Our Guest Author is, once again, Gorgeous Dunny, with another of his fascinating “Memoirs of a Country Employment Counsellor”. Thank you, GD!
(Credit: Joseph A. Rosen, Guitar International)
Lessons in life can spring from the most improbable sources. The legendary guitarist Les Paul never forgot one he’d had as a small boy.
A road workman on a lunch break fascinated him by playing lively tunes on his harmonica. Suddenly the workman stopped and handed young Les the harmonica, saying, “Here, you have a go.”
Les shyly declined, mentioning he couldn’t play. The workman jumped up angrily and shouted, “Never say you can’t until you prove you can’t!” He handed him the harmonica again and said, “Now, Play!”
Young Les modestly complied, fumbling away making awkward sounds from the instrument. The workman, now more kindly, took the harmonica back from him and said, “All right, son. You’ve proved you can’t play at the moment. It don’t mean you can’t ever play. Always remember that, kid. Never say you can’t until you prove you can’t.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZFKeyGpgK0
Les did always remember, and applied it to everything he tackled in life. The harmonica was the first musical instrument that he mastered, but he was destined for much greater things as an innovator with the guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH8vjxFIUC4
As a teenager, I’d read this story in one of those Readers Digest features called something like, “My most unforgettable moments”. It stayed with me because Les Paul’s amazing guitar performances had made him an idol of mine. I started to include it in my own life because it sounded pretty good. How do we know we can’t, if we don’t prove we can’t?
In my tourism career, I found it a useful way of addressing problems. In Sydney during the late 60s, South Australian Tourist Bureau did very well out of interest in the semi-desert and desert areas of the Flinders Ranges and Central Australia. But one problem was that tourist services were virtually confined to the winter months from April to September. The climate could be quite severe in the summer months, and air-conditioning was not then commonplace.
(Aroona Dam, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Photograph: Mike Langford )
Yet many people, because of their employment or business, could only travel in the summer months. I negotiated for some time with tour operators before one took the plunge with an Ayers Rock- Alice Springs tour ex Adelaide starting from Boxing Day. It required a little adaption such as air-conditioned vehicles and avoiding much travel through the middle of the day. But it could be done. The tour was oversubscribed, leading to another departure. That operator expanded the following season and other tour operators offered services after that success.
It was more daunting for the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks and Simpson Desert areas. Even during the winter months, only four-wheel drive vehicles could be used and great care had to be exercised. One ‘regular’ couple that had grown to love desert areas had a long ambition to tour there, but could only travel during December-January. Again I lobbied various operators before one agreed to try it. My couple were among the first to book in what became a successful, in-demand tour.
(Credit: Malcur)
(Credit: Australian Geographic – Photograph: Jiri Lochman)
They could not contain their joy when they returned to tell me about it. He developed a shocking sun skin cancer on the forehead but felt that it was a small price for what was the trip of a lifetime. I tried to bring that attitude to my later career in employment counselling, never say you can’t, until you prove you can’t.
I received just such a challenge at Portland when Bev came to see me. She was seeking Labour Market Program (LMP) assistance to do a two-year travel course. I should mention that the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) could only approve LMP assistance for course durations of up to one year. Anything longer had to be recommended and approved by me. As it turned out, it was singularly appropriate that it went to me.
Bev had no problem meeting the eligibility requirements for assistance. She was in her late twenties and had a most unusual background. As a qualified chef, her employment future had seemed assured until an unusual accident at home in Melbourne. She fell off a stool while doing some repairs at home. From the subsequent head injuries she had a stroke. After rehabilitation, and parental support in her native town of Portland, she had made a partial recovery, but had a permanent paralysis of her right side – arm and leg. She got around with a walking stick and had learned other things such as writing with her left hand.
Being used to her own independence, Bev was determined to return to work. She could never return to cooking because of the heavy work shifting pots, plus the general agility now denied her with the right side paralysis. So she looked at retraining for work as a travel consultant where her disability would not be a major problem.
This was the dilemma for me. She could have remained on disability pension for the rest of her life, but she wanted to work and deserved to be encouraged. Yet coming from the travel industry myself, I knew immediately that it was unsuited to her. She was an introvert personality. She had no clerical/administrative background.
Without exceptional motivation, it was hard to see how she could adapt. Part of my recommendation was based around the prospects of her getting employment after completing the course. I just couldn’t see it happening in Bev’s case.
On the other hand, I felt that whatever I did, I should not say to her that she can’t do it. She ought to be encouraged, but the challenge was to get her going in a vocational direction that would be beneficial. Instead, I asked her why she had decided to do a travel training course. Her answer was startling and enlightening. She had been determined to work again as she recovered. Whatever she tried to do, she’d always been told it was not possible. Finally, she’d received a lot of encouragement from a social worker. She suggested the Travel course to Bev.
The choice was inappropriate in my view. But it was understandable that, having been given no encouragement to that point, she should snatch at that option. I had formed quite different ideas based on my experience in rehabilitation. I believed that it was easier to make the transition to a new career if you could draw on the knowledge and experience of your existing trade or occupation.
For example, I’d had considerable success with former building industry tradespeople (plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry, painting) by placing them in hardware store retail sales. Their particular knowledge was a major sales asset for the hardware stores’ primary client group of home handymen/renovators. Often the essential need of these customers was the knowledge/advice of how to address a problem or an emergency. The sales of recommended products followed from that advice.
I’d encouraged other injured tradespeople into getting TAFE training qualifications so that they could teach or assess/test apprentices. These methods lessened the amount of learning needed to enter a new occupation, while drawing on areas of knowledge in which they were competent. My idea with Bev was that such a pathway would make it a little easier to achieve her goal of useful employment.
The trick was how to bring her around to this idea without discouraging her. What I had in mind was something like an Advanced Certificate in Hospitality, which was essentially about kitchen management in a hotel or restaurant. It took in such things as planning menus and supplies, arranging services, training apprentices and kitchen-hands plus specialty things such as nutrition, diet and hygiene. It would still require her to develop additional skills, but in the context of advancing on her existing knowledge and skills.
South West TAFE at Warrnambool had a School of Hospitality and Tourism, which was ideal for what I had in mind. It had options of courses in travel/tourism and hospitality/cookery. I said that, for a start, I’d prefer that she do a course locally (the one she’d originally nominated was in Melbourne) so that she still had parental/family support. She agreed with the sense of that, and I said I’d set up an interview with the Head of that school.
(Credit: Lyons)
I rang him to discuss setting up an interview with Bev. I explained the background and where I was hoping to take it, bearing in mind that I did not want to discourage her. He proved remarkably sympathetic, having a brother with a major disability. He said that he’d show her right through the department and what each course did and led to. He was confident it would be enough information for her to decide for herself and he looked forward to her becoming a student there. I contacted Bev and arranged her transport to Warrnambool for the interview.
A few weeks later, she saw me again about getting training assistance to do the Advanced Certificate in Hospitality. It was a two-year course, just as the travel one was. I happily arranged the recommendation/approval for this course, including the daily commuting bus transport from Portland. I left it to my new friend at TAFE to arrange whatever modifications might have been needed to allow Bev to cope physically.
I still feigned innocence on the whole thing, and I asked her what had changed her mind about her choice of course.
She replied, “Oh, I realized after I went over there that a travel certificate was a stupid choice and that this one made a lot more sense.”
Although I had manipulated the situation a little, I had left the ultimate decision up to her. I was glad she’d reached that conclusion.
I saw her at the end of the year at Warrnambool, when there had to be a renewal of her training assistance program for the second year. She had passed the first year requirements comfortably, and was satisfied with the course she’d selected. The only change was that she’d decided to relocate to Warrnambool for the second year. The daily travel (one hour each way) had been a bit tiring with her disability.
She gained her qualification. I next saw her was a year or two later at Hamilton. I was visiting the Wool Bales, which was a tourism project at Hamilton organized by Yooralla to employ people with severe disabilities. Bev had been recruited (in the ‘open market’) to supervise and train people with disabilities to prepare meals and food for visiting tourists. She seemed very comfortably in her element, training and supervising disability trainees in this work. Visitors to the Wool Bales greatly valued the quality of the food output. The trainees adored Bev as she hobbled about the kitchen barking out instructions.
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
I felt a sense of satisfaction not just at the end result but also that I’d had contact with her at all CES offices in this region that I served, starting at Portland, then Warrnambool and finally Hamilton.
It seemed to reinforce to me that where at all possible, you should not close off options to a person seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce. In many cases what they want to do may be a pointless dream, but it should not be up to us to deny them that hope. Rather, by questioning, logical inferences and examples we should encourage people to reach their most achievable goal.
With Bev, I could have justified rejecting her application for training assistance on the grounds that firstly she may not be capable of completing the travel course, and secondly that completion alone would not lead to employment. But of what benefit to her in her efforts to find work? Yet if I had merely approved it on the basis of ‘doing something’ it could have led to similar disappointment. I needed to find a way of not refusing her, but opening up other possibilities. Then she could more easily commit to her own best interests.
My political hero was Don Dunstan, who for a while was also my boss when SA Tourism became part of the Premiers Department. Although he did not consciously adopt an attitude identical to Les Paul’s workman, it was similar but just expressed differently.
(Credit: Radio Adelaide)
When faced with urgently needed reforms, whether from decriminalizing homosexuality to imposing a deposit on beverage containers, Dunstan would always ask the question, “Well, why not?”
If he couldn’t give a rational answer to that, then he’d do something about it. The political difficulty was not an issue. Should it be, he would work on bringing opponents around to it. What mattered was whether it was right or needed to be done. It does require political courage. Other states have buckled at drink container reform just as soon as the selfish beverage lobby turned up the heat on them. But what is right is often more important than what is politically safe to do.
Who would have thought that the outlook of a road works laborer from 90 years ago could still resonate? It does seem a good approach to life.
Never Say You Can’t, Until You Prove You Can’t.
THE PUB 
6Pack
And then some. Fortunately my flat is on the outer S-W side of the Towers so the echo is not so bad.
Not that I’m there to hear it much these days.
leone two
I am waiting for Hockey to start suggesting government super schemes start investing in his infrastructure projects. After all his Mrs is a director of Q-Super – one reason I am happy to be able to move most of my super out of it.
Hockey has been a busy boy today, he’s also come up with this brainfart –
Hockey flags lifting Qantas foreign ownership limit
http://www.afr.com/p/national/hockey_flags_lifting_qantas_foreign_2kKsGSvuryS2M3S5mJXXVK
I I have read, that Industry Super Funds are to be handed over to private sector.
Fed up
No doubt suggested to Mr Eleventy by his wife. She is supposed to be the brains in the family. She is vastly more experienced in finance than her dim-witted husband so no doubt she is giving him lots of helpful advice.
Oh Dear……
After her current success with China what could possibly go wrong?
“FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop could be given the delicate job of helping mend the diplomatic rift with Indonesia over allegations of Australian spying activities.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/susilo-bambang-yudhoyono-angry-tony-abbott-didnt-apologise-for-spying/story-fn9hm1gu-1226769671593
6Pack
On thing on wheels stuff.
Ms Germany – Last two weeks:
– Power window rooted;
– New battery ($258 – it needs a big one); and
– Sun roof stuck-up and not responsive (hopefully just a fuse after battery failure).
We suffer for our pleasures!
Fed up
“I have read, that Industry Super Funds are to be handed over to private sector”
I should hope there will be a huge sh.. fight should he try that on. Can’t have members interests first and foremost when there are fees and commissions to be had by LNP mates.
Essential Poll for State level on VIC, NSW & QLD. Taken over the last four weeks, so all responses were in November, taken at the same time as the Fed questions. QLD & NSW still as bad as you’d expect, but a real pick up for VIC since March.
Click to access Essential-Report_131126_statevoting.pdf
PDF has all three states.
CTar1
Swedes nice gear,comfy .powerful yes
Reliable cat 5 euro nope.
Getting out. Yep
CTar1
Crikey . Has the silver goddess transformed in to a Mercedes SLS Electric Drive ?
Leone
We feel the same as you (10.50am). We talked to as many as we could without going too gungho. For gosh sake, it was so clear to see what they would do if they got in.
kambah mick
Thank you for relating some of your experiences. It helps to know that there are a lot of good people out there helping people who are in desperate need. Have you ever thought of writing a book on your experiences?
Razz had another lot of wheelchair fittings, they had cleverly taken the best of six wheelchairs and adapted them down to three. We were both excited, then we got home with the one that was most suited, for a weeks trail to see what else needs to be adapted. It is wonderful working in a rehab space where everything can be raised or lowered and you don’t want to go to the loo or just fill the kettle. We both had our excitement extinguished within about ten minutes of getting in the door. Ah well, back to the drawing board.
kaffeeklatscher
2 volvo approved batteries.$1365
Somebody put this up on my Facebook page. I thought Pup clients might get a laugh out of it.
[ One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he
asked about his bill, and the barber replied, ‘I cannot accept money
from you, I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill,
the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.’ The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen doughnuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it. ]
joe6pack
I know truck batteries are “family size” but did not expect that price ! As for battery power, the car in the merc vid set the Nürburgring record.
I’ve just bought myself a Christmas present.
I get emails from the Anne Summers Report and they are selling a DVD of both conversations with Julia Gillard.
I had interruptions for both conversations when televised so I’ll delight in taking my time with an appropriate beverage and watching in detail over the summer (no pun intended ) break.
kaffee/6Pack
I got out easy then.
COULD be given the delicate job?
What are we paying this useless piece of baggage for?
She is the Foreign Minister! Does she think the job’s all cocktail parties?
Of course Mesma knows there’s more to being FM than cocktail parties. There’s also all those official dinners and morning teas and then there’s the duty free shopping for new Prada outfits to wear to all those events…..
Our government must have hit some sort of record for the most countries pissed off in the shortest time.
Here’s another one. And this one was definitely on Howard’s watch and while Abbott was a minister.
East Timor accuses Australia of spying for commercial gain during Timor sea negotiations
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/east-timor-says-australia-spied-for-commercial-gain/5120738?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Well, I have no sympathy for the turkeys who voted for this mob of losers I do have sympathy for all the Cassandras and Cass-andrews who tried to warn the nitwits of what was coming.
He, posted this on my FB page this morning
Got two angry replies 🙂 but I didn’t give much ground. If you want the NBN you should have voted for Labor on 7 Sep. How hard is that?
Surely there should be a recall put out for this government. It’s clearly defective.
Sometimes you just have to stand back and admire the chutzpah, though. They spend two weeks in Parliament wanting to talk about nothing else than the ‘mandate’ they have to implement something they undertook to do in the election campaign. And they follow that up by almost immediately breaking an election promise! How’s that for scuppering their own argument? But they’ll be back on about the carbon tax as soon as Parliament resumes. Lunacy.
Further the industry based super funds being controlled by retail fund managers. there are plans to reintroduce trailing commissions unless the fund member specifically opts out.
Finance industry commentators like Alan Kohler and Marcus Padley say trailing commissions are daylight robbery
Blimey! This just goes from bad to worse! How much worse is probably just to what extent ones imagination can extend to!
I knew it wouldn’t be pretty, but I never imagined just how bad it would be! After Mesma’s effort with the Passport issue, I would have thought that she would be the last person to be entrusted with such a sensitive issue such as this.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/susilo-bambang-yudhoyono-angry-tony-abbott-didnt-apologise-for-spying/story-fn9hm1gu-1226769671593?from=google_rss&google_editors_picks=true
After the VIC Essential poll I posted earlier, see this…
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/coalition-shunned-by-voters-20131127-2yags.html
Coalition shunned by voters
November 28, 2013
Josh Gordon
The Napthine government has slumped to a losing position as it struggles to exert control over a deeply dysfunctional Parliament and tackle concerns about health, education and public transport.
A year out from the November 2014 election, an Age/Nielsen poll has found the Coalition trailing Labor 46 per cent to 54 per cent on two-party-preferred terms.
If this result were replicated in an election, the Coalition would be swept from power with the loss of up to 12 seats, becoming Victoria’s first single-term government since 1955.
Based on Nielsen the following Liberal seats will fall:
Wendouree*
Yan Yean*
Carrum
Frankston
Bentleigh
Monbulk*
Mordialloc
Ripon*
Bellarine*
Forest Hill
Prahran
South Barwon
*- Labor-held seat made notionally Liberal by redistribution
Overall numbers:
Labor: 52 seats
Coalition: 36 Seats
Gippsland Laborite
Can’t see it going quite that well for us in practice, still a while to go. But its looking very good right now. Polls favouring the ALP include…
Newspoll – bi-monthly (so data collected over 2 months) L/NP 47 – ALP 53
Essential – data collected over 4 weeks of Nov L/NP 48 – ALP 52
Neilsen – data from a few days around last weekend L/NP 46 – ALP 54
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/5318-new-zealand-voting-intention-november-27-2013-201311270407
Parties neck-and-neck in New Zealand 12 months before NZ Election: National Party (44.5%) just behind Labour/ Greens (45%)
November 27 2013 Finding No. 5318 Topic: Federal Poll Public Opinion
This latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone – both landline and mobile telephone, with a NZ wide cross-section of 884 electors from November 11-24, 2013. Of all electors surveyed 2.5% (down 0.5%) didn’t name a party.
Leroy
Quite possibly, I think Ripon will be hard to win with Joe Helper retiring, however Labor’s position in Bellarine may be better than the margin suggests.
Bellarine went from the ALP column due to Barwon Heads being added to the electorate, which voted about 59%-41% Liberal at the 2010 state election however, it narrowly voted for Labor at the last federal election.
Political Animal @9:08pm
I went to our local MP’s office after working out when the “petition” was to be handed out. It wasn’t very clear. I mean, how was I to know that 4pm UST is actually one in the afternoon? I don’t use Facebook!
Present were a chap from GetUp, a nice older ALP lady, a strong-minded type who didn’t like the unions, and a gentle chap who had a big piece of paper to hand to the MP and was very confused when the MP wasn’t there.
Apparently the organisers of the petition had given this last chap the impression that presenting this piece of paper to the MP would be sufficient in making the point, and he was most discombobulated when it was pointed out that in order for a petition to be presented to parliament, it has to be in a particular format and contain the names and addresses of those who signed it! After a short thinking pause, it was suggested that the petition would be emailed to the MPs office for him to print out and table in Canberra.
A shemozzled whimper of an exercise, certainly. But one can only hope that the information that the MP’s office staff were polite enough to proffer as a solution might filter through to those who try this again at some point. There are reasons that this sort of thing is done this way, and only one of them relates to dinosaurs or technological luddites *dry grin*
As for the bathetic chap who started this particular whinge …
For the rest of us, apparently it looks like we may have to pay taxes on our online purchases in addition to loosing the possibility of a bright technological connection. I’m just so impressed with this catastrophe of political hacks – not!
Gippsland Laborite
That there is a Coalition Federal govt and that Abbott more disliked in Victoria than most places can only help on a State level. “Protect us from Canberra” could be a useful line.
Leroy
You’re right there and I’ve been thinking that this might also help in the South Australian election next year, however I think that Labor has no hope of getting re-elected in Tasmania.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/shaw-dictating-coalitions-agenda/story-e6frgczx-1226770014975#
Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition’s agenda
John Ferguson The Australian November 28, 2013 12:00AM
VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine has secretly assisted balance-of-power independent MP Geoff Shaw’s bid to overhaul the state’s abortion laws.
The Australian has obtained correspondence between Dr Napthine and Mr Shaw detailing the Premier’s advice on how to get the abortion legislation drafted.
Abbott won’t enjoy the headline
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/abbotts-boulevard-of-broken-promises-20131127-2yac4.html
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
I just saw Mesma on the news trying to sound impressive but her stultified, faux posh talking sounded anything but. She is hopeless. As good at her job as Barnaby Joyce was at Finance.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/beijing-furious-over-julie-bishops-irresponsible-remarks-20131127-2ya2q.html
No wonder O’Farrell is upset!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/christopher-pynes-backdown-means-2b-body-blow-for-nsw-education-20131127-2yagl.html
And school principals are less than impressed as well. The word “equity” is used a lot.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/school-funding-backflip-a-betrayal-say-angry-principals-20131127-2yagp.html
Close the door on the way out, Silvio!
http://www.smh.com.au/world/silvio-berlusconi-expelled-from-senate-in-italy-20131128-2yasr.html
“Abbott’s boulevard of broken promises”. Are we going to see the media push this theme?
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/abbotts-boulevard-of-broken-promises-20131127-2yac4.html
Section 2 . . .
How the precise comment from Pyne just before the election could be misconstrued is beyond belief. It simply was a cynical, calculated lie uttered in order to neutralise an issue that was hurting them electorally.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/christopher-pyne-blames-journalists-for-governments-apparent-gonski-backflip-20131127-2y91g.html
“It is unfortunate that this taping that took place several years ago has been made public,” Mr Robb said. “But it’s there, it’s a fact of life, we’ve got to deal with it.” How on earth is this not another clear statement that they are attempting to rewrite?
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/trade-minister-andrew-robb-denies-breaking-protocol-on-spying-20131127-2y9qx.html
David Pope with some fun for the “adults”.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html
Alan Moir gives it to Prissy! (And the government in general).
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/alan-moir-20090907-fdxk.html
Oh dear! David Rowe really gives Abbott, Pyne and Rodd the treatment this morning. MUST SEE!
http://www.afr.com/p/national/cartoon_gallery_david_rowe_1g8WHy9urgOIQrWQ0IrkdO
BK – ‘Poodle’ Tails! 😆
‘fridge
Scummy move.
CT sign up and pass it ’round if you will.
And from the Land of the Free –
Look at this amazing spinning ice circle in a river in Wyoming.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/11/27/video-mid-day-distraction-amazing-spinning-ice-circle-spotted-sheyenne-river-north-dakota/
Some cartoons on Thanksgiving Day.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/11/27/cartoons-day-day-thanksgiving/
This gun idiot reckons guns were in the bible.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/11/27/video-gun-lobbyist-larry-pratt-says-guns-bible/
The weekly upchuck round up.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/11/26/weekly-upchuck-abstinence-chuck-racist-chuck/
Section 2 . . .
FoxNews favourites are losing the plot.
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/glenn-beck-pulls-out-rifle-and-abraham
FoxNews caught out lying.
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/fox-blames-obamacare-imaginary
“Justice” Alabama style.
http://crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/alabama-survivor-speaks-out-convicted
‘fridge
Signed up and I’ll send on to a few.
Have a good day.
TF. – done and shared on FB!
Loved the “Boulevard…” Article. Clear and concise enough for even the dim witted non-thinkers!
From “Peace In Our Time” on Indonesia a couple of months ago, to “Straws in the wind (some good, some not so good)” just yesterday, Greg Sheridan has declared victory by Abbott over SBY.
It’s been an instant fix, according to Sheridan. Problem solved in a neat 90 minute episode of “The West Wing”.
A few words scribbled on a letterhead, a day or two’s effort, have fixed the whole relationship. No hard work required. We’ve put one over SBY once again. All you have to do is use the right mix of oily obsequiousness and grovelling capitulation and you can get these darkies to do anything They’re like children, really. Heap praise on them, promise them anything, and they gurgle like babies. Give ’em another lollie, Tony.
Once again, Abbott gets out of a mess (if that is actually what has happened) of his own making, by ceasing to be a nerk, and not only gets a “Whew! That was close!” from Sheridan, but abonus praise for being a diplomatic genius.
The relationship will have to be renegotiated, reset “not necessarily in our favour” (to quote another loser), and thenceforth we will need to be on our absolutely best behaviour.
Abbott placards are being burned in the streets in Jakarta. Much of the political class there is up in arms. The Indonesian newspapers are running an anti-Australian line, and other countries in the region are lining up for free kicks aimed at our head.
And we should be reassured?
Sheridan likes to be a contrarian, making sweeping declarations against all evidence, but he should keep away from the bottle when he does it.
Scene from new Australian movie, “The Week Of Living Dangerously”
Sheridan’s advice to Abbott three years ago was to go hard, go early, go aggro on Indonesia. He told them they would fold.
When it all blew up in Abbott’s face, Sheridan repeated his advice.
“Don’t give an inch. It’s just their inferiority complex writ large. They like to think they’re important in the region. Show them who’s boss.”
When Abbott did this, it blew up in his face even more.
The advice changed…
“Grovel. Kow-tow. Apologize if you have to. We’re in the shit if you don’t. A bit of flattery might work. Pretend you agree with everything they say.”
Result?
Sheridan declares his advice has succeeded, the day after. It only took 24 hours, just like he told his mate Tony. He’s praying Tony is reading his article.
OK, so it’s only one possible scenario, but could Sheridan’s op-ed today be designed to get him out of the shit with Abbott, for giving such lousy advice in the past? That it was not so much a declaration that Abbott was right, but that Sheridan was right, and will Tony please start taking his calls again?
After all, we’ve got China to fix up now, then East Timor, and God help us if the Papua New Guineans decide they want a better deal… Greg’s got some GREAT ideas.
“Pick up Tony. Please pick up.”