Breakthrough endoscopy imaging system arrives in Australia

Breakthrough endoscopy imaging system arrives in Australia
Thursday, 06 February 2014 16:04
Bowel cancer accounted for 12.6 per cent of all new cancers in Australia according to the latest data published(1). Although colonoscopy exams prevent many colon cancer deaths and are considered the most sensitive method for detecting colorectal cancers, the procedure is not completely effective in preventing cancer cases. EndoChoiceRInc. recently unveiled research that showed that its new FuseT system significantly improves the accuracy of this procedure and greatly reduces the number of adenomas missed during surgery.

This technology has now been approved for commercial sale in Australia and local distributor Gallay Medical & Scientific has been astounded by the early attention Fuse has attracted. According to Business Development Manager, Mr Chris Vat, “Fuse is the first major breakthrough in endoscopy imaging for many years and the early demand from Australian & New Zealand based gastroenterologists certainly reflects that. We are excited to be launching a product which has such immense potential to improve patient clinical health outcomes in the short term.”

EndoChoice’s Fuse system is a proprietary arrangement of three small cameras at the tip of a flexible endoscope. By using three cameras, the Fuse system allows doctors to see nearly twice as much surface area as they can with traditional endoscopes that only use one camera. Because of the folds that occur naturally in the colon and stomach anatomy, problem areas can easily go undetected when using traditional endoscopes. The Fuse system allows doctors to see into and behind those folds, effectively looking backwards as well as the traditional forward view.

In a multi-centre trial conducted in the U.S., Europe and Israel, Prof. Ian Gralnek and a team of researchers performed a series of colonoscopies comparing traditional endoscopes and the new Fuse system. The endoscope used in the first examination was selected randomly. After the first inspection, each patient immediately underwent a second colonoscopy performed by the same doctor, but with the competing endoscope. The 185 patient trial showed traditional colonoscopes missed 42% of adenomas, while the Fuse system missed just 8%. After 28 adenomas were found using traditional endoscopes another 20 were found by Fuse for an incremental find rate of 71%. “Traditional endoscopes provide up to 170 degrees of forward vision. The advantage of Fuse is that it allows endoscopists to examine twice the anatomy with a wide 330 degree view,” said Ian Gralnek, MD, MSHS, FASGE, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion -Israel Institute of Technology and Department of Gastroenterology, Rambam Health Care Campus. “Our findings are compelling and support the data from previous studies showing the limitations of traditional endoscopes. EndoChoice’s innovative Fuse technology dramatically improves the effectiveness of this life-saving procedure.”

Multiple Fuse trials are imminent across Australia & New Zealand and, according to Chris Vat, local clinicians have wasted no time in expressing interest. “Doctors see that our technology is unique and many are beginning to understand the potential for their own practices. 2014 is certainly going to be a busy year for our team and we look forward to spreading the word about Fuse and its exciting potential.”

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(1) http://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/cancer-types/bowel-cancer/bowel-cancer-statistics

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ENDS

About EndoChoice
Based in Atlanta, EndoChoice is a medtech company focused on the manufacturing and commercialization of platform technologies including devices, diagnostics, infection control and endoscopic imaging for specialists treating a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. EndoChoice leverages its direct sales organization to serve more than 2,000 customers in the United States and works with 34 distribution partners world-wide. The Company was founded in 2008 and has rapidly developed a proprietary product portfolio, which includes the revolutionary Full Spectrum EndoscopyT System (FuseT). 2013 marked the fourth consecutive year EndoChoice was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine. To learn more, visit www.endochoice.com

About Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd
Established in 1965, Gallay has grown to become a preferred supplier for many hospitals, day surgeries and pathology laboratories throughout Australia and New Zealand. Soluscope is the market leader for Automated Endoscope Reprocessors and Gallay continues to grow aggressively into the endoscopy devices and consumables markets. With a team of highly experienced Account Managers, Gallay is known for its exceptional level of customer service across all metropolitan and country areas. Visit www.gallay.com.au to find out more.

Contact Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd
Name: Mr Chris Vat, Business Development Manager
Phone: 03 9566 6888
Email: sales@gallay.com.au
Web: http://www.gallay.com.au/fuse-endoscopy-system

Australian Company Tackles Indian Telemarketing Shortcomings

Australian Company Tackles Indian Telemarketing Shortcomings
Wednesday, 13 July 2011 10:59
ITEL Marketing, a lead generation company serving Asia-Pacific, has launched the world’s first Gen Y telemarketing training to the public online. iTEL Marketing hopes that the training will help to improve the quality and professionalism of telemarketing between India and Australia. The primary focus of the first training module is the most common subject matter for businesses of all sizes, cold-calling.

Their training is built on nearly a decade of skills and knowledge and uses interactive video to aid learning. The first telemarketing training video has already been released on YouTube. An additional 10 modules are rolling out during 2011.

“Our telemarketers are mostly Gen Y and didn’t engage well with our traditional classroom lessons”, explains Molita Coelho-Lewis, General Manager for iTEL Marketing. “Video training greatly improved our telemarketer’s ability to develop high quality leads for our clients” said Coelho-Lewis, “Our animation makes heavy use of social media and we are very happy to share our knowledge with Indian organisations to help them grow their business in Australia.”

To see iTEL’s training, please visit http://YouTube.com/user/ColdCallingTraining or visit http://itelmarketing.com.au for more information about the company.

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Media Contact:
Fab Capodicasa
+61 4 3431 5428
Fab.capodicasa@gmail.com

About iTEL Marketing:
iTEL Marketing is an Australian telemarketing agency offering B2B lead generation, appointment setting and recruitment of in-house telemarketing staff. iTEL Marketing is based in Sydney and counts amongst its clients IBM, CISCO, Ernst & Young and FairFax Digital.

Varley Group acquires Telescopic Tower Enterprises

Varley Group acquires Telescopic Tower Enterprises
Monday, 24 June 2013 16:21
Brisbane, Queensland – June 24th, 2013: The Varley Group of companies announces the acquisition of Telescopic Tower Enterprises Pty Ltd (TTE) and its entry into the power utilities and elevating work platform industry. TTE is a Brisbane based company that is the exclusive Australian, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand dealer for USA company TEREX vehicle-mounted Elevating Work Platforms (EWP’s), Crane Borers and Cable Placers. Italian companies Oil & Steel and Palazzani are also represented for sales and support of EWP’s.

The Varley Group formed in 1886, and is now a leading engineering manufacturing and support Company that has operations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Sales of products and services extend across Australia and globally. Varley is broad-based with recognition in a diverse industry range including aviation, defence, power generation, rail, ship services and specialised vehicles.

New TTE General Manager Pierre Sidorow (a 25 year employee with Varley) said “The addition of Telescopic Tower Enterprises into the Varley family strengthens our position in the engineering, manufacture, delivery and support of specialist vehicles. The enthusiasm shown by our key equipment suppliers in Terex, Oil & Steel and Palazzani is fantastic and the opportunities ahead for growth are exciting. We are looking forward to supporting our current and future customers.” TTE’s long-time and industry recognised manufacturing partners Lift Industries will continue to provide manufacturing, testing and delivery support.

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Contact General Manager Pierre Sidorow 07 3326 2041 or 0417 421 347 for more information
Varley Group – National
34 Yarraman Place Virginia Q 4014
Details on Varley Group www.varleygroup.com and www.telescopictowers.com.au

Innovative Security Software Development Shafted by Bureaucrats.

Innovative Security Software Development Shafted by Bureaucrats.
Saturday, 14 July 2012 17:03
Australian R&D software company, Armorlog Pty Ltd, has had the rug pulled out from under its development program by an ill-informed judgement by the ATO, despite having qualified for R&D funding under a Federal program.

Armorlog has devised innovative software to protect consumers from payment fraud and online phishing attacks. It is already available to install as an embedded solution under license, and it has been attracting significant capital investment.

Armorlog’s Managing Director, Louis Leahy states, “We have gone so far down the track since 2009 when we were accepted into the Department of Innovation’s R&D Tax Incentives Program. Now they want to close us down for a technicality – a technicality that is baseless.”

The Australian Tax Office are now wanting to reclaim tax credits previously granted to Armorlog’s development company, SOK Development Pty Ltd, because it maintains the professional services agreement between the parties is unenforceable and that unpaid amounts owing by Armorlog to the company claiming the tax credits might never be repaid.

“It is a totally false assertion for the ATO to say the agreement is unenforceable and not effective at law,” says Leahy. “This same agreement has been tested in the courts, in our favour, a number of times. The terms of the engagement document are those mandated for professional services agreements under legislation and required by the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board (APES 305 Terms of Engagement). They have also ignored the requirements of our capital raising, that the balance outstanding by the development company is to be paid from the capital raising as a condition of accepting investor subscriptions.”

“The ATO’s one claim is that the development costs that have been accrued cannot be recognised for the tax credit because the prospect of recovery is “uncertain”. This has no basis in legislation and is based purely on case law, which in the first instance does not relate to these particular circumstances and has subsequently been superseded by newly enacted legislation,” Leahy said. “In any case to claim that uncertainty is a basis for not honouring the R&D credits is completely at odds with the intention of the R&D program for which we had already qualified and this is clear from the ATO’s own instructions.” Leahy also runs an accounting practice in Richmond.

The ATO is now claiming over $1.2million from the fledgling development group which has no capacity to pay and is now forced to cease trading to comply with insolvency laws. As a small business owner, the situation has left Leahy, his family and employees in turmoil.

Leahy believes that his vocal criticism of the inadequacies of AUSkey (the ATO’s own authentication solution) which competes with his technology, is behind their unrelenting attack. This has included 14 audits in rapid succession that have turned up nothing apart from the false claim the ATO has made regarding the services agreement. “It is an abuse of process,” said Leahy. “They have been desperate to come up with anything to justify the harassment.”

Leahy says, “The ATO could have assessed us on a consolidated basis if they didn’t want to honour the R&D commitment and we probably could have managed to carry on, but instead they are trying to tax us out of existence. They are endeavouring to subvert the objection and appeals process by winding up our trading entity before we have time to do anything. They are even taxing our development investment (capital) where no capital gain presently exists!”

“They have closed our business and are forcing us out of our home. It is all very corrupt and has left us feeling distressed, angry and powerless.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Louis Leahy
Phone: 02 45713086
Web: http://www.armorlog.com/
Email: louis@armorlog.com.au

Surviving 16 years in a destructive cult

Surviving 16 years in a destructive cult
Tuesday, 15 September 2009 15:59
MY BROTHER’S EYES
The true story of surviving 16 years in a destructive cult
David & John Ayliffe

“If you ever leave me, I will kill you. I am ‘God’ and have the power of life and death in my hands.’ Violet Pryor, Leader, Zion Full Salvation Ministry

Over 3,000 cults exist in Australia alone today. How they recruit members and operate is often a total mystery and shrouded in secrecy.

My Brother’s Eyes is one of the first Australian accounts of how a religious cult operated and is told through the eyes of two brothers: one on the inside; the other on the outside.

My Brother’s Eyes tells the utterly gripping story of David Ayliffe who spent 16 years in the religious cult called the Zion Full Salvation Ministry. He was in his late teens when he was recruited and didn’t leave until his early 40s.

The Zion Full Salvation Minister began as part of an inner city Anglican Church in Sydney and was founded by a woman who claimed to have Christ’s Stigmata and to be the embodiment of God on earth. When Violet Pryor died 16 years later, most of the congregation had been stripped of their finances, investments, families and self-esteem.

Among the many stories recounted, David’s wife Margaret tells how she discovered a melanoma and almost died from what Violet called ‘God’s will’ and had to secretly seek treatment. In the book she says: “Hate is not too strong a word for me now when I think of Violet. But the bitterness I came to feel towards her didn’t happen overnight you know and that makes it all the more true.”

Psychological pain, drama, control and secrecy: all were trademarks of Zion. Friend was set against friend, families deliberately broken up, and assets appropriated. But as David, the insider, interlaces his journey with John, his brother on the outside, a strange thing happens. The two brothers re-discover each other in a way that belies their early separation, and the tale of horror becomes one of enduring love and true redemption.

About the Authors

David Ayliffe had a promising career in journalism which he gave up when he joined Zion. He became part of the inner circle and eventually became the pastor when its leader died suddenly. Later he closed Zion. He went on to become CEO of an overseas aid organisation, a Bequest Office with Red Cross and is a Rotarian.

John Ayliffe is an author and ran a successful advertising company.

Paperback $34.95 John Garratt Publishing, September 15 2009.

For further information/author interviews please contact:
Annette Rinaudo, Publisher at John Garratt Publishing
Email annette@johngarratt.com.au or Tel 03 8545 2911

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Press Release published by Get the Word Out

Online Market To Make Business Waste Profitable

Online Market To Make Business Waste Profitable
Thursday, 08 July 2010 16:49
While voters remain unconvinced by interventionist government policies to address environmental issues, private industry may have a worthy alternative.

A new online market, called Wastivity.com, aims to prevent a large percentage of global industrial and commercial waste from reaching landfill by matching businesses that produce waste with buyers that can use that waste as an industrial input.

The recently launched website lets waste producers advertise their waste products to other businesses that may find the “waste” useful to their own production. Buyers can drastically reduce their direct procurement costs by purchasing ‘waste’ as an input to their production system. Essentially, Wastivity.com is an industrial trash and treasure, where free market is used to promote responsible waste management, indeed making it profitable.

In order to maximize the audience for wastivity.com, membership to become a buyer is free. Buyers must privately disclose their name, contact details, company, industry and intended use to protect sellers from malicious use of their details or misuse of the waste products being sold.

The new project at Wasitivity.com, while being quite unique in the world, is refreshingly simple in contrast to many other environmental schemes being devised. “With positive commercial focus, Wastivity.com has developed an environment in which new vertical links in the supply chain can be established,” explains Simon Miller, creator of the Wastivity project. “Wastivity.com presents the opportunity for businesses to not only reduce total system waste-to-input ratio, but also to realize financial value for waste (internalization) through the establishment of a marketplace.”

With a significant proportion of consumers indicating that they expect businesses to do more to be environmentally responsible corporate citizens, those participating in the Wastivity.com marketplace can be recognised as reducing its impact on the environment, while simultaneously reducing the cost of waste management obligations. Converting waste into an asset while recycling that waste through profitable business partnerships is a win for business, a win for consumers and a win for the environment in a positive move towards sustainable business.

For more information visit http://www.Wastivity.com or discuss the opportunity cost of disposing waste to landfill, please contact Simon Miller on+614 08 501 707 or emailsimon.miller@wastivity.com .

Pivotel signs service partner agreement with Thuraya Telecommunications

Pivotel signs service partner agreement with Thuraya Telecommunications
Friday, 08 March 2013 08:59
Gold Coast, Australia, March 6th, 2013 – Pivotel Satellite, a leading Mobile Satellite Services operator today announced it has signed a Service Partner agreement with Thuraya Telecommunications of the UAE. As a licensed mobile carrier, Pivotel will provide Thuraya’s products and services across Australia and Southern Asia. The company supports Australia’s largest installed base of mobile satellite services across the voice, data and M2M industry segments. The addition of Thuraya’s suite of products further complements Pivotel’s current product range and will enhance its position as Australia’s premier mobile satellite service provider across several vertical markets including mining, transport, maritime, professional trades, emergency services, construction and consumers.

Pivotel’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Bolger said “We chose to partner with Thuraya because of its innovative product range including the Thuraya XT-DUAL, which provides both GSM and satellite services. This dual-mode handheld provides outstanding value and utility to regional, remote and urban-based Australians looking to extend their mobile phone service coverage.” Mr. Bolger added, “The Company’s Thuraya IP terminal delivers an outstanding high-speed mobile data service which is in high demand and delivers enormous connectivity and productivity gains to individuals and organisations across the country.”

Thuraya’s Vice President of Distribution, Muiz A. Saad said “We are pleased to welcome Pivotel to Thuraya’s Service Partner network. We are confident that the Australian market will be well-served by such a highly experienced provider of mobile satellite communications services. Pivotel is well positioned to offer the next generation of Thuraya’s services to its current and future customers.”

Pivotel’s Thuraya services will utilise standard Australian mobile numbers than can be ported from their current service provider to Pivotel. Users of Thuraya will benefit from outstanding value on their GSM mobile services and for a small premium can access Thuraya’s satellite network from virtually anywhere in Australia. To add, customers of the dual mode services will not be charged to receive incoming calls and callers to a Pivotel Thuraya phone will pay normal call to mobile rates. Pivotel will launch a range of call plans which together with the Thuraya XT DUAL handsets will provide customers with a low cost, easy to use, unmatched Mobile Everywhere® service”.

For more information on Pivotel and how to subscribe to their services, visit http://www.pivotel.com.au/

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About Thuraya Telecommunications Company

Thuraya Telecommunications Company is an industry leading MSS operator and a global telecommunication provider offering innovative communications solutions to a variety of sectors including energy, broadcast media, maritime, military and NGO.

Thuraya’s superior network enables clear communications and uninterrupted coverage across two thirds of the globe by satellite and across the whole planet through its unique GSM roaming capabilities. The company’s diverse range of technologically superior and highly reliable mobile satellite handsets and broadband devices provide ease of use, value, quality and efficiency.

Thuraya remains committed to serving humanity through delivering the essential tools for optimal connectivity, never leaving anyone out of reach. For more information visit www.thuraya.com

About Pivotel

Pivotel Group Pty Limited is one of four Australian licensed mobile telecommunications companies. Pivotel Satellite Pty Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pivotel Group. Pivotel Satellite is a tier 1 reseller of Thuraya, Globalstar and Iridium satellite networks and uniquely provides all three services utilising domestic Australian mobile numbers. Pivotel also resells the Vodafone and Telstra 3G/GSM mobile services under its Think Mobile and Reward Mobile brands and provides wholesale carrier services such as satellite and GSM machine to machine communications, tracking services and \’white labelled\’ call centre services through its wholly owned subsidiary Pivotel Communications Pty Limited to over 80 independent service partners. With its head office located on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Pivotel Group is an Australian owned company currently employing over 55 staff supporting in excess of 160,000 end customer services.

For more information contact:
Brian Heaven
Head of Product and Marketing
Pivotel Group Pty Limited
Tel: + 61-7-5630-3000
Fax: + 61-7-5630-3080
Email: brian.heaven@pivotel.com.au
Website: www.pivotel.com.au

From Shanghai to Dublin on bicycles for haemochromatosis

From Shanghai to Dublin on bicycles for haemochromatosis
Thursday, 09 August 2012 00:00
“Two continents, 19 countries, 13,000+ kilometres and loads of fun!”

Bishkek, KYRGYZSTAN – Ben Shuker, a young Australian adventurer from Brisbane and his American friend Brendan Kay from Chicago are on a rest day, 3 countries, 5,500km and two and a half months into a bicycle ride from Shanghai to Dublin to raise awareness and money for hemochromatosis (inherited iron overload disorder) , the most common genetic disease in Australia and the U.S.A. Ben, 24, studied architecture in Brisbane before setting off to China where he has lived for the past few years, teaching English and travelling extensively. In fact Ben has already achieved one of his travel goals – seeing all seven wonders of the world.

“I am passionate about people, culture and outdoor activities. I had never done any bicycle travelling before in my life so this is a new challenge that I am enjoying as much as I am learning” said Ben.

Ben estimates that it will take six months to complete the ride across two continents and 19 countries, including side trips. They chose to end their ride in Dublin for three reasons. Ireland is one of the farthest points in Europe from China; they both have always wanted to see Ireland and Ireland has the highest proportion of people with haemochromatosis in the world. Their route will take them through China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, England, and Ireland. They hope to ride 100 km per day, six days a week. Ben and Brendan are funding the trip themselves, but are seeking corporate sponsorship to help cover some of the cost.

They met while they were both working in Shanghai. Their shared love of travel and adventure soon saw them become good friends and travel companions. Not long after they met, Brendan learned that a much loved uncle back in the States had fallen ill as a result of undiagnosed haemochromatosis. The disorder which can cause excess iron to be absorbed from food, affects about one in 200 people in Australia and the USA. Though often misdiagnosed, haemochromatosis can be effectively treated by lowering the level of iron by periodically removing blood from the affected person. If diagnosed late, haemochromatosis can be fatal. . “Haemochromatosis is a disease neither of us had heard of before’ said Ben. ‘After looking into it and realizing there is a lack of international awareness, we agreed it was a great cause for us to do what we can to raise awareness. Haemochromatosis Australia and the American Haemochromatosis Society are doing great work and we thought we could help their efforts. Australia will have its first Haemochromatosis Awareness Week from 13 – 19 August. We would love people to see this story and think about what they can do to help raise awareness too.’

Ben’s biggest challenge in making the cross-continent bike trip? “Staying on track. There are so many amazing places we are going to see, but also so many just off our path.” he said.

Ben and Brendan are blogging about their adventure at http://shanghai-dublin.tumblr.com. For information about hereditary haemochromatosis, or to make a donation to the Haemochromatosis Australia, visit www.haemochromatosis.org.au.

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Images
A high-resolution copyright-free image of Ben and Brendan is China “Brendan and Ben at Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), Xinjiang, China” can be downloaded from www.haemochromatosis.org.au/assets/images/BEN_brendan_tianchi.jpg

Contact
Media contact: Tony Moorhead, Haemochromatosis Australia, 07 5438 8267,admin@haemochromatosis.org.au

Ben Shuker benshuker@hotmail.com (Contact can be patchy due to their location and access to internet).

Haemochromatosis Australia President, Ben Marris 03 6267 4787
information@haemochromatosis.org.au

For more information about haemochromatosis or Haemochromatosis Australia visit www.haemochromatosis.org.au

Haemochromatosis Australia
Haemochromatosis Australia is the support, health promotion and advocacy group for people with haemochromatosis and their families. The group has operated continuously for 22 years.

• It is a not for profit group run entirely by volunteers.
• It has over 1400 members across Australia.
• It operates an Information line 1300 019 028 and informative website.
• It publishes two informative booklets and a quarterly newsletter.
• It organises local support group and information sessions.

The groups medical advisors include some of the leading academics and clinicians in the field of haemochromatosis, including –
Prof Emeritus Lawrie Powell, Prof John Olynyk, Prof Martin Delatycki, Prof Darrell Crawford, Prof Katie Allen
For more information www.haemochromatosis.org,au

Haemochromatosis
Haemochromatosis, or inherited iron overload disorder, is the most common genetic disorder in Australia. It causes the body to absorb excess iron which builds up in the organs and joints over many years and eventually becomes toxic.

Early symptoms include joint pains, fatigue, weakness and sexual dysfunction.

If untreated it can lead to serious and potentially fatal symptoms including diabetes, liver cancer and cirrhosis, heart failure and osteoarthritis.
Despite being so common (one in 200 have the genetic pre-disposition) it is not well known and is frequently overlooked. Often only the individual symptoms are treated and the underlying cause is not recognised.

Tests for the condition are simple and cheap. If iron studies show raised ferritin on two occasions, or if a first degree relative is diagnosed, then then a genetic test is covered by Medicare.

If people are diagnosed early and treated then haemochromatosis is no barrier to a normal healthy life.

Treatment is simple, drug free and uncontroversial. Regular venesection, like giving blood at a blood bank, unloads iron. Often this can be done at the Red Cross Blood Service and the blood is useful.

Perhaps, if the condition needed pharmaceutical treatment, it would be better known.

Haemochromatosis Week
The inaugural Australian Haemochromatosis Week will be held from 13th to 19th August 2012. The purpose of the week is to raise community awareness of the condition and thus improve the rate of early diagnosis.

The week will be launched at a public meeting at Parramatta Town Hall on Saturday 11th August where Professor Jacob George, Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatic Medicine at Westmead Clinical School, will give a public talk on the condition.

There will be public information meetings in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Port Macquarie and on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.
A special art exhibition in Hobart titled “Overload” will feature haemochromatosis.

Radio, television and print media will raise awareness of the condition.

There will also be a poster campaign and a variety of local displays and activities initiated by the 1400 members of Haemochromatosis Australia.

Easy Learn keyboards to revolutionise learning to type

Easy Learn keyboards to revolutionise learning to type
Monday, 22 February 2010 12:45
LEARNING to type no longer has to be a drawn out process, thanks to a new invention. A keyboard with a revolutionary ABC design, which incorporates both upper case and lower case letters, is taking the stress out of learning to type.

The Easy Learn keyboards are the brainchild of Peter Crawford from The Logical Learning Company in Melbourne. He came up with the design after watching his young sons Keith and Eric attempt to use a traditional QWERTY keyboard. Mr Crawford realised that not only were his sons having difficulty finding letters in the QWERTY layout, they were also struggling to identify the capital letters because they had been introduced to lower case letters and sounds. After further research, he found that 11 of the 26 lower case letters of the alphabet do not even resemble the upper case letters which are found on traditional keyboards.

People of all ages have found the keyboard easier to use.Alby Ashley, a 74-year-old retiree, said he became very frustrated trying to use a traditional QWERTY keyboard.

“I used to avoid using the computer,” Mr Ashley admitted. However, after being introduced to the Easy Learn keyboard, he now uses his computer for an average of two hours a day.

“It’s great for senior people. I’m no longer frightened of typing,” Mr Ashley said.

Now he uses the computer to email friends and keep abreast of news on the Internet.

“It’s become very handy to be able to email people back and forth,” he said.

“That’s not something I was confident doing before I had the (Easy Learn) keyboard.”

Jacqui Mainland was also astonished at how quickly her three children Callum, 14, Bethany, 12, and Travis, 8, became proficient using the keyboard.

“They picked it up so quickly and they love using it,” she said. “I think they’re a great idea.”

Cricketing great and former teacher Mike Hussey is also excited about the Easy Learn keyboard. Mr Hussey believes it will increase a child’s ability to use a computer while reinforcing the alphabet.

“It’s a fantastic new innovation to help kids learn how to master the keyboard a lot easier than the old QWERTY style,” he said. “As a parent and a former teacher I’m always interested in new and innovative ways to help kids to learn how to type. When I was at school, I found I had to do hours and hours of typing classes – I found it very difficult to master the keyboard and if we had something like this when I was a kid, I would have enjoyed my typing much more and I probably would have found it much easier.”

Mr Crawford said it made sense to replace the QWERTY layout, which was developed 135 years ago. “ABC keyboards are the way of the future,” he said. Mr Crawford has been delighted his invention is helping people gain confidence with typing and his two boys love using it.

For more information visit www.abckeyboards.com

More information about Easy Learn Keyboards

The QWERTY computer keyboard layout was actually designed 135 years ago to slow typists so they wouldn’t jam typewriter levers. Modern society is moving away from this keyboard layout as it is no longer relevant and hasn’t been since the demise of the typewriter. A few examples of technologies moving away from the outdated layout are mobile phone keypads, telephone keypads and GPS systems.

Children are taught from a young age to read from left to right and from top to bottom. Therefore, it makes no sense to use the jumbled QWERTY keyboard. The logical ABC format on the Easy Learn keyboard makes it much easier for beginners to find the letters. The keys have both upper and lower case letters on each key, which makes it easier for young children to identify letters. The layout also makes it easier for people with a disability or the elderly to learn how to use a computer.

For more information visit www.abckeyboards.com

Media Contacts
For more information, interviews or to organise a photo please contact:
PETER CRAWFORD
THE LOGICAL LEARNING COMPANY
(03) 9775 5455 or visit www.abckeyboards.com

Self Publishing Authors now have the Chance to Sell Their Work in Bookstores Across Australia

Self Publishing Authors now have the Chance to Sell Their Work in Bookstores Across Australia
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 10:18
Book Pal Australia Announces Working Partnership with Angus and Robertson Bookstores.

Brisbane – Book Pal Australia, the only Australian self publishing service company that offers global book distribution for Australian self-published authors, has expanded their distribution system within Australia thanks to a new partnership with Angus and Robertson Bookstores.

With the Angus and Robertson partnership, readers can go to any Angus and Robertson store across Australia and order their books by any of Book Pal’s authors. The partnership takes advantage of the Print on Demand publishing model, so authors don’t have to print and pay for a stock of books in the stores, which is costly to the author.

Instead, the books are printed when they are ordered and are then shipped to the Angus and Robertson store of their choice for pick-up. The program is designed to be a simple, convenient and cost effective distribution method for both authors and readers alike.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to help our authors sell their books to a worldwide audience,” Terence Tam, CEO of Book Pal Australia, said. “This channel partnership with Angus and Robertson Bookstores is another way our authors can sell to the widest audience possible.”

“Through our Book Pal network, our authors now have access to the world’s largest book distribution network covering the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.”

To learn more, or to become a published author, visit their website at http://www.bookpal.com.au.

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For More Information
Contact: Teddy Makukutu
Phone: 07-3712 2800
Email: teddy@bookpal.com.au

About Book Pal Australia
Book Pal Australia is the only self publishing service company that offers global book distribution for Australian self-published authors in over 25,000 bookstores across US, UK and Australia. The company boasts the largest worldwide book distribution network of any full-service self-publishing company in the world. Book Pal offers this service through a Print on Demand publishing model to massively reduce the upfront cost of self-publishing for authors. To learn more about Book Pal Australia, visit http://www.bookpal.com.au.