Women’s round-up: August 2013

Women’s round-up: August 2013
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The climax of the inaugural season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the USA took centre stage in August, with Western New York Flash and Portland Thorns locking horns in the final. It was also an exciting month in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 qualifying, as Germany, France, England and Finland were first to book their tickets to the tournament.

National teams
Hope Powell shown the door
After 15 years as coach of England’s women’s national team, Hope Powell was dismissed on the back of the Three Lionesses’ disappointing showing at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 in Sweden. England failed to make it out of the group stage following two defeats and a draw at the tournament. Under Powell, whose tenure started in 1998, England qualified for four European championships, losing the 2009 final against Germany. The strategist also led the side to the quarter-finals of two FIFA Women’s World Cups™ (2007 and 2011). Brent Hills, coach of the country’s U-23 ensemble, will take temporary charge of the seniors during qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

European quartet reach Canada 2014
While the European qualifying campaign for Canada 2015 is about to start in September, the continent’s four participants at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 have already been confirmed. Germany, France, England and Finland all booked their tickets to the tournament by virtue of reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship in Wales. Germany were unable to lift their fifth continental crown at that level after coach Maren Meinert’s charges were knocked out by France, who now meet England in the title-decider.

Iceland’s coach steps down
The English Football Association are not alone in their search for a new coach for their senior women’s team, with Iceland also scouring the market following Siggi Eyjolfsson’s decision to step down after seven years at the helm. Iceland qualified twice for the European championships since he took the reins in 2006, losing all three games in 2009 but reaching the last eight in this year’s edition. “The results exceeded our expectations,” said Eyjolfsson, who is now looking for a new challenge. “It’s nice to be able to stop after such a big success, where we recorded our best results at a European Championship and lifted the national team up to a new level.” Iceland will face Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia, Israel and Malta in Canada 2015 qualifying.

Club football
Maiden NWSL title on the line in USA
In April eight teams, reaching from Seattle and Portland in the west to Washington, New Jersey and Boston in the east, kicked off a new era in the USA with the start of the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League (NSWL) season. Now, four months down the line, Western New York Flash and Portland Thorns will bring the curtain down on the maiden campaign when they meet in the championship-deciding final. New York, who boast FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Abby Wambach in their ranks, overcame Sky Blue FC 2-0 in their last-four meeting, while Portland beat FC Kansas City 3-2.

Individual awards
The league title might only be awarded to one team, but several individuals still picked up NWSL silverware of their own. Kansas City’s Lauren Holiday was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for 2013, pushing Wambach into second place in the vote. And, if that were not enough, Holiday also took home the Golden Boot as top goalscorer, having found the net 12 times in 18 games. Indeed, Kansas dominated the awards, with team-mates Nicole Barnhardt honoured as Best Goalkeeper, Becky Sauerbrunn named Best Defender and Vlatko Andonovski winning Coach of the Year.

Champions League line-up completed
The clubs set to compete in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Round of 32 have now been finalised ahead of the draw on 5 September, which will also determine the Round of 16 pairings. FC Zurich (SUI), Konak Belediyespor (TUR), Spartak Subotica (SRB), MTK Hungaria (HUN), RTP Unia Raciborz (POL), PK-35 Vantaa (FIN), Apollon Limassol LFC (CYP), Glasgow City LFC (SCO), Parnu JK (EST) and FC Twente (NED) all made it into the pot following success in the qualifying round, which took place from 8 – 13 August. They will jostle with the 22 teams given a bye into the round of 32 for continental supremacy.

Inaugural UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe award
On 29 August Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery was voted UEFA’s Best Player in Europe for 2012/13 by leading football journalists. Accordingly, this year the UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe honour will also be handed out for the first time. At the end of August the three shortlisted candidates were revealed, with two Germany internationals, Nadine Angerer and Lena Goessling, vying with Sweden’s Lotta Schelin for the award, which will be presented by UEFA President Michel Platini on 5 September.

Development
Three seminars for female referees were held in August, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Grenada and Costa Rica, hosts of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2014, staging the events. The aims of the courses are, among others, to create a global standardisation in training female referees; to outline the guidelines in gauging the quality and performance of member associations and their domestic footballing structures, and instilling a uniform interpretation of the rules of the game. Furthermore, numerous women’s football courses were also offered. Ethiopia, Vanuatu and Burkina Faso were among the hosts, while FIFA organised a course for the first time in Panama.

The stat
3 – A trio of amateur Thai players wrote their names into the record books in leaving their homeland to join the Japanese Nadeshiko League. Pitsamai Sornsai, Kanjana Sungngoen and national team captain Naphat Seesraum became the first players from their country to make the move.

The quote
“The girls want to do more, and they are very eager to win a medal. It is not normal to do so with such a young team. But they have very good spirit, so we will try and figure out how we will do it together,” Australia national team coach Hesterine de Reus looks ahead to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015.

 

Fernanda Lima irá assumir em breve a apresentação do “Vídeo Show”

O diretor Ricardo Waddington segue mexendo no “Vídeo Show”.

Após fazer ajustes no formato do programa e receber o reforço de Otaviano Costa, um novo nome deverá aparecer em breve para comandar a atração.

Segundo informações da coluna “Outro Canal”, já está tudo certo para Fernanda Lima assumir o “Vídeo Show” no lugar de André Marques e Ana Furtado.

A loira já está fazendo testes de cabelo e maquiagem para o programa, e deve assumir o posto assim que terminar as gravações do “Amor & Sexo”, que volta em outubro na Globo.

Em junho, Ricardo Waddington assumiu a direção do “Vídeo Show” de Boninho e desde então vem promovendo várias mudanças.

A atração deverá ficar ainda mais moderna e se aproximar mais dos artistas da Globo.

O programa também ganhou reforços nos bastidores. Alguns profissionais já chegaram oriundos da MTV.

Roda o VT: Uma análise do que esperar dos novos domingos do SBT

A tão falada e polêmica mudança da programação dominical do SBT vai mesmo valer, pelo menos para o próximo domingo (01).

Façamos, então, uma projeção, uma análise dos resultados que a emissora pretende e os que ela poderá obter com as novidades.

Domingo Legal
Antes: das 11h às 15h
Novo horário: das 11h às 13h

Com a perda de duas horas, deverá cortar quadros como os vídeos de internet e reprises de “Telegrama Legal”. A redução da duração do programa provavelmente concentrará os quadros fortes, como o “Construindo um Sonho” e o “Passa ou Repassa”, e fará com que o programa de Celso Portiolli acabe se dividindo em dois momentos distintos, um composto por uma atração gravada e outro no palco, ao vivo.

Prós: a redução do horário é positiva no sentido de eliminar os quadros “tapa-buraco” e enfadonhos do programa, fazendo com que o “Domingo Legal” utilize apenas suas armas de maior poder de fogo.

Contras: o programa perdeu tempo demais, metade de sua duração, e isso fatalmente comprometerá a dinâmica do show. O SBT ficará sem um programa ao vivo durante a tarde.

Eliana
Antes: das 15h às 19h
Novo horário: das 13h às 17h

Entrando no ar mais cedo, “Eliana” competirá com a sessão de filmes “Temperatura Máxima” e o “Esquenta”, da Globo, além do primeiro tempo do futebol. Antes, disputava apenas com o futebol e o “Domingão do Faustão”. Na Record, os concorrentes serão o “Tudo a Ver” e o “Melhor do Brasil”.

Prós: os novos adversários da loira não são programas ao vivo, como o de Fausto Silva. Embora o histórico de confrontos mostre vantagem de Eliana em disputas ao vivo (contra o extinto “Programa do Gugu”, especialmente), o “Domingão” possuía público fiel e cativo, assim como o futebol. Com exceção do “Esquenta”, que fincou algumas raízes, os novos rivais têm desempenho oscilante.

Contras: os telespectadores que curtiam os quadros divertidos que Celso Portiolli apresentava no horário, como o “Top 10 da Internet”, encontrarão opções semelhantes no “Tudo a Ver” da Record. A parte final do programa, com o “Rola ou Enrola”, que tinha bom desempenho, agora terá como concorrente o primeiro tempo do futebol, e poderá não se sair tão bem.

Roda a Roda e Programa Silvio Santos
Antes: das 19h à 0h
Novo horário: das 17h às 22h

O público acostumou-se a ver Silvio Santos aos domingos em qualquer horário. A mudança é boa para seus fãs, que passarão a encontrá-lo mais cedo. Entre o “Roda a Roda” e o “Programa Silvio Santos” será exibido o “Sorteio da Tele Sena”, por volta das 17h50. Silvio volta, parcialmente, ao horário vespertino, que ocupava antes de inverter a ordem com o “Domingo Legal”, em 2009, época em que Gugu estava deixando o SBT. Gugu entrava no ar “coladinho” com o Patrão.

Prós: não existe rejeição para Silvio Santos. Afinal, estamos falando de SBT e de domingo, uma tradição de mais de 30 anos.

Contras: mesmo entrando mais cedo, não escapará da concorrência do “Fantástico” e do “Domingo Espetacular”, especialmente em sua parte final. Além disso, a hora mais forte do programa em audiência era justamente a faixa das 23h à meia-noite, na qual não será mais apresentado.

Conexão Repórter
Antes: não era exibido aos domingos
Novo horário: das 22h à 0h

O “Fantástico” criou a tradição da revista eletrônica de notícias e variedades na noite de domingo. Desde sua estreia até hoje, o programa global somente sentiu a concorrência com Silvio Santos, com o “Show de Calouros”, o “Topa Tudo por Dinheiro”, o “Show do Milhão” e a “Casa dos Artistas”. Porém, mais recentemente, o “Domingo Espetacular” mostrou-se uma alternativa ao “Fantástico”, em grande parte por uma crise de identidade e de conteúdo da atração da Globo. O horário também tem a presença do “Pânico na Band” e do “Teste de Fidelidade”, da RedeTV!. É boa a disputa.

Prós: o programa investigativo de Roberto Cabrini goza de prestígio. O público que se interessa por esse tipo de assunto dará uma zapeada no “Conexão Repórter”, escapando do “Fantástico” e do “Domingo Espetacular”. Uma exibição experimental do programa neste horário foi feita este ano, na noite do “Troféu Imprensa”, e o resultado no Ibope não foi ruim.

Contras: o público cativo do SBT, que gosta do humor descompromissado de Silvio Santos no fim da noite, foge das reportagens nesse horário. Esses telespectadores ficarão sem opção.

Conclusão

A experiência é interessante. O principal prejudicado será o “Domingo Legal”, que será cortado à metade. Duas horas para o “Conexão Repórter” parece muito tempo, bem mais do que a extensão do programa nas quintas-feiras. Talvez uma solução mais harmônica seria reduzir a duração do “Programa Silvio Santos” em um bloco, e enxugar o tempo do jornalístico de Roberto Cabrini.

Por enquanto, boa parte dos fãs do canal não está gostando das mudanças.
Hamilton Kenji é titular dos blogs obaudosilvio.blogspot.com, letrasdotrem.blogspot.com e transcendentes.blogspot.com

Milligan still on Palace’s radar

Saturday, 31 August 2013 5:57 PM

Socceroo Mark Milligan may yet find himself lining up in the English Premier League this season with Crystal Palace launching a third bid for the Melbourne Victory midfielder. The latest offer from the Eagles is believed to meet Victory’s valuation of their prized player said to be in the region of $1.5 million.

Both clubs will need to move swiftly if indeed a deal is to be done, with the European transfer window set to close on Tuesday morning. The potential move is complicated by the fact Milligan has flown to Brazil this afternoon for the Socceroos international against the World Cup hosts next weekend. This would impact on his ability to undergo a medical before the transfer deadline.

Milligan would not comment on the latest speculation surrounding his future, though it’s understood the 24-capped Socceroo would be open to the move should Victory choose to accept the offer, with reports suggesting he’s been offered a three-year contract.

The transfer would see the 28-year-old line up alongside compatriot Mile Jedinak, whom ironically Milligan kept out of the national starting side with his strong performances in Australia’s most recent World Cup qualifiers.

With Crystal Palace having suffered successive league defeats and exiting the League Cup upon their return to England’s top-flight, the Eagles will be hoping their latest offer will be enough to get their man and club captain Jedinak has said he would welcome the move.

“I am not sure what is happening there but it would be nice to have a player of Millsy’s quality at the club.

“He’s always been a talent and the last few years has really stepped his game up to another level.

“He’s really matured and offers a lot to Victory and of course also the national team. He’s got a very cool head and would be an asset to our club.”

Coincidentally, both Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace have this week been linked with a move for France international William Gallas.

Melbourne Victory Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has confirmed his club are locked in negotiations with the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham defender.

“I think with players like William Gallas you can never say whether you are close or not,” said Postecoglou.

“Would we be interested? Yes, of course. We’ve got a marquee spot to fill before the season and it’s got to be the right fit for us.”

Palace’s Holloway has also admitted publicly he would be interested in Gallas, though there remains a doubt about the player’s fitness levels.

 

McKay up for the challenge

Saturday, 31 August 2013 3:35 PM

Socceroo Matt McKay has declared he’s ready to fight for his place in the national team following the announcement Michael Zullo will return to the Hyundai A-League with Adelaide United this season.

McKay is expected to come under renewed pressure for his starting position at left back, which has been a problematic selection for Head Coach Holger Osieck of late.

Despite being a predominately midfield player throughout his career, Brisbane Roar’s new Australian marquee signing has been deployed at left back by Osieck in recent full-strength Socceroos starting XI’s. However McKay will again play on the left side of midfield for the Roar when the A-League season kicks off in less than six weeks time.

Regardless of this, the 30-year-old is expected to again line up at left back next weekend when the Socceroos take on five-time World Cup champions Brazil in their capital Brasillia. McKay, who re-joined his hometown club earlier this month, was one of four A-League players in the 22-man squad selected to play against next year’s FIFA World Cup hosts.

The return of Zullo, who will spend the season on loan with Adelaide from his Dutch club FC Utrecht will put pressure on his former Brisbane Roar teammate to retain his place. The 24-year-old, who has made 10 appearances for the Socceroos, has been out of favour since making his last appearance against Romania on 6 February 2013, due to a lack of playing time. However McKay welcomed the challenge.

“Similar to me, he’s coming back to the A-League, which is a great competition,” McKay said. “You need regular football and then you’ve got to be playing well.”

“If I get the opportunity to play there again and I do well, that’s all I can do. I can just concentrate on each performance in whichever position I’m playing.”

Next weekend’s match against Brazil should prove to be the strongest test yet for the 41-capped Socceroo, who will be tasked with having to defend against Brazilian stars Neymar, Oscar and Maicon.

Australia also have an international scheduled against France next month.

Brazil v Socceroos
Saturday 7 September 2013
Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha Stadium, Brasilia, Brazil
Kick-off: 4.15pm local (5:15am AEST)
Broadcast live & exclusive on FOX SPORTS 3HD and 3 from 5.00am (AEST).

 

Top Five | Equipment gaffes

Saturday, 31 August 2013 1:57 PM

After Millwall’s embarrassing effort of forgetting their jerseys last weekend, we take a look at the top five equipment gaffes involving Aussie footballers.

1. Millwall forget to bring jerseys to the game
Aussies Scott McDonald and Shane Lowry along with their Millwall teammates had to line up in their opposition’s away strip from the previous season for their clash against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend after leaving their kits at home. Their away kit, normally all white, had to be replaced with the home side’s yellow before the game started. The Millwall equipment manager has been the subject of worldwide ridicule on social media for failing to bring his side’s matchday jerseys to the English Championship game in Hillsborough. Fortunately for Millwall they showed their true colours (and own jerseys) in the second half and managed to come from a goal down to earn their first point of the new campaign.

2. Everton misspell name of new signing
Tim Cahill’s old club Everton made an embarrassing mistake at the club’s kit launch for the new EPL season, when they misspelled the name on the jersey of one of their new signings. Fans were under the impression the club had made another signing when they saw a replica shirt bearing the name ‘Deufoleu’ – a player they had never heard of. Unfortunately for Toffees fans they were ultimately disappointed after learning the club had carelessly misspelt the name of one of their actual new signings Gerard Deulofeu, whom recently joined Everton on loan from Barcelona.

 

3. Chelsea leave balls at home
Mark Schwarzer’s Chelsea career got off to an interesting start during the first leg of his new side’s pre-season tour. Returning Manager Jose Mourinho tried to run his first training session after his side landed in Thailand, only to be told the team had left their new footballs at home. Mourinho had planned on using the new Nike Incyte Ball, which is the ball being used in this season’s EPL, so that his players could begin getting use to its flight and speed. However a search through the vast containers transporting Chelsea’s kit revealed they were still at the airport in London and had to be flow over expressly.

4. Palace have identity crisis
Mile Jedinak’s Crystal Palace side made an embarrassing gaffe back in 2004 when the club spelt their own name wrong on their replica shirts. The red and blue stripped jerseys read ‘Chrystal Palace’ which inspired a new chant from their fans; “There’s only one H in Palace”.

 

5. Referee sees red
Aussie Brad Jones watched on with amusement from the bench last season when referee Mark Clattenburg forgot his cards in Liverpool’s match against Reading. Clattenburg was left red-raced early in the second half when he went to caution Royals midfielder Danny Guthrie only to realise he’d left his yellow and red cards in the dressing room. Clattenburg subsequently halted the game and trotted over to the touchline where he was able to acquire a spare set from the fourth official before issuing the caution and continuing the match.

 

Labor pledge money for Johnny Warren Football Institute

Saturday, 31 August 2013 10:30 AM

The Labor Party have announced a re-elected Kevin  Rudd Labor Government will contribute $10 million in funding for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Johnny Warren Football Institute (JWSI) in Western Sydney.

The JWSI will build on the work of the Johnny Warren Football Foundation (JWFF) – a non-profit virtual academy which began operation in 2003 and is operating on donations and $1.5 million in seed funding it received from the NSW Carr Government in 2004.

Federal Labor wants the Johnny Warren Football Institute to be the home of football development in Australia and says there is no better location for it than in Western Sydney.

It will especially target the disadvantaged such as the indigenous and refugees and will be a catalyst for Australian engagement with Asia through the football medium.

“We must now take Johnny Warren’s legacy and the Foundation to the next level. Through camps and activities the JWFF has promoted a new culture of technical excellence for players and coaches,” said Treasurer Chris Bowen in a statement.

There are more than 137,000 participants in Western Sydney playing in junior and senior competitions, accounting for over 20 per cent of participants nationally.

There are more registered football participants in Western Sydney than in Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT combined, with more than 380 state, league or grassroots clubs operating in the region.

Around 50 per cent of the 420-plus Socceroos have hailed from Western Sydney, including recent legends Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Mark Bosnich, Brett Emerton, Paul Okon, Jason Culina and Tony Popovic.

Jamie Warren, who is chairman of the Foundation and nephew of the Socceroo captain after whom the facility will be named said; “This will be a fabulous legacy for football and the country, the realisation of a Johnny Warren dream. Importantly it’s not just a monument but a living, breathing facility that will benefit football long-term and far into the future in the game’s heartland.”

It is envisaged the world class JWSI may include:
– National Centre State-of the-Art Learning Centre.
– Lecture Rooms and Theatres.
– An Australian Football Museum.
– Gymnasium and Pool.
– Two accompanying full field all weather pitches.
– Accommodation facilities.
– Administration Centre and Offices.

The JWSI would be the only development program in the country that is scholarship based and caters for elite players – both boys and girls – under the age of 15.

The JWSI would partner with NSW TAFE and the University of Western Sydney to provide a number of recognised diploma courses in areas such as leadership, education, coaching, journalism and sports science.

This commitment would be delivered through the Government’s Liveable Communities Program that is already included in the budget.

First home by 21? Not a problem

By Amelia Wade

5:30 AM Saturday Aug 31, 2013

New Zealanders are notoriously bad savers, with less than one-third of us saving for the mid- to long-term, according to a recent Financial Literacy survey. In the lead-up to Money Week, Amelia Wade talks to two young women at opposite ends of the country who bucked the trend and were able to buy houses just a few years out of their teens

 

Renee Wilkinson, 22, says sacrifices and creativity have enabled her to save for her goals. Photo / Greg Bowker

Renee Wilkinson, 22, Auckland

Renee Wilkinson said saving for a first house isn’t as hard as she thought – it just takes commitment.

The 22-year-old has been building her savings since she made a business card offering her services as a nanny and pinned it to the local community noticeboard.

At 17, she started nannying full-time and has been putting a lot of her pay cheque away since then.

And in February, Ms Wilkinson, then 21, and her new husband, Matt, a builder, were able to get their first home with an 8 per cent deposit and Mr Wilkinson’s KiwiSaver account for $338,000 – a 1920s bungalow in Otahuhu. The area, while classified as central Auckland, is still up-and-coming so has more affordable houses than other more established suburbs. The value of their house has already risen $50,000 since they moved in.

“So in our long-term savings plan, it should definitely make some money.”

Their mortgage payments are $900 a fortnight, which the couple easily meet because they watch their spending.

“We don’t go out to eat at fancy restaurants or go away and stay at nice places – that would be nice to do, but if you want to save money, that doesn’t really work. We also don’t spend too much money on alcohol.”

And with some more sacrifices, the couple were also able to pay for their wedding which they had about the same time as they bought their home.

“Getting married was always something really important to me, but I didn’t want to spend too much money on it because that day goes by and you’ve spent thirty grand on it. So I just got quite creative with what I did. We just had a big afternoon tea – it was really nice and at the beach then we just took immediate family and close friends out for dinner.”

Saving tips

• Save the same amount each week – no less but more if it’s available.
• Have cash for spending money.
• Set goals with dates so you know by when they need to be achieved.
Ondine Grace, 21, Dunedin

It wasn’t easy and she has been saving since she got her first job at a supermarket checkout, but Ondine Grace was able to buy her first home at 20.

To be fair, it was in Dunedin, which isn’t experiencing the same housing crisis as Auckland or Christchurch but it’s still an impressive achievement for someone just out of their teens.

At 16, while still at high school, she got her first job at New World and set up KiwiSaver and Whai Rawa accounts to help boost her saving efforts. Ms Grace said she was serious about buying a house early on and so put her mind to it.

All extra money was added to her savings and she religiously put $50 in her KiwiSaver account from each pay cheque as well as bigger lump sums.

That left her nothing over to have fun with, but that was a sacrifice she didn’t mind making.

“I bought a lot of clothes at second-hand stores, but I was sort of used to that because my family wasn’t very well off when I was younger. And the other thing was that I didn’t feel like I really wanted to drink that much, so it helped not buying alcohol – that was definitely the big thing that helped me save. Alcohol is pretty expensive.”

After high school, Ms Grace took a gap year to work out what she wanted to do instead of “wasting time and money for a year” at university. She upped her hours at New World and worked full-time, which also helped bolster the nest-egg for her deposit.

Even when she started studying languages at the University of Otago, Ms Grace managed to keep tucking money away by going out less than her friends. Having three years’ worth of holiday pay stored up also helped.

And with a little help from her parents and a $21,000 deposit, she found a four-bedroom do-up for $182,000. She lives there with her boyfriend and four flatmates.

Saving tips

• Every dollar counts. At the end of the day, round your bank account to the nearest $10 or $5 and transfer the difference to your savings.
• Don’t get your wages paid into your savings account. Instead get it paid to your everyday account so you can get the rewarding feeling of transferring money to your savings.
• Make sacrifices – set a goal and work out what you need to give up to reach it.

By Amelia Wade EmailAmelia

 

The New Zealand Herald

Man dies during bushland rescue mission

August 31, 2013 – 7:04PM

Goya Dmytryshchak

The helicopter involved in today’s accident, pictured during a rescue operation in Tooradin in 2011. Photo: Gary Sissons

AMBULANCE Victoria has suspended all winch rescue operations after a man fell to his death as he was being airlifted to safety in Victorian bushland.

The victim suffered a broken ankle while bushwalking at Macs Cove, near Mansfield, about 10.30am.

Ambulance Victoria CEO Greg Sassella said it appeared something had gone astray with the winch as the man was being transferred in to the helicopter.

“From what we understand at the moment, a person was bushwalking with friends in fairly remote and heavily-bushed country,” he said.

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“The person sustained a broken ankle and it was very difficult to have that person extracted from that type of bush.

“The helicopter was requested to winch the patient in to the helicopter and then take them to hospital.

“Unfortunately, during that operation the patient fell to his death.”

Mr Sassella said the helicopter was hovering nearly 30 metres above ground when the man fell as he reached the door.

“I understand he was at the door of the helicopter and they were attempting to get him in to the helicopter.

“This is devastating for the crew. They spend their whole lives putting themselves at risk for patients and in this instance something’s gone astray and we need to understand what it is but it’s inappropriate to comment until we do know the facts.

“It is a high-risk environment and we must make sure that we understand what happened before we resume winching again.

“Something seems to have gone wrong from when the paramedic and the patient were on the end of the winch and they’re trying to get the paramedic and the patient in to the helicopter.”

Winching operations carried out by five helicopters statewide have been suspended pending an investigation by the charter company, Australian Helicopters, and Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Mr Sassella said the flight crew and paramedic descended back down to attempt to resuscitate the man but he died on impact.

WorkSafe spokesman Peter Flaherty said ”we’re aware of an incident at Lake Eildon, and we’re making inquires”.

With Caroline Zielinski

The Sydney Morning Herald

Motorcyclist with severe injuries after Petrie crash

August 31, 2013 – 6:17PM

A 46-year-old motorcyclist has a suspected fractured pelvis and arm following a two vehicle crash near Petrie today.

The Dayboro man was involved in a head-on collision occurred between a sedan and a motorcycle on Dayboro Road, in Whiteside.

The male driver of the sedan was not injured however the motorcyclist suffered suspected fracturess and internal injuries and was transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

Queensland Police’s Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day

Brisbane Times