Covert cops nab dozens of drivers

A uniformed officer writing a fine for a driver in today's police operation. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Corp Australia

PLAIN clothes police officers are pinging drivers across Perth as part of a new operation targeting inattention behind the wheel.

The never-before used police tactic, in full swing this morning, involves plain clothes officers "spotting" for offences at various intersections.

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BB star ‘broke and going blind’

Big Brother winner Reggie Sorensen reveals her secret battle with depression during an interview with A Current Affair. Courtesy Channel Nine/A Current Affair.

reggie Bird Tasmanian winner of Big Brother 2003 Source: News Corp Australia

SHE was once the most popular person in the country when she won Big Brother in 2003, but now Reggie Sorenson (formerly Bird) has revealed she is broke and almost blind.

Sorenson walked away with $250,000 prize money when she won the show 11 years ago but the mother of two told A Current Affair last night that she has "none, not a cent, zero" left and is struggling to make ends meet.

"Its hard being a single mum and living on a disability pension and you just live fortnight to fortnight," she said, "so there's not much left at the end of the day."

The former fish and chip shop owner from Tasmania said she spent her winnings paying off her ex-husband's $100,000 mortgage only for their marriage to end when he had an affair shortly after she left the Big Brother house.

Sorenson opened up about hitting rock bottom on A Current Affair last night. Source: Channel 9

"He was happy to have met someone else along the line so that was one of the big reasons why I walked away."

She also lost $40,000 to a con man who promised her her own TV show.

"Then I paid $20,000 in advance on my rent in Sydney and I was only in the unit for two months because that guy became a stalker psycho, so then I had to move out and the real estate wouldn't give me my money back."

Sorenson then got a job as an air hostess for Virgin, but quit seven months later when fellow crew members became jealous of the attention she received for her celebrity status.

Sorenson says she only has a few years of eyesight left. Source: Channel 9

After finding love with her second husband Dale, the pair had children Mia and Lucas, but her world was again rocked when she found out Lucas had cystic fibrosis.

"We both just cried our eyes out, it was awful," she said. "You just think the worst is going to happen. It's a horrible disease."

Sorenson, who is currently unemployed, is also struggling with her own health after being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa ten years ago, a degenerative eye disease.

She says she won't have her eyesight for much longer and is close to losing it for good.

"It's like tunnel vision, it's like looking through a pinhole," she said.

Reggie Sorensen, known as Reggie Bird when she won Big Brother 10 years ago, with children Lucas Sorensen (4) and Mia Sorensen (6) in her Queensland home. Source: News Limited

"I want to see Mia grow up and get married and make sure she's got a good looking fella and I want to see Lucas get older."

Her tumultuous ride since leaving the house has also left her struggling with depression which she says at one point almost overwhelmed her.

"I didn't want to be here any more, just didn't want to be here, at all. I was having those thoughts of no one cares and no one will miss me, they'll get over it and they'll move on.

"I go through these phases, I get down and then I think 'gosh, there's people worse off in the world than me so snap out of it.'

Big Brother contestant & overall winner Regina "Reggie" Bird on stage with host Gretel Killeen at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. Source: News Corp Australia

"Everyone knows who you are and you're so loved, but deep inside you're really lonely. It's a bizarre weird feeling."

But Sorenson says despite the hardship she's faced in her life, she doesn't regret appearing on Big Brother.

"Not at all, so much has happened over all this time but I'd go back in for sure, I'd do it all again, I really would. People might say I'm mad, crazy, but I'd do it again, no regrets."

Her next big challenge is to write a book.

Sorenson, outside her fish and chip shop in Tasmania in 2003. Source: News Corp Australia

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Perth ‘crazy’ for development blocks

Subdividing and building on a development block can be profitable but experts warn some areas in Perth are becoming overheated. Source: News Limited

THE Perth market has "gone crazy" for properties with development potential, causing prices to jump more than $250,000 in some areas in just two years, analysts say.

But investment experts warn prices for development blocks in areas such as Belmont and Joondalup have become overheated.

Many investors had been priced out of those areas and the potential returns were now too low to warrant the risk.

While development still remains a profit path of choice for many, like anything, it comes down to the sums.

• MORE WA REAL ESTATE NEWS

The latest development surge was sparked by zoning changes in 2010, which meant big blocks could be developed with multiple dwellings.

Investors Edge Real Estate director Jarrad Mahon Source: News Corp Australia

Investors Edge Real Estate director Jarrad Mahon said it took the market 18 months to realise the blocks' value.

"The zoning changes effectively made it possible to get approval to build seven to eight apartments on what is only an 800sq m duplex block," he said.

"With the extra density possible, it took returns from 15-20 per cent for doing a 'retain and subdivide' to fetching 35-45 per cent for a small group of apartments."

The resulting strong demand meant prices were boosted in areas such as Kalamunda, which had a zoning change around the town centre.

"I have seen development properties priced at $450,000 in 2012 go to $700,000 in today's market," Mr Mahon said.

"I think we all wish that we had bought more of these properties then.

"It is still possible to get 25-28 per cent returns for apartments and 15-20 per cent returns for a 'retain and subdivide' in the outer suburbs located 15-40km from Perth."

Mr Mahon said the Perth market's growing acceptance of higher density living over the past two years had also made it possible to readily sell apartments off the plan.

"This was essential for most investors to be able to get their finance to construct," he said.

Other areas where zoning changes have just been drafted, such as Coolbellup, have yet to be recognised by investors, Mr Mahon said.

The "holy grail" of development properties was 700sq m to 1000sq m in size, zoned at or above R30, near a train station and amenities.

Momentum Wealth managing director Damian Collins said level blocks with the right zoning, where most of the value was in the land, were highly sought.

"Proximity to public transport makes a development more desirable as it may be eligible for parking concessions," Mr Collins said.

"People favour corner sites also as it usually makes development easier."

Hegney Property Group chief executive Gavin Hegney's tip for buyers would to make sure they're buying real value not "hope" value.

"Lots of people bid the price of those sites up in expectation of gain," he said. "Then they need the market to rise to make a profit."

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Stats ace predicts World Cup carnage

The World Cup has provided a platform for football's biggest names to strut their stuff in front of goal and the likes of Maradona, Pele and Esteban Cambiasso have provided some of the most memorable strikes at the tournament over the years.

Nate Silver has spoken. We can all go home now. Source: Getty Images

NATE Silver's powers of prediction are unparalleled.

As the brain behind statistical analysis blog FiveThirtyEight, Silver has been forecasting results in political elections and sporting contests for years. During the last US presidential election, he correctly predicted the winner in all 50 states.

Now, Silver has turned his attention to the World Cup.

Don't let the glasses fool you. When it comes to sport, Silver knows what he's talking about. Source: Supplied

He has developed a predictive model called the Soccer Power Index (SPI), which harnesses reams of data to rate every team's chances on a match-by-match basis.

"Technically speaking, SPI is two ratings systems rolled into one," Silver says. "One based solely on a national team's play, and one that reflects a composite of player ratings for what SPI projects to be a team's top line-up."

If you want to know how the index works in excruciating detail, you can read more about it here. Otherwise, you can see its predictions for every World Cup group below.

Which team will hold that trophy aloft at the end of the tournament? Source: Getty Images

GROUP A: Brazil, Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico

The SPI gives Brazil a 99.4 per cent chance of progressing, and a 94.8 per cent chance of topping the group.

"Brazil would really have to blow it to not pass through the group stage with relative ease," Silver says.

Mexico (39.7 per cent) is a slight favourite over Croatia (36.6 per cent) to join the host nation in the knockout phase.

Pretty much a done deal already for Brazil. Source: AP

GROUP B: Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain

According to Silver's model, the Socceroos are practically guaranteed to crash out (92.2 per cent). Their best chance to grab a win (15 per cent) is against the Netherlands.

"This group — not the one the United States is in — is the "Group of Death", with three teams ranked in the SPI top 10," Silver writes.

"That's unfortunate for Australia, which is the odd team out and has less chance than any other squad of advancing to the knockout stage.

"Instead the questions are, first, whether the Netherlands or Chile is superior, and second, whether both might be strong enough to deny Spain a place in the knockout stage."

Holland made it to the final of the last World Cup, but the SPI predicts an early finish for the Dutch this time, with Chile progressing.

The Socceroos DO have a 1.7 per cent chance of topping their group. Source: Getty Images

GROUP C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

No one is particularly excited about this group. According to Silver, Colombia should finish in first position (51.4 per cent), with the Ivory Coast in second.

"This is one of the weaker groups and sets up nicely for Colombia," he says. "It's a flawed group of opponents, although Colombia has sometimes lost or drawn against flawed opponents."

Colombia seems to be fired up. Source: AFP

GROUP D: Costa Rica, England, Italy, Uruguay

Uruguay, led by striker Luis Suarez, is the most likely to progress (64.1 per cent). The SPI also expects England to make it through, leaving 2006 world champion Italy languishing in third with a 53.4 per cent chance of getting knocked out.

"England, Italy and Uruguay are the sort of teams that might be able to entertain championship dreams in a World Cup with more parity, but not in one where they would have to overcome Brazil, Argentina, Germany or Spain at some point," Silver says.

Wayne Rooney kind of smiling? The world is on its head. Source: AP

GROUP E: Ecuador, France, Honduras, Switzerland

According to FIFA's official rankings, Switzerland is the world's sixth best team, but Silver's model gives Ecuador (55.4 per cent) a better chance of making it to the knockout phase.

In any case, the French should dominate this group ... assuming they actually show up.

"France has arguably as much player talent as any team but Brazil, Germany, Spain or Argentina, but its national team results have been inconsistent for a long while," Silver writes.

Which France will show up? Source: AFP

GROUP F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Essentially, Lionel Messi has been given three warm up games to help him hit his stride. Argentina (92.5 per cent) will progress, and Bosnia-Herzegovina should join it in the top two (58.1 per cent).

"It would be a major upset if Argentina failed to advance to the knockout stage," Silver says. "Still, Bosnia-Herzegovina, playing in its first World Cup under that flag, is the 13th best team in the world according to SPI."

This group won't be too Messi. Source: AFP

GROUP G: Germany, Ghana, Portugal, United States

Germany and Ronaldo — sorry, Portugal — are clearly the better teams, but this could turn into an interesting group anyway. The Germans have an 88.9 per cent chance of making it through, while the US (34.5 per cent) is Portugal's biggest threat.

"Germany? Well, they're really good. But as an offence-minded squad, the team might be ever so slightly prone towards letting in a soft goal and drawing (although probably not losing) a game that it shouldn't," Silver says.

Germany should score plenty of goals in Group G. Source: Getty Images

GROUP H: Algeria, Belgium, Russia, South Korea

An uninspiring quartet fills the final group. Belgium (77.3 per cent) and Russia (64.8 per cent) should progress without much trouble.

"This is the weakest group in the field by some margin just about any way you slice and dice it," Silver says. "It has both the worst best team (Belgium) and the worst worst team (Algeria).

Belgium will try to build momentum in the Group of Boredom. Source: AP

SO, WHO WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP?

"Argentina, Germany and Spain, like Brazil, are wonderful soccer teams. You could perhaps debate which of the four would be favoured if the World Cup were played on a hastily constructed soccer pitch somewhere in the middle of the desert," Silver writes.

"But this World Cup is being played in Brazil. No country has beaten Brazil on its home turf in almost 12 years."

That loss, in a friendly against Paraguay back in 2002, barely counts. Brazil didn't take the game seriously, and substituted most of its star players well before full-time. According to Silver, Brazil's last home defeat in a match that actually mattered was in 1975.

With home ground advantage factored in, alongside all the other data, Silver's Soccer Power Index gives Brazil a 45.2 per cent chance of winning the World Cup, ahead of Argentina (12.8 per cent), Germany (10.9 per cent), Spain (7.6 per cent) and Chile (4.2 per cent).

Get the victory parade ready, Brazil. Source: Getty Images

You can see the SPI's predictions here, and read Nate Silver's full analysis here.

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WA minimum wage up by $20pw

THE WA Industrial Relations Commission has decided to increase the full time adult minimum wage and state awards by $20 per week.

This means the minimum full time wage in the state will increase to $665.90 per week from July 1. All state award wage rates will also increase by $20 per week.

The decision comes after last week's three per cent increase to the national minimum wage by the Fair Work Commission to $640.90 per week.

UnionsWA secretary Meredith Hammat said decent minimum wages and award pay put a floor beneath growing inequality, which was a big problem in WA.

Unions WA Secretary Meredith Hammat Source: News Limited

Ms Hammat said the decision clashed with the WA Premier Colin Barnett's comment yesterday that he had spoken briefly to Attorney-General Michael Mischin about remedying a situation where small businesses were disadvantaged by award structures.

Mr Barnett said small businesses should be able to do the same as larger employers, such as Coles and Woolworths, which often negotiated enterprise agreements with unions to compensate lower weekend and night penalty rates with higher hourly rates during the week.

"A cut to weekend pay is just a pay cut," Ms Hammat said today.

"Weekend and after-hours pay help to protect particularly low paid and vulnerable workers from long, unsociable hours of work intruding on time with family, in study or in the community."

But Mr Barnett asked why people with a second job or students working part-time over a weekend got dramatically higher rates than people whose whole career was working in the retail or hospitality sector, for instance.

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Serco slammed again as detainee flees airport

AUTHORITIES are searching for a Vietnamese man who escaped Serco guards at Perth Airport this morning.

A VIETNAMESE man who escaped Serco guards at Perth Airport yesterday while he was being deported is still on the run.

An intensive search involving officers from the Australian Federal Police and WA Police from three stations, backed up by the dog squad, failed to locate the man.

The missing detainee, who is not known to be a threat to the public, was described by officials as "an illegal maritime arrival".

An AFP spokeswoman said the man escaped while under escort in the international departures terminal.

"At about 9.15am local time a Vietnamese national absconded while on escort at the departures check-in area within the Perth International Airport," he said about 6pm.

"AFP and WA Police were advised and police assisted Serco in the search for the individual. The man has yet to be located.

"Efforts to relocate the individual will continue to be made by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection."

This afternoon, the AFP spokeswoman said they continued with normal duties at Perth Airport once the search for the escaped detainee moved away from the airport precinct.

In a statement this afternoon, a spokesman for Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison said: "Relevant authorities, including the AFP and WA Police, were quickly notified of the incident. The Minister is advised that the individual is not known to be a threat to the public.

"The department's detention services provider will investigate the details of the incident."

The spokesman said the minister was concerned about the incident and has requested regular updates of the search progress.

"The department's contract with Serco contains clauses regarding underperformance, which may include financial abatements," he said.

"Following the investigation the department will consider under the contract provisions what further action should be taken."

Serco last night and today refused to comment and referred all inquiries to the department.

Australian Federal Police officers at Perth International Airport. Source: News Corp Australia

Opposition leader Mark McGowan today said: "Clearly it's not acceptable when people are escaping when they're supposed to be in custody, but I think it's also not acceptable how close the State Government's relationship is with Serco."

About 2pm yesterday, Kensington Police tweeted: "Sorry 4 the lack of tweets 2day. Kenso, @BelmontPol and @CanningtonPol assisting with a five hour search. Can't disclose too much right now."

Yesterday's escape was the latest in a spate of embarrassing blunders by Serco.

Two maximum-security prisoners, including a violent rapist, kicked their way out of a prison van at Geraldton Airport on January 3.

The escape prompted a 36-hour manhunt, which resulted in the private contractor having to pay more than $720,000 towards the search and to upgrade its prison van fleet.

The high-profile incident prompted the WA Prison Officers' Union to call for Serco to be stripped of its prisoner transport contract.

The Opposition also called for Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis to be dumped from the portfolio because of "his appalling management and string of failures".

At the time, Mr Francis said he had had a "very open, firm and frank" conversation with the company's Asia Pacific boss where he said Serco should foot the bill for the massive manhunt.

Two weeks later, a dangerous prisoner escaped from Serco's custody while being treated at Joondalup Health Campus.

And just a few days later, a Vietnamese detainee, under the watch of Serco guards, escaped while receiving medical treatment at Royal Perth Hospital, leading police on a two-hour manhunt across the CBD.

Last month, Serco was embroiled in another embarrassing escape when a convicted armed robber slipped away from two guards during a routine hospital visit.

Darren John Goldsworthy, 22, was handcuffed but still managed to outrun Serco staff, who had escorted to a radiology appointment at Royal Perth Hospital.

Goldsworthy was arrested about an hour later.

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Civilian police beat roles flagged

A Police Community Support Officer in London. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

CIVILIANS could be put on the frontline to walk the beat under a proposal that one of WA's top cops says needs to be looked at.

Documents obtained by The Sunday Times reveal that Deputy Police Commissioner Stephen Brown wants the force to consider introducing Police Community Support Officers, which do not have powers of arrest.

It's just one of the ideas Mr Brown brought back from a study trip to the UK in advance of Frontline 2020, the major reform program to make the force "leaner" and operate "more efficiently" as WA's population swells.

The Sunday Times obtained Mr Brown's comprehensive notes, in the form of emails, from his meetings last year with officials and senior officers across England.

They show British cops raved about the value of PCSOs and told him they were "the face of policing" and "the community love them".

Deputy Police Commissioner Stephen Brown Source: Supplied

In one email, Mr Brown – considered one of the favourites to become the next Police Commissioner – writes "we really need to look at this model of PCSO". The force's head of operations then asks: "Would we convert our auxiliary officers into PCSOs?"

WA Police's auxiliary officers currently only support officers with backroom functions, such as custody and forensics.

The PCSOs in the UK were mocked as "plastic policemen" when introduced more than a decade ago, but there are now more than 15,000 of them. PCSOs wear similar uniforms to police, but are civilian staff with only limited powers, such as issuing fines for minor infringements.

They get less training and pay than regular officers, but their foot patrols on the frontline free up police time and provide a highly visible presence on the streets.

In his notes, Mr Brown says Britons have accepted the need for belt-tightening, but warns that too many West Australians still think the "economy is booming". He also says some in the force won't "be able to cope" with the overhaul needed to take policing into the future.

Other UK initiatives raised by the Deputy Commissioner in his notes include:

● BETTER use of mobile technology, such as body-worn cameras, to keep officers on the street.

● OUTSOURCING some functions such as holding cells and call handling to the private sector.

● RATIONALISING the police estate through station closures and relocations.

He told The Sunday Times: "Community Support Officers have proven successful in other jurisdictions and may prove an additional resource to frontline officers."

But he said WA Police was not "currently" considering introducing this measure as part of Frontline 2020. He pointed to the Kimberley, where the force recently introduced community liaison officers who have limited powers and work with agencies on social issues.

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Schools to hire heads under new plan

Education Minister Peter Collier Source: News Limited

WA Secondary School Executives Association president Janette Gee Source: News Corp Australia

PUBLIC schools would be run like businesses with boards given the power to hire principals, under a bold new plan being considered by WA Education Minister Peter Collier.

Mr Collier has flagged a "second wave of reform" to the Independent Public Schools program, which gives schools the authority to manage their own budgets and hire their own staff – but not senior administrators.

Currently, the Education Department has total control over the appointment of public school principals, but a community representative usually sits on the selection panel.

Under a new plan put to Mr Collier by principals, school boards would be empowered to choose the best candidate.

Mr Collier has already asked the Education Department to investigate changes, and expects to start a formal consultation phase next year with a view to making changes as early as 2016.

Dianella Heights Primary School principal Greg Sullivan said "it seems like a natural progression for me that we move towards boards selecting their own principals".

"I think the school board know the school better than anybody… and they are best placed to make the decision as to who can do that for their school," he said.

Mr Collier said he wanted school boards and parent bodies to have a greater say over who they want running their school, but warned the department would retain an oversight role. He also envisages giving independent public schools even more financial independence.

"If there are ways in which the parent body and the board can become more involved in the decision-making of the school, I'd be very keen to hear about it from parents and school communities," he told The Sunday Times.

"That's what I will be doing over the next 12 months.

"As Education Minister and the architect of IPS, I just want to get to a point whereby every school does have that flexibility and autonomy to cater for the individual needs of students in an increasingly complex society. That can only come about if we have a hands-off approach.

"Having said that, I am mindful of the fact that they are state schools, they are run by state money and we still must have that rigour and a degree of governance from a central body. We will always have a Department of Education.

"Schools should not feel hamstrung by the fact that they have to seek permission from head office every time they need to make a decision. Schools are at the coalface – they know what's best for their students. Having said that, we don't want to get to a situation where there is a potential maverick school or maverick board that don't make appropriate decisions and there's no governance or across-the-board overseeing of responsibility. The department will always be there."

One-third of WA's almost 800 public schools are now operating independently, and another 231 schools are currently taking part in a new development program to become independent. The program started with 34 schools in 2010.

WA Secondary School Executives Association president Janette Gee said she would be interested to see how any proposed changes to principal appointments would work.

"There are processes in place at the moment that ensure there is representation from all interested parties, and there is room within the current process to allow more or less representation from each party," she said. "It is important to have a panel with a diverse range of skills and expertise, including educators and community members."

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Forget that fat rise in your pay

Nine per cent of bosses have no plans to increase salaries at all. Source: News Corp Australia

ONLY a handful of West Australians can expect a decent pay rise from tight-fisted bosses come July 1.

And unless you're in a high-demand profession, your pay rise is probably going to be less than a 3 per cent increase in the new financial year – roughly in line with inflation.

That's the verdict from recruiting giant Hays in its annual salary guide, released this week.

Low pay rises in the private sector compare to more generous public sector pay packets, with nurses winning a 14 per cent increase last year and police currently fighting a State Government-imposed cost-saving measure limiting pay rises to the inflation rate.

Hays says slim profit margins and cost pressures in the private sector mean most employers will again be tight-fisted when it comes to pay rises in the new financial year.

The salary guide, based on trends for more than 1000 different jobs and surveys of 2500 employers, found two thirds of bosses are planning salary increases of 3 per cent or lower.

And there are few examples of employer generosity, with only three in 100 planning to give staff a 6 per cent or greater pay rise in their next review – down from four in 100 who gave a 6 per cent or more pay rise in their last pay review.

Nine per cent of bosses have no plans to increase salaries at all, while 12 per cent did not award any increases in their last review.

Pay rises will be clamped despite two thirds of bosses saying they expect business activity to increase, according to the research.

The most generous employers can be found in professional services, where 40 per cent plan to increase salaries by 3 per cent or more.

That's closely followed by financial services (39 per cent), advertising and media (30 per cent) and IT and telecommunications (30 per cent).

At the other end of the scale, 84 per cent of retail, 81 per cent of hospitality, travel and entertainment, and 80 per cent of resources and mining employers will increase pay by less than 3 per cent or give no increases at all.

"Employers are attempting to do more with less," said Hays managing director Nick Deligiannis.

"They are still under pressure to manage costs and the ceiling for salary increases has lowered.

"That's not to say there aren't some cases of more generous salary increases – many employers are still offering higher packages to attract and retain top talent. But in general, salary increases are more conservative."

Last financial year, mayors and councillors across WA got a massive pay rise after the Salaries and Allowance Tribunal determined they should receive up to $30,000 per year – a fourfold increase.

But politicians, judges, magistrates and senior public servants were only granted a 2.6 per cent pay rise.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said pay rises were not a right and workers should be expected to earn any increase in salary.

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Families’ $5m whistleblower hunt

Families of those aboard Flight MH370 are hoping to raise a reward for information on the missing jet.

So sad ... families of the MH370 crew came together to pay tribute at a dinner in Kuala Lumpur. Source: News Corp Australia

LEE Khim Fatt's voice choked with emotion as he told of calling his wife's mobile phone every day but hearing nothing except an agonising silence.

"We searched the skies, we searched the land, we searched the seas. It came to nought. We still find you not … This fateful journey vanishing to nowhere. So so tragic. You were on it. This nightmare, this dream, this madness."

Mr Fatt was overcome as he read the poem, called "My Beloved" which he penned in the three months since his wife disappeared on board MH370.

Foong Wai Hung never answers her husband's desperate calls. She was one of the 10 flight stewards on board the Malaysian Airlines jetliner which disappeared without a trace on March 8.

Vanished three months ago ... the Malaysia Airlines jet. Picture: AP/Laurent Errera Source: AP

On the weekend the families of the MH370 crew came together to salute and mourn their loved ones at a special tribute dinner in Kuala Lumpur organised by the National Union on of Flight Attendants.

The emotional outpouring came as a group of families of passengers on board launch a public campaign to raise $US5million to pay for a whistleblower to come forward with new information about what happened to the plane and to pay for a private investigator.

SACKED OVER 'BURNING MH370' REPORT: Oil rig worker speaks

The group includes Perth woman Danica Weeks, whose husband Paul was on board, Frenchman Ghislain Wattrelos — whose wife and two teenage children are lost — and Sarah Bajc, who lost her partner Philip Wood. They believe that someone out there knows something which can solve the baffling mystery of MH370.

The 10 crew members on board were hailed as the Heroes of Flight MH370.

As Mr Fatt broke down reading his heartbreaking poem and the crew families openly wept and comforted each other, a tiny baby, just 20 days old, slept soundly in his mother's arms, unaware that he was the star of the night.

Unaware of his special place ... baby Muhammad, son of steward Mohd Hazrin Hasnan, slumbers. Source: News Corp Australia

A symbol of hope, Muhammad was born on May 19. His father, Mohd Hazrin Hasnan, was a flight steward on board the missing plane.

As his mother, Intan Maizura Othman, hugged him tenderly, tears rolling down her cheeks, his aunt read a letter which Intan wrote to her darling husband the day after authorities announced that MH370 had ended in the Southern Indian Ocean.

"Indeed I have to be a bionic woman to face reality today. I will gradually tell Iman (the couple's four-year-old daughter) that she has lost her Papa and Muhammad (their then unborn son) will be my pillar to move on. You are the best husband and Papa I could ever ask for."

Workers, friends and family of the crew of flight MH370 held a tribute night in Malaysia.

Jacquita Gonzales' husband Patrick Gomes was the in-flight supervisor. She spoke on behalf of the spouses of all the flight crew — all senior staff with 15 to 34 years' service to the airline.

"We must examine all the facts behind the tragedy and we cannot and will not be passive in the face of such a tragedy. If this tragedy prompts reflections and debates, as it should, let's make sure its worthy of those we have lost on board MH370," she told the tribute dinner.

Her daughter Nicolette Gomes read a poem, Dedicated to MH370 Global Family.

"You took off from KLIA towards Beijing you flew. Suddenly you were not there. Two hundred thirty-nine in the air. Silence and tragedy side by side. You flew off to eternity."

Hope for the future ... little Muhammad in his mother's arms. Source: News Corp Australia

Monday marks 94 days since the Boeing 777-200, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, diverted radically from its flight path and authorities believe disappeared somewhere in the depths of the southern Indian Ocean off Perth.

Massive land, air and sea searches have so far found no trace of the plane and an operation to map the sea bed of the ocean is now underway in advance of an intensive underwater search due to begin in August.

The passengers' and crew members' families want answers and a fresh set of eyes.

Beijing-based Sarah Bajc, who is spearheading the fundraising campaign said: "Without a new tactic, the truth and the plane will never be found. Governments and agencies have given it their best shot but have failed to turn up a single shred of evidence, either because of a faulty approach or due to intentional misdirection by one or more individuals. It is time we took a look at this mystery with a fresh set of eyes."

We searched for you ... Lee Khim Fatt reads a poem he wrote to his wife, MH370 steward Foong Wai Hung, at the dinner. Source: News Corp Australia

Perth mother-of-two Danica Weeks, whose husband Paul was on the doomed flight, said her family's lives had been tormented "24/7" by not knowing what happened three months ago. She said she and other families were fed up with the investigation and could not sit and wait for information without doing anything themselves.

"We just have to keep fighting to find out what happened and we'll keep doing that," she told Ten News Perth.

"We've been cut off so many times at the gate that we're now having to take things into our own hands, think outside the box and just try to do something to find this plane.

"We just think someone knows something. There's been so much contradicting information coming from the investigation.

"We just have to try something, we can't just sit around and twiddle our thumbs and just wait for something to happen."

Frenchman Ghislain Wattrelos lost his two teenage children, Hadrian and Amber, and his wife Laurence, who were returning from a holiday in Malaysia.

"How could this happen? In this age of constant connection and pervasive surveillance, a giant plane has been allowed to just disappear. That cannot be an accident. My family deserves to be found."

Lights that will never go out ... a tribute at the dinner. Source: News Corp Australia

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