Here’s a picture related to the post on Coincidence of Juliet and Dr Pieter Mourik. He is the first placement under a Federal Government locum program to provide relief for obstetricians in regional areas. The local obstetrician has a solo practice and Pieter is filling in for him while he takes leave. The program is [...]
Nationals in decline
The future of the National Party in Australia is under a cloud following the defection of Victorian Senator Julian McGauran to the Liberals. Most analysts seem to think the party is in terminal decline. The evidence certainly supports that. Three-cornered contests after a sitting member retires are invariably won by the Liberal Party. The question [...]
Student unions
The government’s bid to abolish compulsory student union fees passed through Federal Parliament tonight after the Family First Senator, Steve Fielding, voted with the majority. My opinion was with Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce, that non-political fees for student services should be retained. This would have meant ongoing funds for student sporting clubs, arts groups, etc. [...]
Zimbabwe comes close to home
I’ve written a few times about Zimbabwe. Today, there’s a personal touch to the comments I make. I visited Zimbabwe in 1991 when it was a prosperous happy country and before Mugabe went bananas. My employer at the time, a Victorian farming newspaper, encouraged me to write some freelance articles about the agricultural situation while [...]
Hangman axed
The Herald-Sun reported today that Singapore has sacked its hangman, Darshan Singh, because he gave a media interview and exposed his identity. Darshan is a 74-year-old grandfather. He has been responsible for implementing every instance of capital punishment in Singapore since 1946. The whole concept of being a hangman is totally surreal and I won’t [...]
