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

ANTHONY'S ANGELS

There is no rational explanation how people pick a person to lead them. It's like picking a horse for some. As the recent Federal election showed by picking arch-Conservative, with a muscular soldier Jesuit's discipline...Anthony(Tony) Abbott is now Australian Prime Minister with a Senate of even far-right, far-out members to decide our destiny.

The Gospel according to most LNP's is proving to be anti-woman, anti-science, anti-christian. There is Hope in our Under18's though as this article reports: A HARD-RIGHT LESSON FOR JESUIT STUDENTS OF SYDNEY

Thankfully the ALP has provided the best therapy to it's members to restore hope and integrity to it's mission of a 'Fair Go' by letting them select their preferred Challenger and one day Champion for the good old cause.

We have two quality candidates in Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten. Surprisingly they were ready to spring into a fresh campaign with their comrades.

I'm not in a Faction like I'm not in a Religion. However I am more like-minded with the Left of progressive politics, so when I received my favourite female M.P.s letter in my e-mail in-box to support Anthony Albanese I was pulled up smart to take my ballot paper and put him first (but I didn't have the postal vote yet).

Then something else happened in the annals of my Her Story - being a Faction - Free Spirit, I took a Flight of Fancy and decided to put my number 1 next to BILL SHORTEN. This Sabbath I share with you the Mystery of the prime example of being touched(in the many meanings of the word):

Is Divine Providence at work giving the Papist's a fair go in the big house on the hill in Canberra?

Press to my personally spiritual preaching at  - http://www.spiritedsheela.blogspot.com.au

Sharng the good news to my ancestors: women have the vote and are vicars!
St.Giles Anglican Parish Church Bredon, Worcestershire 2009.

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN BEING POWERFUL

DESPITE some MISGIVINGS  I RENEWED MY QUEENSLAND ALP MEMBERSHIP MONDAY MORNING -  I WANT A SAY, A VOTE, KEEP COMPANY WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE AND STIMULATE MY BRAIN CELLS IN A POSITIVE WAY - CREATE A LIFE WHICH HAS MEANING.

'I WANT YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD'

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Communities Jenny Maklin
Announcing details of Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse.

It is all in the numbers and the gender what becomes of us and our society. State and Church feared women being empowered. Nuns were afraid to speak up, being abusive to children themselves. If they suspected sexual abuse, or a child being pregnant they could blame a delivery man instead of their Father. Everything could be hushed up, swept under the carpet. The stains of shame on the victim(till thy kingdom come).

I do  have to retreat to guard my mental health sometimes, turn the radio off as the Hypocracy  of political power-plays upsets my equilibrium.
I respond to the best in us. I read Martin Luther King's speech at Primary School: I have a DREAM.

Thanks to Feminism's waves of perseverance, civil disobedience, and sometimes violence against property and themselves, women have increasingly led an autonomous life. 

MY LOCAL BRANCH IN THE BRISBANE VALLEY IS SMALL BUT COMMITTED TO THE GOOD OLD CAUSE of a Fair Go for ALL - WE ARE READY do our bit with renewed ALP tickets.

Opportunity: semi-rural retreat in the Brisbane Valley,
 far from a Brummy birth.

It's not perfect but we KNOW you make a difference by the numbers in the ballot box. 
WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO MAKE A  nourishing foundation for our children and their children?
The Conservative Liberal and National Parties in Australia, especially in Queensland have shallow regard and little imagination for what I have realised as the life-giving principles in life, for the many, not just their kind.

For example, the woman who is now the LNP State Government Minister for the Arts and Science. It's embarassing and bloody sad after the catch-up of neglect from the Bjelke Peterson years. As noted Brisbane singer-song writer said after the Premier talked through her performance: Philistines!

All the infrastructure and artistic and scientific developments promoted by the Labor Premiers of Goss, Beattie and Bligh is struggling to attract the interest of Ministers.
 Many projects like a multi-faceted Arts projectin Ipswich arising with momentum from all members, out of the suffering and recovery of major floods waits to be resurrected.


Like in a Marriage where your partner and you disagree, some policies  the ALP minority Federal Government has moved in fill me with despair and despondency. The treatment of asylum seekers is the major one. My Labor government has become hardened in it's cruelty to asylum seekers and refugees, including children.

It seems the ALP members who seek an end to mandatory detention and more humane treatment are voices in the wilderness, but there are many involved in groups like LABOR FOR REFUGEES, including in Queensland who have friends in Parliament like former human rights lawyer, Melissa Parkes MP Freemantle and worker's and humanist champion, Senator Doug Cameron NSW. who are beacons of hope with their clarity.

Even though I can't fathom how a Labor Government can cut single parents(mainly women) income first, then assist them to get a job second - and if you can't get a job, you've still been deprived of the most basics, I still know the ALP is the best we've got.

Turning 50 is good for argument when you have a HERstory to relate regarding the policies of the present and their effects.
I've been on the long-term dole with young children. 
I've been in a position where I've had to beg for a Medicare funded abortion in a public hospital because of a Catholic board direction.
I know what it is like to be demeaned by hateful people calling you lazy, no-gooders because you are not employed.
My insight into the stressful consequences of living by your wits due to policies driven by old prejudices of Church and State are a constant reason for my compassion. Is somebody keeping a tally on rate of evictions and homelessness since the start of this new regime of New Start for single parents?

 I have never felt like celebrating a National day on the 26th January. Not only does it exclude the indigenous people, most of their kids are locked up or disabled by substance abuse. 
The recent twitter by the twit opposition MP Andrew Lamming inflaming tensions about youth violence in Logan City, Brisbane reinforces the calibre of red-necks still running around our Parliaments. 

For my sanity sake, the big picture has to be preferenced as we change gears in a Federal election year. I'm a woman with an anglo-celtic, working-class pedigree, so the roots and branches of the Labor movement speak to me Past -Present & Future. Why can't everybody think like me?

When I arrived in Queensland and signed up to the ALP I was glad to find an active Queensland Labor Womens Conference and Policy Committee. Every woman in the ALP is automatically a member of the National Women's Labor Network.

I found there are plenty of people within Queensland Labor and beyond who share my perceptions and ideological positions. So yes, I've paid my affordable dues in triple!

 Every woman may find a place to contribute to the policies and organisation. http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/03/09/feminists-the-faceless-women-of-the-alp/?wpmp_switcher=mobile

We know, and evidence supports the fact men in influential positions don't take our lives seriously  - HIStory is not wholistic in it's outreach and redistribution of wealth in the Commonwealth.

Let's buoy the Australian people - No mucking around - Learn from our Mistakes and move forward based on secular, evidence based work and experience.

CRITICAL MASS has arrived in that all those babies taken off their stigmatised unwed mothers because they had no sufficient economic rights have grown up in an era of civil and human rights.Since Feminism, since women studied further and deeper, and spread throughout the institutions, Paedophile activity is now being taken seriously.

The Critical Mass of church instilled stigma and state miserliness for 'women's issues' is being replaced, slowly but surely.

"Social factors influencing critical mass may involve the size, interrelatedness and level of communication in a society or one of its subcultures. Another is social stigma, or the possibility of public advocacy due to such a factor. Critical mass may be closer to majority consensus in political circles, where the most effective position is more often that held by the majority of people in society. In this sense, small changes in public consensus can bring about swift changes in political consensus, due to the majority-dependent effectiveness of certain ideas as tools of political debate." Wikepedia(social dynamics)

It took Leonie Sheed, of the Care Leavers Network 9 years

to campaign for a Senate Inquiry and apology from the Australian Parliament for the

 Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants, and now she is pleased to see the Royal Commission into

 Child Sexual Abuse(though her organisation would like to see it extended to other types).

My own mother said she always got another girl to go with her, when taking the Priest his dinner on a tray at the orphanage.
Now I wonder how many of the girls didn't...
Mother of Mine in the 'Lucky Country'
                                       

Lucky women bloggers had Christmas drinks with the PM.
pic: http://womensagenda.com.au

The Personal is very Political: 


REMEMBER TONY ABBOTT WHEN HE WAS HEALTH MINISTER FOR JOHN HOWARD'S GOVERNMENT? HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PREVENT FEMALES OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ACCESS TO THE BEST CHOICES IN CONTRACEPTION.
DON'T LET HIM FOOL YOU INTO FORGETTING.He is the one who really can't be trusted on a grand scale.

JANUARY - THE MONTH OF JANUS - LOOKING BACK - LOOK FORWARD - AND ALWAYS THE POETRY.

As it was in the beginning, so it is today:

BLOOD & DANGER and MORE REFUGEES
PRIMITIVE PATRIARCHS
FUELED WITH TESTESTERONE AND 
DIVINE PROVIDENCE 
DON THE UNIFORM OF SUITS TO NEUTRALISE,
APPEAR CIVILISED, EMPLOY DELAYING
TACTICS  AS  CIVILIANS FLEE OVER BORDERS AND
THE DEAD BODIES OF KITH & KIN SEEKING REFUGE.

CLIMATE IS CHILL FACTOR OR HEAT DISASTER,
THOUGH ALWAYS ANOTHER GREAT LEAP IN WAR 
TECHNOLOGY, MORE EFFICIENT KILLING 
SCRAMBLED CONCRETE MESS OF HOMES,
BROKEN BONES AND MINDS,
THIS YEAR AND THE LAST.

DIPLOMATS AVOID/PREVENT/CIRCUMVENT ALL MANNER
OF TANTRUMS PROCLAIMING SOVEREIGNTY, WAR CRIMES
IMPUNITY, WHILST POLICIES OF EXECUTION  AGAINST PLEBIAN
POPULATIONS REPEAT THEMSELVES EACH CHRISTMAS
ON OUR T.V. SCREENS, LAST YEAR IN PALESTINE, THIS 
YEAR IN SYRIA, WHERE THE ONCE LUSH EUPHRATES,
CRADLE OF HUMAN CIVILISATION HAS NEARLY VANISHED.

                                

(c)copyright Julie McNeill2013
all rights reserved.