ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION UNIT

In Queensland, the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 1989 protects people from violence and abuse who are being cared for in an informal care relationship.

A person who is in a family relationship is also protected by the legislation. The Act does not protect people who have entered into a contract for care with a third party or people who are paying for the care they receive.

If a person is being cared for by a relative, they are considered to be in a family relationship, and are protected regardless of whether they are paying for that care. Elder abuse can include many forms of abuse beyond violence.

A person can be denied economic freedom, access to medical treatment or be subjected to pressure regarding their personal finances.

An elderly person subjected to this type of abuse may not have the confidence to seek help for assistance with their situation.

For more information on Elder Abuse please visit the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit website.

OXENFORD FAST FACTS

OXENFORD DEMOGRAPHICS

Residential population 2007 13,294
Residential population 2006 12,282
Population change 8.2%
Median age 33
Per cent aged 15 or younger 23.6%
Per cent aged 65 or older 7.9%
Average gross weekly income individuals $498
Average gross weekly income households $1076
Percentage born overseas 23.8%
Percentage lived at another address a year ago 23.5%
Percentage lived at another address 5 years ago 62%
Percentage family households 80.3%
Percentage non-family households 19.7%

DWELLING TYPE

Separatehouse 69.3%
Townhouse/villa 30.5%
Unit/apartment 0.2%
Other 0%

TENURE OF DWELLING

Fully Owned 20.6%
Being Purchased 50.5%
Rented 28.6%
Other 0.3%

RENTAL MARKET

Median asking rents houses $395
Gross rental yield houses 4.7%
Median asking rents units $295
Gross rental yield units na

Data supplied by myRP Data – May, 2008 * Population data is based on the statistical local areas of Oxenford. The remainder of the demographic information for Oxenford is based on the Census suburb boundary of Oxenford.

Source: To view the source of this information, click HERE

BICYCLE SAFETY

As a bicycle rider, you are driving a legal vehicle. You have the same rights and responsibilities as any other driver on the road. Key road rules applying to cyclists include:

cyclists can ride in bus, transit and bicycle lanes
cyclists can ride on footpaths (unless prohibited by a sign),

but must keep left and give way to pedestrians
cyclists can ride two abreast, but must stay within 1.5m of each other
while riding on roads, cyclists are required to use bicycle lanes where provided unless impractical to do so
cyclists must obey all traffic lights

cyclists can ride on the road shoulder or in a traffic lane
cyclists can overtake other vehicles on the left unless they are signalling to turn left
cyclists must dismount and walk across pedestrian crossings and signalised crossings
cyclists can turn right from either the right or left lane of a multi-lane roundabout. If you use the left hand lane, you must give way to traffic exiting the roundabout as you are changing lanes
cyclists can make hook turns at intersections
cyclists are not permitted to double a passenger unless the bicycle can properly carry a second person, eg. tandem, child seat
you can tow a child in a properly designed bicycle trailer if are over 16 and the child is under 10 and you both wear helmets.

Further information
For more information on road rules:
Phone: (07) 3167 4402 (State Cycle and Pedestrian Area of Queensland Transport Cycling)

Web: http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/

GET HOME SAFELY

Gold Coast City is a great place to have a night out with friends and we all want everyone to get home safely.

More and more people seem to be getting the message that drinking and driving is really stupid as well as illegal, which is great news for all of us, but it seems there also is a high incidence of drink walking in Gold Coast City, which believe it or not, can be just as dangerous.

It's particularly prevalent in and around areas with high volumes of licensed venues, such as Surfers Paradise. Here are some safety tips :

• 
  arrange your journey home in advance
• 
  if you have a designated driver, make sure they are not affected by drugs or alcohol
• 
  catch public transport - telephone Transinfo (131 230) for bus timetables or Regent Taxis on 131 008
• 
  use secure taxi ranks where possible (Cavill and Orchid Avenues in Surfers Paradise or Oasis Mall, Broadbeach)
• 
  if you're going to walk home, choose well-lit streets and cross at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings
• 
  stay in a group - don't let friends go off on their own
• 
  never sit, rest or lie on the road

Source: Gold Coast City Council website

Click HERE for more information

WATERSPORTS LANE USERS - BE AWARE

Two boat trailers have been stolen from the Watersports Lane boat ramp in the last month alone - if you know someone who uses this area and leaves their car and trailer behind while out on the water - please make them aware of this.

If you see any suspicious activity around trailers in Watersports Lane, please report it to Coomera Police Station on 55195555 right away - in fact, it's a good idea to program the number for Coomera Police Station in your mobile phone so you'll always have it to hand.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

GEORGIA - USA - Safe Campuses Now Don't drink and Drive Campaign Poster
BMW - Don't drink and drive ad campaign
ISLE OF WIGHT - UK - Paralytic Campaign Christmas 2007


SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA - Saatchi & Saatchi Ad Campaign. These notes were placed over restaurant forks with the tines giving the impression of prison bars. The message reads 'Prison food doesn't taste this good - Don't drink and drive' WARWICKSHIRE POLICE CAMPAIGN - UK- The End Campaign

MISSOURI - USA - Arrive Alive campaign

PARIS - FRANCE - It's a printed coffee table top - when seated you look down and see legs in wheelchair.

QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE - A BRIEF HISTORY

The Queensland Police Service is the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland.

In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto of "Firmness with Courtesy" was changed to "With Honour We Serve". The headquarters of the Queensland Police Service is located at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Queensland as a state, did not exist until June 6 1859. The area now called Queensland was known as North Eastern New South Wales. The colony would have been under the jurisdiction of the New South Wales Police force up until the state established its own police force.

The Queensland Police was established on 1 January 1864 and started operations with approximately 143 employees, including the first Commissioner of Police D.T. Seymour. The service had four divisions: Metropolitan Police, Rural Police, Water Police and Native Police. Bicycles were introduced in 1895. At the turn of the century there were 845 men and 135 Aboriginal trackers at 256 stations in Queensland.

The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 came into force in July 2000, consolidating the majority of police powers into one Act. The Queensland Police contribute to the national CrimTrac system and the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), established in 2000. The Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 commenced 1 January 2002 and redefined the responsibilities of the service and the Crime and Misconduct Commission with respect to the management of complaints.

As of 30 June 2002 there were 8,367 sworn staff (20.2% women) and 2,925 staff members at 321 Police Stations, 40 Police Beat shopfronts and 21 Neighbourhood Police Beats throughout the state.

As of June 30 2004, the Queensland Police Service had 9,003 sworn staff (21.8% women) and 2,994 staff members.

Queensland Police Service - Mission
To serve the people of Queensland by protecting life and property, preserving peace and safety, preventing crime and upholding law in a manner which has regard for the public good and rights of individuals.

Source: Wikipaedia.com

THE SUN NEWSPAPER THIS WEEK

You may have read an article in this week's Sun newspaper in which Monica Zwolsman wrongly states that members of Oxenford Neighbourhood Watch patrol the area.

Monica quotes me as saying, "We patrol ourselves day and night and suspicious behaviour is reported to the Coomera Police."

I never said this -

because patrols do not form part of how any Australian Neighbourhood Watch Group operates.

What Monica - who is South African - has done is that she has made an assumption. She has assumed that Australian Neighbourhood Watch Groups operate the same way South African groups do ....

In South Africa, if you belong to a Neighbourhood Watch Group, you do patrol. You are rostered with your fellow neighbours to patrol the area in which you live - usually at night - always in pairs and always armed.

Thankfully in Australia we have absolutely no need to do this - of course - so let's stop for a moment and count our blessings. :)

Dominique

OXENFORD - PLEASE MIND THE DUCKS

As you may know, there are many families of ducks living along Michigan Drive and Riversdale Road. There are several families on Riversdale Rd in particular and unfortunately they like to cross the road from the house on the corner of Oberon Way to the grassy easement/pony trail on the other side.

Due to the absence of warning signs and the fact that many drivers speed along Riversdale Road, many of these ducks and their ducklings are losing their lives in horrific ways as they cross.

A local resident has witnessed the deaths of 8 ducks on Riversdale Rd this past month alone and has approached our local Councillor John Wayne to place yellow 'duck crossing' warning signs on the approach to this crossing area on Riversdale Rd. This issue is now with Main Roads. Fingers crossed for their approval and speedy installation.

The ducks on Riversdale Road are Australian Wood Ducks and they are a very special breed of duck, one that has many 'quirks' - here's what I discovered about them:

The Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta Jubata), is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. This species is also known as the Maned Duck or the Maned Goose.

Its habitat is lightly wooded swamps and marshes - it nests in a tree hole laying 8-12 eggs. We are right in the middle of their breeding season now - it runs from January to March. The male duck is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts.

The Australian Wood Duck forms monogamous breeding pairs that stay together year round. Both parents feed the young and young birds remain with them up to a month after fledging.

This 45-51cm duck looks like a small goose and feeds mostly by grazing in flocks. Unusually for a duck, it rarely swims. They walk easily on land and may be seen perching on logs and in trees. They will only take to open water when disturbed/threatened.

-------------------------------------------------------

While this matter is not about 'crime' as such, it is a safety issue in our neighbourhood as drivers often swerve or break suddenly on seeing the ducks crossing - which places other drivers and pedestrians at risk.

OXENFORD NHW CRIME DETAILS - January 2009

3 Burglaries – Carnarvon Court, Oregon Way, Ontario Court
1 Attempted Burglary – Regatta Avenue
2 Break & Enter Businesses on Old Pacific Highway
1 boat trailer stolen from the Coomera River boat ramp

Please ensure you always secure your house. The three burglaries all were entered through an unlocked door; the attempted burglary had the windows locked and no entry was gained.

N.B. These figures are not official Queensland Police Service statistics. Official Queensland Police Service Statistics are released only through the Information Resource Centre after available data is collected, classified and collated in accordance with nationally accepted rules.

Andrew Lake
Sergeant 6695

WHAT IS 'DRINK RITE'?

Drink Rite is a Queensland Police Service program that aims to promote a responsible attitude towards alcohol consumption and drink driving.

Drink Rite began as a state-wide intersectoral project in 1995 involving Queensland Health, Queensland Transport and the Queensland Police Service. This program is now managed by Drug and Alcohol Coordination within the Queensland Police Service.

A Drink Rite event is usually held in a licensed premise where six people are chosen to consume alcohol under controlled drinking conditions and are monitored over a period of time. Participants are breath tested every half an hour and their readings are placed on a whiteboard for viewing by other patrons. These results are then discussed.

Drink Rite illustrates how much variation there is in the effect of alcohol from person to person, particularly between men and women. This practical approach demonstrates how few drinks it may take to exceed the legal limits set for driving and reinforces the message that attempting to estimate breath alcohol concentration levels is difficult and not recommended. The program also demonstrates the benefits of drinking low versus high alcohol beverages.

As a proactive strategy, Drink Rite can be used to approach a variety of alcohol-related issues on a state-wide basis. Drink Rite may also be used as an education and prevention strategy by complementing local events. The program provides information on a range of topics such as alcohol and road or water safety and standard drinks. In this way, Drink Rite can be adapted to suit different regions within Queensland and community needs.

Drink Rite events are supported by Castlemaine Perkins, Foster’s and Diageo Australia who provide alcohol for each event.

Drink Rite reinforces the message that if you are planning on drinking alcohol – don’t drive.

Source: Queensland Police website

PHOTOS FROM OUR FEBRUARY 2009 MEETING

Our February meeting was a great success - over 50 people attended and our speaker Christine Meredith (www.walkwithconfidence.com.au) was just wonderful.

Thank you to everyone who brought food and bought raffle tickets - we raised exactly $100 in raffle ticket sales which is very pleasing and the spread was lovely.

My sincere thanks to Sarah Gordon

(S.L.GordonPhotography@hotmail.com)

for taking these photographs.

OXENFORD - SPEED LIMITS

All roads within the Oxenford area are 50Km/h speed zones, except for Oxenford Tamborine Rd & the Old Pacific Highway, which are 60Km/h.

If you go over these speeds, be prepared to wear a ticket. This is a residential area, not a racetrack. The NHW group is applying to use the GCCC Speed Trailer again this year, which is always followed by Police enforcement.

If you want to speed or commit other traffic offences, be prepared to get the fines, which have all increased by 25% from January 1st. That should be a big enough incentive to obey the traffic laws.

Sgt. Andrew Lake

QUOTES ABOUT COMMUNITY SPIRIT

No matter how you seem to fatten on a crime, there can never be good for the bee which is bad for the hive. Ralph Waldo Emerson

How does one keep from "growing old inside"? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable. Robert McAfee Brown

The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor. Hubert H. Humphrey

A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor's. Richard Whately

While the spirit of neighborliness was important on the frontier because neighbors were so few, it is even more important now because our neighbors are so many. Lady Bird Johnson

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.

It's not. Dr. Seuss

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENCE

Confidence can be a valuable tool for all people in many aspects of life. In the context of personal safety, having and displaying confidence plays a vital role in the preservation of safety.

Offenders target people they perceive to be vulnerable and who would offer them the least amount of resistance. As a result, the vast majority of attacks can be deterred simply by appearing to be confident and self-assured. Remember if you don't feel confident in any situation, fake it!! This will ensure you enjoy the same benefits and may even boost your confidence.

Confidence is also reflected in a person’s ability to maintain their personal safety. A confident person is more likely to identify and implement preventative safety strategies; to have faith in their own abilities; and to take action if their personal safety is threatened. Whereas a person without confidence is not. Additionally, when people lack confidence they tend to lead a restricted lifestyle, thereby diminishing their quality of life.

As a result of the above mentioned benefits, having confidence will enhance one's quality of life. Confidence is a source of power, allowing a person to do tremendous things. All successful people have confidence in their abilities. As Thomas Edison once said, "If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves".

Read more about the core concepts of personal safety here.

Source: The Qld Police Service website

SCREENSHOT OF OUR FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

If you click on the image it will open in full size - but this doesn't work on all PCs.