TOPIC:

Senior Seagull - I totally agree. Both Goodes and McGrath have done tremendous things with respect to their roles as a "charity" but I believe the McGrath Foundation and its effect it has on a broader community is amazing. Would have been my pick of the two.

Also agree with the comments re it now being looked upon as a politically correct overtone. Well said and to be honest the first 5 people I spoke to about the award all had mentioned the incident with the 13 year old girl. Hopefully that does not come up everytime this award and Adam Goodes is discussed.

DW - You should be nominated for this award, being racially vilified like that on a daily basis is horrible, all while just trying to serve a few cans to australians. That is a disgrace.

May I ask how they came about to racialyl vilify you? What were the vents leading up to this obscene outburst?

racial vilification goes both ways, it always has done. you wouldn't think so going by what is publicised. I know shop owners personally who have been terrorized for years for being white. some people cant get their heads around that, which shows their very naïve and blinkered attitude.

I like Adam Goodes, but he didn't deserve that national honour. Too many sports people are put up ahead of others who deserve it more. Simply because they kick a ball, it ludicrous.

for the record Australia Day is my favourite day of the year.
we are lucky to live here & should be unashamedly proud.

agree with all that has been said here in relation to AG but I guess I can relate to the argument thrown up by the Aboriginal community in that 26 January celebrates the arrival of the first fleet in 1788 and could be seen as an invasion of anglo saxon's. i think it would be far more agreeable to all and remove alot of angst if another date was chosen which wasn't as contentious. i'm not sure what that date would be but think indigenous people can be excused for not being wildly enthusiastic about 26 january. If the Japs had invaded us at the end of WW2 and taken over the place I don't reckon I'd be too keen to celebrate that day.

I don't think people celebrate Aust Day thinking of as the aboriginals see it as Invasion Day.

I just see it as a day where we acknowledge our priceless way of life.

Lets face it we cant change the past, or past mistakes. We have been over that and for countless years the government was beaten relentlessly to say sorry. That has been achieved, yet it seems has changed nothing. What do the aboriginals want us to all do, just pack up & leave now ??

We need to start getting on, and the reality is their will always be elements who wont ever give that option a go. So with that we just have to move on and let people please themselves. For the rest of us, Black, White or Green we should see this day for what it is in its most simplistic format. Like what we did on Australia Day. Sit under our gumtree (yes I actually have one) have a beer and a barbeque with close friends and be happy we have our country.

People these days cant get away from turning everything we do into a controversy or political drama. Its simply a day to say Australia is great and we love it. That's the way I see it, and always will in a positive sense. My favourite day of the year.

Soprano wrote: DW - You should be nominated for this award, being racially vilified like that on a daily basis is horrible, all while just trying to serve a few cans to australians. That is a disgrace.

May I ask how they came about to racialyl vilify you? What were the vents leading up to this obscene outburst?

Soprano, it goes something like this at least once a week ....5-10 indigenous people walk in to the shop...1-2 distract u with silly questions like what is the price of a carton of Beam or Woodstock cans, items you very rarely sell in carton form, the kids run around to create the 'storm' whilst the others spread around the shop shoving botlles in jackets, down pants etc...when u confront them to say can you please put the bottles you are stealing back on the shelf the abuse starts "your only picking on me because I'm black you racist white c_nt" or "because I'm fkn black you think i'm fkn stealing you fkn white dog" when you've directly just watched them shoving bottles underneath the baby in the pram or in handbags, pants, even once in a body part, wherever it can be hidden....I've had bottles thrown at me, been punched & scratched by women and been threatened too many times to remember with the "we are coming back to get u , u white c" all in the process of trying to stop stock I've paid for being stolen from my shop. Ask anyone who works in the liquor industry and I'm sure they'll tell u of similar & regular incidents. I've lodged well over 100 incidents to police over the past 20yrs and only ever been notified once of a conviction, never receiving compensation for any items stolen. I'm far from being a rich man mate, the business is all i have and the bank owns most of it so increased theft effects my hip pocket directly. FYI I don't view these people as black, only as criminals. It's sad to see the training the kid s receive at such a y oung age from parents. It's also sad to see the majority of these type thefts are now done by women with prams in tow, the blokes usually just do a runner with the car waiting outside and give you no chance. As for the personal racial vilification, being called a white so & so it does get to you occasionally but you can only shrug it off and treat the words as those of a dickhead who knows no better. What does bother me are the comments that I'm only picking on them because they are black. It's because they are criminals. I never raise the racist tone, that always comes from the thief. Like any other ordinary hard working Australian why should I have to tolerate this abuse, from black or white people. Hope that answers your question Soprano.

I understand where you're coming from jardine and love celebrating Oz day as well as it gives us an opportunity to enjoy everything that is this wonderful country of ours but can't see a problem in changing the date if its going to make our first inhabitants happy. we should have australia day and it should be celebrated by all..black, white and purple..but i dont believe the actual date is all that important....its the celebration that counts.

Dirty Weekender wrote:

Soprano wrote: DW - You should be nominated for this award, being racially vilified like that on a daily basis is horrible, all while just trying to serve a few cans to australians. That is a disgrace.

May I ask how they came about to racialyl vilify you? What were the vents leading up to this obscene outburst?

Soprano, it goes something like this at least once a week ....5-10 indigenous people walk in to the shop...1-2 distract u with silly questions like what is the price of a carton of Beam or Woodstock cans, items you very rarely sell in carton form, the kids run around to create the 'storm' whilst the others spread around the shop shoving botlles in jackets, down pants etc...when u confront them to say can you please put the bottles you are stealing back on the shelf the abuse starts "your only picking on me because I'm black you racist white c_nt" or "because I'm fkn black you think i'm fkn stealing you fkn white dog" when you've directly just watched them shoving bottles underneath the baby in the pram or in handbags, pants, even once in a body part, wherever it can be hidden....I've had bottles thrown at me, been punched & scratched by women and been threatened too many times to remember with the "we are coming back to get u , u white c" all in the process of trying to stop stock I've paid for being stolen from my shop. Ask anyone who works in the liquor industry and I'm sure they'll tell u of similar & regular incidents. I've lodged well over 100 incidents to police over the past 20yrs and only ever been notified once of a conviction, never receiving compensation for any items stolen. I'm far from being a rich man mate, the business is all i have and the bank owns most of it so increased theft effects my hip pocket directly. FYI I don't view these people as black, only as criminals. It's sad to see the training the kid s receive at such a y oung age from parents. It's also sad to see the majority of these type thefts are now done by women with prams in tow, the blokes usually just do a runner with the car waiting outside and give you no chance. As for the personal racial vilification, being called a white so & so it does get to you occasionally but you can only shrug it off and treat the words as those of a dickhead who knows no better. What does bother me are the comments that I'm only picking on them because they are black. It's because they are criminals. I never raise the racist tone, that always comes from the thief. Like any other ordinary hard working Australian why should I have to tolerate this abuse, from black or white people. Hope that answers your question Soprano.

DW...a serious question...is it mainly blacks or do you get a fair proportion of whites doing the same thing as well? i think i know the answer but just wanted to make sure.

Hi BC....overall theft is approx 80/20 but the system of theft I detailed is 100% technique used by the indigenous crims. They use the kids especially as they know there is nothing the courts can do, not that it ever seems to get to court. The police really arent that interested in dealing with what they refer to as these petty crimes. Its just a nuisance for them so we as an industry dont have anyone to turn to. I guess its the same for the supermarkets & in general most retail industries. The white crims usually just do a runner and is usually young adolescents bordering the legal age although another point of interest is the high % of middle aged white females who tend to steal. I guess they carry handbags so it can be easier for them to hide. Once read an interesting liquor industry article that stated from survey results that 75% of people would steal a bottle given they knew they would get away with it and not be caught. I found it hard to believe as I'm not inclined that way which I guess I can thank my parents for. The noticeable difference though between black & white thieves is when u catch them out. The black thieves always get abusive, and i mean always towards you and start with the racist slurs where as the white thieves tend to cower (hope thats how its spelt) in shame and apologise profusely possibly in hoping you won't report it. Women are always most abusive. I read Jardine's word 'terrorised' earlier and that's exactly how you can feel in these moments. I'm pretty thick skinned but it's still a horrible position to be in when these things happen. You feel even worse when your young staff are subject to the abuse. I've heard staff in Coles & woolworths outlets, a big 70-80% of the industry around Australia now are advised not to confront the thieves by management, just to report to h/o and police. I can't afford to do that so I tend to confront anyone I catch in the act. They are taking $$$ directly out of my pocket so I feel I have the right. I wonder how the rest of the oz footy members here would feel in my position?

BC wrote: I understand where you're coming from jardine and love celebrating Oz day as well as it gives us an opportunity to enjoy everything that is this wonderful country of ours but can't see a problem in changing the date if its going to make our first inhabitants happy. we should have australia day and it should be celebrated by all..black, white and purple..but i dont believe the actual date is all that important....its the celebration that counts.

yes BC , I have no problem if they changed the date. Doesn't matter at all.