Comments for roddavis.org

Comment on Douglas’s Tourism Levy Exported to Cairns by Rod

Rod — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:58:31 +0000

Hi there Rod !!

Just visiting your website - my first time - Sensational even on painfully slow dial up (the Satellite dish has shit itself) and a terminally ill lap top ….

Good luck with the Cairns city elections - I was considering not voting - writing something like resident of Douglas shire not Cairns on my voting slip - Or hostile takeover - or … and I thought things were bad …… silly me ….

but my love of all things democratic - even if in this case its been hammered down my throat and Im gagging on it - has won over …

So I will vote - and despite the fact that your confrontational and emotive - I will be voting for you - because your colourful character, eccentricity, creativity, intelligence, irreverence and can do, get in there and parley attitude are the type of attributes that make (made?) the Douglas Shire a great place …. and there is just too much homongonised, safe, accessible, bland, monopolised and just plain boring shit happening in these parts these days ….

The Douglas shire was always a place where anybody with the willpower and the knowledge could do anything and be accepted and applauded for it along the way …

Gawd - how I hate mediocrity -

Smiles and Butterflies and Kick arse

Sam (and The Mojo)
Sam Matthews
C/- 115 Davidson Street
Port Douglas QLD 4877
0419 717 092
Smiles and butterflies

Comment on DOUGLAS PUSHED FROM FRYING PAN TO FIRE by Tony Ryan

Tony Ryan — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:00:43 +0000

Hi Rod,
“keep the bastards honest” sounds more like a quaint 19th Century saying than a for real 21st Century rallying cry - look where it got the Democrats.
One despairs when reading your blog - it may be time to start a political party &try & scare the state pollies at the ballot box. I’m sure there are other prople in Qld who are getting screwed over by the state Gov with its merger agenda.If that moronic Pauline Hansen can do it surely a well organised & committed individual like youreslf & other like minded people can . It is time for a Federal system to govern the Federation. Piss the state Gov’s off & have unelected professionals running the councils who have an agenda for protecting the local area’s as well as having substantial development under the auspicis of a central planning dept - run, again, by properly trained people who don’t have ’special interests or friends” involved in the process. For a country approaching 21 million population we have an absurd level of government.
Rod for PM - if you get that far make a platform of NO MORE McDONALDS.
It will save a fortune in Medical fees.
Keep up the fight.
Richard is selling the farm - get him up there to help you & get him a chick that lokes rooting so he will stay. You know he will do anything a rootable chick says.

Good luck & speak soon

Comment on DOUGLAS PUSHED FROM FRYING PAN TO FIRE by Colin Cameron

Colin Cameron — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:19:33 +0000

Hi Rod,

I hear that Small 400 or less m2 accomadation is the solution to all the problems Douglas Shire has with our employee housing.? Have a look at Forest Gardens-Edmonton…….Yea right. Perfect design principals for the tropics.
Rather than utilise public transport (one vehicle = 40 pax). Our so called rallying new Cairns Regional Mayor would prefer 40 people to drive 40 vehicles from Craiglie or (within a stones throw), to there work place. His supposed 5,10,15 year housing forcast. Bring on Glencorp more like it , they`d love it……….. I don`t think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Col X

Comment on TOURISM CRISIS…what crisis? by Jennifer B B Bounce

Jennifer B B Bounce — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:25:32 +0000

From his comments, Brian R Searle does not appear to be even remotely connected to the tourism industry in Queensland; own a strata titled unit branded Mantra or Breakfree; read the share pages or read the newspapers too closely of late or he would be well aware of the MFS group. If so, he would also realise that ‘Stella’ is not an abbreviation. Perhaps we can forgive Brian’s ignorance if he’s not from Queensland (or a ‘basket weaver’) although it begs the question how he found Rod’s web page if he doesn’t have some interest in the trials and tribulations of the Douglas Shire and matters affecting its residents and visitors.

Like it or not, mainstream tourism is the crux of the village’s existence and has been since the long gone halcyon days [tongue-in-cheek] of Pixie Skase cruising down Macrossan Street in a golf buggy waving at her plebian subjects…..

Come one Brian, and others like you - as I don’t wish to sound critical of one individual: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Rod’s page is a beginning - not an end - and should be used as a jumping off point for further individual enquiry and investigation and not necessarily as definitive answer to all the questions.

Take individual responsibility and use what, at least on the face of it, is an excellent forum for all Douglas Shire residents to take Rod’s lead and actively join the debate(s). Sqeaky wheels get the most attention! Love him or loathe him (and there are lots who’ve engaged in heated arguments with him over the years), Rod’s web page is an impressive demonstration of his intellect; overall grasp of the region’s problems and willingness to engage the wider community regardless of the potential detriment of doing so so.

I’m no longer a resident of the shire’s immediate environs so, irrespective of the volcanic eruptions concerning Qld council amalgamations, I couldn’t contribute to Rod’s Council aspirations even if I wanted to so these are the comments of nothing more than an interested observer.

Nonetheless- back to the seemingly less than stellar performance of Stella - be careful not to confuse body corporate expenditure with that of the caretaker. One, the body corporate, is a collective of owners in a strata titled complex expending levy monies raised (administrative or sinking funds) in accordance with legislative requirements. The other, the caretaker, buys management rights and is formally and contractually engaged to look after the common property of the body corporate for an annual remuneration. Therefore, if you are talking about local tradies not being paid or being concerned about whether or not they will received payment for their services, it would seem logical to assume that any concerns in that area result from the recent public difficulties of MFS/Stella and would reasonably be limited to any new development (ie Bale) rather than to the established properties with a division of the MFS group as its caretaker.

There are many, owners included, who take little or no interest in the complexities of strata title ownership and it leads to many, many misunderstandings in this area.

Comment on TOURISM CRISIS…what crisis? by t revor j. moore

t revor j. moore — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:31:54 +0000

I knew a guru once. He laughed when I told him about rental problems. He said
“Ha….. the landlord does not exist “

Comment on TOURISM CRISIS…what crisis? by Brian R searle

Brian R searle — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:06:04 +0000

Hi Rod good story how about those of us who are not up with the abreviations
MFS and Stella.
Cheers Brian

Comment on Police Called In Douglas’s Day of the Long Knives. by Carolynne

Carolynne — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:21:48 +0000

Rod = LEGEND

Comment on WHY NO TO FLUORIDE? by Belinda Lund

Belinda Lund — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:31:53 +0000

I am totally against water fluoridation in Queensland. As if we don’t have enough to contend with with all the crap added to our food, and now fluoridating our water. Just another nail in the coffin !! But what I really resent is the fact that we, the public, are not consulted on the matter, no referendum !!!

Comment on “ICONIC” goes pear shaped over the Port Police Station. by Rod

Rod — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:26:56 +0000

I was once reported for breaching “Code of Conduct” in the Commonwealth Public Service for using the word “fecund” (which means fertile). Hehehe. It took quite some time, one of the Managers becoming involved, and my having to find a dictionary to point out the offending word, and supply a witness who had heard me use the word. My sentence: “The mahogany glider is not the most fecund animal….” The young female who lodged the complaint alleging breach of “Code of Conduct” then tried to justify the complaint as, “”Oh, it was the WAY it was said.”
I then told her she was “an imbecilic fuckwit with the intelligence of an ossified pea” and I really found myself receiving a breach of “Code of Conduct.” I laughed. Hahahahahah.
Where the hell do these fuckwits come from?

Comment on Police Called In Douglas’s Day of the Long Knives. by trevor j. moore

trevor j. moore — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:39:59 +0000

Rod,
You remind me very much of a guy called john fastbucks (really) .Famous in byron bay, a rogue lawyer who became a councillor and was thrown out of meetings many times. He once had himself tied to a cross and hung for some time for all to see (complete with bloodied robes and a crown of thorns ! ) to get a point across.
Unfortunately astute and perceptive people like john and yourself are often crucified by the mob. You are truly, in this sadly naive world, brave to speak your truth for all to hear.I applaud you.