I reckon I’ve said enough. Disappointing campaign, despite the opportunity. Thought that the independents shone a light on a few issues which weren’t taking up.
Harms Election Watch: Rd 7- ALP Launch
August 19, 2010 by 6 Comments
And so finally the ALP have their launch in Brisbane. It is a low-key affair. So low-key in the torpor of the Queensland winter that the faithful forget they are at a political rally and that they are supposed to respond spontaneously, like a Baptist congregation in Mississippi. Even the Silver Bodgie has to wait, [Read more]
Harms election watch – Round 6: Rooty Hill RSL
August 17, 2010 by 11 Comments
by John Harms Those of us who spent too much time in the Trans-Australian Banks (pre-Betfair, of course) in the 1990s will recall waiting nervously through Rooty Hill RSL ads on SKY until the result of the photo finish came through. I think it was their only advertiser. So, as we were hanging out to [Read more]
Harms Election Watch: Round 5- Julia in form
August 16, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Election betting has flattened out, but no matter how I look at it, I just keep coming back to one thing: the election result is all about Queensland. And the pollies know it as well. Queenslanders are still recovering from the Coalition’s launch on Sunday. Rarely have so many blueblood Liberals graced the Sunshine State. [Read more]
Harms Election Watch: Round 4
August 15, 2010 by 5 Comments
This election will be won and lost in Queensland. Simple as that. And Queensland is different sort of place, with its own understanding of the world. I lived there for 30 years, and if pressed, I would say I am a Queenslander. Not your typical Queenslander, but I reckon I understand the Queensland sensibility.
Election Harms Round 2- The Debate
August 13, 2010 by 1 Comment
Sunday evening used to be for watching Disneyland. You would always wonder which land the story would come from: Adventure Land, Fantasy Land, and the other Lands which have drifted from my memory. Then came Big Brother, and Sunday evening footy, and now Master Chef. I watched the end of Master Chef last night just [Read more]
Crows: Capable of Obstruction but not Government
August 13, 2010 by 2 Comments
I tipped Western Bulldogs to beat Adelaide yesterday and bet on them to get over the line. And they did, but, sitting in the rain in that lonely park I only wanted Adelaide to find a method, any method, to kick a couple of goals in the last quarter and to stay in front. In [Read more]
Harms’ Election Watch- Part 1
August 12, 2010 by 25 Comments
As Director of Manning Clark House in Canberra, I am obliged to have a good grasp of Australian History, and at least pretend to have a good grasp of contemporary Australian day-to-day politics. I reckon I’ve got the nuts and bolts of the first one covered, but I’m less confident about the other. Not because [Read more]
A Tiding of Magpies and an Interloper Farewell Haiku Bob
August 3, 2010 by 19 Comments
by Peter Flynn It is early Saturday night not long after sunset. I saunter down Gertrude Street listening to Port versus Hawthorn. Bizarrely, I find myself barracking furiously for Port Adelaide. It’s funny who you can end up supporting in neutral sporting contests. Each Port pack mark in front of goal evokes a well-concealed short [Read more]
Haiku Bob: round 16 – fingers of sun
July 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Saints get the first – Magpies and seagulls form huddles blustery day – Swan’s first half dozen to collect his thoughts noon chill – players dropping marks I blow into my hands winter echoes – Heater’s mark again on the big screen stop start wind – forwards turn defenders turn forwards long winter – Leigh [Read more]
Pies and Zhivagos Dominate a Full Cultural Menu
July 19, 2010 by 9 Comments
Weekends which encompass time at the MCG combined with time at the Corner Hotel, are weekends well-spent, even if they are not very productive. Productivity is further compromised if the weekends are bookended by liberal doses of red wine. Juicer and Nicole arrived from Warragul Friday evening. As St Kilda supporters, they are really not [Read more]
Haiku Bob: round 15 – holes in the night
July 15, 2010 by 3 Comments
first quarter gloom Swan weaves light through the darkness the wind pierces my body another goal behind the cold – Ball lays another tackle to keep warm icy wind the pack splinters in Didaks’ wake Swan’s thirty-nine touches no two the same non-scoring end a gull turns its head on play by hand or foot [Read more]
round 14 – one touch at a time
July 8, 2010 by 3 Comments
the night drifts along until Didak another night punctuated by Harry’s stampedes Jolly sidesteps the night all to himself first goal in an hour followed by another a minute later World Cup month and now Daisy tries a scissor kick night sounds a smother ricochets off the roof Swan up the ground and back one [Read more]
Haiku Bob: round 13 – moon at every turn
June 30, 2010 by 5 Comments
magpies darting here and there the moon at every turn beneath exploding pinks and blues Harry’s bursting run bitter night Ball bundles his catch full moon – we have their forwards surrounded Toovey arrives at a moment unafraid of his limitations brief eclipse – Didak shakes his shadow loose full moon Beams in space winter [Read more]
haiku bob: what’s left of the light
June 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
winter dusk… the pleasant gloom of a drawn game the cold – not enough on the kick blustery wind – Leon switches on and off deep winter – Fraser’s dropped mark takes us deeper bare stems – our brittle lead grows by a point another behind leaves me chuckling in the chill air deep in [Read more]
Haiku Bob, Round 11- the short road
June 10, 2010 by 4 Comments
onset of winter – the game begins with brisk movements still life – Fraser stands the mark a nip in the air – taking the short road to goal a gull glides from the rafters – Leon curls one in cold winter night the ruckmen lock arms watching closely but not understanding the umpires winter [Read more]
Community Cup: Espy Rockdogs Pie Night
June 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Hi All, Yes, my old band, The Nubiles, are reforming for one show only as part of the Fabulous Community Cup. Dust off your rocking pants and come down to support a very good cause. Hope to see you there. For more information visit the Espy website. http://www.espy.com.au John Weldon
Poetry: A Lament To Kings All
June 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Tim Pekin A LAMENT TO KINGS ALL It’s as if some kings have never been not Attracting the strong, the poor, the traditional hero’s lot Unearthing dreams on a quest for the Holy Grail Performing epic deeds for the populace to hail They lead their men into battle, at the fore Mercurial imposing figures, [Read more]
Haiku World Cup
June 6, 2010 by 10 Comments
In less than a week, South Africa plays host to The Greatest Show on Earth when the World Cup kicks off in Johannesburg. Pretty soon, the Knackery will be full of punditry and prognostication on the fortunes of the Socceroos as they take on the world’s best. To celebrate, a panel of experts (actually, a [Read more]
Haiku Bob: round 10 – stars far apart
June 2, 2010 by 5 Comments
raising our beers to Didak’s first he snags another stars far apart – Cloke sends a long bomb to nowhere talk of a leadership spill – Maxwell loses traction on his own line rock in the stream – Ball stands in a tackle of four a mark only Brown could take taken again shimmering floodlight [Read more]
Recent Comments