News Briefs
Valentine’s Day: a charitable event?
Many romantics are choosing charity over chocolates this Valentine’s Day.
The Heart Foundation, which invested over $13.6 million in cardiovascular research in 2011, is calling on Australians to host their own fundraising events on February 14.
CEO of the Heart Foundation, Tony Thirlwell, said: “Roses and chocolates might last a week, but making a donation to the Heart Foundation can help protect your loved one’s heart for life.
“In Australia, every hour of every day, someone dies from a heart attack. It is because of this reason we work tirelessly to find a cure.”
Mr Thirlwell said, “We want people to host an event, morning tea, dress in red – anything goes as long as it’s red.”
Another charity that is harnessing the marketing potentials of Valentine’s Day is Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, whose puppies will be on show at Martin Place on the day.
Guide Dogs NSW said each puppy costs approximately $30,000 to raise and train before becoming guide dogs to help the blind.
The organisations’ fundraising manager, Alex Green, said: “Our puppies will provide Sydneysiders with some love on Valentine’s Day but they’re looking for some love themselves to help them on their journey to becoming guide dogs.”
Cycleway concerns
The Bourke St cycleway is well-used and boosts the local economy, according to the Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP but some locals have called the cycleway dangerous.
Spokesperson for the Nicols St Community group, Brian Noad, said: “Ratepayers everyday see the cycleway lightly used; cyclists riding on the road or footpath and ignoring the parallel separated bike path.
“They also witness many businesses closing.”
However president of BIKESydney, David Borella, said the cycleway is a resounding success and cyclists stop along the route, boosting local business.
“The test is to go and look at how many bikes are parked outside of Bourke St Bakery on a Sunday morning.”
Bondi treadmill run scores a record
Bondi played host to a record-breaking charity run on February 3 where a dozen athletes strove to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest 100km run on a treadmill.
The event, held at the Shift60 fitness centre, an organisation which provides awareness and rehabilitation for severely injured children and their families, was also a means for raising $100, 000 for the KIDS Foundation.
The team included three-time world triathlon champion Craig Alexander and Australian marathon runner Steve Moneghetti.
The runners completed the run in five hours, 24 minutes and 10 seconds, breaking the previous record by nearly 20 minutes.They have since raised $25,000 and are still open to donations.
NSW bans solariums
Solariums will be banned in NSW because of fears that tanning units cause melanomas.
From December 31, 2014, NSW will be the first state in Australia to ban commercial ultraviolet (UV) solaria tanning beds, almost five years after the death of Clare Oliver, a melanoma victim.
Ms Oliver spent her final days campaigning against the sun beds she believed had contributed to her cancer.
Anti-sunbed campaigner, Jay Allen said: “It makes sense that other state governments take action and ban these killing machines right away.”
The ban was announced by Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, on World Cancer Day, February 4.
“Sadly, Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and this ban is long overdue,”
she said.
Correction
The article “Shopping centre to foster local retailers” on February 2 mistakenly implied the Marrickville Council was the consenting authority for the Marrickville Metro expansion, rather than the NSW Planning Minister. Our apologies.
The February 2 article “Newbies
revive pub with grub” stated Norton’s owners Phil and Vicki Webster were husband and wife, instead of brother and sister.
