yes a sick bag for agronomist first purchase!
Say what you think not a generalized swipe ok.
Lexi my post style here is meant to highlight my thoughts HM and the whole tribe, are pomposity at its worst.
Not appropriate to modern Australia.
And to question every time, that any person should inherit this degree f respect nd honor just because f birth in one family.
Now she had Ned Kelly in her family,different thing

Hi there BELLY...

Yes, I too like the 'Balmy Army' evident during every Ashes series. They lend to the event an enormous amount of character, volume and colour, creating a real spectre of what Test Cricket's all about.

However, I must confess BELLY, I'm still very much an anglophile, thus by dint, a Royalist. I'll probably remain one until I eventually fall off my pearch.

Seriously, probably one of my greatest concerns when we do ultimately choose to become a Republic; by what methodology shall we select our first and subsequent President(s) ?

Any method that permits a politician to get their greasy, unscrupulous paws upon, then I'd prefer a simple (unarmed) insurrection or coup d etat ! A much more noble and honourable course than anything a politician might seek to introduce.

I do recognise a Republic will happen, there's absolutely no doubt of that. But before it does, let's hope they've sorted through all the necessary 'machinery' matters, BEFORE it's ratified or enacted, whatever terminology they might adopt for Republicanism, or we'll all end up in one 'helluva' mess.

Gday o sung wo, well while firmly anti monarchist I have over emphasized my views, with a smile not hate.
Our relationship with England's interesting.
Many years ago, over 50, each morning in the Loco sheds of a QLD sugar cane mill.
A recent arrival English,man and I rehearsed our mutual insults, then as I climbed in to my loco he launched in to me,I returned serve.
Every one thought we would one day kill each other we became the best of mates.
Bit cranky with agronomist- that comment may well have been aimed at me- if so say it- to leave it thus is a general insult to every poster.
Now we have more grubs in politics than we should have, on both sides.
I would lie,if I said top job should ever go to a politician.
VOTERS CHOICE or stick with the old bird.

Belly,
Yes I recall Liz's first visit, mainly because it was me mums big day and I wish Liz all the best. There are lots of other big events and days I recall as well. The most recent was the day Jessica sailed back through Sydney Heads. Well done girl, good onya.

Dispite my Pommy heritage, I think they have made many poor decissions since the war and they have gone downhill in a big way. Not Liz's fault though.

After all the help we gave them during the war and after, it was pretty rotten to dump us, and the Kiwis, to enter the EU. We fought and died for them, rationed our food to help them, I can remember butter rationing, and took all their surplus kids and people as immigrants. Now we have to line up at UK customs in the foreigners queue while the Europeands waltz straight through. Not happy at all about that.

We should take note of their stuff ups as we are heading the same way.

Yet, we did inherit a governance system that has proved stable for over 100 years, and shown to be better than most others. The foundations of our culture.

So until the republicans can adequately show their proposed system will be far better, I do not intend to discard what we now have for a pie in the sky and some yank style raz-a-ma-taz. I look at other countries and am thankfull we are far better. We need to get lots of benefits from any change.

Well said Banjo. Too many here are showing a lack of maturity. True maturity means one can be prepared to show their heritage with out shame, or feel the need to beat their chests like some dumb ape, to prove they are tough & independent.

Nothing will make us any more independent, including changing a flag, or having a president, rather than a governor general.

About the only thing a change would do is make hundreds of lawyers very rich. The "constitutional lawyers will be in court for years, for every word changed.

There are an awful lot of people today, living in independent countries, who are a lot worse off because their country is no longer a British colony.

Yes the Brits ripped many off, but no where near as much as their own did, once they had the opportunity. About the worst thing that happened to the poor people of the world, in the last hundred years, is the loss of pommy "Gun Boat" diplomacy, it protected much more than the poms.

Dear Belly,

I watched some of the Diamond Jubilee Concert on the telly
last night - and couldn't help thinking when the cameras
scanned the Royal Box in which all the Royals sat - what
do these people actually do to deserve the lifestyle they
have - and is it worth it to their nation?

I guess it must
be as 80% of the British are pro the monarchy. To me it's
the Disneyland of Britain. Still I have read that there
were some protesters at the river Thames.

One lady had
actually cross-stitched a placard whose message was -
"Sod the Jubilee!" and another protester carried a placard
with the message - "I'm nobody's subject!" and so on.

One man summed things up - "When we celebrated the
Golden Jubilee ten years ago - the Sex Pistols were
featured - today we have Cliff Richard headlining an
arse-licking event!"

Ah well, to each his own.