Outlandish Draft Assignment 1.

Step 1: Ideas, reflection and reaction. Introduction and Chapter 1.

Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.  John Lennon.

I have lost count of how many times I have read this – 57,344 seems about right.  Every time, I have sat there wondering why on earth Mr Turner decided to include this. What does the legendary Lennon have to do with understanding my university degree? I pushed it aside for so long.  And then, after what must have been the 6 millionth breakdown, I found myself, with coffee in hand, poring over the highlighted marks in the printed version of the introduction and Chapter 1, with the audio playing aggressively though the speaker in the background.

My first epiphany. Not only was I listening to Mr. Turner read along with me, but my neighbours were also getting their fair share of his voice and education.  Second Cup of coffee down, and it finally become clear.  There was a trend – a pattern forming in front of me that I could not ignore. Tears started rolling down my cheeks, my glasses fogging up as the heat in my body rose, and my heartbeat sored.  I read again, this time more carefully, the bright yellow highlights staring back at me, as if urging me to finally see my truth:

And we will see what people do, who do well in our unit; as well as what people do who do not. Professional career we have no exam Engage with and discuss with ….* Week 8 & interactions * 150 hours of study          RUN!

I stop dead in my tracks: “But if this is you, do not worry” then I leave google where that saying even come from. ‘Dead in my tracks’ Thank you Cambridge Dictionary.  Now where was I??

Oh yes Mr Turner, the worry was already there long before you said that.  And Lennon!! Well, he is no longer enough to calm it.

I stepped away.  For so long.  Feeling uncertain.  Zero Confidence.  I kept thinking and self-arguing “I am not here to study accounting. What am I doing?” I kept reading.  Repeatedly.  And then for something different, I started listening to new podcasts – things I would have never explored before this unit.  I started attending online lessons, read the material again, and had deep conversations with those closest to me.

Somewhere in this whirlwind of confusion and frustration, a shift happened.  I cannot pinpoint exactly when, but my 2nd epiphany. Lennon, or was it Turner, was teaching me something crucial.  In my own mind, I began to picture myself in an account unity, scrambling to recall page 86 of the Legal Accounting Handbook.  Was I supposed to memorise that?

But here is the truth I finally realised.  The Reality. I am a student.  I am learning.  Failing, Reflecting and Growing.  What I was meant to understand is this: I am building the confidence to learn, to be introduced to concepts that will support my journey ahead in both my studies and my career.  I am meant to be challenged in my prior thoughts’ and possibly unlearn past refidex of false information about numbers, accounting and “the game.”  

Have you seen those short videos on the internet, where the child is having a complete breakdown and trauma response that they are about to drown, only to have the mum put his feet on the ground.  The relief that they didn’t drown and continued to walk around without acknowledging the catastrophic collapse and breakdown in life that just happened.  You know the one.  Did Mr Turner, generate a small touch of a toe on the earth while producing the perception of in what manner we hear, gather, discover and understand to the learn: or was that me?  Introductions to key concepts and questions will support my future and push me to keep learning.

This process, this growth is not scary.  I do not need to have every excel formula etched into my brain, I just need to prepare myself to see things as they really are.  To embrace the unknown with courage and curiosity. 

This is my reality that is learning..

Step 3: “The Company”

The Judgment.

Closes eyes... Clinks the link… softly whispers, “Give me Thompson Lane!” 

Opens eyes… What in the world is Qube?  Confusingly, I re clinked the link just in case. 

Nope.  Qube it is.  Do not be fooled, Qube (SIC) is not a solid bounded by six equal squares or a delicious piece of cheese.  It is a multinational diverse company with more than 10,000 employers and a market capitalisation of around $6.5 billion.

Again, a small, 1-person, freelancing ceramicist company in Toowoomba sounds like a much better option right about now Mr Turner.

In 2016 Qube secured 50 percent interest in Patrick Terminals, a container terminal operating in 4 intentionally appropriately located ports around Australia.  Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle. This acquisition of Patrick creates the two core Divisions in Qube’s Operations. The Operating Division encompasses Qube Logistics & Infrastructure and Qube Ports and Bulk.

Qube has a short but intensive procurement history, with purchases of Giacci, CRT, LCR and  Kalari to name a few. In 2011 Qube was ASX listed. Considering this company hasn’t reached its 20th birthday that, that is rather impressive considering some 20 years olds are still developing self-dressing skills.

Culture branding management.

Qube Statement of Values found here are a set of principles established to guide, encourage and set an expectancy of Qube and its workforce.   Interestingly Qube’s Gender Diversity statement declares it is committed to encourage female participation.  Very contradictory from a position where there is only 4 women in the 21 positions currently held by the Board and Leadership Team. That is less then 20%.  I do not feel encouraged.

Chairman Mr Allan Davies (OAM) was appointed to the position in June 2017, however long before this date, was heavily involved in industries that have brings his genius and capabilities to the forefront.  Mr Davies employment history includes Patrick, Pacific National and Queensland Rail.  Now that is astonishing.

Another extraordinary Board member is Managing Director Mr Paul Digney.  Mr Digney as an instrumental dominant leader in the achieving the direct and tenure of the 2007 P&O Trans Australia, now Qube Logistics and Infrastructure take over. Prior to the 2021 appointment of Managing Director, Mr Digney held Chief Operating Office of the Qube Group and Managing Director of Qube Logistics. .....

TBC 

642

I need to plant a forest!

It feels like I have spent so much time hovering over that census date tab—641 times, to be exact—and every time, I stop myself.

It is more than just a click on a button; it is a moment filled with all these internal debates, tears, embarrassing vulnerable moments, second-guessing, and this weight of uncertainty about my future. Every time I hesitate; I find myself wondering if it is the right time to complete this, Bachelor.

 Those 641 times are not just about deciding—they feel like they represent the confusion and complexity of what I am going through. They capture the sense of being stuck between two paths, uncertain which one is the right one for me. I know what the easy path with no glory in the destination is.

Then there is my husband, who sees all the Google Scholar bookmarks and the Sharpie highlighter stains on my shirt and is confused by it all. From his perspective, you just to this and this and this – see done! I can tell he’s a little bewildered by the fact that I’m thinking of walking away from something that seems so important and structured, something that, on the surface, looks like it should be worth sticking with. Something that I have wanted for the longest time.

But what he doesn’t understand is that all those bookmarks, all that highlighter ink on my shirt, aren’t just signs of academic effort. They’re also reminders of my internal struggle. Every time I highlight something; I’m trying to make sense of it all. Every time I save a bookmark, I’m searching for meaning. The dictionary and thesauruses are now a favourite internet search tool.

This is hard.  The thought of failure is hard.  The shame of not knowing how and where to start is hard. But here I am still researching Qube, the Company I have been given gifted from Martin Turner. Fall 641 times…But better believe it, I have stood up 642 times, bruised, battered, damaged but I am still up!

1830

When I first read that we would be creating a blog as part of our CQU assignment 1, I must admit that I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation—kind of like a cat jumping into a bathtub. The concept of blogging was somewhat familiar to me, but I realized I needed to dive deeper into its intricacies, much like a toddler diving headfirst into a ball pit. So, I may or may not have engaged in a thorough research session to explore the pressing question, "What is a blog?" Spoiler alert: it’s not just a fancy word for a digital diary where you confess your love for pizza. This inquiry led me down a fascinating path where I discovered that a blog is not just a simple online diary but rather a dynamic platform for sharing ideas, opinions, and information with a potentially global audience—who may or may not care about your cat's latest antics. I learned about the various types of blogs, ranging from personal journals (where people share their deepest secrets, like how they really feel about pineapple on pizza) to professional and niche blogs that focus on specific topics such as travel, technology, fashion, and more. Additionally, I found out about the essential components that make a blog engaging, such as compelling content (no, "I woke up today" is not compelling), effective use of multimedia (because who doesn’t love a good cat video?), and the importance of audience interaction through comments and social media sharing (which is basically just a fancy way of saying, "Please validate my existence"). This exploration not only expanded my understanding of blogging as a form of communication but also inspired me to consider how I could apply these insights to create a blog that would be both informative and engaging for my readers. It felt like I was learning how to use a computer for the first time all over again. You know that moment when it hits you like a slap in the face—that realisation that the younger generation is walking around with all this tech knowledge, while I’m still sitting there trying to figure out how to give a thumbs up on a Zoom call. Sigh.

So, news flash: it’s not 1830, I am not on the very first computer ever made, and guess what? I can learn to use Wix, Uber, and even AI. Yes, I believe in Me. But, no, I cannot buy a cat (at least not yet).

And lastly, to everyone out there—pineapple does NOT belong on pizza. There, I said it.