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headline

Man and baby girl die in fall from dam wall in South Australia

A man and a baby girl have died after falling from the wall of an old dam near South Australia's Barossa Valley.

South Australia police have confirmed the deaths at the Whispering Wall in Williamstown, 50 kilometres north-east of Adelaide.

Emergency services were called at 4.30pm with a MedStar medical helicopter was also sent to the scene.

The Whispering Wall is an old dam wall in South Australia.

South Australia Police said they were investigating what happened.

"Police and emergency services were called to the Whispering Wall after witnesses reported seeing a man and infant go over the edge of the wall and fall to the ground," they said in a statement.

"When patrols arrived, they found a deceased man and an infant who was unresponsive.

"Paramedics worked on the infant but sadly, she died at the scene.

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"Detectives from Barossa CIB and Major Crime Branch, along with forensic crime scene investigators, have attended the scene to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"At this stage, no one else is being sought over the deaths.

"Police will be preparing a report for the State Coroner."

The Whispering Wall is 35 metres high and is the retaining wall of the Barossa Reservoir, according to its website.

"Built between 1899 and 1903, the dam was a revolutionary engineering feat for its day and attracted attention from all over the world, even making its way into the pages of the journal Scientific American," it says.

"But what draws visitors to the Whispering Wall is its unique acoustic effects: words whispered at one side can be clearly heard at the other, more than 100 metres away."

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Pfizer and Moderna could be produced in Australia

Coronavirus vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna could be produced in Australia for the first time as the Victorian Government invests $50 million into the domestic manufacturing of mRNA vaccine technology.

The state government will work closely with the Commonwealth and world-leading experts to develop the first mRNA manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere, which would be based in Melbourne.

In a statement, the government said mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, were a "promising alternative" to traditional vaccines because of their high efficacy, capacity for rapid development, low-cost manufacture and safe administration.

LIVE UPDATES: Vaccinated man in Brisbane hospital over blood clot concerns

Growing evidence also suggests Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are manufactured in Europe and the United States, will be easier to re-engineer to cover new viral variants than conventional inoculations such as AstraZeneca.

Australia is currently only capable of manufacturing AstraZeneca, with the country's CSL facility set to make more than 50 million doses.

"This is a very significant announcement, not just for Victoria but for Australia," Acting Victoria Premier James Merlino said.

The development of the mRNA manufacturing capability would provide vaccine security, ensuring vials can be made locally to avoid global supply chain issues.

Other forms of RNA nanomedicines and mRNA can also be used in the treatment of cancer, rare diseases, cellular engineering and protein-replacement therapy.

Mr Merlino said it would take at least 12 months for any of the vaccines to be manufactured.

READ MORE: Under-50s cancelling COVID-19 vaccine appointments

"It's vital that we can develop and manufacture mRNA vaccines and treatments locally to ensure we have vaccine security here in Australia and across our region," he said.

Monash University researcher Professor Colin Pouton said mRNA vaccination was the best way to quickly respond to emerging viruses.

"We are very keen to push ahead with the second generation COVID-19 vaccine we are working on, and looking to the future, we're collaborating with a number of researchers who are interested in how the mRNA platform could be used for other medical applications," Professor Pouton said.

It comes as Victoria's mass vaccination sites opened their doors today to make COVID-19 jabs more accessible.

READ MORE: Australians over 50 to be given access to COVID vaccine

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Eligible Victorians under phase 1a and 1b of the rollout can visit one of the four vaccination hubs at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and the old Ford Factory in Geelong.

People aged over 70, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 55 and adults with underlying medical conditions are eligible to get the AstraZeneca jab.

Adults aged under 50 who are eligible will also be given the option of receiving AstraZeneca after the two-week pause due to blood clot concerns lifted today.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said he was "delighted" to get the AstraZeneca vaccine today and "couldn't be happier".

READ MORE: Man in Brisbane hospital with blood clots after Pfizer vaccine

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"Caring, professional and efficient approach of everyone at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, especially the ⁦St Vincent's staff," he wrote on Twitter.

COVID-10 vaccinations will still be offered at GP clinics.

People who want to get their vaccine at one of the mass sites can make an appointment over the phone or walk-in if they are willing to wait.

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'Our world fell apart': Families mourn Eastern Freeway victims a year on

The heartbroken families of the four Victoria Police officers killed in the Eastern Freeway crash have expressed their grief over the tragedy one year on.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney all died in the deadliest incident in the force's history on April 22 last year.

The officers had pulled over Porsche driver Richard Pusey in the emergency lane of the freeway for allegedly speeding, when truck driver Mohinder Singh ploughed into them near Kew.

The four police officers were were impounding a Porsche on the Eastern Freeway at Kew when the truck ploughed into them.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary tomorrow, the Prestney family said the pain of losing their loved one had not subsided over the past year.

The family said it still recalled the horrors of the night.

"The night we lost Josh our world fell apart," the officer's parents Andrew and Belinda Prestney said.

"It has now been one year, but the memory of how that night unfolded is as clear and as painful as if it happened yesterday.

"As hard it was to lose Josh, harder still has been learning to live without him.

"We will never get used to this, get over this or move on from this.

"If we are lucky, time may soften the edges of our grief, but the loss of our son and brother has left scars that will never completely heal."

Constable Prestney's parents described how the sound of his guitars had "fallen silent" in their family home, and how they grappled with his loss every day.

"The music he loved is no longer pumped around the house and there is no more witty banter across the dinner table or cheering at the footy," they said.

"We all miss him so very much.

"Josh's story was not finished, there was still so much more to do."

The 28-year-old was a triathlon enthusiast and a passionate Collingwood supporter.

It was only his second day on the job at Boroondara Police Station when the freeway tragedy occurred.

"Our son was generous, loving, discerning and honest, with a deep love of family and for his partner Stacey," his parents said.

"He was eager to excel in his new career with Victoria Police and we would like to acknowledge the members he trained with and worked with, who are struggling with his loss."

The Prestneys said they were "comforted" by the love and support they have received from family, friends, colleagues and strangers.

"Josh, your life was a blessing. Your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words. And missed beyond measure."

Todd Robinson, the partner of Constable Humphris, said his worst fear came true when he received the dreaded knock on the door that the officer had died.

"Today marks 12 months since I wished Glen a great day and hugged him goodbye as I left for work, not knowing that would be the last time we would ever see each other," Mr Robinson said in his tribute.

"Each and every day, police officers put their lives on the line for our community, and it is the worst fear of every partner and family member to receive that knock on the door.

"This was one of the most gut-wrenching experiences of my life."

Constable Humphris was completing his Probationary Constable Extended Training Scheme (PCET) at Collingwood Police Station and undertaking a placement in the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section.

He was born and raised in Gosford on the NSW Central Coast.

Mr Robinson said he would forever remember his partner as the "smiling, bubbly and beautiful man that he was" and for the love they shared.

"He touched many people in his life, and many people cared for him," he said.

"I want these stories and memories of joy and optimism to be forever remembered."

Melbourne landmarks will again turn blue tomorrow night to mark the first anniversary of the Eastern Freeway crash that claimed the lives of the four police officers.

Acting Premier James Merlino confirmed the Bolte Bridge, Parliament House and other government buildings across Melbourne CBD would be bathed in blue.

"A number of buildings have been identified that will light up in blue to honour those four police officers, their families and Victoria Police across the board," he said.

Singh, the truck driver responsible for the deaths of the officers, was last week jailed for 22 years in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

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US Travel Advisory: Don’t Go to A&B, Barbados, SV&G, St. Lucia

By Orville Williams

“Do not travel to Antigua and Barbuda due to Covid-19.” That’s the first line of the US State Department’s latest travel advisory for the twin island nation, issued yesterday.

This advisory comes despite the significant reduction in the country’s new reported infections, amid the loosening of restrictions like the nightly curfew and in-restaurant dining, and ahead of the resumption of cruise tourism in a few months’ time.

The US Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, issued a statement on the advisory yesterday, saying effective this week, the State Department is adopting the [US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] CDC’s “Level 4: Covid-19 Very High” travel health notice for some Caribbean countries – including Antigua and Barbuda – that recommends no travel.

When issued by the CDC back in November last year, the same advisory came under intense scrutiny, particularly as the country’s infection rate was rather low in comparison to some regional neighbours which had higher infection rates, but were categorised as posing a ‘moderate risk’ at the time.

Foreign Affairs Minister EP Chet Greene expressed shock upon getting the news of that advisory, while he, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez, and many others immediately feared for the potential fallout within the tourism sector, as a result of changed attitudes to travel and more directly, cancelled trips.

The very real threat to tourism, coupled with the perceived “unfairness” prompted intervention by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, who expressed the country’s concern to the US authorities.

Sir Ronald later explained that the change came as a result of technical factors – a change in the CDC’s assessment methods and the use of “outdated” data – and he advised that a revision would be forthcoming. That revision saw the country downgraded to a Level 2: Moderate warning, until March this year when it was returned to Level 4.

It is currently unclear whether the State Department’s adoption of the CDC’s ‘very high’ travel advisory will come with any additional and/or greater impacts, but it certainly is a dent in the hopes of several groups, including the hospitality, aviation and local transportation sectors, that are all looking forward to an improvement in their business.

Concerns will no doubt be had in this situation, especially since current Covid-19 numbers have been low for several weeks and the country has begun to slowly open up.

Starting August this year, the Crystal Symphony vessel – under the management of Crystal Cruises – is scheduled to homeport in Antigua for luxury excursions lasting until the end of December.

Along with the prospects of that and other potential cruise business, talks of increased airlift to the island have been bandied about lately, which if confirmed, would be big news for the many that benefit from traffic at the VC Bird International Airport.

The adoption of this travel advisory could only raise just a few heads, given the fact that the CDC’s similar advisory was already in place. However, the thousands of people gearing up for movement in the tourism sector will definitely be keeping their fingers crossed that it doesn’t interfere with the prospects for financial stimulation.

Along with Antigua and Barbuda, the statement from the embassy noted that Barbados, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines were also included in the travel advisory update, along with a number of other countries.

The post US Travel Advisory: Don’t Go to A&B, Barbados, SV&G, St. Lucia appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Volcano on St. Vincent Still Erupting, Ash Continues to Fall

 

ByMargaret Besheer
A man fixes a flat tire of a car covered in ash after a series of eruptions from La Soufriere volcano in Orange Hill, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, April 18, 2021.
A man fixes a flat tire of a car covered in ash after a series of eruptions from La Soufriere volcano in Orange Hill, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, April 18, 2021.

VOLCANO ON ST. VINCENT STILL ERUPTING – The prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines appealed for international help Tuesday as the Caribbean island nation begins to tackle the daunting cleanup from a series of volcanic eruptions that have not stopped.

“The lives and livelihoods of our people have been terribly affected,” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told reporters in a video press conference. ”We are in a dire situation, frankly.”

About 20,000 people were evacuated from the area nearest to La Soufrière volcano on the north side of St. Vincent after it began erupting on April 9 for the first time in 42 years. The island nation has a population of about 110,000.

In some areas, ash is a meter deep, and it has given the normally green and lush island an apocalyptic appearance.

No one was killed in the eruptions, which the prime minister said have spewed more than 100 million cubic meters of ash on the island and into the sea, and has been carried as far away as India. But damage has been extensive to agriculture, homes and the island’s tourism industry.

“The humanitarian relief for the prolonged period is going to be huge,” Gonsalves said. “The cost is massive, no question about that, before we reach reconstruction.”

He estimates that rebuilding will run to the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The United Nations launched a humanitarian appeal for $29.2 million on Tuesday to assist the most vulnerable with basic needs, including clean water, food and shelter, as well as to help initiate recovery. Last Thursday, the United Nations released $1 million from its emergency fund to help with urgent needs.

 

The world body is also deploying a team of a dozen experts this week to work with the government to assess what is needed to clean up and safely dispose of the massive amounts of ash, as well as to evaluate the ecological impact, Didier Trebucq, U.N. resident coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, said.

Trebucq added that there is still a lot of uncertainty as eruptions continue.

“We felt a tremor this morning,” he told reporters. “Two days ago, we could see another eruption.”

Gonsalves said when La Soufrière last erupted in 1979, it did so over a period of about seven months. Prior to that, in 1902, it went on even longer.

But should the volcano cease erupting sooner, the island nation will not be entirely at ease. Hurricane season starts in six weeks, and this year, it is forecast to be very active.

The post Volcano on St. Vincent Still Erupting, Ash Continues to Fall appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Grandmother dies waiting for 'lost' ambulance

New questions and concerns have been raised about the death of a Queensland grandmother after three ambulances got lost on the way to her house, despite living five minutes from hospital.

Talking exclusively to 9News, Stephen Couder has told his story of heartbreak, forced to watch his wife Diane die in his arms all while living five minutes away from Logan Hospital.

The couple, originally from Emerald, moved to Logan so Diane, who had been suffering severe health issues, could be within five minutes away from a hospital.

Brisbane ambulance wait leaves grandmother dead

READ MORE: Forensic report on allegedly murdered Gold Coast mum's injuries could take nine months

However, Stephen claims the move to the Edwards Street, Loganlea address was when they started encountering problems with getting an ambulance.

Experiencing renal failure and being prepared for dialysis, Diane would suffer from rapid fluid build-up around the heart, a condition that could be treated if she was seen to quickly.

"She had those episodes before. The ambos were here on time. They gave her things that caused that fluid to disperse," Stephen told 9News.

On December 15, Diane had difficulty breathing, prompting Stephen to call triple zero from the Edwards Street address, but the ambulance was sent to Elizabeth Court.

"When they did eventually get her to hospital … she was very near death," Stephen said.

After time in hospital, Diane was discharged, but on January 2, she again needed an ambulance, which Stephen says got lost as well, prompting him to complain.

"When they took her to the hospital, I accompanied her in the ambulance in the front seat … I saw on their monitor the address they'd been sent to, and it wasn't this address," Stephen said.

On February 21, Diane again went downhill, with Stephen calling an ambulance – an ambulance that didn't arrive on time because it was sent to the wrong address.

"So, she ended up passing away in my arms right there, and I can't get that vision out of my head,"

Brisbane ambulance wait leaves grandmother dead

Explaining the delays in a statement, Queensland Ambulance said there was no technical issue with the QAS IT system, suggesting the problem was a result of Council mapping – that saw ambulances directed to Elizabeth Court, formerly Edward Court.

"Maps are provided by the relevant local Council to all emergency services on a quarterly basis. The next quarterly update is due to be provided by Council in the next fortnight," the statement said.

"An Ambulance arrived within 30 minutes of the original call in all three instances,"

Stephen has spoken to a QAS investigator but is angry that he hasn't seen the report into his wife's treatment.

"I've heard nothing from anyone from anywhere. The health department, the ambulance department, anyone except that investigator," Stephen said.

A sentiment shared by Queensland's Liberal Opposition leader David Crisafulli, who voiced his own concerns about Stephen and Diane's story and the potential of it happening again.

"He deserves honest answers, and he deserves an honest commitment that something is going to be done about it – otherwise, more families are going to suffer the sort of heartbreak he has," Mr Crisafulli said.

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World View: Chauvin Verdict, Cop Kills Black Teen Girl, Virus Overruns India, More

April 21, 2021

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The guilty verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd has made waves across the United States, with President Joe Biden welcoming the jury’s decision as bringing in a new era of justice for Black Americans and accountability for the country’s police and justice systems.

The jury’s swift verdict set off jubilation mixed with sorrow across the city of Minneapolis and around the nation. Biden said the conviction of Chauvin “can be a giant step forward” for the nation’s fight against systemic racism. But he declared that “it’s not enough.”

Also this morning:

  • Biden hits latest vaccine milestone 
  • Man bitten by rattlesnake while trying to move it with barbeque tongs

ANDREW MELDRUM

Africa News Editor

The Associated Press

Johannesburg

The Rundown

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After three weeks of testimony, the trial of the former police officer charged with killing George Floyd ended swiftly: barely more than a day of jury deliberations, then just minutes for the verdicts to be read — guilty, guilty and guilty — and Derek Chauvin was handcuffed and taken away to prison. Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades when he is sentenced in about two months a case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S. The verdict set off jubilation mixed with sorrow across the city and around the nation. Hundreds of people poured into the streets of Minneapolis, some running through traffic with banners. Drivers blared their horns in celebration….Read More

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NEW YORK (AP) — When the verdicts came in — Guilty, Guilty, Guilty — Lucia Edmonds let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. The relief that the 91-year-old Black woman felt flooding over her when white former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted for killing George Floyd was hard-earned, coming after a lifetime of seeing other cases end differently. “I was prepared for the fact that it might not be a guilty verdict because it’s happened so many times before,” the Washington, D.C., resident said. She recalled the shock of the Rodney King case nearly three decades ago when four Los Angeles officers were acquitted of beating King, a Black motorist. …Read More

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Relief, even if fleeting and momentary, is a feeling that Black Americans have rarely known in America: From slavery to Jim Crow segregation to enduring punishments for living while Black, a breath of fresh air untainted by oppression has long been hard to come by. Nonetheless, the conviction of ex-cop Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd nearly a year ago allowed many across this city and the nation to exhale pent up anxiety — and to inhale a sense of hope. But what might they feel hope for? …Read More

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism. But he declared that “it’s not enough.” Biden spoke Tuesday from the White House hours after the verdict alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, with the pair saying the country’s work is far from finished with the verdict. “We can’t stop here,” Biden declared. …Read More

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police shot and killed a teenage girl in Columbus on Tuesday afternoon, according to newspaper reports, just as the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial was being announced. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was at the scene Tuesday night on the city’s southeast side, The Columbus Dispatch reported . Officers had responded to an attempted stabbing call when police shot the girl at about 4:45 p.m., the newspaper reported. The 911 caller reported a female was trying to stab them before hanging up, according to the Dispatch. …Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

India has been overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of new coronavirus cases daily, bringing pain, fear and agony to many lives as lockdowns have been placed in Delhi and…Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is set to meet President Joe Biden’s latest vaccine goal of administering 200 million COVID-19 shots in his first 100 days in office, as the Wh…Read More

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union reached a tentative climate deal that should make the 27-nation bloc climate-neutral by 2050, with member states and parliament agreein…Read More

CORONA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California man is recovering after he was bitten by a rattlesnake when he tried to pick up the poisonous reptile using barbecue tongs, au…Read More

The post World View: Chauvin Verdict, Cop Kills Black Teen Girl, Virus Overruns India, More appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Returned travellers catch COVID-19 in WA hotel quarantine

Western Australian health authorities are investigating two new cases of COVID-19 acquired in hotel quarantine.

The state health department on Wednesday night confirmed the virus was transmitted in quarantine, saying the two sets of guests with the same strain arrived from different countries at different times.

The revelation followed NSW authorities' decision to launch an investigation into the potential spread, not yet confirmed, of the more infectious South African variant in Sydney hotel quarantine.

READ MORE: 'Too early' to say if Brisbane cop's blood clots caused by Pfizer vaccine

In Perth, recent guests from the same floor as the transmission will be re-tested and those who were in the immediately adjacent rooms will be self-quarantined for 14 days.

"The Department can confirm the virus was transmitted in hotel quarantine at the Mercure Hotel Perth, as two sets of guests, in rooms opposite each other, had the same sequence of virus – despite arriving from different countries at different times," the WA Health Department said in a statement.

"All other guests who previously stayed on the same (sixth) floor during this time and have been released from the hotel facility tested negative prior to release. 

"These guests will be re-tested and directed to self-isolate until cleared by the public health team."

The department noted hotel staff underwent daily testing and none had yet tested positive.

"While similar transmission in hotels in other jurisdictions has not resulted in community transmission, the community must always remain vigilant," it said.

"The threat of COVID-19 remains real.

"This is a timely reminder that if you are experiencing symptoms, please go and get a COVID test."

READ MORE: Melbourne suburbs on alert after COVID-19 fragments found

Also on Wednesday, NSW Health launched an investigation into how three returned travellers, two of whom are related and all of whom arrived on April 3 on the same flight, all tested positive to the South African strain of the virus.

The two family members were in connecting rooms on the hotel's 10th floor, while the third person was in an adjacent room.

They all tested negative for their day two swabs in quarantine but later tested positive on different days.

NSW Health is contacting returned travellers who were on the same floor of the hotel from April 7-12.

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Forensic report on 'murdered' mum's injuries could take nine months

It could take nine months before pathologists are able to determine the full extent of allegedly murdered Gold Coast woman Kelly Wilkinson's injuries.

The young mother, 27, was found with burns to her body in the backyard of a home in Arundel yesterday morning.

Neighbours reported hearing screams and the sound of an explosion about 6.40am.

READ MORE: Man charged after young mother's burned body found in yard

Kelly Wilkinson was allegedly murdered by her estranged partner.

Her estranged partner Brian Johnston, 34, has since been charged with her murder.

He remains in a serious condition after being found a few blocks away in a semi-conscious state, with burns to his body.

Mr Johnston's lawyer Chris Hannay today said his client was "in a pretty bad way".

"I've been told his injuries are fairly substantial in relation to burns," Mr Hannay said.

"I've been told he's at the Princess Alexandra Hospital."

Police are investigating a homicide on the Gold Coast.

Mr Hannay said he had met with Mr Johnston in the days before Ms Wilkinson's death.

He said Mr Johnston was "pretty coherent" and took "suitable instructions" about a "whole lot of things" in relation to domestic violence issues.

"Obviously no one expected this to happen," Mr Hannay said.

The matter won't be heard in court again until June 4, in the domestic violence court at Southport.

Kelly Wilkinson and Brian Johnston.

Neighbours told police they saw a man run from the scene injured and bloodied.

"He turned up in the bushes in the house next door to me – his left arm was heavily bandaged," one neighbour told 9News.

"(A passerby) saw the fella and asked you know, 'are you okay mate?' He made some remark like, 'I'm fine', but he had his head down."

A fundraiser launched to pay for Ms Wilkinson's funeral and the schooling of her three children has raised $65,000 in less than 24 hours.

Ms Wilkinson's death came less than two months after her mother died suddenly at age 55.

If you need help or support, contact the National Domestic Violence Service on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you are in immediate danger call triple zero (000).