Gamers power up

BRISBANE: Brisbane gamers are leading calls for a national overhaul of Australia’s classification regime.

Myer Centre video and computer games retailer GAME, along with gaming news website Pal Gaming Network (PALGN) have launched a campaign to put pressure on governments to support an R 18+ game classification. Currently the highest classification is MA 15+ and any product exceeding the bounds of this is banned.

Games classification legislation requires unanimous support of all state attorneys-general.

The national petition has been running for only three weeks and has attracted 40,000 signatures of support, 1500 from customers of the Brisbane city store

Online troops mass to save Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour

Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour

A FACEBOOK campaign to stop a roundabout being built on Bacchus Marsh’s Avenue of Honour has attracted almost 4000 members.

The Save the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour group asks members to “voice their disgust at VicRoads plans to destroy the historic memorial”.

The plans include a roundabout at Woolpack Rd as part of the proposed Western Highway realignment, with the loss of about 12 elm trees.

Group member Marion Ingram the online result showed many people cared about protecting the avenue’s integrity as a memorial to World War I servicemen.

“I’m not against

Childcare shake-up could lift fees says Hobsons Bay report

PARENTS with young children could pay $20 a week more for childcare if national reforms are adopted, a council report shows.

Hobsons Bay Council has called on the Commonwealth and State Governments to increase funding for childcare and kindergarten subsidies so mums and dads aren’t left out of pocket.

Changes proposed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) would require municipalities to lower child-to-staff ratios and hire teachers with more qualifications, providing a national standard of high quality care.

The financial impact would be higher running costs for councils, most likely passed on to parents.

Hobsons Bay Council operates childcare

Postcards show off Redcliffe

IN FOCUS: Andie Moss' postcards capture the Peninsula's beauty.

PELICANS in flight, fishermen at work, families in the sun and scarlet sunsets - Woody Point photographer Andie Moss has captured them all.

Mrs Moss’ work can be found at newsagencies, general stores and art galleries across the Peninsula in the form of postcards.

Her postcard range, which she began 13 years ago, includes scenes and moments from Scarborough, Redcliffe, Woody Point, Margate and Moreton Island.

``Because I first came here in ‘96 I looked at the Peninsula with a new light,’’ she said. ``I’ve always had a passion for

Digger’s Gallipoli Bible finds its way home

Con Reilly.

The bible.

Ted and Lorna Porter with the bible.

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A bible lost by a brave young Digger almost a century ago on the World War 1 battlefield has found its way home to the soldier’s Seven Hills family.

Lorna Porter, 82, of Seven Hills showed the South-East Advertiser the small worn book her late father Cornelius Reilly carried in his pocket on to the beach at Gallipoli as a fresh faced 18 year-old on September 12, 1915, and then lost several months later.

Mrs Porter and husband Ted, 81, were recently reunited with the bible.

It had been

Cocaine use is running sky-high

BRISBANE: The cocaine market in Queensland is booming with use of the narcotic at its highest level on record.

A Crime and Misconduct Commission report released on Tuesday, Illicit drug markets in Queensland, detected significant changes in the state’s illicit drug market in the past five years, particularly in the production, supply and use of cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.

CMC intelligence director Chris Keen said while there had been a decrease in the use of cannabis among the general population, drug markets overall are raising serious concerns.

Mr Keen said the cocaine market had continued to increase since data

Rudd warns China over Hu trial

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned China "the world will be watching'' the Stern Hu trial, which will begin next Monday.

Mr Rudd cautioned that Australia's legal system was different to China's, but said the Federal Government would do what it could.

"The Australia Government will do all that is necessary to support Mr Hu's interests,'' he said.

Mr Hu, an Australian national, is charged with industrial espionage and will face trial together with Liu Caikui, Ge Mingqiang and Wang Yong on Monday.

He stands accused of trying to obtain sensitive commercial information from Chinese steel executives and giving

Stanhope warms to Rudd on health

The ACT Government was ''inclined'' to accept Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's controversial plan to overhaul the health system but still wanted to thrash out some details.

The ACT was also ''absolutely'' interested in establishing one body to run Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass and Cooma hospitals, ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said late yesterday after talks with the Prime Minister and Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

Mr Stanhope and Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher who holds the treasury and health portfolios started the meeting with a discussion about the shortage of GPs in Canberra.

''The Prime Minister was very constructive,

Mitchelton Action Group outraged at council mail-out

ISSUES: MAG chairman Paul Poulus says residents still have a number of concerns about the draft Mitchelton Neighbourhood Plan.

DEBATE over the Mitchelton Neighbourhood Plan has boiled over again with Mitchelton Action Group (MAG) claiming it has been misrepresented in Brisbane City Council’s most recent dialogue with residents.

MAG chairman Paul Poulus said council’s letter, dated March 5, stated the community group had supported the revised plan with the exception of the proposed affordable housing project in Blackwood St.

But Mr Poulus said an official response had been sent to council on March 3 outlining six other issues.

Bushy beard goes in World’s Greatest Shave

Un-locked ... Ian Gillespie shows off his new look.

Shaving down ... Ian prepares for a close shave from son Justin.

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A FRESH-faced Ian Gillespie has emerged from underneath his trademark bushy beard - shaved for the first time in 16 years on Saturday.

It was a small sacrifice for the Woodford resident, who lost his locks during the World’s Greatest Shave at Morayfield Shopping Centre.

Mr Gillespie’s 8-year-old son Justin had never seen his father without a beard, and wielded the clippers for the big shave.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

``He got a great

Businesses race for A-grade space

BRISBANE: Premium office space in the CBD is in high demand as the market bounces back from a tumultuous 2009.

Brisbane real estate experts say the once notoriously tight market with booming rents suffered a “reality check” during the global financial crisis but has stabilised and confidence has returned.

Daniel Boman, research manager for property advisers and agents DTZ, said as the economic recovery had taken off, businesses had been snapping up A-grade office space.

Mr Boman said the vacancy rate for A-grade space in July was 14.3 per cent but in January it had shifted to 9.6 per

Firm focus on Hills during Seniors Week

NEXT week is the time to make extra sure you respect your elders, with Hills Shire Council offering a range of activities for Seniors Week.

Held from March 21-28, Mayor Peter Dimbrowsky said the number of participants in the Hills grows each year.

“Nearly one in five people in the Sydney Hills is over the age of 55 and it is important that we celebrate the valuable contribution that seniors make in our community,” Cr Dimbrowsky said.

A photography display of Hills seniors will be on show electronically at council’s customer services centres.

Residents are encouraged to send in

Puppies on parade

Puppies galore at this year's Dogs on Show. Picture: JOE MURPHY

DOGS NSW hopes to have something for everyone at this year’s Dogs on Show. The public is invited to attend with a free open day featuring special events, activities and demonstrations.

The open day will be held on Saturday, June 12, between 9am and 5pm at The Bill Spilstead Complex for Canine Affairs Erskine Park.

A spokeswoman said events and activities on the day will include racing with the Jack Russell Terrier Club, obedience and agility demonstrations, a K9 Spectacular display, Fun with Junior Handlers, an Earthdog trail

Fire defence may cost $100,000

THE work required to prepare for bushfires in Moorabool could cost the council about $100,000 annually, its chief executive says.

And Moorabool Council has vowed to push for state reimbursement for the cost of meeting the shire’s extra bushfire preparedness obligations.

At last week’s council meeting, chief executive Robert Dobrzynski said the level of the preparations the council was now required to complete went beyond what it had done in the past.

He said there was a big push among councils to lobby the State Government for some contributions, especially for towns such as Blackwood and

Newport motorcyclist in bike cancer drive

Newport's Ray Lindner will ride his BMW cruiser half way around Australia for prostate cancer research. Picture: DAVID SMITH

A NEWPORT motorcyclist is preparing to take on the second biggest threat to men’s health using two wheels and the support of a few mates.

Ray Lindner is one of about 200 riders registered for a 4373km overland adventure to Darwin, raising funds for The Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Nearly 3300 men die each year of prostate cancer, equal to the number of women who die from breast cancer.

Departing April 30, the mostly baby-boomer rev-heads will literally go to the

House prices in some Peninsula suburbs soar

PRICE HIKE: Median house prices in some Peninsula suburbs have risen dramatically.

THE median house price in Scarborough, Newport and Deception Bay has dramatically increased over the December quarter, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland.

The three suburbs have each climbed more than 10 per cent, with Scarborough’s prices up by 15.9 per cent from $430,00 to $498,500.

REIQ Pamela Bennett said the interesting results were due to the reduction in first home buyers.

``During the economic uncertainty of late 2008 and 2009, we saw median house prices drop as first-timers took up a greater share of

Biz gains thank you

BRISBANE: Do you know a City business putting the spirit of reconciliation into practice?

The Reconciliation Awards for Business, recognising businesses taking positive steps towards healing racial division in Queensland, has started taking nominations.

Awards ambassador, indigenous role model Nadine McDonald-Dowd, said the number of organisations fostering cultural harmony was encouraging.

“It’s terrific to see so many organisations from diverse industries taking positive steps towards strengthening reconciliation in Queensland,” she said.

“These projects all acknowledge our past and help pave the way for a better future.”

The awards offer total prize money of $25,000 across five categories Emerging

Rebels set to lose race for key Brumbies

THE ACT Brumbies are set to beat the Melbourne Rebels in the race to sign young stars Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano for next season.

The Sunday Canberra Times understands Toomua has officially told the Rebels he's not interested in joining them for their inaugural season of 2011.

Lealiifano is understood to be still contemplating the southern interest but will more than likely stay with the Brumbies.

The Rebels' recruitment deadline ceases on March15, after which they can start officially signing Australian-based players to their roster.

The only player officially on their books at the moment is Englishman Danny Cipriani.

PICTURES, YOUR PHOTOS: Storms pummel Melbourne

A taxi lies under the water in this Footscray underpass. Picture: Richard Serong

Two cars lie under this flooded underpass in Footscray. Picture: Richard Serong

Flooded Underwood Rd in Boronia. Picture: Detlev Rueff

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UPDATE 5pm: MELBOURNE was pounded by a massive thunderstorm this afternoon.

Residents have reported hail stones as big as golf and tennis balls falling in various suburbs.

Flooding and heavy rain also sparked chaos on the roads.

>> PHOTOS: Melbourne suburbs hit by flooding

>> YOUR PICS: Add your photos to our gallery or tell us what you saw below

The weather bureau issued a severe thunderstorm warning for metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and parts of Geelong earlier today.

“Damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding

Runcorn liquor store ram raid

POLICE are investigating the burglary of a Runcorn liquor store overnight.

Two men drove a maroon coloured Commodore through the front sliding glass doors of the liquor store at Runcorn Plaza about 11.05pm Thursday night. 

One man was seen to enter the store and carry out quantities of liquor and cigarettes before both men drove off with the car last seen heading west on Daw Road.

The first man is described as of Pacific Islander appearance, solid build, 180cm tall and was wearing a maroon singlet, a black cap and black shorts.

The second man is of Pacific Islander