Traffic snarl on Tasman Hwy

POLICE have warned motorists to expect delays after a three-car crash on the Tasman Highway near Midway Point.

Police said the accident happened on the Midway Point bridge shortly after 5pm today, disrupting afternoon peak-hour traffic.

One person was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

In a statement issued about 6pm today, police said both lanes of the highway at the crash scene were now open.

Westbound traffic heading to Hobart was moving normally, while traffic in the eastbound lane was moving more slowly.

Motorists travelling towards Midway Point and Sorell were expected to experience delays for some time.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

DPP in crash probe

A cameraman at the scene of Sunday's fatal head-on crash on the Midland Highway, south of Oatlands. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis, SC, faces a wait of several months to know whether he will face criminal charges over a fatal road accident on the Midland Highway near Oatlands on Sunday.

Police yesterday confirmed witnesses had reported a blue 2011 Mercedes sedan  understood to be driven by Mr Ellis, right,  was on the wrong side of double white lines before the head-on collision at Lovely Banks at 6.15pm.

A 27-year-old West Launceston woman driving north in a white Toyota hatchback died instantly in the crash. Her death was later confirmed by a doctor who was at the scene.

Police said the Mercedes then veered into a black Commodore sedan also travelling north.

The Commodore's 23-year-old male driver and his female passenger were uninjured. Mr Ellis remains in the Royal Hobart Hospital in a stable condition with a broken leg and other non life-threatening injuries.

Police took blood samples after the crash and will conduct routine tests for the presence of drugs or alcohol. The results will take weeks.

Mr Ellis' wife, Guardianship and Administration Board president Anita Smith, 44, was discharged yesterday with a broken collarbone.

Police crash investigator Senior Constable Kelly Cordwell yesterday said the investigation was likely to take about six months.

"My approach to this is exactly the same as any other incident," she said.

"At the end of the day, a woman has lost her life and we mustn't lose sight of that.

"My primary concern right now is for her family and to ensure a thorough investigation is undertaken into the circumstances surrounding her death as to give them some clarity."

Constable Cordwell said she had spoken briefly to the driver of the Mercedes yesterday but he would not be formally interviewed for several days.

"I haven't spoken to him in detail about it," she said.

"I had a brief conversation with him this morning but I didn't go into detail with him about his recollection due to him being medicated," she said.

Constable Cordwell said preliminary indications were the Mercedes had crossed double white lines on a sweeping right-hand bend.

"It appears from witness statements that the blue Mercedes was on the incorrect side of the road ... we would need to make further inquiries in relation to that.

"Witnesses indicate it was daylight, the road was dry and conditions were fairly good.

"It is still early on in the investigation, we are still to speak to the driver involved in the collision regarding the circumstances of the crash, so nothing is set in concrete at this stage."

The Mercury understands the police investigation file will be reviewed by a senior lawyer independent of the DPP's office and will simultaneously be referred to the Coroner.

Attorney-General Brian Wightman said Solicitor-General Leigh Sealy, SC, would take over Mr Ellis' functions while he was absent because of his injuries.

"I extend my sincerest sympathy to all those involved in this incident, and my condolences to the family and loved ones of the woman who died in the crash," Mr Wightman said.

david.killick@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yacht rescue drama

FOUR men had to be rescued after their yacht overturned when its mast broke off, leaving the quartet clinging to the vessel's hull in rough seas off northern Tasmania.

The men had been racing in the 9m trimaran Flagmaster about 8km off Devonport on Saturday afternoon when they abandoned the race because of wild waves, police said.

On its way to port, the boat speared off one wave and into another, causing it to lose its mast and capsize.

The yacht's skipper told police that they had been sailing about 20 knots at the time.

Waves were averaging 3m high, with some peaking at 5m.

It took crew members 25 minutes to reach and activate an emergency beacon (EPIRB) at 2.30pm, prompting a police rescue boat and helicopter search.

A police boat found them less than an hour later, clinging to the hull.

The crew had to swim to the police boat for rescue.

Flagmaster had been leading the race from Ulverstone to Devonport and return when it pulled out.

The crew were assessed by ambulance officers for exposure, cuts and an intake of salt water but none needed hospital treatment.

The yacht's owner was yesterday afternoon organising an aerial search for the abandoned trimaran's hull.

But bad weather had delayed the search.

The 9m Swedish Built SeaCart trimaran class has been described as a tough racing yacht, designed for speed rather than comfort.

"She's fast in the right conditions," said Mersey Yacht Club commodore Tim Grant.

Mr Grant said the trimaran was the latest to join a long list of competent offshore vessels that had fallen foul of Bass Strait.

He said the emergency response involving a Police Sentinel vessel, the Westpac police rescue helicopter and Tasports' Devonport pilot boat had been prompt and flawless.

Flagmaster was yesterday understood to be drifting in Bass Strait and was logged as a navigational hazard.

-- with AAP

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tigers can taste victory

THE Tigers are so close to their third Sheffield Shield they can see their breath on it.

It was another day of drama, but also of Tasmanian dominance with Queensland needing a miracle to defend its Shield title.

With two days to go and needing a win to raise the trophy, the Bulls are 7-185, still 234 runs behind in their first innings with just three wickets left after taking 74.4 overs to slowly accumulate their score.

Queensland is still 34 runs off passing the follow on but it would surprise all if the Tigers enforced it, with captain George Bailey almost certain to bat the Bulls out of the game today on a wearing pitch.

While all the specialist bowlers chipped in, it was a man who arrived in Hobart as a batting all-rounder who did the damage.

Evan Gulbis, who survived a horror ordeal in his first season with four consecutive ducks followed by a season ending elbow-reconstruction, is now on track to becoming a Shield winner.

He captured top-scorer Peter Forrest (56) leg before and both Nathan Reardon (13) and Michael Neser (12) caught behind.

"We are in a great position, but with two days to go if we don't play good cricket we can still get beaten so there is still a lot of work to be done," Gulbis said.

Forrest said the visitors' position was dire, but there would be no white flag from the Bulls camp.

"The Queensland spirit is to keep fighting so we will go and have a few XXXXs and try and figure out a way we can still win the game," Forrest said.

"I'm sure you will see us positive and upbeat tomorrow and [we will] come out and try and attack the game and find a way to win."

The Tigers struck fairly early when the finals specialist, Luke Butterworth, beat Luke Pomersbach's defence and rattled off stump, before the Bulls had reason to maul the ground in anger.

Already narky with a grassless pitch, Bulls coach Darren Lehmann was left doubly fuming after the umpires dithered instead of heading for the changerooms early with a storm fast approaching.

The storm hit hard and the deluge had the groundstaff battling wind and rain while struggling to get the covers down.

As a result play was held up for two hours under brilliant sunshine because of a wet pitch and centre square.

The hold-up left Lehmann so angry, he refused to comment on the situation with a $3000 suspended fine hanging over his head for previously venting his spleen publicly.

Gulbis said it was like bowling with a hackie-sack on the slow Blundstone Arena pitch. But despite the lifeless wicket, he now has 20 wickets for the season at 24.5 runs each.

It is a long way from that disastrous runless start to his career.

"I didn't really warrant playing as a batter for a while, it's been well documented how I started my Shield career," Gulbis, 27, said.

"To have a little bit of pressure off the batting and to be able to bowl has been really fantastic for me and scoring a couple of runs here and there and hopefully forcing my way up the order eventually."

Play will resume today at 10.15am.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Back to nature for Easter rites

CARAVAN, cabin and even remote wilderness camping sites are already full as Tasmanians prepare for the traditional Easter pilgrimage into the great outdoors.

There are no powered or unpowered sites left at the Port Arthur Caravan Park but campers can still "fight" over spaces in the park's grassed overflow area if they arrive early.

The situation is the same at Coles Bay.

The Big4 Iluka has been fully booked for two months and a spokesman said he expected changes to Tasmania's school holidays could be behind the camping boom.

Tents, sleeping bags and outdoor cookers continue to top the list of things to pack to go camping in Tasmania.

But expect to also see laptops and other modern devices at campsites this Easter when new, and old, generations of campers sleep rough without losing all connection to civilisation.

Burnie teenagers Bailee Gillard and Esha Cornish squeezed in a practice run before the Easter camping period kicked off by pitching a tent at Ridgley.

They enjoy "going bush" but still decided to keep in touch with their wider social world.

"I would be OK without taking any technology, but a lot of people my age might struggle to turn off Facebook and other social media even when camping," Bailee said.

Tasmanian camping stores say tents are still the big ticket item.

"Tents are still basic to look at on the outside but they have new technology inside like better fly-netting, sturdier poles and tropical boxes that can keep ice for a week," a spokesman from Tuff Wear camping in Burnie said.

Most campers, of all ages, are still looking to escape the perks of urban living when camping out.

"Swags, which allow the kids to sleep out under the stars without a tent, have sold well in the last couple of years and sleeping bags have never gone out of style," the Tuff Wear spokesman said.

Families often prefer powered sites or those closer to shops and other amenities, but a band of "hard-core" campers are prepared to carry their own tent to camp for a week in remote places.

You will find these campers in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area, in the Ben Lomond National Park, at Cockle Creek, Cradle Mountain, Peggs Beach and the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

A band of loyal campers returns to Freycinet National Park camping ground year after year to bunk down in the sand dunes.

Because of the high demand for campsites in the national park, a ballot system operates for Easter bookings and payments are required more than six months before anyone hammers in a tent peg.

The park offers a variety of basic powered and unpowered sites. Some even come with cold showers.

Families and those looking to camp on the edge of, rather than in, Tasmania's wild areas head to parks at Coles Bay, Penguin, Port Arthur, Bruny Island and traditional East Coast hotspots.

Others will go more upmarket.

Glamping, or glamour camping, suits those who want to get back to nature without all the uncomfortable bits.

Huon Bush Retreats offers a deluxe tepee that will cost the "camper" $145 a night.

The tepees come complete with a sofa, a double bed, carpet and a cosy woodfire.

For just under $800, Life's An Adventure offers exclusive Bay of Fires guided walks and a three-day wilderness experience with all creature comforts.

Your bags will be transported each day, leaving you free to enjoy the walk.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Help sought on hotel robbery

POLICE are seeking help from the public after an armed robbery at Moonah's Valern Hotel early yesterday morning.

Police said a masked man armed with a metal pole allegedly confronted a Valern Hotel employee at 1.45am and demanded money. The offender fled on foot with what police described as a "considerable amount" of cash.

Police searched the area but could not locate the alleged offender, who is described as being aged in his 30s, about 170cm tall, with olive or tanned skin, and blue or green eyes. He was wearing a balaclava, a hooded puffer jacket, black cargo pants, white sandshoes, and gloves.

Anyone with information about the alleged robbery, or who saw a man in the vicinity of Station St or the rear of the AMWU building around the time, is asked to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000, or the Glenorchy police station.

kane.young@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Their hopes on a rope

DRAMA unfolds from the air in a unique acrobatic production that is in Hobart for Ten Days on the Island.

British aerial theatre company Ockham's Razor uses acrobatics to explores the highs and lows of relationships.

Ten Days on the Island artistic director Jo Duffy said the performance showed the trust, reliance and vulnerability between people working in the air.

"The performers portray recognisable experiences, emotions and conflicts that audiences can relate to, while at the same time taking patrons to the edge of their seats," Ms Duffy said.

The show opened last night at the Theatre Royal and will return today at 7.30pm.

For bookings, click here.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Why didn't they help my girl?'

A HOBART father is considering legal action against the Education Department after he says his 13-year-old daughter was subjected to eight months of bullying at her school, culminating in her nose being broken and an attempt made to set her on fire.

The father, whose name has been withheld to protect his daughter's identity, said he was left dumbstruck by the failure of school authorities to provide the most basic duty of care. "I'm shattered," he said of the school's inability to deal with the repeated bullying of his daughter.

The distraught father said he could not believe his daughter's tormentors – five 13-year-old girls -- were not expelled.

Rather, the man's daughter has become a victim again by being forced to change schools.

"I was in the army, I protected my country and now I can't protect my little girl," he said.

After being contacted for a response by the Mercury, the Education Department said it would investigate.

"The department takes all incidents of violence seriously and has procedures in place to deal with them," Education Department deputy secretary Liz Banks said.

"In this instance, the school acted promptly and the actions included suspension, mediation and appropriate counselling and support for the students involved."

However, the victim's father rejected Ms Banks' claims that the school had acted "promptly".

He said the school principal failed to meet with him, despite repeated requests.

The father said the school failed to contact police when his daughter, a Year 7 student, was punched in the face by her main tormentor in the school playground on March 6.

The attack resulted in his daughter having surgery last Wednesday to reset her nose, after a week waiting for the swelling to go down.

That assault occurred on her 13th birthday and her father had allowed her to mark it by having her naturally red hair dyed brown the day before.

"The teasing had started off last year with name-calling the usual 'ranga' and the like, and she wanted to dye her hair. I held out for a long time but it didn't stop and I gave in for her birthday," he said.

"I couldn't believe they didn't call the police after my daughter was punched in the face.

"I took her to the doctor on March 6 ... She told me [my daughter's] nose was broken and I took her to the police station."

He said police had been very supportive and were dealing with the matter and the offender was suspended from school for a week.

"The day after she returned from that suspension, [my daughter] was in what was supposed to be a safe zone classroom during the lunch break," he said.

"The teacher's aide supervising the room had not been told that the girls weren't allowed near her and she let them in.

"They walked straight up to [my daughter], sprayed her with aerosol cans of hairspray and deodorant and tried to light her on fire with cigarette lighters."

The terrified girl managed to push her way through the group and run to safety with her clothing singed.

The father again met with the school and it was suggested the best option would be to remove his daughter from the school and place her elsewhere.

"I can't believe it," he said.

"I'm afraid for her life."

He said the Education Department had phoned him yesterday after it was approached by the Mercury.

"They say they're looking into it but they're eight months too late. This is going to scar her for the rest of her life."

zara.dawtrey@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hospital air walk's costly error

THE Royal Hobart Hospital bought a $12,000 electric wheelchair lifter to assist clients across the air walk link to the new Wellington Clinics, and then found it was not needed.

Less than a week after the official opening of the clinics, teething problems have been identified in transferring patients and with using lifts.

The Mercury was notified of issues facing workers pushing clients across the new bridge and lifts that were taking excessive periods of time to open, close and travel between floors.

Tasmanian Health Organisation South CEO Jane Holden said yesterday the hospital's new outpatient clinic facility was experiencing a brief "settling-in" phase, but that all issues were not major and were being fixed.

"The RHH has been keeping a close watch on the speed and service of the lifts and has been in constant communication with the landlord, Sultan Holdings," Ms Holden said.

"A recent review was conducted by the lift engineers, resulting in minor works to door-opening speeds and the replacement of all lift landing buttons in a bid to minimise instances of patients travelling in different directions than they had intended.

"Over the next few weeks, these changes will be monitored and compared with previous operating times and speeds."

The Mercury understands the hospital spent $12,000 on a stamina lifter after concerns were raised that an incline in the new air walk was in breach of occupational health and safety regulations.

"It was thought the gradient and the length of the air bridge may pose an occupational health risk, particularly in regard to bariatric patients," Ms Holden said.

She said the stamina lifter would be used every day across many areas of the hospital to transfer patients.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fake photog accused of assault

A SYDNEY man claiming to be a professional photographer sexually assaulted an aspiring young model he met online, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.

Anthony Douglas Glass, 23, today pleaded not guilty to involving a person under the age of 18 in producing child exploitation material, producing child exploitation material, two counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault.

Crown Prosecutor Kate Brown told the court the 17-year-old woman created a profile on the Model Mayhem website and Mr Glass contacted her to arrange a modelling session including lingerie and nude photographs.

"In her mind this was the starting point of her career. A professional photographer was coming down from Sydney to do a shoot with her," Ms Brown told the court.

On September 20, 2011, the young woman met Mr Glass at the St Ives Hotel in Battery Point and went with him to his room.

He produced a small pocket camera, explaining that he had broken his larger camera.

"This naive young woman went along with it. She thought he was a professional photographer, that he knew what he was doing," the prosecutor said.

The young woman posed for photographs clothed and nude, alone and with Mr Glass, during which he allegedly indecently assaulted her.

He suggested they take a break and asked the young woman if she wanted to "fool around", at one point offering her $100.

She replied "I'm a model, not a whore."

As the pair sat next to each other on the bed, Mr Glass allegedly grabbed the woman, tried to kiss her and twice sexually assaulted her, Ms Brown said.

After the attack, she texted her boyfriend to come and pick her up. She reported the incident to police that night.

Defence lawyer David Gunson, SC, told the jury of nine women and three men that the woman's claims were denied by his client.

"We say that at all times the complainant was a willing participant in what occurred," he said.

"The accused's case is very simple -- it was consensual."

The case, before Justice Peter Evans, is continuing.

david.killick@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More