Tom Griffiths of Lyons with a photograph of his deceased wife, Carol. Photo: Graham Tidy.
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A Canberra man who had to watch his wife die twice at the Canberra Hospital says he hopes no other family has to go through the same trauma.
Lyons man Tom Griffiths says he wished he had more information and support from the hospital to understand that he could possibly have stayed longer with his wife the first time he was informed she had passed away.
He also has concerns about the treatment options for his wife of 47 years, Carol, who died 27 days after being admitted to the hospital in May, 2012.
- A new opinion poll commissioned by the trade union movement shows more Canberrans oppose light rail than support construction, despite the government's earlier claims of public popularity.
- Labor leader Bill Shorten's moment of truth before the royal commission into trade unions has been brought forward to July 8, and the federal opposition leader is likely to appear more than once.
- Women working in the Australian public service face a dramatic cut to their maternity leave rights because of the government policy confusion on the issue, a leading workplace academic has said.
- New jobs data reveals which industries are winning and losing in the Canberra economy, with fewer jobs opening up in hospitality, retail, and heath, and more jobs added in construction, professional services and education.
- National Capital Authority chief executive Malcolm Snow says his organisation will block the ACT government's $783 million light rail project if it believes Northbourne Avenue will end up looking like two kilometres of "scorched earth".
- Online shoppers could face a 250 per cent price hike when buying bargain goods from overseas if the big retailers win the fight to lower the GST threshold.
Green machine: Joey Leilua completed his first training session with the Canberra Raiders on Thursday. Photo: Jamila Toderas.
Joey Leilua quit Newcastle because they couldn't guarantee him a round one first grade spot, but the centre is adamant he doesn't expect to be gifted a saloon passage into the Canberra Raiders line-up.
Speaking after completing his first training session as a Raider on Thursday, Leilua declared he wants to earn the trust of his new club and doesn't expect any special favours.
- As a player, Stephen Larkham used to hate the rolling maul, but now the ACT Brumbies coach is a big fan of what has become one of his biggest attacking weapons.
- A Nate Myles shot on Paul Gallen has left the NSW skipper in doubt for the State of Origin decider.
- North Queensland Cowboys coach Paul Green has emphatically quashed any chance of James Tamou joining the Canberra Raiders next year, declaring "Jimmy is not going anywhere".
- It's the women's equivalent of stopping Lionel Messi and that unenviable job will fall upon the Matildas' defensive midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight, when she goes head to head with Brazil's Marta on Monday.
- Swimming Australia says there is unlikely to be an expedited hearing for Kylie Palmer as the Olympic gold medalist begins to formulate a defence against accusations of doping at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona.
10:11am: Police say traffic seems to be flowing after an earlier collision between a bus and a car near the Belconnen bus interchange earlier this morning. Police are waiting on tow trucks.
Drive safely and enjoy the rest of your day.
9:49am: Drive carefully around London Circuit and Edinburgh Avenue in the city too. Firefighters are investigating a smoke smell at the Metropolitan Apartments.
9:45am: Police say a bus and a car have collided at the Belconnen bus interchange at Benjamin Way.
The crash has blocked traffic heading south on Cohen Street and north on Lathlain Street towards the interchange.
An ambulance is on the scene but police say there doesn't appear to be any serious injuries.
9:35am: Watch out if you're at or near the Belconnen bus interchange - it looks like there's been a crash there, near Benjamin Way and Swanson Court.
9:23am: Oaks Estate Crossing has been re-opened after wet weather forced its closure on Thursday. But Sunshine Road has been closed due to recent rain and Angle Crossing remains closed.
9:08am: Firefighters have extinguished a fire inside a Lonsdale Street building in Braddon, the Emergency Services Agency says. The fire was on the fifth level of the Mode 3 Apartments. Be careful if you're travelling through the area.
7:27am: Two cars collided on State Circle near St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, police say, but it was only a minor crash, according to the Emergency Services Agency.
7:01am: Police say there's been a crash on State Circle - we think it's out the front of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church between Canberra Avenue and Sydney Avenue but we're awaiting confirmation. We'll bring you more details as they come but let us know if you've seen anything.
Asphalt resurfacing works at the Hoskins Street and Sanford Street intersection in Mitchell on Sunday between 6am and 6pm will close Sandford Street eastbound between Hoskins Street and the Norwood Park Crematorium, and westbound between Hoskins Street and Grimwade Street.
Hoskins Street northbound will also be closed at Sandford Street, and southbound between Sandford Street to near Brookes Street.
Drive safely on your commute and let us know if you see any traffic problems on the roads via @canberratimes, but only when its safe to do so.
The Alliance Francaise is hosting a free concert, including a New Orleans blues band, jazz and French songs, and a string quartet from 6pm at 66 McCaughey Street, Turner. See facebook.com.
Head to Mount Stromlo Observatory for a free public astronomy night and get a tour of the cosmos. There's a talk from astronomy professor Paul Francis, whose popular lectures have nearly 1 million views on YouTube. Rug up from 7pm. See anu.edu.au
YouTube comedy stars Superwog present their new live stage show Talk S--- Get Hit. Canberra Theatre Centre at 7.30pm. Tickets $39.90-$49.90 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
The Canberra Repertory Society opens its season of the stage adaptation of Casanova tonight at Theatre 3, featuring music, dance, comedy and all the elements of magical realism. Tickets: adult $42/concession $36 from canberrarep.org.au at 8pm.
Plan the rest of your weekend here.
Brad Napoleon Pillans at a Battle of Waterloo in Canberra. Photo: Canberra Times.
With the Great War and its commemorations on the minds of all thinking readers a timely new book has emerged, Ian Warden writes in today's Gang-Gang.
It is Dr Michael Molkentin's Australia And The War In The Air, dealing with the almost unsung subject of Australia's Great War magnificent men in flying machines.
And while on battle matters - as much nattered about here in recent days this week brings the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
Canberra will have its own (virtual) Battle of Waterloo this Sunday with a gathering of splendid French versus British cars from 10am to 3pm at Rond Terrace.
Click through for more David Pope.
A cold water fountain in civic. Photo: Graham Hine.
Share your best seasonal weather images in The Canberra Times winter photo competition, and have the chance to see your photos published and share in $1000 of prizes.
To enter, send a maximum of three photos to photocomp@canberratimes.com.au as attached JPEG files and include your name, address, phone number, photo title, a description of the photo and the date it was taken.
The competition closes on August 31.
Today: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 4, Max 13.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Areas of morning frost. Light winds. Min 0, Max 13.
Sunday: Patchy morning fog. Areas of morning frost. Sunny day. Light winds. Min -5, Max 13.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Areas of fog and frost in the morning. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Min -2, Max 12.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h. Min -1, Max 15.
Wednesday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds. Min 1, Max 14.
Thursday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning. Min 1, Max 13.
