I stumbled on the following old email from my late Dad just before reading this ABC news report:
Parliament excises mainland from migration zone
My how things have changed from the days when refugees were welcomed and treated like human beings, and what a horrible, mean, stingy country we have become under a succession of short-sighted, we’re-tougher-than-you-can-ever-be governments.
Anyway, does that mean we’re back to terra nullius? With the entire mainland excised, the Tasmanians had better set up a penguin-watch committee.
The email …
…today, 60 years ago…
Soon after breakfast I phoned the Cowra Base Hospital Maternity Unit.
“…it happened in the early hours this morning…all went well….it is a boy…you can visit them…”
I hurried to the hospital.The Migrant Camp was 2 km from Cowra by road but only a little over 1 km in straight line across the fences and the large cow paddock.
But I had nothing to take with. I knew little about Cowra.On my way I noticed a nice rose garden at one of the houses. I went in and told the lady my story. She was very friendly and made me a nice bunch of roses to take with.She refused money for it.
Happy birthday to you, John.
Love Dad.
*Pic: My late father, Arnold Rozentals, arrived in Australia with his wife Irma as Latvian refugees in 1949, a few months before I was born in Cowra. He always spoke about how welcome they had been made to feel in their new home and what wonderful opportunities they were immediately given. He eventually rose to a senior management position with one of Australia’s largest white-goods manufacturers.
• Arnold’s War: A tale of survival from the backblocks of WWII
• Dr Frank Nicklason:
Dear (Mercury) Editor,
The Nation’s newspaper’s front pages (16/5) show a tearful Prime Minister Julia Gillard promoting National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
I have no doubt that the Prime Minister’s emotion was sincere and heartfelt.
Yesterday, by coincidence, I had a consultation with the wife and daughter of a Vietnam veteran. The suffering of the veteran, and, therefore, his family, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has spanned over 4 decades and is unrelenting. PTSD is a severe mental disabilty; it must be prevented.
I request that the process by which our Government commits the Nation to war be made an prominent election isssue. How young lives were committed to serve in the Iraq war is scandalous. There needs to be full accountabilty for those few involved in making such disastrous decisions. Those politicians responsible, John Howard in particular, must be brought to justice. We were lied to. There must also be legal changes to ensure that this type of tragedy can never happen again. Other countries have made the appropriate legislative changes.
Julia Gillard, you desparately need votes, a commitment to tackling this critical National issue would surely give you some. And you would be right to do it, just as you are right to promote the NDIS.
Dr Frank Nicklason
North Hobart
