From Melbourne
13.11.84
Dear Alan,
It was
a pleasant surprise to hear your voice on the phone a few weeks ago and we
would like that to happen more often. We wouldn’t mind if you reversed the
charges. A phone call does seem more intimate although we appreciate letters as
I am sure you do too.
We are
getting a constant stream of letters from Pamela (no phone calls) telling us in
great detail of life in Tonga. The letter-writing may be a way of relieving
boredom as I’m sure nothing very exciting happens there.
Tonga
hardly ever appears in the news in the Australian media which is not the case
with South Africa. There has been a deal of attention lately with particular
emphasis on the disturbances (or riots) in the black townships. From here the
situation does not look good but we could hardly say it was altogether
unexpected.
I
formed the impression from our brief visit, plus the reading I have managed
about South Africa, that some violence was inevitable and likely to continue
for some time. However wholesale
revolution is perhaps another mater and hopefully the Govt will act sensible
before that happens. We (your mother and I) attended a very interesting lecture
last week given by Allen Boesak the colored SA clergyman who paid a visit to
Australia in which he addressed 45 meetings in 13 days. He is a dynamic speaker,
rational and articulate, and certainly not a communist. His main attack was on
the spurious theological basis for apartheid and he did a first-class
demolition job on the subject of non-violent opposition he pointed out that he
was in a dilemma as a Christian and a man who had been greatly influenced by
Gandhi and Martin Luther King he felt impelled towards non-violence but
asserted that non-violent opposition had always been countered with violence by
the Government.
Boesak
alleged that the ANC had been non-violent for the first 50 years of its
existence but had been forced to take up violence by the Govt’s attitude. Your
thoughts on that would be interesting.
The
other big news we’ve been getting from Africa is the drought, particularly the
situation in Ethiopia. I have a strong feeling that no matter what aid is sent
we will be seeing similar scenes on TV screens for the next ten years. The
situation in so many countries is so complex – mismanagement of issues,
bureaucracy gone mad, internal facilities etc, that a few shipments of wheat
isn’t really going to make much difference is it?
The
political scene in Australia is very different. At the moment we are in the
middle of an unnecessary election campaign and it has become a monumental bore.
The campaign is too long (about the longest in Australian history) and as the
result is almost a fore-gone conclusion nobody is very interested. The main
debating points are superannuation, capitol gains tax, wealth tax, assets tests
on pensioners indirect taxes; hardly life and death issues, more the
self-indulgence of an affluent society. And yet unemployment is 8.5% and
2,000,000 Australians are supposed to be below the poverty line. Even if all
Australians are not well off I think it can be said most live in “the lucky
country” at least for the time being.
Perhaps
it is better to concentrate on serious subjects like sport. We have now started
the cricket season, after a very interesting football season, but judging by
the first test against the West Indies which finished yesterday it looks like
being an unmitigated disaster. The Aussies were beaten by an innings in 3 ½
days and were pathetic. Although to be fair it was more a case of brilliant play
by the West Indies. They are so good it makes you wonder why the blacks aren’t
encouraged to play cricket more in South Africa. Apparently they are not so
interested but perhaps they were discouraged in the past.
If the
Australians aren’t too demoralized in the next few tests we’ll probably have a
look at them when the test is played in Melbourne at Christmas.
One
thing we have seen recently is the new State Theatre in the Victorian Arts
Centre in St Kilda Road. This complex of theaters next to the art gallery is
really something and most experts consider it world standard. Not exactly the
Sydney Opera house from the outside but beats Sydney on the inside. Who said there was no culture in Australia?
We have seen one opera there and are booked to see another in a few weeks’
time.
However
most of our spare time at present is being spent trying to keep the grass down
at Trentham. Excellent spring rains have meant a prolific growth and we want to
be on top of the situation before the bush-fire season. We went for a tour of the Wombat Forest last
Saturday with experts from the Native Plants Preservation Society and it was an
eye-opener.
In
places it was like a garden and we logged 58 different species inn two hours.
Partly the result of the bushfires; partly knowing where to look.
On the home-front we are gearing up for a busy
pre-Christmas period. Beverley finished exams last week and is doing some
part-time work while awaiting results. She edited a magazine for Uni College
and it was distributed last week. Quite a good effort.
Received
the photos from Lorna, much appreciated.
Kindest
regards Dad
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