Tag: Australia

My Experience on Black Lives Matter.

As a boomer from the 50’s I’ve seen or at times participated in rallies or change events and of late observed as we have moved in time but not always in social change.

I recall vividly in my childhood how our Aboriginals were regarded as a underclass in school and socially, not my parents view totally but it was important to be seen as just fitting in with societies views at that time.

In saying that my grandfather who was of dubitable heritage of multicultural bloodline nicknamed “Darkie” because of his dark sometimes black skin, had Im told many a confrontation with caucasians who thought he may have been aboriginal, often to their detriment physically. I witnessed a few wise cracks unknowingly at the time and learned his reputation later in life, not only as a fighter against racism but a fighter against all forms of discrimination via the Waterside Workers Federation.

At school aboriginal history was totally erased and British Colonialist culture was the curriculum, and a form of silent hate was projected as aboriginal kids did not have to attend school magnifying the black white divide.

When visiting my country relatives, I could not understand the rhetoric of the adults towards the “Boongs” as referenced but I did take it in as any kid does when you don’t understand at the time.

Life went on and it wasn’t until Cath Walker a not so famous then but Annerley local started getting press and then the conversation escalated through the community about Aboriginal rights , Bjelke Peterson versions and then it started to roll, Sam Watson, Lilla Watson, Nev Bonner, just come to mind but many more.

High school finished at 15 and to be honest I don’t recall any Aboriginal kid attending but I do recall vividly Ian King, a guy from the Gabba Police Youth Club kid who was the quickest bowler I’ve ever faced and had the best arm I’ve ever seen come to cricket training. His nickname “Rainbow”. The kids idolised him I recall and he didn’t coach to much but his presence was awesome to many.

Enter apprenticeship ShipYard and then my little world at Ekibin exploded. Multicultural was a requirement to survive, tradesmen from all over the world, all levels of society were a everyday event. Stories from the War, world conflicts, invasions, religious clashes, things never discussed in our family circle were all a every day experience at lunch times, or on job conversations, which at times amazed me why I was so naive to actual human existence elsewhere on the planet.

The trade union movement bought all those together and although the brought baggage from their lives when the met a former foe, they had to unite and that in itself healed many, but they never forgot within themselves.

Me, I came across many that helped me understand life outside family and was hard to explain to those who were in their Australian bubble and were content, but what I did discover the difference of how migrants regarded our Aboriginals oversaw we regarded them.

Many had been where the Aboriginal was/is and were not backward when we colonials behaved badly towards them. They were more compassionate than us Australians by far. Another Learning curve for me. AND that was in the late 60’s

As life went on and being a sport junkie I witnessed the Elly Bennet aftermath at the yard and watched boxers like Rose, Mundine, and lower fighters on the cards use their skills in the ring often to be ripped off by managers and discarded when they fell out of favour losing them to alcohol or worse, while white fighters we’re “looked After” better even if they did not reach the same heights of accomplishment.

That really irked by sporting ethics, probably more than my moral ethos at the time.

My career moved and I completed my apprenticeship and shifted workplaces practicing my trade still in Brisbane until industrial warfare forced me to change direction and I went off driving cabs and working at the Brisbane Markets both hotbeds of racial appreciation, while the whole time playing or coaching football with overseas players abundant, but it wasn’t until I became a manager with Telstra did it hit home again the divide between Australians on indigenous affairs.

My earlier years with the company was in the inner city and then to developing suburbs like Woodridge, Kingston, Rochdale, Eight Mile Plains, with a lower demographic, exacerbated intolerance and being in the business of communications we were in the kitchen literally and physically.

My movement the South East Queensland Manager give me an area from Walloon to the NT border as high as Birdsville and into Northern NSW. a fair track and a big classroom for me when it come to indigenous customs and affairs.

I had the honour of having some great teachers, mainly staff members of both cultures with heaps of experience briefing me or boxing my ears when needed. A experience that will last my lifetime.

Now looking at this present Black Lives Matter and looking back at where I was made aware progress has been made but its been a fight for little progress really. Politicians of all colours have failed but I am from the Labor side and that party had tried harder I believe to bridge the gap but no where near where we have to go to reach some sort of parity.

Im nearly 70, still with a a bit of sting mainly in kicking political heads via keyboard now and we need youth to stand up as we did in the 60’s and 70’s and 80’s to right some wrongs but I fear the banks and financial institutions have them by the short and curlies and their sacred to stand up, unlike us where we had nothing to loose so fight we had to do.

Well some of is did, whole others freeloaded and then and still now while living on their union fought Superannuation, sick pay, pensions, medicare, yet still won’t support a fair go for all .

Keep the Electric Fence on our Boarders.

In these different times to some and others indifferent my observations of my fellow humans is becoming frustrating to say the least.

A visit to my local bakery and on arrival all customers were observing the distance markers and progressing in a respectful fashion and in walks a lady with a kid past people waiting outside and both totally ignorant of others protocols.

Before full lockdown was declared we had the grey nomads in their vans rat running at night to avoid the government requests to stay put in their parks and police, so age is not a benchmark for stupidity levels.

New Zealand has recognised Queensland’s effort as a world standard and prepared to enter a travel bubble, irking those states with lower performance rates to try and drag us down by opening the borders and us to their failed government decisions like the Ruby Princess.

It’s quite obvious the federal government like Trump see business first and lives second and is playing classic wedge politics, supported by its slanted media outlets to spin its dollar driven agenda.

We Queenslanders have done the hard yards well before the Federal Government and the other states penny dropped and yes the capitalistic system has failed and we have fallen into the socialistic safety net, truly irking those who think their world of everything has a price, and lives are part of that price.

Wayne Offer

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.

Ipswich’s Village Idiot Embarrasses.

Well every village has one (Idiot) but ours is National

In not sure if it’s flipping or flopping day or both but for a politician who states she stands up for the little man and women chooses go against a State Premier who is standing up for the health and well-being of Queenslanders is advocating the States right protect it sovereignty and its borders be overrun to appease southerners who have failed to reach our standards.

It’s well known Hanson talks the talk but fails to walk the walk and when it comes to workers, disabled, unemployed, disadvantaged now health she follows her true form for of voting with the government over 90% of the time abandoning them.

Her China bash appeals to those Trump like tribe forgetting that our farmers, cattlemen, food exporters will cease to exist but it sounds patriotic playing to her deranged base of flag wavers or old men living in the past.

One can be certain, she is never short of stunts to try and justify her political survival and gather her electoral refund, but entering into this COVID-19 debate is well out of her depth as this is not politics it’s lives at stake, and as a former businessman I empathise with that sector but like the exporters who put billions of dollars into our economy know no customers dead or alive means no business anyway. No flipping or flopping there.

Wayne Offer

Self Monuments are Inappropriate

It’s refreshing to see our Mayor and new councillors reviewing the policy and habit of past councillors erecting monuments to themselves.

To be clear and contrary to many beliefs they are public servants and they work for is ratepayers, we are the boss, an pay them to perform, and before the tribal followers of past servants erupt I would encourage them to look up Ipswich City Council Conduct Register and they may discover some furphies they’ve swallowed we’re not fact.

The commission chose not to peruse complaints if the councillor indicated or swore they would not seek re-election as I imagine a cost saving decision for the ratepayers legality and labour, certainly not a get out of jail free card as portrayed by some.

As I have stated it’s sad to that all past councillors were swept up in the sterilising process of the CCC as some were new and naive to the “Culture” but that ignorance should never happen again as long as full Corporate Governance is applied and monitored independently.

Wayne Offer

Reevaluate our Perspective on Trade Now.

I’m not sure if the penny has dropped yet for some who think if we stop trading with China how our farmers, beef producers, and now coal miners will be able to keep their businesses operating.

We over produce for our own population that’s why our export market is critical, and the simple fact we have the reputation of being America’s Deputy Sheriff has bought us into the firing line in Trumps Trade war with the dragon.

For too long our politicians have portrayed Australia as a big player and our exports are critical to other countries economy, a fallacy that is being played out as we speak and reality is globalisation is redundant ought forward by the virus.

We have a great product no doubt, but like in every business we need customers and if you upset them you go broke and having politicians promoting this crazy go it alone philosophy are promoting their own profiles to the flag waving gullible as Trump relies on to keep him in headlines.

We need intelligent, respectful, dialog delivered by competent knowledgeable representatives negotiating in our national interest as our major alliance partner USA has filled the void immediately supplying produce we have been priced out in their their new trade agreement with China, that’s business, no mates there.

I think it’s now time re-examine our trade position, and economic viability by spreading the risk and re start manufacturing and research and development sectors totally ignored and defunded by this government in favour of export priority, a decision that is being proven a total failure and made us vulnerable like never before.

Wayne Offer

Mr. Bean Masterstrokes

Why is it that whenever you think we as a nation are getting some sort of consensus some see it advantages to seek to divide?

Its beyond my recall when our states and federal governments has put politics aside yet we have examples of late where the true characters of some who need conflict to elevate their flailing or failed profiles.

I will not back away from the fact our State Government has undergone surgery and reshuffles and resignations have taken place locally as is done by all of Political parties in their tenure as government and we were reminded when a former State Member and now Somerset councillor rose from his Ipswich hideaway to weight in on fractional pranks, a game he played and lost in his one term debacle under Cambell Newman.

Then we have Mr Christensen the self appointed Foreign Minister who when he is in the country declares takes aim at our biggest export nation China without thinking things like international diplomacy protocols exist and the fallout of that ignorance. Totally out of his pay grade, and intellectual capacity.

Then we have Mr Dutton, the cruise ship king lecturing a treasurer on the quantitive steps to keep Queenslanders employed and Tourists industries fluid, and outback air service retained after himself failing to count his own caucus to see if he had the numbers to challenge for PM, a Mr. Bean masterstroke.

If we are to build back faith in our political processes and democracy we could start by sticking to your appointed day job, serving your constitiuents well and not grandstanding.

Wayne Offer

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

Why America, Why??

At the risk of being told I know nothing again abut America one can only surmise that the once greatest nation in the world ,if you listen to the them, that is is crashing into a totally failed state. #Failure

I appreciate they were totally disenchanted with politics after Obama, and they punished themselves by jumping on the Trump train OR were that that lethargic they thought Clinton would shit in and didn’t bother to get off their arse to vote.

Either way they would have elected a fraud. #Failure

No doubt Clinton was the establishmentarian puppet and following Obama would be a tough act to follow. Looking at the Obama stint one thing is certain, Americans broadly could not accept a black president event though he was a Blue the undertones within his own party reflected a racial culture deeply Imbedded, and how he completed his tenure without a attempt on the life’s of him or his family was remarkable.

No one can imagine, even the media the internal networks that have vested interests in both sides so it’s the average Joe Citizen runs a solid last when it comes to the earning a priority from government, yet they reject any government support in health or wellbeing as some sort of socialist plot exemplified by fact government has outsourced responsibility to big businesses who sponsor their election campaigns. No it’s not corrupt at all, trust them, so I fully understand their attitude. A #Failure in human rights as not all can be privileged to have any Health cove so they will die in the gutter.

By keeping the masses dumbed down, a state that is easy when you control the media coverage into minimal outlets all within America you can sell the masses like mushrooms in the dark and feed them bullshit., particularly when you have a illiteracy rate numbering higher than the entire Australian population. Another #Failure their society.

I won’t go down the road of equality to all because that is a impossible dream, be it equal rights for women, races, sexes even religions, educating the masses and cultures is enormous but our country Australia #Failure gets a #Failure that category if the truth is known.

Enter Trump and his Drain the Swamp, Make America Great slogan and the destruction of the establishment became a obsession as Hitler did when he took his dictatorship, exterminating opposition and controlling media or eliminating it, and it worked until enter #covid_19 at distraction at the time, a plot to overthrow him, while his total focus was on getting the stock market up to keep his backers bankrolled, while selling himself as a man of the downtrodden, and they bought it hook line and sinker and still do.

This virus however has highlighted the fact Trump has Mental health issues magnified by the heat in the kitchen, exposing a psychopath with split personalities and actions and whoa behold anybody who gets in the way of a personality governed by a poll or media report or a professional who tells truth to the masses in contradiction to his spin. A #Failure sheer basic democracy that extends to what will be genocide as a result of sheer incompetence.

So what of the future or the way forward for the Trumps Titanic ?

Personally I see no way out in the near future. Politically I believe Trump will continue as Biden is a absolute #Failure as a person, a politician, and a leader,and should never be the nomination but that’s America #Failure in itself and while they continue to elect senile old men to their congress and presidency the nation will be continually locked in the past as by keeping there outdated constitutional beliefs waiting for the British to re invade.

The Republicans will eventually tire or he of them and he will move to his own Party or Cult to survive and mobilise his followers to a civil rebellion if he looks like being defeated, and who would back Biden not getting the nomination at the big conference and them accept a nomination from the floor. Wow the odds of that are about as far out as Trump starting a war to deflect the masses when the true death toll of #covid_19 is revealed.

Someone’s God better Bless America it’ll need it real soon.

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

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