Gnashing of teeth and a great wailing

Have you seen the news?????

Devastating!

Dunolly was booted out of the footy finals over a technicality.

We shall be crying a river from 5pm onwards.
Or how about....now.

Bridge babble

Today I'm babbling about bridges.
Yes, bridges.
Or, to be more specific, heritage-listed bridges.
That need/have been saved.
Or not.

There's been some cracking progress made on the restoration of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail although a few of the bridges still need attention.
It's ironic that the most TLC has been lavished on these rail trails by garden variety Jow Blow off the street rather than The Powers Wot Ran The Railways in the first place.
*ahem*

Then there's the report on the bridges with a not-so-rosy outlook.
*sigh*
Things are crook when heritage-listed things are falling to bits.

And then there's the Tuena Bridge which is in dire straits.
Very.Dire.Straits.

On the other hand historic Maldon Railway Station was reopened after being rebuilt following a nasty fire that destroyed most of it a few years back.
Goodness, good news at last!

Annnnnd...there was something else I was going to mention but it's slipped my mind for the moment.
Old Timers...it's not so bad, you meet new people everyday.
*snort*

Toot toot !

So, have you seen the latest scraps of news about trains and the wild countryside?
No?
Apparently Victoria has caught up with the rest of the world (with nary an earthly bump, brass bands nor a bank of fireworks!) when it's finally been resolved that passengers can actually keep their arses parked onboard the train when carriages are added or subtracted at Ballarat.
Be still my beating heart!

In further exciting news not only can trains get a head of steam up between Ballarat and Maryborough now that crossings have been upgraded but Clunes station is set to reopen in November.
Hooray!!!

And the piece de resistance....
There's going to be a look-see into reopening regional lines and stations out the back of beyond aka where the people actually need rail transport.

There's still no passenger rail to Mildura but, hey, it's only been 18 years and counting since that animal was last sighted...

Can't see the point in wasting $2 million into a feasibility study when the need is obvious and when Minister Mulder already states,
"Victoria's rural population will continue to grow."
Stop faffing about and Just.Do.Something.ALREADY.

Am reading...

...about a serial murderer in the Blue Mountains in the 1890s.
When do they classify someone as a serial killer... after the 3rd murder?
Anyway, this bloke was a serial id thief/alias assumer who was also in the habit for joining the army/police/ships' crew all over the globe...and then absconding.
Before he took to killing fellow humans to line his pockets.

Just started this intriguing book, trying to get a handle on this bizarre blokes thought process which is a tad difficult as not only did the author have to rely on newspaper reports from the day for research but the fact that the murderer's real identity had been left semi-hidden by the courts leaves a question mark - was he really Richard Ashe?
The book is called Murder in The Blue Mountains ; Being the True Story of Frank Butler by Robert Travers.

Haven't come across anything that endears this creature to the reader; lack of childhood woes and epic struggles in hardship notwithstanding, this bloke was just a plain out and out bastard who ended up exactly where his path of destruction lead - at the end of a rope.
But, onward with the reading!

Pulled mah digit outta my sit-upon and...

....have a pile of bable to regurgitate into your pretty lil shell-like ears.
Or eyes.
Or whatever.

In 1851 a pair of Aussies got into a pickle in San Francisco...so much of a pickle, in fact, that they got some individual souvenirs; stretched necks.

The Poverty Bay Herald, in 1883, related how the Agricultural Society's exhibition was opened.
And how NSW Parliament would assemble for the dispatch of business.
Before the Grand Parade or after the judging of the piggy-wiggy-woos...?

1942 saw the enlistment in the RAAF of the only Aboriginal fighter pilot, Leonard Waters.

Today is the 75th anniversary of the recognition of the Australian Antarctic Territory which was proclaimed in 1936.

This is possibly what they used.

Or maybe not.

Although I think I can see Mawson's grafitti in the corner....

Posts suspended due to ...Oh, shiny!

Soz, haz been a busy bee with stuff.
Might try to get a post slapped together for tomorrow but can't promise the wombats won't attack at the stroke of midnight.
Or something.

Twenty Two.

And here we are back around to Monday again.
Got exciting plans for this week?
How's the knitting club going....?

The first Aussie showing of a projected fill-um took place on this date in 1896 at the Melbourne Opera House.
Yeah, we so did have one.
See HERE?
Ner ner ner ner ner.

The Overland Telegraph was finished and done on this date in 1872.
Which meant that gossip could get about with a greater speed.
Oh, and important stuff could get passed on.
Maybe.

The Otago Daily Times tattled in 1868 that Kiwis were devouring twice as many letters and publications as those wot lived in Victoria.
Crikey, you'd think reading was declared a dangerous occupation....

The Taranaki Herald reported how the Legislative Assembly had passed a motion calling for that darstardly Wesleyan Minister, Rev Edgar, to the bar of the House for stating a truth that certain members of Parliament were a disgrace to the community.
Oh, c'mon, really?
Some partied so hard they make todays clubbers look tame.
I mean....they misplaced the Parliamentary mace in a brothel...

Yeah, no, that's soooo not the right advice to follow when you poison someone.

Just get 'em to dig a deeeeep furrow in the vegie patch before they keel over...

21 today, 21 today!

Only one more day and I may be back.
Or not.
Depending on how firmly my feet get welded to the Dunolly soil.

One of the more infamous Aussie political cartoons appeared in the Bulletin on this day in 1886.
Titled The Mongolian Octopus, you instantly recognise the reason for its infamy.

Captain Cook was a busy laddie annexing Oz in 1770.
When he could have been better employed darning his hose.

The Timaru Herald commented in 1872 that the future historian would be confused over New Zealand history.
Ummm.......

In 1896 the Taranaki Herald said that, in Adelaide, the Treasurer led his Budget speech with the fact he 'had a pleasant story to tell'.
Awww.
Wait...that's Budgetry speak for "someone's gonna get rolled to make up a tax", innit?

And here's the key to your shackles if you've been good.

20th day of the 8th month of the year 2011

Are you behaving?
Having fun in a controlled, calm manner that does not involve food fights, water bombs or short-sheeted beds?
No?
Excellent!

The Australian Federal Police, in 2009, began a war crimes investigation into the killings of the Balibo 5.
Who were Aussie newsmen who were killed.
Back in 1975.
Takes awhile to get these things looked into...

Back in 2005 Marilyn Lake wrote about the Howard History of Oz.
Go read it, just to get an idea of how history is not always carved in stone.

In 1995 The Jewish Museum of Australia was officially opened by the then-Gov Gen Bill Hayden.

Australia and Nauru came to the agreement in 1993 that Oz would pay Nauru A$107 million as compensation for the environmental damage caused by mining of phosphate.
Does Mother Nature accept cheques so easily....?

And if you believe that, you'll believe this is actual evidence that fairies live in cherry trees.

August 19 until midnight

I shall be running away this arvo.
The next few posts will be (hopefully) scheduled to keep you all entertained and out of mischief.
Chatter amongst yourselves and make merry with the absence of supervision.
*snort*

In 2007 an oil tanker spilt in two...or did it?
And an Aussie senator gave an interview to reassure the public....or did he?
Have a read HERE and find out what was really happening on this date...or did it?

Excitement gripped the Depressed (of the economic type, not the chemical imbalance sort) country of Oz when the Main! Arch! of the Sydney! Harbour! Bridge! joined up at long last.

Even more exciting was when the Burra Charter was officially adopted on this date in 1979.
Why the excitement, you ask?
Because it gave guidelines on the preservation of cultural and heritage places in the sunbronzed land of Oz.

Fisk was the clever clogs who made the first Aussie radio broadcast in 1919.
With the national anthem.
When he could have easily done a few verses of the classic Aussie rock anthem Khe Sanh instead.

Now, take a guess as to what wager this chap lost...?

18! In August!

Exciting news in the history field...
Tony Robinson is back filming in Newcastle, NSW.
Some new archaeological finds in Tassie have forced historians to rethink/rewrite history.
A new book has been released with the review HERE.


In 2008 a baby whale snuggled up with a yacht after it misplaced its mummy.
Any wonder why foster care is over worked.

The Sydney Bulletin stated in 1894 that the word "bloody" was "the Australian adjective".
So, how the blody hell are you?

In a fabulously fine moment in Aussie horse racing history the Fine Cotton ring-in took place in 1984.
Gee up.

The Evening Post reported that in 1906 a North Fitzroy publican slipped a mere 400 pounds in cash under his pillow.
And was promptly robbed.
By two ne'er do wells.
Ahuh...the more things change, the more they stay the same.

And here's the stickybeak ne'er do well searching out more moolah.

August 17

I've been meaning to tell you for yonks about the Horrible Histories tv series on ABC3 (Australia).
It's been on for an age and it's well into the 3rd series (they're going to start filming the 4th series next month) but it's a good giggle.
The series is based on the Horrible Histories books and does expound on the grotty, revolting and horrible facts in history - like using pee to dye hair red, smearing porridge on the neck of someone with a cold, and other delightfully gross customs, rituals, beliefs and concepts.
It's on about 6.20pm - 6.30pm go check it out for a giggle.
And a great sing along!

Some chappie named Embley was published in the Australian Medical Journal in 1912 for his incisive study on Flatulence and Shock.
As his Wii was on the blink.

The Wanganui Herald in 1896 was telling all that NO ONE had studied the natural history of the tick that was in plague proportions in Queensland.
Because everyone was reading about farting and nasty surprises, der.

The Wellington Independent was sharing the tale of an old lag in Parramatta Gaol in 1871 who reckons he tripped over a pile of (missing explorer) Leichardt's papers in Central Oz.
And he'd be only toooooo happy to recover them.
If he was taken to Northern Oz.
If you can see the flaw in this, please send a letter to the Parramatta Gaol laddies forthwith.
Ta.

The Daily Southern Cross was bursting with tid bits of chatter, gossip and news galore in 1867; The "White Rose" cleared customs ( a ship not some upstart pop singer), the NSW Govt had refused to allow South Oz sheep to cross the border and the corn market was dull.
Sorry, correction...the corn market was "very dull"
Illegal sheepies and boring cereal...yep.

And here we'll finish up with photographic evidence of the over-population of nursery rhymes by old women who chose to live in discarded footwear.

Sweet 16, the August flavour

And here is today's gems from the depths of Oz history....
With a few little colourful rainbows to cheer your day along.

Long serving LGBT community activist Lex Watson made a submission to the NSW Police Dept Inquiry in 1979 where he called for non-discrimination in recruitment to the police force.
And, of course, a better liaison with community groups.

1975 saw the first National Homosexual Conference held in Melbourne over August 16 - 17 with 800 people attending.
It was with the full support of the Australian Union of Students (AUS).


Author Dennis Altman was pupped on this day in 1943 in good old Sydney.

The 20th anniversary of the first National Homosexual Conference, 1995, was held in Melbourne (again) and was marked with the launch of an info kit which highlighted the fabulous milestones of gay and lesbian history in the Fair Isle of Oz.

In 1976 ABBA's famous single Dancing Queen entered the Aussie pop charts where it stayed for 25 weeks.
And it most certainly reached #1.
Of course!

Have a lovely day!

15th of the month of August

The knee is a little stiff but the bruising is fading and the limp isn't so pronounced.
I may ditch the parrot and eyepatch soon.
Though the wooden leg may stay...it stops the dogs from gnawing on my tootsies.

The popular TV series Offspring was dropped off by the production team stork onto Aussie TV screens in 2010.

Australia's very own saint, St Mary MacKillop, took her religious vows on this day in 1867.

In 1975 PM Gough Whitlam transferred the title of land to the Gurindji following the famous Wave Hill walk off in 1966.

The national coal strike in 1949 was ended when Ben Chiefly used military force to break the strike.

The All Blacks first rugby test against Oz was hosted at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1903.

And now let us gaze at this pretty door and pretend the above drivel was actually entertaining.

Sunday is brought to you by the number 14 and the letters A.u.g.u.s.t.

Roll up, roll up!
No, nothing to see.
Just thought I'd see who rocked up.

In 1862 the second oldest business in Rockhampton, The Morning Bulletin, got a little hot under the collar when it's original home was burnt down and the presses destroyed.

A year later, in 1863, the first military settler recruiting mission took place in NSW when the New Zealand Government party washed up on the West Island shores.

A few years (plus give or take a century) after that, in 1971, the deadliest tornado to hit Oz killed 3 people in Kin Kin near Noosa, Queensland.

In 1942 Lt General Montgomery visited the Australians at Alamein and requested a Aussie fur slouch hat.
Which he was subsequently given.

Whichever country, there are friendly hands ready.

Oooo, did you see that? We missed August 13 being a Friday by ONE day!!!

To borrow a phrase from Cazzie....Spooky, Mulder!

In 1906 the Wanganui Herald repeated a distressing,gorey, blood drenched (have you got the warnings yet?) tale of an Afghan chap who did a Lizzie Borden to his missus in Adelaide.
I blame the water in South Oz.

The Western Oz Govt issued a long-overdue apology to former British child migrants, in 1998, who had had to cope with physical,emotional and sexual abuse.
Cos, apparently, while some animals may devour their young, we humans are the only animal who gets a kick from abusing the next generation.

The Wanganui Herald reported, in 1907, that a chappie in Bendigo, who was mildly irked at not having gainful employment, threw a hissy fit and a box of dynamite down a mine shaft.
Yep, that'll really rock a CV.


So, waaaaay back in 2004 (when the 13th did fall on a Friday) the Feds rained on the parade and banned same-sex marriage in Oz.
A year later this date was declared to be a national day of action to protest the pissing contest.
And again 2011 sees the protests continue with rallies, peaceful meetings and illegal weddings.
Everyone loves a wedding; go crash an illegal one this weekend and join in the festivities.
It makes the Feds twitchy.

May all your blooms and bloomers be big, bright and blushing this weekend!

August 12th....pick a year, any year!

Went A over T the other day and promptly landed squarely on my knee...which is battered, bruised and looking like it was used to bash open a dungeon door.
Only seen more colours on an artists palette.
Or the Sunday morning rainbow chunder.

Miss Alison Ashby passed away.
Never heard of her?
Go have a gander at her beautiful smile on her bio page HERE and you'll see what a gloriously lovely lady she was.
Just like the flowers she painted.

According to a chick named Naomi on Twitter...

"August 12 1829 - Perth Western Australia is founded. Over 180 years of developement later, it's still a hole."

The founding was celebrated by attacking a lovely she-oak tree and chopping the poor bloody thing down.
Bizarre creatures, we humans.

I was going to include the cyanide process of gold extraction from this date in 1908.
Except someone uploaded the damn book upside down.
So, don't bother following the link.
Unless you're a trapeze artiste.
And a contortionist.

The North Otago Times reported an odd story of an Adelaide lass who was chloroformed and abducted onto a boat by her former beau.
She woke up on the beach after falling overboard.
Almost like Pamela Ewing finding Bobby in the shower...like she dreamt the whole thing...

G'Day, kiddies.

Brush yer teeth, make yer bed and worship yer mudder.

Or I'll rip yer bloody arms orf.

11th August this year, next year, last year and forever more on this date

Yes, yes, more babble and blather from the cave dwelling.
The Feral Teen busted his arm a fortnight ago and had to have surgery yesterday to re-break and re-plaster the fractured wing.
And he's off to school.
So....I'll babble and blather and dribble my drivel as much as I can.
*snort*

And here's the cricket stuff out of the way straight off - Warnie set the record when he took his 600th test wicket in 2005.
Woot.
Can you hear the sarcasm in my typing...?

In 1904 George Witton was quietly released from gaol in the UK and sent home to Oz.
Why was he in gaol and why was he sent home?
1.He was the 3rd person sentenced to death with Breaker Morant and Peter Handcock.
2.To avoid any public scrutiny of Kitchener.

In 1998 the then-PM (Little) Johnny Howard reckoned the NT was well on the way to finally getting a feather in its cap by changing its title from Territory to State.
But, alas....we aren't there yet.
Sooooo glad I didn't hold my breath for that one...!

On this day in 1973 the infamous Al Grasby uttered the word/s some still spit out with vehemence - The Multi-Cultural Society for the Future.
Those words Multi-Cultural Society kicked The White Oz Policy to the kerb.
Amen!

And here's the little bluebird of happiness.

Ready to have a poop on someone's shoulder.

*snort*

August 10 filling in time while I doodle about on this damn census form.

And here we are, yet again, pottering about in the pages of history, poking fun and having a cheap laugh at those who have gone before.
Or not, if you find my corny jokes infantile and dull.
*crickets chirping*

In 1883 the West Coast Times reported that the owners of The Bulletin were in strife for libelling a journo.
Imagine!
That could never, ever happen in this day.....*snort*

The Wanganui Herald stated in 1885 that there was small pox in Sydney, a cabbies strike in Melbourne and a lost corvette (a ship not the drool-worthy sports car Prince warbled about) somewhere on the high seas.
They were just a bunch of cheerful chappies.

In 1960 Dr Barbara Moore smuggled 2 turtles and 6 lemons - all Aussie born and bred - through customs into USA.
Then she threw Aussie fruit at customs officials.
As you do....

And, finally, the Taranaki Herald announced in 1890 that, having overcome an illness, the organist was able to play with his organ in the Centennial Hall in Sydney.

Yes, cheap laughs, sniggering up my sleeve, snorting in glee, poking fun at historical figures....can you see why I may have earned my school detentions....?

She's still at it on August 9

'Ello, 'Ello, 'Ello, what do we 'ave 'ere?
Apart from the obvious bunch of homeless aitches scattered willy nilly all over the shop.

On this day in 1968 Kidney Health Australia came into being.
Love yer kidneys!

Percy Grainger wed his Nordic Princess Ella Viola Strom after the world premier of Bridal Song To A Nordic Princess, at the Hollywood Bowl in 1928 in front of an impressive guest audience of between 15,000 - 23,000.
Thankfully it was BYO slab of beer and Ladies, A Plate.
Perhaps.

In Queensland Helen Goff was dropped off by the wombat in 1899.
No flipping idea who this gal is?
She's better known as P.L Travers what writ them Mary Poppins tales, who disliked the film treatment of her book as much as Roald Dahl was underwhelmed by his Willy Wonka experince.
On yer brolly, then, for the 2012 Maryborough Mary Poppins Festival!

Terowie in South Oz was originally dubbed Shebbear on this day in 1877 by the then-Acting Governor Sir Samuel Way after a village of the same name in Devonshire, England where his father had founded a college.
Why they couldn't stick with this name I wasn't able to ascertain in the non-existant ad breaks of Midsomer Murders.
Answers in 25 words or less on the back of a stamp self addressed envelope containing a cheque for a bajillion dollars to influence the judge.
*snort*

This is me being happy.

Or just getting a good dose of fleas dressing up a stray mutt.

August 8 ate et and burped

Look here....
Oh....
Wait, nope I got nothing.
Just the usual.
Possibly might post a recipe shortly.
Just to break the monotony, you know.

In 2007 they were breaking more speed records than waves, and probably going through a fair number of jocks, when a rare albino shark wafted into view.

In 1904 The Colonist mused that "with it's natural riches Australia ought to advance".
*ahem*
Yes....we're still waiting for that to happen ourselves.

The fill-um Picnic At Hanging Rock premiered in South Oz on this day in 1975.
Where you can still hear the faint screech of "Miraaaaaaaaaandaaaaaaaaa!"

The story which may or may not have had any links to the alien abduction of Kelly Cahill on this day in 1993 in Narre Warren, Victoria.
Possibly not.

This is what happens when young girls ignore the warnings of those 'funny' cigarettes...

On this day in history August 7 is looking very...august.

Pickings were slim for this date.
Unless you wanted to be bored witless with cricket, rugby, football, cricket, cricket and more cricket.
No, I didn't think so.


The Ashburton Guardian was concerned that someone in Aotearoa may have displeased someone in the NSW government.
No need to fret.
We've forgotten all about it.

At 5.20am a Dakota aircraft crashed into Cleveland Bay near Townsville resulting in the deaths of 27 people.
More details HERE.

German naturalist Amalie Dietrich popped over for a tad more than a cup of tea when she rocked up in 1863 to collect birds, beetles, butterflies....and bodies.

In 1884 the Evening Post was discussing the future federation of the West Island aka Oz and asked should New Zealand consider becoming a part of it,too.
Thankfully for the North and South Islands the answer was no.
Cos we're just waiting for them to build the bridge...

"Mother says when I've outgrown chewing my toenails I can lose the birds' nest hair do"

La la la la la August 6 la la la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

So, here we are again, dear reader, waffling about in the trough of Oz history.
Pass the pepper, mind the sauce and tuck in.


In 1892 Henry Lawson fired another shot across the bow of The Bulletin Debate with publication of The City Bushman.
All cooked up over a beer with Banjo at a local bar.
Maybe.

The Taranaki Herald reported that while Sydney was bragging about being plague free (yes, I did say plague) in Townsville "a man named Ford has been attacked with plauge (sic)"
Which I assume to be on talking terms with plague.
Or first cousins at the very least.

Somewhere in Elizabeth Street in Melbourne there was a bub pupped on this day in 1855.
(No, I don't know which house, throw a dart and pick one, like the weather forecasters do).
Who went on to become the Governor-General of Oz.
Sir Isaac Isaacs.

The oldest ever bit of underground mutton aka bunny rabbit was caught on this day in Tassie in 1964 (obviously not in a deadly trap) and it lived for a further 18 years and 10.75 months.
Named Flopsy.
Cos it wasn't a Mopsy and Bonds had copyrighted Cottontail.

See?

She's just soooooo impressed with that pile of drivel she's about to pass out.

Everytime I look around it's ...August 5

OK, apologies to OMC for butchering their classic How Bizarre.
You'd know it was butchered if you could have heard my warbling.

In 1908 the world was graced by Harold Holt, the Aussie PM who later drowned swimming in the sea.
The same one we named a swimming pool after.
And coined the phrase "Doing the Harry Holt" rhyming slang to decribe someone bolting (running) away.
Cos we're caring like that.

1998 saw the opening of 5NPY the first Indigenous radio network to service 30 communities throughout South Oz, West Oz and NT.

The Star screeched in 1884 that the fair shores of New Zealand had been sullied by the filthy Small Pox.
Pass the Dettol, Nancy!

The first shot fired in WW1 was shot across the German ship Pfalz in 1914 from Point Nepean only hours after the declaration of war as the ship was trying to slip unobstrusively out through Port Phillip Heads.
To go fix a little bratwurst canape starter for their hosts...

Now, rest your weary tootsies in this chair in it's delightful shade of puce.

August 4...the sun came up...and then went down....again

So.
The lentil roast isn't too bad on tomato relish on toast/dry bikkies.
Slathered in hot English mustard it makes an almost decent roast meat sanga, too.

In the Evening Post of 1919 it was imparted that some chickybabes were being tried for treason against France; declaring their love for Germany they collectively stated they wished to live there, too.
One was a mother of 6...amazing the lengths some will go to for a babysitter.

It ended in tears and burials, and became classed as Australia's worst maritime civil disaster when the emigrant ship the Cataraqui sank off the coast of King Island in Bass Strait in 1845.
Not a title to ever strive for.

In 1826 a chappie in Oz, James Dunlop, having taken up staring at the night sky when he realised he'd never make it in the local roller derby eyeballed Centaurus A.
All the way from Parramatta.

The Timaru Herald reported in 1885 that the Melbourne omnibus drivers on strike had the Clapp had an interview with the manager Mr Clapp.

Grapes...in case the obvious wasn't jumping out and biting you on the nose.

August 3. Don't look now but it's here again!

Have been experimenting with recipes to make lentil burgers (excellent result) and lentil roast (not bad but needed more flour), mixing Gold Coin Grass with Dandelion Tea (quite nice) and chucking miso paste in with my chilli laksa soup (yum).
What have you been plotting and planning...?

In 1898 it was announced by the Thames Star that a branch of the New Zealand Natives Association was to be formed at the Thames.
Cos they all found World of Warcraft to be totally boring.

A torchlight procession, from Trades Hall to the Yarra River bank, was held in 1936 by the *inhale* Women's Committee of the Victorian Council Against War and Fascism to protest that the Australian defence spending had increased astronomically.
Imagine what they'd need to do in this day...retrofit their eggbeaters with rocket launchers?

At Eva Valley Station in the Northern Territory four hundred Indigenous People met in 1993 to form a national reply to the High Court decision to Native Title.

In 1891 The Ashburton Guardian was trumpeting about
Potatoes!
For England!
And how they were trying to find a way to trundle Kiwi spuds over the Seven Seas to the Old Dart.

Obviously this is not what they found to be the answer to their spud issue...

August 2. With bonus camel

Are your bones warming up in the new Spring sunshine?
Have you started counting the little pink flowers on the naturestrips?
Started telling your chooks to stay out of the compost and lay the damn eggs?
Started collecting naval lint...?

In 2009 The Ghan turned 80.
Yet not a sniff of tinea to be had.

Marcus Clarke dropped off the perch at the tender age of 35 in 1881.
Needed to put more water with it.

Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy rocked up to Sydney to have a go at the job of Governor-General in 1846.
Next you know he'll flash his name all over the map of Oz.

In 1883 the Taranaki Herald related the odd tale of a chappie released from prison only to be charged with being "unlawfully at large".
I know some politicians who could be charged with that one...

A gal....at large...unlawfully or otherwise.

August 1 and I'm tootling about in the garden in a pair of shorts

Now that I've got you pulling the cats' bum face in disgust, let's get on with todays babble on Random Things I Have Plucked Like A Ripe Plum From The Pages Of History.
Impressive, hm?
No?
Ok.....

Having nothing else to do the Parliament of Oz passed legislation to create the Australian National University (ANU).
Cos knitting a jumper was just too much for them.

Flos Greig became the first chickybabe to practice as a lawyer in The Fair Isle of Oz in 1905.
And with a dial like that she'd have impressed the judges and the crims.

Esme Tombleson, high-powered Oz chickybabe and NZ politician who sounds like a really fab person, was found in the tulip garden in Sydney on this day in 1917.

Annnnnnd finally...
Remember Cap Cook in high heels, lippy, gold mesh handbag...?
Well, it seems he, and the crew, were glugging their way into the history books by being the first to sip oh so sedately beer while on the Endeavour.

So.
What have we learned from todays babble?
Yes, that's right.
That Cap Cook was a two pot screamer.
And couldn't sing "I've Never Been To Me" by Charlene at kareoke for all the tea in China.