Seven held over UK body-in-well

SEVEN people have been arrested by UK police on suspicion of murder after a body was found in a well.

Gardeners made the grim discovery at a private house on Friday afternoon.

The body is still in the well at the property in Audley Drive, Warlingham, Surrey, and the recovery operation is expected to take some time.

Scotland Yard has confirmed that seven men have been arrested.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said on Saturday: "It is a murder investigation. As far as I am concerned, when a body is found in a well it either fell in there or was placed in there, and the evidence is apparent that the body was placed in there."

Two gardeners found the body shortly before 2pm on Friday as they were doing clearing work at the large house, which stands on grounds in an affluent area.

Mr Lyons said: "The body presents a number of logistical challenges. The well is two feet (60cm) in diameter, it is seven feet deep to the water line, and the water is approximately four feet deep.

"We need a police marine diving team, with breathing apparatus, and we need to recover the body intact to preserve forensic evidence. The process of recovery is likely to take some time."

He declined to speculate on how long this might be, but it was not going to be quick.

"It is not possible to ascertain with accuracy the gender of the body but, judging by the size, it is most likely to be an adult, not a child. The person is white."

He told reporters at the scene: "It's not been there for an extended period of time, it will be a matter of weeks at the most."

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Sydney bikie associate charged over arms

A Hells Angels associate has been charged with weapons offences after a raid in southwestern Sydney. Source: AAP

A HELLS Angels associate has been charged after police seized a stun gun, ammunition and steroids from a house at southwestern Sydney.

The items were seized by police from Strike Force Raptor as they undertook a raid at a house in Ambarvale.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man at the house and he was charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing an androgenic steroidal agent, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing ammunition.

He was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

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Two-time shark victim feels he was spared

An abalone diver who survived two separate shark attacks nine years apart feels God saved his life. Source: AAP

THE abalone diver who incredibly survived a second shark attack has revealed he did not see the great white that tried to bite his head off - but instead recognised the sound of teeth on bone.

Greg Pickering, 55, was diving for abalone off a remote part of Western Australia's southern coast last month when he was attacked by a suspected great white shark.

It was the second time Mr Pickering had lived through a shark attack, after being bitten by a 1.5 metre bronze whaler while in waters near Cervantes, north of Perth, in 2004 as he was trying to help a friend.

Speaking about his ordeal for the first time, Mr Pickering told the Seven Network's Sunday Night program about the circumstances of the attack, which left him needing 10 hours of surgery on facial and other wounds.

"I heard the sound, the thrashing sound, of teeth on bone - and I remembered the sound from the last time I was bitten," Mr Pickering said.

"I thought 'that is probably a shark', but I didn't see it - I heard the attack."

The show claims Mr Pickering is now the only man in the world to be attacked by sharks in separate incidents and live to tell the tale.

And the interview will also detail how Mr Pickering used his 40-year diving experience to hold his breath and rise to the surface slowly after the attack, despite the water turning red around him from the blood pouring from his horrific injuries.

A roll of duct tape and a towel was then used to hold Mr Pickering's shredded face together, as his eight-hour journey to hospital began.

Mr Pickering told reporter Mark Ferguson how he felt he had been spared his life.

"It (the shark) suddenly stopped and let me go - so I have definitely been given another chance," Mr Pickering said.

"I do believe I have been given a second chance. God has given me a second chance there is no doubt about that."

Soon after the attack, Mr Pickering's family expressed their thanks to paramedics, surgeons, doctors and nurses who helped save his life, while Fisheries Department director-general Stuart Smith slapped a kill order on the shark.

But the order was then called off because the shark was not sighted again and was no longer considered a threat to school-holiday campers in the area.

Mr Pickering returned to the area where he was attacked, Poison Creek at Cape Arid National Park, about 180km east of Esperance, to tell his story.

*The interview with Mr Pickering will air on the Seven Network's Sunday Night at 6.30pm AEDT on Sunday November 17

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Story Bridge southbound reopened

THE Story Bridge has been reopened after an earlier police incident.

Motorists have been urged to drive through the area with care.

Motorists were advised that a police incident closed the southbound lanes of the Story Bridge about 7.35pm.

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Severe storms can't dampen Schoolies

Steve Ots catches massive hailstones falling in the water of the Sunshine Coast.

ANOTHER day, another storm in the southeast. Follow all the weather action here.

10.45pm: RAIN has failed to dampen spirits on the opening night of Schoolies.

While severe thunderstorms delayed the party for about an hour, stages set on the stretch of sand at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast have been reopened.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

Schoolies organiser Mark Weyburn said the party was closed off to young revellers amid concerns of wet weather affecting electrical equipment.

"We didn't open the gates until an hour or so later than we had hoped but it didn't stop the teens from partying," Mr Weyburn said.

"The rain just amped up the crowds even more so that when the storm passed they all flooded into the party in good spirits."

Mr Weyburn said Schoolies had been well behaved this year with very few incidents.

Head Red Frog Andy Gourley said this year's crop of graduates have been well behaved so far.

Schoolies celebrate the rain

"Moving them out of the hotel rooms has been fantastic and everyone seems to be getting right into it," he said.

"The next couple of hours will get busy as we start our 'walk home' service.

"Last year we did about 6000 walk homes and some volunteers have already taken some Schoolies back to Broadbeach. Red Frogs are going to clock up the kilometres tonight."

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms
 

7.15pm: ACCESS to the schoolies beach party has been closed temporarily while emergency services evaluate the storm threat.

Thousands of schoolies are assembling on the streets around Cavill Mall.

Gold Coast Schoolies spokesman Wayne Hickson said emergency services are keeping an eye on a developing storm front but organiser have no plans to close off the beach party at this stage.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

"It would have to be cyclonic weather to stop these guys from partying," Mr Hickson said.

"At the moment the worst of the storm looks like it will go around us but we have plenty of systems in place in case we need to evacuate the beach quickly."

Messages broadcast on large television screens, SMS warnings and audio warnings are on hand to alert schoolies if required.

If the party is shut off, Red Frogs volunteers will do the rounds at hotel room parties to keep the estimated 30,0000 school leavers entertained and out of trouble.

Mr Hickson said schoolies week is off to a slow start but is sure to pick up as the night wears on.

Weather photo Saturday night at the Story Bridge with lightning clouds. Picture: Adam Armstrong

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms
 

6.50pm: THE Bruce Highway has been reopened at two sections following separate incidents earlier this evening.

Motorists can now use one lane of the highway after a minor car crash 40km north of Gin Gin.

Emergency services are still removing the damaged vehicle from the road.

The highway is also open near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, after a tree-related incident about 3pm.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

Water spout forming over Moreton Bay at approximately 6.30am Saturday morning. Picture: Juliet Bates

6.30pm: THUNDERSTORMS may rain on the parade of school leavers with another round of severe weather warnings issued for southeast Queensland.

The weather bureau has warned residents near the NSW border to expect storms near the McPherson Range by 6.25pm and Springbrook and Little Nerang Dam by 6.55pm.

The storms are moving northeast and forecasters have advised locals near the Gold Coast to prepare to batten down the hatches.

Further north, similar warnings have been given to residents near Mackay, Prosperine, Moranbah, Collinsville, Hamilton Island and Sarina on the central Queensland coast.
 

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

3pm: DOUBLE Island Point, Rainbow Beach and Wide Bay are now being warned to brace for thunderstorms with the Bureau predicting impact at around 3.05pm.

At 2.35pm severe storms were detected near Beenleigh and Russell Island, they are forecast to affect Mount Cotton, Macleay Island and Victoria Point by 3.05pm.

A 'very dangerous' thunderstorm on the Sunshine Coast brings hailstones the size of tennis balls.

Police are advising motorists that the Bruce Highway is closed near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, after trees fell onto the road.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

2.50pm: Steve Ots is visiting the Sunshine Coast from the Gold Coast and witnessed the hail storm from his twelfth storey apartment on the Maroochydore esplanade.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

"I started hearing really loud noises - like a construction site," he said. 

"When I looked in the distance I could see all this splashing up the river and I realised it was hail. 

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

Hail hits the water at Maroochydore and leaves huge splashes. Picture: Steve Ots

"Originally I thought someone was throwing things from the apartment above us.

"The hail was orange-sized and it looked like a war zone…it was crazy, I've never seen hail like it before."

Taking shelter on his balcony Mr Ots said the hail caused considerable damage on the ground below.

"I wonder about the damage that it must have done," he said, 

"You wouldn't want to be on the ground when these things were coming down…the speed was pretty phenomenal."

2.45pm: Double Island Point, Rainbow Beach and Wide Bay are now being warned to brace for thunderstorms with the Bureau predicting impact at around 3.05pm.

At 2.35pm severe storms were detected near Beenleigh and Russell Island, they are forecast to affect Mount Cotton, Macleay Island and Victoria Point by 3.05pm.

Police are advising motorists that the Bruce Highway is closed near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, after trees fell onto the road.

2.40pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has updated weather warnings with very dangerous thunder storms detected near Maroochydore and Beenleigh, both cells are moving east.

A resident of Mooloolah Valley holds up a massive hailstone from a storm that sounded like explosions on the roof.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Jacobs Well and Russell Island by 2:45 pm.

Thunderstorms were also located north of Noosa and at Lake Cooloola.

2pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has added to the list of southeast Queensland towns warned to brace for oncoming storms.

Dangerous storm cells have been detected on radars near Jimboomba, Logan Village, Greenbank and Conondale.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Beenleigh, Logan City, Nambour and Mapleton by 2:20 pm.

Cleveland, Manly, Wynnum and Yandina may be affected by 2:50 pm.

Hail at Novotel Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast.

1.35pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its storm warnings, with two storms cells centred around Maroochydore and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert.

The storms are moving towards the east to northeast.

The storms are classed as "very dangerous" and are forecast to affect Tamborine, Jimboomba, Logan Village and waters off Coolum Beach by 1:55 pm.

Beenleigh, Coomera, Hope Island and Jacobs Well will be hit by 2:25 pm.

Other severe thunderstorms were located near the NSW border and the area south of the NSW border.

They are forecast to affect the area southwest of Noosa Heads, the area west of Noosa Heads, Tewantin and Pomona by 1:55 pm.

Coolangatta, Caboolture, Noosa Heads and waters off Noosa Heads are predicted to be affected by 2:25 pm.

Residents are warned to brace for large hailstones and damaging winds.

Massive hailstones pounded the Mooloolah Valley. Picture: Higgins Storm Chasing/Rebecca Shepperson

1.15pm: Tennis ball-sized hail has fallen at Buderim as a large storm cell sweeps over the Sunshine Coast.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

The Bureau of Meteorology has reported "very dangerous thunderstorms" detected on weather radar near Maroochydore, Boonah, Caloundra and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

They are forecast to affect Beaudesert, waters off Caloundra and waters off Maroochydore by 1:25 pm and Canungra, Mount Tamborine, Tamborine and Jimboomba by 1:55 pm.

Marburg, Lowood, northern Lake Wivenhoe and Mount Kilcoy will receive falls at around 1:25 pm.

Ipswich, Crohamhurst, Maleny and Conondale will receive further falls by 1:55 pm.

12.55pm: Residents are reporting a blanket of hail, some the size of large marbles, after more than 20 minutes of solid falls.

The water funnel as seen from a dive boat off Wynnum. Picture: Josh Keen

The storm cell is moving east to northeast and are forecast to hit Maroochydore by 12.55pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology has also detected severe thunderstorms near Esk and to the west of the town.

The storms are forecast to affect Boondah, Esk and the northwest of Esk by 12.55pm, and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert, northern Wivenhoe and Toogoolawah by 1.25pm.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

Damaging winds and very large hailstones are likely.

Capricornia, parts of the Central Coast, the Whitsundays, the Central Highlands and the Coalfields districts are being warned to brace for damaging winds and large hail stones in the next two hours.

Emerald, Rockhampton, Clermont, Blackwater, Yeppoon, Baralaba, Marlborough, St Lawrence and Dysart may be affected.

Earlier, walkers on the Wynnum foreshore got a shock this morning when a large water funnel was spotted just off the coast.

Reader Janet Rough snapped a picture about 6.45am, with the odd formation dominating the skyline.

Commonly referred to as a water spout, Bureau of Meteorology Duty Forecaster Gordon Banks said the formation was more likely to be a small tornado over water.

Meet the one man weather bureau

Readers capture southeast storms

"In this instance being as it was associated with a thunderstorm it's most likely a tornado over water," he said.

"It would actually pick up water as it moved; it's hard to see if they don't have water or dirt wrapped around them."

Also spotted from the airport, if the formation is a tornado Brisbane could be on the receiving end of a weather phenomenon.

"If it was a tornado, and I suspect it was but it's hard to prove, then it's very unusual and very rare," Mr Banks said.

"Statistically we're unlikely to get another one, but if the environments produced one there remains a chance of another.

"It's just another part of the danger associated with thunderstorms and why it's always best to take cover."

Southeast Queensland's wet weather is expected to continue, with the bureau predicting significant rain over Sunday and Monday with thunderstorms also predicted.

- reporting by Caitlin Drysdale, Naomi Lim, Jacinda Tutty and Kathleen Donaghey

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New poll puts Libs ahead in SA

A NEW opinion poll has put victory within the grasp of the South Australian opposition at the March state election.

The Galaxy poll published on The Advertiser website on Thursday put support for the Liberals at 54 per cent, on a two-party basis, compared to 46 per cent for the Labor government.

With a swing of 2.4 per cent to the opposition since the 2010 election, it is poised to pick up five Labor seats.

That would wipe out Labor's majority but would still leave the Liberals one seat short of forming government in their own right.

Three independent MPs would ultimately decide the outcome, though the Galaxy poll has found they also face strong challenges from Liberal candidates.

Labor currently holds 26 seats in the 47-seat House of Assembly with the Liberals on 18.

In 2010 the Liberals won the popular vote but failed to pick up a string of marginal seats the party needed to take power.

While the opposition now looks to be in a stronger position, Labor has lifted its support since a horror opinion poll in March when the government trailed the Liberals 41-59.

The latest Galaxy poll surveyed 860 people on Wednesday night.

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Six soldiers booted for demeaning women

Six soldiers have been sacked for producing and distributing inappropriate material demeaning women. Source: AAP

DEFENCE has booted out six soldiers for their part in the so-called "Jedi Council", an informal ring that shared offensive material including vision of secretly filmed sex acts.

Another seven may be sacked.

Army chief Lieutenant General David Morrison said their services had been terminated for production or distribution of highly inappropriate material demeaning women - and the message was clear.

"If you engage in misconduct, or you fail to uphold the army's standards, then you will be held to account," he said in a statement.

The "Jedi Council" scandal emerged in June when it was revealed a group of about 100 people, mostly soldiers, had been exchanging offensive material on the Defence computer system and the internet.

The group was allegedly co-founded by a former commando reservist officer who emailed video of himself having sex with a woman to associates on the network.

Up to 60 Defence personnel viewed the imagery, commenting on her appearance and performance.

Police identified several female victims of the "Jedi Council", variously referred to as "married moll number five" or "virgin moll". The group made references to gang-bangs and demands for more images.

Group members also allegedly exchanged images of women accompanied by offensive commentary, digitally altered images and images of naked women.

Of the six now discharged - ranging in rank from sergeant to major and from regular army and reserve units - NSW police are still investigating three who might face civil charges.

Another 11 have been implicated and Defence is considering whether to sack seven. The other four have faced, or will face, internal action.

General Morrison said Defence had concluded investigations into another 172 mostly army members identified as peripheral to the group's email exchanges. They too may face internal action.

"The Australian Army is overwhelmingly an organisation of 44,000 talented and professional men and women, who serve their country with pride and distinction," he said on Thursday.

"The standard of behaviour we expect of our serving members is clear."

He revealed on Thursday that 122 army members had been sacked this year.

That includes 15 officers and 35 soldiers for misconduct or unacceptable behaviour, one officer and 52 soldiers in relation to drugs and 19 soldiers for civilian offences.

"Where any serious case of misconduct or unacceptable behaviour is proven, the Chief of Army is resolved to take every step available to remove the individual responsible from the army," Defence said in a statement.

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Another $10m gift for University of WA

ANOTHER multi-millionaire has given another massive donation to the University of Western Australia, with freight magnate Greg Poche gifting $10 million for a new centre for indigenous health.

Just weeks after mining billionaire Andrew Forrest gave the university $65 million, the former founder and owner of Star Track Express has made his own major bequest to the college.

It will fund a new Poche Centre for Indigenous Health in Perth, to work alongside sister centres at Flinders University in Adelaide and the University of Sydney.

Their goal is to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health, while advocating stronger social and emotional wellbeing.

And so the UWA Poche Centre will work together with the University's School of Indigenous Studies, their Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health and their Rural Clinical School.

Mr Poche and his wife Kay said the couple were still committed to do their best for Indigenous Australians.

"Improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians is one of our nation's biggest challenges and it is vital that we do everything we can," Mrs Kay said.

"Greg and I are determined that the Poche Centres will make a big difference."

The centre will also tackle children's health, disability and developmental outcomes, as well as chronic disease.

Professor Paul Johnson, vice-chancellor of the university, said a long-established strength in Aboriginal health research and education would be added to by the Poche centre.

"This will bring together the University's considerable expertise, programs and resources in Aboriginal health in a strong partnership," Professor Johnson said.

"Fostering collaborations between health professionals and Aboriginal communities is critical for successful health outcomes."

Poche has consistently been listed among the richest Australians, valued at $620 million.

It is estimated he donated more than $105 million to causes around Australia - while also recently donating the use of his palatial Sydney home to the Ten Network to film the current series of the TV show The Bachelor.

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Hospitals braced for schoolies boozefest

EDS: Not for use before 00.02am (AEDT) November 15.

By Miles Godfrey

SYDNEY, Nov 15 AAP - More than 500 schoolies will end up in hospital on the Gold Coast next week, with about 18 poisoned by drugs and a further 90 suffering alcohol-related mental or behavioural problems.

That's the stark prediction from new software developed by the CSIRO to help Queensland health bosses marshal resources during the annual end-of-term boozefest.

About 28,000 schoolies are forecast to descend on the Gold Coast from Saturday, with thousands of others heading to different Australian locations or overseas to let off steam.

In a bid to accurately gauge the health response, including staffing levels and bed vacancies, Queensland Health is using a new tool developed by Australian scientists to forecast exactly how many schoolies will need treatment.

The Patient Admission Prediction Tool (PAPT) uses historical data and inputs other things, including weather, time of day and population levels, to predict how many people will need help.

"We're using the latest data to build a model and that is used then to forecast how many people will rock up to the emergency room," said David Hansen, CEO of CSIRO's Australian E-Health Research Centre.

It's the first time PAPT has been been used for schoolies week and it paints a grim picture of what will unfold.

The CSIRO's modelling shows there will be 2700 presentations to Gold Coast Health's emergency rooms in the first week of schoolies, with around 20 per cent (540) of those students.

The modelling forecasts that about 90 people aged 17-19 will need treatment each week during schoolies for alcohol-related mental and behavioural problems.

A further 18 per week will need treatment for drug poisoning, 30 per week will need help for cuts and grazes to the head - and dozens of others will suffer cuts and grazes to other body parts, often from broken glass.

CSIRO data shows that the number schoolies needing treatment for alcohol intoxication tripled between 2011 and 2012.

Presentations related to alcohol intoxication increases by 40 times during Schoolies compared to other times of the year, CSIRO said.

"Having this information about admissions allows us to plan the staff, medical supplies and beds needed to care for those schoolies and manage waiting times for our other patients who are still arriving with other serious injuries," said Gold Coast Health's Dr James Lind.

The PAPT software may be rolled out to other hospitals, government services and business in future, Mr Hansen said.

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Activists to quiz company board at AGM

ENVIRONMENTAL activists will use proxies from shareholders to question the Lend Lease board at the company's AGM about its plans to build a coal port in Queensland.

Scientist Felicity Wishart, the Great Barrier Reef campaign manager for the Australian Maritime Conservation Society, said Lend Lease is considering whether to invest in a coal port at Abbot Point.

Building there would require dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, she added.

Lend Lease would also construct "supporting rail infrastructure" under their plans.

"We're very concerned about this proposal," she told AAP.

"The reef is already under too much pressure, it's health is already fragile."

Ms Wishart and two activists from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition will attend the company's AGM in Sydney on Friday to ask questions of the board and to inform shareholders of the proposed port.

"Lend Lease has had a pretty good record in terms of commitments to sustainability," she told AAP on Thursday.

"We don't understand why then they would want to be involved in a project which... poses a great threat to the reef and additionally is about promulgating an increase in coal exports."

About 40 other activists will rally outside the AGM to highlight community concerns, Ms Wishart said.

She added that existing ports in the area are only operating at 30 per cent capacity.

"You could end up with these ports being developed, damaging the reef for no actual reason."

"It's a poor investment."

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