Last Top Stories: Suicide common among clergy sex abuse victims in Ballarat

Suicide common among clergy sex abuse victims in Ballarat

Andrew Collins, 46, was abused between the ages of seven and 14 by four different men in Ballarat, and is now a spokesman for the Ballarat and District Survivors Group who seek redress and openness. Mr Collins said his group mostly struggled with poor ... >> view original

Pony sex farmer Noel Mitchell avoids jail on bestiality charges

In sentencing Mitchell, Justice Pilgrim urged Corrections Victoria representatives at Ballarat to thoroughly read two psychiatric reports on Mitchell and act accordingly. Mitchell apologised to the community and his estranged wife through his lawyer ... >> view original

Church's handling worse than abuse: victim

THE Catholic Church's handling of child sex abuse is in some ways worse than the actual abuse, a Ballarat victim says. THE victim, known as BAV, told the child abuse royal commission there is not enough support and understanding for victims, with men ... >> view original

Heritage protection for Ballarat orphanage site but development to come

"We are extremely disappointed in the deterioration to date ... after several attempts to discuss the issue with the City of Ballarat, we were denied approval to erect appropriate fencing and security at the time of purchase back in 2011 for fear of ... >> view original

Ballarat saleyards feedback sought as independent panel completes preliminary ...

Ballarat Council is urging the public to have their say about the proposed saleyards in Miners Rest. An independent panel has been tasked to consider submissions and make a recommendation to the council on the controversial proposal which has divided ... >> view original

Organ donation an easy choice for Ballarat mum

Due to strict criteria, only about 1 per cent of people who die in hospitals are eligible to donate their organs, but Ballarat Health Services organ donation nurse Jo Forteath said 60 per cent of those families had consented in Ballarat. “I started ... >> view original

Ballarat has spirited approach to tourism

A full moon peeps out from behind the clouds as we arrive under the clock tower at Ballarat train station. A bespectacled man with a top hat and mutton-chop beard awaits our arrival. "If you'd like to follow me to somewhere more isolated," he says in a ... >> view original

DNA detectives track covert Southern Ocean whaling

Somewhere in the Southern Ocean, it seems someone has been covertly catching whales. DNA detective work has tracked down meat on sale in Japan from endangered fin and sei whales that scientists say should not be there. Either it wasn't just the fake ... >> view original

The science behind Australia's spooky 'spider rain'

Residents of Goulburn, Australia woke this month to find their town shrouded in eerie, silken webs, while millions of tiny spiders rained down from above, local news reported. “The whole place was covered in these little black spiderlings and when I looked up ... >> view original

Telstra's Pacnet breached by hackers

Telstra's Asian-based data centre and undersea cable operator Pacnet has been hacked by unknown sources, exposing legions of the telco's corporate customers, including the Australian Federal Police, to a massive security breach. Telstra (TLS) said it had ... >> view original