When I came to Chicago, it was primarily to learn about how one of the world’s tallest and iconic building was conceived, approved, and being built. Chicago after all is where skyscrapers and lifts were first invented!

Thanks so much to Donna Yuen from Chicago’s Mayor office of international relations and protocol, as well as Gene Lee, Mayor Daley’s Deputy Chief of Staff and another Chinese leader of Chicago, it was an absolute privilege to meet the famous Chicago Mayor Richard M Daley and some of his 50 Aldermen. And it was an honour to be publicly recognised on Wednesday, 18 March 2009, with a standing ovation no less!

The US State of Illinois is probably wrongly assumed to be a Democrat State. The Democratic Party is akin to Australia’s Labor Party. Yet it should be remembered that Illinois is the very state that produced Abraham Lincoln, the father of the Republican Party.

So how does the Republican Party compete in a currently largely Democratic State? I met with Chicago Republican Party’s Chairman Eloise Gerson. 

One of the key objectives of my private study tour of Chicago was to experience her world famous St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade. They say it is even more Irish than Ireland!

On Saturday morning, 14 March 2009, to say it was a thrill to be on the banks of Chicago River among tens of thousands of people watching the river turn emerald green is just an understatement!

Australia has one of the safest blood supply systems in the world. There are a number of reasons for this. For a start, all of Australia's blood donors are voluntary and unpaid. Donors give blood because they are helping fellow Australians in a very practical way.

Another factor that contributes to Australia having one of the safest blood supply systems in the world are the regulations around which eligibility to give blood is determined. There are a range of reasons why anyone could be 'temporarily deferred' or 'permanently deferred' from giving blood, including age, recent short-term illness, past medical history, pregnancy status and lifestyle issues.