POINTS TO PONDER

People often find out that inappropriate text messages and photographs, often sent or taken years earlier, are getting them into severe trouble when revealed. It would be far better if people would desist from photographs and texts taken and sent in the heat of the moment.

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The land clearing and construction developments at Lee Point are driving birds and other animals from what has been their natural habitat for countless decades. Sadly, this displacement is leading to the disorientation and demise of wildlife.

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There is a huge catch to the $10,000 bonuses offered over four years by the NT Government to public servants in exchange for a pay freeze. The bonuses are subject to personal income tax, which significantly reduces their value to recipients. This realisation will sour the pay freeze agreement.

Covid in the NT is challenging us all to a never ending game of Russian Roulette. To come home and be confirmed as Covid negative is tantamount to dodging a bullet. I implore EVERYONE to keep physically distancing, wearing masks and to practice hand hygiene.

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As a party, the CLP has become dispirited and lost within its own rhetoric. It was a party built territory’s needs and collective voice. Thanks to the rise of the importance of some individuals, the synergy that made the party so vibrant has withered and died. The party is but a shadow of its former image.

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Assembly speaker Ngaree Ah Kit

MUST rescind her decision not to allow journalists to attend Assembly sittings as members of the press gallery. To disallow reporting of procedures would be totally unconscionable. We deserve to know what is going on and how our elected members are transacting business.

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Our female cricket commentators are far more mature and focussed on games they are watching than their male counterparts. Viewers learn about the game and players. Male commentators are into jokes, the recall of silly historical moments and talking about themselves.

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Those managing affairs for the Larrakeyah Nation deserve commendation. The organisation’s staff are striving valiantly to look after the welfare of a huge visitor influx into Darwin from outlying communities. The sheer magnitude of the task is extending patrolling requirements and adding to the long hours of staff. Those who are filling patrol rosters deserve commendation for their empathy and the support they are offering to those in need.

You get born.

You grow up.

You get old.

You go dead.

Can anything bad more simple and straightforward.

Can anything be more terminal of life than death.

Some things have to be confronted and accepted for what they happen to be – undisputed facts.

I was once asked to address a gathering of the CLP faithful at the Palmerston Golf Club. I was asked to speak in the subject of why women make excellent leaders. I spent a significant amount of time thinking and observing prior to the night and came up with a dozen propositions supporting the notion of female leadership superiority. They are published both on my blog and in serialised form on my LinkedIn account.

As a school principal I appreciated gender balance of staff cohorts but ALWAYS made sure that women were a vital part of my leadership cohorts. I respected their contributions and their suggestions did not fall on deaf ears.

Women are owed a lot more respect than is held for them. But at times men are encumbered by the ‘honey pot’ syndrome, having to dodge women who fling themselves at male leaders in order to curry favour.

But “ssh it’s wrong to even THINK that happens in these enlightened days” isn’t it?

I’d add that as a school leader I respected all female staff, leaders and otherwise.

ABC financial reporter Daniel Zipper said during an interview (7/2) that a key element in establishing a person’s credit worthiness was the quality of the neighbourhood in which they lived. Residential postcodes are an important part of establishing credit worthiness. That means the credit rating of many Darwinians and Palmerstonians would be very low.

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I feel for Larrakeyah management at the moment. The organisation’s staff are striving valiantly to look after the welfare of a huge visitor influx into Darwin from outlying communities. The sheer magnitude of the task is extending patrolling requirements and adding to the long hours of staff. Those who are filling patrol rosters deserve commendation for their empathy and the support they are offering to those in need.

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Thank you to the rail and the road construction crews who have worked so hard toward restoring transportation links with southern states. While rail is still a little away off, the huge amount of damage that is being overcome is testament to the skill and attitude toward work of those involved in restoration.

The NT trial of Constable Zachary Rolfe who is being tried over the death of Kumanjayi Walker at Yuendumu two years ago is deeply significant. In historical terms, it stands alongside two other major Territory trials.

The first was of Lindy Chamberlain over the death of infant daughter Azaria at Ayers Rock (now Uluṟu) in 1980. Mrs Chamberlain was found guilty but her conviction was later quashed. The second was the trial of Bradley Murdoch over the death of British tourist Peter Falconio near Barrow Creek in 1994. Murdoch was found guilty and is still in jail.

The Chamberlain and Murdoch trials were reported upon to a worldwide audience. Constable Rolfe’s trial is attracting similar attention. Delays in the trial date occasioned by Covid interruptions and representations to determine process taken to the High Court, have heightened expectations.

My hope is that truth will prevail and that the outcome of the case will lead to a fair and just response.

The sudden and untimely departure of Justin Langer as the senior coach of the Australian Men’s cricket teams is an absolute travesty. In my opinion it is testament to the very poor administrative and management structure of the Australian Cricket Board.

We may never fully know why the board procrastinated for so long in offering what apparently was a very mediocre contract extension to Mr Langer.

What sadly seems to have been overlooked was the way in which Justin Langer took Australian men’s cricket from a very dark place and resurrected it in terms of status, respect and winning glory. That uplift was in both red and white ball formats

It would appear that the coach is a victim of the sin of insisting on high standards of behaviour and conformity to a coaching ethic designed (and proven) to bring out the best in the team.

Justin Langer is the fourth coach (after Nikki Arthur, John Buchanan, and Darren Lehman) to fall victim to the caprices of players, the ingratitude of the Board, or both.

It will be a miracle if the team is able to sustain high-level performance: A dip in the level and degree of future success will not be surprising.

The community at large can but hope that Covid’s infiltration into the territory’s remote communities, correctional institutions and senior’s residential villages can be halted. It is awful to contemplate the impact this vile disease could have on the vulnerable if the virus goes unchecked. Vaccination and hygiene practices as preventive measures are so important.

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The Prime Minister’s apology to parliamentary abuse victims was very necessary. Far too many people, predominantly men who are elected members or staffers, have for too long participated in the belittling of female counterparts. May healing happen and may behaviour of all become supportive and uplifting.

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Covid in the NT is challenging us all to a never ending game of Russian Roulette. To come home and be confirmed as Covid negative is tantamount to dodging a bullet. I implore EVERYONE to keep physically distancing, wearing masks and to practice hand hygiene.

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As a party, the CLP has become dispirited and lost within its own rhetoric. It was a party built territory’s needs and collective voice. Thanks to the rise of the importance of some individuals, the synergy that made the party so vibrant has withered and died. The party is but a shadow of its former image.

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