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Farewell Peter Katims Local selected for Citizens’ Parliament The local jazz community and BayFM are remembering the passionate contribution that Peter Katims aka PK made to our community. On December 5 PK died peacefully at home, aged 66, holding hands with his partner Annie and his only sister Pamela. PK was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in April 2006. Born in the USA, his parents were Milton Katims, an internationally renowned violist and conductor, who was also the protégé of Arturo Toscanini, and Virginia Katims, a professional cellist who toured with the Bary Ensemble. After graduating from high school, PK completed a degree in business administration. After a military stint with the Air Force in Texas he travelled to New York to work in the recording industry with a subsidiary of ABC Records. Following this experience, he trained for and became a stockbroker on Wall Street. 1966 saw PK in a horrible motorcycle accident in NY. This freak accident totally changed his life. In 1969, he left America to travel in other parts of the world. He only ever returned to the USA for periodic visits. During the following years PK lived on a sailboat off the south coast of England, lived in Spain on the island of Ibiza,
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Story & photo Lou Beaumont
and in India. Despite being raised in an affluent environment, PK was always totally comfortable living frugally. PK settled in Australia in 1993 believing that ‘it was the most perfect place on the planet, environmentally, spiritually and politically’. ‘All That Jazz’ was a popular program he presented on BayFM for over four years, right up until a couple of weeks preceding his death. His show supported touring jazz musicians who came to town to play The Blue Birdy gigs. PK was also a key member of BayFM’s programming team. His sister Pamela remembers one of the many lessons she learnt from her brother: ‘Make this journey an adventure, and don’t confuse travel with tourism, or experience with wisdom.’
Mullumbimby resident Peter Clark has been selected as one of the 150 citizens from around Australia to participate in Australia’s first Citizens’ Parliament to be held at Old Parliament House from February 6 to February 9 2009. The Citizens’ Parliament is an initiative of the new Democracy Foundation which will bring together the selected 150 Australians to deliberate on Australia’s political system and put up options for reform. Peter Clark was selected at random from more than 8,500 people who were invited to be participants of the program and was more than surprised when he was notified. ‘I think it’s a good idea,’ Peter said. ‘Who knows if it will bring about actual reform to the current system but if we don’t start talking about change it will never happen. We have had the same democracy since 1901 – times have changed a lot since then. I think we now have a government that is more prepared to listen.’ In the leadup to the Citizens’ Parliament, Clark attended an initial regional meeting to contemplate the question: How can Australia’s political system be strengthened to serve us better? Participants were then
asked to consider what they perceive to be the limitations of our current system and were asked to put up options for reform that they believe will improve citizen engagement in an online forum. Among proposals for roads legislation, sex offenders, gambling and even the baby bonus, is Clark’s proposal: ‘Two levels of government instead of three. Removal of State/Territory governments’.
Clark told The Echo, ‘I wanted to look at the bigger picture as we were asked to look at how the whole system could be strengthened. Some of the ideas submitted are local or very specific issues and while they are valid I’m not sure how relevant some of them are to the brief we were given with regard to strengthening our democracy. ‘Having said that, I look forward to discussing all the op-
tions with everyone over the four days in February. I am going with an open mind. My idea may be thrown out because a better one is proffered, which is fine, I’m not going there with some objective.’ The Citizens’ Parliament is funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in conjunction with the newDemocracy Foundation. You can find out more at www.newdemocracy.com.au.
The Byron Shire Echo January 6, 2009 19