Monday 28 October 2002
Rain gives firefighters a break ... for now, The Australian, 28 October, 2002.
Rain gives firefighters a break ... for now: [1 Edition]
Leisa Scott, John Stapleton. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 28 Oct 2002: 4.
Abstract
A southerly change brought lighter winds, and temperatures up to 20 degrees cooler than in recent days allowed firefighters to bring the fires at Withcott, White Mountain, Tara and the Gold Coast region under control.
Premier Peter Beattie toured the Toowoomba region yesterday and said although the fires were devastating, the residents were lucky to have the help of the state's firefighters. "They should go and buy a lotto ticket and should buy every one of the fire crews a Christmas present because they were very lucky indeed," he said.
RAIN fell over southern Queensland yesterday, reducing the ferocity of fires that raged across the Darling Downs for five days, destroying three homes.
They forced the evacuation of almost 1000 people and burned more than 100sqkm of bushland.
The last of the evacuees from the outlying Toowoomba estate of Prince Henry Heights -- where 60 fire units and 19 water tankers battled the blaze on Saturday -- last night returned to their homes.
A southerly change brought lighter winds, and temperatures up to 20 degrees cooler than in recent days allowed firefighters to bring the fires at Withcott, White Mountain, Tara and the Gold Coast region under control.
Premier Peter Beattie toured the Toowoomba region yesterday and said although the fires were devastating, the residents were lucky to have the help of the state's firefighters. "They should go and buy a lotto ticket and should buy every one of the fire crews a Christmas present because they were very lucky indeed," he said.
A number of the fires are believed to have been deliberately lit and police are investigating. A total fire ban has been imposed across the state until November.
NSW also benefited from easing weather conditions, giving firefighters the chance to contain up to 85 fires burning across the state yesterday.
There was no direct threat to property from the fires, including the biggest at Lismore, Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Grafton.
About 2000 volunteers fought the blazes on Saturday but 1500 of them were given a day off yesterday due to the improved conditions. On Saturday, about 40 homes were evacuated in the mid-north coast towns of Port Macquarie and South West Rocks.
NSW authorities are fearful conditions will once again deteriorate, with hot, dry conditions and strong winds forecast for midweek.
Friday 25 October 2002
Idyll on the snowline, The Australian, 25 October, 2002.
Idyll on the snowline: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 25 Oct 2002: 24.
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Abstract
Snowline Ranch is 516ha of natural Alpine country, located in the Moonbah Valley near Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.
Snowline Ranch sits on the designated snowline in the Moonbah Valley, next to the Kosciuszko National Park.
The Lasts bought Snowline Ranch from a failed businessman who had invested $2.8 million to create his own private sanctuary, including a modern seven-bedroom house and two three-bedroom houses for staff.
* Rural
"OWN your own National Park" says the blurb for Snowline Ranch, and for once the blurb writers have hit the mark.
Snowline Ranch is 516ha of natural Alpine country, located in the Moonbah Valley near Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.
It is now on the market with expectations of more than $1.5 million.
Rendezvous Creek and Mowamba River border the property, making it ideal for trout fishing.
It could hardly be more perfect for those seeking to escape the rush of city life -- which is exactly what the present owners did.
David and Christine Last fled Sydney five years ago and have absolutely no desire to see the big smoke again.
The high-profile couple, who ran a $40 million tourism business in a joint venture with American Airlines, decided enough was enough.
Christine was a wine promoter on Sydney's north shore while David toured the world establishing his outbound tourism business in markets like the Caribbean and South America.
When American Airlines purchased David's interest in the business, the couple decided to escape Sydney's increasingly aggressive and hectic lifestyle.
"I hate the word sea-change, but that's what it was," says David. "We searched the country for our nirvana, and we found it in the Snowy Mountains."
Snowline Ranch sits on the designated snowline in the Moonbah Valley, next to the Kosciuszko National Park.
The valley was first settled in the 1800s by the McGuffog family, and the ranch is part of the original McGuffog's Run.
It is classic "Man From Snowy River" country.
The Lasts bought Snowline Ranch from a failed businessman who had invested $2.8 million to create his own private sanctuary, including a modern seven-bedroom house and two three-bedroom houses for staff.
The Lasts developed the ranch as a retreat and a working cattle property. To cater for David's particular sporting mania, a nine- hole golf course was added.
They are selling in order to be closer to their adult children and impending grandchildren. However, the Lasts have no intention of returning to Sydney but will look at coastal property.
`We have found there is another life out of the city," said Mr Last. "There is another life outside the mainstream. It just takes a bit of courage and guts to cut theties from the corporate world.
"What we have found is that living in a small country community is extremely fulfilling. In the city, invariably you never get to know your neighbours.
"We have the fires going all the time, it's just sensational, including the kitchen fire, which we use for wood-fired bread -- all those sorts of things that used to happen around the kitchen that brought families together.
"We got involved in a lot of community activities. I'm now chairman of Tourism Snowy Mountains and the Community Forum for the Kosciuszko National Park.
"Christine has headed the local arts festival and we've both found contributing in this way to be very enriching."
Snowline Ranch will be auctioned on November 21 by rural property specialist Chris Meares & Associates.
Monday 21 October 2002
Thursday 17 October 2002
Relief boils up to anger at airport - TERROR HITS HOME - AMID THE WRECKAGE, The Australian, 17 October, 2002.
Relief boils up to anger at airport - TERROR HITS HOME - AMID THE WRECKAGE: [2 Edition]
Stapleton, John.
The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 17 Oct 2002: 3.
Abstract
At Sydney airport last night, one man off a Qantas flight from Denpasar ended up in an altercation with a group of Middle Eastern- looking men and had to be quietened by Australian Protective Services officers and airport security staff.
Full Text
While the first planeloads of evacuees were shocked and grieving, increasingly people returning are angry and want answers.
At Sydney airport last night, one man off a Qantas flight from Denpasar ended up in an altercation with a group of Middle Eastern- looking men and had to be quietened by Australian Protective Services officers and airport security staff.
He kept shouting: "I saw dead bodies all over. They come into this country. Lock me up. Arrest me. They come into this country. I saw dead bodies."
The distressed man, who according to bystanders had watched a man die in his arms, was kept apart from the other passengers and eventually led away.
Although many passengers expressed delight at being back on Australian soil, or relief at being alive, others were simply angry.
Robyn Quick, of Sydney, said: "I want someone to ask John Howard why we weren't told that there was a threat. Bali was dangerous. Other nationalities knew that.
"We got on that plane in the morning, we should have been told."
Illustration
Caption: Tense: A man is subdued by police after allegedly trying to fight; Chris Pavlich
Tuesday 15 October 2002
Hope fades as the day passes - TERROR HITS HOME - COUNTING THE TOLL, The Australian, 15 October, 2002.
Hopes fade as the day passes - TERROR HITS HOME - COUNTING THE TOLL: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 15 Oct 2002: 2.
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Abstract
Michelle Dunlop, 30, a Sydney investment banker with Westpac, was still missing last night.
The family went through an emotional roller coaster yesterday when another woman named Michelle, with an unknown surname, was brought to Australia. But she turned out not to their Michelle. "It is very distressing," her sister Karen said last night.
Behic Summer, a computer software programmer from Sydney in his early 40s, was still missing last night. His brother Mustafa said: "All his workmates are calling, everyone loved him. These crazy people, whoever did it."
MANY Australian families waited throughout the day for news of their loved ones. For many the news was simply disastrous.
A tearful David Stewart, father of 29-year-old Melbourne electrician and football fanatic Anthony, said the family had had a very hard time.
"We lost his twin brother four years ago. We were preparing for his anniversary and then this happens.
"He and the other boys were in the middle of the dancefloor when the bomb went off. He copped the full blast."
The father of Robert Thwaites, 24, said they believed the body of his son had been found.
A body of similar size found next to some of his friends is believed to be Robert. But so little was left of the body that this will have to be confirmed through dental records today.
"It looks like he is definitely dead," Geoff Thwaites said last night.
"He just graduated from university at the end of last year. He was an honours degree student at Griffith University on the Gold Coast."
Mr Thwaites described his son as "a positive man.
"He had everything to live for. He knew what he was going to do. He was preparing to take over the family company.
"He was very very capable. It's very tough, very tough."
Michelle Dunlop, 30, a Sydney investment banker with Westpac, was still missing last night.
The family went through an emotional roller coaster yesterday when another woman named Michelle, with an unknown surname, was brought to Australia. But she turned out not to their Michelle. "It is very distressing," her sister Karen said last night.
Behic Summer, a computer software programmer from Sydney in his early 40s, was still missing last night. His brother Mustafa said: "All his workmates are calling, everyone loved him. These crazy people, whoever did it."
Monday 14 October 2002
Friday 11 October 2002
Double win pure poetry, 11 October, 2002
Double win pure poetry: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 11 Oct 2002: 3.
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Abstract
AUSTRALIAN poet Peter Porter has won Britain's top poetry award - - his second major gong this year.
The award means Porter has won the two most prestigious British poetry prizes this year, after earlier collecting the Queen's Medal for Poetry. The double success places him among the world's leading poets.
Leading contemporary poet John Tranter said the win was a great thing for Australian poetry. Unlike other expatriates such as Germaine Greer and Clive James who felt they had to act the larrikin to be noticed, he said, Porter had always been the perfect gentleman.
AUSTRALIAN poet Peter Porter has won Britain's top poetry award - - his second major gong this year.
Porter, 73, was this week awarded the Waterstone's Prize for the best collection of poetry for his book Max is Missing.
The award means Porter has won the two most prestigious British poetry prizes this year, after earlier collecting the Queen's Medal for Poetry. The double success places him among the world's leading poets.
Porter has been living in Britain since the 1950s but has always retained strong links with Australia.
He said last night the $28,000 prize was the largest amount he had ever won as a poet. "It's very pleasant to have the prize arrive at a time of life when you could do with a few pounds," he said.
"I am not a young man. It's nice to have it happen to you when you are an old person on the docks, a ship taken out of the water."
Chairman of the judging committee William Sieghart described the winning collection as "urgent and timeless, an elegiac, satirical and contemplative delight".
Peter Rose, editor of Australian Book Review, described Porter's win as "great, fantastic".
"Peter is widely recognised as one of the half-dozen important poets Australia has ever produced. What is remarkable about him is that he has now been publishing works of the highest quality for almost half a century. Not many poets have such a long literary lifespan."
Leading contemporary poet John Tranter said the win was a great thing for Australian poetry. Unlike other expatriates such as Germaine Greer and Clive James who felt they had to act the larrikin to be noticed, he said, Porter had always been the perfect gentleman.
"He has done much to make Britons aware that we have a lot of very worthwhile poets," Tranter said.
Illustration
Caption: By the book: Porter collects his prize in London; Photo: Photo
Credit: Peter Porter
Wednesday 9 October 2002
Blazing omen of killer summer - Ten homes razed in earliest start to fire season in 40 years, The Australian, 9 October, 2002. Page One.
Blazing omen of killer summer - Ten homes razed in earliest start to fire season in 40 years: [1 Edition]
Benjamin Haslem, Cathy Pryor, John Stapleton. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 09 Oct 2002: 1.
Abstract
More than 80 fires burned in NSW yesterday -- about 50 in the Sydney area alone -- as 60km/h northwesterly winds drove temperatures to 35C and pushed humidity levels to 5 per cent, the driest ever recorded in Sydney in October. Firefighters believe that many of the blazes were deliberately lit.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Bob Debus said the celebrated Erickson Air-Crane Helitankers used to fight fires in NSW last Christmas were being rushed to Sydney.
Smoking ruins: Bushfires destroy houses on Thurlgona Road, Engadine, adjacent to the Royal National Park in Sydney's far south Picture: Nathan Edwards; Photo: MapPhoto
BUSHFIRES fed by searing heat, strong winds and record low humidity, destroyed 10 homes in Sydney's south yesterday, in a frightening portent of the fire season to come.
Nine of the homes were destroyed on one side of Thurlgona Road in the suburb of Engadine, which adjoins the Royal National Park on Sydney's southern fringe, site of two massive infernos in the past eight years.
Another home around the corner in Marooba Place was also burned to the ground yesterday.
More than 80 fires burned in NSW yesterday -- about 50 in the Sydney area alone -- as 60km/h northwesterly winds drove temperatures to 35C and pushed humidity levels to 5 per cent, the driest ever recorded in Sydney in October. Firefighters believe that many of the blazes were deliberately lit.
NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Phil Koperberg said it was the earliest start to a fire season he had known in 40 years.
With much of Australia gripped by drought, yesterday's devastation in Sydney is likely to be repeated across the nation in coming months, as weather forecasters are predicting a hot and dry summer.
"It is an ominous start to the season," Mr Koperberg said.
"We have been reporting for many weeks that this could happen."
Mr Koperberg said he would not be surprised if this season were as bad or worse than last Christmas-New Year, when fires destroyed more than 100 homes across NSW.
"It's clear that the stress caused to vegetation by the protracted drought causes fire to behave in the way we saw today," Mr Koperberg said.
A cool change was approaching the city last night, and maximum temperatures were expected to be considerably lower today.
However, while winds should ease, no rain was forecast.
Hundreds of Engadine residents were evacuated to nearby bowling and RSL clubs yesterday as dozens of firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and with helicopter water-bombers.
Three sheds and a caravan were destroyed by a blaze that swept through Windsor Downs and Berkshire Park on the northwestern fringe of the city.
One woman was hospitalised suffering smoke inhalation after battling a blaze threatening her property near Windsor.
Fires also burned around Penrith, Blacktown and St Marys in the city's west, and near Sydney airport.
Elsewhere in the state, fires were burning in the northern rivers and Hunter region, and as far south as Nowra.
NSW Rural Fire Service station officer Grant West said more than a dozen fire trucks rushed to Thurlgona Road shortly before 2pm but by the time, they arrived several homes were already ablaze.
Residents had little warning of the fire, which rushed up an adjoining gully and razed 10 homes and severely damaged 12 others.
"When we arrived -- like all bushfires, we go to you can never get enough people or trucks right when you need them -- already a couple of houses were going," Mr West said.
"I've been doing this for nearly 20 years and I still feel sorry for people when they lose everything ... their precious mementos like wedding photos and so forth, some things just can't be replaced."
Robyn Langfield, who lives at 65 Thurlgona Road managed to save her home.
"This morning there was a bit of white smoke and I rang the fire brigade and they said there was nothing to worry about, yet about five minutes later there was just smoke everywhere, I had to grab the kids and run," Ms Langfield said.
A group of children used buckets of water fetched from a neighbour's swimming pool to help douse the flames in her back garden.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Bob Debus said the celebrated Erickson Air-Crane Helitankers used to fight fires in NSW last Christmas were being rushed to Sydney.
Some Engadine residents complained about a lack of backburning since last summer's inferno.
Illustration
Caption: Smoking ruins: Bushfires destroy houses on Thurlgona Road, Engadine, adjacent to the Royal National Park in Sydney's far south Picture: Nathan Edwards; Photo: MapPhoto
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