WITH a disarmingly honest account of his depression, former rugby union starClyde Rathbone showed even elitesportsmen were not immune to mentalillness.

SPEAKING OUT: Former Wallaby Clyde Rathbone shared his journey into mental illness at Tamworth Rugby Club. Photo: Barry Smith 200615BSC04

The former Wallaby and Brumby gave a warm address at Tamworth Rugby Club at the weekend in a bid to raise awareness of the crippling scourge of depression.

Tamworth Rugby Club president Sam Scott said he had “tremendous feedback” from attendees who heard Mr Rathbone’s message – that it is OK to speak up andseek help if you a battling a mental illness.

“They were all blown away with how open he was, and how he told his story,”Mr Scott said.

“It was very powerful … for someonewho has played at an elite level to say‘even people like us get it’.”

The day was also a fundraiser forTamworth headspace, raising $7000dollars for local youth mental healthprograms.

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West Wimmera Shire chief executive Mark Crouch wants Wimmera councils to lobby the state government to achieve financial sustainability. SAMANTHA CAMARRI

WIMMERA municipalities will work together to fight local government sustainability issues.

The Municipal Association of Victoria and the Australian Local Government Association have launched a campaign opposing the federal government’s decision to freeze indexation on Financial Assistance Grants to local government.

The North West Municipalities Association, which includes all Wimmera municipalities, will also lobby the state government about proposed rate capping and a lack of funding.

West Wimmera chief executive and association secretary Mark Crouch said councils needed to lobby as hard as they could.

‘‘We need the freeze on Financial Assistance Grants removed as soon as possible,’’ he said.

‘‘Councils need to keep pushing things and keep it in the politicians’ faces.’’

Association chairman and Swan Hill councillor Gary Norton said a new independent report about the financial sustainability of Victorian councils highlighted the many challenges councils faced.

‘‘Low populations, large geographical areas to maintain and manage, challenging socio-economic realities, higher relative costs and lower relative capacity to generate revenues all make for a difficult operating environment,’’ he said.

Cr Norton said councils faced increased community expectations, fewer resources and challenging issues with infrastructure investment and maintenance.

‘‘Local government will need better and improved support from the state and federal governments if the sustainability issue is to be addressed,’’ he said.

‘‘Whenever local government sustainability is raised, there will inevitably be those who pose council amalgamations as the panacea for the future. This is not the appropriate response going forward.’’

Cr Norton said it was vital councils had improved and ongoing funding, a reduction in red tape and an innovative resource sharing service.

West Wimmera councillor Ron Hawkins said it was shocking the state government had not committed any funding to local government.

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 20: Brumbies at the start the Super Rugby Qualifying Final match between DHL Stormers and Brumbies at DHL Newlands Stadium on June 20, 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Photo: Gallo Images1. Brumbies’ loose trio put on a clinic in Cape Town. The hosts would have fretted once Duane Vermeulen was withdrawn, and even more so when Schalk Burger was a late scratching – but even they couldn’t have imagined just how dominant Ita Vaea, Scott Fardy and David Pocock would be over 80 minutes. In every facet of the game the Brumbies’ unit put pressure on the Stormers: Fardy with his presence at lineout time, Pocock (and Fardy) with their strength over the ball, and Vaea on the first-up tacklers with his steam-train carries. As a collective, they were brilliantly balanced and relentless. In fact, everything the Brumbies did – save for the scrum – had the Stormers on the back foot. The kick chase was outstanding, and the aggression in the tackle was such that whatever ball the Stormers did get was messy.

2. Henry Speight’s red card takes the fizz out of the champagne. There isn’t a malicious bone in Speight’s body – his only crime is the occasional burst of over-exuberance – but he knew he was in trouble the instant he lifted Juan de Jongh and dropped him on his head. And given the recent rulings on dangerous tackles, there is little chance of Speight being cleared to face the Hurricanes on Saturday. Clearly, it’s a massive blow with Julian Savea lurking on the left wing and the Brumbies desperate for every bit of experience. They have a strong recent record against the Hurricanes, including a fine 29-21 win in New Zealand last year, but it’s clearly a vastly better Hurricanes this year – better organised, more patient. Without Speight, it’s a herculean task.

3. Christian Lealiifano and Joe Tomane send a timely message. With the door being so obviously opened for Matt Giteau, Lealiifano is one of the players who stands to suffer and Tomane’s work has somewhat been overshadowed by the sizeable presence of Taqele Naiyaravoro. But both have been in tidy form even before standout displays in Cape Town, making Michael Cheika’s selection decisions all the more difficult. Even if the Wallabies take 14 backs, there is no guarantee both will make it. Lealiifano and Matt Toomua might unknowingly be locked in a battle for the sole Wallaby spot, and the same with Tomane and Henry Speight.

4. Waratahs on Waisake Naholo alert. The All Blacks’ wings in recent years have had a range of attributes – power, footwork, security under the high ball – but none have had the sheer pace of Fijian Naholo. Not only that, but he has the ability to shear off at acute angles without losing pace. He’s a gift to the All Blacks selectors; someone that can add something else to their game in a World Cup year. For the Waratahs, they have to be aware of all those abilities, plus his frequent carries from first receiver using his power. The most impressive thing about the Highlanders’ win against the Chiefs, however, was the tight five. They scrummaged superbly and players like unfancied tight-head Josh Hohneck were tremendous around the park. That pack has earned a lot of respect this year but the Waratahs are no doubt clever enough to afford them that.

5. South African Super Rugby is in trouble. It’s not clear what was most worrying – the sight of so many empty seats at Newlands, or a Stormers’ display that was as close to embarrassing that you’ll get at this stage of the competition. Joe Tomane has probably had tougher opposed training sessions in crossing for his three tries, and the Brumbies were able to put up midfield bombs, hit the catcher, power over the ball and win a turnover with far too much ease. They have a lot of depth in South Africa, but it’s clearly being stretched by relentless raids from European rugby, and teams such as the Sharks and Bulls clearly underperformed given their talent. It’s not good for the competition, and it’s certainly not good for Australia or the Wallabies.

Team of the week

1. Brendon Edmonds (Highlanders)

2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)

3. Josh Hohneck (Highlanders)

4. Alex Ainley (Highlanders)

5. Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)

6. Scott Fardy (Brumbies)

7. David Pocock (Brumbies)

8. Ita Vaea (Brumbies)

9. Aaron Smith (Highlanders)

10. Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)

11. Joe Tomane (Brumbies)

12. Damian de Allende (Stormers)

13, Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)

14. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders)

15. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)

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A series of text messages has revealed that Essendon chairman Paul Little threatened to sever ties with coach James Hird in August 2013 unless Hird accepted a 12-month coaching ban.

The messages, revealed in a book by Chip Le Grand to be published this week, were allegedly sent to Hird while Little was at the home of then AFL deputy Gillon McLachlan negotiating a deal for the Bombers.

The texts pressured Hird to accept the deal that the AFL was offering, in order to protect the  league’s deal with Essendon.

“James AFL telling me you are trying to change the negotiated deal. I can’t help you any further James as Fitzpatrick has the s***s and the Total deal now has the wobbles up. I will have to cut you loose. I thought you & I had an agreement. I need to know this afternoon what your decision is. Paul,” reads the first message from Little to Hird.

The second message, which reportedly came about an hour and a half later, said Hird would be “selfish” not to take the ban.

“James AFL have said they will not do EFC deal unless we stand you down. Your decision not to take 12 months is going to impact the total club. This dispute is about to get very messy because you won’t take another 6 months ie a total of 12. If you really want to do what’s in the best interest of the club & its players take 12 months. Anything else will be selfish. Paul.”

Le Grand’s book also reports that Little called Hird later on that night and told the Bombers coach that if he refused to take the suspension, the AFL would have him sacked.

The chairman was worried that if a deal wasn’t reached, Essendon would be stripped of all premiership points in the 2014 season.

“Rather than sack him I just told him I couldn’t protect him anymore. You have got to do what is in the best interests of the club now,” Little said in an interview with Le Grand.

Hird agreed to the deal a short time later and was suspended, while the Dons were kicked out of the 2013 finals series, as well as given draft penalties. Hird has previously claimed that he took the deal under “duress, threats and inducements”.

The negotiations between the AFL and Essendon were facilitated by John Wylie, chairman of the Australian Sports Commission and friend of both Little and AFL commissioner Mike Fitzpatrick.

Little said in another extract from the book: “It was a genuine offer of help from John to try and create a settlement package that I could sign off on, to all intents and purposes from the club and Hird’s point of view, and Fitzy could sign off on, to all intents and purposes from the AFL’s point of view.

“Whether John wants to be remembered for that, I don’t know. Whether Fitzy would agree to it, I don’t know. But that is what happened. It was quite helpful.”

At the time, the AFL Commission was close to handing down sanctions to Essendon and other individuals over the supplements saga.

The text messages put a spotlight on Fitzpatrick’s involvement in the deal. Little’s message – “Fitzpatrick has the s***s and the Total deal now has the wobbles up” – suggests that Fitzpatrick was closely involved in the negotiations.

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Photo: FDCSCHOOLS in the Southern Highlands may be under investigation for incidents of ‘sexting’.

Hume Local Area Command police officers have responded to reports of it in some schools in the region.

Hume LAC senior constable Gary Mutton said the police declined to comment on or name particular schools.

The Hume LAC encompasses the Wingecarribbee, Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley council shires.

Sexting is the use of online or mobile media technologies to share explicit pictures, with or without consent.

Although New South Wales’ law permits consensual sexting from age 16, an overarching national law bans it until age 18.

As such, sexting is a crime when it involves children (under 18) or anyone of any age who sexts without consent or to harrass.

This includes images of genitals covered by underwear, or exposed while dressing, toileting, bathing, or during intercourse.

Sexting of or between children can constitute child pornography, regardless of whether it’s a real or digitally altered picture or video.

The offence is committed if someone asks for, or takes, or receives and keeps, or sends/posts an explicit image of a minor.

Maximum penalties for criminal sexting can include jail time and/or sex offender registration, even for minors.

The Hume LAC has powers to seize any media devices used in criminal sexting as part of investigations.

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Police say forensic evidence will be critical to determining how a 39-year-old Mackay woman died, after her body was found in a house on Friday night.

The woman had suffered neck injuries when emergency services found her at the Beaconsfield home on Ellul Court about 10.10pm Friday.

Investigators took a man into custody but he was released and not charged.

Detective Acting Inspector Jeremy Novosel said the post-mortem would be completed in the coming days.

“At this point in time a crime scene has been declared at that premises. We’ve got our scientific and scenes of crime officers conducting forensic examinations which will aid in our inquiries and investigations,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“We’ve certainly spoken to a lot of witnesses who were at that scene. We like to get as much background, as much information as we can leading up to the circumstances.”

Police believe a triple-0 call was placed to emergency services from the house.

He said the man and woman were known to each other, but was unsure whether they were partners.

Detective Acting Inspector Novosel declined to say whether a weapon was found at the scene or go into detail about the woman’s injuries, saying that information formed part of the police investigation.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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GO NORTH: Gary Begley is in the Northern Territory to meet its Education Minister Peter Chandler at Parliament House as part of a mission to pass on saddle-making skills to students in the outback. Photo: BRIAN WOOD 060915saddle2A saddle maker from Bathurst is gearing up to share his trade with teachers in the Northern Territory so they can return to the classrooms and pass on the craft to their students.

Kelso’s Gary Begley runs Saddlery Australia, which incorporates Burrum River Saddlery School, and clearly loves what he does for a living.

In fact, “Begs”, as he likes to be called, will visit Parliament House in Darwin tomorrow as part of a new venture with its government.

The visit will see him pass on his skills to seven teachers, who will then return to their local rural and remote communities armed with the knowledge and equipment to teach high school students to make their own saddles, bridles and reins.

Mr Begley said he had pre-prepared kits with all the leather already cut for each of the students to make their own saddle as part of their school agricultural studies.

“It’s all about teaching the teachers so they can teach the kids,” he said. “Our first meeting to kick things off will be with the Northern Territory’s Education Minister Peter Chandler at Parliament House in Darwin. We’ll be in town for about three days before returning back to Bathurst.

“Saddlery is a lost art these days, so this will really help pass on the knowledge we have. The kids can take ownership of the saddle they make, knowing that when it’s finished, it will be their pride and joy.

“They really want to do a good job because they will be riding their own horse in that very same saddle and showing it off to all their mates.”

Mr Begley said he had plenty of travel coming up as he and wife Lesley take their whip and saddle-making schools to the outback.

“We off to Dimensions in Leather Expo again in Brisbane in July and after that we will drive to Longreach in August to run a saddlery school at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. This will be our second year there,” he said.

“After that it’s off across the Barclay region in the Northern Territory to the Three Ways and down to Alice Springs where we will meet up the seven trainers from four different schools in the NT as a follow up to the meeting with the minister.”

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ON THE MOVE: Orange CYMS lock Tim Mortimer scores in the Group 10 derby against Orange Hawks. Photo: KELLY LUCAS 0620klrugby6RUGBY LEAGUE

THAT’S nine.

Orange CYMS continued on their merry way throughout the 2015 Group 10 season on Saturday night, knocking off Orange Hawks 26-10 in one of the best games so far this year.

The green and golds were made to work for it, though, against a vastly improved Hawks outfit from the one that suffered a 43-10 defeat back in round one, but when Mick Sullivan’s men lifted a gear, four second-half tries put the icing on the Orange derby double for the premiership favourites.

Sullivan, who was pleased with the effort from his troops, said his side’s 16-point victory over the two blues was arguably their best performance of the season to date.

“We’re still patchy, but the second half (was our best), definitely,” he said.

“Couple of years ago (Hawks) went through and defeated us in every round game and the first semi, so it’s pleasing to get back on top of that ledger.

“I’m pleased with the boys, it’s been a long first round. We’ve remained unbeaten and our next goal was to kick the next round off in style.”

Both teams putting together great halves, its 6-all Hawks and @[email protected]#[email protected]南京夜网/sSKBSC4OL5

— Nicholas McGrath (@nickmcgrath4) June 20, 2015This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

CALLING all aspiring young film makers, there’s a festival just for you.

The Empire Cinema Bowral. Photo by Roy Truscott

A Youth Film Festival will be held as part of Empire Cinema’s centenary celebrations this coming September.

The festival, sponsored by Films in the Southern Highlands (FISH), will offer a range of prizes for best film and runners up.

Entry is open to all high school students who attend a high school in the Highlands region.

Planning for the event suggests films should be less than 10 minutes and express themes that are important to young people living in the Highlands.

The entries will be judged by a specialist panel and films will be screened for viewing by the public during the centenary celebrations. An information session about the Youth Film Festival will be held at Empire Cinema Bowral on Monday, June 29 at 5pm.

Attendees will be given more information and able to ask questions.

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Esperance residents are being encouraged to secure their houses as a dangerous weather warning has been issued for all areas southwest of Bunbury, Narrogin, Hyden, Salmon Gums and Israelite Bay.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) issued the dangerous weather warning for Esperance this morning, saying the unusual weather could damage homes and make travel dangerous.

“This is unusual weather that could cause damage to homes and make travel dangerous,” the warning said.

“If you live in an area southwest of a line from Bunbury to Narrogin to Hyden to Salmon Gums to Israelite Bay you need to get ready now for the bad weather coming today. This includes people in, near or between Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Bridgetown, Narrogin, Katanning, Albany and Esperance and surrounding areas.”

“The worst weather is expected along coastal parts between Margaret River and Esperance.”

Widespread damaging winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour could result in damage to homes and property are expected said the DFES.

In isolated areas south of Busselton and Hopetoun dangerous gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour may also cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property. Conditions are expected to ease by Monday.

Isolated thunderstorms and small hail are also likely.

Surfers along the south coast between Augusta and Israelite Bay are discouraged from entering the ocean as tides may be higher than usual and beach erosion is likely said the DFES.

The DFES advises residents who are away from home to contact family or friends to help prepare vacant properties for the widespread of damaging winds that is expected.

“If you are away from home contact family or friends to prepare your property.”

The weather warning also encourages people to:

Store or weigh down loose objects around your home like outdoor furniture that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, causing damage or injury.

Ensure your emergency kit is complete including a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.

Ensure pets and animals are in a safe area.Move vehicles under cover.

Boat owners should securely moor their boats.

Campers should find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams.

If your home has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500 or to report powerlines down, call Western Power on 13 13 51.

In a life threatening situation call 000.

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