March 6, 2024

A refreshing change

The makeover of this website is now complete and thanks to Abbie-Rose Design for doing such a great job. The launch last week coincidentally coincided with the launch of the Bass Greens candidates in the upcoming state election, of which I am lucky last support candidate at number seven. Emphasis on that word ‘support’. In Tasmania’s wonderfully unique Hare Clark voting system any votes I manage to win will be redistributed across the ticket to ultimately reach and add to those of our lead candidate Cecily Rosol. How brilliant it will be to see her elected, and all the hard work she’s put in over the last few elections when she’s put up her hand to stand, finally pays off.


This election will certainly be interesting given Tasmania’s parliament is at last being restored to 35 seats, and with a crowded field of candidates – including several standing as Independents – the word from the number crunchers is we are heading for a minority government. A healthy change in my opinion. The days of majority governments are all but over and a healthy mix of views and – one hopes – fresh ideas and vision should make for an interesting time ahead. Certainly if the pundits are correct then all the elected MPs will be required to work a good deal harder, and compromise and negotiation will be essential. With a little over two weeks to go it’s going to be a wild ride, but fingers crossed.


State election 2024

 

So here we are again

with another election

and another poll where

ballot papers are ticked

and we make our selection

from the red, blue and green

or maybe yellow or teal

but will it really be different

to the polls held before?

 

will boastful promises and claims

repeatedly proclaimed

during weeks of campaigns

then be broken or shelved?

 

because when counting is done

and no Party has won

and the result is a wicket

and a new game of cricket

with a new set of rules

and an exacting schedule

for those 35 reps

(who'll all need to take steps)

to discuss and debate

and compromise views

to ensure outcomes will not be abused

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Magni

Fiona's gift

By Anne Layton-Bennett • June 14, 2026
It’s taken far too many months for this marvellous model to grace the dedicated desk space in my office. When Fiona comes to visit next she will be very surprised, and hopefully gratified, that her amazing creative talent is finally on display. We’ve known each other for a very long time, and during the insanely busy time when I was helping to run the flower farm, working part-time in a school library, doing a spot of journalism on the side, and fighting the proposed pulp mill that is the subject of the manuscript I’m hoping to get published, Fiona cleaned my house each week. There’s only so much a person can do after all, and it has to be said cleaning our house during those manic years was fairly low down on the list of my priorities. But Fiona is a woman of many talents and she certainly possesses one that I so don’t have: sewing and dressmaking. So over the years she’s also made a few garments based on the pattern of a favourite garment that I was particularly fond of, and she’s also done some clothing alterations for both of us. My skills with needles and thread are limited to sewing on buttons, and taking up hems on John’s too-long pairs of jeans. Anything else is beyond me. But this fabulous model is the pièce de résistance – along with the beautiful crocheted knee warmer she gave me last year. This was when winter was approaching and so determined was I to finish writing the book, I decided to get out of bed at the insane hour of 5am and get in a solid hour’s writing in before dog walking and the demands of the day took over. Fiona was also one of many Tasmanians who needed to be circumspect about her opinion of the pulp mill. It was a project that polarised people, including families and friendships. She was one of several who passed on snippets of useful information, but on the basis of anonymity so it couldn’t be sheeted home to her.  Needless to say Fiona will be one of those whose contribution will be acknowledged – when this book is finally accepted by a publisher.

Signs of spring - when winter's only just arrived

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