R[0]="2645"; T[0]="Mary s Tassie gift served on plate"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20040428"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 28 April 2004"; Acats[0]="a48a69"; B1[0]="      A set of six ceramic plates, valued at $3600, is believed to be the State Government s wedding gift to Tasmanian princess-to-be "; B2[0]="Mary Donaldson and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      A set of six ceramic plates, valued at $3600, is believed to be the State Government's wedding gift to Tasmanian princess-to-be Mary "; S2[0]=" Donaldson and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.
      The couple are to marry in a lavish ceremony in Danish capital Copenhagen on May "; S3[0]=" 14.
      The limited-edition plates, adorned by delicate images of uniquely Tasmanian flora, are a collaboration between renown local ceramicist Les Blakebrough and "; S4[0]=" botanic artist Lauren Black.
      Snow peppermint, leatherwood and wattle are among the six endemic Tasmanian plants pictured on the Flora Tasmanica plate "; S5[0]=" series.
      Only 100 plates of each design have been made.
      All plates are numbered, signed by both artists, authenticated "; S6[0]=" by KPMG's Hobart office and packaged in specially designed wooden boxes.
      Mr Blakebrough, 74, who heads the Tasmanian School of Art ceramics "; S7[0]=" research unit, is rated a 'national treasure' by members of Tasmania's arts community.
      The Flora Tasmanica series is the realisation of a "; S8[0]=" long-held dream for Mr Blakebrough, who crafted the plates from dazzling white Southern Ice porcelain.
      Mr Blakebrough developed this trade-marked clay himself "; S9[0]=" -- a seven-year process -- and describes it as being as white as snow and translucent like ice.
      Handmark Gallery owner Pat "; S10[0]=" Cleveland, who represents Mr Blakebrough, says Southern Ice is the whitest porcelain product available in the world and quite possibly the best.
      "; S11[0]=" 'It really is beautiful and it's coveted by ceramicists interstate and internationally,' Ms Cleveland said.
      She said each plate came with a "; S12[0]=" wall-mounting device.
      'I would say Mary is not going to be eating her dinner off them,' she said.
      'They're "; S13[0]=" collector items, to be displayed.' Flora Tasmanica plates are sold by a company the University of Tasmania set up to manufacture and market products by "; S14[0]=" Mr Blakebrough.
      Not all the 100 sets of plates have sold yet.
      However, news that a set is apparently "; S15[0]=" Denmark-bound is expected to trigger a rash of purchases from Mary-mad Danes.
      A collection of one-off Southern Ice bowls by Mr Blakebrough "; S16[0]=" is currently on display at Handmark Gallery, Salamanca Place... "; R[1]="2619"; T[1]="Australia s veterans wartime stories now online"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20040423"; Dt[1]="Friday 23 April 2004"; Acats[1]="a46a48a51"; B1[1]="      The moving and remarkable stories of some of Australia s veterans and their families were now available online for all Australians to "; B2[1]="discover, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Danna Vale, said today... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      The moving and remarkable stories of some of Australia's veterans and their families were now available online for all Australians to discover, "; S2[1]=" the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, said today.
      The Minister said a new website had been developed to share with the "; S3[1]=" public the inspiring war stories being recorded as part of the Government's new Australians at War Film Archive.
      'The Film Archive records "; S4[1]=" interviews with more than 2000 servicemen and women from each of the Services, prisoners of war and war widows, those who served overseas and on "; S5[1]=" the home front, and veterans of all the wars, conflicts and peace operations in which Australia has been involved since World War I, ' Mrs "; S6[1]=" Vale said.
      'This new website, carries almost 100 transcripts of interviews undertaken to date, with hundreds more to follow.
      "; S7[1]=" 'The Film Archive and website will provided an unprecedented resource for researchers, film-makers and future generations of Australians.
      'Many of the veterans "; S8[1]=" being interviewed for the Film Archive are telling their wartime stories for the first time.
      Each story recorded is an opportunity to "; S9[1]=" enhance our understanding of the role our veterans and their loved ones have played in building our nation,' Mrs Vale said 'This Archive will ensure "; S10[1]=" that their stories, and the stories of thousands of Australians in war, are available for generations to discover, now and in the future.' The Minister "; S11[1]=" said more transcripts would be added to the Archive website as they became available, allowing people all over the world to better understand and appreciate "; S12[1]=" Australia's wartime heritage.
      The Australians at War Film Archive is being produced for the Australian Government by Michael Caulfield of Mullion Creek "; S13[1]=" Productions, who co-produced the Government's acclaimed Australians at War television series for the Centenary of Federation in 2001.
      The Archive is due "; S14[1]=" for completion in early 2005... "; R[2]="2604"; T[2]="Safety push for Vic farmers"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20040419"; Dt[2]="Monday 19 April 2004"; Acats[2]="a09a48a65"; B1[2]="      Farmers are being urged to take extra safety precautions against potentially fatal accidents.... "; B2[2]=" "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      Farmers are being urged to take extra safety precautions against potentially fatal accidents.
      Victoria WorkSafe and the State Government "; S2[2]=" launched a hard-hitting farm safety campaign yesterday in a bid to put a stop to an alarming increase in deaths on Victorian farms.
    "; S3[2]="   WorkCover Minister Rob Hulls said that six of Victoria's 12 workplace deaths in the first four months of 2004 occurred on farms.
  "; S4[2]="     A death on a hobby farm last week is still being investigated by WorkSafe and is yet to be included in the "; S5[2]=" total.
      'This death toll is unacceptable,' Mr Hulls said.
      'Behind these tragic statistics are family members, friends "; S6[2]=" and communities carrying the grief of a loved one lost trying to make a go of life on the land.' He said the main "; S7[2]=" elements of the safety campaign included a series of radio, TV and press advertisements focusing on the impact of farm fatalities.
      "; S8[2]=" During the campaign, WorkSafe inspectors will visit more than 500 farms to help farmers identify potential risks.
      A $60,000 grants program "; S9[2]=" will provide free consultancy services, and machine guards to help minimise the risk of accidents involving tractors... "; R[3]="2557"; T[3]="The Big Issue for Victoria"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20040408"; Dt[3]="Thursday 8 April 2004"; Acats[3]="a48a65"; B1[3]="      A national first for The Big Issue will see its expansion into regional Victoria over the next three years with the help "; B2[3]="of the Bracks Government... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      A national first for The Big Issue will see its expansion into regional Victoria over the next three years with the help "; S2[3]=" of the Bracks Government.
      The expansion was announced today by Minister for Victorian Communities, John Thwaites and Housing Minister, Candy Broad, coinciding "; S3[3]=" with the launch of its 200th edition.
      Mr Thwaites said a $300,000 Community Support Fund grant would help establish The Big Issue "; S4[3]=" in a number of regional and outer metropolitan locations so that it can offer its program to assist disadvantaged people in these areas.
    "; S5[3]="   'This project is a practical way of creating employment, basic training, and social connections and will give regional Victorians a chance to shape their "; S6[3]=" own future,' Mr Thwaites said.
      'This is a great example of the way in which the Community Support Fund (CSF) can be "; S7[3]=" used for strengthening communities across the State.
      'At least 50 new vendors will be recruited and trained across the regional areas in "; S8[3]=" the first year with many more to be assisted once the set up work in these areas is complete.' Initially the program will be established "; S9[3]=" in Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong and Geelong.
      The program will expand to additional locations in the second year.
      Ms Broad "; S10[3]=" said that The Big Issue was a highly regarded publication with a track record in helping people help themselves.
      'These are people "; S11[3]=" who have suffered homelessness, illness, an addictive behaviour or unemployment,' Ms Broad said.
      'It is estimated that in the last seven years "; S12[3]=" The Big Issue has helped more than 850 people across Australia as well making a unique contribution to the diversity of our media.' A recent "; S13[3]=" survey of vendors showed that while earning a regular income was a major and life-changing benefit of their involvement, many identified social interaction, self confidence "; S14[3]=" and self esteem as important ways their involvement has helped them.
      Mr Thwaites said that the CSF returns gambling revenue to communities "; S15[3]=" by supporting hundreds of projects across the State that strengthen communities.
      'Under this Government, a proper share of funds is being returned "; S16[3]=" to communities, and to projects which deliver genuine community benefit such as for The Big Issue,' he said... "; R[4]="2502"; T[4]="Politics blamed for WA bushfires"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20031229"; Dt[4]="Monday 29 December 2003"; Acats[4]="a37a48"; B1[4]="      WA was vulnerable to a bushfire disaster because political pressure meant prescribed burning was not done properly, forestry experts warned yesterday.... "; B2[4]=" "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      WA was vulnerable to a bushfire disaster because political pressure meant prescribed burning was not done properly, forestry experts warned yesterday.
  "; S2[4]="     Former Conservation and Land Management boss Syd Shea said WA had the best conditions in the world for bushfires and was lucky to "; S3[4]=" not have suffered big blazes like those in California or Canberra.
      Dr Shea said WA had developed the best firefighting techniques and "; S4[4]=" programs in the world to counter the threat.
      But they were not being implemented because of pressure from city residents who did "; S5[4]=" not like the smoke from prescribed burning in State forests.
      There was only a small window of opportunity for controlled burns, which "; S6[4]=" cut fuel loads so fires would not burn so fiercely or get out of control, he said.
      But the outcry from Perth "; S7[4]=" residents over smoke haze put political pressure on CALM to stop burning in weather which would push smoke to the metropolitan area, despite it being "; S8[4]=" otherwise ideal for controlled burns.
      Fire & Emergency Services officials yesterday warned that suburbs in the Hills around Perth and on the "; S9[4]=" coastal plain north and south of the city were most at risk from serious bushfires.
      Even people living near a park or "; S10[4]=" pocket of bushland were at risk because fires spread easily through homes through air-conditioning systems.
      Institute of Foresters chairman Don Spriggins has "; S11[4]=" warned there was so much fuel in the South-West forests and Perth foothills that a big fire would release heat energy equal to the Hiroshima "; S12[4]=" atomic bomb.
      'It would be horrific and it would make the Canberra bushfires look like a small barbecue,' Mr Spriggins said.
  "; S13[4]="     Successive State governments had failed to meet their prescribed burn targets because they wanted to appease the green movement, he said.
    "; S14[4]="   They also believed hazy Perth skies were unpopular with city voters.
      Mr Spriggins said that while it was too late for "; S15[4]=" the Government to achieve its prescribed burn target this summer, people who lived close to bush should prepare for the worst by clearing gutters, cutting "; S16[4]=" back overgrown vegetation and planning for fire evacuation.
      Premier Geoff Gallop defended WA's burning program and foreshadowed extra resources for the scheme.
"; S17[4]="       He said recent reviews by national authorities had given a tick to the practices and policies in WA.
      'We "; S18[4]=" support prescribed burning and I think it's part and parcel of the way in which we need to manage our lands here in WA,' Dr "; S19[4]=" Gallop said.
      'One of the problems that occurs is that the amount of prescribed burning that can be undertaken each year is "; S20[4]=" affected by the weather.
      'We did have late rains, we have also had some very hot conditions following November which made it "; S21[4]=" difficult for us to achieve all the targets we set.
      'We want to make sure the resources are there to do it "; S22[4]=" properly and there will be some more announcements about that very soon.
      We have got to be cognisant of the fact that "; S23[4]=" we live in a State where there is a constant fire risk.'.. "; R[5]="2499"; T[5]="Giving Children a Lifesaving Gift this Festive Season"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20031229"; Dt[5]="Monday 29 December 2003"; Acats[5]="a04a48a53"; B1[5]="      The promotion of safe play areas for children on farms under a new Farmsafe Australia campaign will help improve the safety of "; B2[5]="Australia’s family farms, National Farmers’ Federation Industrial Relations Committee Chair, Mr Duncan Fraser said today... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      The promotion of safe play areas for children on farms under a new Farmsafe Australia campaign will help improve the safety of "; S2[5]=" Australia’s family farms, National Farmers’ Federation Industrial Relations Committee Chair, Mr Duncan Fraser said today.
      Mr Fraser said NFF was a strong "; S3[5]=" and proud supporter of the Safe Play Areas on Farms Campaign which was launched today by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson at the Quirinidi High "; S4[5]=" School in rural New South Wales.
      “NFF has encouraged all of our member oganisations to join us in lending full support to "; S5[5]=" the new child safety campaigns being promoted by Farmsafe,” Mr Fraser said.
      “Promoting sound Occupational Health and Safety practices on farms is "; S6[5]=" a significant priority for the NFF and we recognise that these new child safety initiatives will not only protect children, but will also pave the "; S7[5]=" way for a safer future on Australian farms.” Mr Fraser said farms were both a workplace and a home, and today’s campaign launch was a "; S8[5]=" timely reminder given children would spend more time on farms during the coming summer holidays.
      “Recent ABARE statistics show that 99 per "; S9[5]=" cent of Australian farms are family farms which means that farms are owned and operated by people who understand the imperative of handing on the "; S10[5]=" farm to the next generation and the duty of care which that entails,” Mr Fraser said.
      “One death of a child on "; S11[5]=" a farm is one too many and according to Farmsafe, the provision of a safe play area on the farm is one of the best "; S12[5]=" ways to help keep children safe from drowning, machinery and other farm hazards.” The Safe Play Areas on Farms Campaign encourages farmers with children to "; S13[5]=" ensure their house yard provides a safe and secure environment for play.
      Farmsafe can provide a kit with a six-step approach to "; S14[5]=" making a house yard secure, with ideas for creating a child-friendly garden environment and examples of things that other farmers have done... "; R[6]="2489"; T[6]="Historic Cattle Drive To Be Re-Enacted"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20031217"; Dt[6]="Wednesday 17 December 2003"; Acats[6]="a27a48a51"; B1[6]="      An historic cattle drive re-enactment will take place at the end of February next year to help celebrate the Tasmanian Bicentenary.... "; B2[6]=" "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      An historic cattle drive re-enactment will take place at the end of February next year to help celebrate the Tasmanian Bicentenary.
  "; S2[6]="     The event, to be known as the Greenham Bicentenary Cattle Drive, was in Burnie today by the Minister for Primary Industries, Water and "; S3[6]=" Environment, Bryan Green, along with organising committee chairman Trevor Leis and Peter Greenham from Greenham Tasmania Pty Ltd.
      Mr Green said said "; S4[6]=" the cattle drive was an initiative of the Circular Head community and the Greenham Bicentenary Cattle Drive will be the centrepiece of a cultural festival "; S5[6]=" to run from late January to Easter 2004.
      'About 150 cattle will be driven from Redpa to Granville Harbour, along the State's "; S6[6]=" spectacular West Coast, following a stock route created in the 1880s to feed miners in Zeehan.
      'The drive has been possible following "; S7[6]=" extensive discussions between organisers and the Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure the protection of the natural and cultural values along the route of the "; S8[6]=" drive through the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area.
      'Agreed sites of significance will be identified and protected.
      'The cattle drives "; S9[6]=" of old were monuments to the courage and tenacity of the original drovers and their pioneering spirit.
      'The re-enactment has already captured "; S10[6]=" the imagination of communities in the region, which are looking for a special way to celebrate a unique aspect of the State's heritage.' 'During the "; S11[6]=" re-enactment the original route will be followed as closely as possible, providing a number of opportunities for people to participate in both the drive and "; S12[6]=" a series of associated events.' The Organising committee chairman and businessman, Trevor Leis, said the cattle were originally mustered from Circular Head farms and driven "; S13[6]=" overland on wild west coast beaches and along remote rainforest trails from the late 1800s, through to the early 1900s.
      'Along the "; S14[6]=" way the cattle were swum across the Arthur and the Pieman Rivers.' Mr Leis also announced the securing of major sponsorship from Smithton-based meat processor "; S15[6]=" and exporter Greenham Tasmania Pty Ltd, to make the event possible.
      'The Greenham family has been involved in the Australian meat industry "; S16[6]=" since the mid 1860s, and has quickly become an important part of the Tasmanian beef industry and the local community since taking over the Blue "; S17[6]=" Ribbon operations in Smithton two years ago.
      'A successful and innovative company, Greenham has a long tradition of supporting local communities and "; S18[6]=" we are extremely pleased to have them on board.' The cattle drive will be held from 28 February to 6 March, 2004... "; R[7]="2336"; T[7]="AGMAPS CD-ROM for Capel, Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20031017"; Dt[7]="Friday 17 October 2003"; Acats[7]="a38a46a48a67a90a92"; B1[7]="      The Department of Agriculture has released an AGMAPS CD-ROM for the Shires of Capel, Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River.... "; B2[7]=" "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      The Department of Agriculture has released an AGMAPS CD-ROM for the Shires of Capel, Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River.
      The "; S2[7]=" CD-ROM is the third South West land resource survey to be compiled onto CD.
      Director General Graeme Robertson said the latest release "; S3[7]=" of soils information and maps would benefit land use planning in the State's agricultural areas.
      'AGMAPS helps everyone to understand the physical "; S4[7]=" potential and management needs of their land, and provides a useful tool for land use planning,' he said.
      'The easy-to-use format enables "; S5[7]=" users to view maps, zoom into an area or property and retrieve information on the soil types likely to occur in the area.' The CD-ROM "; S6[7]=" lists the characteristics of soils and vegetation on individual properties, identifies development and management issues and promotes new land use and management options.
    "; S7[7]="   It is also possible to print an individual property report to assist with property planning.
      Dr Robertson said the AGMAPS was "; S8[7]=" based on land resource surveys undertaken by the department to map and describe landforms and soils in the region.
      'From this research, "; S9[7]=" 22 characteristics such as the risk of waterlogging, the risk of salinity, soil workability and water repellence are described and rated for hundreds of soil "; S10[7]=" units.
      'Individual soil units are also rated according to their land use capability for market gardening, orchards, vineyards and grazing.' The CD-ROM "; S11[7]=" will benefit catchment and industry groups, property owners, land and environmental planners, agricultural consultants, developers, real estate agents and students.
      Chairman of "; S12[7]=" the Geographe Catchment Council (Geocatch) Barry Oates said the AGMAPS was already being used by planning authorities to assess the impact of development proposals, and "; S13[7]=" could be used by landcare centres to provide property reports.
      'Many landowners in the region are trying to obtain expert information on "; S14[7]=" how they can use their land more productively or manage it to protect the environment.
      AGMAPS can provide this information from the "; S15[7]=" farm through to catchment level,' he said.
      AGMAPS will also be a valuable resource for other projects such as the DairyCatch project.
"; S16[7]="       One of the aims of DairyCatch is to better control nutrient movement from dairy farms.
      The AGMAPS provides information "; S17[7]=" on the nutrient holding capacity of soils, which can be used in the development of property and effluent management plans by farmers.
      "; S18[7]=" Further AGMAPS packages will be released for other areas of the State over the next 12 months.
      As planning in the region "; S19[7]=" progresses, the CD-ROMs will be updated and will progressively be made available over the Internet.
      The AGMAPS CD-ROMs will be available for "; S20[7]=" loan from local libraries or can be used at telecentres or landcare centres.
      The packages are also available for purchase from Department "; S21[7]=" of Agriculture offices... "; R[8]="2324"; T[8]="Victoria toughens fire defences"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20031008"; Dt[8]="Wednesday 8 October 2003"; Acats[8]="a38a48a90"; B1[8]="      Fuel-reduction burning will be stepped up in Victoria on the recommendation of a six-month inquiry by the Emergency Services Commissioner into last "; B2[8]="summer s bushfires... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      Fuel-reduction burning will be stepped up in Victoria on the recommendation of a six-month inquiry by the Emergency Services Commissioner into last "; S2[8]=" summer's bushfires.
      But Premier Steve Bracks warned that the move was not a 'cure-all' ahead of another predicted tough bushfire season.
  "; S3[8]="     The report by commissioner Bruce Esplin also recommends that agencies such as the Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment "; S4[8]=" co-ordinate firefighting.
      The inquiry examined management of the summer bushfires in Gippsland and the north-east, and whether they could have been prevented.
"; S5[8]="       The fires burnt for two months, destroying 41 homes and scorching 1 million hectares.
      The report backed the Auditor-General's "; S6[8]=" May report on bushfire management that found the DSE failed to reach its fuel reduction targets.
      'It's not enough to have a "; S7[8]=" very strong response capability,' Mr Esplin said.
      'We have to do more to prevent or mitigate the effect of fires.' Mr Bracks "; S8[8]=" promised that more would be done to reduce forest fuel.
      The Department of Sustainability and Environment had already made an extra 22 "; S9[8]=" burns since early August with more planned, he said.
      But he warned that conditions remained similar to last year.
      "; S10[8]=" 'There are dry conditions around Victoria.
      We are expecting high temperatures.
      We expect the conditions which are conducive regrettably "; S11[8]=" to fire,' he said.
      The report builds on the interim report released in August that recommended local knowledge be harnessed in fire "; S12[8]=" management.
      Mr Bracks said the Government accepted in principle all 148 recommendations.
      They include creating a special emergency operations "; S13[8]=" centre to co-ordinate firefighting efforts, and improved access to water tanks for firefighters.
      But it does not recommend that CFA volunteers be "; S14[8]=" compensated for lost wages.
      Victorian National Parks Association director Mick Fendley said environmental groups were 'very positive' about the findings.
    "; S15[8]="   The inquiry received 273 submissions and heard more than 400 individuals and representative groups... "; R[9]="2243"; T[9]="New Geospatial centre opens"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20030912"; Dt[9]="Friday 12 September 2003"; Acats[9]="a46a48"; B1[9]="      Disaster management, through the tracking of bushfires like the one that swept through Canberra suburbs at the start of 2003, will become "; B2[9]="a more accurate science with today s opening of Australia s largest commercial investment in geospatial technology... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      Disaster management, through the tracking of bushfires like the one that swept through Canberra suburbs at the start of 2003, will become "; S2[9]=" a more accurate science with today's opening of Australia's largest commercial investment in geospatial technology.
      Federal Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane, today officially "; S3[9]=" opened defence industry specialist Raytheon's Geospatial Operations Centre in Canberra.
      'Australia has a small but high-achieving spatial information industry which exports about "; S4[9]=" $50 million of data every year.
      Having this centre based in Australia will be a significant boon to the industry and the "; S5[9]=" country's standing as a supplier of geospatial information,' said Mr Macfarlane.
      'The Howard government is working closely with the industry, through the "; S6[9]=" implementation of an Action Agenda, to develop a whole-of-government approach to data access and pricing as well as implement strategies for better market access and "; S7[9]=" export facilitation,' he said.
      Through the Action Agenda the industry is working towards establishing itself as 'a global leader in the innovative "; S8[9]=" provision and use of spatial information.' Raytheon Australia's Geospatial Operations Centre will handle and store the 20 terabytes of imagery and raw data that is "; S9[9]=" collected in Australia by Raytheon every year from satellite overpasses.
      The Centre has the capacity to store more than 200 terabytes of "; S10[9]=" imagery, roughly the equivalent of 3 million standard CDs.
      'The geospatial material which is collected by Raytheon has a tremendous array of "; S11[9]=" applications.
      The eyes in the sky can provide a completely fresh perspective of many situations here on the ground,' said Mr Macfarlane.
"; S12[9]="       'This imagery will be able to help with agricultural monitoring, by identifying the spread of diseases or natural crop damage, provide tactical "; S13[9]=" information for military and law enforcements and provide graphic illustration of environmental change, like increasing salinity,' he said.
      The Centre is further "; S14[9]=" indication of Raytheon's faith in the Australian economy where it has been supplying smart electronics for over 30 years... "; R[10]="2159"; T[10]="Swimming pool benefits for remote communities"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20030826"; Dt[10]="Tuesday 26 August 2003"; Acats[10]="a04a40a48a53a91"; B1[10]="      Building swimming pools could be the key to reducing health and social problems in remote Aboriginal communities, researchers say.... "; B2[10]=" "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      Building swimming pools could be the key to reducing health and social problems in remote Aboriginal communities, researchers say.
      "; S2[10]=" A study published in the British Medical Journal reports that salt water swimming pools dramatically cut skin and ear infections among 162 children in two "; S3[10]=" communities in remote parts of Western Australia.
      The pools also had a positive social impact on the communities and encouraged children to "; S4[10]=" go to school through a 'no school, no pool' policy.
      The findings of the study were so significant that the authors recommended "; S5[10]=" swimming pools should rank alongside better housing, sanitation, nutrition and education in improving the health and living conditions of indigenous Australians.
      'Programs "; S6[10]=" to improve the health of Aboriginal Australians living in isolated communities should certainly focus on better housing, sanitation, nutrition, education and access to health care,' "; S7[10]=" the study concluded.
      'But consideration should also be given to building and maintaining swimming pools.' Epidemiologist Deborah Lehmann of the University of "; S8[10]=" Western Australia's Centre for Child Health Research said the state government built the pools after earlier audits in the Northern Territory linked swimming pools to "; S9[10]=" a range of health and social benefits in Aboriginal communities.
      One and a half years after the WA pools opened, skin infections "; S10[10]=" declined by about two-thirds from 62 per cent to 20 per cent, the study found.
      Ear disease also declined, although not as "; S11[10]=" dramatically.
      Meanwhile, families reported that children were happier and healthier and were learning to swim.
      The authors said swimming "; S12[10]=" in a salt water pool was the equivalent of a nasal and ear washout, as well as cleaning the skin.
      They said "; S13[10]=" building salt water pools could reduce the need for antibiotics, reduce chronic illness and improve educational and social outcomes for a relatively small price... "; R[11]="2157"; T[11]="CWA targets young - especially those 45 and over"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20030825"; Dt[11]="Monday 25 August 2003"; Acats[11]="a04a48a49"; B1[11]="      The Country Women s Association wants to attract younger members - in the 45-plus age bracket.... "; B2[11]=" "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      The Country Women's Association wants to attract younger members - in the 45-plus age bracket.
      With a present average "; S2[11]=" age of 60-plus, the association believes it should be more open to new ideas without members giving up the cooking and handicraft skills that have "; S3[11]=" raised millions of dollars for projects such as scholarships and medical and pharmaceutical research.
      And members do not have to live in "; S4[11]=" the bush.
      The CWA is open to all women and has a string of active branches in Sydney, including Sydney city, Dee "; S5[11]=" Why, Manly, Eastwood-Epping, Hornsby, Lane Cove, eastern and western suburbs, Granville, Toongabbie, Blacktown, Castle Hill, St George, Guildford, Galston and Fairfield.
      NSW "; S6[11]=" president Ruth Shanks said the association wanted to tell people about their work rather than have them thinking members spent all their time serving tea "; S7[11]=" and scones.
      It lobbies governments on issues such as paid maternity leave, health, education, transport, social services and the environment and raises "; S8[11]=" money for the community.
      'In the past three years in NSW we've given away $1.25 million to outside organisations and I must "; S9[11]=" admit a lot of that has come from making tea and scones,' Mrs Shanks said.
      'However, we have plenty of oomph when "; S10[11]=" our delegations talk to government and we tackle lots of issues that affect the lives of everyday people.
      'We are not really "; S11[11]=" re-inventing ourselves but we are trying to change the perception people in the community have of us and a working party is preparing a strategic "; S12[11]=" plan for the future that will go to the association's executive in November.
      'It will include things like membership, our image and "; S13[11]=" branches making their meetings less formal and perhaps doing more things of interest rather than members just getting up and having a chat.' The CWA "; S14[11]=" was formed at a conference at the Royal Easter Show in April 1922 and had the straightforward brief of improving conditions for women on the "; S15[11]=" land, getting reduced train fares from the country to the coast in summer, opening a seaside holiday home at Dee Why and campaigning for maternity "; S16[11]=" wards in country hospitals.
      Members now have the use of residential units at Potts Point.
      Still the biggest women's "; S17[11]=" organisation in Australia with 40,000 members, 12,000 of them in NSW, Mrs Shanks said a misconception was that women had to come from the land "; S18[11]=" to be a member.
      'Our urban membership would probably outnumber or equal the people off the land,' she said... "; R[12]="2146"; T[12]="Victorian Landcare Awards 2003"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20030822"; Dt[12]="Friday 22 August 2003"; Acats[12]="a04a38a48a90"; B1[12]="      The Minister for Environment, John Thwaites, joined John Landy, Governor of Victoria, AC, MBE and Mrs Lynne Landy to present 2003 Victorian "; B2[12]="Landcare Awards at Government House this week... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      The Minister for Environment, John Thwaites, joined John Landy, Governor of Victoria, AC, MBE and Mrs Lynne Landy to present 2003 Victorian "; S2[12]=" Landcare Awards at Government House this week.
      'Everyone nominated for the Landcare Awards is an ambassador for Landcare, promoting sustainable management of "; S3[12]=" Victoria's natural resources.
      The winners are innovators and leaders and their efforts are inspirational,' Mr Thwaites said.
      The Award "; S4[12]=" winners represent a number of categories including education, local government, catchment management, research, nature conservation, sustainable production, facilitation/coordination, and primary production, as well as individual "; S5[12]=" Landcarers and community groups.
      Landcare is a national, community-based movement that started in Victoria in the 1980s to help restore degraded land "; S6[12]=" and water environments.
      Victoria has over 1300 community groups working on Landcare projects.
      The winners of the Victorian Landcare "; S7[12]=" Awards will become the State's representatives in the National Landcare Awards, announced in Canberra in August 2004... "; R[13]="2145"; T[13]="Rural communities called on to do more for farm safety"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20030822"; Dt[13]="Friday 22 August 2003"; Acats[13]="a09a48"; B1[13]="      Rural communities, including local councils, must play a much bigger role in supporting farm safety, Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron said today.... "; B2[13]=" "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      Rural communities, including local councils, must play a much bigger role in supporting farm safety, Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron said today.
  "; S2[13]="     Mr Cameron said that 50 people had been killed on Victorian farms since 1999 and everyone had to work together to bring that "; S3[13]=" number down.
      'Although the Bracks Government invests in farm safety initiatives, the problem has been that the advice hasn't been getting through "; S4[13]=" to farmers,' Mr Cameron said.
      'With an ageing farmer population, there is a golden opportunity for local Shires to coordinate safety advice "; S5[13]=" through community health programs.' Mr Cameron told the Rural Occupational Health and Safety Conference at Colac this morning that the average farmer is over 50 "; S6[13]=" years old, and over 58 in the wool industry.
      This presented special problems for injury and general health.
      'What's "; S7[13]=" been missing is a real sense of community ownership of strategies and involvement in farm safety.' Mr Cameron said.
      'Local government is "; S8[13]=" ideally placed to assist, by delivering the advice through existing services such as community health programs, and by forging links across the community 'Local government "; S9[13]=" is already involved in other safety programs, such as 'Safer Cities and Shires'.
      'Some councils, such as Colac Otway Shire are taking "; S10[13]=" the lead with events like today's.
      'Earlier this month the Bracks Government launched a $520,000, three-year project to develop and implement information "; S11[13]=" and educational initiatives in association with the University of Ballarat.
      'I'd like to see more councils coming forward with their ideas on "; S12[13]=" how they can play their part in protecting our Victorian farmers,' Mr Cameron said... "; R[14]="2134"; T[14]="Warning issued about drownings in farm dams and waterways"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20030821"; Dt[14]="Thursday 21 August 2003"; Acats[14]="a04a09a48"; B1[14]="      Rural waterways are fast becoming the biggest killer of children aged under 5 years.... "; B2[14]=" "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      Rural waterways are fast becoming the biggest killer of children aged under 5 years.
      Last year in Australia, inland "; S2[14]=" waterways such as lakes, rivers and dams were the sites of 43% of toddler drownings.
      This is a move away from swimming "; S3[14]=" pools which are traditionally the sites of most toddler drownings.
      Royal Life Saving, Australia's peak water safety education body, has introduced the "; S4[14]=" Pfizer Keep Watch campaign, aimed at educating parents of children aged 0-5 on toddler drowning prevention.
      'On large rural properties it is "; S5[14]=" unrealistic to say fence the river or dam, in the same way you would a swimming pool,' said Jason Phillips, Manager of Royal Life Saving, "; S6[14]=" North Coast.
      'Instead, Royal Life Saving is saying create a child safe area around your home, which is a fenced in area "; S7[14]=" close to the home, away from the water, and from where you can easily supervise your child.' It is not just large waterways such as "; S8[14]=" lakes, rivers and dams which children can drown in.
      Horse troughs, water tanks, deep puddles and buckets of water are all possible "; S9[14]=" locations where drowning can occur.
      On average, one child under the age of five drowns every week in Australia.
      "; S10[14]=" The hidden tragedy is that for every child who drowns, approximately three are admitted to hospital as 'near-drowned'.
      Of this figure, up "; S11[14]=" to 20% will be affected by some degree of brain damage as a result of the near drowning.
      The Pfizer Keep Watch "; S12[14]=" campaign has four key messages aimed at arresting the toddler drowning rate in Australia.
      These are: 1) Supervise your child 2) Fence "; S13[14]=" the pool and shut the gate, or in rural areas, create a child-safe area 3) Familiarise your child with water 4) Lear resuscitation.. "; R[15]="2124"; T[15]="Rural leadership program milestone"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20030819"; Dt[15]="Tuesday 19 August 2003"; Acats[15]="a04a48a53"; B1[15]="      The Department of Primary Industries popular Building Rural Leaders Program (BRL) has welcomed its 1000th participant at its latest program in Gympie.... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      The Department of Primary Industries' popular Building Rural Leaders Program (BRL) has welcomed its 1000th participant at its latest program in Gympie.
"; S2[15]="       DPI rural development officer Debbie Atkins said it was also the thirtieth program run in Queensland since BRL began in 1992.
  "; S3[15]="     Ms Atkins said Ruby Crane from Proston who coordinates the Graham House Community Centre in Murgon had become the 1000th participant since the "; S4[15]=" program began 11 years ago.
      She said Mrs Crane was one of the many participants in the BRL course who wanted to "; S5[15]=" make a positive contribution in their community or industry.
      Participants come from Rockhampton to Mundubbera to Brisbane and are involved in a "; S6[15]=" range of rural industries including pork, sugar and stonefruit.
      There are also local government representatives, tourism operators, community development and welfare workers "; S7[15]=" and volunteers, an agricultural scientist, rural fire, army reserve, churches and numerous community, social and environmental volunteers.
      'The program has built a "; S8[15]=" strong reputation across the state over the last 11 years for its innovative and creative way of tackling community and industry issues,' Ms Atkins said.
"; S9[15]="       'BRL is a practical program, which helps improve participants' confidence and expertise in leadership and personal management and assists in building stronger "; S10[15]=" businesses and communities.' She said leadership roles could be many and varied, ranging from parenthood and involvement in the family business to community and industry "; S11[15]=" groups and organisations.
      'BRL has helped many people improve the way they are leading or to take on their first leadership role "; S12[15]=" in their organisation or community,' Ms Atkins said.
      She said the course is a valuable opportunity for participants to quickly learn a "; S13[15]=" range of skills they can use to better manage their priorities, achieve more and work effectively with those around them in a relaxed, friendly and "; S14[15]=" supportive atmosphere.
      'The program is a leadership course like no other and has helped many people to realise they have the ability "; S15[15]=" to influence things around them that they thought were out of their control,' Ms Atkins said.
      Personal skills learnt from the course "; S16[15]=" help people to better plan and achieve goals, and communicate their ideas to other people.
      Ms Atkins said funding opportunities were available "; S17[15]=" for primary producers and people working in community and industry projects... "; R[16]="2121"; T[16]="Children take home the farm safety message"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20030819"; Dt[16]="Tuesday 19 August 2003"; Acats[16]="a09a48"; B1[16]="      Teaching young children about the dangers of farm machinery and livestock handling can ultimately have a great influence on their parents attitude "; B2[16]="to on-farm safety issues... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      Teaching young children about the dangers of farm machinery and livestock handling can ultimately have a great influence on their parents' attitude "; S2[16]=" to on-farm safety issues.
      Rural safety and prevention of on-farm accidents were high on the agenda of safety topics presented to "; S3[16]=" 430 Callide Valley primary school children who recently visited the Department of Primary Industries research station at Biloela.
      Research Station manager "; S4[16]=" Alan McTaggart said the research station provided the ideal venue for the safety day that was coordinated by the Central Queensland Rural Division of General "; S5[16]=" Practice.
      DPI senior veterinary officer Dr Lee Taylor and Agforce FarmSafe Queensland representatives showed children how to safely handle livestock with "; S6[16]=" practical demonstrations using a horse and yarded cattle.
      Mr McTaggart said that bringing the children onto the station provided the best "; S7[16]=" learning environment to enable the children to see, understand and reinforce the dangers associated with farm equipment.
      'In addition to the "; S8[16]=" predominantly Year 5, 6 and 7 students from three Biloela primary schools, we had children from many district primary schools including Thangool, Wowan, Goovigen, Jambin, "; S9[16]=" Prospect and Mt Murchison.
      The majority are from farming families and by targeting these young children, the objective is to increase their "; S10[16]=" awareness of farm safety issues and reduce the number and severity of on-farm accidents,' Mr McTaggart said.
      Emergency Services organisations were "; S11[16]=" also involved with Queensland Police officers demonstrating gun safety and use of the Safety House System; Queensland Ambulance officers explained push bike safety and the "; S12[16]=" dangers associated with four-wheel drive quad motorbikes; and Queensland Fire and Rescue complete with fire truck and a video display on fire danger were on "; S13[16]=" hand with Blazer the fire bear.
      CS Energy Callide Power Station presented a session on the dangers of electricity; Queensland Surf "; S14[16]=" Lifesavers discussed water safety issues at the beach and at farm dams; and Queensland Cancer Fund and Sid the seagull delivered the 'slip,slop,slap' suncreen protection "; S15[16]=" message... "; R[17]="2095"; T[17]="Management Excellence Awards: Call for nominations"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20030814"; Dt[17]="Thursday 14 August 2003"; Acats[17]="a48a72"; B1[17]="      Nominees for North Queensland Management Excellence Awards now have until August 15 to submit their formal applications to the judging panel.... "; B2[17]=" "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      Nominees for North Queensland Management Excellence Awards now have until August 15 to submit their formal applications to the judging panel.
  "; S2[17]="     The Department of Primary Industries is a sponsor of the 2003 North Queensland Rural/Remote Manager Award, a category of Management Excellence Awards presented "; S3[17]=" annually by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM).
      Other categories include Young Manager, Professional Manager and Owner Manager.
      The "; S4[17]=" North Queensland Management Excellence Awards will be announced at a special ceremony at Townsville's Jupiters Casino Hotel on October 3.
      The Rural/Remote "; S5[17]=" Manager Award recognises managers who live and work outside provincial cities for their invaluable contribution to the economic and social health of their communities, Queensland "; S6[17]=" and Australia.
      'It is no secret that many of North Queensland's rural managers carry out their fine work while facing remarkable challenges "; S7[17]=" associated with distance and isolation,' DPI regional services director Gerard Byrne said.
      'Without these talented professionals, Queensland's rural industries and communities would "; S8[17]=" not perform at the high standards they currently achieve.
      'The Rural/Remote Manager Award is an effective way of promoting awareness amongst the "; S9[17]=" broader management community of the skilled workforce that operates throughout North Queensland.' Winning contestants from the regions will go into the running to win state-wide "; S10[17]=" awards... "; R[18]="2094"; T[18]="Lack of builder licencing catching up with Tasmania"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20030814"; Dt[18]="Thursday 14 August 2003"; Acats[18]="a48a50a69"; B1[18]="      Tasmania has fallen 30 years behind by not having builder licensing, says Australia s peak consumer group.... "; B2[18]=" "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      Tasmania has fallen 30 years behind by not having builder licensing, says Australia's peak consumer group.
      The Australian Consumers "; S2[18]=" Association, publisher of Choice, said it was outrageous that Tasmanian governments had left house buyers at risk.
      'I'm astounded.
    "; S3[18]="   Consumers are exposed to totally unacceptable risks.
      Every other state, even those which were tardy, have implemented much better regimes,' said "; S4[18]=" ACA consumer specialist Norm Crothers.
      'Tasmania has been left out very badly compared with the rest of the country and it's "; S5[18]=" way behind the eightball.' Mr Crothers urged people to seek independent advice before entering the market.
      'Particularly if you have "; S6[18]=" weak building laws, you have to get professional independent advice before building or buying,' he said.
      Mr Crothers said a large "; S7[18]=" number of new houses being built put even more people at risk of bad workmanship.
      'Consumers can't assume that, if it's "; S8[18]=" brand new, it's perfect,' he said.
      Although Tasmania's Parliament passed the Building Act nearly three years ago, it has not been "; S9[18]=" enacted.
      It will require all builders to be assessed and licensed.
      Jim Cox, the present minister responsible, said "; S10[18]=" it should be working by Christmas and attributed the delay to negotiations over accreditation.
      Master Builders Association of Tasmania executive director "; S11[18]=" Chris Atkins said discussions were aimed at ensuring builders now were properly recognised under transitional arrangements.
      'We want to make sure "; S12[18]=" existing practitioners who are delivering high-standard projects are recognised for that,' Mr Atkins said.
      The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union "; S13[18]=" has called for an independent system of accreditation.
      Union secretary Tony Benson said he supported Mr Cox in wanting a system "; S14[18]=" with transparency and consistency.
      The Housing Industry Association denied a CFMEU claim that the HIA didn't agree with adoption of the "; S15[18]=" Australian Qualifications Framework, a national standard, during the transition process.
      HIA executive director Lia Morris said it should apply to all "; S16[18]=" new builders, but existing builders with a proven record should 'not have to go back to school'.
      'No other state has "; S17[18]=" introduced an assessment process for licensing existing players,' Ms Morris said... "; R[19]="2072"; T[19]="Wheels for School Farm"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20030809"; Dt[19]="Saturday 9 August 2003"; Acats[19]="a48a53"; B1[19]="      While they may not have had enough wrapping paper to disguise their latest acquisition, students at Bridgewater High School farm marked the "; B2[19]="arrival of their new tractor with a dramatic entrance and a red ribbon today... "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      While they may not have had enough wrapping paper to disguise their latest acquisition, students at Bridgewater High School farm marked the "; S2[19]=" arrival of their new tractor with a dramatic entrance and a red ribbon today.
      Education Minister Paula Wriedt christened the school's new "; S3[19]=" green and yellow John Deere tractor which was purchased with a $32,000 grant from the Mazda Foundation.
      'It's great to see the "; S4[19]=" corporate sector supporting the fantastic educational programs run here at Bridgewater High School farm.
      'More than 200 students will benefit from the "; S5[19]=" tractor which is essential for carrying out day-to-day farm work.' Ms Wriedt said the new tractor replaced a 40-year-old relic that often failed to start "; S6[19]=" and was unsuitable for many student activities.
      'With this new tractor, students can now learn about the latest occupational health and safety "; S7[19]=" regulations on the farm,'' Ms Wriedt said.
      Now known as the Summerville City Farm and Landcare Centre, over the past 12 years "; S8[19]=" the Bridgewater High School Farm has become a whole community resource.
      Students from all schools in the Derwent District, including Hobart and "; S9[19]=" Elizabeth College, participate in Agricultural Vocational Education and Training on the farm.
      There are also special programs for at-risk students that cover "; S10[19]=" animal husbandry, general farm maintenance and butter and preserve making... "; R[20]="2068"; T[20]="Agricultural Finance Forum on water access, farm finances and the drought"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20030809"; Dt[20]="Saturday 9 August 2003"; Acats[20]="a04a48a53"; B1[20]="      Leading agribusiness lenders have highlighted water access entitlements as a key determinant of future investment in Australian farming, Parliamentary Secretary to the "; B2[20]="Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Judith Troeth said today... "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      'Leading agribusiness lenders have highlighted water access entitlements as a key determinant of future investment in Australian farming,' Parliamentary Secretary to the "; S2[20]=" Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Judith Troeth said today.
      Senator Troeth said the growing importance financial lenders are placing on "; S3[20]=" water access entitlements, and the ongoing impact of the drought, were the key issues discussed at the 14th Agricultural Finance Forum meeting in Canberra this "; S4[20]=" week.
      The Forum, which Senator Troeth chairs, comprises high-level representatives from the farming and agri-finance sectors, including the National Farmers' Federation, "; S5[20]=" the Australian Bankers' Association, the four major banks, leading pastoral houses, rural financial counsellors and accountants.
      'The main message out of Wednesday's "; S6[20]=" meeting was that many farm financiers believe the 'bankability' of water access entitlements will become a key determinant of future investment in Australian farming,' Senator "; S7[20]=" Troeth said.
      'It's clearly an important issue, and one likely to figure prominently at this month's Council of Australian Governments meeting.
"; S8[20]="       'There was increasing recognition that decoupling land and water access entitlements within a secure trading system has the potential to deliver considerable "; S9[20]=" productivity gains for Australian agriculture.
      In many instances, the ability to access water already represents the most valuable component of the farming "; S10[20]=" business.' Senator Troeth said the Forum also reported that, despite the continuing impact of the drought, farm finances appear to be in reasonably good shape, "; S11[20]=" with the banks reporting a low level of poorly performing loans.
      'The banking representatives reported to the Forum that healthy loan books "; S12[20]=" are not unusual at this stage of a drought cycle, with the demand for farm credit typically picking up as rainfall conditions return to normal.
"; S13[20]="       'Good spring rains will be critical, both to the success of this year's winter crop and in determining the extent to "; S14[20]=" which many broadacre farmers will pull through the drought.
      And, with extremely low water storage levels in many areas, farmers that "; S15[20]=" depend on irrigation allocations will continue to face tough business decisions.
      'Farm lenders also reported remarkably strong demand for rural properties, indicating "; S16[20]=" Australia's surging property market has spread beyond the cities.
      It appears the rural sector have taken the opportunity of low interest rates "; S17[20]=" to increase the size of their holdings.' The Forum also considered a range of other important matters including: · the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement; · "; S18[20]=" the Australian Taxation Office's rural business education services; · an evaluation of the Agriculture - Advancing Australia suite of programs; and · Exceptional Circumstances drought "; S19[20]=" declarations.
      'With representation from the institutions responsible for the vast majority of the estimated $28 billion of farm lending across "; S20[20]=" Australia, the Forum's 14th meeting provided a timely opportunity to take a snap-shot of the rural economy,' Senator Troeth said... "; R[21]="2067"; T[21]="Recreational Fishing Catch Study in Victoria"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20030808"; Dt[21]="Friday 8 August 2003"; Acats[21]="a34a48"; B1[21]="      A comprehensive national study has found recreational fishing in Victoria is worth more than $396 million annually to the State s economy, "; B2[21]="the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, announced today... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      A comprehensive national study has found recreational fishing in Victoria is worth more than $396 million annually to the State's economy, the "; S2[21]=" Minister for Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, announced today.
      Mr Madden said the study shows more than half a million Victorians aged "; S3[21]=" from five years old are keen recreational anglers.
      Releasing Victoria's data from the inaugural National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey, Mr Madden "; S4[21]=" said there were more snapper, flathead, trout and redfin caught in Victorian waters than in any other state.
      'This survey highlights that "; S5[21]=" fishing remains a popular sport and that Victoria's waterways are proving to be healthy and thriving,' Mr Madden said.
      'When you take "; S6[21]=" into account money spent by recreational anglers on travel, accommodation, equipment and licences, the total value to Victoria is almost $400 million.
      "; S7[21]=" 'This confirms the large economic impact of recreational fishing in Victoria, especially its importance in generating economic activity in regional and rural areas.
    "; S8[21]="   'Victoria has a national reputation as a great place to fish with the data showing that we attract more interstate fishers, than we have "; S9[21]=" Victorian anglers going to other states.' Mr Madden said the State Government had invested $1.7 million this year in projects to improve access to fishing "; S10[21]=" sites for anglers, and had undertaken research to ensure recreational fishing was sustainable in Victoria.
      'Money raised from Recreational Fishing Licences is "; S11[21]=" returned to fishers through local projects,' Mr Madden said.
      'Money has also been used to buy back commercial fishing licences in areas "; S12[21]=" like Anderson Inlet, Lake Tyers and Mallacoota Inlet.
      'The Government is opening these areas to recreational anglers, with significant economic and tourism "; S13[21]=" spin-offs.
      'As part of our commitment to recreational fishing, the Government is also introducing a 24-hour hotline to report illegal fishing or "; S14[21]=" poaching activity.
      'This will allow rapid response from fisheries officers to help protect precious fishing stock and will be invaluable in collecting "; S15[21]=" data about suspected illegal activity in enforcement and compliance operations.' Mr Madden said the national survey also identified the top 10 fin fish species caught "; S16[21]=" and kept by Victorian recreational fishers between May 2000 and April 2001.
      The top ten fish caught by recreational fishers in Victoria: "; S17[21]=" 1.
      3.3 million flathead 2.
      975,000 King George whiting 3.
      950,000 redfin perch 4.
    "; S18[21]="   542,000 Australian salmon 5.
      507,000 black bream 6.
      475,000 snapper 7.
      345,000 trout 8.
  "; S19[21]="     328,000 carp 9.
      302,000 mullet 10.
      255,000 garfish.
      'As well as these fish, approximately "; S20[21]=" 1.9 million yabbies were taken from Victoria's freshwaters,' Mr Madden said.
      'Recreational fishers caught and kept more flathead, snapper, black bream and "; S21[21]=" King George whiting than the total annual Victorian catch of each of these species reported by commercial fishers for the same period.
      "; S22[21]=" 'The survey indicated that 13 per cent of the State's population aged five years and older fished at least once during the year.' The proportion "; S23[21]=" of people fishing in their spare time ranged from: · 25 per cent in the Mallee and Wimmera regions · 15 per cent in the "; S24[21]=" Geelong/Barwon area · 10 per cent for the Melbourne metropolitan area.
      'This new data also shows fishing is a popular family activity "; S25[21]=" involving people of all ages, from children through to adults,' Mr Madden said.
      'The information gained in the national survey will be "; S26[21]=" used for assessing fish stocks and will also provide input into the development and review of fisheries management arrangements.
      'The Victorian results "; S27[21]=" from the survey will be further analysed so that the Government can better target programs and expenditure to ensure the continued sustainable development of recreational "; S28[21]=" fishing.'.. "; R[22]="2061"; T[22]="Safety enhancement on Farm -a tale of lost opportunities"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20030808"; Dt[22]="Friday 8 August 2003"; Acats[22]="a09a48a53a72"; B1[22]="      Despite significant statistics on fatality and non-fatal injury rates, there is a low adoption of farm safety practices and farm safety remains "; B2[22]="a low or low-to-medium priority for most farmers... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Despite significant statistics on fatality and non-fatal injury rates, there is a low adoption of farm safety practices and farm safety remains "; S2[22]=" a low or low-to-medium priority for most farmers.
      Previous reports have highlighted the need for studies that more directly investigate factors that "; S3[22]=" impact on farmers' uptake of safety initiatives, and in particular measures that increase the proportion of farmers who take advantage of programs such as Managing "; S4[22]=" Farm Safety (MFS).
      It is in this context that a safety promotion initiative was implemented in the South West of Western "; S5[22]=" Australia (2001-2002) with its objectives to: o Raise the awareness of the agricultural community of farm safety issues, through conducting a brief community educational "; S6[22]=" program, delivered by Farmsafe WA o Assess the risk profiles and specific hazards o Recommend effective training and support strategies that increase the "; S7[22]=" proportion of farmers who take advantage of education programs such as Managing Farm Safety.
      The project was conducted in two stages: "; S8[22]=" a feasibility study and a postal survey.
      The first study tested the feasibility of conducting a brief educational session in the "; S9[22]=" workplace or the meeting place of service clubs and farmers' organisations and helped to refine the data collection tool.
      Lack of "; S10[22]=" interest in these presentations, low response rates and lack of trainers warranted a change of methodology to a postal survey that involved peak organisations rather "; S11[22]=" than small local service clubs.
      The postal survey consisted of farmers completing information on the nature and extent of injury on "; S12[22]=" their farms in the past year and an assessment of their training needs in safety practices.
      Eight peak organisations agreed to "; S13[22]=" participate: The Milk Industry Liaison Committee, The WA Farmers Federation, The WA Fruit Growers Association, The Margaret River Wine Industry Association, The Margaret River Regional "; S14[22]=" Producers Association, The Potato Growers Association of WA, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA and Flowers West.
      Questionnaires were posted "; S15[22]=" to a total of 1208 South West members with a 23% response rate.
      A total of 306 farmers/growers participated in the two "; S16[22]=" stages of the study.
      The findings of the feasibility study and the postal survey, particularly the extent of susceptibility to injury, "; S17[22]=" 26 to 40 major injuries per 100 farms per year, confirmed the need for such safety promotion programs to increase the proportion of farmers who "; S18[22]=" take advantage of safety courses.
      Sixty percent of injured farmers stopped work with an average of seven days of lost productivity, "; S19[22]=" 63% being treated by a doctor and 12% requiring a short stay at the hospital.
      Ninety percent of injured were male with "; S20[22]=" a median age of 40 years.
      The study highlighted many barriers that impacted on farmers' uptake of safety initiatives and therefore "; S21[22]=" lost opportunities to progress the adoption of safe practices in the South West of WA.
      The lack of awareness of the "; S22[22]=" role, functions and courses of Farmsafe WA (7% were very aware of the course) and the confusion of the organisation with Worksafe WA undermined the "; S23[22]=" success of the brief educational presentations.
      Worksafe WA is seen as a disciplinary organisation and only 17% of farmers were very "; S24[22]=" aware of the difference between the two organisations.
      The low levels of awareness were coupled with low levels of motivation to "; S25[22]=" seek further information on the Managing Farm Safety course, with members of all eight participating peak organisations exhibiting similar low levels of awareness and motivation.
"; S26[22]="       Gender, age or presence of reported injury did not significantly affect motivation.
      While 13% of participating farmers "; S27[22]=" have attended the MFS course, this profile indicated that over three-quarters of farmers were still at the pre-contemplation stage, with no intention to initiate changes "; S28[22]=" or attend the course and only 10% were highly motivated.
      There was a general feeling of resentment that farmers were swamped "; S29[22]=" with courses often useless and by an influx of new invasive regulations, which have not proved to be a good match to the highly valued "; S30[22]=" 'common sense'.
      Drawing on the experience of initiatives focused on men in the health field, the course probably needs to be "; R[23]="2057"; T[23]="Update on Farm Health and Safety"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20030808"; Dt[23]="Friday 8 August 2003"; Acats[23]="a09a48"; B1[23]="      A new RIRDC project (RIRDC Publication No 02/023 RIRDC Project No FAI-1A) contains information about the last five years of work in "; B2[23]="farm health and safety that has been undertaken by Work Health Authorities, Division of General Practice and University Departments of Rural Health... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      A new RIRDC project (RIRDC Publication No 02/023 RIRDC Project No FAI-1A) contains information about the last five years of work in "; S2[23]=" farm health and safety that has been undertaken by Work Health Authorities, Division of General Practice and University Departments of Rural Health.
      "; S3[23]=" The reports were prepared for the 4th National Conference on Farm Injury Prevention and Control held at Warrnambool, Victoria 26-28 September 2001.
      "; S4[23]=" Also included is the recommendation arising from the conference.
      The objective of the project was: To catalogue farm health and safety activities "; S5[23]=" undertaken in the last five years by, Work Health Authorities, Divisions of General Practice and University Departments of Rural Health.
      A survey "; S6[23]=" form was sent to each state Work Health Authority, Rural Division of General Practice and University Department of Rural Health.
      Responses were "; S7[23]=" collated according to reoccurring themes and reported.
      Although all effort was made to collect all information, some places did not respond or "; S8[23]=" were unsure of what activities in farm health and safety had been undertaken.
      There are four chapters in the report.
    "; S9[23]="   Chapters 1 to 3 examine work undertaken by Divisions of General Practice, Work Health Authorities, and University Departments of Rural Health.
      "; S10[23]=" Each of these chapters was presented at the conference.
      The work undertaken by each of these groups is quite diverse from research "; S11[23]=" to rebates and displays the commitment of the people working in each of the organisation.
      At each conference a set of resolutions "; S12[23]=" from the conference is collected and reported to Farmsafe Australia, these can be found in chapter 4.
      See: RIRDC Publication No "; S13[23]=" 02/023 RIRDC Project No FAI-1A.. "; R[24]="1966"; T[24]="Washing Machine Rebates -- Sydney Water"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20030606"; Dt[24]="Friday 6 June 2003"; Acats[24]="a08a40a48"; B1[24]="      A special offer that starts tomorrow will give Sydney Water customers a chance to help protect the environment, save water and pocket "; B2[24]="$100 into the bargain... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      A special offer that starts tomorrow will give Sydney Water customers a chance to help protect the environment, save water and pocket "; S2[24]=" $100 into the bargain.
      From June 5 to July 31, 2003, Sydney Water customers will be eligible for a cash rebate "; S3[24]=" of $100 if they purchase a new 4A- or 5A-rated water-efficient washing machine.
      Customers have until 15 August 2003 to send their "; S4[24]=" rebate application forms to Sydney Water.
      Introduction of this offer is designed to coincide with World Environment Day, held every year "; S5[24]=" on June 5.
      Announcing this special water conservation promotion today, Sydney Water Managing Director Greg Robinson, said the offer is intended "; S6[24]=" to encourage people to consider a water-efficient model when buying a new washing machine.
      'Our aim is to get people thinking "; S7[24]=" about the link between the kind of appliances they buy, the amount of water and energy they use and ultimately, the impact of these choices "; S8[24]=" on our environment,' Mr Robinson said.
      'This message is especially important given the ongoing drought conditions, and the tendency for people "; S9[24]=" to be less focused on water conservation during the winter months.
      The start of the winter is also a period when washing "; S10[24]=" machine sales are typically high.' The offer applies to any 4A- or 5A-rated washing machine that qualifies under the National Water Conservation Labelling and "; S11[24]=" Rating Scheme.
      'Sydney Water has been working closely with leading white goods manufacturers to develop this special limited offer,' Mr Robinson "; S12[24]=" said.
      'This initiative is part of a range of Sydney Water programs intended to encourage water conservation among Sydney Water customers.
"; S13[24]="       Water is probably the single most important community resource and we all have a responsibility to make sure it is used wisely.
"; S14[24]="       'Washing machines consume around 16 per cent of the water used in a typical household, By replacing a 1A-rated machine with "; S15[24]=" a 4A-rated model, customers can save up to 120 litres of water on every load of washing they do,' The majority of 4A-and -5A "; S16[24]=" rated washing machines are front-loading designs, however several manufacturers have developed top-loading models that will meet the requirements to gain a 4A or 5A rating... "; R[25]="1963"; T[25]="Bush families disappearing"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20030606"; Dt[25]="Friday 6 June 2003"; Acats[25]="a48a50a51"; B1[25]="      The number of farming families has declined 22 per cent in the past 15 years.... "; B2[25]=" "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      The number of farming families has declined 22 per cent in the past 15 years.
      The latest Social Trends "; S2[25]=" report, released yesterday by the Bureau of Statistics, offers new insights into the oldest contributors to the national economy, the minority who live in the "; S3[25]=" majority of the landscape.
      It suggests that between the census of 1986 and that of 2001 the number of farming families dropped "; S4[25]=" from 145,000 to 112,800, while the total number of Australian families rose from 4.2 million to 4.9 million.
      Over the 20th century, "; S5[25]=" Australians shed the myth that they were pioneer battlers taming a wide brown land and settled into the more accurate self-concept of latte-sipping suburbanites lazing "; S6[25]=" on an overdeveloped coastline.
      But somewhere in that process bush-dwellers got left out of the national mindset.
      If we "; S7[25]=" pictured farmers at all, we assumed they were just employees of Big Business.
      Drawing on the latest census figures, Social Trends 2003 "; S8[25]=" redresses the balance, revealing: Farms are run by families, not faceless managers.
      Almost 99 per cent of Australia's farms are operated "; S9[25]=" by owner-managers.
      Those who left the agriculture business since 1986 were influenced most by economic opportunity rather than by drought or hardship, "; S10[25]=" and the small battlers are still there.
      Farmers display what city folk call family values.
      A farmhouse is "; S11[25]=" more likely to contain a couple with dependent children than a suburban house (54 per cent of farming households, compared with 47 per cent of "; S12[25]=" Australian households).
      A farming family has, on average, 2.1 children, while the national average is 1.8, and farming women tend to have "; S13[25]=" their children at a younger age than the national average.
      Farmers are older than the rest of us, with 15 per "; S14[25]=" cent of them working full time past the usual retirement age of 65.
      That may be because they can't get young help "; S15[25]=" - three times as many people aged 15-24 left rural areas for the big city in the five years to 2001 than arrived in rural "; S16[25]=" areas.
      They work harder to reach average earnings: 54 per cent of farming families have a weekly gross income of between "; S17[25]=" $400 and $1199, compared with 48 per cent of all Australian families.
      But 49 per cent of farmers work 49 hours or "; S18[25]=" more a week, compared with just 19 per cent of all employed people.
      They don't necessarily live beyond the black stump.
"; S19[25]="       About 46 per cent (mostly engaged in 'mixed crop and livestock' production) live in what the bureau calls 'outer regional areas', which "; S20[25]=" puts them close enough to the cities to sell their produce effectively.
      But outer regional areas are 16 per cent below the "; S21[25]=" national average for weekly household income, and have the highest proportion of people in low-income households (27 per cent, compared with 17 per cent in "; S22[25]=" big cities)... "; R[26]="1962"; T[26]="One in three homes online in Australia"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20030606"; Dt[26]="Friday 6 June 2003"; Acats[26]="a46a47a48a92"; B1[26]="      Australians have embraced the Internet at record rates in the past five years, with one in three households online - a nine-fold "; B2[26]="increase since 1996... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      Australians have embraced the Internet at record rates in the past five years, with one in three households online - a nine-fold "; S2[26]=" increase since 1996.
      While almost all home Internet users send e-mail, most spend their time just generally surfing the web or researching "; S3[26]=" assignments.
      Surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that while children are the most likely to use a computer at "; S4[26]=" home, people aged between 18 and 34 are the most likely to access the Internet at home.
      While only 6 per cent "; S5[26]=" of people aged over 65 use the Internet, three-quarters of the Internet's elderly users primarily log on to send e-mail.
      Research for "; S6[26]=" the Australian Social Trends report also shows that household use of the Internet increases with income, with the nation's highest income earners three times as "; S7[26]=" likely to access the Internet from home than the nation's lowest income earners.
      But only 20 per cent of non-users blame the "; S8[26]=" cost.
      Computer and Internet use remains lower in remote areas than in the major cities - almost half the people living in "; S9[26]=" Australia's cities have used a computer and 32 per cent have accessed the Internet.
      By comparison, only 30 per cent of Australians "; S10[26]=" from remote areas have used a computer, and 18 per cent the Internet... "; R[27]="1953"; T[27]="Rural, regional and community trends in Australia"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20030603"; Dt[27]="Tuesday 3 June 2003"; Acats[27]="a48a51"; B1[27]="      Australian Social Trends, 2003, released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides new insights into the complex nature of our "; B2[27]="changing society... "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      Australian Social Trends, 2003, released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides new insights into the complex nature of our "; S2[27]=" changing society.
      The analysis is based on the most recent ABS data, as well as data from other sources.
      "; S3[27]=" Among many different topics, the publication examines the slower population growth in rural and remote areas and the extent to which this is influenced by "; S4[27]=" young people migrating to the cities looking for educational and work opportunities.
      The report also notes the increased number of lone parents "; S5[27]=" and couples living without children, while the number of couples with children has remained relatively stable since 1986.
      Rural and regional themes: "; S6[27]="
      *Between 1991 and 2001, the fastest population growth was in major cities.
      - (13%) and in inner regional "; S7[27]=" areas (14%), while the growth in more remote areas was less than 5%.
     
      *Between 1986 and 2001, farming "; S8[27]=" families decreased by 22%, from 145,000 to 112,800.
     
      *Young people are one of the most mobile groups in "; S9[27]=" the population.
     
      *In the five years to August 2001, half of all people aged 15-24 years moved residence.
"; S10[27]="      
      * Almost three times as many young people left country areas than arrived in these areas (226 net "; S11[27]=" departures per 1,000 young people).
     
      * Nearly two thirds of the net outflow of these young people was "; S12[27]=" to capital cities.
     
      *School completion rates and attendance at secondary school declined with increasing remoteness.
      "; S13[27]="
      *In major cities, 82% of males aged 16 years, and 87% of females aged 16 years were attending a secondary "; S14[27]=" school, while only 38% of males, and 45% of females in this age group in very remote areas were attending a secondary school.
    "; S15[27]="  
      *In 2001, 93,000 people lived in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia, with most of these communities "; S16[27]=" having access to essential services.
      However, of the larger remote communities, 68% had bore water as the main source of drinking water, "; S17[27]=" 85% had experienced electricity interruptions, and 49% had experienced sewage system faults in the previous year.
      Families and communities themes:
  "; S18[27]="     *While couple families with children remain the most common type of family in Australia, between 1986 and 2001, one-parent families increased by 53%, "; S19[27]=" while couple families with children increased by only 3%.
     
      *In 1999, just over half (53%) of all families "; S20[27]=" with young children and at least one parent employed used some form of flexible working arrangement, such as flexible working hours or permanent part-time work, "; S21[27]=" to care for children.
     
      * In 1999, one-parent families where the parent was employed were the most likely "; S22[27]=" to make use of formal child care.
     
      *In the past two decades, average working hours of full-time workers "; S23[27]=" increased from 42 hours per week in 1982 to 44 hours per week in 2002.
      This largely reflects an increase in the "; S24[27]=" proportion of full-time workers working between 50 and 59 hours per week - up from 10% in 1982 to 16% in 2002.
      "; S25[27]=" In 2001-02 there were 30,500 substantiated reports of child neglect or abuse made to state or territory community service departments.
     
  "; S26[27]="     *Between 1989-90 and 2001, the proportion of Australian adults who smoked declined.
      At the same time, adults increased the amount "; S27[27]=" of deliberate exercise they undertook.
      However, despite the rise in deliberate physical activity, the adult population on average became more overweight or "; S28[27]=" obese.
     
      *In 2001, 24% of the adult population were current smokers, 32% were physically inactive, and 46% were "; S29[27]=" overweight or obese.
     
      *Between 1991 and 2001, higher density dwellings increased by 37%, compared with an 18% increase "; S30[27]=" in separate houses.
     
      *In 2001, young adults aged 15-24 years experienced the highest levels of crime victimisation across "; R[28]="1949"; T[28]="Innovative Online Project for Councils"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20030603"; Dt[28]="Tuesday 3 June 2003"; Acats[28]="a46a48a51"; B1[28]="      The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) today announced a $25 million cost saving to Victorian councils as a result of its two-year "; B2[28]="innovative Local Government Online Service (LGOS) delivery project... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) today announced a $25 million cost saving to Victorian councils as a result of its two-year "; S2[28]=" innovative Local Government Online Service (LGOS) delivery project.
      MAV President, Cr Brad Matheson said Stage One of the project had placed councils "; S3[28]=" across the state at the forefront of simple and efficient online service delivery that meets growing community demand.
      'The LGOS project was "; S4[28]=" Australia's, first 'whole of sector' initiative to enable Victorian local government to become more efficient and deliver 24 hour information and service access to local "; S5[28]=" communities.
      It featured a high degree of collaboration between councils in utilizing common standards and systems to achieve cost reductions.
    "; S6[28]="   'To date $25 million worth of benefits have been reported by participating councils.
      This represents more than a four-fold return on "; S7[28]=" the investment of $5.7 million received from the Commonwealth Government's Networking the Nation (NTN) program,' Cr Matheson said.
      Benefits for councils included "; S8[28]=" lower administration and service delivery costs as more people access an increased range of council information online.
      The economies of scale achieved "; S9[28]=" by this sector wide approach also delivered additional cost savings for councils through the provision of free IT security reviews, staff professional development, specialist technical "; S10[28]=" expertise, vendor and contract negotiations.
      'This is a particularly significant outcome for rural and regional councils who have historically experienced greater difficulty "; S11[28]=" in delivering offline information and services due to budget, infrastructure and skill limitations.
      'If you access the websites of Victoria's rural councils "; S12[28]=" today you will find a far greatet level of capability and sophistication than was the case two years ago,' Cr Matheson said.
      "; S13[28]=" Initiatives implemented during Stage One included new web and intranet facilities, webcasting of council meetings, cost-effective sector-wide solutions for council electronic payments and e- purchasing, "; S14[28]=" and advanced information management frameworks that would form the basis of 'e- government' in the future.
      Cr Matheson also announced that Stage "; S15[28]=" Two of the LGOS initiative would seek to establish greater integration with State and Federal Government initiatives as well as a national local government online "; S16[28]=" strategy.
      'These concepts and other ideas will be further explored at the third National Local Government Online Demonstration Conference, to be hosted "; S17[28]=" by the MAV in Melbourne on 11 September 2003.
      'The Conference will also showcase some of the award winning online e-services developed "; S18[28]=" through state and territory local government NTN online projects,' he said... "; R[29]="1944"; T[29]="Awards recognise Western Queensland rural managers"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20030602"; Dt[29]="Monday 2 June 2003"; Acats[29]="a48a66a72"; B1[29]="      Rural managers from across Western Queensland are invited to nominate for the 2003 Rural/Remote Manager Award as part of the Australian Institute "; B2[29]="of Management s (AIM) Queensland Management Excellence Awards... "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      Rural managers from across Western Queensland are invited to nominate for the 2003 Rural/Remote Manager Award as part of the Australian Institute "; S2[29]=" of Management's (AIM) Queensland Management Excellence Awards.
      Sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the award recognises managers who live and "; S3[29]=" work outside provincial cities for their invaluable contribution to the economic and social health of their communities, Queensland and Australia.
      According to "; S4[29]=" DPI director-general Dr Warren Hoey, the award recognises the often-underestimated achievements of managers in rural areas.
      'The regional-based awards acknowledged the unique "; S5[29]=" challenges faced by rural and community managers throughout Queensland, who operate a considerable distance from provincial cities.
      'Successful businesses and managers are "; S6[29]=" not restricted to cities.
      Managers who operate in areas such as western Queensland often take bigger risks and are involved in complex "; S7[29]=" operations due to the nature of their interests.
      'It is no secret that many of Queensland's rural managers carry out their fine "; S8[29]=" work while facing remarkable challenges associated with distance and isolation.
      'Without these talented professionals, Queensland's rural industries and communities would not perform "; S9[29]=" at the high standards they currently achieve,' Dr Hoey said.
      Winning contestants from the regions will go into the running to win "; S10[29]=" the statewide award.
      'Due to strong industry and government support, the awards have become an annual, state-wide contested category in the 2003 "; S11[29]=" Management Excellence Awards.
      'The Rural and Remote Manager Award is an effective way of promoting awareness amongst the broader management community of "; S12[29]=" the skilled workforce that operates throughout regional Queensland,' Dr Hoey said.
      To nominate yourself or an exceptional rural manager you know, visit "; S13[29]=" the DPI website on www.dpi.qld.gov.au or go to the AIM website on www.managementawards.com.au for an application package.
      Alternatively, contact the DPI Call "; S14[29]=" Centre on 13 25 23... "; R[30]="1943"; T[30]="Forum to encourage rural innovators"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20030602"; Dt[30]="Monday 2 June 2003"; Acats[30]="a48a53a55"; B1[30]="      Developing a good idea into a commercial reality is no easy assignment but there can be a pay-off for those innovators prepared "; B2[30]="to take on the challenge... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      Developing a good idea into a commercial reality is no easy assignment but there can be a pay-off for those innovators prepared "; S2[30]=" to take on the challenge.
      To assist aspiring rural innovators to commercialise plans to kick start fledgling business initiatives, a Rural Innovators' "; S3[30]=" Forum will be held at Rockhampton's Centre Point Motel in George Street from 3.30pm on June 5.
      Department of Primary Industries principal "; S4[30]=" rural development officer Lynda Pollock has teamed with Rockhampton Rural Development Limited executive officers to coordinate the forum for innovative Central Queenslanders.
      "; S5[30]=" Ms Pollock said the forum objective was to allow people to share their experiences through the acknowledged difficulties of the start-up phase of a new "; S6[30]=" enterprise through to the manufacture, promotion and marketing of an end product.
      'To assist our regional business innovators, we have invited representatives "; S7[30]=" from the Australian Institute of Commercialisation at Brisbane's Technology Park to address the participants,' Ms Pollock said.
      'It is in the national "; S8[30]=" interest to stimulate rural research and development initiatives and there are avenues to access funding support to nurture good ideas.
      There are "; S9[30]=" many examples of entrepreneurial regional business ventures that have created domestic and export marketing opportunities to provide employment and boost the local economy.' Ms Pollock "; S10[30]=" said the forum was open to all interested persons.
      Forum acceptances had already been received from experienced and innovative primary producers representing "; S11[30]=" the pineapple, lychee, organic farming, beef, crocodile, ostrich, aquaculture, squab pigeon and rural engineering industries.
      'If this forum can provide the contacts "; S12[30]=" and the advice to negotiate the bureaucratic and financial hurdles toward commercialisation of one innovative business, it will provide the incentive for others to progress "; S13[30]=" a good idea to a successful outcome,' Ms Pollock said.
      For further information about the Rural Innovators' Forum, contact Lynda Pollock on "; S14[30]=" 4936 0240 or mobile 0429 360 240... "; R[31]="1932"; T[31]="Historic silos to become a luxury hotel in Bunbury"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20030529"; Dt[31]="Thursday 29 May 2003"; Acats[31]="a48a50"; B1[31]="      Four grain silos once considered a blot on the Bunbury landscape will become a luxury hotel.... "; B2[31]=" "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      Four grain silos once considered a blot on the Bunbury landscape will become a luxury hotel.
      A building licence "; S2[31]=" was granted last week to Kareelya Property Group, owner of the Broadwater chain.
      Work on the Broadwater Silos Hotel is due to "; S3[31]=" begin in weeks and be finished late next year.
      Group project manager Colin Jackson, 43, said converting the heritage-listed windowless concrete cylinders "; S4[31]=" had proved a design and construction headache.
      Eight floors had to be built inside the 30m-high cylinders and many windows had to "; S5[31]=" be cut through the 25cm-thick concrete walls.
      Each of the 64 suites would have round walls requiring special furnishings and fittings.
  "; S6[31]="     But the $18 million project was worthwhile because height restrictions meant there was no other way a multi-storey hotel could go ahead on "; S7[31]=" the prime Marlston Hill waterfront land.
      Such conversions had been done in the United States, Tasmania and NSW.
      According "; S8[31]=" to Bunbury City Council, the silos cost £60,000 in 1937 and were the second built in WA using the slip-mould technique.
      Grain "; S9[31]=" from inland farms was brought by train to the silos and pumped on to ships.
      Cooperative Bulk Handling took over the silos "; S10[31]=" from the Bunbury Port Authority in 1947 and ran them until they closed in 1991.
      About 10,000 people enjoyed watching the adjacent "; S11[31]=" 1960s-built grey silos implode in seconds in February 1992.
      But the 'white silos', since considered an important historical landmark, were kept because "; S12[31]=" of community demand... "; R[32]="1930"; T[32]="Training boost for remote Aboriginal managed cattle station."; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20030529"; Dt[32]="Thursday 29 May 2003"; Acats[32]="a27a48a51a53"; B1[32]="      Indigenous people in the East Kimberley would be offered a range of training opportunities in the management of a remote cattle station, "; B2[32]="Minister for the Kimberley Tom Stephens said today... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      Indigenous people in the East Kimberley would be offered a range of training opportunities in the management of a remote cattle station, "; S2[32]=" Minister for the Kimberley Tom Stephens said today.
      Mr Stephens made the announcement while presenting a Lotterywest grant of $204,000 to the "; S3[32]=" Louisa Downs Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation (LDPAC).
      'I am pleased that the training options for indigenous people from six communities, close to Louisa "; S4[32]=" Downs station, will be significantly enhanced through this funding,' he said.
      'It is good to know that the benefits of Western Australians "; S5[32]=" who regularly play Lotto, can be passed on to remote communities, through grants like these.
      'Local Aboriginal people will have access to "; S6[32]=" training in everything from how to manage a large pastoral station to courses in animal husbandry and all elements of station work.' Mr Stephens also "; S7[32]=" congratulated the LDPAC, which is about to take over day-to-day management of the 200,000ha cattle station, for developing a business plan to support the long-term "; S8[32]=" viability of the enterprise.
      Membership of LDPAC includes indigenous people from the Yiyili, Moongardie, Pullout Springs, Ganinyi, Rocky Springs, and Goolgardah communities.
"; S9[32]="       Louisa Downs Station,130km south-west of Halls Creek, is managed by Wayne Gordon and runs more than 5,700 head of cattle.
    "; S10[32]="   The station employs local indigenous people to manage the herd and maintain the property.
      Their wages are not subsidised by "; S11[32]=" the Government.
      'The station is proving to be a commercially viable operation, and this grant will ensure future training opportunities for local "; S12[32]=" community members at Louisa Downs,' Mr Stephens said.
      The Lotterywest funding will be used for training and development, and capacity building for "; S13[32]=" LDPAC members, the station manager and other station staff.
      'This is seen as a high priority over the next two years, with "; S14[32]=" the long term objective of establishing a business, which is locally owned and managed, and thrives in the commercial environment,' the Minister said... "; R[33]="1927"; T[33]="Study grants to lure dentists to country practice"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20030529"; Dt[33]="Thursday 29 May 2003"; Acats[33]="a09a48"; B1[33]="      Dental services in country areas will be boosted after the Bracks Government awarded scholarships to six dental students to entice them to "; B2[33]="work in rural and regional Victoria... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      Dental services in country areas will be boosted after the Bracks Government awarded scholarships to six dental students to entice them to "; S2[33]=" work in rural and regional Victoria.
      The Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, said the six - fourth and fifth year undergraduate students - "; S3[33]=" had agreed to work in country public dental practices for the length of the scholarship.
      The students - Vei Nee Phoon, Helen "; S4[33]=" Veronina, Lin Liang, Ailin Teo, Henry Wong and Imran Ali - will each receive $5000 scholarships.
      'As part of their advanced training "; S5[33]=" they will live in country Victoria and work in public dental practices,' Ms Pike said.
      'There is an acute shortage of dentists "; S6[33]=" in country towns and provincial centres, and our scholarships will help meet a definite need.
      'Almost 60 per cent of rural public "; S7[33]=" dental clinics have vacancies, so any scheme to bring dentists to work in country centres will be of direct and immediate benefit to lower-income residents.' "; S8[33]=" The scholarships are made available through the Rural Health Scholarship Foundation, Ms Pike said.
      The Department of Human Services will now work "; S9[33]=" with the public dental clinics to allocate the students to the areas of most need.
      'We hope that with a thorough introduction "; S10[33]=" to the attractions of living and working in country Victoria, the scholarship-holders will decide to stay on,' Ms Pike said.
      'A rural "; S11[33]=" placement enables people to gain a true appreciation of life and practice in a rural or regional setting, and form networks and friendships that may "; S12[33]=" help keep them in their new community.
      'They also perform a valuable role in helping address the shortage of public sector dentists "; S13[33]=" on country areas.' Ms Pike said the Bracks Government announced an extra $21 million over four years in the May 6 State Budget to reduce "; S14[33]=" waiting times in public dental services.
      Funding was also provided to train an additional 20 dental therapists each year, the Minister said... "; R[34]="1918"; T[34]="Colourful yarn heads for record"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20030528"; Dt[34]="Wednesday 28 May 2003"; Acats[34]="a25a48a49"; B1[34]="      It started with a longish scarf, developed into a candidate for a world record and has now turned into a money-spinner for "; B2[34]="the Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Association... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      It started with a longish scarf, developed into a candidate for a world record and has now turned into a money-spinner for "; S2[34]=" the Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
      Buoyed by a resurgence in knitting, Alistair Christie-Johnson, who runs the Tasmanian Woollen Company "; S3[34]=" shop in Salamanca Place, began thinking of world records a few weeks ago.
      'We started knitting a giant scarf from either end "; S4[34]=" and it has grown into something spectacular - but we have a long way to go yet,' he said yesterday.
      The longest "; S5[34]=" scarf recorded is just over 174 metres, knitted by an eccentric English woman.
      'We took up the challenge and so far we "; S6[34]=" are about 50 feet (15 metres) and expanding,' he said.
      People have been asked to sponsor a small piece of scarf at "; S7[34]=" a dollar or more and so far Mr Christie-Johnson has collected more than $300 for guide dog training.
      The ever-growing scarf will "; S8[34]=" be on display at the Campbell Town Show this weekend where people will be invited to knit a few rows.
      It may "; S9[34]=" take a year or more but Mr Christie-Johnson is already confident the scarf will in due course wind its way into the famous Guiness Book "; S10[34]=" of Records... "; R[35]="1916"; T[35]="Australia heads for population of 20 million"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20030528"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 28 May 2003"; Acats[35]="a48"; B1[35]="      Australia s population is set to reach 20 million by October, and Victoria s population is on track to pass 5 million "; B2[35]="within a year, as new figures yesterday showed immigration at historically high levels... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      Australia's population is set to reach 20 million by October, and Victoria's population is on track to pass 5 million within a "; S2[35]=" year, as new figures yesterday showed immigration at historically high levels.
      The Bureau of Statistics estimates Australia's population grew by 255,106 or "; S3[35]=" 1.31 per cent last year, the third-highest level in a decade, and only marginally less than in 2001.
      Australia entered the new "; S4[35]=" year with 19,786,370 people.
      On that growth rate - barring any revisions to the estimates - the country would have 20 million "; S5[35]=" residents by October.
      The bureau's preliminary estimates put net overseas migration in 2002 at 139,048 people.
      If correct, this "; S6[35]=" would be the third-highest level of migration since 1950, almost matching last year's 140,277.
      But bureau officials warn of possible revisions of "; S7[35]=" the migration figures and the population estimates.
      They believe processing of immigration entry forms has not distinguished between new residents arriving and "; S8[35]=" foreigners already living in Australia returning.
      Yesterday's estimates - which show immigration running well above the Government's target of 100,000 to 110,000 "; S9[35]=" - may therefore be inflated.
      The bureau estimates that Victoria's population grew by 66,724, or 1.38 per cent, last year, the third-highest "; S10[35]=" growth rate in the past 30 years, and the highest increase since 1964.
      The state's estimated population on New Year's Eve was "; S11[35]=" 4,902,920.
      At that rate - barring revisions - it would pass 5 million next April.
      But Victoria's growth also "; S12[35]=" has been swollen by historically high immigration levels, which the bureau suspects may include double-counting of the state's large population of overseas students - Australia's "; S13[35]=" highest - as they come and go.
      The bureau estimates that Victoria gained 36,346 overseas migrants in 2002, 26 per cent of "; S14[35]=" all arrivals, and the highest number since the 1950s.
      NSW remains the main magnet for migrants, but its share has dropped to "; S15[35]=" 52,822 or 38 per cent of all arrivals.
      The figures show big shifts in interstate migration.
      For the first "; S16[35]=" time since 1991, Tasmania recorded a net population inflow from other states in the December quarter, a growth of 411 people as Tasmanian exiles returned "; S17[35]=" home to buy cheap housing.
      But NSW last year suffered the highest population outflow in Australia's history, with 29,849 more people leaving "; S18[35]=" for interstate than arriving.
      Most were heading to Queensland, which gained 36,549 people from interstate.
      Victoria was the other "; S19[35]=" beneficiary, with interstate arrivals outnumbering departures by 3794.
      Victoria's net arrivals fell sharply from 6877 in the year to March 2002.
  "; S20[35]="     This was mainly because more people left for Queensland and Tasmania.
      In the six months to September, the net outflow "; S21[35]=" from Victoria to Queensland jumped from 514 to 2788.
      But Victoria is still enjoying a solid inflow from NSW, South Australia and "; S22[35]=" Western Australia, as well as overseas, ensuring continued high population growth... "; R[36]="1887"; T[36]="The over-scheduled child"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20030521"; Dt[36]="Wednesday 21 May 2003"; Acats[36]="a09a48a53"; B1[36]="      Today s parents are the most child-sensitive in history but they are also confused, insecure and driven.
      And the "; B2[36]="result, says William Doherty, a visiting American family relations expert, is the over-scheduled child ... "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      Today's parents are the most child-sensitive in history but they are also confused, insecure and driven.
      And the result, "; S2[36]=" says William Doherty, a visiting American family relations expert, is the 'over-scheduled child'.
      'Parents today see their main role as identifying their "; S3[36]=" children's hidden gifts and talents, and bringing them forth,' he said.
      'They feel this huge pressure to develop their children's potential.' And "; S4[36]=" so children from a young age are swept up in a whirlwind of organised activities and lessons.
      Driven by fear their children "; S5[36]=" may fall behind or miss out, parents turn their own lives into a frenzy of car pooling and cross-suburb commutes.
      What suffers "; S6[36]=" is family time, grandparent time and time to daydream, says Dr Doherty, a former president of the American National Council of Family Relations whose books "; S7[36]=" include Confident Parenting (Finch Publishing).
      'Parents see themselves as 'opportunity providers,' and recreation directors,' he says.
      'Six-month-old babies in "; S8[36]=" the States are enrolled in swim classes, music classes and foreign-language classes.
      And some kids play more sport than professional athletes.
  "; S9[36]="     This is what I call parenting as product development.' But Mike and Kate Spencer, of Wahroonga, believed four-year-old Sophie had a musical talent "; S10[36]=" they could not ignore.
      At two she picked out Advance Australia Fair on the piano, and other pieces.
      At "; S11[36]=" three she began piano lessons under the Suzuki method, and soon after took up the violin, too.
      'It was because she wanted "; S12[36]=" to do it,' her mother said, 'and we wanted to give her the opportunity.' The Spencers' older children lead busy lives, too, with Emma, 8, "; S13[36]=" also playing piano and violin and singing in the Australian Girls' Choir, and Tom, 6, involved in local rugby and cricket teams.
      "; S14[36]=" 'It's busy, exhausting at times,' Mrs Spencer said.
      'But it's worth it.
      It's a thrill to play in an "; S15[36]=" orchestra, and it's wonderful for self-esteem.' Dr Doherty says most parents are driven not by narcissism but by anxiety to give their children a competitive "; S16[36]=" edge.
      If children are not playing soccer at five, parents fear they won't make the team at 12, he says.
    "; S17[36]="   As well, some parents harbour the 'gifted child' fantasy.
      He tells the story of a mother whose son played ice hockey "; S18[36]=" and wanted to take up basketball, too, although the extra training and games would over-tax the family.
      'What if Michael Jordan's mother "; S19[36]=" had told him he couldn't play basketball?' she asked.
      Dr Doherty said that when he raised his children, now 27 and 29, "; S20[36]=" parents believed their job was to love their children, set limits and send them to a good school.
      'And if they had "; S21[36]=" gifts, we believed those gifts would manifest themselves without too much conscious planning on the parents' part.' Dr Doherty said family time was more important "; S22[36]=" than any type of activity.
      Research had shown teenagers who had five dinners or more a week with a parent were better "; S23[36]=" off academically and psychologically than those who did not.
      Instead of family time being squeezed into the hours left over after the "; S24[36]=" children's organised activities, parents should decide in advance what kind of family life they wanted, and then build the classes and sport around that.
  "; S25[36]="     Even so, Dr Doherty agrees that children in organised activities are better off than those who spend lots of time watching TV... "; R[37]="1868"; T[37]="$100,000 grant to community groups to improve local waterways"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20030520"; Dt[37]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[37]="a40a42a48"; B1[37]="      More than 30 volunteer community groups will receive a total of about $100,000 in grants to protect and improve local waterways across "; B2[37]="Melbourne, the Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, announced today... "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      More than 30 volunteer community groups will receive a total of about $100,000 in grants to protect and improve local waterways across "; S2[37]=" Melbourne, the Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, announced today.
      Mr Thwaites said community groups played an important role in protecting "; S3[37]=" and improving waterways across Melbourne, but they often did not have sufficient resources to fund specific projects.
      'Almost $100,000 has been committed "; S4[37]=" under Melbourne Water's annual Community Grants Scheme for improving the health of our waterways.
      Last year, the program offered $40,000 in funding,' "; S5[37]=" Mr Thwaites said.
      'These community grants provide funding of up to $7500 for major projects, up to $2000 for minor projects, and "; S6[37]=" also grants for newsletters.
      'The funding can be used by groups for equipment and resources such as trailers, tools, trees and shrubs.
"; S7[37]="       'These grants are designed to recognise the efforts of volunteers across Melbourne, and to help them in their work to improve waterways "; S8[37]=" and their surroundings.' Mr Thwaites said volunteer community groups had been responsible for clearing weeds and revegetating many sections of Melbourne's waterways.
      "; S9[37]=" 'Many of Melbourne's waterways have been significantly improved by the efforts of these groups,' he said.
      'We greatly appreciate the commitment of "; S10[37]=" volunteer community groups in protecting and improving our waterways... "; R[38]="1866"; T[38]="Retirees offer new vintage for the Barossa"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20030520"; Dt[38]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[38]="a13a48a68"; B1[38]="      The Barossa Valley would be South Australia s new retirement capital if a 10-year strategy to attract the elderly to the region "; B2[38]="goes as planned... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      The Barossa Valley would be South Australia's new retirement capital if a 10-year strategy to attract the elderly to the region goes "; S2[38]=" as planned.
      The Active Ageing strategy by Barossa Village includes the construction of 200 new retirement cottages and a state-of-the-art $9 million "; S3[38]=" high-care facility.
      It is designed to attract retirees and house the ageing population already in the wine area.
      'Ageing "; S4[38]=" is the single biggest challenge to SA's future,' Barossa Village chief executive officer Harold Bates-Brownsword said yesterday.
      'The Barossa, like the rest "; S5[38]=" of SA has a serious shortage of aged housing.
      'Our response has been to develop a three-tiered strategy which will take us "; S6[38]=" through until 2015 when research shows the majority of Baby Boomers will be retiring.
      ' The benefits already are evident for the "; S7[38]=" Barossa, which faces a critical residential housing shortage with an estimated 4600 new homes needed to be built by 2010.
      Some of "; S8[38]=" the 200 two and three-bedroom retirement units are completed, their residents moving out of larger, hard-to-maintain homes in the region which have been snapped up "; S9[38]=" by young professionals.
      'In the past decade we have seen extraordinary growth in the wine industry which has created employment and opportunities "; S10[38]=" for our young people,' Mr Bates-Brownsword said.
      'This has been tremendous for regional sustainability and growth but, with that, comes social and "; S11[38]=" demographic challenges.
      People moving to purpose-built retirement accommodation in the next 10 years will free up housing for young families and professionals "; S12[38]=" moving to the area.
      ' Winemaker Richard Langford, 33, said he house-hunted for 18 months before finding what he wanted - a "; S13[38]=" 1920s-built home in Angaston which, for 40 years, had been occupied by Verna May, 87.
      'I wanted an old house with big "; S14[38]=" rooms and high ceilings,' he said.
      'Most of the old places around here that I looked at were owned by old people.
"; S15[38]="       I reckon this is good - a good way to turn over property.
      ' Mrs May said she was "; S16[38]=" happy in her Nuriootpa retirement cottage, which is in a cluster of six.
      'My house was getting too much for me to "; S17[38]=" handle,' she said.
      'I like it here.
      We all look out for each other.
      ' Barossa "; S18[38]=" Village has purchased land in Truro, Nuriootpa, Kapunda, Freeling, Tanunda and Angaston and will build units in clusters of up to six cottages.
    "; S19[38]="   Residents will lease cottages for life for about $150,000.
      The homes will be re-leased by Barossa Village when they are vacated.
"; S20[38]="       Barossa Village promotes independent living but nursing home staff offer support.
      The sale of retirement cottage leases will fund "; S21[38]=" the $9 million high-care facility to be built in Nuriootpa.
      Building of the 80-room facility begins next April and is expected to "; S22[38]=" be open in 2005... "; R[39]="1865"; T[39]="Push for fresh outback cattle drive"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20030520"; Dt[39]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[39]="a27a48a51a68"; B1[39]="      The South Australian Government wants to stage another Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive after the success of the inaugural event.... "; B2[39]=" "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      The South Australian Government wants to stage another Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive after the success of the inaugural event.
    "; S2[39]="   The drive, from Birdsville to Marree in May last year, provided direct regional economic benefit of about $2 million and worldwide media exposure estimated "; S3[39]=" to be worth $10 million, Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said today.
      About 640 people had participated in the inaugural drive, with more "; S4[39]=" than half coming from interstate or overseas, Ms Lomax-Smith said.
      'I am keen to repeat the economic benefits again for South Australia "; S5[39]=" but first we need to determine the ongoing support of hundreds of volunteers, including the traditional (land) owners and pastoralists,' she said in a statement.
"; S6[39]="       The impact of the drought in rural SA had ruled out a drive next year and the Government was aiming for 2005, "; S7[39]=" Ms Lomax-Smith said... "; R[40]="1862"; T[40]="Country drivers urged to belt-up to save lives."; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20030520"; Dt[40]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[40]="a09a48"; B1[40]="      Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts today urged drivers and passengers in rural areas to belt-up and save lives.... "; B2[40]=" "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts today urged drivers and passengers in rural areas to 'belt-up' and save lives.
      Launching "; S2[40]=" the 2003 Rural Restraints Campaign in Geraldton today, Mrs Roberts said there was no excuse for people not to wear a seat belt - particularly "; S3[40]=" when the statistics in rural and remote Western Australia were so horrific.
      The Minister said more than a third of people killed "; S4[40]=" in road crashes in regional areas of the State were not wearing a seat belt.
      This compared with 14 per cent in "; S5[40]=" the metropolitan area.
      'Of those killed in the country, nearly 40 per cent were drivers not wearing a seat belt and 37 "; S6[40]=" per cent killed were passengers who had failed to belt-up,' she said.
      'These appalling statistics are not acceptable and we are launching "; S7[40]=" a comprehensive awareness program to show that it really is a life or death matter not to wear a seat belt.
      ' "; S8[40]=" Mrs Roberts said drivers and passengers not wearing a seat belt were 10 times more likely to be killed in a road crash than those "; S9[40]=" who were wearing a restraint.
      'Seat belts have also been found to be particularly effective in minimising injury in single vehicle accidents,' "; S10[40]=" she said.
      The Minister said of the people killed while not wearing a seat belt, 71 per cent were males and 60 "; S11[40]=" per cent of those were aged between 17 and 39.
      'The unfortunate problem is that research indicates this group of males believe "; S12[40]=" they are invincible and don't consider there is much chance of being apprehended by the police,' she said.
      'Nor does this group "; S13[40]=" show much concern for its own morbidity and mortality, believing they are good drivers and won't crash.
      'We must turn this attitude "; S14[40]=" around.
      ' Mrs Roberts said people not wearing seat belts faced a $150 fine and the loss of three demerit points.
  "; S15[40]="     'Drivers will also face the same penalty for not ensuring every passenger is properly restrained and, if the person is older than 16 "; S16[40]=" and is not wearing a seat belt, then he or she will also be fined $150,' she said.
      The campaign will run "; S17[40]=" until July 5 and will feature television, radio and newspaper advertisements... "; R[41]="1826"; T[41]="Depression Study on Victorian Farmers and their Families"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20030513"; Dt[41]="Tuesday 13 May 2003"; Acats[41]="a09a48"; B1[41]="      The Bracks Government will contribute $50,000 to study to help tackle depression among farmers and their families battling drought and the hardships "; B2[41]="inherent in the rural economy, the Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, announced today... "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      The Bracks Government will contribute $50,000 to study to help tackle depression among farmers and their families battling drought and the hardships "; S2[41]=" inherent in the rural economy, the Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, announced today.
      Ms Pike said the Bracks Government was also funding research "; S3[41]=" into how best to diagnose and treat depression in people with an intellectual disability.
      The research projects are among 25 separate depression "; S4[41]=" research projects being funded to the tune of $2.1 million through the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Depression and Related Disorders as part of the "; S5[41]=" Bracks Government's commitment to reduce the impact of depression in the Victorian community.
      'Depression has the potential for a major impact on "; S6[41]=" farmers and their families, and this research by the Centre for Rural Mental Health, Bendigo Health Care Group and Monash University will seek to identify "; S7[41]=" its triggers and strategies to overcome it,' Ms Pike said.
      'Farmers and their families have had to come to grips with drought, "; S8[41]=" fluctuating rural commodity prices, their long-term future on the land and a host of other pressures.
      'Research into these pressures and their "; S9[41]=" impact on depression will help to develop the best initiatives to address the issue and help farmers and their families get through.
      "; S10[41]=" 'Research will also help to map pathways through community-based services, treatment by local doctors and the expertise of specialist mental health professionals to help provide "; S11[41]=" the best support for people with depression and related disorders.
      'It will help ensure their needs are best met at all times, "; S12[41]=" whether they are receiving treatment in the community or through more intensive support.' Ms Pike said the research funding was part of the Bracks Government's "; S13[41]=" commitment of $3.5 million a year over five years to the national depression initiative beyondblue.
      This includes $1.3 million to establish and "; S14[41]=" operate the Centre of Excellence under the auspices of beyondblue.
      Ms Pike said the research proposals were initially evaluated through the Centre "; S15[41]=" of Excellence, ranked by an independent scientific committee and then approved by beyondblue.
      She also announced $500,000 in funding over the next "; S16[41]=" year to establish consortia of research and community-based agencies that could work on key depression projects of national and international significance... "; R[42]="1821"; T[42]="Flying Doctors celebrate 75 years of caring"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20030513"; Dt[42]="Tuesday 13 May 2003"; Acats[42]="a09a48a51"; B1[42]="      On Saturday 17 May, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) commemorates the 75th anniversary of the first Flying Doctor s flight in "; B2[42]="1928 from Cloncurry in central Queensland... "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      On Saturday 17 May, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) commemorates the 75th anniversary of the first Flying Doctor's flight in 1928 "; S2[42]=" from Cloncurry in central Queensland.
      Founded by the Rev Dr John Flynn whose image features on the Australian $20 note, the Flying "; S3[42]=" Doctors brought reliable health care to people living in remote areas, sometimes thousands of kilometres from the nearest doctor or nurse.
      Some "; S4[42]=" claim that without the Flying Doctors, many parts of Australia would be virtually uninhabitable.
      The Right Honourable Sir Robert Menzies KT CH "; S5[42]=" QC, former Prime Minister of Australia understood how important the Flying Doctors were to Australia's development.
      'The Flying Doctor Service represents the "; S6[42]=" greatest single contribution to effective settlement of the far distant back country we have witnessed in our time,' Sir Robert Menzies said.
      "; S7[42]=" The RFDS has come a long way since the first flight in May 1928 when a de Havilland bi-plane made of fabric and wood took "; S8[42]=" to the skies.
      The Flying Doctors now cover more than 80% of Australia.
      Serving almost 200,000 patients a year, "; S9[42]=" the RFDS staff of 500 includes 72 doctors, 114 nurses and 133 pilots flying 45 aircraft from 23 bases.
      This means that "; S10[42]=" no one, even in the most isolated areas, is ever more than 90 minutes away from medical help.
      Executive Director of the "; S11[42]=" Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section), Captain Clyde Thomson said the Service is as needed now as ever.
      'With shortages of "; S12[42]=" doctors and nurses in rural and remote Australia, the Service continues to provide a vital emergency and routine clinic service to communities that would otherwise "; S13[42]=" have no reliable medical help,' Captain Thomson said.
      'Each year, the Service helps almost 200,000 people living, working and travelling through the "; S14[42]=" Outback.
      'In some areas, up to 40% of our emergency medical evacuations are people from cities travelling in the Outback.' On any "; S15[42]=" day, the Royal Flying Doctor Service treats 540 patients, holds 24 clinics, conducts 71 medical evacuations and flies more than 45,000 kilometres.
      "; S16[42]=" Last year, the South Eastern Section of the RFDS alone flew 3,240,538 kms, the equivalent to flying to the moon and back four times.
  "; S17[42]="     Today, the Service provides not only a 24-hour emergency service but also a primary health care service.
      The RFDS conducts "; S18[42]=" regular health clinics in remote areas in all kinds of conditions and locations including under aircraft wing tips, at homesteads, outstations and mines.
    "; S19[42]="   The RFDS Rural Aerial Health Service transports medical specialists such as cardiologists, ophthalmologists, ear, nose and throat specialists and dermatologists to remote locations.
  "; S20[42]="     The Service also runs a female GP Program providing women in the Outback access to female doctors.
      The RFDS continues "; S21[42]=" to provide medical chests that are like outback pharmacies to people in remote locations.
      There are about 3,500 RFDS medical chests at "; S22[42]=" remote stations, settlements and mines.
      Through links with universities, the Service promotes professional undergraduate and postgraduate training for doctors, nurse and allied "; S23[42]=" health staff.
      Although the RFDS receives operational funding from governments, it relies on community support to fund aircraft and medical equipment purchases.
"; S24[42]="       It costs the RFDS about $7.5 million to buy a new aircraft and another $1.9 million to modify an aircraft to fit "; S25[42]=" three intensive care units... "; R[43]="1797"; T[43]="Families theme for The Country Web"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20030507"; Dt[43]="Wednesday 7 May 2003"; Acats[43]="a46a48a49a53"; B1[43]="      Family life - as seen through the eyes of a cross section of people living in rural NSW - is the main "; B2[43]="feature of the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture s Rural Women s Network... "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      Family life - as seen through the eyes of a cross section of people living in rural NSW - is the main "; S2[43]=" feature of the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture's Rural Women's Network.
      The 31st edition of this popular "; S3[43]=" newsletter profiles a number of personal stories from a mix of family types and highlights serious issues like suicide, child abuse, drugs and child obesity "; S4[43]=" that can confront family members.
      The Country Web Editor, Sylvia Porss, said readers would find the stories of family life interesting because "; S5[43]=" they depicted how different families function and interact.
      'One of the people featured is June Birkett from Crystal Creek who was born "; S6[43]=" in the middle of World War II and together with her family, lived a tough life of poverty,' Ms Porss said.
      'Her "; S7[43]=" mother was a very individual English character, her father was dismissed from both wars for eye problems, and her sister was handicapped.
      "; S8[43]=" Although these family characteristics caused a great deal of discrimination from the community, it also created strong and resilient family bonds.
      'Margaret "; S9[43]=" Francis from Booral suddenly found herself a single parent with the tragic death of her husband from a farming accident.
      But Margaret's "; S10[43]=" positive attitude and great assistance from her in-laws allowed her to keep the farm going while bringing up her two sons.
      'Another "; S11[43]=" story tells of the grief Karen Hutchens from Armidale feels about losing her close relationship with her grandmother because of Alzheimer's Disease, while Yolanda Torrisi "; S12[43]=" from Orange looks back on her wonderful upbringing in a large extended Italian family.' With a readership of around 20,000, The Country Web is an "; S13[43]=" important communication avenue for rural communities, providing access to information and resources.
      The current edition also highlights drought-related Farm Family Gatherings; Contact "; S14[43]=" Inc.'s work with isolated families; and the 'Link Up' network bringing family members of the stolen generation together.
      It includes articles about "; S15[43]=" culturally diverse farming families; the TUFF program supporting parents and carers with young children; and the goodwill of Cobden town and Rotary in organising a "; S16[43]=" free excursion for drought-affected Walgett students.
      Showcased is a special section on 10 years of The Country Web with a look at "; S17[43]=" a decade of achievement from the Rural Women's Network, as well as a profile of the winners of the 2003 RIRDC Rural Women's Award.
  "; S18[43]="     Copies of the 31st edition and previous editions featuring themes of 'Meeting the Challenges' and 'Learning - the sky's the limit' are available "; S19[43]=" from Allison Windus at the Rural Women's Network on 6391 3620 or via the internet at www.agric.nsw.gov.au/rwn... "; R[44]="1793"; T[44]="General store given-away to keep it operating"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20030507"; Dt[44]="Wednesday 7 May 2003"; Acats[44]="a48a65"; B1[44]="      The owners of a general store in country Victoria are offering it free in a bid to keep it open.... "; B2[44]=" "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      The owners of a general store in country Victoria are offering it free in a bid to keep it open.
    "; S2[44]="   Des Robertson has worked in the tiny north-western town of Tempy, 130km south of Mildura and 33km from the nearest main town of Ouyen, "; S3[44]=" for 38 years.
      Heading into retirement, Mr Robertson said after failing to find a buyer for the store he would give "; S4[44]=" it away to keep it operating.
      'My father started here in 1950.
      I have three children, but they've "; S5[44]=" sort of gone their own career paths so there's no succession,' Mr Robertson told AAP.
      'We just couldn't get a buyer.
"; S6[44]="       It's difficult to get people in business to come to a small town.
      'We thought if we're not "; S7[44]=" going to be able to sell it, this may be the only thing to do, we've got nothing to lose.' The Robertsons are giving "; S8[44]=" away all but the freehold, giving the new operator the business and use of the shop and adjoining house free.
      Mr "; S9[44]=" Robertson said the store was profitable in the grain-farming area, with a population 90.
      'The general store is very important because "; S10[44]=" you've got your daily needs - milk, bread and papers,' he said.
      'It's also the post office and we've got the "; S11[44]=" postcode, so we've got to keep that going.
      He said the store also offered the chance to be part of a "; S12[44]=" country community.
      'If you like retail, it's a great opportunity,' Mr Robertson said.
      'You get to know "; S13[44]=" everyone and what they are doing, what their families are doing, whether they've got chicken pox - all that small town stuff,' he said... "; R[45]="1767"; T[45]="Free information package released for small landholders"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20030430"; Dt[45]="Wednesday 30 April 2003"; Acats[45]="a48a53"; B1[45]="      A comprehensive information package for small landholders will be released this Saturday at the Balingup Small Farms Field Day.... "; B2[45]=" "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      A comprehensive information package for small landholders will be released this Saturday at the Balingup Small Farms Field Day.
      "; S2[45]=" Department of Agriculture animal industries project manager Simon Merewether said the free information package would provide small landholders with advice on rural property management.
  "; S3[45]="     'With the number of people purchasing small rural landholdings expected to reach 40,000 by 2005, there is an increasing need for quality and "; S4[45]=" comprehensive information,' he said.
      'The information package, which includes a publication titled 'Biosecurity for Small Landholders' and a 'Small Farm' web page "; S5[45]=" on the Department's website, will offer enormous assistance to small landholders looking to improve their practical knowledge and farm management skills.
      'The "; S6[45]=" idea of owning a small farm or patch of bush is becoming appealing to more and more people, however some landholders don't realise the level "; S7[45]=" of responsibility and commitment associated with owning a rural property.' Mr Merewether said the publication and Small Farm web page provided advice on how landholders "; S8[45]=" could protect their properties from degradation, pests and diseases, and offered practical information on issues such as property planning and management, weed control, and use "; S9[45]=" of chemicals.
      'The website also provides access to Farmnotes, publications, media releases and links to other relevant sites, and contains information on "; S10[45]=" local activities such as field walks and workshops.
      There is also a seasonal calendar to advise landholders when to commence important tasks, "; S11[45]=" such as planting pastures or crops, spraying for weeds, installing firebreaks or pruning fruit trees.' Mr Merewether said the Biosecurity for Small Landholders publication detailed "; S12[45]=" the steps that should be taken to implement biosecurity measures on small landholdings.
      He said biosecurity could protect properties from harmful pests, "; S13[45]=" diseases, weeds and unwanted animals.
      If left unchecked, these problems could devalue a property, spread to adjacent small holdings and commercial properties, "; S14[45]=" and even leave landholders in breach of the law.
      Biosecurity for Small Landholders and the Small Farms web page can be accessed "; S15[45]=" from www.agric.wa.gov.au/smallfarm Biosecurity for Small Landholders will also be available from local offices of the Department of Agriculture... "; R[46]="1753"; T[46]="World launch for Online Family Farm Program"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20030429"; Dt[46]="Tuesday 29 April 2003"; Acats[46]="a46a48a51"; B1[46]="      BEEF 2003 will host the April 30 launch of the world s first international online training program targeted to assist farm family "; B2[46]="businesses cope with the pressures of the 21st century... "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      BEEF 2003 will host the April 30 launch of the world's first international online training program targeted to assist farm family businesses "; S2[46]=" cope with the pressures of the 21st century.
      Department of Primary Industries innovative rural management extension officer John Reeve, Rockhampton, who has "; S3[46]=" helped design the program, said six internationally acknowledged overseas speakers had accepted invitations to address the 8am - 12.30pm session to be held at the "; S4[46]=" Rockhampton State High School Assembly Hall.
      Mr Reeve said the launch of the 12-week course named 'Enterprising rural families making it work' "; S5[46]=" was using online technology to tap into a wealth of material coupled with personal consultation with international trainers.
      Mr Reeve said the "; S6[46]=" course would be coordinated through the University of Wyoming as it had the e-college infrastructure in place.
      Leading the team of experienced "; S7[46]=" educators would be Bill Taylor, a hands-on Wyoming-based educator who has worked with rural communities and in rural youth training programs for many years.
  "; S8[46]="     Mr Taylor and fellow University of Wyoming small business specialist Gail Gordon would address the Beef 2003 program launch.
      Mr "; S9[46]=" Reeve said that the online course was being offered at a cost of $US300 and the Queensland Government's FarmBis had agreed to subsidise the training "; S10[46]=" cost for Queensland primary producers.
      'This course will enable farming families worldwide to learn and share experiences.
      It will "; S11[46]=" better prepare families to appreciate the uniqueness of their family farm operations as opposed to corporate farm businesses.
      'In addition to having "; S12[46]=" online libraries, videos and bulletin boards, there will be access to live chat links to discuss production and marketing issues plus direct consultation with course "; S13[46]=" trainers,' Mr Reeve said.
      The Beef 2003 seminar session entitled 'The Beef Family Business in the 21st Century' was a fitting followup "; S14[46]=" to the successful Beef 2000 seminar that placed a national focus on the future farm family operations and the importance of family relationships.
    "; S15[46]="   Mr Reeve said the international guest speakers had experience in managing rural crises in the UK, US and Canada.
      These crises "; S16[46]=" were the result of weather, livestock disease and industry policy influenced by price protection and freight subsidy changes.
      'Invited speakers are here "; S17[46]=" to outline the role of services that were developed to assist farm families to manage adversity.
      Ken Imhoff has managed the Saskatchewan "; S18[46]=" Ag and Food Farm Stress Line in Canada for nine years, a confidential service designed specifically for farm families.
      'UK farmer, James "; S19[46]=" Morrish, works with the Rural Stress Information Network that supported the farming community through the recent Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic and Charles Griffin, director "; S20[46]=" of the Kansas Rural Family Helpline, has been active in crisis intervention and rural mental health programs.
      'Canadian farm management specialist Dr "; S21[46]=" Lorne Owen has expertise in managing multi-generational farms and has acted as mediator for large family farm enterprises,' Mr Reeve said.
      Mr "; S22[46]=" Reeve said there would be a $30 entry fee for the DPI-sponsored session... "; R[47]="1748"; T[47]="Australian Town Bans Plastic Check-Out Bags"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20030429"; Dt[47]="Tuesday 29 April 2003"; Acats[47]="a42a48"; B1[47]="      One of Tasmania s most popular tourist towns has joined Planet Ark s campaign to reduce Australia s use of plastic bags.
"; B2[47]="      They ve banned them in a bid to help reduce the 7 billion plastic bags that Australians use every year... "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      One of Tasmania's most popular tourist towns has joined Planet Ark's campaign to reduce Australia's use of plastic bags.
      "; S2[47]=" They've banned them in a bid to help reduce the 7 billion plastic bags that Australians use every year.
      Coles Bay, the "; S3[47]=" Tasmanian town adjoining Freycinet National Park has agreed to ban plastic check-out bags in all of its retail outlets.
      It is the "; S4[47]=" first town in Australia to do so.
      Within the next week, it won't even be possible to buy a plastic bag at "; S5[47]=" the checkout.
      As alternatives, retailers are offering a strong reusable paper bag with a handle, for 25c.
      The other "; S6[47]=" alternative on offer is a reusable calico bag selling for $2 - this Planet Ark bag is designed to last for years.
      "; S7[47]=" Coles Bay is one of Tasmania's most popular tourist destinations with over 180,000 Australians visiting it every year.
      As such, 180,000 people "; S8[47]=" every year will experience what it's like to shop with reusable bags instead of one-use plastic check-out bags.
      It's a move that's "; S9[47]=" bound to upset the plastics industry and rightly so.
      Every year, 20 million Australians use 7 billion plastic check-out bags.
    "; S10[47]="   Because of plastic bag litter, thousands of marine animals like whales and turtles die by mistaking plastic bags for food.
      Coles "; S11[47]=" Bay plays host to whales on their annual migration along the eastern seaboard.
      One of the reasons Coles Bay has gone plastic-checkout-bag-free "; S12[47]=" is to protect these whales and to stop the plastic bag littering of the adjoining Freycinet National Park.
      Planet Ark has been "; S13[47]=" working in partnership for months with Coles Bay retailers who have been led in this endeavour by Ben Kearney, the owner of the local bakery.
"; S14[47]="       Planet Ark has provided all Coles Bay residents with free calico bags.
      The message on these bags reads 'Coles "; S15[47]=" Bay - Australia's First Plastic Bag Free Town!' This message will also appear on the road sign that welcomes visitors to the town.
    "; S16[47]="   Both Planet Ark and the town of Coles Bay are hoping that this role model will be adopted by other towns around Australia.
  "; S17[47]="     Help us to get them plastic-bag-free too! Any town or Chamber of Commerce wishing to go plastic-bag-free can contact Planet Ark for advice "; S18[47]=" on 02 9251 3444.
      We want towns to take up 'The Coles Bay Challenge' and help reduce Australia's dependence on the scourge "; S19[47]=" of plastic bags... "; R[48]="1744"; T[48]="Award for rural managers"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20030414"; Dt[48]="Monday 14 April 2003"; Acats[48]="a04a48"; B1[48]="      Regional managers across Queensland are invited to nominate for the 2003 Rural/Remote Manager Award as part of the Australian Institute of Management "; B2[48]="s (AIM) Queensland Management Excellence Awards... "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      Regional managers across Queensland are invited to nominate for the 2003 Rural/Remote Manager Award as part of the Australian Institute of Management's "; S2[48]=" (AIM) Queensland Management Excellence Awards.
      Sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the award recognises managers who live and work outside "; S3[48]=" provincial cities for their invaluable contribution to the economic and social health of their communities, Queensland and Australia.
      According to DPI director-general "; S4[48]=" Warren Hoey, the award was originally launched last year as part of ongoing Year of the Outback festivities.
      'The regional-based awards acknowledged "; S5[48]=" the unique challenges faced by rural and community managers throughout Queensland, who operate a considerable distance from provincial cities.
      'Due to strong "; S6[48]=" industry and government support, the awards have now become an annual, state-wide contested category in the 2003 Management Excellence Awards,' said Dr Hoey.
    "; S7[48]="   Winning contestants from the regions will go into the running to win the state-wide award.
      'It is no secret that many "; S8[48]=" of Queensland's rural managers carry out their fine work while facing remarkable challenges associated with distance and isolation.
      'Without these talented professionals, "; S9[48]=" Queensland's rural industries and communities would not perform at the high standards they currently achieve.
      'The Rural and Remote Manager Award is "; S10[48]=" an effective way of promoting awareness amongst the broader management community of the skilled workforce that operates throughout regional Queensland,' said Dr Hoey.
    "; S11[48]="   The annual awards are held regionally in AIM network areas including Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
      "; S12[48]=" To nominate yourself or an exceptional rural manager you know, visit the DPI website on www.dpi.qld.gov.au or go to the AIM website on www.managementawards.com.au for "; S13[48]=" an application package.
      Alternatively, contact the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23... "; R[49]="1726"; T[49]="Campaign to target farm fatalities"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20030409"; Dt[49]="Wednesday 9 April 2003"; Acats[49]="a04a09a48a51"; B1[49]="      WorkCover Minister Rob Hulls today launched a major campaign to prevent the alarming number of fatalities and injuries among Victoria s older "; B2[49]="farmers... "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      WorkCover Minister Rob Hulls today launched a major campaign to prevent the alarming number of fatalities and injuries among Victoria's older farmers.
"; S2[49]="       Mr Hulls said the Bracks Government campaign - which includes television, radio and press advertising, and a free Think Farm Safety video "; S3[49]=" - was initiated to tackle a disturbing trend, with older farmers dramatically over-represented in the state's workplace death figures.
      'The message the "; S4[49]=" Bracks Government wants to get out is that many farmers have spent their life on the land, but they shouldn't put their life on the "; S5[49]=" line,' Mr Hulls said.
      Mr Hulls said 34 adults with an average age of 57 had died on Victorian farms since 2000.
"; S6[49]="       'Four people have already been killed on farms in Victoria this year, and all of those fatalities involved farmers aged 50 and "; S7[49]=" over,' Mr Hulls said.
      'The latest farm fatality occurred just this week at Barfold in central Victoria when a 79-year-old farmer was "; S8[49]=" run over by a tractor.
      'This death toll is unacceptable.
      That's why the Bracks Government is launching this campaign "; S9[49]=" designed to reduce the number of fatalities occurring in the rural sector, particularly among older farmers.' The campaign asks farmers to consider the potential impact "; S10[49]=" of their work practices on themselves and their family by asking What if suddenly you weren't there? Mr Hulls urged older farmers to take another "; S11[49]=" look at their work practices and to take greater care for their own safety.
      'If you have done the job a thousand "; S12[49]=" times before it can be easy to let your guard down for a minute.
      But a small mistake can have tragic consequences,' "; S13[49]=" Mr Hulls said.
      'We know that we can prevent injuries and deaths on our farms.
      When farmers were being "; S14[49]=" killed in tractor roll-overs, we worked together to find a solution.
      And we succeeded in dramatically reducing the number of fatalities.
  "; S15[49]="     'Now, too many of our older farmers are being killed and injured on our farms.
      'Last year, farmers over 50-years-old "; S16[49]=" accounted for half of Victoria's 12 farm deaths.
      'It's time to put the focus back on safety and I encourage everyone in "; S17[49]=" the rural community to get behind this campaign and help us to turn the situation around,' Mr Hulls said.
      Mr Hulls said "; S18[49]=" the Think Farm Safety video, which highlights the risks involved in farm work, was produced by WorkSafe Victoria in association with the Victorian Farmers Federation.
"; S19[49]="       'The free video, which can be picked up at 78 post offices around the state, shows practical and affordable solutions to improve "; S20[49]=" farm safety,' Mr Hulls said.
      WorkSafe's website - (www.workcover.vic.gov.au) - has details about the campaign as well as up-to-date information and guidance "; S21[49]=" material about how to make farm work safer.
      Farmers wanting more information can also contact their closest WorkSafe office.
      "; S22[49]=" Regional offices are located at Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Shepparton, Traralgon, Wangaratta and Warrnambool... ";