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Updated August 20, 2018 12:50:01
Adjudicator Travis Opocensky, pictured awarding first prize for the open drumline tenor solo to Dillon McNiff, says students learn valuable skills from marching percussion. Supplied: Beth Rennes, St Josephs Regional College Topics:music,music-education,port-macquarie-2444,broadbeach-4218 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-13/adjudicator-travis-opocensky-and-student-dylan-mcniff/10111326 Updated August 22, 2018 16:14:54
Photo: Linda Reed's body was found three days after she went missing. (ABC News) Map: Brisbane 4000 Cold case detectives say they only recently became aware of the man they have arrested in connection with the death a young woman on the Gold Coast 35 years ago. Linda Reed's killing had been one of Queensland's oldest cold cases still under investigation. Ms Reed, 21, was never seen alive again after taking a lunch break from her retail job in Broadbeach in December 1983. Today, police arrested 51-year-old Troy James O'Meara, who was taken to the Brisbane watch house and charged with murder. Mr O'Meara appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody after making no bail application. Photo: Troy James O'Meara arriving at the Brisbane watch house around lunchtime on Wednesday. (ABC News) Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Knight said he had only become a suspect in "recent years". "Linda's abduction and murder was a completely random attack that has had devastating effects not only on Linda's family, but the Gold Coast community generally," he said. Photo: Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Knight said the investigation had been methodical and extensive. (ABC News) "The gentleman that's in custody at the moment was not subject of those early investigations." Ms Reed's body was found at Gaven three days after she disappeared from Pacific Fair shopping centre. Senior Sergeant Knight said detectives believed she did not know the man now accused of her murder. "We can't see any visible contact that they had prior to [Ms Reed's death]," he said. "It was particularly horrific attack." Family grateful police kept case alive Ms Reed's husband Robert Reed was emotional as he addressed the media in relation to the latest breakthrough in the case. "It's been 35 years since my wife was taken from me from Nancy and Oskar, her parents, Philipp her brother and we just want to thank the police on never giving up," he said. Senior Sergeant Knight said the arrest marked the end of a longstanding "methodical and extensive" cold case. Photo: Robert Reed was accompanied by Ms Reed's mother Nancy Fein and brother Philipp Fein. (ABC News: Talissa Siganto) "Today's arrest highlights the commitment of the homicide cold case investigation unit to resolve historical investigations such as this tragic murder," he said. "I commend the work of the officers who were involved in this case from the outset and thank the detectives and forensic officers who worked so diligently to bring this case to a resolution. "We thank the family for their support throughout the investigation and it is our privilege to bring them the answers they deserve after all this time." Senior Sergeant Knight said developments in forensic science and information from the public led to the arrest. "A lot of those investigations have been done out of the public eyesight for good reason, but essentially we have explored a wide range of forensic opportunities," he said. "When crimes like this happen, somebody always knows something. "A lot of these investigations get advanced through interactions with the general public." Topics:murder-and-manslaughter,courts-and-trials,brisbane-4000,broadbeach-4218,qld First posted August 22, 2018 10:52:12 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/cold-case-detectives-to-charge-man-over-linda-reed-killing/10151466 Updated August 26, 2018 14:46:47
It may not have ended the drought that has crippled much of the nation, but some of our farmers are feeling something they haven't touched for a long time rain. When rain came to Dubbo in the NSW Western Plains, farmer Glen Bloink could have burst with happiness. He stripped his clothes off and ran through a paddock on his farm, which covers 975 acres. Infographic: Rainfall in NSW up until 9am on Sunday: The green dots equate to 25-45mm, dark blue 10mm-24mm and light blue 0.2 to 9mm (Source: BOM ) His partner Min Coleman shared his moment of streaking on Facebook, with the caption "someone's a bit excited". It now has almost 1 million views. Ms Coleman said they were "doing it pretty tough" with the drought, and had not gotten crops this year, which they use as stockpile for their cattle and sheep. So, the moment the rain came down pouring yesterday, her partner "thought he'd rejoice in it", wearing nothing but a wide-brimmed Akubra hat. Ms Coleman said she shared the video because even though others "didn't get their own [rain]" she wanted to spread the encouraging news that they managed to get some falls. "We can already see the little shoots of weed coming through, which is just really encouraging," she said. It poured on Saturday in parts of New South Wales and Queensland and more rain is falling today. For some it was the first drops in more than a year, with all of NSW in drought and Queensland at 70 per cent. Morrison to visit farmers Prime Minister Scott Morrison will travel to drought-affected parts of western Queensland tomorrow, after meeting the National Drought Relief Coordinator, Major General Stephen Day, in Canberra yesterday. He said he understood rural and regional communities would be annoyed about how long the response had taken, but argued his new government would do all it could. "Everybody wants to try and help and do the right thing. But the frustration often in government is getting it coordinated and getting it where it needs to get," Mr Morrison told the ABC's Australia All Over program. "That's what we're going to do, there'll be no shortage of effort and no shortage of resource." In south-east Queensland, there has been steady rainfall over Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts overnight on Saturday and into Sunday. But the wet weather is set to end this afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said. BOM senior forecaster Rick Threlfall said the biggest Queensland falls landed on parts of the Gold Coast, with 15mm. "But we're expecting the rainfall to last quite a few more hours yet," he said. Photo: Storm clouds are gathering at a property at Silvervale, west of Ipswich, in south-east Queensland. (Supplied: Sarah Woodforth ) Cindi Iverson, from Jondaryan in southern Queensland, posted on Facebook that she had had 14.5mm of rain on her property. "I have puddles need a lot more out here, but thankful for what we got," Ms Iverson wrote. Photo: Rain gauge showing 14.5mm at Jondaryan in southern Queensland. (Facebook: Cindi Iverson) 'Wonderful' rain coming down in Biloela Biloela resident Gail Rodda said she could not remember the last time there had been rain in the central Queensland region, apart from the occasional light shower that barely settled the dust. "The trees in the gully behind us are normally lush and green the last month or so, they have started to really fade," she told ABC Capricornia. "We have a mob of kangaroos that have taken to nibbling on the front yard of an evening and through the night we occasionally leave the hose dripping on the front yard so they have water. "Hearing the rain coming down a few times today is so wonderful." Strong wind warnings have been issued for the Byron and Batemans coastal regions in NSW today, with gale force winds expected tomorrow across Sydney, Illawarra and the Hunter region. There were showers on the central and northern NSW tablelands, with the biggest fall in Bourke, in the north-west, recorded 17mm up until 5:00pm on Saturday. There was even hail for some places, including Toronto, near Newcastle. Photo: Hail at Blackalls Park, near Toronto in the Hunter region. (ABC News: Theresa Rockley-Hogan) BOM forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse said after the thunderstorms on Saturday night, the showers would start to ease on Sunday. She said the totals in places east of Bourke and Cobar were expected to be the highest falls. Ms Woodhouse said another trough was expected to hit NSW later in the week after yet another week of clear skies but it would not be "significant". Confidence is up after rain falls Northern NSW recorded big falls on Friday night and Saturday, with Coffs Harbour recording 56.2mm. Local banana and blueberry grower Kirpal Husna said the rain had a positive impact on farmers. "I went to the local produce store this morning to get some fertiliser, and there was about three or four other guys getting fertiliser too," he said. "With the bit of rain we did have, the feeling I got at the store was that [the farmers'] confidence is back up a bit, because the store sold about three or four tonnes of fertiliser while I was there." External Link:Rain dance post from Melissa Murray Still looking for rain In the village of Bellata, about 50km south of Moree in north central NSW, it is not just farmers anxiously waiting for the drops to fall. School principal Vivienne Fouracre knows many of the families in her school well and she knows they rely on a farm worker's wage to get by. "The farmers are struggling," she said. "But their workers are also struggling. "If the farms aren't getting crops in and off, they're not having the money to pay their workers. "With so much of New South Wales in drought, if the workers are let go, where are they going to go? There's not the work for them." Photo: School Principal Vivienne Fouracre says storm rain won't bring relief from the drought (ABC News: Matthew Bedford) For Ms Fouracre, the sound of rain on the roof would be welcome if it came, but she knew it would not break the drought. "The rain that's forecast is storm rain," she said. "It's good if you're under the storm, but if you're not, you get nothing. "Even if we get 50mm this weekend, then no more until November it's going to make no difference at all." External Link:Leanne Mckenzie's post of rain in Hargraves in NSW's Central West Topics:drought,weather,rainfall,agriculture,nsw,tamworth-2340,coffs-harbour-2450,moree-2400,goondiwindi-4390,qld,brisbane-4000,toowoomba-4350,jondaryan-4403,australia,southport-4215,maroochydore-4558,rockhampton-4700,biloela-4715,ipswich-4305 First posted August 25, 2018 19:45:53 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-25/rain-hits-nsw-qld-farmers-but-drought-far-from-over/10164750 Updated August 25, 2018 22:37:18
Photo: Jack Gunston kicked two goals for the Hawks in their vital win over Sydney at the SCG. (AAP: Brendon Thorne) Related Story: Bombers end Power's AFL finals hopes Map: Australia The Hawks win the latest thriller over the Swans to wrap up a top-four spot, the Crows thrash the Blues, the Cats hammer the Suns, the Tigers edge the Bulldogs and the Magpies finish over the top of Freo. Quick navigation Hawks earn comeback win over Buddy-less Swans Hawthorn mounted a stirring second half fightback to secure a top four AFL spot with a nine-point win over Sydney at the SCG on Saturday. The Hawks trailed by 19 at half-time, but kicked nine goals to four in the second half to win 12.11 (83) to 10.14 (74) and record a sixth straight win. The Swans suffered two blows before the game with stars Lance Franklin and Luke Parker both pulling out with groin strains. It was the Hawks' fifth consecutive win at the SCG, where the Swans have lost six of their 11 games this season. Sydney inched ahead by nine points in the final quarter, but the Hawks kicked the last three goals of the game through Harry Morrison, Jordan Henderson and Luke Breust to secure the precious win. External Link:Sydney Hawthorn summary Opportunistic Hawks small forward Paul Puopolo kicked three goals and Henderson and Jack Gunston two each. The loss means fifth-placed Sydney are likely to drop one or two spots depending on the result of Sunday's Melbourne-GWS game at the MCG. Hawthorn's Brownlow Medal favourite Tom Mitchell was contained to nine first half possessions, but finished with 24, the same as his direct opponent George Hewett. The Swans kicked the first two goals of the game, but Hawthorn bagged the next two to lead by a point at the end of a first-quarter arm wrestle. Sydney's trademark pressure was prominent as they dominated the second quarter. External Link:Sydney Hawthorn stats The home team slammed on the first four goals and 27 points of the term and led by 19 at half-time. But the tables turned in the third quarter as the Hawks ramped up their intensity. They kicked four goals to two and got within one point before ending the term six behind. Hawthorn then showed greater composure down the stretch, kicking five goals to two in the last quarter. Jake Lloyd tallied 31 touches for Sydney with Isaac Heeney and Tom Papley each kicking two goals, while Liam Shiels led the Hawks possession getters with 26. Crows finish the season with big win over Blues Photo: Elliott Himmelberg (L) scored a goal on debut for Adelaide in the Crows' big win over Carlton. (AAP: Daniel Pockett) Carlton's inglorious AFL campaign is finally over after a 104-point routing by Adelaide that confirmed the team's worst season in 117 years. The Blues, having already secured the wooden spoon, shipped the year's biggest score in their 26.9 (165) to 8.13 (61) loss at Docklands. Brendon Bolton's side conceded seven of the first eight goals before losing influential pair Charlie Curnow and Jacob Weitering to injury, giving Adelaide a platform to rack up a score. Josh Jenkins led 12 Crows goalkickers with seven majors, while Jordan Gallucci kicked a career-high four. Adelaide did as they pleased, sending defender Jake Kelly forward to kick the first goal of his career to push Adelaide's lead beyond the 100-point mark. External Link:Carlton Adelaide summary Rory Laird ran rings around the Blues, Rory Atkins was mighty and Andy Otten showed his class. Carlton fans among the pitiful 17,000-strong crowd made light of the situation, singing the club theme song deep into the last quarter. They'll be delighted to close the book on their rotten campaign, the Blues' first two-win season since the year of Australia's Federation. The Blues lost seven games by more than 10 goals in 2018 and on Saturday night, their highlights were few and far between. Patrick Cripps, playing with ankle trouble, collected 24 contested possessions to break the AFL season record. External Link:Carlton Adelaide stats He had 18 clearances, 11 more than anyone else on the ground. Harry McKay kicked three goals, Jack Silvagni flew for a stunning fourth-quarter grab and Charlie Polson showed attack on the ball. They will seek an end to their on-field woes in the AFL's trade window and can look forward to the first selection in the draft. Don Pyke's side will also be glad to see the end of a wretched year, given their big night out came too late to lengthen their season. Last year's minor premiers and grand finalists underwhelmed in 2018, and will finish either 11th or 12th with 12 wins. Dockers fall short as Magpies tie up top-four Photo: Josh Thomas (C)'s goal proved the sealer, as Collingwood came from behind to beat Fremantle in Perth. (AAP: Richard Wainwright) Collingwood has secured a top-four berth after overcoming a major scare to beat Fremantle by nine points at Perth Stadium on Saturday. The Dockers led by 15 points at the 20-minute mark of the second term, and still held an eight-point lead early in the final term when Hayden Ballantyne ran 60m to score his fourth goal. But Collingwood lifted when it mattered most, with Brody Mihocek booting two goals within the space of a minute, and Josh Thomas adding another late in the match to secure the 11.10 (76) to 9.13 (67) win. The Magpies could have slid to as low as sixth if they had lost. External Link:Fremantle Collingwood summary But the win means Collingwood will now finish fourth at worst, and possibly as high as second if West Coast lose to Brisbane on Sunday. Although Fremantle couldn't come away with victory in Michael Johnson's AFL farewell, they at least regained some much-needed respect. The Dockers were bombarded by criticism in the wake of last week's 133-point loss to Geelong, but they showed far more fight against the Magpies. Magpies ruckman Brody Grundy starred with 24 disposals, 34 hitouts and five clearances, while Scott Pendlebury tallied 10 clearances from his 30 disposals. Fremantle conceded the last 23 goals of the game against Geelong last week, and the tally rose to 26 after the Magpies booted the first three goals of Saturday's game. But from there the Dockers clicked into gear, booting five unanswered goals to take a 12-point lead into quarter time. Former Docker Chris Mayne spent large stints on the bench with a shin injury, and he missed two set shots in the third quarter that could have given Collingwood a slight edge heading into the final term. Instead, scores were level, and the 41,320 home crowd were in raptures early in the final quarter when Ballantyne scooped up a soccered ball and ran 60m into an open goal. External Link:Fremantle Collingwood stats But two quick goals to Mihocek halted Fremantle's momentum, with Thomas delivering the killer blow. The Magpies received good news before the match when news filtered through that Tyson Goldsack made a successful return in the VFL. Goldsack played about 65 per cent game time in his first match since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in March. But Collingwood appear set to be without young defender Sam Murray for the rest of the season, with the young defender facing a four-year ban from ASADA after testing positive to a prohibited substance. Richmond wins a thriller over the Western Bulldogs Photo: The Tigers had to hang on in the end against the Bulldogs, but they were still left to celebrate after their 21st consecutive win at the MCG. (AAP: Mark Dadswell) Jack Riewoldt has booted five goals to firm his grip on a third Coleman Medal and lead Richmond to a tense three-point AFL win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. Rookie Brad Lynch had the chance to secure an upset victory for the Bulldogs with less than a minute remaining on Saturday afternoon but his set shot from a tight angle hit the post and the Tigers prevailed 15.8 (98) to 14.11 (95). It was far from the Tigers' most convincing performance but that will matter little for the minor premiers, whose dominance at the home of football has them primed to claim back-to-back flags. The win extends their record unbeaten run at the MCG to 21 games and takes their final season tally to 18 wins and just four losses. Riewoldt's 5.2 leaves him with a season tally of 65.33, ahead of Geelong's Tom Hawkins [58] and with North Melbourne's Ben Brown [58] yet to play. External Link:Richmond Bulldogs summary The 56,998 crowd roared every time Riewoldt marked the ball, well aware that every major was drawing him closer to a third Coleman Medal. Should Riewoldt prevail, it would be the lowest winning tally since he won the award with 65 majors in 2012. With the minor premiership already secured, Richmond went in as firm favourites against the 13th-placed Dogs but struggled to put their opponents away and never led by more than three goals. Damien Hardwick's men saved one of their worst first quarters of the season for last, playing what could only be described as bruise-free football. The Tigers had just eight tackles at quarter-time in a far cry from the suffocating pressure that won them last year's premiership. External Link:Richmond Bulldogs stats Bulldogs star Jack Macrae had a stunning first half, racking up 25 disposals, nine marks, six tackles and a goal as the Dogs went to halftime with a three-point lead. The Tigers found another gear in the second half with Dustin Martin [33 disposals, nine clearances and a goal] continuing his hot form and Riewoldt delivering a commanding performance up forward. Bulldogs rookie Patrick Lipinski was stretchered off in the final quarter after landing heavily on his neck in a marking contest. The Tigers appeared to get through unscathed, leaving them well-placed for September with Kane Lambert and Dan Butler set to return for their first final. Huge win puts Cats into seventh Photo: Patrick Dangerfield (L) was best-on-ground for the Cats in Geelong's big win over Gold Coast. (AAP: Julian Smith) Geelong has powered into the AFL finals on the back of successive triple-figure victories after thumping Gold Coast by 102 points at Kardinia Park on Saturday. With former Suns skipper Gary Ablett among the home side's best players, the Cats strolled to a 22.10 (142) to 5.10 (40) victory. They will improve one spot to seventh on the ladder should GWS beat Melbourne on Sunday. The Cats could hardly have had a more stress-free run-in to their 11th AFL finals campaign in the space of 12 years, with Saturday's demolition job on the Suns coming seven days after a 133-point annihilation of Fremantle at the same venue. The match briefly looked to have got off in the worst possible manner for Geelong with teammates Lachie Henderson and Jake Kolodjashnij involved in a heavy accidental collision in the opening minute. External Link:Geelong Gold Coast summary Kolodjashnij went off to have several stitches on a cut above his left eye before returning to the action. Henderson was also forced from the ground during the third quarter after a heavy clash of heads with Suns forward Aaron Young. Cats midfielder Cam Guthrie spent most of the final term on the bench nursing a corked thigh. Geelong led by 17 points at quarter-time before upping the intensity to extend the advantage to 60 points at the long break. It continued to be largely one-way traffic in the second half, with Patrick Dangerfield booting all of his game-high four goals in the third and fourth quarters. External Link:Geelong Gold Coast stats The Cats also got great returns from skipper Joel Selwood [28 possessions] and first-year sensation Tim Kelly [23 possessions and three goals]. Tom Hawkins came into the match with an outside chance of clinching a first Coleman Medal, but his challenge petered out as he could only manage two goals as the Cats shared the spoils up-forward with 12 individual goalkickers. With Port Adelaide coming up well short at home to Essendon on Friday night, the Cats were guaranteed a spot in the finals regardless of the result of Saturday's match. After starting the season brightly, second-bottom Gold Coast's only win in their last 17 games was against Sydney in round 18. AFL ladder External Link:AFL 2018 ladder AAP Topics:australian-football-league,sport,australia,vic,geelong-3220,richmond-3121,west-melbourne-3003,collingwood-3066,carlton-3053,hawthorn-3122,qld,carrara-4211,nsw,sydney-2000,sa,adelaide-5000,wa,fremantle-6160 First posted August 25, 2018 13:17:11 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-25/afl-scorecentre-saturday/10159792 Container recycling proposal could earn state schools 'tens of millions' of dollars, P&Cs Qld says8/25/2018 Updated August 20, 2018 06:58:32
Photo: P&Cs Queensland is proposing a system to direct funds from container recycling to state schools. (ABC TV News, file image) Queensland schools could share in "tens of millions" of dollars in extra funding under a proposal to send money earned from recycling directly to state schools, according to P&Cs Queensland. Key Points:State schools could collect 'tens of millions' a year under the container refund scheme, according to P&Cs QueenslandP&Cs Queensland wants people who recycle containers to be able to donate their refunds direct to schoolsIt also wants collection spots on school grounds to help fundraise and encourage recycling at schools P&Cs Queensland has put forward a plan for schools to benefit from machines set up to collect recyclables, when the state's container refund scheme starts later this year. Rather than take the refund, the organisation wants to help people donate it directly to the school of their choice, even if it's in another part of the state. If the machines were installed near a major hotel or shopping centre, P&C Queensland chief Kevan Goodworth said it could turbocharge fundraising efforts by the schools. Photo: P&Cs Queensland hopes to install collection points, similar to this reverse vending machine, at schools to encourage recycling, while also providing funds to schools. (ABC News: Chris O'Brien) Already up to 100 schools are interested in sharing in the windfall that could come from the recycling plan, he said. "We hope to enrol as many schools as wish to be enrolled to start making money in this particular way, because there are some tens of millions of dollars, I think, five years down the track," Mr Goodworth said. "If you look at this scheme and it evolves the way we hope that it does, it will be extremely profitable for school P&Cs." According to P&C numbers, if 360 students at a school returned 10 containers per week for the school year, it would raise an extra $10,000 for the campus. In South Australia, Scout groups have their own range of recycling centres around Adelaide, and run a service in which they obtain the refunds by collecting material from venues, clubs and groups. How the smallest Queensland schools could score big P&Cs Queensland said its scheme, if supported by the Queensland Government, would evolve so every state school campus would become a recycling collection point. Mr Goodworth said the cans, bottles and recyclables from the school would be put in, plus parents and students would be encouraged to drop off their own material to boost the schools' budgets. "Just imagine a small regional centre where there is a hotel or big retailer next door that is happy to donate their cans to the local school. You can multiply what the school might raise by 100 times." Photo: When Queensland's container deposit refund scheme starts in September, P&Cs Queensland hopes recyclers will be given the option to donate their refund directly to state schools. (ABC News: Chris O'Brien) Mr Goodworth estimates that after five years, the scheme could deliver an extra $10 million to schools each year. "This is a great opportunity for all of us in Queensland to get in behind the P&C and make sure the cans and bottles, and money from them, comes to schools." A spokesman for the Education Department said he was aware that P&Cs Queensland was developing the proposal but declined to say if the department would support it. He said each school's P&C would have to decide whether to be involved in the plan, should it go ahead. Topics:recycling-and-waste-management,education,public-schools,schools,maroochydore-4558,toowoomba-4350,mackay-4740,cairns-4870,townsville-4810,mount-isa-4825,longreach-4730,surfers-paradise-4217,rockhampton-4700,bundaberg-4670,sa,brisbane-4000,qld First posted August 20, 2018 06:11:04 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-20/p&c-plan-for-schools-to-win-big-from-qld-container-refund-scheme/10137820 Posted August 18, 2018 06:30:00
Photo: Matthew Sawyer hopes the Men's Shed can help him come to terms with his experiences in Afghanistan. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmaine Kane) A defence force veteran who was threatened with a 'green on blue' attack while mentoring soldiers in Afghanistan is finding a way to heal thanks to a Men's Shed on the Gold Coast. Matthew Sawyer said he did not feel the impact of his experiences in the warzone until he was discharged four years ago. Now he is finding a way to deal with the lasting trauma of his time overseas. "There were a few instances with students where they would turn and point weapons at me,and told me they did want to kill me," he said. "[Rogue] Afghanis [have been known to] turn and shoot the Australians, which we call green on blue. "It took me a long time to realise what the problem was and when I did, I sought help." Originally established in part to help soldiers returned from the Vietnam war, the Men's Shed at Nerang is now seeing a new generation of ex-servicemen. "A lot of the younger guys don't want to ask for help," Mr Sawyer said. "They don't think their case is bad enough to justify getting help and they end up underestimating and undermining themselves, which makes their situation far worse. "I hope the Men's Shed can help me and that I can help others." Filling the hole When solder is discharged, they can feel like they have lost a huge part of who they are. Chaplain Gary Stone said the Shed can help provide a new sense of identity. Photo: Chaplain Gary Stone (L) says the Men's Shed is the best facility for helping veterans that he's seen. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmaine Kane) "Most of the suicides that we experience in the veteran community involve people who are disengaged," he said. "The Men's Shed offers a camaraderie and a focus that can be missing from ex-servicemen's lives." Finding lasting peace Younger men are among hundreds of ex-service personnel who seek help at the group's Nerang complex every year. Veterans advocate Flavia Senter, who works at the complex, said her youngest client is 27 years old. She said the number of young veterans seeking assistance is slowly surpassing Vietnam veterans. Photo: The shed offers men a space to work on projects, like these wooden sausage sandwich holders. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmaine Kane) "Most of the older veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder develop symptoms after they retire but the younger guys are affected in their 30s," she said. "They feel their lives are over", Ms Senter said. "If they are by themselves at home, doing nothing they think about those issues, remembering their time in the war. "But when they come to the Men's Shed here, they have someone to talk to, they feel valued, it keeps them going." A memorial service to mark the 52nd anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, which claimed 18 Australian lives, will be held at the Nerang complex this weekend. Topics:unrest-conflict-and-war,community-organisations,mental-health,mens-health,defence-forces,health,nerang-4211,molendinar-4214,gilston-4211,gaven-4211,maudsland-4210,worongary-4213 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-18/mens-shed-returned-service-veterans-focus/10132708 Updated August 22, 2018 16:14:54
Photo: Linda Reed's body was found three days after she went missing. (ABC News) Map: Brisbane 4000 Cold case detectives say they only recently became aware of the man they have arrested in connection with the death a young woman on the Gold Coast 35 years ago. Linda Reed's killing had been one of Queensland's oldest cold cases still under investigation. Ms Reed, 21, was never seen alive again after taking a lunch break from her retail job in Broadbeach in December 1983. Today, police arrested 51-year-old Troy James O'Meara, who was taken to the Brisbane watch house and charged with murder. Mr O'Meara appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody after making no bail application. Photo: Troy James O'Meara arriving at the Brisbane watch house around lunchtime on Wednesday. (ABC News) Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Knight said he had only become a suspect in "recent years". "Linda's abduction and murder was a completely random attack that has had devastating effects not only on Linda's family, but the Gold Coast community generally," he said. Photo: Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Knight said the investigation had been methodical and extensive. (ABC News) "The gentleman that's in custody at the moment was not subject of those early investigations." Ms Reed's body was found at Gaven three days after she disappeared from Pacific Fair shopping centre. Senior Sergeant Knight said detectives believed she did not know the man now accused of her murder. "We can't see any visible contact that they had prior to [Ms Reed's death]," he said. "It was particularly horrific attack." Family grateful police kept case alive Ms Reed's husband Robert Reed was emotional as he addressed the media in relation to the latest breakthrough in the case. "It's been 35 years since my wife was taken from me from Nancy and Oskar, her parents, Philipp her brother and we just want to thank the police on never giving up," he said. Senior Sergeant Knight said the arrest marked the end of a longstanding "methodical and extensive" cold case. Photo: Robert Reed was accompanied by Ms Reed's mother Nancy Fein and brother Philipp Fein. (ABC News: Talissa Siganto) "Today's arrest highlights the commitment of the homicide cold case investigation unit to resolve historical investigations such as this tragic murder," he said. "I commend the work of the officers who were involved in this case from the outset and thank the detectives and forensic officers who worked so diligently to bring this case to a resolution. "We thank the family for their support throughout the investigation and it is our privilege to bring them the answers they deserve after all this time." Senior Sergeant Knight said developments in forensic science and information from the public led to the arrest. "A lot of those investigations have been done out of the public eyesight for good reason, but essentially we have explored a wide range of forensic opportunities," he said. "When crimes like this happen, somebody always knows something. "A lot of these investigations get advanced through interactions with the general public." Topics:murder-and-manslaughter,courts-and-trials,brisbane-4000,broadbeach-4218,qld First posted August 22, 2018 10:52:12 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/cold-case-detectives-to-charge-man-over-linda-reed-killing/10151466 Container recycling proposal could earn state schools 'tens of millions' of dollars, P&Cs Qld says8/24/2018 Updated August 20, 2018 06:58:32
Photo: P&Cs Queensland is proposing a system to direct funds from container recycling to state schools. (ABC TV News, file image) Queensland schools could share in "tens of millions" of dollars in extra funding under a proposal to send money earned from recycling directly to state schools, according to P&Cs Queensland. Key Points:State schools could collect 'tens of millions' a year under the container refund scheme, according to P&Cs QueenslandP&Cs Queensland wants people who recycle containers to be able to donate their refunds direct to schoolsIt also wants collection spots on school grounds to help fundraise and encourage recycling at schools P&Cs Queensland has put forward a plan for schools to benefit from machines set up to collect recyclables, when the state's container refund scheme starts later this year. Rather than take the refund, the organisation wants to help people donate it directly to the school of their choice, even if it's in another part of the state. If the machines were installed near a major hotel or shopping centre, P&C Queensland chief Kevan Goodworth said it could turbocharge fundraising efforts by the schools. Photo: P&Cs Queensland hopes to install collection points, similar to this reverse vending machine, at schools to encourage recycling, while also providing funds to schools. (ABC News: Chris O'Brien) Already up to 100 schools are interested in sharing in the windfall that could come from the recycling plan, he said. "We hope to enrol as many schools as wish to be enrolled to start making money in this particular way, because there are some tens of millions of dollars, I think, five years down the track," Mr Goodworth said. "If you look at this scheme and it evolves the way we hope that it does, it will be extremely profitable for school P&Cs." According to P&C numbers, if 360 students at a school returned 10 containers per week for the school year, it would raise an extra $10,000 for the campus. In South Australia, Scout groups have their own range of recycling centres around Adelaide, and run a service in which they obtain the refunds by collecting material from venues, clubs and groups. How the smallest Queensland schools could score big P&Cs Queensland said its scheme, if supported by the Queensland Government, would evolve so every state school campus would become a recycling collection point. Mr Goodworth said the cans, bottles and recyclables from the school would be put in, plus parents and students would be encouraged to drop off their own material to boost the schools' budgets. "Just imagine a small regional centre where there is a hotel or big retailer next door that is happy to donate their cans to the local school. You can multiply what the school might raise by 100 times." Photo: When Queensland's container deposit refund scheme starts in September, P&Cs Queensland hopes recyclers will be given the option to donate their refund directly to state schools. (ABC News: Chris O'Brien) Mr Goodworth estimates that after five years, the scheme could deliver an extra $10 million to schools each year. "This is a great opportunity for all of us in Queensland to get in behind the P&C and make sure the cans and bottles, and money from them, comes to schools." A spokesman for the Education Department said he was aware that P&Cs Queensland was developing the proposal but declined to say if the department would support it. He said each school's P&C would have to decide whether to be involved in the plan, should it go ahead. Topics:recycling-and-waste-management,education,public-schools,schools,maroochydore-4558,toowoomba-4350,mackay-4740,cairns-4870,townsville-4810,mount-isa-4825,longreach-4730,surfers-paradise-4217,rockhampton-4700,bundaberg-4670,sa,brisbane-4000,qld First posted August 20, 2018 06:11:04 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-20/p&c-plan-for-schools-to-win-big-from-qld-container-refund-scheme/10137820 Updated August 18, 2018 22:33:14
Map: Australia The Swans secure an AFL final berth with a win against the Giants and the Hawks scrape home against the Saints, as the Magpies, Cats and Lions also post victories. Quick navigation Buddy Franklin fires as Swans down Giants Photo: Lance Franklin (L) and Daniel Hannebery show their delight in the win against the Giants. (AAP: Brendon Thorne) A barnstorming Lance Franklin has lifted Sydney to a 20-point victory over GWS, booting five goals and spearheading a second-half comeback that could have major ramifications in the race to the finals. The Swans trailed for most of the derby in Homebush and were behind by 21 points during the third term of the low-scoring scrap when they lifted, inspired by Franklin for the umpteenth time this season. Franklin kicked the sealer and consistently troubled GWS, as he did while earning the three Brownlow Medal votes last year at the same venue. The Swans' yips threatened to prove costly but their speed and slick ball movement in the final quarter, in sharp contrast to an undermanned GWS outfit reeling from more injuries, meant they bagged the premiership points. Sydney, written off as finals contenders three weeks ago, is now in the mix for a top-four spot after triumphing 11.14 (80) to 8.12 (60). External Link:Giants v Swans summary GWS co-captain Phil Davis, who played on Franklin during the first term, limped off the ground and into the rooms during the second quarter after being crunched in a marking contest by teammate Rory Lobb. It proved a match-defining moment. Davis played on after halftime despite the painful hip injury but was stationed up forward because he was so badly restricted, leaving Franklin to torment Jeremy Finlayson. Franklin lifted his career tally to 917 goals to overtake Leigh Matthews and clamber into eighth spot on the VFL/AFL's list of all-time goalkickers. External Link:Giants v Swans stats Franklin, who was awarded the Brett Kirk Medal, has struggled to train this year because of a sore heel but continues to stand up in clutch moments for the Swans. Davis, Ryan Griffen (hamstring), Jeremy Finlayson (foot) and Daniel Lloyd (cut eye) kept GWS's medical department, overworked throughout an injury-cursed season, busy. The Giants, pushed to exhaustion during the past fortnight after finishing with no fit players on the bench against Carlton then one fit man on the bench against Adelaide, ran out of puff in the final term. The rivals forecast a finals-like contest and they did not disappoint, piling on immense pressure and rattling each other in a series of big collisions. Hawks hold off brave Saints Photo: Ben McEvoy (R) and Lewis Pearce contest the ball in the Hawks' defeat of the Saints. (AAP: Daniel Pockett) Hawthorn has held off an outstanding challenge from St Kilda to win by four points at Docklands, setting up a massive clash next week with Sydney. The Saints rallied from a week of intense scrutiny to nearly pull off one of the season's biggest upsets, though the Hawks won 12.8 (80) to 11.10 (76). St Kilda kicked the only goal of the last quarter as the two teams defended grimly. Hawks pair Jack Gunston and Jarman Impey took crucial marks late in the match as the Saints pressed hard. Hawthorn stayed fourth and is level on points with the fifth-placed Swans, who beat GWS earlier on Saturday night. The winner of the Sydney-Hawthorn SCG clash next Saturday night will finish in the top four. Hawthorn lost veteran key defender James Frawley in the third term with a back injury. External Link:Saints v Hawks summary Jarryn Geary, who was outstanding on Hawks playmaker Isaac Smith, was forced off the field in the last term because of a head knock. Gunston was best afield, kicking four goals and then going into defence late in the match, while the poise of veteran Shaun Burgoyne was crucial. Midfielder Jack Steele was best for the Saints and Jack Lonie kicked a career-best four goals. The game went according to script in the first quarter, with Hawthorn kicking four goals to one. While the Saints were on top in clearances and had more possessions, Hawthorn was more efficient and looked ready to break the game open. But the momentum swung dramatically in the second term as the Saints hit back. External Link:Saints v Hawks stats The lead changed six times and Hawthorn only led by five points at the main break. St Kilda was well on top in clearances 28-17 and was up in contested possessions as well, as they put the Hawks under mounting pressure. But the Saints have had a bad habit of dropping away through the middle of games. The signs were bad when Hawthorn went on a four-goal run to lead by a game-high 24 points in the third quarter. But Lonie kicked three goals late in the third term and the Saints were only nine points down at the last break. Jade Gresham, another of the Saints' best players, kicked a goal two minutes into the last quarter - but it proved the last goal of the game. Magpies zero in on top four with win over Port Photo: Travis Varcoe (R) celebrates with Brody Mihocek after kicking a goal for the Magpies. (AAP: David Crosling) Port Adelaide's season is hanging by a thread, while a top-four finish is within Collingwood's reach after it stormed home to down the Power by 51 points at the MCG. The Magpies held a narrow lead at the final break on Saturday afternoon before booting seven goals to one to run out 17.13 (115) to 10.4 (64) winners. The thumping victory lifts the Magpies to third on the ladder and should be enough to secure a double-chance with lowly Fremantle awaiting in round 23. Ruckman Brodie Grundy starred with 41 hitouts, 25 disposals and a goal, Mason Cox (eight marks) was imposing in the air and Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom and Chris Mayne were prolific ball winners. A week after losing to West Coast with a goal after the siren, the Power were again found wanting in a high-stakes game, squandering a promising start and managing just one goal after five minutes of the third quarter. External Link:Magpies v Power summary The Power have now lost five of their past six games and while the Magpies continue to find a way despite a growing injury toll, Ken Hinkley's men look ill-prepared for the September cauldron. They must beat Essendon at Adelaide Oval next Friday night and hope Melbourne lose both their remaining games to stand any chance of making the eight. The Power had the early ascendancy, restricting Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom with hard tags but the Pies turned the tables with the first three goals of the second quarter. Off-contract Port wingman Jared Polec showed why rivals are queuing to secure his services, weaving through traffic and kicking truly from 40 metres to break Collingwood's run. External Link:Magpies v Power stats But the Magpies were dominating the midfield battle, led by Adams who had 16 disposals and a goal during a brilliant second quarter. Missing spearhead Charlie Dixon to a season-ending leg injury, the Power looked disorganised in their forward half and reluctant to take the game on. A chance to take the lead went begging when the Power dropped their bundle in front of goals, handballing among themselves until Collingwood rushed a behind. The game descended into a scrap after half-time and while the Power trailed by just 13 points at the final break, it took a matter of minutes for a fast-finishing Collingwood to put the result beyond doubt. Ruckman Paddy Ryder booted three majors despite being hampered by a hip injury while Ollie Wines and Steven Motlop fought hard in the midfield. Pies forward Jordan De Goey finished the game on the bench with ice on his calf. Cats smash woeful Dockers by 133 points Photo: The Cats and Dockers contest the ball as hail comes down at Kardinia Park. (AAP: Julian Smith) Ruthless Geelong kicked a record 23 successive goals against lamentable Fremantle at Kardinia Park to record a 133-point victory that propelled the Cats back into the top eight. The 13th-placed Dockers actually had the best of the opening exchanges and led by nine points at quarter-time on a cold, wet day in Geelong, It turned out to be falsest of false dawns as the visitors were held goalless for the remaining three quarters in what ended up being the heaviest defeat in club history. External Link:Cats v Freo summary The Cats blew the match wide open by kicking 10 goals to nil in the second quarter, with even a heavy rainstorm midway through the term failing to stem the onslaught. The carnage continued in the second half as the Cats powered away to a 24.14 (158) to 3.7 (25) win. All Geelong need to do to guarantee a finals berth for the 11th time in the past 12 years is win again at Kardinia Park next weekend against a Gold Coast team that has recorded only one victory since round five. The Cats replaced Port Adelaide in the top eight after the Power faded badly in a 51-point loss to Collingwood earlier in the day. External Link:Cats v Freo stats Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins kicked a game-high six goals to close within four majors of Richmond's Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal race. Youngster Brandan Parfitt chimed in with a career-high four goals and Tim Kelly continued his remarkable debut season, tallying 26 possessions and three goals. But the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for returning hero Gary Ablett, who kicked his 400th career goal late in the final term with a brilliant curling snap from the left forward pocket. Captain Nat Fyfe and veteran David Mundy were a small handful of Dockers who kept plugging away all day. Lions beat Suns in fiery QClash Photo: Mitch Robinson (C) has a heated exchange with Sean Lemmens (R) in the QClash. (AAP: Darren England) Brisbane has narrowly prevailed over the Gold Coast, with Queensland's AFL rivalry continuing to grow in the four-point win. The Lions rallied from nine points down in the final term to pip the Suns 10.18 (78) to 11.8 (74) and overturn a five-point QClash loss earlier this season in another fiery contest in Carrara. The lead fluctuated in a sloppy but hard-fought second half as the young Suns, led by Alex Sexton (four goals) and Brayden Fiorini (32 disposals) threatened a boilover. But Brisbane withstood the pressure and did enough in the final 20 minutes to consign the Suns to a seventh loss and winless campaign at home this season. The derby fire was sparked on Thursday when Brisbane defender Nick Robertson said the Suns were soft. External Link:Suns v Lions summary And, after a bit of general niggle, that fire erupted in the second term when Sean Lemmens' collected young Lion Brandon Starcevich with a high spoil. Players came from all corners in front of 11,907 spectators, with Dayne Zorko sent flying in the chaos by his chief antagonist Touk Miller. The Suns had edged back into the contest prior to the incident, helped by the first-quarter exit of Lions defender Alex Witherden (hamstring). Sexton scored from both pockets before Jack Bowes also threaded the needle as the young Suns midfield held their own. Brisbane's inaccuracy cost them, with Eric Hipwood missing his first five shots at goal and Daniel Rich missing from in front before the Suns hit the lead for the first time in the third term. External Link:Suns v Lions stats Cameron Rayner did his best to improve their ratio with a booming 60-metre effort, while Luke Hodge was a brick wall with five first-quarter intercepts. Brisbane took an early 20-point lead but the Suns lifted their workrate and took their chances as the game grew in intensity. Gold Coast got within six at the main break and had the lead soon after the restart. Harris Andrews' goal - the Lions' sole major for the quarter - put the Lions in front by three after a sloppy third term. Gold Coast, again through some Sexton brilliance, regained the lead before the Lions made the most of their luck to land the final blow. First Allen Christensen kicked straight after being gifted a 50-metre penalty, before a stray kick off the deck went straight to an unmarked Dayne Beams (38 touches) for what would be the decisive goal. AFL ladder External Link:AFL 2018 ladder AAP/ABC Topics:australian-football-league,sport,australia,st-kilda-3182,hawthorn-3122,fremantle-6160,geelong-3220,port-adelaide-5015,collingwood-3066,carrara-4211,brisbane-4000,homebush-2140,sydney-2000 First posted August 18, 2018 12:53:24 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-18/afl-scorecentre-saturday-round-22/10126172 |
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