STAMPS in 2013

STAMPS - we came from different parts of Asia and as 2013 draws to a close, I thought it useful to see where each of the these countries are.

Most of these countries have been in the news for the wrong reasons:-

Sri Lanka - out of the civil war but read that journalists are still targeted for political reasons.  Probably one destination for future get together.

Thailand - Thailand went through a cycle of military coups.  Now it seems the approach adopted by the politicians to gain power is through street demonstrations.  The politically motivated public demonstrations against the government is unlikely to come to a good conclusion.  The opposition states that it will boycott the coming election.  The economy will surely suffer.  Will it deteriorate to the situation as in the past, with the military intervening with deadly force?  Will there be clashes between red and yellow again?

Australia - Bush fires. General Motors shutdown.  End of the mining driven economic growth.  Qantas performance down.

Malaysia - Monsoon floods in Kelantan, Trengganu, Johor, changes in property tax in KL, removal of subsidies for some items.

Maldives - coup.  New government.

Philippines - still counting the losses from the devastating typhoon that struck weeks ago.  The donation drive to provide aid is still on-going in Singapore.

Singapore - riots in Little India.  Taxi fares up.  Bus fares going up soon.  Circle Line opens to a 15-min delay.  Property price control measures kicking in.  Government websites hacked.  Can the economy survive the tapering?

Tas Uni CIO at eduCampus 2014

Met Jeffrey Murray - CIO Tas Uni - at the eduCampus 2014 conference last week at Marina Bays Sands.  Not an engaging person.  When I introduced myself as an alumnus, he did not really respond.  Perhaps he was not originally from Tas.

But am impressed by the IT-supported work that is going on in the uni - the collation of environment data from sensors around Australia, etc.  Not the usual computerisation of this or that programmes. 

Perhaps we should not be surprised as even back then, there was heaps of data coming off the radio telescope across the river - remember seeing the reams of printouts that we usually help ourselves to re-cycle for tutorial papers....

Also, insightful explanation of challenges of MOOC during a pane discussion.

Have also been reading a few papers on the IT-based examination system being tried out or implemented at Tas Uni.  Good info for me.

My meeting with Brian Clark from RMIT was more engaging.  Had some animated discussions with him.

Happy New Year in STAMPS Languages

 Someone correct me if I am wrong about this -

Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa (in Sinhalese)
Sawadee Pii Mai (in Thai)
Ufaaveri Aa Ahareh (in Dhivehi - Maldives) or Aa aharuge thahuniyaa ariskuran (in Maldivian)
Selamat Tahun Baru (In Malay)
Manigong Bagong Taon (in Tagalog)
Happy New Year (in English)

STAMPS Donation to UTAS

STAMPS made a donation as a group to the University Appeals 2011.  Lal, Indra, Azman represented the group to present the gift amount.  Collecting the amount was one of "since you are passing through, can you..."

L to R : Lal Kuruppu, Melanie Roome, Indra Kuruppu, Catherine Campbell, Noor Azman

Extract from the June 2011 edition of Alumni eNews
http://www.utasalumni.org.au/Page.aspx?pid=459&frcrld=1

Tas Uni STAMPS Not for posting, STAMPS stands for Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Maldives/Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka. It represents a group of seven alumni who graduated in the mid-80s and still occasionally meet for a holiday. We were delighted in May to welcome three of them back to UTAS (bearing a very welcome cheque from the group for our Annual Appeal). Azman Noor (originally from Singapore) and Indra and Lal Kuruppu (originally from Sri Lanka) all live and work in Canberra. It is a joy when alumni visit us.

STAMPS Reunion Dec 2012

We had a re-union at Hua Hin on Dec 2012.  I was not there but here some photos from Lal.

Sirichai in his elements

STAMPS with spouses visiting a reservoir

Eat, Eat, Eat

QANTAS

There was a documentary on Australia Network (SCV cable) last week - seems to be about reenactment of an overland journey from Queensland to NT made by the founders of QANTAS in the 1920s?  They used a Ford T, supported by 4WD vehicles and re-traced the route through the outbacks - even with the modern support vehicle, the route was a challenge - deep soft sand, steep banks, water crossing, crocs, heat, "No fuel station for next 360 km" etc.

Made a check and found this on the QANTAS website:-

Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh KBE DFC (1895-1974)

Hudson Fysh was born in Launceston, Tasmania, on 7 January 1895. He enlisted in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Forces, at the outbreak of World War I and served in Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps No. 67 squadron, subsequently No.1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. As an observer, he won a Distinguished Flying Cross and gained his pilot's wings at Heliopolis in February 1919.
Fysh flew the Longreach-Cloncurry section of Qantas' Charleville-Cloncurry air service and in 1922 piloted the first official airmail service in Queensland. He was appointed Manager in 1923.

He helped form Qantas Empire Airways in 1934 when the original QANTAS and Britain's Imperial Airways joined forces and later served as Managing Director and Chairman. He retired as Chairman in June 1966.
Hudson Fysh was knighted in June 1953 for his services to civil aviation. He died on 6 April 1974 aged 79, having lived through an era encompassing both the Wright Brothers' flight in the Kitty Hawk and the introduction of the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet.

The website did not state that "McGinness left QANTAS, never to return...." or that when Paul McGinness died in Perth in 1952, his funeral was attended by only 2 persons.

STAMPS Get Together In Hua Hin

STAMPS is getting together at Hua Hin, Thailand in Dec 2012.  Unfortunately I will not be able to attend as the family is going back to Burma for a visit.