During the last two days, I’ve recorded phone interviews with individuals living and working in small, isolated rural communities – specifically, Bonnie Doon and Wycheproof. Quite by coincidence, the local population in each case is around 700. In both instances, the individuals I interviewed are involved with agencies delivering services to enable local residents to overcome some of the disadvantages experienced by those who live in small, isolated rural communities. I’ll broadcast the interviews on my weekly radio program.

My day started this morning listening to a radio news item about a motorist who travelled at 80 kph down Eastlink and Moorooduc Highway for about 50 km yesterday because his Ford Explorer was locked in cruise control and he was unable to stop his vehicle. This news item made me thoughtful because I also drive a Ford. I climbed into my car this morning and turned the key in the ignition. Nothing happened. The engine didn’t turn over. No lights flashed on the dash. Nothing. Nihil. Nada. Niente. Rien. I called the RACV. When the RACV van turned up, the serviceman said my battery was flat as a tack although it had given no hint of going flat in recent days nor had I done anything dumb like leaving the headlights on all night. So the question is: can I af-Ford to buy a different make of car ?

My Semester 2 results were emailed to me on Friday. I passed Indigenous Australians and Law as well as Advanced Research Writing and Advocacy. That means I now have twenty units under my belt towards my Law degree. If I can keep this up for another twelve months, I’ll complete my Law degree just before Christmas next year.

This week has been unbelievable. Last Sunday afternoon, I lead a defusing with an SES crew who’d attended a very unpleasant job the night before. On Monday afternoon I had coffee with a former colleague. On Monday evening I backed up another SES peer who was delivering the critical incident stress education package to a suburban SES unit. On Tuesday morning I had coffee with a former colleague followed by lunch with another. On Tuesday evening I hosted the Later Lawyers’ Network Christmas Party at a bar in the City. On Wednesday morning, I attended a Law Institute Executive meeting at 8am. On Wednesday evening I had a meal with a family member in Carlton. Yesterday I attended a Christmas function for emergency services peer support members in Jolimont. Today I had lunch with a former colleague whom I worked with in the 1980’s. Now that Friday evening’s arrived, I need a rest.

My SES unit conducted a tinshake at two major intersections today. By the end of the day, motorists had donated $10,300 to the SES.

I was interested to hear on the news this morning that the Federal Government is about to extend the income management regime from Indigenous Australians living in selected remote communities in the Northern Territory to most welfare recipients, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, across the Northern Territory. The income management regime, introduced during the Northern Territory Emergency Response in 2007, involves quarantining a percentage of each welfare payment (usually 50%) and restricting the use of that payment to basics such as food and clothing. An estimated 20,000 individuals will be affected by this change in policy.

A letter arrived from the university today. It contained the mark awarded to me for the moot court component of Advanced Research, Writing and Advocacy which I’ve been enrolled in during Semester Two this year. The result covered the written submission which I had to lodge ten days before the date of the moot court itself plus my actual performance presenting my case in Federal Court, Melbourne on 1 November. I scored 85%. I was quite pleased about that. Not too shabby, really ….

I’ve been revising the Northern Territory Emergency Response in connection with my forthcoming exam in Indigenous Australians and Law. There’s a lot of material on this topic and I’ve been slugging my way through all of it – numerous pieces of legislation; health checks on children in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory; increased policing levels; detection of sexual abuse; restrictions on alcohol; welfare payments made conditional on changes in behaviour; promoting increased school attendance and so on. I’ve read so much my brain hurts and I desperately need a good sleep.

I’ve just discovered what shape the examination in Indigenous Australians and Law will take. Apparently there will be four questions. Students will have to answer any two. At least I know what I’m up against now. A little clarity goes a long way.

I presented for my moot court yesterday afternoon in Federal Court in William Street, City. It went OK. I copped a few curly questions from the Bench (as I expected to) while I was presenting my submission. I had to think on my feet but I got through. Two of my colleagues had a much tougher time of it though, receiving a right hammering from the Bench. We’ll be advised of our results in about three weeks from now.