Today's Headlines

an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's first daily Internet newspaper.

Sunday 20th October 1996

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International:

Constable Steve Stafford was left alone to fend off the drunken mob as they jaunted and threatened him.

Extra police were yesterday rushed onto Mornington Island and a 19 year old man has been arrested on two counts of unlawfully wounding as well as being charged for assault and firearm offences. Four other men involved in the assault have also been arrested.

One of the constables, Barnett, is still in hospital with a deep wound near the breastbone.

The trouble began after the group were returning home from drinking at the local canteen. The constables were called in after reports were made of a man firing shots from a .22 rifle into the air. When the police found the group and tried to take the gun after the man he assaulted them.

Political:

Tonight will be the 60 Minutes Show for Australia. It is highly likely that the eyes and ears of most Australians will tune in to see what Oxley Independent MP Pauline Hanson has to say following her trip to Palm Island. What makes the debate even more interesting is this week's expose of Mr 15%, Charlie Perkins, who will be in the debate with her. Interesting that Pauline Hanson rejected any offers for payment from Channel 9's high profile Current Affiars program.

I will give you feed back on the event tomorrow.

Sport:

South Africa's first wicket fell at 118 after a foundation opening innings by Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten. Kirsten topped the scoring with 105.

Social:

• Spontaneous onset of labour, early rupture of membranes, haemorrhage or hypertension causes 90% of premature births.
• Babies born between 25 and 26 weeks gestation have at least 60% chance of survival - 15 years ago they would have died.
• Doctors link this success to advances to the production of steroids for mums and babies to strengthen infants' lungs, as well as sophisticated ventilators. It's doubtful technology can take the survival rate much beyond 23 week gestation. Lungs would be considered too underdeveloped to respond to treatment.
• More premature girls survive than boys. Doctors are baffled as to why - female hormone composition may confer an advantage.
• Many babies born at up to 25 weeks gestation have fused eyelids. In most cases the eyes will open within several days.
• Studies of prematurely born children indicate at least half struggle academically.
• Australia's smallest surviving baby is the Gold Coast's Jonathan Heeley, born at the Mater Mother's Hospital on July 3, 1992, weighing just 374 grams (about the weight of a slab of chocolate) and measuring just 26.1 centimetres (shorter than a traditional ruler).

Cocky the cockatoo hits the headlines again:

Jim Boschard has threatened civil action against the RSPCA and wants Au$50,000 for "Cocky's" abduction.

The little "Cocky" exercise has resulted in local RSPCA manager Terry Wright getting a firm reprimand for taking to the media from the two leading lights in the society.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

The rain soon cleared and the party enjoyed some dancing under the canopy of the darkened sky... we left at about 11pm after having a fabulous time.

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