With a friend visiting from the UK, there was a wonderful opportunity for me to be both a “tourist guide”, as well as be a “tourist in my own town”.
We started the tour at Sydney’s new harbour reserve, Barangaroo. As it is still early days for the reserve, there’s a lot happening, including free tours. In a group of about eight people, we were guided by a young guy, Henry/Harry who talked about the history of the area prior to European settlement, as well as what’s happened since. We also tasted some bush tucker, and learned a little about the native fauna which was excellent. He was great.
From there we took the pedestrian walkway over the Sydney Harbour Bridge (great views without the expense of Bridge Climb), caught a ferry back to Circular Quay, visited Customs House (where you walk atop a glass panel and where below you there is a recreation of central Sydney), and finally had a late lunch at Sydney’s Paragon Hotel.
A wonderful afternoon, and terrific to be a “tourist in my own town”.
Tourist snaps on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House viewed from the walkway of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
While I maintained a composed exterior in public, today brought a few moments when I found myself unexpectedly overwhelmed by the emotions accompanying my return to work.
It’s been a span of over four months since I fell seriously ill, narrowly escaping death, enduring the amputation of my lower right leg, and being diagnosed with diabetes. Following several months spent in the hospital and rehabilitation, and more recently, recovering at home, I decided it was time to rejoin the workforce on a part-time basis, with the agreement of my doctors and colleagues.
Since my last stint at the office, a few changes have occurred. We are currently in the midst of a management restructuring process that will continue to influence my role into the next year. Additionally, my workplace has undergone some reconstruction, and I now occupy a completely new office space. Interestingly, this new office is located in a section of the building that I had contributed to rebuilding back in the mid-2000s, and it’s scheduled for refurbishment halfway through the coming year. It never ends :)
Amusingly, and perhaps co-incidentally, this photograph of my first day at school has turned up on my desk at home recently.
As I returned to the office today, I encountered a slew of unfamiliar faces. Some were individuals I had only previously met via computer screens, while others had taken on new roles. Of course, there were also those whom I had known for several years. There were warm embraces and heartfelt gratitude for the support they had offered me during the past few months, particularly the cards, messages, and visits.
Inevitably, there were also colleagues who had departed from the company, either voluntarily or due to the ongoing restructuring.
Despite the seemingly brief four-month hiatus, it felt like an eternity. I discussed the range of emotions I might experience with a colleague, who shared her own experiences of taking time off to have children. Fluctuations in one’s work life are a common occurrence, and various emotions are par for the course. However, my history with the ABC, having worked in different locations and positions since November 1989, has made it an integral part of my life. Returning today, after the tumultuous experiences and emotions of the past few months, was never going to be a straightforward endeavor.
As expected, I needed a couple of breaks today. I took five minutes to close my eyes and relax in my office in the morning, and another twenty minutes later in the afternoon. There were also a couple of occasions where I needed to take my prosthetic leg off, and at the after-work drinks I needed to sit down while my colleagues stood. Besides the physical toll that this year has taken on my body, I believe there were moments of emotional exhaustion as well.
When I arrived home, I found solace in a few hours of much-needed rest.
Group shot of friends and colleagues from ABC Pride
I’m slated to return to work again tomorrow, gradually easing back into a three-day working week until my body is prepared for full-time employment.
It’s not a very good photograph, is it? If you squint hard enough, though, you might be able to recognise the name “Kate Croll“. Along with myself, Kate’s name has been “up in lights” as part of a project that’s part of the Sydney Festival.
According to the associated festival blurb…
Iconic American conceptual artist John Baldessari is looking for people, who want their name in lights, but just for 15 glittering seconds. Your Name in Lights reflects the changing cult of celebrity in modern society and recalls Andy Warhol’s prediction that in the future everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame. Drawing on imagery from Broadway theatre displays and Hollywood films, this ambitious new work will involve more than 100,000 participants. Register your name and watch it appear in lights on the Australian Museum’s William Street façade.
Kate Croll in lights at Sydney Museum
Although I was awake at the time my name was up in lights, at about 5.40 this morning, I couldn’t be arsed getting out of bed as I’m not a “morning person”. I much preferred to be in the vicinity of Colleage Street at about 11.00 tonight, however to capture Kate’s name. Kate was able to watch online from Newcastle and seemed to capture the moment better from the web than I could with my camera phone from a few metres away. Ah well, never mind.
It was a fun, engaging project to see in real life, however as I watched the names scroll over. I even saw the name of another Kate – also from Wagga – which flashed briefly on the screen. As I watched the names flash by and attempted to get the perfect photograph lots of people stopped by to watch, ask if my name was going to be there soon, and would I like a photograph. So yeah, a fun project, with lots of engagement on many levels.
My own family is featured in four powerful photographs at the “Through The Heart” exhibition, which opened last night at the Lismore Regional Gallery.
These aren’t just “disaster snapshots” of inundated buildings and people seeking rescue; they’re profound survival photographs captured by the incredible Jacklyn Wagner in the immediate aftermath of the 2022 Lismore flood.
What makes them so impactful is how they portray people navigating the immense damage to their homes, not as victims, but as testaments to human spirit.
Jacklyn has done a phenomenal job, truly capturing the sheer spirit, warmth, and strength of the Lismore community, especially in the South and North.
The photos of Jack, Sam, Karran, Shyloh, Willow, Xavier, Ryan, and Tash are simply breathtaking, showcasing a resilience that words can barely convey.
JackJack and SamWillow, Shyloh and KarranTash, Ryand Xavier
While I’ve blogged about previous exhibitions of these works, including their display at the NSW Parliament, there truly hasn’t been a suitable space in Lismore until now. The Lismore Regional Gallery itself was badly damaged in the flood, making its recent re-opening and the hosting of this exhibition all the more significant. These photographs are finally home, right here in Lismore, where their impact can be fully felt.
You really can’t get the full impact from a picture of a picture at a busy opening, so I urge you: please go see these magnificent works in person. The exhibition, “Through the Heart … a flood of fears and tears,” is a powerful testament to our community’s journey.
The opening night speeches from Jacklyn Wagner and Vicki Youngberry were incredibly moving, and the turnout was a clear indicator of how much this exhibition means to so many.
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the strength and beauty of Lismore, as seen “Through The Heart.”
Sunday Post Script – Radio
On Sunday morning, Jacklyn and Vickie were on ABC Radio’s Australia All Over which was broadcasting from Lismore.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
I’m at ABC North Coast, we’re up the hill. It’s sort of stopped raining, I thought it was going to rain, but it’s overcast and a big fog this morning. I want to talk to this lady here. It’s Jocelyn.
Jacqueline. Jacqueline, how are you, Jacqueline? I’m well, how are you? Yeah, good. You’ve got an exhibition at the moment somewhere at the museum, is it? No, it’s at the Lismore Regional Gallery.
It’s a 100-image exhibition that I took of people post-flood between the 4th and the 16th week as they were reconnecting with their homes. Is that your deal? You’re a photographer? I am. Or is it your side hustle? No, no, no.
I’ve actually been a photographer here. I was with the newspaper for 20 years, and I love photojournalism. And it’s an important document.
I’ll say. And, yeah, don’t I love the old black and whites? We all love the old black and whites. The gallery got flooded, didn’t it? It did, it did.
This time or last time? 22. We’re talking about 22. It got trashed.
And it’s actually only come back to life in the last couple of months. So it’s a big thing for Lismore, yep. So how long is your exhibition on for? Okay, it’s there until the 10th of August.
And how many photos? 100 images. And are these all digital or do you get them? No, no, no. They’re beautifully mounted and framed.
And the exhibition has actually appeared twice at New South Wales Parliament House as well. So it’s had quite a journey. Yeah, I’ll say, I’ll say.
Is it going to travel or is it just here? Well, at the moment it’s, as Vicky said last night at the opening. This is Vicky. Hello, Vicky.
Sorry. How are you? I’m, yeah, considering. I’m okay, yeah.
Me too. Me too. I’m actually one of the subjects of the photos.
I’m hanging on the wall at the Lismore Gallery with my husband. It’s a nice place to be, yeah. Yeah.
Anyway, so the big thing now is that it’s actually home. It hasn’t been seen in Lismore because we had nowhere for it to be seen. And I’m in the process now with the help of Janelle Saffon, the Mayor, various other people are finding somewhere to store it so it can be historically shown in 20, 40, 50 years and those stories can be followed up.
It’s really beautiful. Even if I say so myself. No, no.
They are truly amazing. It’s amazing. It’s a moment in time.
It’s been captured perfectly by Jacqueline and we’re history and there’s nothing that we can’t change that. But these images are here for our generations to see. They’ll always be here.
When you travel, I’ve just been travelling up the coast through Taree and Kempsey and places like that and still there’s plenty of images around the place, isn’t there, to see and the stories you hear that people tell you about what’s going on and what’s been and the water. Jacqueline’s just showing me some of the photos. It’s a pity it’s radio.
But people can go and see this, can’t they, Jacqueline? Oh, absolutely, absolutely. And I went back yesterday and actually with the photographs there are quotes from the people which when I spoke to them and they’re the most moving, beautiful quotes. And some of them are funny.
Some of them are positive, the joy of things that they found, that they thought they’d lost. And there was so much engagement with people who were actually reading them all yesterday. And we’re having a morning tea this morning, actually.
I’ll be there. What time? After this cake. Have you got cake? We’ve got cake.
We’ve got cake. So between 10 and 12 at the Gallery. And it’s a really quiet morning tea where people can come.
And that would be wonderful. I’ll see how I go. Oh, that would be wonderful.
Jacqueline Wagner, nice to talk to you. It’s really lovely. And Vicki Youngbury.
Thank you. Thank you.
And because I was standing closeby, Macca walked up to me for a bit of a chat. I’ve known Ian since 1990, and we chat in the office fairly regularly, so it was a pleasure to appear briefly with some thoughts and an anecdote.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
Yeah, there’s James O’Brien from the ABC. What are you doing here, James? Just hold on. What are you doing here, James? Just home seeing the family.
Ah, right. You better tell us a Lismore story. What’s a good Lismore story? Oh, they’re all… I’m trying to think of a good one that’s not a disaster.
Oh, the biggest thing is In 1954 the Queen came to Lismore and she’s blamed for the 54 flood. Did you know that? No, I didn’t. Why? Because apparently it started raining when she arrived and there were thousands of people all over the place and now my friend Richard, his uncle and aunt owned a pub where she stayed and Richard has cushions, royal cushions left over from that day.
Oh, really? Still now, yeah. He’s going to give them to the museum or something like that but that’s a good Lismore story, isn’t it, I think? You’re a Lismore boy and you know the place pretty well. Recovery’s still ongoing, isn’t it? I mean, I know that that’s happening in Lismore and it’s taking a while and then I feel for Taree and Kempsey and Environs, you know, everything’s been smashed up this coast, hasn’t it? And they’ll take a while.
Yeah, look, it’s you know, I mean, when it happened, I was in Sydney and I was home two days after the flood and I was talking to my sister on the phone all that night and I thought, my God, this could be the last conversation we have because she’s very old and thank God it wasn’t. She was rescued along with her husband who’s about six years older and her grandson who was about 18 at the time and they, anyway, we had water up to the, almost to the roof of the two-story house. I arrived in Lismore, like, there was just junk everywhere.
It was unbelievable and look, if you look around, go for a drive around the block now, it’s pretty good compared to what it was, let me tell you, two years ago or even three years ago. Still some way to go but it’s good. There’s a new, the gallery has reopened, the library has reopened, you know, there’s signs of life which is great.
The human spirit is resolute, isn’t it? And it has to be. I mean, that’s what life’s about. We get knocked down and we get back up and start all over again.
And look, lots of great restaurants around town now, lots of new coffee shops have opened which has been good. The theatre scene is up and again, up and running again so, you know, there are signs of life which is awesome. Good to see you, James.
Thank you.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
I was afraid of making eye contact. This city can amplify loneliness. Character runs far deeper. A gaze that starts a conversation. I wanted to be a local.
I first blogged about the public artwork “Village Voices” in my nearby lane-way a few months ago. In the time since the words have been updated a couple of times, including today. And guess what? I know the woman responsible for the latest words. We met last year, introduced by a mutual friend over dinner. We’ve since caught up a couple of times.
Karina Kreminski. The text by Karina was generated in workshops held at Surry Hills Library in late 2016. Located in Crown Street, the library holds a significant collection of historic and contemporary books that inform our understanding of the past, present and likely future of this area. Karina, born in South America, of Slavic heritage has recently moved to Surry Hills.
Knowing her, certainly adds to the experience of walking through the lane-way and gazing upon the art, as I do most days.
This text from Village Voices, Surry Hills was a teastament to my caring family in Lismore.
And as a post-script from January 14, here’s Karina.
As it’s been a long time since I’ve attended a university lecture, tutorial or seminar, I guess I’d forgotten the importance in academic circles of reviewing literature and locating discussions within a theoretical framework, but today it all came flooding back.
At the end of a rather interesting day at work, I went to a seminar led by Dr Georgina Born from Cambridge University entitled, “Digitising Democracy: Digitisation, Pluralism, and Public Service Communications”.
Her paper canvassed a range of arguments about the degree to which cultural organisations such as the BBC (and implicitly the ABC) could or should also be agents of representative democracy. Her own personal view is that the independence of such organisations would be compromised if, by becoming agents of representative democracy, they would also become arms of government. “If you want an e-democracy, set up a new agency, don’t use the BBC”, was the essence of her argument.
Dr Born provided a reasonably brief, thumbnail sketch of the BBC’s forays into digital broadcasting, including new television, radio and online services and was largely enthusiastic about the capacity of new technologies to deliver a more representative view of the UK’s cultural diversity. I’d actually hoped she’d have spoken more about the practicalities, and I asked a question about the degree to which production models and standards had changed in the UK as a result of doing more with less, but I guess I soon realised that wasn’t really within the scope of today’s discussion.
The essence of her argument about cultural representation was that sometimes minorities speak to each other, sometimes to the broader community and sometimes to other minorities. Her argument was that the national broadcasters are charged by governments (and citizens) with national representation. She was largely optimistic that national broadcasters had the capacity at all levels, including geographically local levels, to better represent cultural diversity through the potential afforded by digitisation.
By and large, she was also positive about the Australian media landscape, though a little disappointed with – “fairly uninspiring” was how she described – the digital television services being offered by ABC and SBS.
As positive as she was, there was, however, an undercurrent of cultural cringe amongst some of those attending, leading one academic to comment that ABC “would never chase an audience of fifteen year of Muslim youth”. I assume the comment stemmed from a discussion about the BBC’s “Asian Network”. “And neither would the BBC”, she said, responding that the assumption underlying such a statement failed to understand the different experiences of immigration and multiculturalism in the UK and Australia. She observed that the often culturally conservative Asian community was a fairly natural constituency for the BBC.
Although someone did mount a spirited defence of Big Brother, there was a degree of sneering elitism amongst some of those attending. Goodness knows what some of those in the room made of my observations about the current phenomenon of late-night television game shows, though I suspect some of them had no idea such programs existed.
Another academic (who I really admire), a long term ABC and commercial television manager, and one of the founders of ABC Online, brought some sense to the room when he confessed that he couldn’t understand how his children, who were academically and politically aware young adults could spend all of their spare time playing games, watching Fox 8 and Big Brother.
And I guess it was then it became apparent there was no one in the room under 35.
