AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD posted Monday 21st February 2005

Much to my surprise I was honored with an Australia Day award for community service from the Cardinia Shire Council. I didn't expect recognition for something I enjoy doing but i'm very proud to be thought of as a contributing member of the community.

Over the past year or so, not only have I tried to devote as much attention to Micky Ha Ha as I can, but also to a few other projects in the community.

A number of people contacted me asking for help with ideas or inventions that they had, as they didn’t know where to go or what to do. I was only too happy to help. I know how hard and frustrating it can be in the early stages. A few people had also been ‘burnt’ by invention companies that gave them lots of promises and no results. Except for an empty wallet, that is.

In most cases I’ve been able to direct these people to the right areas and organizations and also assist with things like paperwork and prototypes. I’m pleased to say that a couple of them are really progressing well. It’s terrific that I can use the knowledge that I've gained over the past few years and maybe make the process a bit easier for others.

As well as that, I’ve been doing talks at Schools, clubs and unemployment groups on inventing and the process you have to go through. I hope it gives them another option or maybe makes them see that if you put your mind to something and want it bad enough, that it can happen.

I enjoy this side of things and it’s very satisfying being able to volunteer my time to try and help others.

Cheers

Cath

FAMILY CIRCLE MAGAZINE-'WOMEN WHO DARE' AWARDS posted October 2004

Category winner

Victoria / Tasmania work category.

Each year Family Circle, Target and L’Oreal of Paris go on the search for women who have strived to achieve something in either their work, personal lives or in the community. I never imagined that I would be nominated for the work category but I must admit, I was chuffed when they rang and told me.

I’ve tried to work hard to bring Micky Ha Ha to life and maybe sometimes the ‘dare’ factor came into it, but after reading the achievements of some of the other women, I felt very honored to even be nominated and really didn’t think I had a chance to go any further.

There were thousands of nominations from all over the country and these women have really done some amazing things.

When they rang again to let me know I was the work category winner for Victoria / Tasmania, I almost fell off my chair. I didn’t believe her at first and had to get her to tell me twice.

All of the category winners were featured in the November issue of Family Circle and Micky and Amy were tickled pink to have their picture in a magazine. Micky thinks he’s a celebrity.

I feel very honored to be placed within this group of incredible women and I hope it inspires others to get up and have a go. You never know what you’re going to achieve.

Cheers

Cath

CELEBRATING MELBOURNE AWARDS posted Monday 29th August 2004

On Friday 27th August my husband Ralph and I were honored to be guests of The Rt. Hon. John So at the annual Celebrating Melbourne Awards.

The gala night was held at the Melbourne Town Hall and was a spectacular evening.

The Hon Ken Smith M.L.A. and his office nominated us for the manufacturing category and although we didn’t win the award, we received an honorable mention, as the voting was apparently very tight.

The evening was a black tie affair hosted by Lavinia Nixon and Peter Hitchener with Marina Prior and others providing the entertainment, which considering i'm a great fan of hers, was wonderful. The diner was lovely as was the wine and it gave us a chance to chat to some very interesting and influential people about Micky Ha Ha and how it’s all going.

Lavinia Nixon with Ralph and Cath

The judging process was interesting in such that the Judges came out to personally interview you and in our case they interviewed Micky and myself.

Having the Marketing Manager of Channel Nine, the Technology Editor of the Business Review Weekly and others all sitting around my kitchen table drinking coffee and chatting to the kids is a highlight I wont forget in a while. (Who said you cant be a stay at home mum and be in business as well).

The City of Melbourne and the Eureka foundation have now asked me to be a judge for next year. Now that will be an interesting experience.

Cheers

Cath

SOME FEEDBACK FROM CUSTOMERS Updated Wednesday18th August, 2004

Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 2:48 PM

Subject: Micky Ha Ha Power Point Safety Covers

Hi,   Thanks for your quick response.   This weekend I will be fitting this great invention to three homes (Mummy & Daddy - Nan & Pop - Grandma & Grandad)   When I got the checkout the couple in front of me were curious about what I was purchasing so I gave them a quick demo and they dropped out of the queue to go and get 6 for their house!   Who was it that said "build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door"?   Congratulations on a great product.   John (AKA Grandad)

Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 3:11 PM
Subject: Power Point covers

Mum and Dad put me onto your product that they had seen on TV. I have an 18 month old and I have been calling electrical companies, electricity providers and electricians for months looking for something exactly like your product.
Congratulations on a job well done! I can't wait to try it out.
Anita Sullivan.

Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 8:39 PM

Dear Catherine,
We were in Bunnings today on the Gold Coast looking for something that we could use on the power points, as the new house has a couple that can't be covered by furniture. We saw your product and thought that it was a great idea. One of our daughters Daniella, is very active and loves getting into everything especially pulling out the power cords to the tv and at the moment the heater and loves to plug them back in. So they are now covered. We are going to buy more and will also place one over the antenna outlet, not that this is a worry.
So thank you for your wonderful product.
The Chapman Family..

Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 12:30 PM
Subject: Thanks

Just wanted to say congratulations!
I saw the segment on current affair about the Power Point safety cover.........we have now purchased a couple as protection from our little grandsons enquiring mind. We have also recommended it to several people.
Good on you for persevering and following through with a great idea!
Thanks
Jan

LAUNCH OF MICKY HA HA posted Monday May 24th, 2004

CARLTON FOOTBALL CLUB, AGL AND BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE TEAM UP FOR CHILD SAFETY
The Carlton Football Club and two of their AFL stars, Anthony Koutoufides and Lance Whitnall, teamed up with their clubs sponsor, electrical and gas supplier, AGL and national home wares retailer Bunnings Warehouse who believe a Melbourne mother has kicked a goal with her invention to protect children from electric shocks from power points.
On a glorious Melbourne Autumn morning, Kouta was joined by teammate Lance Whitnall, both fathers of young children, and 130 children to help kick off the new product at Carlton’s home ground, Optus Oval. The ‘Micky Ha Ha’ Power Point Safety Cover is a simple plastic guard that stops children playing with power points.

Lance Whitnall, Cath and Kouta with some of the children there for the launch	MC for the launch was the Honorable Mr. Ken Smith MP

"Anything we can do to promote child safety is a positive step" Anthony Koutoufides

"As a parent you worry about the safety of your children, especially around the home. Its great to see such an innovative and worthwhile invention that can help put ones worries aside." Lance Whitnall
The ‘Micky Ha Ha’ Power Point Safety Cover is a simple solution to a potentially fatal problem. Thirty-three children die from electrocution in Australia each year. In Victoria alone, at least 130 children required hospital treatment in the past five years because of electric shocks in preventable household accidents.

Kouta, Lance and Cath pose for pictures. Cath was overjoyed at the launch, not only because she had finally got her dream into the stores, but also because she was surrounded by her hero’s!	Anthony Koutoufides speaking to the media at the launch

Speaking at the launch were The Honorable Mr. Ken Smith MP who MC’d the launch, Cath, Mr. Robert Caulfield of KidSafe, a non profit child safety advisory organization, Mr. Troy White from the Industry Development Centre who help new inventors get their ideas onto the market, Ms Lorraine O’Toole, Bunnings Community Affairs Manager and Mr. Chris Byrne of SP Products, manufacturers of Micky Ha Ha.

	Robert Caulfield, President of KidSafe with Cath and Bunnings representative, Gerard McMahon with a few of the kids trying out their Bunnings aprons. Micky, the reason for all this is at the front.

From the Deputy Director of Plastic Surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital, Mr Bruce Johnstone.

"I believe a product like Micky Ha Ha would go some way to reducing the number of children presenting to accident and emergency centres around the country each year, and would encourage parents and other people with children in their homes to install this device," Mr Johnstone said.

H.I.A. AUSTRALIAN HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AWARDS 2004

Every year the Housing Industry Association acknowledges excellence in the areas of design, innovation and technology and this year we were fortunate to be a finalist in the
Jim Sweeney Industry Innovation Award.

We were in very good company with the likes of Austral Bricks and the Boral Group and even though we didn’t win the award, we were informed that the voting was a very close call.

The award presentations were held at the Sydney Convention Center and were quite a gala event. I’ve never seen so many black ties and evening gowns…and a lot of good champagne.

With around 2000 people in attendance it gave me a good opportunity to discuss the power point safety cover with a number of influential industry leaders, builders and more importantly, their wives.

Troy White from the Industry Development Centre (pictured above) kindly escorted me to the event and took great delight in telling as many as he could of our achievements. The evening was a great success for everyone involved and were looking forward to having some of our up coming products getting a nomination next year.

Cheers

Cath