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By Fronnie Lewis on Tuesday, August 3, 2010
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About Fronnie Lewis
Fronnie Lewis is the founder, publisher, and editor of Media City Groove. She is a journalist with a B.A. degree in communication from Stanford University and more than 25 years' experience as a staff newswriter in the NBC-4 newsroom here in the Southland. She decided to go freelance in 2004. Three years later she caught the blogging bug. An editor for the trailblazing, but now defunct community website run by the Los Angeles Daily News, Valleynews.com, asked Fronnie to write some posts. She soon became a featured blogger on the site and discovered she had a knack for photography. Her blog was called "Web Writer." Several of Fronnie's photos, as well as some of her news and feature posts/articles, were picked up and published in the print edition of the Daily News. In 2008, she started her own blog/website, which morphed into Media City Groove. For more than 30 years, Fronnie has called Burbank/Media City home. She loves its mixed vibe -- from small town to the "Media Capital of the World". Truly, a place like no other.
View all posts by Fronnie Lewis →
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Surname: Meehan
Christian Names: Terrence John
Terence John Meehan Queensland Branch Returned Services League (RSL) State President.
Meehan, the Queensland State President of the RSL is a medals cheat. Be assured we take no pleasure in exposures of high profile Veterans; however, neither status nor position deters us. The higher the status the greater the offence, because public appearances and medals protocol are all part of the high profile individuals responsibilities. If a RSL State President can thumb his nose at protocol, and wear whatever he likes, then the integrity of the Defence Service medals system is doomed.
In recent times ANZMI has been assailed with vicious and obscene emails from executives of the Australian Peace Keepers and Peace Makers Veterans Association (APPVA) because a very senior member of their organisation was featured for wearing a "Tin" medal. It behooves our organisation to work without fear or favour and to expose those who do not follow medals protocol and choose to add that extra "pretty medal" to their Defence Force rack.
Hence we feature ex RAN Veteran, Terence Meehan, the Queensland State Branch, President of the RSL with expectations of "thunderous protest" from those who do not respect medals rules and protocols.
The offending medal is second from the right and is the Western Australia (WA) State Police Medal. See below:
Meehan served in the WA State Police and was issued the medal by the State of WA. Protocol for wearing State and Territory Government Awards is clearly promulgated on the Federal Government Medals web site http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/
"Unofficial medals
Ex-service organisations sometimes commission their own unofficial medals to mark participation in particular military campaigns, periods of service or types of service that have not been recognised through the Australian honours system. Awards made by foreign governments which have not been approved by the Governor-General for acceptance and wear are also "unofficial". There is no impediment to wearing such medals in appropriate private settings, such as a meeting of the relevant ex-service association, or a reception hosted by the relevant foreign government. Ideally, unofficial medals should not be worn at public ceremonial and commemorative events, but if they are worn as the occasion demands, the convention is that they are worn on the right breast.
Q14. How do I wear my state awards?
A14. State awards are worn on the right breast because only national awards in the
Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards are worn on the left breast."
During 2012, Qld RSL republished a feature in the "Qld RSL News" from the South Australian RSL booklet "The Signal", written by Keith Harrison, see excerpt below:
"Ideally, unofficial medals should not be worn. However if they are worn as the occasion demands, they may be worn on the right breast.
Meehan, as an RSL State President, must be aware that he is responsible to set an example by following medals protocol. If he is not capable of this simple task, it beggars belief that within Qld RSL State HQs, there is so little care given to the traditions of the Service.
Update Terrence Meehan - Queensland Returned and Services League (RSL) President - 07 April 2014
We are nonplussed and amazed at a recent announcement made by the National President RSL. See his announcement below
NATIONAL PRESIDENT'S NEWSLETTER No 3 of 2014
The repercussions from this statement will be immense, it means that on ANZAC day 2014, there could be thousands of State Medals added to the end of Defence racks. This could include Police Service Medals, Fire Fighters Medals, Ambulance Medals, and any other medal issued by State Governments. It could then be extrapolated to include Regional Council medals and all manner of trinkets.
Instructions from the office of the Governor General are very clear and based on the following statement:
MEDALS NOT ISSUED BY THE SOVEREIGN MUST NOT BE MIXED WITH MEDALS THAT ARE ISSUED BY THE SOVEREIGN.
We believe that Meehan wears his State Police Medal on the basis that a Western Australia Police Commissioner issued a decree that Western Australia Police Medals could be worn at the end of Defence Medals. This also happened with the Northern Territory and the New South Wales Correction Services. This ruling is of course contrary to our Governor Generals policy
It is a sad situation when the National President of the RSL, and the Queensland RSL State President do not understand that State employed Commissioners have no authority to make policy regarding National Medals that are issued by the Sovereign.
Simply put, the National President's latest statement, and Meehan's behaviour degrades the value of hard earned Defence Medals.
It appears, the National President has made his amazing statement following an announcement recorded in the Minutes of the Queensland Northern District Sixteenth Annual General Meeting and Conference held on 22 March 2014.
Initially Meehan "fell on his sword" and issued a "heartfelt apology" for his poor form in mixing a State Medal with his Sovereign conferred medals
"Good Afternoon,
Some time ago I had my medals re-mounted by a person whom I believed to be a reputable dealer, I was advised that medals awarded(as opposed to commemorative medals purchased) by both State and Federal Governments were to be worn on the left breast this advice has now been shown to be incorrect.
Yesterday I had the medal removed from my defence force rack, I unreservedly apologise for offending members of the defence community.
Terry Meehan
State President
RSL (Queensland Branch)"
Since his apologetic epistle, a medal's whisperer appears to have got into his ear and without Meehan properly checking the whisperer's advice, has done a three hundred and sixty degree turnaround. Hence his statement at the Queensland Annual conference. It is also reliably reported that Meehan is mumbling about suing ANZMI for defamation. We believe he has even "identified" some individuals to have his Process Servers target.
Meehan is causing turmoil and angst in the RSL. As an RSL State President he has worn a medal contrary to protocol and policy. He has apologised for his actions, then recanted, then influenced the National President of the RSL to make an incorrect announcement and exacerbate the problem of tacking State Medals to Federal Medals.
In essence Meehan is a "bumbler". Evidence of his bumbling leadership is particularly apparent in the Gold Coast region of Queensland where medals cheats and wannabes abound as executives in RSLs.
Meehan's continued wearing of the Western Australian Police Medal, and his action being ratified by the National RSL President will open the door to the devaluation of Defence medals.
We can expect an explosion of activity by medals mounters, stitching on all kinds of State and other Awards to Defence racks.
The RSL is in a Lassez-faire style of leadership, where medals cheats and wannabes are able to rule the roost.
This is a monumental error. Australian Veterans must ensure that One Hundred years of tradition is not trashed because of the vanity and ignorance of a leader. State Medals must be worn on the right hand side and are not to be included on the left mixed with hard earned Defence Medals.
Meehan as an RSL leader has shown reckless disregard for protocols and tradition and has entangled the National RSL President in his disregard. In essence he has brought the RSL into disrepute.
Update Terrence Meehan - Queensland Returned and Services League (RSL) President - 23 Oct 14
As described in our last update, Terry Meehan incorrectly berated ANZMI for "wrongly" exposing him for wearing a State medal with his Defence Medals.
He also embarrassed the RSL National President by having him make a statement in support of his recalcitrance. Rear Admiral Ken Doolan AO RAN Rtd specifically stated that "It is hoped ANZMI will correct this mistake on their website and more closely check the facts in future"
At the last Annual General Meeting of the Queensland RSL we note that Meehan has adjusted his medals by removing the offending Western Australia State Medal. Obviously he has realised that he was wrong.
Perhaps both Mr Meehan and Rear Admiral Doolan OA RAN Rtd may wish to apologise to ANZMI for their incorrect and disparaging remarks.
Most Veterans and ex Service personnel support ANZMI, we have vast support from all over Australia and Overseas. The support base covers Veterans from World War 2 to current Middle East conflicts. There are very few detractors.
Those who campaign against us, and threaten us, are those who have been exposed as wannabes frauds and liars.
We are self funded. We are not allied to any other organisation whatsoever and we proceed without fear or favour.
Simply put, to have two top executives of our senior ex service organisation wrongly question our integrity requires an apology.
In this matter we have achieved our objective, Meehan has adjusted his medal rack. and we have pointed out that degrading medals protocol and then disparaging ANZMI is not what is expected from a leader of the Veteran Community
Christian Names: Bryan Michael
City or Town: Myrtlford
Bryan Meehan is Secretary of the Myrtleford, Victoria, Returned and Services League (RSL).
Meehan wears five medals they are:
Australian Active Service Medal (AASM)
Vietnam Medal (VM)
Australian Defence Medal (ADM)
Commemoration of National Service Medal (CNSM)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM) - Not entitled
As an Infantry Soldier in Vietnam, Meehan certainly earned the first four medals, but he did not fulfil the requirements to wear the RVCM. The requisites are clear and concise and cannot be changed because the medal was presented by the now non existent country, The Republic of Vietnam. Here are the requirements:
Meehan served for 154 days, which is 27 days short of the required 181 days. He was not medically evacuated as being a battle casualty.
Meehan was contacted and he asserted that he was entitled to wear the medal because he had no leave whilst in Vietnam and the medal was endorsed on his Army Records. When asked to produce the certificate he refused to do so. He was insistent about the matter and declined further discussion.
Perhaps those from the Myrtelford RSL can ensure that he becomes cognizant of the details for wearing the medal and make sure he removes the medal from his rack.
Meehan says he has worn the medal for fifty years, therefore fifty years ago, he would have purchased it and had it mounted on his rack. He knew then that it was not legitimate.
Meiers (Update)
Surname: Meiers
Christian Names: William John
City or Town: Wondai
Service: CMF
Branch: Artillery
Commencement of service: 26/01/1965
Completion of service: 01/10/1971
UPDATE June 2018
Since publishing the report about William John Meiers of Wondai Queensland, we have received further information about his false claims to be a returned veteran. Here is a clearer picture of him on ANZAC day 2018.
More of his disgraceful lies have come to light.
His stupidity is evidenced by his use of the term "Nam" instead of "Vietnam". Genuine veterans never us the term "Nam". He also claims to have been at Fire Support Base Coral, where he fired at the enemy over "open sights at 100 yards". He was not there.
From a Facebook entry, Meiers talks about number '6' gun of 12 Field Regiment that featured in the Battle of Coral in Vietnam. Meiers claims to have been there, but he wasn't. He has written the word "books" in the second sentence, we assume he meant to write "gooks" which is another term never used in Vietnam.
Here is a shocker. Meiers gives adoration to the Australian flag because he fought under it and his mates died under it. He is lying sham of a man.
Finally with great confidence in his deceit, he led the Wondai RSL Sub Branch in their ANZAC Day march.
Since publishing our first report we have heard nothing from Meiers. He appears to be hiding, perhaps using the skills he learned in the jungles of Vietnam. Be assured that glorying in the kudos of being a "Returned Soldier" may expand the ego, but Australian and New Zealand Veterans will not tolerate the stealing of their honour.
Those who do, and are caught out, will appear on this website, which has a tendency to deflate the largest of egos.
William John Meiers was born on 14 April 1946 and is a "Life Subscriber" member of the Returned and Service League (RSL) in Wondai Qld. He transferred from Jimboomba Qld in 2010. On the transfer certificate, his Army Unit is listed as 15 Fd Regt (15 Field Regiment) and his Regimental number 3174782.
Meiers is wearing lots of buttons and badges as well as Vietnam service medals. His array is somewhat askew, as the medals are not in their proper order. In the photograph he has:
1. Australian Active Service Medal
2. Vietnam Medal
3. Commemoration of National Service Medal
4. Australian Defence Medal.
Medals 3 and 4 are in the wrong order. This is a bungle no genuine Returned Veteran would make. It is however, a blunder that a conniving Wannabe and Medal Cheat would do.
Because wannabes lack the experience of genuine Returned Veterans, they believe they can fool all the people all the time. Being photographed wearing false medals is not a good strategy, and it is a major factor in bringing these caitiffs to the justice of the Returned Veterans communities.
Fortunately, there are observant Returned Veterans at the Wondai RSL, who picked up on aspects of Meiers' behaviour and his medals rack, indicating that he was not the full package.
Obviously Wondai has not succumbed to the general malaise throughout the RSL, where numbers seem to take precedence over integrity. The RSL membership requirements are being gradually eroded whereby inexperienced people are monitoring membership criterion. This decrepitude starts at the very top, where the National President of the RSL is not a Returned Veteran.
On 13th April 2018, Meiers sent an email to a genuine veteran detailing his involvement in the famous Vietnam Battle of Fire Support Base Coral on the 13th May 1968. Here is what he said:
Forwarded message
From: Bill Meiers <bill.meiers@y7mail.com>;
Date: Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 12:00 AM
Subject: Latest RSL News
G'day xxxxxxxxx
Just got my RSL news and came across the story of Coral. Well, the first attack on Coral. It's not a long article, but it is the most accurate story of what happened that I have ever read. It is written by a bloke who was a junior officer at the time and was there at the front. We deployed on May 12, and were attacked at about 0215 - 0230 hrs on the 13th. I was the number 2 on number 4 gun.
I've read a number of stories about Coral, but they all have some problems when it comes to accuracy. It's great that a story is written by someone who was right there where it was happening. Read it if you get the chance.
See you on 25th.
Meiers is a liar. He was not "number 2 on number 4 gun", he was not at Fire Support Base Coral, in Vietnam on the 13th May 1968 when 12 Field Regiment t fought gallantly against overwhelming odds and sustained casualties.
Meiers was approached and requested to show proof of his service. Here is his response:
Bill Meiers <bill.meiers@y7mail.com>
Sat, May 19, 2018 at 5:00 PM
Obviously, you haven't spoken to too many Vets suffering PTSD. These blokes, some of them, are still up in the trees, and many will never come down. Many have died up there. Don't fucking tell me that Vets have no problems telling you their bona fides.
Why am I wasting my time even responding to you? I have a good idea of who or what you are, but you haven't had the decency to let me in on the secret. Well xxxxxxxx, you go and do all your investigation and fucking leave me alone.
On 20 May he included his number name, rank and unit in an email to a researcher
Meiers, WJ Bdr
15 Fd Regt, R Bty, RAA
You call yourself a researcher??? And you didn't even know that. Perhaps you did, and you are only trying to sucker me in. And yes, the PTSD is very real and has been for many years. And it is never going away. I live on my happy pills".
The unit in which he claimed that he served, 15 Field Regiment was a Citizens Military Forces unit formed in Dandenong, Victoria, in 1962. The Unit then amalgamated with the 2 Fd Regt in 1975 and was redesignated as 2/15 Fd Regt. It was never deployed to Vietnam.
Notice in his reply, he infers that he is a Returned Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of his service. Playing that false card is disgraceful behaviour. Perhaps he has falsely convinced his friends and family of his "Vietnam caused PTSD".
The first stop in an investigation of this nature is the Department of Veterans Affairs, Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans. It is ninety nine percent accurate. Those not listed have requested that their names be removed. It is, however, easy to procure evidence of service through various Unit Associations and other historical documents. The reason for Meiers' non-listing is that he never served in Vietnam.
We then sought information from 12 Field Regiment Association, the Artillery Unit that was actually present at Coral. Here is their response:
"The 12 Field Regiment maintains a Nominal Roll of all of our blokes who were on the ground at Coral. This includes all sub-units and attached units.
In the past, this roll has proven to be very accurate and has settled a lot of disputes, however I cannot categorically state that there are no omissions.
That said, there is no-one by the name of William Meiers (or any other reasonable version of this spelling) included on the Roll and I reckon it's a 99% bet that he wasn't at Coral with 12 Field Regiment and its attached units."
On 22 May 2018 almost one month after his appearance at the Wondai RSL wearing false medals Meiers said the following –;
"From Bill Meiers
To: XX
I've thought long and hard about this and have delayed answering you as I've been to see my head doctor this morning, prearranged, nothing to do with our conversation.
My mental health is more important than anything else, and I have to control my anger and aggressiveness, along with my desire to fight everything. I'm sure you took note of my aggro in some of my responses.
So I am not prepared to go any further with this matter for those reasons and also I am not prepared to divulge private information. It is just not worth it.
So, Mr Ed, I will retire my jacket and medals to the wardrobe. I will not cause Wondai RSL, or any other RSL, any further consternation. Further, I will not darken their doorstep again, so avoiding any embarrassment to parties concerned.
I hope this is acceptable and the matter can rest.
Bill Meiers"
Although Meiers maintains his claim of being a Returned Veteran, there is no doubt he is a fraud. He never served with any unit in Vietnam and served only in Dandenong, Victoria with 15 Fd Regt. We believe this matter can be decided by a Magistrate and have taken steps to ensure that Meiers has an appointment at his local Court House.
We suggest that Meiers be told to pack his goods and chattels and "nick off" from Wondai RSL and any other RSL. However, we will award him full membership with honours on this website.
For every day he has pretended to be a Vietnam Veteran he will serve Ten years on this website
Surname: Melville
Christian Names: Brian James
State or Province: New South Wales
City or Town: Nowra
Service #: R51789
Service: Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Branch: Airman Aircraft Handler
According to Brian Melville, he received a medal through the mail without notification or return address and chose to add it to his rack of seven medals.
The medal is the last one on the right hand side. It is an unofficial commemorative medal commissioned by RAN Associations.
Initially RAN Sailors who visited Vietnam on war ships were not recognized with a medal, hence they struck their own. This medal was never authorized to be worn with genuine service medals
Subsequently the Government provided an official medal to cover the service of all servicemen who had short term visits and included sailors, soldiers, airmen and civilians, such as Qantas staff and entertainers .
Melville did not qualify for this medal, as he earned two other medals signifying a posting of more that six months in Vietnam. Below are the two medals. The Vietnam Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He now wears three medals for his Vietnam Service, one is the dud commemorative medal.
Melville is a senior returned veteran, who served in the RAN for many years and has since served at the Nowra RSL for many years.
He wears an unauthorised medal and therefore has earned a place on this website.
Surname: Meyers
Christian Names: Graeme Kenneth
Service: RAN
Graeme Kenneth MEYERS, date of birth 03/08/1951 of Albany R96070, served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and did one trip to Vung Tau, South Vietnam on the troop ship HMAS Sydney.
He appears on this site as he has misled a reporter from the West Australian Newspaper and the leader of the opposition, the Hon Tony Abbott MP by asking for an apology.
Graeme Meyers enlisted in the RAN as a Junior Sailor on 5 April, 1967 and was posted to HMAS Sydney from 26 April 1968 to 3 November, 1968.
Graeme Meyers spoke to the reporter Joseph Catanzaro of the West Australian Newspaper about his service in the RAN and being sent to Vietnam on the troopship HMAS Sydney which was published in that newspaper on 20 July, 2011.
In the first paragraph Meyers claims he was only 16 years old when he was sent to war to Vung Tau Harbour. This is incorrect; he was 16 years and 10 months old when he did his trip to Vung Tau leaving the port of Brisbane on 21 May 1968 and returning to Brisbane on 13 June 1968 as a Junior Recruit 1st Class
HMAS Sydney was at anchor in Vung Tau from 0647 hours to 1305 hours on 1 June 1968, a total of 6 hours and 58 minutes. Myers goes on to state "the trauma of being thrust into a combat zone at such a tender age led to mental health problems that still plague him today."
Vung Tau was the Australian Logistics Base with a large airfield used by the RAAF, US Air Force and Army. It was also the Rest and Recreation Centre where soldiers actually located at the Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, in a real combat zone used to take a total of five days leave. Soldiers would wear civilian clothes and not carry any weapons. There was also a good beach where soldiers could enjoy a swim in the ocean and a beer.
It is common knowledge in the military that logistics and supply units are always placed in a safe area well to the rear of a combat zone.
This makes it hard to consider Vung Tau as a combat zone. To the soldiers who did go on operations in the jungles of South Vietnam, Vung Tau was a holiday resort.
Meyers states "He is still haunted by the sights and sounds of war and the Chinook helicopters roaring overhead, patrol boats circling his ship and the foreboding glimpse of jungle looming over the edge of the landing barge."
In all the trips to Vung Tau I never saw or heard any sounds of war. Maybe I had too much to drink and missed it all. As part of security measures patrol boats would be circling the ship to keep any other craft away from the Sydney and probably also looking for Viet Cong using hollowed out bamboo sticks trying to swim out to the ship to sink it.
The Chinook helicopters would be ferrying supplies and heavy equipment from HMAS Sydney to the logistics' base and dropping them off at varying points some 7 kilometres distance. As for the foreboding jungle, there wasn't any. The nearest jungle would have been at least 20 kilometres away.
Kenneth Meyers apparently handed his medals in to a Labor State MP to hand to the leader of the opposition, the Hon Tony Abbot MP and was seeking an apology from Mr Abbott as it was the Liberal Party that was in power in 1968.
Mr Meyers also said was the "secret shame of the Australian Defence Force-their use of child soldiers during the Vietnam War."
Sydney Meyers you have got that wrong too, soldiers had to be 19 years old to be sent into an actual operational area. You were at the time a Junior sailor 1st Class after under going training at three shore bases before doing a stint on the HMAS Sydney which besides being used as a troop ship for conveying troops to and from Vietnam was also a training ship for Junior Sailors.
We believe it is Graeme Meyers that should be apologizing to everyone for his deception to the reporter and Mr Abbott about his service and trip to Vung Tau.
It is sad to read such rubbish like this from an ex-serviceman who never went into the jungles of Vietnam and did the hard yards in actual combat, some of whom never returned.
HMAS Sydney was just a troop ship conveying troops and supplies from Australia to Vung Tau and taking the infantry battalion being relived back to Australia.
Graeme Meyers for your loose manner of handling the truth, we find it an insult to all Vietnam Veterans and to the relatives of those that lost their loved ones in the jungles of South Vietnam. You will now grace our web site.
Surname: Middleton
Christian Names: Raymond N
City or Town: Coomera
Raymond N MIDDLETON believed to reside in the Coomera area Queensland and visits the Southport RSL. 42743 Gunner Middleton served with 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Army in South Vietnam. Purchased a South Vietnamese a Cross of Gallantry and awarded it to himself.
Ray Middleton did his tour of South Vietnam and is entitled to wear the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation awarded to 161 Battery on his right breast.
http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/m/m2a.html
This citation was awarded to 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery by the President of South Vietnam to recognise service in Vietnam from 17 July 1965 to 8 May 1971. The citation was presented by General Nguyen Van Minh, Commander of Military Region III, at a Battery Parade at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, on 8 May 1971. The citation was also awarded to 2 New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam (2 NZATTV).
This unit citation is worn as a dress embellishment by members of 161 Battery. Personnel who were posted to 161 Battery during the period for which the citation was awarded (and up to the unit's withdrawal from Vietnam in 1972) may wear the insignia of the award at all times. Personnel subsequently posted to the unit may wear the insignia only while they are serving with the unit.
This unit citation is sometimes referred to as the Republic of South Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Presidential Unit Citation, or the Republic of South Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation in the colour of The Cross of Gallantry with Palm Leaf.
He is not entitled to wear the individual South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. He has purchased this medal to try and make himself out to be some kind of hero when he attends services wearing his medals. He is also wearing an un-official medal with his official medal which goes against the rules of medal protocol.
There is a full list of New Zealand soldiers who were official awarded foreign medals at the following web site and his name is not on it.
http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/resources/awards
The medals Middleton is wearing from left to right are as follows;
New Zealand Operational Medal (entitled)
Vietnam Medal (entitled)
New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (warlike) (entitled)
South Vietnam Campaign Medal (entitled)
South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm (not entitled, purchased)
New Zealand Army 150th Anniversary Medal (not entitled, un-official commemorative medal)
There are strict rules regarding the wearing of medals which have been published by the government and by the RSL. Below is just a small list of medals that should not be worn with official medals.
Ray Middleton and others like him are not satisfied with the medals they have been officially award and purchase un-official commemorative medals as well as other official medals they are not entitled to for no other reason than they are show ponies and want people to believe they are some kind of heroes.
Ex-service organizations should check the records of their members and ensure they are only wearing the medals they are entitled to and also that they are not wearing un-official tin medals.
Ray Middleton, your lack of any pride or respect for the medals you are entitled to wear and by wearing a tin medal as well as a self purchased Gallantry Medal you will now grace our web site for all to see.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package com.backendless.social;

import android.R;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.app.Dialog;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.RelativeLayout;
import com.backendless.async.callback.AsyncCallback;
import org.json.JSONObject;

import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

public class SocialDialogLoginStrategy extends AbstractSocialLoginStrategy
{
  private Dialog dialog;

  public SocialDialogLoginStrategy( Activity context, SocialType socialType, Map<String, String> fieldsMappings,
                                    List<String> permissions, AsyncCallback<JSONObject> responder )
  {
    super( context, null, socialType, fieldsMappings, permissions, responder );
    this.dialog = new SocialLoginDialog( context, this );
    this.dialog.show();
  }

  @Override
  public void createSpinner()
  {
    super.createSpinner();

    getSpinner().setOnCancelListener( new android.content.DialogInterface.OnCancelListener()
    {
      @Override
      public void onCancel( android.content.DialogInterface dialogInterface )
      {
        if( dialog.isShowing() )
          dialog.dismiss();
      }
    } );
  }

  @Override
  public BackendlessSocialJSInterface getJSInterface( AsyncCallback<JSONObject> responder )
  {
    try
    {
      return new BackendlessSocialJSInterfaceAnnotated( getContext(), dialog, responder );
    }
    catch( Exception e )
    {
      return new BackendlessSocialJSInterface( getContext(), dialog, responder );
    }
  }

  @Override
  public void createLayout()
  {
    RelativeLayout mainContainer = new RelativeLayout( getContext() );
    android.widget.ImageView closeImage = createCloseImage();
    RelativeLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams( ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT );
    layoutParams.addRule( RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_RIGHT );
    layoutParams.addRule( RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_TOP );
    int closeImageWidth = closeImage.getDrawable().getIntrinsicWidth() / 2;
    mainContainer.setPadding( closeImageWidth, closeImageWidth, closeImageWidth, closeImageWidth );

    dialog.addContentView( mainContainer, new ViewGroup.LayoutParams( ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT ) );
    mainContainer.addView( getWebView() );
    mainContainer.addView( closeImage, layoutParams );
  }

  private android.widget.ImageView createCloseImage()
  {
    android.widget.ImageView closeImageView = new android.widget.ImageView( getContext() );
    closeImageView.setOnClickListener( new android.view.View.OnClickListener()
    {
      @Override
      public void onClick( android.view.View v )
      {
        if( dialog.isShowing() )
          dialog.dismiss();
      }
    } );
    android.graphics.drawable.Drawable closeDrawable = getContext().getResources().getDrawable( R.drawable.ic_menu_close_clear_cancel );
    closeImageView.setImageDrawable( closeDrawable );

    return closeImageView;
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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None of the above apply? That's ok. We'll make sure we find the right fit for you.
At Bellco Credit Union, you're not just a customer; you're a valued member. And your membership gives you access to lower interest rates on loans, higher yields on deposits, our wide network of surcharge-free ATMs, free financial advice, and our complete financial services.
As a pillar of financial strength and security, Credit Union of Denver has been serving its members for more than 75 years. And, of course, what elevates us above other financial institutions is our personal service, low to no fees, excellent rates, convenience, and our dedication to our members' success.
We invite you to become a member/owner of our credit union family so that you can enjoy the many benefits of membership. As a full-service financial institution, we continue to add to the benefits and privileges of membership. Our strong focus on member satisfaction isn't just a by-product of our success -- it's the source.


He's given us some of our favourite childhood memories, and lead some of the most critically acclaimed movies of all time. To mark the release of the acclaimed film The Post on DVD and Blu Ray on Monday, we're counting the very best Tom Hanks films from his extensive career.
Forrest Gump depicts several decades in the life of its titular character (Hanks), a slow-witted but kind-hearted, good-natured and athletically prodigious man from Alabama. Gump witnesses, and in some cases influences, some of the defining events of the latter half of the 20th century in the United States, specifically the period between his birth in 1944 and 1982. The film differs substantially from Winston Groom's novel, including Gump's personality and several events that were depicted.
The film scooped 6 Academy Awards in total, with Hanks winning Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Apollo 13 dramatizes the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris.
In Los Angeles, Hanks and all the actors portray flight controllers enrolled in a Flight Controller School led by Gerry Griffin, an Apollo 13 flight director, and flight controller Jerry Bostick. The actors studied audiotapes from the mission, reviewed hundreds of pages of NASA transcripts, and attended a crash course in physics.
The film was named the #12 most inspirational movie by the American Film Institute in 2006.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan is known for its graphic portrayal of war, and for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which includes a depiction of the Omaha Beach assault during the Normandy landings.
The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture; Spielberg's direction won his second Academy Award for Best Director, with four more awards going to the film.
In 2006, Hanks was inducted into the U.S. Army's Ranger Hall of Fame as an honorary member, largely thanks to his portrayal of Captain John Miller.
From the same director as Forrest Gump, Cast Away is the story of how obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Hanks) survives on a deserted island following a plane crash.
To make himself look like an average, out of shape middle aged man Tom Hanks didn't exercise and allowed himself to grow pudgy. Production was then halted for a year so he could lose fifty pounds and grow out his hair for his time spent on the deserted island.
Tom Hanks said one of the reasons he wanted to make the film was to reinvent the "stuck on a desert island" concept. He felt that up to that point, most people's association of the idea was limited to either "Robinson Crusoe" or "Gilligan's Island" and that there was room for a new take, one rooted in the modern day.
The first feature film to be produced by Pixar, Toy Story is is considered by many critics to be one of the best animated films ever made.
Hanks plays the lead character Woody, a toy cowboy. What attracted Hanks to the role was the fact that, during his childhood, he would always wonder if his toys were alive and moved around when nobody was in his room.
Director John Lasseter always wanted Tom Hanks to play the character of Woody. Lasseter claimed Hanks had "the ability to take emotions and make them appealing. Even if the character is down-and-out and despicable."
Captain Phillips is inspired by the true story of the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking, an incident during which merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage by pirates in the Indian Ocean led by Abduwali Muse.
The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Abdi.
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Green Mile, told in a flashback format, tells the story of Paul Edgecomb's (Hanks) life as a death row corrections officer during the U.S. Great Depression, and the supernatural events he witnessed.
Stephen King said that Tom Hanks fit his part "like an old shoe" and Hanks stayed in character as Paul Edgecomb whenever Stephen King visited the set. King asked him if he would like to sit in Old Sparky, but Hanks refused, since he was in charge of the block.
The story of a 12-year-old who wakes up in a 30-year-old's body, this comedy was nominated for two Academy Awards.
To give Tom Hanks an idea of how a twelve year-old would behave, director Penny Marshall filmed each "grown-up" scene with David Moscow (Young Josh) playing Hanks' part, who then copied Moscow's behavior. Hanks would go on to do something similar for Forrest Gump, when he would spend time with Michael Conner Humphreys (Young Forrest) and imitate his southern accent to prepare for the part.
Catch Me If You Can is based on the life of Frank Abagnale (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), who, before his 19th birthday, successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor.
Hanks plays an FBI bank fraud agent, who tracks Frank and eventually catches him.
The blackboard that Carl Hanratty is writing on toward the end of the movie contains a small note at the bottom that says, "Steven and Tom's 4th project". Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, had previously collaborated on Band of Brothers (2001), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Joe Versus the Volcano (1990).
Philadelphia marked a huge step for LGBT+ representation on screen, since it was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia. Though it wouldn't be considered particularly progressive for Hanks, a straight man, to play the part now in 2018, at the time it had an undeniably huge impact.
Andrew Beckett (Hanks) is fired from his law firm when diagnosed with HIV, and he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
Tom Hanks had to lose almost thirty pounds to appear appropriately gaunt for his courtroom scenes. Denzel Washington, on the other hand, was asked to gain a few pounds for his role.
The Post is released on DVD and Blu Ray on May 21st.


HIT Training, the parent company of Connect2Care – the leading provider of training and apprenticeships in the adult care and early years sectors – has today (23 February) been named in the prestigious Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Coming in at number 74, the training provider has risen up the list from 88th in 2015 and 92nd in 2014. A total of 798 companies registered to participate this year and the entries are derived from the views of employees, who rank their employers according to key indicators of staff engagement and workplace satisfaction – creating a barometer of excellence in the workplace.
A staggering 90.75% of HIT and Connect2Care's employees participated in the Top100 survey – smashing the league tables' average of 68%. The results highlighted that 90% of employees are proud to work at HIT Training and Connect2Care and 93% believe they make a valuable contribution to the success of the company. 95% of respondents also believe that the apprenticeship exert provides its clients with a high-level of service.
Speaking about the results, Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at HIT Training and Connect2Care, said: "To say we are thrilled to be named number 74 in the Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For is an understatement. This accolade is down to every individual team member and their hard work, determination and unrivalled passion for what they do. Helping employers and apprentices within the care sector to achieve either their career or businesses goals is what we do and the fact that so many of our employees chose to participate in the survey affirms the high-quality service we pride ourselves on.


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Skansen Museum & City Highlights
Stockholm (Nynashamn), Sweden
€ 95 84
After your transfer into town, enjoy some of Stockholm's highlights on a panoramic drive through the city on your way to Skansen, one of Sweden's leading tourist attractions. Skansen Museum is the oldest open-air museum in the world, with more than 1.3 million visitors annually. People come from everywhere to see the unique collection of historical buildings from all over Sweden as well as the Scandinavian wild and domestic animals and the exotic fauna at the Aquarium. Skansen has its own stage for concerts, a lively town quarter, a hot-glass workshop, craft workshops, cafes, restaurants, shops, and to top it all off, a fantastic view of Stockholm. Over the years, about 150 historical buildings have been moved here from nearly every part of Sweden. Most of them date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors to the houses and farmsteads are met by hosts in period costumes. They often demonstrate domestic occupations, such as weaving and spinning and there's also a wonderful display of glassblowing.
Note: The drive to/from Stockholm takes approximately one hour.
Sea Aquarium & Beach Combo by Boat
Stingray Swim & Snorkel


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Fewer than half of eligible adults taking advantage of NHS midlife MOT
Written by	Ella Pickover
Fewer than half of adults are taking advantage of a free NHS midlife MoT, a charity has found.
Only 44% of adults eligible for an NHS Health Check in the last five years has had one, according to analysis by Diabetes UK.
The five-yearly check-up is offered to adults in England aged 40 to 70 to help spot early signs of Type 2 diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, heart disease and dementia.
According to Diabetes UK, between 2013 and 2018, 15.5 million people were eligible to receive an NHS Health Check, but only 6.8 million had one.
The charity said more must be done to encourage people to take part in the scheme.
It said many adults who are found to be at a high risk of Type 2 diabetes through the scheme are referred to the specialist NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, which helps people to reduce their risk.
Across the UK there are 12.3 million people at increased risk of developing diabetes and knowing their risk could help them prevent the onset of the condition, the charity added.
It is estimated there are around a million people with Type 2 diabetes who have not been diagnosed.
The Diabetes UK analysis also highlighted significant variation across the country, with just one in five eligible adults taking part in the Health Check in some regions compared with almost all in others.
In Walsall, 99% of eligible adults received their Health Check compared with 18% in the East Riding of Yorkshire and Croydon.
Across England, every local authority is required by law to ensure all eligible people in their area are offered a check every five years.
Diabetes UK is urging local authorities to do more to encourage people to participate.
"The success of the programme in certain areas is due to local councils working hard to make it easier for people to attend these free health checks that only take 15 minutes and can help keep people healthy," said Diabetes UK head of policy Robin Hewings.
"It is absolutely vital that all people who are eligible in every area get a health check.
"If left undiagnosed, Type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications, including blindness, amputations, stroke and kidney failure, but with the right treatment and support people living with the condition can lead a long, full and healthy life."
if we are to continue to tackle or delay avoidable ill-health such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in England, it is vital that eligible people get checked in order to increase uptake rates
Professor Jamie Waterall, Public Health England's national lead for the NHS Health Check programme, said: "Heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes are among the biggest causes of early death and ill-health in England, but most cases are preventable.
"That's why the continued effort to expand the NHS Health Check programme is so important as it helps identify who is at risk and, more importantly, what they can do about it.
"Public Health England is working hard to support every council to provide these vital checks for people aged 40 to 74 years old."
Nick Forbes, senior vice chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "Councils have spent millions of pounds inviting more than 14 million eligible people to have an NHS Health Check over the last five years, of which around half have taken up the offer.
"However, if we are to continue to tackle or delay avoidable ill-health such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in England, it is vital that eligible people get checked in order to increase uptake rates."
For more information about the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, visit https://www.diabetes.org.uk/riskscore
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2018, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Anthony Devlin / PA Wire.
Health | Wellbeing
Primary Care | GPs
Government drawing up no-deal Brexit food 'substitution' plans for hospitals
Teenager who murdered newborn son in drink-fuelled rage is jailed for life
Two-year-old boy left infertile after surgeons operate on wrong testicle
Free meals among measures announced to support disadvantaged children during holidays
Praise for radio host who kept suicidal caller on phone until ambulance arrived
NHS England allocates £300,000 for 'drunk tanks' over festive period
Immigration Minister lifts barrier for 260 unaccompanied child refugees
Cross-party MP's warn Universal Credit reform could be disastrous for disabled people
Government admits more than 4,500 disabled people wrongly stripped of benefits
FGM survivor issues warning over festive period 'cutting season' for at-risk girls
NHS Scotland chief confirms five health boards dropped below expected standards
Member of paedophile group jailed for 15 years for plotting to rape baby boy
Health Trust fined £300,000 after violent knife attack on two nurses at secure unit
Labour blames sharp rise in homeless deaths on 'Government choices'
Scale of homeless deaths branded 'national tragedy' as new figures show 24% rise


This fabric is from fabric designer Prestigious Textiles and is part of our Prestigious Textiles fabric range. This fabric is part of the Prestigious Textiles South Bank fabric collection. A duck egg blue cotton fabric printed with mixed grey, lemon and white half circles. This fabric is 100% cotton. This fabric would be perfect for curtains or roman blinds.
You are able to buy this Prestigious Textiles fabric online and in store from our fabric warehouse in Northamptonshire.


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Travelers face flight cancellations, delays out of LAX
by The AV Times Staff • December 23, 2022 Leave a Comment
A freezing winter storm moving across the country is creating a travel nightmare at Los Angeles International Airport on one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.
There were 85 flight cancellations and 149 flight delays at LAX as of 8:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23. More than 3,200 flights have been canceled nationwide, and the most affected cities are New York, Chicago and Denver. A winter storm is moving through the central United States toward the East Coast Friday, and will affect about 135 million people over the weekend, according to reports from the National Weather Service.
"This is not like a snow day when you were a kid," President Joe Biden said during a news conference in the Oval Office. "This is serious stuff."
The winter storm is creating problems for travelers at LAX and other airports in Southern California.
"I couldn't get a flight anywhere so I had to get my brother to drive me down to Seattle — had to book a flight out of Seattle to go to Denver, to fly here. My Seattle flight was delayed, my Denver flight was delayed and now they lost my luggage — but I'm home," Christine Lerosen told ABC 7.
There were three flights canceled and 10 flights delayed at Long Beach Airport, 12 flights canceled and six flights delayed at Hollywood Burbank Airport, 33 flights canceled and 22 flights delayed at John Wayne Airport in Orange County and 12 flights canceled and 13 flights delayed at Ontario International Airport as of 7 a.m.
Those traveling by car might face problems as well. The worst time to be on the road will be between 4 and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, according to AAA. The best time to drive will be before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m. Friday. Southern California is expected to have the warmest temperatures in the country, with highs over 80 in some areas on Christmas Day.
Filed Under: Business, Home, Los Angeles County
Tim Scott on Siblings of Lancaster woman testify she abused her children: "The court generally doesn't just hand over the money to 'the family' and move on to the next case. When…" Jan 29, 09:25
Stinger on Readers Speak Out! (January 2023): "God is God. Religion is a creation of man. The two do not necessarily intersect." Jan 29, 09:21
Stinger on Readers Speak Out! (January 2023): "Go Purple!" Jan 29, 09:16


Attacking public policy because it is not perfect is one of the most common practices in American politics. It is easy because no public policy is perfect. There is always something wrong with it. We live in an imperfect world.
There is a positive side to such criticism when it is focused on improving the imperfect, but it takes on a negative spin when it is used to simply shoot down any idea without presenting a practical alternative.
There are a lot of problems with the Affordable Care Act, aka "Obamacare," but the old system that left millions of people uninsured was unacceptable. Is killing the Affordable Care Act a solution to its problems? That seems to be the position of those Republican governors and legislators who have refused to allow the expansion of Medicaid to cover millions of poor people, even though it is costing their states billions of dollars. Meanwhile, Congress is gridlocked, so technical problems with the Affordable Care Act cannot be fixed. The only legislation that can pass the House is repeal.
Likewise, it is easy to criticize the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. The Castro government is not democratic; it does not respect human rights when they are seen as a threat to the regime. But isolating Cuba for 50 years has accomplished little for the Cuban people. In fact, our embargo has provided the Castro regime with the excuse it needed to stay in power despite its economic failures. All of Cuba's problems, they said, can be blamed on the embargo. Meanwhile, American companies are not allowed to do business with Cuba.
Does Cuba have a worse human rights record than Vietnam, than China, than Saudi Arabia? We have diplomatic relations with these countries and American corporations do business with them.
The Catholic church has never required perfection in politics or diplomacy. Unlike the United States, the Vatican never broke diplomatic relations with Cuba, and today, the Cuban bishops say the embargo is a bigger problem for them than government restrictions on religious freedom.
The nuclear agreement with Iran is another imperfect deal. It would be wonderful if Iran stopped supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah and began accepting Israel's right to exist. But rejecting the nuclear agreement will not bring about those ideal results. It will just mean that the supporters of Assad and Hezbollah and the enemies of Israel will have an easier path to nuclear weapons.
People seem to forget that President Ronald Reagan was willing to negotiate imperfect nuclear arms deals with the "evil empire" when communism was still in control of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Nixon established diplomatic relations with China when Mao Zedong was still in charge. He also ended the war in Vietnam.
Is it only Republicans who get a pass from the right wing when they negotiate such deals? Can the right point to any diplomatic agreement since World War II that has left the United States worse off than it was prior to the agreement, worse off than it would be without the agreement?
Actually, it is the left that has the most to complain about from international agreements. The left believes free-trade agreements have devastated manufacturing and wiped out middle-class jobs in the United States. They especially object to North American Free Trade Agreement as a job-killer. They unsuccessfully opposed passage this year of the trade promotion authority that allowed the president to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership and to present it to Congress for an up or down vote without amendments.
But the left might also ask if their desire for the perfect is killing the good. Do they really think that globalization will stop if the United States withdraws from negotiations? Do they really think that a future administration is going to be more favorable to the interests of U.S. workers than the Obama administration? Do they really think that opening up the agreement to amendment by Congress will not result in a feeding frenzy from special interests?
It is cliche but true to say that the desire for the perfect can be the enemy of the good. Perfection is rarely the result of politics. Conflicting views lead to compromises based on prudential judgments about what is possible. Often, the best we can hope for is incremental improvements or even lesser evils than the alternatives.


Cathryn Vanderspar is Head of Tax in our London office and co-heads our Indirect Real Estate Team. She has over 25 years experience as a tax lawyer covering corporate, finance, real estate and funds structuring and taxation. Her work includes advisory as well as transactional work.
Cathryn specialises in the structuring of direct and indirect real estate (including real estate debt) across all the asset classes and covering all taxes and structures, including joint ventures, corporate real estate, funds and REITs. This includes specialist areas such as residential, student accommodation, private equity, debt, healthcare and hotels. Advice covers structuring through the whole life of the asset.
In the funds arena, Cathryn has been very proactive on new product development for many years, including on the REIT, EUUT, PAIF and ACS. Her work includes unregulated, regulated and listed structures, where she has advised a wide range of clients.
Cathryn is an active member of key industry committees, including the BPF, AREF and the IPF and has participated in many HMRC and HMT working groups and successfully lobbied for changes of law.
She is the author of the REITs chapter in Tolley's Taxation of Collective Investment.
She is also a ranked individual in Chambers.
Cathryn is one of our specialist Brexit lawyers. Contact Cathryn Vanderspar for more information on how Brexit may affect your contracts. View our Brexit hub for our full range of Brexit resources.


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Dwayne Johnson Tops Forbes' Highest-Paid Actor List With US$64.5 Million
Dwayne Johnson elbowed Robert Downey Jr. aside for the title.
The Associated Press CP
NEW YORK — Dwayne Johnson elbowed Robert Downey Jr. aside to become the highest-paid actor with a fast and furious income of US$64.5 million, according to Forbes magazine.
The former wrestler beat out Jackie Chan with $61 million and Matt Damon, who earned $55 million. The rest of the top five on the list, released Thursday, included Tom Cruise with $53 million and Johnny Depp with $48 million.
MIAMI BEACH, FL - JULY 14: Dwayne Johnson attends the HBO 'Ballers' Season 2 Red Carpet Premiere and Reception on July 14 at New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo: Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for HBO)
The top guys make more money than the top ladies. Forbes' list of the highest-paid actresses, released earlier this week, put Jennifer Lawrence on top with $46 million, Melissa McCarthy with $33 million and Scarlett Johansson with $25 million.
All the data is from between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016, before fees and taxes.
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Armstrong taps into honour
The City of Armstrong is Okanagan Basin Water Board's new Make Water Work champion.
Armstrong residents are taking a leadership role when it comes to conserving water.
"We're pretty proud when we win any award, but winning this is a community victory. That's what makes it a true win," said Mayor Chris Pieper.
Okanagan residents can go to www.makewaterwork.ca and learn how to use water effectively and take a conservation pledge.
After joining valley mayors to take the pledge at this year's Make Water Work launch event in May, Pieper started to push the message in Armstrong.
"I didn't do it alone," he added, noting city staff started talking with residents as they came in at tax time, reminding them to conserve and encouraging them to take the pledge.
The city has also installed water meters and has been providing residents with mock bills showing how much they will be charged once billing comes into effect. Again, the last set of mock bills were used as an opportunity to provide residents with tips to make water work.
Armstrong residents reduced use by 40 per cent during recent restrictions.
"I think our community has really bought into water conservation and I see it across the valley – a recognition of the need to protect our water," said Pieper.
"People are talking about water, the forest fires, the drought. I think awareness is top of mind for people and they're concerned."
City not concerned about audit
Mandatory vaccination records urged for schools


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← Wicked Witches: Virgin Witch (1972)
TRAILER THURSDAY! Halloween Edition →
Wicked Witches: The Wicker Man (1973)
Posted by Buster the Administrator
by Steve Habrat
As horror moved into the 1970s, the genre was becoming extremely savage, bloodthirsty, and unforgiving. Exploitation horror was gaining momentum and even the arty offerings didn't hesitate to get right in your face with bludgeoning images of sex and violence. Subtlety was slowly getting buried six feet under, but one British horror film chose to take a different approach to creeping you out big time. That film would be director Robin Hardy's 1973 Pagan musical-horror film The Wicker Man, an unsettling look at religion that slowly works up to a fiery climax that has become one of the most well known finishes in movie history. At first glance, most probably wouldn't be quick to label The Wicker Man a horror film. It's got a folky atmosphere with a number of strumming musical breaks, several of which feature free-spirited ladies dancing around in the nude. Once called "the Citizen Kane of horror films" by the film magazine Cinefantastique, The Wicker Man slowly grows on the viewer before fully revealing an ugly side. Undoubtedly, it will take the viewer a moment to adjust to it, especially when a pub breaks out into song in the first ten minutes and Hardy presents a slow-motion sex scene. But as Hardy lures us deeper into this island and allows us to mingle with the inhabitants, you'll start to feel a churning sense of dread as Christopher Lee's Lord Summerisle seals Edward Woodward's Sgt. Neil Howie's fate.
The Wicker Man begins with devout Christian Sgt. Neil Howie (played by Edward Woodward) arriving at Summerisle Island, where he is sent to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young girl named Rowan Morrison. As he opens his investigation, the straight-laced Neil meets with locals who claim never to have heard of Rowan. As Neil explores the island, he witnesses several couples having sex in the open air of a park, observes the island's doctor attempting to rid a young girl of a sore throat by putting a frog in the girl's mouth, wards off the seduction of the innkeepers beautiful daughter, Willow (played by Britt Ekland), and bursts in on a graphic school lesson. To Neil's horror, he is wandering around on an island full of Pagans. After finding Rowan's grave and discovering that buried in her place is a hare, Neil meets with island's leader, Lord Summerisle (played by Christopher Lee), who explains the history of the island, which is known for its fruits and vegetables. Enraged by his meeting with Lord Summerisle, Neil launches his own investigation of the island's May Day festivals and in the process, he makes a shocking discovering that puts him in mortal danger.
What makes The Wicker Man such an uneasy experience is the exploration of religious extremity. We are asked to identify with a devout Christian, a virgin who trembles at the very idea of polytheism worship and open sexuality. While in front of the chuckling islanders, Neil wears an authoritative mask and a rigid stance, although it is easy to see that he is repulsed by what those around him claim to believe. Behind closed doors, he kneels beside his bed and prays furiously to his one true God. On the other side of he room lays the nude Willow, knocking on the wall and singing a hypnotic folk song in the hopes of luring the uptight Neil into her bed. She dances and sways around her room, seeming to cast a spell through her motions as Neil fights furiously to repel her advances. He sweats and stumbles, clinging to the wall as if an unseen hands were trying to drag him from the room. Early on, Hardy lets us know that Neil suffers from his religious beliefs, but he slowly allows us to glimpse the insanity of the islanders as they march in their animal masks and unveil their true intentions with our God-fearing protagonist. It's horrifying what they will do for a successful crop season, a stomach-churning plot that reeks of lunacy and blind devotion. Even scarier is the way they smile proudly as they look upon their work, singing proudly and loudly up to their glowing sun god.
The two men caught in the center of this religious exploration are Christopher Lee's shock-haired Lord Summerisle and Edward Woodward's Sgt. Neil Howie, both who give drastically different but equally exquisite performances. Woodward is sensational as a man who just can't open his mind up to the possibility that others do not believe what he believes. He is constantly irritated by the practices of the islanders and he even attempts to intervene when he catches an earful of what is being taught to the children in school. In a sense, we do feel bad for him when we see him struggle to stay pure, but it's tough when he is basically a victim of his own faith and repression. However uptight he may be, you can't help but feel for him when he is sacrificed at the hands of madness during the climax. On the other side of the spectrum is Lee's Lord Summerisle, the island's unhinged leader that smiles sarcastically as Neil accuses him of sacrificing the girl he is there to find in a Pagan ritual. By the end of the film, as the island wind ruffles up his hair and he explains that they have lured Neil into a trap, you'll truly be convinced that Lee has never been more terrifying. He's a realistic villain—a bonafide cult leader convinced that bloodshed is the answer to the island's recent misfortunes. Lee is completely engulfed by the performance as Hardy zooms in on his euphoric signing with his faithful band of followers.
While I must confess that The Wicker Man didn't entirely win me over at the beginning, the film grows on you with each passing second. I feared that I would never warm to the way Hardy works in some folky musical numbers, but they possess a pull that becomes hard to resist. The final chant around the burning wicker man is unforgettably scary, especially when complimented by Neil's terrified pleas to God. The film also looks gorgeous, boasting breathtaking cinematography that makes great use of its picturesque Scottish locations. Overall, as far as the "Citizen Kane of horror films" praise is concerned, I don't particularly believe that the film is scary enough to really earn that title. Sure, it is thought provoking and it certainly is a one of a kind, but it doesn't scare the bejesus out of you. It disturbs more often than it terrifies. However, this isn't to say that The Wicker Man isn't a really good film. It's handsomely made, sharply acted, cleverly written, and it features one of the most powerful climaxes in horror movie history. You will undoubtedly be playing it back in your mind the next day, but it won't have you switching on a nightlight for weeks after.
The Wicker Man is available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Posted on October 16, 2013, in REViEW and tagged 1973, britt ekland, christopher lee, edward woodward, horror, musicals, robin hardy, witch horror. Bookmark the permalink.	2 Comments.
Victor De Leon | October 16, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Great essay on this classic, bro! I just ordered my "Final Cut" blu ray of this movie and I can't wait to re-visit it. It is indeed an eerie and wonderfully made picture. It is beautiful to look at and it is a rare slow burn movie that un-ravels nicely. Once again, good job, Steve. This was a great read!
table9mutant | October 19, 2013 at 7:53 AM
Nice review. 🙂 Love this film. Certainly not for everyone and the ending makes up for some of the dated cheesiness.
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The Lancaster House Agreement was a political consensus which brought the independence of Zimbabwe from Rhodesian rule. The agreement came into being after a series of negotiations between the nationalist parties and the Rhodesian Front between September and December 1979. The Agreement was facilitated by the British and the American governments to being to an end the 14 year war in Rhodesia between the Rhodesians and the guerrilla movements.
The emergence of nationalist movements such as the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), the Zimbabwe African People's Union, the United National African Congress (UANC) and the National Development Party (NDP)had brought massive political instability in the colony of Rhodesia. This was because of the conflicting ideologies which existed between the minority Rhodesian Front and the above mentioned nationalist movements. These problems catapulted into a full scale war between the two opposing parties.
The front-line states such as Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, backed by the International powers such as Britain and the USA forged for a political truce through a negotiated settlement. This resulted in the calling for a peace conference. The warring parties met between September and December in 1979 for deliberations on the way forward.
The Conference opened on 10 September 1979 under the chairmanship of Lord Carrington, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Conference concluded on 15 December, after 47 plenary sessions. The final peace agreement was signed on 21 December 1979. The major signatories were as follows; Ian Smith- Rhodesian Front, Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo- Patriotic Front, and Abel Muzorewa. At the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979, Josiah Tongogara was a crucial "moderating" force, according to Lord Carrington, the then British Foreign Secretary, who chaired the talks.
The Independence of Zimbabwe was to be achieved through suffrage and all qualified citizens were to vote.
Land was to be redistributed on Willing Buyer Willing Seller basis for the first 10 years awaiting policy review.
A new democratic constitution crafted at Lancaster was to be deployed soon after elections.
All concerned parties were to be disarmed and stop the war.
Elections were to be held by March 1980.
to accept the outcome of the elections and instruct any forces under their authority to do the same.
↑ 1.0 1.1 , CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT LANCASTER HOUSE, LONDON SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 1979 REPORT, Published:1979, Retrieved:27 Jun 2014"
↑ 2.0 2.1 A.E Sibanda, The Lancaster House Agreement and the post - independence state in Zimbabwe, Institute of Development Studies,Retrieved:27 Jun 2014"
↑ L.R Mataire,Independence: Land is the Alpha and Omega, The Herald, published:18 April,retrieved:27 Jun 2014"
↑ 4.0 4.1 Lancaster House Agreement, "Race and History", published:13 Jul 2008,retrieved:27 Jun 2014"
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Hedreen to Feature Female Artists in Panel
Sumedha Majumdar, Author|January 22, 2014
Feminism is alive and well in the Seattle art community. This year's Seattle Women's Convention will help to prove this fact with events such as "Female Artists aka Artists" taking place at Hedreen Gallery on Jan. 23.
Last year, the convention focused on the influence of women on the field of art. One exhibition titled "Elles: Women Artists from the Centre Pompidou, Paris" featured more than 130 artworks by over 75 women artists; the artwork presented was mainly from 1907 to 2007. The exhibition, which was hosted by the Seattle Art Museum, featured a collection of paintings, sculptures, videos, drawings and photos by female artists; the museum's ads for the exhibition declared "Women are taking over!"
"Elles," which garnered praise from the surrounding art community, led to a series of heartfelt discussions about feminism. Artists from all over the country joined in and there was a great deal of conversation about female artists following this exhibition. Discussions focused primarily on the subjects of female artists' contribution to art, the still-present gender disparity and what needs to be done in the future.
A year after the Elles exhibition, the convention is back to figure out if any changes have taken place in terms of feminist credibility in art. This year, local artist Joey Veltkamp will host discussions about issues such as fair representation and equality for female artists. He will be joined by other notable artists on Jan. 23 such as Jen Graves, Susie J. Lee and Susanna Bluhm, all of whom are affiliated with the Seattle art community.
The panelists will try to answer key questions like how often the works of women artists are recognized in the Seattle art community and how each artist experiences public recognition.
"One year after Elles, I don't think much has happened specifically as a result of the exhibition, but there is generally more awareness of gender iniquities in social media clamor," said Lee in an email.
Lee, an award-winning artist, will preview her upcoming project "Siren" at the event. Lee received her M.F.A. from the University of Washington in 2006 and has since had her artwork showcased around the world.
Bluhm, an award-winning artist from California, hopes "this discussion will lead to a greater understanding of the issues surrounding female artists."
The discussion will be open to all. Bluhm pointed out that the intended audience is the Seattle art community, but anyone with any ideas about gender is welcome to participate.
Graves, The Stranger's visual arts writer, said that the discussion is "less about targeting an audience mainly, and more about inviting an audience."
Graves feels that people discuss these topics already, but an event like "Female Artists aka Artists" will give them an opportunity to share their ideas with the public.
Lee stated that meaningful change happens when the majority understands and wants change.
"It is thrilling to watch, like the dominoes falling, the number of states that are allowing gay marriage. It would be great to see this type of energy extended for women and minority rights [in an event like this]," Lee said.
The event will take place at the Hedreen Gallery in the Lee Center for the Arts on Jan. 23, beginning at 6 p.m. It is open to the public.
Sumedha Majumdar, Author
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The mission of the CSC is to be both a site for conduct of high quality clinical research, and an efficient, centralized resource for training, assessment of feasibility, and study design, that will attract research sponsored by both industry, disease focused groups, and the government.
Provide a physical facility which meets the full dimension of needs for clinical research – examination and interview rooms, phlebotomy, sample processing, storage and shipping.
Identify and document "best practices" approaches to all aspects of clinical research – including but not restricted to regulatory compliance, informed consent, documentation, recruitment and retention, financial monitoring, and assessment and management of adverse events.
Facilitate interactions among investigators and patients regarding different intramural and extramural research organizations and programs, e.g., intramural (VA Clinical Studies Program, VA Health Sciences Research and Development, etc.); extramural (National Institutes of Health, Atlanta Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute [ACTSI], etc.).
Assist in providing research training and credentialing for investigators and coordinators.
Assist investigators and coordinators in implementing "best practices" approaches for their specific studies.
Assist in the design, development, pre-review, and revisions of protocols and informed consent forms, along with evaluation of feasibility and applications for research funding.
Assist with the development of VA research clinics to track patient workload and protocol enrollment.
Assist organizations outside the VA, desiring to have research studies conducted at the VA, in identifying VA investigators who might be interested in those studies.
Assist with the regulatory requirements necessary to maintain compliance, and maintain close contact with the VA Research Compliance Officer.
Assist in the liaison with OHRP, FDA, IRB, ORO, and other regulatory bodies.


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Erin Brockovich movie is out from 2000. But there is a true story behind it from the mid 1990s. It is the story of a woman, a company, a community and public health science.
Personally it is one of my favourite as it was released while I was looking what expertise should I choose . After this and some other influences, I chose medical geology. Still I was shocked when my professor in my Master degree actually recommended it so we can understand contamination.
Hence this movie is merely an easy way to explain what is medical geology to people. Moreover the story is a good example how medical geology is applied to save lives.
Erin Brockovich is a woman that had a very difficult life, until she worked with the lawyer Edward L. Masry. There she discovered that people of the town of Hinkley were sick because of groundwater contamination.
Her team finally won US$333 million settlement , the largest ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history.
Although the story is very impressive, the science is not at all. But it is more focused on Erin Brockovich's troubles.
So I feel we need to explain this true story that affected and is still affecting so many people. You can hear all about it in this episode.
If you have not seen the movie yet, you can buy it here.
Did you like the story? How about in your country? Anything similar happening? You can share it below.
Thank you for sharing your own story. It is important to know how the world is coping.
Posted on 6/2/2019. This article contains affiliate links.


I first drank this smoothie back in the '80's at my fav hippy cafe in Paddington. Thought they must be crazy mixing parsley & banana, but I was soon hooked on the sweet yummy flavour in this smoothie. Well worth their experiment & my subsequent conversion to this way of life!
30 years later it remains one of my favourite drinks, rich in nutrient flavour & crispness!!
2] Add avocado & water to reach the desired consistency.


Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Guaruja Peninsula House is a coastal retreat in São Paulo. The dwelling is made from a series of volumes staked on the rocky shoreline. A concrete rectangular base sits on a foundation of stilts for minimal impact on the land while a triangular volume is suspended above. Housing the private areas, their solid facades conceal the home's more intimate rooms from onlookers. Public living spaces are located in a transparent void between the two volumes, allowing for expansive views of the landscape. The glazing opens out to a poolside terrace floating above the sea below.
Sleek, minimal, and eco-friendly. The Naturecruiser is everything you want in a land-based home but the contemporary structure is actually made for life on the water. The houseboat quietly cruises across lakes and rivers with a hybrid electric drive and is practically self-sufficient, utilizing a water-purification system and solar panels. It's constructed mainly from sustainable materials and offers 15 meters of living space that includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and outdoor deck, as well as a rooftop terrace. Warm wood cladding and modern fixtures give the interior a Scandinavian design while expansive glazing offers views of the scenery as you're cruising by. For long-term living, there's also the more spacious, 24-meter Waterloft model and the Watervilla, a floating dwelling that remains anchored to your aquatic destination.


Discover adorable mini snowmen and other stuffed cuties on Tedsby! Mini snowmen by the best teddy bear makers from all around the world for sale on Tedsby - the best website to buy and sell teddies and other stuffed animals.
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We love what we do ~ most of us, anyway.
My question is do we love it or are we infatuated with our business? There is a big difference.
When I started out as an entreprenuer, one of my colleagues said, "Ok, so now you are ruined from ever working in corporate again." So very true for me. I'd gotten the entrepreneurial bug and wasn't, for better or worse a continual entreprenuer.
When you love your business, the show stoppers events become bumps in the road – yes sometimes painful, but quitting is not an option.
Being infatuated with your business is that you think you've found the perfect thing and it's going to work out perfectly.
Being in love with your business means that you realize that nothing is perfect – not your business, not you; and it doesn't matter! You know your business will evolve and you will evolve along with it.
Being in love with your business means you are in it for the long haul, even as it changes over time. Infatuation means that you hop from thing to thing, coach to coach, hoping to find "it". "It" is inside you! You are what makes your business fascinating, unique and fun.


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Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA - Free Confidential Consultation - 1-866-777-2557
Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA - Priest Sexual Abuse Bakersfield California
Were you sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Church? You are not alone. We are here to help abuse survivors. Stand up against your abuser and help prevent this from happening to someone else. Contact Vanderhyde Law today for a free case review. Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and a Bakersfield Priest Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to answer any of your questions. This is a free consultation. Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing. Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA
History of Sex Abuse in Religion
Sex abuse of young children within a religious setting is not a new situation, even if claims towards members of religious establishments have been brought into the light over the last several years. At the center of the disputes is the Roman Catholic Church, which has been under-fire for covering-up claims of child sex abuse for decades within the organization. Nevertheless, while the bulk of sex abuse claims relating to kids have revolved around the Catholic religion, additional religious doctrines are not immune to these assertions.
Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield California
There is limited statistics to show the extent that sexual abuse happens within religion, nonetheless claims regarding abuse stretching back years continue to surface as consciousness grows and laws and regulations are evolving. The fact is, a study from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice mentioned that 4% of all United States Catholic priests between 1950 and 2002 had claims against them for child sex abuse.
In the past, the Catholic Church has actually been embroiled in scandal concerning cover-up involving clergy members who committed sexual abuse of children. As opposed to reporting these types of crimes to the authorities, the Church has handled them internally, normally resulting in the offenders being relocated to other sorts of parishes or "sentenced" to a religious penance. These kinds of steps have left countless survivors without a tool for legal justice, and countless accused clergy members around the world still keep having direct contact with little ones by means of religious instruction.
The Culture of Religion and its Part in Sex Abuse
There are various theories which were noted when describing the epidemic of sex abuse inside of religious organizations. While chapels in general really should be held to an outstanding ethical standard, the fact is that the hierarchy of the Church may also be adding to the ongoing sexual abuse of its kids. Factors that may explain the prevalence of religious child sex abuse include:
• Unequal Power Distribution: Child sexual abuse is most likely to occur in circumstances where there is an abuse of power, and the authority of the clergy as retaining a superior moral standard plays into the manipulation of sexual abuse sufferers.
• Opportunity: Often, clergy members have been in close, isolated contact with girls and boys, producing an opportunistic setting. Religious training and tutoring, youth groups, and overnight gatherings all can generate a place that allows for sexual abuse.
• Immunity to Prosecution: As a private organization, a church is better capable of cover-up allegations of abuse inside the organization. This kind of institutional setting creates an atmosphere in which criminals can be concealed and accusations can be taken care of outside of the justice system.
• Sexual Repression: Inside the Catholic religion, priests take a vow involving celibacy, which plays a two-fold role in sexual abuse. This will make priesthood a desirable path for pedophiles who would like to avoid their urges, while it also brings about sexual tension and repression within clergy members that can lead to the acting out of their deviant impulses.
Although the historical legacy of child sex abuse within religion is tragic, a number of states have begun taking legal action to develop legislation that can bring justice to these sex abuse survivors. Bills, like the Child Victims Act, could remove the protections that the Church has against criminal prosecution and provide survivors a voice against their abusers.


We had such a gloomy, drizzly, freezing day for their session, but these two endured without complaint and looked great doing it. They even brought me a chai tea! We had a quick but really fun session at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel and these two were naturally sweet together. If their wedding day is anything like their engagement session, we are all in for a treat. Jeremy and Rachael, thank you for choosing me to photograph your wedding, it was fantastic to meet you and I look forward to your wedding in the fall!
Mandy - These are lovely!!! I especially love the "head bud" (as we affectionately call them at home) and "nose snuggle" ones. You both are so cute!!


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Q: Convert Kafka Stream word-count example to output JSON Objects I'm working through the word count example, and currently have:
    stream.flatMapValues(value -> Arrays.asList(WORD_PATTERN.split(value.getMessage().toLowerCase())))
          .groupBy((key, value) -> value).count(Named.as("word_counts")).toStream()
          .to(KafkaTopicConfig.xxx3_REPLY_TOPIC);

It's my understanding from the docs, that this is going to produce a KTable<String, Long> and the content in the reply topic will be:
the 3
cat 4
etc.

Not even sure if this is good practice (if its not, let me know lol)... but I'm trying to make it into a more "usable" json format:
  [
    {
      "word": "the",
      "count": "3"
    },
    {
      "word": "cat",
      "count": "4"
    }
  ]

is this doable? I get streams are never ending, so it'll keep sending jsons in this format...
I've defined a class WordCountPairDto that holds the String, Long pair and I guess I'm trying to serialize the stream into a ArrayList<WordCountPairDto> and let the Json serde serialize it out to Json.
Any pointers would be appreciated!

A: I'm assuming you're using Spring Kafka since you tagged the question with Spring. Spring Kafka can handle the serialization/deserialization of any pojo class type for you if you subclass JsonSerializer and configure it in your properties for value.serializer.
Then you can use KafkaTemplate to produce your message type:
@Autowired
private KafkaTemplate<String, YourPojo> kafkaTemplate;

and produce with:
this.kafkaTemplate.send("your.topic", yourMessage);

Consuming is similar, extend JsonDeserializer and configure it in your properties for value.deserializer, then consume with:
@KafkaListener(topic="yourTopic")
public void consume(YourPojo yourPojo){ ... }

The serialization of your YouPojo instance for sending messages, and deserialization of messages back into instances of YourPojo is handled for you.

A: Your output would not be a JSON Array. It would be two messages with any key.
You can get that output like so
stream.flatMapValues(value -> Arrays.asList(WORD_PATTERN.split(value.getMessage().toLowerCase())))
      .groupBy((key, value) -> value).count(Named.as("word_counts")).toStream()
      .map(this::createJSONMessage)
      .to(KafkaTopicConfig.xxx3_REPLY_TOPIC);

Where you define public KeyValueMapper<String, String, KeyValue<String, String>> createJSONMessage(String key, String value) method to return your JSON Object string as the value
You can also use Produced.with to define different serdes.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


By buying this product you can collect up to 1236 bonuspoints.
Shopping tip. Four-storey old building with dormer windows and a two-storey facade with modern glazing. The two-aisle ground plan and the windows on all building sides allow to place the model on a corner plot of two streets or as a building standing alone.


Where will you be using your beacon?
Would you like additional safety, in case you get separated from your vehicle?
Yes, I would like additional safety.
Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are designed to be used on land. They are smaller and easier to transport than other beacons, and are designed to stay with individuals rather than vehicles.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) can also be used on land, but are more difficult to transport because they are larger and heavier to carry.
In most states, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are required for boats that travel at least 2 nautical miles from the coast. If you're not travelling that far, you can use a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) instead.
Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are designed for aircraft.
In some cases, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) or Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) may be carried in place of an ELT. Refer to CASA to read the regulations.
For faster and more accurate alerts, be sure to select a beacon that has GPS.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are designed to stay with your vehicle (car, boat, aircraft, etc). Individuals may also choose to carry Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs). This provides additional safety in the event where you become separated from your vehicle which contains your other beacon.
If you do carry multiple beacons, activate one beacon in a distress situation. However if in a group of people do not activate them all at once unless you become separated from your group. For more details, see using your beacon.