A piece of family lineage

Medal collector David Matthews shows off his collection of medals, as he proudly called them pieces of history. Picture: TRICIA WATKINSON
Source: News Corp Australia

FOR David Matthews, there was a very personal reason behind becoming a collector of military medals.

His very first medal was handed to him in 1947 at South Australia’s Government House, on behalf of his father, Captain Lionel Colin Matthews, who was executed by the Japanese while a prisoner in Borneo during World War II.

Capt Matthews had refused to tell the enemy anything that would endanger the lives of his comrades.

The wartime hero was tortured and executed in 1944, leaving his wife and son in Adelaide. “The Military Cross was presented to me as a small boy, and I’ve had it all my life,” Mr Matthews, 76, said.

Capt Matthews was the only man to receive both the George Cross and a Military Cross for Bravery.

His medals have now been donated to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, their “rightful home in Australia”.

“I couldn’t make money out of his bravery,” his son said. Mr Matthews said it was difficult to put a value on any medal, which was seen as a terrific link to history.

“Collectors consider themselves as custodians,” he said.

“You pick up a medal with a name, the rank, the regiment the person was in, or the ship he was on. You’re holding a piece … that this person had once held in his lifetime.”

In antique shops and online, Mr Matthews unearthed service medals of British campaigns and Indian Army campaigns.

One the most prized possessions in his collection – which is kept in a bank for safekeeping – is a China War medal received by the 100 sailors on South Australian ship Protector, which saw action in the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.

“My great-uncle was on the Protector, but his medal went to the other side of the family,” he said.

The value of a medal, like coins, increases depending on the rarity.“Some collectors have themes – medals of a regiment, of certain ranks, or Australian service only,” Mr Matthews said.

He said part of the fun of collecting was researching the person awarded the medal and finding out as much as possible about their war efforts.

Source link

A piece of family lineage

Ice not “pure and safe” like many users believe, SA drug expert says

Tony Abbott announces the Govt’s strikeforce action against the drug ‘Ice’.

ICE USERS are oblivious to the potency, harmful and potentially deadly effects of the drug because they perceive it as “pure and safe”, a leading drug and alcohol expert says.

Drug and Alcohol Services SA director of clinical services Dr Robert Ali said on Wednesday that the nation’s ice epidemic was concerning.

While he said the number of South Australians using methamphetamine had not increased, the way people were using the drug was changing.

“I believe it’s been part of the lifestyle choices people have made — it’s a stimulant which has alluring properties of improving performance, keeping you awake, alert and feeling as if you’re much more connected to your world,” he said.

“(Ice) used to be thought of as only for fun but we’re now seeing people using it for work enhancement … hence why the Commonwealth Government is deciding to take action on this issue.”

Prime Minister Tony Abbott flanked by Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash while inspecting approximately 50kg of the drug ICE during a press conference in Sydney. Picture: AAP / Nikki Short

The Federal Government announced a new National Ice Taskforce on Wednesday aimed to tackle the growing health and social crisis.

Dr Ali said people perceived ice as a “pure and safe drug”.

“In fact its potency is much higher and the risks and harms are much greater,” he said.

“The downside (of using ice) is you are running on empty if you continue to use it — you’ve lost all your reserve and your body takes a long time to recover.

“Then you’re in that cycle where the only way you can recover is to continue to use the drug.”

Dr Ali said the rising ice problem should be tackled from a community level.

“Education is an important initiative but we also need supply reduction as well,” he said.

“It’s important that we do keep a focus on illict drugs.

“The detail (of the taskforce) is still to be worked through — we’ll still wait to see what that outcome is.”

Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday conveyed his personal concerns over the rising number of Australians using ice and its wide-ranging consequences.

“I am appalled at what is happening on our streets and in our homes,” he said.

“The propensity for violence, the propensity to subsequent very serious mental illness, the propensity to disfigurement which ice produces means that this is a drug epidemic way beyond anything that we have seen before now.

“(Ice) is far more addictive than any previous drug … it’s worse than heroin, it’s worse than cocaine, it’s worse than LSD, it’s worse than ecstasy.”

Mr Abbott said latest statistics revealed about 400,000 Australians have used methamphetamine in the last year and about 50 per cent of those use crystal meth or ice.

“We must constantly be ramping up the struggle against illict drugs, particularly against ice, because of the devastation — the absolute devastation — that ice is wreaking on individuals, on families and communities,” he said.

Source link

Ice not “pure and safe” like many users believe, SA drug expert says

Speaker Michael Atkinson attacks Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s brief report on trip to NZ resort town

Part of Speaker Michael Atkinson’s response to Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s report.
Source: Supplied

THE PUBLIC’S “worst suspicions” about taxpayer-funded travel had been confirmed by a senior MP submitting only a “six sentence” summary of her trip to New Zealand, Speaker Michael Atkinson says.

Mr Atkinson attacked Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s trip report in a hand written note on her statement presented for tabling in Parliament late last month, which described her travel for a legal conference titled “Surveillance versus privacy’’.

The Speaker’s acknowledgment that the report confirmed public cynicism about taxpayer funding for international travel, related to a trip for five days and nights last September.

The World Bar Conference was held at the south island holiday playground of Queenstown, famed for its mountain scenery, skiing, water sports and bungee jumping.

“This is a travel report of six sentences. It mocks the … requirements of parliamentary travel and confirms the worst suspicions the public have about such travel,’’ Mr Atkinson wrote before accepting the report last month.

“Nevertheless it is for the public to assess this report, not the Speaker.’’

The report was only one of 28 lodged by non-ministerial MPs in 2015 and 2014 describing overseas travel, which in total costs the taxpayer around $500,000 each year.

In her response to Mr Atkinson’s criticism, Ms Chapman acknowledged the public may not find the topic of the trip “either important or interesting’’ but she found the speakers “informative” and “entertaining”.

The cost of the trip was not declared, but the conference website states registration was NZ$1375 ($1350) including a “gala dinner”. Attendees had discount room rates via “run of house at the Heritage Hotel Queenstown” which normally charges room rates ranging from NZ$193.

Talks at the conference included: “Surveillance versus privacy: the balance between the State, the Fourth Estate, the citizen and the rule of law” and “International investment treaties: balancing national sovereignty and investor protection’’.

Ms Chapman could not be contacted yesterday but defended the travel both in the original report and in a response to Mr Atkinson’s hand written note, stating that the conference had been important for her work as the then Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman.

“While I appreciate the general public may not find legal lectures to be either important or interesting I am quite happy to make available copies of any papers provided upon request,’’ she stated in her response to Mr Atkinson’s note.

“As you will see from the agenda outlined in my report there was an incredible array of excellent speakers and I found their contribution to be informative. Some were also entertaining.’’

Mr Atkinson also corrected two typographical errors in Ms Chapman’s report in his written response, but incorrectly dated is response as the 12th of May this year.

MPs must justify their travel on return to South Australia, and some examples of Mr Atkinson’s reports run over 60 pages. Ms Chapman’s report, which ran to three pages, included six sentences of “objectives”, a daily schedule and six sentences in “summary”.

Mr Atkinson’s numerous trips as a minister in the previous Labor government are not reported on the same Parliamentary website as the trip by Ms Chapman, but on the site are reports on trips to Singapore, Vietnam, UK, Poland, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece twice, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine, and Ethiopia.

In 2011, Ms Chapman used a photograph of herself with one of the Galápagos Islands’ famous tortoises to illustrate her travel report.

Ms Chapman’s report did not include any description of recreational activities while in Queenstown, but the conference website states: “Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four-season lake and alpine resort.

“Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu,

Queenstown’s stunning scenery is inspiring and revitalising.

“With a wealth of activities to thrill and exhilarate, inspire and motivate, there is no end to the possibilities. Alternatively you can take time out and relax, take in the scenery and partake in tasting some world-class wines straight from source.

“Queenstown is an adventure destination capable of entertaining any enthusiast with skiing, horse trekking, mountain biking, hiking, paragliding, walking and golf to name a few — whatever you need, Queenstown is waiting for you!’’

Source link

Speaker Michael Atkinson attacks Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s brief report on trip to NZ resort town

Weekend ‘Postie Cross’ promises to deliver

Luke Earle and Shane Carpenter. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL
Source: News Corp Australia

THERE won’t be any mail in sight when dozens of postie bikes take to the race track in Adelaide this weekend.

The opening round of Tea Tree Gully Motocross Club’s 2015 season will include a “Postie Cross” round — the first to be held in Adelaide.

The special-feature round will involve up to 30 riders racing their postie bikes — the trusty Honda 110cc.

It aims to promote the Outback Postie Bike Ride, a four-day ride through the Flinders Ranges in October that raises money for Apex.

The winner of this week’s Postie Cross will receive the Ryan Featonby Memorial Trophy. Ryan, a keen motorbike rider, died when a driver crashed into his car head-on near Crystal Brook in March, 2013.

Best mate Luke Earle, of Clare, said he and Ryan competed in Postie Cross races a couple of times before the accident and “had a ball”.

“If people are interested, come down and have a look and a bit of a laugh (and) watch the bejeezus get thrashed out of a postie bike,” Luke said.

“It’s one of the funniest things you’ve ever seen.”

Outback Postie Bike Ride founder Greg Kipling said the charity ride had raised $560,000 for Apex since it was first run in 2007.

For more information visit www.ttgmx.com

Source link

Weekend ‘Postie Cross’ promises to deliver

Will EPAS be ready in time for new RAH opening?

An artist’s impression of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital development.
Source: Supplied

THE highly controversial $422 million Enterprise Patient Administration System (EPAS) will not be rolled out at the old Royal Adelaide Hospital, casting doubt over whether it will be ready when the new hospital opens in 2016.

The Opposition says failure to trial the system at the old RAH will put patient’s lives at risk.

The multi-million dollar system, designed to switch hospitals from paper to electronic records, provides doctors, nurses and allied health staff with “real-time” access to patient information at the bedside and other points of care.

Opposition health spokesman Steven Wade said the latest news was a “disaster in the making” for staff and patients at the new RAH.

“If there is no functioning electronic patient record system and an ad hoc paper-based patient record system is crammed into the new hospital, patients will be placed at increased risk,” he said.

“When EPAS was first approved it was scheduled to cost just $220m – it is currently double that cost and rising.”

Mr Wade said staff at the new RAH should be focusing on getting used to the new hospital and delivering top quality care, not potentially worrying about the records system.

“The principal reason for training RAH health professionals in the new computer system before the shift to the new RAH was to protect patient safety,” he said.

But SA Health chief executive David Swan hosed down fears patient safety would be put at risk.

He assured the public medical staff would be provided with adequate training which aligns with the new model of care at the new RAH.

“The training will include reviews of workflows, workshops and practical stimulation training to ensure all staff are fully conversant with EPAS well before it is activated at the new RAH,” he said.

EPAS is currently used by more than 500 staff across seven sites in SA including Noarlunga Hospital, Port Augusta Hospital, the Repatriation General Hospital and SA Ambulance headquarters.

Last year some of the state’s senior surgeons heavily criticised the EPAS system.

They said fewer patients were being treated and surgery wait times were blowing out because the record system was faulty.

A letter addressed to SA Health chief executive David Swan from a group of Repat doctors said they had used the system which was causing major problems.

The doctors said the system required “many mouse clicks and many different screen changes” to complete tasks that should be simple.

“This system was designed to surpass paper notation and make patient management better and safer. However, our experience has not demonstrated this to be the case,” they wrote at the time.

“EPAS has impacted significantly on clinic activity, reducing it to 50 per cent of previous levels.”

Source link

Will EPAS be ready in time for new RAH opening?

South Australians get behind the TeamKids Easter Appeal for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Anthony Callea with Jess Lindner and her daughter Amber, 3, who has a cancer tumor in the stomach. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.
Source: News Corp Australia

GENEROUS South Australians opened their hearts and wallets to support the best possible care, equipment and research for children by supporting the landmark TeamKids Easter Appeal.

The telethon aimed to raise an ambitious $2 million on Sunday to support the Women’s and Children’s Hospital — it smashed this target shortly before 4pm with still an hour of the gala broadcast to go.

When the broadcast finished at 5pm an extraordinary $2,233,690.50 had been donated, all of which will go to support the WCH.

Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation chief executive Sam Tolley was humbled by the support.

“I’d like to thank all the sponsors and the whole community for getting behind this,” he said.

Channel’s 9’s Kevin Crease Studio was remodelled into a loungeroom-type setting as dozens of volunteer celebrities, entertainers and sportspeople performed and manned the phones.

Actor George Kapiniaris with Janis Mohan-Ram and her daughters Nikhita (9) and Aamani (5) and their cousin Claire Mohan-Ram (8). Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

WCH staff and families helped by the hospital also took calls during the 10.30am-5pm broadcast with a studio audience, including families who have spent time at the WCH. Children such as three-year-old Amber Lindner, of Mt Gambier, whose parents were told to prepare for her funeral when treatment initially failed, are among thousands who will benefit from such generosity.

Diagnosed with a stomach cancer tumour in December and flown from Mt Gambier to the WCH, she failed to respond to chemotherapy and her parents Jess and Daniel were told to prepare for the worst.

On New Year’s Eve she was given one last dose of chemotherapy — she responded well, has had five more cycles and now faces a stem cell transplant, an operation and radiotherapy.

“We’ve been through anger, hurt, fear and hope – it got to a point we were told by the ICU to consider planning her funeral,” Mrs Lindner said. “We still have a long way to go but doctors are happy with her progress. She is now an outpatient; she is our miracle baby.”

Their story was one of many when hope was the order of the day and the TV audience saw the event trending heavily on social media.

Michala Banas, Timomatic and Eddie Perfect take phone donations at the Channel 9 studios. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

The broadcast started with Justice Crew turning on a party performance followed by a parade of entertainers, though few could match the flamboyant Advertiser and Sunday Mail gossip columnist Matt Gilbertson’s interviews with stars.

The real stars of the show were the children and their families. Sick but smiling children, grateful parents who could not hold back the tears, older children who have recovered from near death experiences — all had a compelling tale to tell.

Mrs Agatha Cooper of Myrtle Bank is pinning her hopes on WCH experts as her daughter Sarah, 12, fights brain cancer. “She has had radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and in January had a 30 hour operation over two days — it is a tough journey and we are grateful to the WCH,” she said.

Volunteer hosts included Lisa Wilkinson, Ross Greenwood,, Richard Wilkins, Sylvia Jeffreys, Brenton Ragless, Kate Collins, Matt Gilbertson, Kym Dillon and Warren Tredrea.

Performers included Eddie Perfect, Tim Campbell, Raymond Crowe, Rhonda Burchmore, Anthony Callea, Anne Wills and Bob Downe.

Levi O’Donohue, 5, with Constable Katie Evans. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Big hearted celebs and sports stars manned the phones as credit card donations poured in. These included Poh Ling Yeow, Jeremy Cordeaux, Michala Banas, Eugene Galekovic, George Kapiniaris, Peter Goers, Daniel Talia, Travis Boak, Matthew Lobbe and Stephen Rowe. UK comedian Matt Lucas sent a televised message of support.

Top donors were Rossdale Homes/Lanser Communities with $505,000, SA Government $400,000, Friends of WCH $265,000, The Advertiser/Sunday Mail $100,000 and Telstra $84,000.

THE TeamKids Easter Appeal run by the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation aimed to raise $2 million for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW

ALL money raised will go to the WCH for equipment, research and renovation and building work to ensure children have the most comfortable, cheerful and welcoming surroundings as they are treated.

‘The Block’ members Ayden, Amity, Jess, Charlotte, Anastasia, Josh, Time & Phil work together to makeover the Boylan Ward at the Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

THE standards of surroundings to ensure they are welcoming rather than confronting is considered vital for children who may be frightened by entering hospital, some of who may end up having the hospitals as a second home as they stay weeks or months for treatment.

IT is sponsored by The Advertiser and Sunday Mail, Channel 9 Adelaide, Beyond Bank, Telstra and the State Government.

TEAMKIDS has raised more than $30 million for the WCH over the past nine years, and aims to raise more than $40 million in the next decades with a wide variety of fundraising plans.

THE Easter Monday telethon broadcast on Channel 9 Adelaide from 10.30am to 5pm was the first such telethon since 1989.

THE history of such appeals dates back to the early 1950s when 5AD ran the highly successful Good Friday Appeal.

Rhonda Burchmore performs for the TeamKids telethon. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

A HOST of celebrities and sportspeople volunteered their time for the broadcast both as entertainers and manning the phone lines, while WCH staff and families who have been helped by the WCH also pitched in as volunteers.

DONATIONS can still be made at www.teamkidseasterappeal.org.au

Source link

South Australians get behind the TeamKids Easter Appeal for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital

South Australians get behind the TeamKids Easter Appeal for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Actor George Kapiniaris with Janis Mohan-Ram and her daughters Nikhita (9) and Aamani (5) and their cousin Claire Mohan-Ram (8). Picture: Tricia Watkinson.
Source: News Corp Australia

GENEROUS South Australians opened their hearts and wallets to support the best possible care, equipment and research for children by supporting the landmark TeamKids Easter Appeal.

The telethon aimed to raise an ambitious $2 million on Sunday to support the Women’s and Children’s Hospital — it smashed this target shortly before 4pm with still an hour of the gala broadcast to go.

When the broadcast finished at 5pm an extraordinary $2,233,690.50 had been donated, all of which will go to support the WCH.

Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation chief executive Sam Tolley was humbled by the support.

“I’d like to thank all the sponsors and the whole community for getting behind this,” he said.

Channel’s 9’s Kevin Crease Studio was remodelled into a loungeroom-type setting as dozens of volunteer celebrities, entertainers and sportspeople performed and manned the phones.

WCH staff and families helped by the hospital also took calls during the 10.30am-5pm broadcast with a studio audience, including families who have spent time at the WCH. Children such as three-year-old Amber Lindner, of Mt Gambier, whose parents were told to prepare for her funeral when treatment initially failed, are among thousands who will benefit from such generosity.

Diagnosed with a stomach cancer tumour in December and flown from Mt Gambier to the WCH, she failed to respond to chemotherapy and her parents Jess and Daniel were told to prepare for the worst.

On New Year’s Eve she was given one last dose of chemotherapy — she responded well, has had five more cycles and now faces a stem cell transplant, an operation and radiotherapy.

“We’ve been through anger, hurt, fear and hope – it got to a point we were told by the ICU to consider planning her funeral,” Mrs Lindner said. “We still have a long way to go but doctors are happy with her progress. She is now an outpatient; she is our miracle baby.”

Their story was one of many when hope was the order of the day and the TV audience saw the event trending heavily on social media.

The broadcast started with Justice Crew turning on a party performance followed by a parade of entertainers, though few could match the flamboyant Advertiser and Sunday Mail gossip columnist Matt Gilbertson’s interviews with stars.

The real stars of the show were the children and their families. Sick but smiling children, grateful parents who could not hold back the tears, older children who have recovered from near death experiences — all had a compelling tale to tell.

Mrs Agatha Cooper of Myrtle Bank is pinning her hopes on WCH experts as her daughter Sarah, 12, fights brain cancer. “She has had radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and in January had a 30 hour operation over two days — it is a tough journey and we are grateful to the WCH,” she said.

Volunteer hosts included Lisa Wilkinson, Ross Greenwood,, Richard Wilkins, Sylvia Jeffreys, Brenton Ragless, Kate Collins, Matt Gilbertson, Kym Dillon and Warren Tredrea.

Performers included Eddie Perfect, Tim Campbell, Raymond Crowe, Rhonda Burchmore, Anthony Callea, Anne Wills and Bob Downe.

Big hearted celebs and sports stars manned the phones as credit card donations poured in. These included Poh Ling Yeow, Jeremy Cordeaux, Michala Banas, Eugene Galekovic, George Kapiniaris, Peter Goers, Daniel Talia, Travis Boak, Matthew Lobbe and Stephen Rowe. UK comedian Matt Lucas sent a televised message of support.

Top donors were Rossdale Homes/Lanser Communities with $505,000, SA Government $400,000, Friends of WCH $265,000, The Advertiser/Sunday Mail $100,000 and Telstra $84,000.

Source link

South Australians get behind the TeamKids Easter Appeal for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital