May 20, 2012   Believed to be a risk … Gary Haseldine. A hypnotherapist and motivational speaker whose clients include the Adelaide Thunderbirds netball team and the West Coast Eagles AFL side has been banned from practising for 12 months after complaints he groped the breast of two clients and put his finger in their mouths during treatment sessions. The Health Care Complaints Commission found Gary Haseldine, creator of the ”positive mind management program”, posed a risk to the public. Mr Haseldine spruiks himself as ”Australia’s No.1 personal success coach” with clients including golfer Ian Baker-Finch. His website includes an endorsement from the Thunderbirds’ head coach, Jane Woodlands-Thompson. Mr Haseldine, who practises in the Coffs Harbour area, was the subject of a complaint to the commission in April last year. During an investigation, the commission discovered another complaint against him to the Australian Traditional Medicine Society. The commission heard evidence he used the same inappropriate techniques on a second female client. The first complainant described a series of hypnotherapy sessions from January last year in which Mr Haseldine used a ”tapping” technique on her face and body while she was asked to hum Happy Birthday. On March 31, she...

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Police continue to detect drivers taking unnecessary risks as they crack down on speeding drivers on the Pacific Highway as part of Operational National Route 1. About 5.40pm yesterday (Saturday 19 May 2012), police detected a 66-year-old man allegedly travelling at 119km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Pacific Highway at Grafton. About 10.25pm, also on the Pacific Highway, police allegedly detected a 22-year-old Chinese National travelling at 95km/h in a 60km/h zone. About 11.45pm, police allegedly detected a 43-year-old man on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour, travelling 98km/h. Police also allegedly witnessed the man proceed through a red traffic signal at 96km/h, after merely tapping the brakes. All the drivers were ticketed accordingly. Superintendent Stuart Smith, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, says police make no apologies for coming down hard on those who flout our traffic laws by speeding. “We know speeding contributes to 40% of all fatal crashes and costs the community $1.7 billion annually. “So for anyone to drive in this manner, particularly on a road like the Pacific Highway – which is known for fatal crashes – it is nothing short of complete stupidity,” Superintendent Smith said. Truck driver charged over safety...

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In what can be described as an “action packed” lead up to the long awaited speech to be given in parliament on Monday by embattled MP Craig Thomson, today came the confirmation of a “knockout blow” Some of you may have read my report on the tangled web surrounding the Health Services Union HSU, Fair Work Australia, and the Coalition that was published here on Wednesday, it is fair to say more information is coming to light. The big news is that Michael Lawler, the Vice President of Fair Work Australia, has today been distanced from these issues. I contacted Fair Work Australia today after anonymous sources informed me that he had been stood down. Initially I spoke to Michael’s PA, who informed me she knew nothing, only that he was not in the office all day. I again contacted FWA as rumors persisted. late this afternoon I was contacted by FWA’s Communications Manager, Judy Hughes who informed me that Michael was on “Long Leave”. Not Long Service Leave, Sick Leave, or Holidays, “Long Leave”. She would not expand on this, citing “privacy reasons”, however based on my earlier conversations with both her and Michael’s PA, I was left...

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In the following article published on the Advocate web site Andrew Fraser is repeating what the local community have been calling for  for years. In order for Coffs Harbour to recover its tourist and business reputation it is to be hoped that he succeeds in getting the NSW Government on side. “THE opportunity to bring development to Coffs Harbour’s waterfront could happen if the State Government reviews its Crown lands management policies, according to local member Andrew Fraser. He says reform is needed to allow private enterprise the opportunity to be awarded longer leases which would enable them to gain a commercial return on their investments. He is planning to raise the matter in Parliament and says business sense needs to be adopted in the management of publicly owned lands. “Long-term leases need to be introduced with key performance indicators. For instance, take the marina; in the discussions I have had with Star Marinas I have been told they are not willing to commit to a multi-million-dollar redevelopment if they cannot negotiate anything more than a 10-year lease,” Mr Fraser said. “Their advice is that banks will not loan them money on a 10-year lease as it would be...

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Police have arrested and charged a man for breach of bail and traffic offences. About 4pm today (Saturday 19 May 2012), a 38-year-old man was stopped while riding in a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old woman on the Pacific Highway, Nambucca Heads. The man was found to be on a court imposed bail condition not to be in the presence or company of the woman. The vehicle they were travelling in was unregistered and uninsured and the woman was driving without a valid license. He was charged with breach of bail, owner permit unregistered and uninsured. He was refused bail to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 20 May). The woman is expected to be charged at a later date with driving unlicensed, drive unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle and other traffic offences. She will appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court in July 2012. Superintendent Stuart Smith, Operations Commander of the Traffic and HWP Command, said, “This drivers behaviour is compounded by being unlicensed, in an unregistered vehicle, and being in the company of someone the courts have determined she cannot associate with.” “They become a danger to both themselves and other road users.” Operation National Route...

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Police have arrested an 18-year-old man they allege was grooming a 14-year-old girl via text messages. While investigating an alleged arson attack on a home in Brierfield on the NSW north coast last year, police discovered a suspect had also been sending lewd text messages of a sexual nature to a minor. He appeared before Coffs Harbour Local Court on Thursday charged with aggravated break and enter, arson and procuring a child for unlawful sexual activity. He was refused bail and will appear before the court again on 29 May.

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Samantha Townsend The Daily Telegraph May 18, 2012 GANGS of thieves armed with guns and knives are terrorising idyllic mid north coast towns, with police linking four recent robberies to the same group. There have been eight armed robberies between Kempsey and Coffs Harbour – a stretch of 110km on the Pacific Highway – where gangs have targeted fast food chains, service stations and a golf club either at night or in early hours of the morning. Police said the robberies at Hungry Jacks and McDonalds in Coffs Harbour as well as Domino’s and Clybucca Service station at Kempsey could be linked as they involved a silver hand gun described by victims. They have not ruled out that all eight robberies are linked but believe there are a number of gangs operating in the area which may have mutual members. In the latest robbery three armed males, their faces covered, entered the BP Petrol Station at Boambee, south of Coffs Harbour, at 2am on Wednesday, threatened the console operator then fled on foot with a sum of cash.  In most of the robberies the thieves have taken cash and cigarettes but at Kempsey Golf Club on Tuesday they also...

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SHAIN Richard Williams, who killed an innocent bystander  with a baseball bat in a Coffs Harbour caravan park three years ago was sentenced in a Sydney court yesterday. Williams struck the 59-year-old with a baseball bat at a Coffs Harbour caravan park when Mr Jenkins tried to intervene in a violent dispute. Sentenced by Justice Peter Hidden in the NSW Supreme Court this afternoon Williams was ordered to serve six years in jail back dated to October 2009. Carrying a non parole period of three years and nine months, the sentence means he could be eligible for release next year. Justice Hidden noted Mr Jenkins had been an “innocent bystander”. The court heard Williams had been drinking with his father Trevor at a party on October 22, 2009 Williams was arguing with another man, Barry Gration, who he had hit twice in face with the baseball bat,saying “F*** with my old man, f*** with me”. Mr Gration took exception to the way Trevor Williams was treating a woman named Katrina Thorburn-Simpson and took her from the party to the caravan park. Shain Williams later arrived at the caravan park armed with a baseball bat and confronted Mr Gration, causing a fight....

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Two truck drivers have been stopped and investigations are continuing following alleged breaches during operations targeting truck drivers in the state’s north. Operation DUSTY 3 2012, a joint NSW Police and Roads and Maritime Services operation was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday (15 to 17 May). It focussed on heavy vehicles to combat fatigue, speed and other heavy vehicle defects on the Pacific Highway between Tweed Heads and Ballina. About 9pm yesterday (Thursday 17 May 2012), officers stopped a southbound B-Double at Tyagarah. They spoke to the 34-year-old male driver before allegedly discovering a range of breaches in his work diary. Alleged breaches included two instances where, based on calculations, the truck had exceeded the speed limit and travelled approximately 108km/h to 142km/h between Sydney and the North Coast. Superintendent Stuart Smith, Operations Commander of the Traffic and HWP Command, said that after recent heavy vehicle operations, it is disappointing to see some drivers continue to try and flout the law. “During Operation Austrans, which is a national heavy vehicle enforcement operation, HWP officers across NSW have detected a number of speeding events, including drivers identified for drink and drug driving.” “This sort of behaviour cannot continue in the...

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This article from the Port Macquarie News saying thank you to their local police as part of the celebration  of 150 years of policing in NSW just shows why Port is going ahead in leaps and bounds. What did Coffs Harbour do? NOTHING! Our police do a fantastic job in our City and the least we could have done was  show our appreciation. THANKS TO ALL OUR LOCAL COFFS HARBOUR  COPPERS FOR THE FANTASTIC JOB THEY DO   18 May, 2012 04:00 AM Community says thank you to police STICKING up for victims who cannot defend themselves is what Mid North Coast Local Area Command is all about.Hundreds gathered to watch 127 past and present police from the Mid North Coast and Manning Great Lakes marched proudly down Horton Street yesterday, as part of the anniversary of 150 years as a united state force. At the Town Green, our area’s Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas highlighted the evolution of police from chasing bush rangers during the Gold Rush to targeting cyrimsrime in an ever shrinking global village. http://www.portnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/community-says-thank-you-to-police/2560203.aspx   Dept. Commissioner Kaldas said members of the NSW Police have sought after skills and reputation. “This year is about celebrating how...

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There are many suspicious features about Craig Thomson’s Health Services Union imbroglio, but notable among them are the apparently close links between HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson and Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Peter Wicks uncovers a very tangled web. Fair Work Australia vice president Michael Lawler; his partner, HSU “whistleblower” Kathy Jackson; and friend. The major saga embroiling the Federal Government at the moment, besides the curious Peter Slipper and James Ashby affair, is the Health Services Union (HSU) debacle. Firstly, let me start by saying that I do not endorse anyone spending over $6,000 on prostitutes on a union credit card — that is reprehensible behaviour. Nor do I endorse not declaring vast amounts of money to the Electoral Commission on election campaigns. However, these allegations are yet to be proved — and are vigorously denied. In any case, I think I smell a rat. Union whistleblower Kathy Jackson has been ripping into both the Labor Party and the former (until February 2012) President of Fair Work Australia, Geoffrey Giudice, for months now over the goings on within the embattled Union and the investigation resulting from her claims. Kathy Jackson has caused the union movement untold damage and brought...

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Duty Senator for Cowper Matt Thistlethwaite has today officially opened the upgraded Coffs Harbour Rural Clinical School. The Gillard Government provided $2.2 million under the Rural Education Infrastructure Development Pool to the University of NSW to upgrade the Rural Clinical School campus. The Senator said he was pleased to see the upgrade had already increased both the capacity and the quality of clinical training of the campus. “It translates into more Years 4, 5, and 6 students doing 12-month-plus placements here in Coffs and in nearby areas,” Senator Thistlethwaite said. “It also means more Independent Learning Placement students will be able to carry out their research here for their 12-month placements. “I believe there now are 48 students here, at the Coffs Harbour campus, an increase of 10 on last year. And this increase is attributable to the upgrade.” The upgrade includes two general practice consulting rooms, three research officer rooms, two student tutorial/project rooms, a multipurpose lecture/tutorial room, an expansion of the existing library/computer room, an outdoor tutorial/meeting area and an expansion of the existing skills laboratory. Senator Thistlethwaite said the new infrastructure that the Australian Government has invested in to expand the Rural Clinical School campus will...

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