A true mentor to me in the Philippines and a revolutionary thinker used this phrase:
“The Task before us now, if we would not perish, is to cast aside our ancient prejudices and BUILD THE FUTURE”
Such is the heart of Social Issues.
This story by ABC National Indigenous affairs correspondent Bridget Brennan was first posted on February 2018. This story demands telling, describing as it does in very personal terms, the scandal – nay, the crime – of Australian history wherein Indigenous children were snatched from their families and trained to be domestic servants. It has particular significance for me, given that...
Note from Tony: This story was published on ABC news online. Basketball champion and Indigenous mentor Patty Mills has found ‘a way to live with impact and purpose’ By Jonathon Gul September 13 2020 Patty Mills is one of Australia’s greatest basketballers. (ABC RN: Jeremy Story Carter) Patty Mills remembers asking the question. Vividly, despite it happening more than...
Intro by Tony: This is not a story about football. It is a story about a person – an Indigenous Australian – and of people. There is no need, therefore, to know anything at all about Australian Rules Football to fully appreciate Rob’s story. His story has particular impact upon me for the reason I played AFL in Ballarat and Melbourne during this time (But not in the same...
July 7, 2020 Eric Bogle sings, in his iconic ballad “Now I’m Easy”:I married a fine girl when I was twentyBut she died in giving birth when she was thirtyNo Flying Doctors then, just a gentle old black ginBut it’s nearly over now, and now I’m easy. Eric Bogle’s use of the term “gentle old black gin” evokes the solace gifted by an older woman who shares his trauma and grief over the loss in...
May 31, 2020 Reflections on a Global Pandemic I have imaginary conversations with our Toyota Kluger vehicle. These conversations changed in early March. From asking “Where are we going?” Kluger asked “Where the bloody hell are you?” Which was a surprise because it never dawned on me that Kluger had any consciousness of Lara Bingle and the then Tourism Minster boss, Scott Morrison. However, I did...
May 16, 2020 A conversation with Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia Well, Scott, no. It is not quite like that. There are plenty of people who try like hell to get ahead, who work like blazes to assist their family, and do so for a long, long time. But they do not actually get a go. It may be because they are born on the wrong side of the street, or the wrong side of town or the wrong...