“We are Nature. Long have we been absent, but now we return.”
- Walt Whitman
Hill above the Mersey. Pentax MX, Kodak Image Pro 100, March 2025.
I have been pretty depressed about the state of the world of late. In particular I have been appalled at the lack of good leadership both in Australia and abroad. With the federal election coming up, I was left with pondering the question of whether there is any chance of positive change, when so many elections in the past have failed us, the people. In particular, I fell into the trap of viewing the outcome as pre-determined: one of the two major parties were bound to take majority, in one way or another. And neither parties seem aware of the direction that our nation needs to take, for the health of people and for custodianship of country, the earth, the waters and air. What good will my vote really do, when there is bound to be no change for the better, when it comes to the things that matter to me?
Mersey above Rowallan. Pentax MX, Kodak Image Pro 100, March 2025.
I got my postal vote ballots in the mail the other day. I opened the envelope and found two ballots inside. One had five choices, this was for the house of representatives. The second ballot was for the senate, and on this I could either vote above or below the line. Above the line, I’d vote for parties, and below the line I’d vote for individuals who represent those parties. I chose to vote below the line, because I knew who would get my number one vote as an individual. This meant I had to place numbers from 1-12. I did a bit of reading up on the internet. And I was pleasantly surprised.
Oxley Falls, Mersey River. Pentax MX, Kodak Image Pro 100, March 2025.
Some of the minor parties had remarkably good policies. As did some of the independents. And I found myself thinking, herein lies the future of our nation, Australia. It lies in the leaders who listen to the people, and aren’t corrupted by greed or power.
Mersey River. Pentax MX, Kodak Image Pro 100, March 2025.
The outcome of the election is not pre-determined. There are people out there who have got their heads screwed on straight. And they are not robots. They are real people, dedicating their life to being good leaders. Leaders our country needs. Leaders the people need.
In one week’s time, our country will have voted, more or less. This is democracy. The people choose. And this time, I choose to believe in the people of Australia. May they choose well.
-A.S. 26/4/25, Brushy Creek.