So much of the news at the moment is negative that I thought I’d take a trip back in time looking at things that happened on this day in history, the 28th of November. Something a bit different which I’ll do once in a while if people like them.
This time a year ago we were gearing up for two major events, the election of a new National Party leader and the end of the long Auckland lock-down, I’ll write about those events later in the week, but for the moment things from this day.
A year ago today Green MP Julie Anne Genter had her second child and arrived at the birth by bicycle, as she had with her first labour. This caused a conundrum with some New Zealanders, a moment of uncertainty. Were they angry because she used a bicycle? Is a Green Party MP? Or simply that she is a woman? Who am I kidding? Why not all three!
I posted this a year ago today:
Summer is getting closer, there is faecal matter in the water at Mission Bay, and numerous other beaches with a "high risk of illness from swimming" – does anyone want to retain the current water management organisation in Tamaki Makaurau?
Little did I know at the time what a contentious issue better management of our water would be in the coming year! I really hope the Government can get Three Waters done and dusted this side of Xmas so that it’s long forgotten by the time of the election. The dog-whistle racism we have seen from those who would lead us in response to tangata whenua having a seat at the table has been grotesque, and sadly predictable.
Historical events on this day.
1893 – Women's suffrage in New Zealand concludes with the 1893 New Zealand general election.
Woman in New Zealand, the first country in the world to allow universal suffrage for all woman over 21, voted for the first time on this day in 1893.
Richard Seddon of the Liberal Party became Prime Minister which he would remain for 13 years. He is still our longest serving PM today ahead of Massey and Holyoake. The Liberals and the Reform party were the two major political parties of the time, until Labour became one of the top two in 1926. The Liberals became United and eventually merged with Reform, their former rivals, to form the National Party.
1979 – Air New Zealand Flight 901, a DC-10 sightseeing flight over Antarctica, crashes into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people on board.
I don’t remember the event at the time, but I do remember the superb mini-series made of it - Erebus: The Aftermath. An excellent production and a fine cast including my uncle Ian Mune, as Morrie Davis the Chief Executive of Air New Zealand. Ian won Best Performance – Male in a Dramatic Role in the Film and Television Awards.
The miniseries seemed to be quite the 80s phenomena. I remember one about the Bodyline cricket series between England and Australia which was very good. I’ve rewatched it recently - and it stands up well, although it is a bit odd seeing the Aussies as the good guys!
1990 – British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigns as leader of the Conservative Party and, therefore, as Prime Minister.
I remember that day clearly. I had just started playing in a band and had a day job working in a lawnmower and cycle shop. I wasn’t very good at the day job, I mean I could take orders and sell stuff but I had no idea how to fix things. I was sitting in the back of the shop, there were seldom any customers, and the news came on the radio.
For a kid who grew up with the television and music of the dozen years Margaret Thatcher had been Prime Minister, the Young Ones, left wing musicians and comedians, it felt like a momentous day. Even on the other side of the world in suburban Rotorua. You thought of Rick looking down the camera addressing “Thatcher”, or some of the punk bands who sang songs about “Maggie” with unrepeatable lyrics. Or Billy Bragg.
Births on this day
1929 – Berry Gordy, Jr., American songwriter and producer, founded Motown Records
Berry signed the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5, and was responsible for a lot of the greatest music of the second half of the 20th century. He is still going today at the age of 93, here is one of the many hit songs he’s written.
1961 – Martin Clunes, English actor, singer, and director
It’s seemed the last couple of decades that half the British television produced has had Martin Clunes in it. From the picture postcard village and grumpiness of Doc Martin, to Men Behaving Badly - his on again off again relationship with Caroline Quentin was the great sitcom romance I reckon, you can keep your Ross and Rachel. But I especially enjoyed William and Mary where he plays the role of an undertaker to Mary’s midwife, a really nice series.
1962 – Jon Stewart, American comedian, actor, and television host
His comedy material and delivery were fantastic, who could forget his bit on Donald Trump eating Pizza with a fork? But it’s the way he responded to tragedies with absolute heartfelt honesty and emotion while nearly everyone else on television trotted out the same tired cliches and a dose of “thoughts and prayers” that I think made him the greatest TV host America has seen and a great human being. I wish he would run for President.
Deaths on this day
1968 – Enid Blyton, English author and poet (b. 1897)
How many of you grew up with her books? I remember Noddy of course and the Secret Seven, but the big ones for me were the Famous Five and most of all the Enchanted Wood, and the Folk of the Faraway Tree. Those books were magical as a kid, I feel privileged to have grown up with them.
2015 – Wayne Bickerton, Welsh songwriter and producer (b. 1941)
And to finish, Wayne Bickerton co-wrote and produced this calorie laden number, which you might remember from the soundtrack to Muriel’s Wedding.
I hope you enjoyed that, we’ll be back to less trivial matters in the next newsletter.
Have a good day all you lovely people, and good luck getting that last song out of your head!
Argh - thanks for letting me know about the typo. It's always the ones spellcheck doesn't pick up that get through, like our former PM Richard "Sedan". I've corrected the web page but of course the emails have already gone.
It always astounds me that some deranged RW loonies still think that the maggon was the best thing to ever happen ..........