We claim: 1. A straw dispenser including: a body portion for holding a plurality of straws, said body portion having a movable carriage means for transferring straws held within the 5 body portion to a dispensing exit; a dispensing means operatively connected to the carriage means; and an activation means which activates the dispensing means in response to a predetermined signal, whereby a straw is dispensed from the dispensing exit without a user having to touch any component of the dispenser which a straw contacts. 10 2. A straw dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carriage means is positioned in the body portion such that it divides the body portion of the straw dispenser into two compartments such that the first compartment is located above the carriage means and is adapted to hold a plurality of straws therein, whilst the second compartment is 15 located beneath the carriage means for housing the drive mechanism of the carriage means. 3. A straw dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the carriage means includes a holding structure for holding at least one of the plurality of straws 20 with the plurality of straws sitting above the holding structure and carriage means so that the carrier means is continuously refilled with additional straws to be dispensed. 4. A straw dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein the carriage means is adapted to dispense one straw at a time to the dispensing exit in a substantially horizontal 25 disposition, and wherein movement of the carriage means causes agitation of the straws to thereby assist replacement or filling of straws into the holding structure for dispensing. 5. A straw dispenser for dispensing a straw without a user having to touch any 30 component of the dispenser which a straw contacts, the dispenser including: a body portion adapted for holding a plurality of straws, the body having a movable carriage means positioned therewithin, wherein the carriage means transfers at least one straw held within the body to a dispensing exit; 10 5064582_009.DOCa dispensing means including a drive mechanism operatively connected to the carriage means for driving movement of the carriage means; and an activation means operatively connected to the dispensing means, the activation means including an object sensor mounted on a portion of the body, the sensor being 5 adapted to detect an object substantially adjacent thereto; whereby when an object is detected by the sensor, the activation means signals the dispensing means to activate the drive mechanism, wherein the carriage means delivers a straw or straws to the dispensing exit in a dispensing condition substantially without a user having to touch any component of the dispenser which a straw 10 contacts. 11 5064582_009.DOC2009100616 25 Jun 20092009100616 25 Jun 2009