COLOURFULWORLD

Monday 20 May 2019

Monday Mural - At school and my first Elections

On Saturday 18th May we had Federal elections and it was the first time I voted as well.
After lunch I walked to the local Primary school to cast my vote and was surprised to see a few murals in the school grounds.
This one looked as if it was painted by children, maybe with some grown-up help.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme is for you. 
Just follow the Linky steps below.   Be sure to link back to this blog and visit
your fellow mural bloggers.  
Looking forward to your mural finds this week. Thanks, Sami. 










On other walls there were two panels with ceramic flowers, made by the children in collaboration with Perth ceramist artist Jenny Dawson.

And some more murals painted by the kids on the library wall. Very sweet aren't they?















There was also a sausage sizzle and a second-hand book sale (to which I had donated a few books via the "Buy nothing" facebook page for my suburb.  Funds reverted to the area's playgroup.  As the ladies were in the process of packing up, before going in I browsed the boxes and bought 5 books at $2 each. I think I donated 7 or 8 books, so I have space for 5 😏.

As I mentioned it was the first time I voted in Australia, and I had to familiarize myself with the voting process as it's different from Portugal or South Africa where I voted before.

At the entrance to the school, banners and people handling out pamphlets  for various parties. I wonder if people would still change their minds by reading a pamphlet while in the queue to vote?

I joined a short queue into the voting hall, I was asked my name and address, and was surprised there was no need to show ID.  
Since the 1920's voting is compulsory and over 91% of registered voters vote. There's a $20 fine for non-voters unless they have a valid reason (maybe mental incapacity), but you can also vote early if you're travelling for example, or vote by post.

You are given two ballot papers - a green one with 8 parties and names for the House of Representatives (lower house or the people's house. There are 150 members elected to the House of Representatives (MPs),  and you have to put numbers in the order you want your vote to count.

Then a metre long white ballot paper for the Senate (Upper house - It consists of 76 senators, twelve from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. It shares the power to make laws with the House of Representatives) and you have to tick 6 options above the line (party), or tick 12 boxes below the line (with names of the various candidates).

Of course I'd heard about the main parties and their policies and intentions, but I was surprised at the size of the Senate ballot paper with so many parties I hadn't heard about until then - the Involuntary medication (objectors vaccination/fluoride) Party, or the 
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party or the Animal Justice Party, etc.

Labour was predicted to win according to polls, but there was a surprise win by the Liberals, which were already in power.

                                                                * * * * * * * * * 
Saturday evening I joined 3 other "lonely" friends at a dinner to celebrate Mother's Day at the WA Portuguese club
Dinner was free for female members, men and non-members paid $20. Dinner was a delicious vegetable soup and then a plate of meat stew. A plate with various slices of cake and coffee/tea ended the meal. Afterwards there was singing and dancing. A fun evening!

Dancing at the Portuguese club, the singers and the Meat stew

On Sunday 19th, I baked a banana and walnut cake with cream cheese frosting and went to visit one of our Doctors at the clinic where I work, that I consider a friend too. He had two knee replacements done about 2 weeks ago and is now back home.


A full weekend! Hope you had a fun weekend 😃.






35 comments:

  1. ...so colorful and whimsical.

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  2. Dearest Sami,
    Murals are fun but even more important and quite historical for you was your first voting experience!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Certainly a date to remember Mariette :)

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  3. Colourful murals! The cake looks delicious.

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    1. Thanks William. The cake was delicious too :)

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  4. Hi Sami,
    It was also my first time voting, and our primary school has a mural at the entrance as well! We didn't have a sausage sizzle or a book sale though! :( . I was also a bit flabbergasted at the different parties, and even though there had been lots of advice on how to vote - I felt very confused.

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    1. What a coincidence Gill. You hear about the main parties on TV, but there were so many parties I had never heard of, it was difficult to make a choice.

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  5. Child art but some very good. Your democratic duty done, time to party and you did. The walnut cake looks great.

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  6. Vi ontem os resultados das eleições.
    Não deixaram de ser algo surpreendentes.
    Bjs, boa semana

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    1. Sim acho que surpreendeu muita gente, inclusive o vencedor e o perdedor.
      Boa semana Pedro.

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  7. I love the school murals. Kids are so creative. A fun day at school for you also.
    MB

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    1. As I have no school going kids it was fun going into the Primary school for the first time.

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  8. The murals are wonderful and sweet indeed :-)

    But, what? No ID needed to vote?!
    A fine for none-voters is a great idea! I wonder why we don´t have this. But then...
    They made the Euro on their own instead of copying the AUD which is safe from forgery...
    (There were false € 50 in no time and everybody "laughed")

    Glad you had a fun evening the next day. 13 years that Ingo and I could see each other "only" on (at least every) weekend sure was enough.
    Great when work and friend is the same :-) I had that, too.
    Oh, and yes. I need to rat those walnuts (without any sweetness, though!).


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    1. Yes, surprised at no ID requested, but maybe because almost everyone has to vote there is no risk of anyone voting twice.
      The fun evening was the same night :)

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  9. Great murals at the school. The out come of the election was a surprise for everyone. That cake looks delicious. I'm glad you found some friends to celebrate with.

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    1. A real surprise to all indeed even to the winner I think, as the polls had predicted otherwise.
      The cake was delicious, specially the icing.

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  10. I was impressed with the darling murals and ceramic flowers you showed. They were all so adorable. Children have no reservations and have not yet formed opinions about what is "good" and "bad" art.

    Your voting system is SO different from ours in the States. We only vote for the senators who are in our state. Each state has two senators, so you can vote for the one you want to win. Each senator is elected for six years and each House of Representatives is elected every two years. The House of Representatives are elected based on the Congressional District within the state he or she serves. Kansas has six districts and I can only vote for the representative in my district.

    On average about 40 to 50% of the country votes in national elections. For us, it is a privilege, not mandatory. And most states now require voter ID, with Kansas being the first to do so. I personally think that hurts the disenfranchised because they don't have drivers licenses, which you need to show proof of ID.

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth. That is a very low voter turnout. Your campaign for the elections also go on for a year or longer I think, while here the election was called about 5 or 6 weeks ago, so it's a short and quick process.
      It's sad so many can't vote there because they don't have drivers licences.
      I'm not sure why there was no ID required, which is also our drivers or passport, but here you can only have a drivers at 18, and vote from 18, but many might not take their drivers licence until they are older. Or older people who no longer drive, might still be able to vote even if they no longer have a valid drivers licence.

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  11. congrats on voting, dinner looks delicious. wow! over 90% voting. Here in the USA, it's a lot lower. Love the murals, the childlike feel of it.

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    1. Thanks Mary. The childlike murals are cut. Yes voting is quite high here.

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  12. Thanks for hosting. Love the look of those cakes!
    Liz

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  13. Wow -- loads of wonderful color! Makes me happy. So does that delicious looking cake!

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  14. I've noticed quite a few schools are working with artists to paint murals Sami, I like the idea, colourful stimulation is a good thing. Yes it was a surprise win for the Liberals, hopefully they will pick up their game re climate change ✨

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    1. Colour and art is great for the kids.
      A big surprise, I agree with you, hope they work on climate change.

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  15. They have a great decor in that school! I want some of that cake!

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  16. Thanks Pat. I'll send you a slice :)

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  17. Great colors! Love the animal pictures.
    Glad you got to vote. I suppose that when people are fined for not voting, some will show up even though they haven't done their research.

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    1. Thanks Linda. I suppose many people might not agree with any of the political parties and might even vote blank.

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  18. Three points!

    Love the colourful murals.
    That cake looks very delicious.
    Pleased that you got to vote.

    All the best Jan

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