A View

Yes black lives matter, police lives matter, all lives matter. The solution to the problem, as I see it, is for people to treat each other with decency. All people, everywhere, not just me and my immediate family, friends and neighbours. Is this possible? Historically no. It seems matters of race, religion and inequality somehow derails the locomotive.

The riots and mayhem were occurring on TV news and the vision of the killing of George Floyd, replayed over and over, was sickening.

While this was happening one night I watched the history channel which had a show on the battle of Crete in WW11. This interested me as my friend Doug Twaits, who died in a car accident in 2001, was on Crete as part of the 2/7 infantry battalion in 1940 when Germany attacked Crete, strategic in the Mediterranean. The first assault was by paratroopers dropped from planes and gliders. Many were shot in the air before landing, others caught up in trees, or tangled in their shutes on landing, were shot or bayoneted by British defenders or knifed or pitchforked by Cretan natives. With heavy losses, the Germans managed to get control of one of the airports which enabled them to reinforce, and with support from fighter aircraft operating from this airfield, overcame the British who had no air support and limited equipment. The 2/7th AIF was ordered to surrender after running out of ammunition, and Doug spent the next four years as a POW.

The Germans occupied Crete for four years. Their rule was brutal and murder and atrocity was exacted on the Cretan resistance for assisting or harbouring British soldiers who were roaming the wild mountains and trying to escape the island. The Germans gave control of the eastern quarter or so of Crete to their allies the Italians, who were less invested in savage revenge, and the show intimated the several thousand Italian soldiers on Crete were relieved to be there rather than in some other more dangerous combat area. When Mussolini was deposed in 1943, the Germans lost patience and occupied a large part of Italy and were quite brutal to the Italians. The Italian general in charge of the Crete force escaped with the aid of the British and Cretan resistance, leaving thousands of soldiers stranded. They were interred by the Germans. They were put in two transport ships to take them to Germany as workers for the German war effort. Both ships were torpedoed by British submarines. 2,600 Italian soldiers went down with one, 3,000 in the other. They were locked in the holds of the ship. Most of these were conscripts forced into the army with no say in their fate.

The show on the battle of Crete included interviews with old men who participated, Greeks, Germans British. They asked the question, Why? The whole thing was pointless, achieved nothing. In the time I knew Doug he impressed me with his decency. It was his creed. Be decent to all life, people, animals, and Mother Earth.

Sounds simple in theory. In practice, it seems too hard. A Utopian dream. Is greed the problem? How do we overcome? Revolution?

Buggered if I know.

Honouring Linton Briggs

The VAA Bee Journal arrived today and I managed to copy the article by Max Whitton honouring Linton. Here Tis.

Honouring Linton Briggs

By Dr Max Whitten

 It is with great sadness that I advise of the death of Linton Briggs AM. Linton took ill in late 2019 and passed away peacefully in Wangaratta District Hospital in the presence of his wife, Helen on Tuesday, 28 April 2020. Linton‘s family were able to attend him during his time in hospital despite COVID-19 restrictions; and close colleagues were able to stay in touch with Linton, which was of great consolation to him since his interest in the beekeeping fraternity and the wider community never deserted him till the end. He celebrated his 90th birthday on Wednesday 22nd April, and was chuffed with all the well wishes and expressions of admiration and appreciation that were conveyed to him by Helen and sons, David and Andrew.

 Linton was one of the true greats amongst Australia‘s magnificent beekeepers. As far back as 1964, a young Linton, as Secretary of the NE Branch of the Victorian Apiarists Association, revealed his stripes by organising an international display of the latest in beekeeping technology. Indeed, he was ahead of his times in recognising the importance of stock improvement for Australian honeybees. A highlight of this 1964 Glenrowan gala, was the introduction of quality Caucasian genetic stock, along with demonstrations on queen raising by one of the world‘s leading bee breeders, Everett Hastings from Canada. A theme running through Linton‘s long and illustrious career was the importance of stock improvement, a belief he shared intimately with his friend and colleague, Gretchen Wheen. Other important contributions by Linton included: national quarantine facilities at Eastern Creek, formulation of public policies for protecting the nectar and pollen resource base for productive beekeeping, the Patterson‘s Curse saga, pollination services and food security. Linton was a founding director of the Wheen Bee Foundation, which helped ensure a lasting legacy of Gretchen Wheen‘s generous gift of her estate to help our beekeeping industry.

Perhaps, Linton stands unchallenged in the depth of his contribution to industry politics and governance, leading the Federal Council of Australian Apiarists Associations for many years, and shaping its successor, the Australian Honeybee Industry Council. Linton also found time to understand more about eucalypt biodiversity than many professional botanists. What Linton didn‘t know about the life and times of Ned Kelly, and his final demise, was precious little. A more detailed account of Linton‘s accomplishments in beekeeping, primary industry and community affairs will come at a later date. At this stage, we ‘dips our lid‘ to a great Australian, a born naturalist, an incredible mentor and example to many, and a caring family man. Linton devoted his considerable intellect, his self-taught capacity for oral and written communication, and his indefatigable energies selflessly for the benefit of mankind. His loss, both personally and professionally, is simply immense; but his legacy will surely live on. Our thoughts go out to Helen and family in this time of deep loss.