wallydownundy

In the land of November beach days, it’s not Thanksgiving today.

It’s just a Thursday in November and I am already at work.

There’s no steam in the kitchen as multiple pots come to boil. No one’s setting up the children’s table or ironing out Mimere’s lace tablecloth. There aren’t chores like shucking corn or stirring pearl onions or laying the fire. No one’s uncorking the wine or seeing if we remembered cranberry juice.

It’s all rather quiet.

I try to explain Thanksgiving but no one quite understands. What are Pilgrims? Didn’t you wind up killing Indians? Is it religious?

You can’t explain the conflicted thinking as you help yourself to a third serve of turkey - even though you were full after the first plate. You can’t explain the contentedness of being so squeezed onto a table three people need to pull out their chairs if you want to go to the bathroom. You can’t explain the wonderful incongruity of three generations together for one day a year - even if there are arguments. And you can’t explain why one woman…or two…or three…or some men…would cook for two days only to face a cavalcade of dirty pots.

No one understands Thanksgiving outside of America. And nowhere have I travelled that there’s been an equivalent holiday. It’s not like Christmas because you don’t have to buy gifts. It’s not like Easter because you don’t have to go to Church. It’s not like the Fourth of July because the weather keeps you indoors - all of you - and you have to wear nicer clothes. Plus they don’t televise football in summer!

Thanksgiving is a holiday completely unique in the world. And wherever I am I wish I was home.

Happy Thanksgiving. I miss you all!

Wally Down Undy

How did I do it? For the past three years I’ve maintained an active blog. I worked to provide updates three or four times a week. My Twitter account (PercepCounsel) has a fair number of followers. On LinkedIn my network is extensive. And around the world I keep up with families and friends on Facebook.

At least I used to.

In October I started a new job. I went from running my own company to leading the Sydney office of Fleishman-Hillard, a global public relations and public relations consultancy.

And time disappeared!

I think it’s the thrill of a new, meaty role. There are so many areas for a dedicated communicator to get stuck into here. The business is solid but is primed to grow. There are fantastic consultants who are keen to continue their professional development. And the client list reads like a “Who’s Who” of multinationals and leading Australian enterprises.

Plus at heart I’m an energetic, dedicated person. So naturally if I need to give a lot to my job I give more.

My good mate Sarah Reed once told me it’s all about pace. She worries I try to take on too much and try too much – and risk burning out. And like a lot of people I listened and thought it insightful – and chose to ignore her advice. Aren’t people grand?

So forgive me if the latest on WallyDownUndy is a week old. Or my Tweets seem stale. Or I haven’t replied to your update on Linked In or seen your video on YouTube. Perhaps I’ll launch a new site – www.AmThereInSpirit.com…

As an island nation Australia is bound to attract illegal immigrants via boat. Under Liberal leader John Howard mandatory detention of all refugees stemmed the flow. Under Kevin Rudd, the Labor government has softened the stance. And that’s lead to an influx of refugees.

In total the numbers are quite small. More visa over-stayers are already in the country having arrived by long-haul jet. Yet the dramatic imagery of small boats on massive seas filled with desperate people is ripe for national television.

This week the issue escalated due to a running issue and a new problem.

Today 78 refugees remain aboard an Australian Customs ship docked in Indonesian waters. They refuse to leave for fear of persecution under Indonesia’s shaky human rights regime. Another boat has 255 people seeking asylum in Australia. This is the long-running issue. Refugees have been aboard boats for three weeks.

Yesterday another boat sank in the Indian Ocean on its way to Australia. Twelve people are known to have died and another 11 are still missing. Opposition minister Tony Abbott blamed the Prime Minister for the deaths:

“You look at this terrible tragedy that’s unfolding in the Indian Ocean at the moment and you’ve got to say this is a comprehensive failure and it’s all the Prime Minister’s fault,” Abbott said in a radio interview.

Talk Radio is filled with views supporting a tougher stance – and others crying out for Australia to take responsibility for these people. By docking Australian flag ships off Indonesia and hoping to disembark their problems, the government is seeking to transfer ownership of refugees to Indonesia.

Clearly a regional approach is mandated – and Australia must play a lead role in directing policy and resettling refugees. When Hungarian children were evacuated in the 1950s amnesty by that country’s Communist regime they were greeted as heroes. When Vietnamese fled after the fall of Saigon they were welcomed – The Smithsonian Institute has one of the boats on display. Jews fleeing war-torn Germany were similarly shuffled from country to country – with one boat returned to Nazi Germany when the USA wouldn’t accept refugees.

The debate will continue for months to come. And in that period refugees will continue to attempt the water crossing to Australia. After covering rough seas in shoddy craft I hope they’re greeted with a sound policy and a welcoming government.