Summer in the southern hemisphere is fire time. Managed fire can be a blessing, clearing out choking undergrowth and removing pestilent rodents. Out of control fire is a different entity altogether. In the summer of 2019/2020 nearly the entire continent … Continue reading
One thing I have to admit, COVID-19 and our various other crises make this July less intolerable than usual. No, let me take that back. It’s not less intolerable than usual. But… July is Canberra’s bad month. Pretty outside and … Continue reading
Last Saturday was crunch time. It was the by-election in Eden-Monaro. Eden-Monaro is Australia’s classic bellwether seat. It’s also one of the regions most heavily hit by the bushfires. Pundits estimated that between 4% and 9% of the vote was … Continue reading
If the Australian and the US were TV series, the US would be the one with big funding and stars and special effects and Australia would be the cheap spin-off that people like because it’s less taxing and is comfortingly … Continue reading
I want to write you a joyous tale that involves frolicking and the kicking up of heels, but Australia isn’t like that today. Also, I’m writing this through a weak point in a migraine (weak points are when one gets … Continue reading
I found it difficult to start writing this. Normally it’s easy enough to talk about what’s happening in Australia. There’s always lots of talk about. It was a bit harder during the bushfires, because I didn’t want to talk about … Continue reading
There comes a moment in crisis where we all fall into a place that is home. Australia is doing this and our view of home is… unique. The rest of the world has been telling us this, but now we … Continue reading
I’ve been trying to explain today all day. My moment of epiphany came when I said to Brenda Clough that today was “…a day.” It was the closest to a normal Monday in a long time. I’m still stuck at … Continue reading
The Arts have been suffering under our marvellous Coalition government for a long time. Until now, literature copped the biggest hiding, but now, small companies in other sectors are joining us and we really don’t want company in starving in … Continue reading
When we shifted realities about September last year, the seasons changed. Canberra moved out of Firetime very quickly. Honestly, we had no choice. Even before the fires were out, we were preparing for Crowtime (I made a pun COVID-19 as … Continue reading
