Lifeline’s 50th anniversary

The phone used to take the first Lifeline call in 1963.
The phone used to take the first Lifeline call in 1963.

Went to 50th anniversary of Lifeline, for ex-Lifeline vollies. I was involved for a year in the early 2000s. It was harrowing, once took 4 suicidal calls in one shift.
John Brogden is Lifeline chairman and credited the organisation with saving his life. He was Opposition Leader, with a chance of being Premier, and had had a quick rise to the top. But suddenly everything seemed grim and suicide seemed like the best choice.
Another bloke, Ivan Reicheit, 96, was with the original Lifeline team and recalled how he went out with the Trouble Team (when Lifeline rushed out to stop people jumping off the Harbour bridge). “We got to a man’s house and he was flat on the floor and we couldn’t get in. Luckily, a kitchen window was slightly ajar and I prised it open and climbed over the sink. He was a mature man who owned several menswear shops and he’d lived with his mother, who’d recently died. He said, “You men have everything.” But Ivan said they felt they were nobodies, next to this successful businessman. They waited with him until an ambulance arrived.

Continue reading Lifeline’s 50th anniversary

Geoffrey Robertson re: Mea Maxima Culpa doco

Went to see human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson give a Q&A at the Dendy cinema after the screening of Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God. Robertson is in the doco and wrote a book: The Case of the Pope: Vatican Accountability for Human Rights Abuses. He studied law at the University of Sydney and his first writing was for the SULS magazine, Blackacre.

Continue reading Geoffrey Robertson re: Mea Maxima Culpa doco

Mardi Gras Museum – Mazz Image

Had the most brilliant evening at Mardi Gras Museum, seeing amazing Mazz Image. She talked about how her photographic technique is difficult to teach to others, as it’s mostly an inherent talent. She loves Sydney and will come back here permanently some day. She started off photographing whoever she found interesting.

AND the incredible Lance Leopard was there! We chatted about his writing and he’s planning to do something online. Oh, and the old columns he wrote, some I put online. He said his writing has changed after his near-death experience and he has to keep a close watch on his health etc. He’s very thin, but in good spirits.

Volunteer work over summer vacation

Am doing several visits to Juvenile Justice Centre (presenting 2 one-hr programs and helping out on other occasions), and, so far, one visit to help the homeless.

And volunteered to help 12,000 prospective students with info about getting in to law at USyd.

All good experiences.

 

USyd interfaculty boxing

Went to boxing last night to see Law faculty v Medicine and support the nascent women’s boxing. There was a big push to get women permitted to box at uni, and it was only allowed a couple of years ago. There was a bout on the program, but it was cancelled as one of the competitors told me she was still a novice, so she came along and watched.

Each bout was 3 rounds and the winner was decided by audience cheers. There were a lot of people from St Johns and St Andrews, so it was a bit of a popularity vote, except when there was a Mike Tyson-like crowd pleaser.

There were four trophies presented by proper judges/coaches at the end — St John’s won overall. The older coaches and the bloke MC and referee were all out of the “Rocky” movies — such characters and clearly devoted to boxing. You could tell they love it.

It was amazing to see the big boxing ring in the Manning Bar — last event I went to there was Club Arak, wearing a burqa.