au
Locomotive's and their drivers – Footplate Padre (PSI Best of 2018)

Locomotive's and their drivers – Footplate Padre (PSI Best of 2018)

The Footplate Padre tells the story of the retired steam locomotive driver Vince Laymos who recalls the best steam locomotive driver he ever witnessed first hand  - this was Nyngan steam locomotive depot driver Don McLeod  - but the story may have just as valid a any depot in Australia or New Zealand..

  • Titles in the modern world (PSI Best of 2018)

    In a NZ Herald article it was reported that a cousin of Winston Churchill has died, leaving the son he once described as a "black sheep" to inherit one of Britain's most prestigious aristocratic titles.

  • The ardour and the principles (PSI Best of 2018)

    Principles are encased with stone. They are set in concrete. They are the foundation upon which a society functions. Principles stand alone. Principles are like a beacon on a hill. 

  • French nobility to a line of Reverend's then to little-old me (PSI Best of 2018)

    A popular television series “Who do you think you are” - both the UK and the Australian versions, trace specific identities pasts, to find out where they came from and the juicier the characters in their past the more interesting, in so far as the production on Michael Parkinson was stopped as his ancestors proved not interesting enough. 

  • Annoying work habits by colleagues (PSI Best of 2018)

    A few years back, a News.com article headline jumped out at me, shouting and screaming, which applied to mission and church colleagues in our 'religious' work places - those annoying things are so very difficult to bring to book – yet we're all supposed to be sweet and lovely.  

  • Busy depots in the days of steam (PSI Best of 2018)

    In the days of steam on the New South Wales Government Railways young men initiated their career as Trainee Enginemen to becoming a Train Driver, and their role as a Trainee Engineman included cleaning the steam engine cabins, managing the turntable, oiling the steam engine's rods and motions and the like.

  • What drives us away – the unexplained (PSI Best of 2018)

    Some have claimed, that former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd lost his Prime Ministership at the hands of Labor factions (the faceless men) partly due to his inability to convey to the Australian people the true worth and value of the mining “super tax”.

  • 41 years ago an alarm was given (PSI Best of 2018)

    There are times when remarkable gems unexpectedly pop up in the secular media about the Christian church  -  that would never be tolerated in the Christian media  -  and this one hit me square in the eye  -  and a great secret truth is revealed.

  • Top of the tree – dilemmas galore (PSI Best of 2018)

    As discussed in yesterday's article, Part 2 of this professional series, we looked at why women with children in Australia are the main contributors within the family unit – in that in our society, for practical and emotional reasons, women do most of the family-based caring – whether it be for children, elderly relatives or family members with a disability.

  • Helpers in 2019 for the young writer program

    The helpers in the 2019 young writer program is a celebration  -  14 January sees the commencement of over 100 young people from around the world, New Zealand and Australia.

  • Footplate Padre and the menagerie (PSI Best of 2018)

    There are many remarkable stories of things that have happened to the astonishment of all those around them and in today's world, these would have been recorded on video for social media and the entertainment of us all.

  • Kiwi young writers and 2019

    The Kiwi young writers at the 2018 young writer conference held at the Christchurch Salvation Army Centre in September determined to go alone after being part of Australia’s Press Service International for 7 years.