All the best
Objectivity and subjectivity both play a role in the ever-increasing world of ranked lists.
In the business press, the former dominates, led by markets like the ASX, which rank companies by all manner of measures on a minute-by-minute basis.
Increasingly, however, we see more subjective rankings creeping in. We at WA Business News know all about that. We have major programs like the recently launched 11th annual 40under40 Awards, which seek to name 40 leading entrepreneurs and business leaders under the age of 40. There’s plenty of science in it, but there’s still the human element of a top-class judging panel to ultimately make the tough decisions.
So we admire anyone who embarks on anything like this.
Local academic and author Sean Gorman has piqued our interest by writing about an all-stars team of Aboriginal footballers selected by an expert panel in 2005 to celebrate 100 years since the first indigenous player took the field.
His new book is called Legends, The AFL Indigenous Team of the Century, and he has a Perth launch at South Freo Oval on Wednesday evening next week, with Barry Cable as a guest speaker.
South Fremantle is a fair choice as far as settings go. Four of the team named played for the club – Maurice Rioli, Stephen Michael, Peter Matera and Nicky Winmar.
We’ll let you check out the book to see if you think someone is missing.
Say what?
Speaking of subjective lists, we were intrigued by rural giant CBH Group’s decision to name a fleet of new locomotives after 22 old railway sidings, many of which have been abandoned. The theme ‘Iconic Western Australian’ was decided by a competition which looked for names that evoke a sense of WA agriculture.
The Note clearly hasn’t been out in the countryside enough. Not one name rang even a faint bell. Here’s the list: Yilliminning; Mooterdine; Baandee; Benjaberring; Yelbeni; Kulyaling; Pantapin; Tenindewa; Moojebing; Kokardine; Piesseville; Irwin; Neendaling; Elabbin; Walgoolan Yandanooka; Erikin; Norpa; Chinocup; Mandiga; Nanson; and Lake Biddy.
