My years as a Redemptorist focused my life toward the underside of society: the neglected, the maligned, the forgotten, all children of Abraham, daughters and sons of the Merciful Father. My task is advocacy, to call out issues that obstruct their coming out of the shadows to stand in the sunlight.
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...