08 NEWS SUNDAY OCTOBER 25 2015 THEMERCURY.COM.AU

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BIG DAY: Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, third left, Community Housing managing director Steve Bevington, centre, and boxer Daniel Geale, second right, with the four scholarship winners, from left, Sam Kopper, Callum Harrison, Legana Hughes and Hamish Wooders at the ceremony in Launceston.

DANGEROUS father-and-son fugitives Gino and MarkStocco have probably brokenthrough police barriers as themanhunt widens.

Police have conceded theduo might have slippedthrough police checkpointsand fled Victoria after ram-ming a police vehicle at StJames on Thursday.

Investigators have not ruledout that the armed fugitiveshave escaped to South Austra-lia but Victoria Police AssistantCommissioner Rick Nugentsaid, “We don’t believe so.’’

The Stoccos are wanted forviolent crimes in three states.The latest hunt has entered itsninth day and police are focus-ing on the north-eastern areasof Wangaratta and Benalla.

Police will keep searchingWarby-Ovens National Park,saying the armed duo might bebreaking into and staying atvacant holiday homes.

Assistant CommissionerNugent described the fugitivesas cunning “modern-daybushrangers” who werebelieved to be hiding in thebush to avoid being seen.

Hunt for father-son ‘bushrangers’ widens

Sports giants go in to bat for kidsDUNCAN ABEY

HEROES: Aussie cricket great Ricky Ponting, left, and boxer Daniel Geale at the ceremony. Pictures: CHRIS CRERAR

TASMANIAN stars DanielGeale and Ricky Ponting havereturned to their Launcestonroots to give the next gener-ation of talent a sportingchance at a brighter future.

The world-class Rocherleapugilist and the batsman onceknown as the Mowbray Maul-er were back in their birthplaceto present Community Hous-ing scholarships to 12 to 18-year-old residents showingpromise in the performing arts,sports and education.

Recipient Callum Harrison,17, an aspiring cricketer andAustralian rules footballer,said he was overwhelmed tohave met his heroes, andrevealed some of the tips theygave about achieving success.

“They both spoke to meabout the importance of sur-rounding yourself with theright people,” Callum, who ison track to play senior footballwith the Northern Bombersnext year, said.

“I think I am lucky that I’vealready got really good supportfrom my parents and family.

“This scholarship means alot, especially as there were somany other kids here thatcould have won it.”

Community Housing man-aging director Steve Bevingtonsaid each successful applicant— who had to hail from thesuburbs of Ravenswood,Waverley, Rocherlea, Mayfieldor Mowbray — put forward aheartwarming and compellingapplication to secure theirscholarship.

“The kids in these com-munities have huge potentialand aspirations and we want to

support them to fulfil them,”Mr Bevington said.

“We recognise the financialbarriers that can hinder enrol-ment into study for disadvan-taged and vulnerable youngadults and, without monetarysupport, they often miss out onopportunities and stay in thepoverty cycle. We are attemp-ting to change that.

“It is an exciting day forthese young adults as they notonly get the scholarship topursue their dream but theyalso get to meet their rolemodels in Ricky and Daniel.

“We are grateful to them fortaking time out of their busyschedules to come downespecially for this ceremony.”

Congratulating the fourwinners — Hamish Wooders,Legana Hughes, Sam Kopperand Callum — Bass LiberalMHA Sarah Courtney saidthe Better Housing Futuresprogram had been a major stepforward.

“This is a perfect exampleof community not-for-profitgroups transforming thecommunity housing portfolio,”she said.

INDONESIA has put a halt onfurther executions six monthsafter killing the Bali Nine duoby firing squad.

The nation’s attorney-general, HM Prasetyo, told theJakarta Post executions wouldnot be carried out until thecountry emerged from itseconomic slowdown amidfears further killings could trig-ger an international outcry.

The move comes after BaliNine ringleaders AndrewChan and Myuran Sukumarandied by firing squad in April.

They had served a decade inBali’s notorious KerobokanPrison after being convicted oftrafficking heroin in 2005.

Mr Prasetyo said execu-tions were likely to be delayeduntil next year because an out-cry could detail President JokoWidodo’s economic plans.

“The Attorney-General’sOffice is currently helping theGovernment in prioritising theeconomy,” he said.

Chan and Sukumaran’sdeaths sparked internationaloutrage.

Worried Indonesia halts executions

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