OUTBACK GRAVE OF MAN WHO PLAYED A PART IN DEATH OF ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO RECEIVES ATTENTION FROM CAMPAIGNER

During  his  epic car trip from Darwin down  through Western Australia, across to Adelaide and up through  the   Centre  and  back home  ,  Darwin agronomist and  activist  Robert Wesley-Smith  checked  on  the    grave  of   an  exceptional   friend , Samuel  Kruger  , above ,  in  Alice  Springs.

It  is  claimed that  Kruger , a  radio engineer  employed  by  the  Americans at  Guadalcanal   during  WWll  , drew  attention to  intercepted  Japanese  wireless  messages  which resulted in Operation Vengeance , the shooting down  of  the plane on which  Admiral Yamamoto , who orchestrated the  devastating  attack on Pearl Harbour , was  travelling on a   flight from  Rabaul to  an   island  base  near   Bougainville .

In previous Little Darwin posts  we told  how Kruger had been brought to Australia by his  Russian-Jewish  parents. Although he became a radio engineer, he was  rejected for  Australian  military service because he wore  glasses. The Americans   gladly  signed  him up . 

His post- war experiences included  "running " a CIA  radio station in American Samoa   and  operations  with the Israeli leader,  Moshe Dayan .  He    worked  in Water Resources in  Darwin  and   retired  to  Portuguese   East Timor .

Over  the years,  he  was involved  with Wesley-Smith in  the  Timor struggle . During a meeting in Kruger's Darwin  flat , Jose  Ramos-Horta , the  Fretilin founder  and Nobel Peace  Prize recipient  , is  seen below  shaking   Kruger's hand ; he  appointed  Kruger  a  major in the  East Timor  Barefoot  Liberation Army !

 

 Wesley-Smith  previously visited   Kruger's   grave   two years ago  and placed  some  wattle  on  it  on  that  occasion .        

DRAMATIC BREAKING NEWS EVENT ON MAGNETIC ISLAND

 A  missing  man    and   a   shy   gorilla ! 

A   helicopter   buzzed  parts  of   Horseshoe  Bay  early in the morning , apparently  looking  for  a   missing man .  

Later  on ,  fire  trucks and  an ambulance were seen  driving about .

Then  there  was  a  report  of  a  strange  situation  at  the  Forts Walk tourist  location  where  a  woman  became concerned  after seeing a  man in  a  gorilla  outfit  acting  strangely , running   about ,  hiding. 

According  to  other  brief  information, a  man who seemed unwell was  seen walking  along  a  road .

Somebody  drove  up , shouted  , yes , that  was  him.   Police  arrived  soon after .

An ambulance was  seen outside   the  medical  unit ,  a   helicopter  landed  at Nelly Bay , later  flew  off  towards Townsville . 

SHAKESPEARE IN THE TORRES STRAIT

Set between Cairns and the Torres Strait , this  tri-lingual ( Kala Lagaw Ya , Yumpla Tok  and English )  production   of  Othello , directed by Jason Klarwein ,recently  had  its  premiere in Cairns . It  illuminated  the  vital role of  the Torres Strait Light Infantry  Battalion  during WWll.

More than 800 islanders signed up  to defend  the northern tip of Australia ,including  Jimi  Bani's great-grandfather , the late Ephraim Bani Senior  and his grandfather, the late Solomon  Gela . 

Jimi  Bani played  Othello , the first  time the role had been  played by a Torres Strait   Islander.  

PLAYFUL COCKATOOS DECORATE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE

Obviously in  the  Festive  Season mood, Red-tailed Black  Cockatoos  were  captured  by  photographer  Vallis   decorating  the  top of  a  tall Hoop Pine  on Magnetic  Island .   

Rudolph the Red-tailed Cockatoo rehearsing his  part  in  the Kings Cross Whisper  Christmas   party . 

ALMOST SHIP-SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION IN QUEENSLAND WATERS

Moored  and under wraps  vessel  Argonavig  , from Bristol, on Magnetic Island .Nearby is Moana , below .

Sea mullet  by  Abra, other  pix  Shipping Reporter .

LATTE SIPPER COMES TO AID OF POSSUMS

While latte sippers are often mocked in  Murdoch  papers  and  by some of the  Sky  guffawing  jackasses   , they  are  usually   thoughtful , considerate people . Take  the  Brisbane situation when a  baby  possum fell out of a tree , its   distressed mother ran about with it on  her   back and  they  were  in  danger of  being  run over near  a  shopping centre.  Instead  of dashing  away with  a  coffee  hit, a  latte sipper  stood  guard  until a   wildlife  officer  turned up . Encore latte sippers. Photo  by  coffee  slurping  correspondent    MIchael .

ZERO WASTE ISLAND EXHIBITION EXPOSES MAINLAND MEDIA WASTELAND

 With   so much  talk  about  the need to  reach zero emissions , you would think that the impressive  Zero Waste  Exhibition  at  the  Louver  Gallery ,Magnetic Island, involving  19  artists with diverse talents and experience   ,  one who in  a former  incarnation went  under the  name  Chief  Constable of  the   Sex  Police  , a  marine scientist   who  makes  artificial  rocks  for lizards in  his backyard , a   person   versed  in  an unusual   Japanese   art   form   and  a  campaigner  for  former island resident  Julian Assange , would  attract  the  attention of the   mainland  media, Murdoch   Townsville Bulletin in particular.  Not  so.

It   reveals  the  bleeding  obvious :  the   Townsville media  needs a  major shake  up , especially The Bulletin, not only in respect of  the paltry  coverage  of   Magnetic  Island, the  so  called  jewel  in Townsville's crown.

The above  work by Sharon Downes, who might cheekily be described as a barista  artist, is of cockatoos part constructed from coffee pods and driftwood.

A  hanging , below,   is  by  Hala Hansen  who  during two  years  in  Japan worked   with  Tokyo   women  who  turned  patched  clothing  into  a  work  of  art .

Birds  made  from odds and ends  dangle from the ceiling  below  near  a  nest  in  this  scene  from  the  gallery.  

Born to be free  recycled ceramic   Kingfishers  bought from op shops  and a cage  from a  Tip Shop  feature in  following  item   by   Rose Gordon . Not for sale . 

New  Tree  with  Curlew 

Recycled family 

Handbag  made  from  recycled  car and  bicycle  innertubes.