FRESH PRAWNS / NORTHERN AUTHORS

Cairns  based  trawler  Darden  Star  off  Magnetic  Island .  A quick check linked Cameron  Trezise  with the  vessel , which brought  back  memories  to  our Shipping Reporter , who took the above photo, of   pilot, explorer and  author , the  late  Percy Trezise , in  Cairns  during  the  l960s.   Percy  , a  friend  of  author  Xavier  Herbert , drew  attention  to  the  Quinkin  rock  art , which  he showed  Herbert  on  trips .  Percy  was  also  close  to  Aboriginal  artist  and  author , the  late Dick Roughsey . 

THE HEADLESS BATHING BEAUTY

 Curlews  during robust   preening  after  a  dip .

Vallis photos.

GREEDY BIRTHDAY GATECRASHERS

 A  16-year-old girl's display of her   special birthday cake  received   an  unexpected  surprise  when  this  blog's  well  fed  Curlews  sensed there was something good to  be eaten , so  gathered  at  the back door and  demanded to come in  . Upon  entry,they  sang happy  birthday , were  show  the  cake , and   then  told  to  get  out  and  look for  worms  and  insects . 

They were also  reprimanded  for   marching into  the  blog's cluttered  den   several  days  previously and complaining about  the lateness of the afternoon  feed, which  they  like to be spot on  4pm, otherwise  they  peck  at   doors , squawk .

TROPICAL CLOUD FORMATIONS

 

Castle Hill, Townsville , and Cleveland Bay . Shipping Reporter  pix.

SUBMERGED , VERY SILENT MEDIA DOES NOT AUGUR WELL FOR ASSANGE AT AUKUS

 At  the  many  top meetings  around the globe of  world  leaders  in  recent months  , it  seems there was no discussion at any depth  raised about the plight of  Australian Julian  Assange , rotting in a  British  prison , fighting off   deportation to the USA  for the term of  his   next 15 lives , for revealing  embarrassing truths  . 

 There was a  slight glimmer of hope  at  the  recent  trip by Australian  PM  Anthony Albanese to India  when   the  treatment of the BBC  and local  media  was  briefly  raised  with  him . The  PM  said   the   right of  the  media generally is   supported. But  what  about  Assange  specifically ?  The media seemed   more  interested  in  Test  cricket.  

After   the   brief  media  question  asked   of  the  PM in India  ,  reporters  should be hung from the yard arm  if  they do not follow up  and  closely   question  US  President  Joe   Biden ,  Anthony   Albanese  and  the  UK Prime Minister Rishi  Sunak  about the  Assange case  during  the  San  Diego  Naval  Base  three-ring   announcement  over  the  AUKUS  subs . 

The  merciless  robodebt   design  revealed by the  inquiry , shown in the above  David Pope cartoon , is  similar to the  way  the  Australian media   and   politicians   have   monstrously   treated   Assange . 

RAILWAY HEROES

 

Memorials at Townsville  railway station for  railway employees   who took part in  the  two world  wars . Shipping  Reporter  photos . 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT : WORLD'S FIRST FLYING GECKO CAUGHT IN ACTION

 Exclusive  photographs taken on Magnetic Island by  Vallis

Snapped flying through the air with the greatest of ease like the man on the flying  trapeze .