Mountain District Radio Episode first aired on 15 May 2017 at 3:00 pm
Hello Good Lifers,
I'm looking through my upstairs window at what I reckon is the biggest copper beech in the world (!), and which provides the background for the world's second largest crimson Japanese maple, and for good measure, there is a giant eucalypt in the background! All a major part of the reason why I live where I do! (Of course from up here I can't see the tangled overgrown undergrowth and vigorous blackberries!)
My life seems to get as tangled as that undergrowth on occasions.. as it did for yesterday's program! I had hoped to have Suzanne Diprose and Isobel Blackthorn in the studio to hear and to speak with Sydney-based Bettina Arndt, who is a passionate advocate for the Men's Rights Movement (I always have trouble with that apostrophe!).
However, Suzanne was interstate, Isobel was unable to be in the studio, so we agreed to compromise by having Bettina on first, Isobel listening at home, and then follow-up up with a phone conversation with her. Alas, we spoke with Bettina who passionately espoused her cause and quoted interesting and alarming statistics but the rest of the plan failed!
Unfortunately, when we followed up with a call to Isobel, she had been unable to access 3MDR, so had not heard our conversation with Bettina!
Frustrating for all concerned, so I was really disappointed.
We spoke with Bettina about the thwarted attempts of the Men's Rights group in offerings screenings of a documentary film titled The Red Pill. Produced in USA, it had had quite wide distribution there and, in fact, Australia was the first and only country in which it had been banned by a number of groups.
A screening scheduled to be shown at Sydney University last week had to be abandoned when an angry, militant group of feminist students picketed the cinema.
The film had also been scheduled for screening at one the major city cinemas but had also been cancelled because of near-riots.
Whatever one's personal opinion of the issues involved, I do agree with Bettina that people who want to see the film should be able to do so.....
it becomes censorship, otherwise!
She told us of an upcoming conference in Sydney which will welcome a number of significant guest speakers involved with the Men's Rights Movement, so I am hoping we might be able to get together Bettina, Suzanne and Isobel, if she is available, for further discussion after this event. (Check Bettina's website <www.bettinaarndt.com.au> for details.)
BETTINA ARNDT - MEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT ACIVIST ..................................
Isobel Blackburn is well known locally, where she lived for several years until quite recently. She is an author now, with several published novels to her credit. We spoke of her earlier life with an abusive husband, who made her life very difficult by repeated attempts to take their children from her and Isobel wrote of these painful years in one of her books. She wrote, too, of her time in a women's refuge, during the most difficult years of her life.
These struggles have made her a strong and successful woman and a devoted mother to her now adult twin daughters.
We discussed her writing and I was somewhat surprised to find that she is thoroughly enjoying her foray into the genre of horror stories! She expects this book to be to published early next year.
Her most recent novel, The Cabin Sessions, is due for release in the not too distant future.
Isobel is an excellent example of someone who has been through hard time and not only survived, but has flourished!
ISOBEL BLACKTHORN - AUTHOR
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I always love a visit to Yarra Ranges Museum, 61 Castella Street Lilydale.
Not only are there always interesting exhibitions to view, but also lots of original and creative gifts and books to buy as souvenirs. There is also an excellent coffee shop & restaurant adjoining the museum, which is a popular meeting spot.
A great deal of local history is tucked away discreetly in back and upstairs rooms and there is a strong presence of the local diva, Dame Nellie Melba.
I was delighted to hear that Gareth Hart, who many of us knew through his creative work at Burrinja Cultural Centre, now has a major role in local arts through his appointment to YR Council. In collaboration with two other creative artists, Gareth has exercised his own talent as a choreographer and interpretive dancer in the production of an interactive installation titled Dance X. I was very pleased when he agreed to speak with us on the program.
I was unable to attend the opening evening but managed a sneak preview in the afternoon and spent a happy half hour flaunting myself in front of various fascinating images in a darkened room!
Gareth explained some of the installations to us on The Good Life but I do feel you need to see them and participate to really appreciate this challenging exhibition. Gallery hours are between 10.00-4.00 P.M. and I understand it is closed on Tuesday.
GARETH HART - DANCE X at YARRA RANGES MUSEUM, CASTELLA STREET, LILYDALE.
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I am going into the city tonight for the preview of HOUNDS OF LOVE, which has had mixed reviews and is supposedly a pretty brutal film. I'll tell you more next week!
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Thanks to Cameo Cinema for listener passes to see the film Grey Gardens, set in a beautiful late 1800s mansion on Long Island, originally owned by Jackie Kennedy Onassis's family and recreating two delightfully eccentric female family members.
After falling into near-ruins it was restored and sold for over $20 million.
It was beautifully filmed and presented and the listeners who saw it were most enthusiastic.
Speaking of the Cameo, PLEASE do see the wonderful A Man Called Ove while it is still screening! It is down to one session a day so it must be nearing the end of its run!
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I was sent two interesting books which I requested when I saw them listed
late last week. I felt they would be interesting to have for our
discussion on Men's Rights etc. etc However, I did not have time to do more than skim through them but look forward to reading them before we next tackle this topic. The first was The End of Patriachy: Radical Feminism by Men by Prof. Robert Jensen of Texas University.
The second was by the controversial radical feminist herself...Clementine Ford, who has gained both great praise and equally vitriolic criticism!
I have only read a little of this book but found it interesting that she suffered acute anorexia at the age of 13 ..... so there was obviously a body image problem back then. I wonder to what extent this has affected her life and attitudes and I am anxious to read more. It is titled Fight Like A Girl!
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As always, Wayne looked after all the technical stuff and provided music by himself and his brother, as well, of course, as slipping in the inevitable Bing track! Thank you, Wayne!
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I'm looking forward to the next exhibition opening soon at Tarrawarra.. it will feature art by the controversial (at the time ) William Dobell, including his much criticised Archibald Prize winning portrait!
There is also a new exhibition at Arvy's Gallery, Olinda, featuring the works of the Tuesday Artists (formerly of Malvern Artists' Society).. which will be their last showing and honours the memory of the late Connie Walker.
Thanks to my kind friend TJ, who does whatever it is that this needs to be shared and to John Weeks for sharing his website with me!
Best regards to all,
Ann
Ann Creber (The Good Life on 3MDR)
< email: anncreber@tpg.com.au>
Track listing FRANK DIMITRI - THE GOOD LIFE PATRICIA BARBER - A MAN AND A WOMAN WAYNE SINCLAIR - IT'S ALL ALONE I'M TRAVELING (UNDER THE DERRING MOON)Show wikipedia entry
This is an Australian track.
An 'otherwhere' album: Under The Derring Moon. waynesinclairforest@gmail.com
PETER APPLEYARD AND JACKIE RICKARDSON - GEORGIA ROD STEWART - MAGGIE MAE SINCLAIR BROS - TRAINS (TWO MOONS)Show wikipedia entry
This is an Australian track.
It's nice after all the years to have found so many people love this album when they hear it, young and old. And still available last time I checked on the net and on ebay - along with many of the Sinclair Bros. singles. Feel free to track it down if you're curious. It's a lovely moment in time.
BING CROSBY - SWINGING ON A STAR JANIS JOPLIN - BOBBY MCGEE 
The Good Life with Ann Creber 
