Australia Felix

The Australia I leave is at a peak of economic prosperity and much more at peace with and collaboratively engaged with its Asian neighbours than it was in 1940.But in other ways it is at somewhat of a cross road in its political,social and cultural development and facing extreme climatic challenges.
An electoral "phoney war" is in full swing despite the federal poll being several months off.The battle between communal Social Democratic and individualistic free market capitalist philosophies is finely balanced.I shall leave wondering whether I will return to a country that emulates the hybrid Anglo-American ethos apparent in Blair's Britain or will it have returned to some of the protective,introspection evident in the policies of the EU and being so nostalgically yearned for in France, despite it being the sick "economic man" of Europe with work-shy practices whose outcomes only English expatriates can afford to enjoy.
Recently, I have been contributing to the Ardoch Foundation's mentoring program for shool children needing educational support beyond the classroom.It is good to see that George Orwell's novel 1984 is a set text for the English curriculum at some victorian schools and that at last the teaching of the historical context, an understanding of which is so vital to informed citizenship,is to replace the vaguaries of SOSE-Studies of society and environment. This should help those soon to be of voting age the better able to discharge this responsibility and earn the rights provided by our democratic system.
Melbourne has been extra marvellous this autumn with mild sunny days that have entirely forgotten the kiss of rain. But unless El Nina does her stuff soon, there will be a high price to pay in bush bankruptcies, inflation generally and unaffordable food and wine in the cities.This morning's news, however,spoke of the alarming decline of river flows in Italy due to reduced snow-melt run off. There are fears of power reductions and food shortages.Even in England they are wanting for more rain-so it seems that problem will travel with me.