R[0]="609"; T[0]="TAFE revamp to revive trades in Queensland"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20060310"; Dt[0]="Friday 10 March 2006"; Acats[0]="a53a66"; B1[0]="      Queensland's 120-year-old TAFE system will be overhauled and an extra 31,000 training places offered throughout the state, as part of a $1 "; B2[0]="billion plan to tackle skills shortages... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      Queensland's 120-year-old TAFE system will be overhauled and an extra 31,000 training places offered throughout the state, as part of a $1 "; S2[0]=" billion plan to tackle skills shortages.
      The plan comes amid Federal Government warnings that southeast Queensland business must tap into the 300,000 "; S3[0]=" in the region living on allowances and pensions to fill job vacancies.
      Under the plan, a Brisbane-based Trade and Technical Skills "; S4[0]=" Institute will take control of the development of training in the traditional trades of building and construction, automotive, electrical, manufacturing and engineering.
      "; S5[0]=" As reported in The Courier-Mail yesterday, the centrepiece of the Queensland Skills Plan involves fast-tracking competent apprentices into their chosen field by shortening the "; S6[0]=" duration of three-quarters of apprenticeships by up to one year.
      The Opposition, industry and union groups yesterday welcomed the changes, saying "; S7[0]=" they would ensure Queensland was ahead of other states in addressing the growing problem of skills shortages in Australia.
      Employment and "; S8[0]=" Training Minister Tom Barton said the $1 billion plan - which includes $600 million of new funding - would help ensure Queensland was responding to "; S9[0]=" the changing job market.
      'The plan is the most significant package of reforms in more than 40 years to the way "; S10[0]=" Queenslanders access skilling opportunities,' he said.
      Under the 24-point plan, $303 million will be spent upgrading Queensland's 15 TAFE institutes and "; S11[0]=" they will become more commercially focused.
      There will be more co-operation between TAFE colleges, with most specialising in a certain field.
"; S12[0]="       The $138 million Trade and Technical Skills Institute will have campuses in the north and south of Brisbane and will include "; S13[0]=" a 'try me' section where would-be apprentices can go to decide which field they want to specialise in.
      An additional 17,000 "; S14[0]=" trade apprenticeships and 14,000 para-professional positions will be offered by 2010.
      Nearly $160 million will be spent over four years improving "; S15[0]=" the apprenticeship system, while the Government will now review apprentice wages.
      Among the apprenticeships set to be shortened are bricklaying, carpentry, solid "; S16[0]=" plastering and wall and floor tiling, along with some hospitality, hairdressing, textiles, furnishing, engineering and printing courses.
      Australian Manufacturing Workers Union "; S17[0]=" state secretary Andrew Dettmer said the reforms would encourage more people to consider a trade as a career.
      'At the moment "; S18[0]=" a first-year apprentice is paid less than $300 a week .
      .
      .
      they could get "; S19[0]=" more working in a supermarket,' he said.
      Australian Industry Group's Andrew Craig also welcomed reforms to TAFE, saying the system had "; S20[0]=" not been working well.
      Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the Coalition would support the initiatives and congratulated the Government for focusing "; S21[0]=" on the skills shortage.
      Federal Workforce Participation Minister Sharman Stone yesterday told an industry breakfast in Brisbane that Australia's labour shortage "; S22[0]=" would worsen over the next five years.
      'There is a substantial untapped labour supply in the Brisbane region,' she said.
  "; S23[0]="     'Currently the number of working-age people in receipt of allowances and pensions in Brisbane and the surrounding Moreton region is over 300,000.
"; S24[0]="       'This is nearly one-fifth of the working-age population.' Dr Stone said business would need to recruit and retain workers from "; S25[0]=" this target group if they were to remain competitive and economically viable.
      'The workforce of the future will be more diverse "; S26[0]=" and will consist of older workers, more parents, more people with disabilities and more people wanting to work part-time,' she said.
      "; S27[0]=" 'The challenge to business and government will be to find creative responses in order to attract and retain workers.'.. "; R[1]="602"; T[1]="Desert Uplands field days target economic benefits"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20060308"; Dt[1]="Wednesday 8 March 2006"; Acats[1]="a02a53a72"; B1[1]="      Economic benefits of improving land condition and developing property infrastructure will be outlined to Desert Uplands landholders at three field days in "; B2[1]="late June... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      Economic benefits of improving land condition and developing property infrastructure will be outlined to Desert Uplands landholders at three field days in "; S2[1]=" late June.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries sustainable grazing systems extension officer Jill Aisthorpe and rangelands scientist Paul Jones, both from "; S3[1]=" Emerald, are on track to complete the three-year Safe Carrying Capacity project funded by the Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre.
      The Desert "; S4[1]=" Uplands covers some 75,000 square kilometres in a region bounded by Alpha, Blackall, Barcaldine, Pentland, Charters Towers and Clermont.
      Ms Aisthorpe said "; S5[1]=" 10 Desert Uplands grazing enterprises were used to develop the computerised carrying capacity models to deliver paddock by paddock information to ensure long term industry "; S6[1]=" sustainability.
      'Preparations are being put into place to hold field days on June 20, 21 and 22 at sites within the northern, "; S7[1]=" central and southern sectors of the Desert Uplands to wrap up the project on June 30,' Ms Aisthorpe said.
      'A great deal "; S8[1]=" of our field work to develop computerised carrying capacity models has been collated from on-the-ground observations relating to variable land types, land condition, infrastructure and "; S9[1]=" climatic conditions.
      'All testing to date indicates that the models have accurately matched landholder predictions,' Ms Aisthorpe said.
      'Our "; S10[1]=" team is confident that the calibrated models will provide a useful management tool that can be used to quantify the likely economic benefits of property "; S11[1]=" development or land condition improvement.' Ms Aisthorpe said the Desert Uplands represented a key bioregion as much of the woodland was intact.
      "; S12[1]=" A loss of perennial grasses and soil erosion in some areas had been linked to overly optimistic assessments of long term 'safe' carrying capacity.
  "; S13[1]="     The June field days will demonstrate the benefits of implementing sustainable management practices based on realistic stocking rate estimates to support a viable "; S14[1]=" livestock business.
      The field day venues will be publicised at a later date... "; R[2]="597"; T[2]="Rural hurdles to education"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20060307"; Dt[2]="Tuesday 7 March 2006"; Acats[2]="a48a53"; B1[2]="      Children living in rural and remote Australia are the 'silent victims of the drought', whose access to education is restricted by their "; B2[2]="isolation and financial circumstances... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      Children living in rural and remote Australia are the 'silent victims of the drought', whose access to education is restricted by their "; S2[2]=" isolation and financial circumstances.
      These young Australians face numerous hurdles in their education - from primary through to tertiary, according to a "; S3[2]=" new report highlighting the impact of the drought on students.
      The paper reveals that students are missing school to help with farm "; S4[2]=" work, turning up to school hungry, and being forced by financial pressures to drop out of university.
      'At all levels there are "; S5[2]=" barriers that shouldn't be there for rural and remote areas,' said the report's co-author, Professor Margaret Alston, of NSW's Charles Sturt University.
      "; S6[2]=" 'It's very serious, because we are looking for skilled labour in rural areas, but we're putting barriers in the way of kids getting an education.' "; S7[2]=" The paper was based on a survey of 21 boarding schools and interviews with several hundred people in seven remote communities in the mainland eastern "; S8[2]=" states, including Cohuna and Kerang in Victoria... "; R[3]="586"; T[3]="Professional development day for State's livestock experts"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20060306"; Dt[3]="Monday 6 March 2006"; Acats[3]="a31a53"; B1[3]="      WA livestock experts will attend a professional development day in Perth later this month as part of a push to sustain skilled "; B2[3]="trainers for the State's livestock sector... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      WA livestock experts will attend a professional development day in Perth later this month as part of a push to sustain skilled "; S2[3]=" trainers for the State's livestock sector.
      Extension officers, farmers and consultants from across the State will attend the Professional Development day "; S3[3]=" on March 24 in Guildford.
      During the day they'll be introduced to the EDGEnetwork training program and have a chance to build "; S4[3]=" their professional networks and learn about topics such as communication methods, behavioural styles, and how to motivate learners.
      As well as presentations "; S5[3]=" by local speakers, the group will be addressed by interstate guests including livestock consultant Brian Ashton, of Rural Solutions South Australia, Leadership Management Australia's John "; S6[3]=" Denton and Meat & Livestock Australia producer capacity building project officer Hilary Heffernan.
      The Professional Development (PD) day is an initiative of "; S7[3]=" farm improvement group Kondinin Group.
      The Kondinin Group facilitates the EDGEnetwork in WA - a national training program which, through practical "; S8[3]=" workshops and learning programs, helps farming families and businesses improve the skills and knowledge needed to manage their livestock enterprises more profitably and sustainably.
  "; S9[3]="     The EDGEnetwork is delivered by WA specialists with vast field experience in the livestock industry and since its inception four years ago more "; S10[3]=" than 300 WA livestock producers have attended a course.
      PD day coordinator and Kondinin Group training manager Ken Foote said the "; S11[3]=" PD day was one way of helping current EDGEnetwork trainers improve their professional skills and introduce potential deliverers to the network.
      Mr "; S12[3]=" Foote said EDGEnetwork deliverers provided training to what was an extremely dynamic and fast-evolving industry.
      'For our livestock producers to remain at "; S13[3]=" the top of their game, it's up to us as industry specialists to remain one step ahead as well,' he said.
      Elizabeth "; S14[3]=" Brown, a livestock specialist based in Geraldton, said training programs such as EDGEnetwork were critical to improving productivity on WA farms.
      Ms "; S15[3]=" Brown, who has been delivering EDGEnetwork workshops for three years, said knowledge about livestock had 'skipped a generation' within the farming community.
      "; S16[3]=" She said many younger producers had had little experience in pastures and livestock and their role in a mixed-farm enterprise.
      'As trainers "; S17[3]=" I think we have a real role to play in filling this gap.
      The livestock production sector has come a long way "; S18[3]=" in recent years and it's important that there's a conduit between those advancements and our producers.' Ms Brown said she also found her role as "; S19[3]=" a deliverer very rewarding, professionally and personally.
      'Particularly when you deliver a longer course, such as PROGRAZE, you see the changes "; S20[3]=" happening on-farms as producers progress through the course - and they see it as well,' Mrs Brown said.
      'I've also found the "; S21[3]=" communication and presentation skills I've learnt as a deliverer has helped in other professional roles.' Those interested in more information about the EDGEnetwork or the "; S22[3]=" PD day should contact Kondinin Group on 1800 200 798, or email training@kondinin.com.au.
      The EDGEnetwork is an initiative of Meat & Livestock "; S23[3]=" Australia and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
      More than 10,000 producers across Australia have taken part in an EDGEnetwork workshop since "; S24[3]=" the program began more than five years ago... "; R[4]="575"; T[4]="Science competition draws interest"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20060303"; Dt[4]="Friday 3 March 2006"; Acats[4]="a53a54"; B1[4]="      Queensland and interstate schools are keenly interested in this year's Hermitage Research Station Schools Plant Science Competition that asks students to measure "; B2[4]="and record how much water plants use... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      Queensland and interstate schools are keenly interested in this year's Hermitage Research Station Schools Plant Science Competition that asks students to measure "; S2[4]=" and record how much water plants use.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries competition organiser Kerrie Rubie said she had distributed 484 "; S3[4]=" competition kits to schools throughout Queensland and in NSW.
      Ms Rubie said of the 69 schools requesting the kits, 25 were new "; S4[4]=" to the competition.
      She said the competition supported Education Queensland's school science curriculum, and was popular with teachers, and students who enjoyed "; S5[4]=" the required observation, recording and practical activities.
      'In this year's competition, students from Years 1 to 12 are asked to plant mungbean "; S6[4]=" and sorghum seed in pots and undertake an experiment to record how much water the plants use.
      'Students can add their "; S7[4]=" own garden plants to the experiment if they are curious about their water needs.
      'Students are also required to observe and record "; S8[4]=" plant growth, complete a case study and do some extra research into issues facing Australians growing plants in a variable climate,' Ms Rubie said.
  "; S9[4]="     If asked, DPI&F staff would aim to visit competing schools to discuss the experiment and science as a career, she said.
    "; S10[4]="   'Prizes for each category include cash, books, CD ROMs, certificates and trophies, and will be presented in June at the Hermitage Research Station.
  "; S11[4]="     'The Australian Mungbean Association, Queensland Country Life, the CRC for Tropical Plant Protection, the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Hylan Seed "; S12[4]=" Company and Dr and Mrs Joe Baker are again sponsors of the competition,' Ms Rubie said.
      Ms Rubie said any schools wishing "; S13[4]=" to participate in the 2006 competition should contact her (4660 3601 or kerrie.rubie@dpi.qld.gov.au) as soon as possible to receive a free planting kit and finish "; S14[4]=" the project by May 19... "; R[5]="574"; T[5]="Asbestos buried under more than 100 schools in NSW"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20060303"; Dt[5]="Friday 3 March 2006"; Acats[5]="a09a53"; B1[5]="      It has been revealed more than 100 schools across New South Wales still have asbestos buried in their playgrounds.... "; B2[5]=" "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      It has been revealed more than 100 schools across New South Wales still have asbestos buried in their playgrounds.
      "; S2[5]=" The State Education Department has instructed the schools to water down their contaminated fields to prevent asbestos fibres blowing into the air.
      "; S3[5]=" NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt says all precautions are being taken 'As soon as asbestos is discovered at any school the area is cordoned off "; S4[5]=" and it's remediated by licensed experts,' she said.
      'This work is done in compliance with Workcover requirements, it includes the removal of "; S5[5]=" asbestos material, covering the area with topsoil and grass and then watering as a final stage.' Bargo Public is Sydney's south-west is one of the "; S6[5]=" schools affected by asbestos contamination.
      Their local member, Opposition frontbencher Peta Seaton, says the Government is taking short cuts that threaten children's "; S7[5]=" health by leaving asbestos in the grounds.
      'Labor has our kids sitting on a health time bomb,' she said.
      "; S8[5]=" Sharon Canty from the Parents and Citizens Federation says the situation is disturbing.
      'As a parent and as a parent body it "; S9[5]=" is of some concern,' she said.
      'I suppose the main issue is that governments need to make sure they're managing it properly "; S10[5]=" and that the responsibility is not falling on principals, and that the right people are looking into it and making sure it is a safe "; S11[5]=" and secure site for children, parents and teachers to be.
      Workcover says it does not believe any children or staff at schools "; S12[5]=" are at risk from asbestos exposure but it is willing to investigate any particular concerns Bargo Public school has.
      Workcover's general manager "; S13[5]=" of occupational health and safety, John Waston, says digging up asbestos is not always the best solution.
      'It's a balancing situation of "; S14[5]=" whether you potentially increase exposure by removal or indeed add material to the surface of the area to prevent exposure,' he said... "; R[6]="568"; T[6]="Program unlocks the potential of future rural leaders"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20060302"; Dt[6]="Thursday 2 March 2006"; Acats[6]="a49a53"; B1[6]="      The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer with its popular Building Rural Leaders program planned to begin in "; B2[6]="Bundaberg on March 28... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer with its popular Building Rural Leaders program planned to begin in "; S2[6]=" Bundaberg on March 28.
      DPI&F rural development officer Pamela McAllister said positions were still available in the course for people who wanted "; S3[6]=" to develop confidence and skills for a successful future.
      Ms McAllister said the Building Rural Leaders program gave participants the opportunity to "; S4[6]=" realise their potential through an intensive personal development program that had already inspired more than 1,000 Queenslanders.
      'Our greatest resource for growing "; S5[6]=" industries and communities is our people and their potential.
      We are looking for participants who wish to develop themselves, their business, industry "; S6[6]=" and community,' she said.
      'Individual participants grow and develop as they gain knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to promote positive change for "; S7[6]=" themselves and others.' Graduates of the program have gone on to make a real impact in rural communities, and include success stories such as a "; S8[6]=" drought-affected lucerne grower who now heads a $60 million herb growing facility, or the young single mother who gained the confidence to move from the "; S9[6]=" packing shed floor to be an active member of the local horticulture industry board.
      'Building Rural Leaders offers the motivation and "; S10[6]=" self-development participants need to unlock their own potential.
      Communities gain committed and knowledgeable citizens who create real and positive change.
    "; S11[6]="   New networks between the public and private sectors develop new initiatives that meet genuine community needs.' The Building Rural Leaders program kicks-off in "; S12[6]=" Bundaberg on March 28.
      For more information about the program, including how to enrol, contact Pamela McAllister on 1800 356 621... "; R[7]="534"; T[7]="Nation's libraries at your fingertips"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20060227"; Dt[7]="Monday 27 February 2006"; Acats[7]="a46a53"; B1[7]="      Australian's will be able to look up library books online and order pages to be emailed to them, under a sweeping revamp "; B2[7]="of access to public libraries... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      Australian's will be able to look up library books online and order pages to be emailed to them, under a sweeping revamp "; S2[7]=" of access to public libraries.
      The new program, to be launched today by Communications Minister Helen Coonan, will open up access to "; S3[7]=" 40 million items from 800 libraries across Australia.
      From today, people will be able to log-on to a central website, and "; S4[7]=" use a search engine similar to Google, to find what resources are available on a given topic.
      The book can either "; S5[7]=" be sent out on loan by post, or selected pages photocopied or emailed.
      It is part of a scheme to make "; S6[7]=" libraries more accessible to the community, particularly those in rural and remote areas.
      Director-general of the National Library Jan Fullerton said "; S7[7]=" it was an Australian first.
      'Libraries have continually been at the forefront of technology to improve the way people find the "; S8[7]=" information they need,' she said.
      'It puts the individual looking for the information in charge of their search, rather than a "; S9[7]=" librarian.' The new service will cover all collections including books, journals, newspapers, magazines, pictures and manuscripts.
      Assistant director-general Tony Boston "; S10[7]=" said there were more than 600,000 items that were available instantly online.
      'Libraries are increasingly digitising their collections, and there's about "; S11[7]=" 600,000 items that you have access to straight away including unique material, pictures, historical photographs and rare historical maps,' he said.
      "; S12[7]=" 'For other things, it would take a few days to get .
      .
      .
      sent out.
"; S13[7]="       'Making this service freely available is an important step.
      You can use it from Broome to Davenport, to "; S14[7]=" find out which libraries hold a particular item.
      Through your library you can borrow a copy of a book, have it photocopied "; S15[7]=" or emailed, up to 10 per cent of the content, or buy it through our website.' The email option would cost $13 per 50 "; S16[7]=" pages sent.
      Copyright laws dictate that only 10 per cent of a published work can be copied.
      Mr "; S17[7]=" Boston said that common use of Internet search engines had empowered people in searching for their own information, and had led to the model for "; S18[7]=" this new service.
      'We've tried to emulate the internet search engines like Google, where you can search and then narrow in "; S19[7]=" on your search,' he said.
      Access to the new search engine is available through the National Library of Australia's website at "; S20[7]=" www.nla.gov.au/librariesaustralia.. "; R[8]="494"; T[8]="Australian vintage for young Japanese winemaker"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20060222"; Dt[8]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[8]="a13a53"; B1[8]="      A young winemaker described as one of the most talented in Japan s developing wine industry will arrive in Adelaide on Sunday, "; B2[8]="February 12 for a two-month long visit as part of the international Year of Exchange between Australia and Japan... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      A young winemaker described as one of the most talented in Japan's developing wine industry will arrive in Adelaide on Sunday, February "; S2[8]=" 12 for a two-month long visit as part of the international Year of Exchange between Australia and Japan.
      Mr Seiji Akao, 32, "; S3[8]=" assistant winemaker at the Tsuno Winery, in Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Kyushu, will visit Australian wine regions at the invitation of the Australian Wine and Brandy "; S4[8]=" Corporation and undertake a vintage at Hardy Wine Company's Tintara Winery from February 20 to mid-April 2006.
      'From a wine sector perspective, "; S5[8]=" we can think of no better way to strengthen the ties between Australia and Japan than by offering a young winemaker the opportunity to experience "; S6[8]=" vintage in Australia,' said the Corporation's CEO Mr Sam Tolley, who is on the Executive Committee of the 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange.
    "; S7[8]="   'The aim is to promote friendship, deeper mutual understanding and cooperation between Australia and Japan through bilateral exchanges, collaborative activities and events in a "; S8[8]=" wide range of areas including the arts, culture and tourism,' Mr Tolley said.
      'An exchange such as this provides Australia's wine sector "; S9[8]=" with an opportunity to participate in the program at a time when there will be a real Japanese focus on Australia and what we have "; S10[8]=" to offer, and we thank the Hardy Wine Company for their support for Mr Akao.' Hardy Wine Company CEO and Managing Director, Mr David Woods "; S11[8]=" reiterated Mr Tolley's endorsement of the exchange.
      'Australian wine exports to Japan are currently growing at 20%, and as the largest Australian "; S12[8]=" wine supplier to this important emerging market, we are delighted to be hosting Mr Akao.
      'Based at our premium red winemaking facility "; S13[8]=" in McLaren Vale, Mr Akao will gain first-hand experience working at a world-class facility, producing quality, regional wine for world markets,' Mr Woods said.
  "; S14[8]="     Mr Akao, who says he wants to visit the major winemaking areas in Australia and reflect this experience back into his own winemaking, "; S15[8]=" comes from a wine region regarded as especially challenging due to its high rainfall and poor quality soils.
      However, Tsuno Winery, perched "; S16[8]=" high in the hills north of Miyazaki city, is considered a bright spot among Japan's 150 wineries and has been ranked third 'New Up-and-Coming Producer' "; S17[8]=" amongst all wineries in Asia.
      Its Campbell Early rose wine was chosen by the UK's Wine Report 2004 as one of the "; S18[8]=" world's 100 most exciting wines, defying the conventional wisdom that the Japanese climate is not suitable to create quality wine.
      Grapes have "; S19[8]=" been grown in Miyazaki for about 50 years with the Campbell Early variety, initially grown as an eating grape, one of the first.
    "; S20[8]="   Mr Akao also grows chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and Muscat Bailey A.
      Trials with shiraz have been difficult although, following cues from.. "; R[9]="473"; T[9]="Nature lessons make children smarter, fitter"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20060222"; Dt[9]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[9]="a05a53"; B1[9]="      Since they began birdwatching, worm farming and gardening during their school day, St Helens Park public school students grades have soared..... "; B2[9]=" "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      Since they began birdwatching, worm farming and gardening during their school day, St Helens Park public school students' grades have soared.
  "; S2[9]="     Spotting echidnas and monitoring the health of local rivers near Campbelltown have done wonders for their maths and English marks.
      "; S3[9]=" The students are beating the state average in the Basic Skills Test and their teachers and parents are reporting all-time high levels of engagement in "; S4[9]=" class.
      Led by its principal Andrew Best, the school is at the forefront of an international movement to restore contact between city "; S5[9]=" children and nature.
      Advocates say that if cities were more child-friendly and encouraging of a back-to-nature approach, children would learn more easily "; S6[9]=" and they would be less likely to be overweight or need to take drugs such as Ritalin.
      Australian and international experts in "; S7[9]=" environment and behaviour studies attended a conference at the University of Sydney at the weekend to discuss the theme of child-friendly cities.
      "; S8[9]=" A professor of landscape architecture at North Carolina State University, Robin Moore, said children had lost touch with nature as formal child care, computer games "; S9[9]=" and parents' fear of abduction kept them indoors.
      'In just two and a half decades kids have stopped going outdoors, and outdoors "; S10[9]=" is where they need to be to get enough exercise to keep them in good fit condition.
      Especially if you link that "; S11[9]=" with bad diets, it's a toxic mix,' Dr Moore said.
      While playground equipment has its place, he said, studies show it limits "; S12[9]=" physical activity because children cluster together.
      The best kind of outdoor play is where children explore natural environments.
      Parents "; S13[9]=" and teachers did not need to visit the country to give children this experience, he said.
      Tree-filled local parks would do.
  "; S14[9]="     In the US, children's museums with outdoor play spaces are popular, while in Europe professional play teams co-ordinate some children's play.
    "; S15[9]="   '[If we don't do this] the children are going to start dying before the parents and countries are going to be investing horrendous amounts "; S16[9]=" of money into healthcare systems … beginning in early childhood,' Dr Moore said.
      A PhD student at Monash University's department of psychology, "; S17[9]=" Kathleen Bagot, is studying how contact with nature affects children's health and wellbeing.
      Her research shows that children who spent their lunchtime "; S18[9]=" in the playground were mentally and physically fitter than those who spent it in the library.
      None of this is news to "; S19[9]=" Mr Best, whose first project at St Helens Park was planting native trees to attract the endangered Regent Honeyeater.
      Most recently the "; S20[9]=" school has built a frog pond and uses an outdoor amphitheatre for art and drama classes.
      'It isn't the tidiest area,' he.. "; R[10]="464"; T[10]="Turning water into $600m for Education"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20060222"; Dt[10]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[10]="a04a05a40a53"; B1[10]="      Run-down Victorian public schools will receive their largest ever injection of funds as a result of the privatisation of the Snowy River "; B2[10]="hydro scheme... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      Run-down Victorian public schools will receive their largest ever injection of funds as a result of the privatisation of the Snowy River "; S2[10]=" hydro scheme.
      The state will spend nearly all of the $600-$700 million from the sale of its stake in the scheme on "; S3[10]=" a capital works package to rebuild or upgrade school buildings widely described as the worst in the country.
      The money will go "; S4[10]=" to up to 100 new and modernised schools, with a specific focus on decaying 1950s schools in disadvantaged areas.
      The decision to "; S5[10]=" spend the Snowy proceeds on schools follows revelations in The Age last October about the state of Victorian schools, including the claim by education expert "; S6[10]=" Professor Brian Caldwell that they were the worst in the developed world.
      The funding package won support from teachers, principals and parent "; S7[10]=" groups.
      But Victoria's independent schools said the four-year package 'discriminated' against their schools by not allocating them funding.
      The "; S8[10]=" State Government said the deal also guaranteed an earlier agreement between Victoria and NSW that the Snowy River flow would be increased to 21 per "; S9[10]=" cent by 2012 and 28 per cent in the longer term.
      This was legally binding and could not be changed without Victoria's "; S10[10]=" consent, it said.
      The decision by Victoria to join NSW and the Federal Government in selling off the power company has opened "; S11[10]=" the way for a massive public float.
      One analyst said the sale could fetch between $2.5 and $2.9 billion.
      "; S12[10]=" Victoria's hand was forced after majority-shareholder NSW decided to sell its 58 per cent stake in the scheme.
      The Federal Government last "; S13[10]=" week agreed to sell its 13 per cent.
      Premier Steve Bracks said that if Victoria retained its 29 per cent share it "; S14[10]=" would have been unable to secure the water or environmental rights.
      He said education was the Government's No.
      1 "; S15[10]=" priority, dismissing suggestions the money could have been better spent on health or the controversial Mitcham-Frankston freeway.
      'Just as the Snowy scheme "; S16[10]=" was an iconic scheme for Australia … we're using the proceeds of that to invest in the foundations of a whole generation of Victorians,' he "; S17[10]=" said.
      While the Victorian Government points out it has spent more than $1.4 billion on capital works on schools since 1999, experts "; S18[10]=" from all corners of politics agree that many of the state's 1600 schools face generations of neglect.
      The poor quality of school "; S19[10]=" buildings have also drawn criticism from the Australian Education Union, the Auditor- General's office as well as teachers and principals... "; R[11]="463"; T[11]="Theodore grazing workshop sets goals"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20060222"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[11]="a02a24a25a26a27a53a54a72"; B1[11]="      A mix of established Theodore district cattle producers with a wealth of local experience and others who are relatively new to the "; B2[11]="region will develop best practice Grazing Land Management (GLM) plans during the next six months... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      A mix of established Theodore district cattle producers with a wealth of local experience and others who are relatively new to the "; S2[11]=" region will develop best practice Grazing Land Management (GLM) plans during the next six months.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries grazing "; S3[11]=" lands extension officer Caroline Sandral said 14 participants from Theodore, Wandoan and north to Thangool took part in four day (February 1-2 and 8-9) GLM "; S4[11]=" workshop.
      Ms Sandral said the EDGEnetwork Fitzroy GLM workshop drew on the beef and pasture productivity expertise of experienced DPI&F extension officers "; S5[11]=" to assist rural landholders incorporate natural resource management objectives into future property development improvement plans.
      'When we pool this landholder and extension "; S6[11]=" knowledge, all participants have an opportunity to tailor their grazing land management options to determine the optimum carrying capacity matched to each paddock on their "; S7[11]=" property,' Ms Sandral said.
      Workshop participants Terry and Megan Dunne bought the cattle property Shawlands 60km east of Theodore in October last "; S8[11]=" year.
      Being new to the region, they now have a better understanding of their land and soil types and the know-how to "; S9[11]=" monitor pasture yields and work out a forage budget.
      Ms Sandral said that in six months, the Theodore group would meet again "; S10[11]=" for a one-day session to reassess their property development plans.
      'Grazing management planning involves fencing off land types to ensure better utilisation "; S11[11]=" of pasture burning to improve pasture species composition and woody weed control combined with wet season spelling and use of NRIS (Near Infra-red Spectroscopy) as "; S12[11]=" a means of measuring pasture nutritional value,' Ms Sandral said.
      Ms Sandral said the Central Region was fortunate to be able to "; S13[11]=" access the knowledge and experience of DPI&F's sustainable grazing systems extension officers Jill Aisthorpe (Emerald), Col Paton (Gayndah), Bill Schulke (Bundaberg) and John Chamberlain (Clermont) "; S14[11]=" to assist with the GLM workshop presentation.
      Ms Sandral said plans were in hand for a GLM workshop in the Emerald area "; S15[11]=" in early May and cattle producer inquiries were welcomed.
      GLM has been funded through the Australian Government's National Action Plan for Water "; S16[11]=" Quality and Salinity... "; R[12]="459"; T[12]="Program unlocks the potential of future rural leaders"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20060222"; Dt[12]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[12]="a05a53"; B1[12]="      If your new year s resolution for 2006 is to embark on some life changing activities, but you don t know where "; B2[12]="to start, then the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      If your new year's resolution for 2006 is to embark on some life changing activities, but you don't know where to start, "; S2[12]=" then the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer.
      The department is hosting its highly successful Building Rural Leaders "; S3[12]=" program in North Queensland in March.
      The Building Rural Leaders program gives participants the opportunity to realise their potential through an intensive "; S4[12]=" personal development program that has already inspired more than 1,000 Queenslanders.
      'Our greatest resource for growing industries and communities is our people "; S5[12]=" and their potential.
      We are looking for participants who wish to develop themselves, their business, industry and community,' DPI&F rural development officer "; S6[12]=" Pamela McAllister said.
      Ms McAllister will be in North Queensland on February 13-16 to speak to prospective participants and meetings with her "; S7[12]=" can be arranged by calling the DPI&F Townsville office on 47 222 688.
      'Individual participants grow and develop as they gain knowledge, "; S8[12]=" skills, confidence and motivation to promote positive change for themselves and others.' Graduates of the program have gone on to make a real impact in "; S9[12]=" rural communities, and include success stories such as a drought-affected lucerne grower who now heads a $60 million herb growing facility, or the young single "; S10[12]=" mother who gained the confidence to move from the packing shed floor to be an active members of the local horticulture industry board.
    "; S11[12]="   'Building Rural Leaders offers the motivation and self-development participants need to unlock their own potential.
      Communities gain committed and knowledgeable citizens "; S12[12]=" who create real and positive change.
      New networks between the public and private sectors develop new initiatives that meet genuine community needs.' "; S13[12]=" The Building Rural Leaders program kicks-off in the Burdekin on March 7, before moving to Ingham and Townsville later in the year.
      "; S14[12]=" For more information about the program, including how to enrol, log on or contact Pamela McAllister on 1800 356 621... "; R[13]="429"; T[13]="Ambitious Young Farmer Awarded CASE IH 2006 Scholarship"; A[13]="By ... Case IH"; Dn[13]="20060222"; Dt[13]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[13]="a01a05a53"; B1[13]="      With a strong field of applicants for this year s Development Scholarship Program at Victoria s Marcus Oldham College, New South Wales "; B2[13]="farmer, Tim Chaffey, was one of two people awarded the $6,500 Case IH scholarship to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Management... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      With a strong field of applicants for this year's Development Scholarship Program at Victoria's Marcus Oldham College, New South Wales farmer, Tim "; S2[13]=" Chaffey, was one of two people awarded the $6,500 Case IH scholarship to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Management.
      Mark Lindner, Business "; S3[13]=" Manager for Case IH, said that the pool of applicants gets stronger every year.
      'This is the third year we've run the "; S4[13]=" scholarship program and it's great to see so many talented and enthusiastic young people keen to be part of the industry,' Mark said.
    "; S5[13]="   'With our industry facing a skills shortage, it's important for everyone to get behind the industry and to do what they can to encourage "; S6[13]=" more young people to work on the land.' Tim, 22, grew up on a 1,500-acre mixed cattle and cropping farm at Attunga, north of Tamworth, "; S7[13]=" New South Wales.
      Tim has spent the past year gaining experience on the Hereford stud 'Yarram Park' at Willaura in western Victoria.
"; S8[13]="       'Working on 'South Bunarba' Mungindi, New South Wales I also had the opportunity to learn a lot about cropping, but I didn't "; S9[13]=" know a lot about cattle and sheep so the past year has given me an opportunity to broaden by rural skills and knowledge.' However Tim's "; S10[13]=" dream is to work with the new technology that is becoming available for cropping.
      'I'm really fascinated with where cropping is going.
"; S11[13]="       With technologies such as GPS mapping and navigation systems currently used to improve crop yields and cutting the costs of producing them, "; S12[13]=" I think that in 20 years time, we will see the introduction of even more advanced technologies and I'm keen to be a part of "; S13[13]=" this development,' Tim said.
      Although the $6,500 scholarship funds will make Tim's life easier, the real benefit is the opportunity to work "; S14[13]=" closely with a major machinery company such as Case IH, Tim says.
      'The opportunity of developing industry contacts for the future is "; S15[13]=" invaluable,' he said... "; R[14]="419"; T[14]="Wine grape growers to receive urgent training services"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20060222"; Dt[14]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[14]="a13a53"; B1[14]="      The South Australian Wine Industry Association, supported by FarmBis, has responded to a call for more training services for wine grape growers "; B2[14]="across the state... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      The South Australian Wine Industry Association, supported by FarmBis, has responded to a call for more training services for wine grape growers "; S2[14]=" across the state.
      A training plan for the wine grape growing sector has been developed after the association surveyed 560 growers across "; S3[14]=" the state to help identify the training, information and skills needed to help them run a viable business.
      According to chief executive "; S4[14]=" of the South Australian Wine Industry Association, Linda Bowes, a key finding of the survey was that the uptake of business management training by growers "; S5[14]=" is currently very low.
      'In the current economic climate where prices and margins are being squeezed, growers need to be able to "; S6[14]=" analyse their business inputs and outputs to maximise their returns and maintain a viable business,' Ms Bowes said.
      Of the 560 growers "; S7[14]=" surveyed, 35 per cent said they felt some form of training would make a difference to their business.
      Vine health and nutrition "; S8[14]=" and water management were found to be popular topics of interest along with, marketing, organic methods, quality assurance, contacts and legal issues and occupational health "; S9[14]=" and safety.
      Ms Bowes said the training plan, which will be supported by FarmBis funding, will be of immense value to South "; S10[14]=" Australian wine grape growers.
      'The survey showed that growers prefer to received access to training at local venues during May to June, "; S11[14]=" while also expressing a desire for trainers with both good communication skills and practical, first-hand knowledge and experience.' 'Growers would also like training course costs "; S12[14]=" to remain affordable and would like to have accesses to research information,' she said.
      The State and Federal Governments have contributed a "; S13[14]=" total of $14 million to fund the FarmBis program in South Australia to 2008 and since 1999 the program has helped more than 23,000 individual "; S14[14]=" South Australian producers to improve their management skills.
      The chair of the South Australian FarmBis State Planning Group, Laura Fell said, 'training "; S15[14]=" has far-reaching benefits.' 'The Centre for Research and Learning in Regional Australia has found that farmers who attend one or more training sessions each year "; S16[14]=" have a higher gross operating surplus than those who don't attend,' said Ms Fell.
      'With the many challenges primary producers are facing, "; S17[14]=" we need to keep on improving our management skills to stay competitive,' said Ms Fell, who is a chicken meat producer on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
"; S18[14]="       A professional team of networkers has been appointed by FarmBis in South Australia to help bridge the gap between training providers and "; S19[14]=" primary producers.
      The three Networkers focus on making sure quality training is available for farmers, fishers and land managers by working closely "; S20[14]=" with industry, government agencies, community organisations, research and extension sectors, and professional training providers.
      To make training.. "; R[15]="408"; T[15]="Canberra goes Heywire with RIRDC and the ABC"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20060222"; Dt[15]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[15]="a05a53"; B1[15]="      Heywire is an ABC Radio award scheme for regional and rural youth aged between 16 and 22 years..... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      Heywire is an ABC Radio award scheme for regional and rural youth aged between 16 and 22 years.
      In "; S2[15]=" 2005 over 800 young people from around Australia submitted a radio story about what life is like for them living in regional Australia.
    "; S3[15]="   38 winners were chosen from ABC regional radio locations around Australia.
      Their stories have been produced by the ABC for broadcast "; S4[15]=" throughout Australia.
      The Heywire winners are travelling to Canberra to take part in the Heywire Youth Issues Forum, held at the Australian "; S5[15]=" Institute of Sport from Sunday 5 to Friday 10 February 2006.
      Highlights of the Forum include the further exploration of the issues "; S6[15]=" of importance for regional and rural youth, visits to Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial, living alongside the athletes in training at the AIS "; S7[15]=" and the final celebration and issuing of certificates at the Heywire Presentation Dinner on Thursday.
      Heywire and the Heywire Youth Issues Forum "; S8[15]=" are made possible with support from the the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation as well the Australian Sports Commission and the Departments of Agriculture, "; S9[15]=" Fisheries and Forestry Transport and Regional Services Family and Community Services and Health and Ageing... "; R[16]="407"; T[16]="Marketing Research: Individual Words"; A[16]="By ... James D. Brausch"; Dn[16]="20060222"; Dt[16]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[16]="a04a05a08a46a53"; B1[16]="      We all know that phrases like Who else wants to know in a headline can improve our sales.
      Have "; B2[16]="you ever thought about the individual words and their impact on your profitability?.. "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      We all know that phrases like 'Who else wants to know' in a headline can improve our sales.
      Have "; S2[16]=" you ever thought about the individual words and their impact on your profitability? I recently performed a statistical analysis on several thousand ads while looking "; S3[16]=" at individual words and profitability.
      The first task was to determine the profitability of each ad being analyzed.
      This "; S4[16]=" was done using the age-old mailorder marketing method.
      Basically, if you see an advertisement month after month and year after year, it "; S5[16]=" is probably profitable.
      If you see an ad only once or twice and then it changes or disappears completely, the advertisement was "; S6[16]=" probably not very profitable.
      The next task was to simply look for the occurrence of a list of words in each ad "; S7[16]=" while noting whether the ad was profitable or not.
      The results were tallied and lots of words were removed from the list "; S8[16]=" because there simply wasn't sufficient data to come up with a statistically significant result.
      I won't bore you with the rest of "; S9[16]=" the details.
      Here is a list of some of the words found much more often in profitable ads than in ads that "; S10[16]=" didn't produce a profit.
      accessories, an, best, blue, buy, by, causes, cheap, discount, discover, easily, fast, find, guaranteed, has, improve, increase, lower, "; S11[16]=" more, nationwide, near, need, of, on, one, order, payments, powered, pricing, rates, reduce, stop, superb, the, view, what, with.
      Here is a "; S12[16]=" list of the words found much more often in ads that were NOT profitable.
      affordable, after, and, as, at, before, better, help, "; S13[16]=" here, how, else, excellent, experience, for, led, listings, loan, method, money, mortgage, naturally, now, options, photos, search, secret, secrets, sell, step, to, try, unlimited, us, "; S14[16]=" who, you, your.
      Now keep in mind that correlation can not prove causality.
      This research isn't saying that all "; S15[16]=" ads that use the word 'excellent' are doomed to being unprofitable.
      However, it is saying that a statistically significant percentage of ads "; S16[16]=" that use the word 'cheap' are profitable and a majority of those that use the word 'affordable' are not profitable.
      If your "; S17[16]=" ad copy currently uses the word 'affordable' (a word from the 'bad' list above) and you change that word to 'cheap' (a word from the "; S18[16]=" 'good' list above), will your profitability increase? There are no guarantees.
      There are an unlimited number of factors that could impact that "; S19[16]=" result.
      Not ALL ads that use the word 'cheap' were profitable.
      Not ALL ads that use the word 'affordable' "; S20[16]=" were unprofitable.
      However, the use of the word 'cheap' instead of 'affordable' is more likely to improve your profitability... "; R[17]="404"; T[17]="Program unlocks the potential of future rural leaders"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20060222"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[17]="a05a06a53"; B1[17]="      If your new year s resolution for 2006 is to embark on some life changing activities, but you don t know where "; B2[17]="to start, then the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer... "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      If your new year's resolution for 2006 is to embark on some life changing activities, but you don't know where to start, "; S2[17]=" then the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer.
      The department is hosting its highly successful Building Rural Leaders "; S3[17]=" program in Cape York Peninsula in March.
      The Building Rural Leaders program gives participants the opportunity to realise their potential through an "; S4[17]=" intensive personal development program that has already inspired more than 1,000 Queenslanders.
      'Our greatest resource for growing industries and communities is our "; S5[17]=" people and their potential.
      We are looking for participants who wish to develop themselves, their business, industry and community,' DPI&F rural development "; S6[17]=" officer Pamela McAllister said.
      'Individual participants grow and develop as they gain knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to promote positive change for "; S7[17]=" themselves and others.' Graduates of the program have gone on to make a real impact in rural communities, and include success stories such as a "; S8[17]=" drought-affected lucerne grower who now heads a $60 million herb growing facility, or the young single mother who gained the confidence to move from the "; S9[17]=" packing shed floor to be an active member of the local horticulture industry board.
      'Building Rural Leaders offers the motivation and self-development "; S10[17]=" participants need to unlock their own potential.
      Communities gain committed and knowledgeable citizens who create real and positive change.
      "; S11[17]=" New networks between the public and private sectors develop new initiatives that meet genuine community needs.' The Building Rural Leaders program kicks-off in Cooktown on "; S12[17]=" March 14.
      For more information about the program, including how to enrol, log on to www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/community/11968.html or contact Pamela McAllister on 1800 "; S13[17]=" 356 621... "; R[18]="390"; T[18]="Aquaculture School s Project Gets Funding"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20060222"; Dt[18]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[18]="a53a87"; B1[18]="      A project that encourages children s interest in aquaculture from primary school to the workforce has been awarded $90,000 Federal and State "; B2[18]="funding, the Minister for Primary Industries Water and Environment, Steve Kons has announced... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      A project that encourages children's interest in aquaculture from primary school to the workforce has been awarded $90,000 Federal and State funding, "; S2[18]=" the Minister for Primary Industries Water and Environment, Steve Kons has announced.
      The one-year project, Extending the Marine Links Package - Aquaculture "; S3[18]=" is to create an education stream that will take kids through from primary school to the workforce.
      Mr Kons said the initial "; S4[18]=" Marine Links Package was designed as a professional education package for Tasmanian schools that would promote greater student involvement in marine resources issues, provide a "; S5[18]=" consistent educational format for the Grades 5-8, comply at curriculum level as well as enriching learning programs.
      'The modules include science, environmental "; S6[18]=" management, technology and IT components including a web site with a discussion channel.
      'This project will update and extend the basic package "; S7[18]=" to provide a continuous aquatic science module through to Year 12/University/College and a marine resource associated employment opportunity.
      'This project is focusing "; S8[18]=" on an aquaculture module and it's hoped that will be followed next year with a marine environment module and a commercial fisheries module.
    "; S9[18]="   'Once the package is developed it will be trialled and established in the Cradle Coast region then released Statewide.
      'It has "; S10[18]=" $90,000 funding from the Commonwealth Natural Heritage Trust with in-kind funding from DPIWE, University of Tasmania and the Department of Education.' Mr Kons said other "; S11[18]=" supporters included the Fishing Industry Training Board, Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council and industry.
      The Package was also developed with the vision of "; S12[18]=" further developing the modules to include Year 9-12... "; R[19]="361"; T[19]="Now here s a novel idea: read books to improve English"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20060222"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[19]="a05a53"; B1[19]="      The study of novels and poems will be boosted under changes to the new curriculum for Victorian students..... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      The study of novels and poems will be boosted under changes to the new curriculum for Victorian students.
      Just "; S2[19]=" months after it abandoned a proposal for a one-book year 12 English course, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority has moved to cement the prominence "; S3[19]=" of traditional literary texts in earlier years.
      Under the changes, the authority has identified literary texts as a 'primary focus' for the "; S4[19]=" study of English and acknowledged a 'more explicit link' between the study of English and literacy.
      The original version of the English "; S5[19]=" curriculum for prep to year 10 - to be implemented in schools from this year - referred only to the study of a 'wide range' "; S6[19]=" of texts and media, both print and electronic.
      But the latest version specifically details the study of literary texts, 'such as novels, "; S7[19]=" short stories, poetry, plays and non-fiction', in addition to other forms such as film.
      There are also more guidelines to develop grammatical "; S8[19]=" and literacy skills to better equip students for study beyond year 10 and the workplace.
      The curriculum changes follow last year's controversy "; S9[19]=" over proposed changes to year 12 English, which would have VCE students having to read only one book.
      The VCAA was forced "; S10[19]=" to drop the plan, which critics dubbed 'English Lite', after a public outcry and failing to convince Education Minister Lynne Kosky of the merits of "; S11[19]=" the change.
      The authority has made 'minimal refinements' to the new curriculum after an evaluation that included questionnaires and testing in schools.
"; S12[19]="       A VCAA spokesman said the revisions to English followed requests from teachers for greater clarity and more precise detail.
      "; S13[19]=" 'That is what the revisions have addressed.
      The changes are not a change in direction, rather a change in detail,' he said.
"; S14[19]="       The first draft of the English curriculum had generic references to texts, while the new version was more specific, the spokesman said.
"; S15[19]="       'Literary texts were always central to the English domain and the revisions have made that more explicit and clearer for teachers.' For "; S16[19]=" example, the first draft for level four, covering years 5 and 6, referred to the study of 'extended fiction and non-fiction texts in print, auditory "; S17[19]=" and electronic forms, including film and websites'.
      The new version specifies the study of 'extended literary texts such as novels, short stories, "; S18[19]=" poetry and non-fiction everyday texts and media texts including newspapers, film and websites'.
      The spokesman said the feedback showed strong support for "; S19[19]=" the new curriculum, called the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
      English teacher Tony Thompson, who led the criticism of English Lite, welcomed the "; S20[19]=" changes.
      Mr Thompson, who teaches at Princes Hill Secondary, said there was strong community support for the study of literary texts, including.. "; R[20]="334"; T[20]="Literacy in Tasmania already meets Criteria"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20060222"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[20]="a05a06a53a69"; B1[20]="      The Tasmanian Government says a national report on the teaching of literacy has backed some methods used in Tasmania..... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      The Tasmanian Government says a national report on the teaching of literacy has backed some methods used in Tasmania.
      "; S2[20]=" Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson is using the report to push for an overhaul of how children are taught to read.
      It "; S3[20]=" recommends testing children's literacy every six months during their first three years at school, literacy plans for every school student in Australia and national standards "; S4[20]=" for teachers.
      State Education Minister Paula Wriedt says some recommendations are already in practice.
      'It does vindicate the approach "; S5[20]=" that we have been taking here in Tasmania and that is phonics does play a very important part of the way we teach children how "; S6[20]=" to read,' she said.
      'But of course we also use a range of other appropriate methods because children do learn in different "; S7[20]=" ways and what might be acceptable for one child may not work for another.'.. "; R[21]="328"; T[21]="AWEX announces new woolclasser seminars"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20060222"; Dt[21]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[21]="a25a53"; B1[21]="      Australia s wool market manager, AWEX, will hold a series of workshops to help woolclassers improve wool preparation, keep up with industry "; B2[21]="trends and maintain Australia s reputation for quality wool... "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      Australia's wool market manager, AWEX, will hold a series of workshops to help woolclassers improve wool preparation, keep up with industry trends "; S2[21]=" and maintain Australia's reputation for quality wool.
      AWEX Chief Executive Officer Mark Grave said 14 Boardtalk seminars would be held over the "; S3[21]=" next seven months, targeting woolclassers and woolgrowers in a number of regional areas across the country.
      The seminars, which follow the first "; S4[21]=" successful series in July this year, would help address issues such as recent concerns about the standard of wool preparation and the increased pressure and "; S5[21]=" demands on wool classers, he said.
      'The role of the woolclasser is vital to Australia maintaining its enviable reputation for quality wool "; S6[21]=" throughout the world.
      AWEX has increased its service to the woolclasser and this is only one part of a strategic direction for "; S7[21]=" Australian wool,' Mr Grave said.
      Seminars held during 2005 had recognised a need to increase and improve communication with woolclassers to ensure "; S8[21]=" that they were fully briefed on the latest industry issues and trends, he said.
      'There are approximately 25,000 registered woolclassers in Australia "; S9[21]=" working in rural locations, some quite remote, so that is where AWEX will be going,' Mr Grave said.
      In addition, AWEX, through "; S10[21]=" a project funded by the Victorian State Government and overseen by the International Fibre Centre Geelong, is finalising the release, expected in February, of national "; S11[21]=" standardised training resources for the benefit of all registered training organisations who teach woolclassing.
      'This is a fundamental step for the wool "; S12[21]=" industry to ensure that all wool trainers have the latest training resources at their disposal.
      This will go a long way to "; S13[21]=" ensuring the standards of training and the consistency of woolclassers are improved across the country,' Mr Grave said.
      'AWEX and the wool "; S14[21]=" industry take these matters seriously - the integrity the wool industry has created over many years is not something to be treated lightly.' The Boardtalk "; S15[21]=" seminars will provide the latest information on the wool market, trends and tips that will assist the woolclasser to understand the implication of their skill, "; S16[21]=" and how they can use AWEX to assist them do their job better.
      'It is the role of AWEX to identify issues "; S17[21]=" and relate them, or work through them, with woolclassers.
      Because our woolclassers are spread across the country it is important we go "; S18[21]=" to where they work and live,' Mr Grave said.
      AWEX also recognises the role of wool brokers and state farming organisations in "; S19[21]=" getting the message out to woolclassers and is developing a program for members to help spread this message.
      Mr Grave said another "; S20[21]=" positive thing to emerge from the last series of Boardtalk seminars was the involvement of woolgrowers and woolbrokers.
      'Woolclassers were able.. "; R[22]="324"; T[22]="Schools urged to overhaul way of thinking"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20060222"; Dt[22]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[22]="a53"; B1[22]="      Public schools must be more innovative, recruit their own staff and give parents a greater say in decision-making, according to a wide-ranging "; B2[22]="report likely to shape the future of government education... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Public schools must be more innovative, recruit their own staff and give parents a greater say in decision-making, according to a wide-ranging "; S2[22]=" report likely to shape the future of government education.
      Almost 30,000 parents, teachers and members pf the public have told the NSW "; S3[22]=" Department of Education that 'one size doesn't fit all'.
      Instead, the future of public education should lie in linking schools to their "; S4[22]=" local suburbs and towns.
      In a radical departure from current staffing policy, the Report of the Consultation on Future Directions for Public "; S5[22]=" Education and Training says schools need greater control of the selection of staff.
      It also calls for staff, parents and students to "; S6[22]=" be involved in school decision-making 'to meet local needs'.
      The report found the department has no effective way of tracking students from "; S7[22]=" years 5 to 8.
      There should be a preschool year for every child and the minimum age for starting school should be "; S8[22]=" raised from 4½ to 5 years, because disadvantaged children tended to be 'less ready for school'.
      In NSW, students must start school "; S9[22]=" by the age of six.
      'There was agreement that the current starting age allows far too great a gap on entry to "; S10[22]=" school,' the report says.
      However, the Minister for Education, Carmel Tebbutt, yesterday ruled out raising the starting age until the Government could "; S11[22]=" ensure 'the transition to school experience is as positive as possible'.
      NSW has one of the lowest preschool participation rates in the "; S12[22]=" country.
      Raising the school age 'would certainly have an impact on working families' and affect current negotiations on a national starting age, "; S13[22]=" she said.
      Ms Tebbutt said the preferred age for a national standard was between 4 years and 5 months and 4 years "; S14[22]=" and 8 months.
      The Director-General of Education, Andrew Cappie-Wood, said the clear message from the three-month consultation 'was a desire for parents "; S15[22]=" to be engaged more' in their children's education in the state's 2200 public schools.
      Mr Cappie-Wood conceded that the schools had to "; S16[22]=" be 'tailored to the needs of individual students' rather than being part of an amorphous 'large system of schools'.
      Ms Tebbutt said "; S17[22]=" she was interested in giving schools more flexibility to hire, with a new industrial agreement this year allowing for up to 30 per cent of "; S18[22]=" teachers to be recruited locally.
      The president of the NSW Teachers Federation, Maree O'Halloran, said there would not be a fair allocation "; S19[22]=" of teachers across the state if schools were allowed 'to hire and fire at will'.
      'This is a recipe for governments to "; S20[22]=" divest their responsibility onto parents at a time of teacher shortage - there will be schools that cannot get teachers,' Ms O'Halloran said... "; R[23]="253"; T[23]="Flags are Effective Communication Tools"; A[23]="By ... Portante Della Bandierina"; Dn[23]="20060222"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[23]="a05a51a53"; B1[23]="      Flags have distinctive designs on rectangular piece of cloth.
      The primary purpose of flags has always been military..... "; B2[23]=" "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      Flags have distinctive designs on rectangular piece of cloth.
      The primary purpose of flags has always been military.
  "; S2[23]="     Flags are used to coordinate the actions of combatants during the confusion of battle.
      They were used to tell soldiers "; S3[23]=" where to march, where to rally, and where to charge.
      The distinctiveness of flags made it easy to tell to which side "; S4[23]=" you belong.
      It also meant their bearers were primary targets, and if they lost their flag they were cowards.
      "; S5[23]=" Therefore many men through out history have gladly died defending their flag.
      Early flags usually had a religious significance.
      "; S6[23]=" William the Conqueror received his banner from the pope, and the crosses of national saints of England, Scotland and Ireland form the ensign of Great "; S7[23]=" Britain, the Union Jack.
      In medieval times there were numerous flags in use, such as banners, banderoles, gonfalons, gonfanons, pennons, pennoncells, standards, "; S8[23]=" streamers, and guidons.
      The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians and Jews used symbolical standards like ensigns and banners.
      Flags also played "; S9[23]=" a very important role on the high seas.
      A ship was identifiable only by the flag it flew.
      Other "; S10[23]=" non-national flags also served as communication tools to warn of pirates, distress and storms.
      Vexillology is the study of the flags.
  "; S11[23]="     A person who enjoys the study of flags is called a Vexillologist.
      Flags are symbols of national or other allegiances.
"; S12[23]="       Flags have been used for signaling people at a distance.
      The Romans used flags as a form of communication "; S13[23]=" extensively.
      Flags were widely used in the Navy as symbol codes in semaphore.
      Flags are normally linked to the "; S14[23]=" history of a Nation The word 'flag' is derived from the old Saxon word 'fflaken' which means to fly or to float in the air.
"; S15[23]="       A ship carrying the flag of an admiral is called a flagship.
      The strict rules of Heraldry are still "; S16[23]=" used when designing an emblem and creating flags of today.
      The colors depicted in flags carry special meanings.
      Thedominant "; S17[23]=" colors convey the required attributes of the different flags of the world.
      There much symbolism is associated with the colors of flags "; S18[23]=" following the customs of Ancient Heraldic traditions.
      For instance, white is the symbol of peace and honesty and yellow is a symbol "; S19[23]=" of generosity.
      Red flags represent hardiness, bravery, strength and valor.
      Blue color symbolizes vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance and "; S20[23]=" justice.
      Green color stands for hope, joy and love and in many cultures green has a sacred significance.
      And,.. "; R[24]="223"; T[24]="Tropical fruit growing guide to boost industry"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20060222"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[24]="a07a08a18a53"; B1[24]="      Queensland s tropical fruit industry received a boost this week with the launch of a grower s handbook for three emerging crops..... "; B2[24]=" "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      Queensland's tropical fruit industry received a boost this week with the launch of a grower's handbook for three emerging crops.
    "; S2[24]="   The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries have published the handbook and an accompanying problem solver as a tool to assist growers (and prospective "; S3[24]=" growers) of durian, mangosteen and rambutan.
      'The handbook and problem solver give a realistic overview of the three industries and are a "; S4[24]=" great reference tool for existing and emerging growers,' coordinating author and DPI&F information extension officer Dr Patricia Chay said.
      'The problem solver "; S5[24]=" is designed as an illustrated, on-farm ready reference for growers to assist in the identification of pests, diseases, disorders and problems.' A number of DPI&F "; S6[24]=" staff and industry leaders had contributed to the publication, including DPI&F senior research scientist Yan Diczbalis, plant pathologist Lynton Vawdrey and entomologist David Astridge.
  "; S7[24]="     Dr Chay said the major commercial growing areas for durian, mangosteen and rambutan were in far north Queensland and the Northern Territory.
  "; S8[24]="     Rambutan was the biggest industry, currently valued at $4.3 million, with Queensland accounting for $3.6 million.
      Mangosteen is worth $610,000 "; S9[24]=" and durian $222,000.
      'Although these industries are currently quite small, with greater marketing and consumer awareness there is scope for development,' Dr "; S10[24]=" Chay said.
      'Many growers consider tropical fruits as part of a diversification plan on their properties, so rambutan or mangosteen are grown "; S11[24]=" alongside papaya, banana, flowers and other commodities.' The Tropical Fruits Growers Handbook and Tropical Fruits Problem Solver are available from the DPI&F South Johnstone on "; S12[24]=" 40 64 1179.
      The Handbook is $55 and the Problem Solver is $50.
      The project was made possible with "; S13[24]=" funding from the Australian Government's Rural Industries Research Development Corporation... "; R[25]="202"; T[25]="Leading Sheep south west region determines priorities"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20060222"; Dt[25]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[25]="a25a53a54"; B1[25]="      The Leading Sheep south west regional committee met with its new coordinator Ken Wilson in Charleville last Friday to identify priorities for "; B2[25]="workshops and information sessions planned for the region as part of this regionally-based sheep industry project... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      The Leading Sheep south west regional committee met with its new coordinator Ken Wilson in Charleville last Friday to identify priorities for "; S2[25]=" workshops and information sessions planned for the region as part of this regionally-based sheep industry project.
      Leading Sheep is an Australian Wool "; S3[25]=" Innovation Limited initiative in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and supported by AgForce, which targets the adoption of new technologies and "; S4[25]=" practices to increase the productivity and profitability of the Queensland sheep and wool industry.
      In the next six months, the south west "; S5[25]=" region is planning to organise workshops on how to wean more lambs, sheep nutrition, wild dog control options, and managing pastures and stocking rates.
  "; S6[25]="     'Another longer-term objective the group hopes to achieve through the Leading Sheep project is a means of documenting, and therefore demonstrating, the industry's "; S7[25]=" environmental credentials in terms of animal welfare and natural resource management,' Mr Wilson said.
      Members of the south-west regional committee are: Mark "; S8[25]=" Lyons from 'Brumich', Augathella, Kathy Schmidt from 'Wallen', Cunnamulla, Will Roberts from 'Victoria Downs', Morven, Sue Stirton from 'Armoobilla', Cheepie, and Department of Primary Industries "; S9[25]=" and Fisheries sheep extension officer Guy Newell.
      Ken Wilson is currently based at Bollon and has wide-ranging experience in arid zone grazing "; S10[25]=" industries, extensive grazing property management and animal husbandry, sheep nutrition, reproduction, general husbandry and management.
      Ken has worked for a range of "; S11[25]=" different groups, including DPI&F, and is currently chairman of the Bollon South Water Authority.
      In 1983, Ken implemented and developed the WESTECH "; S12[25]=" Field Days, which continue to run every three years in Barcaldine, and is a life member of WESTECH Field Days Inc.
      The "; S13[25]=" other Leading Sheep regions are the central west, southern inland and south east, and all have regional committees and coordinators, who help identify and implement "; S14[25]=" chosen activities such as training, workshops, field days, on-property demonstrations and information forums.
      Leading Sheep has a three-year budget of $2.4 million "; S15[25]=" that includes $1 million funding from AWI and $1.4 million in-kind support from DPI&F and AgForce... "; R[26]="194"; T[26]="Putting fun into Algebra using graphics"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20060222"; Dt[26]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[26]="a53"; B1[26]="      An Adelaide man is revolutionising the way maths is taught - and his new style of teaching has gone international..... "; B2[26]=" "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      An Adelaide man is revolutionising the way maths is taught - and his new style of teaching has gone international.
    "; S2[26]="   Anthony Harradine, director of the Noel Baker Centre for School Mathematics, regularly crosses the Tasman Sea to train people in his way of teaching "; S3[26]=" algebra.
      His system has been so successful in four New Zealand schools that it will be extended to a further 14 next "; S4[26]=" year.
      'This system isn't just for those with a bent for mathematics - it's for everyone,' he said yesterday.
      "; S5[26]=" 'It's a learning style we've found is accessible to a whole range of students in all schools.' The University of Adelaide has praised the locally "; S6[26]=" designed system and academics claim it could only have come from the state's 'flexible curriculum' - which was this week criticised by federal Education Minister "; S7[26]=" Brendan Nelson.
      'It's a revolutionary approach that will change the way maths is taught,' Professor of Applied Mathematics Nigel Bean said.
  "; S8[26]="     'The fact it's from South Australia is a real bonus.' The keys to the system are the 'think of a number' games played "; S9[26]=" by children.
      While appearing to be magic, the games use core algebraic concepts to come up with answers.
      Students "; S10[26]=" are then taught to turn the puzzle's many possible answers into a line of algebra.'They become interested in the number game, come to understand it "; S11[26]=" and, after that, become interested in learning how to write the way the game works as algebra,' Mr Harradine said.
      He said "; S12[26]=" the method was possible due to technological advancements, including computer algebra.
      'We're not throwing out algorithms and definitions,' he said.
  "; S13[26]="     'We're building a scaffold to get kids in there with interest.' Professor Bean said the method could help students of all levels and "; S14[26]=" abilities.
      'It teaches in a very contextual way but still teaches rigorous, correct maths,' he said.
      'The substance of "; S15[26]=" maths is not thrown away for the sake of ease.' Prince Alfred College students who have used the method agreed that it was very helpful.
"; S16[26]="       'It's a lot more visual, and it's easier to understand,' said Conor Pye, 13.
      'By seeing maths in action, "; S17[26]=" you get the idea faster.'.. "; R[27]="171"; T[27]="City students win Queensland school s poultry competition"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20060222"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[27]="a30a53"; B1[27]="      School children from Ipswich, Caboolture and Beenleigh have won prizes in a special project designed to educate them about the modern poultry "; B2[27]="industry... "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      School children from Ipswich, Caboolture and Beenleigh have won prizes in a special project designed to educate them about the modern poultry "; S2[27]=" industry.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior extension officer Paul Kent said a joint venture between the World's Poultry Science Association "; S3[27]=" (WPSA)-Queensland sub-branch, the Queensland Poultry Industry and DPI&F saw the hosting last Friday of the sixth annual high schools poultry industry education 'Open Day' at "; S4[27]=" the Department's Poultry Research and Development Centre at Alexander Hills.
      The first prize of $250 went to West Moreton Anglican College in "; S5[27]=" Ipswich, with Caboolture State High placed second and Beenleigh State High third.
      The winners were selected from a range of school projects "; S6[27]=" which researched topics ranging from floor space to reduced lighting and their impacts on eggs and chicken meat production.
      'All high schools "; S7[27]=" with students studying agricultural subjects and having poultry facilities are eligible to take part in the program.
      Students conduct a small poultry "; S8[27]=" experiment using birds provided by Bond Enterprises, Darwalla Milling Pty Ltd and Mclean Farms Pty Ltd.' 'The project allows students to conduct hands on poultry "; S9[27]=" research and gain up to date information about the Australian poultry industry as well as career opportunities in the industry,' Mr Kent said.
    "; S10[27]="   Mr Kent said the project has been very well supported by agricultural high schools where participation has increased from 11 schools in 2000 to "; S11[27]=" around 24 in 2005.
      It is estimated the project information has impacted on 10,000 Queenslanders via students, to their colleagues, families and "; S12[27]=" friends.
      The project is expected to spread nationally in the near future.
      The 'High Schools Poultry Industry Education project' "; S13[27]=" is designed to correct wrong information about the use of hormones, chemicals and human antibiotics.
      The use of hormones by the Australian "; S14[27]=" poultry industry has been illegal for over 40 years and there is no ad hoc use of chemicals or antibiotics in poultry feed.
    "; S15[27]="   Mr Kent said that poultry, like all animal industries, require community and consumer acceptance if they are to maintain their place in the marketplace... "; R[28]="155"; T[28]="Field day highlights compost and soil health"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20060222"; Dt[28]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[28]="a02a53a72"; B1[28]="      The effects of compost on soil health in vegetable crops will be the focus of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries field "; B2[28]="day at the Gatton Research Station on Wednesday, November 16, from 3pm... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      The effects of compost on soil health in vegetable crops will be the focus of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries field "; S2[28]=" day at the Gatton Research Station on Wednesday, November 16, from 3pm.
      DPI&F senior research scientist Steve Harper said the field day "; S3[28]=" will focus on research initiated by the Brisbane City Council and the DPI&F to find whether the sustainability and soil health of intensive vegetable farming "; S4[28]=" systems is improved by using composted green garden waste fromBrisbane.
      Mr Harper said the research will assist Brisbane City Council determine the "; S5[28]=" effectiveness of compost application and its commercial value should a kerbside collection service be provided for ratepayers.
      'The project offers benefits to "; S6[28]=" vegetable growers, the environment, ratepayers and consumers,' he said.
      He said Elisha Keighley from Brisbane City Council's Natural Environment & Sustainability section "; S7[28]=" will outline the significance of the research to the council.
      'Using the composted organics in the greater Brisbane River Catchment will potentially "; S8[28]=" improve soil quality, reduce sediment loading in the Brisbane River and allow sustainable cost effective waste management,' Mr Harper said.
      'The "; S9[28]=" compost will also help sustain and protect the regions intensive farming systems that provide significant regional employment and high quality vegetables to the rapidly growing "; S10[28]=" South-East Queensland region.
      Mr Harper said the three-year research program involves a series of replicated trials across the region to identify the "; S11[28]=" benefits of applying composted garden organics to intensively managed vegetable growing soils of the upper Brisbane River catchment.
      He would present the "; S12[28]=" results from the first year's trials at the field day, he said.
      'DPI&F nematologist Tony Pattison has conducted considerable research in soil "; S13[28]=" health improvement in banana systems of north Queensland and has developed a grower friendly soil health kit.
      'At the field day, "; S14[28]=" Tony will demonstrate how the kit can be used to monitor important soil health indicators in the field and outline how his research on soil "; S15[28]=" organic amendments have improved soil health,' Mr Harper said... "; R[29]="118"; T[29]="Young beef producers to meet in Roma"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20060222"; Dt[29]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[29]="a04a05a27a53"; B1[29]="      A beef producers forum for the 18-35 year-olds with an interest or involvement in the beef industry will be held in Roma "; B2[29]="on November 17 and 18... "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      A beef producers' forum for the 18-35 year-olds with an interest or involvement in the beef industry will be held in Roma "; S2[29]=" on November 17 and 18.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Roma based extension officer Alistair Brown said the DPI&F and Queensland "; S3[29]=" Angus Youth were holding the forum to provide a range of information and networking opportunities to young beef producers thinking about starting their own business, "; S4[29]=" involved in a family business or working in the beef industry.
      Mr Brown said the forum was developed to cater for a "; S5[29]=" need to get more young producers into the industry and assist established young producers with future business decisions.
      'The forum aims to "; S6[29]=" assist young people acquire relevant information to enter the industry or become more closely involved in the management of an existing business through interaction with "; S7[29]=" people of their own age,' he said.
      Mr Brown said forum topics included markets and market trends, Australian beef and global competition, "; S8[29]=" succession planning, applying for loans, off-farm investments, water use and legislation and vegetation management.
      He said Sam Bailey, featured on Australian Story, "; S9[29]=" would attend the forum dinner to share his life experience of dealing with the effects of severe quadriplegia while still taking an active role in "; S10[29]=" the operation of the family property inNew South Wales.
      'There will also be time to tour Queensland 's oldest winery, Romavilla, to "; S11[29]=" get a taste of a different production system, and attend the Roma Cup races.' The forum will be held at the Roma TAFE College 's, "; S12[29]=" Jubilee Hall, with registration costing $150 per person, he said.
      More information and registration forms are available from Alistair Brown (4622 9903 "; S13[29]=" or alistair.brown @dpi.qld.gov.au), or Justin Boshammer (0427655128)... "; R[30]="114"; T[30]="In Search of Young Achievers"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20060222"; Dt[30]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[30]="a05a53"; B1[30]="      Don t miss out!! The Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards 2006 are closing on the 18th November - Hurry there s still "; B2[30]="time to nominate!.. "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      Don't miss out!! The Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards 2006 are closing on the 18th November - Hurry there's still time to "; S2[30]=" nominate! There are many young Territorians that are talented and these awards are a great way to recognise, acknowledge and reward those talents.
    "; S3[30]="   If you are an achiever or know someone who is making a valuable contribution in their field of endeavours then nominate in these prestigious "; S4[30]=" awards in one or more of the following eight categories:
      * The Charles Darwin University Arts Award
    "; S5[30]="   * The Woodside Energy Sports Award
      *The Power and Water Science & Engineering Award
      *The Perkins "; S6[30]=" Shipping Regional & Rural Initiative Award
      * The Somerville Community Services Award
      * The ConocoPhillips Environment Award "; S7[30]="
      * The Drake International Career Achievement Award
      * The Minister for Young Territorians Excellence in Youth Leadership "; S8[30]=" Award Winners and finalists will be recognised at the Northern Territory Awards Presentation evening on the 1st April at the Holiday Inn Esplanade, with each "; S9[30]=" category winner receiving a $1000 TIO Access Saver Account and a trophy.
      The ultimate winner 'The Channel Nine Young Achiever of the "; S10[30]=" Year for the Northern Territory' will receive a further $1000 to add to their account and a magnificent trophy.
      So hurry and "; S11[30]=" get those nominations in today, they close on the 18th November and award criteria and nomination forms are available from Channel Nine, The Darwin & "; S12[30]=" The Palmerston Sun, TIO Braches and all participating sponsor offices and through the website at www.awardsaustralia.com or by calling the Awards office on (08) 8981 "; S13[30]=" 0244... "; R[31]="78"; T[31]="New primary school resource pack"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20060222"; Dt[31]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[31]="a05a06a53a66"; B1[31]="      A comprehensive suite of new primary educational resource packs is available now from the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program s "; B2[31]="website.
      Teachers can download the fully-prepared and integrated unit direct from the Fire ant activities and lesson plans page ... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      A comprehensive suite of new primary educational resource packs is available now from the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program's website.
"; S2[31]="       Teachers can download the fully-prepared and integrated unit direct from the Fire ant activities and lesson plans page.
      Designed "; S3[31]=" to plug seamlessly into Queensland 's Primary Curriculum coursework, the packs illustrate the A$175m Program's commitment to engaging and retaining public support for fire ant "; S4[31]=" eradication in South East Queensland.
      National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program general manager Keith McCubbin welcomes the launch of the packs: "; S5[31]=" 'These free resources show the value the Program places in lasting education about fire ants and biosecurity for all ages of Queenslander.
      "; S6[31]=" The more we understand how imported pests like fire ants invade and disrupt the environment, the better prepared we are to beat them back.' The "; S7[31]=" resource packs are fully in step with the Queensland Studies Authority's outcomes for Level 3 (middle primary years) and cover the decisions and science that "; S8[31]=" lie behind the National Eradication Program's work.
      Of particular value to teachers are the broad lesson plans integrated across four Key Learning "; S9[31]=" Areas (English, Science, Maths and Studies of Society and Environment) and presented in KLA modules.
      Each module includes an overview, progression of "; S10[31]=" learning activities, suggestions for resources and anticipated evidence of learning.
      Thematic extensions to other KLAs are included where appropriate.
      "; S11[31]=" A full suite of resource sheets (in Word format) allow teachers to tailor the packs to the individual needs of each class or student.
  "; S12[31]="     These can be printed out to paper (or transparencies to facilitate whole class teaching), and feature worksheets and pictorial resources indexed by KLA.
"; S13[31]="       A workbook of twenty fire ant-themed contract activities can be edited to facilitate extension learning or homework for students at any year "; S14[31]=" level.
      The activities support a wide range of learning styles, strategies and strengths, and give students the opportunity to demonstrate creative approaches "; S15[31]=" to completing tasks.
      Although the contract activities can be used independently, the unit is designed to work as an integrated unit.
  "; S16[31]="     The different KLAs covered are interwoven to address the focus task - making a presentation to the school community on fire ants - "; S17[31]=" while meeting a range of outcomes.
      Further fire ant-related resources can be obtained from the Fire Ant Control Centre, FACC Education Officers "; S18[31]=" are also available to make presentations at schools in fire ant affected areas.
      The DPI&F website also hosts other fire ant-themed fun "; S19[31]=" packs including crosswords, join-the-dots games and other suggestions for fire ant-related activities... "; R[32]="61"; T[32]="Scientists oppose outcomes education"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20060222"; Dt[32]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[32]="a05a53"; B1[32]="      A delegation of scientists is making a last-ditch attempt to stop West Australian schools adopting an airy fairy education system they claim "; B2[32]="protects students self esteem at the expense of competition and the pursuit of excellence... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      A delegation of scientists is making a last-ditch attempt to stop West Australian schools adopting an 'airy fairy' education system they claim "; S2[32]=" protects students' self esteem at the expense of competition and the pursuit of excellence.
      The Australian Institute of Physics yesterday voiced its "; S3[32]=" opposition to a planned radical overhaul of the curriculum in the state's upper-school classrooms.
      The AIP has backed the recently formed education "; S4[32]=" lobby group PLATO - People Lobbying Against Teaching Outcomes - in its claims that the new system will stifle students' competitive urges by rewarding them "; S5[32]=" for achieving at any level.
      Institute state chairman Igor Bray will be among a three-person delegation of physicists from Curtin, Murdoch and "; S6[32]=" the University of Western Australia to meet state Curriculum Council representatives on Thursday.
      Professor Bray said they would discuss teachers' concerns that "; S7[32]=" 'outcomes-based education' would let down poor students by giving them a false sense of their own competence.
      Under OBE, no student can "; S8[32]=" fail and every student achieves at one of eight 'levels'.
      Only students who achieve at levels six to eight are considered to "; S9[32]=" be in the running for university.
      'The Curriculum Council does not see competition among students as an important factor but we do "; S10[32]=" - we see it as vital,' Professor Bray said.
      Outcomes-based education will strip the hard sciences of their exclusivity from next year, "; S11[32]=" placing teenagers destined for work as laboratory assistants and tradesmen in physics classrooms alongside future doctors and scientists.
      Theoretically, a student "; S12[32]=" could pass Year 12 physics after achieving simple 'outcomes', such as demonstrating the knowledge that energy can be transferred, that it appears in different forms "; S13[32]=" and that it interacts with matter to produce different effects.
      A student who did not understand physics formula could also pass or "; S14[32]=" 'achieve'... "; R[33]="47"; T[33]="NSW wins ground on school reports"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20060222"; Dt[33]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[33]="a05a53a64"; B1[33]="      The battle over the Federal Government s plan for school reports appears to have been resolved after federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson "; B2[33]="conceded ground on ranking students... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      The battle over the Federal Government's plan for school reports appears to have been resolved after federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson conceded "; S2[33]=" ground on ranking students.
      Dr Nelson threatened to withhold funding from Victoria and South Australia after the states refused to implement the "; S3[33]=" Commonwealth's 'quartile' ranking system, which puts students in the top 25 per cent to the bottom 25 per cent of their class.
      "; S4[33]=" Victoria had almost $600 million a year at stake, while SA risked losing $220 million.
      But in a significant shift, Dr Nelson "; S5[33]=" has said schools would only have to provide the classroom rankings if parents asked for them.
      Both states yesterday indicated that Dr "; S6[33]=" Nelson's new position was acceptable.
      Victorian Education Minister Lynne Kosky said she welcomed Dr Nelson's decision.
      'We won't change "; S7[33]=" our report cards, but if parents want information about quartiles, they can ask schools for it,' she said.
      'We always said that "; S8[33]=" we were giving parents more information than required by the Commonwealth, and we're glad Dr Nelson has accepted our argument.' SA Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith "; S9[33]=" said she was pleased Dr Nelson had listened to her state's 'constant and unceasing' lobbying on the issue.
      'We agree with Dr "; S10[33]=" Nelson's new plan that providing class-based data only if parents request it is a more sensible approach,' she said.
      'I am relieved "; S11[33]=" that Dr Nelson will continue funding South Australian school children and that they will not be punished because we want to have the best school "; S12[33]=" reports possible.' A spokesman for Dr Nelson confirmed the change in the Commonwealth's position.
      'The important thing is that parents should have "; S13[33]=" access to these results,' he said.
      The development represents a victory for Victoria and SA.
      NSW and Western Australia "; S14[33]=" had already agreed to Dr Nelson's original demand that school reports include the rankings, with parents having to request to opt out if they had "; S15[33]=" a conscientious objection.
      The demand to rank students was one of the 'strings' attached to the Federal Government's schools funding package.
  "; S16[33]="     Canberra also has demanded that school's reports return to A-to-E gradings.
      Victoria last week revealed a new school report with "; S17[33]=" A-to-E rankings, measured against statewide standards.
      But it refused to adopt the classroom ranking system, with Premier Steve Bracks describing it as "; S18[33]=" 'nonsensical'.
      The ranking system was widely condemned by Victoria's education community as having no educational merit.
      Critics argued the "; S19[33]=" classroom rankings did not give a guide to real performance.
      They also said the rankings could have a negative impact on a "; S20[33]=" child.
      The Victorian president of the Australian Education Union, Mary Bluett, welcomed Dr Nelson's concession.
      'I'm pleased that the.. "; R[34]="46"; T[34]="Apprentice boom - and females help lead the way"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20060222"; Dt[34]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[34]="a49a53"; B1[34]="      South Australia has recorded its highest number of apprentices and trainees - and females are leading the way..... "; B2[34]=" "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      South Australia has recorded its highest number of apprentices and trainees - and females are leading the way.
      At "; S2[34]=" the end of March, there were 34,600 apprentices and trainees in SA, an increase of 2600 in the past 12 months.
      This "; S3[34]=" contrasts with national figures which show a drop of 13,400 apprentices and trainees in the past year.
      According to National Centre for "; S4[34]=" Vocational Education Research figures, SA also outpaced national growth in the number of female apprentices and trainees, with 8.7 per cent growth, compared to a "; S5[34]=" national fall of 6.7 per cent.
      Acting Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Karlene Maywald said the state was making inroads into "; S6[34]=" skill shortage areas, with a 13 per cent rise in the number of people starting apprenticeships in traditional trades.
      'Traditional trades now "; S7[34]=" comprise 37.9 per cent of all traineeships and apprenticeships in the state, compared with 33.8 per cent for the same quarter last year,' she said.
"; S8[34]="       The Government said strategies such as increasing the uptake of apprenticeships in traditional trades, encouraging women and indigenous people to take up "; S9[34]=" opportunities and the South Australia Works program have assisted in the rise.
      SA also defied the national trend to record a higher "; S10[34]=" percentage of women in training in SA, as a proportion of all apprentices and training.
      Females accounted for 36.2 per cent of "; S11[34]=" apprentices and trainees in SA during the quarter, compared with 34.7 per cent nationally.
      Final-year mechanical engineering apprentice Christine Stock, 22, is "; S12[34]=" one of several women now working in a traditionally male-dominated field.
      'It is fantastic that women are doing these apprenticeships.
    "; S13[34]="   We bring other aspects to the job,' she said.
      Ms Stock is a finalist for Apprentice of the Year in the "; S14[34]=" SA Training Awards to be announced tomorrow night.
      Figures also show: SCHOOL-BASED commencements rose by 10 per cent in SA in the "; S15[34]=" year ending March 2005 MORE than 20,000 young South Australians under the age of 24 were training as apprentices and trainees THE top occupation for "; S16[34]=" apprentices and trainees was trades and related workers... "; R[35]="13"; T[35]="Students let down by English education"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20060222"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[35]="a53"; B1[35]="      Intelligent students are graduating from high school and entering university with writing skills that are so poor they are unable to structure "; B2[35]="a sentence... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      Intelligent students are graduating from high school and entering university with writing skills that are so poor they are unable to structure "; S2[35]=" a sentence.
      In a survey of 660 Australian Defence Force Academy students, academics found the education system was short-changing bright pupils regardless "; S3[35]=" of their state of origin.
      'We were concerned that this otherwise high-achieving, highly motivated and able group of students were demonstrating a "; S4[35]=" very poor command of the basic rules of English,' researcher Fiona Mueller told The Australian.
      'In no way do we want to "; S5[35]=" criticise the students.
      'In fact, the evidence would indicate they've been short-changed in terms of their written English (education).' The findings "; S6[35]=" add weight to growing concern about the education provided by Australia's state-based secondary education systems.
      The ADFA students passed a rigorous selection "; S7[35]=" process and the majority achieved a tertiary entrance rank of 80per cent or above to gain admission.
      Yet many showed poor writing "; S8[35]=" skills, Ms Mueller found.
      'Between 2003 and 2005, staff became increasingly concerned about the students' lack of linguistic dexterity,' the report said.
"; S9[35]="       Ms Mueller said that while students' oral communication skills were good, their written work was often littered with grammatical errors.
    "; S10[35]="   ADFA Associate Dean of Education Stephen Yeomans said he had been surprised by some students' difficulty in expressing themselves clearly in written work.
  "; S11[35]="     'What I particularly notice is improper sentence construction, inappropriate or no punctation, lack of conjunctives, misuse of apostrophes, poor spelling and so on,' "; S12[35]=" Professor Yeomans said.
      Asked to evaluate their English skills, almost half the students selected oral presentation as their greatest strength, and grammar "; S13[35]=" as the area in which they felt least competent.
      'The study of grammar ceased in primary school.
      Most people "; S14[35]=" have no idea of grammar and suddenly we are expected to know it for tertiary studies,' a male ADFA student said.
      The "; S15[35]=" research comes as the Bracks Government has proposed changes to the Year 12 English curriculum that would require students to read as few as two "; S16[35]=" texts - one of which could be a film.
      The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority also proposed students produce a written or "; S17[35]=" oral project, taking their research from texts including the internet and film.
      Victorian Opposition education spokesman Victor Perton said the changes "; S18[35]=" meant students could effectively read just one book for the year, making Victoria a laughing stock.
      'I don't believe there's any other "; S19[35]=" country in the world that would allow its final-year native language course to have such a low threshold of achievement -- they only have to "; S20[35]=" read one book and they can spend the rest of their time.. ";