Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

“Malcolm Fraser cites the Melbourne-based Asylum Seeker Resource Centre as providing the kind of support that should be coming from the government. The ASRC, through a small permanent staff and about 900 volunteers, gives asylum seekers help with legal issues, medical care, training, accommodation, food and more.”

You find the above comment here;

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/man-of-principle-20120325-1vs5a.html

“Watch Michael Short’s full interview with former prime minister Malcolm Fraser.”

This interview took place two years ago and was published in THE AGE.

 

I find it significant that Fraser voiced an opinion that this kind of support like the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre should come from the government!

Russia warns Denmark

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/11487509/Russia-warns-Denmark-its-warships-could-become-nuclear-targets.html

This is a link to an article in The Telegraph.

I am extremely worried that warships could become nuclear targets.

“Why believe the hysteria that Lithuania is Russia’s next target? It’s just an example of very bad theatre. The only people it is good for is the weapons producers,” said Mr Mikhail Vanin, Russian ambassador to Denmark.

Sunday, 22nd of March 2015

This is Mount Kembla among the clouds.
Mount Kembla as well as a lot of clouds.

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Since last night it has been raining off and on. Today the temperature is only in the low twenties (Celsius!). Still, we decided, it would be good to have lunch at the Forest Grove Cafe. Last time we went there after lunch and had only coffee there. But we like the place for we can sit there in the open with a view onto the lake. And it is only a very short drive from where we live!

So today, we went for lunch to the Forest Grove Cafe. One of the lunch specials was grilled fish. Both Peter and I ordered this dish. It came with baskets of chips as well as a good selection of salads and a dressing of our choice. We were served a huge platter of food. It was really a bit much for me. After the meal I finally remembered to take a picture of our table with Peter’s camera. Peter had taken the photos of the lake before the meal arrived.

This is only a picture after we had finished our meal.
This is a picture after we had finished our meal.

Yesterday morning I cut  once more a bit of grass  using the big scissors while Peter was doing in the house some vacuuming-cleaning for the weekend. When he was finished, and it was my turn to wipe the floors, I suggested to Peter that maybe he could finish the cutting of the grass while I was wiping the floors. It did not take Peter long, to cut some more of the tall grass. Then he decided, he could really use his push lawn mover to finish cutting the grass properly. By the time I had finished with the wiping of the floors in the house. he had already finished his outside job! From inside I observed how he took to pushing the lawn mover. So I took some pictures of it through one of the windows!

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The above is a view through our kitchen window (facing westwards).

I like it that we did get a bit of rain overnight, as well as a bit of drizzle today. Hopefully, very soon our little grass area is going to show a bit of green again. This grass never grows at all when it doesn’t rain enough. It is at the northern side of the house and a lot of very tall trees take the sun away from it in winter. I hope some more grass is going to grow before the dark winter months are upon us! 🙂

An Article by Matthew Knott about Malcolm Fraser

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/by/Matthew-Knott

Malcolm Fraser was planning to start a new political party before his death

Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who died on Friday, was in the process of setting up a new political party that would have advocated scaling back Australia’s military ties to the United States.

Mr Fraser, who led the Liberal Party from 1975 to 1983, quit the party in 2009, shortly after Tony Abbott replaced Malcolm Turnbull as leader. He campaigned for Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young at the last election because of her stance on asylum seekers.

With an election due in mid to late 2016, Mr Fraser’s new party could have potentially run candidates at the next election.

Mr Fraser, who died aged 84, would not have led the party but would have driven its policy agenda. Fairfax Media understands Mr Fraser had developed a written draft policy platform for the party that included:

ending Australia’s close military alliance with the United States
a closer relationship with South-East Asian nations
ending the offshore processing of asylum seekers
stronger anti-corruption and transparency laws
tighter regulation of the sale of arable land
Mr Fraser discussed the party with confidants late last year.

In his last book, Dangerous Allies, published last year, Mr Fraser argued that Australia should become a “strategically independent country” and that the ANZUS Treaty with the United States was possibly the biggest threat to Australia’s security.

“If a war between China and the United States were to occur with a continuation of current policies, it would be very hard, if not impossible, for Australia to become involved,” he wrote.

Mr Fraser advocated closing down the US military base in Darwin and the Pine Gap communications facility

Mr Fraser had been a staunch defender of the US alliance during the Cold War but changed his view radically in his later years.

Mr Fraser was also deeply unhappy with the tough asylum-seeker policies of both major parties, including the use of mandatory detention and the offshore processing of asylum seekers.

Last year Mr Fraser tweeted in support of the creation of a federal Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

As prime minister, Mr Fraser introduced several measures to increase transparency of government decision making. These included the creation of the Commonwealth Ombudsman in 1977 to handle complaints about government agencies. He also introduced Australia’s first freedom of information laws and created the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit
Carnival Spirit

Around a quarter past eleven a.m.we arrived yesterday at Circular Quay Railway Station in Sydney.

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From the top of the railway station Peter immediately took some pictures of this huge ship that was anchored in Sydney Harbour.

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Soon we met Monika, our daughter, as well as Mark and some friends of Mark. Mark’s mother and sister were already on the Carnival Spirit. Monika, Mark and his friends had already booked in for this cruise.  They were expected back on board by around 3,30 p.m.

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Mark and Monika suggested we could have lunch with them at the German restaurant in the rocks area. It was a lovely walk towards the Rocks. It was promising to be another beautiful warm summer day in Sydney. The temperature actually soon reached thirty degrees Celsius. We had only a very light lunch.

On the way to the Rocks we came a bit closer to the Carnival Spirit.
On the way to the Rocks we came a bit closer to the Carnival Spirit.
Monika and Mark posing in front of this ship they were soon going to board for their twelve day cruise.
Monika and Mark pose in front of the Carnival spirit
This is where we had lunch.
This is where we had lunch.
Just a little beer before lunch arrives.
Just a little beer before lunch arrives.
In this courtyard we had afternoon coffee and cake. Sorry, we did not take pictures of the cake.
In this courtyard we had afternoon coffee and cake. Sorry, we did not take pictures of the cake.
We liked it in the courtyard and the cakes were yummy!
We liked it in the courtyard and the cakes were yummy!

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Walking to our next destination we saw the Carnival Spirit again.
Walking to our next destination we saw the Carnival Spirit again.
For good measures we went to another courtyard for some refreshing beer.
For good measures we went to another courtyard for some refreshing beer.

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I think Peter took this picture after Monika and Mark had left to go on board.
I think Peter took this picture after Monika and Mark had left to go on board.
A last look at the harbour. Then we were off to catch our train back home to Dapto.
A last look at the harbour. Then we were off to catch our train back home to Dapto.

You can find a lot more pictures of the Carnival Spirit here in google:

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=carnival+spirit+ship&espv=2&biw=1093&bih=514&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=lmQKVffIA4ju8gWsx4LYBA

Foundation Program

Peter helped me to find the following write up about this Foundation Program. We googled the Collingwood Football Club. There were a lot of websites to be found about this club. Eventually we found the following:

http://www.cfcfoundation.com.au/programs/

Programs

Magpie Nest Housing Program

The Magpie Nest is a partnership between the Collingwood Football Club Foundation and the Safe Exits Project 614 team from the Salvation Army.

Magpie Nest aims to make a genuine difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness by providing a newtork of services; long term safe and affordable accommodation; and individual case management support.

Magpie Nest targets the most vulnerable people in our community – people sleeping rough on the streets and living in unsafe rooming houses, and provides quality housing, safe accommodation; reduced rents; links to mental health services; and employment and training assistance.

The program currently hosts twenty seven houses with up to 75 places for people in Melbourne. The CFC Foundation hopes to expand the project further with the goal of reaching 50 houses by the end of 2015.

The Salvation Army’s Project 614 Team Case Workers, funded by the State Government, identify and support participants and oversee the day to day operation of the houses. By treating people with respect and care our case workers are able to build relationships and trust. By taking people out of the city and placing them in local communities and a settled home environment we are able to provide our tenants with access to proper health care and support. It also makes it possible for our tenants to seek employment and transition into independent living.

Magpie Nest at Hamadova Cafe

Magpie Nest also partners with the Project 614 team to support the Magpie Nest at Hamadova Cafe, a cafe for homeless people located at Westwood Place behind the Salvation Army at 69 Bourke Street Melbourne.

The cafe provides free meals and direct links to a range of support services for people who are homeless or at risk including free legal advice and representation; housing assistance; and drug, alcohol and mental health services.

Magpie Nest Partners

We are grateful to the following organisations for their generous support of the program:

The Victorian State Government; Westpac; Smile Solutions; Hocking Stuart Real Estate Preston; Good Guys Brighton; Adriatic Furniture.

We are also proud to be a charity of choice for Heston Blumenthal and The Fat Duck Restaurant at Crown.

Barrawarn Program

The Barrawarn Program is an Indigenous Employment and Education Program managed by the Collingwood Football Club Foundation in partnership with AFL SportsReady. The program commenced in 2012, providing educational and employment support for 15 young indigenous Australians in metropolitan and regional Victoria.

The CFC Foundation is now also working in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of State Development, Business and Innovation to provide full time employment placements.

We are proud to have achieved 35 new work placements for Indigenous Australians over the past 18 months. Collingwood works with the State Government and AFL Sportsready to identify and support organisations to create new Indigenous Employment programs.

We are grateful to the following organisations for their generous support – Westpac, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Linfox; and the Commission for Child and Young People.

Epworth Hospital Rehabilitation Program

The Collingwood Football Club works closely with the Epworth Hospital to provide support for the Rehabilitation Unit and assist therapy teams. The aim of the program is to help patients and their families adjust to ongoing changes in their lifestyle.

Alan Toovey makes weekly visits to the hospital to assist rehabilitation specialists with programs for patients.  This can involve participating in activities, or simply having a chat. The patients can be in the early stages after emerging from a coma, through to those addressing issues related to their return to community living.

The club also provides the Epworth with tickets to various games throughout the season, to provide patients and their families with some time away from the hospital.

Other

The Collingwood Football Club also supports and works in partnership with a number of other organisations and causes throughout the year including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac Cup); Robert Rose Foundation (Robert Rose Cup); RSL (ANZAC Day game); Royal Children’s Hospital (Good Friday Appeal and various hospital visits); Yuendumu Community Football Club/Industrial Magpies; Collingwood Knights (Reclink competition); Finnan’s Gift; City of Yarra; The Pratt Foundation; Collingwood FC African and Multi-Cultural Programs.

I think you’ll agree that these programs look wonderful. I do wish them every success! If you are in a position to donate to these programs, please, go to here:

http://www.cfcfoundation.com.au/donate/

Am Schlachtensee 1986

Even though this is another blog by pethan35 written in German, I still want to reblog it. I assume, that some of my followers can understand a bit of German, and besides some people might like to see the pictures and listen to the duet on the video.

I found in Google this Obituary about Karl-Josef Hering:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-karljosef-hering-1165680.html

ELIZABETH FORBES

Thursday 18 June 1998

After gaining experience in Hanover and Krefeld, Hering was engaged in 1966 by the Deutsche Oper, Berlin, and remained with the company until 1979, when ill-health forced him to retire. He then became landlord of the Fisher Cabin, an old and well-known hostelry in the Zehlendorf district of Berlin. There he frequently entertained his guests with a song.

Hering was born in Westonnen, Westphalia, and had already begun commercial training when he started to study with Franz Volker, a German tenor famous for his Wagnerian roles. Hering also studied with Max Lorenz, another heroic tenor. He made his debut in 1958 in Hanover, where he progressed from the First Prisoner in Fidelio to Florestan, the hero of Beethoven’s opera. In 1964 he moved to Krefeld and in 1966 to Berlin, where one of his earlier roles was Max in Der Freischutz.

In October the same year he made his Covent Garden debut as Siegfried in Gotterdammerung: everyone admired his voice, the kind of heroic tenor not heard in London for many years – older opera lovers even invoked the name of Lauritz Melchior in comparison – but his lack of stage experience and stiff acting were also commented upon.

In Berlin the following April, Hering first sang the young Siegfried, and it became immediately obvious that he had found his perfect role. Nearly two metres tall (around 6ft 5in) and broad to match, the tenor effortlessly conveyed the thoughtless, badly behaved child that lies at the heart of Siegfried, while his “big, never- failing voice unites melody and words with complete naturalness”, as the late Arthur Jacobs wrote, continuing, “I really enjoy his Siegfried.” So did I, quite enormously, when Hering sang both Siegfrieds at Covent Garden in September 1968.

Meanwhile Hering was rapidly acquiring new roles. He sang Pedro in Tiefland at the Vienna Volksoper, Parsifal in Marseilles and, in 1969, Erik in Der fliegende Hollander in Berlin. He visited Buenos Aires the same year, to sing Andres in Wozzeck and Max. He added Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos, Aegisthus in Elektra and Hermann in The Queen of Spades to his Deutsche Oper repertory, and in 1970 returned to Covent Garden for both Siegfrieds in what turned out to be his final visit.

Siegmund in Die Walkure took him across the Berlin Wall to the Staatsoper, while he made guest appearances all over Germany, usually as Siegfried, which he also sang in Toronto. Hering was made a Berlin Kammersanger in 1974: his final new role at the Deutsche Oper was the Drum Major in Wozzeck, a character for which his gigantic stature well suited him. His retirement at the age of 50 because of ill-health was a great loss to opera. At any time there are very few tenors who can sing Siegfried; hardly any of them can sing the role the way Hering did.

Karl-Josef Hering, opera singer and innkeeper: born Westonnen, Westphalia 14 February 1929; died Berlin 20 May 1998.”

pethan35's avatarPethan35's Blog

Im europäischen Frühling 1986 waren wir wieder einmal  zu Besuch in Berlin.

Am Sonntag, den 27. April nahm ich am 25 km Lauf teil. Berlin erlebte einen späten Frühling. Aber endlich meldete sich der Frühling an. Die ersten Knospen waren mutig und wagten sich ans Sonnenlicht und gaben den Sträuchern einen grünen Schimmer.

Nach dem erfolgreichen Lauf beschlossen wir, meine Frau Ute, Tochter Caroline und ich,  uns am Schlachtensee zu erholen.  Hier hatte ich auch für den Lauf trainiert. Der Rundlauf (etwa 5.5 km) ist wunderbar zum Joggen geeignet. Aber das lag hinter mir.

Wir erreichten den See mit der S-Bahn und liefen am Ufer entlang zur Bootsvermietung. Es war mitten in der Woche und nicht viele Menschen kamen mit der gleichen Idee.  Die Frau, die uns das Boot verlieh, war überrascht und plauderte munter mit uns. Für Caroline war es auch ein neues Erlebnis und sie wollte natürlich selber…

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Sunday, 15th March 2015

I reblog this post so my followers have a chance to listen to “Pop Corn” and to see this 73 year old family picture!

When you go to the original you’ll find two great videos as well as a family picture from 1942. In the picture you see Peter with his two sisters, Eva and Ilse. Yesterday was Eva’s birthday. She turned 83!

In May this year Ilse is going to turn 81 and Peter is going to be 80 three days after Ilse’s birthday.

pethan35's avatarPethan35's Blog

Wie die Musik zeigt, kann das Leben sehr kunterbunt sein. Und dieser Schlager von 1969 war ja damals sehr beliebt. Vielleicht haben wir damals sogar danach getanzt. Heute ist das alles ganz anders.  Ich bin ruhiger geworden.

Gestern war  Sonntag. Eigentlich kein besonderer Tag im Leben von Rentnern. Schließlich haben wir Dauerurlaub auf Staatskosten. Das gefällt unserer Regierung (Australien) gar nicht und sie überlegt, wie sie die Altersrente beschränken könnte. Die Bevölkerung wird immer älter und bald gibt es nicht mehr genug Arbeitende, welche die Rente für uns Alten erarbeiten können. Das kommt davon, wenn man nichts zurückgelegt hat.

Es war aber doch ein besonderer Tag, denn meine ältesten Schwester, die in Österreich lebt,  hatte Geburtstag. Ich rief sie an, um ihr zum Geburtstag zu gratulieren. Dann warf ihr Ehemann seinen Computer an  und wir konnten auch noch, nach einigen Schwierigkeiten, skypen. Dann sprach ich auch noch mit meiner anderen…

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Baby Dolls

I copied the following text from somewhere. Sorry, I cannot find the link to it any more. Apologies to the author.

“Baby dolls are a pretty common item to have when you’re a child, and with their plastic heads stuck on stuffed bodies, you’d thankfully never mistake one for a real baby. However, if you’re an adult and are looking for something a bit more realistic, maybe you should learn about the Reborners. PhotographerJamie Diamond did, spending time with what she describes as an “outsider art-making community.” Made up of women, these largely self-taught artists make hyperrealistic baby dolls by painting over existing dolls, collect them, and even interact with them. Sometimes the Reborners keep their dolls; other times, the dolls are put up for “adoption” on eBay. Besides a creative outlet, these dolls can also help the women manage a variety of emotional issues.”
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After our Christmas party last year a neighbour had brought around her baby doll for me to hold!

 

 

I found this about the reborn subculture in google:

http://petapixel.com/2015/01/23/mother-love-photographers-journey-reborn-subculture-realistic-dolls/

http://robchaney.net/mother-love-a-photographers-journey-in-the-reborn-subculture-of-realistic-dolls/