OPINION – Insightful opinions from our regular columnists.

SECOND CHANCES

We all stumble, some of us even fall, writes Jane Stephens, so it’s a good thing we often get a chance to redeem ourselves and do better.

Second chances give us a shot at being stronger, better and more together. Some come after mistakes or missteps, others after cruel blows that were not of our making.

So it is with swimmer Shayna Jack, who was reduced to grateful tears last week after she scorched a personal best time to book a spot on the national team for the world championships and Commonwealth Games.

Ms Jack, 23, had been away from competition for almost three years after serving a 24-month suspension for ingesting a banned substance. She has always said she would never knowingly take a banned drug, and her joy at such a convincing return was palpable.

Another who turned scars into stars is Jarrod Mullen, who told Sunshine Coast News recently that his transformation from fractured to fulfilled is complete.

He was an Australian schoolboy rep and played 211 games at the Newcastle Knights’ top echelon before his dramatic fall. He was banned in 2017 by the NRL’s peak body for using performance-enhancing drugs. A year later he overdosed on the illicit kind. A year after that pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. His life was a shambles.

But he wasn’t going to stay down. He gave up drugs, alcohol and social media and moved to the Sunshine Coast in late 2020.

He clawed his way back and, at age 34, had a serious crack at returning to the game thanks to the Sunshine Coast Falcons. Even after that dream was cut short by injury, he is dedicated to mentoring the young and the talented to help keep them from heading down the dark and wasteful path.

Society is structured to almost always allow for second chances. We teach our young to apologise and allow them to reset after making amends. Our justice system does everything to offer an offender a chance to straighten up rather than chuck them in the clink straight up.

On stage as host of the 2022 Billboard Music Awards last week, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs announced not only that he was back, but that we all were. He said a so-called post-pandemic society meant everyone has a second chance at doing life. “Let’s do it bigger,” the rapper suggested.

Indeed. Whether it be in love, sport or career, if you are still breathing, you have a second chance.

Jane Stephens is a USC journalism lecturer, media commentator and writer.

TAKING A NEW VIEW

Ashley Robinson reckons the Loo with a View is far from iconic, but if the council takes his advice, it certainly could be.

The Olympics in 2032 are heading our way and there are massive discussions about infrastructure benefits leading up to it and after. So I am sure there will be some robust debate and differing opinions on what we need, which is great.

In among it all we have heard rumblings about Mooloolaba’s Loo with a View about whether it should be relocated or refurbished again with differing views.

Now I have heard the word ‘iconic’ used about the loo, which to me is a mass exaggeration – I cannot see anything iconic about it. For a start it is a tired old toilet block on prime real estate, with no view apart from the deck, which is fine but I for one am not eating my fish and chips on that deck – not with the battle between sea breezes and someone’s bowels battling out for victory.

The only people on that deck are either waiting to go, waiting for someone in there or are up here for a conference for the smell-impaired because I can’t imagine why anyone else would be there.

If those who want to keep it are so passionate, here’s an idea – make it a proper loo with a view so you can actually see from where you are doing your business. They should take a leaf out of the Kiwi’s and South Australian councils’ books where the dunny plays music and it is all quiet soothing.

Maybe if Moooloolaba wants to be known for something, they could knock over that smelly eyesore and build a proper Loo with a View. If it were me designing, no deck would be required; just colourful outhouses all lined up side by side with a toilet and a shower in each one, a credit card for entry and security camera on the outside of the door so you get your photo taken on the way in to stop vandalism. The door would have a one-way glass panel so whatever you were doing you could see the golden sands of Mooloolaba Beach. View and Poo, See and Pee, Scenic and Shower could be part of the tourism campaign. Build it and they will flock to Mooloolaba like seagulls on a chip.

Now that would be iconic and we certainly would be remembered for something. Then again, you could just knock the thing down.

Ashley Robinson is the manager of Alex Surf Club and the chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

The opinions expressed are those of the authors. These are not the views of My Weekly Preview publishers.

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MAKING A MEAL OF IT WOMEN STORM THE 2022 FEDERAL ELECTION

School mornings are no fun in Sami Muirhead’s house, but she’s discovered that not all families are like hers.

Family sit-down breakfasts on weekdays are now a thing. I do not mean brunch in our pyjamas where we can eat as much bacon as we want.

No. I refer to my good friend who was parent bragging (pragging) to me and describing how once a week her four kids aged under 15 have a sit-down meal. At a table. With cutlery. And they make chit-chat with each other. Then they go to work and school with full hearts and stomachs.

I must admit I was confused, intrigued and a little nauseous all at once when I heard this report. Who has time to whip up pancakes and bacon in the morning? Not at our house. Mornings in our home are a blood bath. Bleary eyes, frequent tears, meltdowns and tantrums. And that is just me! But seriously, my kids are good kids. They are not angels, but in the morning, they are just slow. Breakfast is toast on the go, and we spend our time in a frenzied search for matching socks. My kids want to stay in bed because they are not insane. They do not want to hurry up like a military soldier and they certainly do not want to find mislaid swimming towels, music books and sports hats. Do not even get me started on finding a water bottle with an actual lid that fits it.

I need to introduce some reward where the kids get handed 10 bucks if they just get ready without whinging, fighting or generally looking sadder than Whitney at the end of The Bodyguard. And for the record this mum friend of mine has time to change the sheets every week on every bed in the house.

“I must admit I was confused, intrigued and a little nauseous all at once”

This mum also cooks three cakes every weekend, so the family has plenty of morning tea for school lunches. How did this lady and I even become friends, because my kids have had a banana for morning tea for about, oh, 376 years? And yes, they are often half-black rotting bananas. My poor children will need a lot of therapy one day. on Australia’s political scene is already seismic and we’re barely 24 hours post-election.

But we also saw significant gains from women in other parts of the political spectrum. Liberal MP Bridget Archer held her seat against the tide, having stood up for integrity issues and LGBTIQ+ rights during the last parliament.

Also in Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie increased her Senate team to two, with the likely election of Tammy Tyrrell.

In Western Australia, Labor’s surprise success stories were female candidates like Zaneta Mascarenhas turning blue seats red. But in Sydney, independent Dai Le showed the major parties they can’t take local communities for granted, after she ousted parachuted Labor star Kristina Keneally.

This election is a stark warning about treating communities with contempt.

Sami Muirhead is a radio announcer, blogger and commentator. For more from Sami tune into Mix FM.

The message from last weekend’s vote was that the things that really matter to women and their communities’ matter at the ballot box too. Even if they were not part of the conversations the major parties were having.

We know that women have been trending away from the Liberal Party for almost 40 years. And we also know polls suggest women care about climate change more than men and, of course, we know they care about being respected and living in safety.

The most conspicuous winners were the so-called teal candidates.

From Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan in Melbourne to Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Kylea Tink and Allegra Spender in Sydney and Kate Chaney in Perth, politics-as-usual is being revolutionised by independent women.

Here we have seen a swathe of well-credentialed professional women secure stunning victories in metropolitan seats that have historically provided the Liberal Party with its power base. This is a trend started by former independent Cathy McGowan in 2013 in Indi. Ms McGowan, who has continued to advise the current crop of candidates, wanted local members who actually listened to their constituents.

The teals made gender equality one of their top priorities, also situating it within an interlinked set of policy positions including anti-corruption and climate change. And they have been rewarded with history-making wins. Their impact Independent candidate Zoe Daniel

This article was originally published at The Conversation. For the full story go to theconversation.com.