Hervey Bay Gossip

May is Domestic Violence Month and to mark the event in Hervey Bay a breakfast will be held on Wednesday at Cafe Balaena at the Urangan Boat Harbour terminal.

For further details you can contact the Yoorana Women’s Domestic Violence and Resource Service on 4122 2218.

According to an ad that appeared in yesterday’s Chronicle Deick Elmer’s Hervey Bay store is now open at 92 Beach Road Hervey Bay. Trading hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

It seems that politicians were a little thick on the ground in the region yesterday. The Premier was looking the land that will be affected by the new dam on the Mary River and the Federal Minister for Health was here in Hervey Bay telling the public that he wouldn’t give our public hospital system any money but he would pour it into the private system. Hmmmm

Maybe that’s why it was good to get out of Hervey Bay for a while. The fishing was good up at Toogoom and this fisherman had several good sized fish to show for all his hard work.

Queensland councillors are being held more accountable for their actions following the March introduction of a mandatory code of conduct for councils.

Local Government Minister Desley Boyle said the Code of Conduct outlined appropriate standards of behaviour for all councillors and made councillors accountable for breaches to these standards.

Ms Boyle said: “The new Councillor Code of Conduct holds councillors to a higher standard of behaviour and clearly spells out what is considered appropriate.

“Councils had the option of developing their own code or implementing a model code developed by the State Government. About 20 councils so far have adopted a modified version of the code, with all others adopting the model code.

“The Department of Local Government has held more than 50 one-day training workshops across the State to help councillors and council employees better understand the code and I am pleased to say almost 700 people have attended.

“The training covered the requirements of the code, how councils should implement it and how alleged breaches of the code should be addressed,” she said.

Ms Boyle said a small handful of councillors had expressed concern the code was being used to gag councillors who were unhappy with council decisions, but she said the code should not be used in that way.

“As with anything new, there will be a settling in period where people will try out the new system. That’s to be expected, and in fact should be welcomed, as a way of making sure the particular council has it all in place and working properly.

“The code does not prevent councillors from talking to the community or to the media. What is does is set standards that prevent communication that could result in a councillor receiving a personal or financial gain - that is clearly inappropriate.

“The code ensures there are penalties if councillors misrepresent an agreed council policy or position by presenting their own opinions as council policy,” Ms Boyle said.

These standards for communication are based on to the Code of Ethical Standards to which State MP’s adhere.

“If councillors accused of breaching the code disagree with the outcome, they are encouraged to take their concerns to the Queensland Ombudsman.

“My Department will be keeping a close eye on the implementation, use and misuse of the Code of Conduct framework.

“Each council will be required to report on the way their code has been applied, and councils’ annual reports must give details about complaints and code breaches,” Ms Boyle said.

The State Government is looking for a new Health Quality and Complaints Commissioner.

Advertisements will appear nationally this weekend looking for the best person to lead Queensland’s new, strengthened health watchdog, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said he hoped the positions of Health Quality and Complaints Commissioner and five to seven Assistant Commissioners would attract solid, experienced candidates.

Expressions of interests will be sought across Australia from doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with clinical experience, lawyers and others with relevant experience in dealing with safety and consumer issues.

“The independent Health Quality and Complaints Commission will mark a new era in public accountability and transparency regarding our health system,” Mr Robertson said.

“The Commission will start work on 1 July with more powers, more resources and more responsibilities than the current Health Rights Commission.

“We need people with the right skills and experience to ensure it does its job effectively with fierce independence.

“Saturday’s advertisements will cast a wide net to snare those people who will provide appropriate guidance and leadership to the Commission’s staff, including the Chief Executive.”

Mr Robertson said the deadline was tight given the timeframes involved in setting up the Commission.

“We will require expressions of interest by Monday, 15 May with a view to finalising appointments by the end of June,” he said.

“Appointments will be part-time covering a period of up to four years.”

Mr Robertson said the main objective of the Commission was to assure Queenslanders that the quality of health services in Queensland, public or private, was of the highest possible standard.

He said a Parliamentary Committee will review and report on the new Commission after one year of operation.

You’ll probably come out of this one smelling like roses because you took the unprecedented step of taking a phone call from the grieving widow but it seems as though someone is telling porkies about the death of that brave digger.

Why is it so important that we not be told the truth about his death Johnnie?

And don’t try the Wheat Board defence this time - you know what really happened over there and we want to know too. Our sons and daughters, husbands and wives deserve much better than to die because of your grubby little schemes.

Our diggers are worth more than a handful of wheat Johnnie and that’s why they’re over there isn’t it?

A new grading system for students will be introduced into all Queensland schools next year to provide clearer, more consistent information for parents.

Education Minister, Rod Welford, said the new plain English A-E report cards were part of wide-ranging reforms to put parents in the picture about their child’s progress at school.

“This new system will be more straight-forward for students and parents,” Mr Welford said.

“Schools will provide students with twice-yearly reports in plain English in a common format and parents will also be offered parents/teachers interviews twice a year.

“The report card will detail the areas of learning a student is studying and their results, behaviour and effort graded from A to E.

“It will also record teacher comments, as well as extra-curricular activities and the number of days a student is absent.

“We may need to refine the system as it applies to the early primary years (Years 1-3) because subjects are not as clear cut. However, the new grading system will apply to students for all subjects in Years 4-10.

“Year 11 and 12 students are already assessed on a five-tier rating system as part of the Overall Position (OP process).”

The new grading system will be introduced in state schools at the end of 2006, and apply in all schools in 2007.

Mr Welford said a comprehensive overhaul of Queensland’s education laws was currently before State Parliament.

“The new laws position Queensland schools to deliver on the aims of the Smart State and meet the expectations of students and their families in the 21st century,” he said.

“The legislation provides a basis for the introduction of the new Prep Year in 2007 and the increase in the school starting age, which takes effect in 2008.

“It creates the legal requirement for both state and non-state schools to provide reports on students’ academic work and offer interviews to parents twice a year.”

If you ventured outside this morning you would not have missed the heavy dew and the very cool temperature - 15C at 7.15am is a little less than what we might be accustomed to.

But spare a thought for our countrymen down south - for many years I lived on the Central Tablelands in NSW and there the rule of thumb was that you would light your fires on Anzac Day and not let them go out till the first weekend in October.

Life sure is hard living up here in Hervey Bay but someone has to do it

Mental illness is one of those terrible afflictions that have an effect on the entire family. Because of the way society perceives mental illness one of those effects can be isolation from the community and from help. But that may now be changing.

Families and carers of Queenslanders with a mental illness can now access service information and share their experiences through a new health website.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today Queensland Health’s new Carers Matter website will provide valuable support to families who have a loved one suffering mental illness.

“Learning that a family member or a friend has a mental illness can be very overwhelming.

“Many people ask themselves how can this happen to our family and what what can I do to help?

“The aim of this new website is to help answer these and other questions people ask about supporting someone with a mental illness.”

Mr Robertson said the website will be a valuable tool in assisting family members and carers to contribute positively to achieving the best outcomes for mental health sufferers.

“It provides information covering a range of areas, including a comprehensive list of community support services, legal and financial advice and other useful resources.

“It also contains first-hand accounts from family members and carers about how mental illness has affected their lives.

“Sharing these experiences may help other people cope, especially if they are confronting mental illness for the first time. ”

Mr Robertson said the Beattie Government was committed to improving mental health services in Queensland.

“Queensland is spending a record $472 million on mental health services this year and we will invest an extra $201 million funding on top of that over the next five years.

“That funding will provide extra doctors, nurses, case managers and therapy staff for community mental health services.

“It will also provide more funding support to non-government mental health service providers and address existing pressures on mental health services.”

Mr Robertson said the Carers Matter website also reflected the State Government’s commitment to the Queensland Government Carer Recognition Policy 2003.

“In 2004, more than $500,000 was allocated to15 health districts throughout Queensland for projects aimed at increasing the participation of consumers, carers and family members in the mental health decision-making processes.

“Ensuring these people are active in the decision-making process is one of Queensland Health’s highest priorities.

“The Carers Matter website is the culmination of a great deal of research and consultation with family members and carers and it is a major part of Queensland Health’s priority in embracing the recovery approach to mental illness.

“There are many misconceptions and misunderstandings in the community where mental illness is concerned and this website will help break down the some of barriers which exist,” he said.

The Carers Matter website is at: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/mhcarer

For this weeks motoring feature let me show you a classic from 56 years ago. It’s a 1950 Riley Drophead Convertible.

It was built by Riley Motors in the UK and was powered by a 2.5 litre motor motor that gave it a top speed of around 160 kph.

This beautifully restored example calls Hervey Bay home and I caught up with it down at the BP servo on Torquay Road at Scarness. If you appreciate fine motor vehicles you should start stopping in there for petrol - you never know what you will find lurking in the garage.