Teen, 16, charged with armed hold-up of Berala Hotel

A 16-year-old has been charged over the armed robbery of Berala hotel last night.

About 6.30pm, the teen, armed with a shortened firearm and wearing a balaclava, entered the betting section of the hotel on Woodburn Rd, demanded cash from two bar staff and ordered patrons to lie on the floor.

The teen left the hotel empty-handed and fled through the hotel’s car park, jumping a fence onto adjacent railway tracks.

Flemington police were called to the hotel and circulated a description of the teen by police radio. A short time later, the teen was arrested on nearby

Christmas Island riot probe

Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher will investigate whether police and immigration contractors used too much force when responding to protests on Christmas Island last month.

He is also considering beginning an investigation into whether the detention centres that hold asylum seekers are appropriate, and whether officials have proper programs to look after people at risk of suicide.

"As long as there are families with children, unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable people in immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island, and as long as there are risks to their health and well-being as a consequence of inadequate services, I consider that [the Department

Brumbies hope to offer fans a warmer welcome

The ACT Brumbies will attempt to avoid the Canberra freeze and any potential drop in crowd numbers next season by requesting the majority of their home games be played before winter hits.

And in a bid to create a more family friendly Super Rugby experience, the Brumbies will lobby SANZAR for more afternoon matches next year and beyond.

The Brumbies play the Western Force in Canberra at 4pm on Sunday. It is the first time they have played during the day at home since beating the Queensland Reds 51-8 in March 2004.

The Brumbies snapped a four-game losing streak when

New faces for Brumbies

Three players will make their debuts for the ACT Brumbies against the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend yesterday named prop Dan Palmer, No 8 Ita Vaea and winger Henry Speight in his starting XV.

Inside centre Robbie Coleman, who earned one cap in 2010, will make his starting debut as Adam Ashley-Cooper centre partner.

Flyhalf Matt Giteau will lead the team in what will be openside flanker Julian Salvi's 50th match.

The Brumbies team:

1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Ben Hand, 5. Mark Chisholm, 6. Mitch Chapman, 7. Julian Salvi, 8. Ita

New faces for Brumbies

Three players will make their debuts for the ACT Brumbies against the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend yesterday named prop Dan Palmer, No 8 Ita Vaea and winger Henry Speight in his starting XV.

Inside centre Robbie Coleman, who earned one cap in 2010, will make his starting debut as Adam Ashley-Cooper centre partner.

Flyhalf Matt Giteau will lead the team in what will be openside flanker Julian Salvi's 50th match.

The Brumbies team:

1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Ben Hand, 5. Mark Chisholm, 6. Mitch Chapman, 7. Julian Salvi, 8. Ita

Concern about video game ratings in Hills

NEARLY 90,000 people have expressed their desire to have an R18+ classification for video games in Australia but a decision is still to be made.

The petition was a team effort of GAME and the PAL Gaming Network and was signed by 89,210 people at GAME’s stores last year.

Of these, 350 signatures came from GAME Castle Hill where store manager Lawrence Roque said many customers are concerned by R18+ games being labelled as MA15+ in Australia.

“We get lots of parents who are always concerned about what’s right for their kids and what is more for young adults,”

Cutting Couples Wedding Planning Confusion

A couple gets engaged and they are filled with excitement for the future. Then they start to plan their perfect wedding.
The problem most couples face is they have never planned a wedding, they are not sure where to start or how to choose from the enormous array of services and products available. The ideas they have become muddied by advice from well meaning helpers and the numbers on the budget start to look very scary.
At this point, it is very easy for the inexperienced to compromise the perfect wedding plans or to blow the budget. But there is