Fellow PPRuNers.. .. .In about 3 or 4 hours time a once famous and world-class airline ANSETT will be no more.. .. .None of you need me to again rake over the coals or stir up the dying embers; there will be much debate in other places and probably the odd hundred or so Masters and PhD theses written on the subject and the reasons for this and that.. .. .There are few if any issues, personal views, deep personal tragedies, lessons or forms of angst that have not been aired here since PPRuNe provided access to the first nationally available forum for all participants to the dispute.. .. .It is sometimes hard to believe that PPRuNe D & G was not started for this very purpose. . .It was not, but it became so as it was the first internationally available and open platform for all of the participants in the events of 1989, a seminal watershed in the development of the Australian airline environment, to get it off their chests if they chose and maybe help towards an understanding of each other and opposing views again if they chose so to do.. .. .I can assure you that the moderating load has been very very heavy and very difficult to maintain a balance, there have been a few moderator casualties along the way, including the odd attempt at legal biffery. . .It would have been very simple for Danny to just leave it closed permanently after any of the shutdowns generally brought on by an ‘89 subject.. .But, in recognition of its historical significance and having regard for the importance of balance we were (2 stalwarts of the Kelly gang in particular, neither of whom had anything to do with 89) successful in our pleadings to keep it going for EVERYONE.. .. .I am not tempted to emulate King Solomon and make a judgment on the rights and wrongs or position of either side, other than to ponder on his response to the two mothers disputing “ownership” of a child asking him to make a judgment on which of them should “win”. . .. .There are no winners; every one of us is a loser in some form or another at this point in time in regard to ANSETT, either then, during or now at its imminent death.. .. .All that can be said about ’89, ANSETT and its progress to the imminent demise has been said over and over and over again.. .. .We have all had to bear the consequences of our individual choices in our path through life.. .. .Some of you have retained the same strongly held views that will not be changed, some have gained important new personal insights, some have remained benign and others simply don’t care, as is their right.. .. .But there has now been sufficient time for everyone to have his or her “go”. And it is clear that there is little chance of changing others views now formed.. .. .We have said in recent times that we are tired of ’89.. .. .Do not misunderstand this as disinterest in the subject.. .. .What we are really tired of is the relentless reiteration of ‘the knowns’ by both sides. It is not necessary to say the same thing a hundred different ways a thousand times.. .. .What we are tired of is the continuous flow of Woomera-o-grams from both sides complaining about how “bad” is the other side.. .. .What we are alarmed at is the number of PPRuNers who have just “gone away” because they are tired of the incessant to-ing and fro-ing and taking with them the Rumour & News and other important things that make this BB so entertaining and useful.. .. .
SO. .. .We have decided to take this opportunity at the demise of the ANSETT Company so clearly identified as the major protagonist in ’89 and out of respect for the many staff affected by it,
to call a halt to ALL AND ANY hostilities between all participants in ’89 on this forum. . .. .
Note that we do not preclude the SUBJECT MATTER, but we do so the individual attacks on individuals or groups thereof.. .. .
THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. .. .Around midnight WST the last ANSETT flight leaves and gets parked tomorrow morning in Melbourne.. .. .Just so you have a bit of notice, as at Midnight WST tomorrow night Tues 5th March 2000 anything remotely resembling a
personal attacks on individuals or groups of individuals in relation to the events of ANSETT and ’89 will result in the immediate binning of the perpetrator and deleting of the thread. There will be no prisoners taken. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .To be honest we are not exactly sure how this will work out and you can be sure we wont get it right all the time, but be assured that as far as we Woomera are concerned
that part of our history is now over, so lets get on with the rest of our lives. . .. .If that does not sit well with you then you must understand that Danny has provided Woomera with a special mode function for use when necessary. It is called despot mode.. .. .We trust you will give us the benefit of the doubt and that you will continue to trust us to serve the best interests of the Forum.