Beach smoke butted out

Seven Mile Beach-goers Megan Jarvis, 17, left, and Charlotte Adams, 19, are both happy to hear that smoking is going to be banned on patrolled beaches. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

STARTING today, smoking is banned on Tasmanian public beaches where surf life savers are on patrol.

Smokers could face a $260 fine for lighting up between the flags on the 12 beaches around the state patrolled by Surf Life Saving Tasmania.

Department of Health and Human Services Environmental Health state manager Stuart Heggie said the initiative was part of the changes the Tasmanian Government passed in March this year aimed at protecting people from second-hand tobacco smoke.

"This is an example of groups within our community working together to combat smoking and to send a message to our young people that smoking is not acceptable where they play and have fun," Mr Heggie said.

The bans had been brought into force with the support of Surf Life Saving Tasmania, with its life savers able to advise people not to smoke between the flags.

Tobacco control officers, with the power to enforce fines, are set to begin patrolling beaches later in the summer.

Smoking has already been banned in all Tasmanian alfresco dining areas and in Salamanca Place.

Surf Life Saving Tasmania general manager Tony van den Enden welcomed the ban and said there were still areas of the beach where smokers were allowed to smoke.

"It increases people's enjoyment for those who don't smoke and provides an area where they can enjoy a smoke-free environment but at the same time it's not trying to reduce or take away from those who do smoke," he said.

Mr Heggie said he hoped providing smoke-free areas would make it easier for some people to successfully give up.

A 2006 NSW study showed 54 per cent of smokers who had tried to quit found that seeing someone smoking was a trigger to relapse; while 40 per cent said that smelling a cigarette was a trigger.

Smoking will be banned between the flags at Boat Harbour, Bridport, Burnie, Carlton Park, Clifton Beach, Devonport, Kingston Beach, Penguin, Port Sorell, Scamander, Somerset and Ulverstone.

emma.hope@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fire fury hits Tassie

A burnt-out Kombi van at Glen Huon yesterday. Pictures: LUKE BOWDEN

EMERGENCY crews battled fires through the night after 60 blazes broke out across the state yesterday.

Temperatures up to 34C in the South and strong winds fanned the flames in an early warning of the summer fire season ahead.

Several shacks and vehicles in the Glen Huon area were destroyed.

Some residents evacuated areas affected by the worst fires, including Glen Huon and Geeveston in the South and Glenlusk near Collinsvale, north-west of Hobart.

For some residents the fire brought back memories of past catastrophic bushfires.

Tom Healy said he watched the fire nervously from his family's Judbury farm.

"I think this will push people [to prepare], especially after the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria," Mr Healy said.

"We have a lot of stock on the property and I've had family members ringing me because they're worried. I've had the whipper snipper out because of all the grass but it's so hot.

"It's been such a wet winter and now it's really sunny and the grass gets really long and dangerous."

Late last night the Glenlusk fire was causing the most concern for the Tasmania Fire Service.

Roads were closed as a small fire suddenly took hold, sending embers, smoke and ash across Collinsvale and surrounds.

Fire authorities warned of the dangers of spot fires that could threaten homes ahead of the fire front.

The biggest fire, in the Central Plateau, was expected to threaten shack communities at Jonah Bay and Arthurs Lake overnight and today. The blaze covered 1000ha and was burning on both sides of the Poatina Rd between Great Lake and Arthurs Lake.

Incident controller Chris Arthur from Parks and Wildlife Service said about 35 people were working on the fire, which had raced through the low heather, and workers would be relieved by three crews who would patrol the fire overnight.

About seven firefighters suffered burns as they battled a serious blaze near Forcett, east of Hobart.

More than 200 firefighters were at work statewide.

TFS officer Michael Goldsmith said the number of fires reflected the high winds and temperatures.

"We're hoping the weather will work in our favour overnight but the winds are still quite high in certain areas," Mr Goldsmith said last night.

Mr Goldsmith said crews were quickly redirected to the Collinsvale-Glenlusk fire, which was reported just before 5pm but soon came close to homes.

"We haven't advised anyone to evacuate but some people have taken that option if they weren't prepared."

Yesterday was one of the hottest November days on record, reaching 33.7C and not dropping below 22.3.

About 5900 households were without power in the Huon area for about 20 minutes last night.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thanks for being there

HOW do you thank someone for saving your life?

For Josie O'Brien, the donation of a new all-terrain stretcher is just the beginning of her fundraising efforts to show her appreciation of the Tasmania Police Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Ms O'Brien, who works for Westpac in Sydney, was on the first day of a guided Overland Track walk near Cradle Mountain last month when she collapsed after suffering a heart attack and minor stroke.

The rescue helicopter was unable to land because of bad weather.

Search-and-rescue police, wilderness paramedics and SES volunteers walked in to reach her by 2am, then stretchered her out before she was airlifted to North West Regional Hospital. Ms O'Brien, who has made a full recovery, praised her rescuers for their courage and generosity.

"Everyone did their best under difficult circumstances to get me off the mountain and that's why I'm here today," she said.

"They were tremendous. I felt very safe and cared for -- they're just amazing people."

Westpac has supported the Tasmania Police Rescue Helicopter Service since 2005.

Ms O'Brien has launched her year-long fundraising effort to buy wilderness-specific equipment, with Westpac matching it dollar-for-dollar.

Ms O'Brien, who is originally from Tasmania, has been reunited with the people involved in her rescue, including pilot Jamie Humphreys.

"It was very emotional. I had to come back and say thank you," she said.

Mr Humphreys said it was rewarding to know about her recovery.

The helicopter service has completed 178 missions this year, which includes medivacs, searches, rescues, motor vehicle accidents, AUSSAR missions and training exercises.

Chairman of the Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust Inspector Brett Smith urged people to take care outdoors this summer.

"We advise people to make sure they plan what they do and to tell people where they're going," he said.

Donations can be made to the Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust at any Westpac branch using BSB 037-001 and account number 422431.

elizabeth.lord@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gearing up for a sizzler

Stacey Armstrong and Laura Jackson, both 22, enjoy ice cream in the heat. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

TODAY marks the beginning of the bushfire danger season in Tasmania -- with temperatures forecast to soar.

The mercury is tipped to go over 30C in the South today, prompting the Tasmania Fire Service to declare the season's first total fire ban.

Hobart is forecast to reach 32C, while Campania and Richmond can expect 33C.

How will you be taking advantage of the hot weather today?
Hitting the beach or cranking the AC in the office?

Get all the latest Tassie weather

Yesterday was also a hot one, with Hobart recording a maximum of 30C -- 11 degrees above the November average.

The state's top temperatures yesterday were recorded in Ouse, 32.6C, and Strahan, 32.5C.

TFS chief officer Mike Brown urged everyone living in and around bushland to review their bushfire plans.

He said today's fire ban was in response to the high temperatures and dry conditions.

"The vegetation across the state has dried out measurably despite recent scattered light rain," he said.

He said today's high temperatures meant fires could "develop in size very quickly and be difficult to control".

"There are a number of fires across the state that have been difficult to control and extinguish," Mr Brown said.

Last night fire crews were at six vegetation fires across the state, the largest burning out of control around Poatina Rd, Central Plateau.

Southern Water has also introduced water restrictions today in response to the dangerous conditions.

People should avoid all non-essential water use to leave enough for fire fighting.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Malcolm Downing said it was the first "very high danger" rating for the fire season.

Mr Downing said there had been little rain over the past two weeks, which had significantly dried out vegetation.

He said tomorrow should be cooler, with temperatures forecast to be in the low 20s.

Today's total fire ban means that no fires can be started out of doors in the southern region, which includes the municipalities of Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Tasman.

The ban started at midnight last night and remains in place until midnight tonight.

Mr Brown said today's fire ban also meant people could not use cutting, welding or other similar equipment in the open.

"Although the use of agricultural machinery, for the purpose of harvesting crops or slashing grass, is not included in this ban operators are requested to take particular care when using this type of machinery," he said.

Fires should be reported by dialling 000.

TOTAL FIRE BAN RULES

No fires may be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air until midnight tonight.
Tools and equipment that use a naked flame or generate sparks must not be used in the open air.
Barbecues that use wood, charcoal or solid fuel banned.
Gas and electric barbecues are permitted if the barbecue is a fixed permanent structure.

Water restrictions:

Avoid all non-essential water use to ensure enough water is available for fire fighting.
Turn off all sprinkler systems, including automatic systems.
Use hoses sparingly. Where possible, restrict hose use to fire prevention or mitigation. 
Use a bucket if it is necessary to water plants, clean windows.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sea Quest back at home

SOLO sailor Tobias Fahey arrived back in Hobart yesterday afternoon and, despite the glorious weather, it was clear he wanted to be elsewhere.

Family and friends were at the Derwent Sailing Squadron to welcome him home but the atmosphere was very different to a week before, when the 25-year-old set out on his voyage, aiming to sail around the world alone faster than any other Australian.

After making great progress, he had to turn back on Saturday, when faulty wiring damaged the batteries on his yacht Sea Quest beyond repair, affecting essential safety and communications equipment, including the radar and the automatic identification system (AIS) which helped prevent collisions with other vessels.

Pressing on would not have been the safe thing to do, Fahey said yesterday.

"You have to be able to maintain watch at all times and to continue sailing on my own without this equipment would be a danger to myself and other boats," he said.

It was too early to say whether he would set out again in the next few days or abandon the attempt for this year.

"I will go home, talk to a few people and assess my options," he said.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teenager's fatal poppy brew

THE devastated mother of a 17-year-old boy killed by a toxic poppy brew wants greater accountability from the industry.

The teenager was found dead at his Forcett home in south-east Tasmania by his family, who want to keep their anonymity at this stage.

The circumstances surrounding the discovery of his body early on Sunday night were too painful for his mother to discuss last night.

It is understood that he had taken the fatal drink with a friend after the alleged theft of poppies from the local area.

"Nothing will bring my son back but I want to see measures in place that make these plants less accessible," his mother said.

"What can we do now but ask that my son's death raises community awareness?

"There are no electric fences out here, no warning signs, as far as I can see."

She said his friends had been at the house, "sitting in his bedroom, just wanting to be close to the essence of him".

"He was a boy so full of life ... so trusting and so ready to grab excitement, try what life had to offer; he loved snowboarding, music, experiencing everything he could," she said.

"He's done this, and it's cost us him -- and the impact ... there are no words."

Her son had just finished college and had plans to travel.

She said she was loath to revert to cliches, but said drinking poppy brew "was like roulette", and added that her son was a "normal adolescent exhibiting normal, risk-taking behaviours".

She wanted parents everywhere to be aware of this danger and to talk to their sons and daughters.

"For us there will be no escape," she said.

"From where I live I can see poppy fields in three different directions. I can't avoid them -- it has been a growth industry in this area and they're everywhere."

The boy's death was the second caused by poppy capsule ingestion in two years.

A 50-year-old Ravenswood man died after consuming the toxic ingredient -- used to make morphine and other narcotics -- in February last year.

Tasmania is the only state in Australia to commercially farm industrial poppies. Tasmania Police southern drug squad boss John Arnold said the narcotics in poppies were extremely dangerous.

"The death of the young man is a tragic outcome for his family and friends," he said.

"The narcotics contained in poppy capsules are extremely dangerous and with the poppy harvest season approaching it's sadly a timely warning of the potentially lethal effect of ingesting any poppy product."

In recent years, police and the Poppy Control Board have reduced the theft of poppies through rigorous monitoring of the commercial crops.

Det-Insp Arnold said the number of thefts had been cut from 10,000 in the 2005-06 growing season to about 687 last year.

"It's been declining but there's almost a generation of kids that don't realise the dangers of cooking up poppies and ingesting them," he said.

Insp Arnold said the concentration of narcotics in a poppy capsule varied depending on how mature the flower was, climate and growing conditions, making it difficult for people to judge the potency of poppies they were ingesting.

A coroner's report on the death is being prepared and a probe into the circumstances of the tragedy is continuing.

The teen's funeral will be held later this week.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boys in vaccine catch-up

A VACCINE to protect Tasmanian high school students from serious diseases will be rolled out to schools early next year.

After introducing a Gardasil vaccine program for Tasmanian girls in 2007, Tasmanian high school boys also will be vaccinated to protect them against four types of the human papilloma virus.

A $200 million, four-year rollout of the vaccine will begin next year, Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne said yesterday.

The decision comes after the anti-immunisation lobby has been accused of endangering children's lives as the number of parents refusing to vaccinate has risen by more than 600 per cent nationally. The Gardasil vaccine protects against four types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with a range of cancers.

Ms O'Byrne said changes in Tasmania's free vaccination program for high school students would focus on the introduction of the Gardasil vaccination for boys in 2013. The shifting of all routine school-based adolescent vaccinations into Year 7 will also take place during the next two years.

"There should be no mistaking the importance of vaccinations for the health of a child and for the health of our community as a whole -- these changes will strengthen the protection vaccinations offer," Ms O'Byrne said.

"The HPV vaccine will now be routinely delivered to boys in Year 7 across Tasmania, while boys in Year 9 will be able to get the vaccine at school in a catch-up program in 2013 and 2014.

"Gardasil has been shown to be safe and effective in preventing the common types of HPV infections which can cause cancers in both men and women."

Vaccinations to reduce the incidents of whooping cough will also be fine-tuned Ms O'Byrne said yesterday. This year health officials have seen 1062 cases of whooping cough in Tasmania up from 308 cases for all of 2011.

Ms O'Byrne said changes would be implemented to see all routine school-based adolescent vaccinations, including the whooping cough vaccine, offered to students in Year 7.

"To date, vaccinations have been provided in either Grade 6 or 7 depending on the local government area," Ms O'Byrne said.

Providing all vaccinations in Grade 7 will avoid the risk of students missing a vaccination if they move from a primary school to a secondary school in a different area.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fit members of society

A GLENORCHY police officer is helping disadvantaged teens to turn their lives around using fitness.

Kick-boxing, fun runs and basketball are some of the tactics Constable Claire Lowe uses to break down barriers with the kids.

For the past year she's run the Mobile Activity Centre, funded by the Glenorchy City Council and Tasmania Police.

Constable Lowe said it was "like a mobile PCYC", targeting children identified by local schools or police as needing some extra guidance.

"I don't go in my police uniform, I go in sports clothes to break down the barriers with the kids," she said.

"I give them a bit of love as well, because there are a lot of kids I come across from very low socio-economic areas. "

Constable Lowe said she had not been aware just how bad the home environment was for some children before starting the program.

She said many of the teens she helped had been smoking since they were 10 and some never ate fresh fruit and vegetables. Others no longer lived with their parents.

"It's been a real eye opener and I'm really proud that I've put some of these kids back on track," she said.

Constable Lowe has worked with more than 30 children individually and hundreds more in group fitness sessions.

Sixteen-year-old Shakanea has been meeting Constable Lowe since March and the pair recently ran the Point to Pinnacle together.

"She got my confidence up and helped me get into fitness," Shakanea said.

"I was going a little bit down the wrong path."

"I didn't realise what I was doing and where I was headed."

She said she had started to value Constable Lowe as a friend.

"I know if I ever need anything, I can go to her," she said.

hannah.martin@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman's body found

POLICE are investigating the death of a woman after her body was found in Devonport yesterday.

Police and paramedics were called to a vehicle parked in Ronald St, Devonport just before 3am yesterday and a 24-year-old woman was located on the nature strip nearby.

The cause of death is unknown at this time and a post-mortem will be conducted.

Police said the woman had no significant injuries and no violent crime was suspected.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Circumnavigation bid aborted

Tobias Fahey, seen here on his way past the Iron Pot at the start of his record attempt, has has to abort the trip after his batteries became damaged. Picture: Jimmy Emms and Tasmanian Air Adventures

TASMANIAN solo yachtsman Tobias Fahey has been forced to abandon his around-the-world voyage and is limping back to Hobart.

He set sail on Wednesday on his attempt to circumnavigate the world in under 180 days but yesterday encountered a battery problem that sank his plans.

"I have been having charging issues since I left and they have progressively gotten worse to the point that my batteries will no longer hold charge for a sufficient amount of time," he said.

Faulty wiring in the alternator regulator caused the batteries on board to receive an excess charge, which overheated them and damaged them beyond repair.

The batteries, which are charged by the boat's motor or wind generators, supply power for several essential onboard systems, including communications, radar and the automatic identification systems (AIS) needed to avoid collisions with other vessels at sea.

Without sufficient electricity to power these systems and no way of repairing the damage at sea, Fahey, 25 from Dodges Ferry, made the heartbreaking decision to turn back to Hobart just three days into his voyage.

"I still have this strong urge to go on but it's not worth the risk, it's unsafe," he told the Sunday Tasmanian by satellite phone last night.

"I've spoken to my family and they all said not to risk going on -- the world's not going anywhere, it'll still be there later."

Fahey said the westerly winds and swell that had carried him so swiftly towards New Zealand were now working against him as his yacht, Sea Quest, battled into the wind and waves for a much slower and rougher journey home.

"I was basically surfing down the waves all the way until now but now I'm slamming into them," he said. Fahey was closer to New Zealand than Tasmania when he turned back and expects the return trip to take four days.

Fahey's goal was to complete his voyage in under 180 days to break the Australian record for sailing solo around the world.

Before turning back, he was on track to do it in around 135 days.

He said the repairs would cost thousands of dollars and he was unsure when he would be able to make another attempt at the record, but is determined to try again.

"I'll just have to take a look at that once I'm back in Hobart," he said.

"The past few days have been some of the most satisfying and rewarding days of my life."

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sun, sand, surf ... sharks

A great white shark swims past a caged diver off North Neptune Island in South Australia.

AS Tasmanians flock to the beach over the coming months, the collective nightmare of shark attacks will cause some to nervously look over their shoulder.

But while sightings generally increase over summer, there is still likely to be more people in the water than sharks.

Sharks, including the great white, are actually with us year-round, as they cruise the oceans in search of food.

There have been just 10 documented attacks in Tasmanian waters -- five of which were fatal.

The most recent victim was young surfer Hannah Mighall in 2009.

She was just 13 when she was attacked by a great white shark at Binalong Bay almost four years ago, escaping with leg injuries after being helped to shore by her older cousin Syb Mundy.

The attack gave Ms Mighall membership to an extremely small "club". Before that, the last person to be attacked by a shark in Tasmania was Exeter woman Therese Cartwright.

In June 1993, Mrs Cartwright was killed by a 4m white pointer while diving at the Barrenjoey Island seal colony near Low Head.

It was in this area that game fishers saw a great white shark on Tuesday. The crew had been burleying to attract mako sharks, but also attracted the interest of the great white, which stayed near the boat for two hours.

Shark expert Chris Black, who extensively researched Tasmanians' encounters with great whites for his book White Pointer South, said attitudes towards sharks were changing.

Even when a recent string of fatal attacks in Western Australia spurred calls for culling, there was an equally strong social-media-led movement for continued protection.

"It's a change in attitude that's been heartening to see," Mr Black said.

"It's great that people are interested and want to learn more."

He said most people involved in shark attacks in Tasmania had been diving at the time, making Ms Mighall's experience all the more unusual.

"We've 10 recorded attacks in Tasmanian waters and really that's a pretty good record given the number of great white sharks that are in our waters at any time of year," Mr Black said.

"A number of them [attacks] have been in the winter months."

He said hot spots for great white shark sightings included Bruny Island, the Tasman Peninsula, Bass Strait and the Scamander area on the East Coast.

Retired fisherman Alan Bradshaw, of South Arm, clearly remembers the day in 1981 when he pulled up a monstrous five-metre great white. The shark had become tangled in a net, and had died by the time the net was pulled.

"We had been trevally fishing and this net was really heavy. I thought we had a big ray ... it was a shock," Mr Bradshaw said.

He said professional fishers generally welcomed the sight of a great white shark, because the giant predators eat fish-stealing seals.

Surf Life Saving Tasmania general manager Tony van den Enden said surf lifesavers had plans in place in the event of a shark sighting near a popular beach.

These include the use of aerial patrols, maintaining contact with shark researchers at the CSIRO, and beach closures in the event of a sighting.

Mr van den Enden said any shark over 2m could be considered a potential threat to people.

"From late spring to mid-summer we get more sightings, but that could be because there are more people in and around the water," he said.

"It's normal behaviour for sharks to be in the surf zone."

Mr Black said he was heartened by an apparent public attitude shift, with more people seemingly more interested in protecting sharks rather than culling them.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Circumnavigation bid aborted

Tobias Fahey, seen here on his way past the Iron Pot at the start of his record attempt, has has to abort the trip after his batteries became damaged. Picture: Jimmy Emms and Tasmanian Air Adventures

TASMANIAN solo yachtsman Tobias Fahey has been forced to abandon his around-the-world voyage and is limping back to Hobart.

He set sail on Wednesday on his attempt to circumnavigate the world in under 180 days but yesterday encountered a battery problem that sank his plans.

"I have been having charging issues since I left and they have progressively gotten worse to the point that my batteries will no longer hold charge for a sufficient amount of time," he said.

Faulty wiring in the alternator regulator caused the batteries on board to receive an excess charge, which overheated them and damaged them beyond repair.

The batteries, which are charged by the boat's motor or wind generators, supply power for several essential onboard systems, including communications, radar and the automatic identification systems (AIS) needed to avoid collisions with other vessels at sea.

Without sufficient electricity to power these systems and no way of repairing the damage at sea, Fahey, 25 from Dodges Ferry, made the heartbreaking decision to turn back to Hobart just three days into his voyage.

"I still have this strong urge to go on but it's not worth the risk, it's unsafe," he told the Sunday Tasmanian by satellite phone last night.

"I've spoken to my family and they all said not to risk going on -- the world's not going anywhere, it'll still be there later."

Fahey said the westerly winds and swell that had carried him so swiftly towards New Zealand were now working against him as his yacht, Sea Quest, battled into the wind and waves for a much slower and rougher journey home.

"I was basically surfing down the waves all the way until now but now I'm slamming into them," he said. Fahey was closer to New Zealand than Tasmania when he turned back and expects the return trip to take four days.

Fahey's goal was to complete his voyage in under 180 days to break the Australian record for sailing solo around the world.

Before turning back, he was on track to do it in around 135 days.

He said the repairs would cost thousands of dollars and he was unsure when he would be able to make another attempt at the record, but is determined to try again.

"I'll just have to take a look at that once I'm back in Hobart," he said.

"The past few days have been some of the most satisfying and rewarding days of my life."

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More