PET PROJECT
ACANCER survivor inspired by the love and companionship shown by her family pets during her painful recovery has made an unlikely career switch to vet nursing, with the help of TAFE NSW. Camden mum-of-two Karrie Biggart, a former forensic biologist, endured six rounds of chemotherapy to fight the ovarian and uterine cancer she was diagnosed with in early 2023. More inside.
NBN grows to 2,100 new homes
NBN Co continues to grow its Western Sydney footprint by winning the contract with Cameron Brae Group to deliver full fibre to 2,100 premises at the new Birling residential community development, on The Northern Road in the South-West Sydney Growth Precinct.
When residents move into their brand-new home at Birling, they will have access to high-speed, reliable broadband1deliveredviapremium-grade full fibre nbn infrastructure and a choice of around 120 internet retailers offering a range of plans over the nbn® network.
Nbn will roll out more than 11 kilometres of new fibre throughout the community of Birling, enabling new residents to enjoy the fastest available residential speeds over the nbn network. This will enable multiple members of the same household to be streaming, gaming, e-learning, remote working
through video conferencing and collaboration, as well as connecting with loved ones online–all at the same time.
nbn’s full fibre also caters to startups and side hustles, which can set up roots within the new community without having to commute into the Sydney, Penrith or Parramatta CBD search day. nbn’s fibre technology is
Talso expected to stimulate economic growth, especially inside the community’s shared recreational space at Birling Village, and support the creation of more jobs in the burgeoning growth corridor of South-West Sydney.
The Birling residential community development will help to meet the strong customer demand and NSW
policy objective of creating more new homes in Sydney.
It’s envisioned the community development will also become home to many new employees of the nearby Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, with stage one scheduled for completion alongside the airport's first operations taking flight.
In November 2022, nbn and WSA Co Limited signed a Master Developer Agreement for the Western Sydney Airport development that gives the airport access to nbn, Australia’s biggest wholesale broadband network.
Andrew Walsh, Executive General Manager New Developments at NBN Co, said: “Full fibre is making the nbn network future-ready and we firmly believe that the team at Cameron Brae has made the best possible decision that will benefit today’s new homeowners and future generations of residents at Birling.”
Upgrades to local schools
HE NSW Government is continuing work to ensure public schools across NSW are great places to learn and work, with tradies subbing in for teachers and students in classrooms to work on 1,200 vital maintenance and upgrade projects, across more than 800 public schools over the summer break including at St Helens Park Public School.
$237,000 will be spent to re-landscape and im-
prove the school oval at St Hellens Public School.
The upgrade is part of the NSW Government’s $1.08B investment in minor works, which includes $600M to deliver essential school maintenance projects.
This year, NSW schools will see more than 3.4 million square metres of buildings painted and 46 Sydney Cricket Grounds worth of new floor coverings to be installed.
While hundreds of schools will return to completed maintenance work on Day 1, Term 1 2025 there is still much more to be done.
Member for Campbelltown and Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Early Learning, Greg Warren said: It is wonderful to see this vital investment made in the students of St Helens Park Public School. Our students need and deserve quality facilities.”
Artist impression of the development.
ISSUE 25 | January 2023
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PET CARE RECOVERY LEADS TO CAREER SWITCH Camden mum’s journey of love
ACANCER survivor inspired by the love and companionship shown by her family pets during her painful recovery has made an unlikely career switch to vet nursing, with the help of TAFE NSW.
Camden mum-of-two Karrie Biggart, a former forensic biologist, endured six rounds of chemotherapy to fight the ovarian and uterine cancer she was diagnosed with in early 2023.
She said the “non-judgemental love” shown by her pets during her darkest hours had made her dramatically rethink her career and prompted her to pursue veterinary nursing.
Ms Biggart, 54, completed a Certificate II in Animal Studies through TAFE Digital and is now tackling a Certifi-
cate IV in Veterinary Nursing through TAFE NSW Bankstown.
Vet nursing jobs are in a steep growth phase, with Jobs and Skills Australia predicting the number of nurses will skyrocket from the current number of 10,700 to 17,800 by 2026.
“My pets were so lovely and non-judgemental when I was recovering; they just sat with me for hours and it made a real difference to my state of mind,” Ms Biggart said.
“And I just said to myself, ‘you know what, I’ve helped people all my career, now I want to help animals.”
Previously, Ms Biggart worked as a forensic biologist for NSW Health, using her skills and knowledge to help police solve crimes.
She said studying the Cer-
tificate II in Animal Studies with TAFE Digital had given her the flexibility to self-pace and study from the comfort of home as she was recovering.
“I could do it when and where I was comfortable and the teachers were incredibly supportive,” Ms Biggart said.
She finished the course in just four months and shortly after commencing the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, was offered a casual vet nurse role at Bringelly’s Rossmore Vet Hospital.
“Animals can’t tell you what’s wrong so to be there for them when they need help is a real privilege,” she said.
“TAFE NSW is really training me to be a well-rounded vet nurse and the exciting thing about this industry is that there are so many specialised fields you can go into.”
The Certificate II in Animal Studies is a prerequisite to enroll in the vet nursing qualification and is open for anytime enrolment through TAFE Digital.
TAFE Digital head teacher of animal care Lisa Terry said TAFE NSW’s connection with industry and the practical skills offered in the animal care courses meant graduates
were in high demand.
“TAFE NSW gives students those hands-on, practical skills to be job-ready on day one,” Ms Percival said.
“There’s such a high need for jobs like vet nurses, vet receptionists, animal attendants and kennel hands, and there will be an even higher demand for those jobs in future.”
Cancer survivor Karrie Biggart is forging a promising career as a vet nurse with the help of her TAFE NSW training.
Dentists worry about children’s issues
DENTISTS are urging parents to prioritise regular dental check-ups as the 2024 Oral Health Tracker Report revealed a surge in preventable hospitalisations for children due to dental issues. Tooth decay affects over 27% of kids aged
5–10, contributing to hospital pressures. Initiatives like Bupa’s Members First Ultimate and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule offer cost-effective options for families to maintain oral health, reduce hospital demand, and prevent long-term dental problems.
Specialist training is not so healthy
THE AMA’s 2023 Specialist Trainee Experience Health Check highlights challenges in medical training, with no program rated above a C+. Key concerns include inadequate exam feedback, low confidence in reporting harassment, and limited rural training opportunities. Only 34% of metropolitan trainees consider rural practice, compared to 78% of rural-based trainees wanting to stay. The AMA urges reforms to improve support, feedback, and rural training options to address workforce shortages and trainee wellbeing.
After hours care needs a money model
THE Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is urging reforms to after-hours care, highlighting the need for improved funding and GP involvement to ensure accessibility and continuity
of care. The RACGP advocates after-hours rebates, multidisciplinary teams, and tailored services for rural and vulnerable populations. President Dr. Nicole Higgins stresses the importance of redesigning funding models to keep practices open longer and improve patient outcomes.
Charity sector releases review results
THE Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) 2023–2024 annual report highlights significant achievements, including 19 million Charity Register searches and 3.8 million website views. The ACNC conducted 250 charity reviews, addressed 2,309 concerns, and revoked nine charity statuses. Key focuses included compliance, cyber security, and transparency. For 2024–2025, priorities include
protecting vulnerable people, preventing fraud, and tackling misuse of complex structures to conceal non-compliance or financial mismanagement.
Not so nice data about horse racing
AS Australia gears up for another year of horse racing, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses' Deathwatch 2024 Report reveals 151 racehorse deaths on track in 2023/24, equating to three weekly fatalities. CPR warns the true toll is higher, with hidden euthanasia and exploitation rife. Campaigners urge awareness of the industry's cruelty and low profitability for owners.
App that guides users to do CPR
THE GoodSAM app connects trains responders to nearby cardiac arrest incidents, guiding them to perform CPR and locate AEDs from the NSW public access defibrillator registry. With over 4,300 AEDs registered and 30 lives saved, including 12 with AEDs, this life-saving tool enhances survival rates while paramedics are en route. Registration is open to willing CPR-capable adults.
Why we rate seeing over hearing
ASURVEY by Audika Hearing Clinic reveals Australians prioritize sight over hearing, with 73% admitting hearing is the most neglected sense. Stigma and lack of understanding contribute to this, with 59% perceiving a negative stigma around hearing loss. Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold shares her journey of overcoming stigma, encouraging early checks. Audika urges.
Australians over 26 to prioritize hearing health with free or online checks to improve quality of life.
High blood pressure Alzheimer’s connection
RESEARCH from UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) highlights hypertension treatment as a key Alzheimer’s prevention strategy. A study of 31,250 individuals found untreated hypertension after age 60 increases Alzheimer’s risk by 42%, while treated hypertension eliminates this risk. Antihypertensive benefits persist into the 80s, with similar effects across genders and ethnicities. Experts urge global efforts to address hypertension, crucial in tackling the growing dementia crisis.
New Metro for Western Sydney Airport
ALIFE-size prototype metro carriage for the new Western Sydney Airport Metro line has been unveiled, giving passengers a first look at future travel to Sydney’s second airport.
Assembled from a flat pack in a Western Sydney warehouse, the carriage is a full-scale replica which closely mimics the final product’s shape, size and design features.
The mock-up will allow future passengers to test out the carriage and provide feedback on comfort, usability, accessibility and safety - including seat design, boarding experience, and handhold placement.
Staying safe in Extreme Heat
Western Sydney is typically 6-10 degrees hotter than the rest of the city during extreme heat events. Heatwaves are responsible for more deaths in NSW than any other severe weather event. Bring prepared prior to a heatwave is crucial to keeping yourselves and other safe.
How to Stay Cool in Hot Weather
Lie down in a cool or shady area
Remove extra layers of clothing and any tight clothes
Put your hands and feet in cold water, or have a cool shower
Cool by moistening skin and fanning
Have frequent, small sips of water
A Cool Centre is a place you can go to seek relief from extreme heat. These are especially for people who are unable to keep cool at home. For information about Cool Centres open in your area, please visit our Western Sydney Cool Centres webpage.
Those at Risk
While everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, those most at risk are:
Expectant mums and young children
Older people
People with chronic illnesses and mental health concerns
Outdoor workers
Healthy Western Sydney is delivered by WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network.
Mental Wellness During Extreme Heat
In addition to physical health risks, heatwaves can also exacerbate mental illness and increase the risk of domestic violence. Studies have shown that violence increases with warmer weather. This can be linked to disrupted sleep patterns, increased social isolation during extreme temperatures and increased discomfort and irritability due to temperatures1
For free mental health help and guidance, call 1800 595 212
Worried About the Heat?
Heat can be extremely dangerous. Exposure to high temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke which can be a life-threatening condition.
Contact your GP or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you experience:
• High body temperature (over 40’C)
• Nausea
• Confusion and fainting
In an emergency, please call Triple Zero (000).
S ymptoms to look out for
• E xcessive sweating
• Thirstiness
• Headache or dizziness
1 University of Sydney (2024), Rise in suicidal behaviours among young people linked to hotter temperatures. Accessed by: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/10/rise-in-suicidal-behaviours-amongyoung-people-linked-to-hotter-temperatures
Explore Machu Picchu here in Sydney
THE Pullman Sydney Hyde Park has partnered with the Australian Museum for their new and exciting summer exhibition that has come to Australia. At Pullman Hyde Park, you feel completely on holiday, next to Hyde Park, a very New York-style park right across the road with rooms on the West side looking down into the lush tree-filled park.
The Summer Experience
This incredible Museum exhibition is just one block from the hotel. Bring the whole family to the Pullman Hotel and enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast, order poolside drinks ordered to you from 7am till 11pm and base yourself on the rooftop for a few happy hours in the pool and spa. Happy hour in the lobby bar is 4pm till 10pm Tuesday-Saturdays and Candy hour is in the lobby on 3pm
Wto 4pm Friday and Saturday. The Pullman hotel has a special for the summer: Inclusions: Overnight Accommodation | Buffet Breakfast | Tickets to the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition at the Australian Museum | Kids activity pack (available for bookings with children). STAY FROM $329: Book Now and Stay until 23 February 2025, www.pullmansydneyhydepark.com.au/offers
Go Boat experience has much to offer
HAT a fabulous way to explore waterways and do something completely different. GoBoat, based out of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and the Gold Coast is a fantastic electric-powered picnic boat that seats up to eight people and is very easy to Drive, no boat licence needed.
Our group of four ladies spent a wonderful two hours on Sydney’s waterway, arriving at Cabarita Point’s picturesque marina in time for a quick coffee and a 5 minute safety run through. On such a hot Sydney day,
our GoBoat’s boat canopy overhead kept us protected from the heat as we puttered along pleasantly, enjoying the view of stunning sandstone, concrete and timber mansions along the waterway. Our session was for 2 hours, and we felt one hour was not long enough for us, despite GoBoat offering one to four hour sessions for electric boats.
With a picnic table onboard, we ate and drank our way along the waterway during the daytime, but evening sessions are available too and would be a great way to watch the sunset.
GoBoats are pet friendly so fur babies are welcome. Staff are incredibly helpful and friendly and will track your boat in case you get lost – we only made one wrong turn and received a friendly phone call to help us get back on track immediately.
Australia has some of the best waterways in the world and boating is a great way to experience the great outdoors whether it is by power boat, sailing boat or paddle craft. This summer why not get out on the water with family or friends and soak up the vast health benefits, recharge the batteries
and create lasting memories. Head to www.goboat.com.au to book your vessel with friends and family or to find out more ways to get out on the water this summer visit discoverboating.com.au.
Tips for Sydney’s Northern Beaches
The only way to enjoy the Northern beaches is by using public transport as the rangers are plentiful and LOVE to hand out parking tickets. Catch the B line buses from Stand B, Carrington St at Wynyard (the street above George street). Buses come extremely regularly between 4.30am and 12.30am (after midnight) and can take you all the way to Mona Vale. The 190 or 190X will take you to Palm Beach stopping regularly and the easiest beaches to walk to from the bus stops are Collaroy and Narrabeen.
Collaroy Beach
Collaroy Beach has a terrific pool and enclosed park for kids and is close to the shops and movies, including surf shops and places to get snacks and lunch.
Narrabeen Bay
If you get off at Narrabeen it’s best to buy drinks, snacks and foods from the shops near the bust stop as there’s nothing at the actual beach that is an easy walk. On the lake side you can hire a canoe or SUP from Pro Kayaks on the lake, it’s open 9-4pm or 9-5pm on weekends. Call 9970 7081 with your questions.
Palm Beach
If you would like to catch the 190 or 190X to Palm Beach, it’s an easy stroll across the road to the sand and there are cafes, a surf shop and often an ice cream van there. If you’d like to try surfing Manly Surf School operates there. Reserve a spot in a lesson by booking https://manlysurfschool.com/location/ palm-beach/ or call 9932 7000.
Other Great Little Water Spots
Under the Roseville Bridge is a great place to picnic or put in a SUP, it’s not the best for swimming or for kids to water play due to ‘rumours of a few sharky creatures’ but the location and scenery is incredible and there is plenty of parking. If you’re prefer to be in a more bustling location with the support of staff to help you launch a kayak, Sydney Harbour Kayaks are based at the Spit, it’s a stunning location to paddle around. Parking is limited but possible, make sure you feed the meter, buses don’t stop directly at the spit from Wynyard. Call the transport info line 131 500 or go to https://transportnsw.info for detailed itinerary from your area for buses.
Ferry To Manly
There are great spots to swim all along the Manly beach as well as the Sydney Harbour side, and nice snorkeling at Shelly Beach. Parking is terrible so it’s best to arrive by ferry. You can hire a kayak on the Sydney Harbour side at Manly Sailing. Call 99774000.
Freedom Boat Club
If you’re curious about joining a Freedom Boat Club or you’re already a member, there are two Northern Beaches locations between Bayview and Newport. Freedom Boat Club is global with 400 locations and growing and is the easiest way to get out on the water. With a membership, you can reserve a boat for the day and the staff take care of the maintenance for you and they give you unlimited training. Call 9457 2000 and enjoy the gorgeous Pittwater waterway or the beautiful and secluded Bobbin Head.
Perfect staycation to enjoy Darling Harbour
WHAT better way to enjoy all the fun of Darling Harbour with your family this summer than a staycation at the Park Royal Hotel. It’s a cheaper option than heading overseas. Rooms are extremely comfortable and if you request a room with Club privileges you can enjoy evening drinks and nibbles in the Club lounge overlooking Darling Harbour and the bustling waterways of Sydney. Enjoy your breakfast there too or in the lovely Barkers restaurant, fill the kids up with fresh fruit and a hot breakfast before a day of activities.
What can you do in Darling Harbour?
With the hotel positioned right at the edge of Darling Harbour, walk for 2 minutes to enjoy Darling Harbour’s family offerings - pedal boats (hire a pedal boat for up to two adults and two children) between 1st- 28 January in Darling Harbour’s Cockle Bay for just $45. Watch an IMAX film on the big screen, visit the Chinese Gardens, visit Sealife Aquarium or The Children’s playground at Darling Harbour is extensive and FREE, surrounded by great places for lunch.
James CameronChallenging the Deep Enter Curious. Exit Inspired. The Australian National Maritime Museum has a terrific exhibition between 1st to 31st January showcasing James Cameron’s, (explorer and filmmaker)
Eunderwater passion projects in deep ocean science, technology and exploration, including material on his record-breaking dive to the bottom of the planet in the Deepsea Challenger, the submersible he co-designed and co-engineered.
Park Royal’s Abode Restaurant
The Park Hyatt’s Abode Restaurant is a family-friendly yet stylish and chic. with delicious barramundi, aged sirloin, roasted cauliflower and house made bread. The olives are lovely or the cheeseboard or Sydney
Rock oysters are a quick healthy snack. The chocolate mousse dessert is to die for. Abode Restaurant is part of the Park Royal Hotel at 150 Day Street, Sydney phone 02 92611188 or reserve a room at enquiry.prsyd@ parkroyalhotels.com
Finding Sydney’s unexpected gems
EXPLORE Sydney’s past with a visit to the superbly renovated Old Clare Hotel in Sydney’s Chippendale area. In the earlier days of Sydney this heritage building formed part of the Carlton and United Brewery and is now a hotel with 69 rooms and a gorgeous rooftop pool. The Old Clare’s roof top bar looks over Sydney and is a destination in its own right. The rooftop bar is a great place to start your evening as the sun goes down before heading out for dinner.
The Old Clare Hotel
The hotel is a fascinating building with lots of historical features to look at. Rooms have been thoughtfully designed with a vintage feel with use of items, such as a vintage spotlight, a claw foot bath and zig-zag parquetry (mozaic wood tile) flooring. At night Spice Alley, the alleyway next door comes alive with restaurants, bars and cafes and foot traffic lifting the energy of the entire area into a happy, festive
place to eat, meet and have a drink. 1 Kensington St Chippendale phone 8277 8277
Longshore Restaurant
Right next door to the hotel, is a very unsuspecting gem of a seafood restaurant. Executive chef Jarrod Walsh produces excellent ethically sourced delicate dishes in small plates to share or large plates to enjoy yourself. ‘Inspired by the dynamic Australian coastline’ think BBQ Skull Island Tiger prawn, roast shellfish bisque, Fraser Island Spanner crabs or coal grilled Ulladulla swordfish loin. If you’re not a fan of seafood, you can enjoy BBQ Wollemi duck leg, Dry aged Byron Bay Borrowdale pork chops. This is just a sample of a very thoughtful, sustainable and seasonal menu. The desserts. - Burnt Aussie pavlova and dark chocolate brownie are delicious. Their current special is a glass of wine, a small plate and something larger for $70pp. Kensington St Chippendale phone 8227 8522 info@ longshore.com.au
Toch Bar
Drop in at the ultra-modern, utterly instagrammable TOCH bar for a delicious breakfast right next to the hotel. Smashed Avo on toast, Eggs Benedict and full breakfast are recommended. Open 7am – 10.30am Monday to Friday and 7am – 11am Saturday and Sundays.
The Rocks
It is wonderful to wander around Sydney’s Rocks market on a Saturday or Sunday. Buy a coffee, buy a handcrafted gift or jewelry and take in the historic vibe and the sights of the beautiful harbour. Open 10am to 5pm every weekend it really is the best way to enjoy historical Sydney.
TURBOCHARGED PETROL OFFERING JOINS
1.6 in REVISED Hyundai Santa Fe LINE UP
MATT BROGAN
HYUNDAI is set to introduce a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol powertrain under the bonnet of its Santa Fe range within weeks.
Priced from $53,000 plus on-road costs, the 2.5T badged model is available across the grade walk (Santa Fe, Elite, and Calligraphy), and with the choice of two- and all-wheel drive (full pricing details available below).
The G4KP-series powerplant delivers 206kW at 5800rpm and 422Nm from 1700-4000rpm – a 6kW and 91Nm uptick on the previous generation’s 3.5-litre V6 petrol.
The 2.5T offering is paired exclusively with an eight-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission (whereas the Hybrid features a six-speed epicyclic automatic).
Hyundai has tuned the Santa Fe 2.5T range to operate safely on 91 RON regular unleaded petrol, reducing operating costs for Australian buyers.
The model features a 72-litre fuel tank and consumes claimed 9.3 litres per 100km on the Combined cycle. CO2 emissions are listed at 212 grams per kilometre.
While unchanged dimensionally from the Hybrid range, the 2.5T offering is considerably lighter, tipping the scale from 1835kg – or 90kg less than the petrol-electric entrant.
Importantly, braked towing capacity rises 400kg to 2000kg. The 2.5T variant also offers larg-
er diameter front brake rotors, up 20mm to 345mm.
The turning circle of the Santa Fe 2.5T is unchanged at 11.6m, assisted once more by an electrically assisted arrangement.
The Large segment SUV rides on a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels (with full-size spare) across the range.
All equipment offerings are
unchanged, including Hyundai’s generous list of standard safety technologies.
The Santa Fe offers four ISOFIX and five top-tether child seat anchor points across the second and third rows.
Optionally, the Santa Fe range remains available with a six-seat configuration on Calligraphy variants ($500), premium paint ($695), matte premium paint ($1000), and three optional interior colours –
Supersonic Grey, Forest Green, or Pecan Brown ($295).
The Hyundai Santa Fe currently ranks in seventh place within the SUV Large under $80K segment with year-todate sales of 4957 units (or 4.4 segment share points).
It is topped by body-onframe rivals including the Ford Everest (24,018 units and 21.2 per cent), Isuzu MU-X (16,790
units and 14.8 per cent), Toyota LandCruiser Prado (7115 units and 6.3 per cent), and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (6792 units and 6.0 per cent), and monocoque offerings including the Subaru Outback (9591 units and 8.5 per cent) and related Kia Sorento (9093 units and 8.0 per cent).
The Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T will be in dealerships within the coming weeks.
GOLFERS RUN
RISK IF THEY HIT A
ROO Course risks bigger in holidays
MACATHUR golfers love the course at holiday time. So do kangaroos, which ramps up the risk of a clash between the two species.
If you are injured by a ‘roo while having a round, who is liable for your injuries?
“The short answer is the golf club, provided you are legally on the course and have not been reckless,” lawyer and legal expert, Mathew Nott, said.
“For example, if you were affected by alcohol the legal situation could change.
“Generally, a club has a duty of care to its patrons, and if the club has failed to adequately warn golfers of the presence of kangaroos and the risk they pose, the club could be held liable.
“A teenager was badly injured by a kangaroo in 1996 and the NSW Court of Appeal ruled in Shorten v Grafton District Golf Club that the club had a duty to warn people on the course about the dangers, so that is pretty a fair starting point.”
Thousands of Eastern Grey kangaroos have moved onto Sydney golf courses as there are few predators, lush grass and an abundance of fresh water.
With the seasonal spike in the number of golfers, interactions between man and macropod on the courses become more frequent.
Kangaroos are normally docile but can become habituated to humans and react aggressively if they feel threatened.
Hard data is hard to come by but a research study in the decade to the end of 2018 reported that in the Coffs Harbour northern beaches region, there were 40 attacks/serious threats.
In 2022, Arundel Hills Golf Club, a Queensland course, was forced to shut down after a series of kangaroo attacks that left victims with serious injuries.
A 77-year-old man was fatally mauled by his pet kangaroo in Western Australia in 2022.
The Office of the Environment and Heritage reports that each year about
five people are treated for kangaroo-related injuries.
Consider a kangaroo weighs up to 95 kgs and can stand 230cm tall.
A golf cart weighs up to 500 kgs, carries two people, and can hit top speeds of around 24kms/hr.
The risk of injury to golf cart, man and beast is high.
According to Golf Australia, all members of an affiliated golf club are covered by players' personal liability insurance.
This means that if players are injured while on the course, the club is liable and the club’s insurer will cover the cost of damages.
However, the same does not apply to players that aren’t members and have merely paid a green fee to play for the day.
In conjunction with Golf Australia, insurer Marsh has developed a standalone insurance cover for green fee, or guest, playing players, which golf clubs have the option to purchase.
This policy protects non-member golfers who have paid a green fee if they are injured on a golf course, or by golfers. It also protects third parties who may have been injured by non-member golfers.
If club’s do not hold this insurance, they can be held vicariously liable for injuries caused by non-member golfers if the non-member golfer does not have adequate insurance cover.
The same scenario applies to damages to golf buggies except if the damage is due to your own negligence, in which case you will be liable.
For a successful personal injury
claim, the golf club must breach its duty of care, the breach must have caused the harm, and it must have been foreseeable that the golf club's conduct could result in harm.
However, if you engineer you encounter with a kangaroo, fines may apply as they are a native protected species.
The Crimes Act 1900 makes it an offence to kill or seriously injure an animal. The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 makes it an offence to be cruel to an animal, with a $4,400.00 maximum, fine or one year imprisonment, or both.
For further legal information contact Nott and Co Lawyers: www.nottandcolawyers.com.au
