... between bourke 'n' elizabeth ...

... seeing red ...

Where to begin to explain the impact that my Red Centre trip had on me. It was emotional in ways I would never had thought. It was physical in ways that I had dreaded. There were two especially emotional moments: arriving at the very centre of my country; and, seeing Uluru for the first time. My chest was constricted and I had to keep reminding myself that this was real - it was not on television; it was there in front of me. There were two difficult physical times: when I realised that I would be sleeping in a swag on the ground every night; and, the pain in my chest as I trudged around Kata Juta.

As I predicted, I was by far the oldest person on the trip. It was a full house; 10 paying passengers plus the driver. There were 6 females and 4 males. There were 3 French nationals, one Swiss, one Nederlander, 2 German nationals, one Canadian and one American living in London, England. The only Australians were me and the driver. Not many Australians make this trip. Which is very sad.  I am nearly 60, then followed 37, 32, 3X28, 25, 2x24, 23 and 21. Every person on the trip was a university graduate including the driver. Two people had Masters and two had doctorates. One of the German girls had a doctorate in Geology which was immensely useful.

I have over 700 images to sift through. There are 10 days of experiences that I wish to record - mainly for my own benefit.The trip itself cost about $1700 including entry fees. Getting to and from cost another $600. And I guess I spent another $1200 on "stuff". So, all up about $3,500 for just over 10 days. Not cheap. But worth every penny.

Why do teachers leave remote indigenous communities?

With the Commonwealth Intervention into the Northern Territory, there is a renewed focus on the inequalities between remote and fringe indigenuos communities and between fringe indigenous communities and urban indigenous communities. These inequalities are across the board: in life expectancy and the related health outcomes; in housing; in individual and family incomes and in education outcomes. People in remote indigenous communities have a life expectancy of 59 years compared with the average Australian male life expectancy of 78 years. 39% of all Aborigines leave school at Year 12 compared with 75% of the wider population.  Aborigines in remote communities don't attend school that alone leave at Y12. 21% of prisoners in Australia are indigenous. Aborigines in their 30s and 40 have reduced literacy and numeracy when compared with their parent's generation. It is a bleak picture.

... closing the gap ...

As I walked to work this morning the excitement was palpable - from the council workers here tidying up The Block in Redfern to the young photographer who simply wanted to tease. An hour and a half later, this area was teaming with both Indigenous and Non-indigenous Australians all listening to our Prime Minister utter that essential word - Sorry.

In May 2000 I walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with thousands upon thousands of my compatriots pleading with our government to effect reconciliation in the most simple of ways. Finally, we have a man who has the courage, the moral fortitude and the empathy to do what others could not bring themselves to do.

This must not be the end of it though. And I feel sure that Kevin Rudd will not let this momentum stall. He'll probably have to answer to Therese if he does! With his "war cabinet" (and what a way to snooker the lilly-livered-liberals) and with "compensation" money, he now needs a policy mix that delivers education, health and a future if not for this generation then at least, for the next. He will need strength. He will need determination. He will need empathy. He will need ... love.

You have my support, Kevin.

... i am sorry ... i apologise ...

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.We reflect on their past mistreatment.We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation. For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written. We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again. A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity. A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed. A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility. A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

... sorry ...

I will ask if I may attend with the Hugo Street mob.

This is an essential ceremony for all peoples who live in this country.

Once we are reconciled, then the process of healing and equality can commence in earnest.

... shades of regret ...

What is it with Australians and regretting things or feeling remorse. As individuals we are not particularly good at extending - or accepting - apologies. Yet in some form of collective noun - Australians - we seem to continually demand expressions of regret over past behaviours.

This, of course, relates to David Hicks. But it also relates to the "stolen" generation.

What does it mean to apologise? Howard was the first to alert me to the semantic difference between apologising and being sorry. He maintained that saying you were sorry did not imply any responsibility for the circumstances for which you are feeling regret. You are simply sad that this-or-that occurred. Whereas, apologising is an acknowledgement that actions that you took warrant not only your regret but your assurance that they will not happen again.

Howard was a twerp and the fear and panic in his eyes during this conversation and towards the "end" were the equivalent of the Fraser lip.

Jenny Macklin is currently negotiating with representatives of the indigenous peoples for an appropriate wording in line with the "Bringing them Home" report. But everyone seems to be in agreement that the word "sorry" is essential. The media is hounding HIcks for an apology over his part in the death of those who died as a result of terrorism - especially those Australian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. Yet, as David Marr points out, Hicks was already with the American military by the time the first Australian died.

And to the obverse: we are very good at saying the we are not sorry. Alexander Downer has no regrets about the Australian government's handling of the Hicks case.

Regrets, remorse, sorry, apology - I no longer know what it is that I am saying or feeling.

Spiritus mundi images ... whilst I prune, replant and tender in a cloudless 25C

What does it mean to accept an apology? Just because an apology is offered does not mean that it need be accepted. If an apology is accepted does that mean that the issue is no longer to be mentioned - it is over. If an apology is accepted does that mean that the apologer is forgiven? Can an apology be accepted without forgiveness? Wherewith forgive and forget? Are there issues for which no apology is sufficient?

Like a dog with bone - worried this topic all day

Had lunch with friends out in Seven Hills (calathumpian territory); got breath tested; scrounged yet another plumber's pipe for my arbour; and, am about to go out for the evening. But still it carouses through my pea-brain.

Atonement is the act required of one to give effect to an apology. Maybe not. Take the film based on McEwan's book. I have not read the book but the film really pissed me off. She atoned for her actions by lying; by making up happiness for the couple whom she destroyed. She lied to us and to herself. She lied all the way through - hence the many retakes. She knew an apology was required but that it would be inadequate. She fantasised both the apology and the atonement. Eventually it became difficult to discern what actually happened after that fateful night but I gather they never actually saw each other again and I gather she did not have the guts to front up to them. Hence, a fiction within fiction. Too too tricky ...