In this edition: The tyranny of distance

Australian historian, Geoffrey Blainey, coined the term 'tyranny of distance' in relation to Australia's isolation from the rest of the world. This Transit Lounge edition explores the notion of distance in terms of religion, politics, education, health, culture and geography.  

Penelope Monger 

There is a stark and disturbing difference between the life expectancy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a life expectancy some 17 years less than other Australians. It is this difference that instigated the Close the Gap campaign.

Nicole Reardon

Australia is a lucky country. We have one of the world’s healthiest democracies and, while there is always room for improvement, Australian governments are committed to upholding our human rights. Yet, not all countries protect their citizens in this way, and so sometimes we feel compelled to bridge the cultural gap and advocate for human rights overseas.

Meera Atkinson

Sometimes distance is felt most when, after returning home from an overseas adventure, a person experiences culture shock in their own country and realises they’ve been forever changed by their time away.

Meera Atkinson

It takes a special kind of person to relocate from Perth, WA, to Katherine, NT, to drive countless kilometres to bring faith and hope to those in need, endure long and painful absences from family and friends and live for the most part without the solace of a spiritual community. Mitch Fialkowski, Frontier Services Patrol Minister, is such a person.

Adrian Pyle 

This is a story about a journey into spiritual health – of transformation from disparate parts into a realm of wholeness.

Nicole Reardon 

Steff Gelson, journalist for business magazine, CIO, has summed up the generational stereotypes thus: “Gen Y thinks Gen X is a bunch of whiners. Gen X sees Gen Y as arrogant and entitled. And everyone thinks the Baby Boomers are self-absorbed workaholics.”

Meera Atkinson

Man on Wire is a breathtaking documentary about Phillippe Petit’s celebrated tightrope walk between the World Trade Centre’s twin towers in 1974. It skilfully recreates the story of how Petit and his supporters bridged the distance between a mad dream and its seemingly impossible realisation.