Man walks down the aisle in red jocks
While I was working at Kalgoorlie we ran a story about Mankini Man. He was a bloke who jogged down the main street wearing nothing but a mankini and runners.
Someone caught him on video and supplied us with pictures. We eventually tracked him down and he explained the story. It was penance for a misdemeanor against his mates.
Mount Gambier’s equivalent is more mysterious and at this stage of inquiries, less easy to explain. (more…)
Dash for cash in stiletto sprint
A world-record field of 265 women risked life and ankle in Sydney today to contest the Stiletto Sprint.
Blonde 400-metre hurdler Brittney McGlone, 18, was first to cover the 80-metre distance and collected $5000.
A few girls suffered scratches apparently, and not just from other competitors.
I fall over just thinking about trying to walk in high heels, let alone sprinting any distance. I guess it’s an acquired skill and one I’m destined never to learn.
An Australian male equivalent might be to run 400 metres in gumboots while carrying a slab of beer.
Collecting bras for busty Fijians
As an editor I’m rather fond of quirky stories. I think newspaper readers like to be entertained, as well as informed.
Collecting bras for Fijian women is quirky and interesting. In fact, it just occurred to me that Sue will like this story.
Millicent radio station manager Rebekah Lowe is collecting second-hand bras for “Operation Uplift” – an international service appeal to support indigenous Fijian women.
A chronic bra shortage has proved a major health risk to Fiji’s busty population. The average Fijian earns less than $4.50 an hour, while the cost of a new bra is about $40.
Many Fijian women can’t afford a bra and face medical issues from not wearing one in the humid climate.
It’s genuinely uplifting that people care about the breasts of others.
Mosley case truly bizarre
The defamation trial in London involving Formula One boss Max Mosley is truly bizarre.
Mosley, the son of British fascist Sir Oswald Mosley, is suing News Of the World for describing his sado-masochistic sex orgy as having Nazi overtones.
He admits the fetish and the orgy, but denies the Nazi link.
I guess Mosley is sensitive about his family history, but his reputation is surely damaged regardless of his innocence or otherwise on the Nazi allegation.
I mean, he potentially clears his name of getting excited about fascist uniforms but he’s known as someone who likes sado-masochistic group romps.
Only in Britain.
Cheeky photographer hits bottom
The Federal Budget is dominating the Australian media and web space tonight. I’ve scanned the headlines and I’ll study the detail tomorrow.
Frankly though, I felt in need of some light relief. It’s been a stressful few weeks.
They say the toughest events an average person will endure are changing jobs, moving house and losing a loved one. I’m in the home straight for a trifecta. (more…)
Randy penguins and seals
Quirky stories are popular on newspaper web sites. When a man ran down Hannan Street in a mankini on a Saturday morning, it was published to the Kalgoorlie Miner and became one of the most viewed articles.
Today, I found a couple of stories involving penguins and seals which would never cut it in the main news pages but somehow attract interest on the internet.
The Age reported “Little penguins get frisky feet” at Phillip Island. (more…)
Man died at desk
I’ve promised to write a book one day about my country newspaper experiences. As I head towards the end of my time at the Kalgoorlie Miner some anecdotes are coming back to me.
This one isn’t strictly related to the Miner, but I should be able to adapt it for the book somehow. (more…)
