own way to touching the mystery of God's spirit in you and in creation," it reads in part.
Father Prindiville, criticised for his lack of empathy with the local community and with Aboriginal spirituality, led the mass yesterday morning but was forced to listen while his largely left- wing parishioners repeatedly condemned or questioned the church and its hierarchy.
Sister Sheila Quonoey, who led the community commentary for the mass, continued the anti-authoritarian theme when she said: "God calls us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones whether that space is physical, cultural, religious, racial or our own family. God's word subverts our familiar world."
She described the mural as a "wonderful image to give us courage, hope and commitment to true justice for Aboriginal people in this land".
A spokeswoman for Cardinal Pell said he was overseas and not available for comment.
Word count: 385
Copyright News Limited Aug 7, 2006
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Saturday, 5 August 2006

Whilwind renovations as tornado raises the roof, Weekend Australian, 5 August, 2006.

Whirlwind renovations as tornado raises the roof: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Dan Box, John Stapleton. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 05 Aug 2006: 7.
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A TORNADO ripped through the southern Sydney suburb of La Perouse yesterday, tearing the roof from a blocks of units and throwing debris up to half a kilometre away as it continued on its path.
A TORNADO ripped through the southern Sydney suburb of La Perouse yesterday, tearing the roof from a blocks of units and throwing debris up to half a kilometre away as it continued on its path.
While the unit owners were not at home when the tornado struck, neighbours said the impact lifted the metal roof high above the building before draping it over a nearby two-storey house.
"All of a sudden there was a three-second gust of wind, all we felt was the wind and the whole place shook," said Nathan Meares, manager of neighbouring Danny's Seafood Restaurant. "You can now stand on our roof and look down into their living room."
Graham Buchan, a property consultant who photographed the moment of impact, said he was bird-watching when he saw the tornado form -- "a big, swirling column of water spiralling about 50m wide".
Another unit block in Cronulla, further south, lost its roof after being struck by lightning.
"I thought it was terrorists or something," said startled resident Andrew Pace.
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Friday, 4 August 2006

Court to extradite dad who took kids, The Australian, 4 August, 2006.

Court to extradite dad who took kids: [7 NSW First Edition]

John Stapleton, James Madden. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 04 Aug 2006: 3.
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Frank Dipalma, 29, will appear in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning after he surrendered to police yesterday and handed over his three children -- Angelica, 5, Dimitriy, 3, and Andrei, 22 months -- at a motel on the outskirts of Canberra.
For almost 16 hours, Ms Dipalma, 25, feared the worst. After the heated argument with her estranged husband at a park in Lane Cove, on Sydney's north shore, she watched helplessly as he grabbed the children and fled in his car.
Sydney Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin said Mr Dipalma had co- operated with police.
A MAN who drove his three children from Sydney to Canberra following a domestic dispute with their mother is to be extradited to NSW.
Frank Dipalma, 29, will appear in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning after he surrendered to police yesterday and handed over his three children -- Angelica, 5, Dimitriy, 3, and Andrei, 22 months -- at a motel on the outskirts of Canberra.
He disappeared with the children following an altercation with his wife, Natalia, who was admitted to hospital with an arm injury.
Mr Dipalma has been charged with malicious wounding, but police have not laid any charges in relation to the children, who were last night in the care of police ahead of being reunited with their mother.
For almost 16 hours, Ms Dipalma, 25, feared the worst. After the heated argument with her estranged husband at a park in Lane Cove, on Sydney's north shore, she watched helplessly as he grabbed the children and fled in his car.
From her hospital bed, Ms Dipalma -- who is believed to have separated from her spouse three weeks ago -- said to police her husband had told her she would never see her sons and daughter again.
Her fears sparked an extraordinary police hunt for Mr Dipalma, which ended yesterday morning when he phoned a TV network to say the children were safe and in his care.
"It kills me to see on the news that I'm going to hurt the kids, and I'm not like that," Mr Dipalma said in a call to the Seven Network.
"I just want to spend time with my kids, OK, so if you can just put over the news for me, that I am fine and I have called the police and they are on their way and nothing is going to happen to the kids and I'll never hurt them. I want something out there just saying thekids are OK and I love them and I'll never hurt them."
NSW police flashed the numberplate of his car, a 1993 blue Commodore, on 24 electronic billboards along a number of prominent Sydney roads on Wednesday evening, only the second time such action has been taken.
The children were found in good spirits in the motel about 8am after police were able to make contact with Mr Dipalma on his mobile phone.
Sydney Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin said Mr Dipalma had co- operated with police.
"From initial observations, the children are fine," he said. "I haven't spoken to the children ... they appear to be in good spirits. I could hear them in the background and they sounded in good spirits."
Inspector Jubelin said the mother was "ecstatic" and "thankful the children have been recovered unharmed".
Ms Dipalma and the children were reported to have been living in a women's refuge since the couple's separation.
She was discharged yesterday after a night in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.
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Hunt for dad ends with 3 kids safe, The Australian, 4 August, 2006.

Hunt for dad ends with 3 kids safe: [1 All-round Country Edition]

John Stapleton, James Madden. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 04 Aug 2006: 3.
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NSW police flashed the numberplate of the car, a 1993 blue Commodore, on 24 electronic billboards along a number of prominent Sydney roads on Wednesday evening, only the second time such action has been taken.
Mr Dipalma, who has been charged with malicious wounding, is to face extradition proceedings to NSW in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning.
Sydney Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin said Mr Dipalma had co- operated with police when contacted in Canberra.
FOR almost 16 hours, the mother of three feared the worst.
After a heated argument with her estranged husband in a northern Sydney park on Wednesday afternoon, during which he allegedly injured her arm, the woman watched helplessly as he grabbed their three young children and fled in his car.
From her hospital bed, 25-year-old Natalia Dipalma -- who is believed to have separated from her spouse three weeks ago -- said to police her husband had told her she would never see her sons and daughter again.
Her fears sparked an extraordinary police hunt for 29-year-old Frank Dipalma, which ended yesterday morning when he phoned a television network to say the children were safe and in his care at a hotel on the outskirts of Canberra.
"It kills me to see on the news that I'm going to hurt the kids, and I'm not like that," Mr Dipalma said in a call to the Seven Network.
"I just want to spend time with my kids, OK, so if you can just put over the news for me, that I am fine and I have called the police and they are on their way and nothing is going to happen to the kids and I'll never hurt them.
"I want something out there just saying the kids are OK and I love them and I'll never hurt them."
NSW police flashed the numberplate of the car, a 1993 blue Commodore, on 24 electronic billboards along a number of prominent Sydney roads on Wednesday evening, only the second time such action has been taken.
The children -- Angelica, 5, Dimitriy, 3, and 22-month-old Andrei -- were found in good spirits in an ACT motel shortly after 8am yesterday.
They were placed in the care of police child protection experts.
Mr Dipalma, who has been charged with malicious wounding, is to face extradition proceedings to NSW in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning.
Sydney Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin said Mr Dipalma had co- operated with police when contacted in Canberra.
"From initial observations the children are fine," he said. "I haven't spoken to the children ... they appear to be in good spirits. I could hear them in the background and they sounded in good spirits."
Inspector Jubelin said the mother was "ecstatic" and "thankful the children have been recovered unharmed".
Ms Dipalma and the children were reported to have been living in a women's refuge since the couple's separation.
She spent Wednesday night in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital and was discharged at midday yesterday in the company of police.
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Wednesday, 2 August 2006

Rose chain braces for trade wilt, The Australian, 2 August, 2006.

Rose chain braces for trade wilt: [1 All-round Country Edition]

Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 02 Aug 2006: 4.
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Mr [James Stevens] said Roses Only was solid enough to ride out the situation, but it was at times like this he was very glad he had chosen an internet-based business model, closing down 90 per cent of their bricks and mortar outlets and relying on existing infrastructure. "I feel sorry for your average mum-and-dad retailers who can't fall back on cash reserves or renegotiate their rents," he said. "These latest interest rate rises will only add another nail to the coffin of the `Joe Bloggs' small businessperson running any retail outlet."
ROSES Only has traditionally pitched itself at the top end of the market.
Feeling romantic or apologetic and happy to spend $60 to $250, or even more, to let your feelings be known? The flower retailer has been just a phone call away, representing the ultimate in "discretionary" spending.
But Roses Only, along with businesses around the country, is bracing for the impact of today's expected rise in interest rates.
While watching carefully the effect on consumer spending, the nationwide company intends to shift its marketing focus to thebottom end of its range of gift packs that include flowers, chocolates and scents.
"The interest rate rises will create an awareness, a consciousness to be mindful about spending," Roses Only founder James Stevens said yesterday.
"We are mindful of it. People are cautious.
"Someone who might have once bought two dozen roses and a bottle of Moet champagne might now just buy a dozen roses. We are not arrogant enough to think the interest rate rises won't have an effect on the spending habits of our customers."
Mr Stevens said Roses Only was solid enough to ride out the situation, but it was at times like this he was very glad he had chosen an internet-based business model, closing down 90 per cent of their bricks and mortar outlets and relying on existing infrastructure. "I feel sorry for your average mum-and-dad retailers who can't fall back on cash reserves or renegotiate their rents," he said. "These latest interest rate rises will only add another nail to the coffin of the `Joe Bloggs' small businessperson running any retail outlet."
Mr Stevens said the interest rate rises would create a domino effect among businesses around the country.
He said even at the supermarket the "I wouldn't mind that" items - - such as flavoured yoghurts and chocolates -- would be left on shelves.
He believed the expected rate hike had already begun to affect consumer confidence.
"I think the effects have already started to hit home," he said. "There is no doubt there will be an impact."
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