Category: youth

Our Socceroos in Age Care Culture

Well the question all of us old players and coaches and supporters is “How Many Times do we Have TO FAIL before we clean out the cupboard of the Nepotistic INBred Culture of Australian Football” ???

Every World Cup campaign we get the lets try and make the last 16, and now we were back to Shit we may not even get to the next round..

Oh sorry, Im not the greatest credentialed voice but I have a some experience of coaching with Internationals both men and women and make no claims of contributing to their success.

So, lets look at our present squad and we’ll find that their applications for redundancy have been deferred with a age profile of 27.9 years relying on 17 players who play overseas and the rest from our A League which is a rest home for players who cannot get a contract overseas but keep the youth out from that level and out of the national light.

NO PROBLEM HERE they say we’re lifting the standard and the all important old boys cartel taking the pay cheques even when they are strolling their stuff in 3rd gear there in a no promotion or relegation league and their jobs safe until they retire on their terms. The youth can wait their turn fully supported as if it was their superannuation right.

Our youngest national player ONE OFF is 20 in 2022 campaign so add 4 years till the next cup and our present team the majority will be up for filling more spots in the nursing home of A league …

Sorry again I’m being over critical here NO IM NOT. IT has to be questioned, as our game could be much better and we owe it to our youth.

So our coaching culture was well and truly on show against Oman with our national coach turning our looking like he’d been on the piss and slept in his clothes, making a mistake and putting his pumps on instead of the 6 plugger thongs.

What a total disgrace and dissrespect to our National Emblem but NONE of the Cartel thought enough about it to comment.

That Just Demonstrates the Culture of Cover My Arse and I’ll Cover Yours” that exists across the code and the media apologists so they can gain the keys to the inner sanctum.

No Problem Here, and if their is any rumours of bringing in a coaching team totally independent from a successful country that has performed on the world stage into the country a media campaign will be launched to discredit the appointed…

SOUND FAMILIAR?????

Yes I believe we have a corrupted institution that needs a root and branch clean out for the sake of every single kid in our nation with dreams of putting on the gold strip.

WE owe them that and the Women’s game too should not be left out of a health check.

And by the way our assistant coach from The Netherlands appeared and who knows how his appointment was advertised or confirmed? I’ll stand corrected but its the first I’ve seen him on the payroll. ?????

Look their is no easy answer from this situation we have found our self in,but to gain we have to have pain,and we must start and look at a 8 year plan to qualify and make us a solid respected world contender and to do that it must start at genuine path roads with a culture at the top that after every World Cup every position is declared vacant, no reputations or backdoor deals applying, with a national approach looking at least 4 to 6 year in advance. Strong emphasis on the 16 to 19 year old international competitions PRIORITISED and funded comprehensively and until that pathway is cemented into an entry point including those who have secured contracts overseas within the Under 22 limit.

Yes until they build and have continual feeder opportunities we will get belted but if we embrace overseas experience our road not as rough.

I have one other issue that some will find uncomfortable but for too long our game has been based modelled on the English version of success and we must embrace the full European Football phycology inclusion fan wise and not ownership via the money launderers that destroy grass root say in management otherwise all efforts of bottom up growth will never eventuate and will be stymied by the Football Mafia of billionaires.

Further reference..

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-standards-have-slipped-postecoglou-warns-after-old-firm-victory-20220203-p59tgl.html

The Political Gap must be Obvious.

Well I’ve been involved in all sorts of political associations since I was 15, joining the union and becoming active within my realm.

Ive watched my country change governments and PM’s sometimes too quick but that’s history, but now I think we are at the lowest base the man on the street sees politicians and politics.

We’ve had rapes, DV’s, theft, corruption, and really its irrelevant but you really can’t get any lower in Australian politics.

Lying is a daily occurrence and now is accepted as the normal as in America.

Integrity is seen as weak as the battle ground has been dumbed down across all parties.

Thank Christ covid is controllable at this time thankful to the Premiers not the Federal Government, as everything the Federal has failed other than covering up their failures.

We have weak media, with wet behind the ear cadets being dictated to by the politicians PR mafia with the threat of being scolded by the teacher if any hard questions are asked. The accountability police are now little wimps with only a handful of older war horses who cut through the bullshit but struggle to get traction in key reporting times.

We are in trouble with the accountability stakes and if we are not careful we will descend into a banana state like America is now.

So whinging and wining won’t fix it. We have to get the masses to take notice and realise their loosing their freedoms and actually too politically ignorant to know. Himmler would be excited to have this happen naturally.

Our politicians need to get credibility and that won’t happen in parliament or offices, its on the street. Face to face contact, open the old soap boxes of sorts, copping the blasts and shouts from the punters but reestablishing the true grass root culture. Talk to the punters, all punters rich and poor, homeless to the well off, managers and owners to the unionists and non unionists and working poor. This should be fertile ground for the Labor Party but its not. they’ve talked the talk but not walked the walk, and that need to change if we are to achieve change.

To be honest I have 2 Pollys that do hit the ground but need to do more even though they have safe seats but never should be taken for granted, they have been reminded by history.

I guess what is needed we have to make the difference stark, before we go to the polls not just polling day. That starts now and that’s my point, the endorsed need to be on the ground in all seats, highlighting the gap between the people and establishment ideology.

The Greens also ask the questions inside Labor are scared to ask, and that’s not a bad thing, and it hits home runs in the Watermelon factions and Labor need to listen. I truly believe the punters are interested in climate and our environment and any alternative away from the capitalist solutions only should be welcomed.

Base line is we need to have a government where its people are the priority and it that too much to ask?

At 70yo with the Power of Invisibility

Well I am blessed to be able to sit and write this little ditty as a few of my mates have not been so lucky and left the stage.

Over my life I have not stayed inside any bubble for any great length of time in my work life therefor my social experiences have been as expansive yet as my son grew up my “street wise” credentials have expanded even further. That’s not a reflection on him its a reflection on our parental interest never failed him and like all kids he had to make his own way and I think we gave him that freedom. He was not in our bubble but knew where home was to clarify the point.

The reason I started on this is I am so thankful that I was introduced to what the younger set were thinking, and being a baby boomer we thought we knew the ropes and I /we discovered their were different ropes. Times change and we the old farts have to adjust.

Yes ADJUST, learn and let go and learn again.

Many of my age played the too old or don’t want to card and expected the world to feel sorry or adjust to them, be it business practices, technology, travel even basic shopping they played the victim card not realising it was their choice in the majority of cases so as time progressed that victim card turned into well get onboard and stop the poor me shit.

Personally I’m a self taught bloke, very fortunate to be involved in the biggest technology shift in the world at the leading edge. Thanks to PMG, Telecom Australia , Telstra i was involved in watching learning and partaking in changing the nations communication systems from open wire to fibre.

That knowledge sits with me today as vivid as it was when it happened as it was just exciting to be part and to grasp the knowledge so you could progress to the next level, be it physically and professionally.

I watched my initial trade Boilermaking progress in equipment, techniques but the 4 pound hammer is still a basic requirement. I left for my good and my family’s future taking a massive wage cut to gain security. The punt worked in so many ways I no regrets.

Then it was the Retail phase where we went into the family business, and lived out of the till. My/our decisions, and that was a necessary step we felt at the time. A great experience I don’t regret but it was a tough teacher.

Throw in cab driving, fruit and vegetable at the markets, car detailing, football coaching semi professional, leaves me I feel with reasonable credentials to in my older phase to look where we are, and where I fit.

It seems the older you get the more invisible you are to the busy or self indulged.

Self indulgement was a blessing we never claimed in my set but it was part of the elite lifestyle we never aspired to join for the fear of loosing real friends. Many tried and never has the breeding, and realised it was a inbred thing as it still is today.

Back to our secret power of invisibility we can talk at gatherings and be ignored, stand in line at the shop and people talk past you, say hello or make eye contact and people turn their head, offer advice and help from actual experience to absolute Fuckwitts and be looked at like a dog turd.

Such is life as older human who should be parked up out of sight out of mind.

No I’m not bitter I’m amazed and question myself strongly if I was that discourteous to my elders.. I question that daily. I often disagreed as I did question, but never ignored out of respect.

We old farts are guilty of our own destiny too as many especially in retirement cannot let go of their past and try to remain in roles of importance after retirement, not to the benefit of the organisation but for self importance and relativity.

All good but comes a time for the good of that organisation you have to stand aside a become a mere mortal.

An autocrats nightmare I know but that attitude does nothing for the elder reputation overall, and dare I suggest successive planning.

What a stupid idea is that… “look at me, I’m a senior citizen and there no-one to take my place”, without thinking its you job in reality to find and train people to do your job for the good of the organisation you represent.

Ego won’t allow that too many.

Yes it happens and happening in your bubble. Just look.

Well I’ve calmed down a bit, taken by blood pressure and I’m good to go. So what about the present me?

After being in positions of captain and presidents of football and golf clubs and being active in a playing only capacity for about 5 years I had to stop because of oxygen, or lack of.

Asbestos is not you friend so of late I’ve been asked if I want to help with the golf club Pennants side and I will do the job as I always have in a business like perspective. Results are a priority then comes the social aspect as it costs the club business to compete even though the players are amateur.

All of my “volunteer” roles have been based on the same princiopal which some find it hard to comprehend. That’s my business brain at work and it has cost me friends as they can’t grasp business outside the kitchen table wanna be professionals who have never moved outside their bubble, but know the power point presentations by heart.

Sister too has moved back into the workforce and I admire anyone regardless of age steps into the unknown and challenges themselves outside their bubble.

Pop that bubble and you will see life outside, but be prepared for some push back from those who have taken you for granted, or scared to move outside theirs, directly and indirectly, and be prepared to be challenged. You have no status other than your clipboard even though you may have a title bestowed.

It’s a test of your Basic skills not the ones you may have acquired in your former career.

In closing for now I was pleasantly surprised when a young person asked me if they could contact me for advice in a new role , so my superpower of invisibility is penatratable to some who actually want to converse to another human in a most unfashionable way face to face. Let’s see if that eventuates..

Bye for now, and if I’m still up i’ll be back oxygen permitting..

The Sweep Story.

On the last day of October 2020 was also the last day of a good friend and college, taken by mesothelioma.

It was not a plesent experience for the relatives and people who knew the journey but in the end it was a relief to those knowing the pain and discomfort of the patent.

A story we probably we have all heard before but is close to me and my wife.

Mick (Sweep) and I both are boilermakers, both worked the Evens Deakin shipyard, and both apprentices to that organisation and did the same work. I won’t go into the exposure to asbestos but it was extreme and we both did it without any knowledge of the consequences.

Mick got mesothelioma, I got asbestosis.

Why we were effected differently is in the hands of the medicos for explanation but it certainly makes you think how precious a day is.

But in retrospect we had a great apprenticeship. The best we felt, working and being taught by some true tradesman. No shortcuts, no inaccuracies, it was a culture where you were judged on your product you produced, be it a bracket, a stringer, or a shell plate. Each and every welding run you put down had to be as close to perfect as you can and that standard was adopted by about 98% of the lads and those who failed the mark were really did not last.

The benchmark was set by the Master.

Our Master was Slam Sullivan. No one knew his real first name. A mountain of a man with hands as big as frying pans that you were never silly enough to smart mouth.

That 2% I spoke about was weeded out and addressed often by a smack in the ear or if required a back hander to convince you to consider your attitude to the job.

Oh yes I can hear the cries of violence to the youth but it was mans trade then and you grew up or did not survive. No mummy’s boys, no crying to the big boss as you would be regarded as a wimp

Slam worked on the Story Bridge a time where accuracy was demanded and his experiences and standards were passed on and to his credit turend out tradesmen that were welcomed once knowing your shipyard training in other factories in any other facets of the boiler-making trade.

Mick stuck with the trade his whole life, I divested after about 10 years and went to PMG, Telecom, and Telstra, but did not escape the asbestos exposure as the pits and conduits.

Again though, part of our training was life experiences few experienced.

The years was a melting pot of cultures. Walking distance from Yungabah hostel the landing point of New Australians arriving and having a job almost immediately if you had experience in any part of the shipbuilding industry.

Every day was a learning experience, be it trade or life working alongside of people who were too learning about our culture and us theirs.

Yes the lingo was in todays terms racist and unacceptable but it was common language then yet those of us who really wanted to know how the rest of the world worked it was an open book, in a time in the late 60”s where everything was being challenged from culture, working conditions, life styles, music ,everything that represented authorities including governments.

Some great discussions, ideas and arguments and at time fights but looking back a great base for me that you could never experience in a class room or office job and we had it on tap.

This could be a sad story but I won’t allow it.

Although we both got some shit disease unknowingly we did have some experiences in our youth that would never pass the occupation health and safety standards today and both of us would probably be in jail if we did to each other what was did then.

Setting little traps with welders, tools ,electricity, acetylene and whatever we could invent to get a laugh or get square was all part of learning a trade and character building, and that experiences carry us through life and give us sometimes a different view of life few can accept at times.

To be honest it took years for Mick and me to realise we both worked at the yard as there was about 200 of us covering many trades so we played golf against each other misbehaved accordingly and as age does we did not recognise each other in that light until one afternoon the penny dropped when is saw Mick walk into the clubhouse dressed in his work gear and I said boilermaker, then it all fell into pace, the toolbox was opened and it we started swinging the 4 pound hammer of our youth, driving in the wedges and dogs of the past

He remains in my mind a true tradesman full stop. He stayed and practiced the game to the end and I hope he passed on his standards to his subordinates in trade but I’m pretty sure he passed them on family in another forms and they will live with them.

His legacy remains in many ways.

Thanks for the memories old mate and meet you at the lunch room for the game of 500 with the big school.

Slam No Trumps.

The Dog is Off, Sabbatical Over.

Since my local newspaper got the chop for Murdock I’ve had a bit of a rest from writing as I was a contributor to opinion writing in Letters to Editor and other little tasks to prompt thought outside the main stream media.

That break also give me time to rethink my sources of news and the way to get bio the meat of a story without the bullshit, hence I have moved away from TV and gone directly to radio, a once critical part of my upbringing.

Radio National ABC , along with my internet sources complete my morning intake locally and world wide give some a broad news without the need for personality opinion disguised as news.

My first issue of distain is the way our government is handling this #China syndrome of scare.

One of our biggest traders , clients China is vital to our industry especially our agriculture and food chains and the fact that America is having issues done not mean we have to play lap dog, even though our PM is mimicking every move #Trump does to appease.

Its obvious #Morrison is not a lateral thinker and playing bum boy to power is the way he has got the top job even though he won the election he never wanted to win is obviously agonising on having to use a socialistic principals to keep the nation afloat during the pandemic, actions that are at odds with is radical right wingers who see capitalism must survive at all costs, again mirroring Trump.

You will also notice his ability to play the leader of the national cabinet when decisions are made then send in his snipers to attack those decisions. A gutless act from a man who run away from responsibility in the bush fires, attacked premiers in the early stages of the pandemic for implementing safety measures to protect and play the political states game of blame, right down to the incompetence in the age care areas.

A leader he is not, a shady used car salesmen is more to his calling, and when it comes to accountability he hides under a rock along with his stooges, who under the Westminster Government rules should stand aside at least until incompetence or corruption is disproved.

Not under Morrison who regard it badge of honour, a right to use your public office to increase personal wealth directly or indirectly.

So will the Opposition do a better job?

Coming out of this pandemic will be a tough job regardless and we as a nation will need compassion as depending on the outcome in America will set the course for at what rate that recovery will take.

Its obvious now that Europe, China and Asia have parked up and are in wait and the isolationist policy’s of Trump will be trigger for the block to let America drown in its own sewerage if stays on Trumps present agenda.

That leaves Australia, NZ., Japan, Indonesia, block possibly increasing trade opportunities and that not leaving China out either..

That will test any government in the wake of a possible depression.

Anyway that decision is in the hands of the American people come November as it has the voice to stay in track and have a head on with itself, or take a side track before collision and run out of rail.

What a choice, delusional old men trying to stay relevant regardless of which party you vote or not.

Sadly until some vision from the younger Americans is given a chance America will not avoid a calamity that emulates Hiroshima and Nagasaki without the bomb, on a larger scale all self inflicted.

Life’s Tool Kit will be Required After Covid19.

Out of the mires of woes COVID has delivered there are some positive lessons our society has experienced especially our youth.

In the past our life skills were learnt over years and experience but this virus has accelerated this experiences and highlighted some overlooked by not only the youth but parents equally.

Skills like patience, adaptability, social consciousness, sharing, sacrifice, ingenuity, self discipline all critical in making up quality characteristics of a reputable citizen of the world played out in a relatively short time of confinement.

It also has highlighted the shortcomings of self indulgence, greed, often displayed by parents then passing to siblings qualities that will be remembered long past this crisis.

I remember my grandparents and their friends when our country was at war and in depression recalling people who broke the social expectations of unity when our country was in crisis and those who had the character to stand united and it was the latter that this country rebounded in those times.

We are not quite in those times yet but the no one knows where the world will end up, but one thing is certain, the people who have the life’s character toolkit will be called and go to the coal face first as in our grandparents time.

Wayne Offer

Our Youths Health is Not a Political Tool

There is lot of political noise about who when and where our educational system will resume to what is seen as normal again but let’s see who is driving this debate and If our kids are really the cherished concern of politicians.

The higher education faction are split into the high profit making sector and the general day to day public sector both with differing needs highlighting the fact that education should never be outsourced with reliance on outside clientele to support our national mainstream system.

Out tiered primary and secondary system geared to the your wallet is always a tool used as a vote catcher appeasing the ideology’s of each and every constituency hence we are having this national debate on when is it safe to return to schools.

Our National Cabinet of State Premiers is proving it worth and each premier has the responsibility for their populations some vastly different in demographic, density, and cultural diversity so no comparison can be drawn, however that does not stop politicians and the media making hay out of this complicated situation made worse by a PM spreading crumbs to keep his keepers on side.

Until we put our youth’s health and well-being first and unleash the media on who is stands to make a buck by getting their puppets to squark, we will be no better than Trump’s America.

Wayne Offer

It’s Getting Just too Hard for Scotty from Marketing.

No doubt our country is going through a political identity crisis at the present and our political party’s don’t really know who their actual base is as they try to find a space that suits the current climate and suits their factional nemesis’s

Once the proud County Party now the Nationals used to represent the man on the land, the cocky,the producer, now its total focus is running a case for big coal and gas that rips the guts out of agricultural land, contaminates or irradiates underground water surrendering fertile country for the bag of fools gold.

They themselves have created a vacuum that the Greens and other groups with nowhere near the knowledge of the forefathers to fill, all self inflicted.

Amazing diatribe from Allan Jones about coal and climate denial yet the same man led the protest at Aplin against coal expansion. You have to ask who is paying the piper then conveniently forgets or hope we forget.

This country is crying out for leadership on important issues such as climate, mental health, economic certainty for business yet this government and its factions cannot decide what seat they sit in Canberra Parliament, what ideologies to have to suit days narrative, what we expect from Trumpsville but not in a thinking democracy.

If only we thought, listened and questioned more, and actually engaged we the punters could raise the bar if we choose.

Wayne Offer

Our Working Poor Does not Fit Scotty From Marketing’s Model.

It’s rude to eves drop. It’s probably unethical to write about it but this is a story that needs to be told.

While shopping in a major chain complex i inadvertently overheard two employees discussing if one had received a email from management re a issue. A negative reply then the conversation expanded into why the email was generated as one employee dared to question a manager.

The end result was that employee lost hours, and then the fear of that happening to them fully revealed how we allowed our people be manipulated as throw away human beings.

When loosing one hour is the difference of having a roof or on the streets for a family it becomes inconceivable to some who live in the land what we regard normal Australians.

These people are the working poor and in some cases destitute. They have pride and often present well clothed from charitable outlets or in uniforms and the only thing they have to trade is their labour and when your that low in the labour chain you are expendable and the ruthless employers prey on that vulnerability.

My initial thoughts was seek union advice but this contract society has taken away that safety net, and keep in mind millions of these are officially employed although they may only have 4 hours or less and do not appear on national un employment data, and then we wonder why our crime rate continues to rise as people struggle between New Start and manipulating employers of survive but when it gets down to feeding your kids or loved ones people resort to desperate measures, filling our courts and costing the community billions in enforcement.

Scotty from Marketing’s “have a go get a go” slogan does not apply to this level as his rejection of New Start increase is rejected and big business gets tax breaks about sums up the care factor to raise the living standards of all Australians not just the Silent Ones.

Wayne Offer

Greta Thunberg Like Bernie Banton Stands Her Ground.

It must be a pretty big thing to have the President of the United States to fly 4 thousand Kilometres to have a lash at a young teenager. Probably a bit of diversion politics from home issues but this trend to attack the young climate messenger across all media platforms is actually building the case and growing the support no matter of how many of the climate deniers propaganda portray her disability, age, school level, or intelligence.

Its a hard road if you choose to take on an issue that establishment see their status quo challenged, however without those who choose to step up always face the wrath of quite often personal attacks over a debate on fact.

Personally me and many others have to thank our real warrior Bernie Banton who’s fight against politicians. Lobbyists, shareholders and the greater business sector who suffered the same wrath that Thunberg is copping today and that fight is still ongoing across the world as politicians deny or covered up to appease their donors and launched into personal attacks as a means to deflect responsibility.

Be sure this kid ain’t going nowhere and while the men in suits go into palpitations every time they see her one thing is certain,

we had our chance and blew it when this issue first arose back in the 80’s and 90’s and that’s a fact no one can deny.

Wayne Offer

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