Narrabundah Hill Again

Narrabundah Hill Walk looking into the sun.

Passed a guy who I didn't recognise.

Apologies for when he reads this entry, let me know your name.

Next time our paths cross, we can yell our names, and have a chat.

And your ladies' name too. I assume your wife.


And passed Bob Dent who I did recognise.

He was in the cross country club database, under several different name spellings.

Then I noticed the multiple entries, and merged, after consultation, all his runs under the same name.


He was also a regular runner around the traps, including I think, the BBQ Stakes and Cross Country Club marathons.

Great to see Carolyne and Bob at the BBQ Stakes yesterday, Bob was the timekeeper.


Madeleine was keeping Carolyne company. Good to meet her too.

Caught up with Peter Hogan as well with his high-tech gadgetry for monitoring his health.

Until Next Time.

You are what you eat ??

Hungry snake discovers you are what you eat


Posted Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:34pm AEDT Updated Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:44pm AEDT
Slideshow: Photo 1 of 3
The brown snake begins to remove itself from the red belly black snake. (User submitted: Tony Barton)


A New South Wales man has had an interesting encounter with not one but two snakes, and he has the photos to prove it.
Tony Barton from South Gundagai says he and his wife had just been out for lunch about a month ago when they returned home and spotted a black snake alongside the car.
It turned out to be a red belly black snake about 165 centimetres long - a species well known for a taste for other snakes.
"It looked like there was a stick or branch off a tree that was coming up towards it, so we drove past to about get 10 metres away from it and I ducked up the back lawn and around to have a close look," he said.
Mr Barton says his wife called out to him to ask him what he was staring at.
He yelled back, "Well, it's a jolly big black snake eating another one! Consuming it! You keep an eye on it and I'll duck in and get the camera."
Mr Barton says it took about 10 to 15 minutes for the black snake to fully consume the brown snake, which he says was about 135 centimetres long.
Then it went off for a snooze.
"It was fairly sluggish after such a huge meal," he said.
Regurgitator
Initially, Mr Barton thought someone had killed the snake and it was all a practical joke.
He says when the black snake finished eating the brown snake, something irritated the black and it moved off to try to get a bit of relief from the discomfort.
Not long after, the snake returned - this time to the back lawn.
"I walked up and got within three metres of it," he said.
"I was having a close look at it when it opened its mouth a little bit and I spotted this beady eye and the head of the brown snake in its mouth!
"So I got the camera ready, took the shot as the brown snake came out a few inches, fastened onto the black's lower jaw and pulled itself completely out.
"It had all this mucus all over it. Then the two parted ways."
Mr Barton reckons that somehow the brown snake turned itself around inside the black snake.
"When you tell these stories no-one believes you, but I have the photographs," he said.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/27/2475461.htm

Continuing the Theme of Food.

Blowfish testicles poison seven in Japan
January 28, 2009 - 8:07AM
Blowfish testicles have left seven Japanese ill, one critically, renewing public fears over the dangerous delicacy.
- Blowfish poisonings- Seven ill, one critical- Public fears renewed
The group ate raw meat and baked testes of blowfish - known in Japan as fugu - at an upscale restaurant on Monday in Tsuruoka, an old castle town 350 kilometres north of Tokyo.
They were treated at a hospital for numbness in the hands and legs and other symptoms. One of them was in a critical condition yesterday.
"The victims included many public welfare volunteers and a town head. They came to party at the restaurant after a public welfare meeting," a Tsuruoka police spokesman said.
The seven men were aged between 61 and 69, except for a 55-year-old secretary at a community centre.
The restaurant, Kibunya, did not have a licence from the provincial administration to prepare and serve blowfish, which contains tetrodotoxin in its organs, a powerful neurotoxin that can cause death in minutes.
Kibunya's owner, Iwao Aizawa, was being questioned by police on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injuries.
"It is not so common to eat fugu in this region as it is caught in seas farther south. The fish was purchased from an ordinary dealer," the police official said.
Fugu, cooked in a cauldron or eaten in raw slices, is appreciated in Japan as a culinary delight, especially in the cold winter months. Its testes, known as shirako, are praised as creamy and rich in taste.
Blowfish deaths have fallen since 1983 when the health ministry instructed local authorities to ban eating of its dangerous parts. Only licensed chefs are now allowed to serve blowfish.
Six people died of blowfish poisoning in 2002 but since then Japan has seen no more than three deaths a year, according to health ministry statistics.
Blowfish is even called "teppou (gun)" in western Japan for its famous danger. In 1975, renowned kabuki actor Mitsugoro Bando VIII died at the age of 69 from eating a blowfish liver at a restaurant in Kyoto.


Source:- http://www.theage.com.au/world/blowfish-testicles-poison-seven-in-japan-20090128-7r7n.html

Hunger Strike

Plastic Knives must be stronger now.

**********************************************************

Serial killer Ivan Milat is on a hunger strike after sawing off his little finger with a plastic knife on Monday.
Milat, 64, was placed in an "observational cell" at Goulburn's Supermax jail yesterday after returning from hospital, but has refused all meals, a Department of Corrective Services spokeswoman said.
"I don't know if he gave a reason or discussed it with anyone ... but you can call it a hunger strike," she said.
Milat's meals were being served without cutlery, with the food being cut up for him, the spokeswoman said.
Milat on Monday severed the finger using a plastic serrated knife, letting the blood drain into the sink and urinal unit.
He then put the finger in an envelope he had addressed to the High Court of Australia. A short time later he called for help.
He was taken to hospital but doctors could not reattach his finger, which was brought to the hospital on ice.
Milat is serving a life sentence in Goulburn jail for the murder of seven backpackers.


http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ivan-milat-on-hunger-strike/2009/01/28/1232818482585.html?sssdmh=dm16.357816

A Standing Ovation for Jelena dokic

A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding. This action is done on special occasions by an audience to show their approval and is done after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim. In Ancient Rome, returning military commanders whose victories did not meet the standards of a triumph were celebrated with an ovation, from the Latin ovare, "to rejoice". The word's use in English to refer to sustained applause dates to at least 1831.[1]
Standing ovations are considered to be a special honor. Often it is used at the entrance or departure of a speaker or performer, where the audience members will continue the ovation until the ovated person leaves or begins their speech. Usually, when a critical mass of a small fraction of the audience stands up (perhaps one-fifth), the entire audience becomes compelled to stand as well.
Some have observed that the standing ovation has come to be devalued, such as in the field of politics, in which on some occasions standing ovations may be given to political leaders as a matter of course, rather than as a special honour in unusual circumstances. Examples include party conferences in many countries, where the speech of the party leader is rewarded with a "stage managed" standing ovation as a matter of course, and the State of the Union Address of the President of the United States (see ovations at 6:15 and 7:00 here). It is routine, rather than exceptional, for this address to be introduced, interrupted and followed by standing ovations, both from the President's own party and his political opponents—so routine, in fact, that refusal to deliver such an ovation is regarded as a deliberate insult.[citation needed] However, by tradition all ovations that occur before the speech begins, as opposed to those that interrupt it, are given in praise of the office itself, rather than the individual office-holder, and the President is never introduced by name.
In professional wrestling the standing ovation is voluntary, but may still be considered overused. A very popular babyface may receive a standing ovation simply by his (ring) name being announced. A slightly more meaningful (according to consensus) standing ovation is after a match, where the fans applaud every wrestler, regardless of alignment, for their terrific performance. The most recent notable standing ovation in wrestling was given to Ric Flair on his retirement speech.
Standing ovations are also often given in a sporting context to reflect an outstanding individual performance, for example in Cricket standing ovations are given to a batsman who has been dismissed having played a definitive innings in the match (either making a century or batting for such a long time it saved the match) or even when a bowler walks off the pitch having taken 5 wickets or having peformed exceptionally well.

Source-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_ovation

A SPORTING catfight is set to start at the Australian Open between a group of millionairesses looking glamorous enough for a catwalk

A SPORTING catfight is set to start at the Australian Open between a group of millionairesses looking glamorous enough for a catwalk - and the leader of the pack is Serena Williams.
Williams has always transcended tennis as a global celebrity but, as she prepares for the four-way battle for the world No.1 ranking at Melbourne Park from tomorrow, her rivals have begun chasing her in the fashion stakes.
Current rankings leader Jelena Jankovic has unveiled an airbrushed portrait fit for Vogue magazine. Previously only Williams attempted to look so good in promotions. Now her adversaries have started joining her in the studio.
The image makeovers are part of the WTA Tour's global "Looking For A Hero?" print and television advertising campaigns, aimed at boosting the profile and popularity of women's tennis. The campaign is being rolled out in 75 countries and features 30 players led by Williams, Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva and Serbia's immensely popular Ana Ivanovic.
"Tennis is a premier sport for all women athletes and I think it's a great opportunity to have the best athletes, female athletes, get together and be part of such a wonderful advertisement," Williams said. "I was really happy to have an opportunity to be in it. I was more than excited to do it."
Serena's sister, Venus, is another glamazon with a stunning portrait. World No.2 Serena and those directly behind her on the rankings, Russian pair Safina and Dementieva, can also overtake Jankovic at No.1 at the Australian Open. Safina and Dementieva lived in the shadow of Russian stunner Maria Sharapova for years but they are forging their own identities. Injury has forced Sharapova out of the Open.
Nearly unfathomable riches are on offer for the greatest female player on the planet if her victories come with a bit of va-va-voom.
"Never before have we planned, created and invested in a marketing campaign of this magnitude," WTA chief executive Larry Scott said. "In many ways the campaign crystallises how far we have come as a sport over the past five years. And it shows everything that we mean when we speak about the star power of our athletes and the excitement about women's professional tennis."
Williams - who planned to wear a $3.5-million necklace at the Medibank International in Sydney last week but decided against it - has started her own fashion label, Aneres, and has a $US40-million ($60 million) sponsorship deal with Nike.

Winsbury Wins Kosciuszko Classic

Winsbury wins Kosciuszko Classic
Saturday, January 17, 2009 10:22 PM
From:
"John Harding" jgharding@bigpond.com

Kosciuszko Classic4.7 kmsSnowy River bridge to summit of Mt Kosciuszko, NSWSaturday 17 January 2009

WINSBURY NARROWLY MISSES RECORD
Australia ’s top long distance mountain runner John Winsbury, recently returned to Canberra after spending three years in New Zealand completing a physiotherapy degree, ran the second fastest time in history in winning today’s Kosciuszko Classic. His 20 mins 21 secs for the 4.7 kms uphill from the Snowy River bridge to the summit of Australia ’s highest mountain was only 14 seconds outside David Osmond’s all-time record. Dean Degan and Chad Armstrong of Sydney were second and third, in 22:58 and 23:38 respectively.
Sydney ’s Julia White was fastest female in 27:19, with Genevieve Guiney of Sydney second in 32:17 and Carol Ey of Canberra third 33:21.

Results:

Males: 1 John Winsbury 20.21, 2 Dean Degan 22.58, 3 Chad Armstrong 23.38, 4 Ryan Armstrong 25.32, 5 Robin Rishworth 26.34, 6 Peter Sandery 27.00, 7 Harry Waterhouse 27.54, 8 Robert Ey 28.24, 9 John Walton 28.29, 10 David Close 30.47, 11 Andrew Guiney 31.24, 12 Nick Hearnshaw 32.39, 13 John Storey 33.10, 14 Andrew Sutcliffe 33.16, 15 Luis Cortes 34.26.

Females: 1 Julia White 27.19, 2 Genevieve Guiney 32.17, 3 Carol Ey 33.21, 4 Alison Winsbury 34.30, 5 Kaaren Sutcliffe 35.20, 6 Lorraine Tyler 37.54, 7 Helen Pretty 38.01, 8 Ruth Hearnshaw 38.50, 9 Anna Smith 39.08, 10 Dot Siepman 40.32, 11 Lyn O'Mara 41.17, 12 Mandy Taylor 45.00.

Victoria Cross old guard salute new hero Mark Donaldson

Victoria Cross old guard salute new hero Mark Donaldson

Article from: The Australian
AUSTRALIA'S latest Victoria Cross winner, SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson, was not born when Keith Payne was awarded his VC for heroism in the jungles of Vietnam 40 years ago.
Along with Edward Kenna, who won his VC for service in New Guinea in 1945, the pair are the only surviving Australian winners of the country's highest military honour.
"From my own point of view I'm tremendously happy," Mr Payne said. "It takes me out of the youngest VC winner in Australia to one of the oldest."
Praising Trooper Donaldson, he said; "He'll remember his little party (gun battle) all his life - it will stay with him for ever."
Until yesterday, Mr Payne was our most recent recipient of the Victoria Cross.
On May 24, 1969, Warrant Officer Payne, under heavy enemy fire, instigated a daring rescue of more than 40 men, many of them wounded, and led them back to the battalion base.
Reflecting on the effects of the award, he told reporters that Trooper Donaldson's life would never be the same.
"He'll be forever on call but the army will look after him. I've just spoken to the RSMA (Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army) and they tell me he's got a warrant officer and some senior NCOs who will shepherd him along, and I'll be speaking to him shortly to give him some advice," he said.
Mr Payne heads the committee of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
The veteran Digger said that when he first heard about the medal he feared it would be awarded posthumously. "I'm absolutely delighted we have a live one," he said.
"At a party like his, the chances of coming out alive are pretty negative - and he never got hit, and that's amazing."
The first Australian to be awarded a VC was Captain Neville Howse in 1900 during the Boer War.
Captain Howse (VC, KCMG, CB, KStJ) later became a federal MP and also served as defence minister.
Australians were awarded six VCs in that conflict, which lasted from 1899 to 1902.
During World War I, Australians won 64 VCs, including nine at Gallipoli.
Two more were added for gallantry during the Russian civil war in 1919. A total of 20 were awarded in World War II, and four during the Vietnam conflict from 1962 to1972.
But none was awarded for the Korean War - which the Australian War Memorial's chief executive, retired Major-General Steve Gower, says is unfair.
"There were extraordinarily heroic actions by the Third Battalion at the Battle of Kapyong and the Hook, really extraordinary, high-intensity fighting," he told The Weekend Australian.
And he offered a possible explanation. To be awarded the VC requires multiple eyewitness accounts to verify the individual heroism.
"The people who saw the valour might have been killed or didn't have time to put the recommendation in," he said.
"That is some of the anomalies people find interesting."
Trooper Donaldson is the first Australian to win the Victoria Cross for Australia, instituted under the 1991 honours system that replaced the imperial award held by Mr Payne.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Trooper Donaldson said he had never given much thought to the dangers he was exposed to.
"I'm a soldier ... I'm trained to fight, that's what we do," he said. "It's instinct and it's natural, and you don't really think about it at the time."


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24923196-31477,00.html

Continuation about The Cotter

At Narrabindah Hill this morning, we passed Simon Crooke.

We were walking, he was running in the opposite direction.

He was an athlete who would, rowards the end of The Cotter Run, race down the last hill, and flew past those like myself, who took it more steadily.

Looked like on his run this morning, that he was still very fit.

Had a good chat to him after the Canberra bushfires, he had a good understanding about the effects of a fire rushing down a gully, and managed to save his house, despite a pine tree out the front which caught fire.

I think he was also a runner in the BBQ Stakes.

Until Next time

The best Job in the world ???

Featured on Today Tonight Tuesday 13 January 2009.


The Best Job in the World – Island Caretaker Great Barrier Reef

( Said to be receiving 40 hits per second.)

About the job
Tourism Queensland is seeking applicants for the best job in the world! The role of Island
Caretaker is a six-month contract, based on luxurious Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier
Reef. It’s a live-in position with flexible working hours and key responsibilities include
exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef to discover what the area has to offer.
You’ll be required to report back on your adventures to Tourism Queensland
headquarters in Brisbane (and the rest of the world) via weekly blogs, photo diary, video
updates and ongoing media interviews. On offer is a unique opportunity to help promote
the wondrous Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Other duties may include (but are not limited to)
Feed the fish - There are over 1,500 species of fish living in the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t
worry – you won’t need to feed them all.
Clean the pool - The pool has an automatic filter, but if you happen to see a stray leaf
floating on the surface it’s a great excuse to dive in and enjoy a few laps.
Collect the mail – During your explorations, why not join the aerial postal service for a
day? It’s a great opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the reef and islands.
About the job package
Living above the Great Barrier Reef is a pretty unique benefit, but the successful
candidate will also be paid a salary package of AUD $150,000 for the six-month contract.
You’ll receive return airfares from your nearest capital city (in your home country),
accommodation and transport on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period,
computer, internet, digital video and stills cameras access, plus travel to a number of the
other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The six-month contract commences 1st July
2009.
About the location
Stretching for 2,600 kilometres, and composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900
islands, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia is the world’s largest coral reef
system. The World Heritage Listed area supports a diversity of wildlife including whales,
dolphins, sea turtles and more than 1,500 species of fish. The reef is an extremely
popular destination for tourists, sustainably managing approximately 2 million visitors
each year.
Education/Experience Requirements:
A broad range of experience will be considered, but the successful applicant should
posses:
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Good written and verbal English skills
- An adventurous attitude
- Willingness to try new things
- A passion for the outdoors
- Good swimming skills and enthusiasm for snorkelling and/or diving
- Ability to engage with others
- At least one year’s relevant experience
How to apply:
Want the best job in the world? If you enjoy new experiences and you can spare six
months to enjoy life above the Great Barrier Reef, you’re already in with a good chance.
It’s easy to apply.
Step 1: Create a video application (in English and in 60 seconds or less) telling us why
you’re the best person for the job and demonstrating your knowledge of the Islands of the
Great Barrier Reef.
Step 2: Fill out a brief application form and upload your video to www.islandreefjob.com.
Applications close 11.59pm UTC 22nd February 2009
Applications open on 2.00pm UTC 9th January and close 11.59pm UTC 22nd February
2009.
About the application process:
Eleven candidates will be invited to the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef for an interview
from the 3rd to the 7th May 2009. So, if you want the best job in the world, you’ll need to
be available to travel to Queensland for the final interview selection process. You’ll also
need to be available to start work on the 1st July 2009.
Tourism Queensland will select ten candidates. Visitors to www.islandreefjob.com will
have the chance to select one Wild Card candidate, who will also participate in the final
interview selection process.
All applicants must be eligible for a short term business visa for the interview selection
process and a long term temporary employee visa for the contract period.
For more information and to apply please visit www.islandreefjob.com.


Source:- http://www.islandreefjob.com/webdata/content/2/59.pdf?ts=1229652407

Doctor a master of the long run

Doctor a master of the long run

BY HELEN GREGORY

JAMES Harrison has kept a record of every mile he has run since he was 15.
Now at 45, he has run 98,000 miles and hopes to add to his tally at this year's World Masters Games athletics competition.
The doctor, who is opening a new medical practice in Kellyville Ridge, has been running since childhood and is showing no signs of slowing down.
``My target is 100,000 miles. I started in Little Athletics and never stopped,'' Harrison said.
``Being fit is always nice, especially if I can stay in front of the young blokes if they come up.'' The Winston Hills resident has been a member of the Bankstown Sports Club for 19 years and has an impressive track record.
He has represented Australia in the World Cross Country championships five times, come first in the 10 kilometre event at the Australian championships four times and has participated in many state championships and marathons.
``It's a nice feeling to win but it does happen a bit less these days,'' Harrison said.
``I've won 294 fun runs and my goal is 300.''
Now he's set his sights on setting records in the 800 metre, 1500 metre and five kilometre events as well as the cross country and road races in the World Masters Games, to be held in October.
Harrison has been training twice a day and runs an average of 120-130 kilometres a week, often with his wife.
``I set myself pretty high standards,'' he said.
``But I'm up against old rivals that are my age and it spurs you on to keep going.''
Harrison said he has no plans to stop running, despite experiencing injuries and achilles strains.
``Nothing will stop me from what I want to do,'' Harrison said.
``It's another challenge.''

Source:- http://castlehill.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/general/doctor-a-master-of-the-long-run/1405662.aspx

Lake Tuggeranong Stakes, Tuesday 8 January 2009

On a day where the temperature was forecast to be a max of 38 degrees, The Lakes Stakes saw a good turnout of competitors.

I can recall 14 running , and me holding the clock.

Running were RL, GC, DB, PB, TD, LE, IC, GC, SM, LE, IH, DP, MC, IQ. Temp was over 30 degrees, so those running were to be admired.

Winner the day was IC, who retires in two to three weeks time, and is looking forward to that with great pleasure.
Four travelled from Woden to take part in this run, GC did some cleaning of the environment when coming to the run and so did RL.

A huge number of empty/dirty plastic bottles were noticed in one area of Lake Tuggeranong, so there is scope for a big clean up.

Until Next Time

Weird Words

This post has been deleted as I did not obtain permission to use, and I did not attribute the source.


I am sitting here red faced with embarrassment.


My sincere apologies.

Not for Kids who are fans of Barbie ??

BARBIE and Ken are beloved by millions of children - but the people behind the world's most popular dolls were involved in unsavory sexual behavior they kept secret for years, a new book reveals.
In "Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel," out next month, Jerry Oppenheimer reveals that Jack Ryan, the Yale-educated designer who popularized Barbie, was a "full-blown seventies-style swinger" with "a manic need for sexual gratification." Staging orgies at his Bel-Air mansion, Ryan, whose wives included Zsa Zsa Gabor, surrounded himself with busty Barbie clones, including Gwen Florea, who was the "voice of Barbie" in a line of talking dolls, the New York Post's PageSix reports.Ryan's friend, Stephen Gnass, confides to the author: "When Jack talked about creating Barbie . . . it was like listening to somebody talk about a sexual episode, almost like listening to a sexual pervert . . ." Ryan took calls at Mattel from a madam and patronized "high-class call girls to streetwalkers," including a "very thin and child-like" hooker. Barbie and Ken were named after the kids of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler - an honor that plagued Ken, who "grew up embarrassed and humiliated by having an anatomically incorrect boy doll named after him".Despite marrying and having three kids, Ken was a closeted gay, Oppenheimer says, who died of AIDS in 1994.


Source:- http://www.nypost.com/seven/01082009/gossip/pagesix/sex_secrets_of_barbie__ken_149126.htm

What's behind The Green Door

It starts with G but it's the Garage Door.

The garage holds a myriad of devices.

It holds the Telstar 1985 model, the one before the introduction of the unleaded version, so it's getting towards being an Antique/Vintage/Veteran.

Has had a change of engine sometime in it's life, and is still registered and insured, it only got an outing to Goulburn recently, and enjoyed the trip.

My notes on petrol consumption are somewhere around, but not locatable at present.

About 26 miles per gallon in it's early years.

Travelled to Melbourne on a regular basis, especially at Christmas time, and highway speeds were in miles per hour in the early years, and the highway was a one lane road back then in 1965.

Ah nostalgia, isn't it wonderful recalling memories that old. ??

Until Nest Time.

The 2009 Cadbury Marathon titles will head interstate

The 2009 Cadbury Marathon titles will head interstate, along with excess baggage of
chocolate.
Sydney’s David Criniti and Canberra’s Liz Bennett were the title winners over the
42.195kms.
Criniti’s time of 2 hours 29 minutes 55 seconds was the fastest since 2000 and a great start
to the year for the ultra running dynamo. His form had been strong, with a second placing at
the Canberra Marathon and fifth at the Melbourne Marathon in 2008.
The Parramatta athlete was the one to beat heading into the race and was kept company by
Darren Moyle of Sydney early on, before opening up an ever increasing lead on his way to
victory.
“It was a fantastic way to kick off 2009 and it’s exciting to be in that good of form and
hopefully in 2010 I can beat the legendary Colin Oliver’s course record a shake,” he said.
That record of 2:23.59 set in 1995, plus the course record bonus are clearly in sight for
Criniti now.
Locals were struggling to remember a day that brought good weather in recent times, but the
sunny 22 degree day was just what the marathon gods asked for. “It was perfect out there,
especially with the 6am start, it was nice and cool which was ideal for the marathon. It was
great to have the half guys out there which made for some great atmosphere on the course
and running along the coastline was quite scenic.”
The last time Liz Bennett ran Cadbury was in 2007, when she was second to the incredible
Hanny Allston, prior to that, she was a winner in 2004. Her time of 3:16.14 this year was
faster than her winning effort of five years ago and will provide the confidence she needs as
her next challenge will be ultra marathon runs in 2009.
The race for the minor placing’s in the men’s marathon turned into the battle for the
Tasmanian Championship, between defending champion Jarrod Shaw and former Athletics
Tasmania staffer Daniel Smee.
The pair are regular training partners and only 4 seconds separated them at the finish, with
Smee gaining the upper hand at the top of the hill coming into the Cadbury Estate, to bolt to
the finish and claim second overall.
In 1984, Robyn Wallace won the Cadbury Marathon and she returned to Cadbury 25 years
later, to take second place, some 16 minutes faster than she did back in the 80’s. Wallace
had been living in Queensland recently, having only just moved back to her former state,
where she is now the state champion. Jess Baker of New South Wales was third only 7
seconds behind Wallace.
352 brave souls lined up in the Cadbury Half Marathon, which was a record field in the 26
year history of the event. The men’s race saw a large pack of runners together for the first
8kms of the race, as they made their way around Cadbury Estate and up 10 Mile Hill in
Austins Ferry.
At the halfway mark, Launceston’s David Thomas poured on the pressure to put a gap on
the rest of the field and was clearly in front as he reached the 14.5 kilometre turn at the
Derwent Entertainment Centre. It was all smooth sailing from there, as he powered home to
win in 1 hour 10min 59 seconds ahead of local athletes Jason Allie and Damon Court.
The women’s half marathon was dominated by defending champion Angela Grimmond of
Hobart. In 2008, the Tasmanian Distance Runner of the Year series leader made her debut
at the distance, to take out her first major fun run. Yesterday’s time of 1 hour 23 minutes 11
seconds was some 8min faster than her effort 12 months ago, and added to her impressive
string of victories in recent times. Christie Harris from Hobart was second, ahead of Julia
Davies who took third.
Both the Cadbury Marathon and Cadbury Half Marathon were point scoring events in the
Tasmanian Distance Runner of the Year series, which will conclude in March with the
Tasmanian 5,000m track championships. A full point score will be released later in the
week.
Keeping in the fun spirit of the event, organisers put on the Freddo 5km and Caramello
1.25km events for those not quite up to running as far.
Pat Smith and Kylie Risk won themselves some nice prizes from Brooks and Cadbury in
taking out the Freddo 5km. Four laps of the Cadbury Estate was a great way to see
Tasmania’s second most visited tourist attraction, with participants handed a Cadbury
chocolate at the finish, by Freddo Frog himself.
The Caramello 1.25km was a one lap race of the Cadbury Estate for little kids who were high
fived by Caramello Koala at the finish. All money raised for that event were donated to the
Clown Doctors charity.
For more information, visit www.cadburymarathon.com.au or contact Richard Welsh on 0409
820 248.
End

Water Restrictions in force

Page B7 of The Canberra Times 3 Jan 2009 had a public notice about water restrictions.

A general exemption for once weekly sprinkler use from 13 Dec 2008 until 1 Feb 2009.
The primary reason is to assist people going away over the summer holiday period to maintain their plants.


Here is what is on ACTEW Website.


Stage 3 now in place
ACT's water restrictions scheme applies to ACTEW's potable water (‘drinking’ or ‘tap’ water). Non-potable sources are not restricted in the table below.
Private gardens and lawns Commercial nurseries, market gardens and turf-growing businesses
Plants: A hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or a watering can may be used to water plants between 7am and 10am and between 7pm and 10pm on alternate days as per the ‘odds and evens’ system.
General exemption applies from: 13 December 2008 to 1 February 2009 inclusive.
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The following exemption is intended for residents who will be away during the Christmas holiday period to maintain their gardens. Whilst it is understood that some automatic sprinkler systems are connected to both lawns and gardens, ACTEW strongly encourage the public to only utilise this exemption for their plants
A general exemption exists during the period 13 December 2008 to 1 February 2009 to allow sprinklers and other irrigation systems to be used to water lawns and plants between 7pm and 10pm only, on:
SATURDAYS for premises with an EVEN street number; and
SUNDAYS for premises with an ODD street number.
At all times lawns and gardens may only be watered without causing pooling or runoff.
At all other times, normal Stage 3 water restrictions apply in relation to watering private lawns and plants.
Drippers: As an alternative to hand-held hoses, buckets or watering cans, drippers may be used for watering plants between 7am and 10am and between 7pm and 10pm on alternate days as per the ‘odds and evens’ system.
Sprinklers: No sprinkler or other irrigation systems may be used (drippers exempt as per above).
Lawns: Watering of lawns is not permitted.
At all times gardens may only be watered without causing pooling or runoff.

Note this posting is not intended to be a legal source of the current restrictions, home owners must make themselves familiar with what is currently allowed,

Friar.

The Cotter Run

There are some aspects of this run which are now different

The Cotter playground now has a basketball court.

Near where the Village Building company are now building houses, the house frames are up and there are locked gates.The Cotter River has some muddy water.

On 30th December, John and Thayne set out for this run from about 7:00 am.

It took them something like 3 hours 52 minutes including a 14 minute stop at Vanities, which level is not as high as when "TwoFruits" wrote his most recent report on this run.

There were others setting out at about the same time, 4 others running, and some cyclists.

It is and has been John's run on the date of his birthday, for several years now.

Rad and I have run with John the last couple of years, but this year we are both injured, my injuries are well known, whereas Rad still has trouble with his Achilles.

It has been a run which many ACT athletes use when training for The Canberra Marathon.

There are distances of 15, 18 and 21 miles, and many longer runs, depending on the mood of the group on a particular day.

I remember the article written by Peter Kallio, on "How to run The Cotter", it appeared in Vetrunner and The Canberra Runner.

Until Next Time

Probe finds toilet paper 'dumping'

Probe finds toilet paper 'dumping'
Ian McIlwraith
January 2, 2009


Millions of dollars were at stake in the row. In 2007, Australians spent $728 million, or about 10¢ a day for each of us, buying 120,000 tonnes of the stuff, and that market has grown by 25 per cent in just four years.
Makers, like most users, rate toilet paper on a comfort basis. About two-thirds of toilet paper sold is premium grade — thicker and softer — and Woolies' brand grew from nothing to 6 per cent of the market in just two years.
Kimberley-Clark and SCA are also foreign-controlled, but the anti-dumping investigation found they make a sufficient amount of their toilet paper product here to qualify as locals — SCA has a factory in Box Hill that employs 460 people.
Kimberley-Clark would be better known to consumers as the maker of Kleenex and Woolies' rival "You'll Love Coles" brand in the premium market, and Wondersoft in the mid-range. SCA makes Sorbent at the premium end and Purex in the mid-range.
The investigation found that PT Pindo Deli's products were coming in about 33 per cent to 38 per cent below "normal" prices and Gold Hong Ye's at between 5 and 10 per cent below.
Those companies, and other importers, have until late this month to appeal against the decision before penalties are applied to the toilet paper brought in. A spokesman for APP in Australia said it was likely they would appeal against the decision.
The dumping penalties mean a likely higher cost of supply to Woolworths, and the probability that prices on the shelves will rise.

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Just a small item, but the story behind the issue is fascinating.

Barassi - A legend of the AFL

No one's safe these days.


Barassi beaten as he aids woman
Paul Millar January 2, 2009

AFL legend Ron Barassi was smashed to the ground and kicked in the head while he lay in the gutter after he went to the aid of a woman being bashed in St Kilda, early on New Year's Day.
Barassi, 72, was nursing bruised ribs, lumps on his head and a graze to the front of it, but had no regrets.

Barassi and his wife, Cheryl, had been welcoming in the new year with friends at a restaurant in Fitzroy Street when a man, who was part of a group, lashed out at a woman, sending her sprawling. "She nearly knocked my chair over," Mrs Barassi said.

"Ron just took off like a rocket after the guy, but we lost sight of him in the crowd."
One of the AFL's most decorated players said he remembered little of what happened after that.
"This woman and this bloke were blueing and then he was biffing her and I wasn't going to have that," he said.
"He took off and then I took off after him."

The next thing Barassi remembers is being helped up from the gutter.
"It all happened very quickly. He kicked me in the head and in the ribs, it was probably all over in 10 to 15 seconds," he said.

Mrs Barassi said the man who struck the woman, who was also drunk, was in a group of four.
She said it was hard to tell what happened after her husband chased the man because the crowd was so thick.

"But when we got to him he was doubled over," she said. "There were so many couples that came up to him and said 'Good on you for doing that'."

Until Nest time