It wouldn't be the 25th of May without acknowledging the biggest birthday of the year. Long running New Zealand television show turns 25 today. Can you actually believe it? The show is turning 25. TWENTY FIVE.
That's more than most television shows survive. If you recall, Friends and How I Met Your Mother only had ten and nine respectively. Outrageous Fortune had six, and Sex and the City had the same, followed by two movies as well.
25 years is longer than some friendships and it's longer than the average person spends in the education system. Some people don't even live in the same city for 25 years, so the fact that a television show, such as Shortland Street has survived for so long is a major achievement that the writers and cast should be extremely proud of.
When Shortland Street first started on May 25th 1992 the expectations were low. As the only original cast member, Michael Galvin (who plays Dr Chris Warner) has said, nobody knew what to expect, and nothing of its type had been done in New Zealand before.
Four years after Shortland Street first aired, a new drama, City Life was created. City Life centred around the lives of a group of 20 somethings living in Auckland. The program did not survive and it was swiftly axed. Most people wouldn't even remember the program, but at the time it was dubbed New Zealand's answer to Melrose Place.
Over the last 25 years there have been hundreds, if not thousands of characters that have come and gone. The lives of the residents of Ferndale have been turned upside down with earthquakes, explosions, bombs, murders, plane crashes, stabbings, and untimely deaths.
Popular nurse, Carmen Roberts died way too soon after a truck crashed into the clinic, icy cold Li Mie Chen who died at the hands of Stryker Virus just a few months after her boyfriend, Norman Hanson died from a car crash caused by the return of his brain tumour; and bar manager Jay Copeland was taken way too soon after being the third victim of the Ferndale Stranger, also known as "Joseph James Henderson, gone but never forgotten". Others to die before their time include Rangi Heremaia, Dr Craig Valentine and who could forget the original joker, Steve Mills who tragically died in a car crash in 1994, along with TP, who had earlier married ambulance officer, Sam Aleni.
Others to depart too soon include cafe owner, Lionel Skeggins whose body was never recovered; and his first wife, Kirsty Knight, one of the original receptionists left with Daryl Neilson's good twin brother, Damien. She was played by Angela Dotchin, who quit acting and now resides in Europe and works in the fashion industry; Nick and Waverley Harrison who both moved to Taranaki after a spate of burglaries left Nick paranoid, Stuart Neilson; and Luke and Bella Durville.
There have been a multitude of teens from Nick Harrison, who married wacky Waverley, Stuart Neilson, Minnie Crozier, James Thornton, Daniel Potts, Shannon and Tama Hudson; Sophie McKay and Rachel McKenna just to name a few.
Rachel went onto marry Dr Chris Warner and became CEO of Shortland Street Hospital before she once again succumbed to the booze last year after her old flame, Glen Rickman returned following an affair they had off screen in 2014. She departed the show soon after her breakdown, leaving Chris Warner alone.
As you'd expect though, with all his previous love affairs, Dr Chris Warner would not be alone for long. He still had his teenage son, Harry (mothered by the late Toni Warner) living with him and his other children would soon arrive.
2016 saw the arrival his first son, one of the triplets who he had with original Director of Nursing, Carrie Burton after anonymously donating his sperm. Finn Connelly arrived as a doctor at the hospital, and just like Chris, he specialises in plastics. Just a few months later, his daughter, Sass would arrive, followed by the third wayward triplet, Frank, who now manages the IV Bar, which is owned by long running couple Nicole and Vinnie Kruse-Miller.
He is the only remaining original cast member; and just like Home and Away's Alf Stewart, the show now centres around the Warner family. It always has to an extent, although in the early years, the McKennas and the Neilsons were also two of the major families. The Coopers, Hudsons, Heywoods, McKays and Valentines never really had the same impact that the Warners and the McKennas have had.
Although, if it wasn't for the McKays, then like so many who came before her, the career of Kimberley Crossman, who played Sophie, would not have taken off. Kim Crossman has since gone on to star in many movies and TV programs in the US joining the ranks of Karl Urban, Temuera Morrison, Martin Henderson and others.
Some actors who had their career launched on The Street have remained in NZ. Amongst that list are Robyn Malcolm (Outrageous Fortune), Claire Chitham (Outrageous Fortune and Australian show Neighbours), Shane Cortese (Outrageous Fortune and Dancing with the Stars) and many others, including Blair Strang who quit Law School to take his role on Shortland Street.
So what has made Shortland Street last so long? Some would say it's because it's a New Zealand show that New Zealanders can relate to. Since the show begun it has never been afraid ot tackling the tough issues.
The very first episode dealt with a teen pregnancy, and a week later nurse Jaki Manu accidentally pricked herself with a needle exposing her to HIV, which in 1992 was a big deal causing fear amongst the clinic staff, teachers at Ferndale High School were accused of being sexual molesters, teens such as Fergus Kearney and Lulu Chatfield ran away from home, Minnie Crozie lost her virginity as soon as she could, Lucas, one of Nick Harrison's friends committed suicide; and Blue, a current core cast member is the first transgender character to appear on the show in a major role (although, those who watched in 1995 will recall that Lionel briefly dated a transgender woman), and throughout its run it has dealt with mental illness, one notable storyline involved teenager Scarlett Valentine, who after being bullied at school tried to murder Hunter McKay. She was acquitted and moved to live with her mother Paula in Perth.
The show has also dealt with IVF and euthanasia, with Maia Jeffries getting pregnant through artificial insemination and Caroline Buxton helping her friend Annabel Lustwick kill herself after suffering from MS. The show has dealt with physical disabilities such as paraplegia (Tane Samuels after a car crash) and developmental issues (Amanda Warner); and blindness (Nick Harrison after a firework exploded) as well as Rangi Heremaia (trapped between a wall and a car that Rachel McKenna was driving while drunk). The program has also explored marriages of convenience (Nick and Rachel
in 1994, and Boyd and Brooke in 2012); less common "disabilities" such
as Tourettes Sydrome, with Angus Phelps appearing from 2007 - 2008; and
Gabrielle Jacobs, a doctor having Asperger's Syndrome.
It hasn't explicitly been said but it is possible that early cast member, Dr Emily Devine played by Michaela Rooney (now a storyliner) had Asperger's and that current cast member, Dr Eve Reston may have it as well.
Fans who have been watching a long time will also recall all the villians who have appeared on the show. The original villian was of course receptionist Marjorie Brasch's son, Daryl Neilson who would often torment his younger brother Stuart, and Kirsty before he plummeted to his watery death after falling off the Toroa following a fight with Kirsty. Other villians include Dominic Thompson, the deceptive brother of nurse, Toni Thompson who killed Geoff Greenlaw and Avril Lucich before torching himself in a barn (an incident that Chris Warner narrowly escaped), Mackenzie Choat who married Lionel a short time after killing fellow villian Oscar Henry who had raped Minnie Crozier; and her aunt Carla, who murdered her psycho husband Bernie before being admitted to a psych unit and trying to kill Ellen. There have been many others throughout the years, although these are the memorable ones.
The most memorable villian though has to be Joey Henderson who, in 2007, killed five characters - Claire Solomon, Meg Harris, Jay Copeland, Beth Wilson and nurse Brrenda Holloway who was close to revealing the identity of the killer. Joey tried to kill Tania Jeffries and Shanti Kumari before settling on his final victim Alice Piper. Luckily for Alice, Detective Lara Wade as well as Craig Valentine and Keiran Mitchell realised that he was the killer, and he was stopped. The difference with Joey was that even though he was a villian, he was very likeable unlike the others; and even though he killed himself when his identity was revealed, he has gone down in the soap's history as, "Joseph James Henderson, gone but never forgotten". The actor who played him, Johnny Barker since went onto achieve more acting roles in New Zealand, although now he focuses on his music.
The only character that gives him a run for his money as being the most "successful" villian is current cast member Mason Coutts (played by Colin Moy, who in 2004 played Craig Valentine's brother, Brett).
Mason is the mayor of Ferndale and he is incredibly dodgy. He is a serial killer, although he doesn't do the dirty work. He pays people to do it for him. That storyline is all going to go down in flames tonight when the 25th Anniversary episode airs.
So what can we expect from the next 25 years?
It's hard to say, but now that this storyline will come to a head tonight, and see the return of fan favourites, Nick and Waverley Harrison, Lionel Skeggins and Marjorie Brasch, the pipeline storylines revolve around Chris Warner's health and his relationship with nurse Kate Nathan, the return of Hawks (a former ED doctor, not currently working); and the fun relationship of Damo Johnson and Leanne Black (nee Miller), plus the complicated relationship between Drs Boyd Rolleston and Eve Reston, who is carrying his child.
Happy birthday Shortland Street! It's been a great first 25 years. Here's to another 25.
And in the words of Joey Henderson, characters may come and go on the program, but they are "gone but never forgotten".
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
What happens if you take the wrong job?
We're constantly bombarded with stories in the mainstream media about how few jobs there are and that we have high rates of under and unemployment. What happens if you get the elusive job offer but it's the wrong fit?
It's an incredible situation to be in. Despite all the odds you've secured multiple interviews and an offer comes through so you become excited that you're starting a new job. You decide that the search is over and that you've found The One so you cancel your upcoming interviews, but what happens if you start that new job but it doesn't work out?
You're back to the drawing board and the search recommences. You have two choices. You can go back to the start, or if the time lapse was short then you can contact the companies you were going to interview at and ask if they're still looking.
So how do you do this?
It's a tricky one.
Did you let your prospective employers know you were off the market?
When you had the interviews lined up, did you do a no show when you received your job offer or were you were professional? Did you send an email thanking them for their time and wishing them the best with their search?
If it's the latter then you're in the best position to contact them to ask if they're still hiring.
Send them an email asking if you could still interview with them. It's a ballsy move but you have nothing to lose by asking for an interview.
Most people are reasonable and at the very least they'll interview you.
How do you prepare for the interview?
Okay so you've passed the hard part. You've secured an interview. Now you need to get to the next stage. You need to be prepared for them to ask why the job lasted such a short time and why you're looking again.
There will be mixed opinions on this. Some people will say you should lie. I've spoken to a couple of friends who have said this.
I prefer the honesty policy however. At the very least it shows integrity and that you'll take responsibility when you make a judgement error. Everyone has chosen the wrong employer.
Own it. Be honest.
Ask questions about culture
So you've just been in the situation where you took the wrong job. You're probably feeling frustrated and maybe a little bit burned. When you get to the interview ask about culture and management styles. You may not have asked about these things in the past however now they're important so be transparent from the start.
Happy hunting everyone!
If you've been in this situation yourself feel free to share the outcome.
Is self employment right for you?
With the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reporting that unemployment for the March quarter is 5.9% you could be forgiven for losing faith in the job market and wondering if you should be self employed. Maybe you've had a few different jobs but they're never really the right fit and something is missing. You might not be able to pinpoint exactly what's missing.
It could be that you're actually supposed to be self employed. You wouldn't be alone if you chose to run your own business.
According to figures released by Civil Society statistics 2.4 million Australians are running their own businesses. Of the total population that is 10 percent.
The ABS says that 12 million Australians are in paid employment. That means 20 percent of the working public have chosen to create their own path and set up their own business.
That's a huge number. The Department of Employment says that no other industry has the same level of participation. The four biggest industries recorded the following numbers;
Based on these numbers, you might be wondering if you should go out on your own and start your own business. It certainly seems to be the most popular industry in Australia.
Here is a list of the top 5 reasons you should become self employed:
1 - You have a passion
So many people lack a passion and drive. They don't care about work. For them, work is just a means to an end, a way to make money. Others however have a vision and they want to realise that. They want to change the world and how things are done.
If this sounds like you and there is something you are passionate about, then that is a sure fire sign you should set up your own business.
No matter how much you like the security of being employed by someone else, when you are under someone's thumb, you're always going to be working for their vision and not your own.
2 - You're not worried about security
One of the biggest barriers to self employment according to Entrepreneur.com is the fear of being in poverty. People are worried that if they don't have the security of traditional employment they'll live in poverty.
In reality it's actually the opposite. When you're self employed nobody can ever fire you and you can choose what you earn. If you want to earn a million dollars then you can, just as you can earn only $100,000 if you'd prefer.
When you're self employed you're in control of your destiny, so if you would rather control what you earn then it looks like self employment is suitable for you.
3 - You prefer calling the shots
Everyone knew a kid in school who was defiant and always had to do things their way. It didn't matter what the teachers said. That kid had a better way of doing things. They thought outside the square (or is it an iceberg?) and decided to dance when everyone else was singing or playing in the band. That kid knew what they wanted. The chances are they went on to start their business.
If you're a bit of a control freak and you hate taking orders from other people then there's a strong possibility you would be suited to self employment.
4 - You hate the 9-5 workday
Country singer, Dolly Parton sung about it, "9-5, what a way to make a livin'!....It's all takin' and no giving, it's enough to drive you crazy if you let it...you want to get ahead but the boss won't seem to let me...."
I could go on with the Dolly Parton lyrics, but I think you get the gist. 9-5 can be soul destroying and you will often find yourself being held back and not reaching your full potential.
If you are the type of person who hates being held back and never gets any credit, then choose self employment, by choosing self employment you're choosing success. You can be as successful as you want to be, and you can do the job that you were born to do, without being told you're not good enough.
5 - Freedom is important to you
To carry on with the 9-5 theme, you value freedom. When you work 9-5 you need to sit at a desk at a certain time of day, and have your lunch break at a certain time. You have to dress a certain way, behave a certain way, and well basically, you can't be who you are. That means that if you're most productive in the middle of the night, you can't work then because you're not calling the shots and you need to conform to traditions.
If you value freedom and want to work when the inspiration strikes then self employment is definitely the right path for you and you'll find that you're more successful when you're not being monitored by a boss or told to do things a certain way.
The bottom line
Self employment isn't for everyone and it can be a scary path to choose. It's long hours, however, if you do it right you'll find that the clients flock to you because you have an aura of confidence and self belief. That confidence is essential to business success. Confidence can become drive, and when you're driven your performance will be better. Just take a look at the CEOs of the world's top businesses. The majority of them dropped out of University because they had another idea and saw a problem that needed solving. Their passion became their full time job and now they're rolling in the cash.
There are so many other reasons why self employment is right for you. We would be here all day if we were list them, so without taking more of your time, we'll let you go and think about the top 5 reasons.
It could be that you're actually supposed to be self employed. You wouldn't be alone if you chose to run your own business.
According to figures released by Civil Society statistics 2.4 million Australians are running their own businesses. Of the total population that is 10 percent.
The ABS says that 12 million Australians are in paid employment. That means 20 percent of the working public have chosen to create their own path and set up their own business.
That's a huge number. The Department of Employment says that no other industry has the same level of participation. The four biggest industries recorded the following numbers;
- Health Care and Social Assistance (1,523,000)
- Retail Trade (1,267,400)
- Construction (1,046,900)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (1,023,300).
Based on these numbers, you might be wondering if you should go out on your own and start your own business. It certainly seems to be the most popular industry in Australia.
Here is a list of the top 5 reasons you should become self employed:
1 - You have a passion
So many people lack a passion and drive. They don't care about work. For them, work is just a means to an end, a way to make money. Others however have a vision and they want to realise that. They want to change the world and how things are done.
If this sounds like you and there is something you are passionate about, then that is a sure fire sign you should set up your own business.
No matter how much you like the security of being employed by someone else, when you are under someone's thumb, you're always going to be working for their vision and not your own.
2 - You're not worried about security
One of the biggest barriers to self employment according to Entrepreneur.com is the fear of being in poverty. People are worried that if they don't have the security of traditional employment they'll live in poverty.
In reality it's actually the opposite. When you're self employed nobody can ever fire you and you can choose what you earn. If you want to earn a million dollars then you can, just as you can earn only $100,000 if you'd prefer.
When you're self employed you're in control of your destiny, so if you would rather control what you earn then it looks like self employment is suitable for you.
3 - You prefer calling the shots
Everyone knew a kid in school who was defiant and always had to do things their way. It didn't matter what the teachers said. That kid had a better way of doing things. They thought outside the square (or is it an iceberg?) and decided to dance when everyone else was singing or playing in the band. That kid knew what they wanted. The chances are they went on to start their business.
If you're a bit of a control freak and you hate taking orders from other people then there's a strong possibility you would be suited to self employment.
4 - You hate the 9-5 workday
Country singer, Dolly Parton sung about it, "9-5, what a way to make a livin'!....It's all takin' and no giving, it's enough to drive you crazy if you let it...you want to get ahead but the boss won't seem to let me...."
I could go on with the Dolly Parton lyrics, but I think you get the gist. 9-5 can be soul destroying and you will often find yourself being held back and not reaching your full potential.
If you are the type of person who hates being held back and never gets any credit, then choose self employment, by choosing self employment you're choosing success. You can be as successful as you want to be, and you can do the job that you were born to do, without being told you're not good enough.
5 - Freedom is important to you
To carry on with the 9-5 theme, you value freedom. When you work 9-5 you need to sit at a desk at a certain time of day, and have your lunch break at a certain time. You have to dress a certain way, behave a certain way, and well basically, you can't be who you are. That means that if you're most productive in the middle of the night, you can't work then because you're not calling the shots and you need to conform to traditions.
If you value freedom and want to work when the inspiration strikes then self employment is definitely the right path for you and you'll find that you're more successful when you're not being monitored by a boss or told to do things a certain way.
The bottom line
Self employment isn't for everyone and it can be a scary path to choose. It's long hours, however, if you do it right you'll find that the clients flock to you because you have an aura of confidence and self belief. That confidence is essential to business success. Confidence can become drive, and when you're driven your performance will be better. Just take a look at the CEOs of the world's top businesses. The majority of them dropped out of University because they had another idea and saw a problem that needed solving. Their passion became their full time job and now they're rolling in the cash.
There are so many other reasons why self employment is right for you. We would be here all day if we were list them, so without taking more of your time, we'll let you go and think about the top 5 reasons.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
What you should and shouldn't do when giving feedback
Everyone has heard a horror story about Human Resources and that their practices are somewhat shady and questionable. You are probably aware that employees respond to different styles of feedback, and that generally building up staff is a better way to get the results that you want. Tonight I'll be exploring what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to performance managing your staff.
Don't treat your staff like a naughty little child:
Do you remember when you were in school and there was a teacher who would always put you down? It didn't matter what you did or how you responded. They would always pick holes in whatever you were doing. If you stayed back after school to finish an assignment then they would critique what you were doing negatively. It was never good enough.
When you're adults and you enter the workforce, some managers tend to believe that putting their staff down is the way to encourage them to perform the way they want to. It actually has the opposite effect though. If you put someone down they are likely to shut down and immediately shut you out.
What you should do instead:
The best managers are those who can offer constructive feedback to their staff. Instead of saying what they're not doing and treating them like they're stupid, it's best to build them up. Lead the conversation with, "hi XXXXXXX, thanks for the work you did on XXXXX however it would be even better if you did XXXXX".
When you lead with positivity they'll respond better and you'll get what you want, plus the staff member will feel encouraged because you've told them what they're doing right and the areas where they could improve.
According to the Harvard Business Review, 57% of respondents surveyed would prefer constructive feedback that helps them improve their performance.
Forbes says that the delivery is extremely important when you're giving feedback to staff members. It's essential that you have a two way conversation with them and that you do not talk at them. You need to depersonalise the situation as much as possible and give them areas to work on.
Entrepreneur.com shares that sentiment saying that it's never okay to give feedback that attacks the person and diminishes their value or self esteem.
The key is to be positive and build skills. Empower the person that you are giving feedback to and give them information that they can work with.
What to do after you've given feedback:
Humans are impatient and attention spans are becoming shorter and shorter with the rise of technology. We now expect results immediately. The reality is, if you've given feedback then you need to give the team member time to work on the areas that you've said need improvement.
Just like the Pantene commercial says, "it won't happen overnight but it will happen".
You need to be aware that people work at different speeds and have different ways of responding to criticism.
In conclusion:
Staff expect feedback. It's part of every single job on earth, unless of course you're self employed, in which case you'll be the one giving feedback (and you should be reading this article).
Create an action plan and give staff the time to implement the changes you require. By doing so you'll create a happy, positive working environment where your staff can thrive.
You also need to put yourself in the staff member's shoes. How would you feel if you were in their position? What type of feedback would you want?
As QANDA Australia said last night, there's a fine line between free speech and hate speech. You need to know where to draw the line. That can be applied to employee feedback. You need to draw the line between insults and put downs; and constructive feedback that enables staff to make positive changes moving forward.
It's a fine line, one that is so frequently abused by employers.
Don't treat your staff like a naughty little child:
Do you remember when you were in school and there was a teacher who would always put you down? It didn't matter what you did or how you responded. They would always pick holes in whatever you were doing. If you stayed back after school to finish an assignment then they would critique what you were doing negatively. It was never good enough.
When you're adults and you enter the workforce, some managers tend to believe that putting their staff down is the way to encourage them to perform the way they want to. It actually has the opposite effect though. If you put someone down they are likely to shut down and immediately shut you out.
What you should do instead:
The best managers are those who can offer constructive feedback to their staff. Instead of saying what they're not doing and treating them like they're stupid, it's best to build them up. Lead the conversation with, "hi XXXXXXX, thanks for the work you did on XXXXX however it would be even better if you did XXXXX".
When you lead with positivity they'll respond better and you'll get what you want, plus the staff member will feel encouraged because you've told them what they're doing right and the areas where they could improve.
According to the Harvard Business Review, 57% of respondents surveyed would prefer constructive feedback that helps them improve their performance.
Forbes says that the delivery is extremely important when you're giving feedback to staff members. It's essential that you have a two way conversation with them and that you do not talk at them. You need to depersonalise the situation as much as possible and give them areas to work on.
Entrepreneur.com shares that sentiment saying that it's never okay to give feedback that attacks the person and diminishes their value or self esteem.
The key is to be positive and build skills. Empower the person that you are giving feedback to and give them information that they can work with.
What to do after you've given feedback:
Humans are impatient and attention spans are becoming shorter and shorter with the rise of technology. We now expect results immediately. The reality is, if you've given feedback then you need to give the team member time to work on the areas that you've said need improvement.
Just like the Pantene commercial says, "it won't happen overnight but it will happen".
You need to be aware that people work at different speeds and have different ways of responding to criticism.
In conclusion:
Staff expect feedback. It's part of every single job on earth, unless of course you're self employed, in which case you'll be the one giving feedback (and you should be reading this article).
Create an action plan and give staff the time to implement the changes you require. By doing so you'll create a happy, positive working environment where your staff can thrive.
You also need to put yourself in the staff member's shoes. How would you feel if you were in their position? What type of feedback would you want?
As QANDA Australia said last night, there's a fine line between free speech and hate speech. You need to know where to draw the line. That can be applied to employee feedback. You need to draw the line between insults and put downs; and constructive feedback that enables staff to make positive changes moving forward.
It's a fine line, one that is so frequently abused by employers.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Australia needs immigrants
By now you would have heard that the Australian government wants to limit immigration rates. Yesterday I wrote an article about why this policy is a bad idea but I would like to delve further into the issue.
As we all know, Australia is a nation founded by immigrants. It dates back to 1826 when the First Fleet arrived, however in recent years it has been the bone of contention for columnists, politicians, residents and citizens alike. Nobody can agree on the matter.
The anti immigration brigade waxes lyrical about how immigrants are "stealing jobs that locals can do".
This is simply not true. I'll cut straight to the chase. If locals could do these jobs then why aren't they being hired? I'll tell you why. It's because they simply don't have the skills as some claim.
Over the last year as a writer I've written for a range of clients from businesses to individuals. For the individuals I have been writing resumes, cover letters and selection criteria. I have come across resumes, hundreds of resumes where people do not have the skill set they claim to have. I've had clients who are not suitable for the jobs they're applying for. They have either been underqualified or uneducated.
That is why they aren't getting jobs and why immigrants are "stealing jobs".
That's an interesting concept in and of itself. It assumes that you have a right to a job and that it's yours. It is much like the argument that first home buyers use. They assume they have the right but they don't. You have to earn it.
The only way to earn a job is quite simply to get educated and gain experience. If the Australian government was truly serious about improving job prospects for those born here they would focus on the root of the issue - education.
In 2010, only 78% of Australians gained the HSC and only 25% of the total population gained a degree or higher qualification. Without these qualifications, Australians are hurting their employment prospects. Most jobs these days call for people with degrees.
Most newcomers to Australia know this and have higher qualifications. 39% of migrants have a Bachelor Degree or higher.
I'd be curious to know why these figures aren't mentioned by the federal government.
The reality is, immigrants know they have to work hard and they do. They're more willing to do the jobs that Australian born citizens won't do. If they don't then the likelihood of being able to stay here is drastically reduced.
The politicians such as Federal Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton and One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson ignore these figures.
They also ignore other statistics.
When you're out at night, who serves you your kebab? That's right, an immigrant.
Who serves you at a coffee shop? That's right, an immigrant.
Immigrants generally aren't coming here to sit on welfare. They're coming here and starting businesses. The impact of that is that they actually create jobs and other opportunities. Without migrants the economy would be stunted. 26.8% of the current population was born overseas.
Now imagine if all those people were gone.
The country would regress to a third world nation.
It's time that politicians, the public and interest groups banded together to keep this country great. After all, we've boundless plains to share.
On that note, the Australian government needs to know that we need immigration. You can sign a petition at https://www.change.org/p/malcolm-turnbull-help-nzers-get-aussie-citizenship?recruiter=76114783&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive
Although the petition is pitched specifically about NZ citizens, it is relevant to any immigrant wanting to contribute to Australia.
It may be the only voice you have so use it and ensure you have your say and make the Australian government listen. We need 50,000 signatures before we can present it parliament.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Australian and NZ governments are both racist
It seems that both the NZ and Australian Governments have been in racism classes the last few months.
They've both announced anti immigration policies that won't reach their objective. All they'll do is stop genuine migrants getting citizenship.
They ignore the facts that both nations were built by immigrants.
Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other policy makers have shown a total disregard for the plight of migrants and the Australian National Anthem.
"For those who've come across the seas we've boundless plains to share"
What utter rubbish. This honestly couldn't be further from the truth. If this was the case then why are the majority of immigrants being punished? It's a minority that commit crimes.
The sad fact is these visa and citizenship changes won't help Australian born citizens get jobs. All they'll do is deny the nation of skills that are badly needed because a: Australian citizens aren't qualified and b: they won't do these jobs.
Most migrants actually set up businesses and employ people. I know this because I set up a business last year, ironically as a direct result of immigration policy being relaxed for NZ citizens. Under the policy, NZ citizens needed to earn over $53,900 each year for five years before qualifying for permanent residency and then wait another year for citizenship. The latter is now four years. This applies to EVERYONE.
The citizenship test, if you could call it that, it's really just a multi choice test will be made tougher. It isn't a true indication of whether or not one is on Team Australia. It just indicates general knowledge. It doesn't show whether or not you'll uphold Australian values.
It's ANZAC Day next Tuesday, a day when Australian and NZers are supposed to come together to share brotherhood and get the Australian government has spat on the faces of NZ citizens.
The NZ government isn't any better shutting the doors on immigrants as well.
If governments and people are worried about people contributing or taking jobs then I have a novel idea:
Stay in school kids and get educated. As long as you do these things you'll easily get a job.
Both governments need to hang their heads in shame.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Delta Goodrem - Wings of the Wild review - October 2016 Qudos Arena Sydney
31 year Australian singer, Delta Goodrem has been around since 2002 when she played Nina Tucker in iconic Australian soap Neighbours. Following her departure she followed in Kylie Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia's footsteps and launched a music career. Her debut single was Born to Try, which was released in 2003 on her debut album Innocent Eyes.
Just like she sings about in the second single from her latest album, Wings of the Wild, she has been a total survivor in the music industry. In an industry where most singers only survive one or two albums if they're lucky, Delta has been extremely lucky to have a 15 year career, which basically makes her this generation's Kylie Minogue or the Australian version of Taylor Swift (yes, a very big compliment but Delta is incredibly under-rated - she's the forgotten singer who has amazing swathes of talent - which I'll get to later on in this review).
After her first album she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2004 which delayed her music career slightly, however she didn't let that discourage her. She went on to release a couple of albums, Mistaken Identity in 2004, which was heavily focused on her disease, and then Delta in 2007 before taken an extended break of four years and not releasing her next album, Child of the Universe until 2011. It wasn't until this year that she followed up with her latest album Wings of the Wild.
She has of course been mentoring the contestants on The Voice for the last few seasons and built up her profile doing so.
This year, for the first time since 2009, she has decided to headline a nationwide tour to promote her latest album. I was lucky enough to be at Sydney's show, which before I go into the details, I have to reiterate that Delta Goodrem is Australia's most talented female singer at the moment, and she really is the Southern Hemisphere's Taylor Swift. She has an undeniable talent that truly cannot be ignored and is under-rated.
So now let's get onto the show. Most shows have a supporting act. Not Delta though. She was enough and Sydney's Qudos Arena at Olympic Park was almost full on Friday night.
The crowd started getting excited before she came onto stage wearing a black sequin jumpsuit and opened the show with Feline, one of the tracks from her most recent album.
I would be here all day if I talked about each individual track that Delta sung during the show so I'm just going to pick out the highlights.
It was so refreshing to see a singer who is so genuinely at home on stage and having fun, and Delta exuded confidence when she was performing on Friday night. After she had sung This Life, she got up and walked to the front of the stage where she interacted with the audience through an impromptu song which is always super awesome. She thanked the fans for being at the show. Goodrem wasn't just focused on herself though. She thanked her band and back up singers for being up on stage with her. She wanted the audience to know who was sharing the stage with her. She built up enthusiasm before launching into Child of the Universe's Sitting on Top of the World which she sung incredibly enthusiastically.
The amazing thing is that Delta sings all of her songs live. She does not lip sync at all, but even more than that, if you thought she had an amazing voice when listening to a recording you haven't heard anything until you've heard her live.
She sung a few of her hits as a medley - Wish You Were Here, Brave Face, Be Strong. The show is a really stripped back show, so you can hear her harmonising with her back up singers and here her singing these hits with just the piano and her back up singers, Sharon and Christine (who by the way were in the 90s hit show Sister Sister.
About midway through the show, she, her singers, and band move to the front of the stage for an acapella session where they sing Love, Thy Will be Done and Will You Fall For Me. For Delta it would appear the show is just as much about her team as it is about her.
The major highlight of the show though is when she sings Just Call. By this point she has changed into a red gown and wants the audience to participate in the chorus singing. She then steps off the stage and is met with her bodyguards. She walks to a platform located in the middle of the audience where she sings for the rest of the duration of the song. When she has finished the song, one of her assistants gives her, her guitar and she sings The River before going back to the front stage.
During this part of the show, a member of the crowd actually passed out from the excitement and rather than continuing the show as if nothing had happened, Goodrem actually stopped the show. She then later reported while singing Heart Hypnotic to the audience that the audience member was okay.
One thing become really apparent during her concert. She has a voice that would rival that of Mariah Carey's, if not better. She makes singing look so effortless and can really belt out those top notes with ease. During the show, there were throwbacks to her earlier music with music videos interspersed on the big screen.
The show concluded on a track from her third album, Believe Again.
Of course, no show would be complete without an encore, so after five minutes she returned to the stage having changed into a white pant suit for two final songs. And no Delta Goodrem show would be right, without her going back to where it all began, to Born to Try, which truly does sound so much better in real life.
She then sung Wings from her latest album before concluding the show in a stream of confetti.
All in all, this show deserves a 5 out of 5 star rating. It is actually worthy of more stars but that's not possible, so 5 out of 5 will just have to do.
Just like she sings about in the second single from her latest album, Wings of the Wild, she has been a total survivor in the music industry. In an industry where most singers only survive one or two albums if they're lucky, Delta has been extremely lucky to have a 15 year career, which basically makes her this generation's Kylie Minogue or the Australian version of Taylor Swift (yes, a very big compliment but Delta is incredibly under-rated - she's the forgotten singer who has amazing swathes of talent - which I'll get to later on in this review).
After her first album she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2004 which delayed her music career slightly, however she didn't let that discourage her. She went on to release a couple of albums, Mistaken Identity in 2004, which was heavily focused on her disease, and then Delta in 2007 before taken an extended break of four years and not releasing her next album, Child of the Universe until 2011. It wasn't until this year that she followed up with her latest album Wings of the Wild.
She has of course been mentoring the contestants on The Voice for the last few seasons and built up her profile doing so.
This year, for the first time since 2009, she has decided to headline a nationwide tour to promote her latest album. I was lucky enough to be at Sydney's show, which before I go into the details, I have to reiterate that Delta Goodrem is Australia's most talented female singer at the moment, and she really is the Southern Hemisphere's Taylor Swift. She has an undeniable talent that truly cannot be ignored and is under-rated.
So now let's get onto the show. Most shows have a supporting act. Not Delta though. She was enough and Sydney's Qudos Arena at Olympic Park was almost full on Friday night.
The crowd started getting excited before she came onto stage wearing a black sequin jumpsuit and opened the show with Feline, one of the tracks from her most recent album.
I would be here all day if I talked about each individual track that Delta sung during the show so I'm just going to pick out the highlights.
It was so refreshing to see a singer who is so genuinely at home on stage and having fun, and Delta exuded confidence when she was performing on Friday night. After she had sung This Life, she got up and walked to the front of the stage where she interacted with the audience through an impromptu song which is always super awesome. She thanked the fans for being at the show. Goodrem wasn't just focused on herself though. She thanked her band and back up singers for being up on stage with her. She wanted the audience to know who was sharing the stage with her. She built up enthusiasm before launching into Child of the Universe's Sitting on Top of the World which she sung incredibly enthusiastically.
The amazing thing is that Delta sings all of her songs live. She does not lip sync at all, but even more than that, if you thought she had an amazing voice when listening to a recording you haven't heard anything until you've heard her live.
She sung a few of her hits as a medley - Wish You Were Here, Brave Face, Be Strong. The show is a really stripped back show, so you can hear her harmonising with her back up singers and here her singing these hits with just the piano and her back up singers, Sharon and Christine (who by the way were in the 90s hit show Sister Sister.
About midway through the show, she, her singers, and band move to the front of the stage for an acapella session where they sing Love, Thy Will be Done and Will You Fall For Me. For Delta it would appear the show is just as much about her team as it is about her.
The major highlight of the show though is when she sings Just Call. By this point she has changed into a red gown and wants the audience to participate in the chorus singing. She then steps off the stage and is met with her bodyguards. She walks to a platform located in the middle of the audience where she sings for the rest of the duration of the song. When she has finished the song, one of her assistants gives her, her guitar and she sings The River before going back to the front stage.
During this part of the show, a member of the crowd actually passed out from the excitement and rather than continuing the show as if nothing had happened, Goodrem actually stopped the show. She then later reported while singing Heart Hypnotic to the audience that the audience member was okay.
One thing become really apparent during her concert. She has a voice that would rival that of Mariah Carey's, if not better. She makes singing look so effortless and can really belt out those top notes with ease. During the show, there were throwbacks to her earlier music with music videos interspersed on the big screen.
The show concluded on a track from her third album, Believe Again.
Of course, no show would be complete without an encore, so after five minutes she returned to the stage having changed into a white pant suit for two final songs. And no Delta Goodrem show would be right, without her going back to where it all began, to Born to Try, which truly does sound so much better in real life.
She then sung Wings from her latest album before concluding the show in a stream of confetti.
All in all, this show deserves a 5 out of 5 star rating. It is actually worthy of more stars but that's not possible, so 5 out of 5 will just have to do.
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