More multiculturalism!

Is it just me or does everyone think that Australia would be well served by
more diverse religion being taught in schools?

I don’t think it’s any secret that a lot of Australians are nervous about Islam….including Lars below, and I understand why. I mean you don't exactly hear a lot of good news stories on the subject of Islam.

I’ve always respected Muslims. Equally, I’ve had my doubts about what sort of messages might be hidden in the Quoran.

So this week, in light of what Lars wrote to me (and maybe because I was getting excited by Harmony Day) I learned something new. Did you know 'Allah' is the Aramaic word Jesus used when praying to God?

In hebrew the word is 'Eloh', meaning the same thing, God.

All three religions worship the exact same God.

One Islamic website I went to claimed the prophet Moses revealed the Torah, The prophet Jesus revealed the gospel and the prophet Muhummed revealed the Quoran…

All messages from the very same God…

Even the scarves worn by Muslim women are worn in respect of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Now I’m not saying I agree with all that…it just explains why so much of our religion seems similar. Above all else, and regardless of horrors perpetrated by their followers, all three faiths preach peace.

Muslim extremists are completely out of step with the Quoran, in the same way IRA bombers were out of step with Catholicism and the Oklahoma bombers were out of step with Pentecostal churches.

Obviously, I know the issue is a lot deeper than this and I’m frightened about the future too, but at the end of the day I believe if we look closely, what unites us, is a lot more significant than what divides us, and I just want to celebrate that.

Multiculturalism!

Just thought I'd share this one with you....Lars brings up some interesting stuff...

Basically, on the air, I mentioned the muslim girls in Brisbane who had made head dress out of Australian flags for Harmony Day.

I thought it was great! Still do. But I thought Lars was interesting...here's what he had to say!

Dear Caroline,

As I treasure peace and harmony, it is nice to see the Muslim girls wrapped in our flag.

However; I cannot see how the Muslim values can be consistent with what we have grown to accept as Australian values. I am big on social justice issues, but I have some big problems with what I understand as fundamental Islamic doctrines and practices; namely:

1. I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. As people who are not interested in the Muslim doctrines are infidels: most of us are obviously their enemies.

2. The fact that there are countries in the world today that is ruled by a Islamic "Shariah" law where women severely discriminated against, and are not even permitted to vote. This doesn’t seem to bother our Australian Imams, unless I have missed something. And I don’t hear any other Muslims condemning this either. “Shariah” seems to be in accordance of how a devoted Muslim must live, according to their holy Koran, as I understand it.

3. The fact that there is and has been, so little outcry of the atrocities that their Muslim brethren are committing around the world. I would be so embarrassed that I would never stop expressing my disgust, if the government or the population of the country that I originate from,, where behaving like that. In fact there where many reliable reports of cheers and outburst of jubilation by the Muslims in the Sydney Markets, when the news of the London subway bombings broke.I don’t think that religious beliefs should be exempt from our discrimination laws. There are examples in the Christian Bible that are also discriminatory against females, and I believe that the Christian churches should be challenged about this. The Mohammedans however; stand out as the most blatant and cruellest discriminators of all the religious followers.The girls pictured in The Courier Mail are to be commended for their courage, but it should be pointed out that their faith, is unfortunately not compatible with any kind of social justice.

Kindest regards,

Lars Karlsson

Explaining Rhonda Radford...

Hi everybody...

I have been told off by my little brother (who lives in Bendigo). He claims I haven't explained Rhonda Radoford enough to anyone outside the Sunshine Coast (bloody family)...so here it is.

I didn't know Rhonda. Not long after she died, her friend Barbara rang the radio station to tell us about Mark and the children.

We were trying to think of how we could help (could we afford to pay for a nanny? What was their greatest need...right now?) when Kevin Briggs from Maroochydore State School rang to plead for help too..and the rest is history!

We did an appeal on the radio and the Sunshine Coast responded like they always do...with incredible vigor!!!

Today (Saturday) we are having a front yard blitz at Markand Rhonda's house. About fifty trades people, gardeners, workmen and babysitters are turning up (I have promised to cook the barbie, but am secretly hoping to hold a baby instead...)

There is so much stuff happening for the family...

300 CASH from Staff Member @ La Balsa News
$50 Gift Card from BiLo (they have also set up a trolley for customers to donate goods)
$50 CASH from Let's Talk Water
$200 Gift Voucher from Terry White Chemist (along with a bag full of bubble baths, aftershave, toiletry bag and pack of Nappies)
1 x box of 144 nappies
1 x box of 144 nappies and box full of children's clothing from Big W
Children's backpack, books, colour-in supplies, pencil kits and toys from Australia Post
$250 Gift Voucher from Best & Less (along with some children's clothing)
$50 Gift Voucher from Mathers
$500 worth of Kawana Shoppingworld Gift Vouchers (able to be spent in all shops except BiLo)
4 Hairdressing vouchers from Legends
$100 Colesmyer Gift Card from the Telstra Shop
Free Haircuts for a YEAR from Stefan along with 6 packs of shampoo and conditioner
Richardson's Jewellers supplied:
2 packets of 48 Nappies
1 pair of pj's for the 3 older kids
3 pairs of jumpsuit pj's for the baby
1 packet of Nappy sacks
2 x Johnsons Baby Bath
1 x Johnsons Shampoo & Conditioner
1 x Johnsons Baby Powder
1 x Curash nappy rash cream
1 x Napisan Baby Care
1 x box of Huggies Nappy wipes
$20 Gift Voucher from The Coffee Club
$40 worth of Gift Vouchers for Darrell Lea from staff member at Angus & Robertson (intended for the kids for Easter)
An offer of babysitting from Karen Sutton -

Buddina Creasebusters (Ironing service) have donated two baskets of ironing 1300 369958

Jacque from ABC Dentistry in Buderim…$1000.00 in Dental care 5476 5400

Diane White from The Dome House Bed and Breakfast (donated a bit of time out for Mark) 0402244554

Lyn Spicer – has two large vans to transport goods if needed –

Trish and Ross from Coast and Country Mowing – six months of lawns…0416 017 687

Cathy from Forest Glen Organic Meats - $50.00 of meat/week for six months


Pete from Optimum Cleaning – a weekly clean for a month 0411 031 637

Anne from optimum Clean – (as above) – 0421 111 416

Frances from Minc Services Cleaning – 5477 6291 - 2 months of cleaning

Marie from Sunshine Squeaky Clean – six months cleaning 0415 187 288

Geoff Jensen – Nambour Toyworld – wants to donate something for the kids (swing set or something…just give him a call) 5446 7023

Nicole (and her daughter India from Peregian Beach Pharmacy) want to donate nappies and medicine for Winter

Troy and Steve from Beerwah Meats… Six months of meat 5494 6310

Mary from Ultra Tune Maroochydore 5452 6565 – Six Months of car servicing

Elisha – Courier Service if needed – 5453 4001

There's even more...it's amazing...is that ok Harry??? Have I given you enough of an update??? Will try for some photos after today...and apparently it's going to be on Today Tonight as well... I hope Rhonda is looking down from somewhere, watching the Sunshine Coast loving her little babies.

Caroline Hutchinson

Remembering Rhonda Radford

Is it just me or does everyone hoping we can do some good today…

I met part of Rhonda Radford’s family yesterday.

That’s not a situation she ever would have wanted.

Six weeks ago, at the age of 42, Rhonda gave birth to a healthy baby boy. He is her fourth child in five years.

After the birth, she struggled to recover, but everyone put it down to general fatigue. Who wouldn’t feel tired and a little run down with that sort of workload?

But then, when that tiny little boy was just two weeks old, when he needed his Mum the most, Rhonda’s husband Mark awoke to a noise in the night. He turned on the light in their bedroom and found his wife slumped on the floor. Apparently it was a blood clot…

20 hours later, a decision was made to turn off life support, and let Rhonda slip away.

This tiny little dynamo has left a massive hole behind.

I spoke yesterday to a series of Rhonda’s friends. Everyone wanted to tell me about how much she did.

She ran a series of craft groups, play group and was fixated on war.

Her friend Gweneth recently went overseas, and Rhonda couldn’t believe she didn’t visit any war graves. She said, “That’s all I’d do if I got the chance, I’d just go to visit all our soldiers.”

There’s no doubt Rhonda was an amazing mother. For a long time, when they were first married, Mark and Rhonda thought they couldn’t have children, then at the age of 37…they started coming…and coming.

Frazer is 5, Travis is 4, Ffiona is 2 and tiny little Aaron, the gorgeous helpless little thing, who will never get to know his Mum, is just six weeks old.

I know that sounds like a lot of kids, but Rhonda always said…she’d waited so long for the babies, she wasn’t going to say no when they came…
And now those babies need our help…when we spoke to their Dad Mark yesterday….we asked him what he needed…through his tears he said…I don’t know.

The answer is obvious I guess…he needs his girl back…the kids need their Mum back.

We can’t do that…but I know we can help.

I know we can honour this woman and show these kids that no matter how ripped off they are, how cruel life can be, their Mum was important, and the Sunshine coast is not going to let them fall through the cracks….

The love of the Irish!

Is it just me or does everyone absolutely love Irish people?

I don’t know if it’s because we love the underdog, but most Australians feel the same. Irish people are gentle, funny, caring people…and we love drinking with them too.

Anyway, in preparation for celebrations around Australia today…I thought I’d send you an Irish Blessing…

May you live as long as you want,And never want as long as you live.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse
Than the happiest day of your past.

May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

May your neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

Love Caroline

Kids are so cute!!!

Is it just me or does everyone worry that they forget too much of the cute stuff
Their kids say…

I got sent this great email this morning…from a woman named Tess…

Hi Caroline,
I have a little story I think you may like!

You have an ad running on Mix FM at the moment for a certain "men's problem" (and I'm not talking scaffolding!).

In the ad, a man says..SO you want to stay up longer?? And recommends a nasal spray to alleviate the problem (Believe me, if you have ever listened to Mix FM you would KNOW the ads we are talking about xxCaroline)

Anyway, Tess writes

My 10 yr old son asked me if he could stay up a bit longer to watch the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. I was just about to reply when my 8yr old said in a very grown up voice…

YES…yes boys can stay up longer now…I heard it on the radio, you just have to stick something up your nose!!...

I am still laughing about it and wondering when i have to take them to the doctors to have Lego or whatever removed.

Regards

Tess

Greatest sporting moment?

Is it just me or did everyone get a shiver last night when Ron Clarke handed the Queens baton to John Landy for the final leg of the games relay?

Regardless of what you thought of the entire ceremony, those two men were part of one of Australia’s greatest ever sporting moments.

Now for the kiddies…and those who just want to hear the story again…this is what happened…

It was the 1956 National Mile Championships in Melbourne.

22,000 were crowded into the stadium… Everyone knew that if John Landy got a fast start - he would set a new world record.
At the first turn….each young man was running well, there was a buzz in the crowd….

By the start of the third lap Ron Clarke and John Landy had made their move. The world record was on!

It was at that moment, something terrible happened.

Ron Clarke was moving to the lead as they came into the corner. John Landy was on his shoulder. All of a sudden, Alec Henderson tried to squeeze between the two runners…he got too close and Ron Clarke clipped him with his heel.

Clarke sprawled forward and Henderson was knocked onto the inside arena. John Landy had no choice but to leap over the falling body of Clarke…his sharp spikes tore into the flesh of Clarke's shoulder. The whole field either jumped over Clarke or ran round him. The crowd which had been chanting "Landy, Landy" with every stride suddenly responded with an enormous gasp. Landy then did the most incredibly stupid, beautiful, foolish, gentlemanly act the sports world has ever seen. He stopped, ran back to the young Ron Clarke and helped him up to his feet, brushed cinders from knees and checking his bloodied shoulder said "Sorry". Clarke was all right. He said to Landy "Keep going, I'm all right. Run! Run!".

And he did….John Landy was about sixty yards behind the other runners when he set off…the crowd was shouting as with every stride as Landy hauled in the front runners….eventually managing to win the Australian Championship in four minutes, four seconds.

His sportsmanship probably cost him at ten or fifteen seconds…and no doubt the world record…but won him a place in our hearts forever.

What would happen today? Would we appreciate the same act of kindness in modern day sport?

Can you cure a cold???

I have been sick. I'm OK...it's just a cold...but lots of people have been trying to help me out with
whacky cold remedies...

Rum and sugar....refrain from all sugar for the duration of the cold...boil shallots ginger and coca cola and drink it...take 1000ml of vitamin c the second you feel a cold coming on. And who could go past the perennial favourite...drink your own wee (that'll be curing cancer soon!)

Of course, there is the school of thought that a cold is a virus and therefore untreatable!!!

I'm nearly better, so it's too late for now, but tell me for next time, what is the whackiest flu remedy you've ever heard of?

No more winners!

Is it just me or does everyone think sometimes it’s better for kids if life is just a little bit tough?

There is a new push in New South Wales to do away with honour certificates and academic awards to spare the feelings of kids who don’t regularly feature on speech night.

I think it’s crazy…I don’t think it would come as any surprise to hear that I never won an academic award…of any sort…but I was good at other things (I had a lovely smile mark,…) and I was always proud of the kids who were smart…I was happy for them…and usually they got their rewards because they worked hard for them…

The whole debate has reminded me of the list of 11 rules supposedly written by Bill Gates…they’re a good reminder of real life…(even if Bill denies writing them).

1. Life is not fair – get used to it.

2. The world doesn’t care about your self esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

3. You will not make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won’t make Vice President with a car and phone until you earn both.

4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you meet your boss. He doesn’t have tenure.

5. If you mess up, it’s not your parents fault. So don’t whine about about your mistakes, learn from them.

6. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping – they called it opportunity.

7. Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rainforests from the parasites of your parents generation, clean your room.

8. Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life
has not. In some school they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many times as you want to get the answer right. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

9. Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that in your own time.


10. Television is not real life. In real life you actually have to leave the coffee shop and get a job.

11. Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

Love it. Love it. Love it! Any other advice for teenagers?

Amazing photo!

I got sent this photo on the internet...with no details of where it was taken or who by whom.

I thought it was worth sharing!

Have a great day,

Be good,

Love Caroline Hutchinson

Is the weekend over already?

Hi everybody... thanks for coming!

I'm just going to share a couple of weekend events in the hope that you'll write to me and share yours!!

First of all - Friday afternoon I went to my nephew Bill's two year old birthday party (at the pub...which is the only appropriate place for such affairs...in case you're wondering...)

Anyway, one of the elderly aunts at the party came up to me and said "That is the second time I've seen you in an inappropriately short skirt."

The sledge didn't stop there, continued along the lines of 'you are too big to wear that' and finished with 'Well, you might not want to listen to me, but what does your mother think?'

Anyway....eventually I had to kill her....well not really...but I felt like it!!!
Amused my friends for hours!

Then on Saturday night, I went to see Michael Crawford in the pouring rain at the Hyatt Coolum.

It was great, the staff at the Hyatt were amazing, I was very impressed. Michael Crawford was great too, in a show tunes meet Frank Spencer kind of way!!!


On Sunday I watched movies in the rain - one with my husband, and one with my kids.

John and I watched 'Prime' yesterday....starring Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep. I liked it, not the best movie you're ever ever ever going to see...but a great way to kill a couple of hours...possibly because I like looking at Uma Thurman (in a completely non sexual - normal appreciation of her look kind of way!!!!)

I just think she's beautiful, and fun to watch....

The girls and I watched something called 'Just like Heaven' starring Reece Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. The girls loved it (they're 11 and 9) and it won't kill you to watch it. That's all I'm saying.

Hope you had a great weekend...tell me who sledged you, what you watched, who you like to watch, and what I definitely shouldn't watch!

Be good,
Love Caroline Hutchinson

Movie Day!

Hi - how are you going?

It's very wet on the Sunshine Coast today...which is good, we need the rain. But...well... wet.

Therefore, I know this hurts people in 9 to 5 jobs, and I'm sorry for that...but I'm going to console myself by going to see a movie this afternoon.

A small part of me wants to give Woody Allen one more chance and go to see 'Match Point'...but I'll probably regret it. The reviews say it is the best Woody Allen film yet, but for me...in fact for anyone who sat through Melinda and Melinda...that's not exactly a ringing endorsement.

'Rent' has just started - but for some reason I have to be dragged kicking and screaming into movie musicals...even though I usually love them...

Then there's 'Kinky Boots', the new pommy comedy starring Joel Edgerton.

I think we all know the problems with this one. It's an English film. Doubtless, all English films look enticing. Fond memories of 'Billy Elliot' and 'Love Actually' keep you going back for more...but every now and then you get sucked into a 'Millions' or 'Johnny English' and, well, that's exactly the problem with English films.

Australia is at least a little more consistent. We only make crap films. When you hand over $13.50 for an aussie flick you can be confident you are only there to do your bit for the film industry..not because you're expecting quality entertainment!

Sure, every now and then you stumble on a 'Somersault' or 'The Castle', but in truth, for every one of them, there 350 of 'You and your stupid mate'!

What about you? Want to defend and Australian film? There must be at least one good one out there??? Or maybe not!

Which one do you hate the most? I think mine might be something from Jimoein (Is that spelling correct?) just because I always expected better from him!

Be good,

Love Caroline

Freddy Flintoff's dodgy decision!

Is it just me or does everyone agree that the birth of a baby is something everyone should have the pleasure of witnessing?

There’s a lot of discussion in England this week, because CRICKETING hero Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff will miss the birth of his second child to play for England in India.

Freddie planned to fly home next month and be with wife Rachael and daughter Holly, but Michael Vaughan's knee injury means Freddie is now skipper.

It was a tough decision for the dad-to-be but Freddie has made up his mind. He’s playing cricket.

I would be devastated if John missed the birth of any of our babies.

It is a moment you can never get back, and that makes it more important than anything else.

On the other hand….my dad didn’t attend the births of any of his children…I remember the day my little brother was born… My dad was a truckie, and he had the rest of us in the truck with him…

Just on dusk we rumbled up to the Margaret River hospital….pulled to a stop and dad said wait here….he jumped down out of the truck…and I remember seeing him walk into the lights of the hospital…

Not long after, he climbed back into the truck, said “Mum had a boy” drove us home and grilled us some sausages.

That was 1973…so it was on the cusp of the new generation, when dad’s were suddenly an essential ingredient in the labour ward.

I once asked him if he regretted not seeing any of us born and I don’t know if it was bravado or a lifetime of conditioning, but he was adamant….there were no regrets, he had no desire to be that close to the action.

But Freddy Flintoff…what if something goes wrong at the birth? What if you wife really needs you?

What will your baby think when he finds out his daddy was there for his sister's birth but was too busy working to be there for his?

You can win for England again, but miss your baby's birth and it's gone for ever.