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Pilbara grandmother will spend Christmas with grandson after 12 years

A grandmother from the #Pilbara has been waiting 12 long years to spend #Christmas with her grandson, who was taken to Perth by the Department of Child Protection and Family Support when he was 8 years old due to his disability. The young man, who is now 17 years old, will see his family this Christmas, thanks to a decision by DCPFS. “We were so happy when DCP told us the news, if any other families are going through the same thing, don’t give up, stay strong and get help,” the grandmother said. Carol Martin, a social worker from the #Kimberley, said it was tough for families living in remote areas who had disabled children in care. "Sometimes the children need to be in Perth to get the best services possible for their disability," Ms Martin said. "The decisions are made for the best interest of the child and not necessarily the family." #Wanews

Wham! star George Michael dies aged 53

Scrapping commercial fishing size limits opposed

SHOULD FISH SIZE LIMITS BE SCRAPPED? A bid to scrap size limits on red emperor for commercial fishers will be opposed by WA's peak recreational fishing lobby group. "Red emperor is an iconic species, it's very close to the hearts and minds of West Australian recreational fishers," Recfishwest policy officer Matt Gillett said.

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Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas wherever you are in the Pilbara or Gascoyne. Much love from all the team at ABC North West! ❤️🎁🎉🎈🎄

ABC Emergency

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 5: Ex-Cyclone Yvette unlikely to redevelop as it approaches the coast. Damaging Winds and heavy rain still possible. Full details: http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW24100.html

"Pilbara Christmastime" Carol

LISTEN: If you missed it, enjoy Karratha writer Karen Hancock's look back at 2016. She takes a look at the year that was for the North West to the tune of Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime"

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ALCOHOL ADDICTION WORKER CHALLENGES PILBARA TO BOOZE-FREE CHRISTMAS Do you reckon you could go without any alcohol this Christmas Day? As families come together, it could be a good time to think about the normalisation of drinking culture in your life, Pilbara-based alcohol and drug addiction worker Marnie Alefosio said. “Why is it the accepted norm that there’s this social pressure to drink, and why is the festive season a setting where we do do that?” Ms Alefosio said, who works with not-for-profit group Mission Australia. By showing children at family gatherings that a good time can be had without people drinking alcohol, a better relationship with alcohol can be taught, she said. “My challenge to people would be to look at whether they need to have alcohol at every single event, on every single occasion, and how you can mix it up with something else.” “Avoid topping up people’s drinks, so that they can keep count of their own standard drinks. “Why don’t you top up people’s water glasses instead of their alcohol glass?” As Cyclone Yvette looks set to approach the Pilbara coast around Christmas Day, Ms Alefosio also warned that people will be turned away from evacuation centres if they are drunk. “You can’t be prepared to protect your family if you’re drunk.” LISTEN: https://soundcloud.com/josephdunstan1/consider-your-alcohol-intake-this-christmas-addiction-worker

Are you cyclone ready?

PREPARE FOR CYCLONE SEASON Cyclone Yvette is tracking towards the Pilbara coast and may make landfall late Christmas Day. Are you ready? If it's your first cyclone, we've put together this video to help you out. You can find the latest updates on cyclone activity at the Bureau's website: http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml They've also got a full preparation checklist here: http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/checklist.shtml

Alcohol restrictions imposed as violence erupts amid cyclone exodus

"It's a sad indictment that we get to that point where I can't sit down and give the true statistics because they're so high." - Senior Sergeant Dean Snashall. Temporary liquor restrictions have been put in place in Port and South Hedland for the second time in a week, following a night of drunken violence ahead of Cyclone Yvette.

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PILBARA TEENAGE NETBALLERS REPRESENT AUSTRALIA Two Wickham netballers are setting their sights on playing for Australia's premier team The Opals, after taking part in an international competition. Tiahnee Pasche and Kieara Salathiel were chosen as part of an Australian team that played off on the global stage in Barbados recently. The experience has whet their appetite to keep honing their skills for bigger competitions, Tiahnee said. "I've always been into netball for a few years now, and it's just pretty much...always been my dream to become a bigger and better netball player," she said. LISTEN: https://soundcloud.com/josephdunstan1/wickham-teenage-netballers-represent-australia-overseas

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