is out and I am sure there are some very worthy people on it. I am a little surprised at the inclusion of someone I know. I don't know him well. I know his wife rather better and think she would have been more deserving of an award.
One of the more high profile politicians has been saying that her side of politics wants to see more women, at least 40% of women, in the list. My response was "why just 40% of women when females make up 51% of the population and do more voluntary work than men". (Yes, they do.)
There is the usual range of sports people of course. I have said it elsewhere - they have already been awarded and given accolades for winning so they don't need another accolade.
I just hope that there really are some quiet achievers who have worked hard in the list.
But there was another award handed out on Friday. It was the "Australian of the Year" award and it was shared by two men who do deserve it. They were the Downunderites who risked their lives going into the Thai cave to rescue the football team last year. I am sure anyone reading this will know the incident I am talking about.
One of the two men is a resident of this state and I liked what he had to say. He wants children to go out and graze their knees and stub their toes and for parents to stand back and let them. In other words he wants children to be active - and be free to be active. He wants them to explore the world. He has acknowledged the need to take risks.
It is a topic which came up recently. A mother of two primary school aged children said that she would like her children to be able to do that sort of thing. "But if I do then I risk being reported for neglect."
And she does. The district she lives in is full of earnest middle-class parents who would see as much as crossing a quiet suburban street alone a risk. Any child walking to school alone would be considered "neglected" and "at risk". Riding your bike up and down the street, on and off the gutters, in circles and at speed is not done. Climbing a tree is right out. The idea of exploring a cave is something not to be contemplated.
Well, perhaps we should be contemplating some of those things. Perhaps we should have the first aid kits ready. Perhaps we should be prepared for the trips to the emergency department of the local hospitals. It probably won't happen. We will go on neglecting children's imaginations in order to keep them "safe".
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2 comments:
See below comments. Honors List implies that someone out side Australia is judging who is worthy.
Seriously?
Naming your own people of the year is much more important.
Same comment as before Holly. Australian Honours are bestowed on Australians by Australians. They can, very rarely, be bestowed on non-Australians but this will be done on the recommendation of the government of the day. Nobody outside the country has anything to do with it. The same is true of a number of other countries.
Ciaran
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