Whilst slurping latte at the popular Cool Spot, Fannie Bay, Darwin , a blog correspondent was informed that it is has been suggested a television series be made about the bygone misadventures of photographers and reporters. The informant was none other than Darwin's famous photographer , international ice hockey champion and roving Vegemite ambassador , Barry " Bazza " Ledwidge .
If anybody deserves to star in such a series it is he . Recently the adventures of Ledwidge and Brian Dawe ( of Clarke and Dawe on ABC TV ) during a ramble overseas in much younger days were discussed late at night on Radio National. The plot for the proposed series would centre on the extraordinary, often bizarre happenings when a photographer and a reporter go together on assignment. Chronicling Ledwidge's experiences alone would make the series bigger than Ben Hur .
He nominated a friend , Ray Sharpe , above , wherever he may be , another veteran newspaper photographer , with experience in Sydney , Vietnam and the Northern Territory , as a snapper who should be included in the series . That is not a modern reporter , paid peanuts, working with Ray, it is an inquisitive monkey , which had illegally entered Darwin on a yacht , examining his camera . Ray famously said you have not lived until you have experienced a monkey stick its fingers up your nostril.
The owner of the yacht became known as Monkey Bob who , with the help of sympathetic other yachties , dodged authorities trying to impound the friendly monk . The photos were taken by Ledwidge ; both he and Ray did not come down with rabies due to contact with the monkey , although they felt crook from time to time over the years , especially at sunrise .
Barry, Charles Darwin University official photographer , wishes it known that he is not the person of the same name who says he is a retired psychologist interested in the meaning of life.
Barry, Charles Darwin University official photographer , wishes it known that he is not the person of the same name who says he is a retired psychologist interested in the meaning of life.
