Wayne’s World
Wayne Bennett, 20-year coach of Brisbane Broncos Rugby League team was recently ABC Grandstand’s guest as a life coach. During the Saturday afternoon program, which generally focuses on sporting issues, Bennett was interviewed by ABC’s Tracey Holmes. While his emotions on discussing the future for his disabled son have been widely reported many other aspects of the interview were significant.
Photo: Wayne Bennett addresses the press (from www.broncos.com.au)
In listening to Bennett’s comments, I&I reflected that many of his ideas are applicable to all walks of life and organizations, not just sport. These included:
• Role of professional support in an organisation: “Twenty years ago when I began coaching the Broncos there was only one other paid professional to support the team. When this season began, we had a meeting with 13 full-time professional staff. If the team and organisation are to develop and grow in this increasingly competitive era, I as a coach and the Broncos as an organisation need the best professional support if we are to succeed.”
• Longevity in the role: “I feel that 20 years as coach only works if I continue to evolve and develop. I could have moved on after five years and just done the same things all over again at another club.”
• Being a leader of people: “Recently after one of our games I had to deal with seven issues before the end of the night. None of them were directly associated with the game just played. They included concerns players had about partner relationships and some of the calls were from former players.”
• Handling stress: “The way I handle the stress of the role is to develop a plan on how I am going to go forward. Once I have a plan to address the cause of the stress then it starts to go away.”
• Role of a coach: “My view is that a coach should help individuals and a team to compete to the best of their ability. Even the best have losses so don’t get upset if you have competed well and have lost. I only get disappointed if I know someone (or a team) has not put the effort in to compete as well as they are capable.”
I&I wondered how these thoughts might apply to you and/or your organisation, be it business, sport, government etc. Let them eat chalk!
Case for daily calcium? A landmark study by University of Western Sydney researchers has found people over 50 who take calcium supplements suffer fewer fractures and enjoy a better quality of life.
The meta-analysis of over 63,000 people taking calcium or calcium and vitamin D supplements, conducted by the UWS Centre for Complementary Medicine Research (CompleMED), has been published in the prestigious international medical journal, The Lancet.
The study found long term daily calcium and Vitamin D supplements have the potential to reduce the risk of fracture in the elderly by almost a quarter. Two million Australians have osteoporosis and the disease costs the nation's economy $7.4 billion per year.
The report's authors analysed 29 studies from around the world which tracked the use and efficacy of calcium or calcium and Vitamin D supplements in 63,897 people aged 50 or over. The study calculated a regular daily dose of 1200mg of calcium with 800 international units of Vitamin D provided the best therapeutic effect.
I&I wonders if those who started education in the chalk and blackboard age actually benefited from the calcium rich chalk dust they inhaled or sucked on?? Apologies to Marie Antoinette for the heading!
From USW News Weekly Digest – contact Paul Grocott (p.grocott@uws.edu.au; (02) 9678 7083, 0406 429 304) for more information.
Ironstone strengthens internet in hospitality and document control for all
Ironstone Technology, based in Kiama NSW, recently showcased two of their products targeted at the hospitality and manufacturing sectors.
At a recent i3net members’ meeting, demonstrations were given of docuMENTOR, a product for controlling standard documentation in industry, and NetSense, which is fast becoming the industry standard for hospitality managers looking to offer secure Internet services for clients whilst being able to generate much needed revenue for the Hotel or leisure complex.
The i3net was formed several years ago in response to a need to promote awareness of the high-technology innovation base within the Illawarra, south of Sydney. The Network is focused on increasing business opportunities for Illawarra industry.
For further information on these innovations or i3net, go to: www.i3net.com.au Alternatively, contact: media@i3net.com.au
Biodiesel shipment kick starts new export industry
Natural Fuel Australia (NFAL) has just exported Australia's first shipment of biodiesel, an 8.8ML shipment from its Darwin facility bound for Asia and the US. It is expected to start a new industry for Australia as a replacement for petroleum-based energy. (From www.environmentalnews.net)
It’s not Greek to UOW; A multi-media breakthrough
A new company, enikos Pty Ltd, has been formed to commercialise the results of several years of groundbreaking research and development in the area of multimedia delivery at the University of Wollongong, Australia. “enikos” is derived from the Greek for twenty-one.
The key product, eniZine, brings multimedia technology direct to broadcasters, video/audio sharing sites and anyone who needs to create dynamic multimedia content easily and fast. Currently enikos is working with broadcasters, content owners and major media organisations to customise the eniZine solution to their business applications.
For more information, visit the enikos website (www.enikos.com) or contact info@enikos.com. Alternatively, contact details are listed at: www.uow.edu.au/research/mic/staff.html Prepare BATTLE Stations
The Department of State and Regional Development will hold a briefing for industry, universities, research centres and other interested organisations regarding the Defence Future Capability Technology Centre (DFCTC).
The Defence Minister has announced the establishment of the Defence Future Capability Technology Centre (DFCTC), which will be a partnership between Defence, Defence Materiel Organisation and Department of Education Science and Training (DEST). It will facilitate collaboration between publicly funded research organisations, leading Australian universities and the defence industry. The amount of Federal Government funding available for the DFCTC Program is approximately $30 million over seven years. The centre is expected to be operational by mid-2008.
A competitive selection round will be conducted to establish a single collaborative venture dedicated to the advancement of one of the following future defence capability needs:
* Integrated Battlespace and Systems Integration
* Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Defence
* Autonomous Systems and Robotics
* Materials Sciences
* Electronic Warfare Self Protection
* High Energy Electromagnetics
For further information, visit http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/collaboration/5189/ Your Ideas, Innovations or Events?
If you want publicity for an idea, innovation or technically related event, contact the I&I editor, Colin Seaborn on 4254 0258 or 0419 841829 or colins@youronlinecommunity.com.au
We welcome stories and photos. If you want to promote your product or service via video please contact YOC office on (02) 4254 0200 or andrewc@youronlinecommunity.com.au
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