I got off to another quick start this morning, though was a little annoyed that despite, there were still major traffic holdups towards the city end of the freeway. Can I survive a few more weeks of this? Anyway, it was good to get into the office and have some quiet time there before anyone else arrived. I would spend a large part of the day trying to tidy up a few files etc, so that things were in reasonably up to date condition for my successor. The way things are going, I will be gone before he or she arrives,  because of the need we had to readvertise following a poor response to the first attempt. Oh well, I’m sure the place will keep going in my absence, although the ‘boss’ is starting to panic as little!!!

Meanwhile this afternoon, we had what will probably be my last ‘staff meeting’ – beginning to say that about a few events lately – I must admit that I am starting to ‘slow down’ as the weeks pass, and the day of departure gets closer. While I am hoping to pick up the occasional spot of part time work eventually, it is also a feeling of apprehension that sits over me, with the realisation that I will soon be out of the work force, after 46 years or so. There is actually a growing trend in Australia for people to work well beyond the official retiring age of 65, but because of the various external interests I have, and the fact, that to be honest, I’m basically tired of the full time commitment, and the traffic [commented upon on numerous occasions], I won’t be one of them!

I’ve recently being looking at this question of retirement, and some of the theories that writers, and various professionals have attached to that aspect of life. One article, titled ‘Health Consequences of Early Retirement’, written in 2009 by Clemens Tesch-Römer, aarpinternational.org makes a couple of contrasting points at the  beginning, where it is stated that  –   ‘For many people – especially those who have had long working careers – this passage from the “second phase of life” (labor force participation) to the “third life phase” (retirement) can be a crucial event. The move to retirement can impact leisure activities and social networks, and challenge self-images and ambitions, in addition to necessitating adjustment to changed material circumstances. The passage to retirement and its health implications is a subject abounding with assumptions, conjectures and myths. Three questions may hint at prototypical theoretical approaches of the passage into retirement: Is retirement a loss? Is it a gain? Or is retirement just irrelevant to health (an “epiphenomenon”)? Involuntarily exiting from the labor force, on the other hand, has lasting negative repercussions on subjective health’  Putting the health aspect aside, I was interested in their basic theories about the first two factors which were described as follows.

 

. § Passage into Retirement as a Loss: One of the earliest gerontological theories perceived retirement as a critical loss. Since the career role is a pivotal element of identity, at least for those in employment, the loss of this role entails not only the loss of employment but also the status and sense of purpose that comes with a career. Should the passage into retirement not be superseded by alternative fields of activity, the gerontological activity theory postulates similar consequences. 
§ Passage into Retirement as a Gain: Where the late phase in life is soundly cushioned by material provision, the positive aspects of the transition to retirement are often emphasized. Retirement heralds the start of a “late freedom.” The burden of employment is cast aside, time and hierarchical constraints disappear – and the retiree has the opportunity of structuring the time ahead according to his or her own wishes. 

Certainly, during those periods of unemployment I suffered over the past 20 years due to a couple of retrenchments, I did not feel any particular pride at ‘not working’, in fact in many ways, it was at times humiliating to be seen around the streets when I would normally be working [this completely ignores the reality, that many people these days worked shift hours, and could quite likely be out and about at times others are working. But I always felt uncomfortable, sometimes almost guilt.  So how, I wonder, am I going to feel, to be more or less permanently ‘not working’? At the same time however, I can look at it equally from the other direction –  a new found freedom to do all of those things that full time employment has restricted over the years, but without the guilt of feeling that I really should be ‘at the office’ or wherever. I have paid my taxes for 46 years, and have earned to right to ‘retire’ and do what I want to do!  I read somewhere that if ‘the focus of employment is money, then money is also a focus of the absence of employment. Undoubtedly, economic resources, whether plentiful or not, influence the quality of life in the condition of retirement’. Some of  us a prepared, financially for retirement, others not quite to the same extent.  Unfortunately, because of past circumstances and decisions, I’m probably more likely to fall into the latter category – which means I’m probably safe from having to fight off a bevy of women looking for a rich old man to marry and live off his life earnings.

Anyway, enough of that for now; no doubt I will most likely return to that subject at a later date.  By coincidence, I have a day off tomorrow, but not really for the kind of reason I would willingly choose  –  my absence is to allow me to visit a dentist!! First time in 6 years, and not really looking forward to that little activity.

Last night, I sent off a copy to friend Bev, of the newspaper article that came out following our visit to Charlton at the beginning of the month  –  short little reply came back today –  “That get together for your ancestor was certainly successful, by the article. Thank you for sending it.  I expect that you now have a few more people you can call family”.  Very true, and in fact overnight, I got in touch with a couple of them. Today, I also sent off to the Castlemaine Historical Society, copies of some certificates relating to my original ancestors – the people in Castlemaine had suggested that they may be able to find some clues from the certificates, that I had missed.  No harm in letting them try, I decided.

Well, my football team are finished for the year, following last week’s loss, but club news continues on. .  Three players have finalised negotiations with the Carlton Football Club that will ensure they remain with the Blues for the foreseeable future.  Midfielders David Ellard and Dennis Armfield have re-signed for two years alongside athletic ruckman, Shaun Hampson who has re-signed for three years. He missed most of this season, recovering from an injury.     Meantime, since last weekend,  already a number of players have undergone various operations to ensure their readiness for the 2011-’12 pre-season period. Amongst them is Marc Murphy, who following consultation with the club’s football and medical departments, checked in for arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Tuesday. While Murphy didn’t miss any football during the year he did have some soreness and there was some slight swelling so the decision was made by the medical team to have the surgery to ensure he is right for pre-season.  Murphy, the 24 year-old midfielder who racked up an average 29 disposals over 24 matches in what was his most consistent season to date, was one of four players – together with Michael Jamison, Matthew Kreuzer and Simon White – who underwent a similar procedure and are expected to resume on schedule.  Jamison, Kreuzer and White were this season confined to 14, 12 and six senior appearances respectively, again, principally due to injuries. Jamison is the only one of the three to play in Carlton’s two finals appearances.

In the other football code, the Rugby World Cup update, shows that today’s match in the competition saw the championship holders [from 2007] have a huge win against their neighbours  –  South Africa  87 defeated Namibia  0 – rather convincing!!!  Australia plays it’s next game tomorrow, against the USA.

Not sure what I would think of this, but I can imagine the reaction of some friends  –  from the ABC site, news that British philosopher and public intellectual AC Grayling is considered the “nice guy” amongst the world’s leading “anti-religion” advocates … less cool and clinical than Richard Dawkins and more polite than Christopher Hitchens. Now, the mild-mannered atheist author has created a secular Bible, distilling the wisdom of the great non-religious traditions as a guide for life.   When it comes to God, Grayling is doggedly opposed. But he doesn’t put his book in the same league as Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” and Hitchens’ “God Is Not Great”. It doesn’t attack religion and is unfailingly optimistic, for one. But that doesn’t mean it won’t upset many Christians.   “The Good Book” is a manifesto for rational thought, but mirrors the Bible in both form and language. Grayling explains he has spent several decades on his ambitious project, distilling what he considers “the best that has been thought and said by people who’ve really experienced life, and thought about it”.  Anyway, apparently he spoke at this year’s Sydney Writers Festival, and was reasonably well received.  I imagine that before I can give an honest opinion, I should try and read the book. Do I want to bother?  Probably not!

Incidentally, AC Grayling is an author, a United Nations human rights activist and professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He has been a regular contributor to many UK newspapers and a frequent and popular contributor to radio and television. Grayling is the author of thirty books including “Thinking of Answers”, “Liberty in the Age of Terror”, “Descartes”, “Toward the Light of Liberty” and “Among The Dead Cities”.   I can’t claim to have read any of them [yet].

I listened to a brief video tape of an interview given to CPA Australia’s Alex Malley tonight – wish there had been a printed version of his comments available. If there is a current Australian I admire above others these days, it is Tim Costello, current CEO of World Vision, Australia  [and brother to former Liberal Treasurer, Peter Costello].  The interview included reference to his ‘foundational’ childhood, which often included two-hour discussions of ideas, at the dinner table with his teacher parents.  Tim noted that his 10 year school mates considered his family ‘strange’!!  He also explained how the whole concept of justice has always been a driving force for him.  Short but interesting perception of this man to continues to try and do so much good for others in need.

The new Spring season of horse racing basically gets underway this week, and while I have not been following the form as closely this year, apart from the odd bit of interest, it is always an exciting time of year here in Melbourne. I took a phone call yesterday from a former housing tenant committee member, with whom I used to engage in an occasional chat about the horses, and the best tips for the coming weekend or whatever. Admittedly that interest occupies large part of Geoff L’s life these days, so it was no surprise that he was overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement for the next couple of month’s horse racing. Thankfully, on this occasion he was actually ringing to speak to somebody else, so I didn’t get caught in a long discussion about hot tips and best chances.  With a large number of Group 1 races due over the next few weeks, there will no doubt be more coverage than normal on free to air television.

Meanwhile, I have been following the progress of the Australian Football League through the season, the National Rugby League is also well into it’s finals part of their season, and in fact Melbourne Storm is featuring in final this weekend, which if they win, will put them into the Grand Final.  They have already won the Minor Premiership this year, a great effort after being suspended for the season in 2010 [as far as earning any points was concerned]  and being stripped of their two previous premiership wins – because the Club had exceeded [deliberately, it seems] the relevant player salary caps].  Some might have expected a quite different outcome in 2011 after the drama of last year, but no, they continue to prove what a magnificent rugby team of players they are, a team that doesn’t need to depend on cheats at the administration and management level. While on the NRL, there’s another story happening this weekend, hopefully not with adverse consequences.  As reported online,  Brisbane Broncos playmaker, Darren Lockyer, faces insurmountable odds to play in this Friday’s Preliminary Final against Manly. Medical experts have warned Lockyer against playing, as further damage to his fractured cheekbone could result in potential damage to his eyesight and damage him for life. In recent times, Brett Kimmorley received similar injuries in 2009 as the Bulldogs made their charge towards the finals. After initially being ruled out for four weeks, he only missed one week – Lockyer has less time to prepare.  To illustrate the serious nature of the injury, Lockyer has been advised by medical specialists not to fly. But in true superstar fashion, he has arrived in Sydney by helicopter. Current odds for the match are Manly at $1.55 and Broncos at $2.45, but if Lockyer is ruled out the Broncos are likely to go as high as $3.  Lockyer is generally treated almost like a ‘god’ by his fans after a very successful rugby career. One hopes he is not taking too great a risk in not wanting to disappoint his team, fans or himself, by risking more serious injury.

Tonight was  Family History Society general meeting night – would have preferred to have remained at home, but duty called!!I did find it quite interesting, although these days, sitting around listening to other people talk about their research, does tire this member out rather quickly. Interestingly, Peter Free [our Chairman] gave me a loan of a bulky folder all about the Pennyweight Children’s Cemetery, near Castlemaine, which permanent readers will recall I visited a couple of weeks ago. A brief glance through the quite detailed contents, confirmed the opinion of the researcher at the Castlemaine Historical Society, on the 1^st September, that there was no recorded record of the death and/or burial there, of my ancestor William Kirk’s first child, Mary, who according to her Death Certificate, was buried there. A disappointing little aspect of that part of the research. Nevertheless, it looked as though I had some rather fascinating ‘historical’ reading ahead of me.

Today’s Rugby World Cup result, just the one match – Tonga defeated Japan 31-18  –  as we start to get close to the end of the 1^st round of qualifying matches

 

Australia is often described as the ‘lucky country’ but for many of our people, that is a misnomer. For example one section of the community regularly serviced by ‘Frontier Services’ come to mind.

There is a much larger proportion of the population suffering from mental illness, than we generally care to reflect upon. And this tends to very much worse in remote areas of the nation – where, of course, there are almost no health professionals in close support, if at all, of the people in need. Looking at recent correspondence from ‘Frontier Services’ we learn that people living in remote Australia are more vulnerable to mental health issues, which makes sense when we know that the factors affecting health such as higher levels of poverty, unemployment, substance misuse, child abuse, domestic violence and social isolation affect the people of remote Australia so much more. And when there is little access to services, the situation becomes so much worse..

Rosemary Young, National Director of the organisation, writes as follows.

“We have been working with Dr John Ashfield, a clinical psychologist based in country South Australia, to resource our patrol ministers for their pastoral and counselling role amongst the people they serve. In a technical sense, this is pretty straightforward. John has lots of wonderful advice to provide to patrol ministers and many of them have outstanding counselling skills. And any increase in their knowledge is bound to be beneficial..  The reality is really, really different! So many people are suffering from depression. So many people are reluctant to talk about it.  And so many of their partners are really, really worried.  This is the single biggest issue patrol ministers face. Time after time, the conversation turns, eventually, to anxiety, to sleeplessness, to loss of confidence and interest in – well, everything really. And it’s absolutely draining – exhausting – and challenging. We need to be able to resource the patrol ministers really well with materials, information and personal support, so that they can provide the support their people need…………………The problem sits below the surface. The struggle every day to simply ‘cope’, to just ‘go on’, eventually becomes too great”.

Of course letters of this nature, are part of a call by Frontier Services for financial support. As a non-profit organisation under the auspices of the Uniting Church, the continuation of much of their work depends [like so many other community service and charity organisations] upon donations and/or the sale of small items such as the annual Christmas card and other like ‘gift’ sales. While my personal ‘donation’ is minimal, the regular newsletter and correspondence from the Service are a constant reminder of the generally unacknowledged work and support given to many sectors of our Australian community by such organisations. Also a reminder that for many of our fellow countrymen and women,  a concept of a ‘lucky country’ is but a dream!

Meanwhile, on a slightly brighter, but with also a touch of seriousness, the following little piece which was sent to me recently – I don’t usually appreciate the kind of forwards that continually go around the internet world, I simply discard most of them without much thought.  This one had some value – an interesting way of looking at things – something for us all to think about!!

___________________________________________________________________________

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private account for your use.
However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules. The first set of rules would be:
Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you.
You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
You may only spend it.
Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day. The second set of rules:
The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, It’s over, the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right? Even for people you don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?
ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can’t seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.
What we haven’t lived up that day is forever lost.
Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time….WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.
Think about that, and always think of this:
]Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
So take care of yourself, be Happy, Love Deeply and enjoy life!
Here’s wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.
Start spending.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Yes, certainly a thought or two worth considering. Meantime, closer to home, my eldest son called around last evening, with his ever exuberant dog [Murphy] – though, not so much as a visit, but to collect a loan I agreed to give him, to pay for some rather expensive car repairs!!    As I am reminding all of them at present, ‘Dad’ may not be so easily in the position of ‘helping’ out in that manner after this year, but certainly quite happy to do so while I can!!!  I’ve been helped that way in the past by a family member, and certainly try and return the ‘favour’ whenever that is possible. A bonus from that visit – Susan came out of her ‘rooms’ for a brief while, to join us – well to see James and his dog, essentially I guess –  with her home most of the time now [studies up north basically finished and/or given away because of other problems, though Dad is still paying the rent commitment in Bendigo], one might have expected to see more of the girl. It hasn’t really worked out that way, and apart from putting in an appearance for a meal [prepared or provided by ‘yours truly], Susie is spending most of the time when she is home, in one or other of the two rooms she frequents most in the house! At least she has a bit of part time work, while waiting for more permanent options to come along  – she has more or less taken over the part time selling role Jodie had at Bakers Delight, with Jodie now working full time with ‘Life Saving Victoria’ [into her second week now – I wonder how she is coping with the Monday to Friday routine that most of us have to get used to?

Another Monday morning, brilliant early morning sunshine, and Summer like temperatures predicted for today. Followed by a change this evening, with thunderyconditions, high winds, and the odd shower. That all happened actually, after the temperature climbed to around 29 degrees!!

I notice this date has a couple of birthdays – ‘young’ 34 year old nephew up in Brisbane, and also, Bek, the current house mate [former girlfriend] of younger son, Adam [about 6 months younger than Adam]. I sent along my usual round of greetings to all concerned.

One of my ‘pre-occupations’ as will have been ascertained by readers, is family history research. I was reading the Genes Reunited web site last night, and had to be amused by the following little ‘promotional’ blurb………‘Genes Reunited is one of the UK’s most popular family history websites with over 11 million members. Genes Reunited was launched in 2002 as a sister-site to Friends Reunited. Since then it has grown to become one of the UK’s largest family history websites marking a revolution in genealogy by combining historical records with social-networking. Members can build their family tree for free and then discover which ancestors they share with other members. We currently have over 750 million names listed on the site. One new name is added to the site every single second! Whether you are looking to discover your family history, or trying to get in touch with long lost relatives, Genes Reunited can help you. Search over 11 million family trees and 515 million records to find your family. At Genes Reunited you can start your family tree for FREE with our easy to use family tree builder’………………I was amused at the emphasise on ‘For Free’ which is of course far from the truth. I pay a relatively modest annual fee [certainly modest in comparison with the annual fees of organisations such as ‘Ancestry.com’] but I still find that whenever I want to discover something beyond a basic fact  –  ‘ahhhh, you need to upgrade your membership’ to go that extra step…………..nothing is ever truly free!!

Meantime, I notice that the Australian actor Guy Pearce has won an Emmy Award for his role in the  miniseries Mildred Pierce.  He was the only Australian nominated for an Emmy and took home the award for outstanding supporting actor in a movie or miniseries.  His co-star Kate Winslet joined him in the winner’s circle as she was awarded best actress in a miniseries.   Mildred Pierce tells the story of a divorced single mother who decides to open a restaurant business.  Pearce is famed for his roles in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The King’s Speech and The Count of Monte Cristo.   Of those three films mentioned, I have only seen The King’s Speech, the other two not really being to my taste! But I’ve seen Guy in other productions, though not this show, for which the award was given.

On ABC TV last night, I watched a rather unusual movie/documentary, titled  ‘Mrs Carey’s Concert’, which tells the story set at  girls’ high school, where music director Karen Carey prepares her young students for a concert at the Opera House. Believing in the transformative power of great music, Carey insists upon a classical repertoire, sets a dauntingly high performance standard and requires the participation of every girl in the school. Mrs Carey inspires many of her girls, but some do not share her passion and are not afraid to say so.
 Her greatest challenge will be firing up the unwilling, and her antagonist is 16-year-old-Iris. Waging open warfare against authority, the charismatic Iris is the focal point of student resistance to Carey’s Opera House ambitions, and the only girl who gets seriously under her skin.
Emily is Carey’s star musician and a different sort of headache – a gifted but troubled teenager on the threshold of a brilliant musical career if only…  Mrs Carey wants Emily to solo in a Bruch violin concerto, but to bring out her best, she needs to keep the girl from going off the rails, and then get inside her head. This proves no easy task, because young Emily has her own distinctive take on everything.
Mrs Carey’s Concert is about music making and coming of age, about talent and courage, compliance and rebellion. About those prepared to open their minds and hearts to what the world has to offer… and those yet to discover the potential within.  The end of this ‘movie’, and particularly the playing of Bruch’s violin concerto, by Emily, and the young orchestra, moved this writer to tears as he watched – not sure why, simply I guess the emotion created by this beautiful music, but played by amateur musicians. As I watched this, I wondered whether it was ‘performed’ as it was, or a bit of play acting – I assumed the former, and the following review from David Stratton [of David and Margaret ‘At the Movies’ fame] confirms the reality of it all.

‘This magnificent documentary begins with a teenage girl, Doretta Balkizas, waiting for her cue to play a violin solo at Sydney’s Opera House. This young girl’s emotion-filled face is the starting point for a film about the work that goes into the staging of an annual concert by students at Sydney’s MLC School under the supervision of Mrs. Carey. As preparations for the 2009 concert take place, much of Mrs. Carey’s attention is focused on Emily Sun, who was born in Australia to Chinese parents who suffered under the Cultural Revolution, and who is to be the soloist for the year. In contrast there is Iris Shi, who leads a group of girls who can’t see the point of the concert and who present a discipline problem for the staff.

This astonishing fly-on-the-wall documentary from Bob Connolly and Sophie Raymond is a tribute to teachers and pupils alike. The amazing amount of work that goes into the bi-annual MLC Opera House concert is even more astonishing when you remember that these teenage girls have their regular school studies as well. Everyone’s expected to take part, but the dedicated and talented young musicians have to work extremely hard and overcome misgivings and other difficulties, egged on by their dedicated teachers. Connolly and Raymond obviously had total access, which makes for a rounded and very satisfying film that is both hugely entertaining and incredibly inspirational’

It was interesting to read some comments by readers afterwards – some affected in a very positive way like I was, or David, above,  while others were quite scathing of the production, such as the self serving nature of the women running the program, the attitude of Mrs Carey, that nothing else on the curriculum mattered, the music comes first, or the fact that a wealthy school such as MLC was promoted rather than the music achievements of a small rural school. It really doesn’t matter how ‘good’ or ‘successful’ as production such as this is, there will always be an element prepared to be negative and attack it’s purpose. One comment was that there was too much emphasise on the classical music being played – well, for heaven’s sake, that is what the whole documentary revolved around, and that could be understand from the initial promos!!

 And now, and one of my blog loves [you hadn’t noticed!!!?],  a few sporting outcomes from the weekend!!  Overnight rugby result from Saturday was not a good one, and for myself,  completed a weekend of supporting the losing teams –  the rugby, as reported in the ‘Guardian’ newspaper revealed that –  

‘From a last-gasp defeat to Australia in 1991 to being dumped in 2007 without ceremony, the World Cup has not always been the happiest of hunting grounds for Ireland. But they put that history of disappointment to rights in Auckland, beating one of the favourites of the title, denying Australia even a losing bonus point. It was all the more remarkable for coming on the back of a run of form that was indifferent at best: four defeats in four international warm-up games and a lacklustre victory over the USA. Suddenly Ireland were back to their swarming, passionate best. Sean O’Brien and Stephen Ferris were immense in the back row.  And yet the real damage was done in an even more unexpected area. Ireland have rarely been scattered at the scrummage, but equally, they do not tend to rip teams to pieces at the set piece. They did here, and a special mention must go the front row of Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross. A special note should also be made of the pincer tackling of Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan, the second rows who held up the biggest and strongest of the Australian forwards and forced a scrummage, with the put-in to Ireland. It sounds a forward affair, and so it was, especially when the rain began to fall. There were no tries; just four penalties and a drop goal against two penalties. But there was drama at every turn, with Australia’s attempts to release their running three-quarters running into a brick-wall defence. Or if that was opened up on occasions, by a scrambled defence. Ireland tackled with discipline but also with fury. Tommy Bowe might have sealed the victory with a try in the last minute but he ran out of steam at the end of a 90-yard breakout. It was still a run that ate up the seconds, sending the Wallabies back to their own line, a dispiriting slog for the champions of the Tri Nations.   Ireland’s win shakes up the quarter final composition. Ireland should go through as pool winners; Australia as runners-up. Everything has been shaken up, Ireland the mighty rattle’.

While referring to rugby, let’s have a look at the weekend results in the current World Cup competition, with six matches played since our last report.

Rugby World Cup results for Saturday,  17^th  September

Argentine 43 defeated Romania 8

South Africa 49 defeated Fiji 3

Ireland 15 defeated Australia 6

Rugby World Cup results for Sunday, 18th September

Wales 17 defeated Samoa  10

England 41 defeated Georgia 10

France 22 defeated Canada 16

In the Cricket Test, Australia vs Sri Lanka, Day 2 and 3 –  Australia 316, and partway through Day 3, Sri Lanka were  5 for 340. Another test century to Michael Hussey. By Stumps on Day 3 [Sunday] Sri Lanka were 6 for 428, over 100 runs in front with just two days to play. Australia are going to have to play a very aggressive innings to attempt to win this one!

Results from the Davis Cup World Group playoff between Australia and Switzerland on grass courts at Royal Sydney Golf Club. The deciding match was completed Monday after being suspended by darkness Sunday……………………………Switzerland 3, Australia 2

Sunday/Monday Singles

Roger Federer, Switzerland, def. Bernard Tomic, Australia, 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, def. Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3.

SaturdayDoubles

Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione, Australia, def. Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

FridaySingles

Bernard Tomic, Australia, def. Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Roger Federer, Switzerland, def. Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-3.

I thought it was a pity that the Australian captain, Pat Rafter, had so vehemently insisted on play being stopped because of bad light last evening – while Lleyton was behind at the time, I felt he was getting back on course, and had more opportunity of saving the match at that point, in preference to coming back this morning. A consequence of that loss means that Australia will remain outside of the top grouping of Davis Cup national teams for at least another 12 months, until 2013. Probably a good outcome in reality – we can’t depend upon Lleyton Hewitt for much longer to pull us through, and apart from young Bernard Tomic, there are not any other ‘top grade’ men players around at present. A position in the top group is probably not justified at present in any case.  My view anyway!!

I’m looking forward to my radio show tonight – have three of great mixed genres of music planned, hopefully there will be a listener or two out there in radio land tuning in with me [says he with faint hearted optimism!!].

 

 

 

 

Today is the anniversary of my Dad’s birth, 90 years ago, what a pity he was not given the opportunity to see 2011.  Some years after my father died, I dreamt that I met him in a city street\, and having my first son with me at the time, I was able to introduce Dad to the only grandchild he would ever meet. Perhaps, somehow, there was a message attached to that dream. I found a poem the other day, which reminded me of that dream – on a slightly different tact, but worthy of inclusion here I felt.  Called ‘Meeting with My Father in the Orchard, written by Homero Haridjis [and translated by George McWhirtier]

Meeting with My Father in the Orchard
Past noon. Past the cinema with the tall sorrowful walls on the point of coming down, I enter the orchard. Show over, all of them have gone: day laborers, dogs and doors. My father is standing in front of a fig tree. My mother has died. The children, grown old. He’s alone, small threads of air weave in and out of his tattered clothes. For fear of getting too close and startling him with my living presence, I want to go straight by, the strange one now with white hair whom he asks, “Who’s that there?” “Father, it’s me, your son.” “Does your mother know you’re back. Will you stay and eat?” “Father, for years now your wife has lain at rest by your side in the town graveyard.” Then, as if he has divined everything, he calls me by my childhood name and gives me a fig. So we met up, the living and the dead. Then, each went on his way.

Quite a lot happening today – locally, the Sunbury Football team is playing in the Grand Final of the Ballarat Football League, against Redan – to be played at the Eastern Oval in Ballarat this afternoon. In my younger days, I have spent many Saturday afternoons at the oval, watching my ‘North Ballarat’ team, but won’t be there today, though the trip was tempting, and probably should have made the effort to support the town team [or one of them – we have another team playing in the more ‘localised’ Grand Final next weekend – that one I might get to!  Thinking back a few years, I also remember watching a World Cup one day cricket match at the Eastern Oval – England versus Sri Lanka

Speaking of which, Australia continues it’s batting innings in the Third Test today, against Sri Lanka in that nation’s homeland. We’ll pick up a progress score later in the day.  In tennis, the Davis Cup qualifying round is currently being played here in Australia, against Switzerland – that team of course, includes Roger Federer!!!  Today is the Doubles match. Following yesterday’s first two singles matches, the situation is one all – Bernard Tomic won his match, but Lleyton Hewitt [Australia’s most enthusiastic Davis Cup player over the last decade] eventually went down to Roger Federer, in 4 sets. Australia needs to win this Tie in order to get back into the top grouping of Davis Cup nations.

Over in New Zealand, the Rugby World Cup sees Australia come up against Ireland in our second game of the tournament. More about that, and the Blues’ game tonight in the AFL, a littler later.

Meanwhile, this writer made a dental appointment for next week – couldn’t get in until Friday, so will have to depend on the effectiveness of pain killers between now and then. Hopefully, they will ease my tendency to be a little irritable over the next few days!!  Meanwhile. my two part time students/workers were both working in Sunbury this morning – James had a shift at the bottle shop, and I called in briefly to say hello, while Susan has taken over the spot vacated by Jodie [who started a full time job this week] at Bakers Delight.  Decided not to call around that way, would let her settle into the job before I paid a purchasing visit! That of course, is where Adam works full time as one of the senior bakers.

Meantime, on more serious matters – and as readers will have realised by now, a prime concern of mine –  the ChilOut organisation [getting children out of detention centres] has an urgent reminder for us all, as the Government and the Opposition attempt to reach common ground in the current refugee crisis. To quote from ChilOut Issue of 16 September 2011.

‘The high hopes raised by the High Court decision have been dashed by this government’s determination to persist with their misguided Malaysia Swap policy.

The Prime Minister is trying to change the laws so unaccompanied refugee kids can be deported to situations of human rights abuses. This is quite simply an outrageous breach of humanity. Have we fallen so low that we make laws that allow us to abuse children – some are orphans and many are fleeing horrible persecution?   In response to the August 31 High Court case preventing the refugee “swap” arrangements with Malaysia, the Government has announced they will seek to amend both the Migration Act as well as the Immigration Guardianship of Children Act to allow the Minister to deport children against their best interests to places such as Malaysia, where the caning of refugee children has been documented.
The Migration Act allows the Minister to declare “safe third countries” to send asylum seekers, but outlines the refugee protections that make the country safe. The High Court found Malaysia did not have those protections which are based on the Refugee Convention.   So in order to send asylum seekers to Malaysia, the Government will have to amend our laws so that we can send asylum seekers to a place seen by our High Court to be a breach of refugee convention protections. And for unaccompanied children, the Government will also have to amend the Guardianship laws so they can deport kids – against their best interest.
Advocates have been arguing for years that the IGOC Act needs to be amended to provide an independent guardian for children, one who is not also their jailer. For at least 2 years DIAC has been agreeing this should be done, but there has been no movement. But in the blink of an eye the Act can be changed when they want to deport children.  Changes to law to protect children involve years of waiting yet changes to abuse children’s human rights takes merely days?  Removing asylum seekers offshore is a breach of the ALP national policy platform. But it seems nothing will prevent this government from the path they have taken on asylum issues. Let’s remind Tony Abbott it was the Coalition Government who changed the laws to let kids out of detention. Get writing and calling now, to ask the Coalition to stand firm against this proposed change in order to protect vulnerable children’.

Certainly from my viewpoint, I’m severely disappointed that the Government has decided to persist with this offshore policy, and that in all likelihood, the Liberals will continue with the same attitude. There are indications within the community of a softening of the attitude towards offshore processing, but the Government have obviously for political reasons decided to ignore that. As Chilout describes it –  But no, political pig-headedness prevails.   With legislation to be presented to Parliament next week to circumvent the High Court’s rejection of the Malaysia refugee swap, we are now in the bizarre position of having to ask the Opposition to insist their policy that children should not be detained is adhered to.’.  I just hope their arguments are persuasive enough!

 

Two team that I was following were beaten today  – in the Ballarat Football League Grand Final, the Sunbury team were defeated for the Premiership, by just 2 points – final score: Redan: 17.12.114 defeated Sunbury: 17.10.112. More on that later. Meanwhile, the Carlton Reserves team, playing in the Victorian Football League as the Northern Bullants [in red uniform] lost their Preliminary Final clash against Port Melbourne – the winning team have not been beaten all year!  And now to the big one  – watching the game alone again tonight!

Australian Football League – Semifinal elimination game tonight – West Coast Eagles versus the Carlton Blues, to be played at the Patersons Stadium in Perth, 5.50pm, their .local time.  The Carlton team is:

Backs: Aaron Joseph Michael Jamison Jeremy Laidler   
H/Backs: Chris Yarran Bret Thornton Nick Duigan       
Centres: Kade Simpson Mitch Robinson Heath Scotland
H/Forwards: Jeff Garlett Lachie Henderson Andrew Carrazzo
Forwards: Eddie Betts Setanta O’hAilpin Andrew Walker
Followers: Rob Warnock Chris Judd Marc Murphy
Interchange: Dennis Armfield David Ellard  Marcus Davies Zach Tuohy
Emergencies: Paul Bower Shaun Hampson Jordan Russell
In: Tuohy
Out: Gibbs (Shoulder)

After the two losses of my teams earlier today, not feeling over confident about tonight’s AFL final –  but the boys are there, that’s a starting point, even if we go into the match as the underdogs against a hostile West Australian crowd in Perth.

1^st Quarter:  Nice start for the Blues, first goal within 60 seconds, and two more within about 6 minutes. The pace slowed a little after that, but the team was up by 16 points at quarter time. Bit of an injury scare for  one of our players [Scotland] early in the quarter, but he was back on the ground ten minutes later.  Quietened the crowd a little with Carlton’s 1^st quarter effort.  Can they keep it up? From the Club – ‘The start we wanted. Blues kick the first four goals of the match to silence the West Coast crowd. Our pressure has been enormous. Murphy and Ellard leading the way through the middle, and Betts and Garlett causing havoc up front. Eagles settled in the last 10 minutes, but Duigan, Laidler and Jamieson absorbed the pressure brilliantly’.

^2nd  Quarter:  As expected, a bit of a turnaround. Carlton missed a couple of early shots at goal, and then suddenly, a rush of goals from West Coast, a couple from bad free kicks given away by the Blues.  But we managed to stay in touch, though a goal just before halftime put the Blues behind by 17 points – but, an immediate brave effort saw an immediate response, though it cost an injury to my hero, Brett Thornton in a gutsy attempt to defend. However, overall, the Eagles seem to be starting to get on top, and I’m not sure that my team can stay with them in the second half.  And the Club perspective at Half time:- EEagles hit back hard. Blues wasted a couple of opportunities in front of goal before the Eagles piled on four unanswered goals. The Cox/Naitanui tandem troubled us; their dominance in the hitouts allowed the Eagles midfielders first use of the ball. Murphy., Simpson and Robinson have been fantastic for us’,

 

3^rd Quarter:   a tight quarter, with fortunes swinging back and forward, and while the Blues were more competitive this time, they couldn’t make the headway I was hoping for, still down by 9 points at three quarter time. Sad to see Brett Thornton being taken away in the ambulance to hospital, with concussion and a possible neck injury.  Meantime, some 5,000 gathered at Carlton’s home ground at Princes Park tonight to watch the game on a big screen – and my final comment at three quarter time –  ‘one more quarter Blues, let’s not make it the last for the year’.

Final Quarter:  what a quarter – Carlton kept getting within reach, then would drop behind again, and with a couple of minutes to play, I had given up. But not the Blues, they came back again, and for a minute there, it seemed that a last minute miracle might happen. But it didn’t!!!  Once again, my football team have lost a finals match by just 3 points!   Disappointed, but very proud of a gutsy, never give up effort by Chris Judd and his team of Blues.  And from the Club:-  ‘A magnificent season comes to an end. Blues kicked three goals in the dying minutes but ran out of time. A brilliant game of football with some heroic individual performances. Carlton’s brave year has ended at Patersons Stadium, losing a bruising but enthralling semi-final to West Coast by 3 points. As for Brett Thornton, he was believed to be concussed, and was taken to hospital before the game ended to have scans on his neck’.

Quarter  by quarter scores were:

Carlton Blues:          4.1.25     7.4.46     10.5.65             Final:  15.8.98

West Coast Eagles:   1.3.9       9.3.57     11.8.74             Final:  15.11.101

Now how did Australia go in the Rugby  – game is over, but our great free to air coverage, hasn’t begun the delayed telecast yet –  I’m off to bed, will leave the tape running, watch it tomorrow. Couldn’t take ‘another’ loss tonight!!!

 

 

 

Yes, ‘young’ Jean, who joined me up at Charlton a couple of weekends ago, and at the Neil Street anniversary, the weekend prior to that,  has reached the grand old age of 51 years. I do recall the day she was born [I was 14 years old at the time] –  it was a difficult birth [touch and go for both Mum & baby], but  both survived, and in relating those details to the church Minister [at Neil Street at the time], he was a man with a bit of an unusual nervous mannerism. In moments of ‘stress’ he would laugh, and he was actually up a ladder fixing something on our roof at the time the birth details were been related to him. He began to laugh, and then, I think from memory, fell off the ladder!!  No serious damage done, but the Reverend did stop laughing at that point in time!!.

This date – 16^th September – is also the anniversary of my parent’s wedding day, back in 1944.  I’m not sure if they even had a wedding night [think they stayed with his mother] because the Army required him back on duty the next morning, and Mum would see very little of him between then and January 1946, when he was discharged at the end of World War II.

This is my 5^th last Friday in full time employment, which I have been at since 1965, with two or three ‘retrenchment’ breaks along the way.  Readers will have got the impression that I have been ‘counting the days’ for quite some time now, and yet at the same time, must admit to a certain degree of apprehension about suddenly being out of the work force, basically for the rest of my life [despite having many things planned to occupy myself with]. Feeling quite weary, in both a mental & physical sense, so the intention is probably a good one, and certainly the outcome of avoiding that daily traffic exercise is something I will be glad to miss.  Obviously, aspects such as  the drop in income, future uncertainty about living arrangements, and to be honest, the thought of future years living alone, do have elements of ‘concern’ attached to them, and it is aspects such as this which add to the touch of apprehension this writer may be currently feeling. But enough of that for now!

Rugby World Cup overnight result from yesterday –   USA 13 defeated Russia 6.  Now that would have been an interesting game to watch!!  Another result that happened during the week, that I omitted to make a note of  –  the Second Cricket Test between Australia and Sri Lanka –  as with the 1^st Test, it must be said that Australia dominated for much of the game, but time lost due to rain, etc over the last couple of days, ‘robbed’ the Aussies of a deserved victory, with the Test ending in a Draw, late last week.  Scores were: Australia: 7 wickets  for 411. Sri Lanka: 174 and 6 wickets for 317.

I found an interesting little piece in the National Seniors E-letter last night –  in which it is suggested that some of the most vulnerable members of the community could be left without basic services if Australia suffers another summer of wild weather.  Flooding in both Queensland and Victoria last summer forced the evacuation of aged care and nursing homes in both Victoria and Queensland.  Reports in the media this week suggested some elderly residents were left without easy access to toilets and showers and had to sleep on inflatable beds. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has also briefed Queensland Cabinet for the coming wet season, saying that the state is likely to experience above average rainfall, high bushfire danger and at least four cyclones.   National Seniors Australia CEO Michael O’Neill said more work was needed to ensure that aged care facilities coped as quickly and smoothly as possible in dealing with emergency evacuations.   “We welcome any moves to better protect the elderly,” Mr O’Neill said. “But we need to ensure that that staff in aged care facilities are well trained to carry out evacuations for either the elderly residents or their local communities,” he said.  “The federal government could also help these communities by funding the training of elderly residents who are willing and able to help in emergencies, alongside the local SES personnel and emergency services.  “The elderly are some of the most vulnerable in our society and need to have first priority at times such as these.”  Of course, someone reading this from a place such as Pakistan at present, where thousands are again facing disastrous floods would feel quite cynical about this story, as the kind of services referred to are generally non- existent in their communities unless aid agencies can reach them. That doesn’t negate the difficulties our elderly citizens face in such circumstances, but I do like to put these things into some degree of perspective in terms of some of the disasters faced by less developed nations around the world.

In all honesty, I had a pretty miserable day – mild painkillers didn’t really ease those toothaches, and that tended to leave your scribe a little irritable and generally, well, feeling sorry for myself. Looks like one is going to have to go in search of a dentist next week, last visit was in 2006, and over the years, such visits have been spaced out over almost a decade or more at a time. Have been lucky I guess, that more frequent visits have not been necessary. Anyway, picked up something a little stronger this evening, hoping that would get me through the weekend. Once home, like the rest of the day, didn’t really feel like doing anything, and left Susie to fend for herself as far as a meal was concerned.

Here is an example of big new promises, and hopes of changes for the better – relating to Victoria’s public transport system – new owners, new legislation, new governments – all promise great changes, but in the long run, how often do we come to another election, another government, and find the same criticisms are been thrown around?  Well, let’s see if this can be different. As reported today, Victoria is a step closer to a better coordinated and more integrated  transport system, with legislation to enable the formation of a new Public Transport Development Authority introduced into Parliament this week. Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said with the legislative process now underway, the new authority would be up and running in the first quarter of 2012. “The new authority will be the face of public transport and will be responsible for planning, coordinating and integrating transport services throughout Victoria,” Mr Mulder said. “It will focus on the core business of a good public transport system – trains, trams and buses that run on time, simple and reliable timetables, passenger comfort and timely and accurate passenger information. “For too long Victorian commuters have suffered a system in which services are routinely late or cancelled, passenger information is unreliable and infrastructure is poorly maintained. “We say Victorians deserve better and this new authority will ensure they get what they deserve.” The legislation was introduced into Parliament this week. Yes, all very impressive in theory, before the event – let’s wait and see how things really eventuate over time.

The first of two elimination semi finals for the AFL season this weekend, played tonight at the MCG –  Hawthorn vs the Sydney Swans.  I’ve decided to barrack for the Sydney team tonight [probably the outsiders, as Carlton will be, tomorrow night].  My prediction not off to a good start, and by halftime, the Hawks were dominating the match. A third quarter fight back by the Swans, and if you had just tuned in at that time, you would have thought the game was much closer. However, Hawthorn swung away again the last quarter. Hawthorn will play against Collingwood in one of the Preliminary Finals next weekend.

Quarter by quarter scores:

Hawthorn Hawks:          3.5.23         10.5.65       12.6.72    Final:  19.8.122

Sydney Swans:               0.1.1            4.1.25          9.6.60    Final:   13.8.86

Meanwhile, in the Rugby World Cup update, today’s only match showed up the huge difference between the best, and the others. Host nation New Zealand came up against Japan.  The final one-sided score: New Zealand 83 defeated Japan 7.

Australia took to the wicket on Day 1 of the 3^rd Test against Sri Lanka, and didn’t get off to a very good start with both openers out cheaply. However, a good partnership by 2^nd test hero Shaun Marsh [81] and Ricky Ponting [48] put Australia in a more reasonable position late on Day 1 at 5 wickets for 209 runs.  By stumps the score had moved to 5 for 235, with another good not out innings by Michael Hussey helping the cause – 63 not out.

Staggered into bed tonight, feeling light headed and drowsy. That stronger painkiller was working more than I wanted it to! .

 

 

 

We had three interviews lined up today  –  seeking an accounting/finance person to take over from this writer, at the end of October. Advertised on the internet [which we are told is the way to go these days], we received a fairly minimal quantity and quality of candidates [expected a lot more is this climate of unemployment fears].  While not overly optimistic, three applicants were chosen for us to have a chat with. Amazingly, the first two simply did not turn up for the arranged interviews, not even a phone call of apology or explanation!!  Just how desperately do people want to work these days? The whole culture seems to be changing in many ways in respect to attitudes to employment, certainly in some sectors.  We will need to readvertise – decided to go via the traditional format this time [through newspaper employment sections] in conjunction with the internet. Meantime, Jackie [the boss] was counting on a phone call today, to say she had been successful in another job she had planned for. She got that call, late this afternoon, and luck was not with her – unsuccessful. So for the time being at least, it would be just me leaving the organisation.

The ‘Limelight Magazine currently has a little feature about the origins of some of those famous classical music ‘nicknames’, such as Schubert’s ‘Trout quintet’, Dvorak’s ‘New World Symphony’ or Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral Symphony’. Let’s take that last one, as an example, with Beethoven  – his ‘Pastoral Symphony’ [or Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68]. From ‘Limelight’, we read that   ‘The composer himself gave this work its title: Pastoral Symphony, or, Recollections of Country Life. Nature was immensely important to Beethoven, and he spent a great deal of time walking alone in the woods; it is no coincidence that in expressing his despair at his failing hearing, he thought first of the sounds of the countryside: “What humiliation when someone standing next to me heard a flute in the far distance, and I heard nothing; or when others heard a shepherd singing, and again I heard nothing.” Beethoven wrote those anguished words in 1802, in Heiligenstadt, then a peaceful rural village not far from Vienna (it has since been swallowed up by the city’s sprawling suburbs). This symphony, too, was composed in the tranquil surrounds of Heiligenstadt, six years later’.   That’s just one story on the ‘classical’ nicknames, we might refer to one of the others, at a later date.

Now, in thinking of classical music, I’m reminded that I have a ticket to a classical concert this Saturday night, my favourite suburban orchestra, the Heidelberg Orchestra. I’m also aware, that my football team, Carlton, is to play it’s ‘elimination’ semi final, also on Saturday night. I’ve had to make a choice – well, there wasn’t one really, the concert can always be made up for, another time, another concert, but the Blues playing in a Finals match [despite the fact that no-one thinks they can win] is not such a regular occurrence over recent years.  I will be watching the football  –  just on the TV, but the game is over in Perth!  The news tonight is that the Carlton match committee have made just the one change – unfortunately, due to injury, one of our best players. After playing 112 of a possible 113 games since making his debut in round one of 2007, Bryce Gibbs will miss only his second game since joining the Blues.  Gibbs injured his shoulder late in the Elimination Final last weekend against Essendon and was ruled out of the team for Saturday night’s game against the West Coast in Perth. Coach Brett Ratten said during the week that the team would not take a week on injured players. It is hoped Gibbs will be fit for the Preliminary final, should the Blues overcome West Coast tomorrow night. Meanwhile, I’m wondering if youngest daughter Jodie, and boyfriend Ash [a West Coast supporter] will come and join me in front of the TV on Saturday night?

Something has been bothering me throughout today, and this evening  – a minor, but annoyingly nagging  toothache. I was hoping to forego treatment until after I finished work, late October, but somehow I don’t think I will be able to put it off until then!  It’s amazing how a small think like that, can leave one feeling a little debilitated in other areas.  I’m hoping it won’t keep me awake tonight!

Certainly, the revelations yesterday, made under parliamentary privilege, created a real media stir, and it would be the subject of much discussion over the next few days. In this particular case, I’m in two minds as to how I feel about the action taken by the senator on Tuesday night, but I might await the immediate outcome before commenting much further. It just seems as though there is more to this story than has been revealed so far, and interesting to note that the person lodging the initial complaint [which apparently hasn’t officially happened] was an adult, in his early twenties,  at the time of the alleged offence!  On the other side of things, quite obviously, a priest, who has had a presumably successful ‘career’ in the 50 years that have elapsed since that time, is quite naturally going to claim ‘complete innocence’  Who is there to dispute him other than his accuser –  or God?  Anyway, as noted, it has certainly given the media something other than the ongoing ‘debates’ in Federal Parliament about carbon tax, refugees, etc, etc, to devote their energies to!!

Quiet day today, and weather wise, a bit of a springtime mix of sunshine, periods of showers, and a cool evening. I was not unhappy to receive advice that tonight’s Family History committee meeting was off – half the membership had the flu apparently. I had plenty to occupy myself at home, and content to remain there once I arrived.  Meanwhile, Susie, who seems to be back in Sunbury on a more or less permanent basis, is not so well herself, with throat and flu symptoms. Don’t think she can blame me, as I’ve not seen that much of her over the past week, even though she is back ‘home’   – was nice to have her at least ‘here’ in the house for a couple of nights in a row! She must be unwell!

Rugby World Cup update:  included an upset victory to Canada in today’s three games, which were the first to have been played since Sunday.!  Australia’s next match is against Ireland on Saturday – certainly hope it doesn’t clash with Carlton’s game again!  Today’s results:

Samoa  49 defeated Namibia 12

Canada 25 defeated Tonga 20

Scotland 15 defeated Georgia 6.

 

On a different theme, here is this month’s special quote, as provided to me via the Uniting Church’s EarthTeam group –  the originator, Albert Einstein.  Something deep to reflect upon J

“A human being is part of the whole called by us universe , a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty… We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.”

During the day, I leant that one of the independent Senators in the Australian Senate was intending to use the protection of Parliamentary Privilege tonight, and name a sitting Priest who had been accused of rape, some 50 years earlier.  That evening, I turned on the radio, and listened to the broadcast of proceedings from Parliament House in Canberra. True to his word, in the last speech of the night, the senator in question carried out his promise.  I wrote on Face Book that ‘  Under Parliamentary Privilege, Independent Senator Nick from Sth Australia has just named, in the Senate, the senior Catholic Priest in SA believed guilty of serious sexual offences against younger members of the church many years ago!! Brave man, or foolish!! Did it because the Church, has not acted as it should have, to resolve the issue. Big repercussions likely’

A couple of responses came from Ruth.. ‘I think John Hepworth himself doubted this would see real justice done for anyone- what happened to ‘innocent until proven guilty’?’

I responded with:  ‘Interesting, that while he couldn’t stop the senator from speaking out, the Senate President cautioned him about the likely consequences and affects on other people of making his statement, a warning I guess, which Nick X acknowledged, but  proceeded anyway. I think he made the wrong choice – while the church, wrongly, hadn’t acted for four years since the allegations were made, I tend to agree with your comment, Ruth’.

From Ruth again: – ‘It seems the church has been neglectful- it makes me so angry! But yes, I still can’t agree with Nick Xenophon’s actions’.  Someone else added later a comment which I didn’t attach much seriousness to, in line with the general nature of the way this person generally responds to most things – he said ‘I sometimes wonder why they don’t just castrate all catholic priests? It’s not like they need their testicles for anything anyway and it would ensure that these acts aren’t perpetrated in the first place’  Rather a crude reaction! The reply that comment generated was that:-  ‘There may be a tiny human rights issue there! 🙂 It also would not stop other abuses of power within such institutions and this will always happen if institutions are run like they are a ‘ law unto themselves’..

What this was all about is best summed in this media report of the event.

“Independent senator Nick Xenophon has used parliamentary privilege to name a priest accused of raping Adelaide-based Anglican Archbishop John Hepworth about 50 years ago. Senator Xenophon said he was duty bound to name the alleged offender as Monsignor Ian Dempsey, who has been the priest at Brighton parish in Adelaide since 2000. The South Australian senator overnight set the Archdiocese of Adelaide an ultimatum – stand down the priest by midday on Tuesday or he would name him in the Senate.

The Catholic Church refused to stand down the priest, who denies the allegations. The archdiocese’s lawyers advised Senator Xenophon the church was unable to stand down the priest because of requirements under “canon law” and “procedural fairness”. A defiant Senator Xenophon said the decision left him with “no choice”.  Speaking under parliamentary privilege on Tuesday night, Senator Xenophon said he did not provide the information lightly.  “The allegations are serious. They are made by a man with credibility,” he said.  “The people of the Brighton parish have a right to know that for four years, allegations have been outstanding that priest Ian Dempsey raped John Hepworth and church leadership has failed to make appropriate inquiries into this matter.”

Senator Xenophon said the most important question he had asked himself while deliberating on whether to name the priest was how he would feel if his family were members of that church. “Would I believe I had the right to know?” he said. “Would I be angry that a few people knew that serious allegations had been made but they did nothing and said nothing?” Senator Xenophon said that as a former lawyer he believed strongly in the presumption of innocence and emphasised that the claims were allegations. Archbishop Hepworth has reportedly said he would rather the priest be stood down than be named.  However, Senator Xenophon said given the church’s refusal to put the priest on administrative leave pending an investigation, he had to act.

Archbishop Hepworth, 67, revealed at the weekend he was the victim of violent rapes at the hands of two priests and a trainee priest beginning in 1960, when he was 15.  At the time Archbishop Hepworth, who is now the primate of the splinter group Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) in Adelaide, was studying to be a priest at a seminary.  Archbishop Hepworth has said he broke away from the Catholic Church because of the 12 years of abuse. Claims against dead priests Ronald Pickering and John Stockdale were settled in Melbourne. But claims relating to the third priest were not resolved. Senator Xenophon said the Adelaide Catholic diocese had taken too long to satisfactorily resolve the serious allegations first aired four years ago.  A spokeswoman for the South Australian Catholic Church said it was appalled the senator named the priest, “despite being made fully aware of the extremely sensitive and highly complex background to this matter”. “We have grave concerns. This is grossly unjust and unfair,” she said.  “Now we just have to consider what the implications are and the impact on due process.” She said the archdiocese has been in touch with the priest. The priest named in parliament formerly served as the vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Adelaide for five years.  According to the Brighton Catholic parish’s website, after ordination in 1969, he spent 20 years as a chaplain in the Royal Australian Navy.

I suppose that in many ways, the very nature of that subject could leave one with the headache that I hinted at in the title of this blog. But in reality, I think it was due to other causes!  And as if that was not enough, I was kept awake through part of the night, by of all things, a ‘toothache’!!!  There have been a couple of those ‘appendages’ worrying me off and on over recent weeks – I guess a hint that I should do something about them!!

Rugby World Cup update:  a couple of results from Sunday [11^th September], that I omitted to refer to, although we did talk about Australia’s first game during that day’s note, but I don’t think I mentioned the final score!!

Australia 32 defeated Italy 6

Ireland 22 defeated United States 10

South Africa 17  [the title holders from 2007] defeated Wales  16