POWER WITHOUT GLORY

30 June 2015 - To Queensland Labor State Secretary - 

(re-edited version)

                                                              Wished I'd voted for Albanese...

Ipswich Trades Hall, with Bill Shorten.

Dear Evan, 

Regretfully, I wish to resign from the ALP and request you stop the direct debit on my membership (2006-2015). 
On the whole I have enjoyed the experience, and would suggest to any person it is worthwhile being a participant in the political system.

I had to leave with failing mental ill health; haven’t got a tough enough shell to deal with my growing horror of the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees,  breaching UN Conventions we signed in good faith(as a response to turning the Jews in the boats back to the Nazi's).

To not correct the Conservatives(Lib/Nats) on these principles is to be part of the breaches of international law on torture, and rights of the child. The Greens Senator Sara Hanson Young’s voice never fails to ease my bleedin’ Labor heart. 
Maybe I'd be better with the Freemantle tribe? http://www.melissaparke.com.au/latest-news/694-fate-of-asylum-seekers-ignored-in-boats-turn-back-policy.html 

When I was a member of the Federal Electoral Council(FEC Ipswich) I discovered our M.P. Shayne Neumann might be a terrific, hard-working member locally, but he was expressing views as hard-line as the Tories - discarding the rights of the individuals fleeing. 
I spoke up, 

“I know if I was stuck in an Indonesian camp with daily suffering and assaults on my body and dignity for more than a couple of years with no hope of a decent future I would take the gamble on a boat, wouldn’t you?” 

We cannot claim to have a foundation based on social justice whilst staying silent about the authoritarian regime growing like an invasive weed, a destructive Tory terror on our Egalitarian principles. 

Resilience & Courage admired in Freemantle MP Melissa Parkes speaking oath to Gov. General
Mrs. Bryce, and PM Gillard.

Our racist White Australia Policy belonged to the 19th & 20th century. How do we tell our children it doesn't have a current influence?  OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND ESSAY Highly Commended EUREKA award

How do politicians expect respect from voters when they show by their actions, If you have money, even ill-gotten you can fly in and be free.

Boat people are sub-human, demons - daring to defy our Sovereign Borders so we can persecute the persecuted, outa sight outa mind. 

Labor 4 Refugees soften the tyrannical edges, but not enough to contaminate the current ideologues of deterrance via fear.

My capacity to push on regardless, continuing to be a solar light on the hill in the Brisbane Valley was finally done in by a deepening depression and disatisfaction of certain expectations on my role as Branch Secretary. 

Premier Bligh visits Fernvale After the Floods 

Crikey, I was even censored, told to 
close the Somerset branch face book page - a wee bit paranoid about me speaking out of turn! We really needed some younger members... 

The straw that broke me to the core was the thwarting of plans(by men) who were new and ambitious, changing the dynamics of the Branch. 

I was perceiving their inputs as hurdles/barriers to my pure vision of shining only Labor women's light for an International Women's Day event - especially as Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk had accepted the invitation to come to Fernvale on that special day.

Like the turns of a kaleidescope I was stunned by the shifting hues taking place, until I became exasperated,  and threw my Secretarial tools and papers in the air with histrionic effect. Why go out with a wimper? I was fuming.

Shit happens in any group but there was a bit of history repeating itself. 

Let me say that 80per cent of time has been great being a Labor Party member - many like minds with the goal for a brilliant Labor Government. 
It was interesting to campaign for Fiona MacNamara for Wright, Neumann for Blair, Wayne Wendt in Ipswich West, then making sure every vote counts in the booth.

Feb 2009 Fernvale Futures: Learning about Climate Change
with Karey Harrison, Senator Claire Moore, Wayne Wendt MP

Running a regular branch stall at our popular Fernvale Market meant getting to know the news and view of my neighbours, and helping them to solve their problems with their Parliamentary representative.

Fernvale Markets

I would still recommend becoming an active member of the social democratic ideal of the Australian Labor Party. You learn about political process, and meet some inspiring people. 

Senator Doug Cameron in Ipswich for talks on Housing crisis
though he shied away from removing the tax perk of Negative Gearing which had been shown not to work for the purpose it was designed for. Yes, he shied away, champion of the Left, entrenched in Power plays, and a comfortable office - his rhetoric on refugees now a ghost of his radical self...

Of course there is still so much to do - even with polling suggesting the population at large is of the view for autonomy in reproductive rights and access the best of us are thwarted by control my conscience freaks.
I regularly brought up the separation of powers principle where our Parliament should stop voting on social issues like theocrats.  
The abortion case where Deputy Roman Catholic Premier Paul Lucas were firm - don't let the Cairns couple who used the safe self-administering abortion pill open Pandora's Box. 
It was a blight on the Bligh Government.
The policy platform is secular - abortion should be out of the criminal code - it is a health issue.pro/abortion-case-proves-need-for-law-change-2010

I thought it was great to participate in regional conferences and meet, ask questions of various ALP MP's and apparatchik: At Ipswich Trades Hall, during the Bligh Labor Governance, The Deputy Premier and Minister for my Health,couldn't be convinced that as women who manage our own reproductive issues from 10-60, it was an insult to be under the Criminal Code from England in the 1860's! 

Chaplains should be in Sunday schools not State schools. Or is there a secret Christian army being built for the end of times?

I felt so much better when I made the decision to quit the party. My conflicting inner-self was less inflamed. I'm a cheer-leader for Premier Annastacia but disappointed on the Gallilea Basin coal con- job, proposed by the Adani company.

We now discover Adani has employed former Labor party staff and members to lobby Ministers on their behalf! The company had misled everybody by it's 10,000 jobs headliner, which apparently was going to be worth sacrificing the Great Barrier Reef for. 
It smells like rotten eggs. The self-interest cycle perpetuates itself and we all suffer by it. 

I will sign off now and wind down my blogging as a former apparatchik.

Julie McNeill
former Secretary, Wivenhoe/Somerset branch

 my editorial for The Gatton Star

                and sewing improvisations

Labor Day Ipswich March - to show our solidarity - all of our branch members were proud
Unionists, except me, being unemployed.

Wivenhoe branch founder Virginia Clarke campaigning for Nanango

Branch meetings on Saturday arvo at member's homes and roving along the valley between Fernvale and Esk.

At front is Life Member Stan in company with visitors & neighbours Hon. Bill Hayden
& Dallas Hayden, They shared many campaigns together in the former Oxley.

           Convivial, stimulating conversations among
       Comrades.

Fed MP Shayne Neumann with President Peter Arndt & State MP Wayne Wendt
at monthly branch meetings.

Wivenhoe branch meetings convivivial comraderie.

Wivenhoe branch Founding member VIP Kim Travers swan-song to new CPSU
 organiser job in Melbourne.

Dinner for Wayne Goss anniversary of Labour return to Qld Govt.
with Brisbane branch member Paleni Thevar

From the Lockyer and Brisbane Valley, Janet and John and Julie
JJJ

Fernvale Markets on a Sunday morning.

"Pollies, Pies & Poets" at Fernvale Bakery. Thom the Poet from Austin Texas reminisces
in Poetry being a Chermside Kid with fellow Chermside kid Senator Mark Furner.

M.P. for Ipswich West MEETING his favourite local constituent, Labor member and pro-choice activist outside Qld Parliament!

Abortion debate. Qld Parliament with Anna Bligh as Premier.

more wordsmithing for free - local news-papers:

KNOWLEGE IS POWER

Remember when we had visionary politics?

A Creative Nation and Republic, plus a good fundraising dinner
for Premier Anna Bligh. and an autograph for my poem!
ARTISTS FLIGHT FROM KENNETTS VICTORIA

The truth about Refugee Policy with former Immigration officer, now refugee
advocate, Frederika Steen.

Guest speakers

Somerset Cr Jim Madden now Ipswich West M.P clarifies the Newman Govt.
anti-Bikie laws at Esk meeting.

David Ford bringing facts to the 2 State Solution Israel & Palestine policy branch table.
at ALP Life Member Stan Walkers home.

FERNVALE BOOTH with Greens volunteer

                     
            THE LAST WORDS - THE AWFUL SILENCE AND         SHAME OF IT ALL 

      REFLECTIONS OF A BLEEDIN' WATERMELON VIA           WORTHY MEDIA TYPES.

CALL IT FOR WHAT THE TORIES ARE MANIFESTING! IF NOT WHY NOT?

1. CRIKEY- Bernard Keane National Conference Muse/labor-on-turnbacks-moral-conundrum-political-no-brain

1. JULIAN BURNSIDE QC http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/youve-been-misled-on-boat-people-here-are-the-facts-20130718-2q5rv.html
2. 
   
3. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/24/fractured-factions-to-shortens-speech-five-things-to-watch-at-labor-conference
4. 
   
5. Barry Jones, former MP and ALP President writes on the Oligarchy of the ALP
6. https://theconversation.com/the-decay-of-the-political-process-6079

        http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/30/labor-are-you-ready-to-clean-up-the-coming-asylum-seeker-trainwreck?CMP=soc_568

      7. when-you-silence-doctors-and-nurses-you-re-getting-into-dangerous-territory/?cmp=st

Queensland ALP - WIVENHOE BRANCH - BRISBANE VALLEY

My facebook news-feed reminded me that Pauline Hanson delivered her maiden speech in the Australian Parliament as a Member for Oxley - 10/9/1996. I am a member of a branch of the ALP which arose on the outskirts of Ipswich to contest the racism underlying the ideology within the new political force of Hansonism. http://www.abc.net.au/archives/80days/stories/2012/01/19/3412081.htm 

The first meeting of the Wivenhoe branch was in April 1996. Founding members Virginia Clarke and Peter Arndt(pictured at Glamorgan Vale meeting) active in the ALP and social justice groups were shocked and dismayed by the rising popularity of Independent Ipswich Councillor, Pauline Hanson. She was given credibility by being endorsed by the Liberal Party for the traditionally Labor Seat of Oxley.

The branch was named after the Wivenhoe Dam where meetings are till often held, at the Cormorant Bay picnic area off the Brisbane Valley Highway. To shine a light on the toxic bigotry of Hansonism was a dominant activity, as Hanson sought to build support for her One Nation Party. 

Virginia Clarke was successfully endorsed as the 1997 ALP candidate against Pauline Hanson who had been dropped by the Liberals and replaced with Liberal candidate, Cameron Thompson. 

My husband and I had only recently settled in the area, and were not paid members of the ALP but were very grateful we had a Labor candidate to vote for. 

It was alarming for us that Pauline Hanson won the primary vote at our Fernvale booth but overall was won by the Liberal candidate on preferences. This was a sure sign for both of us that we had to participate in changing the political culture and hateful attitudes of our new home.

Ipswich May Day at Ipswich 2008 - Wivenhoe branch members support Unionism.
(Tried my hand at primary school level needlework but most of banner hung together with pins!)

In the recent 2012 State election Virginia Clarke was ALP candidate in the safe conservative seat of Nanango, again enabling Labor voters the opportunity to make their mark against the LNP combined forces, and the homophobic Katter's Australia Party.

2012 ALP Candidate for Nanango, Virginia Clarke launches campaign at ESK
with Wivenhoe current Secretary Janet Butler.

OBJECT of  BRANCHES 

ALP rules (1)

 The object of a Branch shall be to endeavour, by

unity of purpose and action, to secure the Party’s

objectives by assisting in the return, to Federal and

State Parliaments and Local Government, of

candidates pledged to the platform and policies

adopted from time to time by the duly constituted

National and State Conferences of the 

Australian Labor Party.

Kim Travers, ex Wivenhoe Secretary and President before transferring
to Melbourne.

BRANCHING OUT AND ABOUT 

with John Kelly former President of Gatton
branch in Lockyer Valley celebrating
when Wayne Goss became Premier

Members meeting at my home in Fernvale.

Palani Thevar
informed us about the re-settlement of Tamil refugees in  Brisbane.

David Forde presented talk on the two-state solution
 re Palestine/Israel at Glamorgan Vale meeting.

Refugee rights advocate, Frederica Steen.

                     

Branch Meeting: MP for Blair,  Shayne Neumann and State
M.P.Ipswich West Wayne Neumann 2011 with President
Peter Arndt(centre).

WIVENHOE MEETS 4TH SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 2PM - info:julie.mcneill1@bigpond.com

FAIR GO...
WE DISCUSS issues important to you. 

 Labor voters in the Brisbane Valley (Somerset region) are always welcome to join our branch to  engage in political conversations, policy debates and contribute to the wider Labor movement - in what is seen as a traditionally Conservative electorate.

"At the 1988 federal election, Pauline Hanson left the seat of Oxley to contest neighbouring Blair, west of Brisbane. Blair is the demographic opposite of the federal and state seats of Melbourne - whiter and less educated than the national average. But the result was the same. Hanson came first on the primary vote with 36 per cent, just 0.5 per cent less than Cathy Oke, the Greens candidate in Melbourne achieved last Saturday. But Labor and Liberal swapped preferences and the oligopoly was restored: the One Nation leader did not make it back to the lower house." George Megalogenis http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/meganomics/

In our electorate it is not the Greens who challenge our primary votes, but Katters mad Hatter Party! A member posed the question of how we could appeal to the Tradies?

The weekly Sunday markets at Fernvale are a great way to listen to what people find important. For years, the upgrade of the Blacksoil intersection of the Warrego Hwy has been the most popular request of government, after the Ipswich Motorway.

Before the last election I learned a lot about talking about roads and  fly-overs with our local MP who said most of his work was dealing with issues around ROADS!

Announcing Federal and State funding for Blacksoil pre-election. The LNP government are still holding on to the money earned from the Commonwealth by Shayne Neumann which would provide work for local tradesmen and labourers.

The Wivenhoe branch has always managed to support our local members at market stalls, agricultural shows and special events, and a penchant for writing a letter to the local paper which are always well read.

Like in life, boundaries change with population increases, and I have found this branch is always open to individual members experiences and interests. Most members have been part of Labor's progressive wing over many years, and in different States, belonged to other branches.

Importantly no subject is censored!

The Wivenhoe branch suits me because it is small enough to have meetings in member's homes and there is a comraderie over refreshments, as we go through the 'motions'. It's definitly not boring, and we all seem to appreciate a good laugh and recognise the value of a good and relevant story.

There are those privileged moments too; the recent meeting and Bbq we had in Nanango(which falls in our Federal seat of Blair). Two senior members discovered they had both met former P.M. Bob Hawke in his trade union days in Melbourne(but that will need recounting another blog!).

Fernvale Markets with Janet Butler from
Wivenhoe Branch and Shayne Neumann MP Blair

My husband and branch member doing a bit of Laboring.

Meeting with like-minded 'folk' with a focus on meaningful issues of local, national and global events is a feature of our branch. Here we are at local wine-maker, Craig Hooper's estate with neighbours Bill and Dallas Hayden dropping by.(Former Member for Oxley, Leader of the ALP and Governor-General).

Comrade Walkers - not related.

As we are a small branch on the outskirts of Ipswich we don't raise big money but we aim to maintain a Labor presence and occasionally drive down the Ipswich Highway  to attend State office functions.
We were not immune to the loss of a couple of members due to the asset sales of the Bligh Government.
Nobody could ever be totally in agreement with all the policies enacted by the Government.
The frustration and pain I feel in contradiction with the Parliamentary party and the platform is testy!

Examples: removing abortion from archaic criminal code in Queensland/mandatory detention of refugees.

                     Wivenhoe branch member never foresaw 55 years ago 

this event at QLD Labor Conference 2011

 would take place:  EQUAL RIGHTS CHANGE

Stan delighted with being presented Life Membership of the ALP by
Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change Information at Fernvale Futures presented by
Al Gore rep. Dr. Carey Harrison, Sen.Claire Moore. Wayne Wendt MP

Sometimes I forget I'm not in inner-city Melbourne or Brisbane and fuse 

POETRY AND POLITICS, and I don't get the audience I hoped! Lesson learned.
My migration move from Melbourne to Queensland poem:
THE STATE WE ARE IN

WIVENHOE BRANCH 2012 AGM Cormorant Bay

Newest branch member, Somerset Councillor Jim Madden with Ipswich  comrade, Wayne Wendt
 routed from Ipswich West,reflecting on the March State election.

The Poet and the Politician; myself with our current and hopefully continuing
Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann.

Cormorant Bay, Wivenhoe Dam before the floods of 2010


and the callous self-righteous bastards disturbing the peace