Marvellous Melbourne

 

Over the weekend we stayed in the heart of Melbourne at Southbank, experiencing  a  rare burst  of sun shine and warmth. Some of the pictures were taken from the apartment where we stayed.  

On Monday we joined retirees members from my previous employer ( I am the Victorian co coordinator ) to enjoy the Morning Melodies concert at the Arts Centre at Southbank which featured International soprano sensation Mirusia who thrilled the audience with her beautiful yet powerful presentation, augmented by her outstanding classical ensemble. It only cost members $17 and was wonderful value as Mirusia made her Hamer Hall debut with a well-rounded variety of popular and classical numbers including such favourites as Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Memory’ (from Cats).   
Afterwards we luncheoned  at PJ O’Brien’s Irish Pub- see the picture of their Irish  pie with drink for only $20 which I was able to cover  from my very modest subsidy.   

It is always good to catch up with the latest news. Many members have been holidaying in the warmer regions of the far North and the Gold Coast as Melbourne’s experienced its wettest months in July for over 30 years. In July we enjoyed a stay in Byron Bay where the sea water was warm enough for many hearty souls to enjoy a surf. Others moved further afoot to Honolulu where the weather was super, 28 every day. But the highlight was to hear to learn one member was expectantly awarded a local Community Award for 2016 – having served a staggering 46 years as either Committee Member or President of the local tennis and bowling clubs.  Additionally to the awards he was given $250 for the charity of his choice which he gave to the St Vincent DePaul Soup Van.

The retirees group is made up of many to whom 30 years plus prior service is not uncommon but such longevity sadly belongs to a past era not likely to be repeated.    

Less than a great result

If you list a public company the expectation is you will provide a satisfactory return  for your shareholders who are after all the owners of that business. In effect, a public entity and its CEO along with the executives act as stewards to stakeholders to invest wisely on their behalf. Success and ethical conduct go hand in hand to enhance an entities reputation and create the positive flow on effect of brand recognition for the company to flourish over the longer term.  By providing superior customer service. and acting in a responsible manner returns are likely to be boosted and not deteriorate.

Of course failure frequently do occur when a listed company manages to loose most of its value. In such event usually the reputation of the directors suffers a blow - particularly where business conditions are not  sufficiently challenging  to generate above average failure rates.  What one often sees is a CEO continuing to be rewarded notwithstanding  incurring heavy losses sustained by shareholders.  Once such group 's track record doesn't  augur go well for one Donald Trump.
click here for more reading.

 

Recently the ABC's Q &A program gave their take on the us election. The lively discussion by the panellists from different perspectives included the likes of political satirist PJ O'Rourke and previous foreign minster Bob Car. Either way it seems not a great result is expected but even stanch republican O'Rourke is reluctantly now going to vote for Hilary.    

Click here for the summary. 

        

Joseph

The Hebrew writers and poets of the OT told stories which embraced myths and were expert story tellers as they attempted to add meaning to their life and culture. The problem is, of course, the writers more often than not made up these stories on the basis they were never intended by their readers to be taken literally or be believed as true events.Rather the intention was to bring fresh insight into their existence and to underpin a philosophy or recipe for living.  One such story suggests undue favouritism, a will to power and redemption are inextricably linked in the very familiar story of Joseph and his coat of many colours.

Here is my poem which attempts to tell the story.  

 

Blessed by his father’s hands

Always resting at his side.

Envy of his brother’s hearts   

Schemed to end his life.

 

One brother feared,   

Let not blood stain our hands,

Sell him to slavery, share the spoils.      

Dipped his coat in animal blood.

“Dear father –Joseph now is dead”.

 

Joseph enslaved. Interpreted dreams.

His fame spread, his council sought.

From Pharaoh’s dream he revealed   

Seven years’ plenty, thence famine be.

 

Pharaoh to Joseph, be my ruler, he decreed  

Go harvest aplenty, let my silos overflow

Until famine came, just as Joseph foretold  

Food for all nations, across a barren country        

 

Until famine was his brothers' fate,

Came begging at Josephs feet,

What lesson would Joseph now impart?

“Forgiveness.”