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Read more about the article The sailing ship Lawhill at Newcastle in 1944
Lawhill off the coast of Newcastle, NSW, 1944

The sailing ship Lawhill at Newcastle in 1944

On September 9, 1944, when the veteran four-masted barque Lawhill arrived at Newcastle, NSW, on a trading visit, the city must have responded with excitement. With the world still at war - although by now it was clear the Allies were on the front foot in both Europe against Germany and the Pacific against Japan - the appearance of a big sailing ship would have taken the minds of old-timers back to their youth, when such vessels were regular visitors in the busy harbour. Younger people would have realised too, that this was likely to be…

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Read more about the article Agreeing to disagree with insurance companies
Wrecking yard, 1962. Photo by Ron Morrison

Agreeing to disagree with insurance companies

My recent dealings with insurance companies lead me to like those companies even less than I did before. Before I thought they sucked. Now I think they suck ten times worse. Take example number one. We have a 2007 sedan in very good, well-maintained condition. It’s an auto, with about 170,000km on the clock. On carsales.com.au similar cars will set you back about $7000 to $9000, with a few outliers above or below. Our car has been insured comprehensively with AAMI for quite a few years. Last year’s “agreed value” (the company “agrees” – we just…

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Read more about the article Why I’m voting Yes to the Voice
Peter Dutton and His Master's Voice. By Peter Lewis.

Why I’m voting Yes to the Voice

An angry old white bloke had a go at me the other day. He didn’t like my “Free Assange” T-shirt. His reaction took me a little bit by surprise. I’d forgotten I was wearing that shirt. And I’d also forgotten about that other country, the alternative Australia that exists alongside mine but where things look different. Of course I visit that old colonial outpost every day, but I slip across the border like a ghost in disguise, conduct my business and head home again. “What do you mean, ‘Free Assange?’”, he snorted at me. I had…

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