Australia invasion of the French

Frenchmen Fabian Barau (left), Antoine Kunth and Nathalie Gasdoue in Paris, all plan to leave France to seek their fortune overseas. Picture: Alistair Miller Source: News Limited

EIGHT years ago, it was just an online message board for people in France wanting to swap photos and stories on adventures in Australia.

But at an Australian-themed pub in the heart of Paris, they are now queuing up out the door, literally, for help to migrate to Australia in what last year saw a bigger rise in the number of French nationals going Down Under than those from the UK.

And part of the exodus is to escape France's dire economic woes which one French government minister described this week as a ''bankrupt state''.

''Yes of course we are overwhelmed by the response because it started just with a place for messages on a website but now you can see a lot of French people want to go to Australia, G'Day Sunday organiser Cedric Barusseau said yesterday from the Australian themed Oz Cafe on the busy Rue Saint-Denis.

The latest Department of Immigration figures show 20,086 Working Holiday Maker Visas were granted in the last year, a rise of 8.4 per cent compared with rises to Australia for people from the UK of 7 per cent and 6.4 per cent for Germans.

The latter two nations accounted for more in real numbers but the rise of the French as a percentage was greater.

The rise in working visa for the French is also 50 per cent higher than just five years ago; in the last year the number of French coming to stay is also twice as many as Italians (9600 people) and all the Scandinavian countries put together including Sweden (4772), Denmark (1484) Finland (1181) and Norway (617).

Mr Barusseau said he now holds meeting four times a year and attracts between 400 and 500 people wanting to know about jobs, accommodation and Australians generally.

The meetings are held at an unrelated Aussie bar to give them that first taste from the Aussie bar staff.

Mr Barusseau said he had also now partnered with Etihad airlines and other firms to package the migration process.

Frenchmen Fabian Barau (left), Antoine Kunth and woman Nathalie Gasdoue in Paris. Picture: Alistair Miller

When asked where they were all heading, Mr Barusseau was clear: ''Sydney of course, it'salways Sydney, the Opera House and these things. At the beginning they just want to get to Australia and all they know is Sydney and kangaroos and Uluru and that's all. After, when they take more information, they discover other parts of the country. They go to Sydney first then move about the country to other cities.''

He said despite huge costs of living in Australia and the cost of the visas and economic hardship in France, young people particularly were still willing to travel.

''There is still a lot of different people, but mostly those aged early 20s, perhaps just finished university or taking a break of one year between degree years and a lot of people who simply can't find jobs in France and they think it easier in Australia so want to try.''

University Student Stefany Tapia doesn't know her final destination yet but her and boyfriend Marcial Gras just want to arrive in Sydney and start from there.

Like Elsa Ryan and Virgile Craplet (Craplet), they poured over maps of Australia to see where they could travel and work.

Her visa is for one year but there is an option to extend.

''We just want to go there and see,'' she said.

France's Employment Minister Michael Sapin caused controversy on Wednesday after he described France as bankrupt.

''There is a state but it is a totally bankrupt state that is why we had to put a deficit reduction plan in place and nothing should make us turn away from that objective,'' he said.

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Runaway feared drowned at Berri

CFS and police searching the river near scene of the incident. Picture: The Murray Pioneer Source: adelaidenow

POLICE fear a man who stole a handbag has drowned after he jumped into the River Murray to avoid capture by police in Berri this afternoon.

As officers were quizzing him about the theft of the handbag from the nearby Riverland Farmer's Market just after 3pm, the desperate thief launched himself into the river and attempted to swim across it

Officers called out for him to return but he refused.

Two officers jumped into the river when the man was seen to be struggling.

He then disappeared from view.

A search by the officers was unsuccessful.

Police and emergency services scoured the river and banks for several hours without success.

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I've learnt my lesson: Victorian MP

MP Kelvin Thomson was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary for Trade. Source: Herald Sun

VICTORIAN MP Kelvin Thomson is on the rise again, almost six years after quitting Labor's frontbench over a reference he wrote for drug kingpin Tony Mokbel.

PM Julia Gillard promoted Mr Thomson to Parliamentary Secretary for Trade.

In 2007, Mr Thomson quit as shadow attorney-general after it was revealed that in 2000 he had supported a liquor licence application made by Mokbel.

When he stood down, Mr Thomson said he had not met Mokbel before writing the reference and was unaware of the gangster's criminal record in 2000.

Mr Thomson said he had learnt his lesson.

"I made a mistake and I am a lot older and wiser now," he said.

The hard-working MP, who has played an active role in the policy debate over live animal exports and other trade matters, said he was "very appreciative" of the job given to him by the PM.

"Trade has long been important to Australia's prosperity. I am very honoured to have the opportunity to serve the people of Australia in this role."

The 57-year-old said the areas of manufacturing and Australian exports would feature heavily in his new role.

He has previously served as a member of a federal parliamentary committee handling foreign affairs and trade inquiries.

Labor sources said Mr Thomson was in line for promotion last year, after the reshuffle caused by the arrival of Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr, but that never eventuated.

It is understood the MP, whose electorate takes in suburbs including Coburg and Brunswick, was contacted by the PM yesterday morning about the trade position, shortly before she made the announcement.

He called for mandatory stunning of animals before slaughter, after horrific footage of animal cruelty was aired.

The outspoken MP also said there were "serious questions" to be answered about the trade of live animals.

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Freebies galore for Aussie travellers

Hotel Urban in St Kilda, Victoria, is offering unlimited hot chocolate throughout your stay. Source: Supplied

HOTELS and resorts are offering everything from free massages to unlimited hot chocolate and cooking classes as competition for Australian travellers intensifies.

With Australians heading overseas in record numbers off the back of the strong dollar and the phenomenal growth of cruising holidays, accommodation providers are being forced to become more creative to attract bookings.

Bonus nights, free wedding ceremonies, airport transfers and Wi-Fi were also being thrown in.

''There's a lot of great deals around at the moment so they're trying to find a way to differentiate themselves without taking more off the price,'' Flight Centre executive general manager marketing Colin Bowman said.

''We're seeing a lot of operators trying to attract the attention of customers with these little bonuses.''

The five-star SALA Phuket Resort and Spa in Thailand is offering free wedding ceremonies to guests who book 40 or more room nights - the equivalent of 10 couples staying four nights

Preskil Beach Resort in Mauritius is giving a free bonus night and a cooking class, while W Retreat and Spa Seminyak has a package with an extra night's accommodation free, daily breakfast, a one-hour massage and return airport transfers in Bali.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Jayson Westbury said operators were becoming more aggressive.

''Australia has become such a known global travelling market that anything they can add on and wherever they can add it they will,'' he said.

''Big resorts are competing with the cruise industry, which tends to be all-inclusive.

''A room is a room so in order to provide incentive to go to a particular hotel or resort they provide extra inclusions, which will often close the deal.

''It's all good news for consumers.''

Lastminute.com.au spokeswoman Kirsty Harrison said hotels were being more creative.

''There's always been inclusions but it's getting a bit more competitive,'' she said.

''It's more than just throwing in breakfast - hotels are being quite creative and catering to niche interests.

''The Hotel Urban in St Kilda has a chocolate package which includes unlimited hot chocolates, welcome chocolates on arrival and two chocolate martinis.''

Ms Harrison said last year's Lastminute.com.au Travel and Lifestyle survey found breakfast was the most popular inclusion, followed by late check-out, parking and free internet.

''People who travel a lot know to look out for them because they have probably had a holiday where they have overspent on breakfast,'' she said.

''They know if it's covered it's more spending money for their holiday.''

EXTRAS ON OFFER

*Free wedding ceremony in Thailand
The five-star SALA Phuket Resort and Spa is offering couples the chance to tie the knot for free when you make a group booking of 40 or more room nights - the equivalent of 10 couples staying four nights. Valid for bookings before April 30 at the luxury Mai Khao Beach resort. Room rates start from $188 per person twin share.
See flightcentre.com.au

*Cooking class in Mauritius
Stay six nights for the price of five and receive a free cooking class and discounted spa and half-price internet at the four-star Preskil Beach Resort in Mauritius. Must book by March 31 for travel between May 15 and September 30, 2013 and also includes return economy Air Mauritius flights, accommodation in a standard room, breakfast and dinner daily and return airport transfers in Mauritius. Prices start from $1837 per person twin share from Perth, from $2269 from Sydney and from $2301 from Melbourne.
See flightcentre.com.au

*Bali bonus offers
Book a six night stay in a garden view room at W Retreat and Spa Seminyak and receive an extra night's accommodation free, daily breakfast, a one-hour massage, welcome beverage and return airport transfers in Bali. Priced from $1366 and on sale until March 31 for stays between April 1 and July 12.
See flightcentre.com.au

*Chocolate extravaganza
Hotel Urban St Kilda in Victoria is offering unlimited hot chocolate throughout your stay, two chocolate martinis and welcome chocolates in your room when you book a stay from $194 per night.
See lastminute.com.au
(Prices are subject to change and availability at the time of booking)

*Valentine's bonus
Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa in Broome, Western Australia is offering buffet breakfast, degustation dinner, airport transfers and a L'Occitane Valentines gift. Prices start at $266 per night.
See lastminute.com.au
 

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New TV series a real drama for Gillard

Prime Minister Julia Gillard during the address in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: The Daily Telegraph

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is set to relive one of the most tumultuous episodes of her political career with a major television drama under way on the leadership knifing of Kevin Rudd.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that work has begun on the series, with author Bob Ellis commissioned to write an initial script.

The series, in pre-production at Sydney-based international media and content group Beyond, will map the events leading to the dramatic removal of Mr Rudd on June 24, 2010.

Award-winning television veteran Tony Tilse has agreed to direct the series with renowned producer Stuart Quin who worked on feature film The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert to oversee the project.

Tilse won an Australian Directors Guild Award for his work on the original 2008 television series Underbelly, which was a huge hit.

The proposed Rudd series' development comes as Labor prepares to fight one of its toughest political battles in recent years. Mr Quin confirmed agents were being approached to fill the cast.

He said the series would be about both the rise and fall of Mr Rudd.

"Everyone thinks they know what happened with the rise and fall of Rudd, but like a true iceberg, 90 per cent is invisible," Mr Quin said.

"I think we can promise some revelations in the sometimes hidden world of federal politics."

Mr Ellis has been a speechwriter for Foreign Minister Bob Carr, with whom he remains a close confidant, and writes a regular political blog called Table Talk. He has been scathing of Ms Gillard and rude about Mr Rudd.

He once chastised Ms Gillard for her "girly tears" over the death of her father, and using John Gillard's death to "take time off playing hooky from her national obligations" while he has described Mr Rudd as "friendless".

The series is the brainchild of Beyond executive producer Mark Hamlyn, whose company lists Nine, Seven and the ABC among its clients.

Beyond's productions include the popular MythBusters, which roadtests bizarre claims of urban legends and modern misconceptions.

It also produced The Years That Made Us, a three-part series presented by award-winning journalist Chris Masters that looked at his family's personal journey during the two decades between the world wars, and the real estate show Hot Property.

Mr Hamlyn was head of ABC Television's documentary unit and the executive producer of ABC 's Television Science unit, where he developed the popular science series Quantum.

Mr Hamlyn will be leaving Beyond later this month to take on a job at Screen NSW, but talks are under way for Beyond to pursue the series following his departure.

Mr Hamlyn confirmed Mr Ellis had been paid to "write scenes" and the outline.

"We think it's one of the national stories of our time, that has just refused to go away, no matter how much those in power wished it would," he said.

"It's not often that Australian politics creates the kind of heart-stopping drama that the downfall of Kevin Rudd created. The whole country came to a halt the day it did.

"You can't get better drama than that. You can't get a more compelling story and it tells us also a lot about the price of power. And it's a story that isn't over yet."

Mr Hamlyn said he hoped to have the knifing series air "within 12 months".

The Rudd drama is expected to be done in a similar vein to last year's successful Howzat! Kerry Packer's War series and will have an all-Australian cast. It is understood initial approaches have been made to prominent actors to play the lead roles although none have been finalised.

Among the ALP stalwarts to be portrayed in the series will be Treasurer Wayne Swan, Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor elder Senator John Faulkner.

Naturally the so-called "faceless men" who helped orchestrate the removal of Mr Rudd as prime minister - Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, Senator David Feeney, former senator and Labor powerbroker Mark Arbib and former ALP national secretary Karl Bitar - will feature.

Industry sources say the planned production has created "a buzz" given the upcoming federal election and the series is expected to be snapped up by a television network when finalised.

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More men going part-time to play dad

Part-time dad Guy Wilson and his daughter Skye, aged two, at Brighton Beach in SA Picture: Dylan Coker Source: News Limited

FAMILY comes first for a growing number of Australian dads as they put their kids ahead of work.

Experts believe changing attitudes towards the roles of men and improved support from workplaces have spurred the trend - with kids the big winners.

''Traditionally, the relationship of father and child has been strained because of long working hours,'' Diana Sayer, from Relationships Australia, said.

''But fathers now realise they don't need to be the sole breadwinner and want to be involved in nurturing the family''

ABS figures reveal a 45 per cent jump in dads with young children (under 15) employed part-time over the past ten years.

Even though far greater in number, those working full-time increased by only 15 per cent.

Tass Mousaferiadis, from BeyondBlue's Men's Program, said better employment policies catering to the needs of families had been a critical factor.

''Men are now requesting and demanding flexibility to participate in their children's lives,'' he said.

''Employers are doing better to be supportive of families. Healthy and happy employees means better productivity in the workplace.''

Guy Wilson has no regrets about reducing his workload to spend more time with two-year-old daughter Skye.

But the dad and painter, from Happy Valley in South Australia, believes there is still a stigma about the roles and responsibilities of men.

''I get some men asking me if I am spending my day out having coffee,'' he said.

''Some are jealous because they would like the opportunity to do it themselves. But some have an old-school mentality that the role of men is to earn the money. It's not 1962.''

Castle Hill dad, Adam Webb, is proud of his role in the lives of sons Charlie, 5, and Oliver, 3.

But a dramatic change in personal priorities and a family-friendly workplace were needed before the NSW man could put family above work.

''When Adam was working long hours, our relationship suffered,'' his wife, Penny, said.

And he missed out on some important milestones in Charlie's first 10 months of life.

Rather than missing out on more, Mr Webb negotiated working conditions that would allow him to spend one day a week at home with Charlie.

Daylesford dad Nick Wong said kids Sophia, 3, and Tom, three months, are his number one priority, above his business as an arborist.

''My daughter and I have a great bond, which I also hope to have with Tom,'' the Victorian dad said.

The arrangement has allowed his partner to return to work as a counsellor, as well as get sleep if Tom has been demanding.

And it has meant that Mr Wong has been there for the important milestones in the lives of his children.

''If I was working long hours, I would have missed out on first words, steps and the joy of hanging out with my baby.''

Mums, too, are benefiting from the shifting attitudes which has seen a 105 per cent increase in workforce participation of women since 2002.

''Men and women both now have a shared responsibility for raising their family and earning an income,'' Ms Sayer said.

And she has seen relationships between couples and their children improving because both mums and dads are less stressed.

''Kids benefit from having either parent home. It provides them with more stability,'' she explained.

''While kids may want the latest toys and technology, they really do value quality time with parents and their family. These are the lasting memories that matter.''

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Five hours clinging to tree

Rescued: Lucy Connolly, 29, was swept away by floodwaters at Eidsvold and clung to a Polonia tree overnight until her neighbour Rodney Hartwig rescued her in raging floodwaters. Picture: Megan Slade Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Good neighbour: Lucy Connolly's rescuer Rodney Hartwig. Picture: Megan Slade. Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

AN EIDSVOLD woman has told how she spent five hours clinging to a tree as flood waters surged past her, to be saved only when an emergency beacon became wedged in branches nearby.

Lucy Connolly, 29, told The Sunday Mail she shared the tree with a snake, watching as other animals washed past her.

``There were animals, cows and cars floating past me,'' Ms Connolly said.

``I just felt a feeling of calm, I did a lot of praying  I thought about all the things I still wanted to do,'' she said.

The council worker said the only warning she had of the impending disaster was when she heard her toilet gurgling about 12.30am last Saturday.

Ms Connolly called her parents for help and they phoned her neighbour.

She fled the house but was swept over the property fence, across the road and hurtled into a neighbour's polonia tree plantation.

Many of the trees were flattened. ``I finally got one and I just clung to it,'' she said.

Neighbour Rodney Hartwig, 63, said he searched for Ms Connolly on a tractor but the water was too high.

Mr Hartwig loaded his boat and waited with son Graham until about 5am.

When they got to Ms Connolly's house, it was completely submerged. ``I said to my son `She's gone','' Mr Hartwig said.

They then saw a flashing light  an emergency beacon that had washed up from the John Goleby Weir 3km away   and headed towards it and screams for help.

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Turner's 100 works Down Under

Curator Ian Warrell pictured at the Tate Britain in the Turner wing of the gallery with the iconic painting 'Snow Storm'. Picture: Britta Campion Source: News Limited

THEY'RE not quite on Airforce One but a collection of British paintings are en route to Australia on a journey equivalent in secrecy to that of a visit by a US president.

The Tate Britain gallery has now shipped up to 100 paintings and sketches of the renowned British artist Joseph Mallord William Turner in a huge operation, shrouded in secrecy and security.

Like the US president and his vice president and senior Congress members, the paintings could not travel together for fear of international theft, hijack or a plane crash which would rob the world of the invaluable pre-impressionist collection.

So instead they have been flown in batches to Australia under security escort to be hung firstly at the Art Gallery of South Australia before a major exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

J.M.W. Turner, Rome, from the Vatican. Raffaelle, Accompanied by La Fornarina, Preparing his Pictures for the Decoration of the Loggia, exhibited 1820. Photo: (c) Tate, 2013.

The operation has been more than two years in the making.

Many of the sketch books and the paintings produced from them have never left Britain or indeed travelled to Australia.

''This is one of the greatest Turner collections on the planet and he is probably regarded as Britain greatest artists, one of the world great landscape artists,'' Australian High Commissioner to the UK Mike Rann said yesterday.

A painting engraved by W. Holl, A portrait of artistJoseph Mallord William Turner, published 1859-61. Photo: (c) Tate, 2013.

''For years people have talked about 'wouldn't it be great if we had a blockbuster Turner exhibition from the Tate' so it's been two-and-a-half years in the making. I think it is going to be terrific for Canberra because it is the centenary of Canberra and I think it is going to terrific because it coincides with Adelaide's first ever annual festival of the arts.''

The High Commissioner met with Tate Director Sir Nicholas Serota to discuss the finer points of the collection and their nine-month visit to Australia with their first public outing on February 8.

According to Tate's eminent Turner scholar Ian Warrell, Turner (1775-1851) was Tate's most sought after masters in the world for travel but it couldn't happen often because the expectation of the British public was to be able to see them at home.

J.M.W. Turner painting, Britain, 1775-1851, Scarborough town and castle: morning: boys catching crabs, c.1810, London, watercolour on paper, 68.5 x 101.5 cm

''They've never been lent to Australia before we don't tend to lend them because they are so valuable generally because of the information in them but also in terms of insurance costs they tend to be quite high,'' Warrell said.

Highlight of the show

One of the highlights of the Turner exhibition will be his work on a convict ship that sank off the coast of France, bound for Botany Bay in NSW.

J.M.W. Turner, Venice, Moonrise, exhibited 1840.

The work was not seen until after his death, found abandoned in his studio for reasons unknown.

After his death in 1851, the National Gallery in Britain gave the artwork the focal point of which depicts women and children clutching onto a raft after a shipwreck during a violent storm the generic title ''Fire at Sea'' but more than a century later art historians identified it as depicting the loss of the Amphitrite carrying 125 female and children convicts to NSW in September 1833.

The ship ran aground off the Port of Boulogne in the Channel en route to Sydney but rather than accept an offer of help from the French to evacuate the ship, its captain refused saying his cargo could only step off on Australian soil and he would wait until the tide returned to sail off.

J.M.W. Turner's painting Peace Burial at Sea, exhibited 1842. Photo: (c) Tate, 2013.

Instead a storm struck and 150 lives mostly women and children drowned.

Only three people made it ashore, one of whom later died.

The scandal made huge news in its day particularly with the drowning of the 12 young child prisoners and received wide coverage on mainland Europe where Turner was based at the time.

J.M.W. Turner's painting Regulus, 1828, reworked 1837. Photo: (c) Tate, 2013

It would have been impossible to escape the news.

A recommendation has now been made to the Tate that the artwork title, which became Disaster at Sea in recent decades, be changed to ''The Wrecked Female Convict Ship, the Amphitrite: Women and Children Abandoned in a Gale'', a long style often favoured by Turner to explain or supplement his images.

The Australian exhibition also brings together those Turner works that reside in Australia including the Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia; the latter gallery having the beautifully rich ''Scarborough town and castle: morning: boys catching crabs'' (c.1810).

J.M.W. Turner's Venice, the Bridge of Sighs painting, exhibited 1840.

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