Through Thick and Thin

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I received this poem today from Julie-Ann Avenell, very touching piece...




Here is a poem i wrote for the Queenlanders who lost their lives and those who survived...
Dedicated to all who lost their lives in the Queensland Floods



The sky darkened as it drifted in

The whole of Queensland would be engulfed within

Its fury would unleash devastation despair

Flooding the land with out thought or care


The land would become an inland sea

Stretching as far and wide as the eye can see

So many livestock would die in its wake

Beneath the waters of this enormous lake


The rivers would rise beyond expectations

Theodore is the first for evacuations

The Heavens above unleashing its fury

Becoming our judge and our jury


As the waters rose the land would become

An inland sea to most everyone

Weeks of rain have befallen the land

Still consuming more as the rains expand


So many people their homes are lost

And many of them will burden the cost

Lives foolishly taken from reckless decisions

Others not providing pets with provisions


My heart would cry a river of tears

My anxiety levels would rise from fears

The more I watched the pictures unfold

The more devastation those pictures told


Seventy five percent of Queensland is flooded

Mothers mourning for the child the mothered

Husbands and wives sisters and brother

Would be lost or searching for one and other


Everyday I would kneel in silence in prayer

For protection for all and the searchers who care

Sleep doesn`t come as I lay in my bed

My mind overloaded with visions of the dead


I ask many questions to the Lord up above

Why such devastation for your children you love

Then from out of the depths a miracle occurs

Reminding me that this wasn`t Gods curse



Lives would be shattered across the whole state

And rescue would come for some too late

And many more tears of sorrow will flow

And from my mind this disaster won`t ever go


We are Australians and together we`ll stand

Rebuilding our lives all across this land

Nothing that can break our spirit within

We are Australians through thick and thin



Julie-Anne Avenell

Queensland

Australia

VISITOR'S GUIDE TO MELBOURNE and VICTORIA

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LET'S SHOW 'EM!

Within the cyber pages of Toorak Times I want to enable a photo video tableau of Melbourne and Victoria through the eye's of it's citizens. Full crdit will be given to the suppliers and business links put up immediately if applicable.

Most commercial attempts at these tourism sites, of the nature I've seen are limited as resources, as they are only as good as their sales people to get businesses onboard their site. I intend to list FREE to all Victorian tourism ventures and localities, in co operation with the local business and tourism groups and independent operators, starting with Victoria's iconic Fitzroy Street and the whole of St Kilda.

I believe that if families in the 'burbs were given more info of the sights in the city and vice versa, city dwellers were given insight into cool local outer Melbourne sights people would do a lot more locally.

We all have that favourite spot, place of beauty to walk the dog or kids, mine are Agnes Falls near Toora, Buchan and Far East Gippsland generally.

I am after the sights and sound of Victoria's, scenery and events, some will even be able to stream live on the Front Page, whether it be landing a snapper on Port Phillip Bay or a rope swing on the Murray River, I would like some shortish clips, think promo...but don't let that make you edit classics down though, might be worth the bandwidth!!!

Commercial venues that are integral to community tourism will also be given very low priced entry fees in their first year of joining the site.  would also encourage operaters to offer Toorak Times members and readers special deals that will be published free - on top of the minimal commercial joining fee. Don't get me wrong though, all operators will get a free listing, unless of course they do not want it!

But I am after your quality home videos, with your by line if wanted to give a real feel to the project!

FAME - NO MONEY!

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LOOKING FOR INPUT

Fame - no money is what I offered to many a young writer and photograhper as I was trying to swell a re-interest in live music through TAGG - The Alternative Gig Guide in the late '70's, when the Disco monster roamed the planet consuming live venues by the score!

I was also lucky enough to have the contributions of such luminaries as Stuart Coupe, my editor, David Pepperell, Dr Pepper, Dave Dawson and the awesome photography of Desi Field and Rod Birchill, cartoonist's like John Taylor and even Roger Hart did a cover, many were given the chance to express themselves...before society climbed up it's own arse.

I believe we are looking through a window in time, sociallogically, where the Baby Boomers are empathetically in sync with Gen Y, and particularly Gen Y 2.

All that was cool is cooler and these kids have the same impetus to change the world as we had back then, till we went soft...they are stronger and far better informed.

So I want to build a self publishing platform in an ethically commercial environment, the site structure I have chosen offers those with approved authorities within the site structure to publish at will, unfettered but moderated on touchy social subjects.

ANYONE can join and blog on their favourite subject. Feature writers, photographers, film makers will be connected to advanced editing suites and designers, and a choice of templates for their pages, or they can create their own..

Expressions of interest only to mick@tooraktimes.com.au

DOGS'S BAR FLOOD RELIEF EFFORT

WELL DONE DOG'S BAR

Friday night at the Dog's Bar in Acland Street St Kilda saw a large crowd gathered in response to a call from owner David to do something for the cause.

With the contribution of many others, they raised quite a large fund to send to aid the relief coffers.

Dog's Bar owner David looking astounded by the size of the bids, and the hide of his auctioneer!

The night was a charity auction and I must say the auctioneer managed to get the top dollar for all items.

Big Bobby Valentine closed the night out with his renditions of Elvis covers and was most entertaining, usually don't like people who try the King, but he was good! I believe you will be needed in Rye again Bobby, the girls will be calling...heads up!

I'll have more on this event later, and also news of a Mornington Peninsula relief concert later in the year, more to come soon!

Thank you again Dog's Bar! We as a nation cannot let this disaster slip from our vision, we must maintain assistance till there is no more need!

Queensland - WTF!!!

ABOMINABLE BEHAVIOUR

Since posting the previous article I have had contact from people affected by the recent flooding in Queensland.

One fellow on day one of the clean up fronted with his bobcat and became increasingly frustrated with the dragged out registration process that the Brisbane council was administrating that he left the line mounted his bobcat and just started doing it.

Come 4pm and when the council workers arrived he was told to piss off, not needed or wanted...what a whack in the guts!!!

Another couple enlisted to  go with 48 others on an organised bus trip to go around as a clean up team.

After a two hour induction they mounted the bus and were driven around Brisbane for five hours, never allowed to render assistence to anyone.

They were thanked when they were dropped back aty the pick up point for "at least giving it a go" - what the fuck! They left the bus confusedly livid!

They could have been actually cleaning up their own properties!

....and what is this means test about...our people have had their small businesses obliberated and government says, oh well, too bad, you built this city, you are on your own, here's $140, go fix us again, go rebuild our business district with that!

MOTHERS OF RELIEF

GILLARD and BLIGH - Guardian Angels

In a scene very much like the US tragedy in New Orleans it will be interesting to see how we in Australia deal with such a crippling assalut by nature on a nations Capital city.

Compassion and strength seem to underline the sounds and images coming across the news services from the women who have been cast with the responsibility of seeing our country through this devastation.

At the time of Australia's worst national disaster it bodes well for all that we have two of the strongest female politicians in the country at the helm of this disaster recovery work to start later this week.

Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, has shown extremely effective leadership qualities and her strength shines through the TV screen, standing today with Prime Minister Gillard they looked and sounded like they were committed to ensure that no one will be left out of relief and rebuilding funding.

The loss of life, pets, livestook, property and infrastructure is heartbreaking, let's let them know we are all here for them...

SMALL BUSINESS TSUNAMI WIPEOUT

TRAGEDY TO DESTROY MUM AND DAD BUSINESSES

NO INSURANCE FOR WATERSIDE BUSINESSES

The tragedy unfolding in Queensland will have consequences well into the future if not addressed from the start, instead of an often overlooked afterthough that will add misery to thousands left with the rubble to clear out of their small businesses.

If you think insurance companies will pick up the bill you are sadly mistaken!

The National and Queensland governments need to address this issue first up this time as most businesses along Brisbanes waterways are uninsurable for flood damage.

This means most business people will lose just about everything for which they have worked and established.

Hopefully the nation will see the need and compensate these people that run the restaurants and other retail outlets, the tech based companies whose electrical equipment that will be useless...the losses are endless.

Unlike the bushfire recent disaster, this holocaust was not created by lunatic pyromaniacs, but by the collusion of a horrific natural event that has been added to by the Queensland government's refusul to build a few more dams and the deliberate, but necessary, release through their infrastructure.

We all pray for the city's speedy recovery and the care of its citizens...I know we all do what we can to help.

TT-TV = TT-DBV

TOORAK TIMES

DIGITAL BROADCAST VENUE

Thought I'd start a TV station, may I coin Digital Brodcast Venue, DBV for acronym sake!

http://www.247.tv/bowl

Found this to start with, I hope Henry Greener lets me air his Yiddish cloth, and all the Indie stuff I can find on public domain I care for.

http://theshtick.info

I am pretty sure I can unlock some gold from the past, so as it develops I'll put in playlists...now this is an interactive site...so if you think you have the jizz put a play list together that I can list.

http://www.thbc.com.au/

Tweed Heads Bowling Club

This is the site to go if you want the best information on major tournaments in Australia, and the engine behind it - the inimitabable Greg Kelly, has also been the man that has opened up major network penetration through his work with Foxtel...LEGEND!

If you have original content and we will look at putting it up...no shit please...the main site is in production and I have lucked onto some pretty cool graphic and web designers, let's see what happens from here, eh...

A New Beginning for the Socially Aware

In memory of my old man, this post is the first of many in what I hope will open up a portal for independant thought.

I ask old friends and others that wish to contribute, fame - no money, to join me in a virtual publihing escapade.

As time passes I will develop a full blown website that will aim to aid community groups that are actively helping their cohort, to support the Arts - in particular Live Music and Performance, to support local sport, in fact its an open book at the moment! Lawn Bowls is my paticular poison though so there are already links with many bowls websites to kick off!

In the mood to explore past goldmines, the first of which will be my own TAGG - The Alternative Gig Guide archive. It would be great to find old gems like Nation Review and the 'EED, Weed, Seed, Need, Greed and leaf, leaf, leaf,leaf produced by the Cannibis Researh Foundation in Greville Street!

TAGG will be reborn as an online tourism, entertainment and community information gig guide as a section in TT.

It would be cathartic to revisit old stomping grounds, TAGG had many sections that appealed to the industry as well as the public, but more importantly it is a repository for the activities of the music industry from 1978-81 warts and all, and a very important time in Rock it was!

Great Counter Cultural publications of all sorts would be great to capture for posterity.

I'm also big on directories, so I'm interested in connecting with Community organisations that would like further exposure.

Altruism to the side, Toorak Times is a commercial venture in concept, whether I ever make a buck out of it is questionable.

When it comes online it will be a paid subsription or page purchase in the model of other online newspapers, small change, or a membership subscription with discounts and freebies attached.

Don't think I'll chase grand social issues or political ideals as politically I am Far Middle and love the rise of independents, ok I'll have a bit to say about that...

I already have got a couple of blogs out there, much under maintained, but I have a new wind in my sails and wish start writing on a more serious level, like novels, faction, short stories the shit I've seen would make most citizens blood curdle...and a few may duck for cover, especially in the entertainment industry...kidding?!? Probably...