And as one final Australia Day tribute before the clock strikes midnight (if I type fast enough), here’s Olivia Newton-John’s Tutta La Vita, the feel-good opening number to her musical tour of Australia called Olivia Newton-John Down Under. Enjoy! The Royal Australian Navy will never be the same.
New national anthem: “I am So an Aussie”
Today cartoonist Michael Leunig challenged us to write a new national anthem. His 54-word limit is a bit too limiting. So the Snarky Platypus and I have penned (well, typed) a new National Anthem for Australia.
Won’t you now sing with us? We know you all know the tune…
Great Australian Dreaming 1
As my Australia Day tribute, I’ll completely contradict what I said in my post about Australian of the Year and give you a photograph. A photograph of rural Australia.
Actually, this picture was taken only a short way out of Melbourne as ’Pong and I were about land at Tullamarine. The date is 17 December 2002, and the drought is in full effect. For me, these colour tones say “Australia” more than anything else.
NSW health overhaul critical after years of inaction
My mate Bernard Kealey has scored the Sydney Morning Herald‘s lead letter today for this scathing criticism of the NSW health system. Fight the good fight, brother!
Weekly Poll: Who cares about Australian of the Year?
A country music singer that many (most?) Australians have never heard of is Australian of the Year. Does anyone care?
Chairman Rudd reckons:
Lee Kernaghan’s music resonates with every Australian by connecting us all to the spirit of the bush, but more importantly he gives hope and pride to those on the land when they need inspiration most.
He has rolled up his sleeves to make a real difference for those in need in rural Australia.
Pull the other one, Kevin.
OK, Kernaghan has certainly worked hard to lift morale in the drought-stricken bush. But when 98% of us live in urban areas, and 30-odd percent were born elsewhere, can we really say that nasal, droney bush ballads represent our world?
In fact, does a concept like “Australian of the Year” even matter in 21st Century Australia?
Continue reading “Weekly Poll: Who cares about Australian of the Year?”
Gimli Glider’s last flight
A milestone in aviation history this week. The Gimli Glider (pictured) made its final flight on Thursday 24 January.
I mentioned this amazing story a few months back. In brief, in 1983 an Air Canada Boeing 767 ran out of fuel at 28,000 feet over Ottawa and the pilots glided it safely to the ground — landing at an old airport which, unbeknownst to the pilot, was not a motor racing circuit. A very, very fine piece of flying indeed.
The aircraft was returned to normal service — there’s nothing a bit of panel-beating can’t fix! — and for the last 24 years has had a normal career.
Hat-tip (and the full story) thanks to Telstar Logistics.