Eulogy: Arthur Pitman

 Vale Arthur Pitman

By David McLintock

(as published in the Callide Dawson Leader)

Arthur Neville Pitman was born on the 6^th of October 1927 at Ganters Gully, Mt Morgan and left this life on Monday, the 17^th August 2020 in the Mt Morgan Hospital.

Known to his family as “Poppy” and to some as “Grizz” but Arthur was best known as a man who had nothing but love for his family.

Arthurs parents were Walter Pitman and Elsie Gilbar. He was the 4^th child born of 11 children. His siblings are Eunice, Arnold, Des, Mavis, Elaine and Coral (who are deceased) and is survived by Ada, Pearl, Gwen and Glen.

School life commenced at the Mt Morgan State School in 1933 at the age of 5 years old. In September of that year his family returned to Lake Pleasant where he attended school until the end of 1934. In January 1935 the family moved back to Mt Morgan where they lived on River Street and he attended school there until December 1939.

It was January 1940 when the family returned to the farm again and he returned back to Lake Pleasant School. He finished his schooling in October of 1941 as his father took him out of school so he could help work on the farm.

Life on the farm was never without drama with so many siblings to share the workload with on the farm but throughout this Arthur and Mavis were inseparable and indeed throughout their lives.

A memorable time was the 1942 Floods and was always a topic discussed as to how they were isolated by flood waters. Arthur had a friend staying at the farm during this time, Ray Hoffman. The Callide Creek had broken its bank and they could see the flood waters coming.

Alan Shaw was in charge as Nanna McCubben was in Mt Morgan with the girls at this time. So Alan organised the boys to take the chickens, food and stove upstairs out of the flood waters. They collected some wood and lifted the piano up onto a wooden table under the house although it didn’t end up surviving the flood.

It was during this flood that the boys found 3 little pigs, little porkers, up on an island in the water so a rescue plan was instigated. The boys went and rescued them and took them upstairs too as the boys thought they could have a good meal out of one of them. So they were mustering the pigs while Arthur was on the bed waiting to catch one. One was hiding under the bed and Arthur thought he was about to catch it but instead he caught Ray’s head. They did catch one eventually and Alan dressed it for dinner.

Arthur's father Walter Pitman conducted Sunday School for all the children in the district at the farm house and Arthur regularly made his escape, his snowy hair bopping through the long grass as he made his way to the Edwards farm.

Arthur first met Barbara Joan Liddell when she visited her Aunt, Mrs Petchet who was the Station Mistress in Goovigen. This was the beginning of their romance.

Arthur and Barbara were married on the 13^th April 1945 in Rockhampton. They raised 3 children, Janice, Neville and Ann. After Janice was born Arthur and Barb went cane cutting with his brother Des, but that didn’t work out as Des broke his foot.

Arthur, Barb and Janice then went dairying on a share farm with Jimmy Minion on the banks of the Callide Creek. He taught Janice to ride a horse when she was 3 years old. It was during this time that Neville was born.

Arthur's farming days

Arthur purchased the farm at Lake Pleasant from Roy Inglis in 1950. Ann was born the following year.

In 1960 his family lived on the Gudman's farm while he went off cane cutting again. When he returned they all moved back to their farm.

In 1964 Arthur sold the farm and they moved back to Rockhampton and lived with Pop and Jean Liddell.

It was during this year that Arthur managed the Duaringa Hotel before starting his mining career at the Mt Morgan Gold Mine in 1965.

He worked at the Moura Mine for a few months before returning home to the Mt Morgan Mine. Half the population of Mt Morgan moved to work in the coal mines around Moranbah which saw Arthur and Barb also move in 1975 where he started his career at the Goonyella mine.

Arthur was a member of the building and ground work force and included truck driving and plain simple manual hard work.

After work Arthur spent most of his time at the Moranbah Race Club. Being a horse owner, he did his bit to ensure that the Race Club was always presented in first class condition.

Arthur took on the position of Bar Manager along with track surface preparation with Ken Bryant. Many long hours were spent with the maintenance of the track sprinkler system.

With all this in control then came the time to build the new members bar, jockey’s room, and admin building. Then it was the trainer’s residence and stable complex. At the close of each work session, Arthur would do a head count, disappear, and return with the number of stubbies for everyone to share a cold beer and help ensure that all would be back the next time to continue on with the project.

When the horse stabling complex was built, they named the building Pitman Lodge, as a dedication and in honour of his working effort.

Arthur would often also offer his services to help on projects around the district.

Arthur in 1943 - 16 yrs old

Arthur loved having all of his children living in the same town of Moranbah including all 8 of his grandchildren. He cherished and loved all of his grandchildren, Barbara, Wyman, Brett, Stephanie, Suzan, Paul, Kylie and Casey. They all looked up to their Poppy with the utmost respect and love, which they have carried into their adult lives. Arthur has 17 Great Grandchildren, Larissa, Samantha, Nicholas, Brooklyn, Jordyn, Harrison, Johnathon, Larissa, Caliden (deceased), Chloe, Tristan, Kate, Karli, Savannah, Jessye, Sienna and Elias. He is also blessed with 1 great great grandson, Austin.

He retired from the mine at 60 years old in 1987. He didn’t want to retire from life and he secured himself a job at the Black Nugget Hotel as their Gardener. There was a famous big tree at the front of the hotel, which dropped too many leaves, and messed up the lawn, which led to far too much raking, so it had to go. His farming skills in poisoning and cutting down trees came in handy.

Arthur, Barbara and Neville sold the house in Moranbah and moved to Rockhampton in the year 2000. In 2004 Arthur had bypass surgery on his heart so he could take care of Barbara who was ill at that time.

Arthur's Granddaughter Suzan Kingsley recalls, “I was with him in Brisbane during this time. Before he went into surgery he was on the phone with Granny and she was settling his nerves. During that phone conversation, Poppy told Granny how much he loved her over and over, and she expressed how much she loved him. It brought a tear to my eye.”

October 14^th 2004 Arthur lost his beloved wife Barb. It was a very sad time for him, losing the love of his life. The family all rallied around him during this time and Arthur fulfilled his promise to care for Barb's dog Taylor after she passed.

In 2005 Arthur purchased a house in Goovigen so he could be close to his siblings, Des, Mavis, Elaine, Gwen and Glen. He did a lot of house renovations on his house.

His love for working and staying active and his love for the family farm, drew him out to help Dennis and Edna Pitman. He loved fencing and all other farming duties and loved taking on that job and treasured this time to be able to work on a farm again.

He spent time driving out to Wowan-Dululu Multi Purpose aged care group where he enjoyed the company of farming friends from the old days and where they played cards and sang. He also took care of the garden at Willy’s Walk Park at the front of his house and hoisting the Australian flag.

In 2018, Poppy moved into the nursing home Summit Villages in Mt Morgan, due to his failing health.

Arthurs final days were shared with lots of loving from all his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandson who all loved him dearly.

Arthur Neville Pitman will never be forgotten as his memories are forever kept alive by his family.

“We gave him permission to leave this life and to go live in eternity with our beloved Granny. Peace be with you Poppy, may you rest in peace, we love you.”

Family Business No.1 with growers

 Family business No.1 with growers

by David McLintock

(Story previously published in the Callide Dawson Leader)

If you are a mung bean grower in Central Queensland then you no doubt are fully aware of Allenden Seeds right here in Goovigen and what they have to offer the growers.

What many may not know is that Sydney Allenden and his son Clint's facility is 100% Australian family owned and operated, something that is becoming less common throughout the country with overseas investors taking more and more chunks out of these businesses.

It was in 1974 that the Allenden famly first started growing mung beans on their farm and after being continually disillusioned with existing processing plants they decided to set up their own grading plant for their own use. In 1978 Syd Senior bought a small grading plant, air screen plant and gravity table from the Burdekin along with bucket elevators and brought it to the Allenden property. They pulled down an old dairy and set up their grading plant on the same spot and started processing their own beans.

Carter, Syd and Clint

During this time Syd was still working at the mines at Moura but in 1985 he came back to the farm full time and upgraded the plant as local growers were requesting their beans to be processed there as well. Initially, everything was done by hand including the 50kg bags and loaded them into the shipping containers. Originally all the containers were then loaded onto the rail at the Goovigen Railway Station and when that was closed down, to Earlsfield and then Biloela.

In 1990 they set up their first storage shed and in 2000 set up a new grading shed and have kept expanding ever since.

Belinda at the front desk of the office

It was in 2016 that they purchased a second hand robot system to bag and load the beans. This equipment was from South Australia where it was being used in a potato shed.

“We didn't really have any choice as it was very difficult to get the workers and during peak season we could ill afford to not have enough employees or have unreliable employees who might not even show up for work some days,” Syd said.

“The robot system we have now,” Clint said, “can do the work of six men.”

“The automated bagging machine is 100% Australian made in Melbourne and on one day we did 6,455 bags which is 161 tons of graded beans. We were loading 20 containers a week which was 4 containers a day in a 5 day week. In a good season we are exporting over 12,000 tonnes of graded beans a year.”

Clint beside the automated bagging machine

“When the gas pipeline was being constructed in the region we had a shore crane available at the Gladstone Port. All our beans went from site here directly to Gladstone,” Syd said. “When the gas pipeline finished, in their wisdom they decided to move the shore crane away from Gladstone, leaving the port without any means to load containers or anything else for that matter.”

“What we have to do now is road transport our containers to Rockhampton and then by train to Brisbane,” he explained. “Mind you if they don't have a full train they cancel it. Once they get to Brisbane they load them onto a ship and then send them back up the coast, past the Gladstone port on their journey to Asia.”

“This isn't just affecting our business. This effects everyone who is exporting from outside of Brisbane,” Syd said. “In Townsville the meatworks there send their containers to Brisbane where they put them on a boat to go back past Townsville. This applies to all the meatworks up the coast including Rockhampton, Mackay and the Biloela meatworks.”

Lachlan Sypher from Alpha picking up sugar drip seed

“Its obvious that they want everything concentrated in the South-East corner,” Syd said, “and it's not just our industry and the meat industry that this effects, it's all export industries outside of Brisbane except for coal and grain.”

Mr. Ellenden went on to say that if he could export out of Gladstone they would be able to cut their costs by up to $100 a ton which would go directly back to the growers.

“95% of our business is Mung beans and we have growers transporting their beans from not just throughout Central Queensland including Emerald, Capella and Clermont areas but as far away as Quirindi in New South Wales,” Clint said. “These growers have had their fingers burnt with all those grading sheds down south so they put it in a truck and drive it up here to us, nearly 1,000 kilometres away.”

With the grading business continually growing, Ellenden Seeds already have 30 storage silos with another 10 on the way which will give them a total of 6,000 tons storage capability.

Clint operating one of the many forklifts in the shed

There is also a new designed and larger gravity table due to arrive any day from America which will push through 15 tons of beans an hour. This is replacing the 4 smaller tables currently in use. It also has the added benefit of using half the amount of power as the previous 4 gravity tables combined.

Besides Syd and Clint the business employs both Carter full time (Office Logistic's Manager) and Belinda, full time in the office. During the busy periods of the year, they also employ casual workers, mainly back packers because they are so reliable.

“We might only have them for a couple of months but they want to be here and they want to work,” Syd said.

“Our business goal is all about being here for the grower and being able to move the beans at the best rate,” he said. “We have improved our storage capacity, upgraded our grading equipment and automated our bagging and stacking procedures so we are never in a position where we have to turn any grower away.”

REVIEW: The Golden Park Retreat Goovigen - by David McLintock

Hidden Gem discovered at Goovigen

There's many reasons why Goovigen is on the list of “must see places to visit” for so many grey nomads and tourists alike, and why it is ticking all the boxes on their wish list.

But it's not just the wonderfully low cost camping facilities, quiet surroundings and the nostalgic old buildings from a past long since left behind in this fast modern world we live in today that is drawing them to this sleepy little western town.

There are also hidden gems to be found and one of these gems is an amazing walk-through garden retreat which will leave you awe-struck with its beauty and what it has to offer.

The Golden Park Retreat truly is the hidden jewel and owned and operated by Rob Kummerfeld and Maree Tucker.

Rob Kummerfeld and Maree Tucker

Rob said that originally they started their garden park concept for their own enjoyment and built an island in 2011 with his own dozer. Their plan was to build their own home beside it to be able to look out over the water. But by 2012 they had already been bit by the bug and just kept on going, building new features and new buildings and sheds.

It was in 2013 when the district was hit with a flood that the Banana Shire Council first asked Rob and Maree if they would host a barbeque as a pick-up for the locals which saw over a hundred people arrive and enjoy their creation.

“It was following this night that the locals asked us if we would open it up to the public to help give the community a boost,” Rob said. “The Council was right behind us also and we started off with Billy Tea and Damper evenings which are still very much sought after today.”

“The Council followed up by asking us if we would conduct regular opening hours and be part of their marketing drive for tourism in the district,” he said. “I've been here most of my life and it's been really good to be able to help the town this way.”

I made my way to the entrance of the Golden Park Retreat, and found it at the end of the appropriately named Peaceful Lane. It is obvious just how much work and love has gone into the park, from the moment I drove in.

Golden Park Retreat entrance

The walkways take you throughout the three acres of the native trees and shrubs, over bridges and archways and ultimately to all the wonderful sites on offer. There is the Japanese garden area with it's very romantic seating enclosure which overlooks a pond adorned with flowering water lilies.

They have a wedding area which has been specially designed for country style weddings. As a photographer myself I instantly saw the endless possibilities for wedding photos all around me. In particular, all the old and antique cars, trucks and machinery with their appeal from the past, glowing in the sunlight, just waiting to assist a bride and groom with capturing their special day.

There are old buggies, tractors, cranes and trucks, too many to name them all but each on their own worthy of a trip to see, let alone this wonderful collection all together, in one place, for all to enjoy.

I was amazed at how many collections are to be found here. Rob and Maree even have a collection of old chainsaw and hand brace and bits and drills.

                           Many of their antique vehicles still actually run and operate.

“The land here was flat farmland, but I've contoured it with all my own machinery. The dam and moat around the island I built using my own TD6 dozer, which I rebuilt myself,” Rob said proudly. “I rebuilt the little International which has a diesel pump on one side of the block and a distributor and spark plugs for the petrol and kerosene on the other, and hitched it to the Tumbling Tommy to do all the earth work.”

Even in the middle of a drought this location is so picturesque 

“This dozer is one of the many antique machines on show here at the park,” Rob highlighted.

The Golden Park Retreat even has it's own museum. You could easily spend the better part of a day going over everything that Rob and Maree have in this building. There are antiques galore hidden away here, from washing machines, cream cans, wood stoves, lathes, motors and kitchenware.

“We are building a new and larger museum building soon and all the antiques will be moved into this to be once again proudly on display only with a larger viewing area to walk amongst them”, Rob said.

As I leave the museum I am surrounded with farming machinery from the past. There are dozens of old steel wheeled ploughs, offsets and planters. This place is a paradise for anyone who wants to gaze though a time window into our past and see how our forefathers worked the land.

Maree and Rob overlooking the Japanese Garden area

From the magic of the museum and antique farm equipment I walk across to the island completely surrounded by a moat full of water. The island is reached by walking over an archway bridge and has a gas barbeque and an undercover area with seating and tables as well as it's own fresh water rain tank.

I lost count of the number of park benches I passed whilst walking along the paths, which shows just how much thought has been put into the layout of this retreat.

“We have regular visits from retirement and nursing homes throughout the districts including Moura, Monto, Baralaba, Biloela and even Rockhampton,” Maree said. “All our walkways are weather, wheelchair and walker friendly with bench seating spaced around the park should anyone choose to sit for a spell and take it all in.”

I can say that one of my boxes to be ticked to qualify for the perfect venue requires well designed and well cleaned toilets. The Golden Park Retreat's “rest rooms” are spacious and clean and are set up for wheelchair access as well. These rooms are immaculate so this box has definitely been ticked.

Another dream spot for photographs

As I look around the park I can see why this place is no longer a well kept secret and has become so popular for not only the travelling tourists and locals alike but also for those special functions that require just the right venue.

Simply put, it is the dream location for couples to make their vows and celebrate their wedding with family and friends.

“To date we have had 7 weddings here in the retreat,” Rob announces. “ We are very proud of our wedding area.”

It was attending a friends 70^th birthday party here last week that I discovered “the magic of the park” and how I know first hand that it is an all weather venue. Before arriving to the party, a huge downpour of rain blessed the event which still went ahead as normal as if there hadn't been any rain at all.

The Putt Putt is very popular with the kids

It is also kid friendly. My three year old loved playing in the playground whilst mum and dad were mingling with the adults.

There is even a Putt Putt golf course for the kids.

And for those not so keen to venture onto the paths and be “at one with nature” there is an undercover pool table and TV area not far from the massive dining area which is large enough to cater for most functions.

“We have lots of work Christmas Parties every year and they are always a big hit,” Rob said. “Our biggest attraction would still have to be our Camp Oven Roasts and Dampers with Billy Tea. We have interstate travellers returning every year to not only enjoy the food but to take in the serenity of the park while doing so. With our camp oven roasts we use all our own home grown vegetables from our very own vegetable gardens here in the park.”

As I walk back to the main dining area I notice an old timber phone box beside the walking path and enquire as to whether it is the original red phone box from outside the Goovigen post office from many years ago. I am happy to say that it is, having been donated by Don and Kerry Nissen and was renovated by one of the parks faithful volunteers.

Camp Oven Roasts and Dampers with Billy Tea is still number 1 on the menu

"We couldn't do what we do here if it wasn't for our wonderful volunteers," Rob said.  "They always try and make themselves available to help with our big functions and without them we wouldn't be able to provide this service or be able to keep the park maintained as we do."

Goovigen's Golden Park Retreat most definitely ticks all the boxes for anyone who would like to have a function with a difference or even just an afternoon to relax and enjoy not only the renown camp oven roast dinners but to take in everything that this wonderful place has to offer.

 It's a big thumbs up from me and a big congratulations to Rob and Maree on their “not so hidden anymore” golden gem.

This farce called Constitutional Recognition

Is Racism Rife in Australia?

Can someone please explain to me what this call for constitutional recognition is all about?

Isn't the constitution already there for all Australians?

It seems to me that all those making a living out of this “Aboriginal Industry” will never be happy. The more nonsense they can come up with the more money that goes into their pockets. Just think of how many people are kept in a job thanks to this industry.

There is no doubt that Australia is rife with racism but I'm sorry to inform all you “do-gooders” out there that it is all coming from Aboriginal Australians and those pushing this Aboriginal Industry.

I've just watched as much as I could handle of the ABC Breakfast News before turning off the TV as their guest Linda Burney, the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, stated how the Aboriginal Leaders have been so responsible during this Covid19 crisis. 

What a load of absolute codswollip!  But I guess we can expect these comments from a politician who said that we need to listen to the cries of the people protesting against institutional racism and deaths in custody.  Besides the fact that she is talking nonsense, there was no mention of the spread of the virus into a second wave and putting the lives of all Australians at risk and all our elderly at extreme risk.

One has to ask why the ABC presenter didn't take her to task on this after she said how responsible they have all been.

While we have the ABC pushing the Aboriginal Industries agenda there is no hope for common sense in this country.

Surely wanting to include a specific race into our Australian Constitution is the epitome of racism?

Just once when I fill out a government form I'd like to be asked the question as to whether my family is in need of assistance or can I pay the electricity bill, or even do I have enough money to feed them at the moment. Instead all I get asked is whether I am Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander.

Yes, racism is rife in this country and those leading the charge are our own Governments and our own ABC.

                                          

                          Linda Burney supporting Black Lives Matter protesters

A Shining Light Among Black Lives Matter

Call for Captain Cook Statue to come down

During all this “Black Lives Matter” protests there is a shining light among aboriginal people and her name is Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Now here is a lady who is not afraid to speak the truth and I have nothing but the utmost respect for her.

I am including Jacinta's comments from June 11^th below and also a video with more of her words.

I woke up this morning to witness the following latest garbage coming from the mouths of the uninformed.

A petition to pull down the Captain Cook Statue in Cairns that has 10,000 signatures. One woman states that it represents the genocide, the stolen generation and the loss of culture that occurred because of this explorer.

Warren Entsch, the member for Leichardt, can be applauded for his response to the news, “Well let's get rid of the pyramids while we are at it as it's the same sort of nonsense”.

Another young woman said her Grandmother lives out near the statue and is a constant reminder of the stolen generation.

Well we can't have her being reminded of Australia's history so lets stop all the billions of dollars of fortnightly payments going to aborigines from the white racist Australian taxpayer, as surely this is the biggest reminder of their loss of culture.

Jacinta Price this country needs your voice to be heard and I am including your words here now and I quote:

“Given we are continually being denigrated as a nation and bombarded by accusations of racism and bigotry, I felt it wasn’t only necessary to defend my home and the country I love but to also provide the overwhelming evidence that demonstrates these accusations are lies. 

If we can’t have pride in our own nation how are we expected to evolve successfully? If we keep telling a particular demographic they are victims of others of a certain skin colour we are effectively removing that demographic’s agency and that, to me, is completely un-Australian.

Here is a list of our nation’s achievements toward Aboriginal Australia and dare I say there’s very likely a whole lot that I have missed but we have to start somewhere right?

1856 – In South Australia all Men including Aboriginal Men were given the right to vote.

1896 – In South Australia all Women including Aboriginal Women were given the right to vote, 32 years before Women in England were given that right.

1948 – It is not well understood but no one in Australia was an Australian Citizen up until this year. We were regarded as British Subjects until the Citizenship Act was passed. Citizenship Rights were being extended to Aboriginal Australians gradually throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s by Coalition Governments’.

1962 – Aboriginal Australians were granted the Right to Vote by a Coalition Government.

1964 – Aboriginal Australians were virtually granted full Citizenship Rights under a Coalition Government when the Aboriginal Ordinance was repealed.

1967 – The Referendum went through with overwhelming support of well over 90% of Australians voting to allow Aboriginal Australians to be included in the Census and for Aboriginal Affairs to become a Commonwealth responsibility. Another successful Coalition Government initiative.

1968 - The Equal Pay decision was applied by a Coalition Government.

1970 - A state Coalition Government in Victoria handed back the Lake Tyers reserve to the Aboriginal community.

1971 - Senator Neville Bonner, a Liberal, became our first Aboriginal Parliamentarian. Since then there have been 43 Aboriginal MP’s throughout state and federal Parliaments in Australia. To add to this 8 MP’s have recorded Aboriginal Ancestry but have not been identified as Aboriginal. The Northern Territory gave us the first and only Government, at any level, led by an Indigenous Australian. This is not widely known or celebrated because Chief Minister Adam Giles was with the Country Liberal Party.

1976 – The NT Land Rights Act was passed by a Coalition Government. Under this Act around 45% of the land and 80% of the coastline of the NT has been handed back to traditional owners, I’m one of them.

1992 – The High Court overturned the Principal of Terra Nullius with the Mabo Decision.

1993 – A Labor Government passed the Native Title Act.

In Australia today we have experienced historically significant acts of symbolism that include the 1991 Reconciliation Walk Across Sydney Harbour Bridge. For six hours 250,000 Australians of all backgrounds walked together to demonstrate the fact we are not racist but are overwhelmingly in support of Aboriginal Australia. We have spent a week every year since commemorating this event and what it means.

A Labor Prime Minister said ‘Sorry’ on May 26th 1998 in recognition of the impact of the policies of forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. These days and others are commemorated every year to recognise historical injustices and to demonstrate that everyday Australians DO care for the plight of Indigenous Australians.

We spend days and weeks each year recognising Aboriginal Australia in the following ways:

National Apology Day
National Sorry Day
National Close the Gap Day
Anniversary of the Referendum
Reconciliation week
Mabo Day
Coming of the Light
NAIDOC Week
National Aboriginal and Islander Childrens’ Day

International Day of the worlds Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous Literacy Day
Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights of Indigenous People

Throughout Australia ‘Welcome to Country’ or ‘Recognition of Country’ is applied as standard ritual practice before events, meetings and social gatherings by governments, corporates, institutions, primary schools, kindergartens, high schools, universities, work places, music festivals, gallery openings, conferences, and so on and so forth.

Aboriginal Australia is a part of the daily life of us all in some way shape or form and yet we are still facing accusations of racism in our nation. We have been hoodwinked into believing that somehow reconciliation means appeasing the aggrieved, those who refuse to forgive, and we are held to ransom every time the goal posts are shifted.

The good will and support of the Australian people is always on display and it has only gathered momentum along the way.

It’s time now to recognise the efforts of thousands of Australians throughout our history who have done what was in their power to support Aboriginal Australia including those who are not Aboriginal but who call us family. It’s time to recognise that we cannot possibly be a racist country if over 87% of people who identify as Aboriginal in non-remote areas of Australia are in fact married to non-Aboriginal Australians.

We must also remember that our nation is not only simply black and white. We are rich with the contribution of Australians of many backgrounds and this is one of our greatest strengths as a nation. What of the 30% of Australians who were born overseas, from every country on earth. Are they all racist too?

It’s time to stop feeding into a narrative that promotes racial divide, a narrative that claims to try to stamp out racism but applies racism in doing so and encourages a racist over reaction. Yes, it is time for some truth telling.

We should be celebrating what we have achieved together before the good will of the nation runs out.”

More on Jacinta:  CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Black deaths in custody

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story

I have very little hair left on my head after a week of our ABC running rampart with the National Reconciliation Week. In the end I even had to turn off my radio during the night as it was a 24 hour relentless brain penetrating campaign as to how unfair our “First Australians” have it. The final straw was the other night they want to rename all our cities across Australia to Aborigine names. And don't get me started on signing a treaty.

I now know why it is called “Our ABC”. There is no doubt now it stands for “Our Aboriginal Channel”.

Do I need to remind Our ABC as to who pays for not only their jobs but the billions of dollars going every year into this Aboriginal Industry.

Let's all say it out loud.....yes that's right.....non-aboriginal working Australians.

Anyhow this blog would be 27 pages long if I was to try and state all the wrongs with the way we run our Aboriginal affairs.

Lets just pick one for now and run with that.

Black Deaths in Custody.

Are they freaking kidding?

Let's not even look at the fact that we have thousands of people marching during a time of a pandemic.

I think of all the heartbreak being experienced by so many families not being able to attend the funerals of their loved ones and here we have these inconsiderate so and so's who are blatantly disregarding any thoughts of what it might do to our elderly when they are the reason for a second wave of Covid19 storming across our country.

Linda Burney the opposition leader for Indigenous Australians said that we need to listen to the cries of the people protesting against institutional racism and deaths in custody.

Burney you should be ashamed of yourselves along with the rest of the Labor Party.

You would know full well that there was a Royal Commission done based from 1980 until 1998 &1999.

Over this period there were 787 deaths in custody of which 119 of those were Aboriginal deaths. This is 15.1% of the total deaths in custody.

This means that there were 668 other than Aboriginal deaths in custody during this time which means non-aboriginal deaths is 84.9%

If these people want to be racist then at least get your facts right. You should be marching against “White Deaths in Custody” surely.

But if these people had any decency at all or just simply if they weren't completely brain-washed by our Aboriginal Industry, then they should be screaming out against “Australian Deaths in Custody”.

Shame on all of you as it is you who are the racist.

Click here for "No Truth No Balls" Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDbxGL_Akgc

How to get your kids to eat vegetables and healthy foods without a fight!

Eating Healthy is Easy when you have the right Tools!

Since the Corona Virus came crashing into our lives, things have definitely changed in not only our household but I imagine in most family households around the world.

There has certainly been a much greater awareness of eating healthier.  After all we are what we eat and if we continue to eat foods full of sugar and salt and additives and preservatives and God knows what else that is being added to our foods we buy without us even knowing about it then surely it makes us more vulnerable to viruses and diseases.

I believe our bodies are screaming out for help and for us to stop filling them up with "bad" foods.

So we looked around for an answer and it was staring us in the face. 

I bought a "high speed" blender about 6 years ago and used it on and off over this period.  It's an amazing piece of equipment and it seems to be put together like a brick outhouse.

At the time I remember researching over a few days and getting as much info as I could on which blender was the best.  The best in as much as not just being able to high speed blend all the ingredients into a smooth texture but the best in power, the best in durability and the best in back up warranty.

Anyone who knows me knows that I call a spade a spade and would never recommend anything unless I truly believed in it. 

From here the question was how do I make the healthy foods more enjoyable to eat.  We all know how beneficial veges and fruits are for us but the time factor alone is a challenge to eat a required amount every day.

So I started experimenting with healthy greens combined with healthy fruits.

I did a combination of steaming and juicing and blending raw and came up with my "Healthy Green Sludge".

Wham Bamm Holey Cow......my very first try was a blast and I began to substitute my "normal" meals with my "green sludge" smoothies.

Over several weeks I have experimented with different greens and different fruit combinations until I have settled on one I prefer over the rest of them.

The beauty of making your own smoothie is you know exactly what you are getting and how healthy it is for you.

Since starting my "Green Sludge" at the beginning of Covid 19 I have lost nearly 10 kilos. 

So you see we are what we eat and as I have basically stopped eating what I like to describe as "crap foods" and replaced it with healthy foods, am feeling so much the better for it.

But it's not just me that is benefiting from this but my whole family. 

Young Claudio has never knocked back his nightly feast of sludge.  He gets his as a desert, usually mixed with a bit of Greek Yoghurt. 

My wife also is now hooked on it and if we run out of it before I have remade a new batch I am in big trouble.

Take a look at my video I made with Claudio as we go through the process of creating "Claudio's Healthy Green Sludge".....

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

These wonderful Optimum Blenders won't let you down.  Remember the warranty is brilliant and you can even have a 10 year warranty on the product or stick with the standard 5 years.

CHECK OUT THE OPTIMUM BLENDERS - CLICK HERE

Enjoy the video and remember to check out the blenders.  There's heaps of information at this site!