Pacific Islands
Last weekend the Melanie Jewson Foundation was formally launched to honour the life of Melanie Jewson, a Geelong teenager who died tragically in a car accident in 2004. She was about to turn 19.
Melanie was a remarkable person who had a zest for life. She was a regular at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre where she loved to perform. She danced and sang like an angel. She had the respect and love of her peers being elected the school captain of Western Heights College in 2003.
She had a gift for communication: in movement, in voice and with the written word. On her tribute website melaniejewson.com there is a short piece of her writing which tells the story of a particular performance, of her passion for music and of her love for her father. It is simply impossible to read it with a dry eye.
Continue reading "A heroic young Aussie whose spirit lives on in the Pacific" »
Tony Abbott is a beautiful boy. His straight hair, perfect eyes, ears and nose. No, I am not talking about the Opposition Leader but the 3.47kg baby boy in Nauru who now bears his name.
On the way into Nauru Hospital on Sunday June 12, Nauru Foreign Minister Dr Kieren Keke warned Mr Abbott that he should watch out if a child was born while he was in the maternity unit.
Nauru mothers often name their babies after the first person they see, he explained, and there are plenty of Nauruans named after celebrities. “You might have a few questions to answer,” Dr Keke said with a laugh.
Continue reading "Nauru, where Gillard may one day wed Tony Abbott" »
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PeterA says:
Dear oh dear TimB, given the reporter’s track record and the mere fact she was in tow with Mister Abbott should be a big enough hint, even for someone like you. Read more »
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RyaN says:
@DY: what no reply, are you not outraged? Read more »
Recently in the Cook Islands I had the opportunity of having breakfast with some of the Cook Islands’ most prominent female citizens.
Nikki Rattle, the CEO of the Cook Islands Red Cross, is a warm and engaging woman with boundless energy.
I grew up the son of Victoria’s first Equal Opportunity Commissioner and Nikki reminded me of the many women I met in my mother’s company during my childhood: emotionally intelligent and very strong.
Continue reading "Women have a vital role in Pacific politics" »
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rajend naidu says:
A common cliche. I have that noise being made for a long time. But there has been no qualitative change in the status of women in the political arena in the Pacific region. Any survey will reveal a gross mismatch between the rhetoric and the reality of the clam that… Read more »
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Rosie says:
Women having vital roles in Pacific politics has a long long way to go to catch up to Australia. They would be more inclined to accept Pauline Hanson with her straight out honesty, mother than the lying Julia Gillard. Gillard would not stand a chance in the Pacific Islands, Tonga,… Read more »
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