The Meeting and tour with John Barounis MP went very well! I believe he basically understood what he was seeing and we got on famously.
"The Queensland Government has no money" he started off by saying... thinking my aim was to put the bite on him. I was quickly able to say we do not accept Government money for reasons I was only too happy to explain. And did so later.
I could have added that after the Olympics, the Qld Govt will have far less money, if any. However I am not beyond leveraging the Games for my own advantage .. everyone else is seeking to do that. Financial gain in many cases. By contrast, my aim is to build The Australian Cultural Centre in order to preserve and exhibit our National Identity and Achievements etc. Our culture. I commented that there were already ten Chinese Cultural Centres in Australia and the state government was financially assisting in the build of yet another(!!) in Cairns.
So... why not one for.... us.??? Why not? And here we are cramped for space.
That was all a bit sad and embarrassing. It was the people connections I was after though.
We agreed on a next step which should happen soon. Whether this tour can be declared "a success" of course depends if it leads anywhere useful.
Are there any People of Means in Australia who are also Patriots with a real, as opposed to a loudly proclaimed love of their country???
With philanthropy, one mostly writes an arms-length cheque and prays. By contrast, here every dollar will be well spent, accounted for and 80% secured by land and building. A true Legacy too.
So far the answer is a resounding NO! No such person.
Wouldn't the people who fought for their country, with some sacrificing their lives in horrific circumstances, be so proud of Australia and Australians for that? It is my belief that the measure of the person is not the boasted size of their bank account, that's nonsense, but what they can do for their country. How they apply their own massive financial resources to benefit the country that gave them so much. They are the Real Men or Women.
Those who turn their back are.. well, exactly what they are.
.. but we press on regardless... to the end.. for Australia
