16 September 2008

Rex flies through turbulence

It’s not often that a stock exchange-listed company adopts honesty and frankness as a marketing technique.

However, Regional Express (REX) has set a new benchmark in transparency with the cover of its latest annual report, released on Monday.

The airline not only concedes it was a tough year, but acknowledges the challenges on the cover of its annual report, with pictures of storm clouds and a headline saying “Annus Horribilis” as per the Queen’s famous words a few years ago.

Rex actually performed fairly well in the financial year just completed. The company increased revenue and maintained profit in the face of rising fuel prices and 50 percent pilot turnover in a tight job market.

The report’s cover was refreshingly honest in reflecting the company’s turbulent year.

Tags: transport
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4 August 2008

The Lazy Journalist’s Plane Story Generator

Courtesy of Aussie Bloggers Forum, this story generator is a bit of fun:

Adelaide passengers told of their terror aboard a Melbourne bound Qantas flight which was required to return to Adelaide yesterday due to large bits falling off.
Some passengers were distraught that the 309 passengers were told few details of the catastrophe.
They said the plane “porpoised like a dolphin chasing small fish” before turning around.
As a precaution, fire trucks were on standby when the Airbus Concorde landed.
Passenger Bob Kobb last night was still recovering from the ordeal.
“I wasn’t so much worried for myself, but for my children losing their only parent,” the passenger said.

Quite topical given the recent Qantas flight losing bits in mid air over the Philippines.

Tags: humor, media, transport, travel
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1 August 2008

Skywest Kalgoorlie-Melbourne

I was sorry to read on the Kalgoorlie Miner website that Skywest will abandon its Melbourne-Kalgoorlie service in November.

I used the service thrice, and although expensive it was a marvellous time saver.

They say it is not economically viable at 50 percent capacity given high fuel prices, operating costs “and the deteriorating economic conditions in Australia”. Read more »

Tags: Kalgoorlie, transport
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6 June 2008

Dealing with bureaucracy

Changing address is a pain at any time, more so when you move interstate. I can’t imagine the fuss if you moved overseas!

We attended to some of the essential paperwork in advance of moving from Kalgoorlie to Mount Gambier. Electricity, water and telephone all had to be changed before we shifted.

I earmarked today for notifying the host of other services we use. Read more »

Tags: finance, life, transport
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30 May 2008

Arrived in Mount Gambier

We arrived in Mount Gambier on Thursday afternoon after driving more than 600km from Moonta.

I picked up the house keys and everyone was excited to look around. Unfortunately the power wasn’t connected. The fuse box is inside the house and despite us arranging to have it turned off by the real estate agent, the power company failed to connect.

We made an adventure of it, got the wood fire burning and slept in the lounge room. Read more »

Tags: family, life, Mount Gambier, transport
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26 May 2008

Oversize vehicles on the road

I mentioned in the previous post about crossing the Nullarbor that I saw a large number of oversize vehicles on the road.

I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say we saw about 40 or so between Norseman and Port Augusta in two days.

I can’t recall seeing any on my previous crossing in January 2006. Read more »

Tags: motoring, transport, travel
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16 May 2008

Brendan Nelson having a go

I’m not exactly a great admirer of Brendan Nelson, but I do think he deserves to be given a chance. I wonder if much of the speculation about his position isn’t just political mischief.

Compared with state leaders Ted Baillieu and Troy Buswell he’s doing a pretty good job in unenviable circumstances.

I didn’t hear his budget reply speech, but reading the news summary it sounds quite good. Read more »

Tags: liberal, nelson, politics, transport
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2 March 2008

Help or hazard?

Satellite navigation devices designed to guide drivers could prove even more dangerous distractions than using mobile phones at the wheel, according to a report in The Age.

Road safety experts are urging motorists to use the devices with caution, warning that they could distract drivers and increase the risk of crashes.

I’ve been surprised on my last couple of visits to Melbourne how many people are using these satellite maps. I think every taxi has one now.

In my experience it didn’t seem to assist the tax drivers at all. The first one went in the wrong direction!

The second driver pulled off the road to key an address into the GPS device, but couldn’t get it to work. I finished up finding the street for him in a good old-fashioned map book.

Tags: maps, society, Technology, transport, travel
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2 December 2007

The Prospector

Juliet is on The Prospector travelling to Perth. The train takes about six and a half hours to complete the 600km journey.

Track works are under way at the moment to make it faster. It’s a single line most of the way and The Prospector is often delayed waiting for freight trains. Extra passing loops will enable the passenger train to have a clearer run.

I’m a train buff without being obsessive like a “spotter”. I just think it’s a great way to travel. In Europe I went from Zurich to Amsterdam on a train, also to Venice and back from Zurich.

Tags: Kalgoorlie, transport
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23 July 2007

If I ruled a country …

This is one of those five-question blog prompts. I first saw it on Synaptoman. The starting assumption is that you are the absolute ruler of a prosperous, stable country without any immediate threats, no poverty or unemployment.

That means I can answer this question safe in the knowledge I don’t need to interfere with the economy or the social structure. They must be working already.

1) I’d appoint an advisory council made up of community and industry leaders. I wouldn’t have to accept their advice, but I could not govern effectively without it.

2) I would guarantee the independence of the judiciary, appoint a powerful ombudsman and ensure the police force was properly organised and well paid.

3)  The only taxes would be a value-added tax and a bank debits tax.

4)  I would ensure free quality education to university level.

5) I would build an excellent public transport system and ban cars from city precincts.

Tags: blog, economy, education, employment, media, NSW, police, PR, rant, Sport, transport, WordPress, work
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