The Express Newspaper 25th January 2017

Page 1

EXPRESS The

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Locally owned and proudly independent

A yearn to learn

SHE may only be four-years-old, but Chiara Esposito (pictured) wasn’t all that worried about starting school this week. The St Thomas prep student has the support of her big sister Natalia, 8, to get her through and the pair couldn’t be happier. “I’ll be at the prep playground every day to check on her,” Natalia said. “I’m also looking forward to learning Japanese.” The pair were part of hundreds of Tablelands students who made their way back to school this week, eager to start learning again. Natalia and Chiara’s mum Danielle Esposito said she was proud as punch to now have both of them at school. “Chiara’s just so little, I can’t believe she’s already going,” she said. “It’s definitely an exciting time for them. Chiara’s been waiting a while to go to school with her big sister.”

Miracle in Mareeba A TABLELANDS pilot is lucky to be alive after he walked away from a horror plane crash last Saturday morning. The 25-year-old man was preparing to crop dust an avocado farm with his Air Tractor aircraft at Paddys Green along Mareeba-Dimbulah Rd when he was brought down about 7am. The cause of the crash is yet to be confirmed, with the aircraft’s fuselage ripped apart in the crash.

The pilot, who is employed by Atherton Tableland Air Services, was treated by paramedics for minor hand injuries and took himself to hospital shortly after. Two Queensland Fire and Emergency Service chemical decontamination teams were deployed to clean up spilt pesticide at the crash site. Anthony Carusi, whose farm the cropduster was supposed to be spraying, said he thought something had gone awry when the aircraft took

longer than usual to complete its circuit. “That’s when we realised something was wrong,” he said. “From where he was spraying to where he crashed was quite a distance. He obviously had enough time and skill to find a paddock to land on.” The pilot subsequently crash landed at a neighbouring farm near the Skybury Coffee Plantation. An Atherton Tableland Air Services spokes-

FAX: 4096 6136

Email: malanda@spar.com.au

2-10 English St, Malanda

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will make an assessment this week as to whether they will investigate the crash further once they receive a report from the pilot. > PHOTOS Page 7

Friendly Atmosphere and Affordable Family Meals!

TRADING HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM - 6PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8AM - 5PM

NOW OPEN SUNDAYS TILL 5PM

was “going through the due process”.

1911 Resta u ra n t

MALANDA

PHONE: 4096 5284

woman said the pilot was “fine” and the company

PHONE 4096 5101

OPEN MONDAY - SUNDAY • Breakfast & Lunch: 10.00am-2.00pm • Dinner: Monday to Thursday 6.00-8.00pm Friday and Saturday 6.00-8.30pm TAKEAWAYS AVAILABLE!


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.