Something struck me today as I lay in a pile of detritus in the couch, silently taking in the coverage of the Queensland floods: a parade of reporters gurning for the cameras, expressing a kind of shocked surprise and astonishment at the army of volunteers having turned up to uncover Brisbane’s suburbs from beneath a pile of stinking, toxic mud and garbage. I do believe I heard the word “miracle” thrown about a few times. I felt a sudden sense of annoyance come over me and it took me a few hours of schmutzing around the house, aimlessly sweeping piles of dust around, to work out why.

Why should it be a “miracle’? Why should people be surprised that people came out in their thousands to lend a hand? It’s what we do.

It’s what civilized society does. Once the danger has passed, we give those who’ve lost everything support and help to get back on their feet.

It’s not even a uniquely human trait - go kick over an ant hill sometime, or watch predators try to raid a Meerkat colony. Altruism, in one form or another, seems hardwired into the very fabric of life itself.

It strikes me that the media has been peddling the notion of “compassion fatigue” for so long that it has started to believe its own press. Newspapers, television, radio, internet outlets - all have such a stake in getting people riled up and terrified of various things in order to get them to vote this way, buy that thing - that acts of charity and kindness seem extraordinary.

Really, they’re not. They happen every day and they make the world go round.

We shouldn’t only hear about the altruism and kindness of Australians at times of natural disaster. Nor should we only hear about them as bumpers on breakfast television shows. There are a hundred stories that crop up each day surrounding the wonderful things people do for others that aren’t droney moralizing - they’re engaging, exciting, heartbreaking, funny and thrilling.

That’s what I’ll be trying to do in this column each month - bringing some of these stories to the King’s Tribune audience. Shining a small but strong spotlight on those who otherwise might never recieve the attention,

I’ll also be having a bang of my own drum. Some of those who are familiar with my work online might already know that I’m a rather annoying prick, with a penchant for suddenly getting a stray hair up my butt about particular causes. I’ll be sharing some of my particularly passionate rants with you ov the ercourse of the months and years to come.

While this is a print column, don’t think for one second that it’s a one way street. To an extent, I’m counting on readers to help me dig up those wonderful folks doing wonderful things. I always welcome suggestions for stories and columns. You can reach me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - you’re guaranteed a response.

Thanks for taking the time to make your way this far through the column and I look froward to taking the opportunity to inspire, annoy, troll and kick your butt into action for the good of others.

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