LETTER TO THE EDITOR [Miss Flinders]

Having been told that, paraphrased, “the QVMAG has no plans to rationalise material in its collections” the news about the historic ‘Miss Flinders’ is perplexing to say the least.

If an “industry safety requirement” looks anything like “the trees are diseased” in a bureaucratic world view it might not be coincidental.

Earlier in 2019 the institution had a ‘quiet clean out’ that one would think contravened the trust invested in the QVMAG but no feathers were ruffled in that process – not a one concerningly!

Australia’s Infrastructure Department has entrusted the city’s Councillors, the QVMAG’s Trustees, with the custody of this ‘cultural artefact’ and it looks very much like ‘the hired help’ is acting alone to rid themselves of the obligations that come with trust. It’s not a good look!

That this might be linked to ‘The Audit’ its especially worrying. If we consider what might be discovered that has never been catalogued, the QVMAG’s increasing lack of accountability and the wall of secrecy thrown up around its operations is a worry.

What else is there to come? The hired help is apparently on the hunt for opportunities to rationalise QVMAG while the Councillors/Trustees are looking the other way, or are at the beach, wherever? It hardly bears thinking about.

Ray Norman

Launceston

Reference: https://images7250.blogspot.com/2019/12/qvmag-clean-out-2019.html

“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept” David Morrison

IN THE EXAMINER: Miss Flinders plane to be removed from QVMAG display

• Tarlia Jordan

An aircraft that pioneered some of the nation's aeronautical history is set to be removed from display.

The historical Dessoutter Miss Flinders has been on hanging display at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk for the past decade.

However, the City of Launceston council said it is an industry safety requirement that the plane be removed from hanging display after ten years. Owned by the federal Infrastructure Department, the plane is now looking for a new home.

The newly-formed Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, based at the Launceston Airport is looking at ways to ensure the plane stays on display in Launceston.

Chairman Andrew Johnson said the plane had quite an interesting history, being the first commercial aircraft for Iona Airways in Ireland. It was then purchased by two men who flew the plane from the UK to Australia.

"That's where My grandfather, Lawrence Johnson, purchased the aircraft," he said.

"He then started up an aerial service between Launceston and Flinders Island. He saw there was a need for both mail and passenger transport and that an airline would be beneficial. He started that up in 1932.

At the same time, the Holyman brothers had started flying and were in competition, before both agreed to amalgamate to form Tasmania Aerial Services.

"That continued on in the early 1930s servicing the islands. The Holymans had all the shipping and had some money behind them ... then it became Holyman Airways and then they formed ANA airlines which became one of the major airlines in Australia and Anset Airlines," Mr Johnson said.

"Miss Flinders is from humble beginnings and was a major part of aviation in Australia."

Mr Johnson said the historical society would look to find a solution to keep the plane in the state. A business case is being put together by the group to firstly store the aircraft, and then to look at developing some sort of space to put it on display.

"It would be a shame to see it go to the mainland or anywhere else. This is where it should be," he said.

The council's chief executive Michael Stretton said The Miss Flinders had played an important role in helping tell the story of Tasmanian aeronautic history.

"We are sad to see it go, however we must adhere to best museum practice in taking it off display," he said.

"We hope to invite the community along to watch what we expect to be a fascinating de-installation and will provide updates leading up to the event."

A federal government spokesman said it was aware the museum no longer wished to display the aircraft and will consider the aircraft's future.

Launceston's once GM now CEO Michael Stratton rounds out and smooths over 2019

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE EXAMINER STORY

When it comes to rounding a year out if you have, as they say, 'skin in the game', it is best that you acknowledge the political filters that are on the lens in THE EXAMINER. 

As well, with this contribution in THE EXAMINER one has had to navigate it's passage through a tortuous labyrinthine pathway through smoke and mirrors as well. 

The 'performance review' is so, so dependent, and so obviously, on the GM/CEO's briefings that inform the THE EXAMINER on every occasion. These briefings are generously funded by ratepayers who grant him his generous budget allocation to allow him to pay whoever to make him look 'shipshape and shiny'. 

The other thing that needs to be said is that the Mayor and Councillors are 'voiceless' and one can only assume that this is because they wouldn't want to be seen to be saying anything while trying to keep a straight face. 

Yes, the Mayor is in 'the pictures' but he is, and his fellow Councillors too, are voiceless and inaudible in this 'performance review' – slanted as it is. This must tell us something about the status of their abdication as 'representatives'.

It is also noteworthy that 'THE EXAMINER' will typically avoid anything resembling an 'incisive critical review' relevant to the City of Launceston. Why might this be?

On the other hand, 'THE MERCURY' is much more likely to take the discourse right to a council's, or an officer's,  doorstep –LINK. 

For instance, recently they reported that Kingbrough's GM is paid more than 'The Premier' and its also true for Launceston's GM/CEO – but do not expect to glean that kind of information in THE EXAMINER anytime soon.

Generally the review in dot point can be characterised in a few words:

• Restructure ....Well this is an example of bureaucratic overreach.
• Invermay Traffic master plan  ... This is just bureaucratic ineptitude.
• Riverbend Park opening ... This is an exemplar of uncontrolled budgetary over runs ... BIG TIME and reportedly in the multiple $Millions.
• Shopping in the City report ... This is diversionary smoke and mirrors at work.
• Building heights report ... This is inept planning that got everyone at Town Hall in trouble.
• Tomorrow Together  ... This is just a cynical and disingenuous Machiavellian manoeuvre
• Free parking ... This is just another example of cynical posturing all round
• Climate emergency ... This is just virtue signalling nothing nothing more, no\thing less
• Macquarie House opening ... This turns out to be a cynical political  manoeuvre
• QVMAG audit  ... Yet another cynical and disingenuous manoeuvre to detract attention albeit that there is/was some need but not as is being executed
• Federal election ... More ill considered parish pump politics
• Australia Day ... This is cynical virtue signalling
• Gorge Hotel ... This is an exemplar of very poor planning and administration. 
• Consultancy data ... This is a cynical promise that there is no intention to fulfil
• Tourism and events ... This is more disingenuous clap trap
• IN 2020 ... More smoke and mirrors

Against this there is a litany  of administrative failures along with every opportunity being taken to avoid meaningful accountability. See SECTION 62 of the Local Govt Act 1993. 

Moreover, when a Councillor asks for information in an open Council meeting undertakings are given but not delivered upon – the question isn't even recorded. In various ways this kind of thing has become 'signature behaviour' at Town Hall.

HOWEVER read the 'year in review', dredge your memories and apply the credibility test. Around the Launceston Concerned Citizens' network BULLshit alarms are ringing loudly. 

Here is your link