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Out of Africa ..... and into our hearts
MEET THE NEWBERYS
Ever met a couple and thought 'hope we get to know them better' ? Well, that's how you would feel about the Newberys. Before you know anything about them, you sense their strength - mental, physical and moral - happy and loved faces show their joy in life and each other through 30+ years of marriage. If only Australia wanted them as permanent Australians! Blows me away that we can fill the city halls on Australia Day with pledging folk but there is no seat for Peter and Sara Newbery. Why? The answer is not very palatable to me and maybe not to you either.
The Newbery's have a heap of strikes against them.
- They are achromatic, for a start.
- They speak English as a first language
- They have two tertiary educated children neither of whom are in a gang
- The Newberys do community volunteer work and don't want anything in return
- They don't send their earnings out of the country
- Their old home in Zimbabwe exists no more
- No one knows what religion they follow, if any
- They are disgustingly healthy, fit, hard working and in their mid fifties
So you can see, undesirable types NOT! Australia graciously allows them to stay here on renewable visas as long as they pass the medical each time. Get a FAIL and back they have to go to Zimbabwe even though they have private health cover! How's that for a Damocles sword? And that's not all Australia demands. Having built their lovely 
home (a Mike Murray of course) and developed and built a new & essential industry for the Agnes Water 1770 area, they can some day retire if they wish but then they can only sell their business to an Australian, not any one else. Gee, that sounds like giving them a fair go, doesn't it?
Peter and Sara first visited Australia in 1998 on holidays with their son then returned in 2002 to get their son Nick established at University here. On March 1st 2004 they returned, hopefully forever, to this land of freedom, stability and safety. They toured 15,000 kilometres around the country to be absolutely sure that a little Queensland seaside village they had spotted, was really the place for them. So they bought a parcel of land in Agnes Water and settled into becoming part of the community and learning about the business opening they had researched as being essential for this area. How right they were! And how did they do it? For that story, see the hydroponic farm.
I know for an absolute fact that you can buy vegetables in Agnes Water supermarkets. With only some exceptions (and those have a rather hefty price tag), they range from reasonably fresh to 'past first flush of youth' to 'elderly' and herbs are just a fond memory lurking behind softened cellophane veils. I am told that the managements believe locals and tourists will not pay the prices for fresh produce. Wanna bet!?! Anyway.... So the Newberys saw the opening and put their money and their backs into gear to fill the void. Almost every restaurant and eatery is now a client of theirs and they provide an essential stall at the Sunday markets here plus offer a drive-in selection 5 days a week. and once you have tasted their herbs, or their tomatoes for example - bloody marvelous! (For my dear American readers - allow that naughty word 'bloody' it's really an adjective of endearment here. )
But before you start thinking Sara and Peter are paragons of 
virtue, let me set the record straight. They make very disparaging remarks about their good old Ozzie soil at Agnes Water. I suspect that is really why they choose hydroponics! Apparently the clay is utterly devoid of all nutrient and wouldn't qualify even as land fill. I noticed however that Cassie, their absolutely adorable daschund, had no such disparaging view and enjoyed her roll as much in the clay as she did her lizard hunt in the luxurious mint patch. Imagine Cassie having to be taken back to Zimbabwe - probably to be eaten with a mint sauce!
Folks, I am not really sure how one legally gets the Department of Immigration to reconsider their verdict such that Peter and Sara could become permanent Australia citizens. I know that when there is a fire in this region, Peter is on duty long hours with the other firies. I know if any one needs a fire permit, he is on call every day except Sundays. I know that Sara along with other committee members voluntarily mans the Miriam Vale Heritage Museum and she knows more about Australian history than Robert Hughes. And I know Australia needs Sara and Peter and more people like them. So I am going to write to our Federal Member and ask for his support and I hope you will also, if you agree. Or if you just wish to email me with your support for the Newberys please do and I shall include it in the submission from Agnes Water. With your support, the power of one becomes mighty and we can make changes for the better.
Nick Newbery, Eloise (nee Newbery) and her husband Graham, Peter, Sara and Cassie at home in Agnes Water for Christmas 2005
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Thursday January 4, 2007 Mugabe lets white farmers back in bid to ease food crisis
President Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe, which has mounted a six-year campaign to seize white-owned farms, is poised to allow hundreds of white farmers to return to their land as the country faces starvation and economic collapse. "There could be some 300 whites back on farms by the end of next year," government land adviser Sam Moyo told the Guardian. "Most of them will be running commercial farms." In July 2005 Mr Mugabe declared that his land reform policy would be complete only when there was "not a single white on the farms". But a contracting economy, hyperinflation touching 1,100% and food shortages have forced the authorities to allow some interested whites to return. _____________________ I have two questions : 1. Who is going to believe Mugabe this time around ? 2. Doesn't Mugabe know you aren't allowed to say folks are white or black or peacock blue? But then, he didn't know about the no murdering of folks rule either... _____________________
The Conspiracies of Multiculturalism, The Betrayal that Divided Australia Australian author, Greg Clancy has written a book that all Australians who wonder what's gone wrong over the years should read.. The Conspiracies of Multiculturalism, The Betrayal that Divided Australia “…Throughout the brief history of multiculturalism in Australia, important decisions on the policy have been effected by politicians influenced by minority group interests….What do other citizens with concerns on the social environment really think about multiculturalism?.,.. In February 2006, the Nine Network's television program A Current Affair conducted a viewer poll asking: Do you believe Australia 's policy of multiculturalism should be changed? Of the 35,000 respondents, 93% replied “yes”… Prior to 1970, Australia entertained core social values similar to other English-speaking and European nations. Following the introduction of multiculturalism, Australia 's changing core values underwent a profound mutation…” THE ENIGMA OF MULTICULTURALISM foreword to the book by Greg Clancy The Conspiracies of Multiculturalism, The Betrayal that Divided Australia. “… Prior to 1970, Australia enjoyed a social contract – a general community acceptance of rights and responsibilities. Multiculturalism has destroyed this balance and the nation no longer enjoys the benefits of an established basis for the expectation of equal treatment under accepted laws. Until a genuine social contract is reinstated, community standards will be subject to arbitrary and possibly inappropriate rules of behaviour from the forces of selfishness and disunity. The nature of multiculturalism's objectives will ensure that an acceptable social contract is not possible under its prevailing influence…. The purpose of this book is to highlight the reasons why the policy of multiculturalism has both failed and betrayed Australia . A failure is usually repairable, a betrayal is not …” |
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