Shamed for licking the ear of a nurse while visiting his elderly mum at an aged care home, Joseph McDonald says he now feels extreme remorse. Bundaberg Magistrates Court heard that McDonald, 58, believed he and the nurse had been having “friendly cheeky banter” during his visits when he sniffed her neck then stuck his tongue in her ear. McDonald, from Bargara, pleaded guilty to assaulting the 23-year-old nurse on July 7 at a Nambour aged care facility. Prosecutor Senior Constable Andrew Blunt said the assault at 6.10pm happened when the nurse was backing a trolley out from a nursing station. McDonald gave her a hug, laid his head on her neck – sniffing it – “then stuck his tongue in her ear, he did it for a period of time”. Snr Cnst Blunt said McDonald had continued, the nurse in shock. A second nurse arrived with medication for another patient and when told it was a blood thinner, McDonald said: “I don’t think I need it as my blood is going to one area”. Snr Cnst Blunt said McDonald made admissions to police, saying he placed his tongue in her ear as he thought it was a cheeky friendship with the nurse and he was a very friendly person. He told officers that by his blood comment he meant that it was going to his face as he was blushing. Defence lawyer Rian Dwyer said McDonald says it was friendly cheeky banter. “He wants to apologise to her but does not want to cause further uncomfortableness,” Mr Ryan said. Magistrate Belinda Merrin said he knew the nurse for a couple of months and says he had a cheeky relationship, had put his tongue in her ear and she had tried to pull away. Ms Merrin said there was a level of persistence in the exchange. And the comment about the blood could have been taken by the complainant in context as something else. “A good behaviour bond is not appropriate. It involves a young lady at work and you subjected her to quite disgusting behaviour,” she said. “How you could believe she would want you licking in her ear I really struggle to understand.”
August 23, 2017
An application by Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation & New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association (s.229 – Application for a bargaining order) will be determined by Commissioner Johns in his Sydney chambers at 4.30pm.
August 23, 2017
An application by Health Services Union (s.473 – Application for an order relating to certain partial work bans) will be reviewed today by Commissioner Cribb in court 12 – level 5 in Melbourne.
August 23, 2017
An inquest into the death of an elderly woman housed in a near-freezing Tasmanian shipping container has been told she needed high-level care. Janet Mackozdi, 77, died of hypothermia in July 2010 while spending one night sleeping in the converted container at her daughter and son-in-law’s Mount Lloyd property. Five years later, Jassy Anglin and husband Michael Anglin were convicted of Ms Mackozdi’s manslaughter. An inquest into her death is examining broader issues of elder abuse and whether her family withheld care intentionally and depleted her money for their personal use. On Tuesday, it heard from a social worker who gave an aged care assessment of Ms Mackozdi the year before her death after she had fractured her neck. Social worker Merrilyn Orr found she needed “a high level of care” and assistance eating. Ms Orr said it was her opinion 24-hour care was required even after Ms Mackozdi’s neck brace was removed. She had dementia and mobility problems and weighed just 40kg. Ms Mackozdi was placed in a bed in the shipping container on a July night in 2010 as the family’s dilapidated hut was full of boxes from moving house. It is estimated the temperature dropped to as low as 0.1C overnight. Ms Mackozdi’s body was found the next morning. The Anglins drove her to Royal Hobart Hospital but initially claimed she had died on a road trip to Mount Field National Park. On Monday, Constable Nicholas Monk, said the converted shipping container had inch-wide gaps around the door. Ms Mackozdi’s financial planners, as well as doctors, health staff and friends and family, are expected to give evidence to the inquest.
August 23, 2017
The Health Services Union and Melbourne IVF will contest a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Crbb in conference room E & F – level 6 in Melbourne after lunch.
August 23, 2017
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. for its St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. Ambulance Enterprise Agreement 2016-2019 has been approved by Commissioner Saunders in Newcastle on 22 August 2017.
August 22, 2017
The Health Services Union and Providing All Living Supports (PALS) Inc have a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Cribb in conference room E & F – level 6 at 10am.
August 22, 2017
The City of Sydney RSL & Community Club Limited and Balgowan are involved in a s.604 (Appeal of decisions) before Deputy President Clancy in court 9 – level 5 in Melbourne today.
