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The last train pulls out

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 09 Februari 2013 | 14.56

APRIL 13, 2013. The coal is shovelled into the firey furnace. The steam rises. The whistle blows for the final time. The brakes are released, and a train creaks along the long and winding track, slowly at first before building momentum. This is the last journey of the Abt Railway.

The story of the pioneers who built the original track more than 100 years ago will only be told in history books.

The hand-hewn rock cuttings and ancient rainforests never again seen by international tourists.

It's a $35 million investment in regional tourism that's run out of steam. Fallen off the tracks. Lost its puff. Been derailed.

It's predicted the already fragile railway infrastructure will fall into ruin in no time.

Left unmanaged, the 35km track will give in to slippage and rot, and troublesome weed will overtake the rail corridor, threatening the pristine wilderness it intersects.

The best case scenario, says Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chairman Simon Currant, is a short-term shutdown until October so that long over-due repairs can be done.

But that's only if someone coughs up the $5.8 million needed for upgrades.

It's a big "if" and it doesn't give much hope to the 48 people employed on the railway, from steam train drivers to office managers and tour guides.

There are also the businesses that will be indirectly affected. The hotels will have no tourists to stay in them. Coach companies will have no one to transfer. Coffee shops will have no diners.

Many staff at these businesses have already been put on notice and are looking for work elsewhere.

With them will go their families.

It's a hefty loss for a town of just 2500 people.

"Queenstown will become nothing more than a drive-in, drive-out mining town if this continues," one local lamented.

The community has forged an identity on the success of the railway attraction in recent years.

There's the Railway Express general store, the West Coaster Hotel, Tracks Cafe and the Railway Hotel Motel.

A Queenstown without the railway is like a Port Arthur without an historic site.

There's been much debate this week about the importance of regional tourism to the state economy and outright criticism of Premier Lara Giddings and Tourism Minister Scott Bacon.

They took centre stage as accolades from Lonely Planet and Trip Adviser rolled in last year on the back of MONA's impact in the national market.

They were patting themselves on the back when Tiger Airways returned to Tasmanian skies and Qantas and Virgin increased flights.

But at a crisis community meeting in Queenstown there were calls for Ms Giddings to make an appearance, and Mr Bacon found himself defending slashes to tourism marketing in past budgets.

After the meeting, it was Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne who fronted waiting media as Mr Bacon drove past the throng in his chauffeur-driven car.

But locals and tourism groups were asking how long the State Government could lean on the likes of MONA.

Mr Bacon told the Mercury he was committed to "supporting the regional tourism sector".

"This financial year, we're spending more than $10 million marketing Tasmania as a world-class destination to potential visitors interstate and overseas, with an additional $1 million for marketing activities announced towards the end of last year," he said.

"[Tourism Tasmania] are also promoting the West Coast's tourism industry through funding to the Cradle Coast Authority for co-operative marketing activities with local operators to promote the area's tourism activities and experiences, and stimulate the bookings."

But there is little sign of stimulated bookings in Queenstown.

West Coaster Hotel owner Brett Cannon said the railway's uncertain future was already having an impact on businesses in the area.

He put renovation work on hold after taking a $16,000 hit in bookings and cancellations in just four days after news of the railway's closure.

Debate rages about who should take responsibility for the $5.8 million repair bill -- the State Government or gambling and tourism juggernaut the Federal Group, which had a 20-year government lease to run it.

But pointing the finger after the event won't help.

The Federal Group has wiped its hands of the venture and was given approval to do so.

The struggle now is to find the cash to fix the railway and a new operator to run the attraction.

The tourism council wants the Federal Government to put up $5.8 million to repair the track, with the State Government to fund operating costs and losses for two years while it tries to secure a long-term operator.

ABT RAILWAY'S WILD RIDE

The Abt Railway may once again disappear into the ancient forests of the West Coast.

• Carved into the harsh landscape more than 100 years ago, the original track quickly succumbs to the rugged wilderness when it closes in 1963.

• It costs more than $35 million to restore the railway in the late 1990s, with contributions from Federal and State Governments and private developer Roger Smith.

• In 2001 the partly completed Abt Railway opens as a tourist attraction, but trains suffer several derailments. The full 35km line is completed in August 2002 with funds from the State Government. It crosses 40 bridges, wild rivers and climbs over 200 metres on its journey from Queenstown to Strahan.

• Four months later Smith sells his interest back to the State Government for $10.2 million -- enough to recover his investment. Eighteen months later he receives a payout of $836,000 from the State Government for the loss of revenue caused by construction delays.

• In late 2002 Federal Group signs a 20-year lease to run the attraction as the West Coast Wilderness Railway. More than 39,300 people ride the railway in 2002-03.

• The Tourism and Transport Forum says the attraction increases the amount of time people spend in the region from an average of 1.3 to 1.8 nights per person.

• Two of the original five Abt locomotives that operate on the railway are believed to be the oldest, fully restored working locomotives in the world.


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Club attack man spared jail

A YOUNG man has been given a suspended jail term for a drunken attack on a stranger in a Hobart nightclub.

Matthew Roland Almond, 18, of Rokeby, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault over the incident at Syrup on July 29 last year.

Almond and a friend were sitting at one end of a couch in the nightclub when his friend punched a man sitting at the other end of the couch.

When the pair fell on to the couch, Almond joined in and punched the victim about 14 times to the head.

Justice Helen Wood said the attack was recorded by CCTV cameras inside the venue.

"Mr Almond struck a man who was already down, a man who had already been the victim of an unwarranted assault," the judge said.

Justice Wood said the victim suffered a fractured eye socket, had been forced to take three weeks off work to recover from the injuries and continued to suffer migraines brought on by the attack.

Almond, who was drunk at the time of the attack, was extremely remorseful but could not remember his actions or their motivation.

He described his behaviour as "disgusting" and said he had dramatically reduced his alcohol intake since the incident.

Justice Wood sentenced Almond to nine months' jail but suspended the sentence for two years on the condition Almond not commit an offence punishable by imprisonment.

She also ordered him to perform 182 hours of community service.

david.killick@news.com.au


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Libs hit 'failure' on jobs

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 08 Februari 2013 | 14.56

TASMANIA'S unemployment woes continue to grow, with new figures showing the jobless rate has climbed to 7.4 per cent.

The state Opposition said the figures showed the State Government's jobs plan was not working.

However, Premier Lara Giddings said the figures, which she described as unacceptably high, showed the need for the Tasmanian Jobs Package, unveiled late last year.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show, in trend terms, Tasmania tops the nation's jobless rates at 7.4 per cent, up from 6.8 per cent a year ago, compared with the 5.4 per cent national average.

Western Australia (4.3 per cent) and the Northern Territory (3.9 per cent) have the lowest unemployment rates.

Opposition finance spokesman Peter Gutwein said the Government had had 14 years to fix unemployment problems and had failed.

"The Labor-Green minority experiment is destroying jobs and forcing many Tasmanians to leave the state in search of work," Mr Gutwein said.

"The disastrous forestry deal has ravaged regional communities across the state and it's clear that mining is the next industry to face attacks."

Ms Giddings said it was too early to see the benefits of her jobs plan, which she says will create new jobs.

"Today's unemployment figures simply highlight the importance of the Tasmanian Jobs Package, which will create more than 3300 new jobs," Ms Giddings said.

"I hope that in the months ahead we will start to see a turnaround in the jobs market, as the jobs package takes effect and businesses start to regain confidence."

Ms Giddings pointed to a NAB survey showing that although employment was at a subdued level business conditions were improving.


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Fire torment continues

A PILOT has crashed his helicopter while fighting Tasmania's raging bushfires in the Derwent Valley.

The drama unfolded as Tasmania again found itself at the mercy of raging bushfires just weeks after blazes wiped out homes and livelihoods in the Derwent Valley, at Bicheno and on the Tasman Peninsula.

Homes are under threat in the Molesworth area north of Hobart as a total fire ban was declared for today in the North and South of the state.

The  helicopter pilot is lucky to be alive after his chopper crashed while fighting the Molesworth fire.

Visit the Tasmania Fire Service website for the latest updates.

The Molesworth fire in pictures

Police say the 52-year-old Hobart man was flying one of four helicopters water-bombing the out-of-control fire when he crashed in a clearing at 5pm.

The pilot escaped from the stricken aircraft and the nearby bushfire and was flown to safety by the Tasmania Police Rescue Helicopter.

He was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he was reported to be in a stable condition with some bruising.

The Molesworth fire had reached Suhrs Rd, Fehlbergs Rd, Valley Rd and Collins Cap Rd late last night.

Firefighters were on high alert as the fire headed towards Myrtle Forest Rd and Old Springdale Rd.

Embers, smoke and ash was falling on Molesworth, Glenlusk and Collinsvale.

Fire refuges have been set up at the Derwent Entertainment Centre and Carinya behind the New Norfolk High School.

Three safe havens have also been set up at the Collinsvale War Memorial Hall at Halls Rd, the Molesworth Community Hall and the Malbina Cemetery.

Yesterday also marked the 46th anniversary of the deadly 1967 fires and the significance of the date was not lost on many firefighters battling infernos at Molesworth, Franklin and Lefroy. The Molesworth fire, the biggest of the three last night, began on Wednesday and jumped Glen Huon Rd to threaten properties on Wednesday night.

High temperatures yesterday resulted in the blaze reigniting in multiple locations and by late afternoon firefighters admitted they were facing another potential disaster.

The fire broke containment lines and approached homes at Collinsvale last night before conditions eased and the fire was downgraded to a watch and act alert.

"Due to the steep terrain, it's causing the winds to blow from variable directions so the fire's been very unpredictable," Tasmanian Fire Service senior station officer Phil Douglas said.

Reinforcements from across the state were called in to help with more than 38 teams and five water-bombing helicopters trying to stop the blaze from reaching homes at Collinsvale and beyond.

Caravans, sheds and cars were lost by mid-afternoon and residents evacuated.

"Our priorities are saving life then property," fire safety officer Paul Coad, who was at the forefront of the Dunalley blaze just a few weeks ago, said.

"Some houses we can defend and some we cannot. That's the harsh reality of this situation and we need the community to work with us because in a situation like this you don't get second chances."

Tasmania Police and the fire service want information about vehicles or people seen behaving suspiciously near Glen Dhu Rd between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday.


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Molesworth fire alert

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 07 Februari 2013 | 14.56

WATER-BOMBING helicopters were flying in relays today to protect properties from a bushfire in rugged terrain near the Derwent Valley hamlet of Molesworth.

More than 20 fire crews were on the scene of the blaze this afternoon, which was burning through bush near Glen Dhu Rd.

Many residents in the area evacuated ahead of the fire front.

Readers' pictures can be emailed to readerspix@dbl.newsltd.com.au  

Several local roads were closed, with police setting up barriers to control traffic.

The Tasmania Fire Service warned residents of the impending threat.

It issued a "watch and act" alert this afternoon, saying the fire could affect Molesworth, Glenlusk and Collinsvale within hours.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury


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Burke names trawler panel

FEDERAL Environment Minister Tony Burke will wait for legal advice before deciding if a banned super trawler should be allowed to operate as a giant freezer for smaller ships fishing in Australian waters.

The company behind the Abel Tasman, the factory ship controversially banned from fishing last year, has written to Mr Burke about its proposal to act as a "mother ship" for smaller vessels.

Under the proposal from Seafish Tasmania, small ships could transfer catches of mackerel and redbait to the Abel Tasman's large onboard freezer facilities for processing.

Mr Burke rushed legislation through parliament in September giving him new powers to ban the trawler for two years while its environmental impact was assessed by an expert panel.

He can also refer new fishing methods to that expert panel for review and take further action to make those activities illegal if necessary.

Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a staunch opponent to the vessel, said Seafish Tasmania was cynically attempting to circumvent the ban and asked what Mr Burke was doing to "stop the madness".

Mr Burke said he had asked his department to prepare fresh legal advice about this proposal and wouldn't prejudge the outcome.

"But on the face of it, many of the environmental issues we were dealing with a few months ago still arise in this new proposal," he told parliament.

The minister has written to Seafish Tasmania warning the company he reserved the right to deny their proposal.

Mr Burke today announced the make-up of a four-member expert panel chosen to determine the future of super trawlers in Australia.

The panel will assess the environmental impacts of factory vessels like the Abel Tasman, the largest factory ship ever to enter Australia.

Its plan to fish for an 18,000 tonnes catch in waters stretching from southern Queensland to the Bass Strait and Western Australia caused public outcry and led to Mr Burke taking action.

The panel will be chaired by Mary Lack, a company director with more than 25 years of experience in fisheries management.

The panel has until October next year to make its conclusions and report back to the environment minister.


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Hobart Cup field revealed

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 06 Februari 2013 | 14.56

Paul and Elizabeth Geard, the owners of last year's Hobart Cup winner Geegees Blackflash, have drawn barrier 14. Picture: SHARYN JONES

IT was a mixed bag of results for Tasmanian horses at today's Group Three $225,000 AAMI Hobart Cup (2400m) barrier draw.

Sixteen horses will line up in Sunday's feature staying race, with 11 Tasmanian-trained gallopers taking on five from interstate -- including four Victorians and the Gai Waterhouse trained Power Broker from New South Wales.

Top weight Geegees Blackflash (Peter Mertens), who returned to his best last Sunday in the Jockey Club Cup (2200m), will have to contend with barrier 14, while The Cleaner (Jason Maskiell) will start from 11.

Dream Pedlar (Craig Newitt) has barrier three in his fourth attempt to win the Hobart Cup after finishing third in 2009 and 2010 and fifth in 2011.

Last year's Launceston Cup winner Prevailing drew favourably in barrier seven, with stablemate Success Dostta is alongside in six.

Broadmarsh contenders Norsqui (Chris Symons) and Geejayhaitch (Jason Lyon) drew barriers eight and 12 respectively.

The Patrick Payne trained Fieldmaster (Michelle Payne) will have to overcome the outside barrier (16), while fellow Victorian Westsouthwest (Dwayne Dunn) is in 15.

Hurdy Gurdy Man (Glen Boss) started favourite ($1.90f) in last Sunday's Terang Cup (2150m), however could only manage third with his jockey (Damian Lane) suggesting that the horse didn't handle the track.

The Darren Weir trained stayer drew ideally in barrier one and is proven at a mile and a half.

GROUP THREE $225,000 AAMI HOBART CUP (2400M) BARRIER DRAW

1. Geegees Blackflash (14) Peter Mertens

2. The Cleaner (11) Jason Maskiell

3. Dream Pedlar (3) Craig Newitt

4. Norsqui (8) Chris Symons

5. Fieldmaster (16) Michelle Payne

6. Prevailing (7) Brendon McCoull

7. Hurdy Gurdy Man (1) Glen Boss

8. Westsouthwest (15) Dwayne Dunn

9. Lucky Angel (10) Chad Schofield (a)

10. Success Dostta (6) Anthony Darmanin

11. Geejayhaitch (12) TBA

12. Power Broker (2) Stephen Baster

13. Kenjorwood (9) TBA

14. Gee Gee's Boss (5) David Pires

15. Testa Jesta (4) Sigrid Carr (a)

16 Gee Gees Beauty (13) Rasit Yetimova (a)


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Time to think big, Tassie told

An artist's impression of the Mount Wellington Cable Car visitor centre at the summit.

ONE of Hobart's leading businessmen and entrepreneurs Robert Clifford says it is time for Tasmania to shake off its "anti-development" attitude and think bold.

Mr Clifford, chairman of shipbuilding company Incat, says Hobart needs a major new attraction to "rival the Sydney Opera House" if it wants to boost visitor numbers.

He said Tasmania needed to double the annual number of visitors to the state if it wanted to have a viable tourism industry that was capable of supporting struggling regional attractions, including the West Coast Wilderness Railway, set to close on April 30.

And he says Tasmania cannot rely on MONA alone to drive visitor numbers.

"We need to be much bolder and say this is good for Hobart; Tasmania needs this," he said.

"Don't do anything is the cry from most and that's not the way to survive. Standing still, you go backwards."

Mr Clifford's company has built vessels for major cruise companies, ferry operators and military operations around the world, employing a large number of Tasmanians at his Derwent Park shipyards.

Mr Clifford has been revealed as a potential investor in the Mt Wellington Cableway Company.

"Let's not stuff around with an apologetic mountain cable car that is hidden in the gullies. Let's go the whole hog and create an attraction to rival the Sydney Opera House," he said.

"My ideas might get watered down, but the bolder you are going forward, the better chance you have of success."

Mr Clifford called for a cable car development linking the Mt Wellington pinnacle to Hobart's waterfront, with a station at the Macquarie Point railyards site.

"I have in mind a major hotel and entertainment and shopping complex on the railway development site at Macquarie Point, one that has a massive central tower, topped by a revolving restaurant," he said.

"From this tower hundred-passenger capacity cars on a cable will run over the city to a Knocklofty transit station."

Mt Wellington Cableway Company executive director Adrian Bold said more than 1200 people had completed an online survey about the development.

Mr Bold wants 2200 responses -- 1 per cent of Hobart's population.

He said he hoped to have a proposal prepared by the end of the year.


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Eye tests essential for tweens

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 05 Februari 2013 | 14.56

Inessa Corney, 15, and sister Raphaela Corney, 11, trying on glasses in Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

THOUSANDS of Tasmanian children with learning difficulties may have an undiagnosed vision problem.

Optometrists are urging parents to have their children's eyes checked before and during their school lives.

The Optometrists Association's state spokesman Andrew Hogan said about 60 per cent of children with a learning difficulty also had a vision problem.

Mr Hogan, a paediatric optometrist in Hobart, said children should be checked when they started school and then every two to three years.

Another vital time was age 12 or 13, when short-sightedness commonly developed, making reading the whiteboard more difficult.

"Good vision equals good learning," Mr Hogan said.

"Once children start prep and grade one they are learning to read and write, so the demands on their eyes are quite significant and different.

"But kids won't tell you they can't read comfortably or that things are blurry."

"If their eyes don't work efficiently when they focus up close then they will learn to read more slowly."

He said vision problems added to learning difficulties and could even cause them. Behavioural issues could also result, especially if children could not see the board clearly.

Inessa Corney, 15, often wears contact lenses but has also worn glasses since age 11 for short-sightedness.

Her parents thought sister Raphaela, 11, was a reluctant reader until they had her sight tested at age five.

Father Stuart Corney said it took nearly three years to determine her issue -- problems focusing up close. Now she loves to read.

Eye tests have a Medicare rebate and most are bulk billed.


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Teens torch four cars in a night

A GROUP of teens who torched four vehicles in one night had shown "complete disregard" for their victims, a Hobart judge has said.

The Supreme Court in Hobart heard James William Lynch, 19, and three 18-year-old mates met up on July 6 last year and decided to entertain themselves by stealing cars.

Seven vehicles were targeted, with four set alight and destroyed.

One of the victims was unable to work without a car and his family suffered as a result.

The court heard the four teens first drove to Margate and stole five cans of fuel.

Lynch then drove the group to Montagu St, in Hobart, where they were thwarted in their efforts to steal a Subaru Liberty because it had an immobiliser fitted.

They continued on to Cross St, New Town, and broke into a Nissan Patrol wagon. They stole a computer inside the vehicle before driving it into a boomgate near Tolosa St Reserve and setting it on fire.

The next stop was Spring St, Claremont, where they stole a Nissan Navara and torched it.

The group then moved on Baker St, New Town, and broke into a Toyota Hiace van to steal a Navman GPS.

After failing to steal a Nissan Skyline at Glebe, the group drove to Fletcher Ave, Moonah, where they took a Toyota SUV with a trailer attached and "hooned" around a Moonah car park.

They set fire to the SUV after driving through a fence and hitting an excavator.

Still on a rampage at 7am, they stole a Subaru Brumby in Montagu St and drove it to Risdon Cove before setting it alight.

Police later identified one of the teens as a suspect, which led to Lynch being apprehended.

"He said that he had no explanation for what had happened and acknowledged the stupidity of his conduct, saying that if he could turn back the clock he would," Justice David Porter said in sentencing Lynch.

"He seems to be genuinely remorseful for his actions."

The judge told Lynch the group's conduct had caused considerable distress.

Lynch was sentenced two years and three months in jail, wholly suspended on the condition he completes 150 hours of community service and complies with a probation order.


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Hello world, it's Tassie calling

Written By Unknown on Senin, 04 Februari 2013 | 14.56

Battling tourism business operators, from left, Wally Lyne, Roger Self, Gary Hooper, Heather Henri, Kate McCarthy, and John Hay put out their SOS yesterday. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

"A MILLION likes would be great ... but paying us a visit would be even better."

That's the message tourism officials hope will spread around the world, through a social media campaign to arrest the tourism downturn in the bushfire-stricken Tasman Peninsula and elsewhere in the state.

The Sunday Tasmanian today partners tourism authorities to launch the campaign and drive tourism traffic back to the state.

For many operators it should be their busiest time of the year but accommodation houses are battling for business.

Guests have cancelled holidays or asked for discounts of up to 50 per cent to stay at venues on the Tasman Peninsula or East Coast.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said it was too early to tell just how much the bushfires would cost the state's tourism industry.

But operators and regional tourism groups want to take action to limit the impact and let the world know they're open for business.

Mr Martin said they wanted to send the message viral, and they needed help from everyone.

He pointed Tasmanians to the Port Arthur & Tasman Tourism Association Inc Facebook page and urged them to click "like" on the Open For Business campaign.

"Then make sure you share the post with family and friends," he said.

People are being urged to post on social media with the tags #tassiecalling and #openforbusiness.

Similar campaigns have been run in Australia and overseas with overwhelming success, sharing thousands of photographs, videos and experiences through social media to boost tourism trade and bolster local economies.

Fox and Hounds Resort owner Jo Dias was concerned it could take a long time for local tourism businesses to recover from the bushfires.

"We were into the first week of the busiest three weeks of our year [when the bushfires hit] and it just disintegrated," she said.

"Apart from the [hotel] rooms, our restaurant normally does upwards of 150 people a night. It's gone from that to zero.

"There are people worse off than we are, but in order to keep the [region] going businesses need to function."

It was a similar story for Wally Lyne from Port Arthur Villas who said guests had cancelled bookings for coming weeks, demanding full refunds, while others had offered to stay at heavily discounted rates.

"The next week or so I'm down to one or two people [staying] a night and this is a period when we're normally fully booked out," he said.

"This is the time we normally get our reserve to carry us through winter."

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon encouraged Tasmanians to support by visiting the Tasman Peninsula or East Coast for an overnight visit.

"One of the best things we can do is spend a night or two in those parts of the state that have been affected by the fires," he said.

Find more holiday and travel ideas and information on the Discover Tasmania and Tasman region websites.


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Mum wouldn't do this to us

WHEN the Royal Hobart Hospital's chief radiation physicist disappeared from his yacht at Sandy Bay on Australia Day 2009, two families were plunged into a controversy that rages still.

Bob Chappell, 65, had owned the $200,000 yacht Four Winds with his lover of 20 years, Susan Neill-Fraser.

By the time police arrived about 7am on January 27, waves were lapping over the vessel, which was estimated to have been sinking for between nine and 12 hours.

An officer found blood aboard but there was no sign of Mr Chappell.

Despite extensive searches of the River Derwent, neither his body nor a murder weapon was ever found.

In 2010 Neill-Fraser was found guilty of Mr Chappell's murder.

At the time of sentencing, Hobart Supreme Court judge Alan Blow said he was convinced the then 54-year-old had attacked Mr Chappell, weighted his body with a fire extinguisher and dumped it overboard before sabotaging their yacht to cover her tracks.

Mr Chappell's family, including his son Timothy and daughter Kate, had appeared as witnesses during the trial but were not present when the verdict was handed down.

Neill-Fraser was sentenced to 26 years behind bars, with a non-parole period of 18 years.

Last March the sentence was reduced on appeal to 23 years, with a minimum 13-year term.

The convicted killer remains locked up in women's minimum security at Risdon Prison and, because she is still unwilling to admit guilt, will probably be kept there until she has served the maximum penalty.

Her daughters and supporters cannot accept this.

They, and a legal team made up of prominent freedom-fighters Barbara Etter, Greg Barns, Madeleine Ogilvie and Tom Percy QC, are working on a petition for mercy and have launched a bid for a full and public coronial inquiry in the hope it might clear Neill-Fraser's name.

Her family insists the whole truth is yet to come out.

Sarah Bowles, 28, and expecting her first child next month, is adamant her mother is innocent.

"Yes I'm her daughter, but I'm also a thinking person," Mrs Bowles said.

"Our primary concern is to find the truth about what happened to Bob. There are many unanswered questions and disturbing aspects surrounding the police investigation. The best way to now resolve this is through a coronial inquiry.

"We are confident in Mum's innocence. I've seen all the evidence. I don't believe they have proof Mum is guilty beyond reasonable doubt and as such, I believe there has been a miscarriage of justice.

"I think humans are capable of doing bad things, but Mum would never put us through this. I believe an innocent person is sitting in prison."

Neill-Fraser's supporters list a raft of issues they believe were never fully explored before the jury that convicted the accomplished horsewoman and keen "yachtie".

"Mum was not physically capable of carrying out the crime she has been accused of," Mrs Bowles said.

"She loved Bob and when he disappeared she was frantic, absolutely distraught.

"She was waiting for him to come through the door and my husband and I moved in with her because she wasn't coping with the grief.

"Then, suddenly, there was a change in the community's perception ... people who'd never met Mum accused her of being cold, detached, but when we hear that it's like they're talking about a different person. Mum is warm, loving.

"There is so much inaccurate gossip and rumour circulating in the community and I'm worried this influenced the court case. Despite Mum's first husband attending every court appearance in her support, people still say to me that they heard that she murdered him also. It's just incredible to hear when he is standing right there beside me offering support."

Mrs Bowles and her older sister, Emma, grew up with Mr Chappell.

Mrs Bowles was just 24 when he disappeared and holds power-of-attorney for her imprisoned mother.

Instead of riding horses or cooking meals with her mother, these days they spend their precious time together under guard in a stark prison.

The family accepts Mr Chappell is most likely dead.

Any suggestion he deliberately absconded does not resonate with those who knew him.

"Bob would never see Mum go through something like this. It doesn't make sense but it's very hard with no body," Mrs Bowles said.

"I still find myself looking for him in crowds."

On top of living with the public stigma of being Neill-Fraser's daughter, Mrs Bowles and her sister have essentially had two parents taken from them.

Emma gave birth to her second child last month.

Mrs Bowles will give birth to her first child without her mother beside her.

Mrs Bowles said her mother had made the best of her situation, mentoring other prisoners and planting a vegetable garden.

"I lean on my husband, Mark, a lot," she said.

"But for Mum, at the end of the day there are those four concrete walls around her, and then they shut the door and it's just her."

The family is down to its final options after an application for leave to appeal to the High Court was rejected.

If the coroner refuses their request, they intend to petition the Attorney-General.

That is it.

Asked if it would not just be easier to accept Neill-Fraser was guilty, Mrs Bowles is considered in her response.

"Mum was 54, a middle-aged mum. She wasn't capable of carrying out the steps they said she would have had to.

"But if someone had something really compelling, something that said she did it beyond reasonable doubt, then at least I would then know what had happened to Bob ... I wouldn't look for him in crowds anymore.

"Whatever happened, I would like to know the truth. I hope a coronial inquest can help bring closure to what actually happened to Bob."

"I don't think there's ever been a major miscarriage of justice exposed in this state and we realised too late how naive we were.

"We have this mentality that the police are the good guys, if they think someone's done something, they probably have. And maybe that's true most of the time.

"But the problem is what happens if they get it wrong?"


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Two-year wait for Myer

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 03 Februari 2013 | 14.56

SHOPPERS excited about Hobart's new $100m Myer complex are likely to be waiting well into next year before surging through the front door.

Work is expected to start on the development in Liverpool St this month.

The Hobart City Council will close the Liverpool Link walkway between Cat and Fiddle Arcade and Liverpool St after city shops shut tomorrow night.

Workers will spend several days removing council infrastructure, including the walkway and seating.

Project architect Andrew McCreary, from Hobart's Designhaus -- one of the country's oldest architectural practices -- said work at the site should begin this month.

Designhaus director Richard Crawford is the superintendent of the complex, which will be constructed by Hutchinson Builders, a century-old national firm with a Tasmanian office.

"The first stage is likely to take closer to two years," Mr McCreary said.

"After construction, Myer will need to do their fitout and then the transferring of stock."

There had been hopes the first stage of the five-storey redevelopment would be open by Christmas this year.

But Mr McCreary said it was likely to be closer to Christmas next year.

He said the design would "bring the focus back on the CBD".

Fire destroyed a large section of the Myer store on September 22, 2006, and much of the Liverpool St building had to be demolished.

Mr McCreary said builders would initially erect fencing and set up an office on site.

He said substantial excavation and underpinning of the existing rivulet wall and surrounding properties would take place.

"And a large crane will be set up," Mr McCreary said.

Designhaus has created a Facebook page with information about the project.

The second stage of the redevelopment will take place on Murray St.

It will include new high-end fashion stores.

The Hobart City Council has plans to turn the CBD into a magnet for visitors and residents and will soon start work rejuvenating sections of Liverpool St.

michelle.paine@news.com.au


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Hello world, it's Tassie calling

Battling tourism business operators, from left, Wally Lyne, Roger Self, Gary Hooper, Heather Henri, Kate McCarthy, and John Hay put out their SOS yesterday. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

"A MILLION likes would be great ... but paying us a visit would be even better."

That's the message tourism officials hope will spread around the world, through a social media campaign to arrest the tourism downturn in the bushfire-stricken Tasman Peninsula and elsewhere in the state.

The Sunday Tasmanian today partners tourism authorities to launch the campaign and drive tourism traffic back to the state.

For many operators it should be their busiest time of the year but accommodation houses are battling for business.

Guests have cancelled holidays or asked for discounts of up to 50 per cent to stay at venues on the Tasman Peninsula or East Coast.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said it was too early to tell just how much the bushfires would cost the state's tourism industry.

But operators and regional tourism groups want to take action to limit the impact and let the world know they're open for business.

Mr Martin said they wanted to send the message viral, and they needed help from everyone.

He pointed Tasmanians to the Port Arthur & Tasman Tourism Association Inc Facebook page and urged them to click "like" on the Open For Business campaign.

"Then make sure you share the post with family and friends," he said.

People are being urged to post on social media with the tags #tassiecalling and #openforbusiness.

Similar campaigns have been run in Australia and overseas with overwhelming success, sharing thousands of photographs, videos and experiences through social media to boost tourism trade and bolster local economies.

Fox and Hounds Resort owner Jo Dias was concerned it could take a long time for local tourism businesses to recover from the bushfires.

"We were into the first week of the busiest three weeks of our year [when the bushfires hit] and it just disintegrated," she said.

"Apart from the [hotel] rooms, our restaurant normally does upwards of 150 people a night. It's gone from that to zero.

"There are people worse off than we are, but in order to keep the [region] going businesses need to function."

It was a similar story for Wally Lyne from Port Arthur Villas who said guests had cancelled bookings for coming weeks, demanding full refunds, while others had offered to stay at heavily discounted rates.

"The next week or so I'm down to one or two people [staying] a night and this is a period when we're normally fully booked out," he said.

"This is the time we normally get our reserve to carry us through winter."

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon encouraged Tasmanians to support by visiting the Tasman Peninsula or East Coast for an overnight visit.

"One of the best things we can do is spend a night or two in those parts of the state that have been affected by the fires," he said.

Find more holiday and travel ideas and information on the Discover Tasmania and Tasman region websites.


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