Love thy Neighbour, and Blame others

“Love thy neighbour as they self”or blame others and not thy self – taken from a Gospel reading

Years ago when I was a member of a debating team, when we visited Pentridge Prison in Melbourne Australia for a debate and compete against a team from the prison. After the debate we had super and Cuppa with the inmates.

I remember how it astounded me that none of the inmates ever accepted the blame or the guilt of what they had done or committed. In one Case a chap when asked what he had done replied “Awe! I just borrowed a mates boat” I asked “What was the crime in that” He answered “I took the boat for a drive from Lakes Entrance to San Remo and they (Being the Police) were waiting for me there” It turned out the mates boat was a deep sea fishing trawler.

My question is ‘Why can not people see their own faults yet are quick to name some else’s faults” either in their actions or in a conversation.

Every one has faults we all acknowledge this factor, but the honesty with ones self in self admitting one mistakes or errors seems to me to be a very difficult act to follow, especially when one may not be aware that such an act or fault has happened.

As Children we all have broken something, and have learnt although sometimes even today we are sometimes scared to own up, or confess to the act, which may have been or was an accident or even a mistake.

Sometimes in our non acceptance of what we ourselves may have done it becomes very easy to find fault in others. Just as a child will run and say “Mummy Johnnie has broken the Vase” when in fact both children were at fault.

In loving one self we sometimes also forget that we maybe in fear, in anger, or in an anxiety state which will be or could be the tool which will prevent us communicating and accepting with in our selves which should be our own honesty factors. The fear, anger, or anxiety state may have nothing to do, but be in the background of ones mind, an example could be say “The emptiness of ones love life” Or “The fact there may be no money to get you through to next pay day”.

Yes it could be that the FAA factor(fear, anger, anxiety) is why many people will not accept their own mistakes, yet in their defense will find fault in others – either directly, or indirectly, thus making the saying “ Love thy neighbour as thy self” so hard to accomplish especially with out prayer and meditation.

The only antidote for FAA is faith in God.

A letter To Aust. Govt

In the early fifties I was lucky enough to study as one of my projects the ‘1928 depression’ Today unfortunately the world seems to be caught in a simular situation with no direction to get out or move forward.

In 1947 the then Labor Government commenced “The Snowy Mountain Project” which not only created employment for returning soldiers but was able to accommodate many unemployed Europeans. That project also created many new irrigation farms. It is my belief that this project prevented a major recession as was the case after the First World War. (1919 -1924)

Today, with the threat of depression imminent I believe it is now time to plan how to drive out of a depression, instead of trying to plug holes in what could be termed a collapsing wall. My suggestions are four fold.

1. International: – That the top 20 nations including USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, India Europe and Australia develop through the United Nations a way that all those nations such as The Philippines, Asia, (all sectors of Asia), Africa, and South America are supported against their extreme poverty and hunger. This could be a percentage of the profits of the economies and business houses belonging to the top 20 being milked and handed over to the United Nations for development projects. It must not be forgotten that the Second World War started because of the hunger and starvation of the German peoples, and can again be the case. But this time it could or may be the Taliban, or some such organisation (Praying to God that this may not be so)

2. National Service :- The implantation of all 18 or 19 year olds into twelve months service where training and providing services to our own indigenous natives can be part of a national scheme. Other avenues could be sporting, or international service such as the 1960’s “Kennedy’s Youth of America” program in Africa. This also could be an answer against the terrible drug and alcohol habits of that age group.

3. Water: – History has a habit being in a type of cycle and maybe a simular scheme as the Snowy scheme could be looked at such as piping the whole of the Murray Darling Irrigation network or even looking at supplying water from the North West to Perth and or across the centre of Australia to the irrigation plains of the Inland.

4. Drive a salt water Channel from Port Augusta to Lake Eye: – It is common knowledge that when Lake Eyre has water in it, that there is far more moisture driven across the plains to the western Highlands slopes of the Great Divide, and that the average rainfall does increase. When The lake is dry – droughts seem to prevail

These may seem wild ideas, but I can not see any correction, and or direction in the world economy for the next ten years. With out some massive programs being implemented to so drive the world forward, then maybe a depression is a good time to ‘clean the cupboard’ But there has to be something to put back in there after the cleaning.

Conversations at a Funeral

The other day I attended a funeral of a friend and afterwards apart from many other conversations had four in particular. The first one said “I will be seeing your eldest brother later today”. The group around me all laughed, saying Dennis is the eldest of the four brothers. The poor chap just did not know what to say and turned a colour of deep red, he was small in stature and became I am sure even smaller.

The second conversation was not as amusing, in fact quite sad, when I was being introduced to the circle one person asked “Are you related to James Troedel” I replied “Yes he is my youngest brother” They then asked what he was now doing and how was he. I answered “I am afraid I cannot answer your question, because I just do not know, even though I have offered invitations for him to join me for lunch, or even just a coffee, so that I could find out and so I could answer your question”.

The third conversation is even sadder. On when being introduced to a third chap later on when he was informed by the introducer that Andrew was my brother. This chap then looked at me and said at the same time “I am sorry your brother is a very dishonest and mean person”. Luckily for me I was already aware of what he was referring to, as some years ago his sister had told me the story of the incident. But what was I to say to this chap – What answer could I give him in front of the circle of people standing with their drinks in their hands around in a circle.

Being the eldest of the four and traditionally the leader, who takes on the mantel of the first born as in the English tradition of carrying on the family name to the next generation who also has feelings for the siblings whom he grew up with, has to take into account the good and the bad of what they have done in their lives. Therefore the act of leadership is to acknowledge the success, failures, and what actions they his brothers themselves have each created, knowing that they themselves alone must take full acceptance and responsibility for what they themselves have done, either honorably or dishonorably, irrespective of any generosity or pain that they may have created or caused to one or all of their brothers.

So what does one answer when such a statement is made, and you happen to be aware that the statement is true, because you already know that the track record of that one brother is one of dishonesty, meanness, and theft?

So what and how did I answer to the statement made about my brother? My answer was “I am sorry that you have had such a bad experience with him, but please realize that we are all not like him, That he has to answer for his own actions and deeds, maybe one day when the ferry man has to be paid that he will realize what a waste his life has been in trying to achieve the impossible through his dishonesty and of his actions”

Finally I met a 89 year old Lady, when being introduced to her she said “Dennis Troedel?” ““Are you really Dennis Troedel”? I answered that it is I. She then asked “Did I remember a Mrs. Black?” Wow! That was 65 years ago, my mind went spinning, and then suddenly I did remember her. She then went on to tell me about how Mrs. Black who had come from our family to look after her family could only say this Dennis Troedel did this, this Dennis Troedel did that! Everything was related to what I had got up to. Just what did I do to this elderly lady sixty odd years ago? I thought gee I did start early impressing ladies even when they were elderly and young child minders.

A sick Coincidence

Don’t know if this is just a sick coincidence , but….

2007 – Chinese year of the Chicken – Bird Flu Pandemic devastates parts of Asia
2008 – Chinese year of the Horse – Equine Influenza decimates Australian racing
2009 – Chinese year of the Pig – Swine Flu Pandemic kills hundreds of people around the globe.

Has any one else noticed this? …

It gets worse next year… 2010 – Chinese year of the Cock – what could possibly go wrong?

After the Australian budget it could be the Big Australian Cock-up or could it be even bigger :-
The big World Cock-up?

Pratt & Visy Board – a history of trading

THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY AND HOW THE MARKETS CAN CHANGE
As a salesman selling label printing to packaging buyers in the sixties I often shared the waiting rooms with the now late Richard Pratt. In particular for three years nearly every Tuesday morning, we shared the same circuit, with us both having our first meeting at the Heinz factory in Dandenong, then to Burwood to the Biscuit maker Brockhoff’s. So in and over many conversations we got to know each other reasonably well.
In those days Richard Pratt when he took over the business of Visy Board from his father The late Leon Pratt, were buying their paper stock for corrugated board manufacturer from the then APM. It is believed that even today they Visy are by far the largest and biggest buyer of paper stock from the company. In those days loyalty, and support for each other were common amongst suppliers, and APM assisted Richard and Visy Board in the early seventies in getting his business moving forward.
In the late seventies and early eighties Visy board saw the opportunity to supply the fruit, and vegetable market, with corrugated cartons instead of wooden boxes. They expanded through the early eighties in having supply points throughout Australia, where ever there was a need such as the Riverina where fresh fruit and vegetables were being produced, they supplied printed boxes, but also large corrugated bins for bulk products such pumpkins. As I believe Richard was astute enough to see where his market expansion really was. APM stayed with the servicing the manufacturing market basically within the industrial zones of each capital city. The then directors of APM then started in the eighties of taking over other companies including the Paper making facilities of APPM (Australian Pulp & Paper Manufacturers) which was at the time enjoying huge expansion due to supply of paper to offices where computers were demanding paper reams for ink jet and Laser printers. They had taken their interests away from the basic interests of board production, even trying to move into international markets. Later on, they split the Paper making away by forming the business called Paperlinx. The board and printing divisions became listed as AMCOR.
In the late eighties Richard and his company decided to start a board making plant in the USA and took on the competition of New York State. This action upset the Americans, they in retaliation decided to move into Australia setting up a plant in Dandenong.
This American box plant in Dandenong in the early nineties started under cutting the market, with ‘E’ grade fourth and fifth generation recycled pulp corrugated board. This product was indeed of very low quality with no rigidity and little substance.
Also at this point the New Zealanders, decided to raid the Australian packaging market through Carter Holt Harvey and also set up in Australia.
By the mid nineties Visy board had also tied up the new expanding wine Industry, with cartons supply, including putting an ‘in line’ packaging box erection machinery from printed reels of corrugated board, into the bottling lines of Southcorp Wines, saving both man power and packaging costs. (At this point in history, Southcorp were exporting from Australia three containers to every other container of wine)
In the early nineties and throughout the nineties Amcor were in deep trouble with old out dated machinery, and plant. Their market place was in decline due to the constant closures of the Australian manufacturing industry, which since the early sixties has been closing down, or going off shore. They had divested the paper divisions, plus the competition from the new arrivals which were encroaching into a market where there was little room. The share price of Amcor was not looking strong, and the directors were looking for any way out.
They approached Richard Pratt and requested his help, especially where the American Box Company was concerned, which was also an annoying influence to the Visy board market. As those who approached Richard Pratt were basically the same people who twenty years earlier, had assisted his company in getting started, and because Richard is the type of person who would help anyone. Richard could also see it was better to have a true competitor, which was Australian, so no doubt accepted the offer or the proposition that was made to him.
As someone who was servicing the market with labels, and talking to buyers of packaging, up to the turn of this century, I can say that Visy Board never had need to increase prices in the supply of the packaging corrugated cardboard boxes, nor do I believe that was ever the case. If it were true I would be aware of it, from the many conversations with those many buyers of packaging. When you visit the same buyer so many times in a year, they do confide in you especially asking questions if they suspect something is or may be wrong with in the Industry.
On the other hand Amcor may have lifted their pricing, as they still had not improved the plant or equipment, their markets had disintegrated by the clientele of manufacturers who had either moved overseas, or had closed down. It is to be remembered that they never really had any need to approach Visy board, thus to do a deal with the end intention so to increase pricing of the end product, when it is believed that Amcor was the sole, or if not the major supplier of brown paper to their opposition – all they had to do surely was to increase the pricing of the base product which was supplied from Amcor to the Visy Company. The dilemma for the Amcor Directors is that Amcor was both a major supplier and in opposition to their main rival company.
The bottom line was that Visy board with Richard Pratt had identified the market changes, and set their course, and serviced into markets where there would be future expansion, whereas the Amcor directors not having grown up or had grass roots experience within the packaging industry, were asleep to the movement off shore of manufacturing clientele, or the closure of those plants which could not sustain a profitable ventures in Australian business.

It is little wonder that they the directors of Amcor turned on Richard Pratt and his company Visy Board in an effort to regain market share, by going to the ACCC. In an effort to justify the creditability of the ACCC it is a great pity that they the ACCC did not do more, with wider, deeper research into the facts of claims to the project, and the information before them. It is interesting to note that it has been suggested that the ex-director of now defunct Corrugated Box supplier, was in direct opposition to Visy board, is believed now to be the paid adviser to the ACCC. It is also rumoured that this adviser may have had very little lifetime experience within the packaging industry.
There appears that there has been dishonesty, greed, and maybe even threats made, so to try and in an effort to discredit a man whom has done so much in so many ways for the people of Australia without seeking credit or fame.
Richard Pratt is, has been, a true, honourable, and great Australian. Richard with his fine voice has been a friend, to so many in so many ways, so to accuse him of dishonesty, just portrays the small mindedness of those who are jealous, and envious of such a rich character, in the man such as Richard Pratt who always showed and gave you a fantastic smile. A smile one shall never forget.

out of ashes the new is born

Now out of ashes the new is born, and it is now time to look to the future, realising where all the good is, and where the positive can be found. Last Sunday, there was a unique Australian National memorial service, held in Melbourne Victoria, for all those who were involved, those who had lost everything, and those who have gone.
It was a wonderful service, because it brought together every aspect of Victorian life, and hopefully the real start of the “Interfaith” society of understanding in Victoria. Where all religions, faiths, and those people who now live in Victoria, Where so many people have come from every corner of the earth, to now enjoy the Victorian, and Australian lifestyle. Where people are equal no matter who or what they are.
This inter faith is the first step in understanding the faiths, habits, and traditions of all, no matter what their colour or creed maybe. There possibly is no City, or state in the world, other than here in Melbourne and in Victoria where the actions of the interfaith movement has become so positive. For people to try to understand each other, to love their neighbour’s, no matter what, is a big step forward, this has surely all come from the ashes.
Politician’s, and experts all talk about the their promises, and then there are those who question why, when in South-eastern Australia, over the years we have had a history of bushfires and fire storms, that we fail as a State, or a nation, to learn, heed, or understand the behaviour of a bushfire, and when the fire becomes a fire-storm.
Neville Shute in his 1955 Novel “The Far Country” when writing about the mountain cattlemen at the foot of Mt Buller, when one the men who was deep in the forest, but in a clearing, went to light a match for his cigarette. The match when struck flared significantly. The methane type gas from the eucalyptus gum leaf due to the extreme heat of the day was indeed high, so being the cause for the match to flare.
For a country to experience so many dry low humidity very hot days before that day of the fires, can only mean a extremely high eucalyptus vapour was going to be present throughout Southeastern Australia. In many ways, I am surprised that there was not far more devastation than what eventuated.
Because of distance and time from other parts, nations, and countries of the world, the Australian history has shown how as a Nation the people will band together, making sacrifices in helping others. This history from the time of the first settlers, including the two world wars has shown the unique Australian traditions of banding together as brothers, turning the bad into the good. So again in Australian tradition, this interfaith has awakened as one, we again become a close united team, all under the Australian flag fighting a war against the evils of nature and man kind. Yes from these experiences will be developed more world first break through, and better ways to understand so to be living in the Aussie lifestyle, all under one God.

The Aussie & the terrorist

A platoon of soldiers were patrolling north of Fallujah when they came
>  upon an Iraqi terrorist, badly injured and unconscious.
> 
> On the opposite side of the road was an Australian soldier in a similar
>  but less serious state.
> 
> 
> The soldier was conscious and alert and as first aid was given to both
>  men, the Platoon Leader asked the injured Australian what had happened.
> 
> 
> The soldier reported, 'I was heavily armed and moving north along the
>  highway here, and coming south was a heavily armed insurgent.' We saw
>  each other and both took cover in the ditches along the road. I yelled
>  to him that Saddam Hussein was a miserable, lowlife scum bag who got
>  what he deserved.
> 
> 
> He yelled back that Kevin Rudd is a bureaucratic, good-for-nothing,
>  left wing labour dickhead who knows bugger all about running the
>  country.'
> 
> 
> 'So I said that Osama Bin Ladin dresses and acts like a frigid,
>  mean-spirited lesbian!'
> 
> He retaliated by yelling, 'Oh yeah? Well, so does Julia Gillard !'
> 
> 'And, there we were, in the middle of the road, laughing, shaking
>  hands, When a bloody truck hit us.'
>
For those who do not know Rudd is our Prime Minister & Gillard is his deputy Prime Minister

Life in his hands

I have just finished a wonderful book “Life in his hands” by Susan Wyndham a true story of a Neurosurgeon and a Pianist. The neurosurgeon is the world famous Charles Teo, and the pianist is the late Aaron McMillan. This book I could not put down and in one incident on the operating table when removing a tumour of an apple everything goes wrong and then suddenly unexplained something happens where it all corrects and the operation proceeds to a excellent conclusion. Was this the power of God & prayer? Was it the power of faith? There certainly was no fear - I suggest to find the answer one should read the book.

Collusion – The Board game so where is the justice?

When two little boys are fighting or do something wrong and are naughty does a parent say ” Now Peter tell me all, and I will not punish you, and if you do tell me I will then punish Paul”  No way! but it seems that the if Amcor and Visy board were the naughty boys and in Collusion  on pricing then the parent being the ACCC should have never been and in no way been in Collusion with Amcor so to punish Visy board – The court case and the finding should be struck out and following actions which relate to evidence given in that case should be null and void on the grounds that the first case had no fairness to it and that two wrongs do not create a right.

It surprises me that a court case on collusion between two main suppliers Amcor and Visy which is against the law and taken to court by the ACCC should be ever allowed to proceed to a second stage on the evidence of the first case.

One would have thought if two Business organizations have broken the law or have believed to have broken the law then the ACCC should be, or should have taken both parties to court on the grounds of breaking the law.   After all which Business sought out the other Business and what were the reasons for such an action in the first place.  Could it have been that an American or a New Zealand Company was raiding and making inroads  into what really is a small market compared to overseas market places.  Or was it, or is it,  one Corporation using the ACCC to bring their major opposition to their knees.

So why should the ACCC be in collusion with Amcor to get a ruling against Visy Board?

Have not ACCC and Amcor broken the same collusion law in getting a ruling against a third party – being Visy Board?

So how can the first case be a court ruling in breaking the law by using collusion to gain a finding and then use that evidence in a further action against the head of Visy Board?   Something seems to be to be very wrong indeed and smells of a Kangaroo style action and victimization against a successful business person.

To create a second and further court case based upon the evidence given in the first court case where a penalty fine was awarded and paid, and not appealed against on the grounds of the collusion between the ACCC and Amcor.  Could it be that the ACCC knowing they are as guilty as anyone wish to end the Visy Board business empire so to justify their own actions?

Was not the ACCC set up to make sure fair play in the business community was the basis of Australian business? The ACCC  themselves  seem to have now forgotten what fair play really is.   Or is it something that is more vindictive and personal and that we the public are not being told about?

If any body out there knows anything and has read my earlier article would like to contribute to this blog please do so.

Recommended reading for every household !!

The Stranger A few years after I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mum taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger ….. he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries, and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the football and cricket. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn’t seem to mind. Sometimes, Mum would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home … not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My dad didn’t permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked … And NEVER asked to leave. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. If you could walk into my parents’ den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name? We just call him, ‘TV.’ He has a wife now. We call her, ‘Computer’.