THE MALONEY SCRAPBOOK

  PROGRESSIVE PATRIOTISM (Written by Warren Maloney 18 May 2025) The re-elected Labor Government in Australia has adopted a slogan of "Progressive Patriotism" - It is a variation, I guess, of MAGA but is focussed on taking the middle ground of Politics and implementing " Woke " and DEI style policies, whilst pushing the Conservatives further Right, and the Greens further Left. It will be interesting to see how it works. The 2nd term Labor Government has the highest majority ever for a Labor Government, and for the 1st time in Australia's history, the majority of Cabinet members are Women and under 50 years of age.  Of course, I am very biased in my support for the above politically and patriotically. BUT it is interesting that when you travel you open up your eyes to other possibilities and achievements.  Karen & I " discovered " ICELAND in 2013. We wanted to go there because of its Crime Detective literature and the fact that everyone is known by ...

  Not Just Religion - The Papacy has always been a World Power (Written by Warren Maloney - 24th April 1975) Of course, it does not make sense that a Head of the World's smallest Country (in size and population) should have and still does play an immensely powerful role in World Politics. It has controlled at least 2 Empires, created umpteen Royal Governments, validated hundreds of Secular Governments, been at various times the Inquisitor, the Questioner, the Supporter, the Denialist, the Justifier of countless Governmental movements. Even today the welcoming Smile or stern Presence shakes public opinion of visiting Leaders. It motivates the most extensive delivery of aid, support, and education to the World's poor and disadvantaged. The Church, it notionally commands, is a political umbrella of the Far Right to the Street Libertarians to the Mystical Regressives to the most dynamic of social & scientific researchers. The Popes have of course varied from the scheming to th...

WHERE DID THEY PUT US ALL? (Written by Warren Maloney for the Brunswick Face Book Page on 5th January 2025) The 30s to 60s produced distinctive houses in West Brunswick - that copying of the Californian Bungalow look on the outside! But inside nearly every house was an overcrowded HOME where rooms were usually shared with 1 or more Grandparents (usually the house owners), 1 or 2 parents, at least 3 children, and perhaps Uncle Jack in the bungalow out the back. 1 bathroom, I toilet (usually out the back near the washhouse), 1 carpeted room hopefully kept clear of children for special Visitors (meaning the "lah-de-dah" relatives), linoleum-floored kitchen where everything happened, maybe a old chair or two on the front verandah ... and when TV came, it had pride of place in the "lounge room" (used to be Nan's bedroom). Wardrobes were free standing. The girls (or just Mum) had a "dressing table" - Dad had no bar fridge - he kept his "long necks"...

Commentary 17 - Reflections on Growing Old and King Lear (A thought email exchange with the Jackson Zoom Group - November 2023) Perhaps some thoughts if you are exploring what can be learnt from "King Lear" as you face Old Age in the Moment! The cutting through line is when Lear yells to the winds "  Nothing can come of nothing, speak again. Now Gods stand up for bastards! To have a thankless child. "  The Play can be seen on many levels - a simple tale of Father/Daughters relationship. Or as a provocation of Parent Control that even wants to extend through Legacy to continuing Control after Death. Or a dying power becoming irrelevant! Or the reality of life's ending when you have already forsaken a common morality of the next generation and an understanding of others' needs, and have unwittingly shaped the faults in your own children. Life finishes with some grasp of understanding by this " poor old man " but it is too late - " Speak what we ...

  Commentary 16 - The Waitangi Treaty (written by Warren Maloney on 6th February 2023) Today in NZ they celebrate with their annual public holiday based on the 1840 Treaty between the Maoris and the British, known as the Waitangi Treaty. There are many interpretations of the catalyst for the Treaty from fear of the French, to the rights of the Conquering British, to the failure to beat the Maoris in battles, to a special new approach influenced by the Protestant Missionaries. If you are interested , this is worth reading -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Waitangi The respect for the commitments of the Treaty has varied greatly over the last 182 years but it is fair to say that the respect is highest in NZ now and Maori Culture and Power is integral to NZ Governance. I raise this thought process for another reason as OZ this year will consider a Referendum to give our First Nations people a permanent and distinct Voice of Collaboration, a Voice (because of its Constitu...

 Commentary 15 - Thoughts on the End of a Queen (Bits & pieces from thought emails to Friends after the Death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022 - by Warren Maloney) (1) History continues to fascinate as we experience the first days of Charlie 3. It reminds me that in our Village of Daylesford there was apparently "great mourning" in January 1901 when Queen Victoria died - fountains were erected, streets were re-named, oak trees were planted, and there was a feeling that " Nothing would be the same ".  Of course, at the same time, Breaker Morant and a few of the Aussie lads, were boarding ships to fight the Boers (because Rhodes told Britain to do it). And at the same time we were moving long-range cannon to the mouth of Port Phillip Bay to prevent a Russian Naval Attack (I kid you not!). And at the same time, the dopey and overweight new King, Eddie 7, signed the act to nationalise (seperate) Australia, before he went back to his card playing. And at t...

  Commentary 14 - Perspective (Written 25 August 2022 by Warren Maloney) As bad as the loss to Collingwood was, and as deep as the dark gloom felt, perspective came when I was scanning some old photos and found this one of me in 1952 (70 years ago) in our West Brunswick front yard - sort of learning to "kick a torp". I realised how blessed I had been to follow Dad's team through lots of thin as well as delicious thick. 16 years after this kick, I saw my first blues Premiership and the decades following brought 7 more. Not enough I know...AND the thins were really thin! But from Johnny James through to Crippa, the Perspective feels good! Bring on 2023!

  Commentary 13 - NEVER COME BETWEEN CONSERVATIVES AND A GRASP FOR POWER (Written by Warren Maloney on 17th August 2022) It was revealed this week that the former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, had secretly had himself sworn in as Minister in at least 5 Major ministerial roles without telling the Ministers serving in those roles, hid Deputy Prime Minister, the Leadership of both parts of the Conservative Coalition, Department Heads, Parliament, the Security Agencies, OR the Public. It was agreed to secretly by the Governor General. Morrison said he only used the new powers once but this is still under enquiry. It effectively  moved Morrison to potentially more powerful than Parliament lied/failed to tell Parliament the truth lied/failed to tell his Political and Public Service Leadership lied/failed to tell the Australian People In Australia, and in the UK, the office of Prime Minister does not exist by Legislation or Constitution. It exists by Convention...

  JANUARY 1st Not only do we lesser mortals fiddle in our sincerity with New Year Resolutions BUT the higher echelons, our Rulers in Government, see the start of a New Year (particularly a New Century, as significant enough to make big changes. 1 January 1801 - Prime Minister William Pitt (the Younger) convinced the Catholic middle-class of Ireland to allow Ireland to join " the United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland ". Because the Catholics were for it, the Proddies were against it. But Nevertheless this Union came to pass and lasted until 1921. Not a bad Imperialist time span! 1 January 1856 - The vastly influential business community (read farms & hotels) of Van Diemen's Land were successful in changing the name to Tasmania, still recognising that the Dutch " discovered " the Island before the English, but showing the strength of the English as Queen Vic had to assent to the idea! It is fascinating to think that the good burghers were nearly all ex-Convict...

 NOT POSSIBLE TO LIVE AS AN ISLAND I have been working through a discussion with some Friends as to whether you can CONTROL your life e.g. Is the life of a cloistered Monk/Nun (no matter what religion) desirable or really possible? Can you ignore "Events" and substitute Self-Discipline, Ritual, Repetition, Simplicity?  The discussion began through meeting one of our local bush hermits - a Bloke who claims to have lived in the local Wombat Forest for over 10 years in a reclaimed mud-brick hut and surviving on bush tucker and what he can grow from the seeds he started with. Leaving aside my personal doubts about his total veracity, his lifestyle did open up a discussion which included no conversations, no sex with others, no links by printed or electronics, no electricity, no updating of clothes nor possessions, no need for appearance approval, little channge in diet, and so it goes. My World is so dependent on News cycles, virtual or actual interactions, endless reading materi...

 WAITANGI TREATY DAY (Thought piece written by warren Maloney on 6 February 2021) 181 years ago the British in New Zealand signed a treaty with Maori Chiefs (540 in all) to share Sovereignty in New Zealand.    Today the Treaty and the Understandings of sharing are still important in New Zealand. PM Jacinda announced yesterday that as from 2022, Waitangi Treaty Day would become a Public Holiday and that Maori will be taught as a 2nd language throughout Primary schools.    Sharing is a difficult concept of FREEDOM for most of us. We like to substantially Influence and Control. We like to OWN land, title, space, employees, servants, children. We like to pass on that OWNERSHIP to whomever we choose. Those feelings are not the province of one race but of most races.   On top of that we impose the pecking orders we have of Gender or Royalty or "Election", but especially the pecking order of HAVE against Have Not.   if all the above is too general f...

  THE POWER OF INDIA (Thoughtpiece prepared for an International Zoom Presentation by Warren Maloney on 19 January 2021) Yesterday, India achieved the unbelievable dream of beating Australia in Australia for the 2nd time in India's Cricket History. They won the 4 Test series (2-1) despite suffering injuries to 8 of their 11 players from the first test, despite having to choose young men with almost no Test experience, and despite playing against Australia's world leading bowling lineup. India with this win are now the No 1 Test Cricket Country in the World -  https://timesofindia. indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ india-in-australia/india- claim-top-spot-in-world-test- championship-table-after- historic-win-at-the-gabba/ articleshow/80345334.cms Why is that important or relevant? 50 years ago, India was a minnow in performance as a Cricketing Nation, despite Cricket being one of the 2 National games (field hockey is the other). But India turned to its strengths and planned and ch...

  ENGLAND'S EQUIVALENT TO DONALD TRUMP (Published on Facebook by Warren Maloney on 15th January 2021) To my mind, Henry VIII and Donald Trump are very similar characters of History. Admittedly, Henry could compose music and he prided himself on his lovely "turn of leg"; a nd Golf was not huge then, so jousting & hunting had to do. Still in the number of "wives", the ability to overestimate themselves, their tendency to spontaneously "fire" (read "behead" in 16th C), their dress sense, their attention to detail, and so on it goes! Well today in 1535, Henry went one better than Don and declared himself the Head of the Church in England (thereby firing the Pope), and started a very satisfying/fulfilling regime of taking over Church Property and taxing all Church assets. Now that is a source of revenue that seems to have been lost in the intervening time!

 THE TIME FOR RENEWAL AND REMOVAL IN THE TRUMP AFTERMATH (Email exchange of 10 January 2021) I am admiring the change in exchanges with my USA friends as the realisation emerges that this is a time for action and voice rather than withdrawal or genuflection. The USA came very close to the point of no return and as the information emerges of the intentions and preparations of so many of the domestic terrorists, there is that realisation of what was intended and what was encouraged, and who was inciting. My American Friends have educated me last year of the nature of America's social conservatism. But this I believe is a cultural change moment and the anger and intensity required now will, I believe, help the USA to move forward quickly. QAnon, Proud Boys, Religious Right have no place in the mainstream of USA politics. Trump, Ivanka, Junior, Rudi and the Clan will not become martyrs but will be the history measuring stones for the USA never to fall that low again. The Republica...

NOT NUMBERS BUT REAL PEOPLE (Posting of 16 December 2020)   As of yesterday, in just over 12 months, the numbers are for COVID -  Global confirmed cases: 72,912,822; total deaths: 1,622,654 (2.2%); total recovered: 41,331,840 (56.7%) 3 different vaccines being administered with discriminations over 6 countries Incredible numbers indeed, but it must never be overlooked that they are real people with real families.  Incompetent and Corrupt Leadership has played with their lives by tactics ranging from ignoring the problem, ignoring the science, ignoring the medical/hospital needs, ignoring the containment responsibilities, ignoring the need for International co-operation, and trying to justify the ignorance with concern for the hip pocket. The same type of "Leadership" continues into 2021 with an almost "religious" belief in the cure-all vaccines, the cure-all infrastructure spending, and the reinforced protection of the haves by letting the have-nots "eat cake...

 THE MALONEYS IN SHOW BUSINESS c. 1890 - The young performers known as “The Lenton Brothers” are the brothers, William Rory Maloney (1879-1900) and Ronald Francis Maloney (1882-1948). In 1905, they called their acrobatic and juggling act – “The Testro Brothers”, playing Vaudeville theatres and Circuses.  After Rory died, Ron continued solo – mainly as a Juggler and Clown. Then Ron met, wooed and married (1903-1905) the chorus girl, Ruby Cartwright (1885-1963), the daughter of the famous Frank Cartwright. They refined the act and became “The Tossing Testros”, Jugglers and Comedians, touring the World for the next 21 years. Ruby’s father, Francis Richard Cartwright (aka Frank Stevens) (1852-1899), was the consummate show business personality of his day – dancer, acrobat, circus clown, circus rider, ringmaster, sideshow entrepreneur, comedian and always the self-publicist.                But in 1899, his life ende...