The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 3

THURSDAY 17 APRIL 1997 THE AGE A3 Melbourne bids farewell to a gentleman of the screen 4 Colston's mentor joins calls to quit Ay -J 01 I0 r. fc l-A i. 1 J5 tMrtt dent among these legatees of Sir Eric's art, larger-than-life personas matched only by their salaries. It was the gravitas of Sir Eric's style, leavened with his warmth and openness to ordinary human experience, even his love of the station's cat Marmalade, which was mostly remembered yesterday. Sir Eric was doubly eulogised by Daryl Somers and then Sir Eric's close friend, Pete Smith.

There is no doubt that dignity was his hallmark. The best line came from Somers, who passed on comedy man Mike McColl-lones's view that "the arrival of Sir Eric in Heaven would bring even more dignity to the place plus the fact that people will now have someone with whom they can check And Pete Smith recalled how, as a lifetime member of the GTV-9 and loyal to the end, Sir Eric took umbrage at Frontline' barbs, so much so that he wanted to make it known personally to Frontline production crew. Once there, though, he was too frail to get out of the car, and Frontline sent him down a large portion of sticky date pudding, Sir Eric's favorite dessert. Today, in commemoration, the people involved then plan to share another sticky date pudding, and would it not be a beautiful juxtaposition if Sir Eric's standards were to find immortality in some future Frontline (read commandments for TV people), replayed with ghostly effect during the service, which are the antithesis of the meretricious standards of today's TV game. Sir Eric professed the importance of a belief in God (he prayed in St John's each Sunday), tolerance, common sense, patience, humility, self-understanding and maintenance of high standards of public and private behavior for public figures like TV stars.

Put that with avoidance of the "three Ds deceit, dishonesty and disloyalty" and the screen might fade to black before someone qualified. Grey hair dominated the pews. Sir Eric was beloved by the first generation to own TV sets, a newsreader whose looks, whose poise and radio-trained and immaculately moderated tones echoed the long-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, and who told us, before Brian, about subjects like the Cold War and the space race. But his longevity in TV he did not bow out until 1979 ensured that he became the paterfamilias of the younger and still-starring ilk around Channel 9. They were there in numbers, and so, too, were folk from other channels.

Afterwards, there was a noticeable cameo as the new generation newsreader rivals Brian Naylor, David Johnston and Mai Walden from Nine, Seven and Ten respectively shared a convivial moment. If there were intimations of mortality, they were not evi By PAUL HEINRICHS If the miracle of television had not already achieved it, Sir Eric Pearce was consigned to Immortality yesterday. His spirit, an evocation of a British broadcasting gentleman from a more sedate era, filled St John's Anglican Church In Toorak and Impressed itself upon the several hundred people who attended. Among the horde of TV types, there was room for the general public, his fellow parishioners like lack Kimp-ton and Geoffrey Littleton, old buffers like the Scottish chaplain Bill Casey, who wore his kilt and claimed to have been Sir Eric's delivery boy in the 1950s, and Myrtle "Granny Davis" Woods, 97. It was an appropriate thanksgiving service, rather than a mournful occasion.

There was a splendid choir, the congregation joined in hearty singing of Blake's Jerusalem, and Channel 9 boss Ian Johnston read the portion from Ecclesiastes about there being a season and a time for everything. Present at TV's birth in Australia, Sir Eric's time was a while ago, when he sought to add a touch of class, style and dignity to GTV-9, but It might have gone with him. Sir Eric, who died last Saturday, aged 92, was a stickler for proper English usage, and the dulcet tones beginning with "My dear boy" usually preceded a polite but firm correction. In fact, Sir Eric espoused a personal set of "10 truths" By NIKI SAVVA and LAURA TINGLE, Canberra The power-broker who ensured Mai Colston's survival as a Labor Party senator for more than two decades yesterday called on his former mate to quit the Senate. president of the Australian Workers Union.

Mr Bill Liidwig, said Senator Colston should go and accused the Prime Minister, Mr lohn Howard, of blocking moves to remove the senator. The move came as Mr Howard announced that the Government would no longer accept Senator Colston's vote in Parliament. iMr Ludwig told The Age. "It seems to me that every avenue that's been instigated to try and get to the truth or otherwise with some of the allegations (has been blocked by Mr Howard). "There was a Senate inquiry that he obviously stymied; now today, he's paired Colston so that if Colston is absent for whatever length of time, the numbers in the Senate won't shift." But Mr Howard noted suggestions that Senator Colston had remained in the Senate and not gone to Norfolk Island as he wanted because a powerful union leader (Mr Ludwig) had vetoed such a deal.

Mr Ludwig, the most powerful figure in the Queensland ALP right, denied allegations he was blocking Senator Colston's departure by refusing to accept Mr Brian Courtice, to whom he is said to be opposed, as the replacement. Mr Ludwig was asked yesterday if he was prepared to see Senator Colston replaced by Mr Courtice. "The forums of the party would decide who'd replace Colston if he was to go. If there was a vacancy, the processes of the party would ratchet into action, but I would be surprised if Courtice was the only candidate," he said. Mr Howard said the Government would arrange it so that if Senator Colston did vote for its legislation, another Government senator would drop out of the vote.

Mr Howard called on Labor to adopt the same attitude. But a spokesman for the Opposition Leader in the Senate, Senator John Faulkner, said they would accept Senator Colston's vote because it belonged to the Labor Party. Labor also pointed out that if Senator Colston did not vote, it would still leave the Government with a majority 37 coalition senators, plus the other independent, Senator Brian Harradine. Senator Colston's spokesman, his son Doug, described Mr Howard's action as a slap in the face for Queensland voters. Mr Howard said that until the allegations of rorting were resolved, it would be inappropriate to accept Senator Colston's vote.

But he said Senator Colston was also still "entitled to his day in "He's entitled to a fair trial (and) all the other generic descriptions we use to describe our system of the presumption of innocence," he said. I i-rs a i ag iiJlhP carp Pad people he wtfSEHrs) ft, 1 11 i fTMihMIIHII II ll'llliMMM director, John Sorell, carry Sir Eric's coffin top left, presenter Pete Smith, front left, host Daryl Somers, from St John's Anglican Church. Pictures: simon O'dwyer Channel 9's news right, and others Rival television newsreaders. Nine's Brian Naylor, Ten's Mai Walden and Seivn's David lohnston. joined other mourners at the service for Sir Eric, who set the style for a generation of broadcasters.

7 OF THEM LEFT aj Cervical cancer vaccine may be five years away I am often asked "How do you do it?" Well, I answer you have been in the business since you were a boy of twelve you would know howl You start early in the morning and you work late at night just to try to get the best liquor deals in Australia to give your customers the lowest possible prices. Yes, price is important but other things also make Dan Murphy's what it is. I teach my staff to be polite to every customer who enters the store. I train them vical cancers, the commonest form of cancer among women aged under 50 in developing countries. After being found prevent the virus in laboratory animals, he said, the vaccine had been taken up by US pharmaceutical giant Merck, which is now testing it and hopes to put it on the market within five years.

A second vaccine to treat women who already have the virus but not the cancer is now being tested on patients in Brisbane, also with the aim of being on the market within Ave years. Professor Doherty, co-winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for medicine, told a National Science Week By TIM COLEBATCH, Canberra Australian medical researchers could be within five years of giving (he world vaccines that could immunise women against cervical cancer and combat a virus responsible for leukaemia, the Nobel Prize winner Professor Peter Doherty said yesterday. Addressing the National Press Club on the importance of funding scientific research, Professor Doherty said medical breakthroughs resulting from basic research could save vast amounts of money out of proportion to their cost. lie said it was possible that within five years, vaccines developed in Queensland could cure the world of cervical cancer and the "massive levels" of leukaemias resulting from the Epstein-Barr virus. In Brisbane, his forecasts were confirmed by the leader of the cervical cancer project, Professor Ian Frazer of the University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Professor Frazer said two vaccines developed by his team were now undergoing clinical tests in the United States and Australia. He said his team had pioneered a vaccine to immunise women against the papilloma virus responsible for 97 per cent of cer forum in Canberra that Australia's decisive response to the Aids crisis, which had saved the country a huge amount of money, was possible only because of earlier research work on cancer viruses. The president of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Sir Gustav Nossal, said medical research needed to escape dependence on "an intravenous drip directly from the federal treasury" and urged research bodies to diversify their funding sources. Sir Gustav and Professor Doherty urged an end to lifetime tenure for academics and researchers, saying projects should receive five-year funding and then be judged by their peers. in drinking and assessing wine every day and I show them how to make our stores interesting and exciting just to be in." BUT, UNDOUBTEDLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I HAVE LEARNED IN THOSE SIXTY SEVEN YEARS IS THAT THE CUSTOMERS WANT TWO THINGS THE LOWEST PRICES AND THE LARGEST RANGE FROM INEXPENSIVE CASK di id Ren r.rn WINE TO $1,000 A BOTTLE CHATEAU MARGAUX Here are my super specials for this week: Sunday market tram set to pass casino instead What is a Hospice? Trade My Dec.

Price Price BEAUTIFUL WHITES IVBSlEffl Victoria St mm flH 4 May four days before the opening of the casino. Mr Bell said the service to run past the casino was to be organised on a cost-neutral basis; forcing a reduction of peak weekday services from every three minutes to every four minutes. Tram drivers and conductors will stop work today to consider taking action against the proposal. The National Trust's conservation manager, Mr lan Wight, expressed regret at the scrapping of the zoo tram. The Labor member for Coburg, Mr Carlo Carli.

said the changes would benefit the casino, not passengers. The secretary of the tram and bus division of the Public Transport Union, Mr Lou Di Gregorio, said he would seek talks with the Transport Department to maintain frequency levels and the zoo tram. By SANDRA McKAY, transport reporter The heritage Melbourne Zoo tram is to be scrapped and West Coburg trams redirected to pass the new casino on Sundays, instead of the usual route via the Queen Victoria Market, under a proposed tram roster. Tram workers at the Essen-don depot have been told that weekday services could be reduced during peak times to free resources for a changed Sunday service along William and Queens-bridge Streets instead of Elizabeth Street. A Public Transport Corporation spokesman, Mr Ray Wilson, confirmed that the Sunday roster was being reworked.

He said the zoo tram was being removed because automatic ticketing would AIIBACTIVOEDS Andrew Garrett Shiraz 1995 13 86 8.90 Bleasdale Bremerview Shiraz 1 995 1 4.36 8 90 Campbells Bobbie Bums Shiraz 1995 18 59 12 90 Clancy Gold Preference 1995 1521 10.90 Diamond Valley Estate Cabernet 1991 2112 14 90 Elderton Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 1994 .31 26 19 90 Evans 8i Tate Gnangara Shiraz 1 995 16 93 1 0 90 Gallerie Cabernet Sauvignon 1 994 12 67 7 95 Grant BurgeFilseli Shiraz 1995 20 28 12 90 Hardys Sir James Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 1994 15 72 9 90 Hotick Shiraz Cabernet Maibec 1995 15 21 10 9C Lillydale Yarra Cabernet Merlot 1995 16 05 10 90 Mamre Btook Cabernet Shiraz 1994 19 43 11 90 McWiiiiam Hanwood Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 10 14 6 40 McWiliiam inheritance Shiraz Cabernet 6 42 3 95 Mitchelton Goulburn Vailey Shiraz 1994. 16 05 12 90 Monies Special Cuvee Menot 1995 9 98 6 95 Penloias The Magiit Estate 1993 44 62 29 90 Pinaminnma Stocks Hill Shiraz 1995 13 86 8 90 Redbank Long Padaock Shiraz 1995 12 17 7 90 Redman Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1 995 2170 14 90 Richmond Grove Barossa Shiraz 1 994 1 6 56 9 90 Richmond Grove Cabernet Merlot 1994 14 53 5 90 Riddoch Coonawarra Shiraz 1994 .16 05 990 Rowan PinotNoi' 1995 13 25 6 90 Rymill Merlot Cabernets 1 994 17 74 1 1 .90 Salisbury Cabernet Merlot 1995 9 63 5 90 Seppelt Harpers Range Cabernet Sauvignon 1 993 19 46 11 90 Sevenhill Dry Red 1995 15.72 9 90 St Huberts PinotNoir 1996 21 12 14 90 Taytors Dare Valley Dry Red 1996 1014 540 Trentham Estate Merlot 1995 13 52 8 90 Best's Victoria Riesling 1 995 12.17 5 90 Buller Late Picked Semillon 1991 16.22 9 90 Dallarras Unoaked Chardonnay 1 996 1 5 89 9 90 David Wynn Sauvignon Blanc 1 995 1 4 20 8 90 Diamond Valley Estate Chardonnay 1995 24 50 17.90 Elderton Riesling 1994 15 21 7.90 Goundrey Unwooded Chardonnay 1996 15 21 9 90 Hardys Siegersdorf Riesling 1996 12.67 7 90 Henschke Chardonnay 1996 21 95 16 90 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 1995 12 67 7 90 Leo Buring leonay Riesling 1991 21 70 14 90 lillydale Yarro Sauvignon Blanc 1 996 16 05 1 0 90 Lindemans Padthaway Borrytis Riesling (375ml) 1991 14 40 9 95 Lindemans Podlhoway Chardonnay 1 995 17 25 1 0 90 Mamie Brook Chardonnay 1996 19 43 1 1 90 McWilliams Hanwood Chardonnay 1 995 10 14 6.40 McWilliam's Inheritance Colombard Charaonnav 1996 6 42 3 90 Monies Chardonnay 1 996 7 80 6 95 Mountadam Charaonnay 1995 32 45 22 90 Orlando St Hilary Chardonnay 1995 16 22 9 90 Peter lehmann Semillon 1996 1 1 83 7 90 Redbank Long Paddock Chardonnay 1996 12 17 7 90 Richmond Grove Classic Dry White 1 996 1 0 98 6 90 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling 1995 12.67 7.90 Riddoch Sauvignon Blanc 1996 16 05 9 90 Rosemount Show Chardonnay 1995 .26 19 16 90 Rymill Sauvignon Blanc 1 996 1 5.21 9 90 Salisbury Sauvignon Blanc 1995 963 590 Seppelt Corella Ridge Chardonnoy 1995 15.35 7 90 Taylors Promised Land Unwooded Chardonnay 1996 15.21 7 90 1'gallonl Holystone 1995 16 90 1 1 90 lisdallMt. Helen Chardonnay 1995 22 85 14 90 Tyrrell Old Winery Chardonnay 1993 15 55 8 90 Next week is Hospice Awareness Week. The word "hospice" originally meant a "house of welcome" and usually referred to religious houses where travellers (eg. pilgrims) could rest and be met with hospitality during their journey.

The modern hospice caters to the needs of the dying. A hospice is now not so much a place but rather a philosophy of care. For example, many palliative care patients elect to remain at home or in a hospital, but can still be treated by hospice staff. The hospice approach strives towards creating a feeling of acceptance and a level of preparation for death. It attempts to reduce feelings of powcrlcssness and hopelessness by involving the person and their family in decision making.

It closely involves the person's family and carers until the time of death, and afterwards, as required. Hospice care, acknowledges the uniqueness of each person and varies according to individual physical, emotional, social, spiritual and cultural needs. We thank Bethlehem Hospital for providing material for this week's "Facts on not be installed on any of Melbourne's heritage trams. Mr Steve Bell, a Public Transport Union shop steward at the Essendon depot, said workers were told that the new roster would start on Warning on Hong Kong trips II anyone should be so foolish as to undercut me on these prices I will cut my prices yet again so as to remoln the cheapest olwaysl DAN MURPHY'S tralian assistance in "matters involving the Hong Kong "The situation will apply in Hong Kong from 1 July regardless of whether the Australian citizens concerned are living in Hong Kong or Australia," the department's statement said. The details of the new requirements are unclear, including how long people will have to make the declaration and whether Chinese Australians choosing not to do so will be prevented from leaving Hong Kong on Australian documents: By KAREN MIDDLETON, Canberra Chinese Australians living in or visiting Hong Kong after 1 July have been warned they will be deemed Chinese and forfeit the right to Australian help unless they register as foreigners after the territory is handed back to China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday issued consular travel advice alerting all Australians with ethnic ties to Hong Kong that they would be forced to choose to be either Chinese or Australian if they were in the territory after 1 July. It said China would require all holders of foreign passports who were of Chinese descent and eligible for Hong Kong residence to sign a declaration of foreign nationality or be considered Chinese. The move will affect at least 30,000 Hong Kong-born Australians and their children. It may also affect grandchildren and other descendants if they have qualified for Hong Kong residence. The department said those Chinese Australians who chose not to formally declare themselves Australian citizens could not be guaranteed Aus Give Allison, Managing Director For help and information phone 13 1363 Valid Till 23497 PRAHRAN 282-284 Chopel St MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 9am-8pm THURSDAY-FRIDAY 9am-9pm SATURDAY 9am-8pm SUNDAY 10am-5pm 9497 3388 ALPHINGTON 789 Heidelberg Rd MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 9am-8pm THURSDAY-FRIDAY 9am-9pm SATURDAY 9am-8pm SUNDAY 10am-6pm 9497 3388 EAST MALVERN 821 Dandenong Rd MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 9am-8pm THURSDAY-FRIDAY 9am-9pm SATURDAY 9am-8pm SUNDAY 10am-6pm 9497 3388 FOREST HILL Brentford Square.

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