Post #194 26 August 2019

Gentlefolk,

This post describes our activities during the period 13 July to 26 August 2019.

We got back from the Cook Islands on 12 July, had a few days in Sydney and then back to Canberra. Decided to visit the grandkids in Brisbane.
Quick drive north from 4 - 15 August.  Stopped in Sydney, Nambucca Heads, Brisbane, and then back south.

It's 300km from Canberra to Sydney, and another 1,000 from Sydney to Brisbane.  We are fortunate to have friends we can stay with in each place (Miltons in Sydney, Morrisons in Nambucca, and of course the Roberts in Brisbane).

I always enjoy the drive up & down the coast, the huge blue sky, the almost-deserted countryside, the big rivers.  The highway is much improved, the weather was fine, so pleasant driving conditions. The car (Subaru Forester diesel) averaged 17km per liter.

Herewith photos of some of our activities in recent weeks:

We stayed in Sydney with Caroline & Andrew for a few days on our return from the Cook Islands. Here playing soccer with Eddie in Prince Alfred Park, across Chalmers Street from their apartment.  Eddie is coming along in leaps and bounds.

Vera with little Jay-Jay. Sunny days, but cool wind - everyone wearing jackets.

On the weekend we took a train to Milsons Point and then walked back to the city across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lots of people doing the walk. Very pleasant, less than 2km.

There was a "Winter Festival" in the Rocks area of the CBD, including a small ice skating rink for kids. French theme. Crowds.

We managed to find a good place to have afternoon coffee.

Dinner at Angie & Howard's place in Cremorne, Sydney. Charles Yu's mother, Niu Cai Qin, was visiting from Qingdao.

Back home in Canberra, we visited the Corin Forest Resort in the Brindabella Mountain Range about 50 minutes drive from Kingston, .  In winter the Range gets snow, but not much, so the Corin ski area makes artificial snow. It is the nearest snow to Canberra, so quite popular. They have a toboggan area (pictured) and a small ski slope (next photo below).

The ski slope has a 'travelator' (about 100m) which takes the skiers back up the slope for another run. 

After visiting Corin Forest we went to Tidbinbilla Tracking Station which is nearby. 

A big crowd visited Tidbinbilla to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landings in 1969.

Dinner at Chong Co Thai Restaurant to celebrate Raden Dunbar's 73rd birthday.

We visited Barbara and Richard Roberts in Broulee.  They recently visited Iran and we were keen to hear their experiences.  Their impressions were generally favorable, but the economic situation has deteriorated since our visit in April 2018, as a result of strict US sanctions.  

The Roberts brought back a gorgeous Persian silk rug, which they purchased in Isfahan.

We attended a book launch at the Asia Bookroom; Professor Hal Hill interviewed author James Wise on his book "Thailand: History, Politics and the Rule of Law". Mr Wise was Australian Ambassador to Thailand 2010 - 14. We had a short-term posting to Bangkok in 1973 - 4, hence our interest in that fascinating country. It has had many coups and constitutions, yet seems to survive and prosper. Mr Wise commented that Thailand is poorly governed but well administered.

We had our old air-conditioner replaced by a new Daikin - much better.

We invited friends to celebrate Demsi's birthday; from left: Vera, Geoff George, me, Maria, Demsi, and Dince George. Geoff was interested in our visit to the Cook Islands as he had captained the two-masted schooner Tiare Taporo around the New Hebrides in the mid-1960s. He had a multifaceted career; Geoff's passion in retirement is painting and he divides his time between Canberra and Bali.

We saw two movies, both coincidentally with soccer themes. The first was "The Keeper", based on the remarkable story of Bert Trautmann (1923 - 2013).  He joined the German Luftwaffe in 1941 aged 18. Served as a paratrooper on the Eastern Front; in 1944 transferred to the Western Front, was captured and became a Prisoner of War in England.   Played goalie for a local club.  In 1949 he joined Manchester City and was their goal-keeper until 1964 (545 appearances). He became a legend when Manchester City won the FA Cup in 1956 and he played the final 17 minutes with a severe injury (later diagnosed as a broken neck). He was the first goalie to be named "England Footballer of the Year".  In 2004 he was awarded an OBE.

The second film was a fascinating documentary on the life of Diego Maradona, who became a famous soccer player. He was born in poverty in Argentina in 1960. Turned professional footballer aged 15 years and 11 months, first with Argentine Juniors, then Boca Juniors, then Barcelona in Spain (1982-4), and finally Napoli in Italy. He led Naples to the top of the Italian League, and won a World Cup for Argentina. He was a prodigious talent, but the pressure of fame and fortune proved too much and his life unravelled. A man who had everything ended up with almost nothing. Sad. 

Vera on the sea-wall at Nambucca, enroute to Brisbane. The following photos show some of the interesting "rock-art" by visitors.

In Brisbane, Kurt entertained us with his guitar.

Jen helping Nate with homework.

Preparing dinner - Tom slow-roasted beef, delicious!

Jen making dessert, watched by Sid.

Vera & I visited the Gallery of Modern Art at South Brisbane's Cultural Centre. We did a guided tour of the Margaret Olley exhibition.

Margaret Olley (1923 - 2011) grew up in Brisbane, but spent most of her life in Sydney. She became one of the most-recognised artists in Australia.

Portrait of a young Margaret Olley by William Dobell (1948).

Portrait of Margaret Olley by Ben Quilty (2011), not long before she died.

This term both Kurt and Nate are playing basketball for Marist College, in their respective age groups.

School rugby is finished, but Nate and Sid still play in the suburban competition for GPS. Here Nate (half-back, red boots) is waiting for the opposing team to through the ball in to the Line-Out. Last Month Nate was selected to represent "Metropolitan North" in the Queensland State Rugby Championships (under 12) played in Townsville.  Nate's team was beaten in the Final by Met East. Congrats on a very good effort, Nate!!

We had a family dinner at Bang Bang Sichuan Restaurant in Kremorn. From left: Sid (10 years), Jen, Kurt (14), Nate (12), me, Vera.  Tom took the photo.

Tom putting his bike on the back of his car.  He often takes the boys to Marist College, Ashgrove, and rides to work from there.

In Nambucca, heading south again, dinner in a great Thai restaurant with Siri & Bob Morrison.

In Sydney, overnighted with Niniek and Paul Milton. We all had dinner with Marta and Andrew McGuire.

Got back to Canberra on 15 August, my 73rd birthday.  My sister, Aniko, presented me with a lovely box of chocolates.

Rotary organised a "Model United Nations" (MUNA), held in the former House of Representatives Chamber in Old Parliament House, Canberra. Teams from a dozen schools participated, from as far away as Sydney. My sister, Angie, brought a team from Narooma High School.

In the final of Canberra Rugby Union Royals beat Vikings in the senior grade by just one point (but Vikings won 2nd Grade and Colts). The Australian Wallabies won big (47 - 26) against the NZ All Blacks, but the following week they lost big (0 - 36) - go figure! The Rugby World Cup starts in Japan in 3 weeks. We are in the same group as Wales, who recently replaced the All Blacks as world #1, so that will be tough.  On the other hand, in the NRL (National Rugby League) the Canberra Raiders are in the Top Four with only a couple of rounds to go before the finals. 

Vera on her new bike.  Winter weather is variable, depending on the wind. But some trees have early blossoms, so Spring can't be too far away ...

The Canberra Writers Festival was on over the weekend 24 & 25 August.  An impressive program of events - got to four.  First,  author Prof Hugh White; second, two authors who wrote books on Prime Ministers Menzies and McMahon; third was Bruce Beresford (director of wonderful film "Ladies in Black"); fourth, a discussion on leadership by Prof Anne Tiernan and Eddie Woo.  

Professor Hugh White discussed his recently published book titled "How to defend Australia". He said that in a changing world we may not be able to rely solely on our great & powerful friend, the USA; we need to develop our own defence capability and he sets out options to be considered.  I am an admirer of Prof White - a brilliant mind!

Allen Behm (left) interviewing Prof Hugh White.

From left, Prof Anne Tiernan (head of Griffith University's Business School), interviewer Shaun Carney, and Eddie Woo (celebrated mathematics teacher). The concept of 'leadership' is complex and elusive  -  what makes a good leader???

Concert on 25 August by Weston Winds Community Orchestra, to mark their 30th anniversary. Peter Shaw was the conductor. Amongst others, they played extracts from the film 'Pirates of the Caribbean', and many donned pirate-gear for that performance! Good fun. 

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A remarkable, much-admired man, Tim Fischer, died on 22 August 2019, aged 73.  He had fought cancer over the last 10 years (he was exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, which may have affected his immune system).

Tim Fischer was a farmer; 1966 conscripted and served in Vietnam; 1971 (aged 25) elected to the NSW Parliament; 1984 won the electorate of Farrer in the House of Representatives, 1990 became leader of the National Party; 1996 - 99 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade.

Working for Austrade, I had some dealings with him when he was Minister for Trade. He was an excellent Minister: had a good understanding of his portfolio and had a special gift for relating to people of all kinds. Other descriptors: authentic, genuine, caring, strong moral compass, etc, etc.

He was a truly great Australian.

Vale, Mr Fischer. Rest in peace.

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In a couple of days we will join a two-week group tour of the hinterland of Beijing: Pinggu, Chengde, Yanqing, Zhangjiakou.  We visited several of these places during our posting to Beijing 1984-6; will be interesting to see the changes.

After the tour we will visit the China University of Petroleum in Qingdao, where we taught English for 6 years.  When we left in July 2016 we said that we would return in three years to see friends and colleagues - can't wait!

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The next post will describe our China trip.

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Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Until our next post, zai jian.

Vera & Alex Olah
Canberra, Australia
26 August 2019