AusBonsai

tgward,

apologies - was not trying to imply anything - information i reviewed just wasn't what i had expected it to be

As a long time supporter and donator to the NBPCA.
I have read the posts here, they last few hit it on the head. Political why would you change some thing just for the sake of CHANGE.
Did not work for Gillard and Rudd, and it is not working for Abbot and Turnbull.
Shannon did an outstanding Job, with his enthusiasm and energy. 3 years working in an environment, is far better than 6 months.
I have a grand son whom has a cert 5 in horti, won apprentice of the year in Horti.
Admits he would kill my Bonsai if he had to look after them, unless he had a experienced helper.

Good luck Samuel.

Hi Tgward . My post probably came across as political . It maybe is in this modern world I don't honestly know .
Hi Grahame I have to disagree with you . [quote="Graeme"]# Edited quote#. Applying for a job is simply a competition, this is not your typical bureaucrats job dealing with public servants . This is a position that deals with the geneoristy of a great deal of people . As you know there are volunteers , people that donate trees and money to obtain trees , people that lend (not rent ) their trees , people that walk in and put money into the donation box out the front . It's a community that cares .
I may not know the full story . But as far as I'm concerned if a bloke is doing a great job you don't sack him . This process is flawed and in my opinion is dirty .
Samuel Thompson when you read this please don't get me wrong my opinion has nothing to do with you Its purely to do with the way this has been handled and I'm sorry if this is detrimental to you . I would say the same thing if this happened to you .
I don't know Shannon personally ,I've said gday to him at the Canberra bonsai society meetings a couple of times where I have observed him helping other members . Shannon Im Sorry they did this to you .
Sorry I'll go back to my spade now. Sno

Hi all
Just a reminder that from what I understand, Shannons role was a Contract one and for whatever reason, was not renewed.
That does not mean he was sacked at but, his contract was not renewed. I know that is only semantecs, but in the world of employment, it is a big distinction.

We are not privvy to the reasons why and I doubt we ever will be, so we have to take the new appointment at face value and hope that the selection process was fair and equitable.
Good luck to Samuel and hope that he drop in here and enlighten us all with a bit of his Bio and experiences and hope to see him around the traps when the opportunity arises.

Lastly, good luck to Shannon on your next big adventure and speaking from experience, you never know what is around the corner.
Ken

Can't wait to see some of Samuel's Bonsai work accrued over his 12 years.

If you are on the forum - how about it Sam ?

Lets all see some of your work - put us all at ease with this ACT Government selection process and why you met all the selection criteria.

You already have the position - nothing to lose.

I'll try and make this as crisp as I can.

There are two totally separate issues here:

1- Shannon has been enthusiastic, energetic, capable, and widely admired in his position. He deals with grumpy old volunteers like me very well. He has trees and a history within the community that back him up. He uprooted his family to come down here, and, having served the position well, would seem to have been screwed. Anyone who applies to work in this organisation can apparently expect no loyalty. It is difficult to retain respect for a bureaucracy that operates so callously.

2 - The NBPCA relies completely on the goodwill of the wider bonsai community for donated and loan trees. Those appointed to run the NBPCA need to retain the respect and good relationships with growers that previous curators have built up. I have no gripe with Samuel - I don't know him - but that's the problem. He does not appear to have a reputation as a grower or a a demonstrator within the bonsai community, and the qualifications upon which his appointment appears to be based seem to be mostly peripheral and unrelated to growing bonsai. My issue is that the bonsai community, upon which the NBPCA relies completely, appears to have very little input in the appointment. This is not a standard public service appointment, and the committee who appoints staff to the NBPCA need to be responsive to the community that supports the facility. This is not happening.

I wish Samuel well, but we do need to see his trees.

I don't see any conspiracies here, or any dark agendas, just a public service process that is inadequate and unresponsive to the specific situation.

Gavin

GavinG

In my opinion your comments covers the whole process in a nutshell

Good one

Doesn't really mean much but remembered seeing this pop up a few months ago if anyone's interested

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

For those of you who read "Bonsai Focus," Sam has been mentioned in this issue

https://view.joomag.com/bonsai-focus-en ... 550?page=3

OK I have been asked to remove some comments and unlock the topic - done. I do think it would be great for Samuel, Leigh or Liz Clarke would post something rather than leave it to members speculating wildly

And of course it shouldn't need to be said - but keep it respectful and remember that every one is entitled to their own opinion, even if that doesn't fit with yours

I was disappointed this got locked, although I do understand why.
That aside, I would to respectfully ask SAMUEL to post pictures of his own trees please. As I can show my self trimming a 300 year old white pine. Which do not grow well in WA like Melaleucas do.

Cheers Pup

From the FB post above, is there anyone in this forum that has seen or been to any of the Demonstrations and or workshops he mentions?

I am not on Facebook but from what I have been told Samuel is not very active there otherwise our threads will have been flooded with his posts.
I can only assume he is not active on any form online and althought that is no metric of Bonsai skill and prowess it is strange for someone young and progressive

Ken

Just read the article in Bonsai focus 141/118 pages 38/39. year 2012 September /October.

Sorry does not enthuse me. Please show us YOUR trees Sam.

Cheers Pup

Pup wrote:Please show us YOUR trees Sam.

Cheers Pup

As far as I know there is no point in asking that or Ranting here ( or any other forum / online app) as it seems that Sam does not participate online and no one that does participate seems to know him

Ken

I have been sitting aside from this conversation for a short while and reflecting on the broad issues .
The existence of the NBPCA depends on the goodwill of the Australian Bonsai community .
Without the volunteers who guide visitors , care for the trees and run the whole show at weekends the collection would close . Not to mention the vital part that loan trees play .
The National Arboretum would ( as Sno says ) be a much poorer attraction without the NBPCA.
Of particular concern is the fact that six months in Japan is credited with being better training than three years at the NBPCA Australia .
I agree with bougy fan that it is time we heard from Leigh or Liz Clarke . There is a lot of fence mending to be done .
Graham