Latest news with #WayneHarris
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Racing Confidential: Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Wayne Harris recovers from spinal surgery
Wayne Harris, the former champion jockey and popular Sky Thoroughbred Central form expert, is recovering slowly after another major spinal surgery. Harris has had ongoing health issues for some years and been forced to undergo many operations. But he has repeatedly shown remarkable courage to continually overcome his health setbacks. His many friends in the racing industry are hoping he returns to the racetrack very soon. A naturally gifted jockey, Harris won the 1979 Golden Slipper while still an apprentice on Century Miss and later in his career rode Jeune to win the 1994 Melbourne Cup before increasing weight and health problems forced him into retirement. My thoughts to former Jockey Wayne Harris - notably missing from last few weeks covering @kemblaraces - @SkyRacingAU - hopefully he shows improvement soon and we see him back being involved with the Racing he knows and loves. @skyjasonwitham — Anne Munsie (@munsieanne) June 3, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– MICHAEL Wood, Royal Randwick 's respected track manager, is now in charge of Sydney's four racetracks, effectively immediately. Wood, who has held senior roles at Canterbury and Royal Randwick before taking on the track manager role at headquarters in 2019, said he is 'excited to join with the teams' at ATC's four racetracks – Randwick, Rosehill Warwick Farm and Canterbury. 🚨TAB Track Report 🚨 The latest at Royal Randwick ahead of Bob Charley AO Stakes Day. @racing_nsw | @tabcomau | @SkyRacingAU | @7horseracing 🎟ï¸�Tickets: â›…ï¸� Weather Tracker: — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) June 5, 2025 • Randwick Turf Talk: Saturday's best bet has a Contemporary feel 'The four tracks all have their points of difference and their own challenges,'' Wood said. 'For example, Warwick Farm has 800-odd horses in training so there's a massive focus on the training tracks there. 'I'm looking forward to the role and getting out to the other tracks more regularly. I think it also shows the ATC's commitment to providing quality racetracks and training surfaces.'' ATC's Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani confirmed Wood's appointment on Thursday. 'Michael has a wealth of experience and knowledge around racing and track management, and we are delighted to extend his role,'' Ramdhani said. 'Michael is well respected by his colleagues and the industry, and he will work closely with all of the teams at ATC's four racecourses and five tracks to continue to deliver Sydney's world class racing.'' â– â– â– â– â– PRIVATE Eye, racing's $11.9 million earner, will be the star attraction at the Rosehill barrier trials session on Friday. Trainer Joe Pride elected to trial Private Eye rather than start him in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
After 40 Years, Ontario Finally Recognizes Injured Workers' Day
TORONTO and LONDON, Ontario and OSHAWA, Ontario and PETERBOROUGH, Ontario and THUNDER BAY, Ontario, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Injured & ill workers will gather at Queen's Park and across the province as they have done every June 1st for 43 summers. This year, however, they come together for the first ever provincially proclaimed Injured Workers' Day, thanks to the passage of Bill 118 – The Injured Workers' Day Act. 'Making Injured Workers' Day official helps make our long-term struggle visible in Ontario,' says Janet Paterson, president of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups, 'but until it is accompanied by meaningful action to help address the poverty we face, it isn't enough.' In the last year alone, the Ontario Government and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have handed over $4.5 billion dollars in 'rebates' to employers – bringing the total handouts to over $20 billion since 2017 – while overall benefits paid to workers are near historic lows amidst a culture of claims denial, claims suppression, and benefit cuts by the WSIB and rich employers. For too many workers in Ontario, an injury means poverty and pain. 'This is the Premier and the WSIB reaching into injured workers' pockets and taking our money in order to hand it over to their rich friends – the bosses who did this to us in the first place,' said Wayne Harris, executive vice-president for ONIWG. 'These are not taxpayer dollars, they comes from a fund that employers pay into that is meant to look after the workers that they injure.' Injured, ill, and migrant workers demand that this reckless practice of corporate handouts ends until their basic needs are met. The government and WSIB must immediately: Stop 'deeming' injured workers by pretending we have jobs that we can't get. Provide real healthcare to injured & ill workers. Stop practices that systematically discriminate against migrant workers. This year's Injured Workers' Day events took place in six cities. Details below. Event Details & Media Contacts Toronto: June 1st • Queen's Park • 11am to 1pm Provincial Media Coordinator – Matthew Pi: 416-461-2423 London: June 1st • Victoria Park • 11am to 1pm • Northwest CornerRally organizer Kevin Jones – Home phone: 519- 936-6715Kevin will also be available at event for media inquiries Oshawa: *THURSDAY MAY 29th • Justice for Injured Workers Event hosted by Durham Regional Labour Council • 6:30pm – 8:30pm • IBEW East Hall • 1001 Ritson Rd. VP Wayne Harris: 289-830-2103 Peterborough: June 1st • Millennium Park • Noon • North end of the pathwayPeterborough Occupational Disease Action Committee Rep Sue James: 705-876-1150 Thunder Bay: *FRIDAY MAY 30th • City Hall • 10am. ONIWG VP Eugene Lafrancois: 807-767-7827 Windsor: June 1st • Corner of Ouellette & Tecumseh • 11am • At the flagpoleONIWG VP Liz Garant: 226-961-3906Sign in to access your portfolio
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore to launch AI-enhanced 911 system during Artscape festival
As downtown Baltimore prepares to host one of the city's biggest events of the year, emergency responders are rolling out a new artificial intelligence-powered tool aimed at improving safety and response times during large-scale events. Baltimore's 911 Call and Dispatch Center will officially launch the system during this weekend's Artscape festival, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. Officials say the technology has been in development for more than a year and is designed to provide faster, smarter, and more precise emergency responses. "This is the kickoff to our busiest season in public safety," said Tenea Reddick, Baltimore's 911 Director. "This was the one time where we said, 'Let's get it done. No better weekend to do it than Artscape.'" How does it work? The new system integrates AI with geolocation and real-time call routing. During the event, a team of dedicated dispatchers working from the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be able to pinpoint incidents with zone-specific accuracy across all seven designated Artscape areas. Using remote call-taking and geofencing technology, calls originating from the festival can be separated from the city's regular call volume, helping to ease strain on the broader 911 system. "This is the first time a city of our scale, with the call volume we manage, has done something like this," said Wayne Harris, Baltimore's 911 Operations Manager. "We felt Artscape was the perfect time to test the technology." Reddick also noted the system includes real-time language translation features to assist non-English speakers, allowing dispatchers to communicate instantly in Spanish, French, Arabic, and other languages. Baltimore's 911 center handles more than 1.4 million calls each year — about 3,500 a day. Officials say this new tool will allow them to isolate high-traffic event-related calls while maintaining service levels across the rest of the city. Following Artscape, the system is expected to be deployed at other major events in the city, including AFRAM and winter festivals. "If you're at Artscape and you call 911, nothing changes for you," Harris said. "But behind the scenes, we're using this new system to make sure your call gets answered and help arrives faster." The AI rollout marks another step in the city's push toward smart city technologies aimed at improving public safety and government response.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The Reef House: The unassuming Aussie hideaway named BEST luxury hotel in the country for 2025
A stunning Queensland escape has added yet another award to its collection after taking out gold at the Australian Tourism Awards. The Reef House, an adults-only retreat in North Queensland, has been a go-to for those in the know for 47 years - yet many still walk right past, unaware of its existence. Beloved for its outstanding customer service and down to earth yet high-end hospitality, it came as no surprise when it was named Australia's best five star luxury accommodation. The latest accolade comes after a very successful 2024 for the hotel, which won number one luxury hotel on TripAdvisor, number one hotel in the South Pacific and Australia and North Queensland Restaurant of the Year. The Reef House Director, Malcolm Bean, congratulated the hotel's team, led by General Manager Wayne Harris, for their commitment to customer service. 'It is an honour to have The Reef House Adults Retreat recognised by the tourism industry as the best five-star luxury accommodation in Australia for the second year in a row after entering the Hall of Fame at the Queensland Tourism Awards in November for three consecutive wins,' he said. 'Our vision for an adults-only wellness resort that delivers remarkable customer service with more than 28 complimentary Signature Inclusions is resounding with travellers who return again and again. 'Returns continue to grow with 36 per cent of our guests repeat visitors.' Among the inclusions he mentioned are a pool butler serving cold towels and tropical sorbets and the General Manager hosting punch and canapes each evening at the Brigadier's Honesty Bar. There are also interactive cocktail classes twice per week, a bottle of sparkling in every room, a sommelier wine appreciation experience, escape planning specialists, a dedicated wine room, a curated room arrival with music and oil burners and countless activities like yoga, aqua aerobics and breathing classes. Rich in history, the hotel was built in 1958 and one of the first Palm Cove properties. It was operated by Brigadier David Thomson as a private residence where visitors were treated as personal guests; guests include countless Aussie celebrities and politicians. The hotel's accommodation options cover a broad range of rooms, suites and apartments suiting couples, singles or small groups of every size and interest. Of the 67 rooms and suites (starting at $623 a night depending on the time of year), guest favourites include the Verandah King Spa Suite, Ocean View King Room and Melaleuca King Spa Room. There are also two swimming pools, the tranquility pool and heated mineral pool, the award-winning Reef House Restaurant and Day Spa, a personal concierge service and unlimited use of vintage cruiser bikes and fishing rods. 'Over the past 15 years we have continued to develop The Reef House Adults Retreat business model and create a new category of a "Full Service Adults Retreat" that is unique in Australia,' Mr Bean continued. 'Investment in traditional customer service is the primary focus, with multiple in-house experiences included to offer guests value, and an adults-only policy to ensure rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.' And the reviews speak for themselves, with hundreds of delighted guests rating their experience an 'easy five stars'. 'The service was impeccable at the resort. The staff were super friendly and the facilities were phenomenal,' a recent guest gushed. 'This place is amazing,' another echoed. 'We are locals and have always wanted to stay. When a special came up we jumped at the chance and we were not disappointed. The service is like no where else I have ever visited and is the stand out. 'We felt like VIPs and are so sad that we didn't stay longer. The food was amazing, drinks were amazing, bed was amazing, pools amazing. Can't stop thinking about our stay and cannot wait to go back.' One more added: 'This was our second time at the reef house after two years and that was far too long without the rest, rejuvenation, and relaxation that The Reef House has to offer. 'Our stay would not be the same without the amazing staff that go above and beyond for us every time. We can't wait to come back to our little slice of paradise that is The Reef House. 'Words can not describe the love we have for the team, they make us feel like family.'
