Tuesday 21st January 1997
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Away from the glare Rush said, "It's special, I hope the people of Australia are proud." None more so than the Australian pianist David Helfgott who was able to speak to Rush after the awards. "Brilliantissmo" was Helfgott's comment. Helfgott, who lives in Perth Western Australia, was interviewed with Rush on Channel 7 television's Today Tonight programme.
Helfgott had a severe breakdown when he was a young man and has been battling ever since... but his words to Rush were so filled with emotion it was a power moment on the lines of that when Mohammed Ali lit the Olympic flag at Atlanta.
Battling to speak, Helfgott the genius pianist said, "You've done brilliantly - and brilliantissimo - and I'm grateful and thankful for all eternity... you've made me the best film in all the world and the best biography in the world."
Shine almost never got off the ground when some backers pulled out after Rush was given the job as portraying Helfgott. The backers wanted someone better known - but producer Jane Scott persevered... and the rest is now history. A chapter which was not forgotten when Rush held up his award before those assembled at the ceremony... "To all those people who were happy to bankroll the film as long as I wasn't in it..." He then held up the award and carried a "naughty boy" expression on his face which brought the house down.
In a lame duck approach which is sure to see thousands of Australians leave the farm Howard asked Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Herron and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) chairman Gatjil Djerrkura to arrange a meeting with Aboriginal leaders to learn their views on native title. Howard also plans to meet mining industry representatives to discuss the issue.
The Labor Party, the Democrats and the Greens have all lined up against the proposed changes to legislation through the Senate that native title could not extinguish or run "alongside" pastoral leases. This after the Labor Party's original document on native title expressly set out that it could not.
Dear editor,
Apparently you do not know what news reportage is.
Please do internet visitors a favor & find an honest
name for your vehicle of red-neck vituperation.
Regards, Kevin
Shares in Westpac, which is seen as a target for National Australia Bank Limited, jumped 5 cents to AU$7.20 yesterday.
Joss made his comments in light of Westpac's recent takeovers by West Australian based Challenge bank and the Trust Bank of New Zealand.
Joss also warned that bank fees would be increased in the near future. "As margins shrink, there is some trade off ... perhaps for some fees." He said bank fees should reflect a user-pays approach.
Last week ANZ Bank cut the number of free transactions on some accounts by up to a third and doubled service fees.
Westpac announced a Au$1.13 billion profit in the year to September 30 up from Au$947 million in the previous year.
One has got to wonder about the morality prevailing within the present banking structure. Westpac is an example. Joss, for example, holds more than 4 million options in Westpac (*part of his salary package). The more profits that he can bring back to the shareholders the more profits he brings directly home to himself. The idea of a takeover by National Australia Bank Limited would certainly see his own personal wealth considerably boosted, but would it be good for Australia or mainstream Australians?
*On joining Westpac four years ago Joss was given three tranches of options allowing him to subscribe for 1.6 million shares. The exercise price on these options is Au$2.85. The first batch of options opened on January 25, 1996. The second batch opened earlier this week. Joss cannot exercise the third tranche until after January 17, 1998.
It is getting to the point where I, for one, will just keep my money under my mattress at home.
The current heat wave in Melbourne caused a bit of excitement during the game with the lights going out more than once as excessive power demands to run air conditioners in this sprawling metropolis.
Have a great day wherever you might be!
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