Choppers

This is a fascinating combination of footage of UH-1H choppers in action in Vietnam, and the sound track of the Stones' Gimmie Shelter.

The vision takes me back, and I've always loved the energy and drive of the Stones.

That's my excuse for posting it.

Make it full screen, and turn the sound up for best effect.

And if you feel like singing along, here are the lyrics -

Oh, a storm is threat'ning
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away

War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

Ooh, see the fire is sweepin'
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost its way

War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

Rape, murder!
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

Rape, murder!
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

Rape, murder!
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

The floods is threat'ning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I'm gonna fade away

War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away

 

We've Come a Long Way...

Back in June 2007, Noddy Newman was Lord Mayor of Brisbane.

At that time, Nick DiGirolamo was chief executive of the notorious AWH, and Paul Nicolaou was a Liberal Party fundraiser.

The meeting did take place, and since it has come to light, the money has been refunded.

It is fascinating to consider what was the subject of the meeting, and what small favour could be bought for $5000.

Obviously, not much has changed.

Except perhaps, in Jo Bjelke-Petersen's day, brown paper bags were used.

Excuse my sarcasm........

Railroad Gin

Some of you may remember Railroad Gin. 

If you do, it puts you in a specific age bracket - we are a dying breed - the rocking boomers.

Railroad Gin was big in Brisbane in the seventies, and the band was fronted by Carol Lloyd.

I had a cousin who was a DJ on 4BH at the time, and I clearly remember him playing them.
They were a very underrated group, and their live shows were fantastic.

This song was very popular and demonstrated their considerable stage presence.

ANZAC Day

Association banner - note the holes in case it's windy.

ANZAC Day in Brisbane seems to be more and more popular each year.

I marched there in the hope of meeting up with people I served with, but there was only one ex-digger from either of the companies, and none from either of my platoons parading.

Nevertheless, it was worth the journey.

Age is definitely wearying (or should it be “withering”) some of my ex-comrades, as a few were on board vehicles.

The streets were filled with people of all ages, races and origins, but they were united in their respect for ex-service personnel.

I sometimes wonder where that respect was hiding, when it would have been most powerful, as Vietnam vets returned home in the sixties and seventies.

The loudest cheers were reserved for the members of the Vietnam Veterans’ motorcycle club.

The anti-bikie legislation has provoked some interesting responses in the people of Brisbane.

Politician's Remuneration

I posted this on March 30th.

Still no acknowledgement - probably a pretty fair indication of the Queensland's government's regard for ex-service personnel.

Given the fashion in which they reward themselves, their self-regard is on a different plane.





Hon Tim Nicholls MP
Member for Clayfield
Treasurer and Minister for Trade
GPO Box 611, Brisbane QLD 4001

Dear Sir

I refer to recent decisions regarding remuneration for Queensland parliamentarians.

As you are no doubt aware, increases range from an increase of $70,000 for the Premier, (bringing his annual wage to $379,562) to smaller amounts such as $148,848 P.A. for back bench members.

These increases are backdated from July 2013.

As Treasurer, you are obviously content that the State’s finances are secure enough to provide this level of remuneration (the highest in the country for state members) into the foreseeable future, despite the findings of the Costello audit, and the proposed selling of state owned assets designed to pay off debt.

With this in mind, I respectfully ask you consider a different issue of remuneration relating to Queenslanders who, as public servants, were conscripted to fight in Vietnam.

Like parliamentarians, these people were engaged in what was believed to be at the time, an important public service (the defence of the country) and like parliamentarians, they were remunerated for their service.

Unlike parliamentarians, they were expected to put their lives on the line, and twenty seven Queensland conscripts paid the ultimate price. Unlike parliamentarians, they had no real choice but to serve. The penalty for defying call-up was two years’ imprisonment.

Remuneration for soldiers was a great deal less than for civilian occupations and this was more than often the case for public servants. In my own case as a teacher, the shortfall, in today’s dollars is the amount of $27,550.59. This was despite an additional allowance paid to me on operational service in 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, in 1970.

I am therefore respectfully requesting a payment of $27, 550.59 as salary owed to me by the state of Queensland for years 1969 – 1970, when I was on compulsory military service. Obviously, similar amounts are owed to all other Queensland public servants who were conscripted.
 
Given that the state can afford to pay its parliamentarians salaries of the magnitude identified above, there should be no problem finding these relatively small one-off payments to a declining and finite group of returned Queensland service personnel.
My invoice is attached.

Thanking you in anticipation.
30/03/2014
Copies:

Hon Dr John McVeigh
Suite 2, Commercial Union Arcade
566 Ruthven St
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350


Hon Campbell Newman MP
Member for Ashgrove
Premier of Queensland
PO Box 3010 
ASHGROVE QLD 4060

Win-Win

We have an Aromas franchise just up the road.

Occasionally we wander in for breakfast.

They do a great omelette with all the trimmings for about $17.

Today, of course, was a public holiday, which would attract penalty rates for staff. That was the reason for the 15% surcharge.

The place was buzzing - very few tables available. Most customers were of our vintage, but there were a few Gen Ys present.

Obviously the surcharge hadn't scared them off. It added about $2.50 to our bill. Like everybody else there, we were happy to pay it.

The staff were gainfully employed, the business is doing well. and the customers were voting with their feet.

It puts the lie to the current ideological push for the abolition of penalty rates.

It Didn't Work

The Shu-Ru that is.

Watch the roo commit hari-kari at about 5 seconds in. You'll probably have to go full screen to see it properly.

We were about 20 kms West of Charleville on the Diamantina Development Road Eastbound.

The driver (not me at the time) didn't have a chance to avoid - not even time to brake.
We've had it drummed into us not to swerve.

Front bumper cracked.

The damage to the car was cosmetic - a crack in the plastic bumper, and ironically, the Shu-Ru was damaged, as it hit the roo before the bumper. As you can see, it finished up folded under the number plate.

The Shu-Ru is almost invisible in the pic.

Dunno if it still worked after the roo strike, but given it apparently failed to do what it was supposed to do in the first place, it probably made no difference.

Unfortunately, the damage to the roo wasn't enough to kill it. I had to dispatch it with a piece of hardwood I found by the side of the road.

That makes four macropods I've cleaned up since 2007.

The date stamp on the video is wrong, BTW. It's 2014.

The clip was captured by my Uniden 800.