Regulars to the Tuesday Club will remember that Abbas has spoken to us twice. He arrived in New Zealand as an Afghan refugee on the Tampa. He is an impressive young man, and he has just completed a Masters degree in Washington at Georgetown University. While he was studying, he found time, somehow, … [Read more...]
Austin Mitchell has died
Tuesday Club attendees will remember a few years ago that Austin Mitchell spoke to us. His address was witty, and he said he saw a group like the Tuesday Club as being an example of democracy at grass roots. Austin died this week. He will be missed as a wonderful friend of New Zealand and a … [Read more...]
Farewell Jaime Lerner
A few weeks ago I wrote about Jaime Lerner a visitor to this City a number of years ago. I found him a fascinating man. Well read and a wonderful teacher. I wrote about the treehouse he built himself where he worked each morning where he sat and thought and debated with people who could assist his … [Read more...]
Farewell Malcolm Ott, patron and Christchurch icon
In the paper on Saturday there was this funeral message: Ott James Malcolm (Malcolm):Malcolm passed away very peacefully on the evening of Sunday, May 2, 2021, in his home at Holly Lea. Loving husband of the late Paree for just on 60 years, best friend and adored father of Andrew and Bebaki, son … [Read more...]
I can’t wait to get my hands on the book “Helen Kelly” by Rebecca Macfie
I’m a friend of Rebecca Macfie. She is a superb journalist. We are lucky to have her living in this country. She has written a book about one of New Zealand’s great union leaders, Helen Kelly. Sadly, Helen died young of cancer. She would have made a wonderful Labour Prime Minister. There have … [Read more...]
The Wizard and Alice
Around 44 years ago Pam and I got married. We had to get married early in the morning as the Priest who was to marry us, Jim Consedine, had to go to a demonstration in Wellington. At the wedding function the Wizard and Alice were guests. I don’t think Alice was his fiancé then. The Wizard cast a … [Read more...]
Rob Campbell
In Spinoff this week there was a really honest and in places, raw, interview with Rob Campbell. Trade unionist, turned company director. The interview traced his really interesting life through to today. One issue fascinated me. Rob was encouraged by the leaders in the Trade Union movement to … [Read more...]
A nostalgic view down memory lane about DC3 aircraft:
For those of us of a certain age the DC3 was often the first plane we flew on. I was 22 before I first went on a plane. Below is a marvellous article about how the DC3 has been banned from flying in the UK because of “health and safety” danger. The sort of people who write health and safety plans … [Read more...]
Last week’s speaker: Susan Krumdieck.
What a fantastic speaker Susan was. She quietly, and with good humour, took us through what Transition Engineering is and what responsibility engineers have to lead the path to our society addressing Global Warming. I really liked when she started by demonstrating how engineers found a solution … [Read more...]
A beautiful story about the sort of hero working behind the scenes:
Every now and then you watch something quite precious. It’s always about somebody who is going beyond what is normally expected of people. In this case it is one special Court worker who works in the area of family violence. Alongside her is an equally special Judge who works to achieve the same … [Read more...]
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