PET COCKEYED FUNGAL GROWTH NAMED GINGER MEGGS

Photo  by  squinting  Vallis.

 

MUDDY HIGH TIDE , CAIRNS ESPLANADE

Abra photo.

 

BLESSED ARE THE CARBON CREDITS -ESPECIALLY THE ONES IN THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA RAINFORESTS

David  Pope cartoon -not the heading- run  on  ABC Insiders .

 

SCOOP : FIENDISH CHINESE BALLOON ATTACK ON AUSTRALIA PLANNED

 WASHINGTON :  The search of  the  Chinese spy  balloon  shot  down  over  America  has  revealed  a dastardly plot  to   launch  new   balloons ,  one  shown   above   exclusively  for the first  time ,  designed  to  confuse  and  drive   Australian   voters   bonkers 

The  Pentagon  says  the   balloons used  in  the  planned   attack , code named  Operation  Sky  Babbling   Mad   Manchurian   Mandarin ,   have   a   kind   of  human  face .  As they  drift   across  rural  areas   frightening  milking  cows,   laying  hens  ,  rabbits ,   feral cats  ,   gullible   boofheads  , Pitt Street farmers  , illegal  loggers , One  Nation  and  Katter  Party  lost in the  wilderness  souls  , they  will   emit   highly   pitched  effeminate   sound   waves   that   will    cause    people   to   act   and   vote   more   irrationally   than   usual ,bugger- up  the  nation .

According  to  award winning political journalist , Argus Tuft , Canberra , on being warned  by  America of this pending  hot air attack , has  instructed  the   Australian Defence Force  to shoot down all the balloons  and  ordered   ear  plugs  be  worn  by  the entire  nation  to  prevent  the  toxic message   from   Sky BMMM  getting  through . 

CLOUDS MOVING INTO TOWNSVILLE

Vallis.

JIM BOWDITCH AND ERROL FLYNN IN DOUBLE PERFORMANCE

 

PEOPLE   magazine  ran  this   two   page  article  about  Northern Teritory News editor  "Big  Jim " Bowditch  in June 1957 , surprisingly  calling  him a London  cockney . That  is  him , fag in hand ,  examining  the newspaper , the   front   page   quoting   NT  Administrator , C. Archer , calling for  February 19, the  Japanese  bombing of  Darwin , to  be  a day of national observance . 

 Seated  at  a  typewriter  is   reporter  Bob  Greenberg  , formerly of  Sydney , believed to have also worked for the ABC.  His wife, Margaret , was  also  a journo, and could have later been  involved with Better Homes and Gardens magazine . 

The  article includes  a  photo  of   production  manager  Allan Rabjones  working on the noisy  old  flatbed press in  the  News  factory , with a  photo of one of   the  20 paper boys , Noel  Humphrey , who could earn up  to  eight pound  a  week , including tips , selling  the  News , good money  then, nearly as much a s a  cadet  reporter .  

T

The PEOPLE  feature  on Bowditch  follows  a five  page special on Aussie  swashbuckling  filmstar , Error Flynn , with  some  details about   his  early adventures in New Guinea  and  at  sea . 

While  Jim  may have been  born within  the ringing of the  Bow Bells  of London , the  News office  was  close to the  Anglican   church  where  he had a  close , drinking  relationship  with  the  vicar . 

RAP DANCING RAPTOR A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES OF OUR SNAP HAPPY CHAPPY

 Contributing  photographer Vallis  recently decided to have his eyes tested after he took a snap of  what he thought was a wallaby  sitting on  the side of the road  on  Magnetic Island  and on downloading  discovered  it  was  a  traffic  control  witches   hat .  

 His  eyes  sore  first  thing in the morning , and remembering his mother had once warned him he could go blind  for  some forgotten  reason ,  he  went  to  Specsavers .  Apart  from  revealing  larger   cataracts , he  is  to   get  new  glasses  to   enhance  his   dwindling x-ray  and  view-finder    vision.

 Having  just  been for the  eye  test , he   tottered down to the  Townsville waterfront  and   with  his  wonky eyes gazed about -instantly   spotted  a  large  bird of  prey , above , flying  about  expensive  yachts  like  an  attacking  Kamikaze  pilot.   Up and down, sideways, loop-the loop, dart up near  the  top of  a  mast , then  swallow dive, somersault... 

Vallis whipped out  his  camera  and   tried to follow  the  wild   gyrations  of the  eagle  which  clearly was  hyper -active .  After  taking many snaps, some out of  focus, it dawned on him  no  raptor could possibly  perform  the   amazing   aerial   stunts.

If  you can believe  what   he  says,  he  eventually  saw -with  his  squinty peepers- the aerial acrobat is not a feathered gymnast  - it is  a  fake  eagle   attached to a  cable , which  runs  to  a  flexible  rod .

He surmises it is a fancy  gadget  to  frighten  birds  to try and  stop  them from   messing  on  yachts.  It remains to be  seen  if  it  works . Imitation  fixed eagles  and  swinging  owls  have been  used  on Townsville vessels  in  the  past without  much  success.