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 it, flags aren't really my thing, but one of the other volunteers pointed it out to me about halfway through the service.  An English woman on holidays in Melbourne also mentioned it to me after the service, she was more amused than upset.  After the service the flag was taken down and reraised, even then it took the Shrine staff and PSOs two more attempts to get it right.

Remembrance day with Union Jack declaring distress.

And then on Saturday I attended a full day conference at the East Malvern RSL titled "The Bloody Beachheads: The Battles of Gona, Buna and Sanananda", presented by Military History & Heritage Victoria of which I am a member.

The rest of the week has been taken up with my preparation for my work with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).  After what seems to be the usual schemozzle of not having a job and then having a job I was advised last Monday afternoon that I had been appointed as a Electoral Officer (EO) at a pre polling booth starting tomorrow (14/11) for two weeks leading up to polling day on Saturday 26/11.  Am yet to be advised if I have a position on polling day or post polling day.

Having taken the Premier's shilling and sworn loyalty to the state I now have certain obligations and commitments as detailed in the State Election Act of 1837 or some such.  As a sworn officer of the state I must maintain a bipartisan approach to the election and not openly comment on electoral matters, particularly in such an influential forum as this my blog.

Unfortunately this restriction will not leave me much to talk about for the next two weeks as I am sure that the election will dominate the news cycle for the next two weeks.

Now here is a funny thing I always thought that a bipartisan was one of those 2nd World War resistance fighters who may have batted both ways, if you get my drift.  And who could have blamed them if on those cold winter nights out in the forests and swamps of Eastern Europe being pursued by the dreaded Hun they didn't occasionally take a little comfort in each other's arms.

Bipartisan maybe - they have the beards for it!

The photo above is of some Greek partisans who may or may not have been bipartisan.To me

 they look like they are ready to go in the Sydney mardi gras parade, leather belts, beards all.

As you know I will do my best to provide interesting and amusing updates on matters of importance in this fair state, so keep an eye out for possibly irregular blog updates.

I centered the text for the photo above and now I can't turn the bloody thing off!

Cheers.......