Sea of red as thousands rally for the disabled

Rallies were held around the country today to raise awareness of the financial difficulties facing people with disabilities and their carers and to promote the National Disability Insurance Scheme. About a thousand people including many with disabilities, Paralympians, carers and representatives of various disability groups including Endeavour, Cerebal Palsy League and Spinal Injuries Association of Queensland took part in the rally in Brisbane. Speakers told of the severity... Read More

Carers tell of financial challenges

Families of many disabled Australians suffer financial hardship caring for their loved ones. This was a common story told by carers and family members gathered at Reddacliff Place in Brisbane today to advocate for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Event organiser Fiona Anderson of the Every Australian Counts campaign had first-hand experience with the challenges of caring for a disabled family member. Her 16-year-old son Sandy has cerebral palsy. The family received... Read More

Review: Drive

Director Nicolas Winding Refn delivers a vicious combination of imagery and violence which draws much of its cinematic appeal from the electronic pop score composed by Cliff Martinez. Ryan Gosling stars as the unnamed protagonist, whom we can call the driver. The driver moonlights as a getaway driver and is a stunt driver by day while also being a mechanic. The driver exudes personality despite his limited dialogue and subtle temperament. Gosling demonstrates a very Steve McQueen... Read More

Former mayors oppose government duplication

Two former Brisbane mayors say the city’s top job has not changed very much, but there’s now too much overlap of state and local government powers. Watching last night’s debate between mayoral candidates, Jim Soorley and Sally-Anne Atkinson (pictured, left) said the mayor’s job was still about economic development, promoting the city and making the city great. Mr Soorley, Labor Party Lord Mayor from 1991 to 2003 said: “It’s managing a very large organisation... Read More

Australian bee documentary wins international prize

An Australian documentary about bees won the prize for best science reporting at the Commonwealth Broadcasters Association conference in Brisbane this week. The UNESCO Award for Science Reporting and Programming was awarded to SBS’s Eniko Toth for the documentary, “Honeybee Blues”. “Honeybee Blues was the epitome of all that was good about public service broadcasting in the Commonwealth,” CBA secretary-general Sally-Ann Wilson said. “It entertained, informed... Read More

Festival to focus on urban design

Brisbane’s inaugural urban design and film festival will be launched tonight at the State Library of Queensland. The design festival called U.R.(BNE) will focus on Brisbane’s public spaces throughout May. The Films project seeks to raise the awareness of urban design and the built environment and generate a greater interest in architecture, public spaces and the collaborate design process. Senior organiser and urban designer, Yen Trinh said he would like to encourage people... Read More

Community mourns respected judge

A wide cross-section of the community attended St Stephen’s Cathedral yesterday for the funeral of former District Court Chief Judge Pat Shanahan who died last Sunday aged 82. Among the mourners were members of the judiciary, legal profession, Indigenous community, police and military, reflecting the many public-spirited activities of Judge Shanahan (pictured left) over the course of a long and busy life. Seated in front of Judge Shanahan’s flag-draped coffin, his great-nephew... Read More

Mystery tweeter appears at mayoral forum

“Not Campbell Newman” (@Can_Do_Campbell) was a mystery guest at the Lord Mayor’s Forum in Brisbane yesterday. @Can_Do describes (pictured left) himself on Twitter as “the Qld Premier of Parody. Ex-Fake Lord Mayor, but am still so very fake.” @Can_Do began tweeting as the fake Lord Mayor two years ago after receiving a car-parking fine which was upheld by City Council: his car was “one foot over the yellow line”. He has gained 3611 followers with his passionate love... Read More

Brisbane candidates battle for keys to City Hall

Three of Brisbane’s five Lord Mayoral candidates faced off in a live forum and debate at the ABC Brisbane studios yesterday. Independent candidate Chris Carlton arrived late and Australian Sex Party Rory Killen failed to show. Pictured left to right: Andrew Bartlett (Greens), Ray Smith (Labor), Graham Quirk (LNP). ABC drive presenter Tim Cox questioned Greens candidate Andrew Bartlett, Labor’s Ray Smith, and the NLP’s Graham Quirk about infrastructure, cost of living and... Read More

Simple tribute a testimony to Anzac Day spirit

For every major Dawn Service around the country, there are hundreds of smaller, more modest services to commemorate Anzac Day in regional Australia. Our reporter found the simple service at Springbrook, west of the Gold Coast an uplifting experience. It’s around half past four on Anzac Day and it’s pitch black on the Springbrook plateau. Driving to the war memorial, torch lights can be seen bobbing in the darkness on the side of the road; locals on their way to the Dawn... Read More

Women journalists get inside stories in war zones

It can be an advantage to be a female journalist in war zones, according to war correspondent Sally Sara. People are often more willing to speak to women journalists, especially other women, she said. In particular it was possible to have access to homes and speak to women, something often denied to men in traditional Islamic communities. Ms Sara (pictured, left) risked her life as a correspondent in Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She... Read More

Photojournalist’s life changed forever by 15 months as a hostage

It was a life-changing experience to be a hostage without knowing whether he’d live or die or ever be released, Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan said in Brisbane this week. Brennan and Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout were kidnapped in 2008 just outside the Somalian capital Mogadishu. He told his story to a group of aspiring journalists, providing invaluable insight into the world of journalism in a hostile environment. Before being kidnapped he saw himself... Read More

Tens of thousands cheer city Anzac Day parade

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Brisbane to view the 2012 Anzac Day parade and applaud the marching veterans. Along every street of the parade all vantage points were taken. In places people were packed six-deep and bus seats turned into sought-after high ground for photographers. “Every year you see a thickening of the crowds,” one veteran said. “In Australia and definitely in Brisbane I would say Anzac Day is celebrated more so than in years previous.” Australians... Read More

Moving ceremony at Tweed

About 4000 people gathered at Tweed Heads for a moving Anzac day dawn service. Local MP Geoff Provest made special mention of two local young men who had recently paid the ultimate price in serving their country. Private Nathan Bewes from Murwillumbah and former Kingscliffe High School student Sapper Rowan Robinson (pictured) were killed in Afghanistan. Twin Towns Services Club chairman Michael Fraser reflected on the men and women who never returned home from war. “They... Read More

Thousands gather for city dawn service

An estimated 8000 people gathered in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square for today’s dawn service. The service began at 4:28am at the Shrine of Remembrance for a memorable 97th anniversary of the Anzac Cove landings at Gallipoli in Turkey. Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley referred to the changing light of dawn and shifting shadows as a poignant reminder of the ambush that awaited the ANZACS at Gallipoli. “More than 8000 young Australians lost their lives,” Ms Wensley said. She... Read More