PRINCE William is finally set to announce his engagement

PRINCE William is finally set to announce his engagement to girlfriend Kate Middleton, reports say.

A high placed royal source has reportedly revealed two days in June – the 3rd and 4th – have been mysteriously blocked out on palace diaries.
“They suggest this is a likely date for the engagement announcement at last,” Princess Diana biographer Tina Brown reports on website the Daily Beast. The claim follows a weekend report that the Queen has placed a bulk order for champagne, fuelling speculation William has popped the question. An unexplained order had been made for 300 bottles of vintage Dom Perignon worth almost $50,000, the News of the World reported. “This usually only happens ahead of special occasions like weddings and family announcements. It suggests something big is coming up,” a source told the paper.

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Will Hodgman has emerged all smiles from a meeting with the Governor

Mr Hodgman said he would be making comment “as soon as he is able.” His meeting with Governor Peter Underwood lasted 20 minutes.

It is understood he provided the Governor with a written letter outlining why he believed his party could deliver stable government. Caretaker Premier David Bartlett earlier emerged from a brief meeting with Mr Underwood and said he had given the Governor written advice in keeping with his promise to the Tasmanian people to hand government to the Liberal Party in the event it won a greater proportion of the statewide vote.

Governor Underwood called Mr Hodgman to a meeting at 2.45pm.  Mr Bartlett this morning hinted the state will have a new Premier by the end of the day. Mr Bartlett spoke at the declaration of the poll ceremony for Denison.  He started by paying tribute to retired Liberal rival Michael Hodgman as “an undisputed gentleman who will be missed by the electorate”.  Mr Bartlett indicated that the veteran Liberal would soon get his wish to see his son Will as premier of Tasmania. “As certain as one can be, at the end of the day there will be something for you to celebrate,” Mr Bartlett said.  However, no new leader can be announced until after the election writs have been handed to the Governor  – expected sometime this afternoon, possibly as soon as 2pm. Greens MP Cassy O’Connor implored her colleagues to co-operate constructively in the new parliament, in which no one party has a majority.

Newly elected Tasmanian Greens MHA Paul O’Halloran extended a co-operative hand to his Liberal counterparts at the declaration of the pools in Braddon.   Mr O’Halloran said he and Liberal Jeremy Rockliff agreed on most political fronts. “On almost all things we agree and I look forward to working with him,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Mr Rockliff said he would push for Braddon to receive services which reflected the wealth it created for the State during his next term.

He congratulated Labor MHA Bryan Green for capturing the confidence of the electorate after a tough term, which included a demotion from Deputy Premier to backbencher.  Mr Green said his re-election meant a lot on a personal level.

High-profile candidate and newly elected member Adam Brooks said he was Liberal’s new kid on the block and he would take on whatever role Will Hodgman gave him with gusto.

Returned Labor MHA Brenton Best did not attend the declaration of the polls ceremony.

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Record shows increase in vehicle sales

Australians are buying four-wheel-drive vehicles at near pre-crisis levels, leading a record 25 per cent jump in total vehicle sales in the year to March, industry figures show. Data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows 94,744 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in March, up 19,094 vehicles, or 25.2 per cent, on the corresponding month in 2009. It beat by 352 vehicles the prior record set in 2007. “This is an outstanding March result and provides further evidence that the marketplace is returning to pre-global financial crisis levels,” FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar said. SUV sales surged in March, increasing by 44.1 per cent, followed by passenger cars, up 23.5 per cent, heavy commercial vehicles, up 20.2 per cent, and light commercial vehicles were up 12 per cent. For the year to March, 251,827 vehicles were sold, an increase of 38,857 vehicles, or 18.2 per cent, compared to the first three months of 2009. The survey also showed sales to car rental companies increased 331.5 per cent during March, in line with increased tourism and business activity. Toyota retained the top selling position in March, increasing its market share to 21.4 per cent, followed by Holden with 12.4 per cent and Ford with 8.5 per cent. Mr McKellar said business sales showed some signs of easing following the phase out of targeted tax breaks.

“But it is pleasing to see renewed growth from private buyers,” he said. “With warnings of further interest rate rises, private buyers should move to take advantage of the current rate levels”.

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christmas miracle

Sophie Hart’s story of love and courage a Christmas joy

BY CLAIRE VAN RYN

20 Dec, 2009 09:23 AM

A RED-FACED Sophie Hart puffs into a red tin whistle.

“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,” she trills through the instrument that Santa gave her last week. Mum Lisa Hart looks on, laughing and clapping along, her dark eyes filled with pride. This year brings a happy Christmas to the Hart family, in contrast to the horror of the last. A year ago this week, the Harts were wracked with the news that Sophie had a life-threatening brain tumour.It needed immediate surgery costing $55,000 – money they didn’t have. In a last-ditch attempt to raise the funds for the operation that would be performed by renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, Ms Hart and the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust appealed to the public.  They had four days left.  At this point, there was a very real possibility that Sophie would be robbed of the breath to blow into a red tin whistle during the Christmas season.  But the Northern Tasmanian community rallied in support and more than $130,000 was raised within three days.  “What does a mother say to anyone who helped save her daughter’s life?” Ms Hart said.  “Thank you seems to be such an insignificant word.”  Following her down the hall of their Launceston home – the family moved from Evandale post-surgery for better access to medical support – her joy is palpable.  Christmas holds so much more meaning this year.  “I’m sure that Sophie’s story is to remind us all to believe in the power of love, determination, courage and hope,” she says with conviction. “Sophie is proof that miracles do happen.  “She has defied the odds not only to survive the surgery without any lasting affects to her memory or intellect, but has also shown unbelievable progress during her recovery continuing to this day.” The five-year-old flits across the room, turning pirouettes to “Santa Baby” in her new princess dress.  Stopping at our feet, she earnestly tells of how she met the “real” Santa in Myer last week, how she and her big brother Alister, 10, sat on his knee and how she gave him a “kiss and a huggle”. “Grandpa has Santa’s direct telephone line and he tells if I’ve been naughty or nice,” she says.  If her report card still says “nice” come December 25, Sophie is hoping she unwraps Lego and a Barbie PlayStation.  Sophie is attending kindergarten three days a week at the Launceston Preparatory School. She has a group of friends who love to play with puzzles and jigsaws, “play shop”, dance and listen to music together. The Christmas scene here is not dissimi- lar to the last; the tree is dressed, the gifts are stacked beneath, the carols are blaring from the sound system.  The difference is that Sophie has the assurance of a future – one she is all too aware of. “I want to be a paediatrician and fix babies when they’re sick,” she said – the same dream she sprouted shortly after her surgery.  And she wants to get married.  Northern Tasmania’s little princess – as she was dubbed during The Examiner’s appeal – is growing up fast. Patch the plush toy monkey that ac- companied her into the Prince of Wales Private Hospital’s operating theatre in Sydney on December 27 last year is no longer an extension of her arm, although pink and purple are still her all-time favourite colours.  On Tuesday, this princess was itching to unwrap her presents.  Looking at mum out the corner of her eye, she told us she would be up with the birds at 5am on Christmas  Morning.  “Nooo,” Ms Hart groans.  And Sophie flashes that cheeky smile.

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