Hello Cruel World
Sunday, June 24, 2007
 
"Family" (Guest Book comment)


From the ABC Radio National 'Saturday Extra' guestbook
Phyllis Gorman: Three budget examples — 16/06/2007 4:10 PM
While the three families who presented how they budget in the current 'boom' economy were interesting, [] I am disappointed that, as usual, people like myself who are single, and living alone are invisible. We are a growing segment of the demographic, but are rarely referred to in the political rhetoric. Families are important to Australia, but so are we ... we, who often do it hard; we, who often volunteer to help others; and we, who would like to have our voices heard too. Single person households take on the full responsibility for the mortgage or the rent. We have no one with whom we can share the electric or telephone bill. And we pay taxes to support ALL Australians, not just Australian families. Please include us in your examples should you revisit how the economy affects the Australian population.

Coming in to support Phyllis Gorman about the blinkered use of "family" in public debate. For several years before she died I worked part-time & cared, first with my partner, then alone, for my deaf, frail, increasingly demented mother only because she was my mother; we were family. Yet we were never included in any of the "family" policies or discussions I heard.

Now, widowed in my forties, I am back living & working as a single person, with the prospect of continuing so for some thirty or forty years. I hope to still be engaged and contributing for that time, but am worried that 'my kind' tend to be either ignored or treated as a problem. As Phyllis pointed out, we're never in the standard "how the budget affects you" examples, nor in "your finances" recommendations, except sometimes as a throwaway glance at a 'young single' who's just starting out.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
 
Golden Compass film



Sunday, June 17, 2007
 
Garvan Institute
Garvan Institute

Cancer Survival Rates in NSW & Australia
Saturday, June 09, 2007
 
Pyrmont Changes (v1): Photos old & new


Something I put together, using both historic and my own still photos, for some older relatives who are living far away to show them some of what has happened, or is happening, to Pyrmont (in Sydney, Australia), where they grew up.




This is, at the moment, a filler to accompany some family photos I put on DVD for them to watch on TV. I'd like to one day put a better version together. It could use a lot more work, but am cutting off time for now, it's been delayed far too long.

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Sunday, June 03, 2007
 
Worry for us dependent on plastic bags


War declared on plastic bags
Saturday June 2, 04:19 PM
au.news.yahoo.com/070602/2/13n3o.html
State and territory governments will work together to eliminate one-use plastic shopping bags, says ACT Environment Minister Jon Stanhope.

The announcement followed a meeting between state and territory environment ministers in Cairns on Saturday.
- Yahoo!7 News (AAP)

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 / . Lives in Australia/New South Wales/Sydney, speaks English. Eye color is hazel. I am what my mother calls unique. My interests are photography, reading, natural history/land use, town planning, sustainability.

This is my blogchalk:
Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, English, photography, reading, natural history, land use, town planning, sustainability.