HOW WE SEE IT! - Saturday Snapshot
With BRYAN LITTLELY AND SHAUN HOLLIS
Go slow… in more ways than one
It seems the Department of Transport and Main Roads is a real stickler for speed limits… or at least going slow.
While they this week grappled with the concept of a tourist town as picturesque as Port Douglas taking issue with large, bright red road painted signs on the apron of the much celebrated Macrossan Street cafe and entertainment precinct, they didn’t seem in a great hurry to respond to those complaints.
It took a day and a half for Newsport to get an initial response to questions asked if TMR would consider widespread community calls to remove the signs - four days after the original outrage was expressed on the buy swap sell page - and almost two days again for them to answer follow up questions.
Not only did they put the brakes on any suggestion a more appropriate safety signage plan be put in place, they drifted around providing details of the person Port Douglas could complain to.
There was even a hint of road rage from the public transport riding TMR adviser on the other end of the phone when I suggested I may use his name as the spokesperson… until his bus driver told him to settle down.
Gas outage sparks media misfire
As journalists, we pride ourselves on holding people accountable for decisions and events impacting our readership and community.
So when I have a host of local tourism and hospitality business fired up over not being able to fire up for trade, and knowing more than 400 customers are without gas - without any answers from the gas company - I’m going to play my part and try to get you the answers, from the people put in place by corporations to give the answers.
Maybe the Origin Energy spokesperson who provided comments in an early Tuesday morning interview as the gas outage entered its third day previously worked with the TMR spokesman (see above) and that’s why they took offence to their name being put to their quotes.
Or, perhaps, they were on the same bus that morning… given their request to have their name removed from the story (which was obliged) was coupled with “it was early” and they were catching public transport at the time.
I’m tipping they’d at least had a hot shower that morning…. And needed a cold one after our chat about their request to remove their name from the story!
Taking my attention from True Crime
True Crime is without a doubt the hottest item in the media space… so I’m happy to milk it for reads here and to promote my own personal project.
That’s a light-hearted intro to a very heavy topic.
In a whirlwind week, I have attended the first ever National Missing Persons Symposium as a media adviser and in my role of co-founder and secretary of Leave A Light On Inc, and to make the biggest moves in a 15-year independent investigation into the cold case Adelaide Oval abduction of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon in 1973.
The efforts of a band of bold and brave armchair sleuths, retired police, bikers, family members and myself as the investigative journalist digging into the case since 2011, have culminated this week in sending to the USA for independent testing materials strongly believed to contain evidence of the bodies of the girls.
And to follow that up, a formal call to the South Australian Coroner and Attorney General to reopen the inquest into the cold case for new and compelling evidence to be submitted, including a key “silenced” witness I unearthed in April this year.
It was my hope that the relaxed surroundings of Port Douglas would provide me with more opportunity to get stuck into writing my True Crime book and podcast…. But you’re all just too newsworthy to allow for that… Watch this space, though!
Tell me I’m dreamin'!
A couple months ago I was boasting to my mates that I’d had a beer with Dale Kerrigan… but it just got bloody better!
There’s been some big signings for the Port Douglas Crocs in recent weeks and while it’s great to see their champ Liam Brandt roll out of retirement and new blood including ex Adelaide Crows Rookie Tim McIntyre and Box Hill Hawks gun Jai Nanscawen, Port Magpies’ Murphy Short, and Jay Holden and Ryan McNamara all sign on for the 2025 Cairns AFL season, along with a swag of resignings, the best ink on paper has to be that of the new Number 1 ticket holder.
Steven Curry making the Crocs his AFL team of choice is a Vibe.
Will we see pre-season runs for the lads to Bonnie Doon?
Looks like everyone’s kicked a goal!
Bats out of hell
I’d never really given much thought to bats - fruit bats or any variety for that matter - until around March 12, 2020!
But this comment from the good doctor, Jacqui Murdoch, made me sit up and take notice faster than a seagull on a hot chip.
“Similar to being bitten by a rabid dog or monkey in Asia, anyone bitten or even scratched by a bat needs a series of injections to prevent a potentially fatal illness.”
Given I dislike injections more than rabid dog bites, any baby bat I find on the ground during the breeding season is going to have to wait for reinforcements to be called before it gets the help it needs.
Jokes aside, look out for the critters. They are a part of the natural environment and a protected species.
Part of the community… but not so cute
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