Briefs
The Age
Saturday November 6, 1999
$12m boost for hospital
The State Government yesterday confirmed that it would provide $12million for the Frankston Hospital for 64 more acute-care beds to fulfil an election pledge. The Premier, Mr Steve Bracks, and the Health Minister, Mr John Thwaites, met the hospital's board yesterday and announced a steering committee to begin planning immediately, with building to begin in December next year and be finished by June 2002. The committee has until March to report on how best to spend the $12 million of capital funding, which allows for a 20 per cent increase in beds.
Man gets 15 years for murder
A man whose infatuation with a heroin-addicted sex worker led him to murder his disabled older brother was jailed yesterday for 15 years. In the Supreme Court, Justice John Coldrey said Raymond Ian Floyd, 34, of Bell Post Hill, Geelong, was dominated by his older brother, Michael, who disapproved of his relationship with the sex worker, on whom he spent about $100,000. Justice Coldrey said in fixing a 12-year minimum term that Raymond Floyd, who was convicted of murder, shot his brother, 40, three times in April 1997 and buried him in a mine shaft.
Judge reserves contempt decision
A Supreme Court judge yesterday reserved his decision on whether a solicitor found to have said another judge had ``his hand on his dick" had been in contempt of court. Justice Philip Cummins said he would deliver his decision on Monday in the case of a Gippsland solicitor, Mr Simon Harry Parsons, who was found to have made the comment to another solicitor who read to him from an injunction granted by Justice Barry Beach. In court earlier this week, Mr Parsons said he did not make the alleged remarks about Justice Beach, but directed comments to the solicitor who read the injunction.
Badge of honor for Gallipoli heroes
Gallipoli heroes Simpson and his donkey will be commemorated on a millennium Anzac badge. The British-born John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who for 24 days ferried more than 300 injured soldiers on the back of his donkey at the front line during one of the bloodiest battles of World War I, is widely regarded as the bravest Anzac not to be awarded a VC. The badge will be sold as part of the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing next April. An Anzac Day committee spokesman said: ``He epitomises the Anzac spirit of comradeship, courage and sacrifice - others before self."
World War I veteran dies
There are now only 12 World War One veterans left in Victoria after the death yesterday of Mr Eric Hughes, 99, of Mildura. Mr Hughes, left, had been in good health until recently and died after a short illness. He enlisted in a reserve regiment in April 1918, but the war ended before he was old enough to be sent overseas. Mr Hughes was a fruit farmer until 1965. In World War II he joined the home guard.
Lotteries
Powerball (draw 181): Division 1, no winner; division 2, $58,327; division 3, $5057; division 4, $100.10; division 5, $41.10; division 6, $20.85; division 7, $8.85. Tatt's Two (draw 5207): 15 and 34. Both correct: $715. Keno : 3, 5, 6, 12, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 33, 40, 43, 48, 49, 51, 59, 60, 61, 62, 70. Estimated jackpot: $1,894,000.
Correction: There was a typing error in yesterday's Powerball results. In Draw 181, the numbers should have read: 17, 27 (not 24), 4, 28, 29 and powerball 43. The Age apologises for any inconvenience.
© 1999 The Age