Memorial Trees #2 An Aboriginal Reinvention Of The Dedication

When different cultures meet in a spirit of creative freedom, amazing things can happen.

In the following micro-movie made in his Wominjeka Garden earlier this week, Uncle Glenn Loughrey turned the soil for a memorial planting and found eight words which constitute brilliant insight into what the Australian tradition of memorial tree plantings can become.

Lest We Forget.

Bunjil watches over us.

Let Bunjil fly!

To resolve the differences between competing cultures, we must seek what’s good and keep away from what’s wrong. (Amar Makruf Nahi Mungkar)

Geoff Fox, 24th September, 2022, Naarm, Down Under

Lessons Of War #3 Fear Haunts Us

When actor Steven Kakatsis told me of the barbaric slaying of his 20 year old uncle by communists in the 1940’s in the Greek Civil War, I heard a story of the past that resonated very deeply with me in this troubled modern world.

Steven told me what he saw in his uncle’s eyes and I looked into Steven’s eyes with my camera.

From a nation founded on the idea that all the people living on the continent now known as Australia could be ignored, here is a tiny filmic journey into the terrors of facing the unknown.

Geoff Fox, 17th September, 2022, Terra Nullius

I Will Tell My Story #1

This is a statement of five of the most important religious beliefs I hold.

(I publish it on the birthday of Robert Louis Stevenson, whose faith journey took him in the opposite direction to mine and who said “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”)

The truth will set you free.
There is no god but God.
Faith cannot be forced.
Bunjil watches over us.
In the beginning was The Word and The Word was with God and The Word was God.

Geoff Fox, 13th September, 2022, Melbourne, Australia

Memorial Trees #1 For Those Who Served And Suffered So We Could Be Free

Watch the hands of Aussie men in dancing dedication to commemorate the courage of those who kept us free.

This is not a very highly formalised planting and dedication of a Memorial Tree.

Its a relaxed meeting of friends in a small town in one woman’s front yard.

The way they go about this reflects the values of past heroes who served for their loved ones, for their country and for us. They often suffered terribly and were all ready to die for a good life together for everyone.

Lest We Forget

Geoff Fox, 8th September, 2022, Australia

Austral-Indonesian Tujuhbelasan #16 Aussie Slim Says Lets Be Friends

Aussie Slim backs friendship with Indonesia, and our other near neighbours, as the only way to go for Australia.

Aussie Slim is a dinki-di Australian bloke.

Almost no one else in Australia has been able to tune into my ideas about the cultural importance of building deep friendships and connections in our region as he has.

I reckon Aussie knows that when you put the strengths of Australian culture and values with the best of South-East And North-East Asian cultures and values, it is possible to come up with something even better than both.

Geoff Fox, 7th September, 2022, Down Under

Remembrance – Peringatan #9 All Our Mums

"IF WE GO TO MOTHER NATURE FOR CONSOLATION, SHE WON'T ALLOW US TO GO AWAY UNCARED." Javanese Women's Rights Pioneer, Raden Ajeng Kartini, 21st January, 1901

On this day, the 16th anniversary of the death of my mother, Margaret Fox, I have contemplated the meaning for me of motherhood in the Founders’ Garden at the historic building, Ercildoune, in Footscray, Australia.

Meditating on the meaning of motherhood at Ercildoune.

Lest We Forget.

Geoff Fox, 6th September, 2022, Australia

Perjalanan Hidup #4 Bishop Mark Edwards From Indonesia

Bishop Mark Edwards was born in Balikpapan, Indonesia, and left when he was three year’s old. So, he is from Indonesia.

His father was an engineer who worked for Shell and met his mother in the Netherlands.

Geoff Fox, Father’s Day, 2022, Australia

(The words added to these images of Bishop Mark Edwrads are by Geoff Fox, inspired by the Bishop.)

Remembrance – Peringatan #8 1945 – Side By Side We Stuck Together

In most fields of endeavor, modern life in The West is poisoned by bullying and fear.

When people act together in a spirit of kind, understanding brotherhood and caring, unselfish sisterhood, people can do great things. That’s what the guys in Collingwood’s AFL team have achieved so far this season and that’s what the men and women of Australia and other western nations did in World War Two when they bound together and defeated fascism.

Sometimes sporting people can still rise to those heights. Many others find it harder and harder now to be the best people they can be. Stupidity and often institutionalized selfishness and bullying frequently get in the way.

The photos in this post were taken at a Victorian Football League Elimination final at Victoria Park yesterday, the sporting ground where my dad took me to the footy many, many times when I was a kid.

Lest We Forget.

Geoff Fox, 29th August, 2022, Melbourne, Australia

Remembrance – Peringatan #7 A Green Freedom Park

Today on the 124th anniversary of the birth of Australia’s greatest ever cricketer, Sir Donald George Bradman, I call upon Australians and their leaders to strive for Bradmanesque excellence and turn a magnificent heritage site into a world class national park.

Geoff Fox, 27th August, 2022, Melbourne, Australia