This week one of Australia’s most notable Prime Minister’s Gough Whitlam, passed away. Much will be said about his legacy in the days ahead. Whatever one thought of Gough and his politics I reflect on a man who seemed to have a strong sense of identity and purpose. He knew who he was and what […]
I recently attended the opening of the Melbourne Festival featuring Big Hart’s production Murru. This ten song production is part tribute to John Pat, an aboriginal who died in custody, part protest about aboriginal deaths in custody and part proclamation for a a better future as people of different backgrounds hold hands and work together. In […]
The world has been shocked by the deaths, innocent casualties of war, of the passengers and crew of MH17 over Ukraine. Behind every photo of passengers published in our news services is a story. There are individual stories of people on their way to do business, going on holiday, attending conference and visiting families. […]
Ian Thorpe’s revelation about his sexual orientation this week reflects something about our humanity. We all long for acceptance and approval and fear rejection. That he felt he had to hide this despite his fame, his achievements and his sporting greatness shows what a powerful driver this longing for acceptance is. If I read what […]
Rolf Harris was an imposing figure throughout much of my childhood. I recollect a fun-loving, creative, highly amusing and very entertaining man. That image seems to have been a mirage. Behind the mask was a dark and sinister tale of sexual abuse of defenceless people. Because of how I had been groomed by the carefully […]
The recent use by an Australian sports betting agency caused a ripple of angst for using a Christian image and instruction as a tool to encourage betting on the world cup. Deputy Premier, Peter Ryan said on radio that ‘they ought to sink it‘ Was it sacrilege? We know that statues, even ones of Christ the Redeemer, […]
The Boko Haram kidnap of over two hundred school girls in Nigeria says much that is negative about the bad treatment of others and females in particular. It says that: people are expendable for political purposes females are things to be owned and sold off girls are not worthy of being educated, and especially that of a secular […]
Australians celebrate ANZAC Day on April 25 annually. This has many elements: honouring the people who gave themselves in the service of our country in war celebrating the freedom that we enjoy reminding ourselves of the cost of freedom hoping that never again will people be called to make such sacrifice No-one in […]
As many eagerly await the Easter holiday period its easy to think about the good of Easter in terms of the chance for a good break. Not that there’s anything with a good break. I love a good break. The way God made us was to work and recreate. That’s the whole idea of Sabbath. […]
Sometimes we hear horrific stories of human brutality. One such case is the story reported in the Age Newspaper of a man who was imprisoned, tortured and humiliated over a twenty-four hour period. The man was quoted as saying that he would ‘probably never trust them (humans) as collective again’. I can understand that. In […]