Category: General Musings

The long march home

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During the big wars of the last century Australian soldiers killed in action were interred in war cemeteries overseas.  The cost of repatriating 100,000 plus killed in WW1 and WW2 would have been prohibitive so the government policy remained as interment overseas. The soldiers were buried with their mates close to where they fell. During the Vietnam War when soldiers started being killed this protocol was still in place and soldiers were interred in War Cemetrys in SEA, notably Terendak, Malaysia. In May 1968 everything changed. A National Serviceman, Private Noack, was killed and when his father was told he would be interred overseas he  demanded he be brought back home. The Government complied but over the course of the war 32 soldiers were interred at Terendak Malaysia and one, Warrant Officer Conway, the first Aussie killed in Vietnam, was interred at Kranji, Singapore.  Up until 1966 Next of Kin were told they would even have to pay 500 Pounds to have their sons repatriated. An uncaring and unfeeling attitude by a government having trouble catching up with the times. After this date all of our mates killed were repatriated.  As a Infantry Sgt in 7RAR in Holsworthy NSW I led many a Burial Party for diggers of our sister Battalion, 5RAR. Bring them Home became a movement started by Jim Bourke who, against all odds, managed to locate all our MIAs and bring them home.  Developing from that various RSLs including the Northern Territory branch and other veteran organizations started agitating for the repatriation of those guys buried at Terendak and Kranji. It has finally happened. One of those coming home is Private Norman George Allen, a member of my Battalion, 7RAR, who was Killed in Action on 10 November, 1967 Welcome home Norm. A full list of those coming home can be read here      
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Defence, General Musings, Vietnam

David Morrison still loopy

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Australian of the Year and former Army chief David Morrison says the term “guys” should no longer be used in workplaces. This man never ceases to amaze me with his disconnect with the world as we know it. Apparently we can’t call a mob of girls “girls” either.
Exclusive language, gender-based language or inappropriate language, has as much a deleterious or disadvantaged effect as something where you’re saying something blatantly inappropriate to another human being,” General Morrison told ABC News Breakfast. The #WordsAtWork campaign video depicts a group of women rolling their eyes at being called “girls” by a male colleague.  
He aims to crack down on language which excludes minority groups. What minority groups?  Guys or girls covers all the groups.  There are only two if we are talking about gender. It doesn’t matter what your sexual proclivities are; it doesn’t matter how you identify, the vast majority of humans are born male or female. Yes, there hermaphrodites, babies born with Congenital adrenal hypoplasia, Gonadal dysgenesis or Androgen insensitivity syndrome but seriously how often will someone have occasion to address a group of these poor people in the workplace? If this very unlikely chance come your way I’m sure everyone would be talking about how to address them and one simply takes heed of context. But in the workplace I think we can assume everyone is either male or female and thus could be addresses by any generic term that doesn’t offend.  If you are offended by being referred to as a girl or guy then better you seek employment at a University where these matters are deemed important. In the real world they don’t count, which, thinking about it, describes David Morrison  
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General Musings

Peak stupid in The Oz

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Stupid letters to the Editor.

It is both bemusing and amusing to read once again about the supposed weakness of wind power being that the wind doesn’t always blow (Letters, 6/1). It doesn’t always rain, but every time I turn the tap on, water comes out.

Stephen Morgan, Carina Heights, Qld

It is bemusing, amusing and frightening that Stephen would even say this in a public forum.  He has his day in the sunshine when The Australian editor selects his letter to publish but unfortunately he most probably did so just to point out to the readers how stupid renewable energy advocates can be.

How embarrassing  for him.

Look up dams and/or reservoirs Stephen and apply it to Wind power.

And….

A group of white Americans occupy government property and get called “militiamen” yet, if a group of Muslims did the same thing, they would be “terrorists”. Go figure.

Peter Long, Gunnedah, NSW

Some of them are Militiamen Peter.  Go on line and read about why they are there before you make everyone aware of how unaware you are.  Oh, and in most cases when Muslims occupy buildings they also slaughter the innocents inside.  It’s called Terrorism.

Go figure.

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General Musings

Under attack

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White-crowned(3)Had a visitor last night.  Nearly stood on him as it was late and I had just turned the patio lights off.  He struck at me and hit my unshod foot causing me to rush to Google and find out who he is.  According to Snake Catchers Brisbane he is a White Crowned Snake

Species name: (Cacophis harriettae)

Weakly venomous

Other Common names:  Crowned Snake.

They go on to say;
Not considered dangerous to humans. All crowned snakes are reluctant biters, relying more on bluff display than bite. They are weakly venomous and have tiny mouths and short fangs. They will generally rear up & ‘mock strike’ with mouth closed, more of a ‘head butt’. If bitten, as with any snake bite, apply correct first aid and seek medical attention.
All OK, no fang marks but it made me wary. Big tough old soldier weakens at the knees when confronted with snakes and it matters not at all that he wasn’t even half a meter long. Possibly they are the most abundant of Brisbane’s smaller snake species and they are nocturnal which might explain why I have never, ever seen one. Keep an eye out for the little critters.
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General Musings

Perpetually Offended

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All Australia’s Catholic bishops (The Oz – paywalled) have been drawn into a national test case for freedom of religion and speech after Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission found they have a case to ­answer over humiliating gay, ­lesbian and transgender Australians by distributing a booklet supporting traditional marriage.
Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteus was initially singled out in a complaint by transgender Greens political candidate Martine ­Delaney that she felt humiliated and that he had breached the ­Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act by circulating a booklet to the parents of Catholic school ­students called “Don’t mess with Marriage”. Ms Delaney, who has changed from a male to a female and lives in a same-sex relationship with a woman, said she was humiliated by the booklet which only paid “lip service” to showing respect to same-sex attracted Australians but actually sent out negative messages about them.
A transgender Greens political candidate who has changed from a male to a female and lives in a same-sex relationship with a woman is always going to be offended and humiliated. Perpetually! Read an article about a hetero couple.  OMG, how humiliating.  An article about live cattle export. OMG, how humiliating.  If I emailed her and told her I drive a V8 she would be upset as well. Now the rules of debate on the SSM issue have been set.  If you think any gender can marry any gender, and there is apparently more than two nowadays, all well and good.  If you don’t, stand by to be called in front of a Kangaroo Court or Anti Discrimination Commission. She seems to afraid of debate and is trying to shut it down. Why? Maybe because most of the country doesn’t care and she knows it.  We have bigger issues to deal with and harping from the perpetually offended SSM/Green Activist crowd doesn’t help their cause.
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General Musings, Politics, Radical Ferals

PC Rampant in RAN

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mulsimcaptain

Captain Mona Shindy addresses the inaugural Iftar Dinner at the Australian War Memorial. And yes, she is wearing the uniform of the Royal Australian Navy

What is going on in the Navy?  Recently Captain Shindy was announced as Telstra’s Business Woman of the Year. The last time I looked the RAN wasn’t in business.  It has no business plan and is not required to turn a profit so why as one of their officers been awarded this honour. I think the answer lies partly in her uniform – note the Hijab.  On this evidence it would appear the RAN has changed the dress regulations to accommodate one particular religion – Islam. Ah well, I thought, maybe there is a groundswell of Muslims signing up and whereas, in my experience, regulations have never been change for just one religion. maybe numbers are changing this old rule  . But no, I can’t find any evidence that this is the case.  In fact it appears that most Muslims interested in the military have already signed up to fight against us in the Middle East. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Barrett recently fasted in solidarity with RAN Muslims and at a dinner at the Australian War Memorial said;
“Muslim-Australians and the knowledge and the values they bring to the workforce are a key and essential component of a successful Team Navy.”
Wow, just Wow. I get the feeling that the Vice Admiral wouldn’t be saying that at a dinner held at the War Memorial for say, Catholics and or Protestants.  In fact I doubt there ever would be a dinner celebrating main stream religions. We are, after all, a secular society. Dinner at the  AWM.  Hmm.  The memorial was designed to commemorate the sacrifice of Australians who have served their country.  It was never thought of as a temple to political correctness. Bernard Gaynor goes into more detail than I do and like me yearns for a day when the military defended the country without politically correct language. During my time I served under more simple rules.
The role of the infantry is to seek out and close with the enemy, to kill or capture him, to seize and hold ground, to repel attack, by day or night, regardless of season, weather or terrain.
There were no riders  that mentioned ” in a gender equal manner” or ” in between praying to Allah five times a day” or “dressed modestly with Hijab if applicable” Poor show Admiral.
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Defence, General Musings

Smoking can be dangerous

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In today’s The Australian, the Aviation section has an article on a book soon to be released by author and former Qantas director of public affairs Jim Eames, entitled The Flying Kangaroo. An extract
Then there was s humour and a larrikinism that Eames noted would not be tolerated in today’s highly regulated, closely scrutinised environment. These included the exploits of former RAAF transport pilot Ross Biddulph. Biddulph’s legend was born flying a DH-84 Dragon from Kainantu to Lae in New Guinea. After realising he’d left his Craven A cigarettes in the back of the plane, Biddulph, desperate for a puff, decided he would set the aircraft on a level cruise and dart through the cabin to retrieve them. “Apparently Dragons dislike people rapidly appearing behind the centre of gravity because the wretched plane reared up like a Wodehouse salmon and set course for Jupiter,” Biddulph wrote in a letter. “Almost immediately it stalled and, forgetting all about Jupiter, screamed straight down towards Nadzab (a PNG ­village). “Shortly afterwards I arrived in the flight deck area, spreadeagled against the instrument panel like a butterfly and covered in thousands of Craven As.’’ Worse for Biddulph was the fact that Qantas’s chief pilot in the region, Bill Forgan-Smith, was flying a DC-3 1000ft behind and above him.
It’s behind the paywall but if you subscribe go read the piece. It is entertaining and a window into an earlier life
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General Musings

Veteran’s matters

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Busy days.  Last week at Coolangatta I commemorated the loss of my mates in South Vietnam with members of the platoon. As Recce Platoon, 7RAR we spent a year conducting long range patrols  and took a lot of casualties from mines and AK 47s. We get together every year on the anniversary of one our mate’s death in action and remember them all.  We are together for a week and it is great to recharge the batteries. It reminds me that friendship’s formed in battle and the losses we suffered are forever. A weekend with grandkids and back to work at a three day seminar with the Royal Australian Regiment Association where we try and do better at looking after our less fortunate veteran mates. Senator Michael Ronaldson, Minister of Veteran’s Affairs, shared his thoughts under Chatham House rules and he was followed by Craig Orme from DVA. I was impressed with both of them.  With their compassion, professionalism and determination to improve the lot of veterans. They handled the crusty old soldier audience with aplomb considering there were star ranks abound (not me, of course – I only made Major) From commemorating my mates death in action to attending a seminar aimed at helping those of us who survived, is taxing but ultimately motivational as you spend days concentrating on the less fortunate and realize there are agencies who are lining up to help and that any personal problems you think you might have,  pale into insignificance compared with others. Of course, after all day conferencing, the time comes to relax and this week gave me cause to remember that some of these older warriors have a tremendous ability to consume beer and red wine as we literally discuss the history of the Regiment from Morotai (where the Regiment was formed in 1948) through to Iraq. The unofficial history, that is. The history that never gets written down. We military have Chatham House rules as well. Heady days – now back to work.  
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Defence, General Musings

AFL forget what it’s all about

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Here’s an idea AFL. Stop bringing politics into sport. If I want politics I’ll access it through the media.  When I watch football, I just want to watch football.  I don’t want to get involved in whatever indigenous activism is cool this week.  I don’t care if the players are black, white or brindle.  They are just good athletes and a joy to watch.  Or they were until you brought in racism. Apparently this week is Multicultural Round.  There you go again – it’s supposed to be about football, nothing more, nothing less. Let me know when you get the message and I’ll start watching again Oh, and another thing – threatening Aussies with dire treatment if they boo Sooky la la Goodes tonight will most probably guarantee more booing.  
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General Musings, Indigenous Affairs

Q & A Bias

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Tony Abbott has been roundly criticised by the panellists on Q&A for prohibiting government MPs from appearing on the show. I can see their problem – no Coalition MPs to gang up on and ridicule must make for a disappointing night for them and let’s face it, without them, the whole raison d’être of Tony Jones and his show is negated. As Bolt says;
Q&A was quite boring last night without a Coalition MP on – a bit like the Christian not turning up to the colosseum to meet the lions …
And do spare a thought for the battalions of Twitter front line troops, trigger fingers poised to send of another volley of insane and inane abuse aimed squarely at the  Abbott government. Personally I think it’s a good idea for Coalition MPs to give Q & A the flick.  Most viewers tune in hoping for a gotcha moment engineered by Tony Jones so getting a rational message over to these people is pointless – they are watching for the sport. Someone suggested that by not appearing on the show the Coalition is missing out on getting their message over to a million rural viewers.  That presumes that rural viewers get their politics from Q & A which is obviously not the case. I say starve them of oxygen…let them  remain what they have always  been – a platform for the dissemination of left wing views for the luvvies. By the Left for the Left. Meanwhile, this comment by Ray Martin, appointed to investigate Q & A, bodes ill for any balanced results as he raises his pro ALP colours up the flag pole
“I’d like to see what happened last year, the year before rather, when there was a Labor government. I expect Tony Jones was just as tough on the Labor government as he has been on the Coalition right now. I think a Bex and a good lie down may help at the moment.”
Not so, Ray. He goes on to suggest Barnaby Joyce should have ignored Abbott’s direction not to appear on the show.
“I just think it’s so silly to do it. I would have thought that Barnaby Joyce who wasn’t on last night should have said (to Abbott) look I’m not a member of the Liberal party, I’m a member of the National Party, I can do what I like, and go and do it.”
Nothing will come of the investigation while Ray is involved.  A slap on the wrist at most and “lets move on, nothing to see here” The only answer to the ABCs bias is to not debate the issues with them. I mean to say – who has ever heard of a Left winger being converted and involved in rational debate.
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General Musings
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