KISAH HANSEL DAN GRETEL

Mesothelioma Compensation Some people who develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may be able to claim compensation. Your legal entitlements will depend on the state or territory in which you were exposed to asbestos. In some cases, the exposure may have occurred overseas. Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, so your exposure to asbestos may have occurred some 40 years ago. You might think it was a trivial exposure, or you may not remember any exposure. Talking to your friends and family can help to bring back memories of places where you may have been exposed to asbestos. An expert lawyer will also talk you through your life history and help you find out where the exposure took place. They will explain what compensation you may be able to claim and help make the process easy for you to understand. Generally, a person diagnosed with mesothelioma has two different types of legal entitlements: a claim through the court, known as a "common law claim" a claim under a government compensation scheme, known as a "statutory claim". "When my husband was diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma, we were advised to apply for compensation. He reluctantly contacted lawyers, and they assured us we had a very strong case. My husband didn't survive to `win' his case but I did, with a lot of help, caring, understanding and good advice from our lawyers." – Sharon Common law claim A common law claim is a claim process through a court. The claim is brought against the party or parties who caused a person to be exposed to asbestos. These parties are known as the "defendants". A common law claim begins by filing a formal court document known as an "originating process". The originating process must be lodged within your lifetime to protect your entitlement to compensation. As long as you start a common law claim during your lifetime, your estate will still be able to continue with your claim if you die before the claim is finalised. You need to speak with a lawyer experienced in asbestos-related compensation claims as soon as possible after your diagnosis. If you're too unwell to visit the lawyer in their office, they can visit you at home or in hospital to discuss the process and how it can be simplified for you and your family. t may still be possible to bring a common law claim even if: you were exposed to asbestos many years ago you no longer work for the employer where you were exposed you have worked for many employers you were self-employed or a contractor your employer is no longer in business you are, or were, a smoker you were exposed to asbestos in another state or overseas you were not exposed in the workplace you were only briefly exposed to asbestos you were exposed to asbestos on more than one occasion you don't know how you may have been exposed to asbestos. Finding a lawyer Making a mesothelioma claim is a specialised area. It is important to talk to a lawyer or law firm experienced in this area of work, as they often have a wealth of knowledge about how and where asbestos was used. You can find a leading lawyer in asbestos by checking the Doyles Guide Directory – visit doylesguide.com/australia and type "asbestos" in the search bar. Mesothelioma support organisations can also assist you in contacting an expert asbestos lawyer. Talking to an expert in this field can help reduce the time taken to investigate a claim. Experienced lawyers also understand mesothelioma and what you are coping with. Your lawyer will work around medical appointments or treatments to try to make things less stressful for you. How long will a common law case take? The majority of common law claims for mesothelioma are settled out of court within 3–6 months of the claim being lodged. If your prognosis is poor, or you suddenly become very unwell, the process can be sped up to try to ensure that your common law claim is resolved in your lifetime. Only a few cases actually proceed to a court trial. What if I die before my claim is settled? Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma worry that their claim won't be finalised before they die. The largest component of compensation is usually the general damages. So long as you start a common law claim in your lifetime, then your entitlement to general damages is protected, and your estate would be able to continue with your claim if you die before your claim is finalised. In some circumstances, your family may also be entitled to dependency entitlements if you die because of the mesothelioma. Your lawyer will let you know if this applies to you and your family. How much does legal action cost? Legal costs are generally dependent on the amount of legal work required to resolve your case. Most lawyers who specialise in asbestos-related compensation claims offer a "no win, no fee" agreement. This means that the lawyers will only charge for legal services if they are successful in resolving your case. You are also entitled to claim a large portion of your legal costs from the defendants as part of your common law claim. The amount of costs awarded will depend on whether your case was resolved at mediation or at trial. Ask your lawyer for a costs agreement and get them to talk it through with you so you know what is involved. Be aware that even under a "no win, no fee" agreement, if you: start a claim but decide to cease the action, you will usually need to pay any legal costs up to that point proceed but lose the court case, you will not need to pay your lawyer, but you may still need to pay court costs for yourself and possibly for the defendant are successful, a significant portion of your compensation might be absorbed by any costs that the defendant doesn't have to pay. Statutory claims Some states and territories have special government compensation schemes for people who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. These schemes usually apply only if you have been exposed to asbestos during your employment. he authorities for Australia's asbestos compensation schemes are: ACT – WorkSafe ACT, call 02 6207 3000 or visit worksafe.act.gov.au NSW – Dust Diseases Authority, also known as icare dust diseases are, call 02 8223 6600 or visit icare.nsw.gov.au NT – NT WorkSafe, call 1800 019 115 or visit worksafe.nt.gov.au QLD – WorkCover Queensland, call 1300 362 128 or visit worksafe.qld.gov.au SA – ReturnToWorkSA, call 13 18 55 or visit rtwsa.com TAS – WorkSafe Tasmania, call 1300 366 322 or visit worksafe.tas.gov.au VIC – WorkSafe Victoria, call 1800 136 089 or visit worksafe.vic.gov.au WA – Your employer's insurer or if unknown, Insurance Commission of estern Australia, call 08 9264 3333 or visit icwa.wa.gov.au Commonwealth – Comcare, call 1300 366 979 or visit comcare.gov.au. Do I need a lawyer? It is possible for you and sometimes your dependants to lodge a statutory claim directly with the authority in your state or territory. However, most people with mesothelioma prefer to use a lawyer to arrange all their claims. The laws around Australia vary and can be complex. Some people may be entitled to bring a common law claim instead of, or in addition to, a statutory claim. It is vital to consult an expert asbestos lawyer before applying for statutory benefits to ensure you aren't excluded from also claiming common law compensation. Using an expert asbestos lawyer will allow you to access all your entitlements while concentrating on your health and spending time on the things that are important to you. Advance care planning It is also worth seeking the advice of a lawyer to ensure your will is up to date and that your intentions for your estate are clear. You may wish to arrange legal documents appointing a substitute decision-maker. Depending on where you live, the documents for appointing this person may be known as an enduring power of attorney, enduring power of guardianship, or appointment of an enduring guardian. You can also outline your wishes for your future medical care in an advance care directive. These documents are part of advance care planning. Cancer Council offers a Legal Referral Service that can help with wills and advance care planning, and assistance is free for eligible clients. Call 13 11 20 to find out more.

Di sebuah desa pada zaman dahulu hiduplah sebuah keluarga bahagia. Mereka mempunyai dua orang anak yang manis, namanya Hans dan Gretel. Suatu ketika Ibu tercinta meninggal karena sakit. Sejak kematian sang Ibu, mereka selalu bersedih sepanjang hari. Agar mereka tidak bersedih, kemudian Ayah mengambil Ibu baru untuk menghIbur mereka. Ternyata Ibu baru ini sangat jahat dan memperlakukan mereka dengan buruk. Dari pagi hingga petang mereka disuruh terus bekerja dan hanya diberi makan satu kali. Musim kemarau pun tiba, dan mereka tidak mempunyai makanan apa-apa. Sang Ibu menyuruh anak-anak untuk dibawa ke hutan dan meninggalkannya di sana. Ayah sangat terkejut mendengarnya

” Bicara apa kau, apa kau ingin anak-anak mati ?! “
” Kau ini memang bodoh, kalau kita tidak melakukannya, kita semua akan mati !”

Sementara itu dari balik kamar , Hans dan Gretel mendengarkan pembicaraan mereka. Mereka ketakutan dan Gretel pun menangis. Akhirnya Ayah tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa karena istrinya terus mendesaknya.

“Ah… apa kita akan mati di hutan ?! “
” Ssst.., aku punya ide bagus, ” ucap Hans. Lalu ia keluar rumah dan mengumpulkan batu-batu kecil putih yang bila terkena cahaya bulan, akan bersinar.

Pada esok paginya dengan berteriak keras, Ibunya membangunkan Hans dan Gretel. Sebelum berangkat ia memberikan sepotong roti kepada mereka. Setelah itu semua berangkat menuju hutan. Sambil berjalan Hans membuang batu kecil putih satu per satu yang ada dalam kantongnya. Karena berjalan sambil menoleh ke belakang, Ayah menjadi curiga.

” Sedang apa, Hans ? “
” Aku sedang memandang kucing yang ada di atas rumah,” jawab Hans berbohong.

Lalu tibalah mereka di tengah hutan. Ayah dan Ibunya pergi ke hutan yang lebih jauh lagi untuk menebang kayu dan meninggalkan mereka. Rasa sedihpun berganti gembira setelah di tengah hutan Hans menemukan seekor kupu-kupu dan Gretel membuat kalung dari bunga. Mereka sangat gembira karena bisa bermain-main bersama teman baru mereka seperti kelinci, bajing dan burung-burung kecil. Tanpa terasa waktu berlalu, mataharipun mulai tenggelam dan hari mulai gelap. Suara burung-burung yang indah kini berganti dengan suara angin yang berdesir. Gretel menangis tersedu-sedu karena takut.

Hans berkata menenangkan, “Jangan menangis, jika cahaya bulan muncul, kita pasti akan pulang dengan selamat “.

Tak lama kemudian, dari sela-sela pohon muncullah cahaya bulan yang bersinar dengan terang. Hans segera mengajak Gretel untuk pulang ke rumah. Hans memegang tangan Gretel dan menyusuri jalan di hutan tanpa ragu-ragu.

” Kak, kok bisa berjalan tanpa bingung di hutan yang gelap begini?”
“Oh… batu kecil putih yang kujatuhkan ketika kita datang, bersinar karena kena sinar bulan dan itu akan menolong kita pulang ke rumah.”

Beberapa waktu kemudian tibalah mereka di rumah, sang Ibu heran melihatnya dan mencari tahu bagaimana mereka bisa sampai di rumah dengan mudah. Ketika ia membuka pintu, ia melihat batu kecil putih yang bersinar. Agar mereka tidak bisa mengumpulkan batu putih itu lagi, Ibu mengunci pintu kamar mereka. Hans dan Gretel menjadi panik karenanya. Sebelum tidur mereka berdoa pada Tuhan, meminta perlindungan.

Keesokan harinya seperti kemarin, Ibu membangunkan mereka dan membawa mereka ke hutan. Hans tidak kehabisan akal. Dengan terpaksa ia mencuil-cuil potongan roti dan menjatuhkannya di jalan sambil berjalan.

Tapi malang, jejak yang sudah dIbuatnya susah payah dimakan oleh burung-burung kecil. Sampailah mereka di dalam hutan. Kembali Ayah dan Ibunya meninggalkan mereka dan masuk ke hutan yang lebih jauh.
Merekapun bermain-main dengan binatang-binatang di dalam hutan. Akhirnya malampun tiba. Ketika cahaya bulan mulai bersinar mereka beranjak pulang. Dengan susah payah dicarinya potongan-potongan roti sebagai petunjuk jalan untuk pulang ke rumah.

” Kak, apa yang telah terjadi dengan potongan-potongan roti itu ?” teriak Gretel cemas.
” Mungkin dimakan oleh burung -burung kecil “
” Uhh.., kalau begitu kita tidak bisa pulang ke rumah.”

Di dalam hutan bergema suara lolongan keras. Mereka berdua amat ketakutan. “Kak, aku takut, kita akan mati !” Gretel mulai menangis.
” Jangan khawatir dik, Ibu yang ada di surga pasti menolong kita.”

Karena lelah, mereka akhirnya tertidur dengan pulas di bawah pohon. Cahaya matahari pun mulai bersinar dan mengenai wajah mereka. Hans dan Gretel terbangun dan disambut suara kicauan burung.

Tiba-tiba mereka mencium bau masakan yang lezat. Segera mereka berlari ke arah datangnya bau lezat itu. Seperti mimpi mereka melihat rumah kue, atapnya terbuat dari tart, pintunya dari coklat, dan dindingnya dari biskuit.

Cepat-cepat mereka mendekati rumah itu dan memakannya.

Tiba-tiba terdengar suara keras yang bergetar.
“Siapa itu, berani memakan rumah kue kesayanganku ?”, muncullah seorang nenek sihir tua dengan wajah menyeramkan serta mata merah yang bersinar, lalu menangkap mereka berdua.
” Hi… Hi…. Hi…. anak-anak yang lezat, sebagai hukuman karena telah memakan rumput kue kesukaanku, aku akan memakan kalian .”
Dengan kasar nenek sihir itu menyeret Hans masuk ke dalam penjara.

Setelah itu ia berkata kepada Gretel,
“Mula-mula aku akan menggemukkan anak laki-laki itu, lalu aku akan memakannya. “
“Sekarang kau buat makanan yang enak biar makannya banyak ! “

Nenek sihir itu sudah tua sekali dan matanya mulai rabun. Pada saat itu Hans dan Gretel saling berpegangan tangan memberi semangat supaya mereka tabah.
” Tabahlah Gretel, Ibu yang ada di surga pasti melindungi kita “.

Suatu hari nenek mendekati penjara Hans untuk melihat apakah tubuh Hans sudah menjadi gemuk atau belum.
“Aku lapar, sudah seberapa gemuk tubuhmu, ayo ulurkan tanganmu ! “

Hans yang pintar tidak kehilangan akal, ia mengetahui kalau mata nenek sudah rabun segera dikeluarkannya tulang sisa makanan kepada nenek yang rabun lalu nenek memegangnya. Betapa kecewanya nenek karena sedikitpun Hans tidak bertambah gemuk. Karena kecewa lalu ia bermaksud untuk memakan Gretel. Kemudian Gretel disuruh membakar roti. Selagi Gretel menyalakan api di tungku, si nenek mencoba mendorongnya ke nyala api. Untunglah Gretel mengetahui maksud nenek, cepat-cepat ia berbalik pergi ke depan tungku.

“Nek, aku tidak bisa membuka tutup tungku ini .”
Nenek sihir tidak sadar kalau ia sedang diperdaya Gretel dan ia membuka tutup tungku.

Tanpa membuang kesempatan, Gretel mendorong nenek ke tungku.
“Ahh… tolong…. panas ! ” teriak nenek kesakitan. Gretel tidak memperdulikan teriakan nenek malah dengan cepat ia menutup pintu tungku, lalu berlari ke arah penjara untuk menolong Hans.
“Gretel, kau berhasil. Ibu yang di surga telah melindungi kita.” Karena bahagia mereka berpelukan.

Ketika akan pergi dari rumah kue tanpa sengaja mereka menemukan banyak harta karun. Setelah itu mereka keluar rumah, tetapi malang jalan itu terpotong oleh sungai besar.

Mereka menjadi bingung. Saat itu entah dari mana datangnya tiba-tiba muncul seekor angsa cantik.
” Ayo, naiklah ke punggungku, ” ucap angsa itu ramah. Satu per satu angsa itu mengantarkan mereka menyeberang sungai.

Setelah sampai, angsa itu menunjuk-kan jalan bagi mereka berdua dari atas langit. Sampailah mereka di batas hutan. Tanpa mereka ketahui sebenarnya angsa itu adalah Ibu mereka yang ada di surga. Angsa itu kemudian menghilang. Setelah itu muncullah Ayah mereka yang sangat cemas.

“Anak-anakku tersayang, maafkanlah Ayah. Ayah tidak akan meninggalkan kalian lagi “.

Lalu Ayah menceritakan kepada mereka bahwa Ibu tiri yang jahat sudah meninggal karena sakit. Akhirnya mereka pun hidup bahagia selamanya.