After going through a virus attack, losing a hard drive, fighting off hackers, upgrading all my software, installing fire-walls, replacing the mother board,  replacing the CD drive, adding more RAM, being threatened with being cut-off by my internet provider and my email provider, and a host of other problems...I have fixed my computer...

Cars and car parts GST free.

Terry (Tezza) Walker, an ex Army WO mate, a bloke who used to toss great big bombs from great big guns, gave us this info, and we're only too happy to pass it on.

If you are a TPI veteran to whom section 24 of the Veteran’s Entitlements Act 1986 applies and you receive, or are eligible to receive, a Special Rate Disability Pension, or due to your military service you:

■ have lost a leg or both arms, or
■ have had a leg or both arms rendered permanently and completely useless.

you are entitled to several benefits when buying or leasing either a new or second hand car or when buying parts for your car. Many will be aware of these benefits, but for those that aren't, we outline them here.

■ You can buy or lease a car which has a value less than the luxury car tax threshold, and not be charged GST. If you purchase a car which is more expensive than the luxury car tax threshold you will only pay GST on the difference. You must use the car for your personal transportation for a period of two years or until the car has travelled 40,000 kilometres from the date of purchase/lease, after which you can sell it and buy another, also GST free.

■ If you need parts for your car you can purchase these parts GST free. Car parts include items such as batteries, brake pads/shoes, tyres, oil/petrol filters, fuel pumps, LPG conversion kits, spark plugs, injectors, water pumps, hoses, windscreens, light globes, etc. Items such as oil, grease, paint, hydraulic fluid, radiator additives, refrigerant gas, petrol additives, brake fluid and petrol are not car parts and are not GST-free.

To obtain the benefit for either the car or parts, you must fill in the ATO form NAT 3418-11.2006 (copy available here) and present that to the person from whom you are buying either the car or the parts. You can read further info here.

Canberra

John Webster, who was a framie with 35 Sqn from May 1967 to May 1968, and wife Judy, recently moved from sunny Queensland to (at times) cold old Canberra - though no one really understands why, after all, it's completely against the national trend.... John thought he would just sneak into Canberra quietly and no one would notice but no, that wasn't to be. The movers and shakers in the capital heard of the move and arranged a welcoming celebration. John, pictured here on the right with some of the welcoming party, said he was quite surprised at the welcome he and his wife received and had to argue quite convincingly against the Federal Government which wanted to declare the occasion an on-going public holiday.

John says he is really looking forward to shovelling snow and ice from his drive way each June, July and August, and is looking forward to wearing overcoats, gloves, boots and scarves most of the time - much better than stubbies and thongs he reckons. He says he has grown quite fond of the flies that rest on your back in their millions and while outdoors he has learned to do the 2 hand salute quite efficiently and to keep his mouth closed at all times. All his mates, who gather at the Port Office each April, will miss him...