Activism has shaped the course of history, no doubt about it. From the abolition of slavery to civil rights, feminism, and environmentalism, activism has been the driving force behind some of humanity’s greatest leaps forward.
But what happens when the battles are, for the most part, won? Here’s a controversial idea: some activists seem to hate a solved problem.
Activism thrives on causes, and without a cause, it seems lost.
Some people need conflict to feel alive, even if the conflict is self-made or artificial.
And some don't mind fighting battle for someone else if it avoids focusing on their own lack of purpose to channel all that restless energy into.
It is over 250 years since Captain Cook's discovery of the east coast of Australia and it's worth asking ... what was Cook doing here?
He certainly wasn't looking for Australia (or New Holland as it was then known) as Europeans had known it existed since the 1500's.
Like many other Europeans before him, Cook was searching for the fabled land of Terra Australis.
When Captain James Cook set off in 1768 his mission was to go to Tahiti to observe Venus passing before the sun. Cook’s mission was one of three missions sent at the same time to observe the transit of Venus and it was hoped their data would help calculate the precise distance of the sun from earth.
But Cook was also given sealed instructions to be read only after his Tahiti stopover. When he read them Cook was told to sail south in the hope of discovering Terra Australis.
Read more: Captain Cook - I am glad you found Australia- Thanks mate
Few figures in maritime history are as polarising as Captain William Bligh. Often portrayed as a tyrant, Bligh's legacy is far more complex -marked by extraordinary navigation skills, fierce resilience, and a personality that clashed with the rigid hierarchies of his time.
From his harrowing open-boat voyage across the Pacific to his controversial tenure as Governor of New South Wales, Bligh's story is one of survival, controversy, and enduring intrigue.
Following is the story of Captain Bligh. The man who truly is a legendary figure.
Captain William Bligh is most remembered for the mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789. This dramatic event, where part of his crew led by Fletcher Christian seized control of the ship and set Bligh and loyalists adrift in a small open boat, has become one of the most famous mutinies in history.
Despite being cast off in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Bligh's extraordinary navigational skills allowed him to lead his crew on a 3,600-mile journey to safety in Timor, with minimal supplies and no maps. This feat is often regarded as one of the greatest survival stories in maritime history, although his strict leadership style remains a point of debate.
Read more: Captain Bligh: The Misunderstood Mariner Who Shaped Naval History
Australia's Outback has a new menace, and it's not venomous snakes or drop bears - it's a rogue kangaroo infected with the so-called "Woke strain" of COVID. Dubbed the Rooganic Plague, this overly conscientious marsupial has been hopping through bush towns, canceling hunting parties, demanding vegan alternatives to dog food, and holding impromptu sit-ins near waterholes.
Locals were calling it "Skippy meets social justice on steroids," but it has suddenly turned dangerous.
Yes, folks, a giant Kangaroo has been terrorising the residents of an isolated outback Australian Community and locals fear it is the first of a new super breed of Rogue Roos infected by a mutant strain of what is now being referred to as Rooganic Plague.
A devastating plague that could destroy Australia.... when our wildlife go woke,things are not going to end well.
Read more: Rooganic Plague: Woke Kangaroo Hops into Outback Chaos!
Now that the Woke Brigade are trying to cancel Australia Day, ANZAC Day and footie and cricket are off the calendar until everyone puts their heads on straight again, let’s look at really important stuff like bragging rights to Lamingtons.
For my many American readers, you may get a giggle out of this – after all, the East v West, North v South Rivalry has been on for centuries and is still a good “ go to place “ if you want a bit of friendly fun.
After all, we are kindred spirits - our Nations bound by inexplicable ties , that we may mock, but others better bugger off and stay out of – the British didn’t stand a chance when confronted with a United States of America - and the brave diggers at Gallipoli created a fighting Spirit that will endure forever.
But getting back to the Australia Day, ANZAC Day, Climate Change and Net Zero bullshit debacle.... we may fight as a united front in the face of adversity but when it comes to other matters of a more localised nature, it is a different story. Kiwis and Aussies fight over who owns the Lamington. Now, this folks, is important.
And, as Australia Day approaches, it is worthy of mention here on our very controversial blog. We tackle the big issues here.
Read more: Battle of the Sponge: Is the Lamington Aussie as "Mate " or a Kiwi Claim Jumper?
So many people from all walks of life have shaped our Aussie way of life, which makes us Australian, unashamedly and without apology. We were born out of true grit, sacrifice and reluctant citizenship in some cases, but our soldiers, our farmers, our women and our poets have celebrated the joy of being Australian.
We are from the land down under, and our poets’ voices still echo in the halls of our history and long may they do so. This is part of our celebration of the people who gave voice to being dinki-di, true blue Aussie. To Hell with those politicians and wimps who dishonour our ancestors.
With the wide brim of a hat casting a shadow over her face, Melania Trump became a symbol of quiet defiance and resilience. As First Lady, she stood poised under relentless scrutiny, shielding herself with elegance while the world dissected her every move.
Beneath that brim, however, was a woman navigating a storm of outrage - her husband vilified, her privacy invaded, her life turned upside down. Like the hat that shielded her from the glaring gaze of the media, Melania’s understated strength became her armour against the enemies surrounding her.
Thrust from a life of quiet luxury onto the world stage, Melania Trump has faced a whirlwind of scrutiny, controversy, and personal sacrifice as First Lady.
Watching her husband endure relentless criticism, seeing her private life splashed across headlines, and navigating the invasive pressures of the White House, Melania’s journey was and is one of amazing and quiet defiance.
And she is back. About to once again face the monster that is the modern media.
Read more: Beneath the Brim: Melania Trump’s Quiet Vengeance and Shield of Elegance
As Australia Day approaches, I cannot help but cast my mind back to when ANZAC Day was subsumed by the Coronavirus lockdown and we were denied the right to celebrate it and honour our Diggers in the usual way by government decree.
It looks like this 26th of January may subsumed by the furore of the leftist activist minorities, aided and encouraged by Corporate Australia and even some of our politicians and local lcouncils. Hopefully the tide is turning.
Either way, we are still getting the usual collection of the bearded unwashed telling us how wrong we were/are for participating in any war because we should be celebrating peace and that, instead of celebrating Australia Day, we should be hanging our heads in shame on " Invasion Day. "
The stillness of Melbourne’s coastal waters was shattered on two momentous occasions in history, as the first angry shots of war reverberated from the Point Nepean battery, marking Australia's entry into both World War I and World War II. In August 1914, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany, a single shot fired from this battery ordered the German vessel Pfalz to halt, preventing its escape and asserting Australia’s resolve in a conflict that would engulf the world.
Decades later, on September 4, 1939, Point Nepean once again roared to life, targeting the Australian freighter Woniora to enforce wartime protocols, symbolising the nation’s steadfast commitment to its allies in the shadow of global turmoil. These fiery salvos, echoing across Port Phillip Bay, were not just acts of defense - they were declarations of a young nation’s place on the world stage, its shores braced for the storms of war.
Australians are buzzing with excitement as they join their American friends in celebrating the triumphant return of President Trump to the White House.
As two nations forged from humble colonial beginnings, Australia and the United States share a bond rooted in resilience, independence, and a shared love of freedom. A pity our recent governments have buggered it all up.
Still,hope is on the horizon.
From the sunburnt plains of the outback to the rolling heartlands of America, this celebration resonates with people - and even animals. Frogs are croaking their joy from billabongs, and kangaroos are bounding in jubilation, symbolising the shared spirit of optimism and unity that ties our two great nations together.
While some our politicians may not share our enthusiasm, rest assured that the average, ridgy didge Australian is looking forward to the return of sanity to America.
One such community, in the Australian Outback, has even got its very own ambassador heading to Washington on a locally built bi-plane. Don't believe me? Well read on and be amazed!
Few figures burn as brightly as Queen Boudicea, the fierce and indomitable leader who rose from tragedy to challenge the might of the Roman Empire.
Driven by a relentless love for her people and a thirst for justice, Boudicea united the fractured tribes of ancient Britain in a passionate fight for freedom.
Her story is one of defiance, resilience, and an unyielding spirit - a testament to the enduring power of patriotism and the human will to resist oppression.
Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni, based in what is now Norfolk/Suffolk in eastern England, stood before the might of the Roman Empire ~ 60-61 AD.
Since Emperor Claudius's invasion in 43 AD, the Romans had established control over Britain, bringing with them advanced equipment, military tactics and infrastructure. Yet, Boadicea’s stand against tyranny and unwavering commitment to her people, ignited a spark of resistance.
Read more: Queen Boudicea: The Fiery Warrior Who Defied an Empire in Defense of Her People
Around 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth formed as a hot ball of molten rock created from gases released by the Sun.
Over time, its surface cooled down and solidified into a rough crust, constantly pushed and reshaped by molten rock (magma) beneath it.
Volcanoes breaking through the crust released water vapor into the atmosphere, eventually condensing into rain.
That rain collected in low areas, forming the oceans. Water from comets that struck Earth also contributed to that process, which was essentially complete by about 3.8 billion years ago.
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