I argued for a “no give, no take” system for organ donation–people who signed their organ donor cards would be given priority over non-signers should they one day need an organ. The idea has an element of justice to it but the primary goal is to increase the incentive to sign one’s organ donor card.

Israel recently adopted this policy by giving extra points on the allocation system to people who previously signed the organ donor card. In the case of kidneys, for example, two points (on a 0-18 point scale) are given if the candidate had three or more years previous to being listed signed their organ card.  One point is given if a first-degree relative had signed and 3.5 points if a first-degree relative had previously donated.

It’s early but so far the policy appears to be very successful

In 1981 the Commonwealth Government established the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) which administers the AIS has 2 objectives: (1) excellence in sports performances; and (2) increased participation in sports and sports activities. State-based institutes of sport have also been established with the same or very similar objectives. Federal policy directs the bulk of the ASC budget to elite athlete programs. A smaller proportion goes towards community participation. The official reason is based on the notion of the ‘trickle-down’ or ‘demonstration’ effect. That is, a flow-on of benefits to the broader community in the form of increased participation as a direct result of elite sports success. The aims of this study were to determine the (1) spending pattern to elite sports programs for the 5 Olympics 1976/77 to 1995/96, (2) evidence for the two ASC objectives having been met, and (3) expected medal tally at the 2000 Olympic Games. Results show funding (in 1998 dollars), has accelerated from about $1.2 million (1976/77) to $106 million in (1997/98), particularly since the Games were awarded to Sydney. The total amount spent on elite athletes was $0.918 billion. In the period 1980-96 Australia won 25 gold and 115 total Olympic medals. This equates to approximately $37 million per gold and $8 million per medal in general. There was a significant linear relationship between money spent and total medals won. This was also found when all medal types were analysed independently. The predicted medal tally in 2000 (based on the cost per medal and the expenditure towards Sydney) indicates the medal count will be about 14+/-1 gold, 15+/-2 silver and 33+/-4 bronze. Based on our nation’s record of international sporting achievement, there is little doubt we have fulfilled the ASC’s first objective. Current data on physical activity patterns of Australians suggest the second objective has not been met. Focusing attention on and achieving the first objective does not appear to have any bearing on the second objective. It is time to revisit the notion that elite sporting success leads to greater mass participation as a result of the so-called ‘trickle-down’ effect.

What is the ASC/AIS?

I remember Helen; and Julie was fun,
And evenings with Evelyn were ace;
But Shakespeare and Milton and Wordsworth and Donne?
Disappeared for ever; no trace.

Who here has been rendered ecstatic
By Betjeman, Byron or Scott?
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

Words it was not; it was women
Who took those sweet years of my time;
I never went down to the pub
To see if two sentences rhymed.

Nights down dark lanes in the back seats of cars;
Was it poetry that gave our hearts wings?
Was it poetry that steamed up the windows?
Was it poetry that tested the springs?

Did the thrill of iambic pentameter
Keep the fires of our passion red hot?
Is Poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

Remember the success of the musical “Hair”?
Did the words of its songs make it so?
Was it Glibby glop gloopy nibby nabby nooby
La la la lo lo?

Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba;
Were we gripped by these words of the sage?
I think it had rather more to do
With naked bodies on stage.

Tooby ooby wabba nooby abba naba.
Am I impressed? Not a lot;
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

Does my soul sing out for, say, Shelley?
No; his verses are just so much froth;
Should we have more sex on the telly?
Yes; though I sometimes fall off.

If you were alone in some far away place
And the evening was starting to drag;
If you had to choose, which one would you refuse;
The Lady of Shallot or a shag?

By the latter, in clarification,
I did not mean a guillemot;
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

If poetry was better than sex,
There’d be a torrent of spam sent upon it;
‘Brazilian housewives read Shakespeare for you’;
‘Add an extra four lines to your sonnet’.

There’s no: “You are not Long, fellow;
The opposite sex will not like you;
They want a man with a big soliliquy
All you’ve got is a haiku.”

Does it matter how long a man’s poem?
No indeed; not a jot;
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

Have I passed long years of pure pleasure
In pursuit of the most perfect rhyme?
Oh no; that to me is no treasure;
Procreation’s been the thief of my time.

And when I have something to say,
A passion I need to express,
Do I care overmuch about scansion and rhyme?
No.

Do I preach that we reach for some peach of a word?
No, I lob in some odd apricot;
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure dome decree
And would that dome have poets in?
Not if it was up to me;

I get quite confused when I see a hand used
To write verse, whether rhyming or blank;
Some other employment would bring more enjoyment;
That’s what I think, to be frank.

The day that I’m cursed with a preference for verse
You can order my hearse on the spot;
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

The odyssey, Illiad; in days far behind,
Did I seek out girls who could quote ‘em?
Is the way to my heart through the doors of my mind?
No, like most men, I’m led by the scrotum.

And when the debate has come to a close
And we’ve filled you with smiles and with laughter
Don’t come to us with your poems, my dears;
It isn’t your poems we’re after.

What are words when two souls might be dancing
That sweet horizontal gavotte?
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

To keep me amused, I know which I’d choose;
But remind me, in case I’ve forgot;
Is poetry better than sex?
No, it’s bloody well not.

Les Barker – 2003

• 4 crushed weet-bix
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups coconut
• 1 1/2 cups sifted self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 ozs margarine

Mix all dry ingredients, add melted margarine, mix then put into biscuit tray. Spread evenly.

Bake 15 – 20 minutes till brown at 220 Electric Oven.

ICING

Mix 2 cups Icing Sugar, 1 tablespoon Cocoa with 1 tablespoon margarine melted in 3 tablespoons boiled water.

Ice slice when cool.

The year most gone.

In our time ripose.

A perchance pregnant poignant reflection.

So thought of the next oncoming year.

It approaches ever on.

Consulted by unknown seer.

Her reply in unknown song.

So gander yonder past the  future mists.

This too will reproduction.

With many a peer.

Onwards now lest times dissipation.

While poets will a waste,

and miss their own tastes,

next year – ah sure,

that will be the one,