Fine over soldier’s death
The Defence Department has been fined $1 million over the death of a Geelong soldier in a live-fire training exercise in 2017.
Private Jason Challis was killed in May 2017 at Mount Bundey training area, south of Darwin, when he was shot in the head after becoming separated from the rest of his unit during the exercise.
A Darwin Local Court handed down the fine this week after the Australian Army pleaded guilty in May for failing to comply with a health and safety duty.
Grants near $1 million
Surf Coast Shire Council’s COVID-19 recovery assistance program has allocated nearly $1 million to various community and business initiatives since June, 2020.
A summary of the program, discussed in last Tuesday’s council meeting, highlighted $952,621 in grants allocated from the program.
Mental health trial
Deakin University and Barwon Health are calling for participants in a new Geelong-based mental health trial.
The trial offers an eight-week, group-based, telehealth program for adults feeling distress from the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce their mental health symptoms. Details: calm@deakin.edu.au
