Shifting gears on road to the future

Shifting gears on road to the future

BRISBANE: Detroit’s most iconic futuristic cars are visiting Brisbane for the first time.

Fortitude Valley gallery Artisan is hosting Industrial Desire, exploring the clandestine world of cutting-edge car design with a groundbreaking exhibition of models, drawings and film footage bound to set a-flutter the hearts of dedicated car-o-philes and passionate designers.

The exhibition features 10 quarter-scale models of concept vehicles and runs until August 28. Visit www.artisan.org.au.

Source: whereilive

Making the connection

BRISBANE: Everyone is a winner with the new website devised by Carla Di Marco, 25.

MyLocalHelpers.com.au has been designed as a free 21st-century public noticeboard putting people in search of some extra cash and work experience with those in need of help.

She started the website after securing the interest of local TAFE colleges.

“They told me that international students were being paid $5 an hour in restaurants to gain experience, and that’s just not fair.”

Visit http://www.MyLocalHelpers.com.au.

Source: whereilive

Crean, Smith promoted, Rudd out for now

Kevin Rudd has been left out of new Prime Minister Julia Gillard's reshuffled front bench, but she has left open the option of a senior cabinet role for him after the election.

As expected, Ms Gillard opted to make only minor changes when she made the announcement this afternoon.

''I have decided it is best to have as limited a reshuffle as possible to keep the maximum stability amongst the team and to keep our focus on the work that Australians need the Government to be doing,'' she said.

Simon Crean will take over Ms Gillard's previous portfolios of education

Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL is holding a plethora of activities this month

Wayne Scott Kermond stars in the dinner show at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL in July.

CANTERBURY-Hurlstone Park RSL will be abuzz with warmth and activity over the coming months, with a bevy of first-class shows and promotions at budget prices.

Food lovers can treat their tastebuds to a luxurious lobster mornay served with salad and chips and a glass of wine for only $22.50 on Wednesday and Thursday nights in June and July at the club’s top quality a la carte restaurant, Viva Grill.

A lobster mornay Viva Grill restaurant promotion will also be held at the club each

Walk for sick children

THERE is no doubt Conor Debenham owes his life to the team at Mater Mothers Neonatal Critical Care Unit.

Now six months old, Conor was born 14 weeks early weighing only 1.39kg.

His mother, Sally, said Conor was put on a ventilator in the critical care unit when he was born but was breathing on his own within a week and spent more than nine weeks in the critical care unit.

``We were just lucky he didn’t get any major problems,’’ she said.

``He just had to grow bigger.’’

Sally and her husband, Craig, their older son, Max, 6,

Knife attack in Curtin

Two men armed with large kitchen knives have robbed a young couple walking home in Curtin.

The 29-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were forced on their knees during the terrifying attack.

The pair was walking along Leake Place at about 3.30am yesterday when they were confronted.

A car driving along the street without headlights on passed the couple shortly before two young men approached them armed with large knives.

The attackers threatened the couple and forced them on their knees, with their hands behind their heads.

The armed robbers took the pairs mobile phones and wallets.

They were last seen

Gillard set to get 'a good government back on track'

Julia Gillard has been sworn in as Australia's first female Prime Minister after being elected unopposed this morning.

In her first press conference as Prime Minister, Ms Gillard said a good government had lost its way and she had a responsibility to step up and make sure it got back on track.

''I have accepted that endorsement, and I am truly honoured to lead this country, which I love. I am utterly committed to the service of our community,'' she said, shortly after taking over from outgoing prime minister Kevin Rudd.

''I know the Rudd Government did not do all it said it would do, and at times it would get off track.

''Can I say to the Australian people there will be some days I delight you, there may be some day I disappoint you. On every day I will be working my absolute hardest for you.''

Ms Gillard also used her first press conference as incoming prime minister to throw open the Government's

Now it's Gillard v Rudd

Julia Gillard will challenge Kevin Rudd for the Labor leadership. If successful in a ballot to be held during a special caucus meeting at 9am tomorrow, Ms Gillard will become Australia's first woman prime minister.

Mr Rudd conceded tonight he had lost the support of a number of Labor's factions and Ms Gillard had asked him to hold a ballot.

He believed he was ''quite capable of winning this ballot, based on the soundings I have taken recently''.

''I was elected by the people of Australia to do a job, I was not elected by the factional leaders of Labor

Prime commercial sites passed in at Civic auctions

A glut of commercial development space in Canberra and fears of a legal challenge over a planning amendment on City Hill are being blamed for two premium development blocks at Civic being passed in at auction yesterday.

Billed as ''sensational'', ''the pulse of the city'' and the ''city's ultimate address'', the London Circuit car park sites failed to meet the ACT Government's reserve price.

While five Canberra developers made bids, interstate institutions and listed companies snubbed the sale.

Commercial agents said it was not the right time to offer such big sites when the huge Section 63 car park site nearby sits undeveloped and uncertainty lingers over an office vacancy blow-out.

The Save City Hill

Prime commercial sites passed in at Civic auctions

A glut of commercial development space in Canberra and fears of a legal challenge over a planning amendment on City Hill are being blamed for two premium development blocks at Civic being passed in at auction yesterday.

Billed as ''sensational'', ''the pulse of the city'' and the ''city's ultimate address'', the London Circuit car park sites failed to meet the ACT Government's reserve price.

While five Canberra developers made bids, interstate institutions and listed companies snubbed the sale.

Commercial agents said it was not the right time to offer such big sites when the huge Section 63 car park site nearby sits undeveloped and uncertainty lingers over an office vacancy blow-out.

The Save City Hill

Food science to the fore

Molecular gastronomist Darin Wilson. Picture: Kris Reichl.

CHEF Darin Wilson admits that he’s a bit of a nerd.

It’s partly why he became interested in molecular gastronomy, a branch of the culinary arts which applies the science of food chemistry to the art of cookery.

Mr Wilson, head chef at Zephyr Dining at the Mercure Caroline Springs, said many people were confused by molecular gastronomy.

“I think some people still think it’s about a mad scientist let loose in the kitchen serving up test tubes full of food that doesn’t look like food,” he said.

Among molecular gastronomy’s best-known

Danning's conflicting loyalties

Despite his Ghanaian heritage, Kofi Danning will be ecstatic if Australia prevails in its crunch World Cup game against the west-African nation tonight.

Should Ghana triumph though, the former Canberra junior will be just as happy.

For one of Australia's brightest prospects, the dazzling Sydney FC striker being groomed as a next-generation Socceroo, both countries present a strong case for Danning's support.

The 19-year-old was born in Ghana and spent his infancy kicking a soccer ball around the streets of Kumasi.

Here he developed an impressive array of skill with the round ball, honing a seemingly endless supply of talent

Raiders re-sign Thurling

The Canberra Raiders have re-signed forward Trevor Thurling for the next three seasons.

Thurling will announce his new deal at a press conference this afternoon.

The 26-year-old turned down an offer from the Newcastle Knights after the Raiders added a third year to their original two-year deal to keep Thurling in the capital.

He has been one of the Raiders most consistent performers this season.

A Queanbeyan junior, Thurling joined the Raiders in 2005 after making his NRL debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs the previous year.

Thurling will start at lock in the Canberra's round 15 match against the Wests

Battle to reduce our hospitals' wait lists

Australia's public hospitals are performing more elective operations than ever before but the ACT is still struggling to bring down long waits for elective surgery.

An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report into Australia's hospitals to be issued today shows that in 2008-09 more than 500 extra elective operations were performed in Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital.

The hospitals admitted 10,104 elective surgery patients, up from 9577 in 2007-08.

The median waiting time for elective surgery in the ACT was the longest in Australia at 75 days, while Queensland had the lowest median waiting

Plans for Griffith rezoning under fire

A former Canberra planning chief has attacked the ACT Government over its support for a Brumbies bid to redevelop a Griffith public oval.

The Brumbies want to redevelop two blocks of land bounded by Captain Cook Crescent, La Perouse Street and Austin Street in the prestigious suburb for new headquarters and 150 residential units.

Former commissioner of the National Capital Development Commission Tony Powell claims the Government should have first established if there was a business case to justify the proposed loss of public open space.

While the Government is assessing a planning report supporting the rezoning,

Plans for Griffith rezoning under fire

A former Canberra planning chief has attacked the ACT Government over its support for a Brumbies bid to redevelop a Griffith public oval.

The Brumbies want to redevelop two blocks of land bounded by Captain Cook Crescent, La Perouse Street and Austin Street in the prestigious suburb for new headquarters and 150 residential units.

Former commissioner of the National Capital Development Commission Tony Powell claims the Government should have first established if there was a business case to justify the proposed loss of public open space.

While the Government is assessing a planning report supporting the rezoning,

Bishop Kevin Manning’s work honoured at dinner in Lakemba

Sheik Tag Eldin El Hilali, Bishop Kevin Manning and Issam John Darwish Archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church of Australia and New Zealand, pictured in 2004, break bread.

RELIGION took second place to friendship last month when a farewell tribute dinner was organised for former “advocate of love” Bishop Kevin Manning by Islamic leader Keysar Trad.

The Islamic Friendship Association president was one of many people from different beliefs who lauded the former Catholic Bishop of Parramatta, who retired in March after 13 years in the position.

“The event was very good and everyone was extremely happy to see

Petrie shoots for higher honours

ANTHONY Petrie credits a relaxed attitude and a secure future with his rise into Australian Boomers contention.

Now the former Canberra Gunner wants to cement his place in the national team set-up.

Petrie and 12 other Boomers hopefuls arrived at the Australian Institute of Sport in the national capital yesterday for a three-day training camp.

It's Petrie's chance to impress Australian coach Brett Brown for the first time.

And while he conceded his chances of earning a spot in Brown's team to take on Argentina from June 20 were slim, Petrie said he wouldn't hold back at his first attendance

Abby Safe

US teenage sailor Abby Sunderland has been rescued from her stricken yacht by the French fishing vessel Ile De La Reunion 2000 nautical miles off the West Australian coast.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre said the 16-year-old was was safe and in good health when she was picked up at 7.45PM on Saturday night.

Miss Sunderland may be transferred to one of two other ships which are heading to the site. One ship is bound for Australia and the other would likely return to its home port at La Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

For more on Abby Sunderland's rescue, see tomorrow's Sunday Canberra Times.

Source: The Canberra Times

NAB ATM in Fyshwick blown up

Police are calling for witnesses after would-be robbers unsuccessfully tried to blast their way into a Fyshwick ATM safe this morning.

Alarms at the NAB bank on Wollongong Street were triggered shortly before 3am, and police arrived to find the ATM facade blown away from the bank wall.

Detective Senior Constable Ash Laidler from ACT Policing's Criminal Investigation team said it appeared the robbers used an acetylene bottle to damage the machine.

``They've pumped the gas into the ATM and ignited it at some point. That caused an explosion, which has resulted in what you can see here,'' he said

Police investigate sex-with-cow claim

Police are investigating allegations that a man was caught having sex with a cow at Cooranbong in NSW.

A woman was reported to have seen an ''elderly man with very white hair'' approach the brown cow and grab its tail in a paddock off Crawford Road on Sunday afternoon.

She yelled out to the man, who zipped up his dark coloured pants and left in a red Holden Vectra.

As well as being described as elderly, the man was wearing a cream-coloured rain jacket and the pants. Lake Macquarie police are investigating.

The Newcastle Herald

Source: The Canberra Times

Mayor of Dickson's long wait

It's been more than a year since the man once nicknamed the ''Mayor of Dickson'' was told he almost certainly had prostate cancer and needed surgery within a fortnight.

Since then, 75-year-old Allan McFarlane, who has an intellectual disability, has suffered worsening pain and bladder problems.

His guardian, Fay Arrold, has been growing increasingly frustrated as letters periodically arrive from ACT Health to inquire if Mr McFarlane wishes to remain on the waiting list for elective surgery.

In May last year, Mr McFarlane was placed on a waiting list to have a kidney stent inserted.

He was designated a

Two Aussie soldiers killed

Aust army soldiers (l-r) Major Carl Miller and handler Sapper Darren Smith with dog Herbie at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.

BRISBANE father Darren Smith was one of two soldiers on their first tour of Afghanistan killed in a roadside bomb blast yesterday.

The 25-year-old combat engineer and his comrade, whose name is yet to be made public were killed when an explosive device was detonated during a foot patrol of Mirabad Valley in Oruzgan province.

Sapper Smith, 25, was an explosives detection dog handler, who worked with Herbie, a collie cross, to find hidden improvised explosive devices.

Defence Materiel Minister

Correct presidential spelling's for mugs

There may be an upside to President Barack Obama's decision to delay his visit to Australia - it will give the Parliamentary Gift Shop a chance to learn how to spell the President's name.

In an embarrassing slip, the gift shop ordered about 200 mugs to commemorate the visit of the US President "Barrack'' Obama.

Eagle-eyed Channel Ten reporter Hugh Riminton managed to pick up a mug early on Monday morning – and then told the world via Twitter about the major spelling mistake.

The mugs, which have now been withdrawn from sale, were ordered by the Department of

Wallabies win soured as Alexander hurts knee

RELIEVED Wallabies prop Ben Alexander hopes to be fit for next month's Tri Nations after fearing his Test season was over last night.

Alexander suffered a suspected grade two medial ligament tear in his right knee during Australia's 49-3 win over Fiji at Canberra Stadium.

The Brumbies and Wallabies front-rower was transported from the field in a medical vehicle midway through the second half, convinced he had played his final match for Australia for the year.

But initial medical reports revealed Alexander would be sidelined for just six weeks and be ready for the Wallabies' opening Tri Nations match against

St Kilda up after early scare

St Kilda's problem remains replacing Riewoldt but last night it was also a case of stopping Riewoldt.

Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt sent a big scare through the Saints at Etihad Stadium with a six-goal haul, although St Kilda steadied to win 14.13 (97) to 8.11 (59) to start round 11 of the AFL season.

The Saints were headed for a massive win when they had Richmond at their mercy and goalless 20 minutes into the second quarter, with seven of their own majors on the board.

But while injured Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt watched from the stands, his younger cousin

Obama calls Rudd to postpone Australian visit

United States President Barack Obama has postponed his trip to Australia and Indonesia for a third time, officials have confirmed.

Mr Obama called Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this afternoon to tell them he would delay the trip to an undetermined date because he wanted to remain home while the United States was dealing with the worst oil spill in the nation's history, in the Gulf of Mexico.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the decision was made with "deep regret" and Mr Obama looked forward to rescheduling so he could visit both nations soon.

Tougher laws will strip crims of ‘ill-gotten gains’

ORGANISED crime figures will be stripped of “unexplained wealth” under a raft of new policing measures being brought in by the State Government.

Under the legislation, the NSW Crime Commission will have unprecedented powers to target major criminal figures.

Fifty per cent of confiscated money and assets will go into the Victims Compensation Fund.

Last year, $24 million of criminal assets, including real estate, large sums of cash, prestige vehicles, motorcycles, boats, jewellery, spa baths, plasma televisions and casino chips, were seized under the Criminal Asset Recovery Act.

“Organised crime bosses and major drug traffickers often go to extraordinary lengths

FEED MELBOURNE: Campaign ticks every box

Premier John Brumby with FareShare volunteers. Picture: Andrew Batsch.

FEED Melbourne is a great initiative that has far-reaching benefits says Premier John Brumby.

Officially launching Feed Melbourne today he said: “It’s a wonderful campaign, it’s a wonderful thing to do.’’

>>Pictures: Feed Melbourne campaign launch

Feed Melbourne raises money for food charities such as FareShare to help them rescue, store and distribute good food that would otherwise go to the tip.

The work of the charities meant “meals go to families, the homeless and needy people who previously would have gone without’’, Mr Brumby said.

“FareShare aims to give away up to a million

Rates remain on hold

The Reserve Bank has left interest rates on hold, giving mortgage holders their first reprieve since February.

Bank governor Glenn Stevens said in a statement that output growth was likely to be about trend this year, although inflation appeared ''likely to be in the upper half of the target zone over the next year''.

''Consistent with that outlook, and as a result of actions at previous meetings, interest rates to borrowers are around their average levels of the past decade, which is a significant adjustment from the very expansionary settings reached a year ago. Taking all the available information into account, the board views this setting of monetary policy as appropriate for the near term,'' he said.

The central bank had raised rates six times in the previous eight months, taking them