mja blog

Author: Melissa

  • Sunny haircut

    Crossing a few to do items off my list this week. Yesterday I finished all the Week 4 economics work, including my first live Zoom workshop with other students and our tutor Nizam. Usually I’m at work when they hold these. Completed UTAS’ mandatory Academic Integrity module, made a start on the First Aid course work, and had my hair cut at a local salon.

    It was wonderful to see the sun, a little bit of rain in the morning, but mostly sunny and blue skies. Went for a walk up to Moffat Beach and watched people on the beach, the water looked great. I may go for a swim myself this afternoon. Took a few photos of Moffat and Dicky Beaches with the blue skies overhead, although very patchy – you can see rain up the coast.

    Post-hair salon selfie
    Moffat Beach
    Near Raintrees Resort at Moffat Beach
    Dicky Beach

  • Wetlands

    Yesterday was eventful. After a morning of heavy rain, and lots of study, I decided to head out for a beach ramble around 2.30pm. I headed north again, up to Currimundi, and discovered sections of the delightful coastal walk through the Coondibah Creek reserve land, which sits in the wooded area behind the dunes. There is a bridge where the creek forms a lagoon and the overflow streams into the sea. It eventually comes out at Ballinger Beach, a couple of streets away from the Dicky Beach Surf Rescue Club.

    On arrival back at the apartments around 4pm there was no power. Luckily my phone and tablet were fully charged so I was able to carry on with my economics text (not the most interesting holiday reading). The power was out all through Dicky Beach from downed lines, so I couldn’t buy my dinner from the Japanese takeaway around the corner as I’d planned. Instead a salad of leafy greens, diced fetta and watermelon then an early night. Lights came back on around 8pm (to resounding cheers in the apartment complex).

  • Stormy Seas

    There has been a lot of precipitation and at times while I’ve been here I’m not sure if I’m hearing the roar of the ocean or the steady torrential beat of rain. Perfect study weather by the way.

    The rain let up a couple of times yesterday to let me venture out. I went and sat on Dicky Beach for a break at midday, and on the way back to my rooms picked up a roast pork Banh Mi from the local bakery. By the way, no sign of the SS Dicky wreck on the beach any more. I feel lucky that I was able to see it on my earliest visit here.

    Then in the evening I walked from Moffatt Beach, through Dicky Beach and onto Currimundi. It was a glorious walk, I wanted to keep going but it started getting dark and rainy, and I needed to watch my step so I didn’t inadvertently tread on the occasional little blue bottle jellyfish washed up on the shore.

    I am flying through my studies, almost done with Week 4 material. With luck should finish it off today.

    This made me smile – the Aussie penchant for shortening people’s names. I imagine it was a very romantic moment when Woz led Kaz to show his handiwork on the beach.
    As I stood on the shore, the water felt lovely and inviting as it crept up to kiss my toes.

  • Study Break

    Not a break from study, a break TO study.. I’m up at Dicky Beach at Portobello Apartments – found a good deal on AirBnB. It is rainy up here but it hasn’t stopped me going for an early morning walk up to Moffat Beach, where I picked up a coffee and foccacia for breakfast.

    On track with the book learnin’ so far, I finished the Week 3 workshop and quiz last night. This week I aim to catch up Week 4 and 5, and make a start on the first assignment. I also want to do the online component of my First Aid course (for work), it will give me a break from economics! I would also like to finish the Canva design course I started, for another bit of diversion.

    Week 3 work was a bit tricky. Can’t quite wrap my head around the demand and supply curves which both shift in opposite directions according to different variables. Might have gelled by the time I go back to revise, the brain continues working sub-consciously to make sense of things I often find.

    My apartment here at Portobello is lovely. It even has a full kitchen and laundry. I did have to move some furniture around to set up my study area – not enough power points. Next time I will remember to bring a power extension lead. Here are a couple of pics.

    I had to move the sofa in first pic and shift the kitchen table in its place, closer to power point. The second sofa in this pic remains in original position. The table is heavier than it looks, the counter top has a poly-resin granite-style surface.

  • A busy life

    Having just enrolled in business studies, that will take me the best of four years to complete; taking on the company secretary role in addition to my existing employed role as business manager; I seem to be forever trying to fill a gap in my life. A gap of loneliness, a gap of purpose. I instinctively present a face to the world of someone who is smart and engaged and connected. The reality seems so different. I feel like a machine who has switched off sensitivity to pain from most human interactions, because it is so unbearable.

    I am developing myself every day. My mind, my body. Why not my social resilience. I will look for ways to build this aspect in my daily life and forever try to make those connections, and not be too discouraged if they don’t happen.

  • Co Sec Discussion Group

    Attended first discussion group at the Governance Institute of Australia offices in Brisbane yesterday, lead topic was Board Agendas and from this fed many related discussions and experiences on how company secretaries deal with the business of board meetings.

    The group was diverse and interesting. There were two or three from large ASX companies, smaller companies, government facilities and not-for-profit. I was from the only ACNC registered charity, but others had experience. Sectors included mining, health, energy, education, legal. I spoke to a couple of people – Mel from one of the ASX companies in mining sector had fascinating experiences – 1000 page board packs and four hour meetings with directors spread over the country. Wendy from a JP Association – there are over 180,000 Justices of the Peace in Queensland, while only 5,000 in Victoria. Angela from an energy company, working on another Masters degree. Yikes.

    Many of us had similar experiences in our dealings with Chair and management, chasing up action items and ensuring reports were written in a way that directors would read them. We discussed the style of minute taking – resolution v. narrative. I was interested in hearing how others handled dual role of co sec plus management role. A couple of people there combined the role with CEO which I found astonishing, even more so that they also took the meeting minutes.

    I think the biggest takeaway from the session for me was that I am on the right track in my development as a company secretary. The GIA and AICD articles I read are put into practice in the real world.