TV low or just reality?

Is it just me or does everyone wonder where we’re going with television?

We’ve talked this week about the images of Princess Diana, in the throes of death, being treated by paramedics, being broadcast to a British audience.

There’s a girl on our own tv screens at the moment – her father is dead – the whole of Australia knows it, and she remains oblivious. It’s excrutiating.

Or what about the images of a 17 year old girl in Iraq last week being stoned to death – it was on the internet – how many tv producers tossed around the idea of running it?

And then there’s dutch television..this Friday night - - three dying contestants will compete for a donated kidney.

A terminally ill cancer patient wants to give away a kidney while she is still alive – it’s actually her idea this show – present three people who need a kidney – let the public decide who deserves it most.

It sounds horrific. One winner – two losers. Viewers will watch video clips depicting the three "contestants" chatting about their lives and then will vote via text message to literally save one.

The network claims the program is not a desperate ratings grab, but an attempt to highlight the problem of long waiting lists for donor organs.

And you’ve got to admit, there have probably been hundreds of serious documentaries about the organ donor register and people on the waiting list for kidneys – none of which would have drawn a crowd.

Turn it into a game show and suddenly you have an audience. Suddenly the world is
talking about the long waiting lists for organ donation.

Would I watch it? Probably not. Would I vote? Definitely not. But then again – I’m not convinced it’s a tv low either.

Is Tinky Winky a bit nance?

Is it just me or does everyone think the campaign against the teletubbies would be funny if it wasn’t so sad?

Tinky Winky, La La, Dipsy and Po are the creation of the BBC. They can’t talk, they’re very cute, very happy and according to some US tv evangelist, they’re gay.

This debate first raised it’s very ugly head in 1999 and it’s still raging. The Polish government yesterday announced a full enquiry into whether the teletubbies are gay and should be banned from children’s television.

Not ALL the teletubbies are gay by the way. Apparently, just Tinky Winky. He’s the purple one, who carries a red hand bag and allegedly has the manliest voice.

It's true that purple is the colour of gay pride, and Tinky Winky even has a triangle on his head, which is the symbol of gay pride.

You know what? Quite possibly, the teletubby creator IS a raving nancy mincing around the BBC very proud of his little gay gag, but WHO CARES????

Personally, I think the teletubbies are excrutiatingly boring – so Tinky Winky can’t possibly make me turn, because I refuse to watch him. My daughter Jemima, who’s big now, absolutely loved the teletubbies when she was little and I don’t think it ever occurred to her that Tinky Winky might be batting for the other team. So even if he is a raving homo - who is he hurting???

And while we're at it, what about that Bob the Builder? Did you know he and Wendy aren't even married????

And I always wondered what Postman Pat and that cat got up to on long days out on the road....

Indigenous Tourism

Is it just me or does everyone think it’s really important to say you’re sorry?

It’s National Reconciliation Week.

On Saturday I went along to a function at Caloundra Courthouse to celebrate the 10th anniversary of National Sorry Day, I wish that the whole of the Sunshine Coast was there.

It was a really positive event. I think a lot of non indigenous Australians are nervous about National Sorry Day, nervous that aborigines blame every white man and woman for sins of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth. Speaker after speaker stood up and said the opposite.

National Sorry Day is not about making anyone feel guilty, it’s about acknowledging the past – admitting that mistakes were made and everyone moving on together.

I honestly can’t imagine why John Howard refuses to say sorry, but then again, it’s gone on so long now, any apology would be meaningless.

Saturday was a truly beautiful day…

After the event I was talking to Darren Manns from Walpara (an Aboriginal youth organisation based at Caloundra) – he talked about something I’d love to see.

According to Darren there are around two and a half thousand young aboriginals on the Sunshine Coast and employment is a problem…

At the same time, almost one hundred percent of visitors to Australia say their number one priority coming to this country is to enjoy and indigenous experience…and we’ve got nothing to offer them.

Wouldn’t it be great if our big resorts got together – maybe with tourism Sunshine Coast - and spent some money on a heritage centre or some sort of Indigenous tourism facility?

There Goes The Neighbourhood

Is it just me or does everyone think Pauline Hanson needs a leisurely stroll around a refugee camp?

I’ve actually met Pauline Hanson and she seemed like quite a nice lady but yesterday she threw her hat in the ring for the next federal election.

She said she wants to be in parliament asking questions on behalf of Queenslanders – we live in a democracy, so ultimately it’s up to the people, but make no mistake, Pauline Hanson will never speak for me.

Earlier yesterday, a decade after warning Australia was being swamped by Asians (one of many one nation assertions that have proved to be baseless), Ms Hanson went on a rant about Muslims and said ‘diseased Africans’ should be barred from the Australia.

In a recent interview Pauline said, "Why do we have to bring people in who are of no benefit to this country whatsoever?

I’ll tell you why Pauline, because we’re humans. No matter where you were born or what medical services you’ve been denied all your life, at some point in time, you deserve a break.

If you were born in Australia, it was just dumb luck…a happy accident. You did nothing to earn or deserve this rich and comfortable life, in the same way that a ‘diseased African’ did nothing to deserve their circumstances either.

I suspect Pauline Hanson and her supporters are the same people who lament the demise of the old fashioned values, the good neighbourhood, where people took care of each other and community prospered.

Well to my mind, it’s the same principal. If the neighbourhood is dead it’s because of mean spiritedness – because we don’t look for the best in our neighbour – and we don’t lift him up when he needs a hand.

It’s a global village and Pauline, if people like you teach a new generation to be and insular…to not see all people as brothers and to not say ‘what can we do to help?

Then ultimately we’re all in trouble.

Oh Brother!

Is it just me or does everyone think the producers of Big Brother are in danger of making a grave error.

The father of Emma, one of the housemates has passed away in Adelaide, but apparently his dying wish was that Emma not be told until after she has left the house.

Raymond Cornell died of cancer in an Adelaide hospice last Wednesday, aged just 53, Emma knew he had been diagnosed with cancer when she went into the house, but had no idea his death was imminent.

There is a twist in the tale, apparently Emma and her father have been estranged for six years – they haven’t spoken since she left home at 19, however, they recently began communicating by text message.

Emma’s boyfriend has told a Sydney newspaper he respected the families decision not to tell Emma her dad has died. I think they are wrong and the emotional fall out should not be underestimated.

I don’t care that Emma and her father haven’t spoken for six years – it’s a very special club, the dead fathers club – and I think Emma will thank no one for keeping such a terrible secret.

Over the years, I’ve known these situations, where children have been overseas or away from home and significant people have died, and everyone has decided, in their wisdom, to keep a secret…I think it shows a lack of respect.

People deserve to have all the facts…Emma should be told the truth, if she chooses to remain in the house because that’s what her dad wanted, then so be it. But she’s an adult, and we’re talking about the death of a parent, and in this matter, no body, not even her dying father, has the right to decide what’s best for her.

Vale The Von

Is it just me or does everyone wonder how scarred their children will be by their childhood?

Golf legend Norman Von Nida died at the weekend, sparking an outpouring of generous tributes to his talent and generosity.

Yesterday, his estranged son Dennis went on the Alan Jones radio show to launch a stinging attack, claiming his father drove his first wife to death. He says his father lived a lavish lifestyle, yet allowed Dennis, his mother and sister to languish in a Brisbane boarding house.

Family and friends of Von Nida have now intervened, saying the golf maestro was a kind man who loved his family.

Who knows what the truth is, probably somewhere in the middle.

I am constantly amazed at how siblings who grew up in the same house can have totally different recollections of childhood.

I guess though, no matter how bad your childhood was, it’s over and you might as well move on.

Yesterday, I heard a story about a friend of mine, a gorgeous, generous, beautiful, in her forties, with extraordinarily loving parents, flew to Perth last week to confront them about her childhood.

Apparently she was forced to stand in front of the class aged nine – and she failed some horrible spelling test, for which she was smacked. Whatever!

And no matter how angry you might be with your parents, one day they’ll be dead and I’m pretty sure you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

One Chance At Childhood

Is it just me or does everyone think that every single child deserves a fair crack at life?

There is a new report out today claiming that 14 000 children in Australia regularly witness their parents using drugs in the home.

It comes with a Queensland state government announcement yesterday, “One chance at childhood.”

The Beattie government has committed 12 million dollars to assist parents with children in the child protection system to get back on their feet.

The flip side of the announcement though – is the promise that the government is getting tougher. If biological parents don’t get their act together – they will lose their kids.

And that leads me to a little story. As you probably know (because I bang on about it all the time), I am patron of IFYS a Sunshine Coast Foster Care Organisation.

A really good friend of mine, one of the most inspiring women I have ever met – who I can’t name for obviously reasons - is a foster carer.

She recently began caring for three new babies, a three year old, a two year old and a tiny baby – about five or six months old.

The kids were brought to my friend by the police, in the middle of the night.

The baby, who is absolutely gorgeous, has a slightly mis-shapen head, it is completely flat at the back. When this little boy was dropped off to my friend he had an umbilical hernia about the size of an apple.

The reason for his flattened skull and painful hernia? He lay screaming in his cot from the day he got home from hospital until the day he was taken into protective care. No body ever picked him up.

The parents of these children are apparently speed addicts.

Their three year old daughter, when she arrived at my friend’s house, acted like an adult. She considered herself responsible for both her siblings. My friend says for the first couple of weeks in foster care, this gorgeous three year old girl sat quietly beside her brother all day, never allowing anyone to feed him a bottle unless she checked it first, insisting she be the one to change his nappy. If anyone spoke to her two year old sister, this little mother would move quietly in front of her sibling, a silent but determined body guard.

My friend says the kids are getting better, starting to play and have fun. The baby’s hernia is almost gone, in fact my friend proudly claims he has quite a cute little ‘outie’ belly button.

Will the government ever return these damaged little babies to their parents? Probably.

But that’s another story, and hopefully Premier Beattie’s ‘One Chance at Childhood’ initiative will do what it promises.

In the mean time, if you want to find out more about Foster Care on the Sunshine Coast, phone IFYS 5438 8000. www.ifys.com.au

A quick quiz...

is it just me or does everyone sometimes need to take the time to put their acheivements into perspective?

I was sent a great quiz - you don't need a pen or paper to take part - just do the answers in your head.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Brownlow medallists.

3. Name the last five winners of Miss World.

4. Name the last ten people who have won the Nobel or Booker Prize?


How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are not second rate acheivers, they're the best in their field, but the applause dies.

Here's another quiz. See how you do in this one.

1. List your favourite teachers when you were a kid.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name someone who has taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated.

5. Think of five people who you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

The lesson? The people who make a difference in your life aren't the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They're the ones who care.

Black Bogie...

Is it just me or does everyone think there should be a whole night of black bogies?

For the unititiated...that means a whole night of anti-television awards!

There’s actually a couple of websites dedicated to bogies (in Australia, our highest tv honour is the Logie) and they are very funny...

So (with apologies for plagiarising the categories) here goes…

Most embarrassing tv show of the past year? I think I’ll have to give it to Today Tonight and ACA in a tie – only because I think the people who work there should know better.

Most Overhyped show of the year? Ugly Betty. I watched a few episodes – I just can’t work out what the hype is about! I read this week it isn't really rating and I have to admit I was relieved, for a second there I thought there might be something wrong with me!

Under-rated? Definitely Boston Legal! Even I want to have sex with William Shatner!

Most messed around by the networks? Sopranos….Scrubs…remember Arrested Development – what is wrong with these networks? What a waste!

Most unneccessary person on television? This is a big category. How about any celebrity who does a really 'sincere endorsement'. Think, Andrew Daddo spruiking panadol - Georgie Parker flogging icy poles - Monica Trappaga selling the health benefits of Cocoa Pops (for God's sake)

Also, I think Brigitte Duclos on the Con Test deserves a mention for being brought out of the attic for that dog. In fact, I reckon if Channel Ten burns to the ground, the cops should go easy on Bridge - I'd want to erase that evidence too...

And an honourable mention to Mel from Sunrise....

Best Botox? This award goes to every female and half the males on TV over the age of 35, with an extra special mention to Mel from Sunrise - mainly because I read in the Courier Mail that she's NEVER touch Botox!!! C'mon Mel - give us a frown...oh? Not possible? Hmmm....