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February
  For previous months' Stop Press, go to Archives Directory   Go to A Separate Reality  
 
A year after Black Saturday

1) David and his son Chris with Bill at the book launch 2) Flowers on the stage at the Strathie cricket oval service

3) The Chocolate .Lilies choir with Bruce Rogers smokin' on didge 4) The kids' choir prepare for their song

5) Bill wishes Rosemary good luck before her reading
gig report
Bridges book launch 6.2.10
Strathewen memorial service 7.2.10
Strathewen fires remembered
8.2.10 -
This was a significant weekend for many Victorians, and Bill and his partner Rosemary were no exceptions. (Check last Feb's Stop Press for the story). I was honoured to be asked to accompany Bill on two events over the weekend - the first on Saturday at Bridges in Hurstbridge was a book launch for Footsteps In The Ash, the story of the fires as they affected the communities of Strathewen and St Andrews, and the second Strathewen Community Commemoration service early on Sunday morning at the Strathie cricket oval, just minutes from Rosewood.
The book launch was very well attended, and John Brumby and Julia Gillard both made fine speeches along with local CFA hero, Captain David McGay. Bill and I played some instrumentals before and after the speeches, which were well received and highlighted Bill's profile in the district.
Afterwards, we adjourned to the St Andrews pub where Bill and Rosemary shouted me tea (dinner) and Stan proudly introduced us to his grandson, Xavier, who was intgrigued to meet with Rose's beautiful grandaughter, Tilley.
Given the early start the next day, it was more practical for me to stay overnight at Rosewood and I slept pretty comfortably in the portable granny that also serves as Bill's new studio. Rosemary's daughter, Georgina, is on the Strathie renewal committee ('Renewin' Strathewen') and had already been down to the oval to supervise the erection of the stage and facilities by the time Bill made everybody porridge for breakfast.
Rosemary (pic 5) told me over breakfast that she was nervous, but I didn't really understand why - until she was called up onto the stage at the start of the proceedings to read her poem about the fires. (She did really well too). The Chocolate Lilies choir (pic 3) sang four songs with Bruce Rogers on didgeridoo (he made my didge), Cam Tapp sang his Lest We Forget song with the children's choir, (pic 4) and Bill and I played in the background as the people from the 1500 strong crowd signed dedications to the devastation wrought to the community on that fearful day.
I was invited to stay on for a BBQ, but I had arranged to meet up with Chris for a trip down to Choclatté and regretfully declined. Last night I watched the Black Saturday doco on the ABC and it reminded me of just how lucky I am to still have my mate Bill to play alongside, not to mention to be included so whole-heartedly by his extended family in the Valley of Ewen.
 
Chants R&B reunion at Al's Bar
3.2.10 -
Some of you - well, most of you - wouldn't be familiar with my first band, Chants R&B. We started playing a residency at a sweaty little cellar called The Stagedoor in Christchurch, my home town, back in 1964, which only ended when we left for Melbourne in 1966.
We had our first reunion in 2007 and played at Al's Bar in Christchurch and another gig at Auckland's Monte Christo club a couple of days later.
This time we're playing just the two nights at Al's Bar on Fri. 26th and Sat. 27th of this month, and this time we're joined by the legendary Tim Piper on guitar, which I'm really looking forward to. Check out Chants' flyer
 
SNIPPETS  
3.2.10 - Always good to start off with some good news. This advice comes from Jan & Mick Cox, stalwarts of the music industry, re' the rumours of Ray Arnott's demise: Hi Mike and Bill, It seems that all is well with Ray Arnott. I have been in touch with his ex wife Cina, and she tells me that Ray is just fine. I think he is up in Brisbane these days...
Maybe this the perfect time to pass on this cautionary tale I received courtesy of Peter McKechnie.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied, "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
'Triple filter?" asked the acquaintance.
"That's right," Socrates continued, "Before you talk to me about Diogenes let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "Actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates, "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about Diogenes something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something about Diogenes that may be bad, even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about Diogenes going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "If what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even useful, why tell it to me or anyone at all?"
The man was bewildered and ashamed. This is an example of why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
It also explains why Socrates never found out that Diogenes was having it off with his wife..
 
 
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