Spent last week in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and delivered a presentation at the annual Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) Conference. A very successful week at many levels. Met some great people who have some clever ideas that will assist in sustaining economic growth and prosperity in regional Australia for many years to come.

My political aspirations are continuing with the scheduled launch of my campaign to be elected to the next NT Parliament on Friday 27th November. My www.philwalcott.com.au site will be launched that day along with a celebration gathering at Voyages Alice Springs Resort from 5.30pm – 7.00pm that afternoon.

Some very interesting articles in the Weekend Australian over the past weekend and this one gives a whole new possibility to how the future of the NT might roll out. The past 30 years of Territory government has not addressed the significant social, emotional, economic and spiritual issues we face as a jurisdiction. The future can be very different – if people choose to change the way they think. Positive thinking promotes positive outcomes that in turn creates positive energy. The essence of that altered state of energy flow can create new and alternative possibilities.

So it’s all very exciting with a whole new approach being possible. Stay tuned for developments as they unfold.

There was a particularly damming report in this weekend’s Australian as to the sad state of affairs through the ranks of successive NT governments and bureaucracy over the past 30 years. Part of my intention to win a seat in the next NT Parliamentary Assembly is to address that legacy. The report was excellently researched and paints a very accurate picture of the realities we face.

My www.philwalcott.com web-site will be up on-line within the next two weeks. There will be plenty of opportunity for people to comment on those blogs, add information and generally stay informed about the quest.

Who knows what this week’ll bring. Had a video interview that you can see at www.aliceonline.com.au and a written one at www.alicespringsnews.com last week. Radio interviews with ABC & 8HA as well.

The message is clearly one of people having the power to change the way they think. They don’t have to change what they think, just the way they process the thoughts – give them positive energy rather than negative.

The Urban Sharman by Serge Kahili King Ph.D. (published by Simon and Schuster) provides ways to transform thinking based on the Hawaiian Way of the Adventurer Warrior. It’s about positive energy resulting in positive thoughts culmination in positive outcomes. Can be used for personal growth, relationship growth, family growth and whole-of-community growth. Worth a read – check your local library for a copy.

Busy week ahead with private practice, headspace, social commitments and preparing to head off to Kalgoorlie next Monday to deliver a presentation to the annual Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) Conference. What else the week brings remains to be seen. The day you have is never the one you plan!!

Encouraging people to be more positive in their outlook is a major feature on my election campaign. Seeing the ‘glass half full’ instead of ‘half empty’ is how I live my life and it works!! Being a success is far better than being a victim – far more empowering. Helping to grow and build the Alice Springs ‘whole of community’ is my goal.

Barbra Streisand’s ‘Ordinary Miracles’ lyric sums much of it up.

Change can come on tiptoe
Love is where it starts
It resides, often hides
Deep within our hearts
And just as
Pebbles make a mountain,
Raindrops make a sea,
One day at a time
Change begins with you and me,
Ordinary miracles
Happen all around,
Just by giving and receiving
Comes belonging and believing,
Every sun that rises
Never rose before,
Each new day leads the way
Through a different door,
And we can all be quiet heroes
Living quiet days,
Walking through the world
Changing it in quiet ways,
Ordinary miracles
Like candles in the dark,
Each and every one of us
Lights a spark,

And the walls can tumble
And the mountains can move,
The winds and the tide can turn,

Yes, ordinary miracles
One for every star,
No lightning bolt or clap or thunder
Only joy and quiet wonder,
Endless possibilities
Right before our eyes,
Oh, see the way a miracle multiples,

Now hope can spring eternally
Plant it and it grows,
Love is all that’s necessary
Lovin’, its extraordinary
Why,
Makes ordinary miracles every blessed day.

Politics in the broader arena is certainly an interesting adventure!! The Centralian Advocate broke the news with a story in Tuesday’s paper, I was interviewed on radio by both ABC and 8HA and local Dave Richards recorded a video interview with me in my office on Tuesday which is now available on his www.aliceonline.com.au site (runs about 5 minutes). An interview with the Alice Springs News last Sunday was published in Thursday’s edition.

Had meetings with some very substantial political and media folk here in town who are all keen to give me plenty of good advice as to ways to effectively get my message across.

The election is not scheduled until 26th August, 2012 so there is much that can be achieved before then. It’s exciting being approached by significant players in the realms of government, business and community. I believe that I have much to learn as well as much to share.

Today sees the launch of my campaign to be elected into the next Northern Territory Parliament. The Centralian Advocate will run the following media release:

It’s Time!!

It’s time to announce more broadly that I seek to be elected as an Independent member into the next Northern Territory Parliament. The choice of electorate I will seek to represent will be determined by the electoral boundaries at the time the writs are issued.

It’s time to encourage the well-being of the whole of Alice Springs utilising a ‘whole of community’ model developed by headspace Central Australia.

It’s time to encourage people to adopt positive and proactive approaches that focus on solutions not problems.

It’s time to encourage people to embrace the concept that as we all travel forward in our respective life journeys, we should ‘drive through the windscreen and not the rear vision mirror’. Stay in the drivers seat!!

It’s time to encourage people to embrace the notion that we are all survivors, not victims.

Carpae Diem.

It’s time!!

Phil Walcott

Alice Springs

I’m standing as an Independent candidate in one of 3 Alice Springs electorates at the next NT Parliamentary election. Which one will be decided by the electoral boundaries in effect at the time the election is called (could be up to almost 3 years but it is likely to occur before that).

Watch for blogs as the ‘party unfolds’!!

Doris (my former Subaru – named such as she always gave me a Doris Day!!) moved to a new home today. A couple of my friends, Helen & Nadine decided that they needed to be her new owners. She gets to stay living in Alice Springs so I’ll see her from time to time. It’s great that she’s still ‘part of the family’ and will be lovingly cared for by the girls. Thanks, Doris – you’ve been a great car that took Glenn & I from Alice to Broome (and back), trips out bush, trips to & from Tennant Creek and around town. Lucy Lexus will now be my preferred mode of transport around town and up to Tennant Creek.

The Tourism Central Australia Awards night yesterday was stunning! A fabulous evening filled with fabulous people, food, drinks, and a host of winners!! Biggest congratulations to Jan Hayes who won the ‘big gong’ (my nomination!!!)