EXCLUSIVE : TRUMP'S ILL-FATED STAR MISSING AT FABULOUS ART SHOW

 Hollywood's  Walk  of  Fame  featured in  Artscape 2024 , a  splendiferous   exhibition of  art and film  by students  at  Pimlico State High School, Townsville .

Near a large HOLLYWOOD   sign , imitations of  some of the terrazzo and   brass  stars  of   the  2752  filmstars  inserted   along the  Hollywood   Walk  of Fame were  displayed  about the  school paths.  Guests invited to  the  official opening and awards  were  encouraged to dress to the   theme  : Classic Hollywood ( black , white  and  silver.) 

Our Shipping Reporter , looking   like  something out  of  The  Curse  of  the Mummies, went along  to  the most  impressive   exhibition  of   talent at the school . 

As he lurched about , he  noticed the  stars  of   Bette  Davis, Doris Day, Judy Garland,  Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers , Jimmy Stewart,  Greta Garbo,  Marilyn Monroe,  Rita Hayworth  , Audrey Hepburn,  Marlon  Brando , Mae  West  and  Buster Keaton.

Our waterfront roundsman said he was disappointed that Donald Trump's star had not  been  included  underfoot , because he would dearly  have  liked the opportunity to   add to  its  long history of  mistreatment , perhaps  draw a moustache  on  it  similar to  the  one  sported  by  Mona Lisa ,  and  throw  a  bucket  of  tar  and  a   bag  of  KFC  feathers  on  top .    

Wikipedia  says Trump's star was included  due to  his  work and  ownership of the Miss Universe pageant. It has been vandalized many times, shown above  under repair in July 2018.   During the 2016 presidential election, a man named James Otis, who claimed to be an heir to the Otis Elevator company fortune, used a sledgehammer and a pickaxe to destroy all of the star's brass inlays. He readily admitted to the vandalism and was arrested and sentenced to three years' probation.

The star was repaired and served as a site of pro-Trump demonstrations until it was destroyed a second time in July 2018 by a man named Austin Clay. Clay later surrendered himself to the police and was bailed out by James Otis. Clay was sentenced to one day in jail, three years of probation, and 20 days of community service. 

He also was ordered to attend psychological counseling and pay restitution of $9,404.46 to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce ^] On December 18, 2018, the star was defaced with swastikas and other graffiti drawn in permanent marker, ^[ and it was again vandalized with a pickaxe on October 2, 2020.

(Trump, Missing, Star.)

DUSTY EASY RIDER

Darwin agronomist  Robert Wesley-Smith- aka Rural Rebel Rob- displaying  motorbike  racing trophies  he  won in  the Northern Territory. When the  ABC recently  asked for information about  early motorbike  adventures in  Darwin,  Wes   wrote  an  acount  of  how  in  l969 he was in a group, mainly mounted on 250cc  Yamahs  DT  1's, which made a quick  return trip from  Darwin   to  the  Nourlangie safari camp  , run by The Great White Hunter , Alexander Allan  Stewart, part of celebrations  to mark  100 years of  settlement.

 

His  gripping story  was  read over  the airwaves . It  detailed a  wild  ride  of about  2000 kms  , the dust , poor  air conditioners  and rough roads   took a   toll on  bikes.  A member of  the  party wrote to Yamaha  and   received  five  motors  and   new  air  conditioners  free . 

Wes  got involved in motorbike  scramble races and motorcross events  and  won  the  first  three  NT  championships.

FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER IN PORT

 Postcard view of Circular  Quay   by  pioneering photographer, filmmaker , author and adventurer Captain Frank Hurley, with Orient liner SS Oriana ,known as the Queen of the Sea, alongside , dated  February 1, l962.  Hurley, born  Sydney 1885, ran away from home at 13, bought  a Kodak Box Brownie when he was  17 and started making postcards .

 An  official AIF photographer in  WW1 , with the rank of captain,he made six trips to  Antarctica , flew with Ross Smith , explored the Torres Strait and New Guinea ,served with the AIF in the Middle East , died  l962. National Library has large Hurley photographic collection . Postcard in batch bought by  Shipping  Reporter   at  Townsville's   Mundingburra  monthly  market .

WINSTON CHURCHILL ON DEMON GROG

 Sir Winston Churchill was once asked about his position on whisky. Here's how he  answered:

"If you mean whisky, the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean that evil drink that topples men and women from the pinnacles of righteous and gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, shame, despair, helplessness and hopelessness, then, my friend, I am opposed to it with every fibre of my being."

"However, if by whisky you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the elixir of life, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean good cheer, the stimulating sip that puts a little spring in the step of an elderly gentleman on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink that enables man to magnify his joy, and to forget life's great tragedies and heartbreaks and sorrow; if you mean that drink the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of pounds each year, that provides tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitifully aged and infirm, to build the finest highways, hospitals, universities, and community colleges in this nation... then my friend, I am absolutely, unequivocally in favour of it..!!!"

"This is my position, and as always, I refuse to compromise on matters of principle!!!"

The  above outpouring  sent   from  a  resident in  thirsty  Darwin   who  added   a  comment   about  Winston :  His vocabulary and command of the English language is unparalleled!  I only wish we had representatives, politicians  and statesmen of  his calibre  around  today. 

(Churchill,Whisky,Darwin.)

ART APPRECIATION ACROSS THE NATION

While Sydney  is  experiencing  the   start of  the   large international  public art exhibition , Sculpture by the Sea , on the Bondi to Tamarama Walkway, artists from the Townsville  Tafe  College  at   Pimlico  gathered   around  pools  at  Anderson  Botanic  Gardens  to  capture a  new  showing of   lilies, some Lotus,   clusters  of  birdlife  and   many dragonflies. 

The  gardens cover  25 acres. 

Vallis photos.

(Art ,Sydney, Townsville .)

A LONELY LITTLE PINEAPPLE IN A PETUNIA PATCH BRINGS BACK OLD SING SONG

 Modern version of 1940s hit  song  about  a sad  Petunia in  an onion patch .  Followed by a ripped  North  Queensland Pineapple Newsflash, under  a  pile of pineapples, after closure of the lively Charters Towers newspaper , announcing local news is now in the Townsville Bulletin. Photos by obviously  juiced  up   Vallis. 

DUTCH BOOK FEST

Australia  will  be  represented at  this   weekend's  Amsterdam  International  Antiquarian  Book  Fair  by  Douglas  Stewart  Fine Books, Melbourne, its focus on early voyages  and  travel,especially in the Far East and includes rare works printed in China, Japan, Goa  and  the Philippines. 

(Books,Amsterdam,Melbourne.)