The City of Melville council has condemned online bullying, harassment, threats and violence against council members, candidates and staff. It did so after independent federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a car in an alleged road-rage incident on October 19. However, councillors voted 6-7 against asking the WA Local Government Association to push for a coordinated response and review gaps in protections. Councillor Karen Wheatland, who proposed the motion without notice, said nobody should have to accept threats as the price of serving their community. Other councillors questioned whether the proposal was appropriate and sensitive.
Two Western Australian punters are among four winners of the division one Saturday lotto jackpot, each receiving $1,523,797.81. The winning ticket was bought at Melville Newspower shortly before the October 3 draw. Newsagency owner Angela Missackovski said the mystery winner has sparked excitement in the suburb. Nine other locals won a division two prize of $13,255.65, and 166 people will share $1,035.05 each from division three.
An Australian has won $1 million in the Millionaire Medley draw. A West Australian player secured $6,309.15 in the division two draw, while 18 others each won $643.80 in division three. Lotterywest has urged Perth locals to check their tickets for a $200,000 Set for Life prize, with $20,000 monthly payments for 20 years, after an unknown winner was announced.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Dame Judi Dench says her eyesight has deteriorated so far that she can no longer act on stage or in films. The 91-year-old British actress has had macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease, for more than a decade. She said she can no longer recognise faces and has often nearly hugged strangers, mistaking them for people she knows. Dench, whose seven-decade career included an Oscar and a Tony, said performing had always been frightening but was part of the energy she drew on.
LotteryWest is urging Perth residents to check their Set for Life tickets after a division one jackpot was won in Western Australia. The winner has not yet claimed the prize, which includes $200,000 upfront and $20,000 a month for two decades. The winning ticket was bought at Melville Newspower shortly before the October 3 draw. The owner of the newsagency said the win had sparked excitement in the suburb. The Set for Life ticket is the only outstanding division one prize in Western Australia this year.
A Queensland tribunal has ruled that a body corporate acted unreasonably when it repeatedly refused an owner permission to keep her dog. The adjudicator found the Portlinks body corporate in Craiglie, near Port Douglas, failed to consider the request on its merits. Owner Tanya Melville may keep her seven-year-old miniature Schnauzer, Polly, in her apartment, subject to conditions. The conditions include leashing the dog on common property and not allowing it to roam or cause a nuisance. The adjudicator said refusing approval because no pets are allowed is unreasonable under the law.
Police are investigating the sudden death of a woman in her 50s in Western Australia's Midwest region. The woman was stopped during random breath testing on Brand Highway at Mount Tarcoola on Monday evening. She was issued a driving prohibition notice and released from custody. Shortly afterwards she became unresponsive after a medical issue, and police called St John WA. She was taken to Geraldton Regional Hospital but was later declared dead. The WA Police Internal Affairs Unit is overseeing the probe, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Australian doctors' college RANZCOG has released new clinical guidelines on managing menopause symptoms. The guidelines explain when menopausal hormone therapy should be used over other medicines, and the options for women with a history of breast cancer. They cover hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and the frequent need to urinate in women aged 40 and over. Guideline chair Catriona Melville said the aim is to give clinicians clear advice to discuss with patients. National guidelines on perimenopause and menopause are expected next year.
City of Melville councillor Scott Green is pushing for changes to WA's defamation laws. He wants the council to back a call for the State Government to amend the Defamation Act 2005 and to seek support from the WA Local Government Association. Green says WA is the only state yet to adopt a serious harm test, which allows claims to be dismissed early elsewhere. His motion is due before the council on October 20. City staff said the State Government is already drafting reforms and suggested the council work through WALGA.
A Crows Nest shop called Boat Books, on the corner of Clarke and Oxley Streets next to the Crows Nest Metro, sells only books about boats. Its stock covers building, sailing, repairing, kayaking and fishing, along with history and humour titles. The newsletter also reports that Australia lacks a national framework for recycling solar panels, so most are exported or sent to landfill. The NSW Government plans to consult on a mandatory recycling scheme, and federal MP Zali Steggall has called for extended producer responsibility for manufacturers.
