The Manly Marches Part II

 Today the protest was directed more at the economical and political changes in Australia.

Manly has been a hot bed of activity over the past year due to the elections and the newly elected Prime Minister who is from Manly. He is a part of the Liberal Party which is actually the Conservative Party. His office is/was right off the Corso making it an obvious stop on our journey.

The economy is also a very big concern. The cost of living in Australia is one of the highest in the world. I had known that things cost more in Australia...I was shocked at just how much more. Many voiced their concerns about making a living in Oz. Therefore, the protest stayed contained in the heart of the Corso...the main pedestrian vein, retail and commercial area.

 

I feel that everyone involved has evolved. The protests were opportunities for all marchers and the public to give pause. For the protesters, a time of inner contemplation and reflection and for the public, a time of unknowing, mystery and angst.

We were hounded during each procession for answers. The "watchers" wanted immediate answers as to what it was, what were we doing, what did it mean. We are such a society of immediates with technology in hand to answer all our questions immediately. There seemed to be a shortage of abstract thinking of any sort.

I will end this post with  too many Thank Yous for too many participates. I am happy that we took these first marches together. So many of the participates thought these marches had been going on for years...not realizing they were laying the initial ground work with each step. I can only hope that in the future we will take the lessons that we all learned and apply them in righting of wrongs. 


Should you have further images or videos, I would appreciate your sharing them with me and this blog so others can learn from and learn of our shared experiences. 

My contact information:       
Website: www.hardyspace.com         
Email: hardyspace@gmail.com

The Manly Marches Part I

The first march in Manly proved to be a huge success. Thanks to all that participated. I can only hope that we all took away something today by being a part of this wonderful event along the Harbour and into the Corso. There was a lot of video shot and endless photos that I will post as I receive them.

Sundays march will begin at The Manly Art Gallery and Museum at 2:30. We will then wind our way through the Corso ending the protest on beautiful Manly Beach. 

All are Welcome.

THE MANLY MARCHES

I am very excited about the upcoming marches this weekend.

We will be meeting at The Manly Art Gallery and Museum at 2:30 on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Please wear a white shirt if possible. If you do not have one I do have some available. 

We will march from the Art Gallery through the Corso stopping at various sites along the way and eventually end on Manly Beach.

Please feel free to bring friends and family to be a part of this beautiful art piece. 

Duration of the marches is roughly 1 hour to 1 1/2.

All are welcome.

Dee Why

What started out as a rainy morning ended up being a perfect day.


I arrived on The Strand at 9am and did a two hour solo protest. There is so much to be learned by protesting alone. The public does pay attention though I do think are more threatened by a single protester. 
It seems the unknowing of protest signs and pamphlets with no text makes it more suspect. It would seem that this would be less confrontational. 

One of the workshop attendees, Elle, arrived and we talked local issues and politics for quite sometime. It was great to get even more information and a better understanding of the region.

After lunch we all met in the boathouse, dressed and began the second march. I explained my take on the march in regards to procession, the human shields and the die in. I encouraged everyone to use this opportunity for some introspection on what each participant would protest given the opportunity. I spoke of the happenings in my state on this date 50 years ago in regards to racial issues.

Due to time restrictions by some of the protesters, this protest was shorter though equally effective.

I am so happy to have been able to work with such wonderful people and I will always remember Dee Why as the jumping off point for so many more protests projects in the future and for her outstanding natural beauty. 

Tomorrow starts the planning for next weekends protests in Manly. More information will be posted once a schedule is set. Please check back mid week for the schedule of times and meeting locations and feel free to come down and join in the march.

A March to the Sea

In the end it is always because of the volunteers. Today was no exception.

They were just amazing and I am indebted to them.

Below are some of the photos from the protest ending in a "die in" at the beach.
This particular protest was dedicated to the sea and how important it is to this region.
I did encourage each participant to be a bit more introspective as the procession commenced.
To reflect on personal issues and project that into the march.

The "die in" segment of the march always gets to me. I think in so many it brought up deeply rooted emotions and called attention to our vulnerability as a people. At that time in the protest it seemed that everything grew quiet except the sound of the Sea.

Tomorrow's protest will be at Dee Why at 2:30. Meeting at the boathouse down close to the swimming pool. The protest will last 1 hour. Thanks so much for all your input into these local and regional concerns.

One day and counting

It is a very exciting time in Dee Why and Manly, Australia. 

 Newly folded and embossed pamphlets

After meeting with several of you to discuss issues that greatly affect this region and after reading countless periodicals,  the protests/rallies are starting to take on a life all their own. I really appreciate the assistance of so many in helping to call attention and give enlightenment through this alternative method of protest.

It has always been my intention, with these events, to let the project's content be driven by local concerns.

The Dee Why Protests will begin tomorrow, September 14 and September 15 from 11am - 1pm. The meeting location is at the corner of The Strand Arcade and Howard Street. If possible a white shirt is desired. I do have several that can be used but will need to be returned upon completion of the march. The march will go up the hill on The Strand circling around the playground to the end of the road circling back in front of the businesses, to the beach and toward the reef ending in a "die in". All this will be explained upon arrival at The Strand.

The Manly Beach Protests will begin on Saturday, September 21 and 22 from 11am - 1pm. The meeting location is in front of the Manly Art Gallery and Museum. Again a white shirt is recommended.
The parade route is throughout the Corso stopping at various locations of interest along the way on to the beach. "Sit ins", pauses, rally in the Corso and a final "die in" will be performed.

Pamphlet close up

With all the political elections and concerns in the news....it seems the general consensus is leaning more toward issues of the environment and nature.

After each protest a discussion will be conducted to trouble shoot the protest, collect links in conjunction with that day's march to be posted on the blog, plan for the future and personal reflections.

Hope to see you tomorrow or in the coming days.

Terry