Category Archives: Campaigns

!FACEBOOK TRUMPED ME!

I WAS DEACTIVATED FOR VIOLATING FACEBOOK TERMS.

Yes, this old D.J. has fallen from the cloud. DE-platformed just like that other silenced D.J. Trump.

You see, in mid-August 2021 the N.S.W. Police Minister David Elliot warned “people should not physically attend anti lock-down / vaccine protest rallies…” and instead suggested “…express your protest passively and safely to the media or online.”

In response I made a YouTube video titled ‘Passive Protest.’

Upon sharing on Facebook within 48 hours my book no longer had a face. My video had not a skerrick of hate, abuse or misinformation. In fact, content included actual video grabs of N.S.W. Premiere Gladys Berejiklian and Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant substantiating the very stats I presented.

I was strong and dark humored with my opinion. But why should Gladdy and Kezza’s daily statistical information (overload) be exempt from scrutiny in this topic of such contention where public health in the overall socioeconomic picture is lost in their equations. Mental health and peoples livelihood are critically at stake!

But hey, so much for my right to ‘passive protest’ in a law biding way! So much for debate in our democracy!! So much for free speech!!!

Judge for yourself, you can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/fdiYShhNEjU

Now my Facebook is reduced to a name and a lifeless cameo silhouette. EVERYTHING IS LOST. Not one post, word, comment, photo, contact, message, or even an emoji remains. All GONE, after 14 years loyal customer presence hanging out in the FB cloud with my friends, family, strangers (some becoming friends), and vast connections networking with the local to global community.

I’m still awaiting confirmation that my appeal even got through, let alone if reinstatement will happen, as its virtually impossible to get anywhere past the Artificial Intelligence ‘NON’HELP Centre. Here, are endless detours, roundabouts and dead-ends specifically designed to ensure there is no human contact. All, basically designed to ensure nobody penetrates their cyber-base-headquarters.

And so, dazed and confused in the procedural rigmarole of this MEGA MONSTER CLOUD, I wasted at least another day of my life (non)-communicating with no-one. Talk about Ghosting!

Even I, who believes himself to be a tough trooper, now had to deal with the confrontations of my own mental health and emotional being. In an instant, a significant segment of my life history sadly vanished into thin air without a trace like some ‘Missing Virtual Person’.

The initial shock, confusion (and panic) of this new reality has sent me on a profound journey unfathomable to explain. Begging so many questions:

Did this BEHEMOTH CLOUD weigh heavy on me? Clouds, no matter how pretty or alluring, hold tonnes of water-vapour, and when inside we essential are immersed in fog. And, with no warning the cloud broke and suddenly I found myself having to grow wings to fly above its weighty limitations, expectations, obligations (addiction???)

Was I following a daily routine worshipping a variety of screen-size gods from the clouds? Was I under the spell (cult-control?) of ‘a cyber religion’ dominating me to follow the prevailing daily weather patterns produced by the cloud? Hey, when long-term daily weather is taken into account (like say 14 years) weather can be modelled as ‘a climate’. A ‘social-media warming’ crisis?

Is this an opportunity to permanently escape the clutches of the monster? Can I look into a cyber-life from now on with a cloudless clear sky view, breathing new crisp fresh air?

Am I glimpsing on the horizon a return to a simpler, more natural way of life? Is that even possible today in an atmosphere already saturated with A.I., techno dependent mass-information overload, that seems (is) inescapable and necessary to just operate and exist?

Can I choose to independently manoeuvre myself through or around the cloud? I caution myself to remain aware of its essential use, that I don’t perhaps throw out valuable collected rainwater, nor overthrow the worthwhile in deciding what portions to keep or throw away. As regardless, ‘it’ does serve valuable functions for modern humanity.

But I have much irritation and indeed anger with our (over)-A.I. Governed world as we submit and allow ‘it’ to decide and over-rule us (we as humans) becoming ‘its’ servant and not ‘its’ master!

Worse still, would be a human hack, hacking out my tongue to silence my voice. Perhaps for example, someone finding my differing opinion intolerable and being reported to the unconscionable A.I. At the mercy of ‘its’ DE-Activation button passing ‘its’ judgement, incapable of ‘it’ understanding human conversation, explanation and open debate.

This would present the saddest and darkest storm cloud of all; hiding behind the arrogance (and dangerous) control of a giant social media entity that has become a law unto themselves.

Not sorry if I offend, but our society today is more than ever divided and polarized, and ESSENTIALLY more than ever, demands our RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH!!!

2018 Skullcandy Oz Grom Surfing Open

Held annually at Lennox Head in the July school holidays, this major junior surfing competition draws around 300 competitors, not only from NSW, but around Australia and even from around the world.

Many parents take advantage of the pilgrimage to combine travelling to the comp and make for a family surfing holiday.

I went out behind the scenes with a backdrop of perfect winter weather… to capture a different perspective of the general ‘cool’ vibe of the aged variety of spectators taking in the ‘Groms At Play: IN and OUT of the WATER’ …

MY FIRST AUTHORED BOOK

Well, co-authored to be correct.

For over a year, with limited resources, I was part of the dedicated volunteer ‘Surfing Lennox Crew’ applying our best efforts to assist the Lennox Head Heritage Committee produce a 104 page book Surfing Lennox: From Then to Now.

The  book chronicles 70 years surfing around the town of Lennox Head and takes you on a wild ride following the evolution of the town from a once sleepy fishing hamlet, to when the first lone surfers tentatively entered the water, to the seemingly unstoppable crowds attracted today to the iconic world renowned surf location.

The book covers the breaks of the Lennox National Surfing Reserve (LNSR) stretching from the south between Flat Rock to the Lennox Head-Alstonville Surf Club in the north. It is ten years since the dedication of the LNSR and the book explores all the themes that define National Surfing Reserves: ‘sites of environmental, cultural and historical significance to the Australian surfing culture.’

Behind this backdrop are the people, groups, the characters who were born here, visited, stayed or have come and gone. It is not only the location and environment, but this diverse bunch that together in some way, shape or form, makes Lennox such a special and unique ‘buzzing’ town.

As co-authors’ our contributions combine with materials delivered via donations from the public to make for irreplaceable recollections the local community can now keep as an archival document.  The volume of information and images received was overwhelming and we faced some difficult challenges; many decisions about inclusion were very tough to make.

To include everything and everyone was impossible and there is no claim as definitive, but in turning the history pages of our towns surfing journey the modest size book still covers a great measure of authentic ground. Who knows, perhaps, with more resources the next generation could produce a definitive history and fill a large 300 page hard-cover book.

But right now we do finally have an interesting, stylishly presented book. And all entirely locally produced, edited, designed and printed!

Monies from the sale of the book will go to the not-for-profit Lennox Head Heritage Committee and Lennox National Surfing Reserve Inc.

Surfing Lennox From Then to Now is currently selling at Lennox Post Office,  and local shops, Anchor Chief, The Book Room, Lennox Head Surf and ABC Bookstore Ballina for $49.00 RRP.

Cafe’ Poster

Marius Cafe in Lennox Head was taking a gamble making a move from the safety of their usual opening daytime service,  and introducing a new flavour into the nighttime dinning scene.

They asked me to come up with an A3 poster to attract attention. Something Big Bold & ! GREEK !

It was a great success and full house for weeks, with more people marching in than athletes at an Olympic Games opening ceremony.

HIPPY’S IMAGE

When ‘Hippy’ Craig Richards became the new licensed  trader at Lennox Head Motors, he asked me: “…can you design a new Ad, as the old Ad with the Volvo HAS TO GO (sorry Volvo drivers) as it just doesn’t fit our image here in Lennox, right across from the beach and all.”

AD BEFORE:

AD AFTER:

I came up with this look based off the old style N.S.W. Rego stickers. It features the iconic EK Holden wagon cruising down the road with the waves rolling in, complete with a classic timber log surfboard strapped to the roof!

A few months later Hippy asked to design a new Business Card in the same style, so we ‘pimped-up’ the ride and power modified the set-up.

Lennox Walks for Climate Change

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Approximately 300 people marched in Lennox Head in solidarity with people all over the world as part of the Peoples Climate March on Sunday 29th November.

The event was organised by Community Owned Renewable Energy Lennox (COREL), a newly formed group which aims to take local action on climate change through various renewable energy projects . Any future money and sponsorship COREL raise will be put back into clean powering community owned assets.

LOGO

The Walk fell on the eve of the Paris Climate Conference and was intended to send a message around the globe for action on climate change. A crowd gathered at the park near the bus shelter where they listened to speakers, including organiser Amelia Hicks, Greens MP Tamara Smith and multi award winning travel writer Louise Southerden. Other guest speakers included members of community energy group Mullumbimby COREM sharing their knowledge and experiences after already being established since 2014.

In attendance were Ballina Councillor Jeff Johnson and Mayor David Wright.  Many participants in the walk and others passively attending added their name to a public letter which will be sent to Ballina Council showing the community’s support for new renewable community projects.

Despite the cloudy weather (and several light showers) the event PA was completely powered by the sun, thanks to Sebastian Sledge of Solar Trailers Australia and his 1.6 KW mobile power station. The sound gear was supplied by Disco Statik and Master M.C. Vic Leto was very impressed that for the first time in 32 years hosting, the P.A. ran entirely ‘unplugged’ and free off the sun!

After the speeches the large crowd made its way onto the beach for a photo and then a short walk to the Surf Club and return. Once back the entertainment was led by musicians Gair and the very funny trio of ‘Bronnie and the Bishops.’

NOTE: As a founding member of COREL I was also an organiser of the event.

Vic Leto.