Hair Raising Event Saves Lives

Co-founder of the World's Greatest Shave for a Cure, Loma Graydon (centre) with the staff at Southern Cross University's Law School, who dyed their hair purple to raise funds

Loma Graydon knows all too well the affect leukaemia can have on a family - the memory of her late husband Eric, who died from leukaemia in 1999, still brings tears to her eyes.

During his treatment Eric lost most of his hair, so Loma and her daughter, Cathy Mooney, decided to shave their heads to lift his spirits. They also decided to get people to sponsor the shave to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation, which had provided them with accommodation throughout Eric's treatment in Brisbane.

Astounded by the amount of money people gave, Loma and Cathy decided to take the event public - and thus began the World's Greatest Shave for a Cure. They hope this Saturday's shave will be the biggest yet and their fundraising target is $120,000.

"The first time we shaved out heads it was a very personal thing for us to do and we never dreamt it could become this big," said Cathy.

"We've seen the effects of leukaemia on a person we love, and nothing gets you more motivated to help others in the same predicament," Loma added.

"The treatment is very severe and the side effects are substantial. If the Shave for a Cure can prevent just one person having to go through what Eric went through it's more than worth it."

In its first year the shave was a huge success and Loma and Cathy raised an astounding $80,000, and set a world record for the largest number of heads shaved in 30 hours - 200 heads in total.

A group in Darwin has since shaved 300 heads in 30 hours so this weekend Loma and Cathy are determined to set a new world record at 350.

People can shave or colour their hair between 12pm this Friday and 6pm, Saturday, May 12. The main event will take place on Saturday at Humbly Oval (opposite Lismore Shopping Square) from 10am-4pm. Anyone game enough to have a bald noggin is encouraged to turn up on the day and if you're not game, dye your hair instead (though it won't count in the record attempt).

The family day will feature entertainment by local live bands and the Summerland Rockers. Kids can check out speedway and fire truck displays or enjoy a train ride. There's a BBQ lunch courtesy of Apex. For more info phone Cathy on 6621 8518.

Terra Sword

Man bites dog: drug searches 'illegal'

A Lismore barrister has claimed that people searched by the police after being singled out by a drug detection dog, but found to have no drugs on them, may be entitled to civil damages because the search was illegal.

Barrister Peter O'Connor has told The Echo that following court rulings against helicopter drug raids by Police, the use of a sniffer dog as the basis for suspicion, which allows police to search people, is also illegal.

"The legal profession has been saying for 10 years that helicopter raids are illegal and successive magistrates have upheld that view. Yet the tactic for the sniffer dog seems to be based on similar actions by the police," Mr O'Connor said.

"The dogs are known by the police to react to more things than drugs on a person. It's quite humiliating to be subjected to a search and I believe there are good arguments to say the search is illegal and repressive. Therefore anyone found to have no drugs on them could most likely lodge a civil action against police for damages."

Mr O'Connor said that anyone stopped for a search should cooperate with the directions given by police, then challenge the matter when it gets to court.

The barrister's analysis does not bode well for Police service budgets should the staff of a Lismore business decide to take the matter further.

One Magellan Street retailer, who asked not to be identified, has been left shocked and humiliated after the sniffer dog and its handler entered the shop last Thursday afternoon.

The female dog handler asked one of the employees if they had drugs in their pocket in front of customers, leaving the employee embarrassed and angry.

"The police were very polite and made a request for permission before they did anything, but I'm worried about my reputation and the image of the business," the employee said.

"When the dog came in it sniffed around and seemed to be more in control than its handler. The officer asked if she could check the place out and I said I had to ask my boss. I went to get him and when I got back, the dog started to get really interested in my pockets.

"There were two customers in the store when she said 'Have you got any illegal drugs on you?'

"I said, 'Listen, I don't have any drugs on me and you can search me if you like' - it's not what I wanted to say, but what can you do? You're stuffed if you do, but stuffed if you don't - now everyone thinks we sell drugs here!"

He emptied his pockets for the police before asking if he could return to serving the customers.

"She said it could just be the residual smell from someone being in the shop. I said yeah, of course, it's the second Thursday of the month.

"She said 'what do you mean?' and I said 'It's feral Thursday' - she clearly didn't have a clue what goes on in this town."

The drama continued when the manager of the store came out and the dog also took an interest in his pockets.

"My first reaction was shock, but as it started to sink in, I realised we had customers in the store and started to realise the repercussions for our reputation. I mean, the other retailers think it's funny, but what's the long term effect on this business of having the sniffer dogs in here when you're innocent," he said.

Lismore lawyer Ralph James is already running a test case following recent arrests using the sniffer dog in Byron Bay. He believes police will drop the charges rather than have the legality of the searches tested in court.

Mr James is defending Nimbin identity Rusty Harris, who was arrested in Byron Bay on drugs charges and has pleaded not guilty.

Last week 14 of 31 cases came before Byron Court, and half the defendants, primarily tourists from overseas, did not appear and were found guilty and fined.

Mr James has issued a subpoena on police to seek briefing notes for the Byron operation and the credentials of work for the drug detection dog.

"I'm aware that in South Australia the police have dropped charges when they've been challenged because they're unsure of the legality of the searches," he said.

"The police base their suspicion for a search on one of the senses used by the dog. Now if I was to walk up to you as a human and start sniffing you, that is an assault and that is illegal.

"I'll bet my bottom dollar that police will withdraw the charges, but this won't go away from our point of view and I'd like anyone else who wants to run similar cases to come and see us," Mr James said.

Simon Thomsen