Australia's 25 top models named

Behind the scenes with Miranda Kerr showcasing this autumn/winter fashion for 2013 from David Jones.

WHETHER it's the quintessential girl-next-door or the drop dead gorgeous glamazon, Australia has had more than its fair share of models who have made their mark on the elite fashion world.

None are bigger than "The Body" Elle Macpherson, but there is a swag of beauties who have come close.

Elle Macpherson recreates same naked Playboy pose 20 years on

Miranda Kerr, Kristy Hinze and Sarah O'Hare (now Murdoch) also became household names after they successfully cracked the international catwalks and fronted high-end fashion campaigns.

In the last five years faces such as Gemma Ward, Alyssa Sutherland, Abby Lee Kershaw, Jessica Hart, Ajak Deng and Julia Nobis have dominated while plus-size beauty Robyn Lawley is proving you don't have to starve yourself to be successful, with a burgeoning modelling career both in Australia and overseas.

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Vogue Australia Editor-in-Chief Edwina McCann rates Kerr, O'Hare and Ward as her top three Australian models of all time.

"All three of them have been successful Vogue cover girls so that endears them to me," McCann says.

"With each of them I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on them, there was something exceptional about them. Miranda was the brunette bombshell and Sarah our version of Grace Kelly."

McCann says the most successful models are more than just the stereotypical pretty face.

"The models at that level, it's not just a beautiful body and face, they have to communicate a message and something beyond that," she says.

The model who has had the most impact in recent years is also the most controversial in my list of Australia's 25 top models.

Melbourne-bred Andrej Pejic has become one of the worlds' most famous models for his androgynous look, walking the runway in both men's and women's shows.

His Melbourne manager Chadwick Models director Matthew Anderson says the chameleon-like model has changed the face of fashion.

"He ignited something new when it was needed, this amazing difference hadn't been around for so long," Anderson says. "There's no shortage of AFL types out there, but he became a hero for anyone that was different. He is now internationally famous and instantly recognisable."

L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival CEO Graeme Lewsey says Australian models are hot property overseas.

"There's a casualness and a healthy lifestyle that comes out in their attitude, how they work in front of the camera, how they move their bodies. That's something quite unique and a lot of people comment on that fact," he says.

Maggie Tabberer

Age 76

Model, fashion and television personality Maggie Tabberer in 1985. Source: News Limited

Brunette beauty Maggie Tabberer was a trailblazer of the modelling world in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She did her first modelling job at the tender age of 14 after being spotted by a photographer at her sister's wedding. She was married at 17 and had two children by the age of 20, but that didn't stop Tabberer from forging ahead with a successful career. Celebrated photographer Helmut Newton discovered her at the age of 23 after she'd attended modelling school, and she quickly became his muse. Tabberer won Australian Model of the Year in 1960. She was a Vogue cover girl in 1961, and striking images of her by Newton appeared in the exclusive 1961 calendar for the Wool Board. Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann says Tabberer was impressive in her time. "We found in the Vogue vaults some shots she did with Helmut Newton, she was truly exceptional," she says. Tabberer reportedly chose to end her modelling career at the age of 25 and started her own PR agency in 1967 before becoming a Logie Award winning TV presenter, magazine fashion editor and successful plus-size fashion designer.

Deborah Hutton

Age 51

Deborah Hutton was first brand ambassador for Myer Grace Bros. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited

Deborah Hutton first hit the modelling scene at the age of 16, appearing on the cover of Cosmopolitan with her trademark toothy smile and flowing mane of blonde hair. While enjoying regular work at home in Australia, her international career took off. Top international contracts in Germany, Italy and New York led her to work with some of the world's top models and photographers. When she returned to Australia she became the first real brand ambassador for what was then called Myer Grace Bros, a role she filled for more than 10 years. "She was the original face of everything before everyone had ambassadors," Chadwick Models director Matthew Anderson says. "She's had an amazing career, she's always very classy." A successful television presenting career followed, along with several longstanding and lucrative brand endorsements including Qantas and Holden. In January last year she famously became a cover girl again at the age of 50 when she posed naked for the cover of Australian Women's Weekly.

Picture Gallery: Deborah Hutton

Andrej Pejic

Age 21

'Prettiest boy in the world' Andrej Pejic, cover of magazine. Source: Supplied

Internationally famous and instantly recognisable, Andrej Pejic has become one of the worlds' most famous models. His androgynous look has seen him controversially model both men and women's wear. French Vogue editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld, a big fan of Pejic's, was responsible for his first major magazine fashion spread. In his first European catwalk season in January 2011, Pejic walked both the men's and women's shows for Jean-Paul Gaultier and the men's shows for Marc Jacobs. He's been ranked 18th on the models.com Top 50 Male Models list and was ranked 98 in FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2011. "He has changed the face of fashion," says his manager, Chadwick Models director Matthew Anderson. "He allowed people to push the boundaries with him; he gave people so much inspiration. He opened the doors for difference for a lot of people and that has had a knock on in every area (of fashion)."

Picture Gallery: Andrej Pejic

Jessica Hart

Age 27

Jessica Hart in a photoshoot for Seafolly. Source: Supplied

Famous for her gap-toothed grin, Melbourne born Jessica Hart came to fame when she won the Dolly magazine model search in 2000. She's been a Vogue Australia cover girl and has featured on the covers of Elle Italia and Elite Traveler, as well as appeared in editorial spreads for Harper's Bazaar Australia and Italia, Elle Italia, Cleo and Vogue Mexico. In 2009 she appeared in the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and has featured in numerous Victoria's Secret catalogues. Hart has fronted campaigns for local brands Seafolly, Target, Myer, Harris Scarfe and Portmans, as well as international labels H&M, Gap, Guess, L'Oraacal and Moschino. The blonde beauty says her career highlights include walking in the coveted Victoria's Secret parade and Louis Vuitton show last year.

Picture Gallery: Jessica Hart

Models Jess Hart and Jen Hawkins go on location in Narrandera NSW for Myer's autumn/winter campaign

Samantha Harris

Age 23

Model Samantha Harris. Source: Supplied

Australia's most famous indigenous model has graced the cover of Australian Vogue (June 2010) as well as the magazine's editorial pages. With an Aboriginal mother and German-English father, Harris's striking looks caught the eye of model managers when she entered a Girlfriend magazine competition at the age of 13. She has walked the runway for leading Australian designers including Alex Perry, Dion Lee and Ellery and has also featured in campaigns for Antipodium, Country Road, Forever New and Kirrily Johnston. In 2011 she was signed as the youth ambassador for David Jones, joining the esteemed company of stable mates Miranda Kerr and Megan Gale.

Picture Gallery: Samantha Harris

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Bambi Shmith

Age 86

Gemma Ward walks the catwalk in Ungaro by Norwegian designer Peter Dundas. Picture: Afp Source: AFP

Bambi Shmith was an Australian Women's Weekly cover girl whose career blossomed when she married well-known photographer Athol Smith. Together they worked on many modelling assignments, making Bambi a famous face in Australia. She took out the 1946 model of the year title, in 1951 she was one of the founders of the Mannequins' Association of Victoria and went on to open the Bambi Smith (without the h) Modelling School. The regal beauty made an even bigger name for herself when she married George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II in 1967.

Maggi Eckhardt

Model Maggie Eckhardt from David Mist's 1969 book "Made In Australia". Source: News Limited

During the 1960s Maggi Eckhardt was one of the world's most sought after models. Her modelling career began in 1958 when she was selected to model for celebrated British designer Norman Hartnell. He offered her a job in his London salon and she never looked back. The brunette beauty rapidly shot to international fame modelling top designer brands including Dior and Balenciaga. She posed for a string of famous photographers such as Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton and graced the covers of Australian and French Vogue.

Toneya Bird

Age 43

Toneya Bird and Rex the echidna in an Antz Pantz underwear television advertisement in 1996. Source: News Limited

Simply say "Sic-em-Rex" and anyone around in the late 1980s will remember the line that made Toneya Bird famous. She was the face of the award-winning Antz-Pantz commercials in which she lay on a bed in her underwear with a colony of ants crawling up her leg and her pet echidna Rex nearby to attack. While that campaign made her instantly recognisable, at the height of her career Bird also graced the cover of Cosmopolitan, Cleo and Elle magazines.

Travis Fimmel

Age 34

Travis Fimmel models Calvin Klein underwear in a 2001 advertisement. Source: News Limited

One of Australia's most famous male model exports, Travis Fimmel was the first male in the world secure a six-figure deal to model exclusively for Calvin Klein for a year, sporting the brands famous underwear and fronting the CK Crave fragrance campaign. He reportedly stopped traffic when billboards featuring the blonde headed hunk appeared in London, causing female drivers to rubber neck in awe. He is rumoured to be the inspiration for the famous "Smith Jerrod" character in Sex and the City. At the height of his modelling career he was regarded as the most in-demand male model in the world. He started his acting career in 2003 with the lead role in Warner Bros. 2003 TV series Tarzan and has most recently been seen in the successful TV series Vikings.

Picture Gallery: Australia's Hottest Guys

Elle Macpherson

Age 49

Elle Macpherson has achieved fame and fortune through modelling and a successful business empire. Source: News Limited

Australia's most iconic supermodel, Elle Macpherson transcends all others in terms of mass recognition and appeal. Her quintessential Aussie girl next door persona saw her front the famous TAB cola drink commercials in 1982, which helped kick start her career. But it was her record five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s that led to her nickname "The Body". She signed with the famous New York Ford Modeling Agency and appeared on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Elle, GQ, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. She became part of the new generation of supermodels, alongside Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford, and in 1986 Time magazine put her on the cover with a feature entitled "The Big Elle". In May 1994 she controversially appeared nude in Playboy magazine. Her entrepreneurial spirit has seen her become a successful businesswoman, with her own lingerie range, and she is currently the host of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model.

Picture Gallery: Elle Macpherson

Sarah Murdoch

Age 41

Model Sarah Murdoch at the Bonds Fashion Show at the Town Hall in Sydney in 2010. Source: News Limited

With her fresh-faced good looks, beautiful blues eyes and blonde hair Sarah Murdoch's modelling career took off when she was just 17 after walking into Vivien's Management in Sydney. Not long after, she moved to Paris and walked the runway for leading fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld. She became the international face of Wonderbra, taking over from Eva Herzigova in 1997 and signed on as a spokesperson for Revlon in 1999. She has also appeared in advertising campaigns for L'Oreal, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent and Estee Lauder, but it is her longstanding role as a Bonds ambassador (since 2001) that many people best know her. Her magazine covers includes Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, GQ and Harper's Bazaar, and she appeared in the 1999 and 2003 issues of the iconic swimsuit editions of Sports Illustrated.

Miranda Kerr

Age 30

Miranda Kerr in JETS swimwear at David Jones Spring Summer launch. Source: News Limited

With her trademark dimples and flawless skin, Miranda Kerr's modelling career has catapulted her into the international spotlight. After controversially winning the Dolly magazine model search at 13 she has become one of Australia's most recognisable exports. Most famously she was the first Australian to become a Victoria's Secret Angel, she was the first pregnant model for Vogue Australia when she was featured six-months pregnant and she posed nude for a 2011 Harper's Bazaar photo shoot. Her marriage to Hollywood heart-throb Orlando Bloom hasn't hurt her standing either. Locally she was the face of retail giant David Jones until recently, while internationally her career has blossomed. She walked exclusively for Balenciaga's spring 2010 runway show and in 2012 went on to walk the runway for Christian Dior, Lanvin, Chanel, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Viktor &Rolf and Loewe. Most recently she replaced Kate Moss for Mango's spring summer 13 campaign.

Picture Gallery: Miranda Kerr for Victoria's Secret

The Australian's Damien Woolnough talks fashion trends and catwalk rituals with Miranda Kerr at the David Jones autumn-winter launch.

Jennifer Hawkins

Age 29

host Jennifer Hawkins in Melbourne. Source: News Limited

The quintessential girl next door, Jennifer Hawkins first came onto the fashion radar in 2004 when she took out the title of Miss Universe, only the second Australian to do so since Kerry Anne Wells won in 1972. In the almost decade since her win, Hawkins has created a lucrative and accessible brand that reaches across beauty, fashion and lifestyle products. Her best known association is as the long standing face of retail giant Myer, which has seen her front all of their fashion campaigns and walk in their season collections launches since 2007. Following in the savvy footsteps of other successful Aussie models, she has branched out into creating her own swimwear and shoe lines.

Picture Gallery: Jennifer Hawkins

Jennifer Hawkins ties the knot at intimate but lavish Bali wedding. Courtesy Channel Seven

Megan Gale

Age 37

Megan Gale dressed in pink to promote David Jones Shop Pink Day. Source: News Limited

Glamazon Megan Gale won a modelling competition in Perth at 18, but her big break came two years later when she was cast to appear in a series of advertisements for the Italian telecommunications company, Omnitel. Gale became an overnight celebrity as soon as the commercial aired, in which she played the part of a voluptuous spy. Lucrative and prestigious modelling assignments and contracts followed including modelling for Italian fashion houses such as Gianfranco Ferraac, Genny and Gai Mattiolo. She returned to star in the David Jones Spring Summer 2001 Launch. The show was such a success Gale was signed as the face of the retail giant. She became their brand ambassador, a role that continues to this day and is the longest held fashion contract in Australia. In 2011 Gale took on the coveted title as L'Oreal's first official ambassador in Australia and New Zealand. She joins the prestigious L'Oraacal Paris 'dream team' alongside some of the world's most beautiful and accomplished artists including Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Jane Fonda, Andie MacDowell and Diane Kruger.

Picture Gallery: Megan Gale

Megan Gale talks about her experience on the set of the new Mad Max film, whilst on the AACTA red carpet.

Ajak Deng

Age 23

AJak Deng, 19, a former Sudanese refugee who started modelling in Melbourne in 2008. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: News Limited

Sudanese born, Melbourne-bred Ajak Deng is an inspiring model success story. She fled her homeland at the age of 12 and lost her mother to malaria in a refugee camp before settling in Australia in 2005. By 2010 she was strutting the most prestigious catwalks in the world for labels including Lanvin and Louis Vuitton. Her first haute couture show was for Valentino. Highly sought after on the world stage, she appeared in the Calvin Klein fragrance campaign for Steven Meisel in 2011 and signed on as a MAC cosmetics model in 2012. In January this year she appeared in Flaunt magazine with musician Bruno Mars in a series of striking black and white images.

Picture Gallery: Ajak Deng

Abby Lee Kershaw

Age 26

Abby Lee Kershaw at home in Moonee Ponds Picture: Alex Coppel Source: News Limited

Blonde bombshell Abby Lee Kershaw first garnered attention when she won the Australian 2004 Girlfriend Model Search, but it wasn't until 2008 that her star began to shine brightly on the international stage. Her debut at New York Fashion Week saw her walk in a total of 29 shows for designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Halston, and Rodarte. She has appeared on the cover of Vogue Australia four times. Kershaw was the face of Chanel's Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 ready-to-wear ad campaign, closed the Chanel Spring 2010 couture show, and opened the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 ready-to-wear show. At the height of her career she was ranked fourth on the Top 50 Models Women list by models.com, she currently ranks 12th on the list.

Picture Gallery: Abby Lee Kershaw

Kristy Hinze

Age 33

Kristy Hinze was the youngest cover girl for in 1994. Picture: Andrew Filipovic Source: News Limited

With her wide open smile and fresh face, Kristy Hinze made modelling history in 1994 as the youngest-ever cover girl for Vogue Australia. Hinze moved to Paris in her early 20s to pursue catwalk modelling, appearing for designers including Cacharel, Lanvin, Sonia Rykiel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Gianfranco Ferre. In 2008 she made an appearance on America's Next Top Model and went on to host the first two seasons of Project Runway in Australia. Since 2007 the blonde beauty has been the face and ambassador of Sportscraft and has collaborated with the brand on several collections.

Picture Gallery: Kristy Hinze

Emma Balfour

Age 42

Model turned poet Emma Balfour in Sydney. Picture: Nick Wilson Source: News Limited

One of the faces of the grunge and heroin chic era of the 1990s, it's hard to believe Emma Balfour grew up as a member of Circus Oz, travelling around Australia in a caravan with her mother. When she was 17 she moved to Sydney to begin a modelling career that took her to the elite catwalks of the world. She has walked in fashion shows for Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Chanel, Hussein Chalayan, DKNY, Dries van Noten, Balenciaga, Chloaac, Donna Karan, Lanvin and Calvin Klein, among others. But she turned her back on the modelling world at the end of the 90s to restore some normality to her life. In 2009, at the age of 39, she returned to the runway, appearing on the autumn-winter 2009-10 catwalks in New York for Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs. Harper's Bazaar editorialised she looked, "hotter than ever".

Gemma Ward

Age 25

Gemma Ward graces a Pirelli Calendar. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

At her peak, Gemma Ward was reportedly earning $4 million a year as one of the most sought after models in the world. Her meteoric rise to the pinnacle of her profession had humble beginnings when she was scouted at the age of 14 in 2002, while accompanying her friends to the Australian modelling competition Search for a Supermodel. Ward made her Australian Fashion Week debut aged 15 and later became the youngest model to appear on the cover of the American edition of Vogue. At 17 she became the famous face of Calvin Klein's Obsession Night perfume billboards and was declared one of the top 30 models of the 2000s by Vogue Paris. Ward hasn't walked a runway since the spring 2008 after removed herself from the spotlight following the death of boyfriend Heath Ledger. Her last modelling job was an appearance on the cover of and inside the October 2008 issue of Spanish Marie Claire. Earlier this year she signed with IMG models, with rumours circulating she is preparing to rejoin the modelling world.

Picture Gallery: Gemma Ward

Julia Nobis

Age 21

Julia Nobis relaxes in New York. Picture: Stuart Ramson Source: News Limited

Discovered on the streets of Sydney wearing her school uniform in 2009, waiflike Julia Nobis is one of the hottest models of the moment. She made her debut on the international runway in 2010 as an exclusive for Calvin Klein in New York. Nobis has become one of Australia's most coveted catwalk stars, walking in 72 shows at the autumn/winter 2012-13 fashion shows. In her relatively short career she has appeared in three international editions of Vogue, including as Vogue Australia cover girl in May 2011. In 2011, she joined Dutch model Melissa Tammerjin to appear in Proenza Schouler's spring 2011 ad campaign. In the recent New York Fashion Week in February Nobis walked in 17 shows, opening for Edun and closing for Vera Wang and Victoria Beckham.

Picture Gallery: Julia Nobis

Alyssa Sutherland

Age 30

Alyssa Sutherland at the Gazebo Wine Garden in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney. Source: News Limited

Willowy beauty Alyssa Sutherland has had a long and successful career since winning the 1997 annual Bonne Belle model search of Girlfriend magazine. Her strawberry blonde hair and sculptured features appealed to leading fashion labels including Bulgari, Ralph Lauren, Garnier, Calvin Klein, Chanel, John Frieda, Kerastase, Hugo Boss, and Abercrombie &Fitch. She has graced the cover of countless fashion magazines including Vogue Australia, Harper's Bazaar Singapore, Elle Germany, Australian Style, Glamour Italy and Black and White. She was also highly sought after for editorial spreads in Vogue (Germany, Australia, Italy, Greece and America), Elle (Australia and US), Marie-Claire (UK), Bazaar.

Picture Gallery: Alyssa Sutherland

Robyn Lawley

Age 24

Plus size model Robyn Lawley at Manly on Sydney's northern beaches. Source: News Limited

At 19 Robyn Lawley gave up on torturing herself with fad diets to fit the perfect size 8 and joined a plus-size model agency - and she has never looked back. One of the most sought after curvy models in the world, Lawley was the first plus-size model to be shot for Vogue Australia and the first Australian plus-size model to be on the cover of Madison magazine. She was also the first plus-size model to appear in a campaign for Ralph Lauren. In the June 2011 issue of Vogue Italia Lawley was featured on the cover along with plus-sized models Tara Lynn and Candice Huffine, in a shot taken by esteemed fashion photographer Steven Meisel.

Picture Gallery: Robyn Lawley

Nicole Trunfio

Age 27

David Jones ambassador Nicole Trunfio at the Ivy Bar, Sydney. Source: News Limited

Not unlike many successful Australian models, Nicole Trunfio was spotted by a model scout out shopping one day and invited to enter a model competition - this time the television series Search for a Supermodel. She won the Australian version of the show and came second in the international version. In 2005 she moved to New York to pursue her modelling career and has modelled for designers including Chanel, Dolce &Gabbana, Versace, Christian Dior, Gucci, Fendi, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, Valentino, Victoria's Secret.

Not only that she has appeared in an impressive array of campaigns she appeared on the cover of Vogue Australia in August 2008 and in 2010 she was the face of David Jones' 2011 winter launch when Miranda Kerr was on maternity leave.

Picture Gallery: Nicole Trunfio

Janice Wakely

Age 77

International and local success followed Janice Wakely. Picture: Library Nwn Source: News Limited

Classic beauty Janice Wakely's international success is made more significant by the era in which she modelled, during the 1950s and 60s. Travel involved a massive commitment of time and resources, but that didn't deter Wakely who headed to London in 1956 after being regarded as too thin by Australian model agencies. Within weeks she had reportedly been assigned a shoot with Marie Claire in Paris. She was photographed by many leading Australian and international photographers including Helmut Newton, Bruno Benini and Terence Donovan. While Wakely enjoyed international success she also dominated at home, starring in the all-Australian Fashion Parades, featuring on the cover of The Women's Weekly, wearing the Gown of the Year and being dubbed Model of the Year. In 1963, Wakely walked away from appearing in front of the camera, establishing her own model agency along with a successful career behind the lens.

Lynn Sutherland

Age 65

International model Lynn Sutherland. Source: News Limited

Lynne Sutherland, the original blonde-haired, freckled Aussie face to hit the big time overseas, was discovered by Maggie Tabberer at a Waltons department store fashion competition in the late '60s. In 1969 she travelled to Rome for a Woman's Day shoot and went on to sign with an agent in London. By the end of that year she was flown to New York to meet esteemed US Vogue's editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland. She signed with the prestigious Ford Modelling Agency and appeared on the cover of Vogue in both the US and Australia (1971). Sutherland had a long and varied career that ran from the 60s to the 90s.

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A mum's emotional election mission

Melissa Price is continuing with her election campaign. Picture: Brett Barnett Source: PerthNow

WITH the pain of losing her child still excruciatingly raw, Melissa Price is using her late daughter's words of encouragement to keep her political dream alive.

Rhiannon Price, 18, developed a sudden illness on the day of the state election in March, as she campaigned alongside her mum, the Liberal candidate for Kalgoorlie. She died two days later.

For the first time, Ms Price has spoken publicly about the events. She said failing to win the seat, which she lost narrowly on preferences, became a minor detail of that dramatic weekend. Ms Price, 49, said Rhiannon's encouragement on election night to keep going and try again was behind her decision to stand again for the Liberals, this time in the federal election for the seat of Durack.

Ms Price, who lost her husband, Colyn, to cancer 11 years ago, wept as she told how Rhiannon had been with her on election day in Kalgoorlie, supporting her and telling her what a wonderful job she had done.

"On the night of the election Rhiannon was unhappy and disappointed that we may have lost, (but) she told me she was proud of me," Ms Price said. "She said, 'Don't worry, Mum, if it's not Kalgoorlie it will be another seat  you will do well'."

Ms Price said the exact cause of Rhiannon's death remained uncertain.

 On polling day Rhiannon and Ms Price's partner, Brad, joined her in Kalgoorlie.

Rhiannon complained of headaches, but felt well enough to join her mother. That night Rhiannon was still feeling unwell, but attended a campaign function.

"She ate, but wasn't full of energy," Ms Price said.

"She said, 'My head still hurts a bit'."

The next day Rhiannon's condition deteriorated and she was taken to Kalgoorlie Hospital before being flown to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where she was put on life support.

"Rhiannon was declared dead on Monday, but in my eyes she was gone by the time she was put on the plane," Ms Price said.

 "She was unconscious.

"Nothing can compare to losing a child. Everything else pales into insignificance."

Ms Price, who was born in Kalgoorlie, decided to contest Durack after the retirement of incumbent Barry Haase.

She said she had "politics in my blood", with her grandfather and uncle having been members of the WA Parliament. But they were Labor MPs.

"When I started working for SGIO when I was 17 they were trying to force me to be in a union," she said. "That's when I decided not to be a Labor supporter."

Ms Price is ready for the political battle ahead.

"I learnt a lot about myself during the Kalgoorlie election campaign," she said. "I am more convinced than ever that I can be a strong voice for the bush."

Durack is Australia's biggest electorate.

Ms Price , a lawyer, will stand against Labor candidate Daron Keogh, a band musician from Fitzroy Crossing, and National Party candidate Shane Van Styn, of Geraldton.

Former Fremantle footballer Des Headland will also be on the campaign trail in the 1.5 million square kilometre electorate, after being endorsed as the candidate for mining magnate Clive Palmer's party.

Win or lose, Ms Price said she would try to make her daughter proud.

"I feel Rhiannon is with me, that she has not left me," Ms Price said. "She has inspired me to do this."

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Drug tests blow out

There has been a blowout in the number of drug samples being sent for testing. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

FORENSIC drug tests have more than doubled in the past two years as WA Police make more busts and uncover new synthetic cannabinoids.

But the exploding workload on ChemCentre to analyse the samples has raised concerns over time frames and delays by the Chief Magistrate and the Office of the Auditor General.

WA Police sent 4275 drug samples to ChemCentre for analysis in 2010-11.

The next year, the number jumped 83 per cent.

Last financial year that number grew to 8968 drug samples.

WA Police Acting Assistant Commissioner for Judicial Services Lawrence Panaia said more drug seizures and the discovery of synthetic drugs were fuelling the increase.

If bags of synthetic drugs are discovered, each individual packet needs to be tested to prove it is all the same substance.

"While this may lead to some delays, it is important we maintain the high standard of analysis to secure convictions," Mr Panaia said.

Last week, Chief Magistrate Steven Heath threatened to throw the case of an alleged heroin dealer out of court because the prosecution had been waiting almost seven months for certification of the drug samples.

Mr Heath granted a one-week adjournment telling the prosecution "if the certification is not ready by then, the charges should be dismissed by want of prosecution".

When the matter returned this week, the certification had been handed to the defence only a day earlier.

Mr Heath's threat came on the back of a recent review of an audit conducted in 2006 into forensic services by the Office of the Auditor General.

While the review, released in June, found no criticism from courts about time taken to analyse samples, it concluded growing demand was putting pressure on turnaround times.

In 2007, legislative change allowed the ChemCentre to provide services to commercial clients.

WA Police work accounts for almost half of ChemCentre's forensic science revenue, but only 17.5 per cent of revenue.

ChemCentre acting chief executive Peter McCafferty said between 2010-11 and 2011-12, client numbers increased 15 per cent and an additional nine full-time equivalent staff were employed.

In the review, WA Police voiced concern ChemCentre's commercial focus affected its capacity to prioritise their requests within agreed time frames. Because of the specialised work, ChemCentre personnel cannot be easily moved from one scientific area to another to match changes in the volume of requests from WA Police.

"WA Police is considering seeking changes to legislation that would allow it to use private providers for work that currently must be done by ChemCentre," the report said.

The review examined 70 WA Police cases subject to a specified time frame. Of those, ChemCentre's response was within target for only 13 cases.

 "Almost all late responses involved testing for illicit drugs," it said.

 ChemCentre challenged the conclusion that increasing commercial work hindered its ability to perform for WA Police.

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Antibiotic-resistant bugs alert

There has been a superbug outbread at Royal Perth Hospital. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

DEADLY antibiotic-resistant superbugs have hit five wards in Royal Perth Hospital - including the intensive-care unit.

The hospital has confirmed that the potentially lethal bacteria vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus were detected in RPH patients this week, and there had been "intensive cleaning" to get rid of the bugs.

Clinicians who tipped off The Sunday Times/PerthNow said they were particularly concerned for the chronically ill patients in ICU, where VRE was found, which would include people who had open trauma wounds, or who were extremely weak and susceptible to infection after surgery.

The clinicians asked where such patients could be shifted while a clean-up took place, given that RPH was already crowded.

An RPH spokesman said: "Royal Perth Hospital can confirm that there are patients in the ICU with VRE which was detected through the routine screening program.

"From Monday 15 July 2013 one case of VRE has been detected in ICU. Four cases of MRSA were detected this week from patients who presented on admission to wards 6H, 4A, 6C and 5A."

Ward 6C is an acute incentre haemodialysis unit, 4A is a short-stay surgical unit, 6H is a general surgery ward and 5A is for acute general medical patients.

Despite RPH patients having previously been moved and wards closed when superbugs were detected, the RPH spokesman said no ICU patients would be shifted, and that "patients are not moved to conduct an intensive clean of a ward".

"We do enhanced surface cleaning using hypochlorite 0.1 per cent as the disinfectant," he said.

He also said RPH had a "vigilant management program to detect and control VRE".

"As soon as VRE is detected at RPH, we follow an operational directive and implement strategies to minimise risk of transmission, including intensive cleaning of the areas," he said.

The spokesman said the present cases were "colonised" where "a person may have the bacteria in, or on, their body but are not sick because of it, and their hospital stay is not affected or increased".

He would not comment on whether RPH's deteriorating state had contributed to superbug infections, saying RPH was ``one of the leading hospitals in Australia for maintaining an effective VRE control program" and "remains one of Australia's leading tertiary hospitals".

"All hospitals throughout the world see patients with VRE," he said. "It is because of RPH's vigorous screening processes that these cases are detected and acted upon.

"When patients present to hospital, we seek to identify any carriers of VRE so that appropriate infection control measures are taken to stop spread of VRE in hospitals."

An RPH spokeswoman said all the cases were being further tested to determine whether they were community or hospital acquired, and the results would be known late next week.

Curtin University emeritus professor of microbiology Warren Grubb said: ``VRE has to be taken very seriously, particularly in an area such as intensive care.

"I would presume RPH would be taking this very seriously, and I would think that with all the experience that WA and RPH have had with bugs such as VRE, they (RPH) would be taking very good precautions."

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said he had been contacted by patients who were at RPH at the time, who were worried hospital capacity issues had prevented RPH from isolating infected patients.

"The Barnett Government is cutting our hospitals to the bone. It's not surprising they are struggling to cope with infection outbreaks," he said.
 

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Hames admits to over-claiming mistakes

Deputy Premier Kim Hames has admitted mistakes in his accommodation claims. Picture: Supplied

IN a major embarrassment for the Government, Deputy Premier Kim Hames last night admitted claiming $1013 in accommodation allowances he wasn't entitled to.

After the errant payments were pointed out by The Sunday Times, Dr Hames apologised, while the State Opposition demanded his resignation.

Promising to repay the money, Dr Hames said: "This is a significant error on on my part and is both personally embarrassing and disappointing."

He said the "incorrect claims" were "honest, but unacceptable, mistakes".

The State Opposition has spent weeks investigating the issue.As the MP for Dawesville, Dr Hames is entitled to claim an accommodation allowance when he stays at his Dianella property  to be close to Parliament. But the Opposition found he had claimed the allowance on four occasions, from 2009-11, when he was overseas, interstate or in the North-West.

"When these dates were brought to my attention (by The Sunday Times) I checked them and found that it appears that I have mistakenly claimed four nights of accommodation for dates in 2009 and 2011," he said. "I personally fill out the paperwork for my claims and therefore take full responsibility for what are honest, but unacceptable, mistakes. I will of, course, immediately pay back the full amount of the incorrect claims.

"Further to this, I will asking my staff to review my claims to double check that I have not made any further errors as well as to double check all future claims."

Records show that during the past 4 1/2 years, Dr Hames has claimed $134,000 in accommodation allowances on top of his annual $292,817 salary.

Deputy Labor leader Roger Cook called for Dr Hames to stand down as Deputy Premier, Health Minister and Tourism Minister.

"The minister should resign and if he doesn't the Premier must step in to at least take one of his senior portfolios away from this troubled minister," Mr Cook said. "He has been caught with his hand in the public purse when he had no right to that money. He needs to satisfy the public that there are no other instances where he has rorted, either intentionally or unintentionally from the taxpayers of WA."

Political analyst Harry Phillips said the matter warranted further investigation.

The Sunday Times can reveal Dr Hames claimed:

On June 23, 2009  the same day he left Perth on the Government jet for a three-day tour of the North-West.

On February 15, 2011  when reports indicate Dr Hames departed Perth for Hobart, accompanied by two staff.

On April 7, 2011  when Dr Hames reportedly left Perth for Sydney to attend a trade show.

On September 8, 2011  when documents show he flew to China just after midnight.

Dr Hames also claimed $526 in accommodation allowances from December 2011 to January 2012 while on leave.

 Upper House MLC Helen Morton was appointed to act in his portfolios of health and tourism during this period.

In a statement yesterday Dr Hames claimed that he still carried out official duties as Tourism Minister and was entitled to the allowance on that occasion.

"On two other dates I was on leave, but carried out official duties as Minister for Tourism. It's my understanding that these claims are legitimate," he said.

Last year it emerged Treasurer Troy Buswell repaid $3682 in accommodation allowances after claiming monies he was not entitled to.

All WA politicians with country electorates are entitled to claim for nights spent in Perth to attend Parliament and perform other official duties relating to parliamentary or electoral matters.

Under the entitlement system, country members can claim $266 a night, up to 120 nights a financial year.

The Opposition contends Dr Hames should not be entitled to the allowance because it believes his principal residence is in Dianella.

But Dr Hames has previously told Parliament: "My address is in Mandurah. We have a house in Perth where my wife and one of my children reside, so I stay there.

"It is perfectly legitimate. I only claim for those nights that the law entitles me, and that is clearly transparent."

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Live: second Ashes Test, day two

'Freedom' chants in Nauru riot

VIOLENCE flared on Nauru as hundreds of asylum seekers sought to break out of the detention facility yesterday afternoon.

Man 'chased to his death'

TAURI Litchfield was allegedly punched and kicked in the head before being chased to his death by a group of teenagers, Perth's Children's Court was told today.

Washing machine death unsolved

A CORONER says there's not enough evidence to find a young mother caused the death of her three-year-old boy after he became trapped in a washing machine.

Aussie teenager jailed in Ethiopia

A 15-year-old is locked in a notorious adult jail after a "tragic accident". Bob Carr's office has expressed "great concern".

Live: second Ashes Test, day two

POOR use of the Decision Review System hurts Australia again as they suffer another Ashes batting collapse. Follow our live blog!

Stoush over play continues

THE Perth Theatre Company has released a statement today in response to a dispute with playwright Lachlan Philpott over the production of Alienation.

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Aussie teenager jailed in Ethiopia

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr Source: News Limited

AN Australian teenager has been charged with murder in Ethiopia after a "tragic accident" in which he fatally shot his niece.

Obsa Paulos Gudina was visiting family in April when he allegedly fired a gun found in a bedside drawer.

The 15-year-old, who is being held in a federal prison in the nation's capital Addis Ababa, now faces 20 years in jail if found guilty of murder.

He was arrested on April 6 after shooting his 13-year-old niece Fenet Dinku. She was taken to hospital but died 45 minutes later.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was informed of the case on April 16 and a consular official in Addis Ababa visited the boy the following day.

A spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carrs said they were providing assistance to the boy and his family but that the department was unable to intervene in the legal process.

"He's a very young Australian in a foreign adult jail facing very serious charges. That is of great concern," the spokesperson said.

"We're visiting him every week. We'd obviously visit any Australian who was arrested anywhere and check on their welfare but we're visiting him more often because of his age.

"For someone so young it's important to provide a friendly face."

The spokesperson said consular officials had attended two of the boy's court hearings in April but were denied access to attend a third hearing.

"I wouldn't read too much into that. Sometimes you're just not always permitted to go but we will continue to seek to attend all court hearings," he said.

DFAT routinely assists Australian citizens in navigating unfamiliar legal systems, obtaining information from foreign officials and having matters dealt with swiftly.

"We can also help people get information on local lawyers to use and give them a list of people considered reputable. We can liaise with family and friends.

"The problem that we've got is that under Ethiopian law 15 is the age of adulthood so he's being considered by them as an adult detainee and that has impacts in relation to potential prison conditions and can impact on potential sentences.

"He hasn't been found guilty but that's a difficultly he might face. We could speculate on the nature of the prison conditions because different countries have different standards."

Obsa, an Australian citizen, moved to Australia with his mother and siblings in 2006 and lives in Melbourne's western suburbs.

He returned to Ethiopia in January to complete a three-month photography course and was staying at his older sister's home.

Obsa and a friend were reportedly getting ready for a birthday party when the shooting occurred. His nieces, nephews and the housekeeper were all in the house at the time.

Obsa was reportedly looking for his phone charger when he found the gun in a bedside table and began playing with it before accidentally firing and hitting his niece.

New Hope Foundation, which provides services to the multicultural community around Melbourne, is assisting Obsa's mother Tsehai Atomsa.

Its settlement co-ordinator Heidi Zwick said Ms Atomsa, who has returned to Australia since Obsa's arrest, is worried about her son's mental health.

"He is very depressed at the moment because of his situation and not knowing what's going to happen. Obviously the circumstances in the prison are quite difficult," she said.

"It's a bit challenging for him because he's spent most of his life now in Australia and the prison system in Ethiopia would be quite a shock to any 15-year-old boy.

"I think he may be in a cell with other adults but I don't have a lot of specific inform about that and I don't think mum has either because communication is very difficult."

Obsa condition has reportedly improved since he was moved out of an overcrowded cell in the federal prison in Kaliti into a different cell.

###

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Washing machine death unsolved

Kerry Louise Murphy and son Sean. Picture: Channel 9 Source: PerthNow

A CORONER says there's not enough evidence to find that a young mother caused the death of her three-year-old boy after he became mysteriously trapped in a washing machine.

But West Australian coroner Alastair Hope has also concluded Kerry Murphy lied to the inquest into the death of her son Sean - and could not be definitively excluded as having locked him in the machine along with the family cat.

Ms Murphy claimed she discovered his body - alongside their cat Snowy - in the air-tight, closed washing machine at their Hilton home in September 2010.

Mr Hope found there were three possible explanations for how the 15kg, 99cm boy managed to become trapped in the LG machine: the boy locked himself in, the pet dog Simba closed the door behind the boy, or Ms Murphy had locked her son in the machine.

After reviewing the evidence, he said he could not definitely rule in or out any of the scenarios.

``While explanations one and two appear unlikely ... unlikely events do occur and there is an important difference between an explanation being unlikely and it being impossible,'' Mr Hope said.

``I therefore do not find she either caused or contributed to the death. I cannot, however, discount that possibility.''

Ms Murphy collapsed in tears on hearing the findings.

During the inquest, Ms Murphy claimed she had overslept into the early afternoon and Sean - for the first time since he had become mobile - had not jumped on her to wake her in the morning.

When paramedics arrived, a hysterical Ms Murphy said: ``I've killed my baby.''

She explained that comment by saying she feared he'd been injured during resuscitation attempts and because she blamed herself for what happened.

``If I'd been awake he wouldn't have climbed in there,'' she said.

She also said medication taken for a recent tonsillectomy was causing her to sleep heavily and on the day Sean died she had slept for more than 14 hours before waking to find him missing.

However, evidence of phone calls to and from the house with her partner Craig Sheppard in the minutes before Sean's death did not match up with Ms Murphy's account.

``I did not consider Ms Murphy was a reliable or truthful witness,'' Mr Hope said.

``Unfortunately while it is possible to conclude Ms Murphy did not truthfully describe the events of the day, that does not assist in determining what did happen.''

Returning an open verdict, the coroner said he hoped police would retain the washing machine and make further forensic efforts to match marks on Sean's body to its interior.

Mr Hope also recommended Australia's Electrical Safety Committee consider amending safety standards so all front loading washers be fitted with a two-way latch mechanism or be installed with child-proof safety catches.

Ms Murphy refused to comment on leaving the court building.

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Man 'chased to his death'

Tauri Litchfield died from an attack, a court has heard. Picture: Supplied Source: PerthNow

TAURI Litchfield was allegedly punched and kicked in the head before being chased to his death by a group of six teenagers who stole his mobile phone, Perth's Children's Court was told today.

Details surrounding the Mandurah man's death were revealed this afternoon during a bail application hearing for one of the six youths accused of killing him.

Mr Litchfield was found unconscious in a car park on Pinjarra Rd, Mandurah, with severe head injuries in the early hours of St Patrick's Day.

He was rushed to Peel Health Campus but died a short time later.

Today, the court heard the 28-year-old was not only assaulted but also tried to escape his attackers three times before he either tripped or fell over a concrete wall, hitting his head on the ground.

While a full post-mortem examination has yet to be completed, a supplementary report, which was revealed in court last week, found the Mandurah man died from a head injury.

During the hearing today the court was told Mr Litchfield was approached by nine males as he walked home from the Mandurah foreshore just after 7pm on March 17.

An altercation broke out after one of the teenagers tried to steal his mobile phone from his back pocket.

State prosecutor Sean Stocks told the hearing Mr Litchfield confronted the youth then slapped him across the face.

The juvenile responded by punching the 28-year-old in the head causing him to fall down.

While he was on the ground it is alleged some of the boys then punched and kicked him.

Mr Stocks said Mr Litchfield then got up and tried to flag down a car for help. The car did not stop.

In the meantime six of the nine boys began chasing the 28-year-old.

It was then alleged Mr Litchfield was dragged in to nearby bushes where he was assaulted again.

He then tried to escape but was quickly chased down by the six youths.

It was in the course of the chase that Mr Stock claims the teenager who applied for bail today punched Mr Litchfield in the neck.

He said the Mandurah man managed to make his was to a nearby car park but was still being pursued by the group and either was tripped or fell over a wall which had a half a metre drop.

In opposing bail Mr Stocks said that while the boy who applied was not one of the youths who allegedly punched and kicked Mr Litchfield on the ground, he did admit to punching him as he tried to flee. He also said the boy was given Mr Litchfield's mobile phone, used it, got rid of the SIM card then sold it to his sister.

He also revealed to the court police had records of telephone intercepts of the boy talking on the phone to one of three state witnesses who are set to give evidence in the case.

Simon Freitag, who was acting on behalf of the boy, told the court the 15-year-old should be given bail because of his age, the fact that he had no previous criminal records and he would be released into the care of his grandmother.

Children's Court president Judge Denis Reynolds refused the application, saying that while he took all those things into consideration, he did not think bail was warranted given the seriousness of the allegations.
 

All six accused are due to appear in court on August 9, 2013.

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'Freedom' chants in Nauru riot

The boats won't stop tomorrow, warns PM Kevin Rudd announcing his Papua New Guinea solution to settle Australian-bound asylum seekers offshore.

VIOLENCE flared on Nauru as hundreds of asylum seekers sought to break out of the detention facility yesterday afternoon.

More than 50 asylum seekers were arrested and are held at the island's police station.

Reports also indicate hundreds have escaped the facility.

The Nauruan government said the situation was under control at 10pm but that several buildings had been destroyed.

Damage surveyed last night included large sections of new sleeping accommodation, which costs tens of millions of dollars to build, destroyed by fire.

All staff at the centre were forced to evacuate during the riot.

Witnesses tweeted reports of violent confrontations between Iranian asylum seekers and "deputised" local residents - and there were claims that 15 guards and a police officer had been injured. There were also reports that detention centre staff had temporarily been taken hostage.

Around around 300 of the 500 detainees are said to have escaped.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill signing the Australia and Papua New Guinea Regional settlement arrangement in Brisbane Photo: Jamie Hanson

A Nauruan MP earlier took to state television to call for big, strong men to head to the processing camp as Nauruan riot police were overwhelmed.

Hundreds of civilians responded to their leaders' call and there have been reports that a bus carrying detention inmates away had been attacked.

Three interpreters and three medical staff were reportedly held for an hour before being released but it was unclear if they had been injured.

There was confusion over the motivation for the riot, with some reports from Nauru suggesting it was linked to the Mr Rudd's hard line announcement. This has not been confirmed, but chants of "freedom" were heard at the centre as the riot ignited.

MORE: Step to the right rocks the boat

Freelance photographer Clint Deidenang said the chants could be heard coming from inside the detention centre from about 6pm.

Mr Deidenang said he heard up to eight explosions before the flood lights outside the detention centre were smashed.

He tweeted: "Massive fire broke out from with the camp. I can see flames and smokes over the tree tops from my position.''

Witness Daisy Lewis reports on twitter that "two districts'' had been evacuated after the explosions.

She said all Nauruan males had been called in to help bring the riot under control.

"Escaped asylum seekers heading for tank farm. Rumours of planned explosion at far. Locals and police trying to block off.''

Australian Immigration and Citizenship Department spokesman Sandi Logan denied the violence had anything to do with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's announcement of a "PNG solution".

She tweeted: "Transferees at #Nauru RPC were agitating on/off this week about their situation. Today's noncompliance part of that.''

Asylum seekers who pay people smugglers to take them by boat to Australia will no longer be allowed to settle here, Mr Rudd said.

His hardline approach means those claiming refugee status will instead be sent to Papua New Guinea for assessment and, if found to be refugees, they will be settled there.

The "PNG solution" does not apply to those on Nauru.

Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition said uncertainty and delays of up to five years processing asylum seekers for possible refugee status had led to Friday's riot.

"It's the delays which are central to their protest.''

Mr Rintoul also said Mr Rudd's announcement would only add to their frustration.

Peaceful protests had been held thoughout the week at the detention centre, the spokeswoman said.

On Thursday a local kitchen worker had boiling water poured on her arm by an asylum seeker, leaving her needing medical treatment.

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Pavlich offered three, Embley two

Gerard Whateley and Mark 'Robbo' Robinson discuss this weeks MRP outcomes.

Steve Johnson dominated against Melbourne on Saturday, but he may have strayed. Picture: Getty Images

GEELONG bad boy Steve Johnson must tread warily when he returns from his third suspension this year.

Johnson, whose style is based on an aggressive approach, effectively has another one-match penalty hanging over him for a minor offence for the rest of the AFL season.

The highly skilled Cat will carry a dangerous 71 demerit points even if he decides not to fight a one-match penalty for kneeing Melbourne's Nathan Jones in the second quarter on Saturday.

He will miss Sunday's away game against Adelaide until he can successfully fight the latest charge at the AFL Tribunal tomorrow night.

Two head-high bumps have ensured there was extra feeling in Sunday's western Derby between the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle at Subiaco. Eagle Andrew Embley is likely to come under scrutiny from the AFL's match review panel for this high bump.

And the poor record loading increases to 30 per cent for additional points if he's charged in the last six home-and-away rounds or the finals series.

Geelong's only hope seems to be trying to convince a tribunal jury that the impact was below that required to be a reportable offence, given that a more severe kneeing offence by West Coast's Andrew Embley in Round 13 was graded as low.

Johnson's latest enforced rest after his first game back following a two-match ban for rough conduct was one of six suspensions handed out by the AFL match review panel.

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich, just back from injury, was hit with a three-match penalty for a front-on bump to West Coast's Mitch Brown, Sydney's Ben McGlynn copped three for striking GWS Giants Tom Scully, Hawthorn midfielder Shaun Burgoyne can accept two games or risk three for rough conduct against Port Adelaide's Tom Logan and Embley has a second two-match ban, this time for rough conduct against Docker Clancee Pearce.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon has already confirmed Pavlich would accept his sanction.

Port Adelaide veteran Kane Cornes' six-years clean record saved him from a more severe penalty than the one match for rough conduct against Hawk Sam Mitchell and Hawk midfielder Jordan Lewis escaped with a reprimand and 93.75 points for striking Chad Wingard.

Johnson will miss the Cats' trip to play Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday unless he fights and wins at the tribunal tonight.

If the Cats want to call Jones to give evidence, for instance, on the degree of force, it would have to be done by speaker phone or video link as Melbourne players leave today for Darwin to prepare for Saturday night's match against Brisbane.

Johnson's growing problems with accumulating demerit points harks back to when he was twice booked against Richmond in Round 4 last season.

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Wild weather: SW braces for dangerous deluge

Catch up with Sally Ayhan from Nine News for a look into Perth's weather.

Damage: A road collapses at Warner Glen near Augusta. Picture: Brad Noakes/perthweatherlive.com Source: Supplied

Reader picture: Behind the windscreen in Margaret River. Source: PerthNow

DANGEROUS winds are predicted to lash the South West tonight and tomorrow, as a deep low pressure system moves in.

A bridge was washed away and road collapsed near Augusta today.

David Nicholson, acting director infrastructure services, with the Shire of Augusta Margaret River told PerthNow: "The region is currently experiencing unusually heavy rainfall.

"A number of roads are experiencing flooding and several have been damaged. Warner Glen Road appears to have sustained the most damage with severe water flow washing a section of road away 1km south of the Blackwood River bridge.

"The road is now completely impassable to motorists and will remain closed until at least the end of the month while repairs are undertaken.''

Flood waters have also caused culverts in Pilgrim Road, Coppin Grove Road and Stevens Road causing closures Pilgrim Road to remain closed overnight and reducing Coppin Grove Road to single access.

Bullant Drive and the western end of Gnarawary Road are also flooded and while there is no apparent damage we are asking residents to take alternative routes as a precaution. We are urging caution on Redgate Road,

Boodjidup Road and sections of Caves Road which are experiencing partial flooding.

"We will need to wait until water levels subside before we can see the extent of the damage on all affected roads. It may take some time to identify damage on lesser used dirt roads throughout the Shire,'' Mr Nicholson said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for residents southwest of a line from Lancelin to Wongan Hills to Southern Cross to Hyden to Narrogin to Albany.

That includes people in or near Bunbury, Perth, York, Southern Cross, Narrogin and Albany.

The low pressure system is expected to approach the coast tomorrow morning, moving south of the south coast later on Tuesday, resulting in squally conditions about the southwest of the state during Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Squalls may cause dangerous winds in excess of 125kph that could cause significant damage and destruction.

Already the oncoming storm has impacted on the Margaret River region.

Margaret River SES volunteers have attended requests for assistance for minor flooding.

Weather-watching website, Perth Weather Live, posted this photo from a motorist of a collapsed road in Warner Glen, near Augusta, this morning.

The bridge was washed away by flood waters and the Shire of August Margaret River have closed Warner Glen Road until it can be repaired.

This morning, Witchcliffe alone recorded 41.8mm between 8.00am and 9.00am today.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said people should find safe shelter away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.

Those indoors should close curtains and blinds, stay inside away from windows, unplug electrical appliances and do not use land line telephones if there is lightning.

If there is flooding, residents can create their own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways.

Drivers are warned not to go into water of unknown depth and current, slow down and turn your headlights on.

If your home or property has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500.
 

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Teacher on child sex charges

AN Australian teacher has been arrested in the Philippines for allegedly using a 14-year-old to recruit other boys for sex.

The 45-year-old man, who has worked at schools in Australia, China and New Zealand, was arrested on Friday evening at a beach resort in Compostela town, north Cebu, as part of a police operation.

It's alleged the man used a 14-year-old boy to recruit four others, aged 10 to 13, who were then delivered to the man's hotel by his driver.

The boys, who were paid between $12 and $25 for each visit, were photographed and sexually abused, police said.

It's understood the man, who claims to have played field hockey "to an international level", had been travelling with his wife until she moved on to another holiday location in the Philippines.

He has denied the allegations.

However, the deputy chief of the regional anti-human trafficking task force, Sheryl Bautista, said the boys recovered on Friday were a "new batch" from Mandaue city. He also said there were other victims.

The Australian man had been travelling between resorts in Cebu province and had been under surveillance for several days after another boy alerted authorities, Bautista said.

"According to the rescued minors, the suspect would take nude photos of them (and have sex with them)," she said.

The man and his driver were expected be charged with abuse or violation of a child.

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Probe into nurses' drug deaths

WORKPLACE: Hayley Fisher, a 27-year-old midwife, was found dead in a toilet during a shift at King Edward Memorial Hospital on December 14, 2009. Source: PerthNow

A MIDWIFE and a nurse at two of Perth's major hospitals died of accidental drug overdoses within six months of each other, prompting an inquest probing whether the drugs that killed them were obtained from their workplaces.

Hayley Fisher, 27, died in December 2009 after injecting a massive dose of the powerful painkiller Fentanyl while at work at King Edward Memorial Hospital. She was found dead in a hospital toilet.

In June 2012, 39-year-old Craig Doherty, a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital, was found dead at his unit having injected a fatal dose of the sedative Propofol.

At the opening of the inquest in Perth today, coroner Barry King was tasked with examining whether Ms Fisher or Mr Doherty were able to get hold of the drugs without their employers or colleagues knowing.

The inquiry will also probe whether powerful sedatives and opiates at the two hospitals were stored and monitored adequately, and if changes to the classification of such drugs should be considered.

Marco Tedeschi, counsel assisting the coroner, said it was possible Ms Fisher had obtained the Fentanyl that killed her in the hours leading up to her death, or weeks prior.

But investigating officer, Detective Senior Sergeant Hayley Burke, said her checks of the maternity hospital's drug records revealed no official documentation showing the midwife had signed for any Fentanyl.

Other drugs, including pethidine, codeine and morphine were also found in Ms Fisher's body after her death, and Mr Tedeschi said where she got the drugs from remained a mystery.

"It is not apparent how she obtained access to the other opiates and there is no record of her signing for them while at work on the day she lost her life,'' Mr Tedeschi said.

Mr Doherty, who had a history of depression, was also found with a cocktail of drugs in his system.

The drugs found in his apartment were unlabelled and all but certain to have been obtained at Royal Perth Hospital.

A vial of adrenaline found near Mr Doherty's body could only have been sourced from the hospital.

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Rotto scallops best produce in Australia

Clayton Nelson, Ian Ricciardi and Alex Kailis on board one of their fishing boats in Fremantle Harbour Source: Supplied

IT'S official: Rottnest Island scallops are the most succulent in the country.

At last night's Delicious Produce Awards, WA trawler One Sea was singled out as the best producer in Australia, beating a record 3110 entrants.

"The quality of these Western Australian scallops is world class," says lauded chef and judge, Guillaume Brahimi.
Brahimi uses Rottnest scallops at his Crown Perth restaurant, Bistro Guillaume, and at his Bennelong restaurant in Sydney.

One Sea Director, Clayton Nelson describes the scallops as "meaty and plump and exquisite."

He says it's the freshness of the product which wins people over. "The decision was to take the fishery and treat the scallops like treasure and deliver them fresh to the market," he says.

BEST: Rottnest's WA trawler One Sea was single dout as the best producer in Australia, beating a record 3100 entrants. Picture: supplied.

"It's unique because we're so close to the CBD. Scallops are processed the morning they're landed and they're in restaurants the same day."

The restaurant trade has long recognised Rottnest Island scallops as being top class.

Celebrity chef Neil Perry serves them at all three of his Rockpool Bar & Grill venues.

Other high profile fans include Restaurant Amuse, Must Winebar, Cocos, Beluga and Lamont's Wine Store, as well as some of Melbourne and Sydney's best restaurants.

SWEET: Rottnest Island scallops have been declared the most succulent in the country.

"Fresh scallops are a pleasure most people haven't experienced," says Nelson. "That's what's captured the imagination of chefs everywhere.&rdquo

One Sea, which holds the only licence to catch scallops in Rottnest's waters, also took out the From the Sea award category, beating hopefuls from South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and fellow West Australian seafood business, Cone Bay Ocean Barramundi

"It's a huge compliment for a small boutique fishery in WA to get this national exposure," says Nelson.

One Sea is in its third year of operation and maintains just one vessel to harvest scallops in the wild fishery.

The harvesting season usually runs from March to October but this year One Sea elected to close the fishery in July, after a marine heatwave led to supply concerns.

"Sustainability of the fishery is absolutely paramount," says Nelson. "There will be no fresh scallops until next year."

Becoming Australia's best producer will no doubt boost demand for Rottnest Island scallops, but Nelson doubts there will be enough fresh scallops to go around.

"No, there never will be, probably, because it's a boutique fishery. It's strictly controlled, management wise, so it's never going to be a mass product."

One Sea's sole license covers an area from Warnbro Sound, south of Fremantle, north to Hillarys and west to Rottnest Island. It also markets frozen scallops.

It was started by Nelson and partners, Alex Kailis and Ian Ricciardi, both from fishing dynasties.

ow in its 8th year, the awards recognise outstanding

contributions by artisan producers and also promote the

growing interest in sustainability.

Other winners include:

FROM THE PADDOCK

Flinders Island Meat Milk-Fed Lamb, Tas (Primary)

Piper Street Food Company Pork Rillettes, Vic (Artisan)

We loved the complexity of the handmade rillettes, said Maggie Beer.

FROM THE EARTH

Otway Forest Supreme Shitake, Vic (Primary)

Mount Zero Olives Biodynamic French Style Green Lentils, Vic

I can still remember when we had to import these sort of lentils, said Alla Wolf-Tasker.

FROM THE DAIRY

Tongola Goat Curdy, Tas (Primary)

The Butter Factory Myrtleford Cultured and Lightly Salted

Butter, Vic (Artisan)

Theres been a significant growth in the quality and integrity of products, from milk to cream, cheese, butter Christine Manfield said. Judging this category very tough, said

BEST NEW PRODUCT

Seafood Tasmania Bay of Fires Uni (AAA Grade Sea Urchin Roe), Tas

OUTSTANDING FARMERS MARKET PRESENTED BY HARVEY NORMAN

Harvest Launceston Farmers Market, Tas

Integrity, passion and bountiful local produce are the hallmarks of Harvest Launceston Farmers Market, said Jane Adams from the Australia Farmers Market Association.

THE REGIONAL AWARD

Beechworth and The Alpine Valleys, Vic

Victoria generally punches above its weight in sustainable food production. Its nice to see this area rising to the occasion with some really stellar products, said Alla Wolf-Tasker

OUTSTANDING USE OF REGIONAL PRODUCE

BY A CHEF PRESENTED BY DILMAH

Katrina and Karl Kanetani, Town Restaurant and Cafaacé, NSW

The Kanetanis are an amazing double act, and the individuality of their food owes much to their sourcing of produce from local small growers, said John Lethlean of The Australian.

HERITAGE AWARD

Kangaroo Island Ligurian Honey Bees, SA

OUTSTANDING PROVEDORE

Richard Gunner, Feast! Fine Foods, SA

Richards 24-hour commitment to his passion has resulted in this well-deserved honour, said Matt Preston.

ABC LOCAL RADIO COMMUNITY AWARD

Emma Lupin, Taste of the Top End, NT

Emma has a passion for the local tropical produce found in and around Darwin, and encourages others to embrace it, said Simon Marnie, ABC Local Radio presenter.

MAGGIE BEER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN FOOD

Julie Gibbs, Lantern, NSW

Julie is responsible for some of the most beautiful cookbooks on our shelves. Shes an innovator, always ahead of the pack, said Maggie Beer.

* The complete story and full list of winners and medallists for 2013 will appear in the August issue of delicious. magazine, on sale Thursday, July 18.

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