Views in Verse on achievement

This guy is one of the really impressive Australians of our generation...Ric Charlesworth. 

Perhaps the pinnacle of his career has now come as an author in the passing on of the knowledge that he has acquired as a high achiever in his career, sport and politics. His profile as a team leader, arguably, unsurpassed in our time.

In his book 'The Coach' he shares with us 10 KEY ELEMENTS that champion teams depend upon to achieve the highest level of success. Ric sees these factors as being equally applicable in business!

Ric is a doctor of medicine, a former captain of the Australian Hockey Team, the WA State Hockey Team and the WA State Cricket Team. He was also in Federal parliament for 10 years. He then 'retired' to take up the position of National Coach of the Australian Women's Hockey Team and then the Men's Hockey team. It goes without saying that these Australian hockey teams have taken all before them over these past twenty years - he has been without doubt the cornerstone of this great success.

The 10 KEY ELEMENTS that champion teams depend upon to achieve the highest level of success Ric defines as being : quality, work ethic, flexibility,growth through adversity,breadth of leadership, continuous learning, a team first attitude, common goals, honesty, ...humility. 

The last being somewhat the key, as it recognises that: today's raw performance alone is, of its own, just not good enough. As without always recognising that 'what you don't know about yourself' today is the biggest threat to still being the best tomorrow. There must be an accepted mantra within the team for constant 'performance improvement'. 



Views in Verse on achievement


Life is jelly-bean colours,
Fireworks in the sky.
A silvery beam is shining...
Out of a wondering eye...

They say in truth we set our goals
far short of what we presume
Instead if we were to 'shoot for the stars' 
We might just 'hit the moon'

(Extract from the poem 'serendipity')

Forwarded from my Iphone - Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on the Rabbitohs

Latest betting tells us that Russell Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitoh's will tear into Sunday's Australian Rugby League Grand Final against Canterbury as favourites despite not having won one since 1971. The club emblem is of a rabbit ...why are they then known as the Rabbitohs?





 Since Russell Crowe bought the club they have seen a dramatic and stylish resurgence not in keeping with their historical image which is more reflected in their name - the Rabbitohs.

They were one of the foundation club's of the Sydney focussed league (1908) and effectively from the wrong side of town around Redfern as the area housed mainly the poor in these days - and continued to recent decades. The stories have it that especially during the depression years that rabbit was a low cost source of food and was readily sold in tougher hotels around the south of the city.

The guy who came in to sell them would announce himself as "the Rabbitoh". Thereby to be forever the association with 'the struggler' image.

The club battled hard to survive financially into the 1980's and were effectively removed from the competition much to the chagrin of their loyal supporters, who successfully managed to turn that situation around.  This included marches through the city and up to the town hall steps. Many well known, well heeled supporters came out of the woodwork at that time and would help with that struggle.

This period saw private funding dramatically enter the scene to rescue the club - eventually to end with Russell Crowe's ownership - himself a lifelong supporter. A new trend in NRL circles then emerged along the lines of other overseas sports franchises.

Crowe has dramatically changed the image and in some ways has taken 'the brand' to the world. The team now features two of the best players in the game Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess.

So how will they stand up to the pressure come Sunday against Canterbury? ...a regular premiership winner over the recent decades. Well, we'll see come Sunday. But I reckon most people would love to see them get up again off the canvas (Bulldog supporters excluded of course).


The Anthem in case anyone has forgotten the words:

Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
South Sydney Marches On
When speaking of the champions
One stands above the rest
Of glories old and records proud
When often put to test
Of fine traditions, history
That others cannot best
They wear the red and green
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney
Glory, Glory to South Sydney

Views in Verse on a 'fair dinkum' society

The Trade Union Royal Commission was brought to a halt this week for a fortnight as a key witness  (the alleged link to the underworld) was excused from attendance given he was suggested to be in need of mental health care in the wake of his recent charge of sending threatening texts and emails to a woman over the prior six months. He was given bail subject to a doctor's letter...


Meantime this week a Sydney lawyer who crashed into an L plated motor cyclist and then suffered a road rage moment will plead that he should not be judged under criminal law as he was 'mentally ill' at the time.

Such absurd 'legal' instances stand as complete anomalies in 'mental health week'. Compare this with a minor news story in the letters section of the SMH newspaper on 2/10/14. Wherein we are told of a seriously ill man who took off his clothes in searing heat and wandered aimlessly around a country city for 36 hours and then was jailed for his incoherence despite his mental health history.

This man has since been locked up in Silverwater jail for 18 months awaiting trial given he was charged with trespassing (go figure?). He can't be found fit to plead given his mental state (meantime he rots in jail!!!). Mr Ingrey in that same letter offsets the case of a Sydney barrister's son who hit a jeweller over the head during a recent armed robbery and only received a suspended two year sentence for his crime.

There can be no doubt at times that the law appears an ass. This is not new. But the disturbing thing is this 'bi level society' is so closely following what we see in the US today as 'the norm'; it truly makes you wonder whether we are going forward or backwards ...back into our own colonial past. It also highlights the truly veiled state of mental health in this country. The law too is being manipulated to its own ends.

One thing is for sure. We are deluding ourselves that we are participating in a 'fair dinkum' society as we would like to think. 'Fair dinkum' being Australian for ...'fair and reasonable'!

The Rose, the Sun and the Sea

She was the kindest of woman

her beauty long lost to the sun

She came to this port as a stranger

for the love of "a wayward one"

Most thought:

 "he'd since died a sailor"

Put it down to his 'late father's bent'

But back to this headland

she'd return each day

Early ...without relent

After this vigil

She'd walk through town

Shoulders thrown back as she'd go

Watching out 

for new arrivals

the Coachman's brow would lo'

In the early years 

neat and composed

Never missing the odd chance to talk

Her appearance waned

with each new year

yet purpose still clear in her walk

She'd stop and she'd chat

to the waifs and the needy

A port town carries it's share

Helping out at the sailor's home too

Plenty of work to do there

She also worked hard for a living

under the Milliner's shop

Until one grey morn'

when the Constable announced:

"her rounds had come to a stop"

It seems the Squire

from a nearby cove

had called that very same day

With ghastly news 

that a body was found

Floating ...face down ...in the bay

Her funeral was said to be touching

All of the children were there

Even the seamen 

made their way up the hill

with flowers ...to rest in her hair

The Mayor declared her (to be)

"of good breeding"...

who came to us 'through the back door"

Describing such situations as "travesties..."

"...such things shouldn't happen at all"

Most would have noticed too

a stranger there...

Sitting amongst the throng

A refined old woman...

Who said not a word...

In a short while she was gone

The Landlord later noted:

"personal things were taken...

...right to the very last one"

All that was left 

in his seaward loft

Was a rose...

...now bleached by the sun.

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

  

Views in Verse on youth mental health

Get Behind Youth Mental Health 

The North Ryde Fun Run is on Sunday 19 October 2014 from 9am to 2pm at the Macquarie University Sport Fields, corner of Culloden and Talavera Roads, Macquarie Park. 

It is a community event organised by the Rotary Club of North Ryde, with venue partner Macquarie University. It is for fun walkers and runners, not for professionals.

The proceeds go to Australian Rotary Health to fund research into youth mental health and treatment programs. Why not join in the fun to raise awareness and some money.

It is important to care for the mental health of our young people. Between 2-5% of young people will suffer from anxiety. Young children with anxiety are 3-5 times more likely to develop teenage depression.Only $10 to enter see our entry form here!

Dark Reptiles

Dawn breaks bitter light

Stirring stone refuge once more

intruding again on broken sleep

Red eyes stare down the door

Movement doesn't come easy

Reticent to leave the source

Where can one go to find refuge?

Fate steer me that safer course 

Inviting faces challenge the mask

The now freeing frame distracts

As routine brings timely release

In hiding the guarded facts

How can I improve  my position here?

Can warmth not ease the doubt?

As the stalking dog ...he pads nearby

He's always, always, about.

Over the shoulder a shadow looms

night can't be far away...

Bent in regression a constant curse; 

Call dark to shroud the day!

So bring me sleep to salve my life

In an all too brief reprieve

The gloom closes in yet sleep does not come

the subconscious defying the need

Where do you go; where do you go?

To escape this moribund place

Waiting for heat 

from much needed sun 

with a gripped gnarling face

   

epilogue:

    The ones that I love

    They take good care

    They know the struggle in me

    The ones that I love

    They know me well but

    Their love can't set me free

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on 'put me in coach'

Since the LA Dodgers visited Sydney at the start of the year, their mercurial pitcher Clayton Kershaw has pitched a season 21 wins - good eh? The real stuff is about to begin!






The play-offs for the World Series are about to begin. My team - the SF Giants got in on a wild card. Go the Giants! First game for them is Thursday. I'm ready! Let' s go!

Centerfield (JR Fogerty)

Well, a-beat the drum and hold the phone
The sun came out today
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
A-roundin' third and headed for home
It's a brown-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feel

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield

Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine
Watching it from the bench
You know I took some lumps, when the mighty Case struck out
So say hey, Willie, tell the Cobb
And Joe DiMaggio
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield

Yeah, I got it, I got it

Got a beat-up glove, a home-made bat
And a brand new pair of shoes
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride
Just to hit the ball, and touch 'em all
A moment in the sun
It's a-gone and you can tell that one good-bye

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me (yeah), I can be centerfield

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, gotta be, centerfield
Yeah