From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 31 July

It takes the reaction of other people to remind you of your own intellectual and emotional freedom.

A SCHOOL report said of me, aged about ten, “He needs to learn to control his tongue and moderate his language.”

Later, at boarding school, a house master wrote, “He still hasn’t learnt not to argue with authority – and it’s high time he did!”

Both comments are a nonsense, and are reflective of the time and place from whence they came; however, I would be fascinated to meet the authors at this stage in my life. Both are long since dead, but I suspect I would have little, or no regard, for either of them.

For me, this year marks 57 years of working in the theatre – a profession which, unlike almost any other, allows for rare and complete freedom of thought and expression – although it does come with an onerous responsibility. Few careers accord you the opportunity to challenge your audience; to question the status quo; or to contribute to the stopping of a war with words and music.

The German playwright, Bertolt Brecht, in his observation poems for actors, argues the role of the artist is to transport the audience from the narrowness of their world to the dizziness of theirs. While perhaps that does sound pompous on the first reading, on consideration it has merit.

Recently, it was proven to me when I went as a guest speaker to a membership organisation. The most I have is a “talent to amuse”, and having done the same routine hundreds of times, I have honed the material to earn the laughs. The anecdotes, risqué but amusing, are harmless and hail from a different time in the theatre.

On this particular occasion, I spotted in the backrow of the gathering an unsmiling face. It happens from time-to-time, and nothing you say is going to alter the countenance.

This day however, it garnered an email, brimming with the bitterness of her soured soul and which caused me to ruminate. There was a determination to find dark shadows there were none. I reflected, then chose to ignore. Answering would be futile.

Whatever else, you must not lead a little life. Metaphorically, you have not lived until you have seen the moon rise over the Taj Mahal, or the sun set behind the pyramids. Within reason, embrace rather than reject, even if you disagree. The joy of the knowledge, not the bitterness of the soul, should be your reward.

All joy to those who believe in God – in whatever form; however, let us keep God out of government.

Australia is a secular, not a theocratic, nation. There is a separation of church and state, and for considered reason. The former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s sermon, delivered to the congregation of Margaret Court’s Perth-founded church, is reason for head-shaking incredulity!

Astonishingly, Mr Morrison proffered we should put our faith in Christ and not fallible governments. “We trust in Him. We don’t trust in governments. We don’t trust in United Nations, thank goodness,” he said, “but as someone who’s been in it, if you are putting your faith in those things, like I put my faith in the Lord, you are making a mistake, they are fallible.”

Any faith is deeply personal. Mr Morrison’s outrageous waffling is religious humbug, and should be seen as such. Preposterous rubbish! God did not end his tenure. It was the Australian people. They were not guided by the Holy Spirit, but by the Morrison Government’s ineptitude.

As Mr Morrison said, “Don’t get me started.”

Roland can be contacted via [email protected].