Tag: Ageing

YES, NO, Or Is it Just Me?

I’m not gong to judge, procrastinate or even try to convince you one way or the other on this referendum, but what I will do is as yourself who am I .

Full disclosure, I’m a Boomer 73, so we’ll start with my lot who were never educated in Aboriginal culture at school as “ They” the black kids didn’t have to go to school or we were told they just lived in the bush somewhere.

And that’s where the attitudes probably started at the time and the division between seeds were sowed.

I saw the anguish later when Aboriginals got a vote, got counted in our population and I see it clearly today in this debate.

To many it’s fear of the unknown as was they were counted the take over of when they got the vote, and now if they get a say..

I see it in the eyes of the potential NO voters that fear, The fear of they of how they will get too much say Or they might get too much support or allowances above what they see as us “Normal” Australians or us tax payers.

The scared or privileged feel intimidated of the unknown and that’s where the No vote seats it’s argument. The fear of loosing “something “of perceived “something” or is it a deep down hate driven by that fear?

Then we are subjected to “I Don’t Know” Cop out group. The conservative non involved hiding under a rock clan for who if it’s not broken don’t fix it, don’t rock the boat, ooooh I might make a mistake so I won’t investigate I’ll just lie to avoid blame. The old I’m a swinging voter character, the one you’ll never rely on if your in the shit, you may be lucky or not type, who assess self interest over anything else. Yep plenty of them about presently looking for a free sausage sizzle.

Then we have the politicians who have decided it’s their job to add confusion to a simple question of giving 3 percent YES THREE PERCENT. of Australians a fair go, not a controlling go, just a go we normal white people enjoy….. or that may be the issue we don’t know what we have so let’s not give them a go just in case ….

It’s a argument driven by ignorance ,fear, and colonial class war driven racism, that has always been part of a undercurrent in our older society right back to childhood as discussed above and passed down or spread in the lunch rooms and pubs of the Numpty lot usually by the loudest.

Personally this is not a political issue,it’s a human being doing right thing exercise nothing else, and I have to ask how many people making the decision have ever worked or had actual contact good and bad with the colonials than apply the same algorithm of the bad experiences when dealing with Aboriginals in your life and you see which group wins the race to the bottom and it ain’t the Abbo’s mate, yet their scary ones… really?

In my case again I’ve been privileged to work and play alongside all races, colour, religions in this country, probably more than many due to immigration intakes and my Football in my youth and in my experience it was a melting pot of humans embarking on a new life, just wanting a kick start. They are not the ones against this referendum they know what it’s like to be at the bottom and imagining what it’s like to being here first in this country and still fighting..

In Closing the Yes vote will be up against it but if it gets up nothing will change to 97% of Australians Nothing, but that 3% might get a hand up, however if it goes down the rest of the world will look at us as a Colonial outpost of people’s scared to let go of our outdated class/racial Historical habits.

God save the King First

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.

Expendable Me.

As we speak some we have we are informed that thousands of Victorians are refusing to be tested for COVID-19 believing the conspiracy I won’t repeat because of utterly ridiculous theories beyond belief.

This culture of stupidity will spread the virus intentionally and me being in the vulnerable age group and having “other” issues will die if I contact the disease, full stop.

But it’s not only those in Victoria or NSW or anywhere in fact it’s our political hawks who have decided the virus is now part of our life we are going to have to live with and may as well just open up and get on with making our economy great again, and it’s up to you to survive, and in the right age group.

At the front end of this crisis we were told it’s the elderly and those compromised with health issues will be in the most vulnerable, that warning has been conveniently forgotten by our Prime Minister as he continues to play his smirking game of wedge politics with the state leaders to get his silver tail mates back in favour.

We oldies are now collateral damage to the capitalistic ambitions of the LNP and should just concede we have had our time run our race and die for the country’s well being, to keep the businesses back making profits.

One thing is for sure, we will go first unless we stay in hibernation forever, so we have to accept that fact and maybe the herd immunity theory, similar to the conspiracy theories will keep the younger population eventually protected after a significant genocidal experiment in the name of economic prosperity.

Yes there is a solution but I thought we were a intelligent race here in Australia but the Victorians are revealing we suffer from “Fuckwittery” at a level that could be just as contagious as COVID-19 amongst the population that cannot come to terms of for once in their lives they are not in control, and maybe we could just get all of the dumb arses parked up together and see if their theories are correct and it’s only them it effects.

They wouldn’t last a week before they,d have another conspiracy about the conspiracy.

Murdock Butchers our Local Newspapers

For those who are not so News aware the Murdock Press has made the decision to cease all hard copy news papers to the regional and country areas across Australia and go digital.

This action in effect sends the little and older generations into news darkness as many have no IT or basic computer knowledge.

This may have been self inflicted by some granted as they refused to grow with the times and others unable to grow due to educational limits.

With all that’s said, the facts are people will loose the fabric that binds smaller communities together, a lifestyle that is incomprehensible to the self centred generations living their little boxes with make believe acquaintances online, many unable to communicate face or face let alone read and comprehend a news article.

A bit savage you may think? Yes but truthful and if you need proof, spend a hour or two on a polling booth and see humanity in its raw form doing something that should effect their lives and their family’s.

You will be amazed at the ignorance not only of the political systems but of general manners expected of a human being.

That said as true to form as you can get from Murdock the said they’d keep regional and small papers on takeover from APN and they lied, nothing new again from these bottom feeders of toxic text, and they will expect you to buy the Courier Mail if you want a hands on paper which in fact is nothing more than a LNP newsletter as I have stated many times and subedited out or simply consigned to the junk mail.

Truth and Murdock should never be put in the same sentence, as you now know from their actions.

In my case my editorial days may be limited as many times before my View does not sit with the owners ideology and I have been extremely lucky to have a editor who still feels balanced reporting is a key factor in a democracy, but like the QT she too is moving and many of the contributors may join me in the junk mail due to our views clashing with the owners ideology also.

That’s life but it does not help those who have been thrown into darkness, those businesses who’s adds were accessible freely will not have a presence of picking up a paper, the sporting body who wants any press to help them survive, the cocky who wants the cattle prices, the auctioneer, the church, the garage sale, and you can go on all gone to the iPad or smart phone of the fortunate.

To be honest I’m looking at community radio as a service, not a competitive entity but NFP (non for profit) organisation and any other media stream APP to try and compensate the losses, and any ideas please fill in at the bottom of this blog. Also Periscope the live App has been mentioned.

And I cannot close without mentioning the silence of the Hanson’s, the Katters, the Nationals all supposed to represent country people but obviously terrified to upset their puppet master Murdock, their absolute silence says why we as a nation need to govern ourselves for ourselves not run the agenda of a non tax paying overseas jerk , but not one of the conservatives have the guts to call him out. Political Harlots. All looking for that headline from Rupert.

Australia is Not A Company thanks.

It seems the truce is over in the COVIDSafe debate and the ideology is returning as status quo.

As I have stated previously in hope that our politicians realise we are running a country not a company but now it seems the dollar will push the medical science and any science to the back seat where it’s been parked under this government.

When we will we stop following the Trump edict and put people first or when will the politicians stand up and say how many are they deaths are they prepared to accept as a fair trade off to appease lobbyists?

We all know how critical it is for our economy to start that’s not the debate but it’s the timing and the risk of a secondary wave, and after patting ourselves on the back just to be kicked backwards by the irresponsible self centred who really don’t care. We see how quick it moves to spread so it seems this government is putting all the eggs on a App to justify its decisions regardless if public opinion more than sceptical on its taupe and effectiveness.

Yes in a company you plan and enact risk management but as I’ve stated this situation is not a company which this government cannot come to terms with because fact is the people who will be exposed the most are the people are the ones on the coal face that we need to keep the place running or haven’t we learnt that yet either?

Wayne Offer

This Play is not a Rehearsal

Today our national archive is calling for our reflections on what is happening to our lives as we speak so it can be kept in the annals of time forever.

They are calling on all citizens to contribute and that will be a true record of what is happening at this point in time regardless of any political pressure or spin.

We as Aussies have the natural ability to self analyse or not backward in analysis of each other in public without much fear of being shot ,maimed, or sued if we go outside public expectations of behaviours.

We are fortunate and we do have vast opinions across many subjects and probably I’d be safe in saying religion is the most source of divide, then politics and racism fight for the lowest common denominator.

Over my life I have been through the phases of submission, rebellion, inclusion, exclusion, independence, reliance, and many others as me and my family evolve often with totally different opinions and views yet still close and maintaining respect.

Health is the most important issue and really nothing else matters. Money and status is jack shit if you body is fucked. Yeah the relatives will be caring up front while they are thinking what’s in in for me if you do have some sort of legacy pending.

The phrase “ I want nothing from death” sometimes rings truth, and other times a blatant lie, what I will say is generational ethos of to make your kids life better than yours was more prevalent in the post war baby boomer parents while their kids are much more selfish and self centred in many cases.

As a boomer I’m embarrassed daily on the behaviour of some of my aged counterparts who over time have forgotten their parents standards and become those Quiet Australians who’s focus is on self interest, spending the inheritance, grey nomad, all about me because I earned it, and I’m a victim look at me ,I’m special ,mentality which would make our parents roll in their graves.

That also should be recorded in the archives which is now magnified under the restrictions of the #covid_19 .

Saturday last we made a legal trip to our doctor for the full flu shot which was done in a regimented military precision exercise for safety, instructions clear and precise yet we witnessed older generations stalking the doors, impatiently pushing in on people who we’re complying with instructions.

Just plain grubs, driving their new cars all much more important than those about them and sadly it’s now ingrained in their personalities.

How far have we fallen from our Aussie roots I ask?

Then we see the next generation with no control over their kids leaving it to everyone else to educate and set standards as often the parents which are morally bankrupt themselves.

The current world crisis might shake a few ideologies as well individual self analysis as I hope we are in need of a life reset in this nation. The last thing we want or need is the American model that is proving so self destructive as the dog eat dog capitalistic system based on profit over people will play out before your eyes and the results incomprehensible to not only us but worldwide. Fragmentation of public service responsibilities at national level may seem cost effective, politically blame shifting, at the ultimate cost to its population. Money is useless, business is irrelevant until the virus is defeated and trying to give it a timeline is idiotic without real developed vaccines not silver bullets. Trump and his cronies are looking for those bullets and it’s pure fantasy deluding the population as Hitler did as they were closing in on Berlin.

Truth is the first casualty of war, so please listen to real news from real journalists not talking heads, opinion junkies, all looking for self indulgence…

And yes I could be judged but I don’t have a rating or advertising accountabilities, my opinion is just that , a opinion.

Cheers

Wayne Offer.

Let’s Rethink All Elections in Australia.

#covid_19

After this period of time now and beyond our world will never be the same.

We will have to have a total reset in Australia after the risk management exercise and we will have to analyse our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats at a scale never done before.

Our leaders and their performances at all levels plus industry, workers, in fact society will be part of that assessment that is if our politicians put the nation before self interest.

We will, probably demand our leaders have a skill set to move us into the new World that everyone will be looking inward on how they performed in this crisis at all levels of government that is why I feel we should suspend all elections now as the people we elect today may not be the ones with the ability to take us forward in the unknown.

Locally who knows where we will end up, but it won’t be the same. We want people to match the times at the helm and we the punters can’t judge now on a landscape we know will never be the same.

Yes a big call but it’s time for big calls from leaders who have that forward vision and in this case practically must outrank process and I’m sure our public servants should be allowed to continue without the responsibility of holding the hands of the new kids in the sandpit on changeover in a national crisis.

This will upset some who think in the present, but it’s the ones who think past the present are the ones we need in our council chambers.

WAYNE Offer

Enter Serhilda Subaru.

Well is been about 20 days of ownership of Serhilda Subaru and what a ride.

For a pair of near 70 year old old farts getting a vehicle with leading edge technology on board has been a real buzz

It took years to get my beloved to progress from a flip Nokia phone of the nineties to a iPhone 6s, as the family passed off old phones when one got a upgrade.

That was a step that equaled a moon walk, however after about a fortnight of total remorse of the dead Nokia one realised how much fun it was to learn to play with things like emoji and sounds and to her credit she has progressed dramatically since crossing the boundary of self imposed ignorance.

iPads once just electric newspapers now are a more a interactive challenge and now with the arrival of Serhilda the curve and interest is nearly vertical.

I have the feeling that friends and associates are a little apprehensive to put mildly of our/my decision to move into such a tech loaded machine but in my view as we get older we must embrace the available technology to assist us with the driving / travelling task as it does not take that much research that if you are a elderly you are immediately assumed to be at fault because of age and we have to prove innocence from a handicap of assumed incompetence.

This car will not and does not drive itself, make decisions, but it does make you more aware of you being in control of a vehicle.

Face eye cameras, lane departure, observation of head movement away from road and fatigue all thing we do naturally but sometimes we might just need a jog to remind us. Age is irrelevant with these tools but the fact it’s there reinforces the obligations of holding a licence.

Some younger find it objectionable, a imposition of accountability when you already know everything, the older are afraid they will be jolted into realism of how habits can develop into hazards and the fact that repetition and getting away with it does not make it right.

Personally I love driving with a passion, being fortunate via PMG, Telecom, TELSTRA to have some of the best training one could have in heavy vehicle and mechanical aids and I have never taken for granted that learning when upgrading vehicles and technologies across the board.

Serhilda has put me/us back in the classroom and both of us are loving the experience, and in saying that I enjoyed the Honda CRV but as a vehicle where corrigation and potholes are a daily occurrence was under the pump,but ideal in city and minor bumpy stuff. Long term for me was a unit that could fit stuff if and when needed with my issues and with the new platform Subaru is now delivering my wife is in the safest vehicle of its class in the world made our decision easy.

Last car ever so we now have a unit that compares with 15 years of Lauren Landrover TD5 in character and technology and I hope performance and reliability.

Serhilda means “Armoured Battle Women.”

Go After the Shysters in Suits.

Get the Shysters in Suits

#bankingRC #letterstoQT #equality #justice

If Joe orJane citizen wander in to a business and steals we expect the common law to apply justice delivered.. Not so the higher you go up the socioeconomic ladder, it’s who can afford the best barristers and call on influential mates and call in a few favours. 

That culture has continued with the Banking Royal Commission report with not one being held to account. Proven theft from pensioners, disabled, people looking for truthful advice, the dead, to name just a few all conned by shysters in suits and not one recommendation for the of true justice that applies to us mere working class punters. 

We  cannot allow two justice systems in this country and simply seeing the contempt the NAB top brass had to the Commission and participants demonstrated they were convinced they thought were above any accountability socially or legally, similar to James Hardy had to asbestos victims. 

Don’t expect the present government to act as they identified where they stood 26 times until some within their ranks indicated they would cross the floor, but it’s not beyond average expectations that rule of law should apply to all identified as knowingly committing fraudulent actions. 

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