FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2010

Western Australia’s incredible array of extraordinary travel experiences will be showcased to the world as part of its new brand position and innovative marketing campaign, launched today by Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA).

Experience Extraordinary - the new brand positioning – highlights all that is unique about Western Australia including many natural wonders exclusive to the State such as the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park; the Horizontal Waterfalls in the Kimberley; Ningaloo Reef; and WA’s wildflower season, which features the largest collection of wildflowers on Earth.

The Extraordinary will be brought to life for travellers with an epic journey - The Extraordinary Taxi Ride – over nine weeks with 22 lucky people from Australia and around the world exploring WA in a taxi.

“We wanted to showcase our amazing natural wonders, fantastic people and extraordinary offerings to Australians, and to the world, in a truly unique fashion,” Tourism WA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Buckland said.

Audio news grabs available:

ELIZABETH CONSTABLE – WA Minister for Tourism

STEPHANIE BUCKLAND - Tourism WA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer

EMBARGOED: 06:00 AEDT MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2010

On average, each council across Australia is missing out on potential annual savings of more than A$3 million per year through inefficient document production processes, according to new research from Objective Corporation (ASX:OCL). 

Across the country, this equates to approximately half a billion dollars in hidden costs to be saved each year for Australian local government.

Audio news grabs available:

TONY WALLS - CEO Objective Corporation

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2010

Vodafone is calling on Australians to trade their day-jobs and get paid to make a world of difference. Vodafone wants to give five passionate people a special grant to dedicate an entire year to pursue their personal philanthropic ambitions complete with full salary and expense accounts. They’re looking for all kinds of people and all kind of ideas.

One of last year’s Vodafone’s World of Difference winners, Ronni Kahn, won financial support to help her charity OzHarvest. The charity now has more than 600 food donors and delivers more than 110,000 meals each month to 200 charities in Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong with plans to go national next year. This saw her recently named Australia’s Local Hero 2010 as part of the Australian of the Year for her contribution to the community.

There’s just two weeks left to apply for this special grant to develop and pursue their personal philanthropic ambitions.

Audio news grabs available:

ALEKS SRBINOSKI (pron: Sir-bin-ov-ski) – Happiness psychologist

LAYNE BEACHLEY - Seven-time World Surfing Champion and World of Difference ambassador

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Leading dietitian Sharon Natoli does not endorse Margaret Thatcher’s 28-eggs-per-week diet regime ahead of her historic election win - but reveals there is evidence to show eggs can be eaten to help manage weight.

Natoli, Director of Food and Nutrition Australia, says this kind of extreme, unbalanced diet is not ideal. However, research shows eggs help with weight loss because they’re high in protein, contributing to a longer feeling of satiety. Natoli suggests Australians should stick to six eggs a week, as recommended by the Heart Foundation.

Audio news grabs available:

SHARON NATOLI - Director of Food and Nutrition Australia

EMBARGOED: 12:01AM AEDT TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Australia’s love for drinks and snacks is having a major effect on the environment, not just our waistlines. According to Clean Up Australia’s newly released Rubbish Report, alcohol bottles/cans and plastic chip or confectionary bags/wrappers are some of the biggest scourges for our environment, figuring in a list of the most common rubbish items found on Clean Up Australia Day 2009.

Clean Up Australia’s Rubbish Report released today reveals that glass alcohol bottles and aluminium alcohol cans were the 2nd and 3rd biggest rubbish offenders for 2009, with the latter jumping up from 7th in 2008.  Plastic water bottles, plastic bottle caps and soft drink cans were also in the top 10 list of rubbish items.

Clean Up Australia has released the Rubbish Report to coincide with a call for registrations for Clean Up Australia Day 2010, which celebrates its 20th national anniversary this year on Sunday, March 7.

Audio news grabs available:

IAN KIERNAN AO - Chairman and founder of Clean Up Australia

MONDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, was joined by the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Kristina Keneally MP at Government House on Sunday to officially launch the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations.

The Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary is a year-long commemoration program to acknowledge the legacy of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife, Elizabeth Campbell.

“Lachlan Macquarie was a courageous and visionary man who set the direction for a prosperous and egalitarian nation.  His contribution is seen in every aspect of our modern society,” said Governor Bashir.

Chair of the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations Committee, the Honourable John Aquilina MP, said the year would allow everyone to pay tribute to one of New South Wales’ most influential leaders. 

“The year will provide the entire community with an opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future, by participating in the Bicentenary celebrations through a state-wide program of local events, activities and initiatives.” Mr Aquilina said. 

Audio news grabs available:

HONOURABLE JOHN AQUILINA MP - Chair of the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations Committee

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2010

The modern diet continues to contribute to growing waistlines warns Food & Nutrition Australia, as research released this month shows Australian women are becoming more obese faster than many other countries in the world.

“The issue of obesity is at crisis levels and consumers need to take action and review their dietary options,” explained Sharon Natoli, Director of Food & Nutrition Australia and an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

However, a new seed that’s now becoming readily available to Australians, promises to help address obesity concerns.

Chia is an ancient seed first used by the Aztecs, and is one of the highest natural sources of the plant form of omega-3 (ALA). It is also very high in dietary fibre, antioxidants, protein and other minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorous and calcium. These key nutrients are needed for overall general wellbeing and contribute to a balanced diet, assisting with weight management.

The Chia Company has become the world’s largest grower of this super food, and this week a new national supply partnership has been forged by The Chia Company and 650 Bakers Delight bakeries in Australia and New Zealand, allowing consumers to reap the health benefits of this seed through a new range of daily baked Chia Bread.

Audio news grabs available:

CHRIS CALDWELL – General Manager Bakers Delight

JOHN FOSS – Founder and Managing Director of the Chia Company

SHARON NATOLI - Director of Food & Nutrition Australia

EMBARGOED: 06:00 AEDT MONDAY JANUARY 25, 2010

New research reveals two-thirds of Aussie smokers attempting to quit find it helpful if others know, with experts stating that publicly declaring a quit attempt can have a significant impact on success.

As over two million Aussies are considering or currently attempting to quit smoking, research commissioned by Nicorette® Inhaler shows that while over half of smokers feel judged, ostracised or excluded by society, reacting this way is not helpful for more than half of those quitting. This may explain why almost a quarter of smokers who want to quit state that others knowing would hinder, rather than help, their quit attempt. 

“Smokers perceive a need for support of those around them when they decide to quit and being open with friends or colleagues can be an important component of the quitting process,” said Professor Matthew Peters, Chairman of Action & Smoking on Health (ASH).

“Fully internalising the challenge of quitting has the potential to jeopardise quit success,” he said.

The research also reveals women feel disproportionately judged and are less likely to declare their attempts to quit, while it appears men are more comfortable with being overt about it. 

Audio news grabs available:

PROFESSOR MATTHEW PETERS - Chairman of Action & Smoking on Health (ASH)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 16:00 AEDT THURSDAY JANUARY 21, 2010

CA has today announced it has reaffirmed it’s commitment to Canberra-based rugby union team, the CA Brumbies by signing on for a 12th year as the club’s principal naming-rights sponsor.

Involved with the club since 2006, the CA and Brumbies brands are synonymous in Super 14 rugby. Yet another year of sponsorship will mean the ability to develop and enhance the CA Brumbies’ football program.

“At CA, we love our rugby and the team’s success at the weekend very much translates into the workplace on a Monday,” said Brenton Smith, Vice President and Area Manager for CA Pacific.

“The Brumbies team this year has a high proportion of Wallabies and I’m confident that the 2011 season is the year to prove that a team of champions can be a champion team. CA will be behind them every step of the way.”

Audio news grabs available:

BRENTON SMITH - Vice President and Area Manager for CA Pacific

11:00 AEDT WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20, 2010

Australia’s most successful V8 Supercar team, the Toll Holden Racing Team began celebrations for its 20th anniversary with today’s unveiling of its 2010 Holden Commodore race car.

Drivers Will Davison and Garth Tander pulled the covers off their spectacular new-look Commodores at Holden’s Fisherman’s Bend headquarters, the new livery the most aggressive in the team’s 20-year history.

Delighted with the look of the 20th anniversary Toll HRT Commodore, Davison said he was looking forward to returning to the track and improving on his stellar 2009 season.

“It is a privilege to drive for the Toll Holden Racing Team – 2010 is a very special year in the team’s history and to be able to race such a stunning and tough looking car will be an honour,” Davison said.

Tander said the reigning Bathurst and V8 Supercar Teams’ Champion would push for even greater results this year with the goal of reclaiming the V8 Supercar Drivers Championship.

Audio news grabs available:

GARTH TANDER & WILL DAVISON – Toll Holden Racing Team drivers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 14:30 AEDT TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2010

Late last week Microsoft advised customers about a vulnerability in Internet Explorer that has been associated with the recent attacks against Google from Chinese hackers.

So far, Microsoft has only seen a very limited number of attacks targeted against a small group of corporations and has not seen any attacks focused on consumers.

Microsoft strongly recommends customers who browse the Internet using Internet Explorer 6 or 7 to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) to help reduce the risk from the current security situation. IE8 can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads

Audio news grabs available:

STUART STRATHDEE – Chief Security Adviser, Microsoft Australia