A Hackathon - GET-A-WAY - We Did It Our Way!

As the CIO, leading a team of 150+ passionate computer professionals, I was looking for something a bit different and inspirational.  I settled on the idea of a hackathon!!

Never heard of a hackathon? What about a hackfest? No? OK, well a hackathon is generally an event where computer programmers get to spend a pre-specified period of time, typically 24 or 48 hours having loads of fun and "doing their own thing".

So I set about doing some research ... looks like everybody's who's anybody's doing it! Atlassian, Facebook, Google and closer to home, realestate.com.au.

Location! Location! Location!

Did we do the same? Sure ... well no, not quite, we did it our way and so last week, our 1st ever 24-hour hackathon kicked off in Brisbane. Over 100 representatives from several departments came together for GET-A-WAY, an innovation themed event where anybody could create an idea, form a team and make IT happen – in 24 hours! Announced in early June, lunchtimes and personal time were soon sacrificed as teams formed and ideas blossomed! Secrets were whispered, ideas exchanged and non-disclosure agreements signed ... in blood!

Our hero, Captain Robin, convened his merry crew of 13 to support the event and determine the rules. A lot of thought went into the rules, "there are none just avoid using babies and animals for experimentation!"

Intensity!

2pm Thursday madness prevailed and a frenzy of activity overwhelmed as computers and teams arrived, goody bags and t-shirts were distributed, loud conversations and swaggering bravado flowed through the Grand Ballroom! Within 20 minutes, reality hit! This was it, time for serious conversation, concentration, passion and determined planning! Intensity soon followed!

So much to think about!

2pm Friday and the final bell tolled, well it sort of fizzled really but everybody got the message, it was over and each team had just 5 minutes for "the pitch!". The bar was set high, the ideas inspirational and our panel of 3 awesome judges [myself included of course] offered feedback and a range of prizes were awarded.

Time for beer and pizza!

Sweet 16 was the order of the day – 16 teams, 16 presentations and 16 metres of pizza consumed! So many stories to tell, so many pictures, some spent the night, at least one slumbered in a local hotel, others napped in cars! Yes really!

On Saturday, the surrounds of Brisbane reverberated to the gentle sound of snoring as adrenalin abated and normality returned!

Well done to all who took part, everyone a winner!  Congratulations team, you made it a resounding success!  We have new and innovative ideas, our teams are stronger than ever, motivated and passionate, all of us learned so much and we all had fun doing IT!  ... and for me personally? Definitely a highlight of my career! And what a relief!  A success!

Where shall we travel next? Shhhhh ...  GET-A-WAY Sydney is already set for mid October!!! Can't wait!

The Winners!  Lisa and Leila!

The Teams!

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Crazy Weather!

As we live through the tail-end of ex-cyclone Oswald, I am in Brisbane, Queensland and once again, we are suffering wild weather.  But then, it wouldn't be January without wild weather in Queensland AND worse, at least one natural disaster in Australia!!!

The fires in Southern states have been heartbreaking.  The floods in northern states are no doubt bringing their own suffering.  This is our world.

Then there is the news from the UK: snow, snow and floods to follow.  The M6 closed and motorists stranded for up to 8 hours, such strange and extreme weather patterns.  A friend keeps telling me "its global warming" but sorry, I am a global warming sceptic!  I am not sceptical about climate change though!  Throughout the history of our planet it has undergone climatic change.  From ice ages through extreme heat, it is what the planet does.  At worst, perhaps the current populous is accelerating the pattern but nothing more.

Even the hole in the ozone is slowly closing thanks to nations addressing the very real threat posed by excessive use of CFC's in the 80's!

295 shopping days to Christmas

Just 64 days into 2011... 301 to go....

Already this year we have seen major earthquakes in beautiful Christchurch and The Philippines, revolution in the Middle East, the overthrow of an Egyptian dictator and we watch in horror as a Libyan madman turns on his own people.  Australia's worst disaster with the flooding of Bris Vegas and Queensland.  As if that wasn't enough our hearts filled with fear as Cyclone Yasi headed for our shores.... we've seen flooding in Victoria and a cyclone in Darwin... fires in WA threatened its capital...

Anna showed she has a heart while Julia showed she does not.... Kev confirmed he was an idiot as he waded through sewage and dirty flood water to impress a gullible media pack and then there's Tony.... not a man who thinks much before he speaks... I confess I prefer his fellow Rhodes Scholar, Malcolm...

And amidst all of this, the suggestion of a death penalty for Julian Assange described by Hills as "a bigger threat to the US than Osama Bin Laden"!!  Has he really done something to justify such an enthusiastic response?  A Western Government gone mad!  A nation living in fear that responds to increasing world animosity with threats of war and violence yet never once stops to ask itself "why?"

And then there is the iPad2 and the bionic eye roll out, the controversial NBN and let's not forget Moonageddon! 

What's next?  The flood levy, carbon tax, higher inflation, falling house prices, higher taxes... oh joy....

OH and while I remember... don't forget.... its only 295 shopping days to Christmas....

Brisbane Floods - Final Chapter

And so, here we are.... The final chapter. I don’t know about you, but I barely slept last night wondering what I might say!

As I reflect on the events of the last week so many moments stand out. I am sure they do for you too, both professionally and in many cases personally! For those personally affected, we are of course thinking of you. In the office, I am not sure I will ever forget asking my team to relocate an entire computer room with 5 minutes notice! The challenge of parking a car or climbing 14 flights of STEEP stairs already in the past and yet only this time last week we were watching the water slowly encroach on our beautiful city and surrounds. Still wondering where it might peak!

This does bring me to the final chapter though. On the PLUS side, we can all be relieved in the knowledge that Wivenhoe is restored to its “normal” 100% full! But the opposite side of the coin? .... Last night was the first low tide.... While drifting off to sleep, I noticed it...... the smell! ... OH! Poor hubby!!! I shouldn’t assume!!! It seems our river hasn’t finished with us yet.... Air freshener anybody?

Yes – that’s it... The last Brisbane Flood installment..... I am sure we all agree - may there never be a next time!

18th January 9am - Brisbane Floods - Swipe Card

Today’s thoughts centre around the beauty of a captive audience, however, I would also like to highlight the stress of thinking up new material!

The stress of a missing swipe card?

Imagine the horror of the moment, arriving at the entrance for work to find I had LOST my swipe card. You cannot imagine the thoughts that flash through your head at such a time! How will I get in? Is there somebody who can let me in? How can I be so irresponsible as to add to the stress people are already under? And OMG! I have to tell HR!!!!!!!

Fortunately an individual (frequently seen in the kitchen was there once again) and was kind enough to open the door after very persistent knocking (and an element of begging) on my part. However, a quiet reminder about security might be in order. He failed to ask me for photo ID and simply opened the door and let me through!

Eventually – the relief of the find!.... A tearful and joyous moment.....

17th January 9:02pm - Brisbane Floods - Parking

The little things in life are sometimes inspirational. It was a credit to our Service Provider tonight that while our infrastructure team are on site installing equipment the Operations Manager personally went out to buy the food for dinner for the team! Vendors produced engineers out of nowhere to help with our plight when they are inundated with a million “high priority” customer requests! Some are not even able to access their own office at Eagle Street and yet they still stepped up.

Although parking continues to be an issue, I can confirm access by lift has been restored in our apartment block. We have access via 1 lift [of 3] and oxygen/fire brigade assistance is no longer required as it is no longer necessary to climb 14 flights of STEEP stairs. Thank you for your concern.

15th January 10am - Brisbane Floods - The Power of The Microphone

The Power of the Microphone

Backup up a little...

Don't you just love the media and their efforts to bring the latest headlines to the nation?

In the aftermath of the Brisbane floods, too early for clean up duty, those of us lucky enough to have power were glued to our TV screens watching the news broadcasts from Kangaroo Cliffs. One famed reporter, who shall remain nameless, stood on the cliffs clearly concerned but stoic and, as always, calm. Not even a suggestion he may exaggerate a little for the TV…. His focus centred around a small loan sailing yacht drifting mid river, which had "broken away from it's mooring". Apparently we, the river police and the emergency services were "all watching this boat very carefully as it made its way down river… just around the corner is the marina with millions of dollars worth of boats this loose cannon could crash into, we are all just waiting to see what happens"… OMG!!!!!

But really!!!!!! The millions of dollars of boats had evacuated like lemmings over a cliff days before the flood… all that remained was a lonely house boat, hanging on for dear life …. and as to the loan yacht? Well it was the last of around 998 other boats that had already gone by minus their captain… along with half a restaurant, several water ski's, the odd fridge, snakes, lizards and countless jetties … OK some with their boats still moored but all now leading a new existence in our beautiful Moreton Bay…. … and did I mention a 300 tonne walkway? .. Mate - honestly - it was all over two days ago!

His yacht perhaps…??

14th January 08:31am - Brisbane Floods - river levels

For those who can’t see the river, I can confirm it has receded significantly overnight. Another foot and it will be back to the same level it was when I arrived home on Tuesday afternoon!

13th January 10:09am - Brisbane Floods - Lifts

For those who haven’t heard yet, it looks very much like both of our buildings have completely escaped the water!! Awesome... wot a relief!

Now you may recall I mentioned an inability to record Coronation Street? Turns out that was the least of it, it can get worse.... they have disabled our lifts.... FOURTEEN flights of stairs... dark ... narrow fire stairs are the only way out... and worse... the only way back! KILLER! even heading down is an experience... the "monster" noises and heavy breathing.... just around the corner as others climb up...

12th January 7:30pm - Brisbane Floods - Coro

OH NO! Our data centre provider just went onto Generator power... keep everything crossed they have a good relationship with the fuel supplier :(

We switched to generator here at about 4pm.... And have just learned that it is to be rationed in 2 hour blocks - 3 of them in the next 24 hours so my availability will now become limited.... BUT EVEN WORSE! My ability to watch Coronation Street has taken a hit!

12th January 6:30am - Brisbane Floods - The rain has stopped

I hope this message finds you all safe, dry and well this morning. Such beautiful sunshine can only be a good thing.... at 6:30am.... thank goodness it has stopped raining.... we may be saved yet!

Lots of water around this morning, plenty of cars flowing over the Story Bridge and I can see cars driving in the City. Low level restaurants at Eagle Street flooded this morning and power still on at Kangaroo Point, hopefully the same is true of the CBD.

Boats and pontoons continue to float on their own down the river – a rate of about 1 or 2 every 15 minutes.

If you haven’t seen the news yet, Coro Drive is closed.

11th January 2011 - Brisbane Floods - Eye Witness Account

Eye witness account.....

The river level viewed from Kangaroo Point is approx 2-3 hours into the rising tide, on its way to the next peak at 3am overnight. The level of the river now is approximately the same level as it was at its peak earlier today at 3pm. The boardwalk at Eagle Street Pier is once again underwater although the restaurants are not yet flooded.

Several pontoons, some of them complete with empty boat attached have floated past and several emergency boats are patrolling the river. The Dockside Marina is almost empty.

The lights of the city are still on.... but you might want to cancel that booking at Jellyfish....

Kangaroo Point marina - underwater

Oxley's Restaurant Floats away

Surveying the damage 

Goodwin Street, Kangaroo Point

Macleay Towers!! at least one Merc drowned!

Boats floated down river, out of control