Running on Reserve
I’m a classic motorbike fan, and one of the features I like about bikes is the reserve fuel tank which most have. It’s maybe not the most sexy feature on a bike, but it’s always there as a backup and has saved me from many a long, hot walk.
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Being Prepared
As I write this, Cyclone Oma is lurking off the coast, trying to decide whether to visit the Sunshine State. We are on alert and busily working on our preparations – clearing drains; tying everything down; stocking up on provisions and batteries. We want to be ready in case she (or he?) does wander across the coast.
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The Trials and the Blessings of Life
It’s not very long since we were talking about the devastating impacts of drought and fires in this column. Now our friends and families to the North are grappling with the consequences of flooding.
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Mapping Out a Plan
Well we have survived the Christmas – New Year season. The rellies have returned home, we’ve got through the stifling heat, we’ve had way too much to eat, spent too much money and the kids go back to school next week. (Oh the joy!!!!)
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When Being Dense is a Good Thing…
Sometimes people ask me why QER is working to develop new sources of diesel and aviation fuel for transport while other transport energy alternatives – such as electric vehicles – are being developed. The reality is that different fuels have different strengths and weaknesses. And the big strength of diesel is that it has very high ‘energy density’.
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The Peace (and Wars) of Christmas
Well, Christmas is nearly here again and its that time when families get together in (for the most part) peace and harmony. Of course it’s never quite that simple. It always starts out pretty well.
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Our Country… Our Community
We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful part of the world, despite its harshness, as Dorothea Mackellar so beautifully expressed it in her famous poem “My Country”. But the beauty is not just in the landscape. It’s even more so in the spirit of our community.
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Snakes and Ladders
These days, you don’t often see the old game snakes and ladders, which is a shame because there are lessons in that game for life and business.
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State of Origin Reflections
I thought our State of Origin players did themselves proud on Sunday night, despite criticisms of a few armchair commentators. Of course there were a couple of little brain snaps – but that’s to be expected in such a pressure situation.
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Ecofest this Weekend
QER is again this year a proud sponsor and participant in Gladstone Ecofest. This year’s theme is ‘Turn a new leaf, love our reef’. It’s a terrific community event in which families, community groups, local business and industry come together to celebrate the amazing environment we live in and to focus on initiatives to keep it that way.
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