In nearly four decades in the media, Grubsheet has encountered hundreds of interview subjects yet few made such a lasting impression as Nancy Wake - the French Resistance heroine who has died in London at the age of 98. No superlative does justice to the unstoppable force of nature that was Nancy, even in her twilight years. To anyone who met her, … [Read more...] about #41 VALE THE WHITE MOUSE
#40 HEAT AND LIGHT ON FIJI
Regular Grubsheet readers will be aware of the occasional blows we trade with Jon Fraenkel - an academic who specialises in Melanesian affairs at the Australian National University. Well, here's a chance to hear us go head to head on the ABC Radio National program, National Interest. It's a spirited debate on whether it's in Australia's national … [Read more...] about #40 HEAT AND LIGHT ON FIJI
#39 WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA
In a jungle clearing on a rocky outcrop in the Indian Ocean named after the most joyous event on the Christian calendar, a gaggle of Darth Vader lookalikes armed with batons and riot shields prepares for a decidedly joyless battle with unarmed men, women and children. Seventy Australian Federal Police officers are on Christmas Island to enforce … [Read more...] about #39 WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA
#38 TRIBUTE TO A GRAND LADY
Margaret Olley had a big weekend by anyone's standard, let alone for an 88-year old. On Saturday, Australia's Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, and her husband, Michael, brought around a picnic hamper for a lunch that extended through the afternoon, as others joined the gathering. And all weekend, The Grande Dame of Australian art shuffled about her … [Read more...] about #38 TRIBUTE TO A GRAND LADY
#37 PEOPLE TRADERS OF THE LEFT
There's something deeply disturbing about the way in which the left faction of the Australian Labor Party has accepted the shameful five-to-one people swap that the Government has struck with Malaysia. Never mind the one sided nature of the deal, which sees Australia ostensibly rid itself of 800 "illegal" refugees who paid people smugglers to come … [Read more...] about #37 PEOPLE TRADERS OF THE LEFT
#36 SINISTER SIDE OF A SOAP OPERA
There was many a bleary eye in the Antipodes the morning after the night before of Rupert Murdoch's extraordinary appearance before a House of Commons select committee investigating the phone hacking scandal that has gripped his global empire. It was certainly a strange experience for Grubsheet as we struggled through the driving rain in Sydney to … [Read more...] about #36 SINISTER SIDE OF A SOAP OPERA