Latest news with #Riverland
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Gap to close in SA's prison placement rules after plea from murder victim's family
A gap in South Australia's prison placement guidelines is set to close after murder victim Michael Purse's family pushed for change after learning one of his killers had been moved to a low-security facility. Michael's father Jeffrey Purse previously told the media of his devastation at learning that Edwin James Hinrichsen, who was convicted of his son's manslaughter in 2023, had been moved from Yatala Labour Prison to Cadell Training Centre in the state's Riverland. Hinrichsen was sentenced beside David Graham Young — both of whom pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were subsequently ordered to serve more than 11 years behind bars. A third man, Mark-Bry Andrew Leedham, was found guilty of murdering the 32-year-old and sentenced earlier this year to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 28 years — including four years remaining on an earlier jail term. Michael was killed in February 2019 at a unit in Kilburn, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, after he went missing from the Adelaide CBD. His remains have never been found. Mr Purse told the ABC on Wednesday he and his family were "quite stunned" when they learned that Hinrichsen was serving the remainder of his sentence at a low-security prison farm. Upon hearing the news, which was around the same time Leedham was sentenced, Mr Purse spoke to the media, contacted authorities and wrote a letter to the Minister for Correctional Services Emily Bourke. Hinrichsen was subsequently moved to a medium-security facility and a review into his placement is now underway. "The results of that enquiry found that there are gaps in their guidelines and SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures], and therefore, there was no specific exclusions of persons like Hinrichsen to be not admitted into low-security facilities," Mr Purse said on Wednesday. Minister Bourke said she was "grateful to Jeffrey for sharing his story… and advocating for improvements in our justice system". "We listened to his feedback and brought Jeffrey and the department together, enabling an outcome where all recommendations put forward by the review process will be implemented," she said. "Importantly, this includes giving a stronger victim perspective in the case management of serious offenders. "Community safety is paramount and outcomes of this review will strengthen processes in place, with greater oversight on placement decisions made." Mr Purse said he and his family were "very pleased with the result" and compared it to "a bit of a David versus Goliath battle". A spokesperson from the Department for Correctional Services said it took "concerns of victims very seriously" and review panel "put forward recommendations which will be implemented". "These changes will help ensure the department has a stronger victim focus relating to the case management of serious offenders," it said. "Offenders in this category will have a higher degree of oversight prior to any transfer decision made."
ABC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Former SA opposition leader David Speirs to hike the Kokoda Track for men's mental health
Former South Australian opposition leader David Speirs says he is preparing to hike the Kokoda Track to raise funds for men's mental health, posting on social media about his plans for a "personal journey of restoration and renewal" three months after he was convicted and fined over drug supply charges. Posting on social media on Wednesday to announce his fundraising mission, Speirs said he was "doing well overall thanks to the incredible support" he has received from the community. "Life can be real tough sometimes. Things happen which are sometimes within our control and sometimes outside of our control and often a bit of both," he said. Speirs was convicted and fined $9,000 in April after pleading guilty to two charges of supplying a controlled substance to another person on separate occasions in August last year. Speirs was arrested at Berri, in the state's Riverland, in September last year. His arrest came after a video, published by News Corp, showed the former MP snorting from a plate. The charges do not relate to the video. The former Liberal leader resigned from parliament after the charges were laid. Speirs has previously spoken about his "emotional health and wellbeing" taking a toll during this period last year. He now plans to raise funds, awareness and support for the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and The Man Cave, a mental health charity supporting teenage boys. His lawyer had told a court in April of Speirs's plans to walk the Kokoda Track to raise money for men's mental health and for his "own rehabilitation and restoration". In his social media post on Wednesday, Speirs said his trip was self-funded and that he plans to share his journey along the "iconic hike", which stretches for 96 kilometres through Papua New Guinea, on social media next month. "Over the coming weeks as I prepare for, and experience, this journey, I'll be providing regular updates on my social media platforms," he said. "I hope to take you on a virtual trip to Kokoda with me, sharing the highs and the lows." Speirs has been contacted for comment.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- ABC News
Cy and Anja have had many wildlife visitors along their travels
Cy Wever-Jetis and Anja Wever have had many wildlife visitors during their kayak travels along the Murray River.
ABC News
03-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Riverland woman makes hundreds of 'trauma teddies' for young hospital patients
There are specially made teddy bears ready and waiting when young patients take a trip to the Riverland General Hospital. Monash resident Willy Weidenhofer, 81, has been making and delivering "trauma teddies" to the hospital for more than a decade. The hand-crafted bears are given to children in an ambulance or the emergency department to help make the medical process more comfortable. Mrs Weidenhofer, who is a member of Berri Lions Club, said her knitting skills made up for shortcomings in her physical abilities. "When I joined Berri Lions, someone else was doing [the bears] but they couldn't keep up so I said I'd help out, and then they happened to leave," she said. "So I'm the only one that's doing them now. I'm trying to get as many done as possible. "At my age, [there are] a lot of things you can't do in Lions … whereas this I'm able to do, so that's my contribution." Mrs Weidenhofer said sitting in her living room and crafting the special toys did not get old. "They're knitted, most of them, but sometimes I play around and I'll crochet some and see how they turn out," she said. "I normally just start from the bottoms up and then if I get sick of doing that, I'll start from the top down, but they still turn out trauma teddies. She said she knitted for about three months until a bag full of teddies was ready for delivery. "[The staff] really appreciate them because when I took a bag in, they said, 'Oh we'll be right out, goodie,'" Mrs Weidenhofer said. Bears have been handed out to about 500 children at Riverland General Hospital. Emergency department associate nurse unit manager, Beth Marsson, said a "distraction box" with toys and colouring in was provided to paediatric patients. But the trauma teddies were "in high use" and the supply quickly ran out. "It definitely provides comfort and support to the child experiencing something traumatic or are in a distressing situation," Ms Marsson said. "It just really helps build that rapport between the staff, the patient and their family." When one-year-old Alek Gwiazda split his lip open, a trip to Riverland General was required to glue it back together. His mum, Emma Gwiazda, said Alek was a "typical second child, very full on," and his slightly bent leg got him into some trouble. "It's correcting itself as he gets closer to two, but it means he trips over fairly frequently," she said. "This particular time he tripped over and landed face first on a step and put four teeth through his lip on the inside." Alek's trauma teddy has since taken a special place among his stuffed toys collection. "Having the little teddy there to be able to keep him calm was a really a big blessing for him," Ms Gwiazda said. As a parent who was unable to be with her son during his time at hospital, Ms Gwiazda said the work Mrs Weidenhofer did was "a godsend". "It means your kid has something to cuddle and feel safe with when they're somewhere they just don't know," she said. "Please continue because it's needed. To have that piece of security there with them is really important." Local parents have shared their gratitude to Mrs Weidenhofer online and, on occasion, in person when she delivers the bag of bears. "There's people sitting in the waiting room and one woman said, 'Oh my son won't leave his alone, he loves it,'" she said. "It's great that people do appreciate it, it makes it feel all worthwhile."
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Fair Work non-compliance rife among farm labour providers in Adelaide Hills and Riverland
A Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) report into horticulture compliance has found several South Australian labour hire providers had not paid workers superannuation and were allegedly operating without a licence. The report, released last week, details investigations in 15 "high-risk" Australian regions where non-compliance was reported to the FWO. From December 2021 to April 2024, the FWO inspected 360 sites across the nation, issuing $760,405 in fines to employers who failed to meet pay slip and record-keeping obligations. Properties were inspected in South Australia's Adelaide Hills and Riverland regions. Investigators found 92 per cent of the audited labour hire providers in SA were non-compliant, with strawberry and citrus producers having some of the highest non-compliance rates in the state. According to the FWO, workers interviewed at a South Australian strawberry farm told inspectors they were paid in cash and did not receive pay slips. The employer was a labour hire firm that "didn't provide any employee records to the FWO" and was issued with multiple infringement notices amounting to more than $12,500. Speaking with Narelle Graham on ABC SA Regional Drive, Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said it was common for labour hire providers to not supply wage records or pay slips and to be uncontactable. "Labour hire is, unfortunately, notorious for the kind of breaches that we found," she said. The investigation also uncovered 10 labour hire providers operating at one South Australian strawberry farm. Of those, three refused to engage with the FWO when it asked for records. Workers, the report says, were paid between $19 and $25 per hour in cash. Six infringement notices totalling $28,860 were issued to five labour hire providers operating at the property. The FWO also made unannounced site inspections in SA involving a network of labour hire businesses suspected of illegal phoenix activity. According to AUSTRAC, illegal phoenix activity occurs when a company liquidates its operation to "avoid paying its creditors, taxes and other regulatory payments", only to later reappear as a newly created company with the same directors. Workers and managers in the Adelaide and Riverland region had accused "various enterprises" of failing to meet taxation obligations and not paying superannuation on behalf of employees. The FWO report says it was also tipped off about three suspected phoenix labour hire providers in the state's Riverland region operating without a licence. Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock said illegal phoenix activity had been occurring "for a long time". "I think it's wrong and we need to get it out of our industry," he said. Mr Hancock said many horticulture industries wanted a national labour licensing scheme that protected all labour hire workers from "bad actors". "The loopholes that are created by the lack of such a regulation mean people are getting away with exploiting their fellow man, which is really disappointing," he said. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth said the federal government remained "committed" to implementing national labour hire reform. "[We] will continue to work with state and territory governments on pursuing a national approach," she said. "National labour hire reform will be on the agenda for the next meeting of state and territory ministers, which will be convened as soon as practicable." Ms Booth said while the "very high" breach areas would be prioritised and revisited during the next two years, it will continue to stamp out bad behaviour across Australia. "If we get any intelligence or any referrals from any other regulators with whom we work with, or we get any workers ringing us up, we will be there," she said.
