I visited the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1982 – its presence was about ten years old then, and it was generating considerable angst in the orderly scene that is public service Canberra. My errand was to return an address/appointment book I had picked up in the street. It belonged to one of theContinue reading “The Lobby & The Tent Embassy”
Category Archives: Personal
The Descendants – A Movie Review
A new story line seems to have caught Hollywood’s imagination … helpless, bereft dads reconnecting with their kids! Get a big box office attraction like Matt Damon or George Clooney, throw him in the deep end and see how he swims. It seems we enjoy bumbling dads, emotionally bereft of their partners, launching a way-outContinue reading “The Descendants – A Movie Review”
Once upon a time in multicultural Australia – Eureka Street
As our much feted and controversial national day approaches, it is good to read thoughtful, reflective pieces on our collective and individual struggles with national identity.As usual, Australia’s more recent arrivals have much to teach us. Identity is discovered through involvement.: Once upon a time in multicultural Australia – Eureka Street.
Online Causes – how effective are they?
I have often wondered how effective email campaigns and petitions for worthy causes are. As a card carrying member of several, it is not unusual for me to receive half a dozen pleas on any particular day urging support for a pressing purpose. Today, at the urging of AVAAZ, I made a submission to theContinue reading “Online Causes – how effective are they?”
The question of the year
When my friend and colleague Denis returned from interviewing survivors of the Christchurch earthquake one year on, he noted that a common question was “Where is God in all this?” Denis reflected that perhaps the more pertinent question is “Where am I in all this?” It neatly swings us to a fresh line of questing,Continue reading “The question of the year”
Tea and Sugar Train
Imagine living out in the middle of nowhere, 1000 kilometers from anywhere. Nothing to see but flat horizon all around. A few prefab huts… and a slender steel ribbon disappearing in both directions, your only link to places east and west. Every day or so the behemoths trundle past with their long trail of passengersContinue reading “Tea and Sugar Train”
Guess where…?
I’m back! Some of you know where I’ve been. Others might like to play my little guessing game. There’s only one place where this kind of power pole is prolific (although they do appear in small colonies elsewhere) – they consist of concrete poured between two sets of railway lines and set perpendicular in theContinue reading “Guess where…?”
Trumping the early bird
I must have inherited it from my father – this need to be excruciatingly punctual. He would always turn up for appointments an hour ahead of time. Hence my alarm sounding at 3 am this morning for a 6.40am flight. Even my taxi driver was surprised I was going to the airport so early. ButContinue reading “Trumping the early bird”
Three New Year Symbols
Scarcely had the New Year started to roll across the world’s last continent than we on the first one were returning from a New Year’s Day service at Wesley Uniting, Perth. This is where we usually go when I have a Sunday off… it’s only a 15 minute drive, far enough away to feel we’veContinue reading “Three New Year Symbols”
Oh Yes … a New Year
I am aroused from my holiday stupour to be reminded that a New Year is waiting in the wings. One more country – Samoa – will see it first, having just yesterday moved itself to the left side of the International Date Line. So Samoa, used to being lucky last, now jumps to the headContinue reading “Oh Yes … a New Year”
