St Patrick's Day

Celebrated each year on 17 March, St Patrick’s Day, now a global celebration. It has come to be known as the day that people adorn themselves with green clothing and hats, paint shamrocks on their faces and drink Guinness, while the Chicago River is dyed a traditional green.

   

But how much do we really know about St Patrick, who revellers owe their festivities to, and the ‘Irish’ traditions so widely celebrated each year?

"May the Irish hills caress you;
may her lakes and rivers bless you;
may the luck of the Irish enfold you;
may the blessings of St Patrick behold you"

Video external link

But do you really know who St. Patrick was and why he is celebrated?

Patrick was born in AD 387 just south of Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, which was part of the Roman Empire (that's right — he wasn't Irish!). He was captured by Irish pagans in his early teens and taken to Ireland, where he was enslaved for six years. During that time, he grew to like the spirit of the Irish. When he escaped and returned to his family, he vowed to one day return to Ireland.

He studied at monasteries on the continent and was eventually ordained a priest and then a bishop. Pope Celestine I commissioned Patrick to be an apostle to Ireland.

Patrick initially encountered many hardships among the pagans, particularly the druids. They weren’t willing to give up their power over the old religion and feared Patrick and Christianity. Although the ruling monarch, King Laoghaire, didn’t convert to Christianity, many of his family members did, and little by little, the old religion began to fade. Patrick traveled from town to town, tearing down idols and temples and establishing the Catholic Church. By AD 444, the primatial see and first cathedral of Ireland were built in Armagh.

He baptized, confirmed, and ordained priests, and he erected schools and monasteries. Thousands came into the Church under his direction. He accomplished all these activities in less than 30 years, during which time the whole island nation of Ireland was converted. Toward the end of his life, he wrote Confessions, in which he gives a record of his life and mission. He died on March 17, 461, of natural causes. He is buried in Downpatrick in present-day Northern Ireland.

Many stories are told in connection with St. Patrick. The three-leaf clover was said to be used by the saintly bishop to explain the Trinity to the pagans, which is why it is such a common St. Patrick's Day symbol today. Another legend has Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland; snakes were a popular symbol among the Irish pagans. He is certainly one of the most revered saints in the Catholic Church.

Today, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, of many dioceses throughout the English-speaking world, and of engineers. He is also invoked against the fear of snakes and snakebites.


Trivia

• St Patrick was not Irish

• It’s unlikely St Patrick rid Ireland of its snakes…

• Green was not his colour

• The first St Patrick’s Day parade was not held in Ireland

• Ireland is not the biggest consumer of Guinness 

 

 

Business Policies are nothing like Domestic

When you purchase a Domestic policy such as a Home policy it already includes most sections, such as:- Fire & Perils, Burglary, Glass breakage, Fusion, Liability, Money, Spoilage etc.,



BUT when your shopping for a Commercial or Business policy you must purchase each section required. This means you need to know your stuff, you have to be attentive or else!
 The following are CRITICAL POLICY ISSUES:-

 LEGAL ENTITY
The correct LEGAL entity is vital otherwise you may have exposures under the policy divisions.

USE/OPERATIONS
The insurer offers cover based on the "Common Knowledge" of the risk. If there non standard hazard/s not disclosed it can affect claims.

POLICY DIVISIONS
We define this into 2 areas. Part a] = Your Property  Part b] = Your Liability to others.

LEVEL OF COVER
Can be broken into 3 levels of cover:-  GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE.

In many cases you can select the level of cover for a] Your Property and b] Your Liability to others.

SECTIONS OF COVER

Wow!  so many (we provided an example below).

ITEM INSURED
Clarify the item to be insured falls within the correct section of cover. DO NOT ASSUME extras or accessories are covered.

CLAIMS
It must be sudden & unforeseen.  Once the "cause" not the damage has been determined we can establish what section of the policy is applicable.  

INDEMNITY TYPE
This means the "Basis of Settlement".  Market, Agreed and Replacement.

"Market Value" is the most common. It is also known as "current value" which is the principle of "Indemnity".

.... Good, Bad, Right or Wrong ....
.... these are the rules which you need to be aware of otherwise you will suffer undue losses.

RISK MANAGEMENT 4 points

1.IDENTIFY KEY ASSETS TO PROTECT

q  Static Assets; items, people & activities

q  Mobile Assets; items, people & activities

q  Consequential Loss of Income/Costs

q  Liabilities from the above Assets

2. IDENTIFY

q  What do you do (anything out of the Normal)

q  What can go wrong – whilst allowing for present and future exposures

q  What is it going to cost – Insurance

versus

q  What can you do about it.

3. Cross reference these issues against your current covers

4. Now talk to us, Your Professional Broker

article presented by 

Anastasia Stevenson

anastasia@centralins.com.au 

Account Executive  - Green Team

Central Insurance Brokers http://www.centralins.com.au/

Ph: 93688-901  Mob: 0419 958 508

SME Brochure

Open publication

Truck Insurance it's a goodyear

Image via Wikipedia

You’re a truck driver and driving alone at night. Suddenly, headlights from an oncoming vehicle point straight at your eyes. The sharp swerve missed the car, but you hit a tree instead, and the impact overturned your vehicle. You’re lucky to be alive.

We hear about truck and machinery accidents on the news all the time, but most of us think we are indestructible and such things will never happen to us.

Truck drivers could be driving with their eyes closed due to fatigue from working long hours. This may increase the possibility of having an accident.

Believe it or not, many accidents are not caused by the truck drivers. Most people are intimidated by huge trucks driving next to them, or don’t have patience being stuck behind a big, slow truck. So what do drivers do about this? They speed up and overtake the truck (ignoring placards not to do so), or speed up to avoid giving way to a truck wanting to overtake them.

Whatever the reason for accidents, they happen.

Image via WikipediaI’ve dealt with claims relating to trucks being vandalised, set on fire, stolen, colliding with other vehicles, hitting trees and kangaroos, or being clipped by other vehicles.

Are you insured?!?

As a truck driver, your truck is your largest and most important asset of your business. You may have one, two, or a fleet of vehicles in your company to help you earn an income. Why wouldn’t you protect your assets against a disaster? If you have insurance for a trucking business, check if you have the following covers in place:

Image via Wikipedia
• Accidental damage, fire & theft on the truck or machinery
• Public Liability
• Hazardous goods
• Care, custody & control
• Business Interruption
• Damage as a result of work involving digging
• Marine cargo

I get nervous hearing about uninsured or under-insured businesses or vehicles. Without the right cover, your business could possibly come to a halt, unless you have thousands of dollars lying around to continue running the business. What if you carry hazardous toxic chemicals and your truck has overturned on a busy highway?

What if it was your negligence that caused the accident and you are sued? If due to a disaster, you can’t operate your business, and as a result there is no income for the business, how will you  pay for the fixed expenses of the business (such as rent and wages)? These are all the scenarios you need to think about when taking out insurance.

Insurance is the determining factor on the survival of your business after a major accident.

You can hire an insurance broker to give you professional advice and find the right cover to protect your business properly.

Cynthia Yap is an experienced Insurance Broker who has been with Central Insurance Brokers for the past decade. Having witnessed many businesses go down as a result of business owners not taking sensible insurance advice, she can keep you on the Road.

T: 08 93688999
W: http://www.centralins.com.au/

Here is a quick reference guide to covers

Open publication - Free publishing

Crazy Storms are you Protected?

Cynthia Yap is an experienced Insurance Broker who has been with Central Insurance Brokers for the past decade. She talks about using insurance to protect your assets.

Different parts of Australia have encountered some unexpected weather during the first month of autumn.

I am talking about the severe hail storms in Melbourne and Western Australia and flash flooding in different parts of the Eastern States, and winter hasn’t even arrived! What about the flooding caused by record-breaking rainfalls in Queensland?

Image via WikipediaMost scientists will tell you there is evidence that our climate is changing. Even though there is much debate on the causes of climate change, the most intense argument is over the human impact on this matter. To some, humans are the sole cause of global warming, while others don’t think we are responsible at all.

Observed changes in Australia include increased temperatures, declining rainfall in certain areas (causing drought), rising sea levels, and extreme weather occurring more frequently.

Apart from actively taking steps to help improve the environment, don’t forget to protect yourself and your assets from any disaster.

You can insure your personal assets like your house, contents and motor vehicle against damage caused by natural disasters, fire, theft and accidents. Cover for accidental damage and flood need to be nominated, as they are usually not automatically included in policies.

For business owners, depending on whether you are a service provider, retailer or manufacturer, check to see if you have any of the below summarised covers:

·         Fire – damage to a building, stock or contents caused by fire.

·         Theft – stock or contents stolen from your business premises.

·         Business Interruption – this covers the loss of income you would have made in the period your business was closed (as a result of a disaster). It covers costs involved in moving to and operating from a temporary location, and fixed expenses including wages, utilities and rent. This section may be the most valuable cover for your business, because a business that is not operating cannot produce income.

·         Public Liability – if you cause injury to third party or damage to third party property arising from carrying out your business.

·         General Property – covers your business tools and equipment during transit and on-site, damaged as a result of fire, collision or overturning of the vehicle. Theft is also covered if the tools are stolen from a locked vehicle or by forced entry.

·         Glass – internal or external glass on the premises, including windows, ceramic basins, mirrors and neon signs.

·         Money – covers loss or damage of money from the premises during and after business hours, at your residence, in a safe and during transit.

·         Machinery Breakdown – covers plant, machinery and mechanical equipment in the event of a sudden and unforseen event.

To avoid disappointment when lodging a claim, be sure to read your policy wording and understand exactly what you are and are not insured for. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your policy. At renewal time, make sure you check the sum insured of your assets, so you are not underinsured.

As an insurance broker, it’s always heartbreaking to witness a limited claim, due to a restrictive or inadequate policy, just to save a few dollars. What’s even worse than underinsurance is if you don’t even have a cover in place to begin with.

Remember! Insurance is like a parachute. The only opportunity to test it is when you have to use it, at which time, one is more concerned with the quality rather than the price.

For obligation free advice contact

Cindy at Central Insurance Brokers Perth WA

T: 08 93688999

W: http://www.centralins.com.au/

Central Insurance Brokers are leading Independent Brokers in Perth W.A.

Est., 1980