- Making headlines in the Port Macquarie News - Thursday 6 January 1972
Police Hunt Saboteurs
The third case in a year of what appears to be commercial sabotage against a Port Macquarie contractor's valuable earth-moving machinery has resulted in detailed investigations being made by the police in the Hastings district. The latest outbreak of wilful damage to the equipment in question has brought the cost of repairs and replacements to the contracting firm to more than $9,000 in 12 months. The company is Fred Freeman Pty. Ltd., of Edward Street, Port Macquarie. In an interview yesterday, the manager, Mr. Geoff Freeman, said a
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$60,000 crawler bulldozer had been maliciously tampered with during the recent holiday period with water and an unknown substance being delicately injected into the machine's intricate workings. The cost of the actual repairs on this occasion was expected to be in the region of $1,000. During the same holiday period a year ago, similar sabotage had resulted in the company having to pay out $8,400 with an estimated cost of $5,600 in missed production time. The second instance of sabotage occurred in June last year when $450 worth of damage was carried out in virtually the same way. Mr. Freeman said he believed the sabotage was the work of one or more men who had an intimate knowledge of the company's machinery. Mr. Freeman said he had no idea why anyone would want to perpetrate commercial s a b o t a g e against his firm. The police had been called in once again and were making thorough investigations in an effort to track down the saboteurs. A police spokesman said that the incidents certainly appeared to be acts of sabotage and it was hoped that the offenders would soon be found.
Flotilla Disaster
The historic old 'Sydney Queen' ferry which, in her day, has carried millions of passengers around Sydney harbour was one of a flotilla of four vessels which set sail from Newcastle last Sunday for Manilla. Three ferries were under tow by the tug 'Polaris'. After travelling less than 200 miles, the flotilla lost one of its craft near Diamond Head in the Laurieton area. Mr. Stuart White, a Sydney businessman, who had chartered the tug to take the ferries to Manilla rushed to the Mid North Coast to assist the tug captain find a suitable port for emergency repairs. Mr. Merv Radley, a Port Macquarie trawler fisherman, assisted in the drama on charter from the Hastings River.
Diary with a Difference
Port Macquarie Quota Club have presented the town library with an appointment's diary to enable the many service clubs and other organisations to diarise their various meeting and event dates throughout the year to avoid duplication and to help keep everyone informed of 'what is what'.
Tree Hazard at New Airstrip
Before final approval can be gained for operation of the new east-west cross strip at Port Macquarie airport, it will be necessary to clear some large trees from the subdivision area immediately east of the cross strip. This was necessary to achieve safety standards set by the Department of Civil Aviation. The department has informed council the strip will be opened immediately clearing is completed.