What Kind of Nation Are We Going To Be?

On the cusp of another federal election, Australians may face a hung parliament, or at the best, have a Government elected by the most marginal of voters. Beyond some of the media-hyped issues raised by the main two parties - illegal immigrants arriving by boat from its northern shores, employment conditions that are fair to both employee and businesses, a broadband network with faster download speeds, the effects of climate change, heavy government debt incurrence versus attaining a surplus and how political parties treat their leaders - are significant matters which has been strangely kept tucked away from the public eye, or at least de-emphasised.

There was no sizable discussion on how the Australian economy can gradually wean away from relying on jobs, revenues and skills being dependent on carving out the family heirlooms, whether they be the minerals just dug out in their raw state to supply sustenance of foreign countries, or the sale of vital public security infrastructure to private and commercial interests. There are no structured plans articulated to effectively raise the dignity and rich cultural heritage of indigenous Australians - in this area, despite the wealth of Australia, responses have been few and mostly re-active in character.  No recognition was justly acknowledged to maintain and nurture the nation's third largest export after coal and iron ore - the revenues collected from foreign students paying full fees at Australian universities. 

Keeping up incentives to ensure Australian competitiveness in tax regimes, productivity requirements and business niches was a matter not highlighted.  The Australian economy cannot afford to be a continual parking vehicle for transient investments and funds. Maintaining innovativeness requires more than brains and a liberal cultural environment - it also requires clever planning, relevant institutions and financial savvy. The future of Australia's young generations does not lie in an enhanced state welfare system when the demographic projections point to an aging population to support and pay for. Questions of sustainable and optimal population growth were raised in the election campaign with matters on paid parental leave brought up, but there was a lack of encouragement to inculcate better skills development in young Australians.  In the past thirty years, Australia as a nation has an undeniable and enviable record of welcoming immigrants from over two hundred other countries, but must seriously put its stamp of a desired national character to integrate the psyches and loyalties of new arrivals.

The nation has to become more humane again inside its own borders - no point showing this face only in overseas locations.  Australia must realise that in practice, not everyone necessarily follows and implements all legislative pronouncements, no matter how wonderful they are in idea and intent. Its capital cities must confront the reality of aging infrastructure or the high costs of new ones. Investment must be made in a renewed drive not just for public transport systems, traffic control and health facilities - there needs to be focused attention to mitigate alcohol-related social problems, corruption, education/training  delivery issues, the inability of young people to afford housing and the inability of seniors to afford the expenses of old age.

The election outcomes from 21 August 2010 will most likely be decided on other and less significant issues. It may all be a question of numbers, the mood on voting day and the placement of electoral boundaries.  Good luck, Australia.

A Sunday Lunch Too

Lunchtime on Sunday, 15 August 2010 in a Sydney suburb, courtesy of Eileen Ong.

McLaurin Hall - Scenes From a Wedding

McLaurin Hall forms part of the well-known quandrangle in Sydney University's Camperdown Campus.

Currently undergoing restoration, it is the illustrative sandstone structure of a sandstone university in New South Wales. With a sunny outlook and blue skies outside, Jati Teoh tied the knot with Roselin in a daytime function graced by the Reverend Bill Cruise, finger food and flowing wines.

The videographer and bridegroom's only brother.

I appreciated listening to interesting lifetime perspectives from Uncle Peter (left) and Uncle Alex (middle).

Image above was taken by Bonnie from Melbourne.

The bridegroom's mother in traditional Straits Chinese wardrobe.

A Feast For Ben Butcher

Benjamin Michael Butcher was born on 1 July this year.A month later, the immediate family, joined by other relatives and friends, celebrated this occasion by gathering at the residence of one of Ben's grand-uncles. The must-have food for such joyous occasions is the red tortoise, or the ang ku in Fujian dialect (above image), which symbolises celebration, promise and longevity. The outer shape of this Straits Chinese delicacy has a mould that represents a round tortoise - and inside is a yellow bean mix you may recognise, once you bite into it.

Above: the savoury yam cake, garnished with fresh shallot rings, chili bits and deep fried garlic. It is best eaten with a chili sauce.

Below: Singapore styled chicken curry, with potatoes and kick, from one of Ben's grandmothers.

Below: More variety of sweet dessert time cakes.

Like during an Orthodox Christmas, hard boiled eggs are made with coloured shells to signify fertility in southern Chinese practice, adopted by immigrants to South-east Asia and beyond. These eggs are not consumed plain, they are accompanied by vinegar-soaked ginger condiments. (above)

Vinegar is also a main ingredient to marinate pork with fatty layers (below), a much yearned traditional Cantonese dish that does not get made much these days because of its cholesterol and health effects.

I found this delicious dark soy sauced stir fried noodles (above) at this party for Ben. Made famous by street vendors in the Chinatown heart of the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur, I first encountered this as a university student and actually ate it beside a stinking open drain - and despite that fact, I can recall it was truly tasty.

Newtown, Old Town

"Ghost Valley" was written in chalk on the pavement, reminiscent of "Eternity" in other parts of Sydney not too long ago. This was Newtown in Sydney on a rainy, windy and chilly night. The suburb is a unique haven of the blending of cultures, lifestyles, demographics, cuisines and village life. Many encountered scurrying in the rain are twenty something in age, but the range of bright and sunken eyes, glee or obsession, smartly dressed and down trodden, did make me wonder, what in Newtown attracts all this wide range of all sorts to gather here, not just for a meal, but also for a browse in a bookshop, do some late night wardrobe shopping, enjoy a chill out time at the cinemas and more.

The character of Newtown along its main thoroughfare of King Street can be decided by the nature of business or operation of the shopfront or facility.  In the evenings, schools tend to be in the shadows, restaurants are brightly lit and everything else can be in between.  We spotted an old familiar name of Prasits in  a Thai restaurant on the side leading to Wollongong - and I recalled the excellent quality of food served in the nineties from a well done two-storey place along Crown Street in Surry Hills in inner city Sydney.  This Prasits encountered at the end of the first decade of the new millennium was different - the food served tended to be sweet but still had a down-to-earth approach to customers like the original Prasits.

After a quick dinner, and when the bite of the night air had arrived outside, we amused ourselves with casual drop-ins to check out heritage hand me down pieces, sip organic coffee at a trendy joint, feel the atmosphere in the Kiwi Burger Fuel outlet and admire glassed up displays of knick-knacks and clothes.  The bricked-up side roads, alleyways and lanes added to an old London town charm, but what stood out were the modern concoctions of bookshops, poster retails and bright coloured shoes from the likes of Platypus.  In the passing human traffic, we encountered buffed up gym guys, lesbians proudly holding hands, office workers going for retail therapy, babes-in-the-arms of parents, Asian students, matronly types venturing out from other suburbs and middle aged couples who seemed to be on their first dates after the children have flown out of the nest.

I sensed an increase in the number of hairstylist shops along King Street. The cinema hub with surrounding cafes and book shops still thrived in vitality, and so was the human traffic coming out of the rail station. May be every type of European and Asian cuisine is represented in Newtown. If one can find street side parking, one is considered blessed.  Many patrons of the businesses there do live nearby within walking distance.  Newtown may have an old town feel but it has accommodated new trends and possibilities since the mid-nineties, adding to its continuing economic revival. The suburb may truly be a microcosm of the larger entity called Sydney. Tattoo parlours, old self-help laundries and quick takeaway cafes are giving way to fancy concepts. It may lack the night clubs, bars and music joints available in competing suburbs of Paddington and Darlinghurst, but you never know - Newtown's character even changes between day and night, and who knows what actually goes on in the hidden so-called ghost valleys away from King Street.