Author: joe.colbrook
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Starting 2023 with a bang
As I watched the final fireworks fade over Sydney Harbour from my vantage point at the Opera House and 2023 began, I decided to reflect on the year that was. The start of 2022 brought a new beginning and I formally embarked on a career as a journalist. As the sole reporter for the Jimboomba…
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Colbrook’s Curious Cameras and Photography Part 2
In my previous post I waxed lyrical about my recently-acquired Kiev 4. While I stand by my earlier statements about what it’s like to use, I found the camera had one small issue that needed addressing. Putting aside any comments about my composition and exposure, it’s pretty clear from these photos that somehow stray light…
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Beyond Buy Now Pay Later
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies have recently attracted the ire of financial counsellors, mostly due to poor financial hardship procedures and a lack of oversight across the industry. A report into their practices, published by Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), was released early in December 2021. While the report raises valid criticisms, focusing solely on…
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A peek behind the iron (shutter) curtain
Until this year, I’d shot the occasional roll of film with an Olympus OM-1n. I’d inherited this SLR from my grandfather and the camera was a delight to use. Or at least it was until it stopped working. I took it to a local camera repair place and the diagnosis was terminal owing to a…
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Life unworthy of being lived?
A recent article published by The Guardian revealed that people in the UK with learning disabilities have been issued with Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) notices should they fall ill with COVID-19. It was also recently revealed by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and Mencap, one of the leading charities for people with…
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Fighting FANG and claw over the Web’s future
The proposed News Media and Bargaining Code has caused quite a stir, with Facebook and Google threatening to cease offering parts of their services to Australian customers should the bill be passed. Such protests are unsurprising. After all, it’s their bottom lines that are at stake. Rather than fretting about whether or not we’ll be…
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Endometriosis in Australia
Late last year as part of a university course on reporting social justice issues I had the opportunity to interview three young women about their experiences living with endometriosis and, as it transpired, adenomyosis. These conditions tend to be under-reported and poorly understood by many, despite them affecting an estimated 1 in 10 women. This…