Shalom

film archives

Australia has a long history of film making.

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reconciliation week

On May 27, 1967, I voted in a referendum to allow indigenous people to be counted as Australian citizens in the census. I voted for the proposal which was passed, but I knew many, socially conservative Christians, who voted against it. Upsetting the status quo was unsettling to them.

This week marks Reconciliation Week. As has been noted, the current Liberal government still refuses any form of apology for the past treatment of indigenous people. Again, some conservative Christians applaud this stance. I find it interesting and somewhat ironic that many of these would quote the OT verses about repenting for the sins of the nation and of humbling themselves to pray for the end to this terrible drought. However, to say sorry for what is past is beyond them.

It's no secret that many indigenous people live in terrible circumstances. Poor housing, poor food, poor education, poor health services. Sure, there is often some contribution from their side, but should that stop us trying? Indigenous Australians have a lifespan some seventeen years less than others here. Many things have improved in the last forty years, but there is still lots more to be done.

I think that often there is a cultural divide with the government unable to understand many customs. A great deal of money was offered to upgrade housing at Alice Springs. Truly, the settlement is in a disgusting state. However, indigenous people let the offer lapse becaue they would lose rights over the title. Now surely, when a house is falling down, filled with vandalised fittings and yet still home to far too many families at once, there should have been more effort to find a compromise solution. It was one said there were two nations in one land. We've made advances, but much more needs to be done.

happy birthday

Our bridge, turns 75 this weekend. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, known to some as the Coathanger, turns seventy five and has been given a heritage listing by the government as a present.

Here is a picture from the top of the bridge by the Federal Minister who announced the award.

Built in the Depression, the bridge provided some money for otherwise unemployed workers at a time when there were many community tensions. The government was sacked a few weeks after the openng of the bridge over financial matters.

It's been a symbol of Sydney over the years. Not really known as the Coathanger to locals, it's usually just called "the bridge." There may be Gladesville Bridge, Iron Cove Bridge, Taren Point Bridge, even the Spit Bridge, but the Harbour Bridge is just "the bridge" and we all know which is meant.

There are many celebrations planned for today, although there are no fireworks this time. New Years Eve fireworks are well known for using the bridge as a central prop in the staging of the show. A couple of hundred thousand people have booked to walk across the bridge from north to south over the day. There are many other events planned as well.

Traffic across the bridge was shut at 4:30 this morning for almost 24 hours, although the harbour tunnel will remain open.. I'm somewhat concerned about getting to church this morning. Public transport has been chaotic several times this week and several trains were stuck on the bridge for almost four hours at afternon peak only a ew days ago after a breakdown. Authorities assure us that extra arrangements are in place to handle the number of people expected. We'll see.

Here are more pictures, some of the fireworks and more stories about the bridge, its construction and current uses, including the bridge climb wich was once done as a birthday present by a 99 year old woman..

anniversaries

Two anniversaries today.

Darwin was first bombed on this date in 1942, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. More bombs were dropped than on Pearl Harbour and much damage was sustained, although not of the same nature as the earlier bombing in the USA. The Japanese attacked Darwin by air many more times after this.

It was found that much of the loss of lfe could have been avoided if he RAAF had passed on a warning. Around 250 people were killed.

It was at first feared that the bombing was a sign of an invasion by the Japanese. However it was not only a diversionary tactic to divert attention from a Japanese invasion of Timor, but was also planned to prevent Darwin being used as a launching area for troops against such an invasion.

The other anniversary was the discovery in 1937 by Bernard O'Reilly of a a Stinson aircraft which had crashed days before in thick Queensland rainforest, well off course. O'Reilly, a skilled bushman used his craft and some inspired guesswork to discover the plane. Four men died in the crash, leaving three survivors. O'Reilly found two survivors and later found the body of the third man who had set out to get help but who died in a fall in a waterfall.

He left the two and went for help. Local farmers hacked their way through 16 kilometres of thick rainforest to get the two out to safety.