Medalguy
1
MAY 29 2011 Page 13 ST I don’t want a medal Flood hero’s snub Kelmeny Fraser A HERO of the Queensland floods has rejected a state medal for his efforts, demand- ing the Bligh Government help victims before handing out awards. Spencer Lambert was to be presented with a medal at next month’s Queensland Disaster Heroes ceremony at Bris- bane’s South Bank Parklands. But the Yeronga resident, who was left with a $335,000 flood-damage bill, has turned down the distinction in protest over the lack of help for some flood victims. Mr Lambert headed a round-the-clock salvage oper- ation at his parent’s flood- devastated home and worked tirelessly to return tenants back to a strip of flood- ravaged shops he owned. ‘‘Here we have a ceremony costing huge amounts of money when there are still so many people in areas such as Goodna, Rocklea, Graceville and lots of other areas that haven’t got any Gyprock on their walls,’’ Mr Lambert said. ‘‘Pensioners are living in houses using tarps as walls when we are just heading into winter. I don’t believe that people who donated were un- der the impression that so little would have been distrib- uted at this stage.’’ Mr Lambert said he had been virtually wiped out after having an insurance claim refused and finding himself ineligible for access to do- nations under the Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund because he was above the Govern- ment’s $150,000-a-year in- come test cut-off. He was able to access the Federal Government’s $1000 one-off payment and State Government’s $2000 emerg- ency payment, but was ineli- gible for grants under round two and three of the scheme, which offered payments of up to $150,000 and $80,000 re- spectively. In a letter to the State Government, Mr Lambert writes of his disappointment that people who had worked hard all their lives, paid taxes and employed people could miss out on help in times of need, when those who hadn’t made the same contribution were provided aid. Less than $95 million from the $265 million of appeal funds have been distributed. Premier Anna Bligh urged Mr Lambert to accept his medal, saying ‘‘he was nomi- nated and he deserves the gratitude of the people of Queensland’’. Ms Bligh said the commit- tee in charge would this week look at further tweaking the funding criteria. The fund is registered as a charitable trust and for tax reasons, a means test must be applied to payments, she said. What do you think? Email yournews@thesundaymail .com.au or write to us at GPO Box 130, Brisbane, 4001. thesundaymail.com.au 13 NEWS 1300 760 035 Guangzhou Return from $ 599 * Premium economy from $ 999 * Hong Kong Return from $ 599 * Premium economy from $ 999 * Paris Return from $ 1299 * Vancouver Return from $ 1299 * Beijing Return from $ 599 * Premium economy from $ 999 * ▼ Applies to genuine quotes from airlines and Australian registered businesses and websites for travel that originates/departs from Australia. Quote must be in writing and must be presented to us prior to booking. Fare must be available and able to be booked by the general public when you bring it to us. Fares available due to membership of a group or corporate entity or subscription to a closed group are excluded. Must be for same dates and flight class. We will beat price by $1.00 and give you a $20 voucher. For full terms and conditions see flightcentre.com.au. *Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Please ask us for further details. Prices and taxes are correct as at 25 May 11 and are subject to change without notice. Prices quoted are on sale until 4 Jun 11 unless otherwise stated or sold out prior. Prices are per person and are subject to availability. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel. Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies, government charges and other applicable fees. Flights not included unless otherwise stated. Where flight is included, additional taxes specific to your flight routing may apply and/or may not include checked luggage (which can incur additional charges). Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store. Advertised price includes any bonus nights. Minimum/maximum stay restrictions may apply. FROM BRISBANE. Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Flight Centre. Licence No. TAG262. bsm_29may_10x7_fc Fly to Asia from $ 599 * & Europe from $ 1299 * . Bieber on track of love THIS could just be the photo that will devastate the hopes of teens across the world. Heart-throb popstar Justin Bieber, 17, and Disney starlet girlfriend Selena Gomez, 18, had eyes only for each other while enjoying a romantic holiday in Maui, Hawaii. Together for little more than six months, the glamour couple have been photographed openly cavorting on the beach and just about everywhere else during the getaway – even sneaking in a quick, mid-air kiss while parasailing. The baby-faced singer had his arms more than full while frolicking in the surf with Gomez, sweeping up his bikini- clad girlfriend in full view of beach-goers. The couple were reported to be staying in an exclusive $10,000-a-night suite at the Four Seasons resort. Website Hollywood Life reported the couple had booked the resort’s Maile Suite – a luxury palace encompassing the seventh floor.
-
Upload
mccarthy-wood-media-technology -
Category
News & Politics
-
view
72 -
download
0
Transcript of Medalguy
MAY 29 2011 Page 13ST
I don’twant amedalFlood hero’s snubKelmeny Fraser
A HERO of the Queenslandfloods has rejected a statemedal for his efforts, demand-ing the Bligh Governmenthelp victims before handingout awards.
Spencer Lambert was to bepresented with a medal at nextmonth’s Queensland DisasterHeroes ceremony at Bris-bane’s South Bank Parklands.
But the Yeronga resident,who was left with a $335,000flood-damage bill, has turneddown the distinction in protestover the lack of help for someflood victims.
Mr Lambert headed around-the-clock salvage oper-ation at his parent’s flood-devastated home and workedtirelessly to return tenantsback to a strip of flood-ravaged shops he owned.
‘‘Here we have a ceremonycosting huge amounts ofmoney when there are still somany people in areas such asGoodna, Rocklea, Gracevilleand lots of other areas thathaven’t got any Gyprock ontheir walls,’’ Mr Lambert said.
‘‘Pensioners are living inhouses using tarps as wallswhen we are just heading intowinter. I don’t believe thatpeople who donated were un-der the impression that solittle would have been distrib-uted at this stage.’’
Mr Lambert said he hadbeen virtually wiped out afterhaving an insurance claimrefused and finding himselfineligible for access to do-
nations under the Premier’sDisaster Relief Fund becausehe was above the Govern-ment’s $150,000-a-year in-come test cut-off.
He was able to access theFederal Government’s $1000one-off payment and StateGovernment’s $2000 emerg-ency payment, but was ineli-gible for grants under roundtwo and three of the scheme,which offered payments of upto $150,000 and $80,000 re-spectively.
In a letter to the StateGovernment, Mr Lambertwrites of his disappointmentthat people who had workedhard all their lives, paid taxesand employed people couldmiss out on help in times ofneed, when those who hadn’tmade the same contributionwere provided aid.
Less than $95 million fromthe $265 million of appealfunds have been distributed.
Premier Anna Bligh urgedMr Lambert to accept hismedal, saying ‘‘he was nomi-nated and he deserves thegratitude of the people ofQueensland’’.
Ms Bligh said the commit-tee in charge would this weeklook at further tweaking thefunding criteria.
The fund is registered as acharitable trust and for taxreasons, a means test must beapplied to payments, she said.
What do you think? [email protected] or write to us at GPO Box130, Brisbane, 4001.
thesundaymail.com.au 13NEWS
1300 760 035
GuangzhouReturn
from$599*
Premium economy from $999*
Hong KongReturn
from$599*
Premium economy from $999*
ParisReturn
from$1299*
VancouverReturn
from$1299*
BeijingReturn
from$599*
Premium economy from $999*
▼Applies to genuine quotes from airlines and Australian registered businesses and websites for travel that originates/departs from Australia. Quote must be in writing and must be presented to us prior to booking. Fare must be available and able to be booked by the general public when you bring it to us. Fares available due to membership of a group or corporate entity or subscription to a closed group are excluded. Must be for same dates and flight class. We will beat price by $1.00 and give you a $20 voucher. For full terms and conditions see flightcentre.com.au. *Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Please ask us for further details. Prices and taxes are correct as at
25 May 11 and are subject to change without notice. Prices quoted are on sale until 4 Jun 11 unless otherwise stated or sold out prior. Prices are per person and are subject to availability. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel. Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies, government charges and other applicable fees. Flights not included unless otherwise stated. Where flight is included, additional taxes specific to your flight routing may apply and/or may not include checked luggage (which can incur additional charges). Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store. Advertised price includes any bonus nights. Minimum/maximum stay restrictions may apply. FROM BRISBANE. Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Flight Centre. Licence No. TAG262. bsm_29may_10x7_fc
Fly to Asia from $599* & Europe from $1299*.
Bieberon trackof loveTHIS could just be the photothat will devastate the hopes ofteens across the world.
Heart-throb popstar JustinBieber, 17, and Disney starletgirlfriend Selena Gomez, 18,had eyes only for eachother while enjoying aromantic holiday inMaui, Hawaii.
Together for littlemore than six months,the glamour couple havebeen photographed openlycavorting on the beach andjust about everywhere elseduring the getaway – evensneaking in a quick, mid-air kisswhile parasailing.
The baby-faced singer had hisarms more than full whilefrolicking in the surf withGomez, sweeping up his bikini-clad girlfriend in full view ofbeach-goers.
The couple were reported tobe staying in an exclusive$10,000-a-night suite at the FourSeasons resort. WebsiteHollywood Life reported thecouple had booked the resort’sMaile Suite – a luxury palaceencompassing the seventh floor.
