The Lion Is Out And About

There is a quote by Augustine of Hippo who lived in the 4th century that “The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”  Recent events show that nearly 1700 years later, this still applies. The Twitter files, Hancock...

Is It Really About Health Of The Public?

Those old enough to remember the 1970’s will recall that society looked different. Those too young can look at pictures of groups of people from that era. Aside from the fashions (although they will no doubt have a resurgence one day) and the architecture, the most...

The Year Closes

It is hard to believe that another year is about to end. Almost everyone you talk to, regardless of age, seems to wonder where the time has gone. Aside from anything else, this should remind us to make the most of each day we have and as much as possible live in the...
Have A “Can Do” Approach

Have A “Can Do” Approach

The term reality TV is a bit of a misnomer. It is generally a soap opera with unpaid actors. Big Brother and Survivor were the first of the genre and to the surprise of many are still on our screen some 20 years later. A further twist has been celebrity versions of...

It Is All Just Greek To Me

It Is All Just Greek To Me

Even in these unusual times in which we live, the basics in health still matter. There was an interesting piece in The Weekend Australian, exploring the life expectancy of first generation migrants from Greece living longer than the national average. The article by...

Olympic Lessons

Olympic Lessons

Like most people, my interest in sports like swimming, high jump, and canoeing, to name but three, increases for the two weeks of the Olympics. There is something that touches us about seeing people who excel at what they do. Regardless of whether it is winning gold...

Questions Not Beliefs

Questions Not Beliefs

As Led Zeppelin said “you know sometimes words have two meanings” Words do mean different things to different people.  The dictionary defines science as “…knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation, experimentation and systematic study”. It...

Keep It Simple

Keep It Simple

Winter is coming in the southern hemisphere. In fact, it has arrived early in some parts with record cold, rain and even snow in May.  It will come as a surprise to experts, bureaucrats, and politicians (but not regular readers here) that in winter there are an...

The Lost And Found

The Lost And Found

Let’s start by rewinding about a year. Lockdowns were imposed as temporary measures to “flatten the curve”.  This was to enable health systems to cope with cases as they arose – not to end up with no cases. Australia had such remarkable success in its quest that the...

Good News – Take Two!

Good News – Take Two!

Last month I wrote about good news not getting much airplay. The other issue which gets lost in media hype and political hyperbole is perspective. In 2017 there were 56 million deaths around the world. That number may have been slightly different in 2020 but would be...

“It’s Good News Week”

“It’s Good News Week”

The media knows that bad news sells. Rolling coverage of terrorist attacks, natural disasters and, of course, more recently Covid 19 makes people more likely to buy newspapers (yes, they still exist) or consume news electronically or online and maybe even pay for some...

Stop Being A Doormat

Stop Being A Doormat

Do you let your partner, family, friends and work colleagues walk all over you?  Are other people taking advantage of your kind giving nature?  Is it time you stopped bending over backwards to please others?  Tired of being a doormat? How Important Are You? Think...

Ongoing Interesting Times

Ongoing Interesting Times

The old Chinese saying about living in interesting times continues to be apt in 2021. At time of writing different countries and even states or regions within countries have different approaches to Covid 19. There are currently eight vaccines at variable stages of...

What Have We Learned?

What Have We Learned?

As I write this last column for 2020, the words of the late John Lennon come to mind; “So this is Christmas And what have you done? Another year over A new one just begun” Last week marked the 40th anniversary of his tragic death by homicide.  Where has that time gone...

Try Not To Doubt Yourself

Try Not To Doubt Yourself

As a step parent, doubting yourself and feeling sick either just before your stepchildren come over or just after they leave is not uncommon. Most people are driven from a place of goodness and ideals. But such dreams and situations are sometimes shattered by...