A weighty tome and a great read - the book was launched by the Brisbane City Council on 26 August to celebrate the past 150 years of Brisbane.
The tales range from the Bengal Tiger running amuck in George Street, the 1919 Red Flag riots and that first magical Sheffield Shield win in the 1990's!
Occupying a special place in the Taylor family annals as Mum was one of the original authors.
Recommendation: For lovers of social history and those who grew up in BrisVegas!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/08/26/2667913.htm
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
With a little help from your friends
After dinner with the girls at Montrachet, I now have loads of practical suggestions for enhancing the blog! In particular, I love Lisa's suggestion of Books by the Bedside!
After the wonderful evening, the Masters beckons again and so I am back to struggling with Strategic Learning in a Knowledge Economy.
Mmm - the pile of books to be devoured over summer keeps growing! Just 14 weeks to go until the final presentation for the Masters in Wellington.
Stay tuned!
After the wonderful evening, the Masters beckons again and so I am back to struggling with Strategic Learning in a Knowledge Economy.
Mmm - the pile of books to be devoured over summer keeps growing! Just 14 weeks to go until the final presentation for the Masters in Wellington.
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Things can only get better
Like my pal Fergus, the inspiration for this blog came from wanting to post some of the extraordinary readings that I have been accessing during the course of my Masters. But as I approach the final two subjects and the reality of finishing in early December, thoughts turn to my first great love -books - and the extraordinary journey that they can take you on.
So the focus has changed and the purpose of the blog will be to chart my slightly eclectic choice of books over the course of 52 weeks.
Aside from wading my way through the set text for Public Leadership, I also had to choose one of 50 political biographies. As a Queenslander in this the year of the sesquicentenary, the choices came down to the Joh B-P biography or the extraordinary story of Andrew Fisher. Of course, the choice was easy given that JBP was really a Dane (not to be confused with Hamlet the existentialist) and a Tory!
David Day's 2008 biography tells the story of the first Qld'er to be PM (yes, Big Kev is in fact the 4th). A tad slow at first but the biography picked up pace as higher office beckoned! In summary, definitely worth a read if you are interested in the history of socialism and the Labor Party in Australia. On a personal note, family history has it that Fisher boarded with my great great grandmother in Gympie in the early 1890's.
Recommendation: For those who need reminding that reform can be achieved by political means rather than revolutionary means!
Finishing this biography sent me searching for more Labor stories and a wonderful Sunday afternoon reacquainting myself with the 1998 classic by John O'Farrell, Things can only get better : 18 miserable years in the Life of a Labour Supporter.
Was there a more extraordinary challenge than the Labour Party enduring 18 years in opposition under Maggie T? Perhaps only the Labor Party in Qld enduring more than 25 years in opposition prior to 1989.
The Blair victory of 1997 is the culmination of the book and left me with the memories of the extraordinary promise of New Labour. Alas, this promise is no more and left me wondering, what are the lessons for Qld Labor?
Recommendation: Funny and insightful Sunday afternoon read best accompanied by red wine and chocolate
Which has me thinking - must go to Folio, my fave book store in Brisbane and see if I can find some further gems!
So the focus has changed and the purpose of the blog will be to chart my slightly eclectic choice of books over the course of 52 weeks.
Aside from wading my way through the set text for Public Leadership, I also had to choose one of 50 political biographies. As a Queenslander in this the year of the sesquicentenary, the choices came down to the Joh B-P biography or the extraordinary story of Andrew Fisher. Of course, the choice was easy given that JBP was really a Dane (not to be confused with Hamlet the existentialist) and a Tory!
David Day's 2008 biography tells the story of the first Qld'er to be PM (yes, Big Kev is in fact the 4th). A tad slow at first but the biography picked up pace as higher office beckoned! In summary, definitely worth a read if you are interested in the history of socialism and the Labor Party in Australia. On a personal note, family history has it that Fisher boarded with my great great grandmother in Gympie in the early 1890's.
Recommendation: For those who need reminding that reform can be achieved by political means rather than revolutionary means!
Finishing this biography sent me searching for more Labor stories and a wonderful Sunday afternoon reacquainting myself with the 1998 classic by John O'Farrell, Things can only get better : 18 miserable years in the Life of a Labour Supporter.
Was there a more extraordinary challenge than the Labour Party enduring 18 years in opposition under Maggie T? Perhaps only the Labor Party in Qld enduring more than 25 years in opposition prior to 1989.
The Blair victory of 1997 is the culmination of the book and left me with the memories of the extraordinary promise of New Labour. Alas, this promise is no more and left me wondering, what are the lessons for Qld Labor?
Recommendation: Funny and insightful Sunday afternoon read best accompanied by red wine and chocolate
Which has me thinking - must go to Folio, my fave book store in Brisbane and see if I can find some further gems!
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