During this morning’s radio show, which I normally commence at 6.30am of a Sunday, there were three particular pieces of music which I had programmed, that I found rather inspiring, in different ways. I can only hope that my listeners felt the same. I probably needed inspiration of some sort, after a rather uncomfortable evening. Obviously the meal I cooked for myself last night – relatively harmless in itself –  but when spiced up with a range of sauces of the soya variety, etc, reacted somewhat unfavourably [as has been happening of recent days], and as a consequence, my Saturday evening, while watching the tennis, and then through into the early hours of the morning, and even throughout the show this morning, remained somewhat ‘uncomfortable’ and at times also distressing [well, annoying and frustrating, anyway].  But enough of that!!

One of my major pieces of music on the radio this morning was Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2.  This was the 2011 ABC Classic FM’s No. 5 choice of the ‘Top 100’ 20th  century classical compositions by listeners. The composer wrote this in 1901/1902 [so he just crept into the 20^th century stipulation]. The 2^nd and 3^rd movements of this generally regarded most popular of all romantic concertos were completed in the summer of 1900, and the 1^st movement the following year. It was first performed in November 1901 in Moscow, with the composer as soloist, and was apparently received with the greatest enthusiasm. Since then, this particular work has retained it’s position in concert repertoire, perhaps indicative of this choice 110 years later! Today, we heard it performed by the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra [conducted by Antoni Wit], with the piano solo played by the German pianist, Bernd Glemser.

Another of the other compositions that particularly inspired me, and hopefully my listeners also, was Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien – a fantasy for orchestra which was composed between January and May, 1880.   The Capriccio was inspired by a trip Tchaikovsky took to Rome, during which he saw the Carnival in full swing, and is reminiscent of Italian folk music and street song. As these elements are treated rather freely initially he intended this piece to be called Italian Fantasia.  Tchaikovsky even uses as the introduction a bugle call that he overheard from his hotel played by Italian cavalry regiment. Another source of inspiration for this piece are Mikhail Glinka’s Spanish Pieces.  The premiere was held in Moscow on December 18 of the same year; the orchestra was led by Nikolai Rubinstein. Dedicated to Karl Davydov, the Capriccio was later arranged by the composer for 4-hand piano. A typical performance lasts for around 15 minutes.

Finally, an eleven minute piece, written by a 17^th century by the name of Gregorio Allegri, and of quite a sacred nature, left one in a very relaxed frame of mind. I had to initially go searching for some information about this piece of music, as the CD itself had little to say. This precis makes the religious connotation fairly obvious, and also demonstrate that music in those times, could had certain ‘dangers’ associated with it.    From Wikipedia, we read that:-   “Miserere, full name “Miserere mei, Deus” (Latin: “Have mercy on me, O God”) by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri, is a setting of Psalm 51 (50) composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s, for use in the Sistine Chapel during matins, as part of the exclusive Tenebrae service on Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week. The service would start usually around 3AM, and during the ritual, candles would be extinguished, one by one, until one remained alight and hidden. Allegri composed his setting of the Miserere for the final act within the first lesson of the Tenebrae service.  It was the last of twelve falsobordone Miserere settings composed and chanted at the service since 1514 and the most popular: at some point, it became forbidden to transcribe the music and it was allowed to be performed only at those particular services, adding to the mystery surrounding it. Writing it down or performing it elsewhere was punishable by excommunication”

I wanted to get out into my neglected garden today, but with temperatures expected to be around 35 degrees, and my discomfort overnight leaving me a little tired and exhausted, it would be internal tasks etc, that this correspondent would turn to, and that was probably a wise enough move.  Meanwhile, not sure if Susie is back today, or Monday  – I guess we will wait and see on that one [she came back this evening, thinking she had to work in the morning, then worked out it was Tuesday!!]

AS for ‘that’ tennis match, well, I sat down on a very warm and humid evening at 7.30 pm, to watch Rafael Nadal and Noval Dkojovic do battle on Rod Laver Arena at the Melbourne Tennis Centre [though I was of course in front of the TV set, and in view of the fact that I couldn’t even last the distance watching from my lounge-room, I somehow doubt I could have managed to last the full length of the match for real as a live spectator, although as things would eventuate, it would have been an experience to never forget.  I wanted Nadal to win, not being over impressed with Djokovic’s playing tactics, and almost pretenses of injury and so on,  in recent matches. However by the end of the 3rd set, Djokovic seemed to becoming dominant, and while I wanted to watch the match through to the end, felt myself simply too tired  – so deserted the TV at that stage, left the video tape running, with the assumption that if the match was over in an hour  or so, as looked likely, I would get all of the game covered despite the inclusion of adverts which I detest on a tape.  Well as history will show, I misjudged all of that – I did wake at around 1.30am to see the end of the match, although down the other end of the house, my tape ran out ten minutes before the finish!!

Nevertheless, as  Alix Ramsay wrote on the Australian Open website – ‘ Oh, what has Novak Djokovic done? By winning his third Australian Open title and his fifth Grand Slam trophy in seven minutes short of six hours, he has rewritten history, that is for sure. Melbourne Park has never witnessed a longer match, the four major championships have never produced a longer final and no one who saw Djokovic and Rafael Nadal conjure up superhuman rallies at 1.30am has ever seen anything like it. But that was only the half of it.  Djokovic, the master of all he surveys at the top of the world rankings had won and, in doing so, he had inflicted the deepest of wounds to Nadal’s psyche. It was the Serb’s seventh successive win in a final and his third consecutive victory over Nadal in a Grand Slam final. In the other finals, the normally indomitable Spaniard had seemed lost. He could not formulate a plan of attack to hurt his tormentor and he simply ran out of ideas. But this time, Nadal had a plan, this time he knew what to do and how to do it. And then Djokovic beat him.  Over the course of the off-season, Nadal had come up with an idea: be more aggressive, try to go for the winners, attack whenever possible – and wise – and take the battle to Djokovic. But Djokovic saw him coming and cut him off at the pass. Nadal was strong, he was determined and he was never going to give in. And Djokovic matched him. Nadal showed passion, he showed fire and he had courage. And still Djokovic beat him. The man from Serbia seems invincible – and that will hurt Nadal more than he will ever say.  “I’m playing against one of the greatest players ever,” Djokovic said, tired but euphoric after the match. “The player that is so mentally strong, and he always comes up with his best game and best shots at the right moments.  “So I tried mentally to hang in there, to hold my composure, to hold my emotions. And, you know, even when I was 4‑2 down I still pushed myself up to the limit’

The Australian Open men’s final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic broke the record as the longest match in tournament history when it hit 5hr 15min on Sunday.  The match, which stood at 4-3 to Nadal in the fifth set, was also the longest grand slam final on record, outstripping the 1988 US Open final between Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl, which lasted 4hr 54min. The previous longest Australian Open match was the 2009 semi-final between Nadal and Fernando Verdasco, which lasted 5hr 14min. The following little summary covers the last few minutes of the match, but obviously doesn’t do justice to the almost 6 hours that preceded it.

• 1.27am: Nadal is having words with the umpire. It seems he wan’t happy with a line call. Regardless, Djokovic has a break point.
• 1.28am: The defending champion has the break and will serve for the title.
• 1.30am: Another long rally and Nadal nets a backhand. Djokovic leads 15-0 on serve.
• 1.31am: Nadal reaches a Djokovic serve down the ‘T’, but can’t get it over the net. It’s 30-0.
• 1.32am: Djokovic pushes a ball long and it’s 30-15.
• 1.33am: Djokovic reaches for a smash, but hits the ball into the bottom of the net. It’s level at 30-30.
• 1.34am: A tense rally which ends when Djokovic reaches for a backhand and pushes it into the net. A break point for Nadal at 30-40.
• 1.35am: Djokovic saves the break point.
• 1.36am: A Nadal shot catches the tape and lands wide. Championship point for Djokovic.
• 1.37am: DJOKOVIC WINS THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN IN FIVE SETS.
• 1.42am: Djokovic falls to the ground and lies down in jubilation after successfully defending his Australian Open title. It was an epic final, the likes of which we’ve never seen at Melbourne Park. It took just shy of six hours (five hours and 53 minutes) for a winner to emerge. In the end, it was the world No. 1 who prevailed. He has now won the past grand slams in a row (following Wimbledon and the US Open).
• 1.50am: It’s official – that was the longest grand slam final in history.
• 1.56am: Nadal smiles and hugs Rod Laver as he takes to the podium. Gracious in defeat, the Spaniard congratulates Djokovic and says the Serb’s team “is doing something fantastic”. Nadal says even if he lost the historic final, it was “really special for me”.

The other Final result yesterday was in the Mixed Doubles –  Bethanie Mattek-Sands [USA] and Horia Recau [Romania] defeated Elena Vesnina [Russia] and Leander Paes [India]  6/3, 5/7, 10/3[tb]

And that is enough of tennis for a while if you don’t mind!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, we are in for a rather warmish day, in the mid – 30s this Saturday. Hope that Susie, wherever she is, does not overdo her time in the sun!

Let’s have a brief look at some of the headlines in today’s Age newspaper:

• PM’s man gone after ‘leak’ – a Press Secretary to Julia Gillard has been forced to quit after it was revealed that he had disclosed Tony Abbott’s presence at the restaurant stormed by Aboriginal protestors.
• Flag burned and spat on – Aboriginal tent embassy protestors burned and spat on the Australian flag on the front steps of Parliament House, as tensions at the controversial protest site erupted in Canberra yesterday.
• Abbott says he was misunderstood – Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he does not resile from comments he made on Australia Say on the ongoing relevance of the Aboriginal tent embassy, only that he had been misunderstood.
• Sense of adventure putting Australian tourists at risk – an average 1600 Australians a day are getting into trouble overseas, including an increasing number of adventure seekers, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.
• Prisoners tortured by Libyan militia – Three months after the killing of Muammar Gaddafi concerns are mounting about  the mistreatment and torture of prisoners held by Libyan militiamen.

An early Saturday morning at the gymnasium today – and the instructor upgraded some of the levels I have undertaken up until now –  expect a few extra aches and pains between now and Monday morning, already noticeable by early afternoon. Followed that hour up with a bit of shopping, and a treat for Bill – an iced coffee in the Blues Plus Café!!

While Adam and his Sunbury B Grade cricket team were completing their 2 day game over at Bacchus Marsh this afternoon, the Australian cricket team wrapped up the 4 Test series against India around Noon today – India all out for 201, with the final scores being Australia:  7 for 604, and 5 for 167 defeated India: 272 and 201. Won by 298 runs. Australia won the Series 4-0. Man of the series was Australian captain, Michael Clarke, hard to look beyond his 300+ in Sydney, 200 in Adelaide and a further century in Perth   Player of the Series Clarke had a golden series with the bat, amassing 626 runs at 125.20 with a strike rate of 69.86, while Ricky Ponting’s series reaped 544 runs at 108.80.  Both men scored double centuries in the 4^th test, and I notice that Ponting was not out with 60 runs in Australia’s second innings.  India have now toured Australia 10 times and are yet to win a series here, with this campaign arguably the most miserable of the lot. This was Australia’s first 4-0 series sweep over India since 1967/68.  Sir Donald Bradman’s 1947/48 side won the first-ever rubber between the two teams 4-0, albeit in a five-Test series, likewise Allan Border’s 1991/92 outfit, while Steve Waugh’s Australians swept to a 3-0 triumph in 1999/2000.

Meantime, in relation to the headlines above concerning the Australia Day protests at the unofficial Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, this was the way the Age Editorial saw things in this weekend’s paper.

“Australians all did not rejoice   January 28, 2012   [Opinion from ‘The Age Newspaper]]

A CINDERELLA story it wasn’t, though a dropped shoe has come to feature prominently in it. The Aboriginal protest outside the Lobby restaurant in Canberra on Australia Day, which led to Australian Federal Police officers whisking away Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, has been noted and commented upon around the world as well as around the nation. This is chiefly perhaps for the extraordinary images it produced. It is not every day that a democratic head of government can be seen held firmly in a protective clutch by one of her police escorts, then stumbling and losing a shoe, and finally being dragged by the escort and his colleagues to a waiting car. And that dropped blue shoe, retrieved by a protester and waved triumphantly at the departing Prime Minister as she sped away, provided a concluding dramatic flourish to the day’s events. It does nothing, however, to help understand them.

As to the conduct of the protesters, the judgment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, suffices: ”While we need to acknowledge that there’s a real anger, frustration and hurt that exists in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia, we must not give in to aggressive and disrespectful actions ourselves.” All Australians have a right of peaceful assembly and protest, but hammering on the glass walls of a restaurant with enough force to give rise to fears that the glass will shatter, potentially harming those inside, is hardly peaceful protest. There is no justification for such aggression. And, though some have criticised Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott for leaving under the cover of a police cordon instead of boldly speaking to the protesters, the Prime Minister had to take heed of her security detail’s assessment, which was that it would have been unsafe for the politicians to remain.

The hurried departure of Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott is not only, however, a story of a protest that got badly out of hand. It is also a story of a protest driven by the ”real anger, frustration and hurt” of which Mr Gooda spoke. That does not excuse the protesters’ actions, as Mr Gooda and other indigenous leaders have recognised. The frustration and hurt were real nonetheless. Specifically, the protesters, who were associated with the Aboriginal tent embassy that has stood outside Old Parliament House for 40 years, were reacting to a comment by Mr Abbott that the embassy may no longer serve a useful purpose. He was referring to the fact that Australians are much more aware of indigenous issues than they were 40 years ago, but it seems that at least some of the protesters misunderstood him. He spoke of a need to move on, though he did not literally mean that the tent embassy should be torn down. Yet that is the implication many took from his words – with the connivance of one of the Prime Minister’s staff, now no longer on staff, who revealed Mr Abbott’s presence at the Lobby.

Many indigenous leaders would agree with Mr Abbott that the tent embassy has passed its use-by date. If it is to go, however, the decision should be made by those who maintain it. The right of peaceful protest must not be infringed, and white politicians who presume to offer indigenous people advice – especially on what many, perhaps most, of them think of as invasion day – should think carefully about how it might be interpreted. It is too early to know whether the restaurant protest will have long-term consequences for Ms Gillard, Mr Abbott or the tent embassy. But January 26, 2012, is already an unusually memorable Australia Day, for all the wrong reasons. It starkly reminded the nation of divisions that have not yet been resolved, and it did so at a time of renewed agitation to recognise indigenous people in the constitution. Some may see the day’s events as an obstacle to that overdue change; on the contrary, they should be a spur to bring it about” [end of editorial].

Personally, I don’t think the causes that the protestors are concerned about will gain much additional support of sympathy because of the nature of their actions on Australia Day and since. The nature of their concerns are in many cases quite real, but they will never get the broad support of the Australian electoral through protests that become violent, and/or through the kind of ‘language’ being directed to the Australian government and it’s people by some of the protest leadership – the kind of response which does not even have the support of the principal Indigenous leaders in Australia.

Now, back to the tennis – two nights to go, with the Women’s Final due shortly.  At least some Australian success this afternoon, with young Luke Saville [who won the Junior Wimbledon title last year],  also won the Australian Boys Single Championship today.  Saville, the world’s No.1 junior and top seed, beat unseeded Canadian Filip Peliwo 6-3 5-7 6-4 on Saturday to add to the Wimbledon title he won last year.  He joins Bernard Tomic as a dual grand slam junior champion and is the third local to win the Australian Open boys’ title in six years. Tomic won the title in 2008 and followed that with the US Open junior championship the following year, while Brydan Klein took out the Australian Open boys in 2007. Saville, who turns 18 next week, is the only local to win a title at the Australian Open this year.  The Junior Girls Singles Final result saw Taylor Townsend [USA] defeat Yulia Putintseva [Russia]  6/1, 3/6, 6/3.  I note also that some Wheelchair Tennis finals were also held today – everyone is catered for!

Two major finals on tonight – Women’s Singles, and the Men’s Doubles. The Women’s match was over rather quickly – the girl from Belarus was simply too strong for Maria Sharapova tonight, as after a nervous start, she virtually won every game after the first couple. Australian Open Women’s Singles Final:  Victoria Azarenka [Belarus] defeated Maria Sharapova [Russia] 6/3, 6/0. The Men’s Doubles Final followed – red hot favourites, the Bryan Brothers expected to win yet another  Well, another shock result, and another match over much quicker than anticipated  –  Leander Paes [India] & Radek Stepanek [Cze] defeated  Bob and Mike Bryan in 2 sets – 7/6, 6/2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely fresh morning greeted this day, overcast though the promise of warming up as the day went on.  I must admit that awaking to a empty house, apart from myself, has certain attractions, particularly early in the morning, when I don’t have to worry about disturbing Susan, not that much noise comes from this writer. Apart from checking up on a bit of morning news, and tuning in briefly to our local radio to make sure all is running smoothly,  this is not a house where one has the TV or radio blaring throughout the day regardless of whether one is actually listening or watching those mediums. I’m afraid I could not cope in a environment of that nature these days! Anyway, I woke much earlier than I probably would have preferred or needed to, and while a bit more sleep ‘may’ have come, decided to get up and do something useful – like a walk to the local shop for a morning paper, some water for the gardens, and a small spot of early morning garden trimming. Much much more needed in that area, and I think February will be a busy month for that kind of activity!!

A little piece from today’s ‘Letters to the Editor’ in the Age newspaper, which attracted my attention, and I like reading  –  “We Australians who are also Muslims join in celebrating this day and in expressing our patriotism. When Islam receives largely negative attention in the media, Muslims who have adopted Australia as their homeland hope to express their solidarity with it. Islam teaches that loyalty to your homeland is part of your faith. It is the religious duty of Muslims to obey the government and the law.  As Australian Muslims, we are blessed to live in the land that grants us freedom and protects our rights. Long live Australia” [written by Maureen Choudhry of Narre Warren].

Just one of many reflections arising from yesterday’s celebrations of our ‘Australia Day’ which as usual for this date, saw thousands of migrants and refugees welcomed as Australian citizens’ at citizenship ceremonies throughout the nation. That particular pledge, undertaken by our new citizens which occurs after having first passed the relevant citizenship test, reads as follows:

‘From this day forward, under God I pledge my loyalty to Australia and it’s people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey”  [Australian Citizenship Pledge]

Just looking at the major headlines in today’s age, we see that:

• Australia Day shame [as Julia Gillard is dragged to a car by her security team amid clashes between police and Aboriginal protestors].
• Coup attempt inflames PNG political crisis – as an attempted military coup led by a retired colonel in Port Moresby yesterday caused a tense standoff between forces loyal to Peter O’Neill and Sir Michael Somare, who both claim to be Papua New Guinea’s prime minister.
• Trauma numbers on rise for falls – falls, particularly in the elderly, are catching up to road accidents as a major cause of trauma injuries in Victoria.
• Scots defy Cameron on vote for breakaway – Scottish prime minister Alex Salmond has taken a formal step towards an independence referendum that the government hopes will secure a mandate for withdrawal from the United Kingdom within five years

Didn’t feel like cooking for just myself tonight, so went out and bought a pizza of the seafood variety. I knew I really shouldn’t have done that, but it was enjoyable enough, although as expected, the reaction of my body later on was ‘uncomfortable’  –   it is occasionally difficult to regularly discipline myself into the correct foods to eat, although tonight would have been okay had I left some of the pizza for tomorrow. Not a huge eater in one attempt these days, and when I try to be, I ‘am told’ quite quickly that was an unwise action. We do slip up on the odd occasion!!

It was a solid, and long five hours tonight, in front of the TV watching the second of the Australian Open Men’s Semi Finals – Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray. I’d set myself up for a long night, but did expect to have retired before 12.45am. Watching the match on my own as usual, though there was a bit of communication on Face Book with son James, and a couple of his friends, all of us presumably from different parts of Sunbury.  I also found a chat message from friend Jena, in the Phillipines – I’m sure that she didn’t appreciate, or understand my quick reply that ‘would love to chat, but too busy watching the tennis’ tonight!!  I’m afraid [much to the annoyance probably of ‘former’ friends] that online chats are not something I have much desire to involve myself in these days – there are always other tasks that I feel my time could be better utilised towards!  I guess that’s why most of my former online friends have disappeared – I don’t really blame them, my attitude has been my choice!!

Anyway, tonight’s match went for five sets, early on dominated by Djokovic, who then started to exhibit his usual performance of pain, breathing difficulties, etc,, and I genuinely expected that if Murray won the 2^nd and 3^rd sets, which he eventually did, that Djokovic [as he has done on occasions previously in his career] would throw in the towel, and give the match to Murray. Well, myself, together with son James, and his friend on Face Book were all proved wrong, and Djokovic found a ‘new lease of life’, and came back at his opponent, racing through the 4^th set, before we had a very long and tight final set. Murray had plenty of chances to break service, and even win the match –  at one stage, Djokovic stepped up to serve in that final set with the score in his favour at 5-2. But he faulted, Murray rallied, and suddenly the score was 5 all!! For the next 10 minutes, either man could have won the match, but once again, Andy Murray failed to take full advantages of the opportunities he was given, and consequently fell just short – seems to be the story of his career to this point in time – World No. 4, but he can’t get past the three in front of him, in the tournaments that really matter. I’d earlier sent a message to English friend, Jane [who I recalled was a bit of a tennis fan] – yes, she’d heard that he lost – but he will Wimbledon, next Grand Slam tournament, after France, on the agenda.

Final result in Men’s Semi Final No. 2:  Novak Djokovic [Serbia] defeated Andy Murray [Great Britain]  6/3, 3/6, 6/7, 6/1, 7/5

Women’s Doubles Final:  Svetlana Kuznetsova & Vena Zvonareva [Russia] defeated Sana Errani & Roberta Vinci [Italy]  5/7, 6/4, 6/3

Interestingly, the tennis coverage had a brief interruption, when Channel crossed to the Moonee Valley Racecourse, where viewers were given the privileged opportunity of witnessing that magnificent racehorse ‘Black Caviar’ run and win it’s 17^th race in a row. The Club was forced to throw open it’s gates to let all in who wanted to see the horse run such is the extent of ‘Black Caviar’ mania at the present time.  While there was not much betting on the horse, with the result considered a foregone conclusion – odds of &1.02 return for a $1 bet –  the atmosphere at the racecourse was electric as race time approached. I’m not sure off hand if there are horses with better records [I think there a couple on the international sceme] but Black Caviar’s win took her equal with Hong Kong’s former super sprinter ‘Silent witness’ as well as with New Zealand stayer of the 1950s ‘Mainbrace’ on 17 consecutive wins. I think our friends over in England are going to see Black Caviar run over there later in the year.

As for the Cricket Test, at stumps on Day 4 from Adelaide, we see the following scoreboard.  Australia:  7 for 604, and 5 for 167 versus India: 272 and 6 for 166 at stumps.

 

An early drive up to the studio this morning, do  bit of program printing, and drop off some paperwork. There was no one on air! Back into town for a bit of shopping  – Adam on duty at Baker’s Delight, though I didn’t see him to speak to. Later sent him a brief thanks for the little ‘freeby’ that Bakers’ were giving to customers in acknowledgement of Australia Day, their ‘little thank you from us to you’!! 

I also passed the Australia Day ‘ceremony’ and local awards presentation at the Village Green. I noticed Councillor Jack Ogilvie was already making his speech, so decided it was too late to join the ‘sadly’ typically small crowd of locals who turn out for the free breakfast & presentations etc. I have been a couple of times, and have noticed each year that the occasion, here in Sunbury at least, doesn’t attract much patronage. A pity.  Actually, I would have liked to have discovered who was awarded the local citizen of the year award – will probably have to wait until next week’s local papers to find that out, unless I give Jack a ring!

As for the principal national awards, I am extremely satisfied with this year’s winner. As announced at 6:50pm in Canberra last night, the acclaimed actor and arts supporter Geoffrey Rush has been named Australian of the Year 2012 at a public event on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra. The Prime Minister,  The Hon Julia Gillard MP, presented Mr Rush with his Australian of the Year trophy and congratulated him on the honour. A wonderful and well deserved choice.  In Summary, the four principal awards made for this Australia Day, with bios provided by various media sources, are as follows. As Ian Narev, CEO of the Commonwealth Bank, which has been the major sponsor of the Australian of the Year Awards for more than 30 years, said, in congratulating this year’s award recipients: “The recipients of the Australian of the Year Awards for 2012 remind us of the great diversity of achievements, talents and contributions in Australia,” said Mr Narev. “They inspire us with their commitment, passion and hard work. We can all feel very proud to call them our fellow Australians.”. More than 5,000 nominations were received from the public for the 2012 Awards

Australian of the Year:  Geoffrey Rush    Geoffrey Rush, has now celebrated 40 years as an Australian actor, achieving the rare international distinction of the ‘Triple Crown’ – an Oscar, a Tony and an Emmy.   He also has three Australian Film Institute honours, three British Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, four Screen Actors’ Guild Awards, and last year was inducted into the ranks of Australia’s elite with a Helpmann Award.  Geoffrey was born in Toowoomba, Queensland in 1951, moving with his family to Brisbane in his primary school years. He completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Queensland and made his professional debut at the Queensland Theatre Company in 1971 where he worked as an ensemble member for three years. For the next 20 years he worked primarily in all the major theatre companies of Australia and, in the mid 1970s went to Paris to study at the prestigious Jacques Lecoq School of Mime, Movement and Theatre.  In the mid 1990s he began his film career. His performance as pianist David Helfgott in the film Shine put him firmly on the world stage and earned him his Oscar for Best Actor. At the time he received his fourth Academy Award nomination playing Australian therapist Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech, which he also executively produced, the revival of Belvoir’s The Diary of a Madman played to acclaim in Sydney and in New York. In the past year, he also starred in and executive-produced Fred Schepisi’s film of Patrick White’s Nobel Laureate-winning novel The Eye of the Storm, and played Lady Bracknell in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s celebrated production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Seen as a creative mentor by many, Geoffrey supports young actors and arts companies. He is Patron of the Melbourne International Film Festival; of Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre Foundation distributing bursaries to young performers; and of the Spina Bifida Foundation Victoria. He is an Ambassador for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and UNICEF Australia. In 2011 he was appointed as foundation President of the newly-established Australian Academy Of Cinema and Television Arts.  An internationally acclaimed and recognised actor, Geoffrey remains extraordinarily grounded in his local community, his country and the Australian arts industry.

Senior Australian of the Year: Laurie Baymarrwangga –  Laurie Baymarrwangga, is an extraordinary elder from the island of Murrungga in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.  Now aged in her 90’s, Laurie was unable to travel and attend the ceremony in Canberra.  Laurie has shown extraordinary commitment to maintaining her culture, the environment of her beloved Crocodile Islands and ensuring younger generations continue to keep their heritage alive.  During her lifetime, Laurie has seen the arrival of missionaries, exploitation by Japanese and European fishermen, war and tumultuous change. Undaunted, she has almost single-handedly nurtured the inter-generational transmission of local ecological knowledge through a lifelong commitment to caring for kin, culture and country.  In the 1960s, Laurie established a housing project on her homelands that has benefitted generations of kin. Speaking no English, with no access to funding, resources or expertise, she initiated the  Yan-nhangu dictionary project.  Her cultural maintenance projects include the Crocodile Islands Rangers, a junior rangers group and an online Yan-nhangu dictionary for school children.  In 2010, after a struggle stretching back to 1945, Laurie finally received back payments for rents owed to her as the land and sea owner of her father’s estate. The great-great-grandmother donated it all, around $400,000, to improve education and employment opportunities on the island and to establish a 1,000 square kilometre turtle sanctuary on her marine estate.

Young Australian of the Year: Marita Cheng – 22 year old engineering advocate Marita Cheng of Brunswick East whose leadership is changing the occupational landscape for women by encouraging girls to pursue engineering studies and careers. The daughter of Chinese parents, Marita was born and raised in Cairns, Queensland and now studies at the University of Melbourne. While still a university student, Marita Cheng has demonstrated vision and leadership well beyond her years and is dedicated to encouraging young women to become interested in an engineering career. She founded Robogals Global in 2008, as a response to the traditionally low levels of participation by women in science, engineering and technology. Robogals Global uses fun and educational activities to teach secondary school girls about science and technology. By 2010, Robogals had run workshops for 3,000 girls in Australia and has now expanded to 17 branches across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Marita’s own career path includes studying for a Bachelor of Engineering and a Bachelor of Computer Science on a Paterson Scholarship. She has been a recipient of the Nancy Fairfax Churchill Fellowship, an International Youth Foundation Youth Action Net Fellowship and an Anita Borg Change Agent Award.  Marita has also been a panellist on ABC TV’s New Inventors and hopes to become the founder of a robotics company, creating robots that will take care of many everyday and mundane tasks.

Australia’s Local Hero:  Lynne Sawyers   Foster mother and carer Lynne Sawyers of Darbys Falls,  has shared her home, her family and her love with more than 200 children. For 15 years, she has been on call to care for lost, abused and bewildered children in heartbreaking circumstances. Lynne first became interested in being a foster mother when she’d heard about a young girl in the area who’d run away from home. Her husband mentioned he’d seen the girl by the side of the road talking with authorities and they wondered what would become of her. It was then, after gaining family agreement from her husband and four children, Lynne decided to take action. Having experienced a  happy childhood herself, she wanted to give back. It took three years to complete the required training and pass the authority checks before she welcomed her first foster child into their home. Many of the children she has fostered arrived on her doorstep with a range of problems – physical, intellectual and emotional. They have ranged in age from a week old baby she brought home from a hospital to teens struggling with life’s complications. Lynne lives near Cowra and, even though she has had up to six children at a time in her home (as well as her own youngest daughter Emma), she has given them a rounded, supportive and non-judgmental family environment, often their first such experience. Her warmth, humour and generosity have had an enormous impact on these children. Because of her, many are now leading fulfilled, happy lives and have adopted Lynne as their ‘second mother’. Lynne has worked tirelessly without leave, or overtime or penalties for difficult working conditions, but she could not imagine living them in any other way. At the age of 68, she continues to travel hundreds of kilometres every week, prepares up to 15 meals a day, washes clothes, sews, bakes and raises funds to help children and currently has three teenagers living in her loving home.

So there you go, four well deserving winners of those major awards. Dozens of other Australia Say awards and recognitions were announced for today, as usual, and, as usual, I searched for my name amongst them, but couldn’t find it!!!  L  For consolation, let’s see how the two major sporting events currently running in Australia, progressed today.

Australian Open Tennis 2012 –

Women’s Semi Final results this afternoon:  Victoria Azarenka [Belarus] defeated Kim Clijsters [Belgium]  6/4, 1/6, 6/3, and Maria Sharapova [Russia] defeated Petra Kvitova [Cze]  6/2, 3/6, 6/4

Men’s Semi Final [tonight]: Rafael Nadal [Spain] defeated Roger Federer [Switzerland]  6/7, 6/2, 7/6, 6/4

4^th Test: stumps on Day 3:  Australia: 7 for 604 and 3 for 50.  India: 272 [India’s Virat Kohli scored 116 runs, while for Australia, Shaun Marsh failed with the bat yet again.

Prior to the start of tonight’s Men’s semi-final, Susie left for another drive across the city to her friend’s place down in South Gippsland – never happy about her making that trip [the third time in 2 weeks now!!], particularly after she experienced car problems today – at she left to do a shift at the bakery just before lunchtime, her car wouldn’t start. She took mine instead, and left it to Dad to call up the RACV to fix the problem. A flat battery, I was just hoping it wouldn’t re-occur on her drive tonight.  Hadn’t heard anything by 10pm, so had to assume she had arrived safely.  Apparently will be away until Monday at least!!

Meanwhile, a bit of excitement for the PM in Canberra today, according to this report  –  “Julia Gillard clung to her bodyguard as she was dragged off her feet away from a crowd of angry protesters in Canberra today. In extraordinary scenes, riot police were called in and formed a shield around the prime minister as she made a hasty escape outside a citizenship ceremony.  Dramatic footage showed the flustered PM losing her shoe as her security escort ran a gauntlet through about 200 protesters from The Lobby restaurant near Old Parliament House — where Gillard had been handing out medals to emergency services representatives — to her car waiting outside.   The group had trapped Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott inside the restaurant until dozens of extra police, including the riot squad, were called to the scene shortly after 2.30pm (AEDT).   Protesters had been taking part in an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy when they surrounded The Lobby restaurant and banged on the three glass sides, chanting “shame” and “racist”.  The two leaders, protected by police and security officers, escaped out a side door after about 20 minutes”.  Apparently, no charges were going to be laid after this occurrence, strangely enough!

The morning was a little cooler today, and when I woke [without need] at 5am, I was glad I did not have to get out and go up and do another Wednesday morning radio show – Ron was back, but I did ring him just before 6.45 am, to relay some of the local sporting results from last weekend.

A pre-arranged visit, late this morning, from a local  health professional – essentially to discuss value & effectiveness of current medications, etc.  This was quite a useful 45 minutes, and I was pleased I’d made the time for it.  Was also a welcome relief from the road works currently going on in front of our home, works that were essentially blocking access for most of the time.

By lunch, on Day 2 of the 4^th cricket test [Australia vs India], the Australian score had moved to  3 wickets for  419 runs, with former captain, Ricky Ponting, not out 198, and new captain, Michael Clarke, not out 210 runs!  The current partnership between Ponting and Clarke had already exceeded the highest partnership for any test wicket at the Adelaide Oval. Magnificent effort by these two, yet again.  Eventually, about half hour after the tea break, Australia declared it’s innings closed at 7 for 604 runs. Ricky Ponting scored 221. Michael Clarke 210 [out straight after lunch].  By stumps on Day 2, Australia’s position looked even stronger – the stumps scores: Australia 7 declared for 604.  India 2 for 61 [with that man, Sachin Tendulkar at the crease].

After a relatively lazy day [watching all the workmen out in the street], and cooking a meal for Susan and myself [which I ate late – usually the other way around],  it was off to the gymnasium for another ‘Lift for Life’ session of about an hour from 7pm. As usual, pleased I made the effort, although the program itself seems to be a bit disorganised with the supposed supervisors of participants [of whom I’m the only one I have come cross so far] generally unsure of the program if the regulars are not on duty.  However, we eventually overcame the difficulties that created, and got through a satisfying session Although the sessions are supposed to be under supervision, I will be happier once I become more familiar with the various pieces of equipment and apparatus, and can then feel a little more independent.

While I was at the gym, Susie & Jodie were playing in a volleyball game, over in the Footscray area I think –  Jodie was rather tired ‘before’ she left, having just spent three days with her work colleagues from Surf Life Saving Victoria on an extensive swimming and fitness course. While her job role is not so much on the life saving aspect of the organisation, I gather all staff need to be suitably prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Personally, it’s a pity that they have to travel so far for their weekly game of volleyball –  they were playing in Sunbury last year, before the Jimmy/Susan split up but I think those matches were very family orientated [on Jimmy’s side] as far as team make-up is concerned, so the more distant team is a better arrangement.

Today’s Australian Open Quarterfinal results

• Men: Andy Murray [Great Britain]  defeated  Kel Nishikori [Japan]  6/3, 6/3, 6/1   and  Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer 6/4, 7/6, 6/0
• Women: Petra Kvitora  [Czech Republic] defeated Sara Errani [Italy] 6/4, 6/4 ,  Maria Sharapova [Russia] defeated Ekaterina Makarova [Russia] 6/2, 6/3.

I’m glad the Djokovic game finished when it did after 3 sets. Yes, I was watching it, but by 10pm and thereafter, strangely ready to sleep. Even an attempt to do a bit of reading first, proved unsuccessful!!

 

A few hours sleep – heard Susie go off to an early shift at the Bakery, and I got up soon thereafter, and while I should have immediately headed outside and did a bit of work in the garden before it got too hot, instead, it was catching up on some computer and other work!!

Meanwhile, with all Australian individual hopes now out of the Australian Open, my attention should have been directed towards the 4rh cricket test between Australia and India which began this morning in Adelaide, but I really didn’t want to get trapped in front of the TV for the rest of the week, A bit difficult, with Australia winning the toss and deciding to bat, and a run a minute coming in the first half hour. It’s a beautiful cricket ground, the Adelaide Oval with the backdrop of the city, and river, etc, and it was in fact one of the other major cricket grounds in Australia that I have watched cricket at, the other being Brisbane, and of course, Melbourne’s MCG. Have been to the Sydney Cricket Ground, but that was to watch a football match!  Anyway, glad I didn’t settle down to watch too closely, that first 30 minutes ended with the first wicket going down, not a promising outcome!

After a spot of work in the yard, I retreated from the heat of the sun, and indulged in some reading for an hour or so. In fact, the book was ‘Emma’ by Jane Austen  –  I’m not sure what encouraged me to draw that one from the shelves a couple of weeks ago, and go for a bit of English classical culture, as the literature from those  days one would not normally classify as a bit of light hearted summer novel reading. But, it was a change of pace from recent and other current reading, and I quite enjoyed it.  ‘Emma’, the writing of which commenced in 1815, is about the perils of misconstrued romance, and is described as an exploration of the concerns and difficulties faced by genteel women living in Georgia-Regency England at that time.  Here is an interesting little review of the storyline, which while it basically gives away the plot, might encourage a reader out there to pick up one of Jane Austen’s novels, and have a ‘new’ experience in something old , an original piece of English literature. I don’t know who the writer was, but it’s a concise précis.

“Although convinced that she herself will never marry anyone, Emma Woodhouse, a precocious almost twenty-one-year-old resident of the village of Highbury, imagines herself to be naturally gifted in conjuring love matches. After self-declared success at matchmaking between her governess and Mr. Weston, a village widower, Emma takes it upon herself to find an eligible match for her new friend, Harriet Smith. Though Harriet’s parentage is unknown, Emma is convinced that Harriet deserves to be a gentleman’s wife and sets her friend’s sights on Mr. Elton, the village vicar. Meanwhile, Emma persuades Harriet to reject the proposal of Robert Martin, a well-to-do farmer for whom Harriet clearly has feelings.

Harriet becomes infatuated with Mr. Elton under Emma’s encouragement, but Emma’s plans go awry when Elton makes it clear that his affection is for Emma, not Harriet. Emma realises that her obsession with making a match for Harriet has blinded her to the true nature of the situation. Mr. Knightley, the brother of Emma’s brother-in-law and her treasured friend, watches Emma’s matchmaking efforts with a critical eye. He believes that Mr. Martin is a worthy young man whom Harriet would be lucky to marry. He and Emma quarrel over Emma’s meddling, and, as usual, Mr. Knightley proves to be the wiser of the pair. Elton, spurned by Emma and offended by her insinuation that Harriet is his equal, leaves for the town of Bath and marries a young woman there almost immediately.

Emma is left to comfort Harriet and to wonder about the character of a new visitor expected in Highbury—Mr. Weston’s son, Frank Churchill. Frank is set to visit his father in Highbury after having been raised by his aunt and uncle in London, who have also adopted him as their heir. Emma knows nothing about Frank, who has long been deterred from visiting his father by his aunt’s illnesses and complaints. Mr. Knightley is immediately suspicious of the young man, especially after Frank rushes back to London merely to have his hair cut. Emma, however, finds Frank delightful and notices that his charms are directed mainly toward her. Though she plans to discourage these charms, she finds herself flattered and engages in a flirtation with the young man. Emma greets Jane Fairfax, another addition to the Highbury set, with less enthusiasm. Jane is beautiful and accomplished, but Emma dislikes her because of her reserve and, the narrator insinuates, because she is jealous of Jane.

Suspicion, intrigue, and misunderstandings ensue. Mr. Knightley defends Jane, saying that she deserves compassion because, unlike Emma, she has no independent fortune and must soon leave home to work as a governess. Mrs. Weston suspects that the warmth of Mr. Knightley’s defense comes from romantic feelings, an implication Emma resists. Everyone assumes that Frank and Emma are forming an attachment, though Emma soon dismisses Frank as a potential suitor and imagines him as a match for Harriet. At a village ball, Knightley earns Emma’s approval by offering to dance with Harriet, who has just been humiliated by Mr. Elton and his new wife. The next day, Frank saves Harriet from Gypsy beggars. When Harriet tells Emma that she has fallen in love with a man above her social station, Emma believes that she means Frank. Knightley begins to suspect that Frank and Jane have a secret understanding, and he attempts to warn Emma. Emma laughs at Knightley’s suggestion and loses Knightley’s approval when she flirts with Frank and insults Miss Bates, a kindhearted spinster and Jane’s aunt, at a picnic. When Knightley reprimands Emma, she weeps.   News comes that Frank’s aunt has died, and this event paves the way for an unexpected revelation that slowly solves the mysteries. Frank and Jane have been secretly engaged; his attentions to Emma have been a screen to hide his true preference. With his aunt’s death and his uncle’s approval, Frank can now marry Jane, the woman he loves.  Emma worries that Harriet will be crushed, but she soon discovers that it is Knightley, not Frank, who is the object of Harriet’s affection. Harriet believes that Knightley shares her feelings. Emma finds herself upset by Harriet’s revelation, and her distress forces her to realise that she is in love with Knightley. Emma expects Knightley to tell her he loves Harriet, but, to her delight, Knightley declares his love for Emma. Harriet is soon comforted by a second proposal from Robert Martin, which she accepts. The novel ends with the marriage of Harriet and Mr. Martin and that of Emma and Mr. Knightley, resolving the question of who loves whom after all”.

Of course the manner in which the C19th author depicts all this is very much in the style of those times, and I imagine that modern day readers of a ‘romance’ novel would find the whole process rather tedious and long winded – perhaps the difference between true literary styles of past decades [which often took years to write] and the ‘supermarket’ style production of much reading material these days. Anyway, I’ve put myself in the mode of the former, over the past couple of weeks, and I might well be into another of Austen’s books in the near future.

Stumps on Day 1 of the 4^th Cricket Test, sees the Australians in a strong position, on a day that saw Ricky Ponting score his 41^st test century. Scores: Australia 1^st Innings:  3 wickets for 335 runs, with Michael Clarke not out on 140, and Ricky Ponting not out 137. 

Meanwhile, at the Tennis, there were some Quarter Final matches completed today, and this evening, and those results were as follows. 

• MEN: Roger Federer  defeated  Juan Martin del Potro  6/4, 6/3, 6/2…………………Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berydch 6/7, 7/6, 6/4, 6/3 
• WOMEN:  Kim Clijsters defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6/3, 7/6…………….Victoria Azarenka defeated Agnieazka Radwanska 6/7, 6/0, 6/2

Not feeling 100% healthy or fit this morning, and certainly the knowledge of a session at the gymnasium this morning was not quite as appealing as it should have been!  It was a hot morning, and the normal peacefulness of this neighbourhood was going to be disturbed over the next few days by a series of road-works in our Court. Not exactly sure what they are doing, but has been going on in this area generally since before Christmas!

Anyway, despite the heat and ‘imagined’ physical difficulties, we got to the gymnasium, and managed without problems to get through an hour of exercises and activities. With most Australians now living longer and stronger, the aim after retirement is to get a new life, or perhaps, a better extension of what is gone in the past  –  so that stage, they tell us should be the new name for what was formally called  ‘retirement’.  So perhaps that should be my attitude from hereon – I’m not retired, I’m at the early stages of a ‘new life’  – it’s 23 days late, but maybe I should make that my 2012 resolution, i.e., to simply keep that attitude in mind at all times!! I’m advised that there are no magic new names for the post-work stage, but it’s definitely not the old-style retirement of ‘cardigan and slippers’!!  However, like most changes in life, these things don’t necessarily all happen at once – things like planning, readiness for change, and of course, resource availability [have I got enough money behind me] to help those changes actually happen.

On that subject, the recent edition of the Centrelink LifeChoices magazine had an interesting article about retirement planning guides, and while much of it was related to pre-planning before your actually get to that stage [too late for me], there were a number of useful bits of advice included there. However most of the issues revolved about the important aspects of financial and investment considerations, as distinct from the pure ‘survival’ aspects of retiring within the confines of government pensions and/or superannuation payments, etc, and the actual lifestyle choices to be made. I might come back to this subject on future occasions, especially with regard to progress on my ‘late’ resolution.

Not long before I finished my show tonight, it was obvious from the TV scene in front of me, that there would be no tennis left by the time I got home – our Lleyton was on the way to defeat, against World No. 1 Novak Jokovic,  down 2 sets and 0-3 in the third set. That was a gross misjudgement of Hewitt’s fighting capacity, and refusal to never accept defeat until it is here. I reached home, in time to see him get ‘up off the floor’ and win that third set, and create for the most optimistic of us, a bit of hope that ‘maybe’ he could still win the match.  It wasn’t to be, but that was quite an emotional 4^th set which ended around 1am, when Jokovic was still forced to fight to which that final serve game, as with defeat staring him in the face, Hewitt still refused to concede until the inevitable final point was scored.  If it wasn’t already high, I think Hewitt’s estimation in the eyes of the Australian public went up a further notch tonight, certainly in my admiration, it did.  But whether we will see him on Melbourne Park again for next year’s Open, probably doubtful, as the veteran’s role as our leader in tennis looks set to be taken over by the 19 year old Bernard Tomic in the years ahead.  The scores in tonight’s match saw Novak Djokovic defeat Lleyton Newitt  6/1, 6/3, 4/6, 6/3

Quite a few emotional and surprising results in today’s matches.  I was personally not unhappy to see Serena Williams knocked out of the tournament by a Russian opponent, but was  little disappointed that last year’s Final rematch between Li Na [China] and Kim Clijsters [yesterday] saw the Chinese girl defeated. However much admiration for the fighting qualities of Clijsters who came back from certain defeat after the first set [when she injured her ankle] to eventually get up and win that match.  While the opportunities to watch the tennis [outside of games involving the Australians] have been limited by choice, I must admit that I have enjoyed this time watching some of the overseas players, though I cannot find much favouritism for the women who continually screech and grown throughout their games  – as brother Robert indicated in an email yesterday  [I] “Do find the women’s games mostly boring and all that grunting or shrieking a complete turnoff”.

Meantime, I was on the radio for three hours tonight, so missed most of the Hewitt game, but enjoyed presenting a program of music especially chosen for Australia Day [coming up next Thursday], and featuring singers and musicians, and their stories from both the ‘European’ [white Australian] point of view, and that of the Indigenous people. I wanted to give both sides equal airing, because while we might celebrate the 26^th January, as the date in 1788 when ‘European’ settlement formally commenced, it should never be forgotten that the ancestors of the Aboriginal people who were already here on that date, had in fact occupied the land of Australia for between 30,000 to perhaps 60,000 years previously. So tonight, I had a bit of everything, and changed the format of the  program to cater for this particular anniversary acknowledgement. 

Whilst I was doing the show tonight, I sent a little text greeting to Heather, down in Ballarat – her reply was quite interesting – ‘Hi Bill, glad you are enjoying your program. Very hot here!! I have just come home from a fantastic night listening to Peter Roberts, who is Australia’s only music thanatologist. He plays prescriptive harp music to terminally ill and also to prem babies. Fantastic! Take care.H”.  After that, when I got back home, I just  had to look up the precise definition of a music thanatologist  –    in Peter Robert’s own words – ‘A certified Music-thanatologist is trained to offer live, prescriptively played music (harp and voice) at the bedside of patients facing the end of their lives. Over the years I have broadened the application of my music to include recovering patients as well, but the focus of the training in music-thanatology was entirely for palliative care. An essential component to this offering involves bringing an attitude of compassion, and an attentive, loving presence that is expressed through the music. I know this may sound a bit mushy to those with a cynical disposition but it is nonetheless very real. The effect is profound.  Musical sessions usually culminate in a comfortable deep silence’.  Incidentally, that message from Heather was the only communication I received tonight, a little disappointing again!!  I put a lot of preparation into all of my shows, and particularly a special program such as tonight – an occasional piece of feedback is always very welcome [ a little like these blog contributions actually, be nice to hear from an occasional reader!]

It has been both a rather busy week, and at the same time, a tiring one, where a lot of basic activities [such as these writings] were neglected, and put aside, hence another one of my consolidated entries appears here alas, pushing a number of days into one entry. I normally try and avoid such a situation, but now and then, we become a bit ‘lazy’ in our writing program and these things happen.

On Sunday, 15^th January, the emphasise was on an afternoon in a ‘pub’, and a late night TV movie.  It was preceded by a  quiet Saturday night at home, during which, amongst other things, I exchanged some text messages with Heather in Ballarat  – She seemed keen to meet, and we  arranged a meeting for coffee halfway between here and  her place [at Bacchus Marsh] providing her Mum, now in her 90s, and a permanent resident of Nazareth House in Ballarat,  was okay that morning, Wednesday. I think I have only met up with Heather on one occasion, at a church reunion, since the early 1960s, when the family moved from the Neil Street house, to Humffray Street North [near Brown Hill], on the eastern side of Ballarat, and we both moved to different secondary schools from the primary school we had attended [Macarthur Street, where way back in the War years of the early 1940s, my own grandfather was the Headmaster].

Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ this morning, which was in fact the featured selection of this morning’s radio show, which got my Sunday off to it’s usual early start. A couple of hours later, and I was on the late morning train into the city, and a warmish walk up to a pub in West Melbourne, not far from the Victoria Market  – Ron Bourke’s 70^th birthday. With one other exception, I think I was the only non-family person there, of about 40 – pub bar especially opened up today for the function.  I left around 3pm –  tram into city, visited J B Hi Fi’s, and purchased three classical cds –  to cover the next 3 weeks on Sunday morning with Classic FM Top 100. I was on a train back in Sunbury before 5pm.  Expected Susan home anytime – however, by 11pm,, no sign or sound of her return- sent message to the girls  –  back tomorrow!! At least I could relax for the rest of tonight. I also got home to find that the Third Test cricket match was already over after just two and a half days of the scheduled five days, again.  It ended up and easy win for Australia by an innings and 37 runs, as the Aussies took a 3-0 lead in the four test series.

An evening in front of the  TV tonight  –  the movie Balibo on the ABC. I have seen it a couple of years ago at the theatre – taped it, while I watched SBS this evening  –  interesting historical and archaeological program on the history of the British Isles  [A History of Ancient Britain – Age of Ancestors] – missed it last week. Then watched part two of the documentary called ‘Once Upon A Time in Cabramatta, where the inside story of Cabramatta’s Vietnamese community continues [most of them refugees from the Vietnam War] with the assassination of MP John Newman, and the growth of the heroin trade. Interesting, disturbing, a bit slow and repetitive at times, but worth watching. 

That was followed by another movie which I quite enjoyed watching –  from 2006, the drama movie called ‘Venus’ and starring Peter O’Toole, Vanessa Redgrave and Jodie Whittaker. While some reviewers described it as a comedy, that’s not exactly the way I saw it – probably wouldn’t have even started to watch had I seen it classified as such.  Maurice (Peter O’Toole) and Ian (Leslie Phillips) are old friends, veteran English actors who never hit the big time. Now in their seventies, they continue to work (Maurice, for example, is playing a corpse in a television drama) but their comfortable routines and banter over breakfast in a favourite café are disrupted by the arrival from the provinces of Ian’s grand-niece, Jessie (Jodie Whittaker). She quickly tries her great-uncle’s patience. But Maurice is taken with the girl, and proceeds to show her the cultural sights of the capital. Maurice tries to teach Jessie something about life, but in the process he is surprised to discover how very little he actually knows now that his own life is drawing to a close.  I like the following synopsis of the film, which I found in Wikipedia.

The plot concerns Maurice (Peter O’Toole] an elderly actor who finds himself increasingly attracted to his friend Ian’s great-niece Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) while simultaneously finding himself in deteriorating health due to prostate cancer. Maurice’s friend describes the great-niece as a trouble maker and a nuisance, but Maurice discovers that Jessie warms up to him when he starts interacting with her. He takes her to the National Gallery in London, England to view his favourite painting, the Rokeby Venus, by the Spanish artist Diego Velázquez.

Jessie had expressed interest in modelling (Maurice initially mis-hears this as “yodelling”) and Maurice arranges for Jessie to model nude for an art class. As a result of Jessie posing for the art class, and inspired by his favourite painting, Maurice decides to give Jessie the nickname “Venus”. Maurice and Jessie develop a passive/aggressive relationship over the course of the film. Maurice is forward in terms of his attraction towards Jessie while Jessie occasionally indulges his whims to a limited extent, such as touching her hand and smelling her neck, but also retracts the indulgences when she feels that he has gone too far. The plot of the film revolves around the evolving friendship or relationship between the two characters. For Maurice, this appears to be the last attempt at something approaching a love life, as his prostate operation has left him impotent. For Jessie, it is less clear what she sees in Maurice. During the course of the film we see her do everything from exploiting him (trying to get him to buy her presents, trying to use his flat to have sex with a boy), taking care of him, flirting with him, and rejecting him sexually to engaging with him as a friend. During the course of the film we learn that she has been rejected by her mother and great-uncle for her promiscuous life style; it is implied that she is drawn to Maurice because he does not judge her as harshly as her family members have.

The plot comes to a head when Jessie becomes involved with a boy. The two young lovers convince Maurice to take a walk so that they can have sex. Maurice initially obliges the request, but returns to kick them out of his flat. A scuffle ensues and Jessie knocks down Maurice, injuring him. Jessie leaves with the boy and apparently spends the night out partying with him at clubs, later returning to check on Maurice. When the paramedics arrive, Maurice claims he cannot remember who attacked him, much to Jessie’s surprise. Then Maurice calls for “Venus” to take care of him. Jessie, remorseful, agrees to look after Maurice. Some time later, after Maurice has at least partly recovered, he takes Jessie to the seaside at Whitstable in Kent. As they sit down by the water Maurice says to Jessie “Now, we can really talk”, and dies, leaning on her.

Tour Down Under cycling race began today, over in South Australia – today’s opening stage around the streets of Adelaide.  With one of the commercial channels taking over the coverage of this year’s race, it was rather disappointing, because that so-called coverage consisted of about 40 minutes of highlights, at 11.30 at night for an Australian daytime event. Another pathetic effort by Channel 9, and a disgrace that money and power so easily allows that network to take control of the rights of a major event, when the coverage elsewhere would have been far superior and much more relevant!!  And this is the channel that is going to be responsible for my viewing of next year’s Olympic Games!!!

Monday 16 January and the tennis begins, and my first session at the local gym!!    The first session this morning of my ‘Lift for Life’ gymnasium program, conducted in the gym at the local swimming pool Apart from the treadmill and bike exercises, most of the weight related and other activities were things I’d not attempted for some considerable years, and as an expected consequence there would be one or two ‘sore’ muscles over the next 24 hours or so. But I did enjoy the experience, although probably would have liked to have been a part of the group I was expecting to be joining me [or vice versa] – today’s appointment was actually an hour ahead of the scheduled normal session time for this program.  I won’t say the rest of the day was in recovery mode, but apart from some late morning shopping, I was not over active for the rest of the day, though did have to devote some preparation time for tonight’s radio show.

 Meanwhile, the Australian Open Tennis Championships commenced today. It had been my intention upon retiring, to spend some time at this year’s event, but time and the days have caught up with me, and I decided it was far easier to watch the occasional game [usually involving the Australians] on the TV – cheaper, less crowd hazzle, travelling, heat, etc –  maybe next year, added to which, minor problems been caused by a variation of medication have been a dampening factor, and a few other commitments this week.  In this year’s tournament, we have apparently seven Australian men and twelve Australian women competing in the ‘Singles’ competitions. I wonder if any will be left by the end of this first week!!!  The big hope, for many, is US Open winner, Samantha Stosur, but her form has been rather patchy since that event, and personally, I will surprised to see her progress right through the tournament, similarly with former stars like Lleyton Hewitt, and up and coming youngster, Bernard Tomic [who actually won his first major tournament on Saturday I think].    As for tonight’s radio program, made even moire enjoyable than usual, due to the inclusion of a 15 minute phone interview with a young singer from Brisbane, Ainslinn Sharp  – she rang me last week, hoping to organise an on-air chat, and asking if I would play her music. Well of course, that is something I do on this particular show – promote and play Australian artists, musicians, etc, who don’t get much [if any] airplay on commercial radio, and community radio such as ours has to be their avenue of publicity and promotion. Mixed results with Bernard Tomic [our teenage up and coming sensation] moving into the next round after coming from 2 sets down against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, while for the girls, wins to Casey Dellacqua and Olivia Rogowska saw them proceed to Round Two. Aussies losses were Greg Jones, Ashleigh Barty [just 16 years old and very promising], and Anastasia  Rodionova.  As usual, a collection of non-Australian names against our competitors, a reflection of the multi-cultural flavour of this country, and the number of tennis players who have adopted this country as their new homeland.

Meanwhile, here is today’s ‘Kids are Quick’ quotation::           TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?     DONALD: H I J K L M N O.    TEACHER: What are you talking about?    DONALD: Yesterday you said it’s H to O. 

Tuesday, 17 January – dinner with family ‘second/third’ cousins–  a bit of time spent up at the local radio station this morning, on administrative matters this time!!  We were in the middle of a rather wearying hot spell again, hence my decision [perhaps to be regretted later on] to travel by train and tram over to my ‘dinner’ appointment tonight. I was simply not keen on driving across the city in peak hour traffic and in top 30 degree temperatures. I knew the train to the city would be comfortable, though had overlooked the following ‘tram’ journey out of the city to the eastern suburb of Kew. It was 5.30pm by then, and yes, the tram was crowded, it was one of the ‘older style’ models [meaning air conditioning functioned rather poorly], and it turned out to be a hot and uncomfortable trip. My own fault!! Didn’t really enjoy that part of the journey, while at the Kew end, a bit of a walk around the main shopping precinct, looking for a suitable bottle of white wine for my hosts. I had put a bottle aside at home this morning, but later decided that by the time I got over to Kew, it would have been almost as warm as I was feeling.

A short walk from there to Ross & Marion’s home in Kew – a lovely large old style home with beautiful old established garden, both of the sort I would be comfortable with. Their main concern was apparently that since they had moved into the place, development in the surrounding properties had over shadowed and spoilt part of the views of surrounding areas they had previously enjoyed. Meanwhile, Marion is a granddaughter of one of my great grandfather’s brothers [hence the family connection]. I had previously visited them back in 1978, when their two children were there at home, and young teens I think, and then we did not meet again until last September up at the William Kirk dedication centenary in Charlton. My visit tonight was at their invitation.

And if I may say so, a very pleasant if not short visit [of about 3 hours] it was. An easy couple to talk to, and plenty of conversation relating to family connections, sharing of photos, and on more general topics, such as the recent disasters involving the hot air balloon in New Zealand, and the sinking of the cruise ship over in the Mediterranean [interesting news report on that which was claiming that the captain of the Costa  Concordia, refused the coast guards order to ‘return’ to his sinking ship and oversee the evacuations from his ship – his response was reportedly along the lines that he was ‘coordinating  things’ from where he was!!].

  Marion was particularly proud of the framed copies she possessed of the various invitations that our original ancestor, William Kirk, has received during the many proceedings that took place with the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia, here in Melbourne in 1901. Somehow, she and  Ross had received an invitation to the centenary of that event, held in 2001, and I had the opportunity to look at, and compare, the respective booklets for both events, that occurred at those times.  As a fellow family historian, a couple of magnificent possessions, and a privilege that the original William’s prominence in the life of early Victoria had justified his invitations and participations in the various activities associated with the original events.

Meanwhile, Ross and Marion were bike riders [as was my brother] and that enabled some interesting discussion of the various escapades [per bicycle] that both parties had participated in over the years. One little misconception was cleared up here – they were confusing Sunbury, and the Melbourne western suburb of Sunshine. They had done some bike rides out to what Marion was referring to as Sunbury, but in fact confusing that with Sunshine, where they thought I had come from today –  a little surprised that in fact I’d travelled on what Marion referred to as a ‘country’ train this afternoon [which in fact it was, having come through from Bendigo].

I left Kew around 9pm [needed to ensure that I got back to the city in time to catch the last train, 10.15, to Sunbury]. Marion & Ross, with their little dog, joined me on the walk to the tram stop, where we said our farewells. The tram ride, back into the city, was much more pleasant – large open air conditioned modern tram, and not too crowded, although more people on board than I would have expected at this time of night, going into the city. But then it was a hot night still, and the holiday season was still around for many people. In my usual manner of wanting to be on time for things, I had plenty of time to spare at the Southern Cross station end, though [despite the lovely meal with the Harris couple] would have liked something healthy to eat, as my stomach was ‘misbehaving’ again due to that medication problem, but most of the outlets around the station area were closed for the night. Had to suffice with a bottle of  water!

Meanwhile, to the Aussie performances at Melbourne Park today, and this evening, in the tennis?  The big disappointment was of course Sam Stosur going out in the first round – her form from when she won the US Open last year, has been a little sub-standard. This is part of  what Ron Reed in the Herald-Sun had to say.  “Sam Stosur’s proudest possession – the US Open Tennis championship – has proven a burden too heavy to carry. Weighed down by it, Australia’s highest ranked player, male or female, crashed to a shock first round defeat in straight sets to little known Romanian Sorana Cirstea [7/6,6/3] at the Open . A national hero after beating the legendary Serena Williams in New York in September, making her the first Australian woman to win a grand slam event for 30 years, Stosur was under pressure to validate the performance in front of her own fans. That expectation rocketed up notch with 19 year old Bernard Tomic’s epic comeback against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco on Monday, raising hopes of a big first week for Australia. But where Tomic seemed to draw inspiration from the crowd on Rod Laver Arena, Stosur seemed to shrink from the almost full house, with the official enclosure packed with VIPs keen to celebrate her new status…..”

 Our other two ‘drama Queens’  –  had totally different outcomes. Jelena Dokic cruised past her Russian opponent to move into the 2^nd round, while fellow adopted Australian, Jarmila Dajdosova crashed in equally emphatic circumstances, then apparently blamed her critics. I feel sorry for the girl, because over the past 12 months or so, she has endured a messy divorce,  suffered a hate campaign on Twitter, and seen a rise in her levels of errors, etc on the tennis court, which fact is constantly being pointed out to her. No wonder she was close to tears after exiting her  7^th consecutive first round  of the Australian Open. Still she remains at World No. 39 [before this event], and I feel she is a good enough player to come back again, although her confidence is obviously fairly low at present.  Three of our men had wins today however –  I returned home in time to see Lleyton Hewitt manage a win over Germany’s Cedric-Marcel Stebe, a good result in view of Hewiitt’s now low world ranking, recent long term injuries, and lack of matches during 2011. Unlike Samantha Stoser, he was not expected to be around for long in this Australian Open.  Lleyton of course, would have different ideas, as he would soon show us!!  A couple of our younger male players also had 1^st round wins today – James Duckworth and Matthew Ebden, and they would feature in Round two games in a couple of days for the TV coverage.

Wednesday, 18 January – and a pleasant lunch with a schoolgirl friend of half a century ago.  But that wouldn’t happen before yet another early morning visit to the radio!!  As always, I enjoyed the 3 hours on air this morning, and in particular the variety of the program that I was able to present. Another pleasing text message from listener Jayne, but I had to admit, that this morning was a bit a struggle, was feeling quite weary, and rather glad that Ron, the normal presenter at this time, would be back next week.  While he would still be looking for my sport report at 6.45 am each morning, I would at least avoid the 5am wakeup calls that were preceding these days.

Late morning saw me driving across to the township of Bacchus Marsh [halfway between here and Ballarat] to meet up for lunch, with former ‘primary’ school fellow student, Heather  – she probably recognised me, before I did her, as in the absence of any photos, I’d actually been struggling to remember what she looked like [as a 10-12 year old] when I assumed was the last time we had met.  I’d met and spoken to her brother, Ross, at the Neil Street 150^th celebrations last August, and it was through that, we had got into contact with each other. Heather had not attended the reunion that day, as I think she was with her mother, who was a terminally ill cancer patient in Ballarat’s Nazareth House.

Anyway, that was a very pleasant three hours at the ‘Baby Block Expresso Bar’ [what an old name]  –  located in a rambling old house and garden, opposite the Bacchus Marsh McDonalds store [my reference point to find the place]  –  quite a noisy, crowded, and obviously popular place, and also quite uncomfortably hot in the main part of the restaurant. Heather, who had arrived before I did, after driving down from Ballarat, had chosen a separate room, which as it turned out, we basically had to ourselves for the duration of our visit. I can’t say I was terribly impressed with the limited range of light lunches available at the place, but that was not really why I was here – enjoyed a couple of coffees and lots of nice interesting conversation with the girl who I will admit was the first girl I was ever ‘sweet on’, at the grand old age of 10 years old!!!  Once we left primary school, and my family eventually moved home a couple of years later, we never came into contact again, although there may have been a meeting of some sort about 30 years ago, simply cannot remember!  Of course, at the time, I assumed she ‘didn’t even know I existed’, although I learnt today that wasn’t true. I nice revelation 50+ years too late!!!  At school, Heather used to sit next to the son of  the Ballarat brick making firm people [Selkirks Brickworks] and she admitted that he was her ‘boyfriend’ at that time [we are still at primary school remember] but they too drifted apart eventually. He can still be seen around Ballarat, driving the latest sports model, etc. I imagine the business, which is still going strong, would have had plenty of ‘advantages’ for the family.

Heather and I parted at around 3pm with the usual promises of meeting up again. I think this one will happen. It seems that since her mother has been in hospital, she has visited her every day, obviously a personal desire and a promise to her late father, Charlie, who died a few years ago. I gather they are as much friends, as mother & daughter, and it is obviously going  to be a major loss in her life when the cancer finally claims her mother, who is in her 90s.  Although, as sometimes happens,  it seems that in tragedy, such an event will also allow this lady [who is a voluntary palliative care worker herself] ‘get a life’, which has been on hold for some years!

The afternoon was still very hot, although the hints of a change were on the way. I had a session at the gymnasium scheduled for this evening – probably initially didn’t feel over enthusiastic about going, but, after preparing a meal for Susan and myself, both of which were planned to be eaten later tonight [she and Jodie were playing volley ball], I headed off to the gym and had a useful enough hour – well, I felt better for it afterwards, although when I mentioned that I would be back in the morning, it was suggested better to wait a couple of days – when meant the next session would be Saturday!!

The girls returned from volleyball around 9pm – Jodie stayed and chatted briefly, but strangely, soon after she left, Susan went off to bed, not feeling well, without eating the meal I’d prepared!  It would not be until Friday that I would discover what the cause of the ‘not feeling well’ referred to.

Meanwhile, at the Australian Open Tennis today and tonight, a few Australians attempted to make their way through the 2^nd round.  In the two Centre Court night matches, Bernard Tomic had another great win in 4 sets over the American, Sam Querrey to advance to the 3^rd round.  Not so successful was Casey Dellacqua who had a tough call against one of the top seeds, Victoria Azarenka [one of those female players who constantly screeches while she plays] – she only managed one game in the two sets.  Earlier, China’s Li Na had a similar easy win over our Olivia Rogowska. Over in South Autralia, with the cycling ‘Tour Down Under’ event, they completed Stage Two today – I imagine the conditions all week over there would be extremely hot and unpleasant for riders, officials and spectators, yet it was still getting great support. Cadel Evans is not competing in this event, but the new ‘Australian team’ named ‘GreenEDGE’ seem to be doing quite well in the early stages of the race, which I think in time and distance, is about a third of that covered by the Tour de France. In view of their ‘off season’ participation, interesting to note that the two leaders after Stage 2 come from Switzerland and Germany, two countries currently in the midst of their winter season – tough going in the hot coastal desert conditions of South Australia in the middle of January.

Thursday, 19 January 2012-  proposals on Indigenous referendum   – This Thursday could be described as a lazy day for this correspondent –  it was indeed, I don’t recall even driving the car anywhere. I was admittedly, feeling a little muscle sore from last night’s session at the gymnasium, and was continuing to be worried by stomach problems from the ‘forced’ change of aspirin medication. The latter left this correspondent feeling a little despondent at times, and annoyed!

An interesting report in today’s media suggesting that hopes are high for an indigenous referendum in the near future, and in so doing, remove ‘so-called’ [my words] racially discriminatory provisions in the Australian constitution. Both sides of politics yesterday endorsed the thrust of a report prepared by an expert panel of politicians, indigenous leaders and lawyers. PM Julia Gillard declared, on receiving the report that it was time ‘to say yes to an understanding of our past, to say yes to constitutional change, and to say yes to a future more united and more reconciled than we have ever been before’.  Tony Abbott, Opposition leader said that his aim was to achieve unity –‘We accept that millions of Australians hopes and dreams are resting on constitutional recognition of indigenous people and the last thing I want to do anything other than welcome the report today’. Great words, from sides – but we need reality to be a fact, afterall, the big points of reconciliation were the ‘marches for reconciliation in 2000, and then the ‘Sorry speech’ in February 2008, and yet, we are still talking about achieving reconciliation through yet another [very important admittedly] means!!  Anyway, in a nutshell,  the recommendation is for Indigenous Australians to be recognised in the body of the Australian Constitution [currently not mentioned].  To go out of the Constitution is the wording of Section 25 which says a voter could be excluded from voting on the basis of race [note, this was drawn up at the beginning of the 1900s]. To come in, three new sections, viz, Section 51A: Recognising that Australia was first occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders;  acknowledging the continuing relationship of them with their traditional lands and waters; respecting their continuing cultures, languages and heritage; acknowledging the need to secure their advancement.  Section 116A – prohibiting racial discrimination.  Section 127A – recognising languages.  Certainly, one would hope that the basic tenet of these proposals would be accepted by the electorate in a referendum, despite the fact that historically, referendums so often fail in this country, change is so difficult on whatever the subject for many to accept.

As  for the Tennis Open – our Aussie representatives are disappearing at an increasing rate, with hopes such as Jelena Dokic bowing out, and young hopefuls of the likes of James Duckworth and Matthew Ebden eventually falling to more experienced opponents.  From memory, Jelena’s mild attempt tonight in her two set loss to French girl Marion Bartoli preceded the highlight of the evening for us Lleyton Hewitt fans  – another match he was probably not expected to win against Andy Roddick of the USA.  Hewitt eventually won that match, after Roddick withdraw at the end of the 3^rd set due to an injury that had been worrying for a set or so. At that point, Lleyton was leading 3/6, 6/3, 6/4.  So we still have two Aussies to look forward to watching over the next couple of nights!!

Friday, 20 January 2012- slow end to a warm week –  another day, lacking a bit of energy, and content to watch a bit of tennis at different stages.  Late morning saw some family duties  –  with Shirley and Jodie and James all working, or away, I was asked if I would pick up and drive to two ‘elderly’ ladies to the doctor, Win [ex mother in law]and her sister Val, who was visiting down from Queensland. Certainly a much cooler day, so Val was probably feeling it more so than the rest of us. I’m not sure who the actual appointment was for – they had both had recent minor falls. Anyway, my role was to drop them off at the Evans Street Clinic, and return later – in fact, I had a few jobs to attend to, and at one stage whilst at the surgery, made an appointment for myself [for tomorrow] – decided that I’d had enough of this medication problem!

It was during this little exercise today that I learnt accidentally through Val the nature of ‘Susie’s’ period of un-wellness a couple of days ago –  the former, naturally enough assumed I knew all about it, sharing a home with Susie, but as I indicated, I often seemed to be the last person to learn of some things. Last April, Susie’s boyfriend of 8 years broke off the relationship. They seemed to get back together again in December, at his initiation I believe, and Jimmy had joined us for Christmas at Goonawarra. They’d had reservations about the renewal of relations, worried that he would not stick at it.  He didn’t, and this week apparently, called things off again. Hence Susie’s response this week!  I guess we all hoped, that twice bitten would be the end of it. She deserved better! Certainly, I was rather annoyed an angered to hear that bit of news, but as already intimated, not surprised at the action on ‘his’ part!!  It also explained where she disappeared to – well, not where [I learnt that later] but why, on Monday night, after she and Jodie had returned from their little trip [or was it Tuesday night, mmmmm, the memory is deserting me!!].

Anyway, putting that aside for now, I had another night of watching an Australian play tennis on centre court at the Australian Open  –  19 year old Bernard Tomic up against the 13^th seed, Alexandr Dolgopplov of the Ukraine.  Another great performance by the confident Tomic in a long five setter, which saw him manage to outlast the northern European player  4/6, 7/6, 7/6, 2/6, 6/3.  While ‘Tomic mania’ of the Lleyton Hewitt sort hasn’t quite peaked yet, it will in a couple of nights one suspects, when Bernard Tomic has to play against his childhood idol, Roger Federer.  They have played each other once before – last year, in a Davis Cup tie, when Federer won in 4 sets. Somehow this time, despite his good form, it will be a bit of a tennis lesson for young Tomic! Meanwhile, after Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under, we have two Australians in the Top 5 overall placings – Michael Matthews [2^nd] and Simon Gerrans [5^th]. As already mentioned, very little TV coverage of this by the so-called ‘official’ broadcaster  –  brother Robert’s comment after the weekend on that point –  ‘Agree on TV coverage; why do Channel 9 bother only to show highlights at 11.30 pm; an ounce of sense would tell them that all interested bike riders who mostly do early morning rides/gym [as Robert does] would be in bed by then. Saw the last couple of hours yesterday[Sunday 22^nd]; even more amazing that after a several minute ad break, they return to the coverage only to interview a couple of footballers!! No idea.”
Saturday, 21 January 2012- doctors, tablets, and yet more great tennis

A middle of the day visit to the doctor was the ‘highlight’ of my Saturday  – prescribed something to supposedly counter the affects of the aspirin on the stomach regions, but I’m not confident of it helping much.  Oh well, not to worry!! Later, called in at the local cricket ground, to have a look at part of Day 1 of Adam’s latest cricket match, but eventually realised he wasn’t at this oval – discovered later that he was today playing in the Club’s senior team, over at Bacchus Marsh!!  I certainly was at the wrong ground!

Lleyton Hewitt played again tonight – another night match featuring one of our own!  I like it!   He was up against Seed No. 23, a big young guy from Canada, named Milos Raonic. Former Wimbledon and US Open winner, Lleyton Hewitt [turning 32 years old in February], is now ranked well down in the listings – prior to this tournament, he is No. 181. His opponent, aged 21, is ranked at No. 25.  As anticipated, another tough, fighting game by Hewitt – lost the first set, but in his typical never give up attitude, he would go on and win the next three sets, to move into the 4^th round in two days time against Novak Djokovic. Final scores with Hewitt winning were 4/6, 6/3, 7/6, 6/3. Meanwhile, in the Tour Down Under, after Stage 5 with one day to go, Australia’s Simon Gerrans of the GreenEDGE team, shares the overall lead with Spaniard Alejandro Velverde, 8 seconds ahead of their nearest rival.

Sunday, 22 January 2012 – a ‘Lark Ascending’

Played a beautiful piece of music on the radio this morning – well, more than one as usual – but my feature selection for listeners was a work by the English composer, Vaughan Williams, called ‘The Lark Ascending’. This was the ABC Classic FM’s listeners choice No. 4 in their selected Top 100 most favoured 20^th century compositions. The performers this morning were the Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted of course by Sir Neville Mariner.   Williams wrote Lark Ascending as a ‘short romance for violin and orchestra in 1914 – it was inspired by a poem written by George Meredith, whose lark

• rises and begins to round,
• he drops the silver chain of sound
• Of many links without a break,
• In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake.

The solo violin part of this work unmistakably describes the lark’s flight and his song. Hopefully my listeners were able to gain that impression from what really was a lovely piece of music. It was first performed by the violinist Marie Hall in 1920.

In the Tour Down Under Final Stage today, Victorian rider Simon Gerrans sealed a fairytale debut entry for the new Australian team, GreenEDGE, by claiming overall victory in the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under. He joined team mate and local hero, Stuart O’Grady, and German Andre Greipel in having won the 14 year old event, three times. Today’s final stage was raced over 20 laps [total distance of 90 kilometres] on a street circuit on the banks of the Torrens River, north of the Adelaide CBD. The air temperature for riding was 37 degrees Celsius, although the heat from the road surface would have made riding conditions much hotter and more uncomfortable. In an email received from my brother today, he noted that he was mot missing being in South Australia this year for the Tour Down Under, as in previous years, it was always good fun and good riding, but with a lot of pressures and work on with his employment at present, and plans to do a ride in the USA later this year, he decided best to give 2012 TDU a miss. Although he did miss being there from the point of view that the seats they usually have are always right on the finishing line of today’s street circuit. Of course, Robert doesn’t just talk about what these athletes are doing, he gets into it all himself and certainly leaves this brother, 2 ¼ years his senior, feeling a little inadequate. As he wrote ‘Tough ride myself this morning; 125 km mostly pushing into a strong breeze, hard work but good training’ –  for a 63 year old, it sure is!!

Another Aussie on centre court tonight  – the master and the apprentice – Bernard Tomic [19 year old Australia] versus Roger Federer!!  No one expected our guy to win, but most were fairly confident he would put up a reasonable fight under the circumstances.  The headline in tomorrow’s Age newspaper put it very well  –  ‘Here endeth the lesson, and tournament, for Tomic the true believer’.  This is what Greg Baum had to say:

‘The least consolation for Bernard Tomic as his Australian Open adventure came to an abrupt end…was that it was at the silky hands of his idol and everyone else’s, the immortal Roger Federer. Even in the straight-sets defeat Tomic lost no believers, and Federer is his own church anyway which gave the night the air of a charismatic rite, with plenty of hallelujah-ing for both players at the beginning and even more at the end. But in-between there were long periods of what might have been prayerful silence, but actually was dumbstruck awe. Even the Fanatics were reduced to mere mumbling. Federer does that. Not the least admiring was Tomic. He said he had never hit the ball so hard, only to see it repeatedly fly back past him into Rod Laver Arena’s corners. ‘It was good to watch, even for me’ said Tomic. ‘Playing, I enjoyed watching. I don’t think I’ll ever be as good a player as him. But you can only learn. The top four guys are different. They’re  something special. The rest are beatable for me’. In truth, this was mission impossible. In majors, Federer has not lost this early or to a player as young or lowly ranked as Tomic, since a series of mishaps midway through last decade at the French Open, his least favourite tournament’…………………….all this leaves one Australian in the Singles competition, Lleyton Hewitt who plays Novak Djokovic tomorrow night!  Another big ask!

A slow start top this Saturday morning –  most of which was spent down in the township, for a bit of banking and shopping, after I had collected my eldest son [and ‘my’ now damaged lawnmower] and drove him to the railway station   – it seems her has suddenly found his car unregistered due to non-payment of various fees, etc!!  He never seems to learn that lad, responsibility, in many areas,. Doesn’t seem to be his strongest point.  Stress of exams, etc, in November meant he overlooked a few ‘equally important’ matters. Anyway, seems he is without a car, until outstanding monies are paid!! That hasn’t stopped him spending a weekend in a hotel in the city!!

Meanwhile son number two was playing cricket over at Romsey, one of our neighbouring towns. I didn’t go and watch Adam  play today, mores the pity.  His team, which scored 3 for 190, of which scored a credible 56 runs, were apparently beaten by the opposition in the final over of the one day match!!

As for the girls, on their little beach road-trip excursion, I did finally hear from them today  –  they were trying to find some sunshine down at the beach at the Wilsons Promontory National Park.  It must be close to 40 years, since I visited Wilsons Promontory, either in a personal capacity, with friends, or on duty, as a member of the National Parks Service in the mid 1970s.  Affectionately known as “the prom”, Wilsons Promontory National Park lies at the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland. It is arguably the most popular park in Victoria (approximately 2 hours from Melbourne), and it is here that you get the best of everything this diverse state has to offer in one concentrated place: ocean beaches [where presumably Susan and Jodie are spending the day], rain forest, fern gullies, mountains, and a host of wildlife at your fingertips. They had intended to stay down there for the four or five days zaway, but discovered at the last minute that you will need to book cabins and campsites well in advance during the busy summer months [which I think I had suggested at one stage]. Maybe they got lucky, and found a spot they were able to camp [their trip was a camping one with Susie’s ‘two man’ tent].  The area has a bevy of both day hikes and overnight back country trips through this unspoiled paradise. Tidal River (30kms into the park) is the main hub with a number of lodges and serviced camping areas [I have stayed in the lodges, when working there], general store, information center, outdoor cinema, and other facilities, and as would be expected, is highly popular with bushwalkers and campers.  The Park covers the southern portion of Wilsons Promontory, a peninsula containing South Point, the southernmost point on the Australian mainland. A lighthouse on the south-east corner of the peninsula is the southern-most lighthouse on mainland Australia and has operated continuously since 1859.  A large section of the park was burnt out in April 2005 by a bushfire caused by a controlled burn that breached containment lines because of warmer and windier conditions than were forecast for that day, causing the evacuation of six-hundred people.  I have a poem somewhere, which I wrote from the top of one of the range mountain tops in the Park area, when on a private visit one year, in fact from the summit of Mt Oberon, as referred to in the picture, which [hopefully] appears below.

Meanwhile, as a sometime supporter of the Liberal Party here in Australia, I’ve been sent a copy of a speech made today by  Brian Loughnane  Federal Director, Liberal Party of Australia   at the Young Liberal Movement National Convention [held in Sydney, this Saturday 14^th January 2012].  While it’s obviously a one-sided view of the Federal political situation here in Australia at present, and I don’t necessarily agree with all the sentiments and/or tone of the comments in all areas, I’ve decided to make it the central focus of today’s blog contribution.

The speaker, Brian Loughnane: –   “I’m delighted to again have the opportunity to speak to the leaders of the Young Liberal Movement from around Australia.

The Young Liberals are an important part of our Party and as Federal Director I appreciate the support and assistance you give our candidates. I look forward to again working closely with you in the coming months as we prepare the campaign to support Tony Abbott and the Coalition team in the lead up to what will be the most important election in the recent history of our country.

Today, I would like to discuss with you the current political situation in Australia and in particular to deal directly with the campaign we can expect from the Labor Party.  Australian politics is particularly volatile and uncertain at the moment. Julia Gillard is the weakest Prime Minister in recent history and has no agenda, other than her own survival. She leads a divided party and is hostage to events. Her short-term interests are at odds with the long-term interests of the Labor Party. It is not certain the Government will see out its full term. To the extent her Government has any direction it is set by the Greens, the Independents and assorted other minority groups.  Because Labor has no direction, no leadership and no policy, the country is drifting and ordinary Australians are paying an unnecessarily high price for their continuous bungling, incompetence, division, poor decisions and broken promises.

Julia Gillard has been central to all these problems for the whole four years since Labor was elected:

• – The broken promise on the carbon tax;
• – The mining tax;
• – The blown surplus, four record deficits and historic debt;
• – The East Timor/Malaysia non solution, and the collapse of border security;
• – School halls;
• – Roof bats;
• – NBN;
• – Live cattle;
• – The faceless men, bungled reshuffles; and
• – Of course, Kevin, and the dysfunction paralyzing the government at the most senior levels.

In this situation the Coalition carries great responsibility. We are holding the Government to account and providing a strong, viable alternative – exactly what a good Opposition should be doing. The Coalition’s policies provide a better way which will get Australia back on track and restore hope, reward and opportunity for all Australians.  Because of its many weaknesses, incompetent leadership and inability to deliver good government, Labor is falling back on some predictable political tactics. All Australians concerned about the future direction of our country need to be aware of what they are trying to do. Julia Gillard and Labor cannot run on their record and they cannot run on their policies. Consequently, they have resorted to an unprecedented negative campaign; one particularly and very personally aimed at Tony Abbott.

Julia Gillard and Labor are obsessed with Tony Abbott. A typical Julia Gillard speech makes no mention of policy, provides no leadership or direction for the country but makes endless references to Tony Abbott. We must expect this to continue and to be a central part of Labor’s campaign as they try to avoid any scrutiny of their record, their internal divisions, their complete lack of policy and their alliance with the Greens.  As we all know, Labor is trying to pressure Tony Abbott and the Coalition to change course, to “understand” just how difficult minority government is and to support everything Labor does.  The fact is we currently have Australia’s worst government. The Coalition actually has a duty to ensure the decisions made by Labor and their alliance partners are transparent and accountable and to oppose those measures we believe to be damaging and against the interests of ordinary Australians. Should we just go along and accept the four biggest Budget deficits in Australian history just because Labor wants us to? Should we just accept the collapse of border security? Should we just ignore the destruction of the opportunities for young Australians to get ahead which had been built over a decade by the Howard Government? What would be “mindless” – and dereliction of our duty – would be to be complicit with Labor, the Greens and Independents in the bad decisions which are jeopardizing our country’s future.

In 1942 Sir Robert Menzies made a series of radio broadcasts which were collectively published as “The Forgotten People”. One of those broadcasts dealt with “the Function of the Opposition in Parliament”.   During the Second World War there was great pressure on the Opposition to simply “pull together” and not criticize the Government. Menzies rejected this. He said:

Every now and then you will read an allegation by somebody to the effect that the Opposition is “playing party politics” …. [But] in Parliament, we are divided on party lines…. What are the consequences of this? The first and greatest is that you cannot maintain the party system of government and at the same time expect the Opposition to treat the Government as if it were an all-party Government… differences must be discussed frankly and fully in Parliament so that Parliament itself may arrive at its own ultimate conclusion as to what is the wise thing to do. It follows from this that the function of an Opposition is to be quite unhesitating in its willingness to debate large matters of policy, to criticize the Government on those matters, to put forward and maintain its own.”

Seventy years later, this remains a good summary of the Liberal position.  We expect Labor to continue to try to pressure us to change course so they can avoid proper scrutiny. Tony Abbott and the team will not do so. Where the Coalition disagrees with Labor, the Greens and the Independents and where we see bad policy and bad government we will say so because it is in the national interest that Labor is held to account for its waste, mismanagement and poor decisions.  The Coalition refuses to be negative for its own sake. The reality contradicts Labor’s spin. The fact is the Coalition has voted against just 13% of Government legislation. We have supported 87% of Government bills. We have been responsible and true to our beliefs. But because Labor is governing so poorly it has no answers to the serious questions the Coalition raises.  A second false assertion Labor is trying to peddle at the moment concerns the Coalition’s costings. There are possibly another two Budgets and who knows how many Wayne Swan “revisions” of the national accounts before the next election. As Joe Hockey and Andrew Robb have made clear our policies will be fully funded and fully costed and released before the election. A Government which has blown the surplus and given Australia the four largest Budget deficits in history would do well to concentrate on its current responsibilities rather than on what may or may not comprise the Coalition’s costings in two years’ time. It is important Australians ignore Labor’s rhetoric on Budget management and look instead at Labor’s record. The Howard Government found a $10 billion budget black hole and it turned that into a $20 billion surplus. The Howard Government inherited $96 billion worth of Commonwealth debt and it turned that into a $70 billion net asset position. By contrast, the current government has turned $20 billion of surplus into $50 billion of deficit and it’s turned $70 billion of assets, at last count, into $134 billion of debt. And all this in just four years!  Thirdly, we can expect to hear more from Labor, like a tired broken record, about WorkChoices. Tony Abbott has been very clear about this and Labor knows it. But we should expect the campaign on this to intensify. Apart from anything else, it is now part of Bill Shorten’s campaign to become the next Leader of the Opposition!

The central question about workplace relations policy in this country today is how does the Government reconcile its rhetorical commitment to economic growth and productivity with the changes Julia Gillard made when she was Minister which abolished not just the changes of the Howard government but also the reforms of the Keating government? It is clear from the growing numbers of comments from both senior business leaders and small business operators that these changes are directly affecting Australia’s productivity. Perhaps Mr. Shorten might care to turn his attention to this dilemma instead of joining the parrot queue attacking Tony Abbott.  The Coalition understands the next Government will need a mandate in this important area and the Coalition will release its policy well in advance of the election.

Perhaps the most brazen example of Labor’s hypocrisy and ham-fisted political tactics is the occasional pantomime we see when Julia Gillard tries to attack the Greens and deny there is any relationship between her and Bob Brown. We should expect more of these manufactured stunts in the coming months as Labor tries to create the impression of divisions between them and the Greens. The reality of course, is different. Labor is in a formal, signed alliance with Bob Brown and the Greens. The Greens set the direction of the Government. Labor and the Greens will preference each other at the next election. As a result, the choice at the election will be between a united experienced Coalition with clear policies to build a better Australia and a divided Labor Party with weak leadership, no policies, no vision and dependent on secret deals with the Greens to try to sneak across the line.

Another tactic Ms Gillard and Labor are using is to simply brazenly assert things irrespective of the truth. The fact they have no positive record and no policies does not stop them mindlessly claiming to have a “reform agenda”, making “tough decisions” and to have “plans” going forward. We will hear a lot more of this between now and the election. In particular, Labor will attempt to say that things are getting better, that they have turned the corner and that, if re-elected, they will somehow be different. They will again make promises they have no intention of keeping. Those who have lived through State Labor Governments over the last decade would be familiar with this political trick: ignore your record and just make bold claims and promises even if the facts contradict them. This tactic depends on poor media scrutiny and an electorate with amnesia. It may work for a limited period at the State level, but it will not work for Labor at the national level. It is one of the reasons why the Coalition must continue to hold Labor to account for its inaction and poor record.

Ms. Gillard is also using other political tactics to avoid detailed scrutiny. Unlike John Howard, she does not provide transcripts of all her speeches, interviews etc. on her website. Those that do appear are usually posted days after an event. She also frequently disappears when the going gets tough. This happened in early December when the national accounts were revised yet again and Labor’s grubby deal with Peter Slipper became public. Julia Gillard gave no interview for ten days. She simply disappeared to avoid difficult questions and proper scrutiny.

But I guess its not surprising Ms Gillard wants to avoid scrutiny of her speeches. One of the things which has become very apparent with the drift of minority Government is that Julia Gillard is incapable of setting out a clear direction for Australia. The clearest example of this problem was Ms. Gillard’s speech in early December to the ALP National Conference.  It was mindless twaddle. Instead of discussing policy, setting direction and providing leadership she resorted to cliché.  The contrast with Tony Abbott could not be clearer.  Just compare his speech to the Liberal Party Federal Council in June last year to Gillard’s National Conference speech. Tony Abbott’s speeches are publically available on the Party’s website. In 2011 he made over 20 very significant speeches setting out the direction, priorities and policies for the economy under the next Coalition government. I invite any interested Australian to read them and compare them with Julia Gillard’s speeches over the same period and ask which Party really does have the policies, direction and leadership to grow our economy and improve the lives of all Australians.  In those speeches, Tony Abbott made clear the Coalition’s central objective is to restore hope, reward and opportunity for all Australians.

We will do this by growing our economy and strengthening our nation. We will help families get ahead by scrapping Labor’s damaging carbon tax to put downward pressures on rising prices, especially electricity, gas and fuel prices, to help reduce the cost of living pressures. We will reduce pressure on inflation and interest rates – by ending Labor’s waste, and paying back Labor’s debt and we will make sure the Government again lives within its means. As a result we will get taxes lower to help small businesses grow, create more jobs and build a bigger, stronger economy.  We will stop the boats and strengthen our borders. We will deliver better government and provide better services to families in health and education. We will help hard working Australians and small businesses to get ahead, and build a better life for themselves, and their families.

In his speeches Tony Abbott has made clear the priority for a Coalition Government will be to get the Budget back to surplus by ending waste and unnecessary spending so government debt can be reduced to take unnecessary pressure off interest rates. He has promised to help families and restore business confidence by abolishing the carbon tax and the mining tax. We will make a real practical difference to the environment with a 15,000 strong Green Army, we will restore local control of public schools and hospitals, and we will build national infrastructure based on proper cost-benefit studies. We will protect private health insurance, and reduce red tape to help small business grow.

And much, much more. The speeches Tony Abbott and other senior Liberals regularly make are posted on the Party web site. I invite you to read them. One of the things which will be clear to you if you do is that the Coalition is committed to helping all Australians get ahead. Labor seems to think this is a bad thing. Over the last four years, Labor has systematically gone about destroying many of the practical incentives the Howard Government had put in place to help families, small business, retirees and students. Over time, as the economy strengthens, an Abbott Government would hope to be able to again support those working hard and doing the right thing to get ahead.

Ladies and Gentleman, the next election will be held in the next eighteen months or so. Every election is significant, but the next election will truly be one of the most important in Australian history.The choice will be the clearest for a generation.   Labor is divided over leadership, policy and strategic direction. It is disconnected from the community and run by faceless operatives. Quite simply, Labor has lost its way. It needs “time out” to consider who and what it is. Labor can only be re-elected with the support of the Greens – and at what price to ordinary Australians? Australian families cannot afford another three years of Labor.

By contrast, the Coalition is united with an experienced team (16 Shadow Ministers were Ministers in the Howard Government). Only the Coalition has the policies, commitment and leadership to grow the economy, strengthen our nation and help all Australians get ahead again.  Between now and the next election we must make this case every day. No one should assume the next election will be easy. Labor will be desperate, and with Green preferences could squeak across the line.  So, Ladies and Gentleman, it is clear we will face a desperate and well-resourced opponent at the next election. They have nothing to say about the future of our country and will resort instead to aggressive and personal attacks on Tony Abbott, false and unsubstantiated assertions about the Coalition and empty promises they know they will never be able to deliver.   The Coalition is prepared for an election whenever it may be held. We have clear plans to grow our economy and strengthen our nation. There is a better way and Tony Abbott and the Coalition team are ready and determined to restore hope, reward and opportunity for all Australians.

I look forward to working closely with the Young Liberals in the months ahead to ensure the return of good Liberal Government to Australia”

My only to all of that –  by attacking Labour for it’s ‘negative’ approach’, I’m hoping that 2012 will see a major reduction in the negative approach that has flowed from the Liberal Party over the past 18 months, and which has constantly being criticised by most elements of the media, and the electorate in general.

Meanwhile, at Stumps on Day 2 of the 3^rd cricket test between Australia and India, we see that Australia is again in a strong position after just two days of the match, which although it has 5 days play available, is highly unlikely to get to the end of the 3^rd day tomorrow.  The scores see: –  India: 161 and 4 for 88.  Australia:  369 [of which David Warner scored 180 runs].

 

Awoke to an empty house, cloudy and overcast outside, and the cool nature of the past few days continues in our unusually non-summer type weather!  Some people regard Friday 13^th [of any month] as a bad omen, but I prefer to think of it as simply another Friday, or even just another day. The quietness of this neighbourhood has been disturbed over the past week or so by road-works out in the adjoining street – still haven’t worked out exactly what it is they are doing, but seems to be a necessity for as lot of heavy machinery!  But at least the crowd of young people who have been living opposite us here – all of whom seem to have hotted up and noisy cars which roar up and down the street at all hours of the day and night  –  they seem to have gone away on a holiday, or, more hopefully, have simply gone!!!   I’ll be pessimistic, and assume the latter is not the case!

Third cricket test – Australia vs India, Day 1 at the WACA in Perth.   Australia won the Toss, elected to bowl. Four fast bowlers, Lyons out of the 11. The teams for this match are”   AUSTRALIA (World ranking: fourth)    Squad – Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh Ricky Ponting,, Mike Hussey ,Brad Haddin , Peter Siddle , Ben Hilfenhaus ,Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc,    Coach: Mickey Arthur          INDIA (World ranking: second)  Squad – Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ (captain), Virender Sehwag ], Gautam Gambhir [Ajinkya Rahane [], Rahul Dravid [], Sachin Tendulkar [, VVS Laxman [], Virat Kohli [Rohit Sharma [], Pragyan Ojha [], Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma [], Umesh Yadav, R Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun [ s ], Wriddhiman Saha, Zaheer Khan   Coach: Duncan Fletcher.  Another good start  for the Aussies, with Indioa all out for a low score, and then an unbroken century partnership by the two Australian openers.

Stumps Score: Day 1:  India: 161.  Australia:  0 for 149 with David Warner not out 104, and Ed Cowan not out 40. The Warner century was the 3rd fastest Test century [in terms of balls faced] in Test Match history, scoring his 100 in 69 balls. Warner, who came to notice as a very aggressive 20/20 cricketer about 4 years ago, has proven to the critics after this performance thar he is of the Test elite as well.The current top 5 listing shows

• 56 balls  –  Viv Richards [West Indies] versus England, at St Johns in 1985/86
• 67 balls  –  Adam Gilchrist [Australia] versus England at Perth in 2006/07
• 67 balls  –  Jack Gregory [Australia] versus South Africa at Johannesburg, in 1921/22
• 69 balls  –  S Chanderpaul [West Indies] versus Australia, at Georgetown in  2002/03
• 69 balls  –  David Warner [Australia] versus India at Perth in 2011/12

Incidentally, over the last few weeks, there has been a major 20/20 competition going on in Australia involving teams from various cities, etc  – under the title of ‘The Big Bash’ –  the name was enough for me not to take much interest, and the fact that it has been televised on Pay TV meant I couldn’t watch if I’d wanted to, although son, Adam has been following the matches closely. The competition is nearing it’s conclusion, and I actually, without looking up the paper, have no idea which teams have been successful. I’m afraid my principal cricket interest lies still with the Test Cricket genre of the game..