LAST OF THE FIGHTING EDITORS ******* THE "BIG JIM "BOWDITCH SAGA , Part 4... PLAYING AT REPORTERS

At some stage the Bowditch family had a typewriter which Jim’s sister, Mary, thought had been given them by a workmate of their father’s , “ Uncle ” Bill Glass . With this typewriter the boys played at bringing out a newspaper on a desk in the lounge room, selling copies to family members.

Jim had a major part in its production of the paper which ran local news. It was produced on and off for several years and Jim , the chief reporter , did everything with a flourish. Sister Mary remembered Jim and Peter “ sniggering ” over a story . It had been her task to keep the boys supplied with cups of tea when they were working on the paper . The youngest brother, David, usually in Mary’s care , was frequently “crying” for some reason while the paper was being made up.

Jim’s first interest in Australia began when a suntanned man addressed the scouts about “the colonies ”-Australia, New Zealand and Canada . He painted a glowing picture of open space, adventure and opportunity -a vision which entranced Jim.

With the arrival of the Depression, life became harder for the Bowditch family. When his mother was short of money, often because of his father’s failure to pay bills , she was able to obtain help from her father. It was grandfather Manning who paid for the education of the boys . Sister Mary said Captain Bowditch squandered everything , he being a “ gay blade ” who preferred being out with his wartime pals and others , drinking and smoking. Gay had a different meaning in those days .

However when the economic crash came their life underwent a drastic change. Captain Bowditch kept his job, but had to take a cut in pay. Grandfather Manning also felt the pinch. The Bowditch family was forced to move from their comforable house to a small council dwelling at Lee, about seven miles south- east of London, and their lifestyle changed dramatically .

Jim’s mother, although named Edith Mary, was mostly called “Tina ” and actively supported St.Margaret’s Anglican Church, Lee . As she strode purposefully up the path to the church with her four sons, the vicar often said , “Here is Tina with her disciples. ” Young Jim , with a mop of golden curls, and brother Peter, who had platignum locks , looked angelic , and both served as choir boys.

Jim attended the Lee County Council School and Colfe’s Grammar School where at the latter he had his own gang, Boadicea’s. His gang attained what could be called official approval. The headmaster became annoyed by the schoolboy prank of “flying ”- ripping fly buttons out of pants with a quick movement of the hand . He called in Jim to combat the trouble.

Jim described the event thus: “The headmaster asked me to see him one day and we had a long conversation about my gang. He was not concerned about the gang fighting with other kids. The headmaster discussed an episode in which my gang had beaten up a gigantic lad called Gas. Believe it or not , Gas had a friend, Kettle, and they were fairly repulsive lads. Gas had consistently bullied the Divinity teacher. I , personally, would not have been able to handle Gas, but I got the gang together and we beat him up. The headmaster said he had received a lot of complaints from parents and pupils about flying. He asked if I would take up the role of being the flying vigilante . It appealed to my ego , so I spoke to the lads and they thought it would be a good laugh . We just passed the word around flying was out and thumped anybody who broke the edict. After a little while, the flying epidemic was broken by the Boadicea Gang .”

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* At the above 1993 launch of Jim Bowditch’s book, Whispers from the North -Tales of the Northern Territory , former Northern Territory News photographer, the late Joe Karlhuber,is shown with the author.The book, published by the NT University Press , regrettably, was not an autobiography;while the cover illustration by Tony Dean was well drawn ,as were his other drawings , it gave the unfortunate impression that Bowditch was a campfire spinner of yarns, which he certainly was not. Karlhuber, seen here having lost an arm, had pioneered the primitive photographic section in the early tin bank days of the NT News. It dismayed him when he discovered that the News dumped the old photographic files when it moved to the Mitchell Street site in 1967. Photo by Barry Ledwidge

ADELAIDE SECRETS

Joining the Little Darwin team of roaming correspondents are two old hands who mix with the cafe society , picking up a range of intelligence , swapping gossip , asking leading questions . Try this for size... A respected medical man has been heard making critical comments about a Territory doctor and has suggested a woman should launch a malpractice suit . ******* Another scoop is that a charitable organisation in the City of Churches got a terrible fright when informed about the activities of a man who swanned about the nation, including the Territory, supposedly gathering donations for a worthy cause . Both matters are hush hush in the Croweaters’ capital.

ABBOTT SECURES FIENDISH FILM FIRST

LONDON : In a surprise announcement, the Queen today said that the ferocious Australian Coalition leader , Tony Abbott, has been signed up for a part in a new Dr Who series. Little Darwin understands he will play a malevolent Darlek , shouting , "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE ! EXTERMINATE !" Dr Who talent scouts say Abbott looks and sounds like a real Darlek as he dashes about Australia and now in London attempting to wipe out all profligate Labor governments.Geriatric Darleks throughout the world , sitting on the boards of many top companies, are thrilled by the news that Abbott will be the first Rhodes Scholar to play one of them .

Some other members of the Australian Tory shadow ministry are also being considered for Darlek parts in the new thrilling series. One conservative , however , is too big to fit inside a Darlek killing machine and may have to be content with a role as a stand in for Shrek .

Little Darwin was told Abbott put off a secret voyage in a midget submarine to the troops in Afghanistan to be auditioned for the leading evil Darlek in the Dr Who extravaganza .

FAMOUS IVORY TICKLER DISAPPEARS

So sick is the American economy, the Liberace Museum in the gambling joint of Las Vegas will close October 17, after 31 years . No doubt his ornate pianos , candelabra, fancy cars , jewellery , ruffles and costumes will end up being auctioned off . The museum also holds what has been described as the biggest rhinestone in the world. His Mom would be distraught if she were alive, as would Liberace , if she knew the shutter is about to come down on her showman son’s temple . Vegas is an economic basket case today with unfinished projects, large numbers of unsold houses, massive write downs in the value of property , empty supermarkets.

THINGS GOING QUIET

Sources tell us that business activity in capital cities is tending quiet , as well as here in Darwin.Needless to say , consumer spending is subdued in most places . In Brisbane , there is closer examination of applications by individuals wanting to start new ventures ; those in business are watching all outgoings.

In WA, the housing market is quiet . The allocation of more funds to regional areas there , however, is expected to stimulate activity . Talk of further interest rates by the RBA and the big, overbearing 4, political uncertainty and grim economic news from the US, Europe and Ireland is making some more cautious .

Here in Darwin, some business are doing it tough , especially in the CBD , part attributal to seasonal conditions and council activities . As pointed out in an earlier blog ,the Aboriginal art market has taken a dive. High rents, home and land prices are driving some people out of the Territory . Alice has experienced a loss in population .

EARTHQUAKE UPDATE

Further Information about the aftermath of the Christchurch , New Zealand , earthquake has been received. More than 1000 aftershocks have been experienced and some people are suffering motion sickness because of the unnerving shaking. Parents with children have become anxious about which ones they should grab and attempt to save in the event of another jolt which in a split second could bring down their house. Palatial homes worth millions near the river were moved a metre closer to the stream . Port-a-loos now dot the front garden of many residences . One of the businesses wiped out was the estimable Smith’s bookshop from which this blogger bought interesting slim volumes dealing with early NZ poets and writers. The fact that a fault line ran under Christchurch had been little known and the populace laboured under the false impression that they were "safe". It seems little follow up news about the plight of Christchurch is being run in the Australian media. Apart from the ABC, anybody heard or seen recent reports about the situation in Haiti ?

PM GILLARD DERAILS COALITION'S INCANDESCENT HATE MAIL EXPRESS; CUNNING CELTIC CLOBBERS COAL COMPANY CARTEL COBBERS

CANBERRA : The Lodge , official residence of the Australian Prime Minister , is to be connected to the Adelaide to Darwin railway line in what will be a wonderful boost to the Territory tourist industry . In addition , the name of the residence will be changed to reflect the Welsh origins of PM Julia Gillard . As from sunset today , the Lodge will be changed to the longest place name in Great Britain –the Welsh town of Llanfairpwilgwyngyllgogerychwymdrobwlllantysiliogogogoch .


Because of the extraordinary length of the name, souvenir rail tickets will be as long as a Subway 12 incher, with a liberal insertion of pickles, hot chilli and a heavy handed shake of the sauce bottle.

In an exclusive interview , PM Gillard told Little Darwin political correspondent , Argus Tuft, the Welsh name will infuriate the Coalition and make them look stupid when they vainly try to say it in a 30 second TV grab . Some of the more elderly members, especially in the Nationals , would probably develop lockjaw and brucellosis trying to pronounce the new whopper .

To mark the launch of the rail connection with Canberra proposal ,the PM’s partner has written a children’s book –TIM THE TANK ENGINE.

When the Llanfairpwilgwyngyllgogerychwymdrobwlllantysiliogogogoch terminal is built in the manicured grounds of the former Lodge, it is expected that First Bloke Tim will be appointed the supervisor, thereby enabling him to officially blow his whistle, wave a red flag and give the lawn outside the railway refreshment room a short back and sides.

Our man Tuft said the Coalition was incandescent (official colours of the Welsh national flag, according to a leading Darwin vexillologist ) with rage , a perpetual condition nowadays, when it heard of the ranga’s railway reroute plan. As usual, sounding like a coven of warty, wailing, wicked , Welsh witches , Sophie, Bronwyn, recently ejected Christopher, Julie et al , mouthed vile imprecations against the PM and her railway stimulus proposal and tongue twisting Lodge name change . Further amazing developments in this great nation building railway story will be posted ,including a nasty shock for Territory public servants.