Yarra River

I took this picture of the Yarra River, close to where I live.
At Eltham we are only 25km from the City, but it's 140km by River.

The River's interesting stories from residents with more pictures can be found at Environment Victoria

Dirty Linen

Hatchers Laundry in Melbourne was founded in 1850. At that time Australia was still receiving transported criminals from England mainly for petty thefts and the total white population was only 267,000. The Aboriginal remnant was thought to be far less in number.

A year later gold was discovered in Victoria and the rapid population increase led to demand for laundry services which swelled the coffers. At the turn of the century the demand for linen services continued and the company grew quickly to be one of the larger employers of workers in Melbourne.

It adapted its services over the ensuing years to offer hire and sale of industrial garments, dust mats and washroom services and later Roller Towels.

As the decline of manufacturing continued it reverted back to its original roots as primarily a linen hire company.

I drove past the establishment yesterday and decided on a post with a poem outlining its interesting history.

Hatchers Laundry

New age of cleanliness in Florence Nightingales time
Nurses needed clean linen as patients wait in a line
Hatchers Laundry was built under Melbourne Gas lights
To wash dirty linen until it's spotlessly white

The demands for clean linen the Laundry then met
200 tonnes a week which was a mean feat
Horse drawn deliveries were to larger estates
God help any driver who happened to be late

Demands continued with new fashions to start
Boots for hire were boots that would last
Overalls and Roller Towels, for healthy work place
In Vans to customers replaced horse driven carts

Batch Washer purchased for needs that mount
Programmed to deliver increased loads by their route
Uniforms ablaze with clients colours and name
Individually delivered to garment lockers so named

Mood changed as they closed up the garment shop
Uniforms were too costly so payments did stop
Computers had replaced all that dirt and that grime
Hatchers Laundry still delivered it’s linen on time

young at heart

The picture above is of my granddaughter Alice May, who at only 3 months of age clearly indicates an enquiring expression. It reminds me of the miracle of new life and how privileged we are in this country to possibly enjoy a long life. In fact our longevity is increasing to the extent that middle age for many extends to 80 years of age. Charles Kovess 2nd passion point has some useful tips for staying young at heart and in mind. I have reproduced it below.

A Passion Point to Ponder 8 March 2006.

Welcome to the 2nd Passion Point for 2006. Our goal with these Passion Points continues to be to provoke you so that your business, and the rest of your life, become filled with more passion, performance, and improved balance of mental, physical, and spiritual elements. A special welcome to the many new subscribers who have recently joined our passionate community.

RETHINK YOUR ATTITUDE TO AGEING WITH THIS 7 POINT PLAN”
It's official--old age has been postponed. In a speech to the 2005 British Association Science Conference, Professor Ian Robertson, Dean of Research at Trinity College Dublin Institute of Neuroscience, told his audience that old age now begins at 80. "This leaves 30 years-roughly between 50 and 80, a period much longer than youth-for which we have to invent a whole new way of living." Professor Robertson considers the years between 50 and 80 to be the new prime of life, and 80 the new 60.

Professor Robertson, also known as "The Mind Doctor", and author of several books, has conducted extensive research on the brain, concluding that it is shaped by experience, learning and thinking. Importantly, what we do after turning 50 strongly influences our faculties. Professor Robertson concludes that, with the improvement in health care for the over-50s, "thebiggest remaining obstacle to long life is the fitness of brain and mind". He has formulated a Seven Point Plan to keep the brain young:
1) Aerobic fitness is fundamental to body and mind.The longer you stay fit, the sharper your mindbecomes. Exercise increases key brain chemicals which encourages new growth and development.
2) Mental stimulation, such as doing crosswords or Sudoko, helps grow new brain cells.
3) New learning has profound physiological effects on the brain. Learning should be for life and, as Professor Robertson puts it " The more you learn, the more you can learn."
4) Avoid stress, it can be a major negative, especially on the memory.
5) Diet and nutrition are fundamental-a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish has many benefits.
6) Social interaction helps mental sharpness.
7) Thinking young. Thoughts influence behaviour—you are what you think you are.Despite Professor Robertson's evidence, in a recent UK survey, many respondents saw youth beginning at 49 and old age at 60. Unless these people change their thoughts they will follow their views, becoming old at 60.

"As a Man Thinketh" is old wisdom; it is the title of a book by James Allen first published in 1902 but, as Professor Robertson's scientific research demonstrates, wisdom never dates or ages. Whether we are wise depends on how we think--and age.

QUOTES TO CONSIDER"
If you start to think of yourself as old when you are 60, which is no longer justified, you will behave old." Professor Ian Robertson (born 20th century), Dean of Research Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin.

What do your thoughts justify; do you just sigh, or try different behaviour?
"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." James Allen (1864-1912), English author.

In your heart do you start to think anew?
Charles Kovess Australia’s Passion Provocateur © Copyright- Charles B. Kovess & David J. Wood of Passionate Performance. Republication welcome provided authors are acknowledged & advised at above address. If you want to see Charles on video, or listen to audio, just go to www.kovess.com and follow the links.For a list of keynote speech topics that Charles would love to deliver in a passionate, entertaining, provocative, and educational way to your teams, clients, or prospects, at breakfast, lunch or dinner, see below.
All 139 published Passion Points to Ponder are on our website.
If you wish to review them, please visit the site. If you wish to receive a list of the 139 titles of the Passion Points please let us know KEY NOTE SPEECH TOPICS1 PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE: YOUR KEYS TO MENTAL, PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL WELLBEING IN BUSINESS. 2 THE POWER OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP3 The 7 Key steps to create Outstanding teams.4 How to retain the best people in your Organisation.5 PASSION: THE KEY TO YOUR SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.6 HIGH PERFORMANCE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP IN THE KNOWLEDGE AGE.7 Change: Make it an inspirational game!8 A PASSION FOR LIFE, AND LIVING IT!9 KEY PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.10 7 STRATEGIES THAT GUARANTEE LOYALTY FROM EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.

Best regards from Australia's Passion Provocateur (copyright) Charles Kovess LL.B.(Hons), LL.M., CSP*Immediate Past National PresidentNational Speakers' Association of Australia(*CSP means Certified Speaking Professional, the highest membership category of NSAA and the only internationally recognised designation for professional speakers.)http://www.kovess.com NOTE NEW ADDRESS DETAILS
ph 0395622248 mobile 0412317404 PO Box 1412, Central Park East Malvern Vic 3145 Office: 17 Notre Dame Parade, Mulgrave Vic 3170Author of 'Passionate People Produce' and 'Passionate Performance'Co-author of '7 Heavenly Virtues of Leadership'

Refreshing Rain

Overnight heavy rain gave way to light drizzle bringing a welcome relief from the previous days heat.

Our friendly Kookaburra enjoyed a tasty morcel on the ground after first perusing the ground from its perch on a tree just outside our back door.

Birds Creation

Birds Creation -Their orign from Dinosaurs who evolved into Birds following global warming as consequance of a meteorite crashing into earth long ago. Here is a poem I composed with that theme in mind.

Meteorite lands on earths fragile life crust
Its fiery explosion is its atomic red dust
Climatic upheaval, new hothouse estate
A Dinosaurs home is no longer this place

Dinosaurs evolve to follow natures new plan
Newly created from hot desert winds sand
The earths renewal is from fiery new heart
The earths survival gives old life a new start

The earths re birth is its creative life state
Dinosaur birds now seek their new mates
Evolved new life with their mighty new wings
Refreshed new creation now sings of new things

The deep oceans currents are still guided by stars
As the birds migration are white dots from afar
The earth is refreshed as they soar through the air
The joys of new freedoms for birds without care

A Reflection

Attending a friends sons wedding on Saturday I noticed the same reflection was chosen for the Wedding Service as was the case at our eldest daughters wedding. It’s was of particular appeal to us and those good friends at our table at the Reception later.

At our table the 5 couples all shared at least 4 things in common.
40 years plus in courtship and or marriage.
All with grandchildren
Agreed our children have become our best friends.
Agreed we feel much more centred and growing older was the best part of our lives.

Below is the reflection from ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by Louis de Barmier

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because that is what love is.

Love is not breathless; it is not excitement; it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being ‘in love ‘which any of us convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches were found that we were one tree and not two.