Blog 09 May ------- Motor Industry
The Motor Industry and me -a short memoir
I have started again to read the aoutobiography, 'Spy Catcher' by Peter Wright and published in Australia by William Heinemann in 1987. It opens with something like 'It all began in 1949, on a spring day that reminds us of winter'
Goodnes me, hang on a bit, now fourteen years old on to 1935 and its 1949 again and the year of my first association and real interest in the Motor Industry. It was announced at schoolassembly, that a visit to the Austin Motor Company, was coming up. - Thats me I said Im going – no you are not Mason said the Principal,there will be lot of walking and you Mason would not be able to keep up, having had polio at eleven – Rubbish I insisted.
The 'Pricipal' one Mr Duckworth, had the last say and my threats of his extinction was ignored – you see, he was a cricketer, was it him or his brother who played for Worcestershire. Anyway a fello girl prefect talked me out of hitting him with his cricket bat – I'm forever greatful to her for so doing.
On with life at 15, I decided that Mechanical Engineering was me, so onto a one year pre-apprenticship course, OK but more please, four years to the Higher National Diploma and later a Degree by association of further academic studies to come. Ah, ah The Austin Motor Company at Longbridge just south of Birmingham UK came into view again, nothing will stop me now, so off to see the training manager. At first he did'nt know how he could help, but with a little prompting he came up with a Graduate training program, goodness Engineering; Production or Commercial.
Two years long, where I became representative of 'Overseas Trainees',most of them sons of distributors and so a network of International associates began a true worldwide club if you like and I am sure was replicated in most western Motor companies. Time was spent in Design, Development, Sales and numerous training courses all fasintating to me at twenty years of age. The interesting one was the ,Research Department' at the time worki ng on a Gas Turbine – Centrifugal compressor tied to the turbine with impossibly small blades , which I was sure I could do better, bugger off Mason , still I must have struck a cord somewhere and they had a rethink, I was not included of course. The engine did run in the end in a Austin Sheerline at a Austin open day.
There were of course other sections, like a cold room, overspeed room, gear development and general engine reseach in cluding rotary. Looking at other manufacturs products power trains and complete vehicles. In the engine section we had a ferrari four cylinder and others , but most significant in these early sixties was a Chrysler V8, a beutifully engineered and built plus easy to assemble to bout. Fuel consumption was enormous to us, however the specific fuel consumption figures were good (non dimentional) .This was my first encounter with excelent American engineering and not to be my last.
It was at this moment that the telephone rang and you know good people, occasionaly you just know it call is not going to be good news. It was Samantha our daughter ' Daddy' and then a pause, I have bad news-- Grandad immediately thinks of grandchildren and family members in an accident or something. Samantha then said Anthony is dead , followed by the always difficult explanation of the tradegy. Anthony had gone over a sea cliff near his home at Copocabana a small seaside town not far north of Sydney.
The matter was then put into the hands of the local coroner, who has still not produced a report, however Anthonies remains were released and the funeral set for Friday 26 June at a memorial gardens near where he had lived. Caravan quickly commissioned out of its winter position and Patricia and I were off to a family gathering and meeting of most of his freinds- he had three sisters and six brothers. It was to be the kind of gathering Anthony had been trying to achieve for years , as he was the link man in life, the family member who visited all in turn , over the years.
Always a bit of a mistery when people go off a cliff, this one some ninety metres high by a chap veryfamiliar with the bush ; heights and dangerous places like bush fires. Anthony was an employee of the state Parks and Wildelife Service, a fully licienced civil machine operator and trained Fire Fighter of a kind that jumps out of helicopters near a fire in the middle of nowhere ,a brave lot who know what they are doing, for which the public are ever thankful.
Being forthright person of course has its dangers and I gather he on acasion did not agree with senior management on the level of work effort and prcedures in the workplace and was subjected to harrasement by trying to get him to resign. Being the shiney boot brigade they enacted the procedure of wearing him down to the point of difficulty in dealing with it all and volunteered to a phycriatric assessment ,which was ongoing ,when parting company with a clifftop occurred. I had for some time said to him that he would be better placed in forestry where they get their boots dirty, full time, and put in a full days work for a full days pay,,clearing plus hassard reduction plus logging with contracters . An inviroment work ethic in the forestry industry and not one of meeting, note pads and inaction on important matters like hassard reduct by clearing and backburning.
Just look what happened in the State of Victoria where because of the neglegence of the Victorian Parks and Wildlife Service in carring out hasard burning, on that Saturday the seventh in February, Properties burned, People burned and died including firefighters and the very enviroment they are supposed to protect burned animals and fuana. Now we have a commission looking at the dissaster, with not a mention of the failings if the department or their Government Dept for the enviroment.
This was Anthonies fight ,ending in a fall from a cliff near his home. What drugs was he given by the hospital , apparanty an anti depressant plus an anti smoking precription, I have yet to check
this. We all said goodbye at the service and Patricia wrote and spoke ' How do you say fare well to a friend'
How do you say fare well to a friend, a man who was caring and loving, who thought about other people, loved what he did working with nature. A physical and spiritual man, one you could respect admire, for he did things from the heart. In my book thats the way to live.
His life has been cut short,I am sad about that, for he was loved and I feel sad that I did not say it. So please say what is in your heart, What you feel. Fare well Anthony.Hope you find peace and happiness whereever you are. Love from your family, Patricia etc . Amen.
Just as I was thinking about the address by Patricia at the service, the telephone rang again and again the strained voice of a lady, this time a good friend of ours. The terrible news was that their twenty somthing son had been killed in a motor accident in Perth, Western Australia . Ann and Jarda were of course devastated and because we were attending Anthonies funeral we did not know 0f the rememberance service for Robert this side of the Country.
Goodness me,I do hope my next edition can be more cheerful, .Ah the motor industry and me , thats it . See you next time. Malcolm E Mason.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Accusations and Fall Out
G20 has come and gone and they all had a good chat, pledged Billions of dollars american ( should have been Euro's) and passed the buck to the IMF. Dear friends I have never moved in those circles so cannot really comment from direct xperience. Thought of course is a different matter as I am not certain the IMF is the right organisation to channel through , will have to wait and see if actual funds are forthcoming .
Sorry to see images of the Italian Prime Minister behaving rather 'silly' again,he seems to be getting worse, doesn't he. His family must be getting quite concerned, also Italy in general and as we older folk men in particular certainly know about and have to guard against. Its an aging thing as far as I am concerned particularly in the presence of young ladies, but also social ocassions. I do hope someone has a word with him, the best ones usually our wifes who know us best.
The next big one, I suppose is the Climate Conference in Holland, where the Worlds top climate ananlyts will battle it out with the polititions on targets and timings, in an effort to get agreement on how to get the best results for the future. I published my ideas to the G20 in my essay Think- A Proposal for a major change within the financial systemand matters relating. In the matters relating section.
I just cannot help smiling when the Iranian President, gets on the front foot and accuses Isreal of , was it , being 'Cruel and Racial' , he's certainly a man who puts his head above the parapit, thats for sure. True or false , its up to the individual to decide. He was talking about Isreal and not the jewry in general, certainly the phospurus showers were real on the UN compound as well as palestinian targets. In the past we are told ,Isreal and Iran did some clandestine trade and a book was published on that period ,I wonder if they are still in business.
As we know a lot of candidate walked out of the room at the Presidents remarks at the Racial Distrimination conference in a herd instinct then walked back in again, what a lot of overpaid over got ,lot they were. To there credit they carried and completed the conference with a lack lustre communique. Thats enough of the serious stuff.
During April out eldest Grandson Oscar 14 visited and of course enjoyed his time with our soccer playing Great Dane 'Binx' plus driving lessons with his Grandad, thats me.We went driving around this forest property in the old Susuki four by four , all noise anf no speed in four wheel low. Of course I set a rarther difficult route around trees and undergrowth and dear granson repeatedly hit a almost hidden log head on. Oscar now knows what its like to be stopped dead by something heavy and non negotiable, it is now known as Oscar Folly. He is doing just fine on his own, great fun.
Always enjoy local festivals, Patricia myself and 'Binx' went to a local seaside event and entered Binx in the pet show in 'the most glamarour section' . With a garland of tinsel he came third . First of course was a little girl in her fairy dress and to dogs with ballerina skirts, we have not told mix that that spray painted pig came second and he third . The pig quickly put back in the van has it had caught the eye of Binx and a couple of Siberian Huskies, no doubt at all they had lunch in mind.
In May I will be reminising on my life in the Motor industry and its players,with some home truths for all of us .
Bye for now-------=-=Malcolm Mason
Book – Profits of War by Ben Menashie --- Allen and Unwin 1992.
Book – Under Five Shahs by General ----------- and there I have no further detail.
I purchased the book at a market stall at a fete in the Blue Mountains west of
Sydney some twenty or more years agoe. It was a facinating read , more so as it was signed and a note inside which said that the writer had met the author during his time in Iran. It seemed that the writer was Canadian, probably at the Canadian Embassy or whatever to his wifes mum. Anyway silly me sent it off to the Canadian High Commission in Canberra as maybe they could return it to the sender. Never heard anything since, I damned if I can find further reference on either the author or the publisher.
My interest in this well educated country was twofold as I had once been involved in tendering for
the truck supply for a n update of their abbatior network in the last days of the Shah and worked with the chap who played a large part in the establishment of their motor industry- remember the Hillman from the then Rootes group, propably still going as taxis .
Fin.
Sorry to see images of the Italian Prime Minister behaving rather 'silly' again,he seems to be getting worse, doesn't he. His family must be getting quite concerned, also Italy in general and as we older folk men in particular certainly know about and have to guard against. Its an aging thing as far as I am concerned particularly in the presence of young ladies, but also social ocassions. I do hope someone has a word with him, the best ones usually our wifes who know us best.
The next big one, I suppose is the Climate Conference in Holland, where the Worlds top climate ananlyts will battle it out with the polititions on targets and timings, in an effort to get agreement on how to get the best results for the future. I published my ideas to the G20 in my essay Think- A Proposal for a major change within the financial systemand matters relating. In the matters relating section.
I just cannot help smiling when the Iranian President, gets on the front foot and accuses Isreal of , was it , being 'Cruel and Racial' , he's certainly a man who puts his head above the parapit, thats for sure. True or false , its up to the individual to decide. He was talking about Isreal and not the jewry in general, certainly the phospurus showers were real on the UN compound as well as palestinian targets. In the past we are told ,Isreal and Iran did some clandestine trade and a book was published on that period ,I wonder if they are still in business.
As we know a lot of candidate walked out of the room at the Presidents remarks at the Racial Distrimination conference in a herd instinct then walked back in again, what a lot of overpaid over got ,lot they were. To there credit they carried and completed the conference with a lack lustre communique. Thats enough of the serious stuff.
During April out eldest Grandson Oscar 14 visited and of course enjoyed his time with our soccer playing Great Dane 'Binx' plus driving lessons with his Grandad, thats me.We went driving around this forest property in the old Susuki four by four , all noise anf no speed in four wheel low. Of course I set a rarther difficult route around trees and undergrowth and dear granson repeatedly hit a almost hidden log head on. Oscar now knows what its like to be stopped dead by something heavy and non negotiable, it is now known as Oscar Folly. He is doing just fine on his own, great fun.
Always enjoy local festivals, Patricia myself and 'Binx' went to a local seaside event and entered Binx in the pet show in 'the most glamarour section' . With a garland of tinsel he came third . First of course was a little girl in her fairy dress and to dogs with ballerina skirts, we have not told mix that that spray painted pig came second and he third . The pig quickly put back in the van has it had caught the eye of Binx and a couple of Siberian Huskies, no doubt at all they had lunch in mind.
In May I will be reminising on my life in the Motor industry and its players,with some home truths for all of us .
Bye for now-------=-=Malcolm Mason
Book – Profits of War by Ben Menashie --- Allen and Unwin 1992.
Book – Under Five Shahs by General ----------- and there I have no further detail.
I purchased the book at a market stall at a fete in the Blue Mountains west of
Sydney some twenty or more years agoe. It was a facinating read , more so as it was signed and a note inside which said that the writer had met the author during his time in Iran. It seemed that the writer was Canadian, probably at the Canadian Embassy or whatever to his wifes mum. Anyway silly me sent it off to the Canadian High Commission in Canberra as maybe they could return it to the sender. Never heard anything since, I damned if I can find further reference on either the author or the publisher.
My interest in this well educated country was twofold as I had once been involved in tendering for
the truck supply for a n update of their abbatior network in the last days of the Shah and worked with the chap who played a large part in the establishment of their motor industry- remember the Hillman from the then Rootes group, propably still going as taxis .
Fin.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Words – True and Perceive
Now that the United States President Mr Barack Obama has settled in to the White House, it was time to write to him on my thoughts on his Presidency and his immediate past incumberant plus copies of my two essays; Think – An Essay on Governance and Think – A Proposal for a major change within the world financial system and matters relating.
I hope that he or and his advisors read them and thay help in some way. He may not like some of the commentry , either in the letter or my February blog – Truth tell hard facts. Mr President does not appear to like spending time in his office, something he will learn in time, so it is probably up to vice President Mr Viden to attent to running the White House and possibly hear about my letter.
I came to thinking about the Swat Valley and my indications in 2004 in the essay and letter to President Bush about the possible where a bouts of Bin Laden and his brothers in arms The Taliban and El Queda – it all came true didn't it and seen at last. Its all to do with advisors who pass on the messages or shred them. In the Clinton era Mr Clinton somehow found time to attend to correspondence, always the British Prime minister of the day including Mr Browns office now and my own Australian PM, although not so good as his predecessor plus a number of others who search and are interested in the word 'True'. Hopefully I am doing my bit for a better world.
Perceive, is a world of its own, as we and I have seen, a few examples come to mind. The detainees at Guantanamo Bay or camp delta is good for starters, in that following the paymen t of about one thousanUS dolars to 'bounty hunters' in Pakistan and Afghanistan etc, the Bush administration really did 'perceive' the detainees to be Enamy Combatants . I supported Australias Mr David Hicks ; Mr Mossam Begg of the UK plus another Australia Mamoud Habbib . In Mr Habbibs case I wrote Mr Bush informing him that some time agoe I helped a young man out of Saudi Arabia who was in trouble with the countries authorities politically I think and so Mr Bush owned me one. A few weeks later he was released, coincidence or not we will never know of course. Anyway David Hicks is slowly recovering from the awful treatment he received in Camp Delta and so is Mr Habbib . Mossam Begg wrote a very intelligent book of his experiences , I wrote to him explaining some matters he got wrong concerning the UK visitors he had, he didn't respond as I think he got a little above himself. Now we have the lad ,'UK again telling his story it is ongoing so will come back to it later.
Still on the word 'Perceive' , I am thinkin g of the Brazilian man shot dead on the London underground last year - perceived to be a terrorist and dangerous, shot by a left handed policeman, I believe one eye witness said, just once on radio but not repeated. Londons Chief of police tried to excusse, by saying , police caught up in the moment and under stress make mistakes – rubbish anti- terrorist operatives are trained to be indifferent to stress of the moment as are police horses , SAS soldiers and the like. As always I wrote to the fello of the day of my thoughts.
Back to 'True' and some good thoughts and news in my families lives. A year agoe my sisters grand daughter and colleage won the World championship in France for Body Painting, the images are quite stunning and its on again this european summer no dought. Whow and behold , my sister Joyce in Kent has sent me a newspaper cutting annoucing that a couson one Douglas Birch has been awarde the MBE this year for services to his community and the old mining industry (coal).I last met him when I was about ten, goodness me there is a likeness,well he is my late mother brothers son.
The Birch's are or were a well known coal mining family in the English midlands and here in Australia/NSW, where a number are buried in Bulli, 80 klms south of Sydney. Way back the late 1800's it was others went to India and I have photograghs taken in Bombay 1897 0f my mums mothers sister and her husband and another sister. Its very frustrating not to be able to post pictures yet,but its all coming folks, please hang on.
A true little story to finish off a Pakistan story – I was walking down the maun street of my local town of Batemans Bay, not unlike any town in the UK or US, anywhere really. An Indian lady was sitting at an outside cafe with her young daughter. As I passed she looked at me a smiled, good morning I smiled back. I went to the post office and saw her again and she said may I speak to you, certainly went the reply, well I saw you walking down the street and you so reminded me of my father ,same colour clothes small old breif case and even brown shoes.
Ah, my memories of Pakistan , so I told her that I had always felt at home in Pakistan,when on business there, to which she replied that although she comes from India the family left at the toime of partition. So I said to the good lady that the place I really felt at home with was Pesawar and to our amazment she smiled again and said , yes thats where our family came from. I have kicked myself so many times for not getting her name and address, for it was only weeks later that I received the photograghs taken in 1879. Intrigue, of course.
Thats it for March.
Recommended book for people interested in fiction based on possible fact and inbuilt pyhcy of security operatives ' At Risk' by Stella Rimington – former head of M15 Arrow books, Random House.
Bye for now
Malcolm Mason.
I hope that he or and his advisors read them and thay help in some way. He may not like some of the commentry , either in the letter or my February blog – Truth tell hard facts. Mr President does not appear to like spending time in his office, something he will learn in time, so it is probably up to vice President Mr Viden to attent to running the White House and possibly hear about my letter.
I came to thinking about the Swat Valley and my indications in 2004 in the essay and letter to President Bush about the possible where a bouts of Bin Laden and his brothers in arms The Taliban and El Queda – it all came true didn't it and seen at last. Its all to do with advisors who pass on the messages or shred them. In the Clinton era Mr Clinton somehow found time to attend to correspondence, always the British Prime minister of the day including Mr Browns office now and my own Australian PM, although not so good as his predecessor plus a number of others who search and are interested in the word 'True'. Hopefully I am doing my bit for a better world.
Perceive, is a world of its own, as we and I have seen, a few examples come to mind. The detainees at Guantanamo Bay or camp delta is good for starters, in that following the paymen t of about one thousanUS dolars to 'bounty hunters' in Pakistan and Afghanistan etc, the Bush administration really did 'perceive' the detainees to be Enamy Combatants . I supported Australias Mr David Hicks ; Mr Mossam Begg of the UK plus another Australia Mamoud Habbib . In Mr Habbibs case I wrote Mr Bush informing him that some time agoe I helped a young man out of Saudi Arabia who was in trouble with the countries authorities politically I think and so Mr Bush owned me one. A few weeks later he was released, coincidence or not we will never know of course. Anyway David Hicks is slowly recovering from the awful treatment he received in Camp Delta and so is Mr Habbib . Mossam Begg wrote a very intelligent book of his experiences , I wrote to him explaining some matters he got wrong concerning the UK visitors he had, he didn't respond as I think he got a little above himself. Now we have the lad ,'UK again telling his story it is ongoing so will come back to it later.
Still on the word 'Perceive' , I am thinkin g of the Brazilian man shot dead on the London underground last year - perceived to be a terrorist and dangerous, shot by a left handed policeman, I believe one eye witness said, just once on radio but not repeated. Londons Chief of police tried to excusse, by saying , police caught up in the moment and under stress make mistakes – rubbish anti- terrorist operatives are trained to be indifferent to stress of the moment as are police horses , SAS soldiers and the like. As always I wrote to the fello of the day of my thoughts.
Back to 'True' and some good thoughts and news in my families lives. A year agoe my sisters grand daughter and colleage won the World championship in France for Body Painting, the images are quite stunning and its on again this european summer no dought. Whow and behold , my sister Joyce in Kent has sent me a newspaper cutting annoucing that a couson one Douglas Birch has been awarde the MBE this year for services to his community and the old mining industry (coal).I last met him when I was about ten, goodness me there is a likeness,well he is my late mother brothers son.
The Birch's are or were a well known coal mining family in the English midlands and here in Australia/NSW, where a number are buried in Bulli, 80 klms south of Sydney. Way back the late 1800's it was others went to India and I have photograghs taken in Bombay 1897 0f my mums mothers sister and her husband and another sister. Its very frustrating not to be able to post pictures yet,but its all coming folks, please hang on.
A true little story to finish off a Pakistan story – I was walking down the maun street of my local town of Batemans Bay, not unlike any town in the UK or US, anywhere really. An Indian lady was sitting at an outside cafe with her young daughter. As I passed she looked at me a smiled, good morning I smiled back. I went to the post office and saw her again and she said may I speak to you, certainly went the reply, well I saw you walking down the street and you so reminded me of my father ,same colour clothes small old breif case and even brown shoes.
Ah, my memories of Pakistan , so I told her that I had always felt at home in Pakistan,when on business there, to which she replied that although she comes from India the family left at the toime of partition. So I said to the good lady that the place I really felt at home with was Pesawar and to our amazment she smiled again and said , yes thats where our family came from. I have kicked myself so many times for not getting her name and address, for it was only weeks later that I received the photograghs taken in 1879. Intrigue, of course.
Thats it for March.
Recommended book for people interested in fiction based on possible fact and inbuilt pyhcy of security operatives ' At Risk' by Stella Rimington – former head of M15 Arrow books, Random House.
Bye for now
Malcolm Mason.
Friday, February 27, 2009
A Day Too Long
When is a day too long,its when after weeks of atrociously hot days and everyone is exhausted from temperature trauma a nd readting ones home against possible fire storm. It happens and has happened in the state of Victoria on the Seventh of February 2009, a Saturday.
There were warnings of course and I guess most were prepared for the catastrophe that was about tofall from the sky on that fateful day.
The final tally of people killed is now reassessed as just under 200 , some 800 homes and or buildings. Of the animal population, domestic and wild, it will run into thousands.
At this day people are beginning to be allowed to return to their home,properties and businesses to assess their loss to come to terms with what lies ahead in their lives and of course to mourne those who did not survive the disaster
As the world knows, there were memorial services and visits to the area affected , by people in high places including HRH Princess Ann on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth. The World also knows and seen the images of Firefighters; State Emergency Services; Ambulance; Police et al. An incredibly effient and dedicated people they were shown to be. Brave to the extent of their training, even so cicunstances were too much and a number gave the ultimate sacifice.
The whole thing was the result of Fire Balls rising above the tree canopy, then with all the ground fuel , simply flew over and onto the towns; villiages; farms ; homes , a kind of hell from the sky. Where did all these Fire Balls come from and why, has been the avoided question by media politians and even enviromentalists. As a forest dweller, it is clear to me , it was from the National Parks opf Victoria the state in question, with Melbourne as its state capital.
ry Departments . Maybe they dont like getting their and boots dirty; are busy putting up barriers, closing fire trails and of course making and putting up signs keep them busy when they are not applying for ever more money to carry on their light duties.
Parks come under the department of the enviroment and sustainability which in its turn are report able to the State government of Victoria and its Premier.
It is clear to me that the very enviroment of fauna and flora, which they are supposed to protect,the N ational Parks neglected to the extent where disasters such as happened iin Victoria February seventh occur and animals both wild and domestic burn to death. Of the human side of things they have a lot to answer for and to the date are getting away with it . Hopefully the Royal Commission will raise the issue in due course.
Well now, having said that as my opinion, what about mliving in State Forest, yes a forest run by the NSW Forestry, this one known as the Shallow Crossing State Forest, a place where logging has taken place from time to time, hazard reduct by scrub clearance by fire and mechanical means plus all fire tracks kept open with no barriers, yes I can hear the contractor as I write this blog, dirty boots worn by very very hard working men both contractors and forestry personnel.
OK, during the Victoria disaster, we had a forest fire locally, about fire kilometres away over three hills . We were kept informed by local radio and of course the hazy sky and change of sunlight. Forestry simply controlled the logged area and hazard reduced (valley) until it was out - end of story.
As you know Patricia and I live here with our Great Dane Binx , Burmese cat Coco, Wombats ; Roo's ; Wallabies and assorted forest creatures, sorry must not omit Mr P our old Peacock once the head lad of a family of up to 11 birds, all moved on to the grest tree in the sky or new homes.
We have hazard reduced in the past and are always prepared for bush fires, here is what we do.
We must all fully appreciate , that to light a fire , there must be fuel and iit is clear to me that there was mssive amounts of ground fuel to cause the fire balls that occurred. In my opinion the reson for that was a lack of proper and continued Hazard reduction burns and general clearing, in the Victorian National Parks, through incompetant management and equally State Government Department of enviroment and sustainability or whatever its called.
Anyone wanting to know how to manage Woodlands and flora should check out the Forests department, the ones with the dirty boots. A bad month for Victoria.
I send my thoughts of healing ,to all those families affected by this disaster of 'A Day Too Long).
Sincerely
Malcolm E Mason
There were warnings of course and I guess most were prepared for the catastrophe that was about tofall from the sky on that fateful day.
The final tally of people killed is now reassessed as just under 200 , some 800 homes and or buildings. Of the animal population, domestic and wild, it will run into thousands.
At this day people are beginning to be allowed to return to their home,properties and businesses to assess their loss to come to terms with what lies ahead in their lives and of course to mourne those who did not survive the disaster
As the world knows, there were memorial services and visits to the area affected , by people in high places including HRH Princess Ann on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth. The World also knows and seen the images of Firefighters; State Emergency Services; Ambulance; Police et al. An incredibly effient and dedicated people they were shown to be. Brave to the extent of their training, even so cicunstances were too much and a number gave the ultimate sacifice.
The whole thing was the result of Fire Balls rising above the tree canopy, then with all the ground fuel , simply flew over and onto the towns; villiages; farms ; homes , a kind of hell from the sky. Where did all these Fire Balls come from and why, has been the avoided question by media politians and even enviromentalists. As a forest dweller, it is clear to me , it was from the National Parks opf Victoria the state in question, with Melbourne as its state capital.
ry Departments . Maybe they dont like getting their and boots dirty; are busy putting up barriers, closing fire trails and of course making and putting up signs keep them busy when they are not applying for ever more money to carry on their light duties.
Parks come under the department of the enviroment and sustainability which in its turn are report able to the State government of Victoria and its Premier.
It is clear to me that the very enviroment of fauna and flora, which they are supposed to protect,the N ational Parks neglected to the extent where disasters such as happened iin Victoria February seventh occur and animals both wild and domestic burn to death. Of the human side of things they have a lot to answer for and to the date are getting away with it . Hopefully the Royal Commission will raise the issue in due course.
Well now, having said that as my opinion, what about mliving in State Forest, yes a forest run by the NSW Forestry, this one known as the Shallow Crossing State Forest, a place where logging has taken place from time to time, hazard reduct by scrub clearance by fire and mechanical means plus all fire tracks kept open with no barriers, yes I can hear the contractor as I write this blog, dirty boots worn by very very hard working men both contractors and forestry personnel.
OK, during the Victoria disaster, we had a forest fire locally, about fire kilometres away over three hills . We were kept informed by local radio and of course the hazy sky and change of sunlight. Forestry simply controlled the logged area and hazard reduced (valley) until it was out - end of story.
As you know Patricia and I live here with our Great Dane Binx , Burmese cat Coco, Wombats ; Roo's ; Wallabies and assorted forest creatures, sorry must not omit Mr P our old Peacock once the head lad of a family of up to 11 birds, all moved on to the grest tree in the sky or new homes.
We have hazard reduced in the past and are always prepared for bush fires, here is what we do.
- If we are in we stay in and if we are out we stay out.
- Vehicles stay in open ground and all sun sails are removed.
- As we we are on a river . The fire pump is there, always fully fueled; oiled and run regularly as it suplies our water.
- The supply pipes are under ground .
- The fire hose is always ready and is capable of reaching the whole house.
- All areas around the house and buildings are mowed plus the underground pipe areas.
- Our vehicle a Nissan Patrol is equiped with a fire blanket ( actually a bomb blabket from my business past).
- Water tank on this property is steel, no plstic tanks on this proerty.
We must all fully appreciate , that to light a fire , there must be fuel and iit is clear to me that there was mssive amounts of ground fuel to cause the fire balls that occurred. In my opinion the reson for that was a lack of proper and continued Hazard reduction burns and general clearing, in the Victorian National Parks, through incompetant management and equally State Government Department of enviroment and sustainability or whatever its called.
Anyone wanting to know how to manage Woodlands and flora should check out the Forests department, the ones with the dirty boots. A bad month for Victoria.
I send my thoughts of healing ,to all those families affected by this disaster of 'A Day Too Long).
Sincerely
Malcolm E Mason
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Transition 2008-2009
January in the southern hemisphere, particularly here in Australia is a time of temperature surges. Just midway through the month we had temperatures up to 45 C in southern New South Wales for a short period. Whew. A lovely 18 C this Sunday 18th and a life transition for our eldest granddaughter, Jiselle 20, when at 11.30 hours she took off from Sydney bound for Canada and Whistler free at last to be her own woman, holidaying with friends.
Transition, I'll say, from a warm Sydney to goodness knows what temperature in Whistler. Australia is in mid summer, Europe of course in mid winter and what a winter, we hear. Our neighbour and friend returned from a chilly Spain to south west France to find their caravan accommodation frozen inside and out plus no gas cylinder flow. Thankfully they have an alternative with friends in a village not too far away - Spring does come dear friends so hang on.
Patricia and I spent Christmas with our daughter Samantha, husband Neil and children Henry, Charlie and Lilly in Karangi back from the coast city of Coffs Harbour. The 89 acre property, part feed lot, is a little too noisy for us, 'over machined' I call it; three quad bikes, a macho mower and things like blower yard cleaners, planers, grinders, power saws. All this a far cry from brooms; hand saws; planes and gentle mowers of past and present... For the occasion our son Timothy, Jude and baby Leo joined us.
It was good company; good meals; good wines and a lovely setting of a large home on a hill, shaded by a magnificent and very mature Camphor Laurel plus others around and added to by a 'Cape Chestnut', 'Hong Kong orchid' and other unusual species, echoes of a South African occupancy in the past. Coffs Harbour is midway between Sydney and Brisbane, the 'Big Banana' they call it, with a world class botanic garden, good restaurants, beaches and Marina.
Transition in Coffs Harbour was, regretfully also a scene of tragedy at this holiday time. Something I must relate to you, as it is but another instance where the media does not get the full story, because of their own importance and egos. The scene was a beach on an ebbing tide. Myself, Patricia, daughter Samantha and children were enjoying the 'dog beach' hence the presence of our Great Dane 'Binx'. A lady started to shout 'help me, help me!', running up and down the foreshore. Someone was not visible and we all looked - Then the cry I will never forget and most certainly echoed around the World at times of impending tragedy -- God, come back to me. Two boys did but not a 36 year old friend or partner.
I looked around, no surfboarders with the ebbing tide and shallower water. Behind me was our daughter quietly talking on her mobile alerting Police, rescue crews etc. on 000, someone was running to the Surf Rescue position, some three hundred metres away. Only a few minutes later, it all happened - Police arrived plus ambulance and then from the Surf rescue end a jet ski at incredible speed came, went out to sea, lined up with the lady and zigzagged towards us, stopped lifted the man aboard and shot off to base and equipment and the arrival of a four wheel drive ambulance.
All to no avail, I regret. A story of a lady with two young sons and a partner - two boys and a man went to have fun, the man was caught in a rip or under current and drowned, the two boys returned - what a terrible transition for one family this January 2009.
N.B. I'm told always use a 'Buggy Board' in open sea and hang on.
Of the TV, press, yes they arrived running, did they get or endeavour to get the real story, of course not, all they wanted was a picture then make up a general story of beach safety. I can tell you, surf lifesaving, police and ambulance services were supreme, fast and efficient - Amen and our kindest thoughts go out to that lady and her family, as it does to all people who tragically loose a loved one.
Here in Australia in November 2007 ex President Bush's so called special friend, one Mr John Howard, was thrown out of office, not only losing the election but his own seat to an ex journalist. Just prior to Christmas 2008, for reasons beyond me, the 'abc' put on a short series entitled 'The Howard Years' a series of general gloating, even had George Bush say a few words. Ex President Bush has apparently awarded him some kind of freedom medal, probably for good behaviour in class. - Transition, gone like Mr Bush and out of view. Mind you, my little ideas around the word 'Perfidy' could be raised later and extended to Mr Tony Blair the ex UK Prime Minister, we will see.
Mr. Bush was so accused during his visit to Australia through the American Embassy. Out of jurisdiction and of course diplomatic immunity. 'Perfidy' fits all three of them.
My major work for 2008 was my paper "Think - A proposal for a major change within the Worlds financial system and matters relating" is receiving positive responses in this transition period 2008-2009.
The summary was written as follows:
5 - Summary
A. Change from the $US dollar to the €Euro dollar for international trade of oil products; commodities and resources plus food including the bio sector.
B. Move the centre of international trade from the USA to Europe in line with the change of currency; location within the €Euro dollar area of the EU.
C. Establish a fair price for oil products, with long term availability in view. My thought is €Euro dollar 47 plus or minus 10% per barrel.
D. Cap outputs of oil to 2005 extraction quantities.
E. Caps on outputs and exports of commodities such as coal, iron, ore and minerals in general. Outputs 2005 extraction levels, with 2007 levels for bio products.
F. All our effort to use alternative sources of energy away from oil and coal products with a massive effort to develop nuclear fusion, with the interim of nuclear fission power plants as base load provision.
N.B. Interesting to note KOSOVO, not in the Euro zone, has the Euro as currency.
It is all beginning to happen and I believe a good thing is that the slowing World economy is backing us off the "Madness" of escalating untenable financial innovations like edge funds, private equity marketing, etc.
I believe Governments are now realising that we must conserve resources for the long run and so, again the 'madness' of everlasting ever escalating extraction of resources had to slow down and is. All good stuff for the long road ahead, in the 'Transition' to sustainable energy systems. OPEC commenced by limiting outputs for they also are realising that their reserves of Oil is finite.
As I have said before, if Banks had not cashed up themselves, over the hundred plus years of operation, then goodbye. Following a payback of all those big bonuses, first of course.
Ah, the United States of America President Barak Obama has commenced operations with some Presidential Orders. Guantanamo Bay to be closed in a year, very slow. A couple of 747's would do it in a week, prisoners and staff. Prisoners to their home countries, some secretly to locations of their choosing within their homeland and the USA staff to their US bases and others to their home offices. Some of the cost could be offset by demanding the return of the ransoms paid for those uncharged and unchargeable men.
The USA has numerous allies, of which Australia is one, however it is very disappointing to hear President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, very publicly succumb to Israeli lobbying, by making separate definitive statements, that Israel is a special case, 'The USA will support Israel come what may'. Not good words Mr President and Madam Secretary.
Whow and behold a week or so later Mr. President comes along and on strong, on lobbyists and says they will be controlled in his term. Regretfully the Israeli lobby had already achieved their aim of ensuring the US does what it is told, when it's told, anyway that's how it seems to me. Maybe one day America will understand Israelis are Israelis, who happen to be in the majority, of the Jewish faith and in some areas pretty fundamental at that.
Now we have Mr. President's Middle East envoy, one George Mitchell travelling to the Middle East, talking to Israel and Palestine. Not however Hamas in the Gaza strip. Where is all this 'I will talk to all, friends and foe'. Gaza is not a foe, and did not deserve the retribution Israel dished out with US armaments of devastating power, against what can only be described as advanced fireworks or items fired and used in live military training exercises.
I think President Obama is running too fast and I hope he is not going to be a disappointment. We will see how good he is when Iran comes up for talks. A few may remember before the invasion of Iraq, the now deceased President Saddam Hussein, publicly invited Mr. George W. Bush to a debate. Mr. Bush declined. I was one of the people advocating such a debate. I wrote to both of them. How about it Mr. President, pick up the phone and have a chat with President Ahmadinajad, man to man, and then eyeball to eyeball personally, in say Paris or Geneve. That ends my journal for January 2009.
Transition, I'll say, from a warm Sydney to goodness knows what temperature in Whistler. Australia is in mid summer, Europe of course in mid winter and what a winter, we hear. Our neighbour and friend returned from a chilly Spain to south west France to find their caravan accommodation frozen inside and out plus no gas cylinder flow. Thankfully they have an alternative with friends in a village not too far away - Spring does come dear friends so hang on.
Patricia and I spent Christmas with our daughter Samantha, husband Neil and children Henry, Charlie and Lilly in Karangi back from the coast city of Coffs Harbour. The 89 acre property, part feed lot, is a little too noisy for us, 'over machined' I call it; three quad bikes, a macho mower and things like blower yard cleaners, planers, grinders, power saws. All this a far cry from brooms; hand saws; planes and gentle mowers of past and present... For the occasion our son Timothy, Jude and baby Leo joined us.
It was good company; good meals; good wines and a lovely setting of a large home on a hill, shaded by a magnificent and very mature Camphor Laurel plus others around and added to by a 'Cape Chestnut', 'Hong Kong orchid' and other unusual species, echoes of a South African occupancy in the past. Coffs Harbour is midway between Sydney and Brisbane, the 'Big Banana' they call it, with a world class botanic garden, good restaurants, beaches and Marina.
Transition in Coffs Harbour was, regretfully also a scene of tragedy at this holiday time. Something I must relate to you, as it is but another instance where the media does not get the full story, because of their own importance and egos. The scene was a beach on an ebbing tide. Myself, Patricia, daughter Samantha and children were enjoying the 'dog beach' hence the presence of our Great Dane 'Binx'. A lady started to shout 'help me, help me!', running up and down the foreshore. Someone was not visible and we all looked - Then the cry I will never forget and most certainly echoed around the World at times of impending tragedy -- God, come back to me. Two boys did but not a 36 year old friend or partner.
I looked around, no surfboarders with the ebbing tide and shallower water. Behind me was our daughter quietly talking on her mobile alerting Police, rescue crews etc. on 000, someone was running to the Surf Rescue position, some three hundred metres away. Only a few minutes later, it all happened - Police arrived plus ambulance and then from the Surf rescue end a jet ski at incredible speed came, went out to sea, lined up with the lady and zigzagged towards us, stopped lifted the man aboard and shot off to base and equipment and the arrival of a four wheel drive ambulance.
All to no avail, I regret. A story of a lady with two young sons and a partner - two boys and a man went to have fun, the man was caught in a rip or under current and drowned, the two boys returned - what a terrible transition for one family this January 2009.
N.B. I'm told always use a 'Buggy Board' in open sea and hang on.
Of the TV, press, yes they arrived running, did they get or endeavour to get the real story, of course not, all they wanted was a picture then make up a general story of beach safety. I can tell you, surf lifesaving, police and ambulance services were supreme, fast and efficient - Amen and our kindest thoughts go out to that lady and her family, as it does to all people who tragically loose a loved one.
Here in Australia in November 2007 ex President Bush's so called special friend, one Mr John Howard, was thrown out of office, not only losing the election but his own seat to an ex journalist. Just prior to Christmas 2008, for reasons beyond me, the 'abc' put on a short series entitled 'The Howard Years' a series of general gloating, even had George Bush say a few words. Ex President Bush has apparently awarded him some kind of freedom medal, probably for good behaviour in class. - Transition, gone like Mr Bush and out of view. Mind you, my little ideas around the word 'Perfidy' could be raised later and extended to Mr Tony Blair the ex UK Prime Minister, we will see.
Mr. Bush was so accused during his visit to Australia through the American Embassy. Out of jurisdiction and of course diplomatic immunity. 'Perfidy' fits all three of them.
My major work for 2008 was my paper "Think - A proposal for a major change within the Worlds financial system and matters relating" is receiving positive responses in this transition period 2008-2009.
The summary was written as follows:
5 - Summary
A. Change from the $US dollar to the €Euro dollar for international trade of oil products; commodities and resources plus food including the bio sector.
B. Move the centre of international trade from the USA to Europe in line with the change of currency; location within the €Euro dollar area of the EU.
C. Establish a fair price for oil products, with long term availability in view. My thought is €Euro dollar 47 plus or minus 10% per barrel.
D. Cap outputs of oil to 2005 extraction quantities.
E. Caps on outputs and exports of commodities such as coal, iron, ore and minerals in general. Outputs 2005 extraction levels, with 2007 levels for bio products.
F. All our effort to use alternative sources of energy away from oil and coal products with a massive effort to develop nuclear fusion, with the interim of nuclear fission power plants as base load provision.
N.B. Interesting to note KOSOVO, not in the Euro zone, has the Euro as currency.
It is all beginning to happen and I believe a good thing is that the slowing World economy is backing us off the "Madness" of escalating untenable financial innovations like edge funds, private equity marketing, etc.
I believe Governments are now realising that we must conserve resources for the long run and so, again the 'madness' of everlasting ever escalating extraction of resources had to slow down and is. All good stuff for the long road ahead, in the 'Transition' to sustainable energy systems. OPEC commenced by limiting outputs for they also are realising that their reserves of Oil is finite.
As I have said before, if Banks had not cashed up themselves, over the hundred plus years of operation, then goodbye. Following a payback of all those big bonuses, first of course.
Ah, the United States of America President Barak Obama has commenced operations with some Presidential Orders. Guantanamo Bay to be closed in a year, very slow. A couple of 747's would do it in a week, prisoners and staff. Prisoners to their home countries, some secretly to locations of their choosing within their homeland and the USA staff to their US bases and others to their home offices. Some of the cost could be offset by demanding the return of the ransoms paid for those uncharged and unchargeable men.
The USA has numerous allies, of which Australia is one, however it is very disappointing to hear President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, very publicly succumb to Israeli lobbying, by making separate definitive statements, that Israel is a special case, 'The USA will support Israel come what may'. Not good words Mr President and Madam Secretary.
Whow and behold a week or so later Mr. President comes along and on strong, on lobbyists and says they will be controlled in his term. Regretfully the Israeli lobby had already achieved their aim of ensuring the US does what it is told, when it's told, anyway that's how it seems to me. Maybe one day America will understand Israelis are Israelis, who happen to be in the majority, of the Jewish faith and in some areas pretty fundamental at that.
Now we have Mr. President's Middle East envoy, one George Mitchell travelling to the Middle East, talking to Israel and Palestine. Not however Hamas in the Gaza strip. Where is all this 'I will talk to all, friends and foe'. Gaza is not a foe, and did not deserve the retribution Israel dished out with US armaments of devastating power, against what can only be described as advanced fireworks or items fired and used in live military training exercises.
I think President Obama is running too fast and I hope he is not going to be a disappointment. We will see how good he is when Iran comes up for talks. A few may remember before the invasion of Iraq, the now deceased President Saddam Hussein, publicly invited Mr. George W. Bush to a debate. Mr. Bush declined. I was one of the people advocating such a debate. I wrote to both of them. How about it Mr. President, pick up the phone and have a chat with President Ahmadinajad, man to man, and then eyeball to eyeball personally, in say Paris or Geneve. That ends my journal for January 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)