Steps to Newcastle Beach. Still stand the test of time and high tides and council works - remarkable!

Compensation to victims is notable.  Now the Bali bombings are used to win an election...and refugees...all's fair in love and war?

Highly responsible, serious, wholesome and thorough - give us a break. And anti-sustainability and anti-carbon tax are so last century. As for trust.. trust..and more trust - come off it - we are beyond that.
Instead let us have some complexity, inspiration and the unknown from our leaders.
I'd be guilty of some of this but am not standing as prime minister and have no claim to fame. That's my excuse.

It goes without saying that it is difficult to make good policies on refugees.
But we are racists, by and large we are racists.
We hear pathetic election slogans about (refugee) boats and are using boats to win an election.  Our foremost political spin doctors are no better that Murdoch and the Daily Telegraph.

"I have a dream" anniversary and Migrant and Refugee Week are marked right now. Ironic.
ABC news states 40000 Irish came to Australia in 2011 and 2012 and 5000 settled for good. This report is not clear but it seems it is ok for the Irish or the numerous others, it is said, who overstay their visas, to escape interest and name calling. 
On another point, if  you are a very "good" Australian resident of heritage this or that, great difficulty will be encountered in getting a visa for a relative to visit for a holiday or in times of serious illness. So, visitors, keep that in mind, visas are not a given and could even change for Anglo saxons and Celts in our racist nation.

 

ODE TO AN AUSSIE

A tree living in the bush at Camooweal.

But just not an ordinary tree.

This is a Swampy Gum tree - another old man swampy!

You may note he is growing on rock.

Super hard country and very warm in summer.

 One also knows by the black scars he wears

that he has endured several ordeals by fire

yet he still has his own hair (leaves), white bark and aura of strength.

He is home to vast numbers of ants, beetles, spiders, lizards and birds

and shade to 'roos, catlle and man - he does not discriminate.

He provides excellent firewood to boil up, cook and heat.

He shines like the richest cedar when polished,

He is an Aussie through and through!

He is an astounding free gift from the universe!

photo: Carmel from Camooweal. writer: Starman  2013

Do you give a gonski?
Good Gonski school reform will be furthered by voting for the right party.
The policy was from Gillard et al.
Remember when?

Looking south to some rocks that are a familiar landmark.
Coal ships loom on our horizon.

 This is what's growing above the beach. Far left has been transformed from previous accommodation to do with the old Royal Newcastle hospital while the next one is apartments undergoing construction, I think, the one that has the hide to call itself The Royal or something or other.
Then, under the board walk?

This is giving a back-hander back to the community.
We didn't like how Julia became Prime Minister, Deare me!
Rudd's returned to his alpha role. Still not Happy?
As a result it would be rational to support him and his party. But what's going on?
As has been said, would be notable to hear again from an ideas leader; a fiesty leader; a futuristic political party instead of lectures and economic talk and hand-outs to those already blessed with more.

Departing after surfing. Arriving. Another tunnel at the beachfront.

Is spring in the air?

Promenard between Muloobinba and Yi-ran-na-li has signs of work done by old hands in 1906- 7.  Would they have been stumped by those place names?

Incongruous lines: 

(the king) said to me: Rise up, my love, and come away.

See! The winter is past, the rains are over and gone.

flowers appear in our land, and now is the time of reckoning. 

Song of Solomon. Lyrical with the music of Monteverdi.

Jottings from Yi-ran-na-li (South Newcastle Beach). Old and new, doh.  Rustic picnic shelter.  What is it's future?  Scenes from my childhood. The shelter is one of the few original buildings left.

 Just another day in paradise. Winter's day. 

 New courthouse at Civic is off to very tall and skinny beginnings.
A potential first court case is just around the corner with a lone protest atop a van.

Ancient epics, shared with much of S E Asia, are part of Indonesian culture.  Many celebrate the end of Ramadan at this time

.

Morpeth, Hunter Valley.

Peace and quite.  A viewer once referred to a conservatory in their locality. But that was in the States. All sorts of outdated data come to light when an old computer is about to be pensioned off. Delete delete. Items sent to me that I don't recall at all.  Photos. Back in 2011 there was a fantasy about walking the Camino! Who am I kidding? This year it's a choral festival in Rome: ha ha and a doh ray me.
Then a mistake emerged. We've missed out. It is not e-waste collection day after all. Ha Ha :-)
Must not forget to smash the hard drive first or offer it to Snowdon!

The penitentiary on the shore.  Our leaders plan to send refugees to Papua New Guinea as well as to the existing camp at Naru - before it was trashed. The plan is a disgrace. I am ashamed of our response. 
Apart from the degradation what bad opinions will these prisoners form about Australia and possibly act on in the future.
Why is it that no one cops any blame for establishing a refugee prison on a location such as Christmas Island? What a stupid arrangement. Nothing but trouble. Just within reach of Indonesia.
Right, some come to this country just because they can.  We need better policies instead of sending people to a fate worse than death and exploiting our neighbouring countries.  A leader in Fiji called a spade a spade and summed us up nicely.