R[0]="494"; T[0]="Australian vintage for young Japanese winemaker"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20060222"; Dt[0]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[0]="a13a53"; B1[0]="      A young winemaker described as one of the most talented in Japan s developing wine industry will arrive in Adelaide on Sunday, "; B2[0]="February 12 for a two-month long visit as part of the international Year of Exchange between Australia and Japan... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      A young winemaker described as one of the most talented in Japan's developing wine industry will arrive in Adelaide on Sunday, February "; S2[0]=" 12 for a two-month long visit as part of the international Year of Exchange between Australia and Japan.
      Mr Seiji Akao, 32, "; S3[0]=" 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[0]=" 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[0]=" 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[0]=" 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[0]="   '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[0]=" wide range of areas including the arts, culture and tourism,' Mr Tolley said.
      'An exchange such as this provides Australia's wine sector "; S9[0]=" 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[0]=" 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[0]=" reiterated Mr Tolley's endorsement of the exchange.
      'Australian wine exports to Japan are currently growing at 20%, and as the largest Australian "; S12[0]=" wine supplier to this important emerging market, we are delighted to be hosting Mr Akao.
      'Based at our premium red winemaking facility "; S13[0]=" 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[0]="     Mr Akao, who says he wants to visit the major winemaking areas in Australia and reflect this experience back into his own winemaking, "; S15[0]=" comes from a wine region regarded as especially challenging due to its high rainfall and poor quality soils.
      However, Tsuno Winery, perched "; S16[0]=" 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[0]=" amongst all wineries in Asia.
      Its Campbell Early rose wine was chosen by the UK's Wine Report 2004 as one of the "; S18[0]=" world's 100 most exciting wines, defying the conventional wisdom that the Japanese climate is not suitable to create quality wine.
      Grapes have "; S19[0]=" been grown in Miyazaki for about 50 years with the Campbell Early variety, initially grown as an eating grape, one of the first.
    "; S20[0]="   Mr Akao also grows chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and Muscat Bailey A.
      Trials with shiraz have been difficult although, following cues from.. "; R[1]="486"; T[1]="Taking lifestyle horticulture to the world"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20060222"; Dt[1]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[1]="a04a50a51a54"; B1[1]="      Lifestyle horticulture is one of Queensland s fastest growing primary industries and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) is working "; B2[1]="with industry to put Queensland at the forefront of lifestyle horticulture in Australia... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      Lifestyle horticulture is one of Queensland's fastest growing primary industries and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) is working with "; S2[1]=" industry to put Queensland at the forefront of lifestyle horticulture in Australia.
      With new emerging markets like the Middle East and Asia, "; S3[1]=" Queensland lifestyle horticulture will be at the head of excellence in landscaping parks, gardens and horticulture management technical advice, professional development and training and media "; S4[1]=" and marketing awareness.
      DPI&F has taken a whole of value chain approach through involvement in research and development, biosecurity, funding of key "; S5[1]=" projects, building the capacity of peak industry associations, fostering improved communications across the industry, sponsoring functions and increasing exports.
      With the completion "; S6[1]=" of the Australian Centre for Lifestyle Horticulture (ACLH), Queensland is set to become known as a centre for excellence throughout the world.
      "; S7[1]=" The ACLH has been developed to bring together key industry stakeholders to advance the development of the lifestyle horticulture in a co-ordinated and cohesive manner.
"; S8[1]="       DPI&F, working in conjunction with the ACLH, are focusing on future export enhancement work to be undertaken through facilitating business matching, supply "; S9[1]=" chain development, market research and inbound and outbound trade delegations.
      The Singapore Lifestyle Horticulture trade mission scheduled for 8 March 2006 will "; S10[1]=" focus on building relationships with the Singapore National Parks Board to facilitate increased exports of Queensland lifestyle services and products.
      If you "; S11[1]=" are interested in export opportunities for lifestyle horticulture please contact Ellen Buckle on (07) 3225 1661 or email ellen.buckle@dpi.qld.gov.au or Prue Tatt on (07) 5466 "; S12[1]=" 2235 or email prue.tatt@dpi.qld.gov.au... "; R[2]="480"; T[2]="Yarra River to star in Games Opening Ceremony"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20060222"; Dt[2]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[2]="a04a05a44a50"; B1[2]="      The iconic Yarra River will be the pathway leading 71 Commonwealth nations to the Opening Ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games "; B2[2]="on March 15... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      The iconic Yarra River will be the 'pathway' leading 71 Commonwealth nations to the Opening Ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games "; S2[2]=" on March 15.
      Commonwealth Games Minister Justin Madden, Lord Mayor John So and Games organisers today revealed that for the first time "; S3[2]=" in Commonwealth Games history, the Opening Ceremony will flow out of the stadium and onto the streets of the host city, Melbourne.
      "; S4[2]=" They unveiled one of the key elements of the River Event - 72 water creatures representing the 71 nations of the Commonwealth (Australia will have "; S5[2]=" two creatures).
      The creatures will be anchored to 36 pontoons along the Yarra River between the Princes and Swan Street bridges by "; S6[2]=" the end of February.
      Ceremonies executive producer Andrew Walsh said each creature had significance to the region it represents, been verified by "; S7[2]=" the Commonwealth Games Federation representatives of each nation, and authenticated by the Melbourne Museum's Senior Curator of Ichthyology (fish expert) Dr Martin Gomon.
    "; S8[2]="   Mr Madden said the Yarra spectacular would run concurrently with the Ceremony inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
      'For the first time, "; S9[2]=" we are going to extend the Ceremony beyond the borders of the stadium,' Mr Madden said.
      'And without giving too much away, "; S10[2]=" colour, light and sound will literally spill out across the city.
      'Imagine more than 80,000 spectators inside the MCG, thousands lining the "; S11[2]=" banks of the Yarra River and thousands more at Live Sites across the city - all intimately involved for the very first time in a "; S12[2]=" Games Opening Ceremony.' Lord Mayor John So said the River Event would be Melbourne's biggest art installation ever.
      'Melburnians love the Yarra, "; S13[2]=" and we look forward to showing off our waterfront city to a global television audience of more than 1.5 billion,' Mr So said.
    "; S14[2]="   'Whether we're within the MCG, on the banks of the Yarra or at a Live Site in the city, March 15 will live long "; S15[2]=" in our memories.' Games Chairman Ron Walker said the water creatures all had significance to the region they represented - whether they were edible fish, "; S16[2]=" native to that region or of cultural importance.
      'These water creatures give the public a glimpse into what is going to be "; S17[2]=" the most fantastic Opening Ceremony ever staged,' Mr Walker said.
      'Melbourne is one of the few cities in the world with a "; S18[2]=" meandering river that is so picturesque connecting to a skyline of city.
      The River Event will bring the Yarra to life like "; S19[2]=" it's never been seen before.
      'And it will only be paralleled by the breathtaking Ceremony we have planned for inside the MCG.
"; S20[2]="       A small number of tickets are still available for the Opening Ceremony, but you'll need to get in fast.' River Event creative.. "; R[3]="473"; T[3]="Nature lessons make children smarter, fitter"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20060222"; Dt[3]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[3]="a05a53"; B1[3]="      Since they began birdwatching, worm farming and gardening during their school day, St Helens Park public school students grades have soared..... "; B2[3]=" "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      Since they began birdwatching, worm farming and gardening during their school day, St Helens Park public school students' grades have soared.
  "; S2[3]="     Spotting echidnas and monitoring the health of local rivers near Campbelltown have done wonders for their maths and English marks.
      "; S3[3]=" 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[3]=" class.
      Led by its principal Andrew Best, the school is at the forefront of an international movement to restore contact between city "; S5[3]=" 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[3]=" and they would be less likely to be overweight or need to take drugs such as Ritalin.
      Australian and international experts in "; S7[3]=" environment and behaviour studies attended a conference at the University of Sydney at the weekend to discuss the theme of child-friendly cities.
      "; S8[3]=" 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[3]=" and parents' fear of abduction kept them indoors.
      'In just two and a half decades kids have stopped going outdoors, and outdoors "; S10[3]=" is where they need to be to get enough exercise to keep them in good fit condition.
      Especially if you link that "; S11[3]=" with bad diets, it's a toxic mix,' Dr Moore said.
      While playground equipment has its place, he said, studies show it limits "; S12[3]=" physical activity because children cluster together.
      The best kind of outdoor play is where children explore natural environments.
      Parents "; S13[3]=" and teachers did not need to visit the country to give children this experience, he said.
      Tree-filled local parks would do.
  "; S14[3]="     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[3]="   '[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[3]=" of money into healthcare systems … beginning in early childhood,' Dr Moore said.
      A PhD student at Monash University's department of psychology, "; S17[3]=" Kathleen Bagot, is studying how contact with nature affects children's health and wellbeing.
      Her research shows that children who spent their lunchtime "; S18[3]=" in the playground were mentally and physically fitter than those who spent it in the library.
      None of this is news to "; S19[3]=" Mr Best, whose first project at St Helens Park was planting native trees to attract the endangered Regent Honeyeater.
      Most recently the "; S20[3]=" school has built a frog pond and uses an outdoor amphitheatre for art and drama classes.
      'It isn't the tidiest area,' he.. "; R[4]="464"; T[4]="Turning water into $600m for Education"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20060222"; Dt[4]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[4]="a04a05a40a53"; B1[4]="      Run-down Victorian public schools will receive their largest ever injection of funds as a result of the privatisation of the Snowy River "; B2[4]="hydro scheme... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      Run-down Victorian public schools will receive their largest ever injection of funds as a result of the privatisation of the Snowy River "; S2[4]=" hydro scheme.
      The state will spend nearly all of the $600-$700 million from the sale of its stake in the scheme on "; S3[4]=" a capital works package to rebuild or upgrade school buildings widely described as the worst in the country.
      The money will go "; S4[4]=" to up to 100 new and modernised schools, with a specific focus on decaying 1950s schools in disadvantaged areas.
      The decision to "; S5[4]=" 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[4]=" Professor Brian Caldwell that they were the worst in the developed world.
      The funding package won support from teachers, principals and parent "; S7[4]=" groups.
      But Victoria's independent schools said the four-year package 'discriminated' against their schools by not allocating them funding.
      The "; S8[4]=" 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[4]=" cent by 2012 and 28 per cent in the longer term.
      This was legally binding and could not be changed without Victoria's "; S10[4]=" consent, it said.
      The decision by Victoria to join NSW and the Federal Government in selling off the power company has opened "; S11[4]=" the way for a massive public float.
      One analyst said the sale could fetch between $2.5 and $2.9 billion.
      "; S12[4]=" 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[4]=" week agreed to sell its 13 per cent.
      Premier Steve Bracks said that if Victoria retained its 29 per cent share it "; S14[4]=" would have been unable to secure the water or environmental rights.
      He said education was the Government's No.
      1 "; S15[4]=" priority, dismissing suggestions the money could have been better spent on health or the controversial Mitcham-Frankston freeway.
      'Just as the Snowy scheme "; S16[4]=" 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[4]=" said.
      While the Victorian Government points out it has spent more than $1.4 billion on capital works on schools since 1999, experts "; S18[4]=" from all corners of politics agree that many of the state's 1600 schools face generations of neglect.
      The poor quality of school "; S19[4]=" buildings have also drawn criticism from the Australian Education Union, the Auditor- General's office as well as teachers and principals... "; R[5]="463"; T[5]="Theodore grazing workshop sets goals"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20060222"; Dt[5]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[5]="a02a24a25a26a27a53a54a72"; B1[5]="      A mix of established Theodore district cattle producers with a wealth of local experience and others who are relatively new to the "; B2[5]="region will develop best practice Grazing Land Management (GLM) plans during the next six months... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      A mix of established Theodore district cattle producers with a wealth of local experience and others who are relatively new to the "; S2[5]=" region will develop best practice Grazing Land Management (GLM) plans during the next six months.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries grazing "; S3[5]=" 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[5]=" workshop.
      Ms Sandral said the EDGEnetwork Fitzroy GLM workshop drew on the beef and pasture productivity expertise of experienced DPI&F extension officers "; S5[5]=" to assist rural landholders incorporate natural resource management objectives into future property development improvement plans.
      'When we pool this landholder and extension "; S6[5]=" 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[5]=" property,' Ms Sandral said.
      Workshop participants Terry and Megan Dunne bought the cattle property Shawlands 60km east of Theodore in October last "; S8[5]=" year.
      Being new to the region, they now have a better understanding of their land and soil types and the know-how to "; S9[5]=" monitor pasture yields and work out a forage budget.
      Ms Sandral said that in six months, the Theodore group would meet again "; S10[5]=" for a one-day session to reassess their property development plans.
      'Grazing management planning involves fencing off land types to ensure better utilisation "; S11[5]=" 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[5]=" a means of measuring pasture nutritional value,' Ms Sandral said.
      Ms Sandral said the Central Region was fortunate to be able to "; S13[5]=" 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[5]=" to assist with the GLM workshop presentation.
      Ms Sandral said plans were in hand for a GLM workshop in the Emerald area "; S15[5]=" in early May and cattle producer inquiries were welcomed.
      GLM has been funded through the Australian Government's National Action Plan for Water "; S16[5]=" Quality and Salinity... "; R[6]="459"; T[6]="Program unlocks the potential of future rural leaders"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20060222"; Dt[6]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[6]="a05a53"; B1[6]="      If your new year s resolution for 2006 is to embark on some life changing activities, but you don t know where "; B2[6]="to start, then the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      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[6]=" then the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries may have the answer.
      The department is hosting its highly successful Building Rural Leaders "; S3[6]=" program in North Queensland in March.
      The Building Rural Leaders program gives participants the opportunity to realise their potential through an intensive "; S4[6]=" personal development program that has already inspired more than 1,000 Queenslanders.
      'Our greatest resource for growing industries and communities is our people "; S5[6]=" and their potential.
      We are looking for participants who wish to develop themselves, their business, industry and community,' DPI&F rural development officer "; S6[6]=" Pamela McAllister said.
      Ms McAllister will be in North Queensland on February 13-16 to speak to prospective participants and meetings with her "; S7[6]=" can be arranged by calling the DPI&F Townsville office on 47 222 688.
      'Individual participants grow and develop as they gain knowledge, "; S8[6]=" 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[6]=" 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[6]=" mother who gained the confidence to move from the packing shed floor to be an active members of the local horticulture industry board.
    "; S11[6]="   'Building Rural Leaders offers the motivation and self-development participants need to unlock their own potential.
      Communities gain committed and knowledgeable citizens "; S12[6]=" who create real and positive change.
      New networks between the public and private sectors develop new initiatives that meet genuine community needs.' "; S13[6]=" The Building Rural Leaders program kicks-off in the Burdekin on March 7, before moving to Ingham and Townsville later in the year.
      "; S14[6]=" For more information about the program, including how to enrol, log on or contact Pamela McAllister on 1800 356 621... "; R[7]="457"; T[7]="New Report busts Myth about Farm Salaries"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20060222"; Dt[7]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[7]="a04a05a06a07a48a51"; B1[7]="      A long-held perception that staff working on Australian farms are underpaid has been busted by new research, which shows farm salaries are "; B2[7]="competitive compared to other Australian industries... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      A long-held perception that staff working on Australian farms are underpaid has been busted by new research, which shows farm salaries are "; S2[7]=" competitive compared to other Australian industries.
      The Holmes Sackett & Associates' FarmStaff 2006 report has found that while higher paying jobs can "; S3[7]=" be found in other industries, on average the total package value of salaries received on farms is competitive.
      FarmStaff 2006 is the "; S4[7]=" result of independent employee research and a comprehensive salary survey of 150 farm businesses in every state of Australia.
      Undertaken in 2005, "; S5[7]=" it analyses salaries and conditions for employees from operational to management level.
      Report author Sandy McEachern says a contributing factor to the "; S6[7]=" perceived salary discrepancy is that the total salary package value is not transparent.
      'A large portion of the package is made up "; S7[7]=" of non-cash benefits,' Mr McEachern says.
      'When grossed up to their pre-tax values these benefits - such as housing or fuel - "; S8[7]=" constitute upwards of 20% of the total value of the package.' Work environment and lifestyle are primarily why farm employees choose to work in the "; S9[7]=" industry but long-hours and salary are a common dislike.
      'However, despite the hours and perceived salary discrepancies in the industry, non-monetary elements "; S10[7]=" of working on agriculture were cited by farm employees as very important to improving working conditions and staying in a job,' he says.
    "; S11[7]="   'Making a job easier was a common response - in essence things like better planning and communication by employers and safe and reliable equipment.' "; S12[7]=" Now available for employers to purchase, FarmStaff 2006 is a response to a need for in-depth, relevant employment information and tools within the agricultural employment "; S13[7]=" market.
      'It drills down into what employees are actually being paid, how they are paid and what they like and dislike about "; S14[7]=" their job, enabling direct comparison between job titles within the sector and between industries,' Mr McEachern says.
      Mr McEachern says there are "; S15[7]=" three things that employers are seeking help with in regards to hiring employees:
      * How do I attract good employees
  "; S16[7]="     * How can I reward employees
      * How can I motivate them to perform better 'FarmStaff 2006 provides a "; S17[7]=" methodology for finding, rewarding and keeping employees,' he says.
      'It includes Holmes Sackett & Associates' unique and industry-specific Manager Salary Calculator and "; S18[7]=" a Total Salary Package Calculator to actually determine packages for individual farm employees, which is available on-line at the Holmes Sackett website.' The FarmStaff 2006 "; S19[7]=" report also found :
      * The cropping industry paid higher salaries as compared to livestock and mixed livestock cropping businesses.
  "; S20[7]="     * The perceived problem of having an aging population of farm managers.. "; R[8]="429"; T[8]="Ambitious Young Farmer Awarded CASE IH 2006 Scholarship"; A[8]="By ... Case IH"; Dn[8]="20060222"; Dt[8]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[8]="a01a05a53"; B1[8]="      With a strong field of applicants for this year s Development Scholarship Program at Victoria s Marcus Oldham College, New South Wales "; B2[8]="farmer, Tim Chaffey, was one of two people awarded the $6,500 Case IH scholarship to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Management... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      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[8]=" Chaffey, was one of two people awarded the $6,500 Case IH scholarship to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Management.
      Mark Lindner, Business "; S3[8]=" Manager for Case IH, said that the pool of applicants gets stronger every year.
      'This is the third year we've run the "; S4[8]=" 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[8]="   '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[8]=" 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[8]=" New South Wales.
      Tim has spent the past year gaining experience on the Hereford stud 'Yarram Park' at Willaura in western Victoria.
"; S8[8]="       'Working on 'South Bunarba' Mungindi, New South Wales I also had the opportunity to learn a lot about cropping, but I didn't "; S9[8]=" 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[8]=" dream is to work with the new technology that is becoming available for cropping.
      'I'm really fascinated with where cropping is going.
"; S11[8]="       With technologies such as GPS mapping and navigation systems currently used to improve crop yields and cutting the costs of producing them, "; S12[8]=" 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[8]=" 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[8]=" closely with a major machinery company such as Case IH, Tim says.
      'The opportunity of developing industry contacts for the future is "; S15[8]=" invaluable,' he said... "; R[9]="419"; T[9]="Wine grape growers to receive urgent training services"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20060222"; Dt[9]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[9]="a13a53"; B1[9]="      The South Australian Wine Industry Association, supported by FarmBis, has responded to a call for more training services for wine grape growers "; B2[9]="across the state... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      The South Australian Wine Industry Association, supported by FarmBis, has responded to a call for more training services for wine grape growers "; S2[9]=" across the state.
      A training plan for the wine grape growing sector has been developed after the association surveyed 560 growers across "; S3[9]=" the state to help identify the training, information and skills needed to help them run a viable business.
      According to chief executive "; S4[9]=" 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[9]=" is currently very low.
      'In the current economic climate where prices and margins are being squeezed, growers need to be able to "; S6[9]=" analyse their business inputs and outputs to maximise their returns and maintain a viable business,' Ms Bowes said.
      Of the 560 growers "; S7[9]=" surveyed, 35 per cent said they felt some form of training would make a difference to their business.
      Vine health and nutrition "; S8[9]=" 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[9]=" and safety.
      Ms Bowes said the training plan, which will be supported by FarmBis funding, will be of immense value to South "; S10[9]=" Australian wine grape growers.
      'The survey showed that growers prefer to received access to training at local venues during May to June, "; S11[9]=" 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[9]=" to remain affordable and would like to have accesses to research information,' she said.
      The State and Federal Governments have contributed a "; S13[9]=" 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[9]=" South Australian producers to improve their management skills.
      The chair of the South Australian FarmBis State Planning Group, Laura Fell said, 'training "; S15[9]=" 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[9]=" have a higher gross operating surplus than those who don't attend,' said Ms Fell.
      'With the many challenges primary producers are facing, "; S17[9]=" 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[9]="       A professional team of networkers has been appointed by FarmBis in South Australia to help bridge the gap between training providers and "; S19[9]=" primary producers.
      The three Networkers focus on making sure quality training is available for farmers, fishers and land managers by working closely "; S20[9]=" with industry, government agencies, community organisations, research and extension sectors, and professional training providers.
      To make training.. "; R[10]="408"; T[10]="Canberra goes Heywire with RIRDC and the ABC"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20060222"; Dt[10]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[10]="a05a53"; B1[10]="      Heywire is an ABC Radio award scheme for regional and rural youth aged between 16 and 22 years..... "; B2[10]=" "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      Heywire is an ABC Radio award scheme for regional and rural youth aged between 16 and 22 years.
      In "; S2[10]=" 2005 over 800 young people from around Australia submitted a radio story about what life is like for them living in regional Australia.
    "; S3[10]="   38 winners were chosen from ABC regional radio locations around Australia.
      Their stories have been produced by the ABC for broadcast "; S4[10]=" throughout Australia.
      The Heywire winners are travelling to Canberra to take part in the Heywire Youth Issues Forum, held at the Australian "; S5[10]=" Institute of Sport from Sunday 5 to Friday 10 February 2006.
      Highlights of the Forum include the further exploration of the issues "; S6[10]=" 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[10]=" and the final celebration and issuing of certificates at the Heywire Presentation Dinner on Thursday.
      Heywire and the Heywire Youth Issues Forum "; S8[10]=" 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[10]=" Fisheries and Forestry Transport and Regional Services Family and Community Services and Health and Ageing... "; R[11]="407"; T[11]="Marketing Research: Individual Words"; A[11]="By ... James D. Brausch"; Dn[11]="20060222"; Dt[11]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[11]="a04a05a08a46a53"; B1[11]="      We all know that phrases like Who else wants to know in a headline can improve our sales.
      Have "; B2[11]="you ever thought about the individual words and their impact on your profitability?.. "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      We all know that phrases like 'Who else wants to know' in a headline can improve our sales.
      Have "; S2[11]=" 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[11]=" at individual words and profitability.
      The first task was to determine the profitability of each ad being analyzed.
      This "; S4[11]=" was done using the age-old mailorder marketing method.
      Basically, if you see an advertisement month after month and year after year, it "; S5[11]=" is probably profitable.
      If you see an ad only once or twice and then it changes or disappears completely, the advertisement was "; S6[11]=" probably not very profitable.
      The next task was to simply look for the occurrence of a list of words in each ad "; S7[11]=" while noting whether the ad was profitable or not.
      The results were tallied and lots of words were removed from the list "; S8[11]=" 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[11]=" the details.
      Here is a list of some of the words found much more often in profitable ads than in ads that "; S10[11]=" didn't produce a profit.
      accessories, an, best, blue, buy, by, causes, cheap, discount, discover, easily, fast, find, guaranteed, has, improve, increase, lower, "; S11[11]=" more, nationwide, near, need, of, on, one, order, payments, powered, pricing, rates, reduce, stop, superb, the, view, what, with.
      Here is a "; S12[11]=" list of the words found much more often in ads that were NOT profitable.
      affordable, after, and, as, at, before, better, help, "; S13[11]=" 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[11]=" who, you, your.
      Now keep in mind that correlation can not prove causality.
      This research isn't saying that all "; S15[11]=" ads that use the word 'excellent' are doomed to being unprofitable.
      However, it is saying that a statistically significant percentage of ads "; S16[11]=" that use the word 'cheap' are profitable and a majority of those that use the word 'affordable' are not profitable.
      If your "; S17[11]=" 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[11]=" 'good' list above), will your profitability increase? There are no guarantees.
      There are an unlimited number of factors that could impact that "; S19[11]=" result.
      Not ALL ads that use the word 'cheap' were profitable.
      Not ALL ads that use the word 'affordable' "; S20[11]=" were unprofitable.
      However, the use of the word 'cheap' instead of 'affordable' is more likely to improve your profitability... "; R[12]="404"; 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]="a05a06a53"; 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 Cape York Peninsula in March.
      The Building Rural Leaders program gives participants the opportunity to realise their potential through an "; S4[12]=" intensive personal development program that has already inspired more than 1,000 Queenslanders.
      'Our greatest resource for growing industries and communities is our "; S5[12]=" people and their potential.
      We are looking for participants who wish to develop themselves, their business, industry and community,' DPI&F rural development "; S6[12]=" officer Pamela McAllister said.
      'Individual participants grow and develop as they gain knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to promote positive change for "; S7[12]=" 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[12]=" 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[12]=" packing shed floor to be an active member of the local horticulture industry board.
      'Building Rural Leaders offers the motivation and self-development "; S10[12]=" participants need to unlock their own potential.
      Communities gain committed and knowledgeable citizens who create real and positive change.
      "; S11[12]=" 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[12]=" 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[12]=" 356 621... "; R[13]="397"; T[13]="Oldest Aussie recipes begin a national tour"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20060222"; Dt[13]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[13]="a10a50a51"; B1[13]="      The earliest known Australian cook book has been dragged out of its protective environment at the State Library to go on a "; B2[13]="national tour... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      The earliest known Australian cook book has been dragged out of its protective environment at the State Library to go on a "; S2[13]=" national tour.
      A highlight is a recipe for Slippery Bob - kangaroo brains.
      Published in 1864, the book carries "; S3[13]=" the byline 'By an Australian Aristologist' and the rather pompous title The English and Australian Cookery Book: Cookery for the Many, as Well as the "; S4[13]=" Upper Ten Thousand.
      Just like today's foodies, author Edward Abbott - an MP, businessman and land owner- fancied himself skilled in the "; S5[13]=" art of fine dining.
      It has recipes for traditional English fare and incorporates local produce.
      Librarian Dianne Byrne said "; S6[13]=" the book's title was thought to be a little tongue in cheek although its production was aimed at colonial gentry.
      It "; S7[13]=" contains recipes for a range of products of a type not necessarily available in England, such as wattle, muttonbird, wild duck, pigeon and black swans.
"; S8[13]="       It also contains curiosities, advice on smoking, tea drinking and, of course, tips on managing servants.
      More than "; S9[13]=" 20 of the library's most valuable historic items - all of national significance - have just gone on tour as part of the National Treasures "; S10[13]=" from Australia's Great Libraries exhibition.
      The exhibition opened at the National Gallery in Canberra earlier this month but will not be in "; S11[13]=" Queensland until November when it will play a role in the opening of the new State Library.Queensland treasures on show include cloths collected on Lieutenant "; S12[13]=" James Cook's three major voyages and the log book for the first aircraft ordered by the Western Queensland Auto Aero Service, later called Qantas.
  "; S13[13]="     Also included is Sir Donald Bradman's favourite cricket bat and bushranger Ned Kelly's iron helmet... "; R[14]="390"; T[14]="Aquaculture School s Project Gets Funding"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20060222"; Dt[14]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[14]="a53a87"; B1[14]="      A project that encourages children s interest in aquaculture from primary school to the workforce has been awarded $90,000 Federal and State "; B2[14]="funding, the Minister for Primary Industries Water and Environment, Steve Kons has announced... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      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[14]=" the Minister for Primary Industries Water and Environment, Steve Kons has announced.
      The one-year project, Extending the Marine Links Package - Aquaculture "; S3[14]=" is to create an education stream that will take kids through from primary school to the workforce.
      Mr Kons said the initial "; S4[14]=" 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[14]=" consistent educational format for the Grades 5-8, comply at curriculum level as well as enriching learning programs.
      'The modules include science, environmental "; S6[14]=" management, technology and IT components including a web site with a discussion channel.
      'This project will update and extend the basic package "; S7[14]=" 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[14]=" 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[14]="   'Once the package is developed it will be trialled and established in the Cradle Coast region then released Statewide.
      'It has "; S10[14]=" $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[14]=" supporters included the Fishing Industry Training Board, Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council and industry.
      The Package was also developed with the vision of "; S12[14]=" further developing the modules to include Year 9-12... "; R[15]="380"; T[15]="Solid fence offers protection during bushfire experiments"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20060222"; Dt[15]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[15]="a09a37a42a50"; B1[15]="      Experiments have shown that solid steel or hardwood fence provides better protection against bushfire attack than treated pine or open slatted fences..... "; B2[15]=" "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      Experiments have shown that solid steel or hardwood fence provides better protection against bushfire attack than treated pine or open slatted fences.
"; S2[15]="       A solid steel or hardwood fence provides better protection against bushfire attack than that of treated pine or open slatted fences, according "; S3[15]=" to research experiments conducted by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and CSIRO.
      Scientists tested 1.3km of fence materials to observe the performance "; S4[15]=" of house fences during simulated bushfire attacks.
      Treated pine, hardwood and steel fences were tested in 23 different fire experiments including ember "; S5[15]=" attack, flame attack, radiant heat attack, leaf litter attack.
      'Solid fences made from steel or hardwood timber were seen to be effective "; S6[15]=" at stopping the transfer of both fire and radiant heat,' says CSIRO's lead bushfire researcher Justin Leonard.
      'The results from this six-month "; S7[15]=" study support the anecdotal evidence that solid fencing offers increased protection for homes and can help to reduce the transfer of both fire and radiant "; S8[15]=" heat.
      'This is critical because our post-bushfire survey results show that the majority of houses actually survive the first fire front, but "; S9[15]=" burn down during the following few hours from ignition caused by burning debris or ember attack which may come from vegetation or combustible items within "; S10[15]=" the urban environment.
      'In our study solid steel fences did incredibly well at repelling fire and radiation attacks.
      The "; S11[15]=" protection may be enough to prevent combustible items near the fence from igniting, thus reducing the chance of fire spreading into the inside of the "; S12[15]=" property boundary.' The steel fence survived all experiments with its structure in tact, but there was buckling and separating of the joints of panels and "; S13[15]=" posts.
      There was also scorching of the fence's surface coating.
      'Closed slatted hard wood fences also provided a solid "; S14[15]=" barrier to fire radiation, and survived the majority of tests with minor charring without becoming significantly involved in flames,' Mr Leonard says.
      "; S15[15]=" 'The proviso for hardwood fences is that people need to ensure there are no combustible materials near the hardwood fence - such as combustible ground "; S16[15]=" cover, play equipment, sheds or cars.
      If these elements burn the fence may act not as a barrier but as a flame "; S17[15]=" source.
      When these elements are present, the fence becomes far less effective and can actually become part of the problem.' Hardwood fences "; S18[15]=" also struggled during the structural fire exposure experiments - with the fence exposed to direct 2.5-m high flames for 30 minutes.
      The "; S19[15]=" hardwood palings started to burn through in five and a half minutes.
      'This suggests that these types of fences may not be "; S20[15]=" effective in limiting house-to-house fire spread in large fires as we actually observed during the Canberra bushfires,' Mr Leonard says.
      It was.. "; R[16]="362"; T[16]="New impetus for land rights claims"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20060222"; Dt[16]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[16]="a04a48"; B1[16]="      Last month s native title determination in the Wimmera does not change history for the Yorta Yorta people.
      But "; B2[16]="it signals a new optimism for future claimants, writes Ann Arnold... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      Last month's native title determination in the Wimmera does not change history for the Yorta Yorta people.
      But it "; S2[16]=" signals a new optimism for future claimants, writes Ann Arnold.
      HENRY Atkinson was a supervisor for General Electric for 21 years, and "; S3[16]=" owns his own home in eastern Melbourne.
      He also worked for Mercedes-Benz, and an air-conditioning company.
      But back in "; S4[16]=" the early 1940s he spent his early childhood living out of the Murray River forest, near Echuca.
      His family had, with a "; S5[16]=" large group of people, walked off the Cummeragunja Mission, in protest at the management of the time.
      For some years they survived "; S6[16]=" on fish, turtles, emus, crayfish, swan eggs, wild honey and nardoo seeds.
      Atkinson still speaks of the spiritual beliefs of his Yorta "; S7[16]=" Yorta culture.
      'Biami, the creator, sent down an old woman to look for food, and she created the landscape with her digging "; S8[16]=" stick.' The rainbow serpent followed and created the curves and deep holes of the Murray River.
      There's also 'Nubanbool, a man/creature-type animal', "; S9[16]=" and other figures his parents told him about.
      Now involved with the repatriation of ancestral remains from around the world, this gentle "; S10[16]=" man is adamant that 'until those skeletal remains are back within the country they were born on, their spirits will wander'.
      Many "; S11[16]=" of Atkinson's fellow native title claimants in the now infamous Yorta Yorta case of the late 1990s - the first full test of native title "; S12[16]=" after Mabo - share his hybrid identity of urban, contemporary lifestyles and an intrinsic link to the past and their land.
      When "; S13[16]=" it came to proving their connections and continued traditions, however, under the terms of native title law, they failed.
      In the Federal "; S14[16]=" Court Justice Howard Olney found that 'when the tide of history has washed away any real acknowledgement of traditional law and any real observance of "; S15[16]=" traditional customs, the foundation of native title has disappeared'.
      The 'tide of history' phrase came originally from the High Court Mabo judgement.
"; S16[16]="       It is a phrase that stung the claimants and continues to be challenged by other observers, who see in it both an "; S17[16]=" implicit denial that cultures evolve, and the suggestion that history moves neatly through discrete chapters.
      Last month's Federal Court decision that native "; S18[16]=" title did exist in the Wimmera - albeit in a significantly smaller area than was originally claimed - was an overt reply to the Yorta "; S19[16]=" Yorta decision.
      Justice Ron Merkel referred several times to the 'tide of history', mirroring Justice Olney by stating that 'the tide of "; S20[16]=" history has not 'washed away' any real acknowledgement of traditional laws and any real observance of traditional customs by the applicants'... "; R[17]="361"; T[17]="Now here s a novel idea: read books to improve English"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20060222"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[17]="a05a53"; B1[17]="      The study of novels and poems will be boosted under changes to the new curriculum for Victorian students..... "; B2[17]=" "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      The study of novels and poems will be boosted under changes to the new curriculum for Victorian students.
      Just "; S2[17]=" 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[17]=" of traditional literary texts in earlier years.
      Under the changes, the authority has identified literary texts as a 'primary focus' for the "; S4[17]=" study of English and acknowledged a 'more explicit link' between the study of English and literacy.
      The original version of the English "; S5[17]=" curriculum for prep to year 10 - to be implemented in schools from this year - referred only to the study of a 'wide range' "; S6[17]=" of texts and media, both print and electronic.
      But the latest version specifically details the study of literary texts, 'such as novels, "; S7[17]=" short stories, poetry, plays and non-fiction', in addition to other forms such as film.
      There are also more guidelines to develop grammatical "; S8[17]=" and literacy skills to better equip students for study beyond year 10 and the workplace.
      The curriculum changes follow last year's controversy "; S9[17]=" over proposed changes to year 12 English, which would have VCE students having to read only one book.
      The VCAA was forced "; S10[17]=" 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[17]=" the change.
      The authority has made 'minimal refinements' to the new curriculum after an evaluation that included questionnaires and testing in schools.
"; S12[17]="       A VCAA spokesman said the revisions to English followed requests from teachers for greater clarity and more precise detail.
      "; S13[17]=" 'That is what the revisions have addressed.
      The changes are not a change in direction, rather a change in detail,' he said.
"; S14[17]="       The first draft of the English curriculum had generic references to texts, while the new version was more specific, the spokesman said.
"; S15[17]="       'Literary texts were always central to the English domain and the revisions have made that more explicit and clearer for teachers.' For "; S16[17]=" 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[17]=" and electronic forms, including film and websites'.
      The new version specifies the study of 'extended literary texts such as novels, short stories, "; S18[17]=" poetry and non-fiction everyday texts and media texts including newspapers, film and websites'.
      The spokesman said the feedback showed strong support for "; S19[17]=" the new curriculum, called the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
      English teacher Tony Thompson, who led the criticism of English Lite, welcomed the "; S20[17]=" changes.
      Mr Thompson, who teaches at Princes Hill Secondary, said there was strong community support for the study of literary texts, including.. "; R[18]="359"; T[18]="Farmers rebuild their lives"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20060222"; Dt[18]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[18]="a04a48"; B1[18]="      Farmer Lawrence Low lost a lifetime of work and memories in the Black Tuesday bushfires..... "; B2[18]=" "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      Farmer Lawrence Low lost a lifetime of work and memories in the Black Tuesday bushfires.
      A farmer for more "; S2[18]=" than 50 years, he has endured the emotions of working the land - but nothing could prepare him for the devastation after the bushfire tore "; S3[18]=" through his 1000 ha property.
      His family lost their home, tractors, machinery and more than 2500 top-quality Merinos.
      "; S4[18]=" Mr Low's farm, bought by his grandfather in 1926, was one of 10 homes razed in the small farming town of White Flat, about 25 "; S5[18]=" km north of Port Lincoln.
      The community was literally wiped from existence.
      Instead of spending the summer farming "; S6[18]=" his property, Mr Low - who has lived on the property all of his life - is fixing fences and trying to rebuild his shattered "; S7[18]=" life.
      As the first anniversary of the tragedy approaches, Mr Low, 66, and his wife Yvonne refuse to live in their farmhouse "; S8[18]=" - still shaken by memories of the fire.
      They now live in Port Lincoln and he travels daily to the farm.
"; S9[18]="       'It was frightening,' Mr Low said about the fire.
      'The whole farm burnt and virtually all of the fencing "; S10[18]=" was destroyed.
      'Afterwards, all that was left was just the frames of the buildings.
      Everything was ash.' In honour "; S11[18]=" of lives lost and the efforts of survivors to overcome the tragedy, The Advertiser is reflecting on the bushfires in a series of stories leading "; S12[18]=" up to Wednesday's anniversary.
      The blaze, which swept across Lower Eyre Peninsula on January 10 and 11, claimed nine lives and destroyed "; S13[18]=" about 90 homes, 370 sheds or commercial buildings, 35 vehicles, 6300 km of fencing and more than 46,000 head of livestock.
      It "; S14[18]=" has taken its toll emotionally, even on Mr Low's trusty sheepdog Scotty.
      Mr Low has managed to rebuild a couple of his "; S15[18]=" sheds, but there is another two years' work to get the farm back in working order.
      Wednesday's ceremony at Wangary's Oval, at "; S16[18]=" 11am, will also acknowledge the efforts of all who worked to save homes and farming land.
      Natalie Borlase - whose mother Judith "; S17[18]=" Griffin and children Star, 3, and Jack, 2, died in a vehicle at the family farm in Wanilla - will speak... "; R[19]="347"; T[19]="Backpacker Harvest scheme bearing fruit"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20060222"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[19]="a04a06a48"; B1[19]="      Italian backpacker Daria Bove represents the solution to Australia s temporary pockets of labour shortages..... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      Italian backpacker Daria Bove represents the solution to Australia's temporary pockets of labour shortages.
      Slogging it out on a "; S2[19]=" gooseberry and lychee farm at Newrybar in the Byron Bay hinterland in northern NSW yesterday, she is one of more than 500 visitors who have "; S3[19]=" applied for a 12-month extension to their year-long working holiday visa under a new federal government scheme.
      Under the scheme, which was "; S4[19]=" introduced on November 1, visitors who work in the harvest industry for three months or longer can apply for the extension.
      "; S5[19]=" Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said the enthusiastic response to the scheme was great news for farmers, who find it difficult to employ enough fruitpickers for "; S6[19]=" their harvests.
      'The changes to the visa provide a big incentive to people to get out and pick crops,' she said.
  "; S7[19]="     'Hundreds of backpackers from throughout the world will pick fruit to stay longer in Australia.' The National Farmers Federation has argued that broader "; S8[19]=" economic changes in Australia have thinned the ranks of people prepared to work as seasonal fruit and vegetable pickers, leading to chronic shortages.
    "; S9[19]="   NFF industrial officer Denita Wawn said Australia had become 'more highly educated and highly skilled, which is great for the economy, (but) we're finding "; S10[19]=" that it's actually having a negative impact on the economy at the lower-level type jobs'.
      Ms Bove's employer, farmer Robin Amos, had "; S11[19]=" reservations about the scheme.
      'It's better than nothing,' she said.
      'We are getting extra people to work out in "; S12[19]=" the fields, but many of them aren't staying long enough.' Ms Amos said she would like to see a scheme where backpackers were encouraged to "; S13[19]=" stay on a for a reasonable period of time before they were granted the extension.
      'Under the scheme they have to "; S14[19]=" work in the industry for three months, but it seems they can move around as much as they like,' he said.
      'We've "; S15[19]=" had people who only stayed for a week.
      It takes two or three days to properly prepare people for fruitpicking, and there's "; S16[19]=" a lot of paperwork involved.
      'If they're only going to stay a week they hardly get up to speed as fruitpickers before "; S17[19]=" they shoot through.'.. "; R[20]="340"; T[20]="Common ground and private practice -- thinking about property"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20060222"; Dt[20]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[20]="a07a48a50a72"; B1[20]="      A new report presenting leading edge thinking about property rights and responsibilities..... "; B2[20]=" "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      A new report presenting leading edge thinking about property rights and responsibilities.
      While industry, community and government have all "; S2[20]=" expressed a broad commitment to greater sustainability of the Australian landscape, as yet there is little agreement on a reform agenda to achieve this goal.
"; S3[20]="       One of the topics where debate is most fierce concerns property rights and responsibilities.
      In an effort to "; S4[20]=" encourage and inform debate about the rights and responsibilities of property owners in managing land and water, Land & Water Australia has released a new "; S5[20]=" report Property: rights and responsibilities, current Australian thinking.
      This collection of eight research papers represents the leading edge of Australian thinking on "; S6[20]=" property rights.
      Topics range from a discussion of private property and common myths in the property rights debate, to analyses of legal "; S7[20]=" and economic approaches, economic perspectives of water entitlements, and social justice considerations.
      Land & Water Australia Chair Ms Bobbie Brazil said that "; S8[20]=" improving understanding of property rights among communities, industries and policy makers is critical in moving forward on some of the most intractable environmental challenges in "; S9[20]=" Australia.
      'This is a complex issue, and rarely is this sort of information presented in a comprehensive and accessible way.
    "; S10[20]="   We have a responsibility to find appropriate and workable solutions, to make sure that we get it right,' she said.
      "; S11[20]=" The Property report has been produced under Land & Water Australia's Social and Institutional Research Program.
      Click here for an electronic copy.
"; S12[20]="       Hard copies can be obtained from Canprint on 1800 776616 quoting product code PR020440... "; R[21]="334"; T[21]="Literacy in Tasmania already meets Criteria"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20060222"; Dt[21]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[21]="a05a06a53a69"; B1[21]="      The Tasmanian Government says a national report on the teaching of literacy has backed some methods used in Tasmania..... "; B2[21]=" "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      The Tasmanian Government says a national report on the teaching of literacy has backed some methods used in Tasmania.
      "; S2[21]=" Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson is using the report to push for an overhaul of how children are taught to read.
      It "; S3[21]=" 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[21]=" for teachers.
      State Education Minister Paula Wriedt says some recommendations are already in practice.
      'It does vindicate the approach "; S5[21]=" 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[21]=" to read,' she said.
      'But of course we also use a range of other appropriate methods because children do learn in different "; S7[21]=" ways and what might be acceptable for one child may not work for another.'.. "; R[22]="328"; T[22]="AWEX announces new woolclasser seminars"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20060222"; Dt[22]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[22]="a25a53"; B1[22]="      Australia s wool market manager, AWEX, will hold a series of workshops to help woolclassers improve wool preparation, keep up with industry "; B2[22]="trends and maintain Australia s reputation for quality wool... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Australia's wool market manager, AWEX, will hold a series of workshops to help woolclassers improve wool preparation, keep up with industry trends "; S2[22]=" and maintain Australia's reputation for quality wool.
      AWEX Chief Executive Officer Mark Grave said 14 Boardtalk seminars would be held over the "; S3[22]=" next seven months, targeting woolclassers and woolgrowers in a number of regional areas across the country.
      The seminars, which follow the first "; S4[22]=" 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[22]=" demands on wool classers, he said.
      'The role of the woolclasser is vital to Australia maintaining its enviable reputation for quality wool "; S6[22]=" throughout the world.
      AWEX has increased its service to the woolclasser and this is only one part of a strategic direction for "; S7[22]=" Australian wool,' Mr Grave said.
      Seminars held during 2005 had recognised a need to increase and improve communication with woolclassers to ensure "; S8[22]=" that they were fully briefed on the latest industry issues and trends, he said.
      'There are approximately 25,000 registered woolclassers in Australia "; S9[22]=" working in rural locations, some quite remote, so that is where AWEX will be going,' Mr Grave said.
      In addition, AWEX, through "; S10[22]=" 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[22]=" standardised training resources for the benefit of all registered training organisations who teach woolclassing.
      'This is a fundamental step for the wool "; S12[22]=" industry to ensure that all wool trainers have the latest training resources at their disposal.
      This will go a long way to "; S13[22]=" ensuring the standards of training and the consistency of woolclassers are improved across the country,' Mr Grave said.
      'AWEX and the wool "; S14[22]=" 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[22]=" 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[22]=" and how they can use AWEX to assist them do their job better.
      'It is the role of AWEX to identify issues "; S17[22]=" and relate them, or work through them, with woolclassers.
      Because our woolclassers are spread across the country it is important we go "; S18[22]=" to where they work and live,' Mr Grave said.
      AWEX also recognises the role of wool brokers and state farming organisations in "; S19[22]=" getting the message out to woolclassers and is developing a program for members to help spread this message.
      Mr Grave said another "; S20[22]=" positive thing to emerge from the last series of Boardtalk seminars was the involvement of woolgrowers and woolbrokers.
      'Woolclassers were able.. "; R[23]="327"; T[23]="First and only Aboriginal owned and operated vineyard."; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20060222"; Dt[23]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[23]="a04a13a48a51"; B1[23]="      Craig Cromelin s strong, stumpy fingers have planted wheat, had a go at carpentry and landscaping, and raised a pretty good crop "; B2[23]="of vegies from the rich, red, loamy, clay soil of Murrin Bridge, near Lake Cargelligo, in the rugged back country of NSW... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      Craig Cromelin's strong, stumpy fingers have planted wheat, had a go at carpentry and landscaping, and raised a pretty good crop of "; S2[23]=" vegies from the rich, red, loamy, clay soil of Murrin Bridge, near Lake Cargelligo, in the rugged back country of NSW.
      In "; S3[23]=" fact, during the 1990s he worked his way through every TAFE course involving manual labour offered to the men of the Murrin Bridge Aboriginal community "; S4[23]=" except one - viticulture.' Blackfellas don't do that sort of stuff,' he told the Griffith-based TAFE horticulturist, Pat Calabria.
      But Calabria insisted.
"; S5[23]="       And so Cromelin, who had never tasted wine before, became a viticulturist and in doing so put Murrin Bridge on the Australian "; S6[23]=" wine map as the first and only Aboriginal owned and operated vineyard.
      Along the way, he also gave the Murrin Bridge community, "; S7[23]=" population 150, something valuable.' Aboriginals have been looked upon as not being able to stick with things and see things through,' he says.
    "; S8[23]="   'We even used to stereotype ourselves.
      We used to think we couldn't do it and now we know anything is possible.' "; S9[23]=" On his first visit to Melbourne, Cromelin is basking in the wine and food-infused atmosphere of the European in Spring Street, contemplating a time when "; S10[23]=" his Murrin Bridge chardonnay and shiraz will be seen in bars and restaurants around the country.
      He dares to dream of even "; S11[23]=" bigger things: a place in the Prime Minister's cellar.' I gave a bottle to the Prime Minister when he was visiting out our way during "; S12[23]=" the drought,' he says.
      'I don't know what he thought of it.' And the wine? Like any one of the 2000-odd wine "; S13[23]=" producers in this country, Cromelin has seen good and bad times from a small beginning in 1998.
      With no money to buy "; S14[23]=" vines, members of the community drove to Pat Calabria's vineyard in Griffith, took cuttings and established a nursery.
      They eventually planted 7000 "; S15[23]=" vines - a mix of chardonnay, shiraz and semillon.' It taught us skills and it saved a lot of money, a hell of a lot "; S16[23]=" of money,' says Cromelin, one of five Murrin Bridge residents who gained a diploma in viticulture for their work.
      By 2001, the "; S17[23]=" community had its first vintage, a mere 1.8 tonnes.
      It was a start but how did they want it made? What was "; S18[23]=" going to be the Murrin Bridge style? Enter Domenic Piromalli from Piromit Wines, Griffith.'.. "; R[24]="324"; T[24]="Schools urged to overhaul way of thinking"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20060222"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[24]="a53"; B1[24]="      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[24]="report likely to shape the future of government education... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      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[24]=" report likely to shape the future of government education.
      Almost 30,000 parents, teachers and members pf the public have told the NSW "; S3[24]=" Department of Education that 'one size doesn't fit all'.
      Instead, the future of public education should lie in linking schools to their "; S4[24]=" local suburbs and towns.
      In a radical departure from current staffing policy, the Report of the Consultation on Future Directions for Public "; S5[24]=" Education and Training says schools need greater control of the selection of staff.
      It also calls for staff, parents and students to "; S6[24]=" be involved in school decision-making 'to meet local needs'.
      The report found the department has no effective way of tracking students from "; S7[24]=" years 5 to 8.
      There should be a preschool year for every child and the minimum age for starting school should be "; S8[24]=" raised from 4½ to 5 years, because disadvantaged children tended to be 'less ready for school'.
      In NSW, students must start school "; S9[24]=" by the age of six.
      'There was agreement that the current starting age allows far too great a gap on entry to "; S10[24]=" school,' the report says.
      However, the Minister for Education, Carmel Tebbutt, yesterday ruled out raising the starting age until the Government could "; S11[24]=" ensure 'the transition to school experience is as positive as possible'.
      NSW has one of the lowest preschool participation rates in the "; S12[24]=" country.
      Raising the school age 'would certainly have an impact on working families' and affect current negotiations on a national starting age, "; S13[24]=" she said.
      Ms Tebbutt said the preferred age for a national standard was between 4 years and 5 months and 4 years "; S14[24]=" 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[24]=" 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[24]=" be 'tailored to the needs of individual students' rather than being part of an amorphous 'large system of schools'.
      Ms Tebbutt said "; S17[24]=" 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[24]=" teachers to be recruited locally.
      The president of the NSW Teachers Federation, Maree O'Halloran, said there would not be a fair allocation "; S19[24]=" of teachers across the state if schools were allowed 'to hire and fire at will'.
      'This is a recipe for governments to "; S20[24]=" divest their responsibility onto parents at a time of teacher shortage - there will be schools that cannot get teachers,' Ms O'Halloran said... "; R[25]="312"; T[25]="Footprints from the Ice Age"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20060222"; Dt[25]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[25]="a42a48"; B1[25]="      Hundreds of human footprints dating back to about 20,000BC - the oldest in Australia and the largest collection of its kind in "; B2[25]="the world - have been discovered in Mungo National Park in western NSW... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      Hundreds of human footprints dating back to about 20,000BC - the oldest in Australia and the largest collection of its kind in "; S2[25]=" the world - have been discovered in Mungo National Park in western NSW.
      They were left by children, adolescents and adults at "; S3[25]=" the height of the last ice age as they ran and walked across a moist clay area near the Willandra Lakes.
      Some "; S4[25]=" people appear to have been hunting, with one very tall man sprinting at about 20kmh.
      The first footprint was spotted by Mary "; S5[25]=" Pappin Junior, of the Mutthi Mutthi people, two years ago and more than 450 more have been uncovered by a team led by Steve Webb "; S6[25]=" of Bond University.
      Professor Webb said the find provided a unique glimpse into the lives of those who lived in the arid "; S7[25]=" inland.
      'It brings these people to life in a way no other archaeological evidence can.
      You can see how "; S8[25]=" the mud squelched between their toes.' The traditional custodians of the area, members of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area Three Traditional Tribal Groups "; S9[25]=" Elders Corporation, said they were very excited by the find.
      Ms Pappin, a Mutthi Mutthi elder, said walking alongside the footprints was "; S10[25]=" like 'walking with a family group today.
      They're the same people'.
      She believed the prints had been revealed from "; S11[25]=" under the sand dunes 'to let the rest of the world know how clever our people really were, living and surviving in their environment'.
  "; S12[25]="     Roy Kennedy, a Ngiyampaa elder, said the area had been a special meeting place for his tribe since the Dreamtime.
      "; S13[25]=" 'It was an oasis in the desert.' About 20,000 years ago the now dry lakes would have contained fish, mussels and crayfish.
      "; S14[25]=" The team estimated the height of the people from their foot size, and their speed from the distance between paces.
      Professor Webb "; S15[25]=" has also recently excavated two 17,000-year-old skeletal remains found about six kilometres away.
      'They were athletic and very strong and fit.
  "; S16[25]="     I assume some of the men on this site were very similar,' he said.
      Dave Johnston, chairman of the elders "; S17[25]=" corporation, said the site was closed to the public to preserve it, and the elders were developing a management, conservation and tourism plan.
    "; S18[25]="   The team, including Matthew Cupper of the University of Melbourne and Richard Robins of the University of New England, have published results on 124 "; S19[25]=" footprints online ahead of print publication in the Journal of Human Evolution.
      Summary:
      * 457 footprints, made by "; S20[25]=" adults and children, found in Mungo National Park.
     
      * Footprints 19,000-23,000 years old... "; R[26]="269"; T[26]="Preparedness for an Emergency Animal Disease Outbreak"; A[26]="By ... RIRDC Publication No 05/131"; Dn[26]="20060222"; Dt[26]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[26]="a04a33a48a85"; B1[26]="      For a nation like Australia, which exports around 80% of its total agricultural production, and where the processed food industry is the "; B2[26]="largest employer in regional areas, the risk of a major outbreak of an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD), such as Foot-and-Mouth, is a major concern... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      For a nation like Australia, which exports around 80% of its total agricultural production, and where the processed food industry is the "; S2[26]=" largest employer in regional areas, the risk of a major outbreak of an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD), such as Foot-and-Mouth, is a major concern.
  "; S3[26]="     An outbreak of such a disease would devastate Australia's livestock industry, cause severe financial hardship, result in considerable social disruption for whole communities "; S4[26]=" and threaten the national economy.
      While there are national strategy plans in place to quickly and effectively deal with an outbreak, there "; S5[26]=" is some uncertainty as to how communities will cope if a crisis occurs.
      The purpose of this research was to assess the "; S6[26]=" level of preparedness at the individual farmer and small community level for a possible emergency animal disease outbreak and identify those social factors that facilitate "; S7[26]=" or inhibit the implementation and maintenance of disease control plans.
      The research also assessed the potential social impact of an EAD outbreak "; S8[26]=" upon small rural communities.
      The research comprised three independent studies.
      First, on a visit to Devon and Cornwall in "; S9[26]=" July 2004, information was gathered on the social impact of the 2001 Foot-and-Mouth epidemic three years on and on the current level of biosecurity on "; S10[26]=" UK farms.
      Interviews with farmers and support service personnel revealed that the most significant consequences of the FMD outbreak was the poor "; S11[26]=" communication between government and local communities, the social isolation of farm families and the social divisions that occurred within some communities.
      Community "; S12[26]=" recovery was instigated through church and volunteer community groups that emerged to provide a coordinated, comprehensive network of support for the farming community.
    "; S13[26]="   Despite the catastrophic consequences of the FMD outbreak, there was a level of complacency about biosecurity amongst UK farmers.
      Most "; S14[26]=" tended to believe that responsibility for biosecurity lay with those government agencies responsible for quarantine measures and should another FMD outbreak eventuate, there was little "; S15[26]=" that farmers could do about it.
      Second, a mail survey of 3000 Australian livestock producers across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria "; S16[26]=" assessed their level of knowledge about emergency animal diseases.
      The study revealed a high level of concern about the threat of disease "; S17[26]=" outbreak amongst producers.
      Most sourced information about emergency animal diseases from newspapers and radios.
      However, should an outbreak occur, "; S18[26]=" farmers would first seek advice from their local Department of Primary Industry, RLPB officers or local vet people they know and trust within their local "; S19[26]=" community.
      Furthermore, if producers found unusual symptoms in their stock they would first report it to their local vet.
      "; S20[26]=" Few would use the emergency disease hotline.
      Few respondents were aware of biosecurity plans at the community level.. "; R[27]="268"; T[27]="Facts and fixes for safer farms"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20060222"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[27]="a05a09a48"; B1[27]="      Death and injury rates on Australian farms are unacceptably high, and action must be taken to improve farm safety, Parliamentary Secretary for "; B2[27]="Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Richard Colbeck said last week... "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      Death and injury rates on Australian farms are unacceptably high, and action must be taken to improve farm safety, Parliamentary Secretary for "; S2[27]=" Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Richard Colbeck said last week.
      Senator Colbeck was launching a new series of seven booklets, the Facts "; S3[27]=" and Figures on Farm Health and Safety Series, along with two manuals on managing safety risks for horticulture and beef cattle production, from the Farm "; S4[27]=" Health and Safety Joint Research Venture.
      'The Facts and Figures on Farm Health and Safety Series of booklets provide a snapshot of "; S5[27]=" data on deaths and injuries across a number of rural industries.
      The 825 accidental deaths on farms between 1999 and 2002 represent "; S6[27]=" 825 tragedies to Australian families, tragedies that were quite possibly avoidable,' he said.
      'In addition to the personal pain and grief that "; S7[27]=" these deaths and injuries cause, they represent significant losses in production to the $30 billion contribution that Australian rural industries contribute to the economy.' 'In "; S8[27]=" many cases the injuries and fatalities described in these booklets can be easily prevented through the use of simple safety equipment and techniques, and Managing "; S9[27]=" Horticulture Production Safety and Managing Beef Cattle Production Safety provide detailed guidelines for implementing health and safety risk management processes for those industries,' Senator Colbeck "; S10[27]=" said.
      'The farm is a unique work environment, often placing family homes alongside workplaces using heavy machinery, vehicles, and other potential hazards "; S11[27]=" like livestock and water storage.
      'The overlap between home and work life is an important part of the rural lifestyle, but it "; S12[27]=" involves serious dangers: every year around 30 children are killed in accidents on Australian farms, and most of them are under the age of four,' "; S13[27]=" Senator Colbeck said.
      The Farm Health and Safety Joint Research Venture is a collaboration between Research and Development Corporations and Companies, managed "; S14[27]=" by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
      The seven booklets and the two manuals are available from the Rural Industries R&D "; S15[27]=" Corporation.
      Additional material, including guidelines for implementing safer practices in other rural industries, can be found on the FarmSafe website: www.farmsafe.org.au.. "; R[28]="253"; T[28]="Flags are Effective Communication Tools"; A[28]="By ... Portante Della Bandierina"; Dn[28]="20060222"; Dt[28]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[28]="a05a51a53"; B1[28]="      Flags have distinctive designs on rectangular piece of cloth.
      The primary purpose of flags has always been military..... "; B2[28]=" "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      Flags have distinctive designs on rectangular piece of cloth.
      The primary purpose of flags has always been military.
  "; S2[28]="     Flags are used to coordinate the actions of combatants during the confusion of battle.
      They were used to tell soldiers "; S3[28]=" where to march, where to rally, and where to charge.
      The distinctiveness of flags made it easy to tell to which side "; S4[28]=" you belong.
      It also meant their bearers were primary targets, and if they lost their flag they were cowards.
      "; S5[28]=" Therefore many men through out history have gladly died defending their flag.
      Early flags usually had a religious significance.
      "; S6[28]=" 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[28]=" Britain, the Union Jack.
      In medieval times there were numerous flags in use, such as banners, banderoles, gonfalons, gonfanons, pennons, pennoncells, standards, "; S8[28]=" streamers, and guidons.
      The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians and Jews used symbolical standards like ensigns and banners.
      Flags also played "; S9[28]=" a very important role on the high seas.
      A ship was identifiable only by the flag it flew.
      Other "; S10[28]=" non-national flags also served as communication tools to warn of pirates, distress and storms.
      Vexillology is the study of the flags.
  "; S11[28]="     A person who enjoys the study of flags is called a Vexillologist.
      Flags are symbols of national or other allegiances.
"; S12[28]="       Flags have been used for signaling people at a distance.
      The Romans used flags as a form of communication "; S13[28]=" extensively.
      Flags were widely used in the Navy as symbol codes in semaphore.
      Flags are normally linked to the "; S14[28]=" 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[28]="       A ship carrying the flag of an admiral is called a flagship.
      The strict rules of Heraldry are still "; S16[28]=" used when designing an emblem and creating flags of today.
      The colors depicted in flags carry special meanings.
      Thedominant "; S17[28]=" colors convey the required attributes of the different flags of the world.
      There much symbolism is associated with the colors of flags "; S18[28]=" following the customs of Ancient Heraldic traditions.
      For instance, white is the symbol of peace and honesty and yellow is a symbol "; S19[28]=" of generosity.
      Red flags represent hardiness, bravery, strength and valor.
      Blue color symbolizes vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance and "; S20[28]=" justice.
      Green color stands for hope, joy and love and in many cultures green has a sacred significance.
      And,.. "; R[29]="247"; T[29]="Doctors ideas for healthier population"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20060222"; Dt[29]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[29]="a09a48"; B1[29]="      AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today the Federal Government has a unique opportunity with the 2006-07 Federal Budget to introduce simple "; B2[29]="and affordable initiatives to equip the health system to cater to the health needs of an ageing population and the most disadvantaged in the community, "; B3[29]="including Indigenous Australians... "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today the Federal Government has a unique opportunity with the 2006-07 Federal Budget to introduce simple "; S2[29]=" and affordable initiatives to equip the health system to cater to the health needs of an ageing population and the most disadvantaged in the community, "; S3[29]=" including Indigenous Australians.
      The AMA lodged its submission on 11 November, in keeping with the deadline set by Treasurer Peter Costello.
  "; S4[29]="     Dr Haikerwal said that building on the strengths of the Australian health system is a priority and would be a responsible investment of "; S5[29]=" some of the Government's $13.5 billion budget surplus.
      'Spending on health must be looked upon as an investment in the future and "; S6[29]=" prosperity of the nation, not a cost,' Dr Haikerwal said.
      'Australia is facing some interesting challenges in the years ahead as we "; S7[29]=" seek to reconcile available health resources with high and rising expectations, an ageing population, and a growing burden of chronic disease.
      'We "; S8[29]=" need to make strategic new investments in the health workforce and health programs that will lift our performance in preventative health, make our national health "; S9[29]=" spending more effective, and improve the health of all Australians.
      'The AMA has identified obesity as a national crisis and is calling "; S10[29]=" for a National Nutrition Centre to provide a focus for policy, research and education in the battle against obesity, especially in younger Australians.
    "; S11[29]="   'We have also highlighted the need for considerable increased funding in the areas of mental health and Indigenous health, and for our public hospitals.
"; S12[29]="       'The other key area for action is the medical workforce and our submission sets out specific affordable initiatives to train, retain and "; S13[29]=" support doctors and their practices.
      'We hope the Government will seriously consider our budget submission in the interests of providing better health "; S14[29]=" services for patients and communities for the long term,' Dr Haikerwal said.
      The AMA Federal Budget Submission 2006-07 is available on the "; S15[29]=" AMA website at http://www.ama.com.au.. "; R[30]="226"; T[30]="Rural doctor plan rejected"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20060222"; Dt[30]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[30]="a05a06a09a48"; B1[30]="      MEDICARE provider numbers would be redistributed along geographic lines, with communities given greater say over the future of the public health system, "; B2[30]="under a NSW Government plan to address the doctor shortage in rural and remote Australia... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      MEDICARE provider numbers would be redistributed along geographic lines, with communities given greater say over the future of the public health system, "; S2[30]=" under a NSW Government plan to address the doctor shortage in rural and remote Australia.
      At a health ministers' meeting today in "; S3[30]=" Adelaide, NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergos will call on the commonwealth to tie provider numbers to postcodes in an effort to draw doctors out of "; S4[30]=" over-serviced inner-urban areas.
      Mr Hatzistergos said yesterday that he wanted to ensure 'the community who pays for the system owns the system'.
"; S5[30]="       'It seems ridiculous that people who pay for the medical system have a card which doesn't transact a service,' he said.
  "; S6[30]="     'This is about giving the community ownership of the system.
      The community would take ownership of provider numbers which practitioners "; S7[30]=" would access.' But a spokeswoman for federal Health Minister Tony Abbott - who will use the meeting to assess the states' preparedness for any bird "; S8[30]=" flu outbreak - rejected the proposal.
      Mr Abbott's spokeswoman said the commonwealth could not force people to work and live in certain "; S9[30]=" areas.
      However, she said overseas-trained doctors were dispatched to areas of need and students bonded to regions with workforce shortages as governments "; S10[30]=" sought to develop broader and more realistic training networks.
      Australian Medical Association president Mukesh Haikerwal said Mr Hatzistergos's proposal was 'backward thinking'.
"; S11[30]="       Dr Haikerwal, who is working on the AMA's wishlist for rural and remote medicine, urged governments to instead consider HECS reimbursements, grants "; S12[30]=" and other incentives.
      'People need to be encouraged and enticed to go to rural areas, not forced to go there by such "; S13[30]=" draconian measures that make rural areas sound worse than they really are,' he said... "; R[31]="223"; T[31]="Tropical fruit growing guide to boost industry"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20060222"; Dt[31]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[31]="a07a08a18a53"; B1[31]="      Queensland s tropical fruit industry received a boost this week with the launch of a grower s handbook for three emerging crops..... "; B2[31]=" "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      Queensland's tropical fruit industry received a boost this week with the launch of a grower's handbook for three emerging crops.
    "; S2[31]="   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[31]=" growers) of durian, mangosteen and rambutan.
      'The handbook and problem solver give a realistic overview of the three industries and are a "; S4[31]=" great reference tool for existing and emerging growers,' coordinating author and DPI&F information extension officer Dr Patricia Chay said.
      'The problem solver "; S5[31]=" 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[31]=" 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[31]="     Dr Chay said the major commercial growing areas for durian, mangosteen and rambutan were in far north Queensland and the Northern Territory.
  "; S8[31]="     Rambutan was the biggest industry, currently valued at $4.3 million, with Queensland accounting for $3.6 million.
      Mangosteen is worth $610,000 "; S9[31]=" and durian $222,000.
      'Although these industries are currently quite small, with greater marketing and consumer awareness there is scope for development,' Dr "; S10[31]=" Chay said.
      'Many growers consider tropical fruits as part of a diversification plan on their properties, so rambutan or mangosteen are grown "; S11[31]=" 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[31]=" 40 64 1179.
      The Handbook is $55 and the Problem Solver is $50.
      The project was made possible with "; S13[31]=" funding from the Australian Government's Rural Industries Research Development Corporation... "; R[32]="215"; T[32]="Honour for food label campaigner"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20060222"; Dt[32]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[32]="a04a05a10a17a18a48a54"; B1[32]="      A Farmer who led a tractor convoy to the nation s political centre to save the Tasmanian vegetable industry has been named "; B2[32]="the state s Australian of the Year... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      A Farmer who led a tractor convoy to the nation's political centre to save the Tasmanian vegetable industry has been named the "; S2[32]=" state's Australian of the Year.
      Richard Bovill gained national backing in July with his Fair Dinkum Food Campaign.
      From "; S3[32]=" Don, near Devonport in the state's north, he proved impossible to ignore when he arrived in Canberra with 2000 people demanding clearer labelling of food "; S4[32]=" to support Australian growers.
      Warren Pearson, national director of the National Australia Day Council, said Mr Bovill's drive and leadership made him "; S5[32]=" an inspirational Australian.
      'The Fair Dinkum Food Campaign Richard led voiced the issues facing the Australian farming community and, as a result, "; S6[32]=" put the issue of country-of-origin labelling on the national agenda,' he said.
      Mr Bovill was presented with the honour at Hobart's Henry "; S7[32]=" Jones Art Hotel last night.
      He will return to the lawns of Canberra's Parliament House to compete in the national awards on "; S8[32]=" January 25... "; R[33]="206"; T[33]="Compost trials may help move a mountain"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20060222"; Dt[33]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[33]="a02a24a48a72"; B1[33]="      Early trial results pointing to a cost recovery response from applying compost to Lockyer Valley vegetable crops have sparked subdued optimism about "; B2[33]="finding a valuable use for a mountain of plant material collected from Brisbane residents... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      Early trial results pointing to a cost recovery response from applying compost to Lockyer Valley vegetable crops have sparked subdued optimism about "; S2[33]=" finding a valuable use for a mountain of plant material collected from Brisbane residents.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior research "; S3[33]=" scientist at Gatton Steve Harper said in the first year in one of the three compost trials there was an average 10 per cent yield "; S4[33]=" increase in vegetable crops as well as subtle changes in soil health.
      Mr Harper said if the yield increase was consistent, the "; S5[33]=" financial return from increased yield in just the first year of application would be enough to cover the cost of buying, transporting and spreading the "; S6[33]=" compost.
      He said a cumulative and continued direct effect from the compost through yield and quality responses in second year trials would "; S7[33]=" lift the viability of the practice.
      This year's trials were on farms at Forest Hill, Tent Hill, Kalbar and at the Gatton "; S8[33]=" Research Station in crops of lettuce, potatoes and beetroot.
      The compost was applied at six rates from 0 to 48 tonnes per "; S9[33]=" hectare.
      Results showed a 24t/ha application rate to be the optimum this year, with the highest rate showing yields similar to the "; S10[33]=" 0t/ha treatment.
      He said the compost lifted yields by up to 14 per cent.
      Speaking at a field day "; S11[33]=" at the Gatton Research Station, Mr Harper said next year's research in the three-year project would include glasshouse experiments to eliminate weather-induced variability of results, "; S12[33]=" studies of the compost composition, and a continuation of field trials to measure crop responses.
      Brisbane City Council's waste management program officer "; S13[33]=" Elisha Keighly said 50,000 tonnes a year of plant material was being delivered to the city's transfer stations.
      'We're planning to start "; S14[33]=" a green kerbside collection service in January and our experience suggests the collection will increase by about 20 per cent during the first six months,' "; S15[33]=" she said.
      Ms Keighly said that as part of a project named Returning the favour, Council was keen to ensure the sustainability "; S16[33]=" of agricultural areas adjacent to the city, from both food production and water quality perspectives, She said council saw financially supporting research into the use "; S17[33]=" of compost on adjacent farmlands as one way of doing this.
      Ms Keighly said the council had contracted three commercial specialists to "; S18[33]=" process the collected plant materials to meet the stringent Australian Standard specifying quality and content.
      Also at the field day, DPI&F nematologist "; S19[33]=" Tony Pattison outlined the soil health turnaround that had been possible in North Queensland banana areas by adopting soil management systems based on improved organic "; S20[33]=" carbon management.
      He said a kit that farmers could use to measure soil health had been developed.. "; R[34]="202"; T[34]="Leading Sheep south west region determines priorities"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20060222"; Dt[34]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[34]="a25a53a54"; B1[34]="      The Leading Sheep south west regional committee met with its new coordinator Ken Wilson in Charleville last Friday to identify priorities for "; B2[34]="workshops and information sessions planned for the region as part of this regionally-based sheep industry project... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      The Leading Sheep south west regional committee met with its new coordinator Ken Wilson in Charleville last Friday to identify priorities for "; S2[34]=" workshops and information sessions planned for the region as part of this regionally-based sheep industry project.
      Leading Sheep is an Australian Wool "; S3[34]=" 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[34]=" practices to increase the productivity and profitability of the Queensland sheep and wool industry.
      In the next six months, the south west "; S5[34]=" 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[34]="     '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[34]=" environmental credentials in terms of animal welfare and natural resource management,' Mr Wilson said.
      Members of the south-west regional committee are: Mark "; S8[34]=" 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[34]=" and Fisheries sheep extension officer Guy Newell.
      Ken Wilson is currently based at Bollon and has wide-ranging experience in arid zone grazing "; S10[34]=" industries, extensive grazing property management and animal husbandry, sheep nutrition, reproduction, general husbandry and management.
      Ken has worked for a range of "; S11[34]=" different groups, including DPI&F, and is currently chairman of the Bollon South Water Authority.
      In 1983, Ken implemented and developed the WESTECH "; S12[34]=" Field Days, which continue to run every three years in Barcaldine, and is a life member of WESTECH Field Days Inc.
      The "; S13[34]=" 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[34]=" 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[34]=" that includes $1 million funding from AWI and $1.4 million in-kind support from DPI&F and AgForce... "; R[35]="201"; T[35]="Funding for High Country Cattlemen History"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20060222"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[35]="a04a44a48"; B1[35]="      The Minister for Tourism, John Pandazopoulos today visited Mansfield to announce funding of $200,000 over four years to three events in Victoria "; B2[35]="s High Country that celebrate the life and times of the Alpine cattleman... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      The Minister for Tourism, John Pandazopoulos today visited Mansfield to announce funding of $200,000 over four years to three events in Victoria's "; S2[35]=" High Country that celebrate the life and times of the Alpine cattleman.
      Speaking at the construction site of the new Mansfield Visitor "; S3[35]=" Information Centre, partly funded by the Bracks Government Mr Pandazopoulos was joined by Mansfield Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Tom Ingpen, Acting CEO Kaylene Conrick, members "; S4[35]=" of the Mansfield Shire tourism advisory board, Mansfield Mt Buller High Country Festival organisers and other representatives of the local tourism industry.
      "; S5[35]=" Mr Pandazopoulos said the funding was part of the Bracks Government's High Country Initiatives Program announced in May.
      It also follows the "; S6[35]=" decision not to renew cattle grazing licences in the Alpine National Park, and has been provided through Tourism Victoria's events program.
      'These "; S7[35]=" festivals are important to the local community.
      I'm please to announce that the Bracks Government is recognising these important events and will "; S8[35]=" keep alive importance of the cattlemen.
      Cattle grazing will be preserved with grazing continuing in high country State Forests,' Mr Pandazopoulos said.
"; S9[35]="       Funding of $17,500 per year for four years has been allocated to the 2005 Mansfield Mt Buller High Country Festival.
  "; S10[35]="     The festival has been held annually in the Mansfield region for 22 years on the Melbourne Cup weekend and grew out of the "; S11[35]=" Man From Snowy River films that were produced in the local region.
      Funding of $27,500 per year for four years has been "; S12[35]=" allocated to the 2006 Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, established in 1995 and held annually in late March-early April.
      The festival "; S13[35]=" traditionally comprises of an art and photography exhibition, The Man from Snowy River Re-enactment, Bush Poetry, Bush Music, Outdoor Bush Concert and Riley's Ride and "; S14[35]=" Ute Muster.
      Funding of $5,000 per year for four years has been allocated to the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria Annual Get-Together, "; S15[35]=" held annually on the second weekend in January.
      The program will include music and entertainment along with a variety of related events "; S16[35]=" including the annual Cattlemen's Cup, a poet's breakfast, a whip cracking event and a dog high jump competition.
      In 2006 Cheshunt will "; S17[35]=" host this annual event.
      'These three events are not just a celebration of bush folklore, they are an excellent way to boost "; S18[35]=" the profile of a destination while delivering economic benefits and generating business for local restaurants, cafes, retail and accommodation providers,' Mr Pandazopoulos said.
    "; S19[35]="   The Bracks Government's decision to cease grazing in the park is supported by a $7.4 million package, which includes $1.8 million to help repair "; S20[35]=" the park, promote tourism and protect the culture of the cattlemen... "; R[36]="194"; T[36]="Putting fun into Algebra using graphics"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20060222"; Dt[36]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[36]="a53"; B1[36]="      An Adelaide man is revolutionising the way maths is taught - and his new style of teaching has gone international..... "; B2[36]=" "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      An Adelaide man is revolutionising the way maths is taught - and his new style of teaching has gone international.
    "; S2[36]="   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[36]=" algebra.
      His system has been so successful in four New Zealand schools that it will be extended to a further 14 next "; S4[36]=" year.
      'This system isn't just for those with a bent for mathematics - it's for everyone,' he said yesterday.
      "; S5[36]=" '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[36]=" 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[36]=" Brendan Nelson.
      'It's a revolutionary approach that will change the way maths is taught,' Professor of Applied Mathematics Nigel Bean said.
  "; S8[36]="     '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[36]=" by children.
      While appearing to be magic, the games use core algebraic concepts to come up with answers.
      Students "; S10[36]=" 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[36]=" and, after that, become interested in learning how to write the way the game works as algebra,' Mr Harradine said.
      He said "; S12[36]=" the method was possible due to technological advancements, including computer algebra.
      'We're not throwing out algorithms and definitions,' he said.
  "; S13[36]="     '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[36]=" abilities.
      'It teaches in a very contextual way but still teaches rigorous, correct maths,' he said.
      'The substance of "; S15[36]=" 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[36]="       'It's a lot more visual, and it's easier to understand,' said Conor Pye, 13.
      'By seeing maths in action, "; S17[36]=" you get the idea faster.'.. "; R[37]="179"; T[37]="Sink or swim: when a pool can help"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20060222"; Dt[37]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[37]="a04a45a48"; B1[37]="      Build it and they will swim.
      So the Northern Territory community of Wadeye found after the construction of a "; B2[37]="25-metre swimming pool, that also helped reduce infections in children and lower rates of truancy thanks to a no school, no pool policy... "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      Build it and they will swim.
      So the Northern Territory community of Wadeye found after the construction of a "; S2[37]=" 25-metre swimming pool, that also helped reduce infections in children and lower rates of truancy thanks to a 'no school, no pool' policy.
    "; S3[37]="   Those children are the lucky ones, says Paul Sweeney from the Papunya Tula Arts Centre in Alice Springs.
      In Kintore, about "; S4[37]=" 500 kilometres west of Alice, where most of the Papunya Tula artists are based, children are more likely to be found taking a dip in "; S5[37]=" a sewerage pond.
      'It's bloody hot and bloody dry and there's not a lot to bloody do,' Mr Sweeney said yesterday.
  "; S6[37]="     He is part of a push to get more public pools for indigenous communities, arguing that they can improve community health and keep "; S7[37]=" children occupied in a safe environment.
      On Thursday the Art Gallery of NSW is hosting an auction of Aboriginal art, with all "; S8[37]=" funds raised going towards the construction of two pools in Kintore and Maningrida, about 430 kilometres west of Darwin.
      The proposal is "; S9[37]=" modelled on the success of the swimming pool at Wadeye, 350 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
      Five of the most prominent living Papunya "; S10[37]=" Tula artists have asked Sweeney to donate some of their works to the auction, which will be sold along with 38 other donated works in "; S11[37]=" an effort to raise at least $500,000.
      Hetti Perkins, the Gallery's Aboriginal Art curator and daughter of the late indigenous rights activist, "; S12[37]=" Dr Charles Perkins, says the Pool Party initiative is being driven by the communities.
      'There's a lot of research around a couple "; S13[37]=" of pools in Western Australia that's found it's had a remarkable impact on the incidents of streptococcus A, perforated ear drums and trachoma.
    "; S14[37]="   All of those infections that plague Aboriginal communities are significantly reduced in communities with access to a swimming pool,' she said.
      "; S15[37]=" 'And who knows, we might even have our own black Thorpedo.
      A Cathy of the pool.'.. "; R[38]="171"; T[38]="City students win Queensland school s poultry competition"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20060222"; Dt[38]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[38]="a30a53"; B1[38]="      School children from Ipswich, Caboolture and Beenleigh have won prizes in a special project designed to educate them about the modern poultry "; B2[38]="industry... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      School children from Ipswich, Caboolture and Beenleigh have won prizes in a special project designed to educate them about the modern poultry "; S2[38]=" industry.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior extension officer Paul Kent said a joint venture between the World's Poultry Science Association "; S3[38]=" (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[38]=" the Department's Poultry Research and Development Centre at Alexander Hills.
      The first prize of $250 went to West Moreton Anglican College in "; S5[38]=" Ipswich, with Caboolture State High placed second and Beenleigh State High third.
      The winners were selected from a range of school projects "; S6[38]=" which researched topics ranging from floor space to reduced lighting and their impacts on eggs and chicken meat production.
      'All high schools "; S7[38]=" with students studying agricultural subjects and having poultry facilities are eligible to take part in the program.
      Students conduct a small poultry "; S8[38]=" 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[38]=" research and gain up to date information about the Australian poultry industry as well as career opportunities in the industry,' Mr Kent said.
    "; S10[38]="   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[38]=" around 24 in 2005.
      It is estimated the project information has impacted on 10,000 Queenslanders via students, to their colleagues, families and "; S12[38]=" friends.
      The project is expected to spread nationally in the near future.
      The 'High Schools Poultry Industry Education project' "; S13[38]=" is designed to correct wrong information about the use of hormones, chemicals and human antibiotics.
      The use of hormones by the Australian "; S14[38]=" poultry industry has been illegal for over 40 years and there is no ad hoc use of chemicals or antibiotics in poultry feed.
    "; S15[38]="   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[39]="155"; T[39]="Field day highlights compost and soil health"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20060222"; Dt[39]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[39]="a02a53a72"; B1[39]="      The effects of compost on soil health in vegetable crops will be the focus of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries field "; B2[39]="day at the Gatton Research Station on Wednesday, November 16, from 3pm... "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      The effects of compost on soil health in vegetable crops will be the focus of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries field "; S2[39]=" day at the Gatton Research Station on Wednesday, November 16, from 3pm.
      DPI&F senior research scientist Steve Harper said the field day "; S3[39]=" 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[39]=" systems is improved by using composted green garden waste fromBrisbane.
      Mr Harper said the research will assist Brisbane City Council determine the "; S5[39]=" effectiveness of compost application and its commercial value should a kerbside collection service be provided for ratepayers.
      'The project offers benefits to "; S6[39]=" vegetable growers, the environment, ratepayers and consumers,' he said.
      He said Elisha Keighley from Brisbane City Council's Natural Environment & Sustainability section "; S7[39]=" will outline the significance of the research to the council.
      'Using the composted organics in the greater Brisbane River Catchment will potentially "; S8[39]=" improve soil quality, reduce sediment loading in the Brisbane River and allow sustainable cost effective waste management,' Mr Harper said.
      'The "; S9[39]=" 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[39]=" 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[39]=" benefits of applying composted garden organics to intensively managed vegetable growing soils of the upper Brisbane River catchment.
      He would present the "; S12[39]=" 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[39]=" health improvement in banana systems of north Queensland and has developed a grower friendly soil health kit.
      'At the field day, "; S14[39]=" 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[39]=" organic amendments have improved soil health,' Mr Harper said... "; R[40]="129"; T[40]="Pre-historic pines to go on exhibit"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20060222"; Dt[40]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[40]="a04a24a42a48a93"; B1[40]="      The public will have the chance to walk among trees that outlived the dinosaurs at a special exhibit of Wollemi Pines in "; B2[40]="Sydney from Friday... "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      The public will have the chance to walk among trees that outlived the dinosaurs at a special exhibit of Wollemi Pines in "; S2[40]=" Sydney from Friday.
      The tree was thought to be extinct until a chance discovery in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, by "; S3[40]=" park ranger David Noble in 1994.
      Fossils were previously the only record of the 200 million year old tree, which can grow "; S4[40]=" up to 40 metres tall and live for 1,000 years.
      One hundred of the first generation trees will be on display in "; S5[40]=" Sydney's Royal Botanical Gardens as a free exhibition to the public and interested buyers.
      'It was a very special tree, very similar "; S6[40]=" to finding a dinosaur alive today in the plant community,' Mr Noble said.
      The magnificent conifer is distinguished by bark that looks "; S7[40]=" like 'chocolate crackles'.
      Botanists have taken cuttings from the wild and cultivated the first generation of the species.
      Some "; S8[40]=" 292 saplings, which are now six years old and up to three metres high, are to be auctioned by Sotheby's at the botanic gardens on "; S9[40]=" October 23.
      'The money from the auction will go into preserving the wild population and other threatened species,' Mr Noble said.
  "; S10[40]="     'There's less than 100 plants in the wild, so that's not many.' Sotheby's chairman Justin Miller said the pines, which will be sold "; S11[40]=" as 148 lots, ranging from single trees to groups of 20, were likely to fetch between $1,500 to $2,000 each.
      There had "; S12[40]=" been a huge interest in the trees around the world with international phone bidders expected to take part in the auction, he said.
    "; S13[40]="   'It seems to attract such a sentiment with people because they see it as (an) extraordinary species that has outlived the dinosaur,' Mr Miller "; S14[40]=" said.
      'This tree has been referred to as a reclusive biological superstar.
      It has survived 17 ice ages and "; S15[40]=" (was) previously only known by fossil records.
      This is the tree that dinosaurs grazed on when Australia was Gondwana land.' The trees "; S16[40]=" will be displayed at the botanic gardens near Rathborne Lodge.
      The exhibition will tell the story of the trees' discovery and conservation "; S17[40]=" and will feature the Collectors Edition trees in a recreation of the secret grove in the Blue Mountains.
      The auction will be "; S18[40]=" held at the botanic gardens at 3pm on Sunday, October 23... "; R[41]="118"; T[41]="Young beef producers to meet in Roma"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20060222"; Dt[41]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[41]="a04a05a27a53"; B1[41]="      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[41]="on November 17 and 18... "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      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[41]=" on November 17 and 18.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Roma based extension officer Alistair Brown said the DPI&F and Queensland "; S3[41]=" 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[41]=" involved in a family business or working in the beef industry.
      Mr Brown said the forum was developed to cater for a "; S5[41]=" need to get more young producers into the industry and assist established young producers with future business decisions.
      'The forum aims to "; S6[41]=" 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[41]=" people of their own age,' he said.
      Mr Brown said forum topics included markets and market trends, Australian beef and global competition, "; S8[41]=" succession planning, applying for loans, off-farm investments, water use and legislation and vegetation management.
      He said Sam Bailey, featured on Australian Story, "; S9[41]=" 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[41]=" the operation of the family property inNew South Wales.
      'There will also be time to tour Queensland 's oldest winery, Romavilla, to "; S11[41]=" 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[41]=" Jubilee Hall, with registration costing $150 per person, he said.
      More information and registration forms are available from Alistair Brown (4622 9903 "; S13[41]=" or alistair.brown @dpi.qld.gov.au), or Justin Boshammer (0427655128)... "; R[42]="114"; T[42]="In Search of Young Achievers"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20060222"; Dt[42]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[42]="a05a53"; B1[42]="      Don t miss out!! The Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards 2006 are closing on the 18th November - Hurry there s still "; B2[42]="time to nominate!.. "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      Don't miss out!! The Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards 2006 are closing on the 18th November - Hurry there's still time to "; S2[42]=" nominate! There are many young Territorians that are talented and these awards are a great way to recognise, acknowledge and reward those talents.
    "; S3[42]="   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[42]=" awards in one or more of the following eight categories:
      * The Charles Darwin University Arts Award
    "; S5[42]="   * The Woodside Energy Sports Award
      *The Power and Water Science & Engineering Award
      *The Perkins "; S6[42]=" Shipping Regional & Rural Initiative Award
      * The Somerville Community Services Award
      * The ConocoPhillips Environment Award "; S7[42]="
      * The Drake International Career Achievement Award
      * The Minister for Young Territorians Excellence in Youth Leadership "; S8[42]=" 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[42]=" category winner receiving a $1000 TIO Access Saver Account and a trophy.
      The ultimate winner 'The Channel Nine Young Achiever of the "; S10[42]=" Year for the Northern Territory' will receive a further $1000 to add to their account and a magnificent trophy.
      So hurry and "; S11[42]=" 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[42]=" 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[42]=" 0244... "; R[43]="98"; T[43]="When farm fun becomes farm tragedy"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20060222"; Dt[43]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[43]="a09a48"; B1[43]="      Insurer warns rural property owners of school holiday dangers..... "; B2[43]=" "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      Insurer warns rural property owners of school holiday dangers.
      Farm owners are being warned to check their property for "; S2[43]=" potential safety risks, with the increase of visitors during the September school holidays.
      Australia's largest rural insurer, CGU, is urging farm owners "; S3[43]=" to take simple steps to ensure their school holiday visitors are kept safe, as they can be unfamiliar with the dangers on rural properties.
  "; S4[43]="     Head of Regional and Rural for CGU, John Evans, said: 'School holiday visits to farms are exciting and educational experiences for many children, "; S5[43]=" but they can result in tragedy if children are not taught about farm safety'.
      'The dangers children face on farms are very "; S6[43]=" different to the hazards in city or regional areas and its important to talk to children about these risks.
      'Dams and reservoirs "; S7[43]=" can be hazardous if a visitor is not aware of the dangers.
      If the dam is much deeper that a child expects, "; S8[43]=" there could be a huge risk of them drowning.
      'Similarly if a child climbs a haystack, not knowing that it is unstable, "; S9[43]=" they could easily fall off and hurt themselves.' Mr Evans said that it was a good idea to personally show visitors around the farm when "; S10[43]=" they arrive, so they can be cautioned about any hazards on the property.
      'A safe farm visit is always a good visit.
"; S11[43]="       So teach visitors, particularly children, about farm hazards, such as keeping a distance away from operating machinery, and wearing helmets when riding "; S12[43]=" horses or motorbikes.
      This will greatly reduce the chance of an accident occurring,' he said.
      Mr Evans said while "; S13[43]=" it was important to prevent accidents occurring on farms, it was equally important that farmers had the right insurance cover, in particular liability protection.
  "; S14[43]="     'Standard home insurance policies generally do not cover liability claims that arise from you earning income from your farm.
      'That's "; S15[43]=" why its important for farmers to get professional advice from an insurance broker or advisor about their individual needs,' he said.
      School "; S16[43]=" holiday farm safety tips If visitors are old enough to ride trail bikes, four-wheel motor bikes or horses, make sure they are properly supervised, they "; S17[43]=" are wearing appropriate safety clothing and using safety equipment.
      Restrict access to dams and reservoirs, and make sure all fences are repaired "; S18[43]=" and mended.
      Don't leave chemicals and tools lying around, and store chemicals in their original bottles.
      Ensure silos "; S19[43]=" have the proper safety mechanisms.
      Make sure they are ventilated and install guarded ladders that restrict access.Apply guarded power take off on "; S20[43]=" your tractors and consider speed-limiting mechanisms, to prevent children from being run over... "; R[44]="89"; T[44]="Plenty to learn about small properties"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20060222"; Dt[44]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[44]="a04a05a07a48a51a72"; B1[44]="      Small landholders are urged to make the most of their rural land and lifestyle with more than 30 workshops, field days and "; B2[44]="training sessions being offered throughout the State over the next few months... "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      Small landholders are urged to make the most of their rural land and lifestyle with more than 30 workshops, field days and "; S2[44]=" training sessions being offered throughout the State over the next few months.
      Most events are being coordinated by the Department of Agriculture's "; S3[44]=" Small Landholder Services and are available to land-owners with properties ranging from one to 100 hectares.
      Department Small Landholder Information Service manager "; S4[44]=" Neil Guise said never before had small landholders been offered such extensive opportunities to learn about all aspects of property management.
      'We "; S5[44]=" have been able to secure funding and build some important partnerships to bring this vital information to small property owners who may not have any "; S6[44]=" experience in farming or caring for rural land,' Mr Guise said 'The workshops and training courses will deliver relevant, local and practical information to help "; S7[44]=" small landholders achieve the real potential of their property, and ensure they can enjoy the lifestyle that goes with it.
      'Landholders can "; S8[44]=" attend introductory workshops such as Heavenly Hectares landcare and hobby farming sessions, property design and planning courses and a range of topic-specific field days on "; S9[44]=" pasture improvement, weeds and pests, and managing livestock.' For further information or to register for an event, please contact 9733 7777 or email small_landholder@agric.wa.gov.au 'The "; S10[44]=" training opportunities are being offered free of charge or at a nominal fee while funding lasts, so early bookings are advised,' Mr Guise said.
  "; S11[44]="     Events schedule Heavenly Hectares - Introductory Workshops Free half-day workshops.
      Introduction to landcare and sustainable hobby farming.
      "; S12[44]=" ' Sat 1 October (Busselton) ' Sun 16 October (Warren region) ' Sat 29 October (Dardanup) ' Sat 5 November (Nannup) Property Planning Courses Full "; S13[44]=" day, small fee.
      Hands on property design and planning.
      Aerial photograph and manual provided.
      ' Sun "; S14[44]=" 18 September (Mandurah) ' Sat 24 September (Serpentine) ' Sun 25 September (Mandurah) ' Sat 8 October (Mundaring) ' Sun 9 October (Kalamunda) ' Sat "; S15[44]=" 15 October (Bullsbrook) ' Sat 15 October (Boddington) ' Sat 15 October (Lower Blackwood) ' Sun 16 October (Narrogin) ' Sun 23 October (Gidgegannup) ' "; S16[44]=" Sat 5 November (Armadale) ' Sun 6 November (Caversham) ' Sat 3 December (Lower Blackwood) ' Sat 14 January '06 (Margaret River) ' Sat 21 "; S17[44]=" January '06 (Warren region) Field Days Half-day field walks.
      Learn practical techniques and ideas, held at local properties.
      ' "; S18[44]=" Fri 16 September (Serpentine) 'Pasture Improvement' ' Sat 17 September (Herne Hill) 'Weeds, Pests and Fertilisers in Orchards' ' Sun 18 September (Lake Clifton) 'Bushland "; S19[44]=" Management' ' Sat 24 September (Bindoon) 'Introduction to Farm Forestry' ' Sat 8 October (Margaret River) 'Weed Management and Using Local Natives in Revegetation and "; S20[44]=" Landscaping' ' Sat 15 October (Lower Blackwood) 'Soil Health & Pasture Management' ' Wed 19 October (Narrogin) 'Sustainable Livestock Management' ' Sun 6 Nov (Manjimup).. "; R[45]="87"; T[45]="Exodus of rural obstetricians"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20060222"; Dt[45]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[45]="a04a09a48"; B1[45]="      Half the obstetricians in country towns are expected to retire or quit within five years, placing a major economic and social strain "; B2[45]="on regional families... "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      Half the obstetricians in country towns are expected to retire or quit within five years, placing 'a major economic and social strain' "; S2[45]=" on regional families.
      A study has found the mass retirements would force thousands of women to travel to distant towns and cities "; S3[45]=" to give birth, and threatened 'a major public health crisis' for the bush.
      About 30 per cent of the 250,000 births in "; S4[45]=" Australia each year take place in rural areas.
      But the study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and "; S5[45]=" Gynaecology, found 50 of the 109 rural obstetricians in the public system, and 43 of the 81 in the private system, planned to leave by "; S6[45]=" the end of the decade.
      Lead author Steve Robson, a Canberra obstetrician and senior lecturer at the Australian National University, said the "; S7[45]=" data showed country towns faced 'an absolute disaster'.
      'The profile of rural obstetrics in Australia is largely middle-aged men who work very "; S8[45]=" hard,' he said.
      'When these guys throw in the towel, there are really no heirs apparent - potentially large swaths of Australia "; S9[45]=" could be left without any specialist obstetric cover at all.
      'That means that if you have any vaguely abnormal pregnancy, you are "; S10[45]=" going to have to be shipped to a large centre.' Sue Page, president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, said this raised social and "; S11[45]=" financial issues, because many families would struggle to afford hotel accommodation for the last four weeks of pregnancy.
      If the woman's "; S12[45]=" family stayed behind, she would be without support while her partner was left to juggle childcare and a job.
      Another of the "; S13[45]=" study's authors, Sydney obstetrician Peter Bland, rang every non-metropolitan hospital in Australia to gather data and found 130 rural hospitals were already delivering babies without "; S14[45]=" cover from a specialist obstetrician.
      Dr Robson said this probably indicated the births were being handled by a GP trained in obstetrics, "; S15[45]=" but this was no solution 'because training for GP obstetrics is an even bigger disaster'.
      'We need to make obstetricians think "; S16[45]=" that working in a rural area is worthwhile,' Dr Page said.
      'At the moment we have this huge disparity in personal lifestyle, "; S17[45]=" professional lifestyle and income that all favour metropolitan areas.'.. "; R[46]="81"; T[46]="Looking for the 2006 Queensland Rural Woman of the Year"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20060222"; Dt[46]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[46]="a04a49"; B1[46]="      Are you a woman who has a passion for primary industries, strong leadership skills and the drive to make a difference in "; B2[46]="your industry, or do you know someone who is?.. "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      Are you a woman who has a passion for primary industries, strong leadership skills and the drive to make a difference in "; S2[46]=" your industry, or do you know someone who is? The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) is calling on all businesswomen who have these "; S3[46]=" characteristics to enter the 2006 Queensland Rural Woman of the Year Award.
      Women working in agriculture, fisheries, forestry or natural resource management "; S4[46]=" are encouraged to apply for the annual Award funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
      DPI&F is seeking five "; S5[46]=" outstanding finalists from throughout the state to contend the overall title.This prestigious award, now in its seventh year recognises the vital contribution women make to "; S6[46]=" agriculture and rural Australia.
      The Award winner receives a $10,000 bursary to undertake a project that will develop their skills and contribute "; S7[46]=" to profitable and sustainable primary industries in Queensland.
      Additionally, both the winner and runner-up will have the opportunity to attend the Australian "; S8[46]=" Institute of Company Directors' Course in Canberra.
      2005 Rural Woman of the Year, Anne Osborne, said that the Award has increased her "; S9[46]=" profile and enabled her to pursue her passion for the Australian Native Food industry.
      Ms Osborne is part way through her research "; S10[46]=" project into potential markets for these products and hopes to instil a greater understanding of their diverse uses amongst consumers.
      'Without this "; S11[46]=" Award I would have continued to develop my business, but at a much slower place.
      The Award has created new opportunities that "; S12[46]=" I am now able to explore,' Ms Osborne said.
      For the first time ever, one of the seven State and Territory winners "; S13[46]=" will be selected as the 2006 Australian Award winner.
      The RIRDC Award is sponsored by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and "; S14[46]=" Fisheries, Rural Press, ABC Radio and the Australian Women's Weekly.
      The Award is open now and closes on October 15 - "; S15[46]=" World Rural Women's Day.
      Entry forms and selection criteria are available at www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au.. "; R[47]="78"; T[47]="New primary school resource pack"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20060222"; Dt[47]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[47]="a05a06a53a66"; B1[47]="      A comprehensive suite of new primary educational resource packs is available now from the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program s "; B2[47]="website.
      Teachers can download the fully-prepared and integrated unit direct from the Fire ant activities and lesson plans page ... "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      A comprehensive suite of new primary educational resource packs is available now from the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program's website.
"; S2[47]="       Teachers can download the fully-prepared and integrated unit direct from the Fire ant activities and lesson plans page.
      Designed "; S3[47]=" 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[47]=" eradication in South East Queensland.
      National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program general manager Keith McCubbin welcomes the launch of the packs: "; S5[47]=" 'These free resources show the value the Program places in lasting education about fire ants and biosecurity for all ages of Queenslander.
      "; S6[47]=" 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[47]=" 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[47]=" lie behind the National Eradication Program's work.
      Of particular value to teachers are the broad lesson plans integrated across four Key Learning "; S9[47]=" Areas (English, Science, Maths and Studies of Society and Environment) and presented in KLA modules.
      Each module includes an overview, progression of "; S10[47]=" learning activities, suggestions for resources and anticipated evidence of learning.
      Thematic extensions to other KLAs are included where appropriate.
      "; S11[47]=" 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[47]="     These can be printed out to paper (or transparencies to facilitate whole class teaching), and feature worksheets and pictorial resources indexed by KLA.
"; S13[47]="       A workbook of twenty fire ant-themed contract activities can be edited to facilitate extension learning or homework for students at any year "; S14[47]=" level.
      The activities support a wide range of learning styles, strategies and strengths, and give students the opportunity to demonstrate creative approaches "; S15[47]=" to completing tasks.
      Although the contract activities can be used independently, the unit is designed to work as an integrated unit.
  "; S16[47]="     The different KLAs covered are interwoven to address the focus task - making a presentation to the school community on fire ants - "; S17[47]=" while meeting a range of outcomes.
      Further fire ant-related resources can be obtained from the Fire Ant Control Centre, FACC Education Officers "; S18[47]=" 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[47]=" packs including crosswords, join-the-dots games and other suggestions for fire ant-related activities... "; R[48]="75"; T[48]="Footy Club Wine Export Success"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20060222"; Dt[48]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[48]="a04a13a48"; B1[48]="      Langhorne Creek Football Club has kicked an extraordinary goal by exporting 8000 cases of its wine, The Colony, to the UK..... "; B2[48]=" "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      Langhorne Creek Football Club has kicked an extraordinary goal by exporting 8000 cases of its wine, The Colony, to the UK.
  "; S2[48]="     It shows Langhorne Creek is more than a wine district - it is now home to the first Australian sports club to produce "; S3[48]=" and export wine under its own label.
      Moving from lamington drives and chook raffles to wine exporter has earned the club a "; S4[48]=" first-year gross profit of $130,000.
      The venture took off in April when president Gordon Tonkin, a 48-year-old insurance broker and former player, "; S5[48]=" signed an export deal with a UK retailer.
      The wine is a quality red made from grapes donated to the Langhorne Creek "; S6[48]=" Football Sports and Social Club.
      'We started out as grapepickers raising some money for the club and we've ended up as a "; S7[48]=" fully fledged and licensed wine producer,' Mr Tonkin said.
      'After mechanical harvesting came in, we had to put our thinking caps on.
"; S8[48]="       The suggestion came up that we should make our own wine and it's been a long road from that idea to making "; S9[48]=" it happen, but it's been worth it.' The first step was to set up an administrative structure that would meet liquor licensing requirements.
    "; S10[48]="   Using the football club as a base, the committee put together a group called the Community Wine Scheme, based on a project that made "; S11[48]=" and sold bulk wine for community funds.
      Vignerons were invited to donate grapes, and they could direct the proceeds to football, netball, "; S12[48]=" cricket or the local playgroup.
      The grapes rolled in and winemaker Rebecca Kennedy, from Langhorne Creek Winery, put together a shiraz and "; S13[48]=" cabernet sauvignon blend aimed at the $12 to $15 market.
      Next was the label and a name for the wine.
    "; S14[48]="   'We thought we'd simply tell the story of our area and how the community had come together to produce the wine,' Mr Tonkin said.
"; S15[48]="       'We called it `The Colony' and a wine label was born.' The club took a risk when it decided to formalise its "; S16[48]=" status as a wine producer, wholesaler and retailer, spending $55,000 and 12 months getting approvals and licences.
      It now is a wine "; S17[48]=" wholesaler and retailer through the sports club and other outlets.
      A trip to the UK took Langhorne Creek and The Colony "; S18[48]=" to a new level.
      Mr Tonkin took some bottles with him on a business trip and approached retailer Thresher's.
      "; S19[48]=" 'They liked it and signed up for an 8000-case deal,' he said.
      'The UK sale will give us guaranteed income for the "; S20[48]=" next five years and a level of certainty that allows.. "; R[49]="72"; T[49]="Rural Women s Day focus on life s turning points"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20060222"; Dt[49]="Wednesday 22 February 2006"; Acats[49]="a04a49"; B1[49]="      Seven Central Queensland women who have made significant changes to their lives will share their stories to celebrate the 2005 World Rural "; B2[49]="Women s Day in Rockhampton on October 14... "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      Seven Central Queensland women who have made significant changes to their lives will share their stories to celebrate the 2005 World Rural "; S2[49]=" Women's Day in Rockhampton on October 14.
      Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries rural information specialist Robyn Donovan in conjunction with Fitzroy "; S3[49]=" Basin Association's education officer Mittsy Voiles will host the 10am to 2pm function at the Rockhampton Leagues Club.
      Ms Donovan said that "; S4[49]=" based on the theme - Life's major turning points - the event provides an informal opportunity to hear how women have successfully made changes in "; S5[49]=" their personal and business lives.
      'World Rural Women's Day opens the door for those who might be considering some major change and "; S6[49]=" to hear how others have made the transition,' Ms Donovan said.
      'In addition to the speakers, there will be others with stories "; S7[49]=" to tell who will be available to share their experiences more informally over lunch.' 'We already have acceptances from visitors travelling from Emerald, Dingo, Moura, "; S8[49]=" Biloela and Yeppoon and expect this year's event to draw up to 100 attendees.' Ms Donovan said the guest speakers from as far as the "; S9[49]=" Dawson Valley and Central Highlands include Margie Tomlinson, Jayne Cho, Inge Pedersen, Irene Ingram, Judy Nobbs, Jo Luck and Annika Barrett.
      'These "; S10[49]=" women have made significant changes in their lives and will speak about the challenges they faced during those major turning points,' Ms Donovan said.
  "; S11[49]="     'They will be talking about the challenges of moving either from the city to the bush or making the transition from rural life "; S12[49]=" into an urban community.
      'There are changes associated with succession planning and in some cases, an unwillingness to hand over the reins "; S13[49]=" of the family property to the next generation.
      'Making the decision to begin studies as a mature age student using the STEPS "; S14[49]=" (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies) program as a pathway to higher education is also on the agenda.' Ms Donovan said World Rural Women's Day "; S15[49]=" event would cost $25 per person and intending participants should book through Cate Horn, DPI&F, Rockhampton on 4936 0211... ";