WEDDING CAKE VOWS CRUMBLE IN NASTY DARWIN NUPTIALS : SCOOP

An experienced marriage  celebrant with a wonky back  was  hired  in  the  desperate  but successful move  to  bring   two warring   lovers  , locked in  separate rooms  in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly  building , known as  the Wedding  Cake , above,  because of  its  design and colour ,  to  kiss and make up  and  sign  a  prenuptial agreement  which  will    enable  them  to enthusiastically  engage  in  joyful  holy matrimony, like  Adam  and Katherine in the  Garden of  Eden  Gorge . The  name of the celebrant  who  miraculously  healed the  rift  is  not being revealed . However, Little Darwin sources  say she lives at Nightcliff, does not  ride a broomstick , looks after a  black cat and  has a Venetian gondola  suspended from the  ceiling  of  the lounge room  in her Heritage listed  villa.

DAWN OF NEW ERA IN NORTH

There are  signs  of    lush growth and activity  in  the  landscape  after  rain and high humidity . Take  this fine early morning shot from  atop Townsville's Castle Hill by  athletic  photographer,  Abbra .  Bees  seem  busier, there are fresh reports of Curlews sitting on eggs , wasps  are  looking for  new  nest sites , green ants   are  out  in droves , a  plant  which only  blooms  once  at  night was  this  morning discovered to have  burst out overnight , several  baby  geckoes  have  suddenly appeared inside the house, new  winged  insects are  attracted to the  computer screen ,  twittering Sun Birds  are  flitting about examining  unusual  objects such  as  light cords, hanging  pieces of  wire  , mobiles  on  which to build  a  nest, several lilies  have flowered for the first time .   

COALITION PARTIES RESEMBLE SPATS AND DRAMA COMIC KIDS

Political life in Australia today as  the  Tories in Queensland, Canberra and  NT provide endless material  for  cartoonists . This  1927  American  magazine  came from the  NSW  mining  town's   Broken Hill  Club  library  and is  in the  Little  Darwin Ephemera  Collection .

TROPICAL TAPESTRY CREATED BY VIOLENT STORM

Vallis Photograph

THE ART OF TOP KIWI

 

The  cover paintings  for  these  two  New  Zealand  circa  1930s  travel brochures   were  by  Leonard  Cornwall  Mitchell , a leading graphic artist of the 20^th century, some of  whose  posters  are  in  the  Australian National Gallery  collection.  The  swimming  pool  painting  was  converted  into a  poster  entitled  Blue Baths , Rotorua . In 1944 , the Hereford Printing  Co. Ltd., Wellington, brought  out  a  collection of sketches  and  cartoons by  Mitchell  with  verse   by  Ian MacKay  dealing with trout  fishing . Mitchell also   submitted  ideas  for  stamps  and coins . Some of his  scenes were  like the  folksy  covers of  the American  Saturday  Evening Post. His  holiday  posters ,which now  sell  for up to $400 , included  the  popular  ski resort of  Mount Cook .

The other  cover in  the above  illustration  is of  Mitre Peak, Milford  Sound . Charles Weetman( 1905-1990), attached to the  Australian National Travel Association  and  Assistant Editor of  the now non-existent  great  magazine , Walkabout , which ran articles and  advertisements  from Kiwiland , passed  to  his son  the  Mitchell posters , in turn  donated to the Australian National Gallery.  (Brochures  in Little Darwin  South  Pacific Collection .)

COALITION COULD BECOME A BOATLOAD OF REFUGEES IF MORRISON TAKES THE HELM

Flattering  selfie 

It  is  claimed  that  the   ALP leader  Mark  Latham shot himself in the foot during  an election  campaign  by  rushing up to and in effect virtually  shirt fronting   Prime Minister  John  Howard in  front of the  cameras.   If  the new Social  Services Minister Scott  Morrison  is  seriously being  considered  as  the  one to replace PM  Tony  Abbott , then  the  Coalition  will  be reduced  to  three  men in a tub  at  the  next  election  because of  his overbearing  performance  on  the  ABC 7.30 Report .

Listen to me

Opening   with  a  faux  friendly   Paul Hogan “G’day”, Morrison then proceeded to talk  over  superb  interviewer  Leigh Sales,  jut the jaw  and  launch some kind of  election speech , which  sounded  exactly  like  the  babblings   of   shocked  LNP  key  figures in Brisbane  after   the   Queensland  bloodbath , jockeying   for   the  leadership. It is surely a sign of poetic justice  that  Malcolm  Turnbull is also listed as a  possible successor  to Abbott after all the scheming by the Libs  which saw him deposed as  a reasonable  leader , opening  the   way  for  the  Mad Monk , now  leading  the troops to  certain  oblivion   if   not  removed . However, the same climate change deniers within  the party and powerful outside groups which  pull the  strings  of the  true  blue brigade will not allow Turnbull  to return .   

"HOOEYVILLE LIP " MAINTAINS HE IS THE GREATEST TEAM CAPTAIN

Demonstrating  the  boxing combination he used  to  punch   Joe Hockey  in the head  during  a football match  at university, punch drunk  Prime Minister  Tony Abbott  announcing he intends  to retire from  the  political  square ring  and  take up a  new post as a masked seller of  peanuts, lollies and  chocs   with the Jimmy Sharman  Travelling  Boxing  Troupe. In the background can be seen a  football fought over  in  those  pugnacious early days , a Tonka toy ,  a  Bob Katter autographed  10 gallon hat and  a  framed photograph of his favourite  ABC  television  show, The 7.30  Report . No copy of  How To Win Friends and  Influence People,  by the  famous soft soap salesman , Dale Carnegie,  can  be seen  in  the books on the shelf . On display  is a rare  blue  Royal  Doulton  spittoon  adorned with  handpainted  Queensland  prickly  pear , a present  from  Mrs  Bucket .