TWO-TIME BATHURST WINNER JOINS RE-STRUCTURED TEAM

V8 SUPERCAR star Russell Ingall has confirmed he will compete full-time in the 2014 V8 Supercars

Championship for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.

Ingall, the 2005 V8 Supercar champion, has signed to drive a Triple Eight Race Engineering-built Holden

Commodore VF for the team and made the announcement today in Melbourne.

The Nunawading (Melbourne) based team has undergone a major restructure in the off-season and, after

running two cars last season, will field a single car program in 2014.

Corporate smash repair group Repair Management Australia was also confirmed as naming rights

backer of Ingall’s #23 Commodore with major support from Castrol and Holden.

Ingall, 49, is entering his 19th season full-time in Australia’s top motorsport category and says he made

the decision to join a small, single car team for a number of reasons.

“Plenty of people will be asking why would I come to a small team that has been going through some

growing pains,” says Ingall.

“But I see it as a challenge to help build the team, move it forward and keep it on the grid.

“There are plenty of hero drivers out there that would never ‘lower’ themselves to drive for a small team

but I see it as an opportunity to be involved in something from the ground floor.”

Ingall is focused on helping LDM move forward on the V8 Supercar grid this season, though stressed the

new deal is certainly no ‘come back’.

“I wasn’t comfortable last year with how things were presented by some parties about my so-called

retirement. I always maintained that if there was a suitable full-time opportunity for this season that I

would take it.

“I haven’t changed my mind and made a ‘come back’. I never left the sport or intended to leave the sport.

There were some good offers to join some well-credentialed teams for the endurance races, but a fulltime

opportunity was always my main focus.

“At the end of the day, my love for the sport and racing cars is undiminished. I love the racing community,

it’s given me a lot and I want to stay involved with it.

“’I think the man on the street will understand my situation. Anyone that loves their job or the industry

they work in doesn’t want to get pushed out of it before they’re ready.”

Ingall’s signing, coupled with off-season changes to his team, excites LDM Team Principal Lucas

Dumbrell.

“Holden has been instrumental in getting Russell on board and he brings a lot to our team with nearly 20

years of full-time experience at the top level of V8 Supercar racing,” says Dumbrell.

“He’s far from being a spent force in the sport. He brings an eye for detail that our team needs that

comes from driving for some of the top teams in pit lane.

“We have a revitalised team and approach this year. While we are moving back to a single car program

we have the intent and desire to return to a two-car program in the future.”

Simon McNamara, GM Holden Ltd Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager, says the addition of the most

experienced V8 Supercar driver in history is the first step in LDM’s redevelopment.

“It’s also an opportunity for Russell to give back to the sport that has given him so much and to help this

team grow in all areas,” says McNamara.

“Russell has been a great ambassador for Holden for the lion’s share of his time in V8 Supercars. We’re

very happy to see him back on the grid in a Commodore in 2014.

“Importantly, it’s also a way of ensuring the team doesn’t fall by the wayside like others have during the

recent off-season period.

“Lucas is a young, ambitious guy and we’d like to see this team succeed this season and move forward

on the grid. He’s been working very hard and we support him in this quest to develop his team.”

Repair Management Australia’s Phil Munday says the opportunity to become a naming rights sponsor of

Ingall and LDM fitted the business perfectly for its short-term plans.

“I’ve been involved in motorsport for many years and this is an ideal platform for us to expand our brand

awareness as we go nationwide,” he says.

“It’s a launch pad for our national campaign to expand our multi-shop operator group by acquiring

businesses interstate as either joint venture interests or company-owned facilities, and providing national

service to our client base and work providers.

“Being in the automotive repair business for over 35 years we’ve been a long-time sponsor of community

clubs and events. A national sport like V8 Supercars, which visits every state of Australia, is hard to beat

in the sporting marketplace.

“Partnering with Russell and LDM not only gives us national awareness, but the opportunity to participate

nationally, which is why we’ve got involved at this level.”

Ingall’s first drive of the #23 Repair Management Australia Commodore will come at the Official V8

Supercar Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday February 15.

The first round of the V8 Supercars Championship will be at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on February 27

to March 2.

Ants are a common summer pest, often found in kitchens, bathrooms and backyards.

These pests are on the hunt for food and shelter, so it’s important to control these pests fast before they get out of hand.

How do you get rid of black ants?

Identifying the correct ant species is vital since they all have different food and nesting preferences. A thorough inspection of a home will allow us to locate nests for eradication.

Chemical Treatments: Chemical treatments for ant control range from liquid and dry powder formulation to granules. Most active ingredients in these products are based on synthetic pyrethroids, which are much safer for your family and pets. Chemical treatments can sometimes provide ongoing protection (like a barrier) against future ant infestation, however this depends on the species of ant, and the type and placement of the ant control product.

Ant Baiting: Ants baits are a highly effective ant control tool. After correct identification of the ants, the correct bait can be selected and placed strategically to encourage the ants to feed. The advantage of using ant baits is that the ants transfer the bait back to the colony; if the baiting job is done well, the entire colony can be eradicated with a single visit. The disadvantage of using baits is that the baits may need to be replenished over time – and the ants will not die off immediately, so patience is needed.

Health issues and problems

Black ants not only cause a nuisance but pack a nasty bite if disturbed. They are not known to cause serious health issues, but if you or a member of your family are bitten, follow these basic First Aid steps:

• Wash with soap and water and apply an antiseptic if available
• Ensure that the patient’s tetanus vaccination is up to date
• Apply an ice-pack to reduce local pain and swelling
• Pain relief may be required eg. paracetamol or an antihistamine (to reduce swelling, redness and itch)
• The patient should seek medical advice if they develop any other symptoms or signs of infection.
• For any patient who shows signs of anaphylaxis, call 000 for an ambulance, and have the patient taken immediately to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Top DIY tips

Products purchased from the supermarket or hardware stores are generally not effective in controlling black ants. These products are often costly and are not designed to correctly attack the biology of these pests.

You can help reduce black ant colonies at your home by following these simple tips:

• Remove sources of food and water from the outside area such as pet food and water bowls – clean and change these regularly.
• Seal gaps in window frames and door frames.
• Follow good hygiene practices in the kitchen – keep benches clean and remove garbage regularly.
• This will reduce visitation of ants and help baits work more effectively.

Still concerned

If you believe or suspect that you have ants, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control for further advice.

1300 383 160

With summer well under way, there are a number of things we can do around our home to minimise the impact of pests in our lives.

 Look after the furry friends:

• Fleas treatments: Make sure that your furry family members are all up to date with fleas treatments.  If you’re not sure ask your local vet for advice.
• Lawns: Keep you lawns cut short and make sure that you keep long grass back from the fence lines to avoid tick problems around your place.
• Pet bedding: Wash pet bedding in hot water on a regular basis to keep fleas under control
• Tick checks: If you walk your pet, make sure you check them for ticks every time to come back (especially if you been wandering through bush or longer grass.
• Pet Bowls: Don’t leave uneaten food in pet bowls.  This encourages ants and rodents to hang around and maybe move in!

Around the House and Garden:

• Eaves and Walls: Check eaves and brickwork for wasp nests and spiders.  Be particularly cautious of redbacks.  Make sure there are not large gaps (6mm or more) in the eaves leading up into the roof void – leaving a highway for rodents to find a new home.
• Doorways and Windows: Make sure doors are well sealed to keep rodents out (not just the rainy weather).  Pay special attention to garage doors and sheds – then commonly don’t close up all that well and rodents love these areas.
• Bins: Keep bins away from the immediate vicinity of the home.  Keep them as clean as possible and wash them out regularly.  Keep them well sealed.  They are source of flies and can encourage rodents.
• Trees and Foliage: Foliage against the house can create a highway for ants, rodents, spiders and termites.  Make sure that bushes and shrubs are kept well away from the walls.  Trim off any tree branches that overhang the roof and gutters.
• Swings, outdoor furniture and fence lines: Look out for redbacks.  If you discover them you can attempt to remove them yourself (don’t get bitten) and take down the webs and egg sacks.  If you’re not sure – call us for help.
• Standing water and water containers:  Make sure that water containers are emptied.  This includes pot plant reservoirs.  Any container that holds water (where levels rise and fall) will encourage mosquitoes to breed.  Keep an eye out for drains that hold puddles, car tyres and old buckets that everyone forgets about.
• Screens: Make sure that your home is properly screened.  This will keep invasion from cockroaches, flies and mosquitoes to minimal levels since they all love to fly inside to explore and find new ‘digs’.

1300 383 160

Termite DIY Checklist

Termites are busy everywhere – especially in summer months.

In Australia, every fourth home in your street will have an encounter with termites at some point during its life.

It’s really important to make sure that you keep an eye on your property.

Here are some things that you can do to make sure that you don’t encourage them to set up home in your place.

• Storage Practices: All areas underneath and on the outside of your house should be kept clear of stored items leaning directly against walls.  If something is stored directly against a structure it can create a “bridge” for termites to enter your home – and worst still – it can conceal their entry point so that you don’t even know that they’ve got in!
  
  This is even worse if what you are storing is made from timber, cardboard or paper (since termites love to eat this as well - before they move inside.
• Moisture: Make sure that no unnecessary moisture accumulates close to your house structure.  This can easily attract termites.
  • Roof drainage: Make sure that you don’t have leaking plumbing and down-pipes.  If you do – get them repaired.
  • Surface drainage:  Make sure that the ground slopes away from the walls and that water doesn’t pool around the base of the walls.
  • Plumbing: Make sure that you don’t have any leaking showers, cracked and perforated pipes, blocked drains, or bad air conditioner or hot water system drainage (that flows toward the house).  Make sure that you have proper flashing around windows and doors.
  • Rainwater tanks and spas: Make sure that they there is at least a 50mm (2 inch) gap between the wall of the house and structures like these, so that you can properly inspect for termites.  Termites can often get in unnoticed around tanks and spas.
• Vegetation & Gardens: Keep heavy vegetation away from the walls of your home.  Avoid planting trees too close to buildings – this will stop problems with roots (termites can get in that way too). Climbing plants and thick vegetation growing against the sides of the house gives a “bridge” for termites to get in and conceal them at the same time.  Trim or remove plants like this immediately.
  
  Keep garden beds at least 75mm (3 inches) below weep holes in the walls.  Don’t let any vegetation grow that would obstruct your view of the weep holes.
• Structures: Structures such as fences, retaining walls and pergolas should be constructed using termite-resistant materials. Attachments to buildings such as down-pipes, service pipes, attached fence posts, air conditioning units and hot water systems must have a gap of at least 50mm minimum at the ground contact point to allow a clear and uninterrupted visual inspection zone for termites.
  
  All timber posts, fence palings, house battens in ground contact must have a gap of at least 50mm to allow for a clear and uninterrupted visual inspection for termites or else be properly treated by a professional.
• Soil levels and paths: Where the finished levels of paths, pavers, soil and garden beds are built up above weepholes, flooring, the subfloor level or wall vents, these need to fixed immediately so that termites cannot get concealed access into your home.
• Ventilation: Poor ventilation in the subfloor areas (i.e. underneath the house) can result in high humidity and a moisture rich environment. Wood decay fungi and subterranean termites thrive in these conditions. You can install additional airflow by natural or artificial means which can aid in reducing temperature and humidity in these areas.

1300 383 160

Fleas Fact Sheet

Fleas are best controlled with you don’t let them get of hand. Once the problem gets too far out of hand you’re going to need outside help!

But before you get to that stage here are some things that can help you keep them at bay.

• Fleas treatments: Make sure that your pets are all up to date with fleas treatments.  If you’re not sure ask your local vet for advice.
• Lawns and gardens: Keep you lawns cut short and garden areas free of debris and leaf litter – these can encourage flea breeding areas.
• Pet bedding: Wash pet bedding in hot water on a regular basis to keep fleas under control.

If after all this the flea population explodes around your place, you’ll need to get some professional help.

What to do BEFORE we come to treat your home:

• Vacuum: All internal floor areas should be vacuumed – but don’t just empty the dust bag like normal. 
  Put the contents of the vacuum bag (or the disposable vacuum bag) inside another plastic bag, spray some normal fly spray into the bag, seal it up well and throw it in the rubbish bin.
• Clear floor areas before the treatment, getting all loose items off the floor (toys, shoes etc).  This includes the floors of built-in cupboards.
• Pets: Make sure that you have treated all your pets with an appropriate flea treatment and that their treatment is current.  It’s also best to have them away from the property during the treatment or isolated during the time we are there.
• Children’s and pet’s toys: Make sure that they are put away (including any lying around in the yard).
• Lawns:  Make sure that the lawns are short.
• Pre-wet soil areas: In some regions the soil can be very dry.  If this is the case, the treatment is more effective if the soil is pre-wet approximately 1 hour before we arrive.

Much of the success of a fleas treatment is what happens after we leave.  Because of the flea biology, time needs to pass the next ‘generations’ need to mature before the problem is fully solved.  This can take a number of weeks.

What to do AFTER the treatment over the next 3-4 weeks or so…

• Walk through the areas where the fleas are active every day. “Stomp around” and cause lots of vibration.  This will encourage the fleas to continue to hatch and come in contact with the treatment areas.
• Encourage your pets to frequent the areas that they normally do (don’t keep them out of their favourite spots).
• Maintain active flea control on your pets.
• Continue to wash and clean all pet bedding.
• Vacuuming: It’s recommended not to vacuum the treated areas for at least 1 week.
• Call us: If the problems continue to persist after 4 weeks, please call us.

1300 383 160

As we move well into spring, the days are starting to get much warmer and one pest that can cause some grief to home owners is the Paper Wasp. Throughout Sydney from now and through summer, these wasps can be found building their nests under eaves, window ledges and various other places around homes.

Wasp Characteristics

There are many species of native Paper Wasps which vary in size and appearance. Their nests are made from chewing weathered wood and mixing saliva which produces the soft paper like nest. Naturally they attach these webs to a branch, rock face or twig but in urban environments such as ours they often construct these nests on our property. If you look around your home to see if there are Paper Wasps present, they are usually found on north and west facing sides of a building so they can gain maximum benefit of the sunlight.

Where wasps are found at your home

New nests will be started by female wasps that have been in active through the colder months. They are social insects like bees and will build up a nest and tend to it in a similar way. The queen is similar in appearance to the workers. The queen will move through the nest and lay eggs into the bottom of empty cells. These eggs will hatch and larvae are fed with chewed up caterpillars fed to them by the workers. Once the larvae are fully grown the cell is closed by the workers and the larvae turn into pupae and emerge an adult wasp and remain with the colony.  Nests will grow in size over summer. When the weather starts to cool male wasps are produced and mate with the females which will then find a place to hide such as cracks and crevices. The females that survive the winter will then begin new colonies the next spring.

How to get rid of wasps?

Control of this insect is best left to professionals who have very good products capable of controlling the adult wasps very fast and have the appropriate protective equipment to avoid stings. They are not an aggressive wasp most stings from these wasps are inflicted when a nest is disturbed or threatened. Most stings will happen when you don’t realise that the nest is there for example if you brush past a branch or plant which they have built a nest. The wasps in this case will swarm out and sting. Sometimes they will pursue the threat. They’re capable of stinging multiple times which can be painful and may swell and remain itchy for several days.

What to do if you are stung by wasps

Wasps will sting when threatened and we recommend that homeowners DO NOT try and address any infestations themselves. For any patient that is allergic to bee stings and shows signs of anaphylaxis, call 000 for an ambulance, and have the patient taken immediately to the emergency department of the nearest hospital. If you or a family member are stung by bees, follow these general first aid steps:

• Remove stings by scraping sideways with your fingernail or with the edge of a knife.
• Apply a cold pack.
• Watch for allergic reactions – breathing difficulties, rashes, itching, or swelling around the mouth or eyelids.

If an allergic reaction takes place call 000 for an ambulance.

• Observe and record pulse and breathing.
• If casualty is carrying medication for the allergy it should be taken at once.
• If conscious: help casualty to sit in a position which most relieves breathing difficulty.
• If unconscious: open and clear casualty’s airway and prepare to resuscitate if necessary.

Ref: Summer Safety with St John First Aid

Still concerned?

If you would like more information on how to manage wasp pest problems at your property, call Amalgamated Pest Control.

1300 383 160