Hallam will be one of many suburbs in Victoria to receive a new early learning centre in 2026
The State Government announced on Wednesday
that a total of 14 of these centres will be opening next year
visiting the Noble Park site to mark the start of construction
Best Life reforms are delivering a better life for our littlest Victorians with the new childcare centres close to home offering kinder as well – I encourage parents to enrol their kids for next year now,” she said
The interim names for all 14 centres are below:
According to the State Government’s release
these centres will charge fees below local market rates
therefore making childcare more affordable for families
on top of savings from the current Free Kinder program
Each centre will be located on or near a local school
easing the double drop-off and making the transition from kinder to school simpler for families and their children
“We heard where Victorians need childcare the most
and that’s exactly where we’re delivering our 14 newest centres,” Blandthorn said
“With market-beating fees on top of $2600 in Free Kinder savings
a total of 18 government-owned and operated Early Learning Victoria centres will be open by 2026
providing more than 1800 licensed places for children across the state
The first four centres are welcoming local children in Fawkner
Enrolment for kinder in 2026 is also now open
We removed the Hallam Road level crossing by elevating the rail line over the road
We also built a brand-new Hallam Station with improved accessibility
and featuring a new station forecourt with covered waiting areas
The car park was also upgraded and includes more accessible parking
A new walking and cycling path connecting Glencairn Avenue to the station’s eastern entrance was also opened as part of the project
the Hallam Road level crossing was removed in April 2022 and the project was completed in mid 2022
the Level Crossing Removal Project is removing 110 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne by 2030
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The Australian athletics community is mourning the loss of a well-loved member and esteemed coach
Paul passed away on Thursday of a rare lung condition which effects one in four million people.
from his mid-20s Paul sought out knowledge from the best coaches around the world for self-improvement
but the reality was this humble coach and expert strength conditioner became the one sought out by Australia’s coaches and athletes
He reached the highest level in our sport as a successful Olympic track and field coach
A mathematics teacher with degrees in Applied Science (Coaching) and Education (Physical Education) he was Head Coach of Athletics at Endeavour Sports High School and then Director of Athletics at Barker College
Initially a scholarship coach at the NSWIS in 2003/04
in December 2005 he was appointed Athletics Australia’s National Event Coordinator for Sprints & Relays based out of NSWIS
The level 4 coach brought 15-years of coaching expertise to the role
He received his first national team appointment in 2006 to the Australian Commonwealth Games team where he coached the women’s 4x100m relay to a bronze medal
He was also on the Australian team management for the 2007 World Championships
In April 2009 NSWIS launched the 400 metres Fast Track program under the direction of Paul Hallam
A highlight in Paul’s career was as the men’s 4x100m relay coach at the 2012 London Olympics where the team placed sixth in the final after clocking an equal national record of 38.17 in the heats
This time remained the national record for 12-years until it was recently broken at the Paris Olympics
The sixth place remains our equal best ever men’s performance at the Olympics
In later years Paul had moved from just coaching to Speed & Technique and Strength and Conditioning Consultant at the NSW Institute of Sport
His knowledge in S&C was exception and was highly sort after by all sports
A group at NSWIS Paul assisted were the best triathlon squad in the World
He worked on their running and sprint finish
He returned to the private school system serving as Strength & Conditioning/Athletics Coach at St Joseph’s College
following by his most recent role as Cranbrook School’s Head of Athletic Performance & Associate Director of Sport
With his most recent job at Cranbrook School
Paul assembled a great group of coaches who included quality young coaches like Jack Darcy
Each coach benefited enormously learning from Paul’s knowledge
For the students at the school they have felt the loss as Paul had a great ability to communicate messages to all the boys to help them be better athletes and people
Throughout his career Paul maintained a personal coaching squad which included some of Australia’s best sprinters
His step-daughter Jacinta Doyle represented Australia as a junior and has gone on to be one of Australia’s best emerging coaches
including guiding Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith
One of his best was Commonwealth Games finalist Ambrose Ezenwa who ran very quick times of 10.18 and 20.71
Most recently his squad had included Josh Clarke
Paul Hallam was not just one of the best sprint coaches in Australia he was enormously respected by so many on strength conditioning
Some of the strength and conditioners and coaches Paul worked with included Michael Dooley
For 20 years Paul had a great relationship with Dan Pfaff
He would visit Dan to build his knowledge and would encourage other coaches to visit to also benefit
They would almost talk weekly to discuss athletes and ideas around coaching
Paul had an enormously positive impact on hundreds of athletes and coaches and will be greatly missed by the athletics community
Paul lost his battle with the lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis (IPH) overnight while waiting for a double lung transplant
and the many athletes and coaches who knew Paul
By: David Tarbotton for Athletics NSWDate: 29/11/2024
Thanks to Michael Dooley for his assistance
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Sheffield Hallam University held a two-day strike Monday and Tuesday to demand unpaid wages
Their action was in response to the deferral of a nationally agreed 2.7 percent pay rise for the 2024/25 academic year and university management’s refusal to include backdated payments
Following an overwhelming mandate from its members
the UCU announced a series of strike dates
management implemented the award this month—four earlier than initially scheduled
But this came without any back pay for the preceding seven months
estimated by the UCU to equate to approximately £100 per month for the average lecturer
And this is only the latest issue in a decade-and-a-half of below-inflation pay rises and mushrooming workloads
a sociology lecturer participating in the strike
underscored the link between staff welfare and the quality of education: “Staff’s working conditions are students’ learning conditions”
He also drew attention to the long-term trend of pay increases lagging behind inflation
resulting in a substantial reduction in real pay over the past fifteen years
A voluntary severance scheme which led to the departure during 2024 of around 500 academic and professional services staff—over 10 percent of the workforce—had created “huge holes in the institution and obviously it’s affected student experience,” another picket said
told our reporters: “We’re striking today to push back against theft of our pay
university management made the decision to withhold a chunk of our government-mandated pay rise
The pay rise doesn’t even nearly plug that gap anyway
we’re being told we’re not getting a chunk of that money because according to the university
“The university is making huge investments in lovely shiny new buildings we can see from here
and a London campus we’re not even sure they can afford to run
“But it’s us who are teaching the students
It’s us who are delivering the teaching experience
And it’s us who’ve seen a degradation in our working standards over the last several years
which comes as a bit of a kick in the teeth
“We’re not the only university local UCU branch that’s having to go on strike because of cuts to staff cuts to pay
but not every university is withholding our pay like here at Hallam
“The market philosophy for higher education just isn’t working
And you can see that play out not just here at Hallam
“We’ve had a massive swathe of voluntary severance over the last couple of years as a cost saving measure
which has caused huge gaps in our teaching staff
“In my area we’re dramatically understaffed and still being encouraged to teach more and more students
There are people on zero-hours contracts or who are being hired on 18-month contracts with no guarantee of renewal
being thrown into teaching that we’ve no time to adequately prepare for.”
As Tom explains, the situation at Sheffield Hallam University is not unique. There is a huge financial crisis confronting the entire higher education sector. As was reported by WSWS last year of job cuts in the hundreds at Hallam and the University of Sheffield:
As part of desperate attempts to fend off bankruptcy
76 higher education institutions are imposing restructuring and redundancy plans
according to an official report by the Office for Students
They forecast a £3.4 billion black hole for 2025-26
with teaching-focussed institutions worst affected
Many higher education institutions face massive job losses and mergers to survive
Government funding to universities has fallen substantially
from around £8 billion in 2000 to just over £6 billion in 2022-3 (in real terms)
Starting in 1998 under the Blair Labour government
a system of student tuition fees was introduced
shifting the burden onto the individual student and forcing institutions to compete for them in a market system
Income from tuition fees has risen from £61 billion in 2000 to £107 billion in 2022-3
This is part of a deliberate policy encouraging the private sector to make major inroads into higher education
Universities are increasingly run according to a “business model” which prioritises income generation rather than a holistic approach to education as a social good
Integral to the model is universities recruiting overseas students
international student numbers are rapidly falling after years of Tory hostility to migrants now continued by the Labour Party
Student visa applications were down by 16 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year
domestic student recruitment increased by just 1.3 percent
far below the forecasted rate of 5.8 percent
90 of the UK’s 166 universities were making redundancies
including the closure of entire departments
This is coupled with a rise in the use of “zero hours” contracts
under which university staff have no security of employment
Pay for academic staff has stagnated or gone backwards in real terms
The present situation confronting university staff is a direct result of these policies
but they have only been successful due to the UCU’s failure to defend the pay
This is not due to any lack of willingness to fight on the part of university staff
who have repeatedly demonstrated their readiness to take action
including in a series of national strikes since 2018
In the face of a wave of job losses, and the closure of entire departments, the UCU proposes nothing except futile appeals to Sir Keir Starmer’s government to “invest and intervene to alleviate the crisis in higher education.”
The few strikes currently being sanctioned by the union bureaucracy over pay and jobs are being treated as separate struggles
although the underlying causes are the same everywhere
The various unions representing university workers in non-academic roles have acted in the same way
New organisations of struggle and a new perspective are needed
Rank-and-file committees should be established in the universities uniting academic and non-academic staff and students and linking up across the UK and with fellow education workers internationally who face similar attacks
These committee would take the fight to defend pay
jobs and conditions into their own hands and away from the deadening control of the union bureaucracy
Education is a fundamental democratic right for all and should not depend on the ability of a student to pay exorbitant fees
saddling themselves with tens of thousands of pounds of debt
The source of the present crisis in higher education lies in the capitalist system
which prioritises private profit above all and which can find money for armaments and war
but not for essential social provisions such as education
A socialist policy for education would ensure that billions are poured into providing well-paid jobs for teachers and lecturers
end student tuition fees and extend higher education to all those who wish to pursue it
Click on the link to find out more about the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC)
Receive news and information on the fight against layoffs and budget cuts
We share the greatest backyard in Melbourne
Our iconic rivers and creeks are the lifeblood of Melbourne’s natural landscape – they’re what makes living here great
Melbourne Water undertakes regular maintenance along our waterways
including maintaining and improving our wetlands in the area
The Hallam Valley wetlands have undergone some minor works to improve how the wetland functions. These works include regrading of some parts of the wetland
installing new rock lined channels and planting of native vegetation
All of these works will help improve the flow of water throughout the wetland system and improve how the wetland works.
Works commenced in October 2023 and have now been mostly completed
Revegetation will commence in spring and should be completed by early 2025
The wetlands are now open to the community to enjoy
Works commenced to improve the Hallam Valley Wetlands
Works are completed and the wetlands reopen to the community
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Melbourne Water respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong
Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which we rely and operate
We pay our deepest respects to their Elders past
CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Shahd Abusalama has won a legal and political victory against her former employer
over its discriminatory leaking of confidential and derogatory information to the Jewish Chronicle
MPs and government ministers—used as part of efforts to destroy her career and repress pro-Palestinian activism on campus
Abusalama launched a legal challenge in the Employment Tribunal two years ago, with a crowdfund raising more than £27,000
she thanked donors: “After a long-running two-year legal battle
I am glad to announce to you all MY SUCCESS in winning the case against Sheffield Hallam University.”
All remaining donations will be used to aid victims of Israel’s genocide in Gaza
SHU chose to settle the case for an undisclosed sum
agreeing to pay all Abusalama’s legal costs
It was tacit admission that its actions were discriminatory and in breach of employment law
Abusalama was born in Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza
After finishing her undergraduate studies—amid Israel’s illegal blockade and military bombardment of Gaza—she completed an MA in media studies at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
She was awarded a full PhD scholarship at SHU to study representations in film of Gaza-based Palestinian refugees
During her time as a student at SHU, the JC targeted Abusalama, branding her an antisemite over her involvement in the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions movement. (Her account of the witch-hunt can be read here.) The JC functions as a crude propaganda outlet for the Israeli state and has been exposed for fabricating stories
Abusalama faced immediate attack from the JC based on manufactured allegations of antisemitism
She explained: “I was repeatedly investigated
by SHU under the controversial IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] definition of anti-Semitism
which conflates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism
and was adopted by SHU in the face of government threats to withdraw funding.”
She was suspended from teaching on January 20
2022 after she posted a message on social media in defence of a first-year student who had created a poster that read: “Stop the Palestinian Holocaust.” Her post was deemed antisemitic by the university
Abusalama had written: “I understand why a first-year university student used #Holocaust when thinking of Israel’s repeated bombardment of Gaza… Maybe she thought she’d garner European sympathy for Palestine by evoking ‘Never Again’ slogan.”
The university defended Abusalama’s suspension
A spokesperson told the Times of Israel that SHU “has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.”
Students and staff immediately protested her suspension
The SHU branch of the University and College Union (UCU) passed an emergency motion on February 2
2022 affirming the right of academics to free speech
demanding the university apologise to Abusalama and calling for a “moratorium” on the use of the IHRA definition
The next day the university reversed its suspension
Abusalama reported she had been “wholly exonerated of the false charges of antisemitism
brought under the not-fit-for-purpose IHRA”
announcing she had been offered a more secure employment contract
But she faced fresh accusations of antisemitism
this time by Zionist students who claimed her pro-Palestinian activism had transformed the university into “a hostile environment for Jews”
An independent review by Akua Reindorf KC found these claims were baseless and cleared Abusalama of any wrongdoing
Abusalama and SHU reached a confidential agreement to part ways
But the terms of the agreement were immediately breached by the university
Abusalama’s lawyers submitted court documents showing that between August and November 2022
SHU briefed against her to various third parties
Information leaked to the JC resulted in a further witch-hunting article on November 8
portraying Abusalama as a terrorist sympathiser
It included comments from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Richard Calvert that “she is no longer an employee of the university”
yet he failed to mention that an independent review had cleared her of any wrongdoing
The JC’s report made clear that “a senior university official” had reached out to discuss Abusalama’s case
Its selective briefing to this right-wing publication took place
as the JC reported it: “on the eve of an announcement today that Sheffield Hallam is about to build a second
in the heart of north London’s Jewish community.” SHU’s investment in the project was £8 billion
Abusalama has since indicted the university for “prioritising public relations and economic interests over principles”
Abusalama explained: “This victory is not just personal
It is a victory against attempts to silence advocates for justice in Palestine”
“a tool designed to protect Israel rather than combat anti-Jewish bigotry.”
Ten days ago, Abusalama wrote in Declassified UK of her family’s terrifying experience amid “the ceaseless horrors of northern Gaza”
which they described as “the worst stage of genocide”
Abusalama wrote of her own struggle to convey “its gruesome and apocalyptic nature”
She has since tweeted of being displaced to Barcelona to care for her “recently displaced family from Gaza”
Britain served as incubator for the reactionary campaign equating opposition to Zionism with antisemitism
accusations of “left-wing antisemitism” were central to the vendetta by the British state to oust Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader and crush his supporters in the party
Corbyn’s refusal to challenge the Blairites
facilitated the suppression of left-wing and socialist opposition to militarism and war
Abusalama’s legal victory follows the release of a 120-page judgement in the case of Professor David Miller who was fired by the University of Bristol for his statements opposing Zionism that were deemed “offensive.” The Employment Tribunal found Miller was unfairly dismissed and that his anti-Zionist views are protected under UK employment law
In September, the University of Leeds retracted its threat to strip Professor James Dickins of his emeritus status for his political activism against the genocide in Gaza
The climbdown followed protests by students
but the university also vindictively threatened to strip the rights and benefits from his status
All three cases have highlighted the escalating assault against academics and students opposed to Israel’s genocide in Gaza
But the state will not be deterred so easily from ongoing efforts to proscribe and criminalise dissent
The Labour government is escalating attacks on the right to protest
police launched a violent crackdown on student encampments
with student protestors and journalists opposed to the Gaza genocide arrested
detained and interrogated under counter-terrorism laws
The Sheffield branch of the UCU recently highlighted “serious concerns about academic freedom on campus” after a planned “Palestine teach-in” at University of Sheffield on October 1 was cancelled the day before
This blatant act of censorship saw university officials citing a new “events safety guidance” document
These measures are part of a global crackdown by capitalist governments
The ruling class cannot allow university campuses worldwide to become a focus of mass opposition to its war plans
They fear student protests will connect with the explosive social opposition building in the working class to savage attacks on living standards and the growing sense among millions of workers that the entire social order is rotten
The defence of democratic rights means building a mass socialist movement in the working class and youth against the source of genocide
imperialist war and austerity—the capitalist system
This is the perspective fought for by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality
and someone from the IYSSE will contact you about getting involved:
On Friday September 19 the University and College Union (UCU) announced that four days of strike action at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) in defence of jobs and conditions was suspended
The industrial action was planned from 23 until 26 September
following a ballot that returned an 87 percent mandate
The strike was suspended by the UCU because Hallam’s University Executive Board made a renewed offer the union will put to the membership
No details have been released about the renewed offer
The strike was called on the demands “No compulsory redundancies; Retaining existing employment policies; No breach of the framework agreement; No work intensification.”
What can be predicted with confidence from the experience of previous disputes involving the UCU is that redundancies will be allowed to go ahead
under the cover of some form of voluntary scheme
suspending the industrial action on the eve of the strike weakens the position of the workers
The university administration has already seized on this to delay a planned pay rise for this academic year to July 2025
The UCU’s decision follows an established pattern
whereby a strike ballot is used only to nudge management to provide a slightly improved offer that preserves the essence of the cuts but allows the union bureaucracy to stand down its members
the university offered voluntary redundancy to all 1,700 of its academic staff
Approximately 140 academics have already joined the severance scheme
with Hallam announcing in May that another 400 professional services posts must go
so job losses real and planned already figure some 10 percent of the total workforce
a fifth of staff will need to go as it prepares for a serious drop in enrolments
It aims to cut a further £15 million from its budget but has refused to provide details of exact plans
Attacks on jobs are also an attack on student learning and on remaining staff
The university is refusing to honour an agreed contract for Associate Lecturers
who were expected to move away from zero-hour contracts to fixed-term contracts in September 2023
The UCU accuses Hallam of paying for extensive building projects at the cost of jobs
SHU has a £9 million hole in its budget for this academic year and is deeply in hock to the banks
Extensive new construction at the Sheffield city centre campus and a satellite campus in Brent Cross Town
are to be paid for with across-the-board attack on staff and students
University management claim the savage cuts are required by a sharp drop in international student applications
announced that from January 2024 onwards the vast majority of international MA students would no longer be able to bring their dependents to the UK while they studied
SHU hosted 5,205 international students in 2021/22
The financial crisis and attacks on staff at Hallam are symptomatic of UK higher education as a whole
coupled with massive reductions in government funding
have seen universities scrabble to increase their margins by attracting as many students
as possible—especially high-value international students who pay exorbitant tuition costs—including with glitzy developments
while squeezing staff and slashing the quality of teaching they are able to provide
Administrations staffed by well-paid executives have embarked on a campaign of academic vandalism
including closing whole department—like Sheffield’s acclaimed Archaeological Department—and slashing tens of thousands of jobs
Speaking to the Financial Times during the summer
a professor of modern history at Oxford Brookes University—another university which announced an expansion of its own voluntary redundancy drive in March—described a particularly badly hit “squeezed middle” in the HE sector: broadly the post-1992 former polytechnics like Hallam and Brookes located in cities
These have had their student numbers eaten away by competition from institutions leveraging bigger brands and advertising budgets
“The way the sector is behaving is totally at odds with the ethos of the lecturers
many of whom joined a state-managed profession to educate young people and now find themselves expendable employees in a now-corporate sector.”
Limited and uncoordinated industrial action has been confirmed by the UCU at Sheffield Hallam
Goldsmiths in London and the University of Winchester
But a list of locations where job losses and redundancy schemes are threatened
currently contains more than 60 HE institutions
the union has announced only a “global academic boycott”
Staff have been involved in industrial action for months
but this has consisted only of day-long strikes
ineffective leverage action and other dead ends like a marking boycott
who recently awarded herself a very large salary increase
has politely appealed to management “to urgently take stock and change course.”
division and handicapping of industrial action follows its 2023 sellout of the years-long dispute over pay
which paved the way for this new round of attacks
Its betrayal was part of a general rout of the 2022-4 strike wave
now completed with the ending of the BMA and ASLEF disputes and being consolidated in partnership with the right-wing Labour Party
Lecturers and university staff at Sheffield Hallam must draw the lessons of this recent history
especially of the UCU’s conduct of the national dispute over four years from 2019-23
which wore down workers’ militancy to the point of being able to impose a sellout
A new perspective and leadership is required
Academic and non-academic staff must be unified
and all university workers with those throughout the education sector
This can only be achieved through a rank-and-file rebellion of the membership against the corporatist trade union leadership and a determined turn to workers
young people and students in a fight to secure high-quality education as a social right—an end to tuition fees and the marketisation of Higher Education
and massive increases in state financial support funded by taxation of the major corporations and the super-rich
Workers at SHU who agree with this programme should contact the World Socialist Web Site about forming a rank-and-file committee to fight for it
Fill out the form to be contacted by someone from the WSWS in your area about getting involved
Hallam Recreation Reserve has finished redevelopment
it includes a renewed and remodelled building with a new community room
City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen shared his excitement about the new facility and said: “It is amazing to see how the existing building and extension have come together with a new facade and external concreting to create a brand-new facility
“This will empower tenant clubs to provide more opportunities for local community members to engage in physical activity for their health and wellbeing.”
With construction starting in August last year
the redevelopment project has transformed the Hallam Recreation Reserve into a modern and welcoming space for the community
The new community room and kitchen will serve as a hub for local events and gatherings
while the office and public amenities will enhance the facility’s overall functionality
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Hallam man Mohammad
The 42-year-old was last seen around 10pm in Hallam on 9 March
Police and family have concerns for his welfare as he is deaf and non-verbal
medium build and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt
He may be in the Dandenong or Casey area and may be using public transport
Any information to Endeavour Hills police station on 9709 7666
Hallam Primary School was joined a wave of Harmony Day celebrations across the South East on Friday 22 March
As was the case at many of the region’s schools
students paraded in national garments to celebrate cultural inclusion
Police have arrested six teenagers in an allegedly stolen car following a collision in Hallam this morning
Officers were called to reports of a two-vehicle collision out-bound on the Monash Freeway
between the South Gippsland Freeway and Belgrave-Hallam Road
Members of the public watched as six children piled out of a badly damaged Nissan hatchback and attempt to flee the scene
Bystanders managed to stop the uninjured teens from leaving the area until police arrived
They took the four boys and two girls into custody where they will now be interviewed
The male driver of the second vehicle escaped injury however his vehicle sustained significant damage
Checks soon revealed that the Nissan was allegedly stolen from a Gippsland address on 6 January
or with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Facebook posts by Rob Pyne conveyed imputation that Greg Hallam was ‘corrupt’ and were defamatory
A former Queensland Labor MP has been ordered to pay more than $150,000 for making Facebook posts depicting a lobby group CEO as Jabba the Hutt
was the MP for Cairns from 2015 until 2017
District court judge Dean Morzone found Pyne and another north Queenslander
the former CEO of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ)
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Morzone awarded Hallam more than $500,000 dollars in damages
with O’Connor and Pyne ordered to pay $346,131 and $157,261 respectively
In a Facebook post from June 2017, Pyne wrote a message thanking those who supported a Queensland Icac and criticising “those in power”
The post included a meme of the character Jabba the Hutt
becoming Queensland’s first ever quadriplegic politician
He tabled a series of documents in parliament alleging corruption
Pyne tabled a document labelled “Ipswich Inc”
which Morzone found “marked a high flashpoint” in the controversy
criticised his use of parliamentary privilege and his call for a special inquiry into local government corruption
View image in fullscreenFormer LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam successfully sued Rob Pyne and Lyn Elizabeth O’Connor
Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAPPyne continued to table documents under privilege
the image featuring Jabba the Hut was “likely to be read and understood by the ordinary reasonable reader to refer to the plaintiff” because he “exhibited similar physical features” to the fictional character
including his obesity was publicly recognisable,” the judgment reads
Three witnesses told the court they understood the publication as referring to Hallam
Pyne made another post including a complaint about corruption where he called for a state election
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Pyne stood as an independent at the November 2017 state election but was defeated
Morzone found the post conveyed the imputation that Hallam was “corrupt”
“sought to corruptly influence public officials including elected members of the Queensland parliament”
“had overborne the ethical standards which the LGAQ should have provided to local government”
“did not welcome appropriate scrutiny of himself or the LGAQ” and “contributed to ordinary decent people in government roles becoming victims by the misuse of power”
Hallam and others told the court he had suffered a significant decline in his mental health due to the “online harassment” by the two defendants
and severe nightmares” as a result of the posts and had an “emotional breakdown” while reading legal documents in Ireland
He was later diagnosed with a psychiatric condition
“He made claims of significant weight gain and increased alcohol consumption
although these are difficult to gauge against a background of his pre-existing obesity and drinking habits,” Morzone ruled
Pyne’s four defamatory posts were published online from 21 June to 23 August 2017
O’Connor’s 36 defamatory posts were made between 10 June 2017 and 9 December 2019
The court found Pyne “has never apologised” to Hallam
The sole practitioner of a Queensland law firm was reprimanded over his failure to make “full and frank disclosures” about a mortgage interest
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Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly
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Roads in Hallam have been closed due to flooding as a Watch and Act emergency message remained in place on Tuesday 16 July
Centre Road and Rimfire Drive were fully closed to traffic that afternoon
“People should not be driving along Centre Rd
those in the vicinity are advised to exit via foot along the north of Rimfire Drive,” SES Victoria advised
Heatherton Road in Dandenong was also closed in both directions due to flooding from Dandenong Creek
A Watch and Act emergency message was earlier issued for parts of the Dandenong Creek catchment
with affected residents advised to move to higher ground
Moderate flooding was expected to occur on the creek at Police Road Retarding Basin in Rowville and potentially Heatherton Road in Dandenong
according to a SES Victoria ‘Watch And Act’ message
Dandenong Creek’s waters were 4.95 metres deep as of 9am – and expected to rise above the moderate flood level of 5 metres later this morning
the Dandenong Creek catchment had recorded rainfall averaging about 42 mm
Rainfall totals of 20 to 30 mm were forecast for the catchment for the rest of the day
The SES warned of potentially “substantial inundation” in rural and urban of the Dandenong Creek catchment
“Flooding above floor level of a single-story home is likely to occur in some locations,” it stated
Affected people were advised to “take actions immediately to protect your life and property
Details: http://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/#!/warning/33846/moreinfo
YORK — The York Public Library is set to showcase "Beverly Hallam: Chasing Light," a solo exhibition celebrating the groundbreaking career of Beverly Hallam (1923–2013)
a nationally acclaimed realist and vibrant member of Maine's arts community
The exhibition will be open to the public from May 13 to August 27
at the library located at 15 Long Sands Road
This exhibit highlights over 30 pieces from Hallam’s visual archives
including her pioneering work in photography
Known for her innovative use of light and fearless experimentation with mediums
Hallam’s work spans more than fifty years and features floral still lifes
Known for her fearless experimentation across mediums
Hallam seamlessly incorporated photography into her painting and printmaking to create luminous
The exhibition highlights her mastery of light
capturing its essence through diverse subjects—from coastal scenes to floral still lifes to digital abstractions
Curated by Kristina Durocher for Surf Point
"Beverly Hallam: Chasing Light" includes pieces ranging from her monotypes and iconic airbrush paintings to later digital abstractions
offering a retrospective of more than fifty years of artistic evolution
The exhibit also underscores Surf Point’s ongoing partnership with the York Public Library
“It is remarkable to trace her artistic development – Hallam was fearless in reinventing herself
and learning new things along the way," said Durocher
but it was her trips to Europe that gave her boundless confidence in herself and her vision
and dedicated herself to her art—she never looked back."
and an alumna of the Massachusetts College of Art
became a pioneering force in modern art techniques
influenced by photography icon Margaret Bourke White
introduced innovations in monotype printmaking and large-scale airbrush painting
layered compositions infused with chromatic energy
Surf Point Executive Director Yael Reinharz describes Hallam’s work as a source of inspiration
particularly for contemporary artists participating in Surf Point’s Residency Program
Visitors can also enjoy several accompanying programs
including a public talk by art writer Carl Little on June 7
and the launch of Surf Point’s online archive featuring Hallam's works
Limited editions of Hallam's vintage prints will also be available for purchase
This exhibition aims to preserve Hallam’s legacy and inspire contemporary artists through her originality and experimental energy. For more information, visit www.surfpoint.me.
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after Diane began corresponding with another finalist from Ireland
who also believed her nomination was a hoax
the women eventually came to the conclusion it was indeed the real deal
The event is a global awards program recognising the work of incredible women making a positive difference in the world across a range of industries and areas including business
After realising the enormity and honour of just being nominated let alone one of 750 finalists from across the world
"There are so many women out there who do amazing jobs
She also is one of just three finalists from Australia
Diane Hallam has been named a finalist in a major international award
Picture by Jeanene DuncanTaking this commendation one step further
Diane has made the finals in two categories - the People's Choice - Making a Difference and the Volunteer of the Year awards
Diane has contributed her time to a number of organisations from preschools and palliative care to the Great Lakes oyster festival and the Scout movement
She has been serving as a public relations officer and trainee radio operation with with Marine Rescue Forster Tuncurry for the past four years
"My work is mainly promotional," Diane said
"I concentrate on safety awareness; educating the public about protocols and best practices on the water which can help prevent accidents and save lives," she said
Diane smiled when she said 'I have words in my fingers'
I concentrate on safety awareness; educating the public about protocols and best practices on the water which can help prevent accidents and save lives
"This medium helps us raise our membership and maintains trust with the public and shows the capability of the organisation - building confidence."
"This work is so important because the organisation represents the spirit of service where we collectively work to ensure the wellbeing of others."
Diane said as a volunteer it gave her a sense of purpose
of being useful and a sense of pride in a job well done
Naturally proud of her achievements, Diane has in the last 12 months raised more than $5000 for Marine Rescue through a raffle
and co-organised a boat and water safety day
an event which was supported by 20 first responder agencies
"The collaboration was to build a strengthened sense of community."
due to inclement and unpredictable weather the event was postponed to later this year
and wife to Stephen - who is an RFS volunteer and new Marine Rescue recruit - said her family was immensely proud of her achievement
which will be held in London early next month
she certainly will be glued to her television set with her fingers crossed for good news
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
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Hallam Kalora Park and Springvale South will effectively play for second place and the double chance in round 13 when the two face off at Hallam Recreation Reserve in two-day Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 cricket
Both are tied on 52 points with two matches remaining with the Hawks in a rich vein of form since returning from the Christmas break
Last week’s outright victory over Dandenong West has seen them take 45 wickets in three contests as the quartet of Will Whyte
Lauchlan Gregson and Lee Brown round into form at the perfect time of year
They have combined for 43 of the 45 wickets since Christmas and will enter the upcoming contest confident of defeating the Bloods after knocking them off by 61 runs earlier in the year
Hammond was the hero on that occasion for the Hawks
after taking 4/10 in a wicked nine-over spell
Springvale South’s batting line up is not carrying the same prestige as previous seasons with the Bloods relying heavily on allrounders and bowlers to cover the batting shortfalls
Jordan Wyatt is without a half-century since round eight while he and the Forsyth brothers are the only three with more than 300 runs to their name for the summer
The Bloods have Buckley Ridges in the final round of the year
a far tougher task than Hallam Kalora Park
and puts extra importance on the contest for Springvale South
the Hawks had not defeated Springvale South since their premiership winning year of 2020/21
having now shed the proverbial monkey off the back
three sides will keep a keen eye on Buckley Ridges’ clash with North Dandenong in the context of relegation
North Dandenong is last on the ladder and could take an even stronger hit to its percentage in this match up
already the lowest of the four sides intertwined on 24 points
it will mean the winner of Dandenong West and Narre South is likely safe for another season
Whichever side is victorious will move six points clear of the drop zone and barring a stunning turn of events in a one-day clash in round 14
will presumably be safe from being caught on percentage in the final round
the Battle of the Creek sees Berwick and Beaconsfield lock horns once more
If it’s anything like their round six encounter
when Beaconsfield prevailed by one wicket with four balls to spare
fans will be in for a treat at Arch Brown Reserve
Tips: HALLAM KALORA PARK v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
A car has veered off a Melbourne road and smashed into a home while the residents were asleep
Two people have had a lucky escape after a car crashed into their home in Melbourne's south-east while they were sleeping in the early hours of the morning
The duo were in bed at the Hampton Park house when the vehicle smashed through the property at about 4:30am on Wednesday
is believed to have veered off Hallam Road
before hitting the home on the corner of Ivan Cresent
Police said the impact of the crash resulted in the car flipping onto its roof
Pictures from the scene showed the crash destroyed one side of the home
with dozens of bricks strewn across one of the rooms and on the lawn
The Herald Sun reported the car slammed into the room where the two people were asleep
said there was "an ungodly noise like anything I have heard before" when the crash unfolded
The two people who were inside the home were not injured
but were taken to hospital for observation
Two children were reportedly sleeping in another room of the home
The driver and passenger were also taken to hospital for treatment
but were said to have non-life threatening injuries
Police are still investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the incident
is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Chuck Klosterman once wrote an opinion piece about how we will inevitably become whatever we despise
It was centered around the idea that if one were to criticize something publicly early on
that criticism would become something they embody later in life
forcing some sort of public or personal retribution for this hypocrisy so blatant that everyone who pays attention is aware of it
I was just becoming a music nerd and getting into sounds that weren’t covered by Spin
though I did take a lot of recommendations from them (my dad subscribed me to like 6 years of Spin from a door-to-door salesman who had recovered from addiction)
and the like while scoffing at older dudes hanging onto Van Halen memories from 20 years prior
and I am still singing their praises today
the finest sasscore/emoviolence band Indonesia has to offer (I assume
HALLAM FOE has put out a couple EPs and singles since 2021 full of crowd-killing ragers
and the special kind of fun The Blood Brothers
The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower and other early 2000’s bands once served up
“Funkapokalips,” off their upcoming EP of the same name
math-y filtered riff that quickly erupts into a full windmill kick of a track
and even hand claps that signal the closing heft and gang vocals of
‘FUCK THIS SHIT!’ in a beatdown hardcore frenzy
Sign me right the fuck up to snag a copy of Funkapokalips
as this promises to be some of the most fun we are going to hear on an EP in a long time
this single takes us into a multi-part journey through highly danceable rage
leaving ear-drums ringing and every piece of change on the floor picked up
If this is me becoming a nostalgia gremlin
mired in some self-loathing for enjoying genres of music Chuck Klosterman‘s sarcastic ass wouldn’t touch
then I will die happily knowing that DIY labels and underground music are thriving with sneering attitudes towards pop culture
Check out HALLAM FOE‘s Funkapokalips out September 17th on Zegema Beach Records, limited to 50 lathe cut pressings (49 after I snag my copy). Also follow HALLAM FOE on Instagram and Twitter/X
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
Everything Is Noise is here to bring you music that you connect with
accessible space to discuss this music in a open-minded community of fans and creators
The Everything Is Noise-Newsletter is currently in maintenance
James Hallam
one of the UK’s largest independent insurance brokers
has expanded its presence in Scotland with the appointment of Jamie Johnstone in Edinburgh
Johnstone, who has spent 14 years in the London insurance market at Price Forbes and Arthur J. Gallagher
will work alongside Doug Smith and Ritchie Sherret to establish a new James Hallam office in the city
He will lead the new operation as client director
"It is exciting to return to Edinburgh to lead James Hallam’s expansion in the east of Scotland
We have engaged with colleagues and business leaders
and many have highlighted concerns about declining service standards due to consolidation in the Scottish broking market,” Johnstone commented
Smith, previously chairman of Corporate Risk PLC, will assist Sherret and Johnstone. He has held senior roles in the insurance sector, including as chairman of Johnston Higgins (UK) Ltd, non-executive deputy chairman of Willis Mergers and Acquisitions, chairman of Marsh (Scotland) Ltd, and chairman of Marsh UK Private Equity
whose brokerage Hendricks Insurance was acquired by James Hallam in March 2024
has built and sold two previous broking businesses
He will collaborate with Johnstone to grow the team
Smith and Sherret under James Hallam will revive the Corporate Risk banner
which was previously a key player in the Scottish insurance market
but the success of Corporate Risk was built on the principle that clients always came first
The high levels of personal service we provided then can be repeated under the James Hallam banner,” Smith said
said he is looking forward to collaborating with him again
“While Doug and I may be considered veterans
and we aim to pass our experience to the next generation of professionals.”
Last year, Jamie Hallam’s parent firm Seventeen Group acquired Keith Miller Insurance Services and a book of business from Hendricks Insurance
adding £5.3 million in GWP to its portfolio
The acquisitions were expected to strengthen the group’s presence in Scotland and enhance its specialist offerings
The Hendricks Insurance deal was expected to bring in a £2.8 million GWP book covering rural
Keith Miller Insurance Services was meant to enhance James Hallam’s hospitality and travel proposition
Campaigners receive longest ever sentences for non-violent protest after being convicted of conspiracy to cause public nuisance
Five supporters of the Just Stop Oil climate campaign who conspired to cause gridlock on London’s orbital motorway have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms by a judge who told them they had “crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic”
Roger Hallam, Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu and Cressida Gethin were found guilty last week of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance for coordinating direct action protests on the M25 over four days in November 2022
Hallam received a five-year sentence on Thursday
while the other four were each sentenced to four years
The sentences are thought to be the longest sentences ever given in the UK for non-violent protest, exceeding those given to the Just Stop Oil protesters Morgan Trowland (three years) and Marcus Decker (two years and seven months) for scaling the Dartford Crossing
All five had spoken on a Zoom call trying to recruit potential volunteers for the actions
which involved activists climbing gantries at strategic points on the London orbital motorway
Hallam said they intended to cause “the biggest disruption in British modern history” in an effort to force the government to meet Just Stop Oil’s core demand
an end to new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea
View image in fullscreenPolice officers on the M25 after an activist put a Just Stop Oil banner on the gantry during the motorway protest in November 2022
Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesPassing sentence on each of the defendants at Southwark crown court
the judge Christopher Hehir said: “The offending of all five of you is very serious indeed and lengthy custodial sentences must follow.”
Hehir admitted there was a scientific and social consensus that human-made climate breakdown was happening and action should be taken to avert it
“I acknowledge that at least some of the concerns motivating you are
“But the plain fact is that each of you has some time ago crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic
You have appointed yourselves as the sole arbiters of what should be done about climate change
bound neither by the principles of democracy nor the rule of law
“And your fanaticism makes you entirely heedless of the rights of your fellow citizens
You have taken it upon yourselves to decide that your fellow citizens must suffer disruption and harm
and how much disruption and harm they must suffer
simply so that you may parade your views.”
Although all of the defendants ended the trial representing themselves
Shaw and Whittaker De Abreu – instructed counsel to speak on their behalf in mitigation
View image in fullscreenRoger Hallam
Photograph: Ollie Millington/Getty ImagesEach barrister sought unsuccessfully to persuade the judge that lengthy sentences could be avoided
said the likelihood of his reoffending was lowered by the fact that the new Labour government had essentially met Just Stop Oil’s core demand by ending North Sea oil and gas exploration
who offered her own comments in mitigation
said: “I want to remind the court once more that my reasons for taking action were not beliefs or opinions
Earth’s life-support systems are breaking down due to human activities
“These are not beliefs or opinions and feeling strongly that this is wrong is greatly understandable
I deeply regret that this action was necessary … I maintain that it was necessary and I stand by my actions as the most effective option available to me.”
Supporters of the defendants expressed outrage at the sentences, which came after a two-week trial in which the judge denied them any of the defences in law for causing a public nuisance.
Hehir ruled that the jury should not take into account evidence about climate breakdown, which the defendants wanted to point to as the key motivation behind their actions, and which they said provided them with a reasonable excuse for them.
Read moreMichel Forst, the UN’s special rapporteur on environmental defenders, who attended part of the trial, issued a statement at its conclusion
“Today is a dark day for peaceful environmental protest” in the UK
“This sentence should shock the conscience of any member of the public
It should also put all of us on high alert on the state of civic rights and freedoms in the United Kingdom
“Rulings like today’s set a very dangerous precedent
not just for environmental protest but any form of peaceful protest that may
not align with the interests of the government of the day.”
said: “What sort of country locks people away for years for planning a peaceful demonstration
let alone for talking about it on a Zoom call
We’re giving a free hand to the polluting elite robbing us of a habitable planet while jailing those who’re trying to stop them – it makes no sense
“These sentences are not a one-off anomaly but the culmination of years of repressive legislation
overblown government rhetoric and a concerted assault on the right of juries to deliberate according to their conscience
It’s part of the mess the Labour government has inherited from its predecessor and they must fix it by giving back to people the right to protest that’s been slowly being taken away from them.”
three airports were granted high court injunctions against fossil fuel and environmental activists protesting at their sites
London Luton airport and Newcastle international airport were given injunctions banning protesters from trespassing or causing a nuisance
Cover Four Seasons brand chief Ben Hallam makes space for joy at work and at home (Photo by Anna Koustas; Illustration by Francesca Gamboa) Four Seasons brand chief Ben Hallam makes space for joy at work and at home (Photo by Anna Koustas; Illustration by Francesca Gamboa)
These posts have led him to his current position as the brand chief at the esteemed Four Seasons
where he is poised to become an even more influential voice in the luxury hospitality sector
Hallam wasn’t solely responsible for his meteoric rise
His career has benefited from the support and advice of mentors
Hallam reflects on the wisdom—either earned himself or borrowed from others—that have shaped his perspective
Also read: Malala Yousafzai debuts as producer with ‘The Last of the Sea Women’
After the most inspiring lunch hearing about how and why he created the brand
the person now responsible for this legacy
just do what you believe is right.’ That always stays with me
respect its history and pioneer its future.”
“I have learnt the more senior you become
the less likely you will have the right answer to everything
But people are not looking to you for the right answer
they are looking at you for direction and guidance
There are parts of every leader’s role that they are not as strong at
Leadership is about guiding people to achieve an end goal
not about having right or wrong answers to every question
“I believe a role should always be a little bit bigger than your current capabilities
‘I know I can do this job’—and I think that’s a good thing
After spending so many years in advertising
every brief would be assessed on ‘where can we take this brand’ and ‘what is the potential of this idea’.”
“I truly believe luxury hospitality will always be driven by humanity
Our brand is nothing without the people in our properties who bring it to life
We are a brand driven by data and technology
but we never use that to replace human connections—we use it to facilitate more face-to-face moments with our guests.”
Whilst this is traditionally a line referring to money
my mum used it as a general philosophy for living
Whenever I was unsure if I could do or achieve something
my mum would use the line as a form of encouragement
I still use the line—or at least think about it—when I lead
the behaviours you display and the values you keep
With a scope and team as far-reaching as mine
attitude and perspective are so important.”
I feel a great sense of pride being the custodian of such an iconic brand at such a pivotal time in its history
I also get a lot of energy from being around friends and family
I try to create clear routines in my week so that I know when I am ‘on’ and ‘off’ work mode
I am also clear with communicating when I am ‘on’
because I hate being the person that sits on their phone at the dinner table reading emails
no I am listening to you.’ My happiest place is hanging with my husband and dog
I always feel extremely content when I am with them
With additional edits by Kristine Fonacier
This article is part of Science of Success
Tatler’s leadership series that unpacks the habits
practices and mindsets that help successful individuals achieve their goals
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Lecturers at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) in northern England have voted for industrial action by an overwhelming majority to oppose mass job losses
A majority of members of the University and College Union (UCU) participated in the ballot which resulted in 86 percent voting for strike action
The lecturers are showing their determination to oppose compulsory redundancies
and the introduction of new lower-wage teaching roles that are being imposed by SHU in response to a severe financial crisis
University management have imposed several waves of job losses
with a new voluntary redundancy scheme starting this month affecting 400 professional services jobs
This follows the previous forcing through of 80 compulsory redundancies among academic staff
with more positions under threat of voluntary redundancy and regrading to lower-paid positions
management is imposing increased workloads and lowering the standard of education
the university announced a voluntary severance scheme which saw around 140 senior academics leave their jobs
senior staff at Sheffield Hallam University were issued with “risk of redundancy” letters and given two weeks to apply for redundancy as the grade 9 principal lecturer role is removed
Many staff face demotion by being pressured to take up a role at a lower grade
in what amounts to fire-and-rehire practices
The responsibilities of lower grades will be increased
and a new academic tutor position at grade 6 will be created
in violation of the national framework agreement according to the University and College Union (UCU)
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to staff at Sheffield Hallam
“they’re making senior academics redundant now but we’re concerned that the axe is coming for us next.” Her fears were confirmed with the subsequent announcement of more job cuts
Another professional services employee said
even though the other university is still hiring
there’ll be fewer opportunities for young people coming up
There’s a big problem with university finances across the whole country
but here they’ve built new buildings with no plan for the inflation or falling student numbers.”
“They’re saving money by regrading people onto lower wages
I’m very critical of the union because they take all that money and get three figure salaries—and for what
like the Horizon scandal at the post office
I’ve been through several of these waves of job cuts in the past
has based itself on international students’ money
SHU is one of two research universities in the city and has over 30,000 students and 5,000 staff
Its research strategy focuses on data technologies
environmental sustainability and advanced clinical technology
The new attack on workers is caused by a financial shortfall created by mismanagement at SHU that takes place in the context of wholesale funding reductions across the UK higher education (HE) system
SHU management have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on their “Campus Masterplan” agenda of constructing new buildings and pandering to the needs of big business in order to attract investment
while taking advantage of their exploited staff who provide the services on which the university is based
It has spent over £40 million on three new buildings as part of its Howard Street construction project in Sheffield city centre
The university is also creating a new London campus which is expected to open next year and will teach around 5,000 students by the end of the decade
The new campus is part of an £8 billion Brent Cross redevelopment in Barnet
Broader political and economic factors are affecting the higher education sector
Universities are struggling to attract students
particularly international students who pay sky-high fees
who are being affected by draconian attacks on immigration rights
The global economic crisis and rising inflation and energy costs have also impacted universities
Tensions between workers and management exist across higher education institutions
with strike ballots or industrial action underway at many
staff at Goldsmiths voted by a large majority to oppose huge job cuts at the London-based campus that would nearly halve the number of lecturers in arts and humanities and other subjects
University of Lincoln workers are balloting to decide whether to walk out over plans to axe a tenth of posts
workers at Winchester University held a one-day strike followed by the starting of a period of work-to-rule
But the University and College Union (UCU) are dividing and isolating these disputes
having sold out a years-long dispute in higher education and paving the way for this latest round of attacks across the sector
the union did everything it could to keep the fight at SHU separate
calling separate strike days on multiple occasions
The UCU’s policy is for collaboration with the university management and the government in backroom deals to the detriment of staff conditions
who recently awarded herself a massive pay rise following the UCU sellout of the higher education strikes
has politely appealed to the university “to urgently take stock and change course.”
A tiny demonstration was organised on April 24
featuring speeches from local union bureaucrats from UNISON and the Sheffield Trades Union Congress
Lecturers must learn the lessons of the sell-out of the 2019–2023 higher education strikes
part of a series of major industrial disputes across the country that were sold out by the union bureaucracy
artificially separated different parts of the workforce and isolated their disputes
The death knell of that struggle was the decision by the UCU leadership to allow branches to make separate decisions about whether to go back to work
which resulted in less than one-third of universities continuing the strike
Workers’ militancy was systematically worn down
A new perspective is required to break free from the deadening stranglehold of the UCU bureaucracy
SHU staff must take up the fight to link their dispute with non-academic staff and workers at other institutions
This struggle must not limit itself to disparate
but bring in education workers in secondary
and further education as part of a rank-and-file rebellion against the corporatist trade union leadership and a turn out to workers and young people in a fight to defend high-quality university education as a social right
Sheffield Hallam University’s vice-chancellor
welcomed a senior delegation from the British University in Egypt (BUE) to sign an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) furthering their commitment to international academic collaboration
Following the UK delegation’s recent visit to campuses in Egypt in February
the BUE reciprocated with a visit to Sheffield Hallam University in the UK
With a signed official MoU from Sheffield Hallam and BUE
the partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing academic and research partnerships across both institutions
we aim to build on our respective achievements in international higher education widening access to a new generation of students
“We were delighted to welcome the president and his delegation from the BUE
represents a significant opportunity for a new Transnational Education (TNE) collaboration and knowledge exchange between our institutions,” said Mossop
colleagues from BUE were joined Mossop and senior leaders from Sheffield Hallam for a tour of university facilities
including one of the new Howard Street buildings
which will be home to Sheffield Business School
said that signing this MoU with Sheffield Hallam University is a major step on the institution’s road to development and innovation
“It is a new and exciting partnership that serves as an excellent example of the synergy and milestones that can be achieved through global collaboration between institutes of Higher Education,” said Loutfi
“Having Sheffield Hallam – a university renowned for being ahead of the curve
a vanguard of modernisation – is a fitting way to celebrate the British University in Egypt’s 20th Anniversary
and to forging a lasting and mutually successful partnership,” Loutfi added
it is one of the UK’s largest universities and a leading provider of health education and teacher training
Sheffield Hallam also educates more students from underrepresented backgrounds than any other UK university
Funded by the British Council’s 2024-2025 Going Global Partnerships TNE fund
the visit marks the start of a new development between Sheffield Hallam and BUE
“We are delighted to have been able to support the partnership between The British University of Egypt and Sheffield Hallam
The British Council TNE Exploratory Grant is a great opportunity for institutions to work together and we are really pleased that this has helped to facilitate the wider partnership
recognised in the recent MoU between both institutions,”d eclared Mark Howard
“Building connections and understanding is a key part of our work
and we look forward to seeing this key partnership continue to grow.”
BUE and the Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce have secured £20,000 in funding for a project titled ‘A transnational journey between Sheffield and Cairo’
“At the Egyptian-British Chamber of Commerce our mission is to promote trade and investment between Egypt and the UK
Education is currently one of our key sectors and priorities
aligning with Egypt’s 2030 vision,” said Mark Lawrence
director of the Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce
“We are delighted to be a supporting partner in this British Council’s Going Global funded program and
look forward to supporting BUE and Sheffield Hallam in forming a partnership that creates mutual benefit and positive impact for all sides.”
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Union members at Sheffield Hallam University are to strike over management’s decision to delay the implementation of this year’s pay award
Members of the University and College Union at the south Yorkshire post-92 will walk out on 24 and 25 March
This year’s rise of a minimum of 2.7 per cent was imposed nationally by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association
with an initial £900 due in last August’s pay packets
but institutions were able to delay the rise by up to 11 months if they claimed financial exigency
Times Higher Education reported previously that the number of universities which had said that they were unable to afford the increase straight away had hit a record high
Sheffield Hallam’s UCU branch said that the university had refused to implement the pay award until this month
after members had backed a ballot for strike action
The branch said that managers should agree to pay staff their “seven months of lost earnings”
and have planned the strike in a bid to force this
UCU complained that, despite Sheffield Hallam claiming that it could not afford the pay rise, it is pushing ahead with a £220 million estates programme plus a London branch campus
“Our members are striking because Sheffield Hallam is acting like a rogue employer
By refusing to fully implement the nationally agreed pay award
Hallam bosses are effectively stealing tens of thousands of pounds from their workforce,” said Jo Grady
“We refuse to accept that Hallam can invest hundreds of millions of pounds in shiny new buildings yet can’t afford to meet the nationally agreed pay award
as every other university in Yorkshire was able to
or it is laying the groundwork for further disruption.”
UCU members at Sheffield Hallam had previously voted for strike action at the start of the academic year over job cuts
but this was called off after negotiations with managers
The university reported a £3.5 million operating deficit for 2023-24
following a £1.1 million shortfall the year before
It also spent £17.5 million on severance pay last year
A Sheffield Hallam spokeswoman said that the university was “disappointed” by the vote for strike action but would seek to minimise the impact on students
we have had to make tough decisions due to the well-documented financial challenges being faced across the higher education sector
One of those was to implement the annual nationally negotiated pay award for staff later than in previous years
in order to significantly reduce costs and protect jobs,” the spokeswoman said
“With the overall financial picture for universities likely to be challenging for some time
we must continue to make the difficult choices required to reduce costs and increase income
Members of the university’s executive board are not receiving a pay rise this year
chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com
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Number of institutions claiming financial exigency now into ‘double figures’
Sheffield Hallam staff to walk out for four days in late September in row over job cuts
University draws up plans to avert risk of breaching banking covenants, as sector-wide financial worries take hold
Outpost for up to 5,000 students will be part of £8 billion Brent Cross Town development
Vice-chancellors say they have ‘no choice’ about downsizing, but unions question the need as 2024 accounts reveal recovery trend
Businesses reliant on highly skilled workers urged to ‘stop taking a back seat’ as UK universities suffer financially
Impact of cost-saving measures the first question being raised at open days, report academics at under-fire institutions
University and College Union disputes institution’s claim to have significantly reduced job cuts figure
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and offered $1 million a day to Pennsylvania residents who sign a Trump-aligned petition—but only if they are registered to vote
It’s not unusual for the rich and powerful to involve themselves in U.S
Some people still insist that the Musk phenomenon is just par for the course
perhaps even a necessary correction to the left-leaning bias exhibited by many other rich and powerful individuals in recent years
But there is something particularly egregious and unprecedented about Musk’s foray into politics this election cycle
Conspiracy theories are dangerous at the best of times. When they are peddled by a rich and powerful individual they have an outsized influence and act as a force multiplier that further degrades the discourse from which they originally sprang, with the potential to cause real-world violence. (If you doubt this, just look at the anti-immigrant riots that recently broke out in the UK
which originated from false claims online.) And when
conspiracy theories are peddled by a rich and powerful individual who
was touting his intention to build a “digital public square” in order to improve the health of political discourse
and who now controls a system of algorithms that determine what content the rest of us see
it can only fuel widespread despair about the country’s ability to have a sensible conversation about
If this is America’s champion of free speech and architect of the new “public square,” then God help it
One question is often asked about this latest iteration of Elon Musk: Does he actually believe what he says
Could he not be engaging in purely transactional politics
attempting to get Donald Trump elected in order to reap tangible rewards beyond those he could have expected from Clinton or Biden
Given that during his first term Trump was the most pro-space president in decades and a keen advocate of sending American astronauts back to the Moon
there’s clearly an alignment of interest here if
those plans accelerate during a second Trump term
The Egregious Republican Lie About Ohio’s MigrantsCathy Young·September 25, 2024Read full storyStill
it would be wrong to conclude that it’s all about the money for Musk; he also gives every sign of having become a true convert to the Trump cause
Many tech moguls have drifted away from the liberal end of the political spectrum in recent years as politicians and the media adopted an increasingly hostile attitude towards Silicon Valley—from calls to ban misinformation to attempts to curtail artificial intelligence
To a sector of society once lauded as visionary and thrilling
but sometimes not—as a threat to democracy
this unsurprisingly felt like a serious betrayal
Musk wouldn’t be the first public figure to overcorrect and descend down a reactionary rabbit-hole
Ideologically, Musk may be the archetypical example of where the activist right currently is. Influential people in this space (think the Peter Thiels or Curtis Yarvins) share many of the same characteristics: they are often interested in technology and progress
resentful of arbitrary constraints on innovation
and hate the constellation of ideas and opinions variously described as “woke.” As in
All that matters to them is defeating “woke” forever
They don’t consider their political opponents to be merely
but rather an all-powerful hegemonic force that wants to impose single-party totalitarian rule on the poor suckers who oppose their regime
It’s the kind of neurotic systems-thinking—a quintessential victim mentality
seeing oppressive dark forces everywhere you turn
casting yourself as the plucky resistance in the face of overwhelming tyranny—familiar from the most outrageous elements of
Except these days it is the most potent and certainly the most visible form of right-wing activism
which at even the most surface level are often blatantly implausible or histrionic
does every conspiracy theory—of a “great replacement” of America’s white population
of the Democrats’ plans for totalitarian one-party rule—need to be literally true
But politics isn’t only about “facts.” It’s about signaling
about making people think new and dangerous thoughts
about pushing the discourse in one direction or the other
The tragedy here is that everybody already knows what Musk is like
News articles and pearl clutching about his latest exploits are
boring: everyone’s already made up their minds whether to support his latest conspiratorial crusade
or whether to advertise their opposition to it
we will surely look back at the whole sorry misadventure of online right-wing culture in the 2020s and wonder how and why people at the very top of society—some of America’s richest
and most accomplished individuals—transformed themselves into vituperative culture warriors flooding our feeds with content fundamentally divorced from reality
Luke Hallam is senior editor at Persuasion
Persuasion does not take an editorial position on political campaigns or candidates and aims to represent a variety of views
or strategies articulated in the publications and podcast are those of the authors and speakers alone
Follow Persuasion on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube to keep up with our latest articles, podcasts, and events, as well as updates from excellent writers across our network.
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Biden revoked executive orders limiting illegal immigration on his very first day in office, spurring an unprecedented flow of illegals, with massive caravans launched that very day. Then, he used CBP to expedite the flow of illegals rather than stem it, putting call buttons at the border so that illegals could call CPB and be ushered into the country.
Nobody even knows who they are or how many have crossed: 10 Million? 20 Million? We do know they're mostly young men.
We also know that the Biden administration could have stemmed the flow at any time, because they finally did it when it became a political liability before this election.
This was such a massive betrayal of our country, that it virtually defies explanation -- or it requires a really wild explanation (i.e. "conspiracy theory"). I'd say the administration and its enablers were either spectacularly stupid or malevolently self-seeking. Those are the only possibilities. Neither is a conspiracy theory.
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and offered $1 million a day to Pennsylvania residents who sign a Trump-aligned petition\u2014but only if they are registered to vote
Subscribe now
It\u2019s not unusual for the rich and powerful to involve themselves in U.S
But there is something particularly egregious and unprecedented about Musk\u2019s foray into politics this election cycle
Conspiracy theories are dangerous at the best of times. When they are peddled by a rich and powerful individual they have an outsized influence and act as a force multiplier that further degrades the discourse from which they originally sprang, with the potential to cause real-world violence. (If you doubt this, just look at the anti-immigrant riots that recently broke out in the UK
was touting his intention to build a \u201Cdigital public square\u201D in order to improve the health of political discourse
it can only fuel widespread despair about the country\u2019s ability to have a sensible conversation about
If this is America\u2019s champion of free speech and architect of the new \u201Cpublic square,\u201D then God help it
there\u2019s clearly an alignment of interest here if
it would be wrong to conclude that it\u2019s all about the money for Musk; he also gives every sign of having become a true convert to the Trump cause
Many tech moguls have drifted away from the liberal end of the political spectrum in recent years as politicians and the media adopted an increasingly hostile attitude towards Silicon Valley\u2014from calls to ban misinformation to attempts to curtail artificial intelligence
and now being maligned\u2014often unfairly
but sometimes not\u2014as a threat to democracy
Musk wouldn\u2019t be the first public figure to overcorrect and descend down a reactionary rabbit-hole
Ideologically, Musk may be the archetypical example of where the activist right currently is. Influential people in this space (think the Peter Thiels or Curtis Yarvins) share many of the same characteristics: they are often interested in technology and progress
and hate the constellation of ideas and opinions variously described as \u201Cwoke.\u201D As in
All that matters to them is defeating \u201Cwoke\u201D forever
They don\u2019t consider their political opponents to be merely
It\u2019s the kind of neurotic systems-thinking\u2014a quintessential victim mentality
casting yourself as the plucky resistance in the face of overwhelming tyranny\u2014familiar from the most outrageous elements of
does every conspiracy theory\u2014of a \u201Cgreat replacement\u201D of America\u2019s white population
of the Democrats\u2019 plans for totalitarian one-party rule\u2014need to be literally true
But politics isn\u2019t only about \u201Cfacts.\u201D It\u2019s about signaling
boring: everyone\u2019s already made up their minds whether to support his latest conspiratorial crusade
we will surely look back at the whole sorry misadventure of online right-wing culture in the 2020s and wonder how and why people at the very top of society\u2014some of America\u2019s richest
and most accomplished individuals\u2014transformed themselves into vituperative culture warriors flooding our feeds with content fundamentally divorced from reality
Follow Persuasion on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube to keep up with our latest articles
as well as updates from excellent writers across our network
to receive pieces like this in your inbox and support our work
Residential aged care home Calvary Hallam will cease operations by October of this year as the home assesses the future use of the site to deliver modern connected care across its services
considered modernising the existing building design but determined such work was not practical for staff or residents
who would have to relocate throughout the process
Calvary Regional Victoria chief Angela Littleford said maintenance work for immediate issues happened
but the infrastructure style could not support "contemporary aged care services into the future without a major renovation"
but we believe the closure offers better long-term outcomes for our residents and a stable work environment for staff compared with any temporary relocation," Ms Littleford said
Calvary will support the transition of all 39 residents to other Calvary homes with better amenities
Staff will be offered redeployment opportunities across Calvary's homes if suitable
Calvary also provided dedicated pastoral care support to all their residents and staff until the shutdown
Aged Care Insite asked about the future of the Hallam site
a spokesperson said they could not comment due to undertaking a full options assessment for future use
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The Holy Blues have landed Jordan Hallam on an initial month's loan from Pitching In Northern Premier League rivals
the 26 year old attacker has scored 13 times in 23 starts and will boost the attacking options at boss
Gainsborough are set to play eight games in 29 days
starting with the trip to Warrington Rylands on Saturday
Hallam began his career in the Sheffield United youth system
before a permanent move to Scunthorpe United
"Jordi is a player I know well from my Scunthorpe days
He will add further quality and competition to the group
It’s important to strengthen with eight games coming up in March
And a warm welcome to Gainsborough Jordi."
the now 26 year old attacking midfielder had loan spells with Southport
Chesterfield and Norwegian side Viking before joining Scunthorpe
he overcame a long term injury before having a short spell with Ilkeston Town (on loan)
Hallam has made over 50 appearances for the Nottingham based Ambers
but jumped at the opportunity to link up with his former coach
"I’ve known Russ for a while now and worked with him previously at Scunthorpe
With that in mind and the success the club has had this year I jumped at the opportunity to sign for the club
I’m delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started!"
Let's see what you're all about in Gainsborough Trinity colours
Subject to the usual League and FA ratification
Jordan will be available for Saturday's trip to Warrington Rylands
A renowned Tasmanian angler accused of filming his female partner while pleasuring her with a live fish will fight allegations of producing and possessing bestiality material
Ashley David Hallam’s alleged camerawork made global headlines last year after the vision found its way onto social media and quickly went viral under the tag ‘Aussie Trout Lady’
An international outcry led to both Hallam and his partner, Catherine June Lee, being charged with a string of bestiality offences over the vulgar video.
Police allege the footage shows Lee lying on her back on a boat while Hallam performs a sex act on her with a live brown trout
‘That’s how you catch a trout,’ a man’s voice can be heard saying in the clip
The embarrassing scandal created by the disturbing video – and ensuing criminal charges – appears to have taken a strain on the couple’s relationship
Hallam turned up alone at Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday to face two counts of making or reproducing a bestiality product and three counts of possessing a bestiality product between February 2022 and January 25
The prize-winning angler, who was once a regular feature in Tasmania’s fishing columns and blogs
sat quietly by himself in the state’s judicial building before entering courtroom number five a little after 10am
He did not react as the court first dialled in his co-accused
after Magistrate Marcia Duvnjak agreed to allow her to appear via telephone
this is Catherine,’ the 58-year-old said brightly when taking the call before changing to a more sombre tone after being asked to confirm her identity for the court
Lee was expected to enter a plea on two counts of making or reproducing a bestiality product and another of possessing it
but instead requested a further adjournment
dressed in a navy blazer and cream trousers
was called to appear before Magistrate Duvnjak and stood as his solicitor entered pleas of not guilty to one count of possessing bestiality and another of possessing it
The prosecutions dropped remaining charges against him as they were 'duplicates'
and also withdrew the second count of making or reproducing bestiality against Lee for the same reason
The couple’s matters were set down separately for further mentions on January 15
when the magistrate indicated a date would be set for Hallam's trial
The 55-year-old declined to discuss his fight to clear his name with Daily Mail Australia while leaving court
Hallam then walked around the block from the courthouse and waited patiently in a nearby churchyard before his sister
prominent Tasmanian real estate agent Anastasia Hallam
the property portfolio manager went and stocked up on supplies – including a box of wine from a BWS bottleshop – while her brother remained inside the car
They then drove to a fishing friend’s suburban home in Herdsman Cove
about 20km north of the Tasmanian capital's CBD
where Hallam changed out of his courtroom threads and eased into a black t-shirt and jeans in the front yard
the siblings soon hit the road again for the long drive back to Hallam’s home on the far side of the island state
Many of Hallam and Lee’s friends have distanced themselves in the wake of the bestiality accusations
with Daily Mail Australia previously revealing they have both been widely shunned within Tasmania's strong fishing community
had been horrified to learn of the allegations in the months before his death
The Tuna Club of Tasmania had paid tribute to the family's distinguished connection to the associate ahead of a memorial service for Hallam’s late father on January 18
the Tuna Club of Tasmania extends our condolences to the family of David Hallam,' the club said in an announcement on its official Facebook page before the ceremony
'David was a past President and extremely active competitor with the [Tuna Club of Tasmania] over many years
'During this time he passionately participated in club competition with his family Rebecca and Ashley
'The Hallam family's record of success is a stand out in our club's deep history.'
the 'family-orientated club' vehemently denied any ongoing connection with the accused angler or his partner
'Ashley Hallam and Catherine Lee have absolutely no involvement in the club and are not members,' a Tuna Club of Tasmania spokesman told Daily Mail Australia
'And they haven't had any involvement with the club for at least the past three decades.'
The public spurning comes after Lee's former vet clinic employer also took steps to distance itself from the alleged fish molesters after the sick vision first went viral last January
pets and supporters of Kingston Animal Hospital,' the clinic's owner
'It has come to my recent attention that an ex-employee of the hospital has recently been the subject of attention by [allegedly] appearing in a video that has been widely circulated on social media
'Please understand that this person is no longer a paid employee
has not worked at Kingston Animal Hospital for over 5 years
and over 10 years ago as a full-time employee
'I would like to apologise for the distress this matter may have caused you.'
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Sheffield Hallam has finally won something
The Tab asked readers to vote for the ugliest UK universities in 2024
and the results placed Sheffield Hallam in first place
Hallam secured a whopping 20.3 per cent of the votes
renowned for its diverse range of courses and training opportunities
has its campus scattered across Sheffield’s city centre
the university is recognised for its strong ties to industry and high graduate employability rates
Hallam has become known for its divisive campus buildings
Its modern architectural style has sparked controversial opinions
and its title as the ‘ugliest university’ in the UK has been a long time coming
let’s start pointing fingers at why Sheffield Hallam has come first in the vote for the UK’s ugliest university 2024
When it comes to blaming the buildings on Sheffield Hallam’s campus
it looks more like a Hunger Games map than a vibrant student hub
Freshers may be thinking they’ll be “volunteered as tribute” rather than wondering which societies to join next year
The building’s unusual shape and exterior make it stand out
As a place that should celebrate student life
it instead projects a place where vibrancy dies
The Owen Building is the kind of structure that might make you wonder if the architects were having an off day
but it’s also about as exciting as a plain rice cake
Its design has earned it the “ugliest” title
it’s uninspiring structure could be use a Homes Under the Hammer makeover and its concrete common grounds makes the idea of sitting under the sun unappealing
it sure gives reasons behind Hallam’s new earned reputation
While much of the focus is on Hallam, we mustn’t forget its fellow Sheffield university, the University of Sheffield, which also made it to the top 10 ugliest universities
It’s hard not to notice this building when driving past Sheffield
it was the largest-ever capital investment in teaching and learning undertaken by the university when it was built in 2015
the Faculty of Engineering is more infamous for its white Rubik’s cube-like structure and its winding staircases
which is certainly not ideal when hungover
The futuristic approach has not received the greatest feedback
and will intimidate even the most committed students from late night study trips here
we must not overlook Sheffield Hallam’s beauty
Nestled in the heart of the city and bordering the scenic Peak District
its surroundings offer breathtaking views and green spaces for relaxation
This picture perfect environment creates an inspiring atmosphere for both study and community life
and constantly draws the next generation of students to claim as their new home
students do not like the anything concrete
Win £20 to spend at some of the UK's biggest retailers
As Sinners continues to rise in popularity
One of the men has a net worth of $1 billion
‘I can tell the CGI was so rushed’
Attackers were reportedly armed with ‘improvised explosives’ to target LGBTQ+ people