I think this was my first hard news story to be published. I was running the radio station at Halls Creek and studying journalism online at Griffith University. Style is a little clunky but this is the kind of story I still love to do today. Thank you Gerard Willett for giving me a break!
Should a political reporter be a lobbyist?
Or, if a well-timed question to a minister prompts her to seek more information and perhaps change her mind, is this lobbying? Continue reading
It’s on again. Greens are pushing for some kind of compensation for canola growers who have had their crops contaminated with neighbours’ genetically modified seed.
Such farmers can find their crops attract much lower prices on the world market.
This story began as a media release from a politician but quick interviews with an industry expert and the farmer most affected by GM contamination brought it to life.
From The Great Southern Weekender Thursday June 29 p5.
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TEXT BY GEOFF VIVIAN
THE WA Government and Noongars are close to settling a deal that will see no more Native Title claims in Australia’s south west.
From The Great Southern Weekender Thursday, June 22, p10.
This is the story of the legal action taken against a local councillor and then abandoned.
It prompted academic Joseph Fernandez’s statements about privacy law.
From the Great Southern Weekender Thursday, January 5, 2017.
Some new thoughts on what is and isn’t private according to Australian law.
From The Great Southern Weekender, Thursday February 13, 2018.
Owing to a change in format this is my first front page for three years – we had a single pic on the front page up until last week.
Anyhow please excuse me this indulgence – it is just a press release with an interview added, not original research. Continue reading
This is an example of a story lead changing right on deadline.
I had written about a judgement made against a young man who had started a bushfire and was ordered to pay a six-figure sum in damages.
I interviewed the fire control officer who was pleased with this result.
My editor had already put the story “on the page” when the man’s lawyer contacted me telling me his client could not be jailed for non-payment as it was a civil matter.
From The Great Southern Weekender Thursday, August 11, 2016.
Another draft chapter from my guide to Lempad’s Art and Buildings in Bali
Getting there:
Lempad’s wall at the abandoned cultural centre in Bedulu, Bali.
If you are staying in Ubud, go south down Jl Hanoman or Jl Cok Gde Rai for about two kilometres until you reach Jl Made Lebah/Jl Raya Teges and turn left.Travel east along a road that then changes its name from Jalan Raya Goa Gajah to Jalan Raya Bedulu and then Jalan Pura Samuan Tiga. Pass through an ornately carved stone gateway and travel along a dual carriageway to a paved car park. Pura Samuan Tiga temple is on the left and Lempad’s art is part of the neglected cultural centre on the right, just before the road narrows. As all of Lempad’s art is on the outside of this building there is no need to go inside and consequently no entry fee.
Several excellent but neglected examples of Lempad’s art can be seen at this now abandoned cultural centre. Lempad was commissioned to carve a bas relief into clay bricks for this Suharto-era building used by visiting politicians to address meetings. It has been reproduced in full colour in Gaspar, Casannovas and Couteau’s book “Lempad”. Continue reading
Denmark Shire in Western Australia has released a long-awaited feasibility study for a trailer-boat ramp.
From The Great Southern Weekender, Thursday July 28 2016 p 5
The council has voted not to proceed with the project. Continue reading