Logo
Prev
search
Print
addthis
Rotate
Help
Next
All Pages
Browse Issues
Home
'
The Border Watch : October 24th 2013
Contents
NEWS TIPS newsroom@tbw.com.au NEWS 3 Court jails mild-mannered bandit A VICTORIAN man who moved to Mount Gambier to straighten out his life and then attempted to rob a service station has been jailed after appearing in the Mount Gambier District Court. Christopher Lee Hrkac, 25, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempting to commit theft using force and unlawful possession. The court heard that in the early hours of March 27, Hrkac entered a Mount Gambier service station and tried to rob the employee on duty. The defendant was polite when trying to get away with the store’s cash. It was reported Hrkac said to the vender “I’m sorry to ask, but I’m going to ask you to give me all the money in the till”. When refused, the accused became desperate and said he had a knife, but he was still rejected and told to leave the store. On his way out, Hrkac apologised and stated that he just wanted to visit his son, needing money to travel to Geelong. Police found the defendant a short time later and he was uncooperative when questioned about the robbery. It was found that he was not in possession of a knife during the attempted theft. Hrkac has battled drug addiction from a young age and has a history of criminal matters. The court was told his son was born in September last year and he moved to Mount Gambier to clean up his lifestyle and provide a better future. He offended one month after arriving in South Australia. With a long history of assaults, burglaries and breaches of bonds, the court’s prosecutor told Judge Mount Gambier man found guilty of attempted service station robbery PHIL HOLMES Gordon Barrett a term of imprisonment was warranted. Hrkac had been remanded in custody since the offence on March 27. Mr Barrett said an early plea saved him from a longer sentence, handing down a prison term of two years, one month and two weeks. A non-parole period of nine months was set, backdated to when Hrkac was fi rst remanded in March. Roadwork disruptions MAINTENANCE works to improve the Riddoch Highway road surface will start next Friday. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) is carrying out a total of 5.2km of rut fi lling works at various locations between Penola and Tarpeena. The work will be carried out daily between 7am and 5.30pm. A 25kph speed restriction will apply when workers are on site, with a maximum of 80kph at other times until line marking is complete. Works are expected to be completed by mid November, weather permitting. The works are being carried out at a cost of $250,000 as part of the State Government’s Periodic Road Maintenance Program. Toy gun threat arrest LIFE SAVING: Mount Gambier fi refi ghters Heath Telfer, Michael Schmoock and Mathew Byrne were farewelled by regional training offi cer Scott Murray on Monday before they left for New South Wales. South East crews on frontline of Sydney bushfi re battle K G ge KELLY-BAKKER GEORGIA georgia@tbw.com.au SOUTH East firefighters deployed to New South Wales on Monday have been on the frontline of efforts to contain bushfires raging across the Blue Mountains. Despite conditions worsening yesterday, the five crew members - including three from Mount Gambier, one from Keith and a task force commander from Naracoorte - are in good spirits. Regional operations planning offi cer Jason Druwitt said the welfare of the fi refi ghters was being looked after. “They are all going really well,” Mr Druwitt said. “They have been busy with operation work with strategic back burning and have now been placed to respond to any outbreaks.” While the region’s fi refi ghters are safe and well, Mr Druwitt said the situation in New South Wales was not looking good. Yesterday afternoon, fire- fi ghters were still battling 60 fi res, with three at an emergency level. Mr Druwitt said while the five firefighters were set to return on Friday, more South East crew members were expected to leave the same day. “We are in the process of sorting out potential deployment of further crews from the region,” he said. “It could be anywhere between 16 to 22 that will be deployed.” With the bushfi res starting a week ago, he said it was vital for the NSW Rural Fire Service fi refi ghters to be given a rest. “It is important for their fatigue levels to be managed and the RFS has been on the go trying to manage fi res around the state,” he said. “Their fatigue levels will be quite high, so it is important they are able to rest and regain some strength ahead of a long season.” After Mount Gambier fi re- fi ghter Matthew Byrne arrived in NSW on Monday, he told The Border Watch he was glad to assist his fellow fi refi ghters. “Heading to the New South Wales fires, I’m a little bit nervous given the expected conditions over the next few days,” Mr Byrne said. “But it is going to be good to give the RFS fi refi ghters over there a much needed hand and the break they will be looking for.” Overall, the CFS sent 16 incident management team personnel, 20 firefighters, two strike team leaders and a liaison officer from South Australia. The SA Metropolitan Fire Service has also provided 12 specialist building impact assessment personnel. Minister for Emergency Services Michael O’Brien farewelled the crew members from Adelaide earlier in the week. “I wish our CFS volunteers and MFS personnel all the best as they head to New South Wales and assist their interstate counterparts,” Mr O’Brien said. “I thank them for their service and look forward to them returning home safely.” Popular community relay returns to support Cancer Council FOLLOWING the enormous success of previous Cancer Council SA Limestone Coast Relay For Life events, the community initiative is returning to the Blue Lake Sports Park in Mount Gambier on March 15 and 16 next year. A meeting for anyone interested in registering for the event will be held at the South Aussie Hotel at 7pm on Monday. “We’re excited to be bringing the Relay for Life back to the Limestone Coast in 2014 so we can again work together to fi ght against cancer by raising money for a worthy cause,” committee spokesperson Shane Gabriel said. “This will be our fi fth Relay for Life and we’re hoping the community will rally to help provide services to those people impacted by cancer and their families. “What keeps us coming back is people asking when the next Relay for Life will be and already the spaces are fi lling up. “It’s always a fun event and it’s fundraising that makes a real difference to people in our region.” Each year, thousands of people take part in Cancer Council SA Relay for Life events across South Australia. The fun, outdoor fundraising event involves teams of 10 to 15 people taking turns to walk around an oval circuit. People are encouraged to pitch a tent, camp overnight and enjoy the community atmosphere. The event is fi lled with entertainment for all ages, from games to live bands, inspirational speakers and ceremonies. In 2012, about 43 teams from Limestone Coast businesses and the community took to the track for 19 hours, raising more than $125,000 to help fund Cancer Council SA’s research, prevention and support services, including Cancer Council lodges at Greenhill and Flinders, which provide accommodation to country cancer patients and their families who travel to Adelaide for treatment. “It’s really heart warming to see how the community gets behind a great cause like this,” Mr Gabriel said. “In 2014, we’d like to think we can get as many as 70 teams participating and our fundraising target is $250,000.” Registrations are open with a number of teams already raising funds. Money is raised in the lead-up to the event to fund vital research, cancer support and information services for South East people affected by cancer. For further information contact Andrew Petersen at the Cancer Council on 1300 656 585 or Maxine Tuffnell on 0418 838 930 or visit www.relayforlife.org.au. A MOUNT Gambier man has been arrested after he allegedly pointed a cap gun at a motorist. Police located a 23-year-old man in possession of a cap gun on Wyatt Street in Mount Gambier about 8.30am yesterday morning. The man was charged with carrying an offensive weapon and bailed to appear in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on November 26. LAWYERS FIGHTING FOR YOU LAWYERS FOR EMPLOYMENT ISSUES CHOOSE ANDERSONS Unfair Dismissal, Redundancy, Bullying, Wages Issues 8723 4000 Offices across metro Adelaide and regional SA andersons.com.au DENTURE CLINIC ANDREW BOL WELL 22 ALEXANDER ST • MT GAMBIER • new dentures full and partial • denture repairs • denture relines • mouthguards • existing denture problems • private and health funds • Department of Veteran Affairs • South Australian Dental Scheme PHONE FOR CONSULTATION 03 5382 3930 • 0418 351 444 The Border Watch, Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 3 624716 2252EMP_BW All Welcome
Links
Archive
October 23rd 2013
October 25th 2013
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
