© 2018 Greg & Sylvia RAY

Time to wake up, Australia

While Australia was sleeping this month, dreaming of new coalmines for tax-dodging multinational corporations based in overseas tax havens and of government-subsidised tax-free gas-fields for political party donors, a few things happened. Carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere hit their highest in recorded human history, Antarctica experienced a new record hot day and a massive iceberg broke off an Antarctic glacier – prompting one scientist to remark that: “What you are looking at is both terrifying and beautiful”. Yes, these can feel like terrifying times, despite exhortations from Australia’s truth-proof political leadership to avoid anxiety and…

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When people sang together

Some years ago I was given the chance to scan some magic lantern slides that had been used for advertising in cinemas in the Newcastle area. Dates varied, but many appeared to be from the 1940s, including from the years of World War II. Among the advertising slides were many that bore simplified lyrics of song choruses, and I was surprised to learn that these were used in popular community singing events. Hundreds of people came to some of the local cinemas ready to sit and sing along to popular tunes. Usually a pianist and possibly…

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A Catalina almost bombed Cessnock

On April 22, 1946, some residents of Cessnock were told by police to evacuate their homes and remove their children to safety. A Catalina flying boat from Rathmines RAAF base was going to drop bombs nearby, and authorities wanted to make sure there were no accidental casualties. A Catalina flying boat from the Rathmines base at Lake Macquarie, circa 1942. The unexpected evacuation order had nothing to do with the widespread severe flooding across the Lower Hunter at the time. Instead, it was fire that prompted the demand. Earlier that week a disused portion of Cessnock…

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