OLYMPIC DREAM IN NEED OF WAKE UP CALL
The London Olympics worry me. They worry me because I see young people acting like losers when they have become second or third best in the world in their specialty.
It worries me that every news report on every TV station I watch in Fremantle starts with the Olympics. It worries me that the world is spending billions of dollars on a two week sporting event when there still is so much poverty in the world.
At the same time someone swims the 400 metres faster than anyone else thousands of young children die of starvation in the Horn of Africa and other third world countries, and thousands of people are homeless in Australia.
Don’t get me wrong. I like competitive sport. I like watching it, and although I never excelled I played soccer, volleyball, tennis, squash and badminton.
But the priorities are all wrong. Shouldn’t it suffice to represent your country and be very proud of it. Of course one would like to win, but there is far more to being part of a world event than winning.
I find it unbelievable though that an event like the Olympics becomes the main focus of the world and that we can’t see sport for what it is. If we spend as much energy and money on trying to get rid of poverty and hunger in the world as we do on the Olympic Games, we would probably succeed and save millions of lives.
I wish that all those ‘losers’ wake up to reality and return from London to their home countries with their heads up high knowing they took part in a great event. I also hope they will use their status and fame to fight the wrongs in the world, instead of doing photo spreads in glossy magazines and advertising campaigns for large corporations.
Let’s make the next Olympics the fight against poverty, so we can all be winners!
Roel Loopers
FREMANTLE BATTLE OF THE PRAMS
The Newmont Great Pram Push was held for the third time in Fremantle‘s west end this morning. The Western Australian Governor started the event, and his wife participated in it.
The Push is a charity event to raise funds for children cancer and leukaemia research. Here some photos I took.
Roel Loopers
RUNNING OF THE PRAMS ON SUNDAY!
Don’t forget to get the joggers out of the shed and old prams as well, and take part in Sunday’s Running of the Prams! It’s at the Fremantle Esplanade at 8 am and is a charity run, jog, walk for children cancer and leukeamia research, so well worth getting out of bed for early.
Although I almost got run over last year, I can assure you it is much saver to do this event than the running of the bulls at Pamplona in Spain, and the yummy mummies are so much better looking. ; >)
Roel Loopers
JOIN THE GREAT PRAM PUSH FUN!
If you love babies, prams and jogging, the Great Pram Push is the event to take part in this Sunday. It is a really fun event I have photographed since it started, and I will be there again this Sunday morning, and so will the Governor of Western Australia and his charming wife.
This is a charity event for child cancer and leukeamia research, so very worthwhile to get out of bed for early, and jog around the beautiful West End of Fremantle
The Great Pram Push is on at the Fremantle Esplanade on Sunday the 15th at 8 am.
Roel Loopers
LIFE CAN BE SO BLOODY UNFAIR!
I read an heartfelt letter to the editor of the West Australian today by an East Fremantle mother whose 22 month-old son has a rare teratoid rhabdoid tumour, a form of aggressive cancer that only occurs in babies. Jayden only has a 10% chance of survival, his mother wrote.
Leisl Stone has started a blog to communicate about her son and it might be a way for other people to contact and support her. The blog is: http://www.jaydenstonesjourney.blogspot.com.au
Life can be so bloody unfair. There is not much worse than seeing babies and young children suffer. How helpless the parents must feel. My heart goes out to them and Jayden!
Roel Loopers
GREAT PRAM PUSH IN FREMANTLE
A pre warning about the Great Pram Push on April 15. The W.A. Governor and his family will join the fun that starts on the Fremantle Esplanade.
NECTAR FOR WOMEN
‘Flamboyant’ women will be gathering in Fremantle for a ‘divine dinner’ on International Women’s Day this year at Red Tent Events’ annual Nectar For Women celebration. But the flamboyant dress code belies the serious intent behind this year’s event, which marks the beginning of an exciting new initiative that will look to support future generations of women who need birth support, post natal care or financial assistance due to crises or because they are caring for disadvantaged loved ones.
Kylie Wheatley has established ‘Nectar for Women’ with the Fremantle Foundation, and all monies raised at this year’s Nectar event will build up Nectar For Women.
Nectar’s dinner will be at the Fremantle Town Hall on the 7th of March, 6-11:30pm and features entertainment from Kavisha Mazzella and Mama Kin in an intimate yet grand setting, with sensational fare from international chef, Kirsten Atyeo and Clancy’s Fish Pub.
Nectar for Women will be managed by the Fremantle Foundation, ensuring all donations are tax deductible and can contribute to the lives of local women forever.
For bookings and more information on Nectar go to http://www.nectarfestival.com.au
For more info on the Fremantle Foundation please see www.fremantlefoundation.com
Roel Loopers
EXCHANGE FIREWORKS FOR FOOD
Perth Mayor Lisa Scaffidi‘s call that this year’s Australia Day fireworks could be the last one is a good one, and Fremantle should also consider an alternative to fireworks to celebrate Australia Day in the future.
Most people like fireworks, especially the Chinese, who produce most of them, but for me it seems obscene to explode millions of dollars worth of crackers, while in many parts of the world people have nothing to eat. Three million babies under the age of five die each year from malnutrition, and the money spent on our fireworks could feed the people in the Horn of Africa for a considerable time.
I believe it is almost indecent that we here in Australia just have fun for half an hour in most capital cities, to celebrate the beginning of our nation, without considering how much better the money could be spent, and how much better we all might feel because of it.
The global village is not just a catch word, but a duty of care for our brothers and sisters all over the planet!
Roel Loopers
Photo copyright Roel Loopers/PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY
PUSHY MUMS AND DADS
More than 120 mums and dads participated in the NEWMONT GREAT PRAM PUSH this Sunday morning and ran, jogged and walked up and down Fremantle’s Esplanade and South Mole, while pushing prams with smiling, sleeping and crying children.
It was the second time this fund raising event was held. Money will go to leukaemia research and the Starlight Foundation.
Organisers were delighted with the support they had received from the City of Fremantle, especially since last year’s event in East Fremantle had struggled with bureaucratic red tape.
PHOTOS COPYRIGHT ROEL LOOPERS PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY
GREAT PRAM PUSH SOON ON!
The Great Pram Push 2011 will be on in early April, so don’t miss out on the fun and help raise money for the children leukeamia and cancer foundations.
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