Facebook Places launches in Australia

Facebook users in Australia can share their location with friends from today after the social networking website launched its Places feature.

Keep track of Canberra Times web updates via our Facebook page here.

Keen to avoid another privacy backlash, Facebook stressed the service would be opt-in and users would have to check in to venues before their location was revealed on their page. The default privacy setting would be to share with "friends only" and users can even restrict location sharing to specific friends or groups of friends.

The Australian launch follows recent launches in the US, Canada and Japan.

The feature will be gradually rolled out on Facebook's servers from today

EXCLUSIVE: Twenty grand reasons Libs may have lost Greenway

Louise Markus: ``I don't have access to the funds ..... they are the direct responsibility of the party organisation.''

IT’S the move that may have cost Tony Abbott’s Coalition the Federal Election. A member of the Liberal Party’s Greenway Federal Electorate Council has exclusively revealed to the Advocate that Liberal candidate for Greenway, Jaymes Diaz, was left high and dry with “less than $1000” in campaign spending money for the marginal electorate.

If more campaign money had been available to persuade about 700 of 93,828 enrolled voters in the seat to change their mind, the face of Australian politics today could have been radically different.

The member - who was involved

Woman bitten by snake at Bribie Island

SNAKE BITE: The Queensland Ambulance Service says the woman was in a stable condition.

A 59-year-old woman was transported to Caboolture Hospital complaining of nausea and dizziness after she was bitten by a snake at White Patch, Bribie Island, today.
The woman was bushwalking at the time. It is believed she was bitten by a brown snake.
She was in a stable condition.

Source: whereilive

Newlyweds claim the Castle Hill $20million lotto prize

Young newlyweds have claimed the $20 million lotto prize brought from NewsXpress in Castle Towers.

YOUNG newlyweds have finally claimed the $20 million lotto prize brought from NewsXpress in Castle Towers.

It had remained unclaimed for the last ten days.

The couple who are expecting their first child could not believe their luck. “I had the ticket in my purse all of this time,” the woman said.

“I can’t believe a $20 million winning ticket was just sitting in my purse.

“On the bus on Wednesday I overheard the bus driver jokingly ask two ladies if they were the

Yagoona intersection's safety facelift

A $500,000 RTA upgrade to a Yagoona intersection has been completed and traffic lights installed at Rookwood Rd, George St and Davis Lane. Bankstown State Labor MP Tony Stewart said a review of the crash history for the five years to September 2008 showed there had been 26 crashes at the intersection. The project involved installing new pedestrian traffic lights on Rookwood Rd and George St. There is now also signposting preventing all right turns at the intersection except for those into Davis Lane. Mr Stewart said: “This will be good news, particularly for the students crossing Rookwood Rd to

Barr attacked over cuts for disabled

Support teachers for children with disabilities, and school counsellors, are among the jobs which would be axed under a draft plan by ACT Education to meet a 1per cent budget efficiency dividend.

Parents, teachers and the Opposition have accused the ACT Government of attempting to avoid scrutiny by releasing on the eve of school holidays a consultation paper which reveals details of the proposed cuts.

Under the plan, one of four support teachers who assist blind and visually impaired students would be moved into another job.

Two of 14 hearing support teaching positions would be scrapped as would four vacant

Going wild at The Ponds

Native wildlife loves living at the Ponds. Picture: ISABELLA LETTINI

AN 80ha nature corridor in The Ponds is now teeming with life thanks to Landcom and Greening Australia.

Teams have been working for five years to regenerate the area around Second Ponds Creek, planting more a million native trees, shrubs and grasses.

Landcom sustainability and policy director Steve Driscoll said Landcom aimed to leave natural habitats more ecologically sustainable than when the organisation moved in. "Prior to starting at The Ponds, the area was a degraded natural system which had many salinity and water flow issues, particularly along Second

Cyclist petition fails to sway government

BRISBANE: The State Government has been accused of “a callous disregard for cyclist safety” after rejecting a petition for a minimum passing distance between bikes and cars.

An e-petition put to the Transport Department proposing motorists maintain a minimum safe passing distance of one metre when they overtake cyclists garnered 4751 signatures.

However, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan rejected the proposal as Queensland road rules were tethered to those agreed to nationally and it would have a negative impact on cyclists.

“The introduction of a specific rule to restrict vehicles to keeping one metre from cyclists would be, in many

Boy charged over Northmead High School attack

A TEENAGER is due to face Parramatta Children’s Court in October charged with assaulting a teacher and a student at Northmead High.

Police have just charged the youth, 15, from Parramatta over an incident at the school on June 28 when a group of eight youths turned up at the school at about 2.35pm on that Monday.

A 16-year-old male student at the school was confronted by the group in the bus bay and allegedly punched and kicked. A male teacher, 34, who went to his aid was also allegedly punched and kicked.

Both the teacher and student received facial

Castle Pines residents still without hostel facilities after 10 years

Pat and David Jeffreys are still waiting for hostel facilities.

IN 2000, Pat Jefferys and her husband David bought into Castle Pines Retirement Village knowing that the building had been approved to have hostel facilities added.

Ten years later, Mrs Jefferys is disappointed to see that the provision for a hostel has been removed as the Baulkham Hills retirement village undergoes expansion.

Mr Jefferys has Parkinson’s disease, which is the reason the two bought into Castle Pines.

``It’s a degenerative disease, so we knew he would need the hostel,’’ Mrs Jefferys said.

In April this year, the Hills Shire

Map your magpie attack hotspots

It’s magpie season and super protective males are turning the bravest into quivering wrecks.

Statistics show most Australians will be ``bombed’’ at least once in their life. Many end up needing medical attention.

Quest has launched an interactive online map to help you avoid the magpie hotspots and is asking readers to share their local knowledge.

To check out where the magpies are swooping in Greater Brisbane, view the map.

If you want to add a hotspot, email the address to , with the subject line Magpie hotspot.

>> MAP: See swooping hot spots across Greater Brisbane

Armchair experts paint eyes on the back of ice

Premiership gives Ainslie plenty of reasons to cheer

THE drought is over.

After 13 long, painful years, Ainslie has its hands on AFL Canberra's prime piece of silverware once again.

Led superbly by Alex Jesaulenko medallist Robert Shirley and five-goal hero Nick Paine, the Tricolours collected their first top-grade premiership since 1997 with a 25-point victory over the Eastlake Demons at Manuka Oval yesterday.

Ainslie hit its lowest ebb four years ago, when internal dramas resulted in more than 40 players departing the club.

Tricolours coach Chris Rourke has overseen the dramatic rise.

Having felt the heartache of losing last year's decider to Belconnen by a single goal,

Plan for eco centre set to be shelved

NOOSA Parks Association looks set to withdraw its interest in Noosa North Shore EcoCentre after this week’s council discussions.

The $3 million building, intended to be Noosa North Shore’s gateway to the soon-to-be-gazetted Cooloola World Heritage area, has sat empty for almost two years.

Councillors want to make the development a more attractive prospect for a new investor by relaxing planning conditions.

``Council’s decision badly damages Noosa’s prospects of becoming the most recognised and resourced entry point to an extended Cooloola-Fraser Island World Heritage Area,’’ said NPA project officer Michael Gloster (pictured).

``Plans by QPWS and NPA to operate

Almost one life delivered a day for 10 years

Only one-day-old and tiny Finlay Cutts and Xavier Haddon stole the show at the Mater Mothers Private Hospital Redland.
Almost 3000 babies have been delivered and 50,000 patients attended to at the Cleveland-based hospital since its inception a decade ago.
But midwife Karen Pavicic, of Alexandra Hills, is still counting.
``I’ve been here for nine years and it’s a lovely unit to work in,’’ she said.
``It’s nice to see the unit grow from a few babies to a thriving unit.’‘
Ms Pavicic applauded the smaller hospital with patients able to get one-on-one care without ``the rushing about’‘.

Boy charged over Northmead High School attack

A TEENAGER is due to face Parramatta Children’s Court in October charged with assaulting a teacher and a student at Northmead High.

Police have just charged the youth, 15, from Parramatta over an incident at the school on June 28 when a group of eight youths turned up at the school at about 2.35pm on that Monday.

A 16-year-old male student at the school was confronted by the group in the bus bay and allegedly punched and kicked. A male teacher, 34, who went to his aid was also allegedly punched and kicked.

Both the teacher and student received facial

Faces of Australian Croatians exhibition a celebration

Croatian Archives in Australia president Ana Watson prepares for the Croatian exhibition at Punchbowl, last week. Picture: NICK BLOUKOS

CROATIAN history in Australia is thought to have begun as early as 1813, when convict Stefano Posich arrived in Sydney.

On Sunday, the narrative will continue when the Croatian Archive Association of Australia hosts the Faces of Australian Croatians exhibition at the Croatian Club in Punchbowl between noon and 4pm.

According to the exhibition’s co-ordinator, Stephen Kokotovic, Croatians continued to arrive in Australia once gold was discovered in 1951.

However, the historical records have been scant for several reasons.

“They’re

Raiders game sold out

The Canberra Raiders' semi-finals clash with the Wests Tigers on Friday night is sold out with more than 27,000 fans ready to make Canberra Stadium a green fortress.

A record crowd of 27,500 is expected to pour through the gates after the last 2000 standing-room tickets were snapped up this afternoon.

It will be the biggest crowd for a Raiders game in the capital since Mal Meninga's last game in 1994 attracted 25,253.

The Raiders have attracted 20,000 fans just once this season, when they beat minor premiers the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner said the

Sewage and flooding-related public liability claims

BRISBANE residents are kicking up a stink over leaking sewerage pipes and burst water mains.
Documents obtained under Right to Information laws reveal Brisbane City Council has spent more than $200,000 in two years investigating, defending and settling compensation claims.
The council has set aside another $738,000 for costs associated with cases yet to be finalised.

Click here to see a map of the locations of sewage and flooding incidents listed in public liability claims against Brisbane City Council.

Related story: Burst pipes costly to council.
Related story: Sewage bill a stinker.
Related story: Clothing claims lodged with council.
Related story: Pet owners

60 Years of Smiles!

Yeronga Park C&K Kindy is celebrating 60 years of excellence in early childhood education in 2010. As part of the celebrations, the kindy will be holding a 60th anniversary fete on 17th October.  There’ll be lots of fun activities for the whole family so keep the day free! To mark the special day we are starting to collect old photos, stories, or anything connected to the kindy to show its history.  If you have something of interest you would like to share, please contact the kindy on 3848 4868, write to Yeronga Park Kindy at 15 School Rd Yeronga, or

Hills Shire mourns the loss of Ross Baker

Hundreds of people attended the funeral last week of the 2010 Hills Senior Citizen of the Year, Ross Baker.

The Castle Hill resident was awarded the pretigious title by Hills Shire Council during this year’s Australia Day Celebrations.

Mr Baker, 65, died in Westmead Hospital on August 25 after a long battle with cancer with his wife Carol and family by his side.

A Castle Hill resident for 30 years, he threw himself into community work.

The father of three was best known for his tireless work for many years on the Orange Blossom Festival committee and with the

Road congestion hot topic at Hills Business Summit

Traffic congestion, infrastructure and road safety were on the menu at the first Hills Business Summit last week.

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Norwest was the venue for the summit hosted by IC Frith at the special Sydney Hills Business Chamber breakfast.

A specialist panel included Hills Shire Council’s Mayor Peter Dimbrowsky, strategic planning group manager Michael Edgar and infrastructure planning manager Andrew King and chamber president Tony Moran.

They were joined by representatives from Cumberland Courier Newspapers, Hills Local Area Command, Busways, and solicitors from Dooley and Associates.

MC John May from IC Frith fielded questions from 95 chamber

Road congestion hot topic at Hills Business Summit

Traffic congestion, infrastructure and road safety were on the menu at the first Hills Business Summit last week.

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Norwest was the venue for the summit hosted by IC Frith at the special Sydney Hills Business Chamber breakfast.

A specialist panel included Hills Shire Council’s Mayor Peter Dimbrowsky, strategic planning group manager Michael Edgar and infrastructure planning manager Andrew King and chamber president Tony Moran.

They were joined by representatives from Cumberland Courier Newspapers, Hills Local Area Command, Busways, and solicitors from Dooley and Associates.

MC John May from IC Frith fielded questions from 95 chamber

Stosur bows out after tight clash

Australia's Samantha Stosur has lost her US Open tennis quarter-final to defending champion Kim Clijsters 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

In a tight match Stosur fought back from a set down to take the match into a deciding third set.

Neither player could hold serve in the third set until Clijsters did in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. From there she won the next two games to win the match.

It was Clijsters' 19th successive win at Flushing Meadows and the Belgian will now play Venus Williams in the semi-finals.

Stosur was the first US Open quarter-finalist from Australia

Snap your hopes and dreams

FUTURE HOPES: In 2030 I hope that Noosa is a place where neighbours and community get together to help out each other and the environment around them

WHAT do you hope Noosa and the Sunshine Coast look like in 2030?
Take a photo that sums up your hopes for the area’s future, write a short caption that explains it and send it to Sunshine Coast Council’s Zooming into 2030 competition for the chance to win a share of $3000.
Entrants so far have said they hope there will be community festivals to enjoy, locally grown produce to buy, that

Suspicious packages outside army barracks

more photos

POLICE have cordoned off Lloyd Street in Enoggera to investigate a suspicious package found near the army barracks at around 2pm.
A specialist bomb squad and robot are investigating the silver package to ascertain whether it was a bomb that was left near the gates leading in to the barracks.
Inspector Sean Cryer said residents of Lloyd Street had been asked to stay indoors until the situation was resolved.
Police have advised motorists and members of the public to find an alternative route.

Source: whereilive

Hills Shire Council budget surplus nearly 10 times more than expected

A STRONG recovery from the global financial crisis has left the Hills Shire Council with a budget surplus of nearly 10 times the amount they anticipated for the last financial year.

The original budget adopted by the council forecast a surplus of $165,254 for the 2009-10 financial year.

But the council ended the year with a $1,585,267 surplus due to a higher than expected income from areas such as general rates, interests on investments and user charges.

A council spokeswoman said: “Council predicted only a surplus of $165,000 when the budget was set in March 2008 in the height

Hills residents looking to work close to home

IF there is no train to get us to work, bring the work closer to us.

While Hills residents may wait until 2024 to have access to a station, Hills Shire Council is encouraging businesses to head for the Hills.

At a Western Sydney Business Connection meeting on August 4, Premier Kristina Keneally said: “Sydney needs to change its mentality that everyone will live on the fringes and commute into the centre for work.”

The council wants to get an important message to people who face a long daily commute to work tell your boss you want to work

Melbourne in for wet and windy weekend

MELBOURNE is in for a windy weekend, with peak gusts of up to 110km/h expected.

Tomorrow is looking wet and wild for Melbourne, with average wind speeds of up to 75 km/h.

Weather buruea duty forecaster Rod Dickson said there was a severe weather warning for destructive winds.

Melburnians can also expect to be drenched by 10mm to 15mm of rain, but will be spared the 100mm to 150mm expected in other parts of the state.

Parks Victoria has issued a warning urging people not to visit parks and forests this weekend.

People are urged not to walk, ride, drive,

Wilkie chooses Labor

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie is supporting Labor to retain power, saying he believes Prime Minister Julia Gillard could provide stable and ethical government.

When combined with Greens MP Adam Bandt's decision to also back Labor, it gives Ms Gillard 74 votes in the next House of Representatives compared with the Coalition's 73.

The three regional Independent MPs - Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter - still hold the key votes that will determine which party forms government, although they will not necessarily vote as a bloc.

Mr Wilkie - who made his announcement this afternoon - said he believed

Surf Lifesaving Club open day success

Shae and Fleur Bailey of North Lakes.

Jennifer, Michael, Matthew and James Tanner of North Lakes.

John McDonnell of wooloowin

Maddison Bartulis o9f Brighton, Randy Marcon of Bracken Ridge and Amy Gallagher of Wavell heights.

Tony Le Roux of Rothwell.

Harry Crosthwaite of Wooloowin.

more photos

SEEING the crowds down at the Redcliffe Surf Life Saving Club on the weekend, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a typical summer day.
The Suttons Beach club was abuzz with activity on the annual open day as existing members refreshed their skills and the public had the opportunity to look