AUGUST 15, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
(Dennis Manktelow)
A positive reaction Caroline Chisholm Catholic College students were “walking on clouds” last week. The Braybrook college invited everyone at the school to walk through a living experiment that converted carbon dioxide from a solid to a gas as part of Science Week activities. College science head Marnie Bates said the students got a lot out of the experience. “The day was amazing, everything I hoped it would be,” she said. “We wanted to do something the whole school could experience and show chemistry in action, and the response from the school was fantastic. “Science and technology have been a big focus for the school all year, and getting the chance to really focus on that this week has been great for the kids.” Science Week is one of the major events as part of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classes for all schools. Ms Bates said it was important for students to broaden their horizons. “It’s great that we can show students the opportunities open to them and get them to think broadly about careers in STEM areas,” she said. KATY AND HANH
Ewen McRae
Christmas Day legal storm By Stella Tzobanakis An elderly Keilor couple has urged residents to read the fine print of their home and contents insurance policies after losing a lengthy battle against insurance giant AAMI. Frank Guastalegname, 70, said the matter had been in litigation with AAMI since 2013 and he and his wife had spent almost $100,000 fighting the case. Mr Guastalegname, who has 46 years legal experience, said it served as a public warning. “We’re devastated,” Mr Guastalegname said.
“It’s been a costly nightmare. It’s very important to read your policy,” he said. “One has to be very careful … and whatever you do, read and keep your renewal notices. “Sometimes wording of a policy is changed when a renewal notice is sent and it makes a difference.” Mr Guastalegname’s legal firm, Caleandro Guastalegname and Co, represented his wife in court. His wife sued AAMI over a failed home building insurance claim following the 2011 Christmas Day hail storms.
Supreme Court documents show she claimed the December 25 storms – which had dumped hail stones across Victoria – had “inundated” their family home which caused the slab to lift. The documents stated the “inundation” was responsible for “heave of the clay soil beneath the foundation slab, causing the soil to expand and thus raise the slab. The raised slab lifted the wall and roof frames, causing cracking and consequential damage to the building”. Although AAMI admitted “that the storm caused the inundation, the consequent heave in
the soil supporting the concrete slab, and that such heave was the cause of the plaintiff’s loss and damage,” it denied liability on the basis of a “soil movement exclusion” in the woman’s policy. In handing down his finding earlier this month, Supreme Court Judge Kim Hargrave found the soil movement exclusion was “badly drafted”, but it was “clear that AAMI intended to exclude indemnity for building damage caused by soil movement”. The couple has until the end of the month to appeal the Supreme Court decision.
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