Desert trek to help high-care need youths

Six Sydneysiders are to undertake an eight-day, 300km trek across the Simpson Desert for Youngcare. Source: AAP

SIX brave Sydneysiders will face an eight-day, 300km trek across arid sand dunes this May to help better the lives of young people with high-care needs.

The 2013 Simpson Desert Challenge raises funds for Youngcare, a national charity aimed at giving such young people better care and housing options, rather than leaving them in aged-care facilities.

About 7500 young people in Australia are currently living in aged-care facilities,

Youngcare CEO Mark Foley said on Tuesday the desert was chosen to reflect the isolation and mental and physical hardships young people in aged-care face daily.

"Aged care is no place for a young person," he said.

"Every young person deserves a young life."

The goal of this year's trek is to raise $700,000 to help build age-appropriate housing for youths in need.

For the launch of the challenge on Tuesday, part of Sydney's Wynyard Park was transformed into a temporary desert, complete with camels, much to the surprise of passers-by.

Six Sydneysiders have signed on for the challenge and will complete an intensive 17-week training program with an adventure trekking group founded by former Australian Army personnel.

Trekkers carry all their supplies in a 15kg backpack every day.

Jock Watson, 30, has been in aged care since the age of 22 after a serious car accident, and in 2011 his younger brothers, Tom and Angus, completed the desert challenge in support of him.

This year, Jock's friend, Sarah Scott-Paul, has committed to the trek.

Jock's mother, Jane Watson, believes every effort is needed to raise funds for the charity.

"He's living in an environment where people die and don't have potential," she said.

"My son has potential. He deserves to have a dignified life and needs somewhere to stimulate him, rather than depress him."

Those wishing to support the trekkers can go to the website www.youngcare.com.au/simpsondesert.

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Bali court sentences UK woman to death

AN Indonesian court has sentenced a British woman to death for smuggling cocaine onto the resort island of Bali.

Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence.

Lindsay June Sandiford, 56, was found guilty by the Denpasar District Court and sentenced on Tuesday.

In its verdict, a judge panel concluded Sandiford had damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's drug prevention program.

Sandiford was arrested in May when customs officers at Bali's airport discovered 3.8 kilograms of cocaine worth $US2.5 million ($A2.4 million) in her luggage.

She told the court she was forced to take the drugs into the country by a gang that was threatening to hurt one of her children.

There are more than 114 prisoners on death row in Indonesia. At least 40 of them are foreigners, most of whom have been convicted of drug crimes, according to a March 2012 report by Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy.

Five foreigners have been executed since 1998, all for drug crimes.

There have been no executions in the country since 2008, when 10 people were put to death.

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Three rescued from sea by Vic boaters

THREE people have been rescued by recreational boaters in Victoria after the seaplane they were in flipped over off the coast of Geelong.

The pilot of the chartered flight and his two passengers climbed onto the upturned craft as it floated upside-down about 400 metres off the coast of the bayside city, according to a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman.

They were spotted by about three separate boaters who came to their aid about 3.25pm (AEDT) on Tuesday near Cunningham Pier.

"There were three boats in the area that responded and rescued the people," a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

"They were small recreational boats, like tinnies."

The three people on board the plane have been taken to Geelong Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flip upon landing in the waters, although police could not yet provide confirmation.

Television prankster Bam Margera also witnessed the incident.

"Just about to drive a motorbike off a pier & get on a seaplane but the plane just crashed," he wrote on Twitter.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said they were waiting on more information before they decided whether to investigate.

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Self-funded retirees to suffer big losses

Self-funded retirees look set to lose $30m after Wickham Securities went into administration. Source: AAP

MORE than 300 self-funded retirees look set to lose about $30 million after the financial services firm Wickham Securities went into administration.

The directors of the Brisbane-based company have appointed Grant Sparks and David Leigh of PPB Advisory as administrators, a media statement said on Monday.

The administrators will report to creditors later this month, and a creditors meeting will be held in Brisbane on February 6.

A recommendation on the future of the company will be presented to the February 6 meeting.

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Four Dutchmen avoid crocs but have an itch

Four men have been rescued after spending a night up a tree to evade crocodiles in Darwin Harbour. Source: AAP

FOUR Dutchmen had a harrowing night after scrambling up a tree to avoid a crocodile when their boat capsized in rough seas in Darwin.

The four men aged in their 30s were stuck for more than 20 hours in mangroves after their boat capsized while they were trying to catch mud crabs in Darwin Harbour about 11am (CST) on Sunday.

"There was one croc, but the sandflies, they really get you," one of the men later said.

Director of CareFlight, Ian Badham, said apart from being covered in insect bites, the men were in good health despite their ordeal.

"After their boat capsized they got themselves into the mangroves and spent the night in the tallest mangrove tree they could find," Mr Badham said.

"They were bitten savagely by sandflies and mosquitoes and were very worried about being eaten by larger things.

"They did see crocodiles, but they (the men) stayed out of the water," he said.

It was only on Monday just after 8am (CST) when the tide went out that the men were able to get back to their small craft and activate the emergency beacon, Mr Badham said.

The beacon alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which alerted the Northern Territory Police, CareFlight and a commercial helicopter.

The commercial helicopter spotted the men and CareFlight then winched them up to safety and across to a sandbar to be checked out.

On Sunday night Darwin was buffeted by gusty winds up to 50km/h and up to 25mm of rain fell.

Larry Tessman from Jayrow Helicopters, the first to spot the men, said they were relieved to see his chopper.

"They were in the mangroves and mud, and one bloke came out and waved to us," he said.

"They did say there was a croc watching them," he added.

Mr Badham said the men were okay but feeling embarrassed.

"They kept a level head overnight, were sensible and because of that they are alive," he said.

"They are looking forward to cleaning up and having a shower and having a beer."

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Renters' reprieve: Sydney market eases

A survey shows rental vacancy rates have edged up to 1.9 per cent across Sydney in December. Source: AAP

SYDNEY renters looking for new digs have had some relief these holidays, with rental vacancy rates edging up to 1.9 per cent across the city in December.

The vacancy rate in the Hunter hit a two-year high of 2.1 per cent and in Coffs Harbour, renters could take their pick, with 3.7 per cent of rental properties empty.

But the Real Estate Institute of NSW, which released the December survey results on Monday, has warned the higher vacancy rates are unlikely to last.

"Traditionally January and February are peak periods for change all over the state as school leavers, university students and people moving jobs settle into new properties," REINSW president Christian Payne said.

"In 2013 we expect the vacancy rate to quickly reduce back to the tight levels seen in 2012 due to the rising population and lack of new housing developments."

The vacancy rate for Newcastle was 1.6 per cent in December, up from 1.2 per cent in November, while the Illawarra remained steady with a fall of just 0.1 per cent to 2.1 per cent.

There was no change for Wollongong at 2.5 per cent.

Outside Sydney, the hardest place to find rental accommodation was the mid-north coast, where availability fell 0.2 per cent to 1.8 per cent in December.

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Ned Kelly laid to rest 132 years later

Bushranger Ned Kelly has been laid to rest at a Victorian cemetery 132 years after he was hanged. Source: AAP

BUSHRANGER Ned Kelly's final wish has been realised more than 132 years after he was hanged.

Kelly was laid to rest on Sunday beside the unmarked grave of his mother at a cemetery in the tiny northeast Victorian town of Greta, not far from Glenrowan where he had his last stand in June 1880.

Kelly's burial brings about the realisation of his dying wish of a traditional Catholic burial in consecrated ground alongside his loved ones.

A marquee surrounded the gravesite during the burial which was attended by dozens of his descendants.

Kelly's great-grand-niece, Joanne Griffiths, said the family was happy to finally put things right.

"I think we all feel really relieved and proud after all the work to try and achieve this, that finally he was given his final wish," she said.

"Regardless of what people might think now ... this is not the day for judgment this is just the day for burying a family member.

"We are really, really happy to achieve that and at least put that part to rest, put things right."

The burial came after a funeral service in nearby Wangaratta on Friday.

More than 200 descendants, along with many interested members of the public attended the mass.

Kelly was hanged in 1880 after shooting dead three policeman.

His skull has been missing since 1978 when it was stolen from a display case at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Reportedly, Kelly's remains will be encased in concrete to ensure his bones are not stolen.

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Uncontrolled fire burning in SA

AN uncontrolled fire burning in south eastern South Australia may threaten public safety, authorities have warned.

The bushfire at Greenways, south of Adelaide, is travelling in a northerly direction towards Cortina Station, the CFS says.

The fire is burning between Woodleigh Rd and Jorgensons Rd.

"The fire is not controlled and is burning in scrub and conditions are continually changing," a CFS statement said.

The CFS says it is attending the fire and has urged residents to follow their bushfire survival plans.

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Two NSW children approached by a man

A SISTER and brother have been approached by a stranger who tried to entice them into his car on NSW's midnorth coast.

The 12-year-old girl and five-year-old boy were playing in a vacant lot near their home in James Grimwade Place, East Kempsey, about 1.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday, police say.

A red Nissan four-wheel-drive with a silver bull bar stopped on the roadway, and a man with curly brown hair and a clean-shaven face called the children over.

They approached and the driver, aged in his mid to late 40s, asked them to get into the car.

The pair immediately ran home and told their mother what had happened.

Police are appealing or information about a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

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No timeframe for Antarctic reserves

THE head of the United States' scientific program in Antarctica isn't committing to a timeframe for an agreement to create the world's largest marine reserve.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which regulates the seas around Antarctica, missed its 2012 target for creating a network of marine reserves around the entire continent.

New Zealand and the US could not agree over what areas in the Ross Sea should be included in the reserves, with conservation groups saying not enough species-rich areas were part of New Zealand's proposal.

The US National Science Foundation's polar program director Kelly Falkner dismissed a suggestion there was any bad blood over the failure.

Speaking to visiting reporters on Ross Island in Antarctica on Saturday, Dr Falkner said New Zealand and the US had since been able to thrash out their differences.

"We have the first steps of consensus between us... if we didn't work together it wouldn't bode well for the world, so I am really glad we have taken that first step because there are many more countries that we have to bring on board."

Dr Falkner would not commit to a timeframe to broker an agreement.

The next CCAMLR meeting is in Germany in July.

Meanwhile, NZ Prime Minister John Key, who visited the McMurdo Station just 3km from New Zealand's Scott Base on Saturday, praised the American efforts in Antarctica.

Mr Key was grateful the Americans had decided to stay in Christchurch, where the International Antarctic Centre is based, after the 2011 earthquake.

"We couldn't operate without the Americans. They do a lot of the heavy lifting here in Antarctica, they dedicate enormous resources. We rely on them for logistics and movements very often," he said

New Zealand's role in the deal could involve processing waste, wind farm technology and support with flights, Mr Key said.

The prime minister is still hoping to make a quick visit to the South Pole, after the weather stopped him flying there on Saturday.

It was very disappointing to miss the chance to get to the pole and see the US work on astrophysics and one of the most powerful telescopes in the world, he said.

"We haven't completely closed off the opportunity of getting there on Monday, but obviously in the lap of the gods when it comes to the weather. This is a very extreme environment, you have got to kind of expect that."

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