6/19/2018 0 Comments 'What have I missed out on?': Facebook helps bride-to-be find secret half-sistersBy Tahlia Roy
Updated June 19, 2018 10:53:13 Photo: Debbie Clark (left) can now get her sister Jasmine Johnson's (right) advice ahead of her wedding. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) Related Story: Wedding ring lost on beach reunited with owner after eight years Map: Canberra 2600 Debbie Clark was expecting her family to grow when she got engaged, but last week that growth was expedited when she gained two half-sisters in half an hour. At 43, the bride-to-be was already a mother of four and grandmother of two before a family member revealed she may have some siblings out there. As it turned out, one even lived less than four kilometres away. Like a plot from a daytime soapie Photo: Sisters Tracy Kruska (left) and Jasmine Johnson (right) only found their half-sister earlier this month. (Facebook) Before Ms Clark's aunt died she told Debbie that her brother Debbie's dad, Alan had fathered two other daughters some 30 years ago. "To think so much time has gone by," Ms Clark said. "What have I missed out on?" Ms Clark drafted a Facebook post hoping someone in Canberra might know two 30-something sisters called Jasmine and Tracy. She examined the post, then deleted it the idea of feeding her personal story to a huge human database like Facebook was nerve-racking. She also worried that her sisters might not want to be found. "I hope it's not, 'nah, don't contact me'," she said. Eventually she extinguished her doubts and clicked publish on the post that began: "This might be a long shot but I'll give it a go." Photo: Ms Clark's Facebook post asking Canberrans to help locate her sisters. (Facebook) 'Woah, that was fast' Once let loose, the 36,000 Facebook users in the Canberra Notice Board Group took care of the rest fanatically sharing, commenting and tagging until it reached group member Annie Newbery. A bell rang for Annie, who went to school in the 1990s with sisters called Jasmine and Tracey, so she put them in touch and the search party was called off. Photo: Ms Clark moved to Canberra two years ago, when her aunt revealed to her that she had two half-sisters. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) "Half an hour and it's like, there you go, two new sisters," Ms Clark said. "It's like, woah, that was fast." Despite growing up apart, the genetic similarities between Ms Clark and Jasmine Johnson are eerie. They even do that thing sisters do, when one cries and the other one wells up too. It is uncanny. "When you were talking, I could see me in you," Ms Johnson said. Before meeting, Ms Johnson explained the scenario to her six- and eight-year-old daughters. "I said, 'I'm going to meet someone tonight and her dad is my real dad' and my eight-year-old goes, 'So she's your sister? Mummy, mind blown'," she said. What if you want to find missing relatives too? Photo: Ms Clark and Ms Johnson urged others to reach out to missing family members too. (Facebook) All families are different, with unique histories and dynamics, but if you ask beaming sisters Debbie and Jasmine, they will tell you not to hesitate to reach out to unknown family members. "Just do it, because you could end up with a fantastic story like we have," Ms Clark said. The next chapter of the story is for Ms Clark to meet third sister Tracy Kruska before walking down the aisle in March next year. Topics:human-interest,computers-and-technology,information-and-communication,internet-culture,canberra-2600,act First posted June 19, 2018 06:16:11 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-19/facebook-helps-bride-to-be-find-half-sisters-in-half-an-hour/9883624
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6/18/2018 0 Comments 'Suspicious' industrial fire causes explosions, burns 1,000 square metres near ACT-NSW borderUpdated June 18, 2018 16:06:01
Photo: Crews from ACT and New South Wales attended the fire on Sunday night. (Supplied: ACT ESA) Map: Canberra 2600 An industrial fire that burned about 1,000 square metres in the ACT suburb of Beard overnight is under control, with authorities treating it as suspicious. Fire and rescue crews were called out to a scrap metal and tyre yard near the ACT-NSW border at 5:45pm on Sunday and advised residents in surrounding suburbs to remain inside. External Link:ACT ESA video: Beard industrial fire A number of nearby residents said they heard explosions as the fire burned, which the Monaro Local Area Command said were related to the fire. Tanya Austen was having dinner with her family about 1.5 kilometres away when they felt an explosion shake their house. "We went outside to investigate and witnessed a large mushroom plume of smoke and fire filling the sky," Ms Austen said. "There was a lot of black smoke and strong plastic smells." Emergency services said the flames reached approximately six metres into the air. ACT fire and rescue chief officer Mark Brown said there were a lot of combustible materials in the yard, including car tyres and plastic. "There also were some LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] cylinders involved," he said. "It was quite dramatic in the early stages of that fire and firefighters fought hard to contain that fire to the site and not let it spread to neighbouring properties." About 10 units from ACT and New South Wales fought the blaze and finally got it under control overnight. A truck from the airport even had to be diverted to the scene. Photo: Fire crews are still working to dampen the site as excavators dig through the rubble. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) "That aviation, rescue and firefighting truck made a huge difference," Mr Brown told ABC Canberra. "It's able to generate large quantities of foam and it really was a key part in knocking down that fire in the early stages." The units from NSW left the scene at about midnight, but six ACT crews remained on scene for most of the day. "We've got an excavator on site and that's starting to pull apart the piles of vehicles and other recycling material and that's made a huge difference," Mr Brown said. This morning, ACT Emergency Services Agency said tests carried out by the Hazmat unit showed no contaminants from the fire in the air, but tests would continue. Photo: A truck had to be diverted from Canberra airport to fight the fire. (Supplied: ACT ESA) Topics:industrial-fires,canberra-2600,queanbeyan-2620,act,australia First posted June 18, 2018 07:36:19 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/act-fire-crews-fight-industrial-fire-overnight/9879176 6/18/2018 0 Comments 'Suspicious' industrial fire causes explosions, burns 1,000 square metres near ACT-NSW borderUpdated June 18, 2018 16:06:01
Photo: Crews from ACT and New South Wales attended the fire on Sunday night. (Supplied: ACT ESA) Map: Canberra 2600 An industrial fire that burned about 1,000 square metres in the ACT suburb of Beard overnight is under control, with authorities treating it as suspicious. Fire and rescue crews were called out to a scrap metal and tyre yard near the ACT-NSW border at 5:45pm on Sunday and advised residents in surrounding suburbs to remain inside. External Link:ACT ESA video: Beard industrial fire A number of nearby residents said they heard explosions as the fire burned, which the Monaro Local Area Command said were related to the fire. Tanya Austen was having dinner with her family about 1.5 kilometres away when they felt an explosion shake their house. "We went outside to investigate and witnessed a large mushroom plume of smoke and fire filling the sky," Ms Austen said. "There was a lot of black smoke and strong plastic smells." Emergency services said the flames reached approximately six metres into the air. ACT fire and rescue chief officer Mark Brown said there were a lot of combustible materials in the yard, including car tyres and plastic. "There also were some LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] cylinders involved," he said. "It was quite dramatic in the early stages of that fire and firefighters fought hard to contain that fire to the site and not let it spread to neighbouring properties." About 10 units from ACT and New South Wales fought the blaze and finally got it under control overnight. A truck from the airport even had to be diverted to the scene. Photo: Fire crews are still working to dampen the site as excavators dig through the rubble. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) "That aviation, rescue and firefighting truck made a huge difference," Mr Brown told ABC Canberra. "It's able to generate large quantities of foam and it really was a key part in knocking down that fire in the early stages." The units from NSW left the scene at about midnight, but six ACT crews remained on scene for most of the day. "We've got an excavator on site and that's starting to pull apart the piles of vehicles and other recycling material and that's made a huge difference," Mr Brown said. This morning, ACT Emergency Services Agency said tests carried out by the Hazmat unit showed no contaminants from the fire in the air, but tests would continue. Photo: A truck had to be diverted from Canberra airport to fight the fire. (Supplied: ACT ESA) Topics:industrial-fires,canberra-2600,queanbeyan-2620,act,australia First posted June 18, 2018 07:36:19 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/act-fire-crews-fight-industrial-fire-overnight/9879176 Updated June 18, 2018 15:01:11
Photo: Council workers cover up offensive graffiti painted at the memorial site. (AAP: Ellen Smith) A public memorial for comedian Eurydice Dixon, who was killed in inner-city Melbourne last week, has been vandalised with offensive paint markings. Police said the paint markings were found at the site in Princes Park during routine patrols just before 4:00am. External Link:James Hancock tweets: "Firefighters washing away paint markings at makeshift memorial to Eurydice Dixon at Princes Park." Floral tributes were not disturbed, but police said a number of items were seized from the scene and the dog squad had been through the area. Firefighters were called in and removed the paint with a high pressure hose. "It's lower than low, it's the absolute pits," said Sue Murray, who was walking her dog in the area. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said there was a lot of CCTV in the area which he hoped would help police find the culprit, or culprits. "[It's] terrible really, shocking," he told ABC News Breakfast. Megan Bridger-Darling, one of the vigil organisers, said she was "mortified" by the vandalism. "I would never have expected something so vile to happen in such a sacred place, at such an important time," she said. "I'm genuinely disgusted that this happens in our society and that we have created a culture where this is funny. It is absolutely galling." Photo: Eurydice Dixon has been remembered by friends as a kind and talented comedian. (Supplied: Facebook) Mr Ashton also conceded officers should have been more careful with their language when warning people to take responsibility for their safety after the killing last week, which sparked a public backlash. "Certainly for police when we're giving out public safety messages we need to be really careful about how we do that," he said. "If our language is not right, or isn't precise, we understand that that can lead to a lot of anger. "We weren't about victim blaming and we certainly agree absolutely that women, and men for that matter, should have the right to walk around these public spaces when they want to walk around them, and do so safely." Photo: Firefighters were called removed the offensive vandalism from the memorial site. (ABC News: Scott Jewell) Police to review safety in park Debate about gendered violence and security in Melbourne has been front and centre in the days since Ms Dixon's death. Police today briefed Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp on measures to improve safety and security in the city. Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said police would conduct a safety assessment of Princes Park over the next month in response to Ms Dixon's death. "We have conducted many of these [assessments] across Melbourne over the last decade or so," he said. "They've led to changes across places like Birrarung Marr and the Yarra River precincts we'll use that knowledge that we've learnt across public space to put that in place." Ms Capp said the meeting also discussed the planned expansion of security cameras in the CBD, a measure already underway in the wake of the Bourke St incident. "We know that random acts of violence are difficult to predict, but one of the aspects from this morning that I'm very pleased about is the existing investment in CCTV and what is going to be increased investment both in terms of number of cameras and the capability of those cameras," she said. "That will be instrument both in terms of predictive elements of crime but also in deterrent of crime." Police Minister Lisa Neville, who also attended the meeting, said Melbourne was a "very safe" city, which is why the community had been left "shocked" by the violent crime. "That sort of stranger violence against women happens at low levels but this sort of serious, significant event that we saw last week is rare," Ms Neville said. "That's why we are so rightly shocked and left grieving. "We all have a role as a community to start to tackle those underlying attitudes that some men have to women in our community." Photo: Eurydice Dixon was described as having a promising career in stand-up comedy ahead of her. (Facebook: Paula Ferrari) Vigils across Australia set to draw thousands Thousands of people are expected to attend vigils in parks across Australia this evening after Ms Dixon's body was found last Wednesday. Broadmeadows man Jaymes Todd, 19, has been charged with the rape and murder of Ms Dixon, More than 10,000 people have indicated they will attend a vigil planned at Princes Park on Monday night. Ms Bridger-Darling, said the event was about providing a place for the community to come together to show respect, love and solidarity. "It's a way of saying this is our park, and we feel safe here, this is our soccer pitch this is our area," she said. "And you can't take that away through fear." Park vigils have also been organised in other capital cities, including Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart. Vigils will also be held in the regional Victorian cities of Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga and Castlemaine, as well as Devonport and Launceston in Tasmania. Ms Bridger-Darling said she was moved by people in cities around the country creating their own park vigils. Photo: 10,000 people say they will join the vigil at the park where Ms Dixon's body was found. (ABC News: Zalika Rizmal) "That is a beautiful way of showing just how much one person's life can ripple out and echo around the country," she said. "They're parents worried about their children, they're brothers and sisters worried about their families. "What has happened has resonated with a lot of people." Ms Bridger-Darling said the response also reflects wider concerns about violence against women, victim blaming and public safety. "I think in the last 12 months, with the #MeToo movement and women standing up and saying OK enough no more the line has been drawn," she said. "Unfortunately it's taken this tragedy to have this conversation." Topics:womens-status,human-rights,death,community-and-society,sexual-offences,law-crime-and-justice,murder-and-manslaughter,crime,melbourne-3000,carlton-north-3054,vic,canberra-2600,launceston-7250,hobart-7000,sydney-2000,adelaide-5000,perth-6000,wodonga-3690,bendigo-3550,ballarat-3350 First posted June 18, 2018 05:19:31 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/eurydice-dixon-memorial-vandalised-ahead-of-vigils/9878866 Roger Little is a man passionate about timepieces and says he's always noticed the lack of public clocks in Canberra.
Roger is a horologist or someone who makes and mends watches, clocks and other timepieces and operates a small clock repair shop in Canberra's north alongside his son Mathew. "I think the thing that interests me most about watches and clocks is they go whizz bang. You can actually see what's happening," Roger said. "And some of the watches are so beautifully made that the only people who see the beautiful work are the watchmakers." Roger Little at his shop Little and Son Horologists in Canberra's north. (ABC News: Elise Pianegonda) Roger Little at his shop Little and Son Horologists in Canberra's north. ABC News: Elise Pianegonda Despite dedicating his life to restoring beautiful timepieces, Roger has never even purchased a watch instead the three he's owned were won in a raffle, awarded as a prize and given as a gift from the factory where he worked. For Roger, his love of horology also comes from appreciating time itself. In the front of his shop is a framed poem that reads: The Clock of Life The clock of life is wound but once And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own Live, love, toil with a will Place no faith in tomorrow, for The clock may then be still. Canberra's oldest clock is actually a sundial The current sundial at St John the Baptist Church replaced the original sundial believed to be the oldest timepiece in Canberra. (ABC News: Elise Pianegonda) The current sundial at St John the Baptist Church replaced the original sundial believed to be the oldest timepiece in Canberra. ABC News: Elise Pianegonda One of Roger's favourite things about travelling internationally, or even within Australia, is seeing grand public clocks. It's something he's disappointed Canberra as the national capital is lacking. There are, of course, a handful of public clocks dotted around Canberra, but very few are original features of historic buildings as they are in other cities. And many, like the clock outside the ABC's Canberra studios, are digital. Certainly Canberra does not have one recognisable landmark clock tower in the city centre that acts as a meeting or reference point. And of the clocks that remain standing on older buildings, even fewer are in good working condition or displaying the correct time. The clock on the Megalo Print Studio in Kingston hasn't really stood the test of time. (ABC News: Elise Pianegonda) The clock on the Megalo Print Studio in Kingston hasn't really stood the test of time. ABC News: Elise Pianegonda According to the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) of which Roger is a member the oldest timepiece in Canberra is actually a sundial at St John's Church in Reid. That sundial was originally erected in Camden in 1804 before being moved to the church in Canberra's north in 1933. But, it's now been placed on display in the School House Museum on the church's grounds, with another sundial erected in its place. So, largely hidden from the public's view, the original sundial joins a number of other clocks in Canberra scattered throughout the city and largely overlooked. The post office in Civic's West Row boasts a minimalist design clock above its building, still keeping time. Gungahlin town centre also plays host to a large, artsy timepiece though it is now mostly hidden from view with the construction of light rail. There is an old clock near the Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, though it hasn't entirely stood the test of time, with only some of it remaining intact. The post office in Civic's West Row has a large, working, minimalist clock on top of it. (ABC News: Elise Pianegonda) The post office in Civic's West Row has a large, working, minimalist clock on top of it. ABC News: Elise Pianegonda Roger says there also used to be a large clock in Woden, with the plaza even known as "clock court". But he says the reason why Canberra has very few public clocks is actually because of time itself and the relatively small amount of it that's passed since Canberra was established. Canberra a city not reliant on public timekeepers The famous clocks of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. (ABC News: Margaret Burin) The famous clocks of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. ABC News: Margaret Burin "Canberra's a very young city," Roger said. "It was an age where people were wearing wristwatches, they didn't rely on the public timekeepers. "In Europe or other cities in Australia public clocks were a necessity. You had to be fairly wealthy to buy a decent sort of a watch, so they were using pocket watches or relying on public clocks." And Canberra, designed as the national capital, was established without a town hall to play host to a large public clock. As an aside, Australia's largest home of political decisions, Parliament House, contains more than 2,500 clocks though again most are hidden from view. A sculpture at New Acton is one of the most recent installations of a public timepiece in Canberra. (ABC News: Elise Pianegonda) A sculpture at New Acton is one of the most recent installations of a public timepiece in Canberra. ABC News: Elise Pianegonda These days, Roger accepts that time has again moved on and most Canberrans just use their mobile phones as clocks. "But it worries me how people will know which way is clockwise," he said. He's not alone. Earlier this year alarm bells rang when a UK study found young people were struggling to read traditional clock faces. But the concern is hardly a new one. In his 1993 stand-up routine, comedian Dave Allen deftly summarised some of the difficulties that come with teaching children how to read the time. "See the one there? Now that one is five. Two is 10, three is 15, four is 20, five is 25 and six is a half because 12 is the whole so six is the half seven is 25 to or 35 past. "Now be a good boy and learn how to read the clock and I'll buy you a digital watch." Years later, fellow comedian Arj Barker described reading analogue watches as "having to solve a puzzle, where the only prize is knowing the time". But for horologists like Roger, it's the story behind a timepiece that makes it special. Roger says when it comes to public clocks he imagines the stories of people who, in a bygone era, used them as a place to connect with friends and family. "Where do people meet in Canberra?," he asked. "I think we have to establish a meeting place and put a clock in it." http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2018-06-18/why-are-there-so-few-public-clocks-in-canberra/9875378 Updated June 12, 2018 08:28:51
Map: Canberra 2600 A 23-year-old learner driver was allegedly caught behind the wheel with an alcohol reading three times the legal full-licence limit after smashing into a home. Shortly before 1:30am on Sunday, ACT Policing responded to a crash in the north Canberra suburb of Casey and found the woman had crashed through a mailbox and onto the front steps of a residence on Overall Avenue. Following a positive alcohol breath test result, the woman was taken to Gungahlin Police Station and returned a follow-up test result of 0.147. The legal alcohol limit is 0.05 for full licence holders and is 0 for learners. The woman was charged with drink driving and driving unaccompanied as learners must have a full-licence holder in the passenger seat. "Learner drivers develop their road safety and driving skills over a period of time in the company of a licenced driver," an ACT Policing spokesperson said. "This experience increases their ability to address and respond to road and traffic conditions. "The consumption of alcohol or drugs affects this ability not only for young people, but for all road users." The woman will face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date. Topics:crime,law-crime-and-justice,drug-use,alcohol,health,police,canberra-2600,act,australia First posted June 11, 2018 12:13:34 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-11/canberra-learner-caught-drink-driving-three-times-legal-limit/9856898 6/2/2018 0 Comments 'We tried to work with them': Brumbies reject Wallabies' request to rest playersUpdated June 01, 2018 14:38:35
Photo: Former Wallabies skipper David Pocock always wanted to play this weekend, his coach said. (AAP: Lukas Coch) Related Story: Wallabies coach says the Brumbies can rest their stars because they're having a bad season anyway Map: Canberra 2600 The Brumbies have named a full-strength side to face the Sunwolves this weekend, despite requests from Rugby Australia that three Wallabies be rested. David Pocock, Scott Sio and Alan Alaalatoa will start Sunday's game at Canberra Stadium in open defiance of the wishes of the governing body. The forwards were three out of eight Brumbies named in the Wallabies squad to face Ireland in Brisbane next Saturday and coach Michael Cheika was concerned about the six-day turnaround. Rugby Australia asked the club to leave them out of the game on Sunday, but Brumbies chief executive Michael Thomson said there was simply not enough warning given and clearly did not appreciate the request. "We've known the Super Rugby schedule for approximately eight months," Thomson said. "This request was made eight days ago and these three players are the only ones being asked to stand down across the whole Wallabies squad." Negotiations have been ongoing and Thomson said the club suggested a review of the training and playing loads of the players, but had not received a response before naming their side for the weekend. "We've tried to work with them and we've tried to do what we think is in the best interests of our team and rugby in general," he said. Photo: Scott Sio will play his 44th Test six days after playing against the Sunwolves. (AP: Koji Sasahara) "We certainly hope [there is no bad blood]. We think that we've behaved appropriately and we would hope that Rugby Australia recognises the challenges that they've placed on us." Coach Dan McKellar said it was an unwelcome distraction for the side but there was never any question that Pocock, Sio and Alaalatoa wanted to play for the Brumbies. He said he had no plans to run them into the ground on the weekend so they can remain at least somewhat fresh for the Test, but his main concern was the club and the local fans. "People pay their memberships and they want to see the Pococks, the Sios, the Alaalatoas and they want to see them week in and week out," he said. "You'd like to think that [the fans have] seen that we've stuck strong and we're making a decision on what we think is in the best interests of the club." The Brumbies will be aiming for their fifth win of the season against the last-placed Sunwolves. Topics:super-rugby,sport,canberra-2600,act,australia First posted June 01, 2018 14:36:22 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-01/brumbies-reject-wallabies27-proposal-to-rest-star-players/9825242 |
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