In a letter to the editor, Tony Hughes of Varsity Lakes describes a mass stranding of bluebottles on a Gold Coast beach, lamenting the lack of attention from TV cameras or members of the public attempting to help the creatures back into the sea. Col Begg of Orange questions a social hierarchy based on the type of handlebars on a pushbike, noting that riders with drop bars often ignore greetings from those with flat bars. Alison Stewart of Waitara reminisces about using sample bags from the Royal Easter Show to play “Shop” with family and friends as a child.
Mickey Pragnell of Kiama shares a family story about his wife’s brother getting his head stuck between the steel rails of a staircase at the Sydney Showground, becoming an unintentional exhibit until the fire brigade had to intervene. Josephine Piper of Miranda recalls her mother buying the Backhouse Gerbera of the Year from a nursery’s display at the show every year, only to discover that her daughter had inadvertently pulled up the display’s edge of the rose garden, mistaking them for weeds. Kath Hollins of Northmead reflects on learning to thread a needle and sew straight lines in fourth grade, wondering if children today are taught this practical skill.
Lynette Binns, sister of the late Graham Steel, explains the cryptic nature of his death notice in response to a previous letter. She reveals that Graham and his brothers enjoyed solving the Herald cryptic together, with Dennis solving a puzzle related to Graham’s death in the early hours of the morning. Merilyn McClung of Forestville suggests naming Winx’s new foal Tiddlywinx, and whimsically proposes the name Blinx for a potential twin foal. The column ends with instructions for submitting content to Column [email protected], explicitly requesting no attachments be included.
