Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    G'Day Again,
    
    		Radio reports say that the quake was 5.5 on the Richter
    Scale which is a very big quake for Australia.  The epicentre was at a
    place called Curry Curry near Newcastle.  So far 4 people are confirmed
    dead with a possible 27 others and a number injured.  The main problem
    seems to have been that because we are not really in an earthquake zone
    most of the buildings are not really built to withstand them.  The dead
    and injured mainly are coming from walls collapsing etc.
    
    	DEC has an office in Newcastle but as yet we have not heard from
    them.  We can only hope that all is OK.
    
    David.
    
    

    Thanks for the info David.  We are concerned for our co-workers
    and friends in that area, and appreciate your relay of information.
    
    DougO

                          <** Moderator Response **>

    Indeed thanks, David. 
    
    It would be good to know, too,  how our folks in Southern Cal and
    Hawaii came out of it (the radio seemed to be saying that all three
    areas were hit by the "same" quake).  Can someone fill us in?
    
    						=maggie

    
    RE: .0  David....thanks for the update.  Please keep us informed
    	    as to what is happening there.  I will keep all of you in
    	    my healing thoughts.
    
    	.3  =maggie....the quake was felt in Hawaii and California?
    	    I hadn't heard that!  Must have been quite a quake.  If
    	    you or anyone else hears more about this, please enter
    	    it here.
    
    This has been the worst 12 month period for earthquakes, starting
    with Armenia.  About a week ago I heard a brief report of minor
    quakes occurring in Washington state and Michigan!  And then there
    was a quake in Canada just a few days ago in an unpopulated area...
    now Australia.  I recently heard a prediction for next year that
    the East Coast and the New Madrid fault will experience quakes.
    A year ago Thanksgiving weekend, I was sitting in my living room
    in Clinton, MA and I felt the earthquake that was centered in
    Canada.  Scared the $$$$ out of me.  Can't imagine what a stronger
    earthquake would be like to go through.
    
    Hang in there everyone!
    
    Carole

        My heart goes out to all those affected in Australia.  I read in
    the San Jose Mercury the count was 8 dead and 122 injured so far. It
    also said the quake lasted 45 seconds as opposed to the 15 seconds of
    shaking we had here in October.
    
    Tony

    G'Day,
    
    	The news is certainly not good for Newcastle.  According to radio
    and TV reports this morning, the death toll has risen to 10 with
    100-150 injured.  There may be more dead as an RSL club collapsed and
    they still have not been able to get to the underground car-park yet. 
    Luckily it was 10:30am so not too many people would have been at the
    club.  What is also making it difficult is that Newcastle hospital was
    also damaged and declared unsafe so all casualties have to be
    transfered to other hospitals.
    
    	The quake was felt right along the east coast of Australia and I
    had not heard that it was also felt in other parts of the world.  This
    is the first earthquake to claim a life in Australia.  For us in Sydney
    the outcome was a lot better.  A few people probably have a few more
    small cracks in their walls but that is about it.  All we felt here was
    a bit of a jolt for maybe a couple of seconds but the main area shook
    for about 15-20 seconds according to the reports I have heard. 
    Unfortunately every radio or tv station seems to have a slightly
    different account of the story regarding number injured and time of
    shock.  At least they all agree on the strength of the tremor - it was
    5.5 Richter.
    
    	We'll probably know more today (it's 8:45am now).  They should be
    able to get to all trapped people this morning and then I suppose
    Newcastle goes into 'rebuild mode'.  Will keep you informed.
    
    David.
    
    

As Tony said, my sympathies are with you, knowing some of what the area's
going through.   

To a minimum of loss, and a fast recovery...

	MKV

    G'Day,
    
    	Have been out boating all New Year's weekend so that's why there
    was no updates.  Suppose most of you were all very cold but today was
    35C and fantastic on the water - long live hot summers!
    
    	Back to the earthquake.  The death toll has risen to 14 with a
    possible five more still unaccounted for.  There have been minor
    aftershocks around the 1.5 Richter mark.  No more damage has been done
    but it must make the people feel a little uneasy when the ground starts
    to shake again.  The experts say that Newcastle can expect these for a
    few weeks yet.
    
    	There was some film on the TV tonight about the New Year's
    celebrations in Newcastle last night.  The entire inner city area is
    still closed to the public so it was like a ghost town but most of the
    other areas managed to find the spirit to wish in the new decade.  One
    sour note in tonights news was that the police have caught the first
    looter.  He was involved in the demolition of the remains of the
    Workers' Club and decided that he would not only try to find any people
    but also helped himself to 40 cases (24 cans to the case) of beer.  He
    has been arrested and awaits a court appearance on Wednesday.
    
    	It's going to take some time for Newcastle to rebuild everything as
    it looks like most of the city buildings have been damaged and will
    have to be demolished and rebuilt - quite a task.  That's about it for
    the developments so far.  There is not likely to be much more happening
    apart from rebuilding so I suppose this is the end of the story.  If
    only it had been fiction.
    
    David.