I recall when the "Courier Mail" bought the "Telegraph". My old man commented, "That might upgrade their grammar and spelling." Nope, the CM went down. Then there was the "Truth". Had a mate working for a loan company. His job, find out why monthly payments hadn't been made. His comment after reading their article, "Well, they spelled my name right."
Must admit, got most of my 'news' in the Carlton Theaterette, and later the Vogue. (Before television.)
A few years ago Graham a local Brisbane paper wrote about a "Writers Train" travelling out west and spelt all the author correctly -- except for someone called "High Lbunnn"!
Actually the Courier Mail did pretty well. On the inside of the back page of the comics in the Sunday Mail, "Children's Corner" if I remember the title correctly. Could send in a short essay on any subject. If it was printed, a half Guinea prize (10/6). (Had three printed.) Another 'prize', a Casket ticket to the first caller with the 'correct answer'. The question one morning, "On what page number is this morning's 'Find the Ball' photo?" They mailed the ticket. It won £5!
You mentioned the Gabba. In 1962 I took a photo at the 'five ways', showing a chap walking in front of a railway engine, with red flag and hand bell. Digitized that slide years ago. Now I'm going to have to look for it. A 'messy' overhead - tram power lines on four streets, and double lines for the trolley bus coming from Story Bridge.
Keep the yarns coming. The more I recall from those early years the more I'm reminded that "Things ain't what they used to be."
Another superb piece Hugh ..loved Rupert Murdoch's comments on the daily paper. I don't read newspapers much these days, but when I do can almost guarantee there will be errors on every page...must drive Rupert nuts !!
you seem to be getting older and better. Crisp clear tight writing... at last... in the paper boat yarn
Only kidding but it confirms my suspicion that there's a streak of Sandgroper in your veins with your old man's connection to the swan river colony... that has sprouted Rupert's respectable Uncle Walter, Ernie Dingo, Dennis Lillee, Bob Duffield and your almost humble servant.
Keep pedaling. I've lifted my feet off
Have you touched on the maniac Owen Thomson? Or the raving Bruce Rothwell and the fantasist Chris Forsythe the fat news editor ...
G'day George -- he was the news editor on The Austrlaian when I returned from OS in 1971 and got a job there. If you read Working for Rupert you will see I had high regard for him among a lot of strange people. Geroge, you summed up four of them pretty well -- I'm sure you read about them in WFR and commented, if I remember correctly. Owen was the Editor and was a maniac.
Thanks Hugh, I really enjoyed reading about the generosity of your father Fred baking something specially on request (if he had sold everything) for orphans and those in institutions in Brisbane. Fred's own experience of being brought up in an orphanage in WA and asking "How many kids did you say then?" show he knew it was important every child got a cake and no one missed out.
Welcome Home Kathleen! It's amazing how Queenslanders always end up coming back. Some people even move here after reading my stories. An Adelaide accountant who read OTTWJim decoded to move to Brisbane where he met and married Margaret -- and then they named their son after me and invited Helen and I to the wdding!
The combination of your crystal words and David Mackintosh's knife-sharp observations has me sad for us here in Brisbane but so grateful we have you two to cut through the nonsense for us and call a spade a shovel!
Keep on writing the little things Hugh while we can still enjoy them. Today I can see a kookaburra nesting in the iron ark neAr my front door and the 5th generation frangipani tree flowering in time for Xmas again. In my dotage these simple joys mean a lot to me. Regards Jocelyn
Thanks Jocelyn, I guess there are a lot of us little people who like little things. While our governments only like BIG things -- like $3billion stadiums and 600,000 extra people arriving in the past year -- all requiring homes and ambulances... so the little people can't get them
Peter, I was in Macau in 1965 and don't remember that Chinese game -- Fletch and I were playing roulette all night. We ended up catching the cheap steamer back to Hong Kong instead of the more expensive Hydrofoil.
I recall when the "Courier Mail" bought the "Telegraph". My old man commented, "That might upgrade their grammar and spelling." Nope, the CM went down. Then there was the "Truth". Had a mate working for a loan company. His job, find out why monthly payments hadn't been made. His comment after reading their article, "Well, they spelled my name right."
Must admit, got most of my 'news' in the Carlton Theaterette, and later the Vogue. (Before television.)
A few years ago Graham a local Brisbane paper wrote about a "Writers Train" travelling out west and spelt all the author correctly -- except for someone called "High Lbunnn"!
I thought Hugh Lbunnn had a cake shop at Da-rrrra an up-market suburb in Brisbane?
a very cute comment Peter! Except they spelt the Hugh as High.
I told you that you were becoming very literary.
Ouch! That hurts.
Actually the Courier Mail did pretty well. On the inside of the back page of the comics in the Sunday Mail, "Children's Corner" if I remember the title correctly. Could send in a short essay on any subject. If it was printed, a half Guinea prize (10/6). (Had three printed.) Another 'prize', a Casket ticket to the first caller with the 'correct answer'. The question one morning, "On what page number is this morning's 'Find the Ball' photo?" They mailed the ticket. It won £5!
You mentioned the Gabba. In 1962 I took a photo at the 'five ways', showing a chap walking in front of a railway engine, with red flag and hand bell. Digitized that slide years ago. Now I'm going to have to look for it. A 'messy' overhead - tram power lines on four streets, and double lines for the trolley bus coming from Story Bridge.
Keep the yarns coming. The more I recall from those early years the more I'm reminded that "Things ain't what they used to be."
Another superb piece Hugh ..loved Rupert Murdoch's comments on the daily paper. I don't read newspapers much these days, but when I do can almost guarantee there will be errors on every page...must drive Rupert nuts !!
I wonder if Rupert still reads the paper?
Hugh
I wonder Hugh ... he may be too preoccupied with getting engaged to be married etc., to keep up with it !
…ever thought of interpretive dance?
I've read that it is good way of getting a story across Jim.
Gday Hugh
you seem to be getting older and better. Crisp clear tight writing... at last... in the paper boat yarn
Only kidding but it confirms my suspicion that there's a streak of Sandgroper in your veins with your old man's connection to the swan river colony... that has sprouted Rupert's respectable Uncle Walter, Ernie Dingo, Dennis Lillee, Bob Duffield and your almost humble servant.
Keep pedaling. I've lifted my feet off
Have you touched on the maniac Owen Thomson? Or the raving Bruce Rothwell and the fantasist Chris Forsythe the fat news editor ...
ooroo George Williams
G'day George -- he was the news editor on The Austrlaian when I returned from OS in 1971 and got a job there. If you read Working for Rupert you will see I had high regard for him among a lot of strange people. Geroge, you summed up four of them pretty well -- I'm sure you read about them in WFR and commented, if I remember correctly. Owen was the Editor and was a maniac.
Thanks Hugh, I really enjoyed reading about the generosity of your father Fred baking something specially on request (if he had sold everything) for orphans and those in institutions in Brisbane. Fred's own experience of being brought up in an orphanage in WA and asking "How many kids did you say then?" show he knew it was important every child got a cake and no one missed out.
I'm glad you picked that little paragraph out for comment Peter. I wanted to show how caring a man could be in a world where we've got a bad name.
It’s those wonderful little things … that have brought me back home to Queensland.
Welcome Home Kathleen! It's amazing how Queenslanders always end up coming back. Some people even move here after reading my stories. An Adelaide accountant who read OTTWJim decoded to move to Brisbane where he met and married Margaret -- and then they named their son after me and invited Helen and I to the wdding!
The combination of your crystal words and David Mackintosh's knife-sharp observations has me sad for us here in Brisbane but so grateful we have you two to cut through the nonsense for us and call a spade a shovel!
It is sad that no one if willing to admit that we are knocking Brisbane down. It ws a lovely city -- once.
Keep on writing the little things Hugh while we can still enjoy them. Today I can see a kookaburra nesting in the iron ark neAr my front door and the 5th generation frangipani tree flowering in time for Xmas again. In my dotage these simple joys mean a lot to me. Regards Jocelyn
Thanks Jocelyn, I guess there are a lot of us little people who like little things. While our governments only like BIG things -- like $3billion stadiums and 600,000 extra people arriving in the past year -- all requiring homes and ambulances... so the little people can't get them
Peter, I was in Macau in 1965 and don't remember that Chinese game -- Fletch and I were playing roulette all night. We ended up catching the cheap steamer back to Hong Kong instead of the more expensive Hydrofoil.