Archive for November, 2008

Esther Honegger was “horrified” when she found the baby snakes in her Fannie Bay home.

“I thought ‘Oh my God, how many of them are there?’,” she said.

“I hate snakes and as I walked backwards and forwards I would see another one.”

“They were everywhere – there was one curled around my bedhead, another around the bottom of the chair, and when I went outside there was one in the hallway, another on the (stair) railing and another on the step.

“It was like I was having a nightmare.

“Everywhere I looked they just kept popping up.”

Fully story here

STAFF at Royal Darwin Hospital are on standby and awaiting casualties of the Mumbai terrorist attack that killed more than 100 people.

As of last night, at least one Australian was still missing and one was undergoing surgery for gunshot after terrorists went on a rampage in a series of horrific attacks in India’s financial capital Mumbai.

Police said 101 people had been killed, including six foreigners, and 287 had been injured but the toll may rise as the militants were still holding hostages in two luxury hotels.

Many of the injuries were from attacks at a railway station and Cafe Leopold, perhaps the most famous restaurant and hang-out for tourists.

RDH general manager Len Notaras said the hospital staff in Darwin were making preparations for any incoming patients.

“Because of our proximity, we have been advised to be on alert,” he said.

More here 

Darn, I miss all the fun!

A MAN caused a stir on Top End streets yesterday by cruising around on a motorised scooter wearing just a mankini.

The red-headed, tattooed man stopped traffic and turned the heads of many Saturday morning shoppers.

He was wearing a slimming black mankini, shoes and a helmet.

NEWSBREAKER Camden Smith captured this photo of the irreverent motorcyclist at 9.45am yesterday.

Mr Smith was driving along Bagot Rd and came up alongside the man at lights.

“The closer you got, the more it became obvious that he was in the buff,” he said. “His buttocks were hanging over his pocket rocket.”

A 28-year-old Darwin fashion identity, who asked not to be named, saw the man just minutes later in the centre of Darwin.

Continued here.

More than 3000 have been invited to Tuesday night’s event at the George St complex, including many crew members and the stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Jack Thompson.

The actors have not seen the finished Baz Luhrmann’s WWII epic film.

Since three endings were shot, they are possibly even more keen than the rest of the world to see how their Outback odyssey plays out.

Darwin and Bowen in Queensland are also holding lower scale premiers because of the involvement of both cities in the making of the film.

I occasionally go along to a school assembly when my granddaughter is doing something special with her class and I find it great that they start each assembly with the National Anthem of Australia. They have two children holding up the lyrics so that all the children (and adults)  can learn the words and sing along.

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free,
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia Fair.

At 5PM on a week night, you would think it was safe to travel on Darwin buses, but even in broad daylight we aren’t safe anymore.

A COMMUTER was stabbed last night on a bus travelling to Casuarina.

Surgeons at Royal Darwin Hospital were operating on the victim last night as the stabbing severed a femoral artery in his leg, resulting in extensive blood loss.

The victim was unconscious by the time paramedics arrived at the Casuarina bus exchange shortly after receiving the emergency call.

Crime scene investigators cordoned off the area and took witness statements but could not say last night what prompted the stabbing. Statements were taken from witnesses at the scene but the offender managed to escape.

Watch Commander Garry Smith said last night police were examining witness statements and may release a description of the offender today.

Source

IT is believed a man has now been arrested for the stabbing.

On 11 November 1918 at 11 am the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice, when Australians remember those who fought and died for our country in war and armed conflicts.

Darwin Cenotaph at 10: 30 am

Among the charcoal snags and cold beers yesterday, people from Darwin’s African communities and some long-time locals were still chanting “yes we can!”.

Charles Pitia, 33, said the Territory-style celebration of a cook-up in the blaring sunshine was just a “planning barbeque” for an event in the next couple of weeks.

“We came together to plan for something bigger so that it’s not just for Africans but for the entire community of Darwin,” Mr Pitia said.

Mr Pitia, originally from Sudan, is still on a high from watching Barack Obama cruise to victory in the US presidential elections.

“I didn’t even go to work – I was just sitting in the house waiting to see whether it would be McCain or Obama,” he said. Africa Australia Friendship Association vice president Fezile Mpehle said Obama’s election had been “exciting” and “moving”.

Mr Pitia said it was not just about a black president, it was about change. “Not only America needs a change – there are a lot of problems all over the world,” he said.

CELEBRATION: James Justo and Mille Mogga (front) along with members of Darwin’s African community got together for a barbecue yesterday to celebrate Barack Obama’s victory in the US election. Picture: FIONA MORRISON

Source

DANIEL BOURCHIER

November 1st, 2008

 

Sara Longman

SARA Longman has returned to the Territory after being booted from Make Me A Supermodel only to be gagged from speaking about her experiences.

Publicists for the program have banned Sara from speaking to the media until the program ends in mid-November.

Sara, 17, of Tiwi, Darwin,said she would probably get sued if she spoke to the Northern Territory News.

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Gallery of Sara’s photo shoots from the show plus more

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Sara’s mother, Annie Longman said she was disappointed about the gag order.Ms Longman said her daughter was victimised in the program.

“I am sure they were getting concerned that she would win,” she said. “Not because of her modelling, but her support.

“I think they were threatened by her – Sara doesn’t mince her words. Sara reckons they know who will win.”

Sydney-based Channel Seven publicist Martini Connelly did not return calls last night.