Gentlefolk,
This post describes some of our activities during the month of December 2023.
The contents of this post are in the following sequence:
Photos of our activities during 1 - 31 December 2023.
News items which caught my eye 1 - 31 December 2023.
Rich list - top 10.
Popular baby names.
Newsmakers of 2023 in Australian media.
Herewith photos of our activities in December:
Canberra
 |
| The Australia China Friendship Society organises an annual competition for Canberra school children. This year the theme was "The Dragon Boat Festival". The Chinese Ambassador kindly agreed that the prize-giving could be held at the Embassy, with ACFS President Carol Keil presiding. |
 |
| The Chinese Embassy is an impressvie building. The ACFS prize-giving was a grand occasion, and one the students and parents will long remember. The Embassy also provided lunch afterwards, which was delicious and much appreciated by everyone. |
 |
| These students put on a display of traditional Chinese dancing; another student group performed a Lion Dance. |
 |
| Group photo in the Embassy garden after the prize-giving. Congrats to all the winners - good effort! |
 |
| Vera & I attended the End-of-Year dinner organised by the Australia Indonesia Association. AIA Presdent Les Boag welcomed guests. |
Sydney - Annual Trade Commissioner lunch
 |
| The Annual Trade Commissioners dinner was held at the Royal Ycht Squadron, Kirribilli on Tuesday 5 December. Here are Graeme Thompson and Peter Pond enjoying the lovely setting on Sydney Harbour. |
 |
| Trade Commissioners who were involved with China in the 1980s: Peter Bergman, Martin Walsh, Kym Hewet, Julia Selby, Jocelyn Chey (my boss in Beijing 1985-6), me, and Denis Gastin. |
 |
| TC Class of '71: Frank & Helen Ledwidge, me, Colin Hook, Peter Bergman, Patricia Radinoff (Geoff deceased), Lloyd Downey, Marion Richard (Dave deceased). Absent: Geoff Gray had another committment and Chris Davidson had an accident while driving up from Melbourne. |
 |
| With Denis Gastin. With Paul Barratt, Denis orchestrated the China Plan from Canberra - they were a formidable team. Later Denis was Senior Trade Commissioner in Tokyo. When he left the Public Service, Denis founded a successful consulting company. His personal passion was wine, and he became a respected wine exporter and writer. Denis is a very special person. |
 |
| With Rob Hobart (he replaced me in Jakarta in 1973) and Peter Sorensen, who also had a posting in Jakarta. Rob came from Melbourne and Peter from Brisbane for the lunch. |
Back in Canberra
 |
| Former AUSTRADE colleagues: Geoff McKie, Les Boag, me, Sean Riley, and Pat Stortz. M y 30 year career as a public servant comprised 15 years with the Department of Trade, and then 15 years with AUSTRADE. It was interesting, challenging work, which I loved! |
 |
| With old friends Kaye and Patrick O'Hara. |
 |
| On behalf of the ACFS, I thanked Catrin Quinliven, Events Manager of the Soughern Cross Club Jamison, for all her help during 2023. |
 |
| We attended a concert by John Shortis & Moya Simpson. Wunderbar!!! |
 |
| A farewell function hosted by Ketut Nanik and Adrian Clyne for Rob & Dian Wardrobe. Rob has been posted as an advisor to the Anti-Terrorist Traing Facility at Sentul, outside Jakarta. |
 |
| End-of-Year gathering of the Migrants attending the weekly English Conversation classes at Woden Library. I am a volunteer tutor here. |
 |
| The migrants brought food (national dishes) to share. |
 |
| Dinner with Siri & Bob Morrison and Aniko & Peter Carey. Bob was in Canberra to attend the 60th anniversary of his class at Royal Military College Duntroon. |
 |
| End-of-Year lunch of the U3A Current Affairs group. An interesting and stimulating course. |
 |
| Dr Ross Babbage gave a talk on the likelihood of a USA/China conflict to the Australian Institute of International Affairs. |
 |
| Lunch with old friends from dancing: Eugen & Nee Braun and Kay & Bob Stoddard. |
 |
| My friend Lynton busking at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston - I couldn't resist dancing with Santa. |
 |
| Caz, Andrew, Eddie & Jay stayed with us for a couple of days leading up to Xmas Eve. They resisted the temptation to buy this cute little Miniture Schnauzer they found for sale in Green Square, Kingston. |
 |
| We went to Xmas Carols performance by Queanbeyan Choir at The Hub, Kingston. It was a high-energy show, good fun, which we all enjoyed. |
 |
| Santa visited the Carols at The Hub, and was interviewed by MC Pippin. |
 |
| Xmas Eve dinner at the SCC Jamison, followed by dessert and carols at Britt's place in Taylor. From left: Angie, Richard, Lani, Tui, Oscar, Britt, Bonnie, Peter, Nouvie, Sasha, Hannah, Liz, Caz, Jay, Me, Eddie, Andrew, and Vera. |
 |
| After dinner we went to Britt's home in Taylor for carols, "bescherung" (exchange of presents) and dessert.The kids enjoyed handed out the presents. |
 |
| Angie with daughters Sasha and Britt. |
 |
| Three generations: Angie, Britt and Lani. |
 |
| The original Olah kids. Siblings: Aniko, me, and Angie (missing: Andy, who lives in Rarotonga). |
 |
| Vera & me. |
 |
| Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law Vera & Peter. |
 |
| Jay Jay sleeping. |
 |
| Xmas Day morning; the family preparing to leave our apartment to return to Sydney. We followed shortly after, and had 3 days in Sydney. |
 |
| Boxing Day at Queens Park: Andrew, Paul, Niniek, Bea, Miles, Vera, Caroline, Eddie, Katherine, Jay Jay, David, me. David & Kath and Bea & Miles arrived from New York that morning. Swim at Bronte, followed by a big seafood lunch. Yummy! |
 |
| Seafood lunch on Boxing Day: oysters, prawns, salmon, barramundi washed down with a cold Riesling - the best! |
 |
| Yum Cha lunch at the Castle Hill RSL with Niniek and Paul. |
 |
| We stayed 2 nights with Niniek and Paul Milton in their lovely home in Sanctury Gardens Westleigh. They have decided to down-size and are busy preparing to sell the house. End of an era! We celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary during our visit. |
 |
| Cost of fuel at Costco Canberra, 29 December 2023. |
Book
 |
| A fun holiday read! |
News items which caught my eye in December 2023.
($ are US
dollars unless otherwise shown)
|
Global
|
Israel’s attack on Hamas in Gaza continued
to dominate the news. An estimated 21,700 Gazans have been killed (the majority women and children) in the last 12 weeks, and about 56,000 have been injured. Over 65% of
buildings and infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed. Speculation by some commentators that this offensive by Israel is actually part of a long-term strategy to force
Palestinians to flee Gaza. There was much sympathy for Israel
after the Hamas attack on 7 October killed 1,200 and took 240 hostages. But that
sympathy has dissipated in the face of the awful death and destruction
wrought by the Israel Defence Force. US intelligence agencies reported increased support for Hamas among Palestinians. United Nations: On 13 December there was a vote
in the UNGA on a non-binding resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire:
For 153, Abstained 23 (UK, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, etc); Against 10 (USA,
Israel, Austria, Czeck Rep, PNG, Paraguay, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia,
Nauru). On 23 Dec the UN Security
Council passed a resolution (USA abstained) calling for pauses in the
fighting, and greater access by UN aid agencies to Gaza. Israel seemed to ignore US calls for less civilian deaths in Gaza. Three Australian citizens (2 brothers and a wife) were killed by an Israeli missile in southern Lebanon. Israel has also hit targets in Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. Israel: will recruit farm workers from
Malawi, Kenya and Uganda to replace the Thais who left following the Hamas
attack. The EU announced that it will start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova (3 basic criteria: market economy, rule of law, democracy). Gold passed $2K per ounce; Bitcoin
passed $42K. Argentina: Inauguration of new Libertarian President Javier Milei; devalued peso by 54% and slashed govt spending; anti-govt demonstratons. The COP28 summit in
Dubai agreed to triple renewables and “transition away from coal, oil and
gas”. The Pope allowed priests to bless same-sex
couples. India: IPL T20 competition April & May 2024; Kolkata Knight Riders paid $4.4M for Aussie fast bowler Mitchell Starc – new record. The Economist magazine named Greece as its “Country of 2023” for the way it has dealt with its economic problems. Soccer: Manchester City beat Fluminense
to win the World Club Championship. The US-based Glazer Family sold 25% of
Manchester United to Sir Jim Ratcliffe (INEOS Group) for $1.3B. Sale of Electric Vehicles
in 2023 represented 15% of Global sales of new cars (8% in USA: 19% in
China). BRICS: Grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will admit new members tomorrow: Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, UAE (Argentina changed its mind and will not to join at this stage). |
|
Russian invasion of Ukraine |
Major donors of military aid to
Ukraine so far: USA $46B, Germany $18B, UK $7B, Norway $4B, Denmark $4B,
Poland $3B. President Zelensky visited
Washington DC, but additional military aid remained stuck in Congress. USA delivered 'final' military package of $250M to Ukraine - further aid will require Congressional approval. Hungary blocked the EU $55B aid
package for Ukraine. G7: agreed to ban imports of Russian diamonds from 1 January 2024. Pres Zelensky said Ukrainian
generals are asking for 500K more soldiers. Russian forces take town of Mariinka, near Donetsk. Ukrainian missles destroy Russian tank-landing warship berthed in Crimea. Russia launched massive drone & missile attack on numerous cities; estimated 39 Ukrainians killed and 150 injured. In retaliation, Ukrainian drones and missiles hit Belgorod, 20+ dead and 100+ injured.
|
|
USA
|
The HoR voted
221-212 to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The Colorado State Supreme Court ruled that Trump is ineligible to contest 2024 election because he undermined the Constitution (citing Amendment 14 which bans anyone involved in insurrection). Maine also decided that Trump can not run (Trump will appeal those decisions) But Michigan, Minnesota and California have said that Trump can remain on the Republican primary ballot. Ultimately this matter will have to be decided by the US Supreme Court (USSC). USSC rejected
the approach from Special Counsel Jack Smith to fast-track if Trump had
immunity during the time he tried to overturn the 2022 election result – the
case will have to go through the normal appeals process before the USSC will consider it. 4th GOP
candidates debate featured Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Vivek
Ramaswamy; Trump boycotted again (he is way ahead in the polls). Later, Haley was criticised for not citing slavery as the main cause of the American Civil War. President of the Senate, VP Kamala
Harris, has cast a record 32 tie-breaking votes this year, a new
record. Congress passed the $886B National Defence
Authority Act for 2024 fiscal year. A new $105B funding package
(including $61B for Ukraine and $17B for Israel) was held up by Republicans in
Congress. 80 school shootings
in the US so far this year (29 college, 51 K12) Debate by two State
Governors on Fox News: Ron DeSantis (Florida) and Gavin Newson
(California). US Govt incentives
for Electric Vehicles made with local components. Charlie Munger, Vice Chairman of Berkshire
Hathaway and long-term associate of Warren Buffett, died aged 99. US Trade Statistics:
in first 10 months of 2023 imports from China fell 23% and exports to China
fell 2.2%. Time Magazine announced Taylor
Swift as its 2023 Person of the Year. Presidents of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn
under fire for not doing enough to combat alleged anti-semitism on
campuses. Liz Magill of UPenn resigned after donor pressure. Japanese baseball star Shohei
Ohtani (aka Shotime) signed a contract with LA Dodgers for $700m over
10 years; an MLB record. First grant ($35M) under the 2022 Chips
Act given to US subsidiary of BAE Systems to upgrade their
manufacturing of semiconductor chips for the US military. Economy: US inflation rate 3.1%; Federal
Reserve hints at rate cuts next year (mortgage rates are now about 7%, down
from a peak of 8%). Congress approved the sale of 4 nuclear
powered submarines to Australia under AUKUS (we must pay $3B to upgrade production facilites in the US shipyard building the submarines). Barbie has taken $1.5B at the box office
– highest grossing film of 2023. Rudy Guiliani ordered to pay $148 in damages to
two former Georgia election workers; he will appeal, and filed for
bankruptcy. Costco sold more than $100M worth of
gold bars in the last Quarter. Steel: Nippon Steel offered $15B for US
Steel, but President Biden voiced national interest concerns at this iconic company going to foreigners. Red sea shipping disrupted by Houthi attacks in
support of Gaza. Texas passed a law restricting illegal
immigrants (conflict with Federal law?). Hyperloop One, the high speed train company
which was looking to use vacuum tubes, closed down. Huge waves/sea surges along coast of California cause damage.
|
|
Australia |
Aust Govt announced tightening of Immigration: intake target will
be max of 250K pa, priority given to skilled migrants, foreign students will
be closely checked. PM Albanese made a formal apology
to survivors of the 1960s Thalidomide scandal (146 registered
survivors still alive). Premier (Labor) of Queensland for
9 years, Annastacia Palaszszuk, resigned; new Qld Premier
Stephen Miles. Three of the State Premiers during Covid pandemic have now moved on: Palaszszuk, Daniel Andrews (Victoria), and Mark McGowan (WA). Mike Pezzullo, powerful Secretary
of Home Affairs, was dismissed for breaching APS ethical standards. NDIS lost $1.4B last financial year through
payment errors and fraud. 17% of Australia’s population
is of Asian descent (mainly Indian and Chinese, 5% from SE Asia); 337K
Australians have Pacific Islander ancestry. Merger of Chemist Warehouse with Sigma
Healthcare (($9B company). Sate Memorial Service held at the
Sydney Opera House in memory of Barry Humphries
(he passed away in April). Extensive flooding
in Far North Qld following Cyclone Jasper. 103 yachts started in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, several had to drop out due to damage caused by strong winds. LawConnect beat Andoo Comanche to take line honours, while Alive was the overall winner (also won in 2018). A poisonous Eastern Brown snake interrupted the tennis match between Dominic Thiem and James McCabe at the Brisbane International. Thiem won.
|
|
China |
Earthquake in Gansu 130+ dead, 700+ injured. Chinese Govt introduced tough new
rules to curb the online gaming industry.
|
Forbes
Magazine 2023 International Rich List
|
Rank |
Estimated worth |
Name |
Company |
|
#1 |
$211 B |
Bernard Arnault (74, France) |
LVMH |
|
#2 |
$180 B |
Elon Musk (51, USA) |
Tesla, SpaceX |
|
#3 |
$114 B |
Jeff Bezos (59, USA) |
Amazon |
|
#4 |
$107 B |
Larry Ellison (78, USA) |
Oracle |
|
#5 |
$106 B |
Warren Buffett (92, USA) |
Berkshire Hathaway |
|
#6 |
$104 B |
Bill Gates (USA) |
Microsoft |
|
#7 |
$95 B |
Michael Bloomberg (USA) |
Bloomberg |
|
#8 |
$93 B |
Carlos Sim Helu (Mexico) |
Telecoms |
|
#9 |
$83 B |
Mukesh Ambani (India) |
Diversified |
|
#10 |
$81 B |
Steve Ballmer (USA) |
Microsoft |
......
Most popular
baby names in Canberra in 2023.
|
GIRLS |
|
BOYS |
|
|
#1 |
Amelia - Charlotte |
#1 |
Henry |
|
#3 |
Ava |
#2 |
Oliver |
|
#4 |
Chloe |
#3 |
Theodore - William |
|
#5 |
Evelyn |
#5 |
Alexander |
|
#6 |
Eleanor - Violet |
#6 |
Oscar |
|
#8 |
Isla - Olivia |
#7 |
Jack - Noah |
|
#10 |
Harper - Mia |
#9 |
Thomas |
|
|
|
#10 |
Charlie – Hudson - Muhammad |
......
TND: top eleven newsmakers of 2023 in Australian media
|
Name |
Background |
|
|
|
|
Taylor Swift |
American singer; popular Eras
Tour. |
|
Alex Carey |
Australian cricketer (wicketkeeper);
controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow during Aust – England Ashes Test. |
|
Donald Trump |
American, former President;
contestant to become Republican candidate in 2024 Presidential election. |
|
Barry Humphries |
Beloved Aussie comedian (Dame
Edna, Sir Les etc). He died in April aged 89; a memorial service was held in
December. |
|
Benjamin Netanyahu |
Israeli Prime Minister. |
|
Elizabeth Debicki |
Australian actress; played the
part of Diana in ‘The Crown’. |
|
Sarah Snook |
Australian actress; in ‘Succession’. |
|
Margot Robbie |
Australian actress; co-producer
and star of ‘Barbie’. |
|
Alan Joyce |
Former Managing Director of
Qantas; departed under a cloud. |
|
Jacinta Price |
Australian/Indigenous
Politician; campaigned against the Voice referendum. |
|
|
|
......
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 excellent daily newsletter "Supply Lines - tracking Covid-19's impact on trade" (former title 'Trade Matters').
......
Before I finish this post, here are a couple of photos sent by good friends:
 |
| George & Cola Fowler in Seattle, with sons George Jr and Hilary and partners. |
 |
| Karen and Llew in Adelaide. |
