http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/kevin-hawkins/ Kevin Hawkins is a freelance writer and Media student at the University of Melbourne. He is a columnist for Farrago and blogs at http://kevman.wordpress.com. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/even-slippery-politicians-deserve-a-sporting-chance/ Craig Thomson and Peter Slipper have allegedly made a fair few errors in their life. But perhaps their most costly mistake was choosing the wrong profession. Politics is an unforgiving game. Your each and every move is scrutinised by the public, making it imperative for those in power to behave appropriately at all times. A single slip-up, with or without context, can erupt into a full-scale Parliamentary inquiry. Years ago I allegedly spotted the alleged Federal Treasurer Peter Costello allegedly jay-walking across an alleged road. At the time I considered sending off my candid photograph to the papers, just for a laugh. But I stopped myself in my tracks; could a photo as harmless as that be dangerous to the politician’s long-term reputation? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Kevin Hawkins) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/even-slippery-politicians-deserve-a-sporting-chance/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/even-slippery-politicians-deserve-a-sporting-chance/#item8541 Sun, 20 May 2012 19:45:36 +0000 Kevin Hawkins | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/All-hail-the-next-big-thing-wait-an-even-bigger-thing/ There’s a fine line between the “next big thing” and a national legend. There’s an even finer line between the “next big thing” and a nobody. This nation has an obsession with manufacturing superstars, with believing that ordinary Australians are capable of the extraordinary. The physiological limits of the individual - how fast they can run, how high they can sing - are irrelevant. Of far greater importance is “the story”, the tried-and-true narrative of how the perennial underdog has become the nation’s top dog, albeit for a fleeting moment. The media has a ball in delivering these inspirational tales. And why wouldn’t they; the public never fails to swallows the hype. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Kevin Hawkins) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/All-hail-the-next-big-thing-wait-an-even-bigger-thing/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/All-hail-the-next-big-thing-wait-an-even-bigger-thing/#item7307 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:45:50 +0000 Kevin Hawkins | Author bios | The Punch