EMBARGOED: 12:01AM THURSDAY AUGUST 28, 2008

Australians are turning to technology to stoke the flames of love with one in five Aussies using their webcam for online dating and keeping in touch with long distance lovers, according to a recent study commissioned by Microsoft Australia.

One third of webcam users surveyed said they saved between $100 and $500 per year on their home phone bill – which means more money to spend time doing the things they love.

Additionally 70 per cent of Australians feel their webcam has enabled experiences that might not have been possible due to geographical limitations, such as birthdays and in some instances even weddings, helping to bridge the gap that distance brings.

The survey also highlighted that silver surfers are holding their own against the youth market with over 55s revealed as the highest users of webcams in Australia.

Audio grabs are available from –

DANICA AITKEN, ANZ Product Marketing Manager Entertainment & Devices, Microsoft Australia

EMBARGOED: 12:01AM THURSDAY AUGUST 28, 2008

According to Netregistry - Australia’s largest online specialist to small businesses - business online is booming despite a gloomy economic forecast and business pessimism.

Over the past 18 months, Netregistry has seen domain name sales significantly increase quarter-on-quarter.  During the last quarter (April – June 2008), total domain name sales grew more than 34 per cent (21,931), compared with the first quarter (January – March) this year (16,303). 

These online growth findings are spread across industries including engineering and manufacturing, business services, hospitality and travel, and healthcare and medical.

Larry Bloch, chief executive officer of Netregistry, said, “While businesses are pessimistic about decreasing profitability, online could not be more different.  Business online is increasing and we have not seen the downturn others have been experiencing. 

Audio grabs are available from –

LARRY BLOCH, chief executive officer of Netregistry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 15:30 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2008

Patients with congenital heart defects at risk of premature death due to a severe lung condition known as Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) now have a new treatment option available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

“The availability of Tracleer (bosentan) on the PBS provides a new treatment option for people with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension associated with existing or repaired congenital heart defects,” Associate Professor Robert Weintraub, Paediatric Cardiologist at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne said today.

Chief Executive Officer Neil McWhannell of HeartKids Australia said: “Congenital heart defects are the most common birth abnormality with six babies each day in Australia diagnosed with the condition.”

Audio grabs are available from –

PROFESSOR ANNE KEOUGH, cardiologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2008

Dairy farmers from Picton, NSW have risen to the top in the 2008 President’s Medal, beating five others to take the honours of best producer in Australia in front of hundreds of food and wine aficionados at The Ivy in Sydney last night.

Country Valley’s Lush Traditional Handmade Yoghurt was awarded Champion Cultured Milk Product or Yoghurt at the 2008 Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Produce Show, putting owners John and Sally Fairley in the running for selection as a President’s Medal finalist.

President of the RAS Mr Glenn Dudley congratulated the husband and wife team, saying the unique competition gives recognition and kudos to producers who work hard to balance commercial and environmental considerations.

Audio grabs are available from –

GLENN DUDLEY, President of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW

JOHN & SALLY FAIRLEY, Country Valley owners, winner of the 2008 President’s Medal

EMBARGOED: 06:00 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2008

900,000 Australians have admitted to checking their partner’s phones according to new research conducted by Virgin Mobile.

The research has revealed that Australia is a nation of paranoid text checkers with over one in three young Australians admitting to checking their partner’s text messages, and more than 280,000 having been being involved in a text-checking related break-up.

The research also reveals:

• 10% of young Australians have been involved in a breakup as a result of text-checking

• 59% of text checkers check their partner’s phone when they’re in the shower

• Women (38%) are more likely than men (28%) to check their partner’s texts

With the aim of squashing the nation’s obsession with text checking Virgin Mobile has introduced a new service for those customers concerned about their partner’s snoopy tendencies, called text-checker.

Audio grabs are available from –

SAMANTHA BRETT, author, relationship expert and text-checking guru

12:30PM TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 2008

Customers are set to reap greater rewards with the launch of the new Woolworths Everyday Money Credit Card heralding a fresh approach to credit cards.

The general purpose credit card will be available to shoppers from 1 September 2008, offering all Australians a new level of value and convenience.

The Woolworths Everyday Money Credit Card rewards scheme will revolutionise the current credit card rewards market by introducing an entirely new level of flexibility, value and choice with cardholders able to check and pay their balance at the supermarket checkout.

The card will also signal the introduction of ‘epump’. From late 2008, epump will offer customers a quick, new way to pay for fuel and redeem fuel saving offers at the pump enabling them to get back on the road faster.

Audio grabs are available from –

RICHARD UMBERS, General Manager Customer Engagement, Woolworths

STRICTLY EMBARGOED: 4AM MONDAY AUGUST 25, 2008

The Daily Telegraph has conducted a poll of 1000 Sydneysiders that has provided one of the most comprehensive current snapshots of life in Sydney.

The poll reveals that “We love Sydney - but the cost is killing us”.

The Daily Telegraph/Galaxy poll also reveals that:

• Sydneysiders' continue to love and cherish the Harbour City - its weather, parklands, water and beaches - but their affection is being undermined by living costs and traffic congestion. This has forced more than half to consider moving.

• Fixing the health system and hospitals is their top priority - nearly twice as many want them fixed (46%) compared to the next priority, transport (25%). And one in five started using public transport in the past 12 months.

August 25 also marks the launch of a completely redesigned newspaper for The Daily Telegraph, unveiling an even fresher, cleaner and more modern design in direct response to a major survey primarily focussed on the paper’s readers.

Audio grabs are available from –

DAVID PENBERTHY, Editor of The Daily Telegraph

EMBARGOED: 07:00 MONDAY AUGUST 25, 2008

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service today announced a national appeal, in response to severely low blood stocks.

National Operations Manager, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Dr Pip Hetzel, said: “Although winter is always a difficult time for the blood service, as many of our regular donors are unable to give blood due to colds and flu, it is highly unusual to call two appeals in one winter.

“Appeals are only called when the blood service experiences severe shortages. We are urging Australians to give blood over the next two weeks.

“There’s no substitute for blood and we need to ensure that people with cancer, heart disease, kidney and bowel disease, premature babies and accident victims get the blood and blood products they need to survive.”

Every week Australia needs 21,000 donations to maintain an adequate blood supply.

Audio grabs are available from –

DR PIP HETZEL, National Operations Manager, Australian Red Cross Blood Service

EMBARGOED: 06:00 MONDAY AUGUST 25, 2008

The Giant Walk is Australia’s attempt to break the world record for the largest number of people walking simultaneously for at least 1 km. It is set to take place across hundreds of different locations next Monday, 1 September 2008.

To break the record currently held by Canada, Australia needs over 231,635 people to walk at the same time on 1 September 2008 at any organised venue throughout Australia.

In order to walk simultaneously, walks will be held at 2pm in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Tasmania; 1.30pm in Northern Territory and South Australia; and 12 noon in Western Australia.

Supporting The Giant Walk is Triple Olympian and former Chicago Bulls NBA Basketball player Luc Longley.

“It is a really fun event, and we urge everyone to get involved in The Giant Walk and at the same time highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy active lifestyle,” he said.

Audio grabs are available from –

LUC LONGLEY, triple Olympian and former Chicago Bulls NBA basketball player

FRIDAY AUGUST 22, 2008

Woolworths today unveils its fresh new look as part of an Australia-wide rebrand to be rolled out across its 780-strong supermarket network.

Twenty one years after the introduction of “The Fresh Food People”, the company will introduce a new icon reflecting Woolworths’ strong commitment to fresh food, convenience and value for customers.

Woolworths General Manager of Marketing, Luke Dunkerley, said that the rebranding reflects Woolworths’ commitment and track record of providing Australian shoppers with quality fresh food and groceries at competitive prices.

“Woolworths has delivered great quality fresh food and groceries at competitive prices for more than 80 years and this new brand is a mark of our commitment to continue delivering on that promise,” Mr Dunkerley said.

Audio grabs are available from –

LUKE DUNKERLEY, Woolworths General Manager of Marketing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2008

In an Australian first, music lovers will now be able to visit an Australian online music store and download tracks in MP3 format from all four major record labels and leading independent labels.

BigPond has reached agreements with the major record labels to offer MP3 music downloads; a format that is compatible with all standard music players including the popular iPod as well as Sony Walkman and a wide range of portable digital music players and home media centres.

The agreements will see BigPond offer music from record labels Sony BMG, Universal Music, Warner Music and EMI, as well as leading Australian independent record labels and distributors including MGM, Inertia, Liberation, IODA, and AmpHead. It means BigPond will be the leading Australian online music store offering MP3s from the top record labels.

Audio grabs are available from –

JUSTIN MILNE, BigPond Group Managing Director

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2008

Following the fantastic response to the first round of the Tank a Day Challenge, BlueScope Steel will commit a further $1.3 million to help Australian communities on their water saving journey.

“There will be another 200 rainwater tanks on offer for primary schools – that’s one rainwater tank for every school day of the year. Plus, we will be extending the program out to community groups and offering ‘Tankovers’,” said Darren Howse, Regional General Manager of BlueScope Water.

The new BlueScope ‘Tankover’ Program aims to help restore aspects of community life which have been affected by the drought, whilst empowering primary school students to make a difference in their community.

The 200 primary schools that were successful in the first year of the BlueScope Tank a Day Challenge now have the combined potential to save approximately 45 million litres of water annually – enough to fill 27 Olympic size swimming pools.

Well over half a million primary school students completed the educational water saving quiz as part of the first phase of the Tank a Day Challenge, and learnt about the water cycle and the importance of saving water.

Primary school students, principals, parents and community groups should visit www.tankaday.com.au for more information on how they can kick-start their water saving journey.

Audio grabs are available from –

DARREN HOWSE, Regional General Manager of BlueScope Water

MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2008

Australian biomedical company Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS) has today commenced a human trial of its VitroGro® treatment which could revolutionise the rapidly growing venous, pressure and diabetic ulcer market through effective and efficient treatment.

Inventor of the VitroGro® technology Professor Zee Upton said that non-healing diabetic, pressure and venous ulcers alone currently caused an amputation every 30 seconds across the world.

“VitroGro® has the potential to significantly reduce healing times and improve patients’ quality of life through less pain, regaining mobility and reducing the burden on others,” she says.

Venous ulcers alone affect up to three per cent of the population annually and in Australia are estimated to cost $300–$500 million per annum to treat.

Audio grabs are available from –

PROFESSOR ZEE UPTON, inventor of the VitroGro® technology

EMBARGOED: 00:01 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6, 2008

This week is National Homeless Persons’ Week and in Victoria, Mission Australia is seeking to focus on programs that provide early intervention and prevention, working at easing family tension and averting conflict before it leads to homelessness.

A group of disadvantaged Melbournians have graduated from a groundbreaking new university-style program developed by Mission Australia and Australian Catholic University (ACU National).

The Catalyst-Clemente program is a joint initiative seeking to promote self-confidence in people at risk of homelessness, physical and mental illness and addiction, by encouraging them to take control of their lives and bring about personal change through undergraduate education.

Mission Australia in conjunction with ACU National began offering Catalyst-Clemente programs in Sydney in 2005 and this year marks the first group of students to complete a unit in the Catalyst-Clemente program in Melbourne.

Audio grabs are available from –

PAUL BIRD, Mission Australia Victorian State Director

EMBARGOED: 00:01 WEDNESDAY JULY 30, 2008

59% of Australian businesses with more than 100 employees do not respond to email or web form enquiries within 7 days, according to a survey of 460 businesses conducted by leading Australian telephone sales prospecting and business development firm, Strike Force Sales.

“Businesses spend billions of dollars advertising, marketing and prospecting for new clients and yet they are, most of the time, completely ignoring those trying to knock at their front doors,” said Chris Moriarty, Managing Director of Strike Force Sales.

The key findings were:

• 59% of businesses do not respond to email or web form enquiries within 7 days.
• Those that do respond take, on average, 1 day, 8 hours and 29 minutes to do so.
• 49% of automated response emails that promise a real response are not followed up.
• Only 38% of retailers respond to internet queries within 7 days.

Audio grabs are available from –

CHRIS MORIARTY, Managing Director of Strike Force Sales

EMBARGOED: 05:30 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2008

More than 1 million Australian households are projected to experience some form of mortgage stress by December this year, according to the latest Fujitsu Consulting / Wizard Home Loans Mortgage Stress-O-Meter.

“Approximately 837,000 Australian households are experiencing some form of mortgage stress, up from 784,000 in May 2008,” said Martin North, Fujitsu Consulting Managing Consulting Director and Executive General Manager.

Chairman and founder of Wizard Home Loans, Mr Mark Bouris, urged Australians experiencing financial problems to act now before it was too late.

“The sad fact is that come Christmas time, we estimate that 1 million Australians will suffer mortgage stress.”

“That’s a huge number of people that are potentially going to face losing their property unless drastic action is taken.”

“People have to draw a line in the sand and get serious about their finances. To facilitate this, we've prepared a website - www.wizard.com.au/stresstips - to ensure people understand what mortgage stress is, and are able to recognise the early warning signs,” he said.

Audio grabs are available from –

MARK BOURIS, Chairman and founder of Wizard Home Loans

MARTIN NORTH, Fujitsu Consulting Managing Consulting Director and Executive General Manager

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY JULY 24, 2008

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has awarded ‘exclusive negotiating status’ to the North Queensland Football Club (NQFC) in its bid to have a Townsville based team in the Hyundai A-League competition from 2009-10.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley said he had advised the leader of the NQFC bid, Don Matheson, of the decision today.

“The decision follows a competitive process involving two applications for a Hyundai A-League license in Townsville,” Buckley said.

“The level of interest in the Townsville region reflects the momentum behind the growth and development of the Hyundai A-League, as well as the strength of the North Queensland region.”

Buckley said that NQFC has one month to finalise its submission to FFA.

Audio grabs available from –

BEN BUCKLEY, CEO FFA

09:00 WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 2008

Cricket Australia has today announced that the historic Sheffield Shield will be returning as the Australian interstate first-class cricket trophy and will be presented by Weet-Bix.

A five-year deal with Weet-Bix results in reinstatement of one of cricket’s most prestigious trophies, the Sheffield Shield.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said he was thrilled with the new partnership. “Cricket Australia is passionate about bringing back the history and tradition of the Sheffield Shield and we are appreciative of Weet-Bix for giving us the opportunity to do this,” he said.

“This interstate first-class competition is most certainly the foundation upon which our number one ranked Australian Test team has been built.”

Rick Wilson, General Manager of Sales & Marketing for Sanitarium Health Food Company said the partnership was an extension of Weet-Bix’s existing relationship with Cricket Australia.

“Weet-Bix is proud to be involved in the return of such an iconic sporting tradition and we look forward to working closely with Cricket Australia over the next five years to ensure the continued success and development of the four-day interstate competition.

Audio grabs are available from –

BRETT LEE, Australian Test and One-Day International cricketer

12:01AM THURSDAY 10 JULY, 2008

Broadcast quality audio grabs are available from Jana Rawlinson, commenting on the reason for her withdrawal from the Beijing Olympic Games made on the evening of Wednesday 9 July, 2008.

Please note Jana Rawlinson will be available for media at a press conference on her return to Australia on Sunday morning at 11am at Level 27, Chifley Tower, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney.

Media enquiries please contact James Ward on 0409 458 661 / 02 9356 3099