Epitaph leaves a great impression
'Reading Richard Glover's column in Spectrum about courtesy merging in traffic reminded me of the New Zealand traffic proposal to 'merge like a zipper',' writes Ross Coleman of Glenbrook. 'Sage Kiwi advice.'
'Can the fairies who erected the fence near Epping Station, its ownership having been denied by Transport for NSW and Parramatta Regional Council, please pop over to my place?' asks Donald Hawes of Peel.
'While growing up and spending time making cubbies and exploring the bush, I didn't blow anything up or fire at anything (C8),' admits Michael Payne of West Pymble. 'Am I normal?'
'The harmless and jovial character of C8 has been undermined by tales of homemade weapons and improvised explosives,' suggests Meri Will of Baulkham Hills. 'In a world where there is far too much violence, this is quite disturbing. Could we please move on to topics more peace-promoting and harmonious?'
To therefore keep things Meri, Granny scoured the C8 inbox for something suitably wholesome and stumbled across the good-natured Viv Munter of Tumbi Umbi: 'I have a new-found respect for the much-maligned native plover. I've watched a pair nesting for a month. The female barely left the nest, despite cold days and rainy nights, while the male stood guard. Finally, I witnessed the joy of the first chick to emerge, a little puffball wobbling on toothpick legs. To my dismay, that same night a fox gobbled the chick and remaining eggs despite the loud protestations of the parents. A pox on the fox, I am now a committed plover lover.' Dang. It started out OK.
George Zivkovic of Northmead takes it up to 11: 'Surely I wasn't the only one reminded of This Is Spinal Tap when reading about how Sabrina Carpenter's new album cover has sparked an uproar?' Perhaps she consulted the good folk of Springfield (the animated ones, not the ones eating the pets). After all, Ms Carpenter is the niece of Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, and Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) is the voice of Ned Flanders, Montgomery Burns, Waylon Smithers, Principal Skinner and Reverend Lovejoy!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
16-07-2025
- ABC News
Humpback whale makes its way through Sydney Harbour, pauses ferries during morning commute
A humpback whale making its merry way through Sydney Harbour resulted in ferries having to temporarily pause during the morning commute. The juvenile whale first entered the harbour about 8am on Wednesday. At approximately 9am, "ferries paused their services" briefly following advice of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), spokesperson Mel Hall said. Footage taken from a passenger inside one ferry showed the whale's tail out of the water as it swam near the vessel. "Transport for NSW Maritime is managing ferry and other boat traffic to allow safe passage of the whale through the harbour," the spokesperson for Transport for NSW said. The whale did not appear to be entangled or injured and instead may have "taken a detour" on its migration north. NPWS and Maritime NSW crews said they were escorting the humpback on its journey in a bid to protect both the animal and the public. Transport for NSW said whale scientist Vanessa Pirotta from Macquarie University was also on board the crew vessel to provide expertise. Given how busy the harbour can be, the crew's vessels marked an exclusion zone around the freely travelling whale to prevent other boats from getting too close. Prior to the crew's intervention, the whale had been heading towards Circular Quay. "Since that time it has gradually been making its way east, and we believe now around lunchtime it has exited the harbour or its lingering at the harbour entrance," Ms Hall said. "This is a reasonably common event now in Sydney Harbour. "When a whale does come into the harbour, the government organisations in the harbour then step up to escort the whale." Each year about 40,000 humpback whales journey north from Antarctica up to Queensland. As per Transport For NSW, boaters are advised to keep a minimum 100 metres from adult whales and 300m from a calf at all times and follow directions of control vessels. Boaters are not permitted to stop and wait in the path of the whale. NPWS thanked the public and the transport system for their cooperation.
The Age
03-07-2025
- The Age
‘Stop procrastinating': Large Manly ferry languishes two years after it was retired
Almost two years after one of the large Manly ferries was retired from Sydney's busiest route, its fate remains up in the air due to challenges finding a new owner or community group to look after it. The double-ended Collaroy, which is the youngest of the four renowned Freshwater-class ferries, is tied up indefinitely at Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour as the state government decides its future. One of the other large Manly ferries – the Freshwater – has also been bumped from a planned dry docking at Sydney's Garden Island in August by the navy, delaying its overhaul until next March. The Collaroy was retired from service on the Manly-Circular Quay route in September 2023, after the government deemed it 'prohibitively expensive' due to its 'one-of-a-kind build'. Despite expressions of interest in the Collaroy originally being due to close in May, Transport for NSW said a final decision had yet to be made about the vessel's future, adding that it would be managing any interim berthing arrangements. Loading 'The expression of interest for future options regarding the Collaroy remains an open and confidential procurement activity. Further details cannot be disclosed at this time,' it said in a statement. Action for Transport ferry expert Graeme Taylor said it would be difficult to find a buyer or a community group for the Collaroy because a new owner would need to develop a business model generating sufficient revenue to cover the operating costs of the 70-metre ocean-going ferry. 'You would need two or three charters a day to begin to pay the bills. You might be lucky to get one a week,' he said. Taylor said the government should retain the Collaroy for ferry services, arguing that its mechanical differences to the other three Freshwater-class vessels were overstated, while its steel hull was in top condition.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Stop procrastinating': Large Manly ferry languishes two years after it was retired
Almost two years after one of the large Manly ferries was retired from Sydney's busiest route, its fate remains up in the air due to challenges finding a new owner or community group to look after it. The double-ended Collaroy, which is the youngest of the four renowned Freshwater-class ferries, is tied up indefinitely at Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour as the state government decides its future. One of the other large Manly ferries – the Freshwater – has also been bumped from a planned dry docking at Sydney's Garden Island in August by the navy, delaying its overhaul until next March. The Collaroy was retired from service on the Manly-Circular Quay route in September 2023, after the government deemed it 'prohibitively expensive' due to its 'one-of-a-kind build'. Despite expressions of interest in the Collaroy originally being due to close in May, Transport for NSW said a final decision had yet to be made about the vessel's future, adding that it would be managing any interim berthing arrangements. Loading 'The expression of interest for future options regarding the Collaroy remains an open and confidential procurement activity. Further details cannot be disclosed at this time,' it said in a statement. Action for Transport ferry expert Graeme Taylor said it would be difficult to find a buyer or a community group for the Collaroy because a new owner would need to develop a business model generating sufficient revenue to cover the operating costs of the 70-metre ocean-going ferry. 'You would need two or three charters a day to begin to pay the bills. You might be lucky to get one a week,' he said. Taylor said the government should retain the Collaroy for ferry services, arguing that its mechanical differences to the other three Freshwater-class vessels were overstated, while its steel hull was in top condition.
