Triumph And Tragedy
Newcastle Herald
Saturday December 23, 2006
WITH the dreaded hand of drought upon the land, Australians found reasons to rejoice in the rescue of two hard-hat heroes, the fortitude of the Socceroos and the restoration of the Ashes.
The big issues AS if warning us what lay ahead, the year dawned with the second hottest day on record. In 2006, drought tightened its grip on farmers and the economy. It was the year the weather gods went crazy, summoning Cyclone Larry in March to wipe out Far North Queensland's banana crop and sending prices soaring so high that we feared a banana-led recession.Global warming became accepted wisdom rather than just a wild-eyed notion promoted by green scientists. After failing to send a single minister to shake the paw of former US vice president Al Gore when he arrived to flog his climate change flick An Inconvenient Truth, in a poll-driven epiphany John Howard proffered $60 million for climate and clean fuel initiatives and insisted that Australia would not sign an international deal on emission reductions that did not include all nations. It was a bad year for boosters of the Iraq invasion as it became clear and certain we had lent our nation's good name to the greatest military misadventure since the Spanish Armada. The Cole Inquiry and the investigation into the death of Private Jake Kovco were sad supplements to the main event. By late November, Commissioner Terence Cole's report into the Australian Wheat Board's paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's mob would have as many as 12 former AWB executives facing possible charges. A military board of inquiry found that Private Kovco accidentally shot himself while "skylarking" in his barrack room on April 21, a finding that his family rejected.The US-Australian alliance's efforts to promote democratic principles as part of the war on terror were rendered increasingly hollow by the continued presence of Australian David Hicks as a guest at Guantanamo Bay where he has spent five years without facing trial. Australians, striving to remember why we invaded Iraq, watched non-plussed as petrol prices reached record highs prompting interest rate hikes to curb inflation.Fate extended a reminder of our own mortality when two of the nation's great adventurers Steve Irwin and Peter Brock died doing what they love best. Irwin, the wildlife warrior who turned his affinity for crocs and other critters into a global phenomenon, died when a stingray barb pierced his heart while filming on the Great Barrier Reef on September 4. Within the week, motor ace Brock had followed, the victim of a collision with a tree during the Targa West Rally in Western Australia. Joining them in the list of departed for 2006 were wine guru Len Evans, film critic John Hinde, the founder of the Democrats Don Chipp, rugby league's Steve Rogers, painter Pro Hart, architect Harry Seidler, journalist Richard Carleton, colourful character Abe Saffron, actor Belinda Emmett, entertainer Dawn Lake and coal miner-historian Jim Comerford.But it was two survivors who won the hearts and lifted spirits. A rock fall in Tasmania's Beaconsfield goldmine killed miner Larry Knight and trapped two of his workmates, Brant Webb and Todd Russell.The two were given almost nil chance of survival but the rescuers persisted. After six agonising days they were located miraculously alive. It would take another three days of painstaking digging to liberate the pair. The image of the two men walking free from their mine-tomb was flashed around the globe.The story of two ordinary blokes surviving against extraordinary odds touched the heart, particularly in the Hunter where mining and its dangers are too well known.What the pollies did JOHN Howard racked up his 10th year as Prime Minister which should have been reason enough to prod the Labor Party into a change of leadership. Instead, they had to wait until Kim Beazley had made one faux pas too many confusing TV presenter Rove McManus with Bush White House spin doctor Karl Rove to unload the Bomber and deputy Jenny Macklin in favour of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. Despite handing down his 11th budget, Peter Costello spent another long year cooling his heels as Howard drew what may prove to be a new map for succession, legging up Malcolm Turnbull as a parliamentary secretary with the important portfolio of water resources. At state level, the March 2007 election date looked a long way off but Premier Morris Iemma realised he needed time to fix the electorate's view of a chaotic transport system, the problematic Cross City Tunnel, a worsening law and order problem, an overworked health system and a complacent government. He should have told his team to get aboard the program.Instead, Police Minister Carl Scully was banished to the boonies after misleading Parliament over the Cronulla riots report, Local Government Minister Kerry Hickey was busted for serial speeding offences in his government car and Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Member for Swansea Milton Orkopoulos was arrested on child sex and drug charges. The Opposition might have trumped in, but leader Peter Debnam overplayed his hand in naming Attorney-General Bob Debus as the subject of allegations by a former convicted pedophile. In the regions, the rank and file was in uproar over head office's decision to snatch the pre-selection privilege from their keep.The money-go-round AS the resources boom continued to drive the economy, mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton cashed in with the latter banking a massive $13.7 billion profit.Not even the Hunter's coal exports could revive the state's sluggish economy as the resources boom in Western Australia and Queensland powered those two ahead of the premier state.Despite John Howard and Telstra chief executive officer Sol Trujillo not being on each other's Christmas card lists, between them they managed to get the T3 share sale up and running to complete the final chapter in the telco's protracted transition to private ownership. The Federal Government's shake-up of media ownership laws prompted James Packer to hive off half of Publishing and Broadcasting to a private equity group for $4.5 billion and Fairfax to stump up $3 billion for a friendly takeover of Rural Press. But the most contentious private equity play of the year was the Macquarie Bank-led move on Qantas, a drama certain to play well into 2007.Distractions IF it weren't for the exploits of a Portaloo plumber, the Australian film industry would have finished in the dunny. Kenny, a low-budget mockumentary starring newcomer Shane Jacobson, took almost $8 million at the box office and an AFI best actor award for its star.Rolf de Heer's indigenous language film Ten Canoes picked up six gongs including best film. Newcastle's Susie Porter was among the recipients, winning best supporting actress and best lead actress.The public coughed up more than $5 million to see Ray Lawrence's Jindabyne but the critics were not so kind, suggesting it wasn't a patch on his multi-award winning Lantana.Wolfmother, the rock band that redefined the term "derivative", cleaned up at the ARIAs along with Clare Bowditch, Bernard Fanning and Eskimo Joe. Reality television lived right down to expectations in providing further proof that public values are going to hell in a handcart when a Big Brother housemate was escorted off the premises for a stunt now known as the "turkey slap incident". Meanwhile, tiny tots were left pining for Wiggles member Greg Page after illness forced him to retire. His sacred yellow skivvy was passed on to Sam Moran. The internationally successful group earned $45 million last year.Playing the game AS an act of revenge Ricky Ponting's Ashes campaign was about as comprehensive as it gets. Australia had held the urn for 16 years; England's tenure lasted a mere 15 months. The best of five series was done and dusted in December as the second fastest century in Test cricket courtesy of Adam Gilchrist and the wicket-taking ways of Shane Warne gave Australia a 3-0 lead and the nation's cricket fans an early Christmas present.As the players scattered for the yuletide festivities, the news broke that Warne was pulling stumps on his illustrious career. With Glenn McGrath nearing retirement age, it left commentators wondering if Australia was set to experience the sort of slump that ensued when Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell announced their simultaneous departures. The AFL grand final was a replay of the previous year's thriller almost. The Sydney Swans and the West Coast met yet again but this time it was the Eagles from the west who exacted revenge. In rugby league, Broncos, Queensland and Kangaroos skipper Darren Lockyer literally did it all in leading those three sides to win the NRL, State of Origin and Tri-Nations respectively.One of the greatest training feats in the 145-year history of the Melbourne Cup saw Japanese trainer Katsuhiko Sumii quinella the classic with Delta Blues and Pop Rock fighting out a thrilling finish down the Flemington straight. It was the year Sydney FC won the inaugural A-League championship, Geoff Ogilvy put an Australian name on a major golf trophy with an inspired win in the US Open, the Wallabies wobbled their way through the TriNations and end-of-season tour, Melbourne played host to the Commonwealth Games and the basketball Opals won the world championship.Australian swimming was left with an enormous hole in its talented ranks when the fastest fish in the pool, Ian Thorpe, announced his retirement at the ripe old age of 24. But the biggest story of all came to us from Germany where, under the brilliant guidance of Dutch master Guus Hiddink, Australia's Socceroos covered themselves in World Cup glory.Spurred on by a travelling army swathed in gold, the Socceroos left it late to overhaul Japan 3-1 and were on the bad end of some woeful refereeing in losing 2-0 to Brazil.Then, with a quarter-final berth at stake, they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Croatia. Their fate was decided on a dubious penalty awarded to ultimate winner Italy, but the Australians won universal acclaim for the quality of their play, unquenchable team unity and the friendliness of their fans.January 16 WA Premier Geoff Gallop resigns from politics, citing depression.17 The Cole Inquiry hears evidence suggesting senior executives in the Australian Wheat Board conspired with Iraq to defraud the UN.19 Schapelle Corby's appeal against drug charges is dismissed by the Indonesian Supreme Court and her sentence increased from 15 to 20 years.February13 Renae Lawrence and other members of the Bali Nine are sentenced.16 Control of the abortion pill RU486 is returned to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.17 State memorial service held for business magnate Kerry Packer, who died on December 26.24 Tourism Australia begins its controversial "Where the Bloody Hell are you?" ad campaign.March2 John Howard celebrates 10 years as Prime Minister.9 Inquest opens into the death of Brisbane mother Dianne Brimble on a cruise ship in September 2002.20 Cyclone Larry descends on northern Queensland leaving thousands homeless and making bananas the new luxury item of 2006.27 New federal industrial relations laws come into effect. April3 Australia and China seal uranium deal, with China to buy 10,000 tonnes of uranium a year.5 Gordon Wood arrested in London and charged with the 1995 murder of Sydney model Caroline Byrne.21 Private Jake Kovco dies after being shot with his own pistol in Iraq.26 The body of a Bosnian civilian contractor is taken to Australia instead of Private Kovco's remains.May5 Sophie Delezio, who suffered shocking burns when a car crashed into her day care centre in 2003, is seriously hurt again after a car hits her pram.9 Beaconsfield miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb are rescued after two weeks underground.17 Greg and Laura Norman announce they will divorce.25 Army troops help quell civil unrest in East Timor.June2 John Howard pulls the pin on the sale of Snowy Hydro, forcing the NSW Government to follow suit.6 Bruce Burrell found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Kerry Whelan on or about May 6, 1997.13 The Federal Government quashes proposed ACT civil union laws that would enable gay marriages.25 Actor Nicole Kidman marries singer Keith Urban.July5 Queensland wins the State of Origin series 2-1 over NSW with a 16-14 victory at Telstra Dome.10 Treasurer Peter Costello confirms that John Howard told him "he intended to do 11/2 terms as Prime Minister".21 Wendell Sailor banned for two years after testing positive to cocaine.28 Mel Gibson launches into an anti-semitic tirade after a drink-driving arrest.August7 Commentator Dean Jones says on air, "the terrorist has got another wicket" in reference to South African Muslim bowler Hashim Amla.9 Retired Federal Court judge Marcus Einfeld denies misleading a court to avoid a speeding fine.11 Australian officials reveal that Japanese fishermen have illegally taken $2 billion of southern bluefin tuna.September 4 Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dies after a stingray barb pierces his chest. 5 Four of the Bali Nine Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Si Yi Chen and Thanh Nguyen have the death penalty imposed.8 Peter Brock, 61, dies after crashing into a tree.13 Naomi Robson apprehended in Indonesia while trying to rescue a child called Wa Wa from cannibalism.October 3 Australian athlete Peter Norman dies aged 64. The Olympic silver medallist stood with Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they gave a black power salute at the 1968 Olympics. 6 Telstra unveils its new $1 billion broadband mobile network, Next G.12 Treasurer Peter Costello announces that due to the crippling drought Australia is in a "rural recession".November 1 Big property developers call for a ban on political donations.6 ALP Senator Stephen Conroy and his wife, Paula Benson, announce the birth of their child who was born using a surrogate mother and a separate egg donor.11 Actress-singer Belinda Emmett, 32, loses her battle with cancer.26 Victorian voters return the Bracks Government for a third term.December 4 Kevin Rudd wrests the ALP federal leadership from Kim Beazley. Julia Gillard replaces Jenny Macklin as deputy.4 Military seizes control in Fiji.6 Fairfax Media announces a $2.9 billion friendly takeover of Rural Press.18 Australia defeats England in third Test in Perth to secure the Ashes.21 Spinner Shane Warne announces his retirement.
© 2006 Newcastle Herald
