Fly by the seat of your pants

FLY LIKE A FOX: Ewan Ferrier, 15, of Launceston, takes a ride on the flying fox to be used in the Cataract Gorge Challenge. Picture: ROSS MARSDEN

HAVE you ever wanted to participate in an event such as the Mark Webber Challenge, but weren't sure if you would cut it?

The Launceston Eye Institute Cataract Gorge Challenge on October 27 aims to make thrilling adventure sports accessible to ordinary people aged 13 and up.

The challenge includes mountain biking, road biking, running, kayaking and rope climbing.

The ropes course was the brainchild of the late Bob McMahon, an adventure guide and anti-pulp mill campaigner who died in April.

It includes a flying fox ride from a cliff on one side of the gorge to the Cataract Walkway on the other side, and a monkey climb along the edge of King's Bridge.

Participants can choose to do all of the legs, or just some.

The event's co-founders, former colleagues of Mr McMahon Ian Ferrier and Cade Smith, are also aiming to promote Launceston, and its Cataract Gorge, as Australia's adventure capital.

"The Gorge is so accessible and under-utilised," Mr Smith said.

"The event is designed to capture the attention and imagination of the local and regional community and highlight Launceston's natural assets to a much wider audience."

Visit www.launcestoncataractchallenge.com.au.

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Chance to quiz candidates

RESIDENTS of the federal seat of Denison will get a chance to grill the main candidates for the hotly contested seat at a forum organised by a national organisation devoted to increasing political engagement.

OurSay and the University of Melbourne are running the Citizens' Agenda forum at the University of Tasmania on Tuesday night.

The event will be moderated by the Mercury's editor, Andrew Holman.

The evening is expected to be attended by incumbent independent Andrew Wilkie, Labor candidate Jane Austin, Australian Greens Anna Reynolds and Liberal Tanya Denison.

A swing of 1.2 per cent is needed to unseat Mr Wilkie, who broke Labor's hold on the seat when he was elected at the federal election in 2010.

But recent polling shows he has a good chance of retaining the seat.

People are being asked to nominate questions for candidates online and vote on what the candidates should be asked.

The forum for the Hobart-based seat is one of 10 being run around the country in the approach to the federal election on September 7.

OurSay is an independent organisation launched in 2010 with the ambition of connecting ordinary citizens with people in charge.

See and vote on the questions: oursay.org/citizens-agenda

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The promise of good, clean fun

SLIP, SLOP, SPLAT: Nick Gill gets down and dirty. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

MUD, glorious mud.

That's what Nugent farmer Lindsay White is promising by the tractor-load at the inaugural Raw Challenge event at his Redbanks property on November 2, and he wants everyone to join in the fun.

Competitors will face down more than 30 obstacles over the sodden 8km course, including giant A-frames, a 25m waterslide, floating-log challenge and rope hurdles, on a day of music and food that Mr White said would be one big party.

"It's going to be awesome," he said.

Mr White said he expected more than 3000 entries for the November event (there is another planned for Saturday, February 22, at the same location) and at least as many spectators.

Local vineyards and food vendors will be catering and two planes will offer joy flights over Maria Island.

"There'll be camping here overnight and we're looking at putting on some live music too."

More information at www.rawchallenge.com.au

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The promise of good, clean fun

SLIP, SLOP, SPLAT: Nick Gill gets down and dirty. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

MUD, glorious mud.

That's what Nugent farmer Lindsay White is promising by the tractor-load at the inaugural Raw Challenge event at his Redbanks property on November 2, and he wants everyone to join in the fun.

Competitors will face down more than 30 obstacles over the sodden 8km course, including giant A-frames, a 25m waterslide, floating-log challenge and rope hurdles, on a day of music and food that Mr White said would be one big party.

"It's going to be awesome," he said.

Mr White said he expected more than 3000 entries for the November event (there is another planned for Saturday, February 22, at the same location) and at least as many spectators.

Local vineyards and food vendors will be catering and two planes will offer joy flights over Maria Island.

"There'll be camping here overnight and we're looking at putting on some live music too."

More information at www.rawchallenge.com.au

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Fly by the seat of your pants

FLY LIKE A FOX: Ewan Ferrier, 15, of Launceston, takes a ride on the flying fox to be used in the Cataract Gorge Challenge. Picture: ROSS MARSDEN

HAVE you ever wanted to participate in an event such as the Mark Webber Challenge, but weren't sure if you would cut it?

The Launceston Eye Institute Cataract Gorge Challenge on October 27 aims to make thrilling adventure sports accessible to ordinary people aged 13 and up.

The challenge includes mountain biking, road biking, running, kayaking and rope climbing.

The ropes course was the brainchild of the late Bob McMahon, an adventure guide and anti-pulp mill campaigner who died in April.

It includes a flying fox ride from a cliff on one side of the gorge to the Cataract Walkway on the other side, and a monkey climb along the edge of King's Bridge.

Participants can choose to do all of the legs, or just some.

The event's co-founders, former colleagues of Mr McMahon Ian Ferrier and Cade Smith, are also aiming to promote Launceston, and its Cataract Gorge, as Australia's adventure capital.

"The Gorge is so accessible and under-utilised," Mr Smith said.

"The event is designed to capture the attention and imagination of the local and regional community and highlight Launceston's natural assets to a much wider audience."

Visit www.launcestoncataractchallenge.com.au.

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Chance to quiz Denison candidates

RESIDENTS of the federal seat of Denison will get a chance to grill the main candidates for the hotly contested seat at a forum organised by a national organisation devoted to increasing political engagement.

OurSay and the University of Melbourne are running the Citizens' Agenda forum at the University of Tasmania on Tuesday night.

The event will be moderated by the Mercury's editor, Andrew Holman.

The evening is expected to be attended by incumbent independent Andrew Wilkie, Labor candidate Jane Austin, Australian Greens Anna Reynolds and Liberal Tanya Denison.

A swing of 1.2 per cent is needed to unseat Mr Wilkie, who broke Labor's hold on the seat when he was elected at the federal election in 2010.

But recent polling shows he has a good chance of retaining the seat.

People are being asked to nominate questions for candidates online and vote on what the candidates should be asked.

The forum for the Hobart-based seat is one of 10 being run around the country in the approach to the federal election on September 7.

OurSay is an independent organisation launched in 2010 with the ambition of connecting ordinary citizens with people in charge.

See and vote on the questions: http://oursay.org/citizens-agenda

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Youth handed gift of detention

A YOUNG offender has marked his 17th birthday with an appearance in the dock of the Supreme Court and two-month detention order.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was being dealt with for breaching the terms of a suspended detention order.

Chief Justice Alan Blow heard the youth has a 19-page criminal record and faces further charges in the Magistrates Court.

Crown Prosecutor Jane Ansell said in October 2012 the boy was sentenced to 12 months' jail for aggravated armed robbery.

In February last year the boy -- then 15 -- threatened to stab a security guard with a fish-filleting knife when he was caught stealing baby clothes at Big W at Rosny for money to buy cannabis.

Three months of his detention order was suspended on the condition he be of good behaviour for 12 months on his release.

But Ms Ansell told the court the boy committed numerous offences within two months of getting out of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

In January this year he drove a stolen motor vehicle while disqualified, while under the influence of cannabis and evaded police during a chase which reached speeds estimated at 130km/h.

A few days later he drove an unregistered vehicle while uninsured and while disqualified and took off when police approached him.

His lawyer Amber Mignot said the boy was emotionally damaged by the poor relationship he had with his mother and driving was a way of escaping when his emotional difficulties became too great to bear.

She said spending yet another birthday in custody was an unpleasant experience for the boy.

"It is for him a very disappointing thing and not something he wants to continue for the rest of his life, spending his birthdays in a custodial setting," she said.

Chief Justice Alan Blow told the boy the purpose of the suspended sentence was to make him think twice about reoffending.

"You were meant to think 'I'll stay out of trouble otherwise I will have to serve those three months'. But you didn't stay out of trouble," the judge said.

The judge said he would be "a tiny bit lenient" and ordered the boy serve two months of the three months suspended detention order.

Members of the boy's family present in court wished him a happy birthday as he was led off to serve his sentence.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Arson spree hits Gagebrook

ARSONISTS are believed to be responsible for three separate house fires in Gagebrook overnight.

The Tasmania Fire Service was called to the first fire, at Briar Crescent, about 12.45am today.

The building sustained major damage as a result of the blaze.

The occupants of the property were not home at the time, but two dogs trapped inside died.

Minutes later, a second fire was reported at Tottenham Rd, Gagebrook.

The unoccupied house has previously been subjected to arson attacks.

While fire investigators were conducting inquiries at the fire scenes a third blaze was discovered in Deak St, Gagebrook. The property sustained only minor damage.

Anyone with information in relation to the fires is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Bridgewater Police Station on 6268 4100.

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State first for Lubiana Wines

Steve and Monique Lubiana in their vineyard and winery. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

IT has been 12 years in the making, but small family-owned Stefano Lubiana Wines vineyard at Granton is now the state's first certified biodynamic producer.

Derwent Valley couple Steve and Monique Lubiana today launched the property's biodynamic food and wine interpretation centre.

"Being biodynamic has been a dream of ours, and now we can share our story for others who choose to follow the philosophy and we have the resources here for them to do that," Mrs Lubiana said.

The centre's specially designed interpretation displays, media resources and learning activities have been established to complement a tasting and dining facility to be completed later this year.

After arriving in 1990, the couple developed their Granton vineyard, near Hobart, to create handcrafted Tasmanian wines.

Biodynamics philosophy, based on ancient farming practices, allows the pursuit of connectivity between the elements, aiming for better soils by adopting a holistic, regenerative management approach. The vineyard is free of herbicide and fertiliser use.

"We have fought against the odds and our wine is now allowed to evolve in the bottle for higher quality."

The property's certification, carried out by Australian Certified Organic, took about three years.

Fifth-generation winemaker Steve Lubiana said Australia lags behind the rest of the world in adopting genuinely sustainable farming and viticultural practices.

"We believe working sustainably with the land can be achieved by anyone who is committed to the environment, either a commercial vineyard or working at home on your own vegetable patch," Mr Lubiana said.

The centre was co-funded with $110,000 from the Federal Government under the T-QUAL grants program.

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Second 'sorry' from Lyons

A TASMANIAN Labor MP who questioned an opponent's military record has admitted he incorrectly listed his own medals in election material.

Member for Bass Geoff Lyons has issued his second public apology in as many weeks after claiming he held the prestigious Emergency Services Medal.

He has corrected the listing on his website to the National Medal, which he received in 1997 for services to surf life-saving.

"It's a disappointment that I had the name wrong," Mr Lyons told reporters.

"I thought that's what it was, for service in an emergency service, surf life-saving.

"It's been corrected and I apologise for that."

Last week Mr Lyons apologised to Liberal candidate Andrew Nikolic after suggesting the Iraq veteran had spent most of his defence career as a bureaucrat.

The Federal Opposition seized on his latest mistake, pointing out the Emergency Services Medal had been awarded only 280 times to the National Medal's 175,000.

"A clear pattern of deceit is emerging here from Mr Lyons," Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz said.

The error was reportedly spotted by a voter who checked on Mr Lyons' record.

Polling suggests the incumbent faces a tough battle to hang on to the northern Tasmanian seat, which Labor holds by a margin of 6.7 per cent.

Mr Nikolic, who rose to the rank of Brigadier, has said he does not want his military career to be the focus of the campaign.

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