Still Waiting for a ruling government

Five days after Australia's Federal elections - still a hung Parliament with 72 seats each to Labor and Liberal National Coalition. Final outcome relies on one seat yet to be finalised, one Green, three undecided Independents, plus Andrew Wilkie (former intelligence analyst).

Voting Day in Australia

After a rainy day yesterday, today is fine and dry. The sun is shining and temperature is about 22-23 degrees in Brisbane.
David and I went to do the grandparent 'thing', cheering grandson Jaeden's rugby team at Bayside (30 minutes)from home. It was an enjoyable game even though only five of the team could make it to the field.
We passed several polling booths on the way back home via our local booth. The atmosphere was very peaceful, calm and special. Its like a special personal moment to express oneself politically. It was done with dignity and respect for one another. The diversity of individuals stood out but all united by the common sense of citizenship of this peaceful democratic country, Australia.
Long live the democratic process. In six hours time we will know who will be the new leader for the nation. Meanwhile, peace prevail around the nation. Vi'ia le Ali'i.

Meripa

4 days to go to Election in Australia

The race is on. Who will win? Gillard or Abbott? Who will I vote for? Well whoever I think will act on the priority issues that I support. As my reading on the global wall indicates another global financial crisis is imminent, I will vote in the leader who knows how to strengthen the Australian economy - keep the surplus and GDP stable etc. Climate change is another priority issue that will decide my vote. It is time the developed economies of the world put money into real policies that will develop clean energy industries. Copenhagen 2009 was such a disaster. Australia can take the lead as a middle power.
The leader that I vote for will be someone who cares about all Australians from the unborn to the elderly and exhibits appropriate policies.

Happy Voting

Meripa Weir

A Candle for Justin

As the candlelight vigil planned on 'mental health' that we were supposed to attend is not on due to the rain, David and I will burn a candle tonight for our son Justin.
The message we were going to give at the vigil is that politicians in this country ought to wake up to the urgency of mental health problems that is having a crippling effect on Australians of all ages.
As our loved one is a victim of drug related mental health problems, we have experienced the pain and suffering associated with incarceration,without appropriate therapy for underlying addiction. We have sat through many court appearances but the worse thing is the struggles by the mentally ill 'loved one' to make a life back in the community. With mental health problem at an advanced stage, complications suffered because of medication therapy for severe depression and psychosis, attempts to commit suicide are the norm.
We agree with the thinking that illicit drugs must be treated as a mental health issue and this ought to lead to early mental health interventions at school age, teenage, young adult and immediate post school years which are at risk and vulnerable periods of a person's life. We believe if there was appropriate services available to respond to underlying problems that drives a young person to find solace in illegal drugs, then our son may have been prevented from sliding down the road to "hell".
There need to be positive a comprehensive approach to respond to care for the person totally. This is difficult to achieve by the current medical/psychiatric model.
Whilst we could identify with the pain and suffering of loved ones and their families as shown by the ABC Four Corners program titled "Hidden Voices" Monday 9/8/10, we felt the problem of drug related mental health problems was not addressed and therefore early interventions that do not embrace the illicit drug issue is bound to fail the younger population of Australions.
We believe that illicit drugs must be treated as a mental health issue in this country and anywhere around the world.
If australia wants a healthy workforce to build its future, then the issue of mental health must be given the same weight as physical health. This is the best way to ensure Australia's future. Mental health is a priority NOW!
we burn our candle tonite to remember thousands of families who have lost loved ones because of mental health problems. We burn our candle tonite to acknowledge the many thousands of families suffering the pain of 'a loved one' with a mental illness. We burn our candle tonite for a more compassionate response by politicians. We burn our candle tonite for our son who is suffering the pain of being mentally ill.
We pray that God will keep him safe and help him to look for solace in God's Grace.

Meripa

"Bullying" Image of Nursing in Samoa's hospital

Comment to Samoa Observer responding to editorial by Mata'afa K Lesa 'One of them Days'

Thank God Mr "Snap" didn't come to you Mata'afa. Just imagine if "he" did..you would still be feeling sorry for any consequent words and actions. But no..you knew better and your integrity is intact and journalism is better for it. On the other hand, we nurses feel very let down by a "bullying" image of nursing by one or two nurses(if the reports are accurate) when we work so hard to uphold the 'caring nature' of our profession. Every registered nurse knows they have a 'duty of care' to the 'patient' and their family, in this case Mrs Roberts whose 16months old son was receiving 'total care' at the government's main hospital. It appears that hospital policy and the need of mother to be close to her son was the issue. Hospital policy about prevention of cross infection ought to be equally reciprocated by adequate facilities for patient's family particularly in the case of sick children.The incident calls for quality review and improvement in hospital patient care.

Meripa Weir

Happy Birthday Fo'ilagi Leifi

Today 5/August 2010, my oldest sister Fo'ilagi Leifi celebrate her 67th birthday. Malo lava le soifua maua Fo'i. Tatou vi'ia le Ali'i ona o lona alofa e le uma ia te i tatou.
Well done to Fo'i's husband Hugo who went to Samoa and built a house for their grandkids at Vaivaseuta. Now Fo'i and Hugo's grandkids can visit Samoa as many times as they like and stay at their place at Vaivaseuta.
So at your 67th birthday it is indeed a great birthday present to have a place in Paradise Samoa for your grandkids to stay. The more visits the more they contribute to the economy of Samoa!
HAVE A GREAT BIRtHDAY SiS.

Alofa'aga

Meripa, David, Pou, Ioane, ma matou uma i Brisbane, Ausetalia.

Samoa a throw away society

Comments on Russel Hunter's editorial 'Samoa the throw away society' published Samoa Observer 26/07/10

Malo Mr Hunter. I’m sure Samoa does not want a reputation as “a throw away society”, but she needs to own up to her careless habit of throwing plastic bottles freely.
I suggest increase the cost of the product in the plastic bottle and increase rewards for returning plastic bottles to government runned designated collection centres in town and at all villages around the country. In this way government will ensure the infrastructure is in place.
What a great opportunity for income generation, behaviour changing and of course government will get the credit for being climate change oriented.
Another suggestion is that the appropriate department can run a national competition inviting the best ideas from the community – from primary schools, colleges, women’s committees, church groups, ngos, youth groups etc. I’m sure people have the solutions. It is just a matter of tapping into them.
Ma le fa’aaloalo lava.

Meripa Weir
(26-07-2010 05:36)