Hopes rise for Bulls

Chat live with Mercury cricket experts Brett Stubbs and Adam Smith.

QUEENSLAND skipper James Hopes will lead his side out in tomorrow's Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania following the safe arrival of his daughter last night.

Hopes was waiting in Queensland for the birth of his first child while the rest of the Bulls flew to Hobart yesterday.

But the all-rounder will be fine for the decider after his wife Maria gave birth to a daughter, Emerson Charlotte, last night.

Bulls vice-captain Chris Hartley said Hopes would be ready to fire.

"James being captain -- and being arguably one of the best all-rounders in Australia still -- he's being doing that year after year and he gives our side great balance," Hartley said.

"With the bat, he is the kind of guy who can swing the momentum very quickly. With his bowling, he can shore up an end while the rest of the attack operates at the other.

"He is the type of guy you love having in your team.

"I don't think he will be too concerned about missing a couple of training sessions.

"The main thing for him is to make everything is going OK off the field and freshen up when he gets down here. He'll be fine tomorrow."

Tasmania only needs to draw the match to claim its third Shield, but captain George Bailey said his side would be playing for victory.

"That was one of the things we just did speak about. We went in the last couple of games with a real 20-wicket focus and that showed up in the games we played, in our intensity and our intent with the bat and the way we bowled," Bailey said.

"We feel when we are looking to win the game, that's when we play our best cricket. I don't think that will be any different tomorrow.

"It is too long a game to go in with a negative mindset or a drawing mindset."

Tomorrow's game starts at 10.45am.

• Mercury cricket writers Brett Stubbs and Adam Smith will be running a live blog during the five-day final, starting tomorrow at 10.30am.

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Model has 'imaginary friend'

A YOUNG model who says she was sexually assaulted by a photographer has admitted writing blog posts about being delusional and to having an imaginary friend known as "the beautiful one".

Anthony Douglas Glass, 23, has pleaded not guilty to involving a person under the age of 18 in the production of child exploitation material, producing child exploitation material, two counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred during a photographic shoot in a Battery Point hotel room in September 2011.

Under cross examination from defence counsel David Gunson, SC, in the Supreme Court in Hobart today, the young woman admitted that two years ago she had written a blog post claiming to be severely mentally ill.

"I'm delusional and I am a suspected psychotic and bipolar. I can't say for sure, I'm waiting for a shrink to make it official," she wrote.

The young woman said she had written about being accompanied by imaginary companions --including 50 soldiers and a wolf -- but said at present she only saw a single vision, which she described as "the beautiful one".

She said she had never been formally diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

Under further questioning, the woman said she had wanted to emulate her then idol -- Goth pin-up model Razor Candi.

The jury was today shown explicit pictures of the model taken from the internet.

The young woman admitted sending nude photographs to the accused by email and advertising on her profile on the Model Mayhem website that she was willing to do "pretty much anything".

She told the court she had been naive and not aware of the dangers of posting personal material on the internet.

"I thought it was a game," she said.

"I didn't take into account the warning signs. I set myself up."

The trial, before Justice Peter Evans, is continuing.

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Tigers ready to roar

AS Tasmania and Queensland prepare to do battle in the Sheffield Shield final, Tigers No.3 Alex Doolan is hoping the momentum gathered from two consecutive wins can drive the group to a third title.

The Tigers reached the decider after two outright wins against Queensland and Victoria, earning hosting rights at Blundstone Arena in the process, and the playing group is brimming with confidence.

Doolan, who was today one of five Tigers named in the ACA Shield All-Star team on the back of a break-out campaign which has netted 683 runs at 45.5, said things couldn't be better in the home side's camp.

"The change rooms are still abuzz after the Victorian game here. Hopefully we can continue the momentum from that game and take it into Friday's match," Doolan said.

"We have had some really good battles with them [the Bulls] over the last 24 months and hopefully this game is no different."

Queensland spearhead Ryan Harris, who is on the comeback trail from injury which has wiped out the majority of his 2012-13 season, is expecting nothing less than a tough encounter in a re-match of last year's final.

The big difference for the defending champions, however, is the game is on Tasmanian soil and not at the Gabba.

"Obviously it is really good to be back in a final and defending our title," Harris said.

"Both sides play pretty attacking cricket. Even last year we weren't trying to draw it, we were trying to win it. That is the best way to do it."

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury.

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Fake photog accused of assault

A SYDNEY man claiming to be a professional photographer sexually assaulted an aspiring young model he met online, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.

Anthony Douglas Glass, 23, today pleaded not guilty to involving a person under the age of 18 in producing child exploitation material, producing child exploitation material, two counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault.

Crown Prosecutor Kate Brown told the court the 17-year-old woman created a profile on the Model Mayhem website and Mr Glass contacted her to arrange a modelling session including lingerie and nude photographs.

"In her mind this was the starting point of her career. A professional photographer was coming down from Sydney to do a shoot with her," Ms Brown told the court.

On September 20, 2011, the young woman met Mr Glass at the St Ives Hotel in Battery Point and went with him to his room.

He produced a small pocket camera, explaining that he had broken his larger camera.

"This naive young woman went along with it. She thought he was a professional photographer, that he knew what he was doing," the prosecutor said.

The young woman posed for photographs clothed and nude, alone and with Mr Glass, during which he allegedly indecently assaulted her.

He suggested they take a break and asked the young woman if she wanted to "fool around", at one point offering her $100.

She replied "I'm a model, not a whore."

As the pair sat next to each other on the bed, Mr Glass allegedly grabbed the woman, tried to kiss her and twice sexually assaulted her, Ms Brown said.

After the attack, she texted her boyfriend to come and pick her up. She reported the incident to police that night.

Defence lawyer David Gunson, SC, told the jury of nine women and three men that the woman's claims were denied by his client.

"We say that at all times the complainant was a willing participant in what occurred," he said.

"The accused's case is very simple -- it was consensual."

The case, before Justice Peter Evans, is continuing.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Get some pork on your fork

A "POP-UP PorkStar" event featuring TV foodie favourites Matthew Evans and Colin Fassnidge is among the attractions at this year's Savour Tasmania festival.

The palate-pleasing program for the fifth annual food and beverage festival, which runs from May 29 to June 2, was revealed today in Hobart.

Evans, an adopted Tasmanian who hosts Gourmet Farmer on SBS, and Fassnidge, a Sydney chef and judge on the latest season of My Kitchen Rules on Southern Cross, will pair up for the $65-a-head nose-to-tail feast in the courtyard at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery on May 29.

Other Savour highlights will include a "meeting of young culinary minds" -- aka Garagistes chef Luke Burgess and Belgian Michelin-starred chef Kobe Desramaults -- at Garagistes on May 30 and 31 ($195) and the popular Long Table Dinner at Princes Wharf Shed No. 1 on June 1 ($95).

Desramaults, the international uber-chef at Savour 2013, will be joined by Maltese-born chef Shane Delia (from Melbourne), dessert demon Darren Purchese (from Melbourne) and Sardinian-born chef Giovanni Pilu (from Sydney). Local chefs Terry Clarke, Jahan Patterson-Were, Karen Goodwin-Roberts and Waji Spiby will also play major roles.

Economic Development Minister David O'Byrne said Savour Tasmania had put the state firmly on the map of gourmet destinations around the world.

"The festival provides exceptional opportunities for our chefs and producers to show their qualities and grow their reputations," he said.

Tickets for all events go on sale tomorrow and are available by calling 1300 795 257 or (03) 6221 1700.

For further details, click here.

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Derwent sale 'disappointing'

The sprawling Royal Derwent site at New Norfolk.

THE State Government's 2001 sale of New Norfolk's Royal Derwent Hospital site was marred by multiple failures to ensure the buyers lived up to their side of the bargain, the Auditor-General has found.

The 250ha site was sold for $350,000 to a consortium made up of a private developer and the local council.

The sale, the sale price and the failure of the site to be developed as promised have been the source of much community anger over the past decade.

Previous valuations for the site had been as high as $45 million.

In a $130,000 report released today, Auditor-General Mike Blake found the sale price was fair because of the costs involved in remediating the site and there were no conflicts of interest among the panel which decided on the developers.

He noted that when the consortium split, the developer profited from the subdivision and sale of land and the council was left with crumbling heritage buildings which it could not afford to maintain.

The report noted the abilities of the prospective developers to fulfil their obligations were not properly assessed before the sale.

And it found that the Department of State Development failed to properly word the terms and conditions of the sale to achieve the desired outcome.

"While parts of the sites were developed for the benefit of the region, the sale agreement has not resulted in the purchaser delivering all specified outcomes on the site which is disappointing," Mr Blake said.

"Despite the agreement's expressed intention for development of the site, our view is that the terms and conditions of the sale contract were unenforceable."

Mr Blake said future asset sales should include clear, unambiguous enforceable performance clauses to hold developers to their end of any deal.

Comment has been sought from the Government.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Charges over police car crash

POLICE have charged a New Norfolk man over the allegedly deliberate ramming of a police patrol vehicle.

The 19-year-old man has been charged with negligent driving, injuring property and evading police.

A police spokesman said it would be alleged the man deliberately rammed a marked police vehicle in Park Street, at the junction of Brooker Highway, New Town, about 2pm yesterday.

He appealed for any witnesses to the incident to come forward, particularly the driver of a red Holden Barina that was travelling down Burnett St, North Hobart, earlier in the afternoon.

The accused was due to appear in court this afternoon.

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Kunanyi recognition mounts

A CABLE car proponent's use of the name kunanyi is attention seeking but will help promote the Aboriginal name for Mt Wellington, Tasmania's indigenous community says.

The Mercury revealed today that Adrian Bold had bought the domain name kunanyi.org and several other variations. People who enter the address online are redirected to his Mr Bold's Mt Wellington cable car website.

"It's a rather pathetic attempt to get attention but it's certainly helped us get the issue of the name out there," Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre CEO Heather Sculthorpe said.

Mr Bold yesterday said he hoped to work with the Aboriginal community on the issue of the cable car. He said the project would bring opportunities for better interpretation of the mountain's rich Aboriginal history.

He said he had attempted to have a meeting with the indigenous community.

Ms Sculthorpe said the centre had been emailed today by the Mt Wellington cable car company.

The centre is opposed to development on the mountain, including the long-mooted cable car.

State Aboriginal Affairs Minister Cassy O'Connor has described Mr Bold's use of the name as "disrespectful".

The State Government last week announced a dual naming plan for a range of Tasmanian locations including Mt Wellington (kunanyi), Clarke Island (lungtalanana), Bay or Fires (larapuna) and the Tarkine (takayna).

Past name changes include the Asbestos Range National Park in the state's north, which after seven years of agitation by tourism businesses was changed to Narawntapu in 2000.

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We'll drink to that

TASMANIA'S reputation as the apple isle has been re-ignited with a coterie of new local cider makers working to make this state the nation's cider capital.

Cider is now the fastest-growing alcohol category in Australia and is turning up on the drinks list of high-end restaurants.

Cider Australia says cider already represents 4 per cent of all alcoholic beverages sold. Five years ago, it held just 1.5 per cent of the market.

In the UK, cider comprises 15 per cent of the alcohol market and Cider Australia says there is room left to build the market domestically. Tasmania's cider revival is giving the local food and beverage industry a new niche marketing platform and the apple-growing industry an extra market for factory-grade fruit.

The cider industry and themarket it is targeting have changed considerably since Tasmania's oldest cider, Mercury, was first crafted in 1911 by Frenchman Auguste Bonamy in Hobart's old convict malthouse.

To keep up with the demand for new ciders, Carlton United Breweries has introduced Mercury Artisan made from 100 per cent Tasmanian apples. There are now 11 boutique cider makers in the state and a few more are almost ready to launch their product on to the market.

Most are in the state's traditional apple-growing areas the Huon, Channel and Spreyton area in the North-West.

From organic cider maker Willie Smith to Small Players, Spreyton Cider, Pagan, Inn Cider and Dickens, the new brew of boutique, niche apple and pear ciders are seriously back in vogue.

Lost Pippin cider maker and Tasmania's Cider Australia representative Mark Robertson said the market had not reached saturation point yet and demand was still growing.

Local producers met in Campbell Town recently to discuss plans to form an association to represent the state's cider-makers.

"We are certainly in the grip of a cider revival and it is nothing but positive," Mr Robertson said.

"There are now plans to launch a new cider festival in November this year as part of our push to make Tasmania the No.1 cider destination in Australia."

Mr Robertson said the cider industry's growth was also providing apple growers with new prospects after fierce rationalisation and a drop in production.

"We hope this will stop trees being pulled out," he said.

"Growers have told us this is the most exciting thing to happen in the industry in 20 years."

Lucy Gregg from Fruit Growers Tasmania said while many cider makers were producing from established apple orchards, it was pleasing to see an expanding market for factory and waste fruit.

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Baby's wait for second chance

TARA Anderson has barely left her son's hospital room in four months, while she waits with him -- his tiny yellow fingers wrapped around one of hers -- for his second chance at life.

She has watched the nightly news differently ever since eight-month-old Xander Redman was put on the transplant list for a new a liver.

With fiance Matthew Redman, the young couple left their home and family in Burnie to move into the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital in November.

Their January wedding has been put on hold and their mortgage payments continue to be due.

Ms Anderson is confident Xander's big day will come in time, but the reality of what this joyous day will mean for them is always in her mind.

"I think a lot about what this donation means for another family. It will be an absolute tragedy for them, but for us it means a new life," she said.

Xander has biliary atresia, in which the bile ducts that carry the waste products from the liver are blocked, causing a toxic build-up in his body.

RCH surgeons hoped Xander could be treated with the Kasai procedure, where part of his own intestines would be used to replace the blocked bile duct and delay the need for a new liver.

But once inside, they found Xander's liver was too scarred.

"They told us he needs the transplant now and we wouldn't be going anywhere until he gets one," Ms Anderson said.

Xander has been on the Victorian organ donor list for the past three weeks, a listing doctors initially delayed hoping he could reach the 8kg mark and reduce the risks of surgery.

Despite switching to specialised formulas and pumping nutrients directly into his blood stream, Xander -- who now weighs 5.7kg -- has gained just 200g in four months in hospital.

"He's putting on weight but it's like climbing a mountain, we feel like we're not moving very far," Ms Anderson said.

And so the wait continues.

Each night Ms Anderson sleeps on the couch in Xander's room, while Mr Redman bunks down at Ronald McDonald House before heading to work after Woolworths transferred his job.

"If my son was a different person, we'd be in a different boat as to how we're handling the situation. He makes it so easy for us," she said.

''He really is a true fighter."

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