ENTERTAINMENT MANDY NOLAN’SS
SOAPBOX S E E M O R E O F M A N DY O N E C H O N E T DA I LY W W W. E C H O. N E T. A U /S OA P - B OX
Every four years I look forward to watching the Olympics. It’s a bit of a thing for most people. In between times I’m not an avid watcher of sport, and I don’t have a team that I have bonded with. I’m never really sure whom to barrack for. The Olympics makes that simple. When it’s your country playing other countries it’s pretty clear who your team should be. But not this time. I’m just not interested. Which is weird because I still get goosebumps when I think back to watching Cathy Freeman win gold in the 400, or Thorpey smashing it up in the pool or Sally Robinson having
a little lie-down in the rowing. But not this time. When my baby smiles at me, I don’t go to Rio. This morning I worked out why. It’s not the Olympics I’m disenchanted with. I’m really not that fussed about drugs in sport. I don’t care. As far as I’m concerned they could do the whole thing on Ice. Be great to see them nail the marathon in under 10 minutes. In theory I am still into the idea of watching Olympic sports. What I’m not really into at the moment is Australia. I don’t really feel like we have that much to be proud of. It’s hard to get behind a country you’re embarrassed by.
WHEN YOU DON'T GO TO RIO We’ve disgraced ourselves at a global level. The United Nations certainly isn’t impressed with our human rights record. We’re one of the biggest emptiest countries in the world and we’ve turned away thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people. We’ve accused them of throwing their children overboard to make them look like animals. We’ve put them and their children in detention. We’ve re-traumatised already traumatised people.
We’re the only Commonwealth nation that still doesn’t have a treaty with our Indigenous people.
Instead of being a First World leader in carbon reduction, we scrapped the carbon tax. We are stalling on marriage equality. We’ve destroyed one of the seven natural wonders of the world for coal exports. Internationally owned coal seam gas companies are still poisoning our water supply. In the Northern Territory we’ve Australian manufacturing is at its been violently abusing Indigenous all-time lowest with most of our children in our juvenile detention iconic Australian brands being centres. Our First Nations people made in sweatshops overseas. continue to occupy our jails and Queensland has ripped up so die at much higher rate that the much forest that in the next five colonials. Life expectancy for the years there won’t be any koalas Indigenous community is still left in the sunshine state. When a around a decade shorter than non-Indigenous community. woman bled to death on a beach
in Iluka after a massive vaginal trauma, the two men responsible weren’t charged. Our current PM ripped $200 million out of the ABC last year‌ so in the end, who stands up for democracy?
And let’s not forget that when we step into the world arena we are disgusting bigots. We have used Manus Island and Nauru as our offshore penal colonies, outsourcing immigration detention while at the same time causing political unrest for our poorest and most disempowered neighbours. Our mainstream TV personalities feel quite at ease to share their extreme views that we should close borders to Muslim migration. This feeds a culture of religious hate and intolerance that has resulted in our 45th Australian Parliament sporting four One Nation senators. It’s humiliating to
admit it but we’re rednecks.
Maybe it’s time to engage the Olympic philosophy in Australian politics. It’s a bit sad when the sporting world has a mission statement more noble than your nation: ‘The goal of the Olympic movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.’ Perhaps it’s time we Australians engaged mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. Until then, the Green and Gold leaves me cold. Aussie Aussie Aussie? Noy Noy Noy.
Live Music A VERY GLASSY NIGHT Two dance floors, tipi, bonfire, visual sensory wonderland and delicious food. Welcome to the 8th edition of Lightbody, an all-ages community dance celebration! Dance under the stars on the tipi dance floor to DJs Nick Taylor and Magu or inside to Slinky, Asaf and Short Circuit. This dance event is historically known for its mesmerising visual art installations. Zakay Glass, Coda Installations and Crystal Grid Productions will transport you to an enchanting and mesmerising world of wonderment and discovery. The weaving of sound and visualisation is an intricate art and these world-class designers are leaders in their field. Durrumbul Hall on Saturday 20 August, $25. 6pm.
FALLS FESTIVAL GETS CHILDISH The 24th annual Falls Festival is forecasting sunny with a chance of rave this summer! Bringing music, art and light to the rolling amphitheaters, streets and shores of Australia. With the Byron Falls scheduled from Dec 31–Jan 02 and featuring Childish Gambino, The living definition of a ‘slashie’, Childish Gambino / Donald Glover is a rapper / actor / writer / superstar. Initially taking his high school yearbook crown with ‘person most likely to write for The Simpsons’ as career advice, Glover came to prominence as a
writer for seminal sitcom 30 Rock. He then effortlessly transitioned into a beloved character actor, playing Troy Barnes on Community. Beneath the slick, talented veneer of Donald Glover though, lives Childish Gambino. As a rapper with a knack for infectious hooks and a distinctive self-aware flow, Gambino has released several brilliant records, so get ready for dance-floor slammers V.3005, IV sweatpants and Sober, just to name a few.
HOLDING COURT WITH THE WALRUS AND CARPENTER Walrus and the Carpenter are back on home turf at the Court House Hotel, Mullumbimby on Saturday. After a brief winter hibernation the quartet are kicking into spring early with a show at their favourite local. Walrus will perform two lifeaffirming sets, followed by a DJ set from Morris Boy. Tickets are $15 at the door. Doors open around 7.30pm.
BIG BAND AT BALLINA RSL The Northern Rivers Big Band is performing at the Ballina RSL this Sunday from 2pm. Band leader Royden Ainsworth has chosen some great tunes for you
WALRUS & THE CARPENTER AT THE COURT HOUSE ON SATURDAY starting with George Gershwin’s famous Strike up the Band, followed by many of the very best foot-tapping moments in jazz history, such as It Don’t Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington, American Patrol by Glenn Miller, original New Orleans jazz with Muskat Ramble, One O’Clock Jump by Count Basie, a great arrangement of the Funky Chicken, and Golden Wedding by Woody Herman. The band members are very happy to perform these exciting and sublime melodies for you, as they are examples of the best music created in the 20th century.  Tickets are $15 at Ballina RSL Box Office, Phone: 6686 2544 or at the club on the day.
MUSIC IN THE GALLERY The Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG), Ballina invites the community to support the
CHILDISH GAMBINO AT FALLS FESTIVAL IN BYRON BAY 31 DECEMBER TILL 2 JANUARY 2017
continuation of their exciting exhibition program with a wonderful evening of Music in the Gallery with Shelly Brown on Sunday surrounded by the stunning artworks of local artist Susan Jacobsen. Shelly Brown is a force of nature. Subtle, but powerful like the tides. Be sure to experience Shelly’s mesmerising vocals at least once in your life. Shelly’s jazz band featuring Dan Brown, Thierry Fossemalle and Pete Wilkins perform a stunning rhythm and deep groove. The set will build, from intimate and poetic, to a powerfully heartfelt alchemy of soul music. This special Gala performance on Sunday runs from 4pm till 7pm. Tickets are $40 per person and bookings are essential. Call the Gallery on 6681 6167 or book online at nrcgballina.com.au.
NORTHERN RIVERS BIG BAND AT THE BALLINA RSL ON SUNDAY
CONTINUED P39
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
The Byron Shire Echo August 10, 2016 37