Submitted by Adrienne Gross on behalf of Jessica Cameron
Travelling with my 27-year-old daughter to Europe was an enlightening experience. We both found out that we need to learn tolerance on my part, and patience on hers.
It was my first trip to France and Italy. I hadn’t done that in my twenties as so many do.
I was so excited at the prospect of seeing Paris, and we had a bike tour of Northern Italy to look forward to.
“Have you bought your backpack yet?”
I was thinking more of suitcase on wheels.
However, I went and got fitted out with a lovely blue backpack. I felt like a twenty-year-old about to embark on my first trip overseas. She was right of course, for two reasons: One, there are a lot of stairs in Europe. This is self-explanatory! Two, I was restricted with my purchases. She kept saying, “Mum, you will have to carry that if you buy it!”
My idea of travel was quite different to hers. I was thinking more along the lines of leisurely strolling along the Champs Elysees; taking in the Louvre, then sitting quietly sipping Absinthe at a café, watching the passing parade of Parisians.
“No Mum, it’s too expensive to do that.” Instead it was hurriedly grabbing a cup of tea at Maccas and standing up to drink it. I had taught her to save her money; to think hard before she spent. Well it was coming back at me at just the wrong time. Here I was, having worked hard all my life and wanting to spend, spend, spend on my holiday, only to be thwarted at each turn by my parsimonious offspring!
I am on the south side of sixty and consider myself to be relatively fit. I had trained hard or thought I had before undertaking our bike tour. Unfortunately, I was struck down with an infection just before our departure so was not as robust as I had hoped.
We came undone on the first day of the bike tour. Adrienne does everything fast! There is no in between. All I wanted to do was meander along, taking in the beautiful scenery.
Another difference was lunchtime. My idea was sitting, relaxing at a café in the sun, overlooking Lake Maggiore, bowl of pasta, glass of wine. Perfect! Adrienne’s idea was finding a sandwich and riding on.
Normally at home this would be fine but this was a special holiday for me. I’m in the comfort mode of life; I want stop and enjoy the views, take photos and do a bit of shopping!
Another issue was a physical thing, once again. My ability to “hold on” was a problem. My bladder is what I call a “Woolworths” one. Having to stop frequently and to find a toilet was a challenge in Europe. Not to mention that one usually has to buy something in return for using their toilet or actually having to pay to use it!
All these things aside, we did have a good time. We had some laughs and some memorable episodes. We learned a lot about each other as adults.
I’m glad we toured together—there probably won’t be another time; we both lead busy lives.
next to Claremont Oval.
The plans stipulated that all new multi-storey buildings in the de- velopment would have to have below-ground and basement parking for occupants.
Claremont this week released its much-anticipated blueprint for the 9.4ha area north of the rail- way line that will set Claremont’s shape for the next century. Structure plans for the precinct will be shown to the public from this week, after the council voted to advertise the plans and seek public comment on them at this week’s council meeting.
The council has a statutory obligation to advertise the plans for a minimum of 21 days, and commenced this 21-day period from Friday this week. “The release of the Proposed Structure Plan is a significant mile- stone which will pave the way for transforming the poorly-utilised north-east precinct into a vi- brant centre with excellent access to public transport and improved pedestrian connectivity with the town centre,” Claremont’s mayor Peter Olson said.
“We look forward to further in- volving the community in refin- ing the plan as we head towards the final planning approval.” Widespread advertising of the plan would ensure that members of the community had the oppor- tunity to present their views and give input via public submissions before the plan was presented to Claremont’s councillors for formal
Cottesloe’s push to curb anti- social behaviour and hoon driving along the beachfront has earned the town a presti- gious award from the Office of Crime Prevention.
The scheme includes a suc- cessful lock-down experiment at local hotels, even though Northbridge has rejected a trial of the scheme.
While the WA Crime and Safety Awards cannot be hand- ed out until the new government is sworn in, the council has been notified that the award will be going to Cottesloe.
The community safety pro- gram includes extra ranger pa- trols, CCTV, a 9pm lock-out at both hotels, and three-hour parking restrictions applicable 24 hours a day to both major beachfront carparks.
“If you leave (a pub) after 9pm on a Sunday you don’t get let back in,” said senior ranger Neil Ferridge.
“That way the crowd starts dis- persing and at 10pm closing time you don’t get so many peo- ple in the streets.” He said the three-hour limit at No. 1 and 2 carparks was also playing its part.
“The carparks also start emp- tying by 9.30, so you don’t get peo- ple going back to their vehi- cles and drinking alcohol … and causing trouble,” he said.
Reports of anti-social behav- iour have reduced dramatical- ly in the two years the program has been running.
It all began when a commit- tee was formed to tackle the prob- lem. The group included local res- idents, business proprietors, councillors, council staff, po- lice liquor licensing, hotel man- agers, council rangers and the officer-in-charge of Cottesloe Police Station.
They agreed peak time was Sunday evenings during the summer, with activity concen- trated around the Cottesloe Beach Hotel, the Ocean Beach Hotel and associated carparks.
The awards will be present- ed as part of Crime Prevention Week on September 25 at Fraser’s Function Centre in King’s Park.
What if you could literally train your mind to levitate a sphere? Sounds a bit far fetched?
Well it’s not anymore, because this is exactly what you can do with the latest star wars toy called “the Force Trainer” which turns Science fiction into reality as it utilises your brainwaves to levitate a sphere within a tube.
The Star Wars Force Trainer was created by Uncle Milton, a US based company which produces Science-based toys. The toy uses EEG technology to transmit your alpha and beta brainwaves from a head set to wirelessly drive a motor which powers a fan that sends a sphere up a tower. You can progress from Padawan to Jedi Master, as you use “The Force Trainer” through 15 levels of Jedi training. Along the way you will be encouraged by Obi Wan, Darth Vader and, of course, Yoda helping you with training tips and sound effects. The better your concentration, the more you are able to control the fan and the sphere rises.
Peter and Anne-Maree Harback, Directors of Coolthings Australia, visited the 2009 Toy Fair in Melbourne on Saturday 21st March and gave the Force Trainer a run for its money, Mr Harback said "When I first heard about this new gadget I really didn’t know what to expect, but when I actually got to try the thing out I was amazed that it really works. At first I couldn’t get the ball to levitate but after some wise tips from the Uncle Milton crew I finally was able to tap into the force and make the ball rise."
Before word got out that the Force Trainer was being launched Uncle Milton were receiving a couple of email enquiries per day, after the news broke they got a massive 40,000 emails asking when this product is going to be available for purchase. The Star Wars Force Trainer is set to be the most eagerly anticipated toy release of the year.
The Star Wars Force Trainer hasn’t arrived in Australia yet so Star Wars fans will have to wait until September 2009 to see these in stores; in the mean time you can visit http://www.coolthings.com.au/star-wars-force-trainer-p-1026.html for further information, videos and images, and to pre-order your very own Force Trainer.
About Coolthings Australia
Coolthings Australia is all about the latest cool gadgets, gizmos & gifts that make you say "That’s Cool". Delivery to anywhere in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.
INDIAN food is popular the world over. What’s more, it’s heartening to see the burgeoning number of Indian restaurants not only in Australia, but overseas as well.
Five years ago a visit to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, unearthed six Indian restaurants. The landscape is very different now.
With a population of over 10 million, Seoul boasts a 600-year history and in 1988 it became famous throughout the world as the host of the 24th Summer Olympics. Korea was again the focus of worldwide attention when it co-hosted with Japan, the 2002 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.
Itaewon is a special tourism zone in Seoul, where you can idle away many pleasurable hours with shopping and dining. It is honeycombed with more than 2000 shops as well as jazz bars, night clubs and ethnic restaurants. This is one district that’s both popular with locals and foreigners. In the core, around the Hamilton Hotel, are a cluster of shops selling leather goods, bags, clothes, shoes and tourist souvenirs. The sidewalk is fringed with roadside stalls attracting shoppers with accessories, hats, T-shirts, small gadgets and much more.
Itaewon is the area most densely packed with diverse ethnic restaurants. This is the location of the Ashoka Indian Restaurant which opened in 1988 when the Olympic Games were held in Seoul. It was the first Indian restaurant in Seoul then.
Memories come flooding back of my meeting with the then chef Ganesh Chokkalingam had been working there for six years. Prior to working in Korea, he had also worked for the Taj Mahal hotel group. One of three chefs, Mr Chokkalingam, who was originally from Chennai (Madras), spoke about how popular Indian food was in Korea. The award-winning restaurant had attracted an increasing number of customers.
The interior was elaborately decorated with warm hues of maroon with many elaborate Indian artifacts on show. Along with a number of certificates of appreciation hanging on the walls, it was an impressive array of sample dishes in the display cabinet that had caught my eye.
Now you will find many Indian restaurants in Seoul which offer good Indian food in comfortable surroundings.
To mention a few, there’s Wazwan, where you get north Indian cuisine (basically from Kashmir); Usmania Restaurant; Chakra Restaurant; Taj Restaurant is one of the few upscale dining restaurants in the Myong Dong; and the Ganga Indian Restaurant is in the Seoul Finance Center (City Hall area).
Over six million foreign tourists visited South Korea in 2006. No doubt the numbers will continue to increase including the figure of 50,000 Indians.
Past and present co-exist in Gyeongju, South Korea
By Rama Gaind
ANYONE would become enchanted with Gyeongju in South Korea. This is where history is seen, heard, tasted and felt. It basks in the clear waters of the east coast.
Gyeongju is a place where past and present co-exist with a history of 1000 years.
Gyeongju, the city where the full-flourished culture of the unified Silla is still alive, is one of the 10 historic sites designated by UNESCO.
As a famous place of historic interest with the nickname of ‘Museum Without Walls’, it has 118 authorised and 161 unauthorised cultural properties. The city, which is now inhabited with 300,000 people, is filled with innumerable historical sites and ancient tombs in every corner.
Most of the important cultural and historic relics are within walking distance of each other. Royal tombs, ancient palace sites, royal gardens and ponds, temples and structures like Cheomseongdae (Heavenly Horse Tomb) and the Gyeongju National Museum truly make the entire city an open museum.
The spirit of the Age of Silla is spread throughout the Great Tombs parks, with 23 tombs forming the park. Mt Tohamsan, considered by many to be a holy mountain, has the Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple on both sides. Both were designated world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO on December 6, 1995.
While there, do not miss out on the experience of staying at the Gyeongju Bomun Lake Resort (Hotel Hyundai) which sits on 2,616.3 acres around Bomun Lake. It is well deserved of its reputation as one of the most beautiful cultural resorts representing Korea.
Ranging from convention halls to recreation facilities, traditional culture and art performances, sports and leisure, the resort offers you genuine relaxation.
Accommodation houses are aplenty, with convention centre facilities in abundance. For entertainment there’s the outdoor theatre, art museum, numerous restaurants, an amusement park, water sports and leisure with a number of golf courses.
The resort, overlooking the lake, is not only ideal for business meetings, but offers total relaxation for the holidaymaker – all on one location. With indoor and outdoor hot spring swimming pool, hot spring sauna, here is an oasis of breath-taking proportions!
You’ll come away mesmerised!
Gyeongju Bomun Lake Resort (Hotel Hyundai) in South Korea.
Nostalgia for historic city of Gyeongju
By Rama Gaind
NOSTALGIC memories flood back of a short stay, some years ago, in the historic city of Gyeongju in South Korea.
In particular, the sojourn at the Gyeongju Bomun Lake Resort (Hotel Hyundai) which combined the best of both worlds: a modern world-class resort in the ancient city of Gyeongju which is steeped in 1,000 years of history along with the tradition of the Silla Kingdom.
The hotel is embellished with traditional Korean styles where the singing birds and mystic morning views are guaranteed for relaxation.
What’s more, a chance meeting with an Indian beauty queen added glamour.
Medha Raghunath, from Chennai, was in Gyeongju after participating in the World Miss University contest.
As it turned out, her group comprising 36 contestants was in the foyer of the Bomun Lake Resort getting ready to go to the capital Seoul. Medha had come third in the beauty pageant (after Miss Nepal and Miss Maldives) and couldn’t have been happier at her placement. The contest had been held in Daegu, one of the six metropolitan cities of Korea, a textiles hub which was one of the host cities of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Medha had turned 21 years of age and this win was a "great present … it was the best gift". She also won the title of ‘Miss Health’ where much emphasis is placed on "beauty for peace … we love peace not war". Medha was also successful in coming second in a ‘performance challenge’ where contestants had to dance or sing. She performed Indian dancing, of course, but it was a mix of yoga, Bharat Natyam and Kalari (a form of martial art).
"This art is almost extinct, but it has been revived now. It requires a lot of stamina," Medha said. "Being in a beauty pageant is a beautiful thing. It brings out the woman in me."
This was not the first time that she had been in a beauty competition. She entered the Miss Chennai 2000 contest and was first runner-up. This 5’6"-tall university student, weighing 48kg, also listed her achievements as Femina Ms India and Cyber Queen 2001.
Here was one woman who believed in gaining an edge by being "very well educated".
The effervescent Indian beauty was studying for a Master of Business Administration with plans to attain a PhD. She already had a BA in Business Administration.
A model, who has done television commercials, Medha relaxed by listening to music which “rejuvenates my mind” and “adores travelling” with fond memories of the US, London and Japan.
In the beautiful but rugged area of the Southern Highlands in New South Wales, slightly reminiscent of the Highlands of Scotland, lies the village of Bundanoon. This village over the past 31 years has gained the envious reputation throughout Australia as the Premier location for hosting the traditional Scottish Highland Games. Every year in April between 12-16000 Australians, many not necessarily of Scottish descent make an annual pilgrimage to this outstanding event to enjoy and participate in the gathering known, as ”Bundanoon is Brigadoon”.
Bundanoon is a comfortable 2 hours drive from Sydney, 1.5 hours from Canberra and the South Coast, which makes it the ideal location for travellers who just want to pop in for the day or for others who wish to stay and enjoy “Brigadoon” and the hospitality and culture of the Southern Highlands.
The gathering is a non-profit making, registered charity event that readily distributes the funds from the day to local charities and groups that assist the organisers in the administration of the gathering.
This annual event originally began in 1978 with the principal aim to raise funds for local charities and bring tourists to Bundanoon in particular and the Southern Highlands in general thereby benefiting local businesses, guesthouses and hotels. This idea has continued to the present day and makes it one of the most successful events staged in the area. Consequently from their humble beginning which began with a handful of pipe bands and spectators this gathering has grown to into one of the finest Highland Gatherings in Australia.
With such an influx of people coming into the Southern Highlands, local businesses and the hospitality trade in particular have thrived, there is hardly a room available anywhere and in most cases all accommodation is booked a year in advance.
“Brigadoon” begins with the sound of Bagpipes drifting across the village from first light in preparation for a day of celebration. All roads lead to Bundanoon or so it would seem as the village waits in anticipation, cars, coaches, bikes and the ever-faithful Heritage Express, Southern Aurora departs Central Station Bookings on 02 93791031, and the Federal City Express Train departs Canberra Bookings on 02 62842790 bringing the thriving throng of spectators preparing for a day of festivities.
The Street Parade starts at 9.30am and features some 20 Pipe Bands from all over the State accompanied by a large variety of decorated floats and marching Clan Societies. The parade makes their way some one kilometre to the Bundanoon Oval accompanied by the crowds of spectators.
The Opening Ceremony begins at 10.30am on the Oval and the Gathering is officially opened by the Chieftain of the Day.
Spectators are then treated to a spectacular Massed Pipes and Drums display of highland music, with up to 600 Bandsmen participating one has really got to be there to appreciate the sheer magic of the occasion. With the swirling of a myriad of coloured tartans and music that stirs the heart and makes you proud to wear the Kilt of your ancestors
At the Oval there are over 120 specialist stalls, selling everything imaginable, from Scottish pies to shortbread, from Clan memorabilia to souvenirs, with copious amounts of burgers, steaks and a variety of food promoting every nationality, even the Scots favourite “Haggis”
Everyone is made most welcome at the gathering and encouraged to participate in the “Traditional” and not so “traditional” games. The committee recognises this as a “The Ideal Family Day Outing” and encourages mass participation by spectators and especially the children. Spectators can try their luck at “Tossing the Caber”, “Shot Putt”, “Haggis Hurling”, Kilted Races”, “Egg Throwing” and Water Toss. There is also a Bonny Bairns highland dress competition for all the proud parents.
Throughout the day you can enjoy Highland and Scottish Country dance demonstrations, and for those who like to try something new you are cordially invited to join in. There are 30 Scottish Clans and Societies tents and they have their own area where many people make their way to enquire about their Scottish heritage and ancestry.
During the day at irregular intervals the Pipe Bands entertain the crowds with there own special individual styles of music and display marching. This being a non-competitive gathering the bands can relax and really enjoy themselves without the added pressure of being under the spotlight of judges.
One of the main events of the day is the display of strength by David Huxley, Australia’s world heavy events champion and his Tartan Warriors. These giants of men compete in a competition to lift the “Bundanoon Stones of Manhood”; there are 5 stones of incredible weight ranging from 100 to 165 kilograms. This really is a wonderful contest of speed, agility and strength.
As the day of festivities comes to and end and the closing ceremony approaches the crowd are once again treated to the spectacle of the Massed Pipes and Drums display which is followed by the lone piper and a closing address by the Chieftain.
Those diehard fanatics who wish to continue on in the Scottish mood can join in the Ceilidh held at the Bundanoon Soldiers Memorial Hall, bookings are essential and can be made on (02) 2443 6033.
The committee of the Bundanoon Highland Gathering ensures that it recognises the commitment of those local charities and groups who give countless hours of labour to the gathering by disbursing monies raised on the day on a proportional basis to each organisation.
Admission for 2009 is: Adults $18, Child $5, Family $40, (2 adults + 2 children)
Further information contact the Publicity Officer Alaistair on Phone/Answer (61 2) 4883 7471 or by Email at [email protected]
“This is Scotland” with a “wee” bit of “Aussie Flavour”
Date for the Diary 17 April 2010
It is with Great pleasure that the Bundanoon Highland gathering announce that Dr Frank Davidson has accepted our invitation to become the Chieftain of the Day for the 32nd Highland Gathering
Short Biography.
Dr Frank Sutherland Davidson, descended from pioneer families in the New England region of NSW, was born there in 1934 and brought up on Clermont Park, his father’s sheep property. He was educated at home and at the University of New England, from which he holds the degree of Ph.D. He worked initially as a secondary teacher of English and then as an academic in the University of Sydney, where he was a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education.
In 1965 he married the Hungarian-born ballerina Suzanne Musitz, a foundation member of The Australian Ballet who as Suzanne Davidson was subsequently founder of what is now The Sydney Dance Company. They have two children and five grandchildren.
In 1984 he published a history of his family, The Davidsons of New England and in the same year founded the Clan Davidson Society in Australia, of which he continues to be president. He is also a writer, and as a playwright has several times had work performed in one-act play festivals.
Frank has been prominent in the Scottish-Australian community since the foundation of the Scottish Australian Heritage Council in 1981. Spurred by the fact that the Chiefship of Clan Davidson had lain dormant for nearly 80 years, Frank initiated an international search which in 1996 achieved Recognition by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who rules in matters of clan precedence and protocol, of Duncan Davidson of Davidston, first of the renewed Clan Davidson chiefs.
The present Chief, Alister Davidson of Davidston, appointed Frank as High Commissioner for Clan Davidson in Australia in 2000. He has also been honoured by the Celtic Council of Australia with the award of C.y.C.
He was the elected president of the Scottish Australian Heritage Council from 2002 to 2006 and is currently its Deputy President.
Members of the Women’s Handball squad held a training camp on 14th-15th March 2009 in Brisbane, as part of its preparation for the Pacific Cup and the Oceania Region Qualifying Tournament for the Women’s World Championship to be held in China in December 2009.
This was the third training camp conducted by Katsu Kinoshita since his re-appointment in December 2008 as Head Coach of the Australian Women’s Team.Katsu took on the role of Head Coach of the Women’s Team which successfully won the qualifying tournament to represent Australia and the Oceania Region in the Women’s Handball World Championship held in France during November 2007.
The March training camp was attended by the following players:
NSW –Gizelle van der Merwe, Jessica Fearnside, Kim Higgins, Milly Thomas,
Vanja Smiljanic
Qld–Jemima Harbort, Mary Kent, Melissa Mellor, Rosa Boyd
The training camp focused on defence; decision-making (both in attack and defence} and effective execution of fast breaks. The team was supported during the camp by Nicky Rolls, Physiotherapist and by Mrs Linda Mellor has helped the team for last three months with catering for lunch at training camps.
The women’s squad will have another camp on 18th-19th April 2009.This will be Open Camp again before the Pacific Cup Camp that is scheduled to start on 14th of May.
For more information about the Australian Handball Women’s Squad and handball generally, refer to the Australian Handball Federation website: www.handballaustralia.org.au or email [email protected]
It has become very reassuring in public contacts made with principal United States politicians such as Bush and Obamma that whatever the past mature man to man negotiation can make principal adjustments to understanding world events, especially the limitations of the Hitler years in Europe. Unexpectedly the figures of that period have been misunderstood because of then of over representation of masterfulness and leadership.
The lesson to be learned then is an important one. Personal and world history needs the shrug of the shouldders sometimes for most of us to advance. Absolute justice so longed for is not a possibility on this planet but comprimise and healthy understanding and manliness can do a lot to see around otherwise unnegotiable corners.
Mischief and plain wrong doing is unacceptable and becomes widely known but cannot be undone directly now because it is the past. Plenty of societeies including the British empire were reponsible for a lot of intended wrong doing which was put right once reformers developed the capabilities and the mandate to move forward. President Obamma is one of those having a go at some of these situations.
Inhuman acts including terror to make impossible public comment cannot be accepted for moral and political reasons. For some they are the only code and there have been examples of this in history all over the world as in Africa today for example. Personal experience (well known to me and well known in this community) has shown determination to bully and maintain bigotory is unviable.
What is needed in international negotiations is development of dialogue and then a mandate to make the changes that correct terible mistakes and inhumanity. When this happens all concerned should be congratulated and a new mandate for change makers accepted.
In the 1950s and 1960s much of the progress that was unfolding, by extending great cities such as Sydney and the first start of native film, acting and drama schools and a native literature, well recognised firstly in the Whitlam years meant here was a high degree of optimism and growing cosmopolitanism not unlike that of Provincial America or the new cities of Canada for example.
This spirit of inventiveness was not restricted to the high arts but farming, particulary broad acre farming which was pioneered here and undertaken often the case in the US an Europe. This spirited efficency meant that the traditional pastoral industries could achieve record highs in achievement and also succede in untried warters because the very old Imperial preferences scheme was no more. Australian farmers still have this leading edge ability.
Also the development of many successful small and medium businesses in major suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne for example has mirrored much of the success of the family based farmers.
Change and leadership became therefore important to business and public leaders. However there also grew an increasing belief in and a need to trust coherency by consulting literature especially the media available throgh books. This change has yet to trickle down fully even to top markets such as Sydney but the continuing prestiege of the printed word satisfies so many.
I know from contact with professional management, and leadership bodies responsible for the formation of so many skilled people, such as nurses, public servants,business people, the armed forces and police that there is a great appreciation of non fiction literature to mentor and train those engaged in serious tasks. I hope that Australians develop their own literature concerning leadership as the need for local solutions is great.
Other literature including indegenous literature is also flourishing. However contact with senior diplomats and politicians here in Canberra has led me to recognise we need a lot of revisions, of accepted accounts including that of World War 2 because very old censorship provisions are noy suitable. Cooperation in this area will be importan
I am an avid attender of meetings of the Australian Labor Party here in Canberra. I learnt early as a young man that the rough and tumble of life meant that to stand up for personal issues, especially human rights, intellectual freedom and opportunity to go forward (some times crawl I must admit) was needed for the planet to be a better place.
I have always stood for and occasionally fallen on my own sword when not up to the mustard when events seemed beyond me. Sometimes evets still are.
Unfortunately at a late meeting of the Australian Labor Party 19 March, gearing up for an important conference concerning housekeeping for our future I was led to believe that MLAs had been instructed to confuse me because of my strong role in international relations.
I am seeking clarification. The tipster was Minister Andrew Barr. Hopefully he man was being helpful.
I think by now the community and the Australian Labor Party accept I play an approriate and important role in developing realtions with other communities as well as resolving impossible to solve situations from time such as the negotiations leading to the end of the Vietnam conflict, the cessation of hostilities between Palestine, Egypt and Israel (President Carter) and of course the evolution of democratic government in South Africa.
The success of any body in these areas should be applauded. Personally I am quite proud.
If you are a resident of Canberra and indeed elsewhere in Australia it has become very clear for a considerable period that Parliamentary broadcast standards have become increasingly academic because what needs to be said and resolved has been off line for too long.
Topics as considerable as the dismissal years, the settlment of great conflicts such as World War 2, and current debates including independence and role of this nation due to its relationships with Europe and the United States, the evolution of democracy in South Africa and the settlement of issues such as the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been debated openly by senior politicians and others such as myself here in Canberra.
It is generally admitted that there needs to be a serious look at the many attempts especially by the Commonwealth Parliament to act as a parent and not make available the full story of so much, including the Hitler years, the resolution of the Vietnam conflict with the help of the United States and Russia here in Canberra, the settlement of the conflict between Palestine, Egypt and Israel (President Carter), the evolution of democracy successfully in South Africa as well as national events including the machinery of government negotiations in the case of the Hawke and Fraser governments.
My experience in raising these obvious concerns with senior figures in the Commonwealth Parliament (The Speaker of the House and the Pesident of the Senate) is that they are not interested. Comment even about basic expectations on Parliament’s role to permit and respond to opinion and hot topics simply is not available from the authorities responsible for what takes place.
Freedom of discussion is a fundamental of democracy and should be the expected outcome essential for change and approriate leadership. This has been expected even when the nation was a colony. Unnecessary sabotage to free discussion should not be accepted without explanation
