In June last year I followed up a media report about the federal government de-funding the national peak body for youth affairs, saying it didn’t believe a single peak body is necessary and it is “developing plans to consult with young Australians using a more focused and targeted approach.” That was published at New Matilda …
Youth Engagement: the merry-go-round has stalled Read More »
I earlier posted a short story about a tree that we went to some considerable effort to save when building a house – a very lucky tree – which became the name of the story I submitted to an ABC Open project. ABC have now published stories from that project in a splendid book, “In …
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree (PART ONE – first published July 22, 2014) Up and down the coast and along our waterways there is a clash between public land management and the private desire for a water view. The private desire, which some foreshore property owners see …
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree Read More »
The environment has always provided inspiration for all forms of the arts. Always has, always will. Reading the Land is an opportunity for artists – at all levels – to examine a landscape, learn something of the values people who know the area well associate with that landscape – and then interpret it in their …
Gareth Ward, member for the NSW electorate of Kiama, and former councillor of Shoalhaven City Council, is one hard working politician, seemingly having devoted his life to the cause. I don’t think he always makes a positive contribution to public debate. While this is a very local piece I have aimed to present as fair …
I’m trying not to be fixated on federal government de-funding of civil society organisations but this is an essay I wrote on the felling of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition. The subject matter had special meaning for me after a memorable experience I had around 12 years ago. It’s been published on New Matilda in …
Round we go again: the ‘listening to youth’ merry-go-round Read More »
“In defence of usual suspects and vocal minorities” is an essay I wrote trying to understand what it is that drives those people who are prepared to take a stand for what they believe in. It focuses on Corinne Fisher, convenor of the Better Planning Network in NSW, and Adam Bonner, a privacy advocate who …
“In whose interest?” was an essay I wrote about federal government de-funding of the Environmental Defender’s Office. It was re-published on No Fibs, an on-line citizen journalism site established by former Fairfax journalist Margot Kingston. To see the visually enhanced (sub-edited) version, now titled “Digging up the drama,” click here: http://nofibs.com.au/2014/03/27/whose-interest/
Over a couple of trips to Bourke in north-west NSW late in 2013 I got interested in the town and its socio-economic circumstances. I hadn’t been there for 12 years and the place felt significantly different – despite a Sydney Morning Herald report from earlier in 2013 declaring it more dangerous than any country in …
Pecha Kucha is a presentation method that uses Power Point. Generally, I loathe the way Power Point is used. Masses of text or other data which someone then reads to their audience. Insulting. Many Pecha Kucha presentations are on this website. But Pecha Kucha is a fast and simple method for presenting an idea. Power Point is the tool, not …