Dark Times in Bentleigh East

Tuesday 29 November 2022 Early blog this week, I have finished my EO & CTL duties with the VEC for at least the next four years and as I have a few things to attend to tomorrow I thought I would prepare and publish this week's blog early. As most of you would already know the once proud state of Victoria has elected itself a Socialist Left Labor government for the next four years.   So four more years of big spending, poorly costed over budget over time multibillion dollar projects, bloated ineffective public service, bloated government media departments full of spin doctors, labor party branch stacking, corruption a la "red shirts", loss of collective ministerial memory a la "covid hotel deaths enquiry", misfeance in office - refer to at least five ongoing IBAC enquiries into the Labor government's activities and there will be more. The unions will be lining up demanding their pound of flesh, you don't pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into the ...

  Sunday 20 November 2022 Just grabbing a few moments in my busy schedule update the blog and bring a little bit of joy and amusement into your daily lives. As you know I have been working as an Electoral Officer (EO) for the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) in an Early Voting Centre (EVC).  Last week I worked five days for a minimum of five hours per day, and at the end of each day I was knackered, nearly so tired I struggled to make my Vodka & Tonic (V&T).  How on earth did I work 8 - 10 hours per day 5 days and often 6 days a week when I was working in a proper job. So far I have actually enjoyed the VEC work, the people I am working with are in the main good to work with a couple of exceptions, but I won't dwell on that here, suffice to say that I am glad that I am not trying to manage a couple of the staff. I had an interesting experience the other day.  It was about 7.50am and myself and another EO were waiting outside the office door as it was lock...

  Sunday 13  November 2022 Some of my more observant readers may have realized that I didn't post a blog on Wednesday.  Due to the confluence of a number of matters last week I was extraordinarily busy, hence the delay in producing the weekly blog. First up as Friday was Remembrance Day I had a number of commitments to attend to at the Shrine.  Fortunately on Remembrance Day all went smoothly with the rain holding off until near the end of the service, some of the anti vaxxers, anti everything, pro red ensign folk tried to cause a little bit of trouble but were swiftly and efficiently dealt with, unfortunately the police weren't required to let loose the dogs of war or deploy the rubber bullets, but still we can't have everything. When I said that everything went smoothly that wasn't quite correct as the Union Jack was flown upside down for the entire service.  This is a serious mistake and could cause a diplomatic rift between us the Poms.  I didn't notice...

   Wednesday 02 November 2022 As some of you may be aware Victoria is shortly to experience a state election.  Voting day is Saturday 26 November with the early voting centres opening on 14 November. I registered with the VEC some time ago to work on the forthcoming election.  With nothing heard from the VEC since registering I have been wondering if they have by some gigantic error overlooked offering me a position.  Well, with a little over three weeks to go to the election yesterday I received an email advising me of the electoral positions available and asking me to confirm my availability. The VEC seem to be cutting this all a bit fine.  If I get offered a position in an early voting centre I will be required to start work on 14 November, which to my mind doesn't leave a lot of time for recruitment and training. Talking about elections, the Liberal Party opposition led by Mathew Guy seem to have done a Harry Houdini act and disappeared.  The premi...