Watters gone, Saints gutted

Peter Summers, St Kilda President, speaks to the media regarding the immediate sacking of coach Scott Watters.

SCOTT Watters has been sacked as St Kilda coach, leaving a gutted football department and disgruntled players and staff in his wake.

Watters was yesterday summoned to an 11am meeting in a city office with Saints president Peter Summers, vice-president Jack Rush and board member Andrew Thompson where he was told in a 20-minute meeting that he would be fired with a year to run on his contract.

What Summers described as a "strong decision" was made at an unscheduled board meeting at 8am via phone hook-up. It was here that Watters' meddling in other departments and his strained relationships with colleagues and players were laid bare.

There were also increasing concerns over his coaching, particularly on match day, where frequently changing tactics and mixed messages were common.

The Herald Sun reported Watters had told Summers a month ago that he was willing to buy-in to a new structure and narrow his focus on coaching. It came after Thompson's review of the football department revealed an "endorsement that we have the right people in the right roles".

But in the weeks since the club had become convinced that Watters' behaviour wasn't going to change.

Jay Clark and Sam Edmund analyse Scott Watters' sacking and rate the candidates to replace him

"We hope everyone who comes in is successful long term, but it's obviously not unconditional. We assessed things today and got to the decision we did," Summers said yesterday.

"It's been ongoing. That (review) was an assessment of where we were at a point in time. We went through a period where other things became clearer. As things have emerged issues become clearer."

Asked what those issues were, Summers said: "We met with Scott this morning and went through the reasons for our decision, but they will remain confidential between Scott and ourselves. He was disappointed, as I think we would all expect."

Watters' sacking comes after the departures of assistant coaches Dean Bailey and Jaymie Graham and fitness boss Bill Davoren, while his relationship with football boss Chris Pelchen remained strained.

Summers admitted there had been infighting, but denied it was the deal-breaker in Watters' demise.

St Kilda coach Scott Watters.

"It's been reported there's been tension in the football department. We accept that. But I've also said that, and I've operated for a long time in business, and tension isn't a bad thing necessarily," Summers said.

"They (Watters and Pelchen) probably got on the wrong side, but I don't want to harp on it, it's irrelevant going forward. I heard the working relationship of late was OK.

"It's been portrayed as one versus the other and it's not the case. They worked together over the last period quite well. When I spoke to Scott and Chris about that there hadn't been issues.

"It's an indication of the sort of issues we dealt with this morning in the board meeting, but I wouldn't overplay it. Everyone has got relationships in a club ... some of the personality issues we addressed during the year."

Former Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton slammed St Kilda's decision, launching an attack on the club's hierarchy.

"It's a pathetic decision driven by a certain section in the football department that is cancerous," Brereton told SEN.

"There's a lot of people with blood on their hands tonight.

"They are the most poorly led from the top club. It is the blind leading the blind."

Watters took over as coach after Ross Lyon's shock defection to Fremantle in 2011, but engineered only 17 wins from 44 games.

The Saints have drawn up a shortlist of potential coaching replacements and have started formalising a selection committee.

Port Adelaide premiership coach and Richmond assistant Mark Williams is the favourite to take over, while favourite son Robert Harvey is an outside chance.

THE CONTENDERS

MARK WILLIAMS: Former Port Adelaide premiership coach who is desperate to have another crack at senior coaching. Will bring instant respect and discipline. Currently assistant coach at Richmond.

ROBERT HARVEY: Favourite son who would certainly tick the box for winning the fans back. Spent time at Carlton as an assistant and was recently promoted to be Nathan Buckley's right-hand man at Collingwood.

LEIGH TUDOR: The most highly regarded assistant out there who went close to snagging senior gig at West Coast. Part of Sydney's premiership coaching team and spent time at St Kilda under Ross Lyon. Returned home to Victoria for family reasons and recently took job at North Melbourne.

ALAN RICHARDSON: Been around the mark a number of times and ran a close second to Watters a couple of years ago for the Saints gig. Currently senior assistant at Port Adelaide.

MICHAEL VOSS: Was sacked by Brisbane mid-way through his fifth season. Many felt after a slow start to his coaching career the Lions great was starting to show he would make the grade. Would certainly bring the playing group together.

FACT FILE: SCOTT WATTERS

D.O.B: 25 January, 1969
Recruited from: South Fremantle (WAFL)

THE PLAYER

Games: 109 - West Coast (1989-92) 46; Sydney (1993-94) 37; and, Fremantle (1995-96) 26.
Goals: 30 - West Coast 13; Sydney 11; and, Fremantle 6

THE COACH

St Kilda (2012-13)
44 games for 17 wins and 27 losses.

Listen to Watters' interview on SEN below

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Quiet suburb is Perth's best-kept property secret

The city skyline and river as seen from the emerging suburb of Brentwood. Pictures: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

IT may be the best-kept secret patch of riverside earth in Perth.

The south-eastern suburb of Brentwood has topped the state for median house price growth in the past year, according to The Property Report in this weekend's The Sunday Times.

WHAT'S YOUR SUBURB WORTH? Click here to explore our special interactive

Landgate figures show the quiet corner with Canning River - and more specifically Bull Creek - waterway access recorded median house price growth of 47.8 per cent on the back of 13 sales to lead the whole state.

It's certainly a river of gold to young couple Julie and Wayne Granville, who moved to Brentwood in 2001 and over the past dozen years have witnessed the thriving suburb grow in community spirit and people.

See this weekend's The Sunday Times for the Property Report liftout

Home to just under 2000 residents, the area is a "stunning'' haven for the family of four, who love the lush Brentwood backdrop with the river just down the road.

The south-eastern suburb of Brentwood has topped the state for median house price growth in 2013. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

"We have lovely neighbours, my kids go to a lovely little school, and it's just a little pocket that we really like,'' Mrs Granville said.

"I'm very fond of the river. We quite often see pelicans and dolphins in the water and I take the children down there in the evening and they swim in the river and it's just stunning.''

From her residence on Selway Rd, Mrs Granville said Brentwood was home to people with good old-fashioned values.

Julie Granville and children Georgia, 3, and Charlie, 5, at Thomas Middleton Park in Brentwood. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

"Our neighbours are elderly and keep the tradition of talking to each other alive, which is great because it's like it was when I was growing up, and my children get to be a part of that environment,'' she said.

The Granvilles predict they will probably be in the same spot in 20 years time.

"You really have that sense of being a part of somewhere rather than just living in a house,'' Mrs Granville said.

Julie Granville and children Georgia, 3, and Charlie, 5, at Thomas Middleton Park in Brentwood. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

Acton Real Estate Applecross senior sales consultant Pauline Couanis said many families overlooked Brentwood but in recent times the suburb's popularity had grown due to its affordability and amenities.

"There is always very little stock available in Brentwood because of the facilities offered, the affordability of the suburb and the schooling options,'' Ms Couanis said.

"Listings are competitive as there is not a large turnover of housing as it is not a large suburb.''

Ms Couanis said people moving into the suburb were generally looking for affordability, convenience and good schooling.

"In more recent years, land within the suburb has been developed and newer homes constructed,'' she said.

"These and other large properties in the area appeal to families, given the schooling opportunities, the location and the proximity of rail and bus transport.

"Many properties are within a stroll to the river, with some on the river.''

Mallison Real Estate managing director Spiro Mallis listed several benefits to buying in Brentwood.

"Proximity to the city, it borders Mount Pleasant, is a highly desirous location, the get-in price is more affordable than neighbouring suburbs, its location to Garden City, the train, Fremantle, and freeway,'' he said, listing the suburb's great qualities.

"But Brentwood and Bateman are small suburbs and are (in) high demand. As the sprawl continues south, the demand intensifies.''

PROPERTY REPORT - SUBURB PRICE GUIDE INTERACTIVE

THE Property Report puts the latest suburb price guide and data at your fingertips.

Whether you're a homeowner, a prospective buyer or seller, tap a postcode into our special property interactive to find detailed data on that suburb, including median house price, suburb growth and block sizes.

The figures are from independent government authority Landgate and should give home owners every reason to be confident as 2013 draws to a close.

A sea of upward green arrows - showing median house price growth for most areas in the state - are a clear sign of a seller's market in the Perth market cycle. Happy house hunting!

INTERACTIVE: Hover over our Google map interactive to see a suburb's growth cycle over the past 10 years or click here to explore our special postcode interactive.

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Waitress gets $200 tip ... just because

That's $200 he's handing over. Cue tears in 3 ... 2 ... Source: YouTube

WHEN you're earning a couple of bucks an hour as a waitress, tips really matter.

It's hard for Aussies to fathom, given the comparably generous minimum wage in our country, but it's the harsh reality for many workers in the States.

Harsher still when you're a young woman with two young children to feed, right?

So imagine the joy this waitress felt when she became the unexpected beneficiary of random goodwill.

The set up goes like this: A few nice blokes from a venture called Give Back Films went to a diner and randomly gave their waitress a whopping tip.

They filmed her reaction, uploaded it to YouTube, then melted the whole world's heart.

Enjoy.

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Perth builder jailed over $5m rort

A 33-year-old admitted to giving false testimony before the Corruption and Crime Commission in 2010. Source: PerthNow

A PERTH builder involved in the $5 million City of Stirling building rort scandal was today sentenced to 15 months jail.

Former Devco Holdings director Lee Geoffrey Devereux had earlier admitted his part in the scam that involved more than half a dozen people connected to the local council.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of aiding a public officer and acting corruptly.

He also admitted to four counts of giving false testimony before the Corruption and Crime Commission during a series of private and public hearings in 2010.

Mr Devereux is the seventh person to be convicted of serious offences linked to the multi-million-dollar procurement scandal at the City of Stirling.

He was initially charged with submitting false invoices totalling almost $80,000 for work he said he completed on the Dianella Library roof in a scheme concocted by the council's former building co-ordinator who committed suicide days before he was due to give evidence at the hearings.

The man, whose name was suppressed, was said to be the central figure behind the alleged kickbacks.

Mr Devereux was later charged with lying to the CCC on four occasions.

During the sentencing hearing today it was revealed payment of the false invoices were approved by the building co-ordinator and the proceeds shared by the two men.

This included purchasing a $54,934 tractor for joint use on their separate rural properties.

In handing down her sentence District Court judge Annette Schoombee said the offences were very serious and "strike at the heart" of clean and efficient local government.

She said the initial offending was made worse by Mr Devereux lying to the CCC and emphasised the maximum penalty for doing so was five years jail or a $100,000 fine or both.

And while she took into account his genuine remorse, personal circumstances, early guilty plea and possible rehabilitation, she said a general deterrent was necessary to ensure people gave honest evidence to the CCC.

"It is integral to its operations that persons before it speak the truth," she said.

Mr Devereux has since repaid more than $68,000 to the council.

Mr Devereux was sentenced to 12 months jail for corruption and six-months jail concurrent for each of four false testimony offences, with one to commence three months before the end of the head sentence.

Five other private contractors have already been convicted and sentenced to 12 to 18 months jail for corruption in relation to work for the City of Stirling.

Three of those were jailed immediately and two had their sentences suspended.

As well, a lawyer who told his client to destroy evidence and lied to the CCC was fined $10,000 and given a suspended jail term.

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WA Senate result to be revealed

WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlum calls on the AEC not to declare the WA Senate result in the hope that missing 1300 votes will turn up. Source: News Limited

Clive Palmer, looking happy enough here, has been a furious critic of the bungled WA election count and recount. Source: News Limited

THE Australian Electoral Commission is set to announce the result of the West Australian Senate vote recount, despite more than 1300 ballots still being missing.

AEC state manager Peter Kramer says the results of the WA Senate recount and distribution of preferences will be known tomorrow afternoon.

Mr Kramer said he had advised the Senate candidates the distribution of preferences to decide six WA Senators would start at 2pm.

"In accordance with electoral procedures, candidates have been invited to appoint scrutineers to observe the process on their behalf,'' he said.

The AEC said the distribution of preferences would incorporate all formal recounted votes as well as all formal below-the-line votes that were not subject to the recount.

It admitted yeterday that 1255 formal above-the-line ballots and 120 informal votes could not be located, rechecked or verified, despite searches of every electoral premises where the ballots were stored or transported from.

Greens senator Scott Ludlam says the AEC should hold off declaring the result in the hope that hundreds of missing votes will be found.

Senator Ludlam says he hopes former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty will track down the more than 1300 missing ballot papers.

He says he believes the AEC had done the right thing in calling in Mr Keelty.

"The question is ... is he looking for the batch of votes or is he simply trying to uncover the paper trail?" Senator Ludlam told Sky News.

"Our caution to the AEC is don't declare the results in case Mr Keelty turns up that missing batch of votes.

"That would be the simplest and by far the cheapest way of resolving the ballot."

The Palmer United Party (PUP) candidate embroiled in the vote fiasco has compared Australia's democratic process to that in his native China.

As the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) continues to search for the 1375 ballots that have gone missing in WA, PUP leader Clive Palmer has fired off numerous allegations at the AEC, including that the lost votes were designed to keep his party from power.

Missing are 1255 formal votes and 120 informal votes from electorates of Pearce and Forrest which could not be found for the recount.

And Dio Wang, an executive at a mining company majority-owned by Mr Palmer, said his democratic rights were being threatened by the AEC blunder.

"I was attracted to this country because I believed it upheld democracy and the right for people to choose,'' Mr Wang said.

"I could never have imagined ballot boxes would go missing to stop someone like myself from entering the Senate. I thought that sort of thing would only happen in China.

"After this, I am more determined than ever to fight for the people of WA, who for too long have carried the rest of Australia with royalties from the state's resources industry.''

Missing are 1255 formal votes and 120 informal votes from the electorates of Pearce and Forrest that could not be found for the recount.

That recount was called because of the close contest for the sixth Senate seat, between Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and Mr Wang.

AEC spokesman Phil Diak said the commission had looked everywhere for the missing votes and there appeared to be little prospect they would be found.

In that case, there will likely be a challenge in the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, and a by-election.

"This AEC lost votes disaster goes to the heart of our democracy,'' Mr Palmer said.

The recount was called because of the close contest for the sixth Senate seat, between Senator

Ludlam and Palmer United Party candidate Dio Wang.

Senator Ludlam says the recount is likely to have greater integrity because of intense party scrutiny. 

He says Greens scrutineers thought the result might have swung his way.

Senator Ludlam says businessman and PUP leader Clive Palmer, now MP for the Queensland seat of Fairfax, is the "walking definition of conflict of interest".

"You can't be an MP legislating on issues like the mining tax and the carbon price while still holding gargantuan mining interests. You can't do both. He's going to have to choose one," he said.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon paraphrased Oscar Wilde.

"To lose one vote is unfortunate, to lose two is careless but to lose 1375 votes surely must be cause for a fresh Senate election," he told ABC radio.

Senior Labor MP Anthony Albanese says as frustrating as the WA debacle is, "I think these processes have to be allowed to take their course".

Labor's Louise Pratt is one of the last WA senators to be declared in this year's election, and her spot in parliament is put in doubt by the recount.

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Facebook can predict your break-up

Facebook knows when you and your significant other will break up. Source: Supplied

FACEBOOK can predict when you're going to break up.

Yes, apparently the fate of your relationship is not written in the stars but in your social circle.

Cornell University researcher Jon Kleinberg and Facebook senior engineer Lars Backstrom proved as much when they presented their co-written research paper at a social computing conference in February.

The researchers took the datasets of 1.3 million Facebook users listed as being in a relationship, and found that the more well connected their mutual friends were, the more likely they were to break up.

This theory is described as dispersion.

Couples with high dispersion have mutual friends who are not well connected.

Couples with low dispersion have mutual friends who are well connected.

Therefore the Facebook theory suggests if you and your partner share the same social circle on Facebook (low dispersion), you're less likely to have your own lives and therefore the relationship is more likely to implode.

A healthy relationship, according to Facebook, is one where both partners have connections to a lot of different groups of people, even if those friendships aren't particularly strong.

"Instead of embededness, we propose that the link between and an individual u and v his or her partner should display a 'dispersed' structure: the mutual neighbours of u and v are not well connected to one another and hence u and v act jointly as the only intermediaries between these different parts of the network," the researchers wrote in the study.

In a nutshell, get your own damn lives and friends.

Of course, this algorithm might not take into account the fact that some couples don't take their social circles on Facebook particularly seriously and therefore might look like they don't have as wide group of friends when they actually do.

Probably because they are out living their lives.

A graphical representation of one person's network neighbourhood on Facebook. Source: Supplied

HOW IT WORKS

Take the above diagram, it represents the social network of a single Facebook user who sits at the centre of the network. The cluster at the top is the person's co-workers, the dots on the right represent that users' university friends, the dot in the lower left of the graphic with links to two different clusters but sits kind of separate from the two groups is the person's spouse.

"A spouse or romantic partner is a bridge between a person's different social worlds," Mr. Kleinberg explained in an interview.

The researchers correctly identified a user's spouse 60 per cent of the time, that's better than a one in two chance.

When the algorithm failed, it meant the relationship was in trouble.

And if that isn't the most depressing thing we've learned this week, we don't know what is.

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Accused killer in 'foul mood' before 1992 death

The husband of an alcoholic woman whose skeletal remains were found almost 20 years after her death has told court the man accused of killing her was in a 'foul mood' the night before she disappeared.

Ronald Pennington, 84, who on trial for the manslaughter of Perth woman Cariad Anderson-Slater, 41, in Perth, in July 1992. Source: News Limited

THE husband of an alcoholic woman whose skeletal remains were found almost 20 years after her death has told court the man accused of killing her was in a ``foul mood'' the night before she disappeared.

Ronald Leslie Pennington, 84, is on trial in the WA Supreme Court for the July 1992 manslaughter of Cariad Anderson-Slater, whose remains were found in his former backyard in February 2011.

Her husband, David Slater, who was a suspect during the original police investigation, described Ms Anderson-Slater as intelligent, vibrant and fun - except when she was drinking.

"It was something that I learned to live with,'' he said today.

Prosecutor Sean O'Sullivan asked Mr Slater: ``Did you kill your then wife, Cariad?''

Mr Slater replied: ``I did not.''

He also denied contributing to her death in any way and denied burying her at Pennington's property.

Mr Slater testified that Pennington was in a "foul mood'' when the couple had dinner at his house the night before she disappeared.

He said when they returned home about 9pm, Ms Anderson-Slater was determined to drink and was irritable, so he went to bed.

When he got up shortly afterwards, he found her drinking at a neighbour's house, so he drove off and returned after 1am, which was the last time he saw her.

Mr Slater said he did not want to aggravate the situation so he went to bed.

While it was common for Ms Anderson-Slater, 41, to disappear for a few days, Mr Slater became concerned when she did not return home and asked Pennington if he had seen her, which he denied.

But, after Mr Slater's neighbour said Ms Anderson-Slater had called Pennington and was going to visit him, Mr Slater confronted Pennington who admitted she called but said he did not see her.

"I had no reason to argue with him. I trusted him,'' Mr Slater said.

He reported his wife missing to police on July 16 and testified that he waited a few days because he did not want to seem like the boy who cried wolf.

Mr Slater admitted he was lonely and sought female companionship about a week later and tore up wedding photos in anger.

He also told the court he changed his will and indicated he was a widower because he ``felt very vulnerable'' and wanted to ensure his assets went to his children if he died.

Mr Slater said Pennington was a supportive friend and told him he hoped police would find her.

Mr Slater moved to Queensland about two years later, before moving to New Zealand.

"It was a very harrowing time, so I just wanted to get out of Perth,'' he said.

Under cross-examination, Mr Slater denied ever being physical with his wife, insisting he did not like confrontation and would leave her alone when she drank too much.

"I wasn't aggressive, I just reasoned with her as best I could,'' he said.

The trial continues.

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Gold Plate awards dish up a surprise

1907 picked up major gongs at the 2013 Gold Plate Awards. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

1907 restaurant set the trend for a night of surprises when it took out not only the fine dining category of the Gold Plate 2013 awards but the Premiers' Prize for best overall finalist at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre last night.

Other left-field honours came with little known restaurants receiving recognition of the highest sort.

The trainee restaurant for Challenger's Institute of Technology, Quinlan's on High, found itself among heavy hitters such as Friends, Mosmans and Ishka, along with the KIng & I, and Masala, when they were awarded the Prix D'Honneurs for being nominated for a Gold Plate three years in a row.

The complete list of winners is below: Do you agree with the judges?

Celebrations are still in full swing on Queen Street where 1907 staff took away three awards from Australia's most prestigious hospitality ceremony which acknowledges outstanding quality and service provided by West Australian restaurants.

The normally quietly spoken venue manager at 1907, Harold Faizal, was thrilled to win the Bill Thompson Award for Excellence:

"I am honoured to be awarded for my skills in such a competitive industry," he said.

"Hospitality is something I am truly passionate about and working at 1907 has given me the opportunity to harness this passion and strive to build a successful business."

The awards top off another gong received last month when Dimmi, the online booking system, announced the venue as Australia's number one restaurant in their top 50 list across the country.

The winners of the 2013 Gold Plate are as follows:

Prix D'Honneurs
Dear Friends Garden Restaurant - Caversham
Mosmans - Mosman Park
Quinlans Restaurant – Challenger Institute of Technology - Beaconsfield
King & I - Guildford
Ishka Restaurant (The Breakwater) - Hillarys
Masala - Clarkson

Fine Dining
1907 Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Perth

Licensed dining
The Trustee Bar and Bistro - Perth

Licensed Dining - Regional
The Studio Bistro - Yallingup

Licensed Casual Dining
Matilda Bay Restaurant - Crawley

Licensed Casual Dining - Regional
Mojo's Restaurant - Bunbury

Restaurant within a Tavern Country/City/Metro
The Royal - East Perth

Restaurant within Winery Perth/Surrounds (Dual Winners)
Sandalford Winery - Caversham
Riverbank Estate Winery Restaurant - Caversham

Mediterranean Casual Dining
Zephyr Mediterranean Cuisine - Marmion

Licensed Chinese 
Dragon Palace - Woodside Plaza

Licensed Thai 
Itsara - Nedlands

Licensed Indian
Punjab Indian Restaurant - Innaloo

Licensed Asian 
Joe's Oriental Diner - Hyatt Regency Perth - East Perth

Unlicensed Asian
Thai Orchid - Mount Lawley

Seafood Dining
Red Cray - Seafood Bar and Grill Mount Lawley

Licensed Cafe - City/Metro Licensed
Azure Cafe at the Mezz - Mt Hawthorn

Licensed Café - Regional
Zanders at Cable Beach - Cable Beach

Coffee Shop
Il Cibo - Fremantle

Family Dining
Roley's on the Ridge - Roleystone

Steakhouse
Rockpool Bar & Grill - Crown Perth

Buffet
Atrium Buffet - Crown Perth

Buffet Asian
Koh-I-Noor - Padbury

Breakfast
The Witch's Cauldron - Subiaco

Small Bar 
Rustico Tapas Bar - Rockingham

New Restaurant
The Trustee Bar and Bistro - Perth

Tourism Restaurant City/Metro
Chesters - Henley Brook

Tourism Restaurant - Regional
Selene Brasserie at Pinctada Cable Beach - Broome

Restaurant with in a Training Establishment
Bentley Pines Restaurant - Polytechnic West - Bentley

The CIA Gold Plate Venue Caterers Award
The University Club of Western Australia - Crawley

Excellence in Health Award
Atrium - Crown Perth

Wine List of the Year
Rockpool Bar & Grill - Crown Perth

WA Fresh Produce Award
The Co-Op Dining - East Perth

Premiers Award
1907 Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Perth

Bill Thompson Award
Harold Faizal - 1907 Restaurant & Bar
 

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Fitzroy sweating through hot spell

Fitzroy Crossing has been sweating through a record long hot spell. Photo: Jody D'Arcy Source: PerthNow

THE Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing is sweltering under its longest hot spell since temperature records started in 1997.

For the past 29 days residents in the community, 400km east of Broome, have had to deal with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

Are you there? Send your pics to readerpics@perthnow.com.au

Resident Belinda Bonfield, 31, said it took two years to adjust to the heat after moving to the Kimberley town from the Sunshine Coast in 2005.

"It still knocks you out at the start of the hot season, you're body adjusting back into the heat but that first year it's an initial shock to the body," Ms Bonfield,  who works as an area manager for the Shire of Derby said.

Climatologist John Relf said with high temperatures forecast for tomorrow and Thursday, Fitzroy Crossing would have its hottest October on record ever with an average maximum temperature of 42 degrees centigrade.

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WA journalist joins 6PR mornings

Gary Adshead will be joining 6PR as their new morning presenter. Source: PerthNow

WA journalist Gary Adshead will be joining 6PR as the station's new morning presenter.

Adshead will replace morning host Paul Murray, who is being moved to the drive shift.

The move comes after Murray recorded the station's lowest ratings in the 9am-noon slot for at least five years.

6PR general manager Martin Boylen said Adshead, currently an award-winning investigative reporter with The West Australian, has the right combination of credibility and experience for the role.

"Gary's varied background in TV, radio and newspapers gives him a massive head start when it comes to dealing with the issues and personalities that make news in Perth," Boylen said.

"I am confident he'll make a real impact when he starts on-air.

"Paul indicated to us some time ago he'd prefer a change of shift for lifestyle reasons and we were very happy for him to continue as part of the team in the drive slot."

6PR will soon announce further line-up details for 2014.

PerthNow understands the station is negotiating with Basil Zempilas to co-host 6PR breakfast with existing presenter Steve Mills.

The pair are believed to have already had a meeting together with 6PR management.

Adshead will continue to do some work for Seven West Media, but his precise role there is yet to be decided.
 

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No taker yet for $30m lottery ticket

The person who has won $30 million in Powerball is yet to come forward. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

THE champagne is still on ice at Lotterywest headquarters in Perth, as the identity of the state's $30 million Powerball winner remains a mystery.

One lucky entrant picked up the entire $30 million division one prize pool last Thursday night, equalling the largest lottery prize ever won in the state.

The only details released by Lotterywest is that the winning ticket was sold in Perth's northern suburbs.

But despite the size of the prize, no winning ticket holder has come forward to claim the massive prize, although he or she has 12 months from the date of the draw to bring in the winning ticket.

The win is the latest in an amazing run of luck for lottery players in the state in 2013.

In February, the state recorded a $20 million win, followed by a $10 million win in May, another $20 million win in August, followed by the $30 million jackpot last week.

About 70 WA players have collected a division one lottery prize in 2013.

And WA players will have another chance to win big this weekend, when $22 million goes on offer in Saturday's Gold Lotto Superdraw.

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Woman bitten by shark near Exmouth

A 60-year-old woman will be flown to Perth for surgery on her arm after a shark attack near Exmouth.

WESTERN Australia will have its first shark-proof fence this summer, after the State Government approved the construction of an underwater barrier in Dunsborough.

A woman is being flown to Perth after being bitten by a shark near Exmouth. File image Source: Supplied

A 60-YEAR-OLD woman will have surgery on her arm after a black tip reef shark attacked her near Exmouth.

The woman was bitten on the right arm at Turquoise Bay in Cape Range National Park, about 60km south of Exmouth. 

A Royal Flying Doctor Service spokeswoman said they received the call about 4pm today and were sending a night crew to transport the woman to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.

It is expected she will need surgery.

A WA Health spokeswoman said the woman presented at Exmouth Hospital with the shark bite this afternoon and is in a stable condition.

WA Police said they were not needed for a search and rescue operation.

The Department of Fisheries said the woman was snorkelling 40m offshore when the shark bit her arm.

A spokeswoman said it seemed the bite had caused nerve damage to the victim's arm.

The track down to Turquoise Bay has been closed until Water Police and Department of Fisheries assess the waters in the morning.

The attack is the third one recorded this month.

A man had his flipper shredded by a shark on Saturday at Hillarys.

While diver Greg Pickering survived his second shark attack in 10 years after he was bitten on the face on October 9 at a beach about 180km east of Esperance.
 

Turquoise Bay is renowned for its pristine beach and is popular for snorkelling.
 

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The most epic break-up letter

There are break-up letters ... and then there's this one. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THEY say "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". If only this guy had known this before cheating on his girlfriend and dumping her.

She was in - what she thought - was a loving, blissful relationship with her boyfriend of nine months.

But, oh was she wrong.

One day, out of the blue, he said it was over. He said his feelings had changed, according to The Huffington Post.

"But I'm committed to a friendship," he added generously.

Then, quite by accident, six weeks later she discovered there was more to it. He had been cheating on her the whole time with his most recent ex.

"Her life is chaos too, so she gets it," he tried to explain.

Soon after, she penned this letter ...

"Don't worry, darling. My anger won't last long. I know your life is already your punishment. A 40-year-old man of mediocre accomplishment who's incapable of true intimacy, who casually lies and cheats, who's being sued by his own aunt, who hardly has the love of his own family, who has few friends and no community to speak of, who's been living in his musty, forgotten childhood home in suburban New Jersey for almost a year, alone, at 40, who isn't even close to his ultimate dream of a book deal, who is frail, insecure, pathetic, tortured, has no moral fiber, who's dissatisfied with his career and is constantly traveling to corporate wastelands.

And then a woman comes along and tries to love him, encourage his dreams, invite him to be her "other whole," and he repays her kindness with lies, secrecy, a handful of sh*tty chocolates he probably picked up at the airport on his way home from France, an unceremonious breakup based on his own inability to get close to someone who has her sh*t together and with whom he could have a real partnership, and tops it off by having an affair with his ex the entire time - at an apartment just ten blocks away from his girlfriend's. And projects onto his girlfriend that she was the untrustworthy one. And tells her the breakup was about "something I just can't put my finger on."

This is who you are: an aging, sad, sneaky, devious man who travels from one hotel to another, putting on a face for strangers, living out of a suitcase, having no real home and no connections, lying to others, lying to himself. So I don't have to humiliate you. Your entire life is one big humiliation. And no matter how much you meditate, do yoga and undergo therapy, this will never change. This is who you are."

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The most enviable office view in Perth

Creative director of Open House Perth, Carly Barrett, photographed on level 45 of the BHP building. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: PerthNow

The 360-degree panorama taken from the top of the BHP building. Picture: Marianne Annereau / businessphotos.com.au Source: Supplied

IT'S the most enviable office view in Perth. West Australians will have the chance to gawk at the CBD from 45 floors above thanks to Open House Perth next weekend.

BHP Billiton Brookfield Place is one of the 35 new destinations adding to the event's line up this year.

Open House gives the public a chance to go inside some of the city's landmark structures free of charge.

More than 60 corporate offices, government centres and residential spaces will be made available to visitors.

Stunning Interactive: Zoom in and move around to see the view

Open House Perth founder Carly Barrett, 33, said people will get a sneak peek of the city's most coveted design and architectural spaces for the event, now in its second year.

Last year 50,000 West Australians took part.

"The biggest challenge I feel is how do we follow up when we've had such an unprecedented success and give people something that's new," Ms Barrett said.

Other new landmarks in this year's program are the WA Ballet Centre and the Old Treasury buildings.

Mt Eliza Apartments, considered the city's first modern apartment block, is also open for viewing. "That's the main thing we try to do with the event, is give people access to spaces they wouldn't normally get a chance to see," Ms Barrett said.

"They love their city, they want to know more about it and they want to share it with friends and family and perfect strangers.

"(These buildings are) the type of things that when people go to another city they're like, 'I wish there was more of that in Perth'. We've uncovered the kind of places that you see outside of Perth, in Perth."

For more information openhouseperth.net

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Kimberley hype 'long needed'

Lonley Planet has named the Kimberley as the second best region in the world to visit. Pictured are Kimberley boabs, only found in the region. Picture: Ken Duncan Source: Supplied

LONELY Planet's listing of the Kimberley a must-see for 2014 is the "shot in the arm" that the region has long needed, according to tourism leaders.

This morning the travel bible announced its top 10 destinations for next year.

Sitting at number two, behind Sikkim, India is WA's own Kimberley region.

Tourism Council of WA chief executive Evan Hall said the listing was "absolutely brilliant."

"It's the shot in the arm that tourism in that region needed," he said. "It just confirms we've got really amazing places."

Mr Hall said the listing would open the Kimberley to people seeking out an adventure, hopefully boosting tourism in the rest of WA.

"It's worth travelling a continent, it's worth travelling from Perth to see," he said.

"You're not travelling for a weekend, you're travelling for an experience and I would expect a flow on for the rest of WA because of the distance they (tourists) have to travel to get there."

Best of the Kimberley travel agency owner Rosemary McGuigan said Lonely Planet's recommendation was a vital boost for the region.

She said in the last 18 months she felt the Kimberley had been a victim of the high Australian dollar and other economic pressures, limiting the number of tourists.

"I'm hoping this will see a lot more enquiries," Ms McGuigan said.

"Lonely Planet is such a strong brand that, if Lonely Planet says it's the second best in the world, you have to visit."

Ms McGuigan said the region's isolation and lack of development made it special.

"The Bungle Bungles are just magical and the coastal region is an incredible destination, it's breathtaking in its beauty," she said.

"The Kimberley puts your life in perspective, it's such a remote place you just sit back and go 'wow – this is amazing'."
 

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Schapelle could soon be free: mum

Schapelle Corby could be granted parole soon, says her mum. Source: News Limited

SCHAPELLE Corby's mum believes her daughter could be freed from prison any day now, but fears she will continue to be plagued by her frail mental condition after leaving Kerobokan.

Roseleigh Rose said Corby would leave the notorious jail a "very different woman" after spending nine years there for drug trafficking.

Ms Rose said her daughter was nervous and happy about the prospect of being granted parole, which would mean she would be able to live in her sister's home in Kuta in Bali's tourist district.

She would have to remain in Bali until her sentence ends in 2017.

"She is excited (to be able to) do things we take for advantage, like go pick out her clothes, her underwear, have a shower," she told Channel 7.

Ms Rose said her daughter's depression would be her biggest hurdle when she left prison.

"Her mental state is stable at the moment but the thing is, we don't know how Schapelle will be on the outside," she said.

The former Gold Coast beauty therapist was convicted in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali in a bodyboard bag.

Bali Corrections Board and Justice Ministry officials have given Corby's parole application the green light, but the Justice Minister and ministry officials in Jakarta are still deliberating over whether to give the 36-year-old's bid the green light.

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WA fire trucks lack safety gear

Firefighters face two more bushfire seasons without life-saving gear. Source: PerthNow

Wendy Bearfoot, a volunteer firefighter who died while fighting a bushfire in WA's South-West. Source: PerthNow

WA firefighters will confront major blazes this summer in vehicles lacking vital safety equipment common in other states one year after the death of a firefighter exposed WA as "significantly out of step" with the rest of Australia.

The Sunday Times has confirmed that none of 667 vehicles that will operate in "high to extreme" risk areas this bushfire season has been fitted with in-cab breathing, water spray protection or advanced GPS systems.

Just 11 per cent or 71 vehicles have been fitted with heat shields.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis has admitted the Government has not yet even decided on a manufacturer for the in-cab breathing, water spray protection and advanced GPS systems.

The best he could do was say the tender process was expected to be finished by June.

This means WA firefighters could go into at least two more bushfire seasons without the lifesaving devices.

An official report into the death of firefighter Wendy Bearfoot during an Albany blaze last October found WA was failing to protect firefighters.

"South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW all place far higher priority on vehicle protection ... and have done so for years," the report, released early last month, said.

"This lack of action in WA is not a result of ignorance. Agencies have been aware of developments in other jurisdictions."

Mrs Bearfoot, a mother of three, suffered horrific burns when her truck was engulfed in flames while she was fighting the October 12 blaze. She died three weeks later.

The report said every vehicle expected to enter a fire ground should as "minimum protection" have heat shield panels that can retard fire which other states began rolling out 15 years ago.

Authorities said the shields, which can be used internally or externally, protected crews from death or injury during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires that engulfed parts of Victoria.

Following the report, Worksafe called for vehicle upgrades.

Opposition emergency services spokeswoman Margaret Quirk said more WA firefighters could die before our vehicles met national standards.

"It is an absolute disgrace that WA firefighters do not have the same protection as their colleagues in other states," she said.

"The fact that Worksafe issued improvement notices on the vehicles after (Mrs Bearfoot's death) and the increasingly unpredictable bushfire behaviour suggests (the vehicles) are potential death traps."

Three weeks before this year's March 9 state election, the Barnett Government said it would improve protection for firefighters by rolling out the safety features in vehicles in a $15 million promise "designed to save their lives" and "increase chances of survival".

"These new crew protection systems are proven to save lives and we must provide the best protection for the volunteer and career firefighters who fight dangerous bushfires across WA," then emergency services minister Troy Buswell said.

Mr Francis denied the Government was failing to deliver on its promise.

"Under existing contracts, 71 high-risk appliances have been installed with radiant heat shields and this process is continuing on a rolling basis over the next two years with priority given to vehicles in high-risk areas," he said.

Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of WA vice-president Dave Gossage said it was pathetic that "red tape" was compromising safety measures.

"We acknowledge there are State Government policies and processes to be followed (but) we question the level of red tape that slows positive actions," he said.

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Bali Nine courier's double murder plot

Convicted drug trafficker Renae Lawrence, a member of the Bali Nine, pictured in her cell at Kerobokan Prison, Bali in 2010. Source: Supplied

BALI Nine drug courier Renae Lawrence is accused of ordering a hit on two female prison guards.

The alleged plot came to light when mobile phones belonging to Lawrence and another female prisoner were found during an unrelated raid of the women's block in Bali's Kerobokan Jail on Thursday.

The jail's governor Gusti Ngurah Wiratna told AAP that evidence was found on the phones of Lawrence and alleged accomplice Joaninha Maria Sonia Gonzalex, known as "Black Sonia''.

"She (Lawrence) was discovered to be plotting the murder of two female guards,'' he said.

"In her phone was a message in which she ordered Sonia to eliminate the female guards.

"We found a knife in her cell.''

An earlier exclusive story by the Daily Telegraph said Lawrence was plotting to murder one female guard she "hated''.

The governor said they were still investigating the motive.

"At first she (Lawrence) denied it, but after we showed her the evidence in her phone, she couldn't deny it.''

Gonzales is an East Timorese inmate charged with kidnapping a baby from a French family in Bali.

Lawrence is serving 20 years for her part in a 2005 plot to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin from Bali to Australia.

She recently had six months of her sentence pardoned for good behaviour, but that is expected to be cancelled.

She has reportedly been moved to a jail in Jembrana, West Bali.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told AAP consular officials in Bali will be meeting Indonesian authorities to discuss Lawrence.

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Inside our most powerful bikie gang

Dozens of Mongols Motorcycle Club members go on a victory ride. Courtesy: Mongols MC

New member of the Mongols outlaw bikie gang in Australia. Picture: News Limited. Source: News Limited

THE Mongol Empire has begun its invasion of gangland Australia.

Considered by US authorities to be "most violent and dangerous biker gang in the USA", the Mongol Motorcycle Club has arrived in Australia and immediately set up chapters in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia

And police motorcycle gang investigators have told news.com.au the Mongols are likely to become the ruling outlaw force in the country.

Mongols bikie gang. Picture: News Limited Source: NewsComAu

"Mongol bikers engage in drug trafficking, gun running, assaults, thefts, intimidation, and extortion," Detective Steve Cook, a Missouri, US police officer and motorcycle gang expert said.

While an Australian police officer who has been investigating outlaw bikie gangs for more than a decade said Mongols were known for "torture, murder, drugs, guns, explosives".

"Their reputation for violence and criminality is well deserved," he said. "And don't believe all the PR they might say about how they're just men who love their bikes and have a fight now and again, but collect toys for kids at Christmas.

"They are criminals.

"They are one per centers. They deal in methamphetamines, and to a lesser extent ecstasy and cannabis.

"They are into extortion big time, fraud and involved in places that are on the knife edge of criminality, like strip clubs."

A Mongols Australia member. Picture: News Limited Source: News Limited

The "instant" arrival of the Mongols as a new force among Australia's 40-plus bikie clubs is the result of a "patch over" of the former Finks Motorcycle Club, ahead of a court challenge on November 15 to outlaw the Finks under tough new Queensland anti-bike laws.

But the two police investigators, who spoke exclusively with news.com.au about the Mongols, said the patch over was no mere name change.

"They are now under the rule of the gang's mother chapter, the Mongols in the US," the police investigator said.

"We are gathering intelligence so we can be ready for when it begins ... beatings, stabbings, shootings and arson, whatever happens."

So who are the Mongols and what are their rules?

NAME

Also called the Mongol Nation or Mongol Brotherhood, their name comes from the vast 12th century empire formed by the Asian warlord said to have killed more people than anyone else in history, Genghis Khan.

The Mongols began in California and have spread across the US. Source: NewsComAu

THE CLUB

Began more than 40 years ago in California as a result of the Hells Angels gang ban on Hispanic members, the Mongols have spread across the US, although their mostly Latino membership is concentrated heavily on the West Coast. The Mongols have chapters in Mexico, Norway, Spain, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, and now Australia.

COLOURS AND STATUS

Like all outlaw gangs, or "one per centers", the Mongols wear the three-piece patch which is central to the outlaw gang ethos and jealously guarded, to the extent gangs will attack non-outlaw bike groups who "dare" to wear the three-piece, which consists of the "top rocker" with the club's name, "bottom rocker" with the club chapter location and the central club emblem.

In 2011, fellow one per center club, the Nomads, threatened social bikers club Ulysses during a rally ride to Canberra within ultimatum to remove their three rocker patches. The one per center status of outlaw clubs represents the legend they are the absolute minority of people on motor bikes who are "bad".

MOTTO, REPUTATION AND TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

"Respect Few, Fear None" is the Mongols' byword and they have established a widespread and fearless criminal enterprise in which they enforce their core business - drug dealing, money laundering, robbery and in particular motorcycle theft, extortion, firearms violations and murder.

US law enforcement authorities say the Mongols are the "most violent and dangerous" bikie gang in the country, perhaps the world.

There is an "ingrained hatred" between the Mongols and the Hells Angels bikie gangs which goes back more than four decades. Picture: AAP Source: NewsComAu

ENEMIES AND FRIENDS

Sworn enemies of the Hells Angels, and despising of the Angels' hatred for Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans (who are refused membership), the Mongols have a "shoot on sight" policy against the Angels.

Their allies among other outlaw bikie gangs include the Sons of Silence, the Outlaws, the Bandidos and the Finks, who share their deadly rivalry with the Hells Angels.

The Mongols is one clubs that "allows" their women to advertise their property status. Picture: Mongols MC Source: NewsComAu

STATUS OF WOMEN

Women cannot become members and do not rank even in second place, "but more like third or fourth place" in status, police investigators told news.com.au. The Mongols are one of the outlaw clubs which like their women to advertise their status as the "property" of individual members. Group sex is tolerated, although it has become rarer among older club members.

MONGOL MEMBERS

The Mongols have a more violent culture because of their pattern of recruiting from street gangs which bring with them a more bloodthirsty "revenge" culture.

While membership has moved from the once compulsory bike (usually Harley Davidson, or at least V-twin engine motorcycle) riding, mostly bearded men to include clean cut younger members who may not even ride bikes, police said "the culture is shifting".

"It will be interesting to see what happens in the Mongols, because there are divisions emerging between the older bikies, many of whom are from Anglo backgrounds, and the younger ones, who are more ethnically diverse," the investigator said.

THE MONGOLS IN AUSTRALIA

With an estimated 90 per cent of the Finks repatching as Mongols, the club may almost be at the same strength as the Hells Angels, which has between 300 and 400 members in Australia.

Although the Rebels club is Australia's largest, with about 1000 members, the Mongols are now like the Angels, a club with strong global connections, and more prone to crime and violence.

State governments had already introduced tough new legislation to counter fears suburban Australia is under increasing risk from bikie gangs and their appetite for drugs, violence and gun running.

The emergence of the Mongols onto the scene has police worried, even though lawyers for bikie groups claimed the news laws were "against human rights" and an "overreaction".

Queensland lawyer, Michael Bosscher, who represents the Bandidos, said most bikies were "fathers and grandfathers with jobs".

He said new laws which threatened the ability for bikies to gain bail while on charges and to sentence them to extra prison time of up to 25 years were an assault on the individuals' human rights.

Bandidos colours handed in to Michael Bosscher's law office. Picture: Glenn Barnes Source: NewsComAu

Barrister Wayne Baffsy of the United Motorcycle Council of Australia also said the new anti-bikie gang laws were against the Australian constitution, and police had exaggerated the danger of so-called outlaw motorcycle clubs in this country.

"Many of them have no smoking, no drinking and no drug laws in their clubhouses and they are into physical fitness," Mr Baffsy said.

However, US detective Steve Cook, warned against the community or justice authorities being complacent about the Mongols.

Founder of the Midwest Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators, Mr Cook is one of the few international law enforcement officers with a working knowledge of the bikie gang scene in Australia.

"They love hiding behind these images that they are just a group of guys who just want to ride their motorcycles, the whole brotherhood thing," he said. "Don't buy it. They are in it for ego, status and money from criminal activity.

"They are violent and anti-social and will threaten, intimidate and mistreat the general public.

"And they are selfish and childish. What kind of grown man likes to call himself Pig Pen or Tank and wear patches and a costume?
"They turn it on for the media and then they go out and shoot someone and an innocent person gets hurt."

The Australian bikie gang investigator said the community had every reason to fear the Mongols and advised people - and especially women - not to be taken in by the "romantic" view bikies "love to present".

"It's all PR, the ride of bikies with the noise and the line up of men in uniform," he said. "It's meant to impress, just like a military procession.

"Don't be fooled by that, or by the statistics you might hear from lawyers about how 'little' crime is committed by bikies.

"They hide behind the fact there is gross under reporting of their criminal activity. There's a code of silence among members. You don't assist police and you say as little as possible.

"And cases don't get to court, or go nowhere once they do because they intimidate witnesses.

"People are too scared to give evidence because they fear [the bikies] will burn their houses and shoot their kids."

Continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @candacesutton1

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Voice of our princess heals hearts

On day four of the Royal Tour, Princess Mary and the Crown Prince of Denmark visited areas devastated by the NSW bushfires

FOR once, there is no dazzling smile sweeping across her face.

As she walks up the bricked driveway and stares through the empty carport, Princess Mary is quiet, contemplative, unable to comprehend the sheer devastation that lies before her - a crumbled, tortured spiral of blackened metal where a house once stood.

Prince Frederik and Princess Mary in Buena Vista Rd, Winmalee. Source: News Limited

She stops in the middle of Buena Vista Rd, one of a handful of Winmalee streets that burned on the afternoon of October 17, and commends the firefighters, the volunteers and the everyday residents for their formidable community spirit.

And then she reminds them, though slow and thoughtful delivery, what matters most. Them.

"People who are standing here today having lost their homes, the most important thing is that people have their lives,'' she says.

Danish Royals Prince Frederik and Princess Mary visit Winmalee Rural fire crews at their station then inspect homes lost in bush fires. Source: News Limited

A few metres away, a family, as if proving her point with perfect timing, pull into their driveway and set about walking through the blackened remains of their home. They are there, their house isn't. It was a scene to be thankful for, without diminishing their loss.

This was not a scheduled visit. Sunday morning was meant to be a time of relaxation for Crown Prince Frederik and his Tasmanian-born Princess; a chance to enjoy Sydney's spring sun on the harbour, perhaps, or recline without the humdrum of officialdom bearing on them.

Drone footage has been released showing residents and fire crews battling bush fires around the town of Lithgow. Courtesy CiviDrones/YouTube

Instead, they drove down a smoky M4 and into the Blue Mountains foothills to shake the hands of 60-odd Rural Fire Service volunteers, thank their long-suffering families, and see for themselves just what 100km winds, searing temperatures, and a flame can do to a suburb.

Nor was it a time to wear their Sunday best. Immaculate dresses and designer heels would not be pulled from the wardrobe of Princess Mary's penthouse suite yesterday morning.

A group of around 200, mostly locals, turned out to meet Danish Royals Prince Frederik and Princess Mary. Source: News Limited

It was time to don the jeans, the green joggers, and a navy knit that was later tied around her slim waist when the mercury started moving north. Prince Frederik went to the suitcase and came back with a pair of purple cargo pants, proving once again the bearded Dane can make anything work.

As the Springwood fire continued to burn a few kilometres away in a valley behind Faulconbridge, the pair received an in-depth briefing from RFS Commissioner Shane

After losing homes and belongings the Royal visit was a great chance for a change of pace. Source: News Limited

Fitzsimmons about the intricacies of the Australian bush and its propensity to burn. Fast and furious.

As Prince Frederik himself mentioned in a speech at the Sydney Opera House on Friday, this was not a scenario that Danes are particularly accustomed to.

For the suffering community of Winmalee, home to the bulk of the 200-odd destroyed homes, a visit from a Prince and his adored Princess delivered a welcome boost to morale.

Princess Mary talks to two young residents of Buena Vista Road, Winmalee. Source: News Limited

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