Another scintillating fragment for Frank? We, (the editors of pcbycp) think this has something to do with existentialism, comedy and theatre. Could it be about sport and the coronavirus? The two great moral issues of Australia in the twenty first century? Read on and be illuminated, and touched, but we assure you ; “not inappropriately’.
Tennis’s glory days. First ever Siamese quadruplets, ‘The Gibson girls’ win the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 1924. Disqualified soon after for un-lawfully operating a racquet.
Hola Amigos,
Several Dispatches ago I mentioned that diversion is one of the most powerful political weapons. Well, we have again been subjected to a prime example of this.
World’s No.1 tennis player Novax Djokovic was granted a visa to come to Australia, only to be placed in detention when Australian Border Force determined that he didn’t meet the requirements to have been granted the visa in the first place. We’re a tough nation. Novax’s request to have his own chef prepare his food has been denied. Pauvre petit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yotobgj2mc
In true Pontius Pilate style our very own Scomo declared he had nothing to do with this. “Rules are rules” and it was all Australian Border Force’s doing. The very same Australian Border Force who’d done a Pontius Pilate on the disembarking of the first wave of the Corona Virus in Australia. It was all NSW Health’s doing.
Australia’s first ever lady politician Dame Edith Lyons demonstrates her prowess on the floor of parliament.
Rules are rules indeed. If at the time I was born you’d been caught listening to Radio Oranje’s Dutch broadcast in Holland, you’d have broken the rules and you’d been liable to be taken to the Bloemendaal dunes and shot. I don’t think Novax is about to be shot, but I do wonder if the ADF are preparing for a Serbian military incursion.
As for tennis itself, I can recall the absolute joy of watching the TV with my father, when Nick Kyrgious first appeared on the scene. Every time Nick scored a point his obvious delight was infectious to watch.
It has all changed, as these truly amazing players work at getting their multimillion-dollar prize money, it is all very serious, and they never smile. The only emotion they show is when they aggressively make a fist every time they score a point against their opponent or are angry with themselves for blowing it.
I’ve watched several matches recently and caught only two smiles (French player Gael Monfils). I’m going to stop watching. Not enough smiling to my liking.
If I’d ever played anything near as good tennis as these dull professionals, I’d have been grinning from ear to ear, even more so if my opponent did.
Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. Smiling for the cameras and Dunlop who’s products never tyre.
With apologies to all those who have suffered the effects of the Pandemic for the last two years, from a Yuendumu perspective, the Genie is only now truly out of the bottle.
Three weeks ago, the NT Government who until then had withstood the “we have to learn to live with the virus and open our borders for the sake of the economy and the new normal” pressures, caved in and removed all entry restrictions. Yesterday we had a record 594 cases in the Northern Territory including three in Yuendumu. Western Australia is last man standing and yesterday reported one case.
Rather ironic, but I’m told that many of the businesses that were forced to shut down due to Covid-19, are now unable to reopen because they can’t get staff who either have caught the virus or are too scared of doing so. Betcha the “new normal” advocates didn’t think of that.
1959 Wimbledon champion, Sir Dudley Drinkwater, (OBE. MBE Kt. Cinq ports) demonsrates the competitive urge on the field
On the positive side in Yuendumu, at present there are (I’m told) a record 47 boys in the “business” being initiated into manhood. I can’t tell you much about this, nor would I if I could. It is none of my business. I’m glad all the same.
Fingers crossed and knock-on wood, or pray it isn’t a super-spreader event.
Hasta la proxima,
Frank
PS Only 40 copies of My Yuendumu Story left.
Now for some music-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XurOGy_s-sQ (watch the dude on the right of the singer)
Mexico’s “falsette” style-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-U55cSQOxw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWTnJNvGxIA
No humour, but a lot of passion. Was this the turning point?