Post #232 30 September 2020

Gentlefolk,

This post describes some of the activities in which we were involved during September 2020.

Bad economic news everywhere

On 2 September Australia's GDP for the 2nd Quarter of 2020 (April/May/June) was announced as minus 7%. That confirmed what everyone knew: Australia is officially in recession after GDP fall of 0.3% in Q1, our first recession in 29 years.  Other Q2 results: USA -9.5%; UK -20.4%; France -13.8%; Japan -7.6%.

Covid-19 continues its relentless march

Two recent milestones: Covid-19 passed 33 million cumulative cases (the real figure is probably much higher), and yesterday cumulative deaths from CV19 passed the 1 million mark.

The 10 top countries by cumulative cases are: USA cumulative cases 7.2M / 205K deaths; India 6M / 96K; Brazil 4.8M / 142K; Russia 1.1m / 20K; Colombia 813K / 26K; Peru 800K / 32K; Mexico 730K / 77K; Spain 716K / 31K; Argentina 711K / 16K; South Africa 671K / 16K.

Cases on the Indian Sub-continent (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh) are surging, as are several countries in the Middle East. Some European countries are experiencing a second wave.

The State of Victoria is starting to ease its severe lock-down restrictions. The number of new cases has, thankfully, come down from over 700 per day 2 months ago, to just 10 yesterday. 

On a personal note, I had flu-like symptoms so on 10 September I had a CV19 test, which came back negative. We've been very lucky in Canberra - no new cases for many weeks now.

Elections

All eyes are on the US elections, with only 33 days to go. Yesterday The New York Times released details of President Trump's tax history - fascinating stuff - Trump dismissed it as 'fake news' - will the story impact his supporters???  The Trump - Biden debates start today and may be crucial.

On a much lesser note, elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly (Canberra's local govt) will be held on Saturday 17 October. I applied, and was accepted, to work in the Early Voting Centres which operate 28 Sept - 16 Oct.  It's interesting to be part of our democratic process. Australia is one of few countries which have compulsory voting, but that means that just about everyone actually gets to vote. Alleluia!!!

Our activities during September ...

The National Botanic Gardens have an exhibition on Swedish Botanist Daniel Solander, who was on Captain Cook's first voyage.

Wattles (Acadias) are blooming, so the Botanic Gardens ran daily "Wattle Walks" for the first week of September. Our volunteer guide was Wayne Hoy. He said that there are about 1,000 different species of Acadias; he is pointing to an unusual example.

This is a more typical wattle tree, with yellow flowers. There are many such trees in flower around Canberra at present.  When we bought our first house in Spence in 1974 we planted wattles like this along the back fence.

Another example of Australia's national flower.

On 5 September Geoff Banbury hosted the monthly dinner for the Guys & Dolls Group at his house. Geoff 's friend Alan organised wine tasting to introduce the rare Durif grape to us. From left: John, Helen, me, Nadia, Dominic, Sandy, Donna, Geoff (our host), Vera, and Neil.

Exactly one year ago we did a tour of Beijing Hinterland (Pinggu, Chengde, Yanqing, Zhangjiakou, and Beijing); from left: Brian, Vera, Jeanette, me, Michael, Abel, John, Jean, Elsa, and Carol.

In an effort to get to know more of Canberra surrounds, I have been doing weekly walks with Patrick O'Hara. Here we are on the summit of Mount Taylor; great views of  the Woden Valley one side, and the Tuggeranong Valley on the other side. Pat's brother, John, usually joins us but he was away on this occasion. 
In recent weeks we have walked Isaacs Ridge, the Wetlands, around Lake Tuggeranong, and Red Hill.

Called in to see John Holmes. Great guy; he was my boss in the Trade Section of the Australian Embassy Bangkok in 1973-74.  He is 95 years young, still sharp of mind. 

Vera is enjoying Michael Rosenberg's introductory ukulele class with U3A. This is her class photo, from left: Barbara, Vera, Sandy, Diane, Bernadette, Marion, Joyce. Number of students is limited to seven because of Covid-19 restrictions, but at least some classes as back.  Last year Vera took 'Harmonica' with Mike Ilchef. She has a good ear for music.

Following relaxation of  Covid-19, our Dance Club started operating again about 6 weeks ago, and we have been going every Thursday night. A new dance is usually taught from 6.45 - 7.30pm, and then the regular program goes until 10pm.

A typical dance program for Thursday night. We do Sequence Dancing (aka New Vogue Dancing).

I joined Capital Golf Club (CGC) in Narrabundah, a neighbouring suburb of Canberra.  It's pretty basic, but very convenient, just 5 min drive from home. The course is open to the public, and has been pretty busy during the Covid-19 period, as golf has been one of the few activities allowed. It has a membership of about 200, with competitions run on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. I am a "Weekday Member", and plan to play in the Thursday competition once my golf and fitness have improved. They retrieved my golf-link handicap from 12 years ago, so I will start on 26.

The modest Pro-Shop at CGC; putting green on the right.

Hole #1 at CGC is a 460 meter Par 5.

September is the beginning of Spring, and blossom time in Canberra.

Lots of wild-flowers, these near the National Library.

More blossoms, in front of the National Library.

I had a look at the "Pub Rock" exhibition at the Australian Portrait Gallery.

A 1980 photo of Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss of Cold Chisel.

A portrait of Johnny O'Keefe, another wildly-popular rock star from the 1960s.

80th birthday celebration for David Evans.  We first met way back in 1965 at the Treasury Department, and have been close friends ever since. 

Another of our weekly hikes, this time along the Murrumbidgee River (Centenary Trail) from Kambah Pool to Rod Rock Gorge.

Visit to Canberra by Michael Kramer and his son Peter, to promote an autobiography "Anton and Me" written by Charlotte (Lottie) Maramis. It is a beautiful cross-cultural love story set in the time Indonesia finally gained independence ('Merdeka!). Michael is a dedicated member of the Australian Indonesia Association which helped publish this book.

The 4-yearly election for the ACT Legislative Assembly will take place on Saturday 17 October. This time 15 Early Voting Centres have been established around Canberra which will operate for 3 weeks leading up to the election. I am working at the Dickson EVC; we had a little over 400 voters on each of the first two days (Canberra had 15,000 in total over the two days).
 

I attended a public forum held on Sunday 20 September to introduce the candidates contesting the electorate of Kurrajong in the ACT election. The Labor Party, sometimes in coalition with the Greens, has been in government for 19 years. Will be interesting to see what happens this time - many people want a change, but the main alternative (the Liberals) are so lackluster and conservative.  Canberra is divided into 5 Electorates, each  with 5 members, so the Party or Coalition which gets 13 or more seats forms government.  

On 29 September we had a 'family dinner' when Angie visited from Narooma. From left, Aniko, Angie, me, Vera, and Peter.

My brother, Papa Andy, with his son and three gorgeous grandkids in Rarotonga (missing is beautiful mother Engara).

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Book

This month I read "Kokoda" by Peter FitzSimons, about the New Guinea campaign in 1942 which stopped the Japanese advance.  What a courageous effort by Aussie troops against overwhelming odds.

International Trade

My 30 year career as an Australian Trade Commissioner gave me an interest in matters related to international trade.  I subscribe to Bloomberg's daily newsletter "Supply Lines - tracking Covid-19's impact on trade" (former title Trade Matters).  The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on international trade.  

Here are some of the more interesting graphs in that newsletter during September; most of them are self-explanatory.

This Bloomberg graph shows movement in total US merchandise (goods) trade in the last 20 years.  According to the SCMP (4 Sept) America's trade deficit with China in July 2020 was still a whopping $32B. 

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Miscellaneous

On 19 September 2020 the ACT Brumbies beat the Qld Reds 28 - 23 (3 tries to 2) to win the Australian Rugby Championship (which replaced the Super Rugby due to the Coronavirus pandemic).  Young Noah Lelosio was MVP.

Diana Rigg passed away on 11 September, aged 82. Wonderful actress. She was every young lad's fantasy back in the 1960's as leather-clad Emma Peel in The Avengers. 

US Tennis Open in New York. Naomi Osaka beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to win the Womens Singles and Dominic Thiem beat Alexander Zverev  2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) to be Mens Singles Champion.

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That's it for this post.

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Vera & Alex Olah

Canberra, Australia

Wednesday, 30 September 2020