50 years ago

Gippsland Country Bulletin,

May 21, 1976

Commission takes to the air

THE Forests Commission is adding airships to its communications fleet. Dr Frank Moulds recently watched a demonstration of how a dirigible could increase the range of mobile radio units in difficult terrain. The airship was filled with helium. A relay transmitter with its own solar power unit was attached, and the airborne unit ascended to a height of 300 feet. Forest officers using small hand and car radios were then able, by using the airborne relay, to establish contact with fire towers 80 miles away.

30 years ago

The Express, May 3, 1996

Family complains of GP drugs

A LATROBE Valley family has lodged a written complaint to Gippsland Psychiatric Services (GPS) about patients accessing illicit drugs while under the hospital’s care. The complaint letter was lodged at the Traralgon facility. Marie Cosic, who is concerned about a relative currently under the care of GPS, delivered the letter on behalf of her family. She has also forwarded a copy of the letter to Prime Minister John Howard, Premier Jeff Kennet, the Health Minister, and State Police Commissioner. The letter claims that staff confirmed earlier in the week that illicit drugs were being used by patients at the Traralgon facility. GPS CEO Brian Jenner has denied his hospital has a problem with patients accessing drugs from the community.

10 years ago

The Express, June 2, 2016

Union push second ballot

UNIONISTS have filed for a second protected action ballot order for AGL Loy Yang employees with the Fair Work Commission. Workers at the brown coal power station could vote to stop work between one and 24 hours and ban the operation of one or more units if approved. At the time, CFMEU mining and energy division secretary Geoff Dyke said it was rejected to a legal submission to remove the parent company name ‘AGL Energy’ from the application. “It’s a legalistic time wasting exercise”, he said. The dispute follows the AGL Loy Yang workforce rejecting a four-year enterprise agreement including a 21.5 per cent pay increase in December. Eighty per cent of workers voted against the proposal, with the union fearing it would put 40 jobs at risk.