Friday, 20 February 2009

No slur intended on Rabbitoh legends, The Australian, 20 February, 2009.

No slur intended on Rabbitoh legends

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 20 Feb 2009: 7.
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When he took the stage at Homebush Bay in 2006 to speak on behalf of the "no" vote, Mr [Tony Papaconstuntinos] found himself being jeered by members of the crowd as "slippery fingers Papa" and a "crook".
Mr Holmes a Court, who remains a shareholder and director of the club, denied he had tried to enlist people who were active on various internet forums against the "no" vote during a dinner at his home "to do his dirty work" or to "stir the pot".
"Any denigration of these people from any one on our side of the vote might be falsely interpreted that [Russell Crowe] or I held those views," he said. "It did not help us when anyone said something bad about legends of the club."
IT was never the intention of multi-millionaire Peter Holmes a Court or Hollywood star Russell Crowe to denigrate the legends of rugby league in their battle to take control of South Sydney's famous football club.
Mr Holmes a Court spent yesterday afternoon in the witness box defending himself against a defamation case arising from the heated exchanges that took place prior to their purchase of the club in 2006. The two men have since poured millions into the Rabbitohs in an attempt to revive their fortunes.
Union figure Tony Papaconstuntinos is suing Mr Holmes a Court for alleged defamation.
When he took the stage at Homebush Bay in 2006 to speak on behalf of the "no" vote, Mr Papaconstuntinos found himself being jeered by members of thecrowd as "slippery fingers Papa" and a "crook".
Mr Holmes a Court wrote a letter to the NSW Secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Andrew Ferguson, alleging that Mr Papaconstuntinos had used the position of his son Jamie Papa to channel club funds to him and the CFMEU.
Mr Papaconstuntinos has told the NSW Supreme Court he was hurt and angered by the unfounded allegations.
Yesterday, Mr Holmes a Court told the NSW Supreme Court during the process he had been left scratching his head to understand why people were spending so much time and money opposing moves he saw as beneficial to the club. He became concerned about aspects of the club's management and finances.
"I thought they were trying to stop me getting control so I could get to the bottom of this," hesaid.
Mr Holmes a Court, who remains a shareholder and director of the club, denied he had tried to enlist people who were active on various internet forums against the "no" vote during a dinner at his home "to do his dirty work" or to "stir the pot".
Mr Holmes a Court said some members of the "no" group were highly regarded in the rugby league community.
"Any denigration of these people from any one on our side of the vote might be falsely interpreted that Russell or I held those views," he said. "It did not help us when anyone said something bad about legends of the club."
The case will resume this morning.
Credit: John Stapleton
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Rabbitohs fight back in court, The Australian, 20 February, 2009.



Rabbitohs fight back in court

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 20 Feb 2009: 7.
Show highlighting
When he took the stage at Homebush Bay in 2006 to speak on behalf of the no vote, Mr [Tony Papaconstuntinos] found himself being jeered by members of thecrowd as "slippery fingers Papa" and a "crook".
Mr [Holmes a Court], who remains a shareholder and director of the club, denied he had tried to enlist people "to do his dirty work" or to "stir the pot".

IT was never the intention of multi-millionaire Peter Holmes a Court or actor Russell Crowe to denigrate the legends of rugby league in their battle to take control of South Sydney's famous football club.
Mr Holmes a Court spent yesterday afternoon in the witness box at the NSW Supreme Court defending himself against a defamation case arising from theheated exchanges that took place prior to the pair's purchase of the club in 2006. They have since poured millions into the Rabbitohs in an attempt to revive the club's fortunes.
Union figure Tony Papaconstuntinos is suing Mr Holmes a Court for alleged defamation.
When he took the stage at Homebush Bay in 2006 to speak on behalf of the no vote, Mr Papaconstuntinos found himself being jeered by members of the crowd as "slippery fingers Papa" and a "crook".
Mr Holmes a Court wrote a letter to the NSW secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Andrew Ferguson, alleging that Mr Papaconstuntinos had used the position of his son, Jamie Papa, to channel club funds to him and the CFMEU. He alleged Mr Papa was paid a salary many times higher than was appropriate.
Mr Papaconstuntinos has told the NSW Supreme Court he was hurt and angered by the unfounded allegations.
Mr Holmes a Court, who remains a shareholder and director of the club, denied he had tried to enlist people "to do his dirty work" or to "stir the pot".
He said some members of the no group were highly regarded in the rugby league community. "Any denigration of these people from anyone on our side of thevote might be falsely interpreted that Russell or I held those views," he said.
The case will resume this morning.
Credit: John Stapleton
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The public fooled by an Emissions Trading Scheme, The Australian, 20 February, 2009.

The full truth about just how badly the Australian people were being suckered, and just how truly incompetent the Australian government was, rarely made it into the paper.




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Thursday, 19 February 2009

Former Knox Grammar teacher on child-sex charges The Australian 19 February 2009.




http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/ex-teacher-on-child-sex-charges/story-e6frg6o6-1111118896143

Former Knox Grammar teacher on child-sex charges

A SECOND teacher from Knox Grammar, an elite private boys school on Sydney's North Shore, has been charged with alleged sex crimes against students.
Yesterday Barrie Tiffin Stewart, 71, a former music teacher, faced Hornsby Local Court charged with four child-sex offences dating back to 1984 and 1987.
A day earlier, another Knox Grammar teacher, Year 6 prep school master and sports coach Craig Treloar, 49, of Hornsby, was refused bail on four charges of indecency and indecent assault.
Police are calling for any other potential abuse victims at Knox to come forward.
The charges against Mr Treloar arose from complaints made by two men who were aged 11 and 12 when the alleged offences took place in 1986.
Although the accused men were teachers at Knox during the 1980s, police refused to speculate on whether there was any collusion between them.
The first of the charges relating to Mr Stewart allege that in 1984, while watching the victim, he "touched him inappropriately, including stroking his penis on the outside and inside of his clothing on numerous occasions", according to documents tendered to the court.
The second charge alleges that while participating in a night-time school camp at Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River, Mr Stewart approached the victim, "placed hishand down his pants and stroked hispenis".
The third and fourth charges allege that while driving a car, Mr Stewart instructed a 12-year-old boy "to rub his genitals".
Mr Stewart's lawyer, Andrea Turner, told the court he was a low flight risk, had served the community for more than 30 years as a teacher, did voluntary work in retirement and had no prior convictions.
Magistrate Lesley Brennan granted bail, describing the charges as "serious but towards the lower end of impropriety".
He said Mr Stewart, of Palm Beach on Sydney's northern beaches, had co-operated with police and had made some voluntary admissions, "which may go against him at some stage". Mr Stewart must surrender his passport and not attend venues where he could mix socially with boys below the age of 18.
Knox headmaster John Weeks said the school was fully co-operating with the police investigation. "The allegations aired in Hornsby Local Court over the last two days are of great concern and the school urges anyone with any information that would assist the police to come forward," he said in a statement.
Mr Weeks has also sent a letter to parents urging them to ask their sons about the media coverage of the case.
"Check with your boy about how they have been affected by the recent media reports ... Discuss the issues openly -- remind them that these are allegations and the courts work these through over time," he said. "If your child shows or expresses distress, be supportive, contact the school and request that an appointment is made for the counsellors to see your son (preferably let your son know about this request). All boys are different and it is best that they be supported individually."
Local Area Commander Superintendent Shane White said Strike Force Arika had been formed on Tuesday night as a result of information they were receiving following the arrests.
"We have received a number of further phone calls from potential victims relating to this particular school," he said.
"The allegations are extremely serious, abhorrent if proven, and do warrant the attention that we are giving them."
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009

No role for Salvos in distribution of funds - BLACK SATURDAY DISASTER, The Australian, 17 February, 2009.

No role for Salvos in distribution of funds - BLACK SATURDAY DISASTER

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 17 Feb 2009: 2.
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Sources within the Salvation Army said many officers had been "gobsmacked and bewildered" by their failure to be included in government planning and co-ordination, including being omitted from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Advisory Panel.
"The Salvation Army are always there when times are tough, without any favouritism as to race or creed," Mr [Tony Abbott] said. "The Salvos are at least as active as any other welfare group. It is disappointing they aren't being given a look-in at official level.
APPEAL
ONE of the nation's leading church-based charity groups, the Salvation Army, has been left off the committee that will oversee bushfire appeal funds.
Despite raising more than $12million for bushfire victims and already distributing $1.4 million in cash, the Salvation Army will not play a role in overseeing theoperation of distributing the millions raised.
Opposition community services spokesman Tony Abbott called for the inclusion of the Salvation Army.
"The Salvation Army are always there when times are tough, without any favouritism as to race or creed," Mr Abbott said. "The Salvos are at least as active as any other welfare group. It is disappointing they aren't being given a look-in at official level.
"For some reason -- maybe it is because of their Christian orientation, maybe because they were thought to be close to the Howard government -- the Rudd Government is giving them the cold shoulder. It is wrong and it should stop immediately."
Salvation Army spokesman Neil Venables said the organisation was ready to respond to any invitation.
"We would hope that it's not because of our Christian values and the perception that we were close to the previous government," Major Venables said.
"We were committed to working with the Howard government, as we are committed to working with the Rudd Government.
"It is not about political persuasion; it is about how we most effectively fulfil our mission. At times like this, the army has the ability to do its best work."
Sources within the Salvation Army said many officers had been "gobsmacked and bewildered" by their failure to be included in government planning and co-ordination, including being omitted from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Advisory Panel.
The administration costs of the official government-Red Cross appeal are being picked up by the Government, but the same offer has not been extended to the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.
Credit: John Stapleton
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Monday, 16 February 2009

Shark-catch ban defended despite attacks, The Australian, 16 February, 2009.

Shark-catch ban defended despite attacks

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 16 Feb 2009: 3.
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"Shark fishermen have been telling the state Government that shark numbers are in plague proportions and the quota needs to be overhauled, but they are being ignored because Labor's policy is dictated by the Greens preferences they rely on at election time," he said. "The state Government should lift the quota on shark fishing and seriously look at extending air patrols."
Mr [Ian Macdonald] said there was no link between shark quotas and the recent attacks. "It is a lie, it's false and it's mischievous and misleading," Mr Macdonald said.

THE NSW Government has defended its ban on the commercial fishing of sharks, despite two serious attacks last week and the closure of Bondi Beach yesterday following another shark sighting.
The first of the attacks, on Wednesday, left navy diver Paul de Gelder, 31, without his right hand after he was savaged at Woolloomooloo, and the other, at Bondi the next day, injured surfer Glen Orgias, 33. Both remain in a stable condition at St Vincent's Hospital.
The state Government wrote to fishermen last week declaring a ban on shark fishing until July1, saying the annual quota had already been reached.
State Opposition industry spokesman Duncan Gay said that of the annual quota of 160tonnes of sharks, 100 tonnes were made up of sandbar sharks, which were not regularly caught south of Coffs Harbour, on the mid-North Coast. This left 60 tonnes between Coffs Harbour and the Victorian border.
By comparison, Queensland shark hunters catch up to 3000 tonnes a year.
Mr Gay said Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald was on record as saying the build-up of shark numbers was a priority of his Government.
"Shark fishermen have been telling the state Government that shark numbers are in plague proportions and the quota needs to be overhauled, but they are being ignored because Labor's policy is dictated by the Greens preferences they rely on at election time," he said. "The state Government should lift the quota on shark fishing and seriously look at extending air patrols."
Mr Macdonald said there was no link between shark quotas and the recent attacks. "It is a lie, it's false and it's mischievous and misleading," Mr Macdonald said.
The shark alarm at Bondi was activated, forcing lifesavers to close the beach, after a reported sighting just after 5pm yesterday.
It comes after a 14-year-old dolphin was badly injured by a shark at Morten Bay, near Brisbane. A crew from Sea World on the Gold Coast was last night on standby to treat the dolphin, named Nari, after it was spotted when he came in for his evening feed at a resort on Friday.
But the injured animal last night failed to join the pod of 11 wild dolphins that enjoy a nightly hand-feeding ritual by guests and staff at the Tangalooma Resort.
Credit: John Stapleton, Sanna Trad
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Saturday, 14 February 2009

Shark tried to 'rip off' Bondi surfer's arm, Weekend Australian, 14 February, 2009.

Shark tried to `rip off' Bondi surfer's arm

Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 14 Feb 2009: 9.
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"The shark just latched on to his arm. He started screaming `shark'. The shark was just ripping into his arm, trying to rip his arm off, thrashing about in thewater," Mick Marjonovich, who was only five metres away from the attack on Thursday, told surfing magazine Stab.
"He thought he was going to die. He said to me, `Tell my wife, Lisa, I love her'. He'll probably save a couple of inches of arm from his elbow. If the surgeons can keep any more than that, they've done well."
Mr [Orgias]'s pregnant wife, Lisa, was traumatised, at one point collapsing on to the floor. She appeared inconsolable as she waited to hear if the 10-hour operation on Mr Orgias's left arm was successful.
FATHER-TO-BE Glen Orgias was surfing at the southern end of Bondi, where the locals surf away from the tourists, just on nightfall when the second shark attack in as many days occurred.
"The shark just latched on to his arm. He started screaming `shark'. The shark was just ripping into his arm, trying to rip his arm off, thrashing about in thewater," Mick Marjonovich, who was only five metres away from the attack on Thursday, told surfing magazine Stab.
As several surfers managed to get to shore, the water became red with blood.
"When he stood up, his hand was dangling down on a piece of skin. He was holding his bicep together; that was ripped apart. He was looking towards me and all I could see was the bone of his forearm, and his hand just hanging off."
Still conscious after the attack, the 33-year-old told one surfer who had come to his rescue, James McIntosh, to pass a message to
his wife that he loved her.
"He thought he was going to die. He said to me, `Tell my wife, Lisa, I love her'. He'll probably save a couple of inches of arm from his elbow. If the surgeons can keep any more than that, they've done well."
French tourist Mikael Thomas, 21, said the Origin Energy worker's injuries were severe.
"We could see all of his bones cut like with a big knife," he said.
Bondi Beach was closed for several hours yesterday morning.
A rescue helicopter conducted patrols over the beach while lifeguards on jetskis searched for sharks. There were no sightings throughout the day, but only a handful of surfers went into the water.
On Wednesday, an elite navy diver, Paul de Gelder, 31, lost his right hand and suffered serious wounds to his thigh while attacked by a shark during early morning anti-terrorist exercises in Sydney Harbour.
Yesterday, the intensive care unit of St Vincent's Hospital was filled with distraught friends and relatives of both men.
Mr Orgias's pregnant wife, Lisa, was traumatised, at one point collapsing on to the floor. She appeared inconsolable as she waited to hear if the 10-hour operation on Mr Orgias's left arm was successful.
Surf Life Saving Australia and NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald both issued statements calling for calm. They also warned against entering thewater at dusk or dawn, when sharks are more active.
Business leaders fear the shark attack will destroy the area's tourist trade. Bondi Chamber of Commerce vice-president Max Siano said news of the attacks would reverberate around the world, scaring off tourists.
Bondi's largest surf school, Let's Go Surfing, cancelled lessons yesterday and issued a statement saying the terrible and up-
setting event had shaken the local community.
Through a hospital spokesman, the family of Mr Orgias have thanked people at the scene who helped save his life, as well as ambulance and hospital staff, who they said played played a critical role.
Credit: John Stapleton, Jared Owens, Additional reporting: Fred Pawle
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