Author: jkirkby8712

It’s a bit of a sad reflection, that the Australian Constitution continues to remain silent on the history, status and rights of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, despite government promises to change things like that over recent decades. I notice that the present Federal Government, presumably as a part of it’s last election ‘promises’, did in fact agree to hold a national referendum on the subject of the constitutional recognition of those peoples, with this to occur before the next scheduled election in 2013.  Certainly in the current ‘political’ climate [with the Prime Minister apparently fighting for her political future following ‘leaks’ from Cabinet discussions over the weekend, and the ongoing poor poll results for her and Labor Party] there has been little mention or reference of this subject. However, I understand that a panel is currently consulting with various communities about what the proposed referendum should focus on, with a plan to consider all relevant submissions prior to presenting their recommendations to the government.  In fact, the receipt of those submissions has been completed, and the process closed.  Over 3,400 submissions have been received by the Panel, and  over 70 public consultations held in metropolitan, regional and remote communities around Australia. The Panel is now carefully considering all submissions, and the outcomes arising from the consultations, with the aim of submitting it’s Report to the Government by December, this year.

The Panel, which goes under the title of  YouMeUnity, is described as the national conversation about updating our constitution  to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture for the benefit of all Australians.  ‘We acknowledge and respect the vision of a nation that recognises the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, values their participation and provides equal life chances for all’.  I was going to list the members of the Panel, but there is quite a team of them – a broad mix of Indigenous and Non- Indigenous representatives, including politicians such as the Independent Rob Oakeshotte,  and prominent Indigenous academic, Marcia Langton  – a lady who didn’t really impress me in earlier, felt she was too aggressive, a real rebel rouser – perhaps she was in her younger activist days, but these days, after having listened to her on various panels, etc, I have quite a deal of admiration for her views and attempts to push the cause of her people.

 Meanwhile, from the organisation’s website, we read a little more about it’s aims and hopes:-

‘The Constitution is the basis for our laws and political system.  A lot has changed since the Constitution was written in 1901.  Nowadays many Australians would be surprised to know that the Constitution still includes the possibility for discrimination based on your race, and ignores Australia’s first peoples and their role as custodians of the world’s oldest continuing culture. The Australian people have the power to update the Constitution through a referendum so that it better reflects our shared values.  In light of this, the Panel has been appointed by the Government to consult with the people and lead a nationwide discussion on the issue.  By December 2011, after a period of consideration, discussion and consultation with all Australians, the Panel will advise the government about the options for formally recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution. You Me Unity is the national conversation about updating our Constitution to recognise our first peoples and define equality for all Australians’.

“For many years, governments, communities and individuals across Australia have viewed reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Non-Indigenous Australians as an important national objective. The Federal Parliament’s National Apology in 2008 was seen by many as a major step towards national reconciliation. ‘Closing the Gap’ has become pressing business for Australians across the country, to reduce discrimination and disadvantage, but much remains to be done. Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now has wide support and is seen by many as an important further step that should now be taken towards full recognition of the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in 21st Century Australian society. There are several reasons for this.

First, many people would be surprised to know that not all citizens are treated equally under the Australian Constitution. While racial discrimination is no longer accepted in our community, in our workplaces and in our daily lives, the Constitution permits laws that discriminate on the basis of race. While over 90 per cent of voters in the 1967 Referendum approved positive changes to the Constitution in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a number of questions about the way our Constitution treats the First Australians remain unresolved.

Second, while the great majority of Australians value and celebrate the unique contribution made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures to our national identity, the Constitution, our founding national document, gives no acknowledgement of the place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our nation’s history or our contemporary society.

Third, many people believe that constitutional recognition would serve as a powerful symbol of the nation’s desire to embrace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a full and equal part of the Australian nation. To advance the idea of constitutional recognition and to explore how it might be achieved, in December 2010 the Australian Government, with the support of the Opposition, the Greens and Independent members of Parliament, appointed an Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. The Panel’s task is to consult with the community and make recommendations by December 2011 on options for constitutional change that could be placed before the people at a future national referendum.

The Public Discussion Paper is designed as a starting point for the national conversation that the Panel will be conducting across Australia over coming months. It sets out background information about our Federal Constitution and how it can be changed, the potential benefits of constitutional recognition both for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and for all Australians, and possible ideas for recognition that will be discussed and developed during the Panel’s community consultations.

Ideas already raised by constitutional experts for constitutional change include:

• A Statement of Recognition in a Preamble to the Constitution, or in the body of the Constitution, acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ distinct cultures, identities and heritage, their prior ownership and custodianship of the land, and their ongoing contribution to Australian society.

• A Statement of Values in a Preamble or in the Constitution itself, which would include both recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and also set out the fundamental values of our society such as our personal freedoms, the rule of law, racial and gender equality, and our commitment to democratic government.

• Repeal or amendment of provisions in the Constitution currently based on racial discrimination.

• Creation in the Constitution of a new guarantee of non-discrimination and racial equality.

• New powers for the Australian Government to legislate to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage, and to redress historical disadvantage.

These and other ideas are explained in detail in the Paper.  The Panel has no preference for any of these ideas.  Before making its recommendations to Government, the Panel wants to hear the views of a wide cross-section of the Australian community.  We therefore, invite and welcome comments and contributions from all Australians.

Well, that’s the serious part of today’s contribution, lol, but I’m also reminded that it’s Maureen’s birthday today, the 17^th October!!  Now Maureen is a friend from years back, we’re never met, not in person anyway, but there are plenty of stories along the way of our association of friendship. I met Maureen many years before the internet came on the scene – through that now ‘old fashioned’ medium of the pen friend club!!  Was it the late 80s, maybe even earlier – I still have her first letter from England here somewhere!!! Perhaps it was me who eventually introduced her to the eventual joys of emailing, and the ‘new version’ of the penfriend friendship. Anyway, our birthdays have always been just one day apart, though around 10 years gap [I’m the old one]. Ah yes, we have had some interesting occurrences between us throughout those years, I wonder if it’s just me who can recall them!!! J  Anyway Mo, have a wonderful day, for this 17^th October – and thankyou for your Face Book greeting, one day early, lol, and for the repeat follow –up, just read a few minutes ago, after my return from my  Monday night radio show!!  A bit disappointed actually – not one phone call, though I loved the show!!  But yes, there was a call – on my mobile, from a friend in Singapore who never forgets me, and always wants top be the first to wish this guy a Happy Birthday.

It’s now 12.36 am on the 18^th October. Goodnight all!!

I have to admit that most of my in interest today was related to either music – planning my next couple of programs for the radio –  or a number of sporting events of relevance to Australia today. That came after my usual early Sunday morning program of classical music, followed by yet another expensive visit to the chemist – I guess one advantage of the retirement plans will, be cheaper pharmacy expenses!!

As indicated, a bit of a sporty day with Australian teams and/or individuals competing at the international level. Casey Stoner was down at Phillip Islands this afternoon for the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix  – about 100 kms to the south east of Melbourne, a great spot for a holiday [but not on the racing circuit!!]. I think Casey needed to get at least 6 points from the race to seal the World Championship with a couple more races to go. He basically led from the front row of the starting grid, and stayed there for the entire race  -[ from memory, this was the 5^th successive Australian GP that he has won, and his second World Championship. And to top it all off, today was also his birthday!  Casey Stoner – 2011 World Motorcycling Champion.

Casey Stoner

Meanwhile in the two rugby codes that are played in Australia, we had a real double header between the two Tasman neighbours – Australia and New Zealand. In Newcastle [New South Wales] this afternoon, there was a Rugby League Test match between the two teams – Australian Kangaroos versus the Kiwis. This was actually televised [the first half anyway] at the same time as Casey Stoner’s race, so my loyalties were divided. Things were looking rather promising for the Aussies at half time, leading 26 – 0, and it didn’t improve a great deal in the second half, for the visitors. Final score saw Australia 42. New Zealand 6

At around 7pm, the big Rugby World Cup 2^nd Semi Final commenced – the Australian Wallabies versus the New Zealand All Blacks.  While the Australian [New Zealand born] coach, Robbie Deans didn’t consider that history would play a part in tonight’s clash,  the evidence revealed that Australia’s last win against New Zealand at Eden Park {Auckland] was in 1986, the year before the Rugby [Union] World Cup began!! In addition, the All Blacks have not lost to another team at that ground for 17 years through 26 matches. Rather convincing statistics!  Deans commented that “It’s a tough place to play, and those are impressive numbers for sure but they don’t matter once Sunday night’s match kicks off…..The pressure is divided equally on both sides as there is no tomorrow and the ultimate prize [a place in the Rugby World Cup Final] awaits the side that earns that right of passage”  Actually, I would have thought there was more pressure on the All Blacks – they have never won the World Cup despite being probably one of the most consistent teams since the 80s, and with the competition being held on their home turf this time, the home supporters expect/assume they will win this time. If they fail again, it may not be well taken by the New Zealand fans.  Tonight’s referee is Craig Joubert of South Africa.

Statistics – of the 166 matches  [Union] played between Australia and New Zealand since 1903,  New Zealand has won, 114, Australia 47, and 5 draws. This is the third meeting between the two countries at  Rugby World Cup, which each occurring at the semi final stage. Australia beat New Zealand  16-6 at Dublin during the 1991 tournament, which the Wallabies went on to win, and 22-10 at the same stage of the 2003 event in Australia, after which Australia lost the final to England.

Unfortunately for the Wallabies, history wasn’t going to do a reversal tonight. After listening to a couple of impressive versions of the New Zealand and Australian National Anthems, followed by the Kiwi’s normal ‘Haka war dance & chant’ [all of which I was hearing for the second time today], the game got underway. Not a good start to the game – within five minutes, the All Blacks had a Try, though the conversion was missed. Then followed a missed penalty kick at the 10 minute stage, but a couple of minutes later, another Australian mistake [such mistakes would become the story of the match] resulted in a successful NZ kick this time – the score 8-0 after 12 minutes. A while later, Australia had what would it’s best chance at a Try, just fell short, but a penalty kick to our favour followed soon after, and James O’Connor made no mistake – score 8-3 down. At 20 minutes, another mistake by Australia, followed by another missed Kiwi shot – we should have miles behind but were somehow ‘hanging in there’. A field goal to both teams, and yet another successful penalty shot to NZ saw the score at halftime – New Zealand 14, Australia 6.

Before the match started, I sent a text to Dawn and Tony in Dunedin –  Dawn responded with ‘It could go either way, don’t really mind who wins [I bet her husband does!!] as long as it is a good game that we can all enjoy. We sort of have a foot in both camps so to speak’ [with relatives in Australia].  Anyway, 2 minutes into the 2^nd half, and yet another penalty against Australia – score now 17-6. In fact, from an Australian point of view, it was a disappointing second half, in some ways a better effort by the Australian players, but still too many basic errors, and we were un-able to make any headway! New Zealand were simply the more dominant team at the scrums in particular, and they won the battle of the physical contest. The final score:  New Zealand 20 defeated Australia 6.  I texted my congratulations to my Kiwi friends – Dawn responded with ‘The all blacks may just win the Cup this year after all. We all said that this game would be the big one’.

While all this was happening, I was getting the usual ‘friendly but cynical comments about Australia’s sporting losses from Maureen in England. But she did refer me to a link about one success we were having  – it told me that the ‘Australian Diamonds are halfway to a clean sweep –  i.e., the Australian Netball  team has completed the first half of an ambitious plan to clean sweep their final six Test matches of the year with a surprisingly hard-fought 45-41 defeat of England in their third outing against the World No. 3 side in just eight days [of course, after the recent world netball championships, Australia is No. 1, and New Zealand – the Silver Ferns – No. 2].

Still one more ‘sporting’ event later tonight – the Formula 1 car racing Korean Grand Prix, with of course being the Australian driver Mark Webber. We might see how things went there, in tomorrow’s contribution!!

It’s a beautiful Spring Saturday morning in Sunbury – I was out early for a visit to ‘The Big Fella’s’ establishment for a well overdue haircut  – Pat had moved to a new location since I last visited him, and late yesterday, I walked the town, looking for his new hairdresser shop – found  him at the very end of my stroll [of course], but with a shop full of customers at that stage, decided to take advantage of Pat’s early Saturday morning opening hours – just a short wait this morning! Then back home for some breakfast before heading over to the nearby town of Melton to visit a couple of car sales establishments – with my job finishing next week [and the vehicle I use, going with the job], I am obviously in need of an alternative.

Today is also ‘Caulfield Cup Day’, one of the big lead in horse races prior to the Melbourne Cup, this year scheduled for the 1^st November. I must admit that of recent, I’ve not taken a great deal of notice of the Cup field – something else to study, later on!!  On an initial glance, the international horse, No. 9 December Draw with Michael Rodd on board is in brilliant form, three wins from last four races, and seems to be the odds on favourite. However, I often avoid favourites, a win doesn’t earn much profit usually anyway,  so have decided to go with No. 16, Green Moon, winner of the Newcastle Cup last start, and prior to that, second to December Draw. In fact my tip for first three placings are Green Moon [16], Southern Speed [18] and December Draw [9] in that order. However in such a big race as this, with potentially 18 starters, and prizemoney of $2.5 million, there are always a lot of potential winners, and a victory from one of many other chances in the race would not surprise. The Caulfield Cup is a Group 1 race,  run over 2,400 metres, and is timed for 4.05pm this afternoon. The rest of the Caulfield program today includes  2 Group 2 races and 3 Group 3 races, a fairly impressive line-up of racehorses.   I shall return with the Cup outcome, a little later.

Drove over to Melton, late this morning, and eventually found the car sales showroom I was looking for  – left about an hour later, having more or less signed myself up to purchase a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Sedan 4 speed manual  – interesting choice, have driven automatics for the last 20  years or so!  To confirm the purchase next week after road worthy test, cleaning, etc completed. Car was a one owner, and while 2 years older than the vehicle I was currently driving, had travelled about 35,000 less kilometres, having been a one-owner local driver.

Subsequently, with respect to the horse races, what a pity I forgot to put on a bet, would have come away with some winnings!!!  Caulfield Cup result, later this afternoon  –   1^st. Southern Speed.   2^nd:  Green Moon.  3^rd: Tullamore.  As for December Draw, that horse ran a shocker!!

I popped around to one of the local cricket grounds after the Cup – but left my run too late – the weather had changed, and my son’s cricket team were sitting around waiting for it to change again – while I was talking to Adam, it was still raining lightly, and getting cold. Lucky I had mowed the lawn, and brought the clothes in off the line a brief time earlier while the sun was still shining!  Anyway, Adam had another chance in his club’s senior team today [after last week’s wash out] – he told me he went 1^st wicket down, and in his team’s score of 130, he managed to pick up 12 runs, and stay at the crease for half an hour or so.  Of course, soon after I left the ground to return home, the rain stopped, and the sun came back out!! The cricket started  again, but didn’t last for long, as the wicket proved too slippery & dangerous to play on, a pity, another drawn result with the game unfinished. Typical of the usual start to the cricket season in this part of the state!!

Rugby World Cup Update – Semi Final 1:  I watched this game tonight, France versus Wales. I guess that the French were favourites, but it was a very pro-Welsh crowd of supporters at Eden Park in Auckland, and that support intensified early in the game, when the Welsh lost two of their key players, one through injury, and then their captain was sent off the field for the duration of the match after a misdemeanour!!  When meant that the Welsh 80% of the match with one player less. Despite that, it was a gutsy performance by the Welsh but they couldn’t produce quite enough to stop the French team who went on to win a low scoring game 9-8.  Speaking after the match, the Welsh coach Warren Gatland said about the captain, Sam Warburton  “He is not a dirty player so what’s the point in spoiling a semi-final by giving him a red card? I am absolutely gutted about it. “But we showed great character and if we’d have slotted a goal we might have won the game. But we were down a man against world-class opposition and the fact we had a chance to win just shows the character of our players. I’m really proud of them.”   Meanwhile, I must admit that after that match, I felt it would be difficult for either France or Wales to be able to defeat either New Zealand or Australia, tomorrow.  But of course, I could be very wrong there!

Last Sunday morning, on the radio, I played some music performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. At the time I made mention of the fact that the Orchestra would be performing Dvorak’s famous 9^th Symphony [more generally referred to as the ‘New World Symphony’. Tonight whilst I was working [rather wearily] at the computer, and with nothing worth watching on the television, I listened to the ABC Classic FM’s live broadcast of that concert, from the Sydney Opera House. In addition to Dvorak’s symphony, we heard Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with the piano part beautifully played by international pianist, Stephen Hough, who I think is performing here in Melbourne within the next few days, or just has. The SSO also played the 4^th Symphony composed by Lutostawski, which I can’t recall hearing previously, but was quite impressed, deciding that I must try and chase it down for my own program.

On the way to the office today, I called in at the Fitzroy Officeworks establishment, and replenished a few stationery supplies for the VPTA.. We were in for a beautiful day – in fact by midday, the temperature would be up in the mid twenties, and quite warm in the car. Today is my last Friday fulltime day of employment, two more days next week –  actually beginning to feel a little stress about that part of my life coming to an end, even though it is my choice essentially. As I mentioned in an email to 3NRG’s Christine today –   “The main thing I’m feeling stressed about at present is finishing work next week  –  while it’s what I want, after 46 years it doesn’t seem right that I won’t be employed, almost a guilt feeling, though compared to some, I think I’ve earned it. Also worried about what I’m going to be entitled to/not entitled to re Centrelink, etc, and currently trying to find a car in a relatively low price range, as I won’t have one after next Tuesday [the Astra is a work car!], and I’ve no intention of claiming back the Station wagon from son, Adam. So if things don’t work out there for a week or so, won’t be able to get up to the radio station in the interim – bit far for ‘old Bill’ to walk, especially after 12 midnight!!”  That last comment relates to the fact that the radio station is at the opposite end of the town to where I live [at the top of Sunbury’s steepest hill climb], and are no buses at midnight on a Monday, or 6.00am of a Sunday morning!!  Anyway, quite a few things I’m still trying to get completed at the office – some might say, why bother, but having inherited jobs, where one finds a pretty poor outcome often from one’s predecessor, I really don’t want to leave that kind of inheritance!!!

Now, back to our weekly listing [from the ‘Weekly Times’] of that paper’s perception of our 100 Greatest Country [born] Australians.  We are up to No’s 21 -40, having already given you the choices from 41-100 [see previous weekly blogs around Wednesdays]. As usual, if there is information about any of these people that readers would like more details on, let this writer know!

• 40.  Eva Burrows   1929 –   [Salvation Army General]
• 39. Warwick Armstrong  1879 – 1947  [Cricketer]
• 38  Mary Durack  1913 – 1994  [Writer]
• 37. Cyril Callister  1893-1949  [Vegemite Inventor]
• 36.  Shirley Strickland  1925-2004  [Runner]
• 35. Frank Macfarlane Burnett  1899-1985  [Scientist]
• 34. Vivian Bullwinkel  1915-2000  [Army Nurse]
• 33. Scobie Breasley  1914-2006  [Jockey]
• 32. Peter Carey  1943 –   [Writer]
• 31. Ron Barassi  -1936 –  [Footballer]
• 30. Isaac Isaacs  1855-1948  [Judge, Politician, Governor-General]
• 29. Cadel Evans  1977 –    [Cyclist]
• 28. Enid Lyons  1897 – 1981  [Politician]
• 27.  Reginald Ansett  1909 – 1981  [Aviator]
• 26. Thomas Blamey  1884 – 1951  [Army Officer]
• 25. Ian Clunies Ross  1899 – 1959  [Veterinary Scientist]
• 24. Walter Lindrum  1898 – 1960  [Billiards]
• 23. HV McKay  1865 – 1926  [Manufacturer]
• 22. William Farrer  1845 – 1906  [Wheat Breeder]
• 21. John Macarthur  1767 – 1834 [Wool Producer]

Next week, we learn who the top 20 Great Country Australians are  – the first 80 have provided a fascinating list of names, I’m quite interested to see who is to come, must be another prime minister or two in there somewhere?

Well after yesterday’s euphoria by the Government following a successful carbon tax vote, it was the opposite story today.  Overnight, the West Australian Nationals MP Tony Crook confirmed he would not vote for proposed laws to resurrect the Government’s so-called ‘Malaysian Solution’. The bill, which was designed to secure the future of offshore processing, was due to come before the House of Representatives this morning but was doomed to fail without Mr Crook’s support. As a consequence, Julia Gillard did not submit the Bill for a vote because she knew she did not have the numbers to succeed.

This morning Mr Crook said that although the Malaysia swap deal could dissuade asylum seekers from setting sail for Australia, he had concerns about the way prospective refugees, particularly unaccompanied children, might be treated there.  And he said he would instead support Opposition amendments that would allow offshore processing in countries that have signed United Nations refugee conventions – like Nauru.  “The United Nations factor was a strong one for me,” Mr Crook told reporters at Parliament House. “We’re talking about a serious humanitarian issue here and clearly the Opposition, in government, had a strong position on asylum seekers and on boat people smuggling.”  But he was critical of both the Opposition and the Government for failing to come to a common position on offshore processing.   So as the Opposition would say, twice in a week, Labor has caved in to the political demands of the Greens – the carbon tax that the Greens want to increase, and onshore processing. Hence the query in some circles as to who the real ‘prime minister’ was!!??  The Liberals were proposing an amendment that off shore processing should be done in countries which have signed the refugee convention.  Apparently, prior to last year’s election, this was in fact Julia Gillard’s position. The Prime Minister said that processing would not take place in countries that had  not signed the refugee convention.  However on this occasion she was not prepared to accept the Opposition’s amendment, and has now ended up with no solution. Ironically, even if the Bill had been passed in the Lower House, that result would have  been largely symbolic, as it would have been defeated in the Senate because of the Green’s opposition to it. The defeat in the House meant that the Gillard Government was the first to lose a vote on a Bill in the Lower House in more than 80 years!

Well actually, after emergency cabinet meetings later this afternoon,  the Government announced at long last that it will begin processing asylum seekers who arrive by boat on Australian soil. Something I believe should have been happening in the first place. But it has only come about that way,  because the Government was backed into a corner and could not get the support in Parliament it needed to amend the Migration Act. Incredibly, and disappointing to see,  despite the encouraging steps announced, the Prime Minister still insists that her party remains committed to the Malaysian solution when it’s been shown to be sorely lacking in human rights and legally suspect.

 At the work front, things continue to slowly wind down as my week and time here gradually moves towards an end, but the evening meeting schedule continues as per normal  –  Radio station General Members meeting!  Began with a bit of a hiccup  –  the community hall that we use for such meetings, well the person responsible for opening up the place forgot about us, and had gone away somewhere!!! This was also supposed to be a community consultation meeting this month –  sadly no-one outside of the station membership came this month, but in other respects, it was a good thing, as it saved us from the embarrassment of visitors joining us outside a locked door!! After some gnashing of teeth and instant decision making, the obvious choice was to adjourn to the crowded conditions of the station’s meeting room!!  Which room has not been so crowded for some time, with members seated or standing out in the passageway and straining to hear what was being sent. Apart from another meeting with various people offering opinions and comments on sundry matters – many of those opinions all being expressed at the same time, as our President seemed to lose control of a friendly but over enthusiastic bunch of contributing members –  we had ‘young’ Christine trying to ensure that she had up to date photographs for the studio noticeboard, in preparation for the station’s Open Day coming up on the 23^rd October. That collection of photos, included the following sample, which I decided was ‘not’ going to representative of my programs [though I’m sure it will appear elsewhere on that occasion!].

I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about the carbon tax proposal, but in any case, the Gillard government today secured passage of its controversial carbon tax through the lower house of federal parliament with the support of key crossbench MPs and of course the Greens, under Senator Bob Brown whom many consider as the defact prime minister!! Labor won the vote on the 18 carbon tax bills 74 to 72.  The lower house also passed the government’s $300 million steel transformation plan bill. That vote was won 75 to 71 with Queensland independent Bob Katter joining fellow independents Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Andrew Wilkie, and Greens MP Adam Bandt, in backing Labor.  Following that, we saw the unusual spectacle of  Government ministers embracing and clapping following the vote,  with Prime Minister Julia Gillard applauded the result as opposition MPs jeered. That performance would receive much criticism and ridicule from the Opposition over the next 24 hours.  With the support of the Greens, that legislation, the ‘Clean Energy Future Bills’, is likely to be passed by the Senate within the next few days.

While it probably didn’t make a difference to the eventual vote result, the Liberal’s Sophie Mirabella was unapologetic about being suspended for today’s vote on the carbon tax.   Mrs Mirabella did not vote this morning after she was suspended for 24 hours from parliament from 10.30pm yesterday by fellow Liberal politician and deputy speaker Peter Slipper.  Personally, I don’t feel that she is a good advocate for the Opposition, too outspoken and aggressive for my liking, and that is demonstrated by her comments – 

Mrs Mirabella told ABC Goulburn Murray radio this morning that she was trying to table a petition of names of North East residents opposed to the carbon tax when she was ordered out of the House of Representatives.  “It wasn’t my behaviour (that prompted the suspension), it was the refusal of the Labor Party to grant me leave to table those signatures,” Mrs Mirabella said.  “They’ve tried to intimidate and shut me up against the carbon tax for many, many months.  “I’m not someone who will be intimidated by the Labor Party I will continue to fight against the carbon tax, if this gets through the only reason why the carbon tax will become law is not because I’ve been suspended for 24 hours, let’s get that fact straight, the only reason the carbon tax will pass into law is because no government members have got the moral backbone to stand up for the interests of their constituents and that goes for several independents as well.”   Mrs Mirabella was asked if she had any regrets about what happened and said “absolutely not”, before placing blame on Climate Change Minister Greg Combet.

The piece of legislation that I don’t want to see succeed comes up tomorrow, relating to changing the rules to allow overseas processing of refugees in Malaysia. Apparently, as the day approached, the success of that Bill for the Labor Party was going to depend on how one independent National Party member decided to vote. On this occasion, the Greens were in agreement with the Opposition, so that one vote was crucial for the Government.

Meanwhile on the ‘home front’, this evening I went around to a short Committee meeting of the Family History Society – with three members missing, including an unwell President, Peter Free, it was all over within an hour, which certainly suited me!! I was able to get back home and attend to a few other tasks.

I don’t know whether it is simply the late night on the radio [of a Monday] and the subsequently short sleeping time before getting up for work this morning, or simply a combination of those things with my age – but awoke this morning, after 3 hours sleep feeling decidedly unwell – a condition that would remain with me until late afternoon. In fact, almost considered returning home shortly after lunch, but stayed put, and oddly by the time I did leave, was feeling much better!!

Apart from that, another very enjoyable session on the radio over night, and with the knowledge that I have only one more Monday night show to do, with fulltime work to go to next morning, that heightens the prospect of even more pleasant shows in the immediate future. I call Monday night a ‘Smorgasbord of Music & Entertainment’, and subsequently, generally play and present a broad range of musical genres and other activities. The midnight finishing time is likely to be exceeded in the future, with no major commitments to follow the next morning!  Even played a track by Michael Buble last night  – don’t recall ever playing anything by him previously, as with Amy Whitehouse, the week before!

The GetUP organisation are perhaps getting concerned that their campaign on refugees is going to be defeated, with the likely vote to be taken in Federal Parliament this week on the question of off-shore processing. The following is the way they saw the situation, together with a quotation of the statement by former Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser.

‘Only weeks ago the High Court declared the Government’s Malaysian Arrangement unlawful. Despite the ruling, this week the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on whether or not to change the law to get around the High Court’s decision and return to harmful and ineffective offshore processing.  The crucial vote for refugee policy is this Thursday, and we need to show our support for compassion and common sense.
We’ve all struggled to work out what the right thing to do is when it comes to asylum seekers arriving here on boats. We know it can be a dangerous journey, but does that mean off-shore processing is the only way? We think there’s a third way which slows the boats and creates a genuine pathway for refugees to reach Australia safely. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and experts from across the community think so too. Opponents of those who arrive by boat in Australia argue that people seeking protection should “join the queue.” But here’s the thing: in the 18 months prior to February this year, Australia granted 518 humanitarian visas to refugees in Malaysia. Not one visa went to people fleeing Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s no wonder Iraqis and Afghans take a journey by boat to Australia.
That’s why yesterday former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, joined by experts from the refugee sector, wrote an open letter to Australian politicians urging them to adopt a new approach based on humane onshore and an increase in Australia’s refugee intake, targeted at our region. By targeting a gradual increase in our intake largely to our region, we can reduce the need for asylum seekers to travel by boat to Australia just to receive protection.   Let’s show our politicians that we’re behind the former PM’s call for a sensible solution.

These days Australia grants very few humanitarian visas to refugees in our region – and that’s why coming by boat seems the only option for many who are fleeing persecution. That’s the opposite of “breaking the business model of people smugglers.”

Back when Malcolm Fraser was PM, as the Vietnam war was ending and a humanitarian crisis of truly staggering proportions seemed imminent, 55,000 refugees fled Vietnam in just one month. But our politicians rose to the challenge. Fraser sent Australian officials to Vietnam to directly process refugees quickly, after which they were flown to Australia. The Australian government worked with the governments of other Western countries to accept refugees and worked with other countries in our region to ensure refugees were not turned away.
If all this sounds remarkably sane compared to today’s refugee debate – that’s because it was.
It’s time our politicians got a history lesson. Tell Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and their colleagues that Australia’s leaders from both parties mustered courage and common sense 32 years ago, and we deserve no less from them today.

Meanwhile, the following piece is the Statement submitted by Malcolm Fraser and those that joined him, and I have added my name to the proposed petition, being in broad agreement with the feelings expressed hereunder.

“Throughout much of recent history, but especially since the Tampa incident in 2001, political leaders from the major parties have been unable or unwilling to compromise and craft a reasonable and realistic migration policy that takes into account regularly occurring flows of refugees from conflict areas. Instead politicians in Canberra have chosen to play to baser instincts rather than Australian’s better nature, marginalizing vulnerable asylum-seekers by catering to those on the extreme margins of politics.

The recent High Court decision, requiring current and future Australian Governments to meet basic human rights obligations in its treatment of asylum seekers, is more than simply a political obstacle to be overcome. It provides a unique opportunity to do what should always have been done – that is, process asylum seekers on-shore irrespective of whether they come by boat or by plane. This would serve to re-implement tested practical and effective solutions regarding the treatment and processing of refugees; an endeavor that would truly be in the “national interest.”

With both parties wrangling to score political points, the issue can be seen as intractable. However recent history offers clear guidance as to the compassion and creativity of the Australian people – and our political system – when our nation was forced to choose between treating refugees humanely or contributing to a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.

As the Vietnam War came to a chaotic end, Australia faced the prospect of a huge influx of refugees from the conflict. Fears for the well-being of asylum-seekers, as well as concerns about whether Australia could successfully deal with such an influx, were well founded. A balance was struck, and a humane and effective bi-partisan solution was put in place. Both Government and Opposition rose above party affiliation to act, initially, in the face of negative opinion polls.

Australia’s elected leaders created a system that worked with regional partners, ensured basic human rights protections and created an efficient and effective system which, over 20 years, dealt with the needs of more than 2.5 million Indochinese refugees. The Fraser Government alone took almost 250,000 Vietnamese as refugees and immigrants. Many of these people were fleeing a war in which Australia was a combatant. We had a moral responsibility to assist them.

The numbers were far greater than the small number arriving by boat today. The current debate all but ignores the fact that three times more asylum seekers arrive by plane than boat and are successfully processed onshore often while living within (and contributing to) their new communities. Onshore processing, assisted by regional cooperation, was the right thing to do then, and remains so today.

A Vietnamese refugee on one of the first boats to arrive in Darwin Harbour went on to become Lieutenant Governor of South Australia. Thousands of others have become magnificent Australian citizens over the past three decades.

By not simply subscribing to the idea but also implementing policies that reflect a “fair go,” Governments truly act in the “national interest” – being responsible global citizens, while making the Australian experience richer through refugees’ contributions to local communities and our country in countless ways. The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have a similar opportunity to do the right thing now; to exhibit the kind of moral leadership that’s too often bypassed in the political process, yet which is precisely what the Australian people and those seeking to become Australians expect and deserve. Rather than seeking creative ways to remove the assumptions of natural law and review by the courts, and watering down human rights protections, our leaders can and should focus on real solutions:

• First and foremost , institute a system for effective and efficient on-shore processing. Those arriving by boat and seeking asylum do nothing illegal under Australian law.
• Honour the commitment to accepting an additional 4000 refugees – the only salvageable element of the Malaysian agreement – while permanently expanding the current intake of UNHCR-designated refugees up to 25,000 – a reasonable and manageable number that will go a long way in removing the incentive for individuals to take the desperate and dangerous ocean journey to Australia.
• End the linking of on-shore asylum seekers with the off-shore refugee and humanitarian intake. This linkage was a relatively recent creation of the Howard Government and needs to be removed. Both those who seek resettlement off-shore and those seeking asylum on-shore should never have to compete. We should unravel the two categories immediately, returning to a policy whereby those who come from afar as refugees do not lessen Australia’s commitment or capacity to accept individuals escaping humanitarian crises who arrive in this country seeking asylum.
• Put considerably more effort into developing cooperation with regional partners to ensure greater protections for asylum-seekers, while status determinations take place.
• Seize the opportunity to exhibit leadership, not just at home, but also on the world stage, where implementing the aforementioned measures would serve as an incentive and example for members of the UNHCR Working Group on Resettlement, which Australia currently chairs.

This would be in sharp contrast to recent actions which have brought widespread global consternation and condemnation. Make no mistake – the world is watching. The current debate is doing tremendous damage to our international reputation. By exhibiting courage and compassion, Australia has a chance to not only salvage our reputation but set an example for our friends and allies around the world.

In short, we need an orderly migration and integration system for refugees, while realising the reality and gravity of international obligations and domestic law. It was done before when the numbers where much, much larger. It can be done again.

Political leaders who truly want to be on the right side of history must also exhibit leadership. We urge the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to put aside their political differences and work towards tried, tested and effective solutions. It’s the right thing to do – for refugees and asylum seekers, and it is in the national interest of all Australians.

[Signatories to the original statement were]

• Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH, former Prime-Minister of Australia founder CARE-Australia
• Act for Peace – National Council of Churches in Australia, Executive Director, Alistair Gee
• Andrew Bartlett, Research Fellow in Migration Law, ANU former Senator (QLD)
• Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), Executive Director, Marc Purcell
• Br Julian McDonald AO cfc, former Chancellor, ACU
• Dr Ian Anderson AM, Founding Chair, A Just Australia (Australians for Just Refugee Programs)
• Edmund Rice Centre, Director, Phil Glendenning
• GetUp!, Director, Simon Sheikh
• Hon Elizabeth Evatt AC, first Chief Judge, Family Court of Aust. former President, Australian Law Reform Commission former member, UN Human Rights Committee former Commissioner, International Committee of Jurists
• Human Rights Law Centre, Executive Director, Philip Lynch
• Medical Association for Prevention of War, Australia, President, Dr Bill Williams
• Prof Ian Lowe AO, President, Australian Conservation Foundation
• Prof Louise Newman AM, Professor of Developmental Psychiatry, Monash Director, Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, Monash University Convener, Alliance of Health Professionals for Asylum Seekers
• Prof Mary Crock, Professor of Law, Associate Dean of Law, USyd Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
• Prof Patrick McGorry AO, 2010 Australian of the Year, Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health Professor of Youth Mental Health, UniMelb
• Prof Richard Broinowski, Adjunct Professor, Media and Communications, USyd former diplomat
• Prof Ron McCallum AO, 2011 Senior Australian of the Year Chairperson, UN Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Professor of Law &amp former Dean of Law, USyd
• Prof William Maley AM, Foundation Director, Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, ANU Barrister

A friend apparently caught note of my intended support for the petition – thankyou Bill G, who sent me a message on FaceBook to say that –   surely you couldn’t get involved with ANYTHING Malcolm Fraser is involved with…..Isn’t he the bloke who forced Ian Smith out of Rhodesia and installed that ‘great protector’ Robert Mugabe who has put the population of Zimbabwe back to the stone ages? His style of democracy?….. and calling Fraser an ‘Expert”….geeze!!

Needless to say, a response was needed: –  “And I’m sure he [Fraser] has regretted that action ever since as have most of the other Commonwealth leaders who were a part of that decision with him at the time – little different to supporting Nelson Mandela against the white extremist regime in South Africa. The problem was –everyone mis-judged  what kind of person Mugabe really was, the opposite of Mandela.  I don’t blame Fraser for that – he has been involved in some very worthwhile humane activities since leaving politics for which  I have a great deal of respect for, and while in office, the policies he encouraged towards the Vietnamese refugees leaves BOTH Gillard and Abbott looking heartless and inhumane, this offshore policy is despicable, and a prime example of our politicians trying to wipe their hands of our human rights obligations. I feel shame in the name of Australia for the way we have been treating these people over the past decade or so”.

I’ve not had any further response to that, by Bill, or anyone for that matter – perhaps because in most people’s hearts, they feel the off-shore policy is inhumane, but the ‘scare tactics’ about the evils of refugees that Australian governments have indulged in over the past decade, leads people to reject compassion and think self-preservation. In Bill G’s case, it was probably best we left the discussion at that point, and silently agreed to retain our opposite points of view [and our friendship], especially on the subject of Malcolm Fraser, which initiated the above comments in the first place.n South Africa. The problem was – everyone misjudged what kind of person Mugabe really was, the opposite of Mandela. I don’t blame Fraser for that – he has been involved in some very worthwhile humane activities since leaving politics for which I have a great deal of respect for, and while in office, the policies he encouraged towards the the Vietnamese refugees leaves BOTH Gillard and Abbott looking heartless and inhumane, this offshore policy is dispicable, and a prime example of our politicians trying to wipe their hands of their human rights obligations. I feel shame in the name of Australia for the way we have been treating these people over the past decade or so.

Last week on these pages, we made reference to the 2011 Noble Prize winners, but there was one award carried over until today [not sure why] – that was the Nobel Prize for Economics, of some degree of interest to myself following my studies of that area many years ago at Melbourne University. This year’s award was shared, and the following media reports explain the outcome and reasons: –

Two former University of Minnesota professors won the Nobel Prize Monday for their research on economic policy, according to a Star Tribune article.   Thomas Sargent and Christopher Sims – both of whom were members of the University’s Department of Economics in the 70’s and 80’s – received the award for work that explored how people respond to changes in economic policy such as inflation and increased interest rates.  In the article, University President Eric Kaler is quoted as saying the pair’s achievements have shown the “worldwide impact” of the work done by the University’s economics program.  The Star Tribune reported that in this time of financial difficulty for the U.S., their work could be key to discovering a “way out of this mess.”    Sargent and Sims — both 68 — carried out their research independently in the 1970s and `80s. But it is highly relevant today as world governments and central banks seek ways to steer their economies away from another recession. Both men taught in the University of Minnesota’s Economics Department in the 1970s and 1980s

“It is not an exaggeration to say that both Sargent’s and Sims’ methods are used daily … in all central banks that I know of in the developed world and at several finance departments too,” Nobel committee member Torsten Persson told the AP.  The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the winners have developed methods for answering questions such as how growth and inflation are affected by a temporary increase in the interest rate or a tax cut. “Today, the methods developed by Sargent and Sims are essential tools in macroeconomic analysis,” the academy said in its citation The winners developed models to measure the sometimes surprising ways that people respond to changes in economic policy.  “People form their own ideas about what’s going to happen independently of what the economists say is going to happen,” said David Warsh, who writes the blog Economic Principles.  Warsh gave a simple example of the kinds of things Simms and Sargent shed light on: Suppose a government imposes a tax on corn to raise more money. Consumers might confound the government’s plan by substituting wheat for corn — and causing tax revenue to drop instead of rise.  The winners’ use of complicated economic models usually keeps them a step or two removed from the pressing economic and political issues of the day. But Warsh says they contributed to the models being used now to determine whether governments should be cutting deficits or spending more money to lift the economy out of its rut’.

On a different note, I was interested in the comment by the National Senior’s organisation that  issues that affect older Australians, affect all Australians. This is the key message which is to be emphasised as a part of the new National Seniors marketing campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the important advocacy work performed by National Seniors on behalf of its members. National Seniors are calling on the government to act on a range of issues including aged care, age discrimination, superannuation and the cost of living.  Eventually, all of us are going to be affected by these issues, either personally or through family, and it is a useful note to keep in mind – when older members of the community raise such matters, they are issues they may in the long term be things we all have to face.

I was interested to note over the weekend that the university I studied at many years ago, and still keep in reasonable contact with, has received high rankings in two prestigious higher education surveys. Melbourne maintained its position as the leading university in Australia, ranked 37^th in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-12 (The Rankings). It has also been ranked fourth for employer reputation in the 2011-12 QS World University Rankings. The Rankings have become a standard-bearer for acknowledging research and teaching standards in higher education, with The University of Melbourne consistently ranking well inside the top 1% of world universities. Melbourne’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis welcomed the news and said it was an encouraging reflection of the University’s aim to be a world-leader in curricula and research. “I would like to acknowledge the work of all our teaching staff and researchers who made this outstanding result possible,” Professor Davis said.  The Rankings Editor Phil Baty praised the University for excelling in all 13 separate survey indicators, calling Melbourne’s position “a fantastic achievement.” “To reach the upper echelons of this gold standard ranking, Melbourne scored consistently well across the performance categories,” Mr Baty said. Melbourne is also Australia’s leader in two other renowned international rankings – the Shanghai Jiao Tong and Taiwan’s Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council survey.  Meantime, in the Employer Reputation category,  Melbourne received a significant rise in the 2011-12 QS World University Rankings for Employer Reputation, leaping from ninth position into fourth.  This places Melbourne in an elite pool of global institutions, which includes MIT, the Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia, Stanford University and Yale.  Overall, Melbourne was placed 31^st in the 2011-12 QS World University Rankings.

The latest news from the University, also pointed that the Baillieu Library [where I spent many hours on study and research, all those years ago] is undertaking a phase of refurbishment.  It would be nice to one day go back and have a look through that building, I note that it and the new  Business & Economics Library, are both still available for my use as an alumnus, even for borrowing. Might even take advantage in my post-employment period!

Late this afternoon, it was reported that Australia derailed South Africa’s bid to defend their World Cup title in an error-ridden 11-9 quarter-final victory despite enjoying little territory and not much in the way of useful possession. I watched this game, and although I had to go out, and depend on a radio broadcast for the last ten minutes, it was a tense match to be supporting one of the teams, and I was rather glad to see the Aussies scrape home with a narrow win. The Wallabies spent much of the game on the back foot, the misfiring Quade Cooper unable to guide his side out of his own half for much of the 80 minutes But a first-half try from captain James Horwill and two James O’Connor penalties, the second with just eight minutes to play, were enough to see Australia home against the most experienced Springbok side ever — boasting eight players who began the 2007 World Cup final, with a further three on the bench.  Experience alone, however, could not carry the often leaden-footed Springbok side lacking any attacking spark into next weekend’s semi-final, which will now see Australia playing New Zealand who defeated Argentina this evening. Would have liked to have watched that game also, but Channel9’s live coverage consists of a belated replay, at midnight!!!  Typical great free to air commercial service!!

Rugby World Cup update, remaining two Quarter Finals saw:

• Australia 11 South Africa 9
• New Zealand 23 Argentina 10

On Sunday next, James Horwill’s team [the Wallabies] faces the ultimate challenge – a Rugby World Cup Semi Final against New Zealand in Auckland. The All Blacks are playing at their long time fortress. They are playing in front of parochial home fans  – a crowd that has booed Australia’s Quade Cooper since the tournament kicked off. It’s time for Australia to show the world –  and I believe it is over 20 years since Australia has won in Auckland. Next weekend has to be the turnaround of that!!!

Awoke to a very dismal scene outside, misty rain, light fog, and heavy  overcast skies. Not a good omen for the day’s activities.  Meantime, after a late night, was away at 7.30 this morning for a shift at her job – if she is going to have these early morning starts, might have to restrict some of the social life to earlier finishes!!  I won’t be telling her that, though!

Shortly after 10am, I drove around to the venue of today’s Sunbury Agricultural Show, at the Clarke Oval [or Sunbury Recreation Reserve, as some people preferred to call it]. Today was Sunbury Show Day. I would be there for about the next five hours, and while in general the day itself remained overcast, the weather ‘behaved’ itself for the duration of the day’s activities, with the rain only coming in, late in the afternoon/early evening. Of course, that wasn’t enough to stop Adam’s cricket match from being called off because of the condition of the oval they were to play on, following last night’s rain. That was a real pity for Adam – I think this was the first time that he had been selected to play in the Sunbury senior team – hopefully, he will get another opportunity. As it was, after I left the ‘show’ venue this afternoon, I drove around to the Boardman ground hoping to catch part of his match, but found the place deserted, apart from the ‘dog club’ doing their thing! It was only later that I discovered from Adam that the match had been abandoned.

Meanwhile, my time at the Agricultural Show was divided between a period helping out on the 3NRG sausage sizzle stall  –  I prefer to generally not handle the food, so looked after the money side of things for a while. Once the morning sports show had finished  – the station was broadcasting live from the site – I took over the presenter’s role [in the absence of anyone else for 2 or 3 hours] – played a variety of music, and with some assistance from one or two other presenters present on the day, we carried out 2 or 3 interviews and general chats with people in the area. I think the ‘highlight’ had to be the extended interview with the reptile demonstration people. There was yours truly, sitting in our small little caravan broadcast booth, beside a young lady from the wildlife team who had this huge 15 foot python draped around her neck and body. She was virtually nursing this creature like you would a pet cat, and it was responding in the same manner.  It had been bred from a baby, so was quite used to been handled by humans, and had also, somehow, apparently been trained not to bite it’s handlers [or people like me sitting, with some mild apprehension I must admit, right beside this python, which like a cat, was very curious, exploring the interior of my bad, the microphones, cds, and trying to generally wind it’s way around the equipment. The snake allowed itself to be pulled back into ‘line’ without any apparent hostility or reaction  – curious but well behaved, and extremely tame and docile in nature. Well, I don’t think I would be prepared to trust it to the extent that this girl was, she had complete faith in the python’s likely reactions, and despite it’s size and think body, was apparently only a young one!!! Anyway, that was as close as I want to get to any kind of snake in the near future.  When it comes back next year, it will be close to full size – on hearing that, I made a mental note to ensure I would not be here!!  We have interviewed these people for about 4 years in a row now, but for me, never quite as so up close and personal!!!

Quite a reasonable turn-up of 3NRG people here to help out, although a few more helpers would  have been appreciated.  Great to see Jack and Orr Harris back from Thailand, having only returned a couple of days ago. Those two worked as long and hard as most others present, apart from President ‘Ollie’ of course.

Meanwhile, at the Melbourne horse races today, we had a real star performing –  Black Caviar – and when someone eventually was able to tell [Jack I think] how the horse performed, I was learn that Black Caviar won going away by 5 lengths, paid $1.10  – her 14^th consecutive win from 14 starts!! Admittedly, today’s run was a Group 2 race against not particularly strong opposition, but that win equalled the number of consecutive wins achieved by the great Phar Lap back in the 1930s.  For the last 75 years, Phar Lap has been considered the greatest racehorse to have come from these shores, but for many racing enthusiasts, the emergence of Black Caviar  has created a buzz about racing that we haven’t experienced in a long time. The inevitable question is being asked – which horse deserves the title of the ‘greatest’.  Personally, I’m not sure that a comparison is appropriate  – Black Caviar has won each of the 14 races it has started in, but they have all basically being sprints. Phar Lap, I’m led to understand, won over a variety of distances, but in fact, began it’s career in a not particularly spectacular fashion, with his run of wins coming into his career a little. Nevertheless, in 2011, we have Black Caviar, and the horse is indeed a magnificent animal to watch on the race track. Trainer Peter Moody, and jockey Luke Nolan both seem to be of the opinion that the horse ‘just loves what it is doing’!!!!

Here’s one person opinion of the differences between the two horses, a little tribute that appeared over the weekend in an online edition of ‘Life Choices’

“Anyone who has seen Black Caviar run can only marvel at the grace of such a fine beast and the ease by which she leaves the rest of the field standing. Can she give the great Phar Lap a run for his money?  The early years of the Great Depression were particularly bleak for Australia, but no matter how grim the circumstances were, one horse’s achievements continued to bolster the spirits of the public. Now, over 75 years on, Black Caviar could very well be Australia’s new ‘wonder horse’.

Phar Lap, foaled in 1926, was no doubt a legend of his time. During a distinguished career, he won a Melbourne Cup, two Cox Plates and 19 other races, and in 1932 when Phar Lap died from a mysterious illness, he was the highest stakes-winner in the world. His name was derived from the Thai word for lightning, translating roughly as ‘sky flash’, and he certainly lived up to this name.   But it took three years for Phar Lap to win a race. In fact, Phar Lap finished last in his first ever race and did not even place in the next three. Over his four-year racing career, Phar Lap won 37 of the 51 races he entered, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup. But as his achievements grew, criminals tried to stall his progress, and in early 1932, Phar Lap died of suspected arsenic poisoning. It was not until 1980 that scientific evidence could support this theory. And in 2006, it was ruled a certainty.  

Today, Black Caviar, foaled in 2006, is considered to be the best sprinter in the world. And in March this year, she was rated the top thoroughbred racehorse, as well.  Now Black Caviar is in her five year old season and has started off the Spring Racing Carnival in style, equalling Phar Lap’s record of 14 straight wins.

 So, who do you think is the better horse? Racing veteran Phar Lap with his 37 wins in total, or the young filly Black Caviar who has yet to lose a race? Or is it simply too soon to tell?

Meantime, over the waters, in New Zealand, today’s two Rugby World Cup Quarter final results were:

• Wales defeated Ireland       22 – 10
• France defeated England    19-12

I watched the Ireland/Wales game, and must admit to have been barracking for the Welshmen. I would have liked to have also watched the Englandf/France game, but Channel 9 decided to put on a delayed telecast at midnight, so I didn’t bother, but I was hoping for an England win.  The ‘Reuters’ news report described the match as follows: –    “A mesmerising French team beat England 19-12 at Eden Park on Saturday night to reach the rugby World Cup semi-finals and an appointment with Wales. The Welsh had earlier beaten Ireland 22-10 in a pulsating clash in Wellington. France were unrecognisable from the team which lost two group stage games and had been written off by many back home, as they tore into the English from the start, going in at halftime 16-0 ahead thanks to tries from Vincent Clerc and Maxime Medard, and two Dimitri Yachvili penalties. Ben Foden gave England hope in the 55th minute when he burst through to score and Jonny Wilkinson converted, but a Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal eight minutes before the end nudged France 19-7 ahead. Mark Cueto scored for England for 19-12, but Toby Flood was unable to convert and the French held on for victory”. Australia plays tomorrow..

Mind you I doubt that I got much more sleep than I would have if I’d watched the second match, but it did feel the sensible thing to do in view of my normal Sunday morning commitments.