Tag Archives: oceania

headline

Returned traveller in NSW tests positive after leaving quarantine

NSW Health has issued an urgent list of venues visited by a returned overseas traveller who has tested positive for coronavirus after ending their 14-day quarantine period.

The person, who returned a positive result for COVID-19 on their day 16 test, is from Wollongong and visited multiple cafes and retail shops whilst possibly infectious.

The day 16 test is a relatively new follow-up of overseas travellers after they have been released from hotel quarantine after 14 days.

READ MORE: Sydney restaurant fined $5000 for COVID breaches

NSW Health issued the list of affected venues tonight and said the person did not have any symptoms.

"Test results indicate that the person has a low level of infection and their household contacts have returned negative results to date.

"Investigations to date suggest the infection was likely acquired overseas and there is no indication at this stage that there was transmission in the hotel quarantine setting.

"Close contacts of the case not associated with venues have been identified and are already in self isolation.

"The person visited a number of venues in Wollongong and surrounding areas, as well as a café in Brighton Le Sands in south-eastern Sydney, before they were notified of the positive result from their day-16 test."

Headlands Hotel in Austinmer.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below should immediately get tested and self-isolate until further advice from NSW Health:

  • Austinmer: Headlands Hotel — Tuesday 2 February, 1pm – 3pm
  • Bulli: Bulli Beach Café — Saturday 6 February, 1.30pm – 4pm

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below is a casual contact who must get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result. If any symptoms appear, get tested again.

  • Brighton Le Sands: Mootch & Me — Tuesday 2 February, 10.54am – 12pm
  • North Wollongong: Optus — Thursday 4 February, 1pm – 1.15pm
  • Fairy Meadow: Officeworks — Thursday 4 February, 3.45pm – 4.05pm; Friday 5 February, 3pm – 3.25pm

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below should monitor for symptoms. If symptoms appear, please get tested:

  • Bulli: Woolworths — Wednesday 3 February, 9.15am – 10am
  • Corrimal: Corrimal Memorial Park — Wednesday 3 February, 12pm – 1pm
  • Thirroul: Thirroul Beach — Wednesday 3 February, 3pm – 4:30pm
  • Madden Plains: Sublime Point Walking Track — Thursday 4 February, 8.30am – 10am
  • Figtree: Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, in particular these stores: Australia Post, Kmart, Blooms The Chemist, Subway — Thursday 4 February, 2pm – 3.30pm
  • Fairy Meadow: Fedora Pasta Factory — Friday 5 February, 3.30pm – 3.35pm
headline

Man arrested after 'punching and biting mum in home invasion'

An Adelaide man accused of a terrifying home invasion that left a 35-year-old mother with serious facial injuries has been arrested.

A 21-year-old allegedly entered the Aldinga Beach home about 9pm on Saturday and when he was approached by the woman allegedly punched her in the head.

He then allegedly bit her on the right side of the cheek and the lower left arm.

During the ordeal the victim's three children locked themselves in the bathroom of the Lovelock Street home.

"She copped a bit of a hiding by the sounds of it, but she gave him one too by the sound of it. So, good on her," neighour Chris Bauer told 9News.

The alleged offender was seen walking down nearby Follett Street when police found him.

"He was carrying on in the back of the wagon," witness Steve Read told 9News.

"He was bashing around … whether he was bashing his head or his feet I don't know."

The mother was too distraught to speak on camera about her ordeal.

Her 14-year-old daughter told 9News she armed herself with a kitchen knife before locking herself and her two younger siblings, aged five and eight, in the bathroom.

The man from Aldinga Beach was arrested and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, aggravated assault cause harm.

He has been refused bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Police say the investigation is continuing including the motive behind the attack.

The injured mother was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to Flinders Medical Centre for treatment to her facial injuries. She is a stable condition.

headline

Grandfather of toddler 'kidnapped from his cot' speaks

The grandfather of a toddler allegedly kidnapped from his Queensland home as he slept has spoken of the family's nightmare ordeal.

The 20-month-old boy was allegedly abducted from his Darra home in Brisbane's south about 4am today by a stranger who police said snatched the boy from his cot.

Queensland Police issued an Amber Alert for the child after family woke to find the child's bedroom door open and no sign of him.

The intruder can be seen carrying the toddler from his Brisbane home.

It was seven hours before the child was found safe on the side of Orange Grove Road in nearby Salisbury.

A member of the community phoned authorities with a crucial piece of information.

The boy has been reunited with his family.

"(It's) just a real big shock, real scary," the grandfather, who asked to remain anonymous, told 9News.

"I am still shaking at the fact that knowing that a total stranger could be in our house.

The child's grandfather says the family do not plan to remain in the home after their orderl.

"We thank the Queensland Police for everything they have done."

Neighour Jan-Maree Caudell described the ordeal as traumatic.

"It's just heartbreaking being a mum myself," Ms Caudell told 9News.

A man is his 30s is in custody and assisting with their enquiries, Queensland Police said.

It's believed the boy's alleged abductor is not a relative but was on a list of police's suspects.

"We won't be here much longer. We are relocating to a more suitable property that's a bit more safer," the child's grandfather told 9News.

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New DNA links mystery jawbone to mariner lost in 1979 boating tragedy

A jawbone found washed up on the NSW North Coast has been revealed to be that of a mariner lost at sea in a boating tragedy more than 40 years ago.

The jawbone was discovered washed up on Kingscliff Beach near the NSW-Queensland border on September 24, 2011, prompting an extensive investigation by NSW police and the forensic arm of NSW Health Pathology.

For nine years, the bone was one of dozens of unidentified remains on the Missing Persons Registry, with repeated searches on DNA databases failing to find a match.

But in August last year, a familial DNA search by NSW Health Pathology turned up a possible link to a biological relative.

Familial DNA searching uses complex technology to find potential relatives who have provided their DNA to an existing database.

The closer the biological relationship, the greater the chance that a relative will be found.

The new link lead investigators to a 34-year-old man imprisoned in Goulburn jail, whose DNA had been added to a database for convicted offenders in NSW.

An investigation by Marine Area Command and the Missing Person's Registry confirmed the inmate was the nephew of Willian John Moran, who was lost at sea in 1979.

The then-24-year-old was one of five crew on board the cabin cruiser Nocturne 1 off Evans Head late on September 23, 1979, when it became caught in a gale.

Facing 100km/h winds and 10-metre high seas, the boat had to be abandoned before it sunk in the early hours of the following morning.

Three crew members – including Bill's sister-in-law and her husband, Maria and Ray Moran – were saved in a daring helicopter rescue.

"We ran into the biggest southerly you've ever come across," Mr Moran told 9News.

"We just spent six hours in the water trying to survive."

Bill Moran and his wife, 21-year-old Philippa Moran, were lost. Philippa's body washed up on Kingscliff Beach. it would be 32 years before Bill's jawbone was discovered.

"I don't know, I was so excited… he was found on the same beach, so obviously they were together until nearly right at the end," Maria said.

The jawbone has now been returned to the Moran family, bringing "closure after decades of searching for answers", police say.

NSW Police is calling on families of missing people in the state to provide DNA samples in the hope it helps identify more remains.

headline

Melbourne man attacked by two men with machete

A man celebrating his birthday has been attacked by two men with a machete in Melbourne.

The Frankston bricklayer is recovering from emergency surgery and may be left with long term nerve damage in his head after he was slashed with the machete in an unprovoked attack at a local pub.

Aaron, 31, was celebrating his birthday with workmates at the Seaford Hotel on Thursday night.

They got into an altercation with two men, believed to be brothers, but the fight was thought to have been resolved over a friendly beer.

The two men however got kicked out of the venue for being drunk and out of control.

An hour later, Aaron and his friends went to leave and the men were lying in wait, hiding in the bushes armed with a machete and another weapon believed to be a box cutter or screwdriver.

READ MORE: Man arrested following Melbourne woman's disappearance

"All of a sudden I looked up and got slashed in the forehead and got stabbed in the side," Aaron told 9News.

His friend Kim said Aaron held his face in agony as blood spread everywhere.

"All I could hear was the blood-curdling screaming," she said.

Aaron lost an extensive amount of blood from the cut to his head and stab wounds to the side of his body.

Two of his friends suffered defensive wounds to their hands.

READ MORE: Four additional close contacts added to infected hotel worker ahead of Australian Open

One of the attackers was also injured in the incident and ended up in the same hospital right near his victims.

"Two beds across from these boys, taunting them, saying 'I slashed your face and I hurt you' … these people are obviously not scared of the repercussions," Kim said.

Three days on from the attack Aaron and his workmates say they have not been contacted by police for official statements or to know whether the men have been arrested.

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'Tap and display' vaccine proofs to be rolled out on Aussie smartphones

Australians will carry 'proof of vaccination' certificates with them on their smartphone or as hard copies under plans being finalised by the federal government ahead of the scheduled rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

The rollout of the certificates program has gone to the federal cabinet, where it has been discussed at length with approval expected within weeks.

The 'proof of vaccination' certificates would be accessed via the Express Plus Medicare app and the MyGov app.

READ MORE: Test results from Melbourne quarantine worker's contacts 'very encouraging'

Under the plan, people's immunisation history statements will display proof of their COVID-19 immunisation status.

Hard copies of the certificates will also be able to be printed at vaccine providers or at Services Australia sites.

The rollout of the certificates program has gone to the federal cabinet, where it has been discussed at length with approval expected within weeks.

The move is expected to allow Australians more freedom of movement, particularly around visiting hospitals and aged care homes, where high-risk patients reside.

It's also expected to play a key role as Australia looks to reopen its international borders in the months to come.

It comes as UK scientists launch the world's first study examining whether different coronavirus vaccines can safely be used for two-dose regimens – an approach they say could give extra flexibility and even boost protection against COVID-19 if approved.

Participants in the 13-month study will be given the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in different combinations and at different intervals.