From today's news we have this article:
Pay $195 to jump queues at casualty
PATIENTS who pay $195 can jump the queues at hospital emergency departments when the nation's largest health fund opens its first standalone clinic today.
Medibank is guaranteeing patients with minor injuries and illnesses will be treated within one hour at its first Rapid Care Clinic in Brisbane.
The fund is confident it will have a Sydney facility operating in June.
The clinics, staffed by specialist emergency doctors, will deal with urgent but non-life-threatening medical conditions such as broken bones, sprain, cuts and minor burns, viruses, headaches, earaches and sore eyes.
Twenty thousand patients a month wait more than the clinically-recommended one hour to be treated in the clogged emergency departments in public hospitals.
Single mother Kylie Endycott, who spent five hours at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital yesterday after her one-year-old son Beau had difficulty breathing, said the clinics were a great idea but thought fees could be altered for different family situations.
Almost 170,000 people using a public hospital emergency department leave in frustration every year because of their wait for treatment.
Medibank hopes to fill this gap.
"Anybody who experienced attending a busy hospital emergency room with a minor injury or sick child, tried to get an appointment with their GP at short notice or out-of hours, will understand the Rapid Care Clinic," Medibank managing director George Savvides said.
The clinics will be open 365 days a year from 8am to 9pm to anyone, although Medibank members pay just $150 for a consultation and face no charge for X-rays, plaster or stitches.
The clinics will refer conditions such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, acute stomach pain, severe burns, loss of consciousness, head and neck injuries or pregnancy-related conditions to the nearest hospital.
Emergency medicine specialist Dr Peter Herron - who runs the Brisbane clinic, which has been open for a week and a half - has treated seven people including several fractures, a bee sting, a laceration and an earache.
Australian Medical Association president Dr Andrew Pesce said the clinics would help those who could afford them but was disappointed that underfunding of the public hospital system had made them necessary.
He is concerned they will lead to further fragmentation of patient care.
Those who use these clinics can't claim for their treatment from their health fund or Medicare and must pay the full cost out of their own pocket.
The Health Services arm of the fund has run similar clinics for corporate clients for years.
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Here in Perth we have "After Hour GPs" which seem similar, however the cost is around $55 for a consultation some of which is reclaimable from Medicare.
The last time I went to the After Hours GP I arrived half an hour before it opened, and I was the second person waiting. By 10mins past opening time they had filled all appointment times for the next three hours and were turning people away.
Not sure I'ld be happy with paying $195 for a consultation, especially as I guess eventually you will still have to wait.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
How Does This Work?
This made the news yesterday, I've been trying to figure out how to comment on it ever since. I realise that we don't get all the facts from a news report - I'm hoping that there are other facts not presented, because on the face of it, this sucks!
Have a read and then let me know what you think:
A VIOLENT man convicted of a series of horrific assaults on a 15-year-old girl he held prisoner has been freed from jail because he is an Aborigine.
The Herald Sun reports the Court of Appeal ruled that participating in a Koori Court, where offenders discuss their crimes with a judge and Aboriginal elders in a room that has been traditionally "smoked", can lead to a lighter sentence.
Court president Justice Chris Maxwell and Justice Peter Buchanan said the 18-month minimum term imposed on Steelie Morgan, 26, was manifestly excessive because he took part in a "sentencing conversation" about his crimes.
"His active participation in the process was a factor that mitigated punishment," the court said.
"The sentencing conversation is designed to further the reformation of an Aboriginal offender through a unique blending of Aboriginal customary law and the English common law."
Morgan has served seven months of the term but the appeal judges said the rest of the sentence should be wholly suspended.
During a 10-week reign of terror Morgan, of Moama, subjected the girl, who was his under-age sexual partner, to a series of attacks, where she was bashed, stabbed, humiliated and held captive.
He threatened to kill her, smashed a full plastic water bottle over her head, threw a knife at her, which struck her on the neck, and bit her nose.
Morgan made a weapon of a water hose and repeatedly struck her on the legs, threw a heavy tool, cutting her head, and forced her to stay in a bedroom for nearly a month.
Morgan pleaded guilty at La Trobe Koori Court to eight counts of causing injury intentionally, two of assault, one of making a threat to kill and one of false imprisonment.
The offences occurred between December 2007 and March 2008 and each count of intentionally causing injury carries a 10-year maximum term.
After he was caught Morgan "sought reconciliation with his indigenous heritage", the court said.
Justices Maxwell and Buchanan said Morgan was shamed by admitting his crimes before Aboriginal elders.
**************************************************************************************
Facts as presented:
A man is sentenced for a minimum of 18 months for "a 10-week reign of terror Morgan, of Moama, subjected the girl, who was his under-age sexual partner, to a series of attacks, where she was bashed, stabbed, humiliated and held captive. He threatened to kill her, smashed a full plastic water bottle over her head, threw a knife at her, which struck her on the neck, and bit her nose. Morgan made a weapon of a water hose and repeatedly struck her on the legs, threw a heavy tool, cutting her head, and forced her to stay in a bedroom for nearly a month."
The girl was 15 - and there was obviously a sexual relationship, as she is described as his "sexual partner".
He's not charged with any sexual offences what-so-ever.
THEN if this isn't ludicrous enough, these two judges decide that the seven months he has served is ENOUGH and the remainder "should be wholly suspended" because he took part in a discussion with Aboriginal Elders.
When things like this happen you can really understand why there's racism in Australia and many people feel that Aboriginals get an easier "ride" than other Australians.
Have a read and then let me know what you think:
A VIOLENT man convicted of a series of horrific assaults on a 15-year-old girl he held prisoner has been freed from jail because he is an Aborigine.
The Herald Sun reports the Court of Appeal ruled that participating in a Koori Court, where offenders discuss their crimes with a judge and Aboriginal elders in a room that has been traditionally "smoked", can lead to a lighter sentence.
Court president Justice Chris Maxwell and Justice Peter Buchanan said the 18-month minimum term imposed on Steelie Morgan, 26, was manifestly excessive because he took part in a "sentencing conversation" about his crimes.
"His active participation in the process was a factor that mitigated punishment," the court said.
"The sentencing conversation is designed to further the reformation of an Aboriginal offender through a unique blending of Aboriginal customary law and the English common law."
Morgan has served seven months of the term but the appeal judges said the rest of the sentence should be wholly suspended.
During a 10-week reign of terror Morgan, of Moama, subjected the girl, who was his under-age sexual partner, to a series of attacks, where she was bashed, stabbed, humiliated and held captive.
He threatened to kill her, smashed a full plastic water bottle over her head, threw a knife at her, which struck her on the neck, and bit her nose.
Morgan made a weapon of a water hose and repeatedly struck her on the legs, threw a heavy tool, cutting her head, and forced her to stay in a bedroom for nearly a month.
Morgan pleaded guilty at La Trobe Koori Court to eight counts of causing injury intentionally, two of assault, one of making a threat to kill and one of false imprisonment.
The offences occurred between December 2007 and March 2008 and each count of intentionally causing injury carries a 10-year maximum term.
After he was caught Morgan "sought reconciliation with his indigenous heritage", the court said.
Justices Maxwell and Buchanan said Morgan was shamed by admitting his crimes before Aboriginal elders.
**************************************************************************************
Facts as presented:
A man is sentenced for a minimum of 18 months for "a 10-week reign of terror Morgan, of Moama, subjected the girl, who was his under-age sexual partner, to a series of attacks, where she was bashed, stabbed, humiliated and held captive. He threatened to kill her, smashed a full plastic water bottle over her head, threw a knife at her, which struck her on the neck, and bit her nose. Morgan made a weapon of a water hose and repeatedly struck her on the legs, threw a heavy tool, cutting her head, and forced her to stay in a bedroom for nearly a month."
The girl was 15 - and there was obviously a sexual relationship, as she is described as his "sexual partner".
He's not charged with any sexual offences what-so-ever.
THEN if this isn't ludicrous enough, these two judges decide that the seven months he has served is ENOUGH and the remainder "should be wholly suspended" because he took part in a discussion with Aboriginal Elders.
When things like this happen you can really understand why there's racism in Australia and many people feel that Aboriginals get an easier "ride" than other Australians.
Monday, February 22, 2010
FINALLY
The story to-date ... here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here!
Guess what was in my letter box today - a certified copy of my licence. SO now all I have to do is find time to revisit the gun shops I visited last Thursday to pick up my gun ... and then, of course, find time to fire it! (OH, and of course, take some photos!).
BUT IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess what was in my letter box today - a certified copy of my licence. SO now all I have to do is find time to revisit the gun shops I visited last Thursday to pick up my gun ... and then, of course, find time to fire it! (OH, and of course, take some photos!).
BUT IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A Weekend at the Range
Saturday was a very busy day at the range. We decided to do a session on rifles and shotguns with the trainees.
In the morning session we had 10 trainees, so we split them into two groups. I was helping another club member with the shotguns. We had an over/under, a pump action (5+1) and a semi-auto (2+1).
We got them all to shoot static first and then took them through a stage with the over/under. They all did very well.
In the second group, one of the trainees had brought their lever action shotgun (7+1) along for everyone to try. I found it kicked more than any of the others - even though we were shooting 12gauge out of all of them.
Things didn't run as smoothly with the afternoon's group of trainees. At 2pm (when we were due to start shooting) we only had 5 trainees. Some people whom we had been expecting hadn't shown. So we decided to start this group on shotguns and the Chief Instructor would wait for the others and get them going on rifle.
By 3.30pm we had just finished shotgun, but the rifle group (of 7) weren't even half way through, so in the end we decided to let my group head home and I helped with the rifle group.
After I had ROed 4 of them through the stage, they were shooting static with the Chief Instructor and then came over to shoot a stage with me, the fifth person had a jam with the gun. I couldn't clear it and neither could the Chief Instructor. By this time it was after 4.30pm, so we decided to call it a day!
So now we have to finish off these competencies with this group of trainees.
We also had three visitors to the range on the Saturday. Two of these came back today initally to join in our "Have A Go Day".
Once a month, the Chief Instructor and I run a "Have A Go Day" where people who want to see what shooting is all about can come and for $25 have a go with pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns.
While we were waiting for the other people to show for this event the two visitors (both ladies) mentioned that they were finding it too hot to stay, but that they would like to pull a trigger before they left.
So I took them to an empty range with my Ruger 22/45 and another visitor joined us and they shot a mag off each. Neither of the ladies have ever held a gun before and they were quite nervous, but enjoyed the experience. They said that they would be back for the next "Have A Go Day".
Of the 9 people we were expecting only 4 turned up. One is a current trainee and his wife, his boss and his wife. The two guys were left-handers and I'm hopeless with showing left-handers how to use guns, so I gave them to the Chief Instructor and took the ladies.
Apart from the trainee, the others had only once ever fired a pistol. So we started with the Ruger 22/45, moved to a 9mm Glock, a 9mm Tanfoglio and then a .357 Revolver.
After we had played with the handguns we put them away and got the rifles out. We had a bolt action .22 and a lever action .357.
Then came the shotties, we used the over/under and the semi-auto. They had great time knocking down the clays we had on the targets. I was seriously impressed with how the girls shot. Hopefully they won't have too many bruises tomorrow.
The session had started just after midday and finished around 2.30pm. On the way out of the gate we bumped into some guys driving around who were interested in having a shoot ... so I told them to come back in a month for the next "Have A Go Day".
In the morning session we had 10 trainees, so we split them into two groups. I was helping another club member with the shotguns. We had an over/under, a pump action (5+1) and a semi-auto (2+1).
We got them all to shoot static first and then took them through a stage with the over/under. They all did very well.
In the second group, one of the trainees had brought their lever action shotgun (7+1) along for everyone to try. I found it kicked more than any of the others - even though we were shooting 12gauge out of all of them.
Things didn't run as smoothly with the afternoon's group of trainees. At 2pm (when we were due to start shooting) we only had 5 trainees. Some people whom we had been expecting hadn't shown. So we decided to start this group on shotguns and the Chief Instructor would wait for the others and get them going on rifle.
By 3.30pm we had just finished shotgun, but the rifle group (of 7) weren't even half way through, so in the end we decided to let my group head home and I helped with the rifle group.
After I had ROed 4 of them through the stage, they were shooting static with the Chief Instructor and then came over to shoot a stage with me, the fifth person had a jam with the gun. I couldn't clear it and neither could the Chief Instructor. By this time it was after 4.30pm, so we decided to call it a day!
So now we have to finish off these competencies with this group of trainees.
We also had three visitors to the range on the Saturday. Two of these came back today initally to join in our "Have A Go Day".
Once a month, the Chief Instructor and I run a "Have A Go Day" where people who want to see what shooting is all about can come and for $25 have a go with pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns.
While we were waiting for the other people to show for this event the two visitors (both ladies) mentioned that they were finding it too hot to stay, but that they would like to pull a trigger before they left.
So I took them to an empty range with my Ruger 22/45 and another visitor joined us and they shot a mag off each. Neither of the ladies have ever held a gun before and they were quite nervous, but enjoyed the experience. They said that they would be back for the next "Have A Go Day".
Of the 9 people we were expecting only 4 turned up. One is a current trainee and his wife, his boss and his wife. The two guys were left-handers and I'm hopeless with showing left-handers how to use guns, so I gave them to the Chief Instructor and took the ladies.
Apart from the trainee, the others had only once ever fired a pistol. So we started with the Ruger 22/45, moved to a 9mm Glock, a 9mm Tanfoglio and then a .357 Revolver.
After we had played with the handguns we put them away and got the rifles out. We had a bolt action .22 and a lever action .357.
Then came the shotties, we used the over/under and the semi-auto. They had great time knocking down the clays we had on the targets. I was seriously impressed with how the girls shot. Hopefully they won't have too many bruises tomorrow.
The session had started just after midday and finished around 2.30pm. On the way out of the gate we bumped into some guys driving around who were interested in having a shoot ... so I told them to come back in a month for the next "Have A Go Day".
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Ban Duck Shooting?
On the Vic Govt website there's a proposal from Helen Round to ban duck hunting in Victoria.
Go, read ... comment if you will.
I think some of the current comments make sensible and valid points, in support of the Duck Hunting season and hunting in general.
Go, read ... comment if you will.
I think some of the current comments make sensible and valid points, in support of the Duck Hunting season and hunting in general.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Getting Somewhere, I think ....
The story to-date ... here, here, here, here, here, here and here!
Rang PLS (Police Licencing Service) again today. Tried yesterday, but gave up after 26mins of an "Please hold, all our agents are busy, your call will be attended to as soon as possible" answering message. (Note: This type of system IS NOT an improvement over the phone ringing out).
Today, I was only on hold for about 10mins. I then briefly brought the cop who answered my call up to date with the fact that I received the original letter saying that the licence has been approved two weeks ago, and the amended letter a week ago, but still no licence.
He looked up the system and said that both the firearms in question were showing on my licence. He then offered to print out a certified copy of the licence and post it out.
So I'm hoping to have this within a day or two and maybe, possibly, even my guns by the weekend!
Rang PLS (Police Licencing Service) again today. Tried yesterday, but gave up after 26mins of an "Please hold, all our agents are busy, your call will be attended to as soon as possible" answering message. (Note: This type of system IS NOT an improvement over the phone ringing out).
Today, I was only on hold for about 10mins. I then briefly brought the cop who answered my call up to date with the fact that I received the original letter saying that the licence has been approved two weeks ago, and the amended letter a week ago, but still no licence.
He looked up the system and said that both the firearms in question were showing on my licence. He then offered to print out a certified copy of the licence and post it out.
So I'm hoping to have this within a day or two and maybe, possibly, even my guns by the weekend!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Range Report - Week 2
Well Saturday was a LONG day at the range. The fact it was spent at the range made it a good day, but it was still long and HOT.
The forecast was for 34C. I'm not sure how hot it got, but it was HOT. For those who don't know the range is in a disused quarry without shade.
Up until this week we've only been running one training session a day, this week we started two sessions.
The first session was "be there a 9 for a 9.30am start". We had eight people turn up, which was a couple less than we were expecting but great number with two trainers.
I had "week twoers" and the Chief Instructor had "newbies". I really enjoyed training at this time as there was no one else on the range so we could actually TALK to the trainees.
Of my four, three were women and in the Chief Instructor's group there was another female too! It's great to see more women becoming interested in shooting.
I mainly focused on reloading during a shooting string. With static reloads, walking reloads and reloads while moving left-to-right and right-to-left. We also went back over grip and stance from week one.
Everyone did really well. The guy in my group has been doing ISSF shooting for 10 years so his gun handling is very good, but the whole holster / moving topics are new for him. He was really good at encouraging the women and praising their shooting.
We finished the first session at 11.30am and then stood around and chatted to the trainees for a bit until I told them to go as we needed to have some lunch and get things organised for the 2pm start people.
Luckily a couple of our "older trainees" (week 4 plus people) turned up around 1pm so they helped set up the stages we needed.
Again in the afternoon we had considerably less people than we expected - which I'm putting down to the heat. The Chief Instructor ended up with a group of 5 trainees (all "oldies") and I had 4. My group was an interesting mix, with a 12 y.o. girl who has been training with the Chief Instructor for four weeks, a 16y.o. "week twoer", a 15y.o. "newbie" and another female newbie (of about my age). We mainly did "newbie" things (grip, stance, target acquisition, drawing, holstering, static mag changes and walking while shooting).
At the end of the session we went and watched some of the regular squad guys shoot - just to show the newbies what our style of shooting was all about - and then we joined the Chief Instructor's group shooting a stage.
We actually finished around 4.30pm (we normally finish just after 5pm) but it was REALLY nice to get off the range and out of the sun by that time!
I think I went through 3 litres of water, and a couple of cans of soft drink during the day!
Next Saturday we have the two sessions again, and I'm hoping that it will be a bit cooler!
The forecast was for 34C. I'm not sure how hot it got, but it was HOT. For those who don't know the range is in a disused quarry without shade.
Up until this week we've only been running one training session a day, this week we started two sessions.
The first session was "be there a 9 for a 9.30am start". We had eight people turn up, which was a couple less than we were expecting but great number with two trainers.
I had "week twoers" and the Chief Instructor had "newbies". I really enjoyed training at this time as there was no one else on the range so we could actually TALK to the trainees.
Of my four, three were women and in the Chief Instructor's group there was another female too! It's great to see more women becoming interested in shooting.
I mainly focused on reloading during a shooting string. With static reloads, walking reloads and reloads while moving left-to-right and right-to-left. We also went back over grip and stance from week one.
Everyone did really well. The guy in my group has been doing ISSF shooting for 10 years so his gun handling is very good, but the whole holster / moving topics are new for him. He was really good at encouraging the women and praising their shooting.
We finished the first session at 11.30am and then stood around and chatted to the trainees for a bit until I told them to go as we needed to have some lunch and get things organised for the 2pm start people.
Luckily a couple of our "older trainees" (week 4 plus people) turned up around 1pm so they helped set up the stages we needed.
Again in the afternoon we had considerably less people than we expected - which I'm putting down to the heat. The Chief Instructor ended up with a group of 5 trainees (all "oldies") and I had 4. My group was an interesting mix, with a 12 y.o. girl who has been training with the Chief Instructor for four weeks, a 16y.o. "week twoer", a 15y.o. "newbie" and another female newbie (of about my age). We mainly did "newbie" things (grip, stance, target acquisition, drawing, holstering, static mag changes and walking while shooting).
At the end of the session we went and watched some of the regular squad guys shoot - just to show the newbies what our style of shooting was all about - and then we joined the Chief Instructor's group shooting a stage.
We actually finished around 4.30pm (we normally finish just after 5pm) but it was REALLY nice to get off the range and out of the sun by that time!
I think I went through 3 litres of water, and a couple of cans of soft drink during the day!
Next Saturday we have the two sessions again, and I'm hoping that it will be a bit cooler!
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