Shaggy Dog Comments...

Issue 734

Shaggy is a little shocked by the vehement opposition to boat people from many fellow Australians. There's some irony in the fact that while Australian embassy officials are pleading to be allowed into Afghanistan, where the lunatic Taliban regime has arrested Australian aid workers for proselyting (ie preaching Christianity), the Prime Minister is refusing to let people who've fled Afghanistan into Australia. Thankfully, the Taliban have decided to be a little more charitable than immigration minister Phillip Ruddock.

This is the story of an unscrupulous people smuggler and a boatload of 340 immigrants dumped on an island off the coast of Australia. These people were promised paradise and paid good money for a new life. A few months later, they were dying of disease and starvation. Thankfully, the leader of the country took pity on them and allowed them into Australia, despite community opposition to the decision. But with an election looming, he sent them to live in rural NSW, hoping that out of sight would mean out of mind to a worried electorate.

No, these people were not from Afghanistan, Iran or Iraq. It was 1881 when 217 Italian survivors from the infamous Marquis de Rays' ill-fated voyage arrived in Sydney. While Phillip Ruddock would have insisted we call them illegal immigrants, Colonial Secretary Sir Henry Parkes showed compassion in rescuing these people from the hell hole of Cape Breton, in Rabal, PNG. Of course he could have argued that it was up to other nations to deal with the problem – the voters would have approved. Instead, more than 20 of those families headed North, and founded a settlement they dubbed New Italy, just south of Woodburn. It prospered for many years as we formed a nation and moved into the 20th Century, producing wine and even award-winning silk. Their extraordinary legacy survives in upstanding community leaders with names like Pezzutti, Nardi and Pagotto, and the proud Italian history of the region. And if Sir Henry had listened to public opinion at the time, we would have left these people to die. In small decisions, we change the course of our nation's history. And the wrong decisions shrink the spirit of a delightfully mongrel nation.

Since World War II, more than 600,000 refugees have fled to Australia. Around 200,000 came from war-ravaged Europe, then in the 1970s it was the Turks, Cambodians and Vietnamese. And as Zanetti points out, 213 years ago we whitefellas were all boat people to the Aboriginal inhabitants.

At the last council (who says it's not fun), Cr Frank Swientek was complaining about what he perceived as a lack of commitment to Lismore by Southern Cross University. After all, Cr Frank argued, the uni decided to base its Marine park school in Coffs Harbour (where there are marine parks off the coast) rather than Lismore. We can only assume he had some grand vision of using the new swimming pool as the training ground for the students.

In last week's front page story about the Alstonville Health, Wealth and Food Festival, journalist Dave ‘Not my real name' Fawkner made a few boo-boos which we'd like to correct. While Sharon Lee is indeed a fantastic promotions person, her company is actually called Amazing Promotions. And heavens above, Barbara Moston is actually manager of Southern Cross Credit Union, while Stephanie Willacy comes from Traditional Medicinals in Keen Street, Lismore. Apologies to all concerned. We plan to double, or halve, our hack's medication, depending on what seems to work best.

The staff of Which Bank in Ballina decided to do their bit to support last Friday's Daffodil Day. But instead of saying it with flowers, they made a donation to the Cancer Council after colouring their hair yellow – with a little help hairdresser Leonie Gates.

The staff of Which Bank in Ballina decided to do their bit to support last Friday's Daffodil Day

The three day Centenary of Federation ride from Lismore to Murwillumbah last week was a huge success, with 51 of riders taking part. George Parker (pictured) and his horse Masterpiece carried the commemorative envelopes marking the ride, while organiser Chris Allen had his own special connection with the re-enactment. Chris is a descendent of the first postman, Jimmy James – known as Jimmy Two Times by local Aboriginals.

The three day Centenary of Federation ride from Lismore to Murwillumbah last week was a huge success