The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 1

Late Edition No. 46,796 First Published 1831 Telephone: Editorial 282 2822; General 282 2833; Classifieds 282 1122 45 cents 52 pages Monday, December 21, 1887 7UE GUID SsB WJira- RfAMA file iiero iiawilyl aA iy ZA UZA -V 03 JUL Icoew sneaks of The life and tragic death of chess queen Narelle Kellner and personable of the two, according to friends. Physically, she was a huge woman, and equally strong of mind. John had recently become increasingly difficult to live with. He suffered badly from asthma, and was prone to periods of depression.

His wife was having problems coping with his increasing eccentricity. "We are treating this as a possible case of murder-suicide," a police officer said. But he would not say what had caused Mr Kellner's death. According to Ian Rogers, the Australian champion and a Herald correspondent, John sometimes perceived conspiracies against him that did not exist. involved in the administration of chess in Australia.

John was a full-time cabbie, and Narelle a primary school teacher. Said a neighbour: "They were quiet and reclusive types who kept to themselves. They weren't the sort of people you had a very neighbourly relationship with." John Maddix, president of the NSW Chess Association and a friend of the Kellners, indicated that the game had become something of an obsession for the childless couple. "They were rather an odd pair who were suited to each other," Mr Maddix said. "Their entire life seemed to revolve around the running and playing of this rather peculiar game." Narelle was the more outgoing believe he had been murdered by his wife a week earlier, possibly on the day of his 57th birthday.

Narelle Kellner was a 21 -times winner of the NSW women's chess championship, and the current title-holder. She also won the Australian championship, and represented this country five times in the Chess Olympics. John Kellner was also one of the best chess players in the country. For him, 1961 was the big year. He won the Australian correspondence chess championship for the third time, and was awarded the title of International Master of Correspondence Chess.

It was also the year he married Narelle and taught her to play chess. Both remained actively 2 Crime fear grows: it's Fortress SXS tl fluffy "V' sW. $1 ff cN" 1 7" LLiCihir -Z falfe 1 1 i 1 1 llii Hi lJmMll 1 If In By DANIEL WILLIAMS It could have been one of the great upsets of chess history. A gifted Sydney woman was poised to humilate the world champion from the Soviet Union. The scene was the opening round of the 1972 Chess Olympics in Skopje, Yugoslavia.

Despite a tactical blunder that cost her the match, that contest was the highlight of Narelle Kellner's career. She was the queen of Australian chess. But the years turned tragic, and during the early hours of yesterday, in the loungeroom of her Hurstville home, Narelle, 53, put a .22 calibre rifle to her head and pulled the trigger. In the bedroom of the house lay the decomposed body of her husband, John Kellner. Police across-the-board wage rise in the current circumstances, it has not gone far enough." In its latest Australian Bulletin of Labour, the institute says that the depreciation effects of the crash on the Australian dollar could create more problems than it solves for the balance of payments.

But it notes that after a "dismal" performance in 1986, the increase in gross domestic product over the last year (4.9 per cent) was almost double the OECD average (2.5 per cent). Australia has regained the top ranking it held in 1985 and 1984 after slumping to eighth position last year, based on OECD quarterly national accounts and figures released in a recent edition of The Economist. Australia was also ranked highest in terms of industrial production, sixth in unemployment rates, third in employment growth, ninth in consumer prices and sixth in manufacturing wages. Along with the US, Canada and New Zealand, Australia was one of the few countries to achieve real pay reductions in recent years. While further falls in the value of the dollar could be expected to benefit exports and curb imports, these changes were unlikely to be large enough to offset the effect of increases in the price of imports relative to exports, the institute said.

"Thus the current account deficit is likely to worsen. The depreciation in the Australian currency will increase the price of imports, which will feed into a growth in the level of consumer prices. "Moreover, it can be expected that any acceleration in the rate of inflation will bring enormous pressure to bear on the wages system. Already the union movement has expressed its unwilling ness to consider discounting wages growth for the effects of the sharemarket crash, and thus any increases in the rate of inflation leave us ripe for the onset of a price-wage spiral." The Government, through the Reserve Bank, was unlikely to let the dollar go into free fall, the institute said. But care would have to be taken that Reserve Bank intervention did not act to increase interest rates, thus deterring investment and dampening consumer confidence.

Narelle Kellner a huge woman, and strong of mind. Sydney Pictures by GREG WHITE Ramsay of Chippendale. doors made of several solid steel bars, each about 12 millimetre thick. The doers cost between $450 and $700, and feature a jemmy-proof plate that spans the entire width of the door. Mr Joseph Hales, manager of Krimguard security, said his company fitted 15-20 of these 50 kilogram crime-busters every week, mainly to homes in the eastern suburbs and the lower north shore.

But some people view these precautions as a bit extreme, according to Mr Piers Ramsay of Chippendale. "I was trying to share the house," he explained. "One person came up to the door, saw the bars, freaked out and walked straight back out. But you get used to it." PAGE 4: Mt Druitt tops crime list; Unsworth pushes for gun assurance. Sydney has more faithful nnnn 'Lwtiiiu ieafcaJ mmm IwwiJ rinri ka a CHRISTMAS in Australia hasn't changed much in the past 200 years.

James Scott, Sergeant of Marines, recorded his first Christmas in the Pnlnnv 17SK oc fnllniarc Ttinajl off a piece of pork and apple sauce, a piece of beef and plum pudding. Crowned the day with four bottles of rum, which was the best we veterans could afford." PLANNING a big night out this week? Here is Vladimir Smirnoffs original hangover remedy, designed to clear the clouded mind of Czar Alexander III in the 1880s. "Ice, a nip of vodka, tomato juice, a dash of Worcester sauce, two dashes of bitters, tabasco, a sprinkle of pepper and a twist of celery. Place in a glass and drink." The Imperial Court swore by it. But then, look what happened to them.

THE NA TI VITY play in a family loungeroom at Eastwood ground to a halt when 216-year-old Tom refused to give the Baby Jesus any myrrh (Vegemite), frankincense (marmalade) or gold (a packet of tea). Despite protests from his five-year-old sister, the play's producer, Tom insisted that Jesus (the family teddy) had to get a football or nothing. WHAT with the rising cost of living and the increasing number of stockings around the world to fill, Santa was short of cash. On Friday, he slipped down from the North Pole to the bank in Ullared, a small Swedish town. After filling his sack with money, 135,000 kronor Santa jumped on a bicycle, rode to an orange Volvo car and drove off.

Police are looking for "a big man" last seen wearing a red suit and white beard. A SURRY Hills couple found their car only three blocks away from their home 10 days after it was stolen. There was some damage to the wiring, but the radio, baby seat and 30 cents on the dashboard remained. It had more petrol in the tank than when it was stolen and the only thing missing was a "No Monorail" sticker. WHEN it comes to recycling telephone numbers, no one could accuse Telecom of being politically discriminating.

The old number for the US Embassy in Canberra is now allotted to the Palestine Information Office. A KINGS Cross hotel will say thank-you tomorrow to the cabbies who ply their trade near its doors. Free breakfast will be served from 7 am until 9 am well, a cup of coffee and a cake anyway. A READER planning to visit his daughter in northern California rang her to ask if she wanted a mink coat which had belonged to her late mother. No, she didn't want a mink coat, just a dozen packets of Australian jelly.

Apparently the US equivalent is not in good taste. Agenda 15 Amusements 23 Arts 14 Business 25-27 Chess 39 Comics, Crosswords 39 Editorials 12 Law Notices 39 Lottery J'Pot No.3170 31 Lottery J'Pot No.3171 30 Mails 39 Puzzles 39 Shipping 39 Sport 38-44 Stay in Touch 24 Television Guide Today's People 24 Personal Notices Page 27 Classified Index on Back Page Classifieds: 282 11 22 Metropolitan: Mild and humid. Temps: City 19-24, Liverpool 18-26. Pollution: Low. Yesterday: City 17-24, Liverpool 15-25.

Pollution: Low. NSW: Mild to warm and humid on the coast. Warm inland. The Sea: Moderate seas on a moderate swell. Tides: Low 2.38am (0.4); High 9.18am (1.9).

Low 4.10pm (0.1), High 10.03 pm (1.3). Temp: 20 deg. Sun: Rises 5.41, sets 8.05pm. Moon: Rises 5.28am, sets 8.56pm. Full details, Pages 24 and 37.

SMHSO FR 100 "Recommended and maximum price only;" Interstate by air extra. iQQn mm Behind bars John Turnbull and Rebecca Clarke of Surry Hills, Cynthia McKinnon of Glebe, and Piers John Kellner sometimes perceived conspiracies. to By GLENN MILNE and LARRY SCHWARTZ CANBERRA: An inflationary wages spiral could threaten the economy just as the country has regained its top ranking in the international growth tables, according to the National Institute of Labour Studies. In its latest bulletin, the conservative institute, based at Flinders University, warns that further falls in the dollar following the stock-market crash could create higher domestic prices, bringing "enormous pressure to bear on the wage The warning comes in the wake of the Arbitration Commission's decision on Thursday to delay the next national wage case decision until late January, a ruling which prompted both the Federal Government and the ACTU to accuse the commission of undermining support for the wages system. The commission said the reason for its delay in ruling on the ACTU's claim for a $7-a-week pay rise was to allow it to assess the effects of the stockmarket crash.

NSW railworkers threatened yesterday to strike unless the State Government agreed to pay the $7 held over by the commission. The labour studies institute ranked Australia highest among OECD countries in growth in gross domestic product over the past year, but warned that a delicate balancing act would be required from the Federal Government to prevent a severe economic downturn. "Indeed the best policy option may be prayer," the institute says. The Opposition Leader, Mr Howard, said yesterday that the Government's slow response to changing economic circumstances meant that Australia was poorly placed to go into 1988. In a joint statement with the shadow Treasurer, Mr Peacock, Mr Howard said that the postponement of a mini-Budget until May was a luxury the country could not afford.

"Last week's deferral of consideration of the ACTU wages claim provides little comfort," the statement said. "While the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission has shown justified concern for the appropriateness of an Fallmg dollar "But they seemed such a close couple, I can't believe Narelle could possibly have killed him." About a week ago, police believe something caused Narelle to snap. At 4 am yesterday, the local fire brigade responded to a report of fire at Hillcrest Avenue. After breaking into the house, firemen discovered the body of John Kellner lying face-up in bed. His skin had turned a blackish colour, and his body had begun to bloat.

Mrs Kellner had lived in the house with her dead husband for a week. When fire officers arrived yesterday, she lay barely alive on the loungeroom floor, blood pouring from a self-inflicted bullet wound in her forehead. Earlier, she had started a fire in the same room. She died on the way to hospital. and with limited formal education.

Mr Alan Cullen, executive director of the association, said there were 439 armed robberies to September this year, against 310 for the whole of 1986. "If this alarming trend continues and there is every indication that it will this will represent an increase of more than 80 per cent," he said. The State Government hailed the study as adding weight to its push for stronger gun laws. The growing levels of crime are leading to a boom in the security business, with the industry reporting a heavy demand for a relative newcomer to its range: bulky security own for high-paying Government positions to supplement their superannuation payouts. According to a Perth executive consultant, Mr Lloyd Smith, Mr Burke would easily fit into the role of a managing director in private enterprise and attract a salary of 1 25,000 to 1 50,000 a year.

"He is articulate, was capable of implementing radical changes in the public service, and can deal with conflict," said Mr Smith. "He can use people. He is an excellent leader." Mr Smith said the current upheaval in the media, combined with Mr Burke's background in journalism, would make him an ideal executive in the industry. spokesman, said that 1.5 million Yellow Pages books were distributed in NSW each year at a cost of "several hundred thousand The books are distributed by independent contractors, who in this case "will have some pretty hefty explaining to he said. "If we haven't knocked on your the Yellow Pages Hotline," say full-page Telecom advertisements in newspapers today.

But if you live in Bellevue Hill, your best bet to find your book could be to hurry down to Cooper Park. Break-ins: where you're safest By TRACEY AUBIN and DANIEL WILLIAMS Armed robberies in NSW are rising at a rate 80 per cent up on last year. Home burglaries are up 12.5 per cent. And sales of heavy security doors are booming. A study on crime from the Australian Bankers' Association, the release of a survey from NRMA insurance, and statements on guns and crime from the NSW Government confirmed the trend yesterday.

All had one message: fortress Sydney is now a reality. In yesterday's developments: The Attorney-General, Mr Mulock, released a new study showing that the State's personal robberies were heavily concentrated in the Sydney metropolitan area, which had almost five times the rate of other areas. The study showed that one third of the personal By NEALE PRIOR PERTH The Premier of Western Australia, Mr Burke, is "absolutely certain" to announce his retirement at the last sitting of the 1987 State Parliament tomorrow, according to the State Minister for Planning and Education, Mr Bob Pearce. Mr Pearce, a possible successor to the Premiership, described as "well-based" media speculation that Mr Burke has been attempting to put together a deal in which the Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr Peter Dowding, would succeed him, with the Minister for Arts and Minerals and Energy, Mr David Parker, as deputy. The Deputy Premier, Mr Mal Burke robberies were committed in just four suburbs the Central Business District, Darlinghurst, Potts Point and Redfern.

It also showed on the eve of the gun summit that offenders in personal robberies are usually unarmed, and rely on physical force. For the second year in a row, Mt Druitt topped the list of Sydney's worst suburbs for burglary, with 14 per cent of insured households making a claim, according to figures released by the NRMA, the State's largest insurer. Other suburbs in the top 29 included Paddington, Darlinghurst and Mil-sons Point, while Asquith recorded the lowest burglary claims. Overall, NSW burglaries were up by 12.5 per cent this financial year, and the cost of claims rose by 33 per cent to $17.5 million. The Premier, Mr Unsworth, colm Bryce, has already confirmed that he will be retiring next year, and is expected to announce the date tomorrow.

But Mr Pearce said the proposed leadership package might collapse if he or the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Julian Grill, decided to contest the position in a Caucus vote, because Mr Parker might then nominate for the job. He said he would be assessing the relative abilities of Mr Dowding, Mr Parker, Mr Grill and himself over the next few days. Mr Parker said Mr Burke would be making an announcement either way in Parliament. "I would hope the matter will be resolved counted more than 200 directories strewn around the edges of the park and down the gully. The delivery boys on the back of a Thrifty flat-top rent-a-truck were "laughing and skylarking" as they ditched the books, said Mr Atkinson.

The bad weather yesterday 8.2 millimetres of rain fell in Sydney between 9 am and 3 pm clearly persuaded the lads that there had to be a better way to earn some Christmas money than trudging through the downpour delivering the directories door-to-door. ready called for a bipartisan approach to the tightening of gun laws, but declined to have Liberal or National Party leaders attend tomorrow's meeting on firearms legislation between the Prime Minister and State Premiers. Security door manufactures reported a boom in business, saying the biggest increase was in their bulkiest model doors about 12 millimetre thick, costing up to $700. Mr Mulock said a study commissioned by the Australian Bankers' Association in conjunction with the State Government showed that most robbery offenders are young men, many with substantial prior convictions, typically unemployed one way or another by Tuesday," he said. Mr Burke may be reluctant to resign if this would cause a leadership struggle, and Mr Pearce has indicated that he might not nominate if a multi-candidate ballot looked like damaging the party's image of un ity.

There has been some speculation over what Mr Burke, 40, will do with his time after he resigns. One suggestion has been that he might take an executive position in private enterprise, where he could attract a salary of up to $150,000 a year, substantially more than his current $96,000. It has also been rumoured that Mr Burke and Mr Bryce may look Mr Atkinson, like thousands of other Telecom subscribers concerned about the rising cost of telephones, was not amused. Neither was the local council inspector, Mr Jimmy Lan. He said the council would try to find out who had dumped the books, and prosecute them.

The offenders face fines of several hundred dollars if caught. Assuming the council had its books delivered, it can turn to page 2,066 to find listings for rubbish removers. Mr Alan George, a Telecom step Hello Yellow: if your book's missing, try the park By PETER STEPHENS More Sydneysiders than Mel-burnians will go to church this Christmas. In fact, Sydney is the most religious capital city in Australia. Liberal voters will outnumber Labor voters in the pews, and there will be more married, elderly and professional people than single, young and unskilled people.

This is the pattern of attendance revealed by a Saulwick Herald Poll conducted last week. The survey found that no single demographic group surveyed whether by age, occupation, sex, education level, voting intention or place of residence had a majority of people expecting to go to church during Christmas. Some 58 per cent said they would not go to church, and only 38 per cent said they would. This is consistent with the results of earlier Saulwick polls, in which Australians nominated family reunion as the most important side of Christmas. A poll in December 1985 found that 59 per cent of people put family reunion ahead of religious Continued Page 2 By PHILIP CLARK Telecom's Yellow Pages delivery boys in Bellevue Hill let their fingers do the walking yesterday.

Well, after all, it as raining. At least it was when George Atkinson (pictured left) looked out his study window in Northlands Road at 1 1.45 am to see about eight lads on the back of a delivery truck throwing into the leafy ravine of Cooper Park hundreds of Yellow Pages directories destined for subscribers in the Bellevue Hill area The Herald checked and.