Connecting people and communities
Friday, 23 November, 2012 Page 3
$100,000 thief ‘walks’ Police conducted a search warrant on the couple’s residence at Smith St, Winchelsea, and seized stolen items, Sen Const Marshall said. “Eighty items were seized, including a vehicle, numerous power tools and tradesmen’s equipment, musical equipment, surfboards, weapons and other items believed to be stolen goods or the proceeds of crime,” he said. Over $63,000 worth of goods remained unrecovered. The court heard the couple stole trailers from Jan Juc, Lara, Elwood, Newtown, Richmond and Elliminyt. The couple pawned some of the
By MICHELLE HERBISON A WOMAN who stole nearly $100,000 worth of goods in a spate of tradesmen’s trailer thefts has escaped a jail sentence. Tenille Stewart, 32, of Holyhead Dve, Torquay, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court this week to 19 charges including theft, obtaining property by deception and possessing proceeds of crime and weapons. Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Eugene Marshall told the court Stewart stole a series of trailers during April and May with boyfriend Gerard Kerr, 38, now in prison.
goods at Cash Converters. Sen Const Marshall said Stewart admitted during the search to obtaining knives, knuckle dusters and pepper spray while working in security at Avalon and Tullamarine airports between 2009 and 2011. “The accused was uncooperative and unremorseful throughout the interview,” he told the court. Defence Lawyer Michael Brugman said Stewart had been a drug addict but had no relevant prior convictions. “Her psychiatric history was and still is fragile. She is determined to remain drug-free,” Mr Brugman said.
Stewart’s father, a retired bricklayer of Torquay, said his daugther’s attitude had improved since she recently started part-time work. Her crimes against tradesmen in his community was “very embarrassing”, he told the court. Magistrate Ann McGarvie sentenced Ms Stewart to a 12-month community corrections order and ordered her to pay $12,324 in compensation. “It is self-evident you went off the rails when you started your relationship with Mr Kerr,” she said. “This is your chance to make a change.”
Professor: super-size council in coast area
In brief Runners’ funds ALMOST 12,000 participants have helped an annual fun run raise more than $500,000 for Geelong Hospital’s children’s ward, according to organisers. Cotton On Foundation’s Sam McGuane said Run Geelong raised enough money to complete the ward’s redevelopment project.
Business help A NEW “one-stop shop of support services” will provide support and information to small businesses in the Geelong region, federal MP Richard Marles has announced. The Member for Corio said a grant of $182,000 would help Geelong Chamber of Commerce establish the service, named Small Business, Smart Business.
Airshow coup “ONE of America’s most popular airshow performers” will take to the skies at Avalon in March, according to event organisers. They said Skip Stewart would bring his “dynamic act” to Avalon’s Australian International Airshow in his first appearance in Australia.
Road upgrade
By NOEL MURPHY
A $500,000 project will restore the surface of Bellarine Hwy at Marcus Hill, a state MP has announced. Member for Western Victoria David Koch said “many motorists” would welcome the works, to start in February.
Umpires call A TEST umpire has urged former players to begin umpiring local matches amid a shortage of umpires in Geelong Cricket Association. Former Tasmanian captain Rodney Tucker said umpiring was rewarding in terms of participation and financially, with umpires paid up to $100 taxfree a match.
Clean cash FEDERAL Government has given a Geelong business $228,000 to install wind turbines and solar panels. Geelong Galvanising’s David Chaston, who said the company would match the funding, considered clean energy a “natural fit” for his business. WORKERS WANTED: David Deicke at his Smash Masters business in South Geelong.
Picture: TOMMY RITCHIE 90561
Smashing jobs but staff search beaten By NOEL MURPHY IT’S NOT hard for David Deicke to find good staff – it’s impossible. The Smash Masters proprietor has advertised for panel beaters, spray painters and assemblers – as apprentices and qualified tradesmen – across the region for months but can’t get any takers. He’s advertised for staff in numerous newspapers and across multiple employment websites. He’s advertised throughout Geelong, the Surf Coast, Werribee and Melton. But all to no avail. “I can’t work it out,’’ Mr Deicke told the Independent. “I have 11 people presently working
TSEGGIB
here and I’m looking for another 11. “I’m the biggest panel shop in Geelong and I’m paying the best rates in Geelong but I feel like I’m in a little country town.’’ Mr Deicke said his work for RACV was mounting as he tried to find tradesmen for “who want to grow with the company’’ for long-term employment. He believed panel repair staff were at a premium in Geelong. “I get all these people who respond to the advertisements who say they’re currently working at other places. I offer them more than they get but then they go back to their boss and they offer them more to stay.” The auto industry is not the only labour sector feeling the pinch of a tight jobs market in Geelong despite an un-
employment rate in September of 7.1 per cent, the highest in more than five years. The Independent revealed earlier this year that a council survey had found a shortage of almost 600 skilled workers in Geelong. Employers had trouble filling 235 jobs and expected another 347 positions to be unfilled next year. The survey covered 1400 business across five municipalities in the region. GForce recruitment agency chief Robert Birch said demand for panel repair apprentices had not been high recently. The broader building sector was generating more new jobs, he said.
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A “SUPER council” could safeguard the natural and economic interests of the Surf Coast and south-west coast, according to a Melbourne sea-change expert. Professor Ray Green, of Melbourne University’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, said a broader approach was needed to protect natural assets underpinning the region’s tourism, economy and lifestyle. “We’ve got to start looking as a wholistic thing, managing the coast with not just one council or two councils, natural areas don’t know those boundaries,’’ he told the Independent. Prof Green, who has worked with Surf Coast Shire planners on development controls in recent years, warned of powerful competing interests threatening landscape values underpinning tourism and lifestyle-driven economies along the coast. Balancing sea-change population growth, resident amenity, economic growth, new renewable energies, climate change and landscape values required rational, integrated planning at a higher level than undertaken at existing councils, he said. South Barwon MP Andrew Katos rejected the concept of a super council but said collaboration between Surf Coast and Colac Otway shires could work to mutual advantage. “Like anything, it’s a balancing act,’’ he said. “As for a super council, I don’t think there’s much argument for bigger councils. Surf Coast does a good job, Colac-Otway is a good council. “If he had a concern maybe they need to collaborate and look to manage these issues in a better way.’’