Archive for September, 2005
Thursday, September 29th, 2005
The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released a new report: “Queensland’s Baby Boomers: A Profile of Persons Born 1946-1965, 2005 ($43.00).
I heard an interview on ABC FM this afternoon in which one of the researchers reported on the self assessment of Boomers about their own health. 80 per cent said they were in good to excellent health. However the figures showed a disturbing trend of overweight and obese boomers, not to mention unhealthy lifestyles relating to smoking and lack of exercise.
For the purposes of the study the ABS defined Baby Boomers as the people born between 1945 and 1965. They acknowledge the existence of two age cohorts within the Baby Boom generation. The differences between those cohorts is seen clearly when comparing effective income and net worth.
I’ve put here a precis of the study provided by ABS on their web site. I’m aiming to get a copy of the report shortly.
Demography
Since the early 1960s, baby boomers have been a significant group in Queensland’s population. They are expected to continue having a substantial impact on the composition of the state’s population in the future, giving rise to new challenges for government, business and community services.
Chapter 2 examines the impact of the baby boomers on the profile and distribution of the Queensland population, in the past, present and future. It examines the 2001 profile of baby boomers in the state’s population and the cohort’s geographical distribution throughout the state. This chapter compares Indigenous baby boomers with non-Indigenous baby boomers. Interstate and intrastate migration patterns are also examined.
Baby boomers are tracked from 1961 to 2001, showing the increase in the number of baby boomers since 1961 and comparing them as a proportion of the population at specific points in time. Population projections to 2051 demonstrate how baby boomers will continue to impact on Queensland’s population as they age. Population age by sex profiles graphically show the progression through the population distribution of the baby boomers from their early years in 1961 to 2001 and their projected profiles to 2051.
Cultural diversity
Overseas migration has had a major effect on Queensland’s population size and composition from its earliest settlement. In 1901, 35% of Queenslanders were born overseas, predominantly in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe. By 2001, 17% of Queensland’s population were born overseas, while 23% of total baby boomers were born overseas.
Chapter 3 examines the characteristics of overseas-born baby boomers. Characteristics examined include country of origin, age profile, year of arrival in Australia, languages spoken and proficiency in English. Overseas-born baby boomers are compared with their Australian-born counterparts in terms of household tenure, income and education. This chapter also looks at other aspects of cultural diversity for all baby boomers, including ancestry and religious affiliation.
Families
Families are the basic unit of home life for most people and provide supportive relationships, companionship and assistance and support, especially as people grow older. In 2003, over half (52%) of the 1.068 million families in Queensland were baby boomer families. The majority of the baby boomer families were couples with children (57%), while 30% were couples without children and 13% were lone-parent families. The proportions of baby boomer families as couples without children and lone-person households are expected to rise. These changes will affect the demand for family and community resources and will be important considerations in policy and program development.
Chapter 4 examines the living arrangements of baby boomers. It looks at the proportion of baby boomers that live in various types of family and non-family households and presents projections of their living arrangements in 2026. The chapter also looks at the registered and social marital status of baby boomers, and the role of carers of people who are frail, aged or have a disability.
Housing
People live in different types of houses according to their age and circumstances. In 2001, 87% of Queensland baby boomers were living in separate houses. Housing is an important issue for baby boomers as they are likely to make decisions over the next two decades about their retirement, based on factors such as their current housing arrangements and housing costs.
Chapter 5 examines the type of dwellings baby boomers live in, tenure type, dwelling size and condition, home value and equity, and propensity to move. It also compares the housing characteristics of baby boomers with other age groups and examines regional differences in baby boomers’ housing.
Education and training
Education and training are recognised as giving people the skills and knowledge for entry into and advancement through the workforce. Baby boomers had greater access to formal education than preceding generations. In 2001, 40% of baby boomers held non-school education qualifications.
Chapter 6 examines the level of school and non-school education attained by Queensland baby boomers and compares these with other age groups. The education achievements of the baby boomer cohort are tracked from 1981 to 2001 to assess their contribution over time. Other characteristics examined include fields of study and future study intentions. This chapter also examines training undertaken by baby boomers, including numbers and areas of training, perceived effectiveness of training and barriers to study and training.
Health
An individual’s health status is determined by a complex interaction of social, economic, environmental, behavioural and genetic factors. The life expectancy of Queenslanders is among the highest in the world and this together with declining fertility rates has led to an ageing of the population. As the baby boomer cohort begins to move into the older age groups, there will be a greater number and proportion of the population living into old age with a range of support needs. Governments have a key role to play in ensuring the health system responds to the changes and challenges of the future. However, individual responsibility for adopting healthy behaviours is also essential if many preventable and chronic illnesses are to be avoided.
Chapter 7 examines baby boomers’ health status (self-assessed and reported) and discusses a range of health risk factors that have been associated with preventable and chronic illnesses. These include cigarette smoking, consumption of alcohol at levels considered at risk for health, limited physical activity, poor nutrition and being overweight. This chapter also examines health related actions, health care costs and the coverage rates of private health insurance.
Community life
The level of a person’s interaction with their community is an indicator of their social wellbeing. The average baby boomer spent nearly four hours a day on recreation and leisure in 1997. A large proportion of baby boomers also visited cinemas, libraries, botanic gardens and other venues. In 2000, 38% of baby boomers were involved in voluntary work through an organisation or group. The way baby boomers are involved in community life is expected to change as they grow older and retire.
Chapter 8 examines how baby boomers use their time, their involvement in voluntary work, and their level of family and community support. The chapter looks at what they do for recreation and leisure, what types of cultural venues they attend and how much they spend on recreation. It also looks at baby boomers’ perceptions of crime in the community, whether they have been a victim of crime themselves, the availability of transport and how they travel to work, and the extent to which they use computers and the Internet.
Income and wealth
The amount of income earned largely influences the standard of living of individuals and households. Wealth and income are closely related as income not spent on current consumption allows the accumulation of wealth. Income levels vary across a person’s life cycle and may be affected by a range of events and circumstances, e.g. illness, participation in the labour force and family situation. The amount of wealth, in particular superannuation, together with the capacity to access government benefits will be a major factor influencing the retirement decisions of baby boomers and their wellbeing in retirement.
Chapter 9 examines the level and distribution of income and wealth of Queensland’s baby boomers and compares them with that of other age groups. This chapter also examines retirement intentions of baby boomers as well as looking at the amount of superannuation held by baby boomers who are yet to retire from the workforce.
Work
The changing age structure of the population will have implications for the growth of the Queensland economy in the decades ahead. The future pace of economic growth depends on the rate at which the workforce grows and on the growth of output per worker. Almost half of Queensland’s labour force are baby boomers. The older baby boomers are already approaching or have reached retirement age. As more baby boomers retire from the labour force, one of the challenges for government and business will be to maintain a viable labour market.
Chapter 10 examines the baby boomer cohort and its place in the Queensland labour force. The labour force characteristics of the baby boomers including their type of employment and working patterns are discussed. A section on job mobility analyses the length of time baby boomers have worked in their main job and the extent that employment factors influenced their moving house. An examination of the occupations and industries in which baby boomers are employed concludes the chapter.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Thursday, September 29th, 2005
Author M. Scott Peck died at his home in Connecticut on Sunday, aged 69, after suffering from pancreatic and liver duct cancer. Most people know Peck for his 1978 book, “The Road Less Traveled” which begins with the phrase, “Life is difficult”. I found the book very helpful in its honesty about the processes of growth toward maturity and dealing with hardship. By the mid-1990s, the book had made 258 appearances on The New York Times best-seller list.
Other books he wrote included “People of the Lie: The Hope For Healing Human Evil,” “The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace“, “Meditations From the Road,” and “Further Along the Road Less Traveled.”
See my post on his book, “In Search of Stones”, written in April this year.
Obituaries are starting to appear online, not all flattering. The Telegraph (UK), for example, has a frank assessment of Peck’s life, drawing attention to his relationship difficulties.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 28th, 2005
I joined up with Wikipedia yesterday to add a bit of detail to the entry for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. There was next to nothing entered there, apart from a list of the two Presbyterian breakaway movements in New Zealand who had got sick of the liberal theology of the main denomination.
Interestingly the two other editors for this page so far are Richard Davis (Kiwirad), a former colleague in the PCANZ national office in Wellington, now living in Dunedin, and Stephen (Blarney the Rinosaur), born in Gore, NZ and now living in Victoria, Australia.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
This coming Sunday, the first Sunday in October, is being celebrated as World Communion Sunday around the world.
World Communion Sunday (originally called World Wide Communion Sunday) originated in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1936, for the first time, the first Sunday in October was celebrated in Presbyterian churches in the United States and overseas. From the beginning, it was planned so that other denominations could make use of it and, after a few years, the idea spread beyond the Presbyterian Church.
World Communion Sunday is now promoted in the USA by the PCUSA, United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ. It is observed widely in New Zealand, at least in the Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Congregational and Churches of Christ. Strangely enough, I haven’t met many people in Australia who connect with this opportunity to connect the eucharist with a sense of compassion shared with the church around the world.
Last time I celebrated this day with a congregation was at Twin Towns, Coolangatta/Tweed Heads, on the Gold Coast. We gathered together a variety of breads from around the world. We used the image here to help get a sense of the global impact of what Jesus did with a small group of disciples.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
Latest addition to Duncan’s TV Adland is the MBF “Be Positive” campaign from 2003, featuring Johnny Mercer’s 1946 song, “Accentuate the Positive”. This was one of the first television commercials that got me interested in the art of advertising. The irony is that I’ve waited until now to post on it.
I first got to know this song back in 1989 as part of a jazz quartet in Dunedin. Graeme Nicholas, trombone player, picked up the lyrics in a fitting way…
Gather ’round me, everybody
Gather ’round me, while I preach some
Feel a sermon coming on here
The topic will be sin and that’s what I’m agin’
If you wanna hear my story
Then settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewing the attitude of doing right…
You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with mister inbetween
You got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
And have faith, or pandemonium’s
Liable to walk upon the scene
To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark,
What did they do, just when everything looked so dark?
Man, they said, we better
Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with mister inbetween
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
Would you believe… Don Adams, the actor behind Agent 86, Maxwell Smart, died on Sunday in Los Angeles, aged 82. I’m sorry about that.
Get Smart, the creation of Buck Henry and Mel Brooks, was a spoof on the James Bond movies and the TV series, The Man from UNKLE. It first went to air in 1965 and finished in 1970.
I grew up with Get Smart as my entry point to the cold war, in black and white of course. Phrases like “missed it by that much” and the “old (whatever) trick” became part of my family lexicon. And of course the ‘cone of silence’, the shoe phones and spies hiding in any imaginable place.
As a youthworker I introduced a number of youth groups to the wide game, “Chaos versus Control”. We’d divide the group into two teams and send them into the night for two hours of espionage and stealth.
And now… Don Adams has gone through his final door.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
It looks as though the Kiwis have something to say. Darryl Gardiner and Michael Duncan are guest speakers at the Forge/YFC Intensive being held in Brisbane at the end of October. And of course Alan Hirsch, National Director of Forge Australia will be on deck.
I last remember Michael having more hair but that was back in the early 1980s when he was minister at Mornington Baptist in Dunedin, before he left to work with Servants to Asia’s Poor.
I’ve always known Darryl without much hair. We worked together where possible when I was working as National Youth Ministry Coordinator with the Presbyterian Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and he was Director for first YFC Wellington then YFC New Zealand. I see he’s now a non-stipendiary priest with the Anglican church in Waikanae.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
Jim Mein, moderator of the NSW Synod, Uniting Church, was interviewed on The World Today, on national ABC radio yesterday. Roy Edmund interviewed Jim on the proposal to sell traditional buildings and invest in new congregations. The interview concluded with a few comments from Tim Costello, relating to the way in which Hillsong is able to operate in a non-traditional approach.
JIM MEIN: I think it’s a crisis for the community. Certainly, we’re seeing that spirituality is probably at its highest ever. But Christianity is not necessarily seen as a spiritual option. So we need to look at ways to remove the image that has the church in stained glass buildings to being a church that’s people moving around and through the community.
EDMOND ROY: But isn’t that what the church actually sold: a unique proposition, as it were, that you actually go to church on a particular day at a particular time?
JIM MEIN: Yes, that’s correct for worship, but our concern is that many of our church buildings are only used on Sundays for worship. And that we’re trying to encourage our people to actually see churches as seven days and nights witness, and that that witness means moving around in the community sharing their faith.
EDMOND ROY: Which means, what, going into pubs, theatres, that kind of thing?
JIM MEIN: That sort of thing where people are.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
I had an interview with Tricia Duffield on ABC Brisbane Radio this morning, talking about churches that meet in cafes, pubs and restaurants. There’s a fair bit of media interest in this right now, mostly from a press release that’s come from the New South Wales Synod of the Uniting Church.
I talked about the need for forms of church that do not rely on the two skills most usually needed in Sunday morning worship: public singing and listening to long speeches. People involved in cafe/pub/restaurant churches are able to connect spirituality with everyday life, through eating and drinking together, sharing stories and learning in an interactive way.
The Sydney Morning Herald published an article yesterday on Jim Mein’s challenge to building-bound congregations. “Road to Salvation Could Lead to Pub”
Jim’s quoted as telling the NSW Synod:
“The emerging church will need to be a movement again which can inspirationally attract people, develop their faith and spirituality, and build faith into genuine relationships, many of which will be one on one. The gated-estate image of God being locked up in ancient temples is not the base for developing the emerging church.”
This approach to church is now getting air time in the press. Since my interview this morning, the phone’s running hot from reporters and from ministers being asked for comment by reporters.
Posted in Worth Reading | No Comments »
Sunday, September 25th, 2005
A Question about Jesus’ Authority
Jesus had gone into the temple and was teaching when the chief priests and the leaders of the people came up to him. They asked, “What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?”
Jesus answered, “I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right to do these things. Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?”
They thought it over and said to each other, “We can’t say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn’t believe John. On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet, and we are afraid of what they might do to us. That’s why we can’t say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize.” So they told Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus said, “Then I won’t tell you who gave me the right to do what I do.”
Matthew 21:23-27
Why did these men need to know where Jesus got his authority from? It seems to me they just couldn’t fit him into the hierarchical structure they were used to. They knew where their authority came from. It came from an established system of chief priest, priest and acolyte, teacher and student, leader and follower. But to their bemusement, Jesus refuses to buy into the ‘up-down’ pecking order of authority.
Questions I’d ask Jesus
So how did you discern your call? With whom did you tease out the challenge of being true to your God-given responsibility to live and proclaim the reign of God? Was it really a private matter between you and God? Or were there others with whom you confided and from whom you gained confidence to speak on behalf of God? Your parents? Your friends? Your disciples?
And what about John? Was his call to baptise something sorted out between him and God alone? Or was there a community of baptism who moved with him?
Am I missing the point by seeing your life through the lense of ‘discerned call’?
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
