Trucking iron made him snooze

Trucking iron made him snooze
Tuesday, 07 August 2012 15:56
TRUCK driver Chris Blanchard can laugh at the memory now but back in the year 2000 his mates in the industry called him Captain Snooze.

They had good reason because at every opportunity he would climb into his sleeper cab at truck stops and grab 40 winks before hitting the road again hauling freight thousands of kilometres across Victoria, Queensland and NSW.

“Off duty I seemed to feel lethargic most of the time”, recalls Chris, 43, a mechanic by trade who drives for the family haulage business based in Grafton, NSW. “There was this general feeling of overall tiredness. I just didn’t feel good. I felt generally low”

At the time he put this down to depression associated with the recent break-up of his six-year marriage but when the feeling persisted he sought advice from his local GP. Blood tests revealed that Chris, who had played hockey for years and was of above average fitness, was storing higher than normal levels of iron in his body which could have posed serious long-term health risks.

Further tests confirmed the diagnosis that Chris was suffering from iron overload –haemochromatosis – the most common genetic disorder in Australia. His level of serum ferritin, the key indicator of the level of iron stored in the body, was approaching 600, far higher than the normal range among men of between 20 and 300 micrograms per litre. Chris was totally unaware that he was absorbing far more iron than was necessary from his diet – and the body has no way of getting rid of the excess. Even worse he had no idea of what might be the long-term health effects.

“The tests explained a few things,” says Chris who drives a fully laden 48-tonne truck delivering timber poles to power distributors throughout the eastern states. “Suddenly there was a reason why I had a lack of go, a complete lack of oomph. Some evenings after work I’d just sit in a chair and do nothing, not even turn on the TV. I’d just sit and wonder why I felt so low.”

In Chris’ case treatment required donating blood – 500 mls at a time – initially once a month for four months until his iron levels dropped to normal and, on the advice of his doctor, a change in diet. Hamburgers, a long-time favourite, were replaced with chicken and his intake of beer and bottled drinks high in vitamin C, was drastically reduced. Now, thanks

partly to his diet-conscious wife Joanne, salads are regularly on the menu and the pantry is bare of breakfast cereals high in iron. And an evening out at a steak restaurant has become a rarity where once it would have been commonplace in Chris’ lifestyle.

But Chris, who now has a serum ferritin level of around 150, is happy with the lifestyle trade-offs and knows the outcome could have been far different. Left unchecked excess iron stored in organs and joints can lead to serious health risks including cirrhosis, liver cancer and a range of other problems. “I was lucky because I got sorted out in good time,” says Chris whose brother, Michael, also has an above average level of iron as does his 31-year old niece, Lee.

His father, Herbie, had a history of heart problems and, with the benefit of hindsight, Chris wonders whether haemochromatosis might have been a factor in his death at the age of 57.

Chris knows he is one of the lucky ones because haemochromatosis tends to be under-diagnosed partly because its symptoms – including joint pains, abdominal pains and diabetes – are similar to those caused by a range of other illnesses.

“Most people think that iron is good and when they feel not up to scratch they sometimes can put that down to not enough iron but you never think it could be the other way round,” says Chris who is looking forward to playing hockey until he’s in the veterans division. “That’s the real difficulty with haemochromatosis.”

But with early detection haemochromatosis can be treated and is no barrier to a happy and successful life. And with interests ranging from writing a regular column in the industry magazine Big Rigs to landscape photography and weekends spent with Joanne and four-year-old son Alex that’s exactly what Chris Blanchard is enjoying. Captain Snooze is wide awake to his new future.

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Contact for Chris Blanchard Mobile: 0438660136 Email: [email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HAEMOCHROMATOSIS

Professor Martin Delatycki, Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research (03) 9496 4355

Professor Emeritus Lawrie Powell, University of Queensland, (07) 3646 2352

Professor John Olynyk, Dep’t Gastroenterology, Freemantle Hospital (08) 94312480

Ben Marris, President Haemochromatosis Australia 0428 62674787 or (03)62 674787

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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.

Haemochromatosis Australia:

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

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.

HAEMOCHROMATOSIS AWARENESS WEEK – PUBLIC INFORMATION EVENTS

Sydney Information Session and AGM

We will launch Haemochromatosis Awareness Week at a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 11 August 2012 1.00pm at the Parramatta Town Hall. The session will be followed by the Annual General Meeting of Haemochromatosis Australia.

Port Macquarie Information Session

In the lead-up to Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 4 August 2012 at 1pm at the Port Macquarie Panthers Club.

Brisbane Haemochromatosis Seminar

In the lead-up to Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free haemochromatosis seminar on Wednesday 8 August 2012 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at QIMR, Herston. The seminar will be chaired by Professor Lawrie Powell, world authority on haemochromatosis. Speakers include scientists and health professionals from QIMR, The University of Queensland, The Australian Red Cross Blood Service and the Haemochromatosis Australia.

Hobart Art Exhibition

A group art exhibition for Haemochromatosis Awareness Week to be held in the Stable Gallery, Cooley’s Hotel, Moonah from 10 August until 4 September. All welcome! Grand opening Friday 10 August at 6pm.

Adelaide Information Session

During Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Tuesday 14 August 2012 at 7pm at Burnside Community Hall, Tusmore.

Perth Information Session

During Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Thursday 16 August 2012 6.30pm at Fremantle Hospital.

Sunshine Coast, Queensland Information Session

During Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Sunday 19 August 2012 at 2pm at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club.

Melbourne Information Session

As part of Haemochromatosis Awareness Week events, there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 25 August 2012 at 1pm at the North Melbourne Community Centre.

Gold Coast Information Session

As part of Haemochromatosis Awareness Week events, there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 25 August 2012 at 10 am at the Elanora Public Library

Too much iron is bad for you

Too much iron is bad for you
Monday, 13 August 2012 16:12
Andrew Chapman knows about loose iron. His magnificent photographic study of Australia’s woolsheds includes many sheets of rusting corrugated iron. But Andrew had iron problems of his own.

Haemochromatosis is a scary long word. It means inherited iron overload disorder. About 1 in every 200 Australians have the genes and may experience chronic fatigue and aching joints. If they load up more iron they may develop liver problems, diabetes, arthritis, heart problems and loss of sexual functions.

Andrew didn’t know he had haemochromatosis until 2001. He been becoming unreasonably tired. A diagnosis of extremely high iron levels in his blood led to 10 years of regular health management and slowly regaining the strength that he had lost. Then, in late December of 2010, his liver began to fail. By early February the following year he was lying in a coma with only two days to live when a donor liver became available. He received the transplant and his life was saved. But if Andrew had been diagnosed with haemochromatosis when he was younger, before he built up an iron overload, he need never had had this trouble.

Management consultant Alan Hough, 52, from Botany in New South Wales, was first diagnosed with Hereditary Haemochromatosis when he was 43. For Alan, his diagnosis has been a good luck story, diagnosed at a relatively early age before damage had been done to his body’s organs. It has also been a good luck story for his father, who was also diagnosed with the disease and subsequently began treatment, after the recommended testing of family members. Alan says that he is very grateful to be have been diagnosed early, and finds the quarterly program of venesection (removal of blood) to be a small price to pay to manage the condition.

Unfortunately this condition is often overlooked. Many people, like Andrew, have years of fatigue and ill health before they are diagnosed. Sometimes it is too late.

August 13th to 19th is Haemochromatosis Awareness Week.

Haemochromatosis Australia, the not-for-profit support and advocacy group, is keen to make people more aware of the condition. Their message is
“If you know that someone in your family has haemochromatosis, or you have been feeling tired and aching for an extended period, talk to your GP about haemochromatosis”.
“Haemochromatosis is difficult to say but easy to find and simple to treat” says Ben Marris, President of Haemochromatosis Australia, the non-profit advocacy and support group. “If you think you may have this condition you should be tested now and iron out your future health problems.”

For more information visit www.haemochromatosis.org.au or call the Haemochromatosis Information Line 1300 019 028

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Andrew Chapman is happy to discuss his experience with haemochromatosis on air. He may be contacted on (03) 9752 1492 Mob. 0418 557 590, [email protected] , www.bigcheez.com.au

Alan Hough may be contacted on (02) 9316.9924 – 0407 132.848

For more information on haemochromatosis
Professor Martin Delatycki, Director, Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research (03) 9496 4355

Ben Marris, President Haemochromatosis Australia
0428 62674787 or (03)62 674787
[email protected] www.haemochromatosis.org.au

HAEMOCHROMATOSIS AWARENESS WEEK

PUBLIC INFORMATION EVENTS

Sydney Information Session and AGM
We will launch Haemochromatosis Awareness Week at a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 11 August 2012 1.00pm at the Parramatta Town Hall. The session will be followed by the Annual General Meeting of Haemochromatosis Australia.

Port Macquarie Information Session
In the lead-up to Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 4 August 2012 at 1pm at the Port Macquarie Panthers Club.

Brisbane Haemochromatosis Seminar
In the lead-up to Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free haemochromatosis seminar on Wednesday 8 August 2012 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at QIMR, Herston. The seminar will be chaired by Professor Lawrie Powell, world authority on haemochromatosis. Speakers include scientists and health professionals from QIMR, The University of Queensland, The Australian Red Cross Blood Service and the Haemochromatosis Australia.

Hobart Art Exhibition
A group art exhibition for Haemochromatosis Awareness Week to be held in the Stable Gallery, Cooley\’s Hotel, Moonah from 10 August until 4 September. All welcome! Grand opening Friday 10 August at 6pm.

Adelaide Information Session
During Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Tuesday 14 August 2012 at 7pm at Burnside Community Hall, Tusmore.

Perth Information Session
During Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Thursday 16 August 2012 6.30pm at Fremantle Hospital.

Sunshine Coast, Queensland Information Session
During Haemochromatosis Awareness Week there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Sunday 19 August 2012 at 2pm at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club.

Melbourne Information Session
As part of Haemochromatosis Awareness Week events, there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 25 August 2012 at 1pm at the North Melbourne Community Centre.

Gold Coast Information Session
As part of Haemochromatosis Awareness Week events, there will be a free public haemochromatosis information session on Saturday 25 August 2012 at 10 am at the Elanora Public Library.

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.

Is this the last Music Festival ever to be held in the Hunter Valley?

Is this the last Music Festival ever to be held in the Hunter Valley?
Wednesday, 15 August 2012 11:44

Grant Smith cannot believe it, with the world changing at such a rate, people are forgetting how to interact with each other, and pretty soon, there may not even be any more music festivals happening!

“We thought we had prepared for any disaster – hurricane, flood, Fire, even terrorist attack. “But”, lamented Grant, “We never imagined the amount of damage an XBOX could do. More and more people prefer to be couch potatoes and sit on the lounge rather than get out and meet new people and have real fun. Quite seriously it could put us out of business.”

Over the last 10 years attendance has dropped 47%, and it will be interesting to see what will happen this year with one of the oldest music, food and wine festivals in the Hunter Valley, “Jazz in the Vines”.

With this world class act, this year, and their 20th Anniversary only time will tell if this dangerous trend will continue.

According to Grant Smith, the founder of the Jazz in the Vines Festival, “This year is our 20th Anniversary, and we have the best line up the history of our festival, including Tom Burlinson, Darren Percival from “the Voice”, and Grace Knight. I hope we will be around for years to come, but it’s the public that will tell us if they prefer Xboxes and sitting in front of the T.V or Real Live music, Food, wine and Fun, and quite frankly I am nervous to find out the answer.”

For more information on what Grant is doing to fight the couch potato syndrome, call Grant on 0419255055.

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Jazz In The Vines
David Susen
Telephone: 0419255055
http://www.jazzinthevines.com.au/

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Disabling Justice

Disabling Justice
Friday, 17 August 2012 10:05

Justice for people with disability and mental health problems about to get much rougher

Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) is a disability legal advocacy service and community legal centre. We provide a support person to be with a person with intellectual disability at the police station if they have been arrested. Most of our support persons are volunteers. We will go to the police station any time of the day or night.

We have a great deal of experience being with people with intellectual disability at the police station when they have been arrested. We know what happens.

Intellectual Disability Rights Service is dismayed at the proposed change to the police caution and the further disadvantage it will bring on the many people with intellectual and other disabilities who find themselves under arrest.

A person with intellectual disability is extremely vulnerable if they submit to a police interview at the time of arrest. They are usually anxious and often keen to cooperate with the police. They are suggestible and vulnerable to leading questions. They are often confused in the face of police questioning but usually will not say so. They are likely to simply agree with whatever police put to them to the point of agreeing to facts or admitting to offences that they may not even have not committed.

They will answer the police questions but may not put forward their own information to assist their case because they don’t realise it’s relevance. Most police simply do not have the necessary communication skills to conduct a fair and balanced interview with a person who has an intellectual or other cognitive disability under arrest. We know this because we are there at the police station with them.

In our experience most people with intellectual disability are more than willing to participate in a police interview but it is almost always to their detriment to do so because of their vulnerability.

Most people with intellectual disability are alone and unassisted at the police station. Police usually do not recognize that the person has a disability and do not call a support person to assist as they are meant to do. In 2011-12, IDRS was called upon to provide support people at court for over 800 defendants with intellectual disability in NSW. Very few of these people had had a support person at the police station when arrested. A person with intellectual disability has little chance of understanding their rights when arrested if there is no trained support person present.

The proposed change to the caution means that the question of whether to participate in an interview becomes much more complex. Legal advice at the time of arrest becomes even more crucial to justice. While a person under arrest has the right to call a lawyer, adults in police custody do not have access to funded legal advice after hours when most people are arrested. Our service has established a pool of volunteer solicitors to fill this void for people with intellectual disability but this will only help if the police call. Most often the police do not call and the person with intellectual disability may not know who to contact.

This change to the police caution may not impact as heavily on the government’s target group as it will impact very heavily on the vulnerable – those who have disability and mental illness. We doubt this is an intended consequence on the part of the government but we know it is an inevitable consequence.

We would be very pleased to provide further information or interviews and welcome your contact

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MEDIA CONTACTS
Janene Cootes
Executive Officer
Intellectual Disability Rights Service
Suite 2C/199 Regent St
Redfern 2016
0418635046
02 93180144

Mike Sprange
Chair
Intellectual Disability Rights Service
0418739484

PsychSlim Launch

PsychSlim Launch
Monday, 10 September 2012 16:08
Get off the dieting merry-go-round with PsychSlim!

A new Australian website plans to challenge the way you think about yourself and help you lose those extra kilos.

PsychSlim is designed for those people who have fallen into the habit of yoyo dieting, and can’t understand why they keep losing weight only to put it back on again when they stop dieting.

Over 6 weeks you can learn how your subconscious sometimes works against you in the weight loss battle and you can begin to understand the reasons behind your previous weight gains.

You will also learn how to empower yourself to deal with your weight issues and other life challenges in a more decisive and positive way.

Each week, the course is designed in easy segments:
READ – RESPOND – REPLY – REVIEW – REMEMBER.

On completion of the course, all your answers and comments are reviewed by a qualified psychotherapist who deals specifically with weight related issues. You will then receive a personalized reply offering feedback and further advice.

PsychSlim has a half-price introductory offer for a limited time, which means you can experience the PsychSlim 6 week course for only $80.00!

www.psychslim.com.au

Recruitment Systems Wins Small Business Category in 2012 ACT Export Awards

Recruitment Systems Wins Small Business Category in 2012 ACT Export Awards
Thursday, 27 September 2012 12:18
Canberra, Australia – Recruitment Systems has again won their category in the 2012 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards and is again off to the National Export Awards ceremony in The Great Hall, Parliament House Canberra on 27 November 2012. This is the fourth year of the last five that Recruitment Systems will be representing the ACT in the National Export Awards ceremony.

Recruitment Systems is the creator of TRIS – the Total Recruitment Information System. TRIS removes or automates the essential administrative work which has to be done by successful recruiters. Their tag line describes it well: “You recruit – TRIS does the rest”.

The ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards identifies and celebrates innovators in our exporting community and highlights their achievements in showcasing the ACT to the world. The ACT has a dynamic and successful exporting community drawing from the out strong Education, ICT, Government Services, Defence and Security, Sports and Creative industry sectors.

“We are very proud and humbled to win the Small Business Category award in the 2012 ACT Export Awards”, said Neil Bolton, Chief Executive Officer of Recruitment Systems. “To be a nominated as a national finalist again, given the calibre of the businesses that participate in the program and especially with 2012 being the 50th anniversary of the national program, is something we’re very proud of”, he continued.

“I also want to thank many people for their incredible assistance – Austrade, the ACT Government, AusIndustry, and TradeConnect – and the Australian Taxation Office. Without all of these organisations supporting Australian businesses we – and many more exporters – simply couldn’t get to where we are now”, he said.

The Australian Export Awards recognise and reward companies who have demonstrated the capabilities of innovation, pragmatism and sustainable business growth in international trade. As ‘the face of Australia’ overseas, exporters play an important role in representing Australia as a confident, creative and outward looking nation.

About Recruitment Systems

Recruitment Systems is an Australian-owned company that builds software to help recruiters build and sustain relationships with clients and candidates. Recruitment System’s core product is TRISTM – The Recruitment Information System – which streamlines the recruitment process through best-practice workflows and advanced task automation. The company is based in Canberra, Australia with sales offices in New Zealand, United States, Singapore, India and Qatar. Recruitment Systems has a growing portfolio of customers from small recruitment agencies to large multinational recruitment firms across 20 countries.

About ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards

The ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards identifies and celebrates innovators in our exporting community and highlights their achievements in showcasing the ACT to the world. The ACT has a dynamic and successful exporting community drawing from the out strong Education, ICT, Government Services, Defence and Security, Sports and Creative industry sectors. The ACT Awards are part of the national program that recognises and honours exporters who have achieved sustainable export growth through innovation and commitment. The 2012 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards are managed and presented by the Canberra Business Council on the behalf of the ACT Government.

About the 50th Australian Export Awards

The Australian Export Awards have been honouring the best Australian companies operating in international markets since 1963. Our dynamic business community has enabled Australia as a business nation to be inextricably linked with the world’s economy. Our past and present success exemplifies pragmatic, innovative and sustainable international business. Our future is reliant on exporters that can play an important role in positioning contemporary Australia as a confident, creative and outward looking nation.

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Media Contact

Phil Jacobs
Chief Marketing Officer
Recruitment Systems Pty. Ltd.
+61 2 6296 7777

Experts debate the future of emergency department care

Experts debate the future of emergency department care
Monday, 01 October 2012 16:58

“There has been a 20% increase in the number of patients attending emergency departments over the last 5 years and the numbers continue to grow. Australian emergency departments now manage over 6 million attendances per year. Reform isn’t just desirable, it’s a necessity.” according to eminent Australian emergency physician Professor Gerald FitzGerald.

The countdown is on.
On 12th October 2012, experts from around the world will debate the future of emergency department care in Australia when they meet at the 10th International Conference for Emergency Nurses in Hobart Like many other countries, Australian EDs are struggling with increasing demand for emergency healthcare services, overcrowding and lack of access to hospital beds. Emergency department staff face daily challenges of providing high quality care for critically ill patients while handicapped by lack of hospital beds and emergency department overcrowding.

Key questions include:

  • is the traditional way emergency departments function obsolete in 2012?
  • what new roles can emergency nurses play in emergency care delivery?
  • how to measure quality and safety of emergency care?

Some of the other panel experts include:

  • Dr Rosemary Bryant, President of the International Council of Nurses and Australian Commonwealth Nursing and Midwifery Officer
  • Peggy Lee, President of the Emergency Nurses Association
  • Dianne Crellin, Executive Director, College of Emergency Nursing Australasia and Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Dianne Crellin, Executive Director of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasian says “it is important that emergency nurses understand the social, political and clinical influences on emergency care. As the largest workforce in emergency departments, emergency nurses need to make informed decisions about how to best care for their patients and have an active role in emergency care reforms.”

ABC Journalist Jane Hutcheon will drive debate as panel members challenge existing thinking and propose radial solutions to managing the growing demand for emergency healthcare into the next decade.

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For more information, contact:

  • ICEN Scientific Co-convenor Associate Professor Julie Considine at[email protected] / 0409354133
  • ICEN Scientific Co-convenor Associate Professor Ramon Shaban at[email protected] / 0417600544
  • ICEN Conference Convenor Tony Bradley at [email protected] / 0439 241 217

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The Truckies Danger Money Petition “Coffin Road Trip”

The Truckies Danger Money Petition “Coffin Road Trip”
Tuesday, 02 October 2012 13:30
Steven Corcoran a Queensland truck driver for 20 years has been campaigning for 66 days travelling around Australia is ending his petition on the 31st October 2012 at Parliament House Canberra, delivering petitions signed by those in the industry and community inside a coffin to the Prime Minister.

The coffin represents that all those that have died in the industry due to unsafe work practices, and work environment too many professional Truckies die on our roads, at rates of up to 30:1 compared to any other job in Australia! Decreasing the Road Toll and providing INCENTIVES for safer roads is in every Human Beings best interest!

He will be traveling to gather more signatures and public support with the coffin, in the week leading up to Memorial Day at Tarcutta on the 27th October then finally delivering the coffin on day 96 of his petition in Canberra on the 31st October 2012.

The petition is also online , http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/the-truckies-danger-money-petition.html

All information, photos, videos and 66 days content is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/258956010881001/

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About The Truckies Danger Money Petition

Steven Corcoran is a 20 year veteran truck driver, who has been campaigning for 66 days now. After being encouraged by over 7000 Truck Drivers and Federal Members of Parliament. He is ending his petition on the 31st October 2012 at Parliament House Canberra, delivering petitions signed by people in the industry, nation and all over the world in a coffin! The coffin represents all those that have died, too many professional Truckies die on our roads, at rates of up to 30:1 compared to any other job in Australia! Decreasing the Road Toll and providing INCENTIVES for safer roads is in every human beings best interest!

Media Contact

Steven Corcoran 0409 619838
36 Meadow Way, Upper Coomera QLD 4209
[email protected]

Intelledox Releases infinitiâ„¢

Intelledox Releases infinitiâ„¢
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 12:31
Intelledox just got a whole lot smarter, now the possibilities are infinite

Canberra, Australia – Intelledox today announced the latest release of their leading document generation and smart e-forms solution, now called infiniti.

“We’ve thought long and hard about this product release and its new naming convention,” said Phillip Williamson CEO, Intelledox. “After much deliberation, we implemented a name change that represents the unlimited potential for our customers to achieve business process improvement outcomes.”

Taking the Intelledox-developed solution set to the next level, infiniti offers over 80 new features with significant advances in efficiency and usability. A refreshed user interface makes the automation of business-centric processes both logical and faster for business managers and information workers. Business users and citizens experience a streamlined, nurturing and rich online experience that increases productivity and accuracy; drives compliance and continual improvement; enables device independence and mobility; and improves total stakeholder satisfaction.

infiniti is powered by a sophisticated rules engine that drives true automation into business processes. Some of the exciting new features include:

  • Linear document creation workflow – known as ‘infiniti Automate’
  • Dynamic, smart web forms (e-forms) – now even more accessible through mobile device rendering (iPads, iPhones, Windows devices)
  • Enhanced document and data routing functionalities
  • Out-of-the-box connectors to applications such as HP TRIM, SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce, BizTalk, Changepoint, TIBCO, Siebel and SAP
  • Even more foreign language support, including Arabic and Mandarin
  • Fully cloud-based offering on-demand

“We have developed true next-generation software with infiniti. Deploying this out-of-the-box software requires minimal technical knowledge to operate and support, and most certainly no programming” continued Mr. Williamson. “There are over a trillion documents generated annually around the world, and in the near future most will be generated by intelligent software – as documents or more often as electronic output. infiniti will accelerate the transfer of legacy hard copy and paper-heavy processes into the digital and mobile age.”

The release of infiniti also marks the sustained success of Intelledox in global markets as the company continues to grow at over 50% per annum.

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About Intelledox

Intelledox Pty Ltd (www.intelledox.com) is a leading provider of document and smart web form-driven business process automation software to a portfolio of large corporate and government customers across the globe. The powerful software suite enables manual document-centric business processes to be transformed through intelligent automation that both nurtures and controls the user or citizen. This leads to significant return-on-investment scenarios that improve productivity, accuracy and user satisfaction for Intelledox customers.

Headquartered in Canberra, Australia, Intelledox has offices in North America, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, as well as a global distribution network.

For more information contact:
Phil Williamson, CEO, Intelledox Pty Ltd
Email: [email protected]
Ph: +61 2 6280 624

Röhlig Australia: New Managing Director Mr. Hany Amer

Röhlig Australia: New Managing Director Mr. Hany Amer
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 15:16
Bremen/Sydney РMr. Hany Amer has been appointed as the new Managing Director of R̦hlig Australia. He follows Mr. Thomas Hansen, who recently joined the R̦hlig Global Executive Board as the new CEO Americas/Africa.

Prior to this appointment, the 37-year-old Australian has proven his skills in different positions at Röhlig: Hany Amer joined Röhlig Australia in 1995 as a trainee, followed by assignments in the USA and the U.K. In 2006, he was appointed Branch Manager in Melbourne, Australia and managed an outstanding financial turn-around of the branch within twelve months.

In his most recent position as National Sales Manager and Director of Röhlig Australia, Hany Amer has considerably contributed to the company’s outstanding results. In addition, he has driven forward Röhlig’s global sales activities.