Hervey Bay Gossip

It may not be who we thought it was.

Everyone presumes that James Cook was the first white explorer to chart the east coast of Fraser Island but that may not be the case.

Back in 1970 a lead fishing sinker was discovered on Fraser Island that was probably made from lead mined in Portugal or the south of France sometime around 1500. How that fishing sinker got there has been a mystery but now  Australian Historian Peter Trickett may have found solved the mystery.

It seems that there is some evidence that Portuguese explorers mapped the east coast of Australia around 1522. They may have even reached the eastern most part of the Great Australian Bight and along they way they may have sailed into Botany Bay.

It’s an interesting theory and one that Peter Trickett expands on in his new book, ‘Beyond Capricorn’

You can read more about his theory on the New Zealand Herald’s website here

HERVEY BAY SEABIRD SEEKS WORLD-WIDE MARKET FOR SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT

A Hervey Bay aircraft manufacturer plans to use a State Government grant to enable its specialist surveillance aircraft, the Seeker, to reach wider world markets.

Minister for State Development John Mickel who is in Melbourne with a Queensland delegation at the Avalon Air Show said Seabird Aviation Australia (SAA) had been awarded a $50,000 Queensland Industry Development Scheme grant to conduct ice and noise testing to enable an extension of the existing American FAA Type Certification.

“The company’s trademark Seeker SB7L-360A is in use around the world and was recently selected as the first aircraft of the new Iraqi Air Force,” the Minister said.

“The company identified a niche market of aerial observation that was not being addressed by existing fixed-wing aircraft manufacturers and invested more than $10 million in design, development and certification of the aircraft that provides cost effective surveillance including timely reporting of potential terrorist threats.”

The Seeker’s typical operating environment is at low-altitude, flying close to obstacles, in turbulence, for protracted flight durations.

Features include high crew visibility, safety and comfort, crisp manoeuvrability with stability at low speeds, forgiving stall behaviour and low-fatigue handling.

“This grant is expected to result in new markets being opened - particularly in the United States - and many new aircraft being built at Seabird Aviation Australia’s international research and development base and Australian production facility at Hervey Bay,” Mr Mickel said.

The facility’s 21 staff is expected to grow to more than 30 CAD draftsmen, aircraft welders, sheet metal workers, fibreglass mould and parts fabricators, electrical and avionics technicians.

Seabird Aviation’s Managing Director Peter Adams said that Seabird Aviation Australia’s Joint Venture Company Seabird Aviation America (SAAM) now has a demonstration Seeker - shipped from Hervey Bay - flying in the US.

“This Seeker is based at SAAM’s New Mexico headquarters and will feature in air shows and trade fairs across the country,” he said.

“The US would be a great market for us to crack and really build our international credibility and with such strong support from the State Government we feel very confident this will be a very successful move for us.”

India and South Africa Regulatory Authorities have also accepted the Seeker for operation in their countries. One of India’s larger industrial companies has just been appointed distributor for the Seeker in that region.

A Seeker will be demonstrated at the Avalon Air Show.

Previously Seabird Aviation Australia received Queensland Industry Development Scheme grants of $19,125 to improve quality assurance procedures and $24,945 towards an investment brief.

In 2005 the company won a Queensland Government Wide Bay Burnett Region Emerging Exporter of the Year Award as well as a Highly Commended in the Manufacturing category of the awards. In 2006 it was winner of the Small Business award.

You can visit Seabird Aviation’s website at:  www.seabirdaviation.com.au

Here in Hervey Bay at least one Neighbourhood Watch group is closing down due to lacke of community support but at the same time the State Government is talking up the programme.

The Police Minister tabled an evaluation by the Queensland Police Service of the of the Neighbourhood Watch programme and said that she was looking forward to a new future for the programme. As part of that new future a community evaluation of the programme was also underway.

“For 20 years the Neighbourhood Watch program has given Queenslanders an opportunity to play their part in improving personal safety, household security, and reducing crime and the fear of crime in their own communities,” Ms Spence said.

“This review process is about ensuring that all 638 Neighbourhood Watch areas across Queensland keep pace with our changing society, and remain relevant and contemporary.

“Our police have a long and proud association with Neighbourhood Watch.

“We want this evaluation process - by both the police and the public - to maximise the effectiveness of the program so that we continue to develop good community-policing partnerships which lead to greater information sharing and better crime reduction and resolving.”

Ms Spence said the police evaluation had made some recommendations to ensure Neighbourhood Watch keeps step with the community, including:

• Ensuring new Neighbourhood Watch areas are supported by a strong program;

• Regular review of the program in local areas;

• Identifying and engaging areas that may benefit from the Neighbourhood Watch program, such as areas with high crime rates;

• Investigating new ways to share information - such as an online program;

• Looking at ways to increase police participation.

“This community evaluation is ensuring all of us are being given a chance to add our thoughts on the future for Neighbourhood Watch,” Ms Spence said.

“I announced the community review of the program last August, and this will be completed later this year.

“This will tap into neighbourhood watch groups and the public on how they see the program should move forward to remain contemporary and relevant.

“It will be considered in conjunction with the police evaluation to ensure Neighbourhood Watch remains an effective crime prevention partnership.”

This is the best place for a business breakfast in Hervey Bay but then of course it happens to be the best cafe in Hervey Bay

And for the record that’s the Gossip crew sitting at the table and we probably were having a business meeting. She who must be obeyed does look as though she’s taking notes while I look like l’m deep in thought - probably wondering whether Larry would mind if we opened a branch office of CopyText down at Aquavue.

Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today joined the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce in warning consumers to be alert to scams that operate by calls or texts to private phones.

“As well as the cold call scams promising incredible investment returns that have been around for a while now, scammers are devising more sophisticated ways to take advantage of consumers through calls or texts to their fixed line and mobile phones,” Senator Coonan said.

“Consumers need to be aware that they could be targeted by unscrupulous people and be able to protect themselves from often ingenious scams.”

Consumers can avoid scams when they know what to look out for, or exercise caution so as not to fall into the scammer’s trap. The Taskforce offers the following tips to help consumers protect themselves from phone scams:

   1. be suspicious of unexpected calls and text messages;
   2. hang up, or text ‘STOP’ to unwanted messages; and
   3. don’t give out your number to just anyone.

“The Australian Government is committed to protecting consumers from scams of all kinds through effective legislation, regulation and education,” Senator Coonan said.

“In October 2006 the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme came into force. It was developed by providers of mobile phone services and mobile content, and was approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), www.acma.gov.au.”

“We are expecting to launch the National Do Not Call Register in May 2007. The Register, which will be administered by ACMA, is being set up in response to increasing levels of community concern about the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls.”

With the lowes ULP price in Brisbane today reported to be 107.9 cents per litre it’s nice to see that the Caltex at Urangan is still selling ULP for 105.9 cents per litre without a voucher.

The highest price in Hervey Bay today seems to be 118.9 at the BP in Scarness.

If you thought that the last few days here in Hervey Bay have been hot and were hoping for some cooller days ahead then the Weather Bureau has some bad news for you.

The outlook is for above normal maximum temperatures across most of Queensland for the period March through to May. And it’s something we can look forward to in the years ahead too.

Your can read the Bureau’s report here

The storms last night brought at least 14mm to most parts of Hervey Bay but the drought has still no quite broken and more and more people are considering the advantages of installing a rainwater tank.

Buying the right rainwater tank at a reasonable price may not be as easy as you think. There are so many challenges for those who want to buy and install a rainwater tank that the Minister for Fair Trading has released some suggestions for anyone facing the challenges.

You can find those suggestions right here

Body corporate committees will be subject to a Code of Conduct under legislation passed by Parliament today.

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech said the Body Corporate and Community Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill would also strengthen the statutory Code of Conduct for body corporate managers.

“Bodies corporate will have the power to enforce the Code of Conduct against a voting committee member by removing that member from office,” Mrs Keech said.

“Most bodies corporate are required to elect a committee with responsibility for day-to-day administration.

“Clearly, a committee has a significant and important role in the ongoing management of a body corporate.

“Stakeholders have expressed concern about the conduct of committees. In particular, it is claimed that many committee members do not understand their roles and do not act in the best interests of the body corporate.

“It is apparent that these issues contribute to the cause and escalation of body corporate disputes.”

Mrs Keech said the Code of Conduct provided guidelines for voting committee members without increasing their existing obligations.

The Code requires committee members to:

* understand the Act;
* act honestly;
* disclose to the committee any conflicts of interest; and
* ensure their behaviour does not affect a person’s enjoyment of common property.

Mrs Keech said the Code of Conduct for body corporate managers would also be strengthened and she would develop a regulatory regime for managers.

“A body corporate manager is engaged by a body corporate to provide administrative services, such as secretarial or financial management services,” she said.

“The Body Corporate and Community Management legislation includes a number of consumer protection provisions regulating the relationship between body corporate managers and bodies corporate, including a Code of Conduct for managers.

“Concerns have been expressed about the competence, performance and conduct of some managers.

“At present, a manager is not subject to a specific regulatory or licensing regime, although my Department is currently considering possible regulatory options.

“The statutory Code forms part of the manager’s contract and includes obligations to act honestly, fairly and in the best interests of the body corporate.

“This Bill includes a requirement that managers must not attempt to unfairly influence the outcome of body corporate committee elections.

“It has been alleged that some managers influence the election of members so they can manipulate committees for their own purposes.

“This proposed amendment will swing the pendulum back in favour of the residents.”

Minister for Women Margaret Keech today launched a new web page aimed at improving the quality of life for older women by providing easier access to Queensland-wide services and programs.

Mrs Keech said the Beattie Government’s Safe and Active Older Women web page would be an invaluable resource for older women. The web page is available online at www.women.qld.gov.au/olderwomen

“National studies show older people have a comparatively high fear of crime, even though they are less likely to be a victim of crime than younger age groups,” Mrs Keech said.

“But it is the perception among older people, particularly women, of not being safe, which prevents them from becoming more engaged in the community.

“When older women feel physically vulnerable to crime, many change their lifestyles to compensate for their declining physical abilities.

“Their fear of crime may cause them to avoid situations they perceive as risky.”

Mrs Keech said the web page gave older women access to the latest information about a range of support programs on topics like housing, safety, transport and grandparents caring for children.

“It aims to help reduce women’s social isolation and foster independent living by improving their access to useful information, which they can browse in their own time,” Mrs Keech said.

“The web page provides links to the ‘Find a Service’ tool and to the Seniors Enquiry Line, as well as to information papers on a range of relevant topics.

“The Beattie Government is committed to making the Smart State a place where women are safe and supported, enjoying active and fulfilling participation in community life.”

The web page has been developed by the Office for Women as part of the Government’s commitment to enhancing women’s safety under the Women in the SmartState Directions Statement 2003-2008.