Category: Lifestyle

Disabled Transport Should Not be Dollar Drivin. 

In response to concerns about disability transport it should be made clear that the value of the carers and the drivers of the units that service disabled clients is often understated and undervalued because of their standing in the profession. As a former driver combined with my carer provided stability to many clients that never experienced it in the home. Depending on the demographic the punctuality forced parents to have their child ready for the pick up, dressed and that unfortunately was about it with some. Often it was discovered breakfasts and lunches were non existent, medications not administered, personal hygiene status wanting, all information freely given to us by the clients as they knew we would report it to the schools ahead of arrival so arrangement could be made before the kids entered the class room environment. 

On the positive the kids were looked after on school days and often the authorities were called in and action taken at home with variable results. 

Not all clients have these issues and taxis will suit, but for those clients who felt sitting on the bus in their own seat with kids and people they trust was a vital part managing their disability and prepared them for the day ahead. 

Sadly in my time involved we were the messenger as we saw first hand what the kids experienced daily in that particular demographic, some great stories and great kids and parents I recall vividly, but in the minority those less fortunate needed stability from the time they set foot on the footplate, that’s the role of the NDHS, end to end service for all recipients and if we let the bean counters allocate services we all know the needy’s voice will be given token value over a some boffins spreadsheet looking for a Micky Mouse Badge from his boss. 

Memories of the Junction


One door closes another opens. That was the theme as I walked into the Junction Hotel yesterday after about 25 years.The bar girl welcome was exactly as it was in my memory. Like you were there yesterday and nothing was too much trouble even as they were setting up for the day’s trade. 

The Thagoona Offers returned to a place with so many memories however the old pub was gutted yet their was some sense of familiarity with what was left. 

Entry points, photographs, verandas once stairs, and if you looked up you’d see the remains of walls separated bars and lounges where so many good times with most of all good friends ,genuine friends. 

Yes the food was perfect, service great and as we soaked up the atmosphere I slipped into reminiscent mode and recalled how I was hid in the corner of the public bar when young, given double sarsaparilla, then after I started work and played football with the men I was accepted as one and learnt to watch, stay out of trouble, but have a great time as I was 15 years old when drinking age was 21. 

I worked the chook and meat tray raffles for Annerley Football Club as did our entire family, as well as the chocolate wheel before opening time. 

We were a Football Family dedicated to the Club on the old dump, mum in the canteen, Dad secretary, and team manager, and ambulance bearer, and groundsman, and any other job that needed doing. Life was good and simple. No fucken Facebook crap then. They were real friends, the ones you saw or took the time to ring up, if they had a phone or you’d walk to go and see them if they were OK if they went missing for a unusual time. We looked after each other yet we had our privacy that was instilled in us to always respect. We were there if required, the words did not have to be put on Facebook they were known by those who needed to know and THATS ALL.

My grandmother once told me it’s not what’s said that counts it what’s not said or said in confidence counts. That silent pause Fanny had comes to mind. 

We have that culture today in the country with many of our friends. We are lucky, no news is good news , but it’s a work in progress as is life. 

Anyway back to yesterday. It cannot go unmentioned my extended residency at the Junction as my Grandfather allegedly placed me on the public bar near the men’s toilet corner when he had drink with a few with his mates, or a dust up or whatever come first. 

Darkie had a bit of rep when it come disputes. He took the direct route and often Dad had to referee. He was good at that, marching him home singing to Doris and Mum. 

So today to me after that visit is a time to call mum, sister, and just say gday, wander around the paddock and remember the rot that went on when planning and building the stuff with Dad at the Junction or under the house in Fingal street, mum trying to convince us both forget it yet knowing the country blood was passed on. 

Yes it was a good day for the Thagoona Offers yesterday and I think Marg and Gav have their own treasured and varied memories as does Mum and Kerri.

Another milestone in the journey of life.. 

Whistleblowers need Protection 

The dust has settled after our council election and punch lines of transparency daily as the CCC continues its investigations I cannot recall one statement or assurance that council employees would be covered and supported by whistleblower indemnity locally. We many have reorganised the deck chairs at the top table but until this council is prepared to guarantee no employee will be sacked or discriminated against on the record the words of change are sceptical to say the least. 

The former council structure was in power for 17 years and culture does not change on one Saturday night so if we are to believe total transparency, then these employees must not be impeded if they choose to stand up and should be encouraged. 

Australian Rugby in self  inflicted Freefall 

I suppose I look at things a little different from the rest but my football career was based on performance. You performed you got payed, you didn’t you got the sack or on the transfer list.Apparently in Rugby Union that policy does not exist, especially in the coaching position.

You can send a nation into free fall down the rankings list and still hold your job, yet the previous coach was dismissed for micro managing a side and maintaining discipline while its world ranking stayed respectable.

Obviously the brains trust was in favour of the opposite, allowed the has beens in and we are all suffering the embarrassment. 

This is not a player issue, this is a cultural issue that needs to be irradicated if we want the Wallabies back on the world stage. 

Yes, as under Mackenzie the Fox Sports commentators should not be part of the selection process, and that in itself will make it hard for any one outside the “club” to get support especially if there is not a Australian coach selected. 

Like Western Australia Force if your not on the Eastern Seaboard below Queensland you are a parasite that has to be endured by the rugby blue bloods. 

Well the blue bloods have sent rugby to its knees, transformed the national anthem singing crowds to a karaoke night out with suits behind the desks in blue suits telling each other how good they were. Sickening stuff to the loyal fan who’s team has been hijacked by a mob that can’t even manage a shave let alone a professional unit fitting national status. 

The players deserve better, the supporters deserve better, so rugby should follow footballs code, advertise for a world class coach who can pick his own managment team and let him go for 3 years minimum. 

What to do with the karaoke team on Fox? Not much really, just appreciate the older they get the better they were and keep the old tunes replaying while they tell jokes and laugh at them themselves. 

  

Stone Quarry Cemetary 

Today’s visit to a cemetery was to capture the ones who may have been forgotten as the coal industry is surrounding the site. 

To be honest it’s a peaceful site but as in most Cemetarys time is the enemy. 


Who’s God  causes the Divide.

As one of the 35% of Australians who do not wear the Guernsey of any religion I sit in total wonderment of Hanson’s stunt in the senate. What brings a person to a conclusion that their God, their belief, is better than someone else’s and then go on to degrade it.

I was taught in my early years, the value of tolerance and understanding spoken by all faiths but as my years increase that value decreased as the religions battled for customers. The divisions grew as amalgamations took place to eliminate the non profitable branches as did the extremists within.

The statistics reveal there is 8% of other religions outside Christianity and Atheists in Australia, representing a host of beliefs from all over our world, each contributing to our culture, a number exceeded by a single sporting code, so why we have to ask does someone seek to profit from promoting fear and hate?

This disgusting trend is World wide, dividing society to Right and Left, led by religious fanatics with their God on their side, and I live in hope someone will rise above it all and put world humanity as a vision under no Guernsey, if not our kids will never know what a balanced view is, and as we know our kids are born innocent and are taught discrimination.

Maybe it’s time we spend the time to listen to John Lennon’s Imagine…. 

When will America Stand Up Australians ask? 

Remember Today, it’s a Elvis, John Lennon, JFK, moment.I woke up to hear the President of the United States, the leader of the free world give the Nazi’s a free pass, justification for demanding white America .

I’m bloody Australian,my roots are from all over the world, I grew up post WW2 in Australia, I learnt from a history book of experience working in a shipyard at 15 with immigrants from all over the world living about a mile from the shipyard at Yungabar hostel, their first landing place in our country.

I learnt from the victims of Hitler directly. I saw the hope of a new life, something I took as granted and often shared that hope with them when they left the yard and took up jobs and professions they had done before invasion.

So when I see groups anywhere in the world mimicking the Nazi movement I cringe,even more when I see a world leader treating them as equal to any dissenting group, justifying their actions. 

Trump owes them and other extreme groups for his election and after today is quite clear they called in the debt, and Trump responded in his true colours.

Any we can waffle on with our opinions from a far land but it’s up to Americans to get off their arses and get rid of him or he will drive their country into another Civil War as after today he has justified rasism, bigotry, murder, street violence as a 2way street. 

They call him Mr President. That title should be withdrawn by the media and the people as respect for those who have gone before. 

But do they have the guts to do it or will the procrastination continue?

Someone has to stand up America, is that person you?

The world awaits. 

The Law over Public Empathy in Ipswich. 

The Australian empathy for the Ipswich Robin Hood has been well broadcast across our media reminding us of the good done in his reign of mayor, however when one takes on the role of a public servant the rules change, the latitude for good outweighing the bad ceases.Although the the presumption of innocence must apply, the simple fact is charges laid need to be answered and we all need to think if it was not the ex mayor but local Joe Citizen charged with a similar offence would the same empathy exist?

No, because Joe has no profile, could have personal issues just as severe but no relationship with the media in his day to day life. 

So as we march to the polls let’s think of our future and let the courts do their job, and when the dust has settled then we can write the history accurately. 

America’s Train Crash in Progress. 

I’m not American. Probably I should thank someone other than God because I would be hypocritical. In any case we, the rest of the world are watching a America slowly slipping into a self inflicted coma of society decay. 

They said when Trump was elected it was a rebellion against the establishment. 

As time goes on we seeing the social fabric not the establishment being dismantled. 

What’s right, what’s wrong does not seem to matter, it’s the end justifying the means, the business outcome, money, White America first then comes selective vetting of the rest of the population based on social status.

People who have suppressed racial hate have now been encouraged by Trump Talk to act in the name of Nationalism to attack anything that does not meet their criteria of who is really American. 

History reminds us this was the way the Nazi regime commenced with segregation followed by purification of what it was to be German. They had a leader that controlled the media, wrote his own media (properganda), denouncing any people with views outside government as traitors or enemy of the state. 

His followers fanatical, his inner circle hand picked, ruled by a iron fist with the threat of death if they strayed their thinking. 

I cannot help drawing comparisons if you look at Hitler structure to the way Trump is slowly expanding the American social split where if your not right wing or extreme right wing your a socialist which then is regarded as a enemy of the state.

History records Rome went from the world centre to a burning hulk, not overnight but just kept burning internally until it fell. The fire was accelerated when the Trump was elected, and now the world is witnessing the inevitable train crash. 

I hope my country is not on that train. 

ABC 4 Corners leads Aussie Media on Investigative Journalism.

The response to the 4 corners program has shocked many Ipswich residents as it has the rest of Australians.That report is a clear indication of the value of the role investigative journalism plays in our day to day lives. 

Ipswich residents were oblivious to the goings on in their own backyard on this issue as we were on many other issues highlighted by the show over time, so I have to question why do mainly conservative governments consistently cut funds the public broadcaster?

I’m not going down the road of political blame but with news outlets getting skimpier on basic content, staff cuts and amalgamations, true investigative journalism has never been so important to our democracy as well as our day to day living as this example has proven. 

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