"Great Idea - Now What?"

Okay I have taken the title from The Advertiser's - Review article on Saturday which is the first of a special series on SA this week. The newspaper is bringing some bold ideas to the 'table' for discussion on a vision for a vibrant Adelaide in 2020. I am anticipating seeing this and the reaction across the board before it is quietly shelved away and overshadowed by other issues of importance. Various hamstring injuries, amount of beer to be drank before eating a pie floater etc.

Mike Rann in his introduction to the Government Strategic Plan from March 2004 wrote, "South Australia has had so many plans and we have been consulted to death, what we have lacked is a comparable zeal for implementation..." Much like entering an SA team into the AFL it would not have happened unless Brian Webber and his board at the PAFC hadn't made the decision for the club and it's members because Adelaide was becoming a playing field that was no fun any more.

The Heysen Tunnel, Southern Express Way, the O-Bahn, National Wine Centre, the Multi Function Polis, Monarto development, Football Park, Victoria Square, some are constructions that have eventuated some have not. Invigorating and enacting tangible zeal for the future, starting today. That is going to be something to be part of, hearing, seeing and most importantly doing. Where the questions and analysis are of you and no-one else. For this to happen each resident of the State is accountable and responsible. Do you the balls/courage to ring, for example talkback radio and say that the esteemed figure who said, ie; the grand prix was stolen, or kick a vic, is wrong?

This is not a material construction, no bricks and mortar put together by tradespeople which will say, "SA has zeal". There is no shortage of people with the right kind of zeal to make a SA improve. Just you do not hear them as often or as loudly as those whose zealousness is wrong. Much harder to make in fact because people have to stand up as individuals and shrug off decades of negatives being enhanced and repeated ad nauseum. One other thing, you don't get paid for being zealous. Some people do and that is also a problem because what is needed is people who can stand up in front of people and be zealous of SA in the new RIGHT way and the people listening HAVE TO DO THIS NOW and make the current State mentality and attitude change.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Next Gig, bloody Joan Rivers

The Penguin Hunter Diaries
Bloody Joan Rivers made me laugh on the Logies, on Sunday night. At the same time I just knew it was going to mean I am going to have to explain my next shows content to the community group organising it. Got a phone call yesterday arvo that there is a meeting at the venue today and yes the content of what I am going to do came up. I lied of course because I have no idea what I am going to do until I walk out on stage.

It's actually pretty cool as the director of the show is aware of what stand-up is, but the usual meddlers in any community event are putting in their 20cents worth of censorship. I don't often do community events purely for that reason. People who have never been to a stand-up gig giving 'advice' about what can be done in the act. It's like meeting people and they tell me that they are a doctor and when I say I do stand-up in my job getting that reply. "Oh I have lots of funny stories to tell, I'd be a good comedian" Shit yeah, and this morning I woke up and though bloody hell I'd make a great brain surgeon how about you do my gig tonight and I'll do your surgery.

It seems that once again the conservative element think I am going to come out and swear. Coz that is what stand-up comedy is.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Croweaters are not all bigots

Will debunking 'kick a vic' have heretics of this sacred phrase put in stocks in Rundle Mall and pelted with Frog Cakes before a dunking in the Victoria Square Fountain filled with mushy green pea soup and upturned pies? Having performed in Adelaide comedy venues over the past four years want to know something funny. Not once have I heard a South Australian comedian use interstate rivalry in getting or keeping the laughs going from a live audience.

By the Piping Shrike could it be, this is Not funny! Except within the walls of sporting clubs. Much like the humor from the era it originated from it is passe' in the 21st Century. Look at the terrific examples of South Australian sporting clubs management and operational success on the National stage. Adelaide City 'soccer' club, Adelaide 36'ers Basketball club, netball, baseball and rugby league teams have had the same platform in their niche sports and failed. Not to forget the huge crowds the interstate rivalry of the Pura Cup attracts to Adelaide Oval during the cricket season.


Bloody hell, Media Mike the state premier was even ranting on about beating the vics when announcing getting the destroyer contract. What the hell do these public comments have to do with economic growth? Or is the next game of AFL football so important that it needs to be given an indirect reference. No wonder 'The Australian' in a recent article on various state attitudes in Australia printed, "South Australians, they just wake up grumpy."


Tourism spending down by $128 million and 800,000 less visitors last year since 2004. That's a lot of money and people missing and as winter comes around with it is the news that the successful Secrets campaign has been replaced with SA - A Brilliant Blend. The Tourism Task Force is blaming the falling number of visitors on the lack money being spent on promotion. I don't think the State has enough money to counter the falling numbers without a significant change in the generic attitude the State presents of the way it views those who live outside it's borders.


No matter how many advertisements 'The Brilliant Blend' campaign releases promoting the niche image of South Australian people, the lifestyle, produce, landscapes and wine, being reminiscent of Tuscany in Europe are delivered.


All this positive effort and expense is going to be countered by the smothering portrayal of the South Australian experience through the medium of sporting coverage and it's associated "kick a vic" attitude. Something that harkens back to the middle of the last century, when by distance alone Adelaide was isolated and self sufficient for employment, entertainment and sport. When radio and newspaper coverage was nowhere near as widespread and raucous for attention as it is today with the addition of television into the mix. Nor as prevalent. As a form of state identity and pride is fine if it is confined within the precincts of sporting enclaves. But not the front page of daily newspapers, is football now the driving force for the state identity. Football is sure as hell is 'only a game' and not an economic cornerstone of the economy and has stuff all potential for growth.


In coming months the State media will be smothered with this attitude and it's off shoots, from the garden of sporting pride that has also brought the melodic, witty and tuneful stalwart, we all love, Ozzie! Ozzzie! Ozzie! - Oi, Oi, Oi! The 'kick a vic' is presented as funny, humorous and an aside to counter put downs of the State sporting ability in the last century, during interstate contests which were annual events, not weekly. What if we changed the word 'vic' to 'tourist' in every media article and commentary how long do you think the overuse of this representation
of the SA public attitude would go on for?


To know that people are in SA with the ability, authority and intelligence to correct this. Yet don't because it is a good fall back when feeling lazy and just need a no brainer for a filler commentary or column piece is why all the money spent is wasted as lip service to promoting SA as a great place to visit because of the free exposure the other representation has will always outweigh it on volume and audience share inter and intra state. Other nations, communities, cities and states has made the effort and changed stereotypical attitudes which has been detrimental to growth and economic progress. Why can't South Australia?


Or am I wrong? And in fact South Australians are in paroxyms of laughter and trying to hold their innards in whenever they hear another witty interstate jibe.


Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Mining Jobs available, an introduction from experience

Brilliant, Adserv have put a link to Mining jobs available, on my blog. I think it is fair as I have worked in mines to give a little info on the job for readers and include a few pics to show what it looks like underground. Firstly, I hope you like to travel. Crews I have worked with have been everywhere from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Africa, Sth America and Europe. If appearance and dress sense are crucial to your ego this is not the job for you. There is lots of dirt on you, around you, and in you. Claustrophobia, is a definite disadvantage. A liking for making big bangs, is bound to be satisfied. Drinking is not mandatory, many miners I worked with were teetotallers. Being able to read or have a hobby is crucial, you are generally in the middle of -

nowhere and in between working, sleeping and eating there is not much to do. Golf is a good hobby. Ivan, yeah he was even a Russian took up golf after seeing it on television. I think I recall him telling us about his experience at an actual Golf Club after he took up his hobby. Ivan played a very special game of golf. The Ancient Rules of Ivan Golf will never be followed by anyone els and when Ivan found out that the other version of golf had rules he did not make up he never played on a course again. Why bother he had his own, with a few unique aspects, No greens, holes or tee blocks. 'Ivan Golf', entailed getting your sticks, an esky full of beer and ice, teeing up a ball and just hitting it into the nearest open space. Being in the middle of nowhere this was easy. Then the players just followed the balls direction and hit them around until the beer ran out.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff.