Come again another day

It’s been deceptive with the sun out today to forget the recent rain and flooding events in regional Victoria and right here in Maribyrnong. I’ve seen pictures of nearby Warringal Park and the East Ivanhoe public golf course completely under water so there is no denying we are living in a climate change environment.

Image: La Trobe University Ideas & Society program

It’s timely that economist Ross Garnaut and climate activist, scientist and author Tim Flannery are in conversation on ‘The Superpower Transformation’ this coming Tuesday as part of La Trobe University’s Ideas & Society series to talk about the challenge of climate change and the chance to reset our path if Australia uses its natural and human resources to become the superpower of the emerging low carbon world economy. You can register free for this online event and I hope it may offer some hope for all of us who are feeling for those who’ve lost so much at this time.

I’ve found this year to be harder in many ways than last year when we were all working and learning remotely and operating for the most part in an online environment. The world has opened back up but it’s a changed one with labour shortages, supply chain issues, war and political instability and new operating environments for businesses who are yet to find a rhythm, particularly if they didn’t innovate during the pandemic, or even if they did but haven’t reverted back to what they were pre-COVID-19 – the world has forever changed and so have we.

Next year also feels uncertain ahead of the state elections in Victoria and NSW- will there be a recession? Who knows but it will be what it will be and we can only try to best plan for it ahead of time as well as deal with things as they arise. I am hoping to feel less anxious as the pandemic’s effects dissipate with time – it’s hard not to feel a bit battle weary and people still have scars – emotionally and physically in some cases.

Image: Kura Robata & Sake

Life goes on and celebrations still happen. I spent last night at a friend’s birthday dining out at Kura – Robata & Sake Japanese restaurant in my old ‘hood in Lygon Street, Brunswick. It was very busy with people milling about everywhere in the surrounding streets and on the strip itself. My tip if you drive there is to go left off Lygon Street not right to find parking. The food was excellent and I found out later the chef is ex-Kisume and Nobu so fine dining quality but at much more reasonable prices. I had the shared menu which cost less than $70 as a non-drinker and I would go back in future as it was great value.

The weeks are flying by at the moment and I still have birthdays in my family before Christmas as well as a work trip to the land of the long white cloud. I can’t say that life is boring! Have a great week ahead.

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A promising future

It’s what all of us want but not what all of us get.  It is actually National Reconciliation Week and the 10 year anniversary of that moment in time when ex-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Indigenous people and Stolen Generations of this land.  The other lecture series at La Trobe University, Ideas and Society, will contemplate The Promise of the Future with Noel Pearson and Megan Davis on Thursday 14 June – a conversation that will examine the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Australia.  I also wanted to mention that Hatch Contemporary Arts Space in Ivanhoe is showing From the Belly of the Snake by local Wurundjeri artist Judy Nicholson as part of Reconciliation Week.

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Image via La Trobe University

La Trobe University actually has the highest number of Indigenous Australian students, as well as a significant number of students from regional locations and internationally drawn to our sprawling leafy campus, which houses a Wildlife Sanctuary and is the same size as Melbourne’s CBD.  It’s been a very progressive and dynamic place to work over the past two years and I feel very privileged to be a staff member.

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Images above and below via www.realestate.com.au

On a random note, this beautiful Art Nouveau house (pictures above and below) currently for sale at 11 Latham Street in Ivanhoe has caught my eye – it has some exquisite features such as the beautiful painted ceilings and intricate fretwork – as much as I also love modern architectural design – contemporary houses don’t have the same character as a period home, which can never be replaced once it’s pulled down.  I do wonder how much the suburbs around here are going to change once many of the planned new housing developments and sub-divisions are completed.

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On China’s Rise and a New World Order

It’s the name of my lecture in October with ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, which is being held in conjunction with the Ideas & Society series convened by La Trobe University’s Emeritus Professor Robert Manne – tickets are already on sale given the Paul Keating lecture held earlier this year sold out within a week.  Kevin Rudd is a different person altogether from Paul Keating but they share in common an interest in the Asian region and what it means for Australia.  This lecture will also be different in that it’s a lunchtime event (light lunch provided at the Sofitel!) so targeted more at a CBD-based business audience.  Kevin’s an interesting man from what I can gather from my friends and colleagues who’ve previously worked with him in the media space.

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Image via Eventbrite

It’s Spring in another fortnight and I can’t wait for it to begin.  This house at 43 Alexander Street in Montmorency has caught my eye.  It’s an Alistair Knox home with gardens inspired by Gordon Ford and it looks just beautiful – it is the home of a local Montsalvat studio artist and I think it would be well worth a look if you’re in the area or looking to buy in the area given how close it is to the Were Street village and surrounding parkland – Monty is a lovely suburb.

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Image via www.realestate.com.au

We’re about to start some minor renovations at home and I’m looking forward to finishing the painting that we started last Spring but never quite finished, and continuing to de-clutter.  Mr Rosanna’s Dad has told me that you never finish once you have a house of your own – there’s always something to do maintenance-wise!  Argh!

A Garden State

It’s been a really busy start to the year and I can’t believe my next Bold Thinking Series lecture – Michael Kirby on Health, Law & Sexuality is on next week at the NGV Great Hall, which holds 600 people and we are almost at capacity.  La Trobe University has been bringing out the big guns in terms of names with former PM Paul Keating being the keynote speaker at the Ideas & Society lecture on our role in Asia the Trump era, run by Emeritus Professor and public intellectual Robert Manne, at the Melbourne Recital Centre this Friday.  This event sold out within the first week or so of being advertised.

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Image via Speakeasy HQ

I also out went out on Sunday night with my workmates to see my Irish friend Colum perform in his show Improv Against Humanity (based on the naughty card game) as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.  Before the show, we tried for a table at Supernormal in Flinders Lane, which was super crowded and so decided to go to the Garden State Hotel (on the former Rosati’s site), which was also going off when we entered.  The resident DJ was spinning some pretty groovy tunes so it was a shame we couldn’t stay for a dance – we opted for a basement booth table away from the noise and ordered counter meals after walking into the restaurant, which was more pricey.

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Image via Speakeasy HQ

Colum’s gig had been shifted to Speakeasy HQ past the Waterside Hotel in Flinders Street – it’s Melbourne’s only dedicated vaudeville venue (and art gallery) located upstairs with a lounge bar outside the stage area and is housed in a former gold-rush era bank building – I was admiring the beautiful patterned ceiling while I was there.  And the gig?  It was very funny and improv performers are brave souls indeed – so quick off the mark….let’s just say that the words ‘semen’ and ‘dolphin’ were put to good use over the course of the evening.  Colum is not my only talented work friend, I discovered another friend Michelle used to be a high school teacher by day and a salsa dancer by night!  Next time out there will definitely be a bit of boogie-ing on down.

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Image via Garden State Hotel

If you attended a Dawn Service this morning, I hope you managed to have a restful afternoon this Anzac Day.  It’s been nice to pause and reflect.

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Image via Garden State Hotel