Who is at the top of Perth's A-list?

John and Margarita Hughes are a must-have for any big Perth event. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

JUST 25 invitations are the difference between a bona fide Perth party and an awkward fizzer.

And the names at the top of the A-list pecking order may surprise some readers.

Perth's top 25 A-listers in pictures

According to top fashion event organiser Jacqui Brown, the No.1 guest isn't a soap star or a singer.

And, though she is always decked out in the latest must-have garb, she's not a fashion designer either.

Instead, she's the wife of a car king.

The always-effervescent Margarita Hughes - with her husband John - is the must-have at any big event, says Ms Brown.

"Due to the economy being the way it is, the people on the guest list need to end up being beneficial for the client," she said.

"(Ms Hughes) is obviously going to be invited to every hot event in town.

 "So when she's at your event, compared with someone else's, it means that every other guest in the room will see the event as that little bit more credible because she's chosen to attend."

Ms Brown said that in today's economic climate events had to translate into sales.

After a week of big events  from the launch of the Perth Fashion Festival program on Tuesday to StyleAid on Friday, the state's premier event planners told The Sunday Times their secrets for the perfect guest list.

Ms Brown said bloggers were popular guests until a few years ago, when event organisers realised many of them had no real influence.

Marketing and communications expert Nicola Bedwood is responsible for the guest list at the coveted Ronald McDonald House Charities Mercedes-Benz Ball on November 2.

"I look for the people who will be receptive to the cause, who may be able to contribute in some way," she said. "The quality of the guest is more important than their celebrity."

Publicist Caitlin Irving said she wanted potential future customers on the A-list at shop, bar or restaurant openings.

 "It's not enough to just be good looking or well-known  we want people who are interested and interesting," she said.

Perth PR stalwart Rosita Stangl said just because somebody was rich didn't mean they were A-list.

Melissa Lekias, who runs PR firm Magenta, said the guest list was one of the most critical factors.

"Whether it is their personality or the way they dress or that they just know how to work the room - having a couple of special guests adds a dimension that makes it memorable for everyone," she said.

Perth's Top 25 A-listers (in no particular order):

WA car king John Hughes and his wife Margarita

Property mogul Nigel Satterley and his wife Denise

Business woman Emma Milner and husband Peter

WA Governor Malcolm McCusker and wife Tonya

Iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest and wife Nicola.

Businessman Warwick Hemsley and Minister for International Development Melissa Parke.

Perth property developer and businesswoman Rhonda Wyllie and former Nine Network managing director Jeff Browne

SMS technology entrepreneur Zhenya Tsvetnenko and his fashionista wife Lydia

Crown casino boss Barry Felstead and his wife Katrina

Mining magnate Chris Ellison and his wife and Tia.

Cricket legend Adam Gilchrist and his wife Mel

Melissa Karlson - The daughter of Rhonda Wyllie

West Coast eagles star Chris Masten and model Emmi Moore

West Coast Eagles player Sam Butler and his wife fashion label owner Natasha

Fashion illustrator Pip McManus - fashion illustrator

Channel Nine weather presenter Sally Ayhan

West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui

West Coast Eagles Ruckman Dean Cox and his wife Kerry

Fremantle Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich and his wife Lauren

Weather presenter Angela Tsun and Western Force rugby player Patrick Dellit

Media personality Basil Zempilas and his wife, blogger Amy Zempilas

Ten newsreader Narelda Jacobs and partner Lauren Swinfield

Businessman Kim Ledger and his wife Ines - Kim is the father of the late actor Heath Ledger

Blogger and restaurant owner Rayne Embley and West Coast Eagles player Andrew Embley.

Wheels and Dollbaby founder Melanie Greensmith and Divinyls guitarist Mark McIntyre.
 

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Compo blocked for abuse victims

Michael Hilder is one of Dennis John McKenna's victims who has been left high and dry. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

NINE former schoolboys who were sexually abused by WA's worst paedophile while boarding at a state-run hostel in Katanning will have their compensation claims blocked by the Barnett Government.

Despite the victims believing Premier Colin Barnett encouraged them to seek civil compensation when he told Parliament there would be no "limitation" on seeking damages, The Sunday Times can reveal the victims have been warned by Attorney-General Michael Mischin that any attempts to sue would be thwarted because too much time has passed since the crimes were committed.

The nine former students, who were boarders at St Andrew's Hostel during warden and serial paedophile Dennis McKenna's reign of terror, are seeking civil damages through Bradley Bayly Legal for personal injuries arising out of sexual abuse they suffered between 1975-1990. Their evidence was pivotal to the Blaxell Report into systemic child sex abuse at state-run boarding hostels, which was tabled in Parliament in November last year.

An ex-gratia scheme set up by the Barnett Government offered up to $45,000 for children who were abused while under the care of the Country High School Hostels Authority.

Mr Barnett conceded that money was not adequate compensation.

"If people receive an ex-gratia payment, there is no limitation on them proceeding to seek civil damages, so there is no caveat attached to that," he told Parliament at the time.

But The Sunday Times has been provided with correspondence between the Attorney-General and Bradley Bayly Legal by the victims, which reveals that if the victims start proceedings then Mr Mischin will apply to the court to have the matters struck out.

"I will not give an undertaking, on behalf of the state not to plead a limitation defence in respect of any claims brought on behalf of your clients, nor would I recommend that any statutory body corporate waive any relevant limitations provisions if a claim were to be made against them," Mr Mischin wrote on July 22.

The victims' legal team claims Mr Mischin is wrong and that the six-year limitation period in this case could and should be waived, especially given that the six-year period would have expired before some of the victims turned 18.

Mr Mischin said the reluctance to waive limitations provisions arose from a number of policy factors recognising that lengthy time lapses between crimes and compensation increased the likelihood of miscarriages of justice and "carries with it significant direct and indirect costs".

Last night Mr Mischin told The Sunday Times that Mr Barnett's comments in Parliament had been taken out of context by the victims.

"This comment was in the context that under the original version of Redress WA, which was announced on 17 December 2007, applicants who accepted an ex-gratia payment from Redress WA were required to waive their right to take any further action against the State Government with respect to the abuse or neglect described in their application," he said.

"The Premier's comment in Parliament was not to the effect that there were no limitations issues (under the Limitation Act or the Crown Suits Act) affecting any civil claims by Mr McKenna's victims." The victims' legal team will seek to meet Mr Barnett in light of his comments that there was "no caveat attached" to civil proceedings.

A Bradley Bayly Legal spokesman, who declined to be named, said it would be a pointless and potentially expensive exercise to take the matter to court if the Attorney-General maintained his position.

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E-licence debacle prompts review

Serial drink-driving offender Mitchell William Walsh-McDonald received an extraordinary licence. Picture: Lincoln Baker Source: PerthNow

AN "urgent review" of the state's extraordinary-licence scheme has been called after revelations the Department of Transport did not oppose an application last year by serial drink-driver Mitchell Walsh-McDonald.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell told The Sunday Times last week that Walsh-McDonald's application in September was "opposed" by his department, but "the court made the decision it should be granted".

But Mr Buswell has been left red-faced by audio from the September 27 court hearing showing that the department not only did not oppose the E-licence, it gave the court reasons why it should be granted.

"This is a difficult application to assess," a lawyer for the department told the court.

"It is no secret that he has an absolutely woeful traffic record, including drink-driving and the fact that he can't comply with court orders.

"(But) it has to be acknowledged the last offence was something like two plus years ago, so I guess he can be given some credit compared to the rest of the record."

The lawyer said there were two factors that suggested Walsh-McDonald "can be trusted to comply with the conditions of an extraordinary driver's licence"  first, that it had been 2 1/2 years since his last offence and, second, that he was then in a "stabilising" domestic relationship.

Magistrate Paul Roth responded: "On the basis that whilst the (department) director-general does have substantial hesitancy about granting the extraordinary driver's licence, the director-general doesn't necessarily object to it, he's not consenting or agreeing to it, but not necessarily objecting to it either. I consider it is appropriate to grant the extraordinary driver's licence."

He added: "You so much as spit in the street I'm going to pull this licence off you."

This week Walsh-McDonald, 29, was convicted of his seventh drink-driving offence and two breaches of his extraordinary licence. His court appearance was on the 10th anniversary of the death of schoolgirl Jess Meehan, who died two days after he hit her while driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.165. He was fined $2850, his extraordinary licence was cancelled and he was banned from driving for two years.

Mr Buswell has conceded the department "did not do enough to oppose" Walsh-McDonald's E-licence application.

"I do not direct the day-to-day operations of the department, but I do believe the department should have strongly opposed the application," he said.

"I have requested that the department urgently review its handling of the Walsh-McDonald case, and EDL applications in general."

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Power bills to hit an average of $2000 a year

Electricity prices are set to hit record highs. Picture: Thinkstock Source: The Courier-Mail

FAMILIES will be slugged an average of $2000 a year for electricity by 2016.

Budget papers reveal yearly "approved increases" of 7 per cent for electricity prices from 2014 through to at least 2016-17. They have already gone up 4 per cent this year.

This will take the average annual family power bill from $963 to $1998 under Mr Barnett's reign, despite his promise during the March state election campaign to keep electricity prices "at or around the rate of inflation"  which is now 2.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, according to the Clean Energy Council, more than 75,000 households targeted by the Barnett Government's solar-panel backtrack will lose up to $800 a year. The average loss would be $240.

Treasurer Troy Buswell announced in the Budget on Thursday that the solar feed-in payment would be cut from 40c to 30c a kilowatt from October 1 and to 20c in 2014.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the 7 per cent electricity rises were a clear breach of Mr Barnett's election promise.

"This is a doubling of the average household's power bill at a time when Mr Barnett is increasing costs across the board and increasing taxes," Mr McGowan said.

Mr Buswell said on Thursday that state debt  $3.6 billion in 2008  was heading towards the $30 billion mark.

Mr Barnett has argued previously he had to raise electricity prices because a 10-year freeze on tariffs during the former Labor government's reign had meant revenues were well below the cost of electricity production and supply.

"Despite these increases, the majority of non-contestable electricity tariffs are still below the cost of production and supply," the Budget papers say.

Lesmurdie couple Jason Laffrey and Sarah Dalby installed a 2kW system in 2011 to take advantage of the 40c/kWh feed-in payment. Ms Dalby said the decision to slash the rate by half was "nothing short of outrageous".

"I really want people to fight this," the mother-of-one said.

A spokesman from the Treasurer's office said the forecast electricity tariff increases "are assumptions (forecasts) that assist in framing the Budget".

"As per every upcoming Budget process the Government will make decisions regarding electricity/water tariffs and therefore these assumptions are subject to change," the spokesperson said.

"For example, last year in the same document a 5 per cent increase in electricity tariffs was forecast, whereas it only went up 4 per cent."

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Rudd boots abusive Labor candidates

Kevin Rudd in Tasmania for day six of the campaign. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Limited

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has dumped two Labor candidates, including a man who abused a woman in a wheelchair.

Mr Rudd demanded the resignations of Geoff Lake, the candidate for Victorian seat of Hotham, and Queensland candidate for Kennedy, Ken Robertson.

The Herald Sun revealed on Saturday that Mr Lake had been forced to apologise to fellow Monash councillor Kathy Magee in 2002 for calling her a slut at a council meeting.

Mr Rudd said he had asked the ALP national secretary to report on the allegations against Mr Lake from his previous career in local government - particularly his conduct toward fellow councillors.

He said in a statement it was "inappropriate for Mr Lake to continue as the endorsed Labor candidate for Hotham.''

"The National Secretary has informed me that he is not satisfied that there has been full disclosure about these previous matters,'' he said.

"I cannot be confident that he has met the standards I would expect and demand from members of the federal parliamentary Labor Party.''

Mr Lake did not reply to calls. He resigned after the Sunday Herald Sun approached Labor HQ at 8pm with allegations ALP campaign officials had improperly used retiring member Simon Crean's printing entitlement to distribute election material in the seat.

ALP secretary George Wright said he was concerned by the allegations.

The Sunday Herald Sun has copies of material distributed in Mr Lake's name that included reply paid envelopes funded by Mr Crean's office.

Mr Robertson, who was standing for the Queensland seat of Kennedy, confirmed he had withdrawn his candidacy after calling Opposition Leader Tony Abbott "racist' and a bigot in an interview last week.

"Yes, it's true. It was my decision,'' Mr Robertson told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"All I've got to say is, I made an apology for what was said and my comments were not meant to be greater than what they were. I have nothing further to say about what happened.''

"But I will be supporting the Labor Party and Kevin (Rudd) until my last breath."

Of the electorate he had hoped to represent he said: "They have to help return a Labor candidate to this seat.''

Fadden MP and Coalition frontbencher Stuart Robert had called on Mr Rudd to sack Mr Robertson for breaking with the ALP's promised "positive" approach.

The ALP now faces a scramble to find suitable candidates for the key seats. Mr Lake had been considered almost certain to retain the seat of Hotham for Labor, which retiring veteran Simon Crean holds with a margin of more than 14 per cent.

Geoff Lake, who is running for the Labor safe seat of Hotham, has admitted he offered an apology to a fellow Monash councillor over a 2002 exchange. Source: News Limited

Mr Lake, a lawyer chosen to run to replace Simon Crean in the prized seat of Hotham, admitted he offered a signed apology to fellow Monash councillor Kathy Magee over a 2002 exchange.

"I leant over to Councillor Magee and ... said, "I can't believe what you did you f------ b---h. You are a f ------ for doing that," Mr Lake confirms in papers.

Documents lodged with the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission included an admission that his conduct had been "demeaning and degrading", and offensive to women.

Mr Lake said he deeply regretted his remarks.

"It was 's---t' or 'b----'. It was inappropriate," he told the Herald Sun.

"I learned an important lesson that day.

Ex-councillor Kathy Magee remains offended by Mr Lake's comments. Picture: Tony Gough Source: News Limited

"I was a young mayor and I got angry one night and I spoke to her in angry way, which I acknowledged then and I acknowledge now."

Mr Lake won preselection for the former Labor leader's seat after a bitter contest.

He was backed by Mr Crean and former Victorian Labor premier Steve Bracks.

Ten years on, Ms Magee has not forgiven or forgotten.

"When someone calls you a s---, it tends to be offensive," she told the Herald Sun.

"I had never had someone call me that before. You just don't talk to a colleague like that. He was definitely an interesting person."

Ms Magee also claimed Mr Lake tried to charge drinks and brunch to her hotel account at a council conference.

Labor candidate Ken Robertson said he hoped Australia "never has to suffer (Tony Abbott's) Catholicism". Source: News Limited

Mr Lake denied this, but confirmed he did refund Ms Magee the disputed money.

"That was not me," he said.

"She said she was $30 out of pocket and I said, 'Look, Kathy, let's not have these disagreements. Here's $30, and let's move on."

Documents also reveal that in 2003 another fellow councillor, Tom Morrissey, accused Mr Lake of stalking him, and sought an intervention order.

In an application to the Magistrates' Court, Mr Morrissey, who has since died, said Mr Lake distributed his mobile number, alleging he had travelled at ratepayers' expense, which prompted dozens of abusive calls.

And he accused Mr Lake of parking a car at his business with placards repeating the claims.

- with Patrick Lion

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Zhivago clothes missing from Hummer

Police found the Hummer that belongs to Zhenya and Lydia Tsvetnenko in Bedford. The Zhivago clothes that were inside it are still missing. Picture Theo Fakos Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Zhivago designers Lydia Tsvetnenko and Lara Kovacevich look at their white Hummer which was found dumped in Bedford after being stolen from Guildford early this morning. The clothes that were inside are missing. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Millionaire businessman Zhenya and Lydia Tsvetnenko. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

THE white Hummer stolen from millionaire Zhenya Tsvetnenko has been found in a Bedford street, in Perth's eastern suburbs.

Mr Tsvetnenko wrote on Facebook this morning the white Hummer was stolen from a mate's house in Guildford overnight.

The Hummer H2, one of only two in Perth, also contained designer clothes that were to be shown at charity event StyleAid tonight but police have confirmed they remain missing.

Police said the Hummer was found in Craven Street, Bedford, down an alleyway, just a couple of kilometres away from where it was stolen.

A relieved Mr Tsvetnenko immediately posted an update on Facebook, saying: "Well, thanks to everyone's help! The car has been located parked and locked in an alley way. They were obviously going to come back to it.''

Mr Tsvetnenko's wife Lydia and her business partner Lara Kovacevich were planning to showcase new pieces from their label Zhivago at StyleAid tonight.

They will still take part in the charity event, instead using archival Zhivago gowns and items from their own wardrobes.

Map of Bedford

 

 "It's yet to be determined whether items inside the vehicle were stolen. Forensics are yet to examine the vehicle," police spokeswoman Naomi Smith said.

Earlier today Tsvetnenko wrote on his Facebook page: "Please Help! About 4 hours ago our white Hummer H2 was stolen from a friend's house in Guildford with Zhivago's Spring/Summer collection ready to be shown at the charity event Styleaid tonight," he wrote.

"Please help by calling the Police directly on 131 444 if you see it. The registration is 1DWN775."

The StyleAid fundraising event, which raises money for the WA Aids Council, is set to be held at Crown Perth tonight.

Mr Tsvetnenko is one of WA's wealthiest businessmen and made his fortune in 2002 with a business that enabled customers to receive paid SMS entertainment services on their mobile phones.

In 2010, he was named in the top 10 of Australia's richest people under the age of 40.

He and his wife Lydia are often pictured at Perth social and charity events.

Anyone who sees the vehicle or has any information should call police on either 1800 333 000 or 131 444.

The StyleAid fundraising event, which raises money for the WA Aids Council, is set to be held at Crown Perth tonight.

Mr Tsvetnenko is one of WA's wealthiest businessmen and made his fortune in 2002 with a business that enabled customers to receive paid SMS entertainment services on their mobile phones.

In 2010, he was named in the top 10 of Australia's richest people under the age of 40.

He married his long-time partner Lydia and the couple are often pictured at Perth social and charity events.

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Massive bombs found by NSW police

Two massive bombs both bigger than those used in the Boston Marathon attacks were made and going to be used to a blow up a Sydney hospital and the Macquarie St offices of a leading Sydney eye surgeon. Source: News Limited

TWO massive bombs both bigger than those used in the Boston Marathon attacks were made and going to be used to a blow up a Sydney hospital and the Macquarie St offices of a leading Sydney eye surgeon according to NSW police.

They said two fully assembled bombs with detonators and packed with 60cm long shrapnel pieces connected to a butane gas bottle were found in a duffel bag under a home in Albion Park on the South Coast in April.

The devices were both set to go off at 1.48pm on a Saturday in April at the two locations but had not been placed.

But just days before the bombs were to detonate the accused, a 42 year-old Illawarra man, fled Australia to Malta.

His ex-wife, who was unaware of the alleged plot, found the bombs two days later and called police.

The NSW bomb squad were called in to examine the devices. Police were preparing to extradite the man from Malta but he was arrested at Sydney Airport on Thursday evening when he attempted to re-enter the country. He was charged with one count of manufacturing an explosive device with intent to injure.

In Central Local Court yesterday a non-publication order was placed on the name of the hospital, the surgeon's identity and address of his offices by Magistrate John Andrews.

Police say the accused was being treated for an eye condition by the surgeon for the past five for a genetic condition. During a routine eye treatment a dye was used which he believes caused him an injury and blames for the decline in his eyesight although there was no medical evidence backing up his claims.

Magistrate Reynolds ordered the accused to undergo a psyche evaluation at St Vincent's Hospital.

More at The Daily Telegraph

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Train users to fork out for parking

Train users will have to pay for parking at all metropolitan train stations from July 2014. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij Source: PerthNow

PERTH commuters will add an extra $38.3 million to government coffers when they are forced to pay for parking at all metropolitan train stations from next year.

The Barnett Government plans to extend paid parking at train stations from July next year, budget documents reveal.

The measure will create extra $19.9 million in revenue from 2014-15 to 2016-17 and reduce operating costs by $18.4 million.

Opposition leader Mark McGowan said it was an attack public transport users who were being "savaged" by the government.

"Now that Mr Barnett has removed that incentive, we will see more cars on the roads and remaining train users will be forced to pay around $460 more per year to pay for parking at train stations.

"The decision will also push more public transport users to look for free parking on streets surrounding train stations."

However, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute senior research fellow Jemma Green said claims the additional fee would result in more people driving to the city were wrong.

"Paid parking is $2 a day, if you park in the city it's like $4 an hour, so why would somebody want to pay $4 an hour for 8 or 9 hours a day, when they can just pay $2 and get on the train?

"I don't buy that argument at all," she said.

Instead, the researcher urged the government to make it easier for commuters to catch buses to the train station and leave their cars at home.

"We need high quality transport links, frequent and rapid transit buses to get them to the train station so that time wise it's as comparable to travel to the train station by bus as it is by car," she said.

"This involves having more dedicated bus lanes, so buses aren't the victim of traffic in the main arteries as well as more frequently buses particularly at the peak times."

Ms Green said the commitment to MAX Light rail and the Airport link was good, but questioned the decision of the government to spend so much money on building a new football stadium that would do nothing to improve productivity.

"More than $1 billion is proposed to be spent on (the stadium) and I don't believe this represents a good use of taxpayers' dollars at this time," she said.

"I think there are limited economic benefits from putting a stadium in when you compare it against the productivity gains you could get from putting in more public transport."
 

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Coles lashes union over Nedlands crash claim

A Coles Online delivery driver lost his leg in a crash in Nedlands last Thursday. Picture: Supplied. Source: PerthNow

SUPERMARKET giant Coles has launched a scathing attack on a union it likens to "vultures feeding'' on the misfortune of a delivery driver whose leg was amputated after a crash in Perth.

WorkSafe is making preliminary inquiries into the accident involving a 31-year-old Coles Online delivery driver at Nedlands last night.

His legs were crushed when a 51-year-old woman crashed into the delivery van as he was unloading groceries.

A Royal Perth Hospital spokesman said one of the man's legs had been amputated and it was unclear whether he would keep his other leg.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) said the incident could have been avoided as not enough was being done to safeguard Coles Online drivers.

The union said Coles instructed its drivers to park on the road outside customers' homes and not in their driveway, and claimed there was inadequate lighting at the rear of the vans.

Coles reacted angrily.

"If media reports of TWU claims about this incident are accurate, the union leadership should be condemned as vultures feeding on any unfortunate incident to push their Safe Rates wages campaign,'' the company said in a statement.

"This is insulting and hurtful to our team member, his family and the other driver involved in the incident and it pre-empts the ongoing police investigation.

"Our priority is the wellbeing of our team member and his family and our thoughts are with them all.''

The 51-year-old driver was treated for shock.

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Slow and steady for England early on

England win the toss and bat as the 4th Test gets underway

AUSTRALIA had worked their way on top despite some determined England batting on a hard fought first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street.

When England captain Alastair Cook was trapped in front by Jackson Bird for a dour 51, the home team had lost three wickets for 46, to be 4-155 tea.

England seemed to have taken the upper hand when Cook and Jonathan Trott survived some tight Australian bowling in the first session to push past one hundred.

But the wickets of Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Cook in the afternoon session had the home team under pressure.

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Despite batting unconvincingly, Cook threatened to provide the bed rock of a significant total as he absorbed 153 balls over 216 minutes in compiling his half century. But he was out just before tea, leaving a ball from Bird that would have hit off stump.

Nathan Lyon had provided two vital breakthroughs. The off-spinner had Jonathan Trott caught at short leg by Usman Khawaja for 49, just as he threatened to accelerate the scoring rate.

Shane Watson picks up Australia's first wicket after Umpire's decision is overturned by Hot Spot

Then, as importantly, Lyon had Kevin Pietersen caught behind for 26, prodding at a ball that left him. That after Pietersen had looked in menacing form, lofting Lyon for two straight fours in his previous spell.

Shane Watson had made the early inroads for Australia, when he had Root caught behind by Brad Haddin for 16.
Although not before yet another test of the now controversial Hot Spot technology.

Umpire Tony Hill turned down a confident appeal by the Australians, prompting an instant referral by captain Michael Clarke. The replay showed a small Hot Spot mark on Root's bat, and the decision was reversed.

This suggested that, if players really were using silicone tape to avoid detection as has been alleged, Root is at the end of the supply chain.

More importantly for Australia, it provided a vital wicket just as the England openers appeared set to survive a tough session in heavy, humid conditions that had provided encouragement for the Australian bowlers.

Having been moved down the Australian batting order to No.6, Watson has undergone yet another transformation, this time from specialist opener back to would-be all-rounder.

Jackson Bird celebrates his first Ashes wicket - that of England skipper Alastair Cook.

The latest reinvention might not particularly please a cricketer who had made it clear he prefers to bat first. But Watson responded in the best possible way by making an urgently needed breakthrough.

England's Ashes-clinching 2-0 lead in the series had been a matter of skill, rather than good fortune. But, having won for the toss for a third time in four Tests, Cook again provided his team with a potential advantage.

So it seemed vital Australia used the new ball well in heavy conditions that would probably provide the best bowling conditions of the first three days. Cook and Root, however, frustrated them in first hour despite some tight early bowling.

Bird, added to the Australian team for Mitchell Starc, came closest to claiming a wicket when Root edged his first ball just wide of gully.

Bird was named for his first Test of the series, and his third overall. He was man of the match in his most recent appearance for Australia against Sri Lanka at the SCG, and had been impressive in the tour games here.

Starc, who was also discarded after the first Test despite taking five wickets, might consider himself slightly unlucky having taken three wickets in the first innings at Old Trafford.

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