Rugby League is certainly a contact sport and sometimes tempers get out of hand - and this leads to a bit of " biffo " ! On August 11 an under nineteen semi final was being played between the Waratah's and the Mt Druitt based " Western City Tigers " - and some players were from an Aboriginal or Pacific Islander background.
When the final whistle blew and the two teams commenced to shake hands it seems someone made a very disparaging - and possibly racist - remark. It seems uncontested that some Tiger's players threw the first punches and this quickly developed into an all in brawl.
The match officials would have had this under control very quickly, but parents and spectators rushed onto the field and joined in the fray. The stoush turned ugly when video was later examined and showed instances of head stomping and similar contact.
The League judiciary have handed down some incredible punishment. One player will be thirty-seven years old when he can legally return to the game and others have been banned for twenty, twelve, ten and five year periods. In fact, six Tiger players have been banned for a cumulative total of ninety-two years.
Many people will believe that the judiciary completely missed the point. What was initially a minor fracas turned ugly when adult parents and spectators chose to wade in to the fight on the pitch - and encourage the younger players to not only continue the fight, but to use " boots and all " tactics.
This is a typical example of the violence that is being imposed on many forms of juvenile sport by overly aggressive parents. Some kids are reluctant to play in teams because of the attitude of parents who impose their views in unpleasant after match reviews. It is common to see such parents raging from the sidelines and howling abuse at the match officials.
In this instance, all the blame has been levelled at the young players and no action taken against those who invaded the field. The League judiciary has taken the easy way out. Certainly the Tigers were the aggressors and punishment is richly deserved, but many would question the degree handed out.
Any spectator who runs onto the ground at a major sporting event faces arrest - and at least a heavy fine or possible a prison sentence. It's time this same penalty applies to juvenile sport to discourage the sort of fracas that occurred on August 11.
The television coverage clearly identifies the culprits !
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Friday, 30 August 2013
A " Dodgy " Appeal verdict !
Few would disagree that " Cop killers " should serve a harsh sentence, but the extra six years tacked onto a man convicted of " manslaughter " raises questions about the integrity of the charge.
Back in September 2010, police raided a garage used as the base for a 58 year old drug dealer. This drug dealer claims that he thought the plain clothes officers were rival drug dealers and " defended " himself with a pistol.
In the ensuing gun fight one of the police officers was hit by a shot from another officers gun - and subsequently died. Initially, it was proposed to charge the drug dealer with murder, but after plea bargaining, he agreed to plead guilty to a charge of manslaughter - and was given a seven year sentence.
An appeal court has increased that seven year sentence to twelve years because " the case called for a significantly longer sentence being imposed for manslaughter ".
This increased sentence differs widely from the punishment handed out in most civil manslaughter cases and it becomes obvious that the factor influencing the decision - is the death of a serving police officer.
It can certainly be argued that the drug dealer was the instigator of the gun fight, but the death did not happen from his weapon and it is hard to see how a charge of murder could have succeeded and even manslaughter is a matter of conjecture for many people.
No doubt there will be a counter appeal on the grounds that the additional sentence is " excessive ". This is the type of case that may occupy the mind of jurors for many years to come.
Clearly, the officer who fired the fatal shot had no intention of killing a colleague, but to shift the blame entirely onto a third person and label that as " manslaughter " is pulling a very long bow.
It seems that the court was under intense pressure to deliver an " acceptable " verdict !
Back in September 2010, police raided a garage used as the base for a 58 year old drug dealer. This drug dealer claims that he thought the plain clothes officers were rival drug dealers and " defended " himself with a pistol.
In the ensuing gun fight one of the police officers was hit by a shot from another officers gun - and subsequently died. Initially, it was proposed to charge the drug dealer with murder, but after plea bargaining, he agreed to plead guilty to a charge of manslaughter - and was given a seven year sentence.
An appeal court has increased that seven year sentence to twelve years because " the case called for a significantly longer sentence being imposed for manslaughter ".
This increased sentence differs widely from the punishment handed out in most civil manslaughter cases and it becomes obvious that the factor influencing the decision - is the death of a serving police officer.
It can certainly be argued that the drug dealer was the instigator of the gun fight, but the death did not happen from his weapon and it is hard to see how a charge of murder could have succeeded and even manslaughter is a matter of conjecture for many people.
No doubt there will be a counter appeal on the grounds that the additional sentence is " excessive ". This is the type of case that may occupy the mind of jurors for many years to come.
Clearly, the officer who fired the fatal shot had no intention of killing a colleague, but to shift the blame entirely onto a third person and label that as " manslaughter " is pulling a very long bow.
It seems that the court was under intense pressure to deliver an " acceptable " verdict !
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Incompatibility !
Nursing homes are correctly described as " Aged Care facilities ". We have an ageing population and more beds are desperately needed to house senior citizens who have passed the point of being able to shop, cook and generally care for themselves. They are designed to not only provide a bed, but the twenty-four hour care that involves toileting, showering and the provision of medical oversight.
Unfortunately, they are the only source of residence for the two thousand young people in New South Wales who are in need of twenty-four hour care because of disability brought on by illness - or who have suffered a tragic accident.
It is not hard to see the incompatibility factor. Nursing homes are the residence of people in their eighties and are setup accordingly. No doubt the staff do their best to accommodate a young person subjected to that environment, but it is a fact of life that the condition of these young patients wither and retreat the longer they live amongst the aged in nursing homes.
The Brain Injury Association of New South Wales is organising a petition to create specialised nursing facilities for young people. They need 10,000 signatures to ensure that this will be presented in parliament, but just getting it tabled is no guarantee that funds will be made available to achieve what is so badly needed.
One of the problems is the need to place young disabled as near as possible to parents and relatives so that visiting contact can be maintained. This often results in a single young patient being housed in a local nursing home, hence the " Lonely little Petunia in an onion patch " syndrome.
This is something that the health professionals will have to grapple with. It may be more beneficial to locate a number of " young people oriented " nursing facilities in various parts of the state, knowing they will reduce the number of family visits - but also knowing that the congregation of people of a similar age will enhance the atmosphere and promote social integration.
As things stand, we are doing the young disabled a tragic disservice. Putting such people in aged nursing homes is ignoring the reality of the connection between physical health and mental health.
Just one more need to stretch the health dollar further !
Unfortunately, they are the only source of residence for the two thousand young people in New South Wales who are in need of twenty-four hour care because of disability brought on by illness - or who have suffered a tragic accident.
It is not hard to see the incompatibility factor. Nursing homes are the residence of people in their eighties and are setup accordingly. No doubt the staff do their best to accommodate a young person subjected to that environment, but it is a fact of life that the condition of these young patients wither and retreat the longer they live amongst the aged in nursing homes.
The Brain Injury Association of New South Wales is organising a petition to create specialised nursing facilities for young people. They need 10,000 signatures to ensure that this will be presented in parliament, but just getting it tabled is no guarantee that funds will be made available to achieve what is so badly needed.
One of the problems is the need to place young disabled as near as possible to parents and relatives so that visiting contact can be maintained. This often results in a single young patient being housed in a local nursing home, hence the " Lonely little Petunia in an onion patch " syndrome.
This is something that the health professionals will have to grapple with. It may be more beneficial to locate a number of " young people oriented " nursing facilities in various parts of the state, knowing they will reduce the number of family visits - but also knowing that the congregation of people of a similar age will enhance the atmosphere and promote social integration.
As things stand, we are doing the young disabled a tragic disservice. Putting such people in aged nursing homes is ignoring the reality of the connection between physical health and mental health.
Just one more need to stretch the health dollar further !
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
The " Streaker's " defence !
Somewhere about the mid point of last century an " Ashe's test " was being played at the Sydney Cricket ground. A male spectator stripped off his clothes and ran naked across the pitch in front of thousands of onlookers - and so commenced a custom that still prevails today when a mix of alcohol and boredom takes control of the human mind.
Of course this " Streaker " was grabbed by the police and hustled away, and the next morning a bemused magistrate asked why he had performed this strange act.
The accused thought for a moment, and then proceeded to provide an answer that immediately entered the national lexicon and served as an explanation for every act of lunacy that defies any other logical reason.
" It seemed like a good idea at the time " he offered - and that went into the history books as " the Streaker's defence " !
This week a Sydney court is examining the circumstances of why two young men climbed a crane on a Sydney building site on Australia day last year. It was a risky venture, given that both had been celebrating with alcohol and unfortunately one lost his footing - and fell to his death. The court is unable to supply the " why " to the decision to climb the crane - and once again the most likely answer must be the " Streaker's Defence ".
The strange and bizarre seem to be a fact of life. The police were astonished to encounter a Mitsubishi Magna at 4-30 am on the Newell highway - and noticed that it had only three tyres. This resulted in a chase that led to the driver's arrest - but it remains a matter of conjecture as to why any sane person would take a vehicle missing a tyre for a ride of a state highway.
Newspaper accounts and court records seem to provide an endless litany of what can only be described as " acts of insanity " that seem attributable to the sort of reasoning that led to that epic dash across the Sydney Cricket ground that will soon see it's centenary.
We humans are impulsive types. Unfortunately, there is sometimes a fine line between a stroke of genius - and tragedy ! What is amusing if it turns out the way we imagine can cause death if it goes only slightly amiss - and the aftermath seems so illogical when examined in the cold, hard light of a court of enquiry.
At least that " Streaker " from a by-gone age left his mark on the history books. This contrasts sharply with what became known as the " Mussolini defence " - when the dictator was facing execution - and wistfully noted - " At least I made the trains run on time " !
At least that is a claim that few others in positions of power have been able to achieve !
Of course this " Streaker " was grabbed by the police and hustled away, and the next morning a bemused magistrate asked why he had performed this strange act.
The accused thought for a moment, and then proceeded to provide an answer that immediately entered the national lexicon and served as an explanation for every act of lunacy that defies any other logical reason.
" It seemed like a good idea at the time " he offered - and that went into the history books as " the Streaker's defence " !
This week a Sydney court is examining the circumstances of why two young men climbed a crane on a Sydney building site on Australia day last year. It was a risky venture, given that both had been celebrating with alcohol and unfortunately one lost his footing - and fell to his death. The court is unable to supply the " why " to the decision to climb the crane - and once again the most likely answer must be the " Streaker's Defence ".
The strange and bizarre seem to be a fact of life. The police were astonished to encounter a Mitsubishi Magna at 4-30 am on the Newell highway - and noticed that it had only three tyres. This resulted in a chase that led to the driver's arrest - but it remains a matter of conjecture as to why any sane person would take a vehicle missing a tyre for a ride of a state highway.
Newspaper accounts and court records seem to provide an endless litany of what can only be described as " acts of insanity " that seem attributable to the sort of reasoning that led to that epic dash across the Sydney Cricket ground that will soon see it's centenary.
We humans are impulsive types. Unfortunately, there is sometimes a fine line between a stroke of genius - and tragedy ! What is amusing if it turns out the way we imagine can cause death if it goes only slightly amiss - and the aftermath seems so illogical when examined in the cold, hard light of a court of enquiry.
At least that " Streaker " from a by-gone age left his mark on the history books. This contrasts sharply with what became known as the " Mussolini defence " - when the dictator was facing execution - and wistfully noted - " At least I made the trains run on time " !
At least that is a claim that few others in positions of power have been able to achieve !
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
The " Opal Card " era !
Many commuter journeys in Sydney involve a mix of buses, trains and ferries, but the ticketing system required separate tickets to be bought for each stage of the journey. We were out of step with the rest of the world - and even the other states had an advanced system up and working.
The previous state government wasted millions trying to implement something similar to the famous London " Oyster card " - and failed miserably. Deadlines came - and went. There always seemed to be an impenetrable maize of obstacles to a universal card that would cope with all three forms of transport.
The present state government tried a " slow and steady " approach. Their new " Tap and Ride " was named the " Opal card " and was cautiously implemented first on the harbour ferry system. This allowed the organizers to rid the system of any " bugs " with the least public inconvenience, and now the Opal card is rapidly extending into the public transport system.
Next week it will be applied to the north shore rail line and to an additional twenty ferry wharfs west of the Harbour bridge. That will mean the card readers will be operating at 699 points that encompass forty wharves and seventeen rail stations. Next year, for the first time " Tap and Ride " will open to service the city bus fleet.
We have come a long way since the days of long cheques waiting for paper tickets and the daily fumble for change that delayed the boarding process. It also opens up an enticing opportunity to regulate the fare system to encourage off peak travel.
The business community needs to have a long and careful appraisal of the opportunities offered. If off peak travel fares can be an inducement to come and shop then perhaps that is the answer to bringing on-line customers back to bricks and mortar stores. The on-line people usually offer price reduced items for a limited time period. Introducing a similar time factor to off peak pricing in store could change buying habits.
At last the long awaited Opal card is about to bring a facelift to public transport. Now the government needs to see that public transport in it's three forms is providing the service times that people require - and that it is clean and safe,with adequate customer security in place.
Meeting those needs might be the " magic mix " to attain the long cherished dream of getting people to leave the car at home - and use public transport !
The previous state government wasted millions trying to implement something similar to the famous London " Oyster card " - and failed miserably. Deadlines came - and went. There always seemed to be an impenetrable maize of obstacles to a universal card that would cope with all three forms of transport.
The present state government tried a " slow and steady " approach. Their new " Tap and Ride " was named the " Opal card " and was cautiously implemented first on the harbour ferry system. This allowed the organizers to rid the system of any " bugs " with the least public inconvenience, and now the Opal card is rapidly extending into the public transport system.
Next week it will be applied to the north shore rail line and to an additional twenty ferry wharfs west of the Harbour bridge. That will mean the card readers will be operating at 699 points that encompass forty wharves and seventeen rail stations. Next year, for the first time " Tap and Ride " will open to service the city bus fleet.
We have come a long way since the days of long cheques waiting for paper tickets and the daily fumble for change that delayed the boarding process. It also opens up an enticing opportunity to regulate the fare system to encourage off peak travel.
The business community needs to have a long and careful appraisal of the opportunities offered. If off peak travel fares can be an inducement to come and shop then perhaps that is the answer to bringing on-line customers back to bricks and mortar stores. The on-line people usually offer price reduced items for a limited time period. Introducing a similar time factor to off peak pricing in store could change buying habits.
At last the long awaited Opal card is about to bring a facelift to public transport. Now the government needs to see that public transport in it's three forms is providing the service times that people require - and that it is clean and safe,with adequate customer security in place.
Meeting those needs might be the " magic mix " to attain the long cherished dream of getting people to leave the car at home - and use public transport !
Monday, 26 August 2013
Taking " Sport " out of Sport !
Decades ago, Rugby League was the main men's contact sport in NSW and Queensland and the southern states played Australian Rules. Now both are national competitions and star players earn really big money.
Playing sport has progressed from something players did in their spare time to professional status and star players are feted like kings. They get plenty of " air time " on television shows and every comment is slavishly reported in newspapers. They have progressed from sporting heroes - to national celebrities !
Unfortunately, in recent times a " win at all costs " ethic seems to have invaded Rugby League. The NRL's " Competition Committee " , comprised of leading coaches and the games all-time greats has been called to consider banning the " Scorpion tackle " in which an opposing players leg is bent backwards.
In an unsavoury incident, match television clearly showed the leg of an opposition player returning from a knee injury subjected to such a play and many people complained of the " unsporting " aspect of such a gambit.
Rugby League has long banned the " Spear tackle " because of the danger of paraplegia. Surely we are not starting to condone play designed to injure the opposition as a playing tactic. Many people were shocked at what has been called the " Squirrel hold " , in which pressure is deliberately applied to squeeze a rivals testicles.
It seems that wrestling techniques are invading the game and this seems to be related to the pressure from fans to move up the competition table and thus secure valuable sponsor support. It is not helped by commentators who praise an earlier era and urge the sport to " bring back the biff " !
Unfortunately, there are some fans who follow the game with an attitude more akin to the days of the Coliseum in Rome, when gladiators fought and the victor looked to the emperor for a " thumbs up or thumbs down " signal - to execute the vanquished or set him free.
Rugby League is now engaged in a three way contest for viewer support - and vast inroads have been made by Aussie Rules and Soccer. The vast majority of fans want to see a fair game played with skill and not marred by thuggish behaviour.
The League needs to clean up it's game - or it will pay a declining price !
Playing sport has progressed from something players did in their spare time to professional status and star players are feted like kings. They get plenty of " air time " on television shows and every comment is slavishly reported in newspapers. They have progressed from sporting heroes - to national celebrities !
Unfortunately, in recent times a " win at all costs " ethic seems to have invaded Rugby League. The NRL's " Competition Committee " , comprised of leading coaches and the games all-time greats has been called to consider banning the " Scorpion tackle " in which an opposing players leg is bent backwards.
In an unsavoury incident, match television clearly showed the leg of an opposition player returning from a knee injury subjected to such a play and many people complained of the " unsporting " aspect of such a gambit.
Rugby League has long banned the " Spear tackle " because of the danger of paraplegia. Surely we are not starting to condone play designed to injure the opposition as a playing tactic. Many people were shocked at what has been called the " Squirrel hold " , in which pressure is deliberately applied to squeeze a rivals testicles.
It seems that wrestling techniques are invading the game and this seems to be related to the pressure from fans to move up the competition table and thus secure valuable sponsor support. It is not helped by commentators who praise an earlier era and urge the sport to " bring back the biff " !
Unfortunately, there are some fans who follow the game with an attitude more akin to the days of the Coliseum in Rome, when gladiators fought and the victor looked to the emperor for a " thumbs up or thumbs down " signal - to execute the vanquished or set him free.
Rugby League is now engaged in a three way contest for viewer support - and vast inroads have been made by Aussie Rules and Soccer. The vast majority of fans want to see a fair game played with skill and not marred by thuggish behaviour.
The League needs to clean up it's game - or it will pay a declining price !
Sunday, 25 August 2013
" For our own good " !
The phrase " For our own good " is usually tendered as the reason for passing legislation that compels us to obey a law with which not everyone agrees. We fasten our seat belt when we travel in a car, or suffer a heavy fine and loss of demerit points if the police discover us doing otherwise. We do so not by choice - but by government decree.
There are always some people whose hackles bristle the moment a new law compels obedience. The " safety laws " compel those who ride bicycles to wear safety helmets, but judging by the number of kids riding bikes without helmets, the law is roundly disregarded. Enforcing this law is also sporadic. Fining kids is too difficult - while catching motorists driving with seat belts unfastened is like shooting fish in a barrel.
We are fighting a battle to get a high proportion of parents to have their children vaccinated against childhood diseases. A rising proportion of unvaccented kids can result in Measles and Whooping cough reappearing, and the parliament is considering making immunization compulsory for entry into pre-schools and for the payment of child benefits.
Now a new battle has erupted. Decades ago science discovered that adding fluoride to the water supply caused a huge improvement in dental health. The decision to fluoride was a local council matter and it drew a mixed result. In communities which decided to add fluoride, there were some residents who refused to use the fluorided water and went to the trouble of collecting drinking and cooking water from an unfluorided source.
Unfortunately, we are seeing a sharp deterioration in oral health and this is happening in areas where even the town water has fluoride added. There has been a trend to use bottled water - and this is fluoride free. At the same time, a growing number of "health fanatics " are claiming that fluoride is unsafe and demanding that it's addition in their council area cease.
This is countered by health authorities who have discovered a link between oral health - and our biggest killer - heart disease. There is pressure on the New South Wales state government to legislate to remove the fluoride decision from local councils and have fluoride added to the state water supply on a health basis.
This will obviously have the " civil liberties " people thumping the war drums. The vast majority of people seemed to approve of law changes to reduce the number of people smoking cigarettes, and we expect safety laws to be in place to ensure that the food supply is safe for human consumption - but when it comes to individual liberties - that seems to be an entirely different matter !
If the government gives universal fluoride protection the nod, the final decision is likely to be years away - and decided in the High court !
There are always some people whose hackles bristle the moment a new law compels obedience. The " safety laws " compel those who ride bicycles to wear safety helmets, but judging by the number of kids riding bikes without helmets, the law is roundly disregarded. Enforcing this law is also sporadic. Fining kids is too difficult - while catching motorists driving with seat belts unfastened is like shooting fish in a barrel.
We are fighting a battle to get a high proportion of parents to have their children vaccinated against childhood diseases. A rising proportion of unvaccented kids can result in Measles and Whooping cough reappearing, and the parliament is considering making immunization compulsory for entry into pre-schools and for the payment of child benefits.
Now a new battle has erupted. Decades ago science discovered that adding fluoride to the water supply caused a huge improvement in dental health. The decision to fluoride was a local council matter and it drew a mixed result. In communities which decided to add fluoride, there were some residents who refused to use the fluorided water and went to the trouble of collecting drinking and cooking water from an unfluorided source.
Unfortunately, we are seeing a sharp deterioration in oral health and this is happening in areas where even the town water has fluoride added. There has been a trend to use bottled water - and this is fluoride free. At the same time, a growing number of "health fanatics " are claiming that fluoride is unsafe and demanding that it's addition in their council area cease.
This is countered by health authorities who have discovered a link between oral health - and our biggest killer - heart disease. There is pressure on the New South Wales state government to legislate to remove the fluoride decision from local councils and have fluoride added to the state water supply on a health basis.
This will obviously have the " civil liberties " people thumping the war drums. The vast majority of people seemed to approve of law changes to reduce the number of people smoking cigarettes, and we expect safety laws to be in place to ensure that the food supply is safe for human consumption - but when it comes to individual liberties - that seems to be an entirely different matter !
If the government gives universal fluoride protection the nod, the final decision is likely to be years away - and decided in the High court !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)