Shaggy Dog Comments...

It's good to be back after three months in Sydney, where Shaggy couldn't stop chucking at the capital's latest obsession, water. Not the water views that normally accompany those expensive houses, but drought. Sydney's now on water restrictions and fining people $220 for breaking them. Remember how things were for this region 12 months ago? Fear not, Rocky Creek dam is at around 85% capacity. Meanwhile, down south, they're considering retro-fitting Sydney's 1.5 million residences with more water-efficient taps, as well as spending $400 million on a pipeline from the Shoalhaven River to fill Warragamba dam. But don't get too excited about local thoughts of a $60 million second dam for the region. Utilities Minister Frank Sartor said "A new dam is about as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike if we don't get water to fill it."

While Shaggy was away, we visited a number of restaurants in regional NSW. At one in the cherry capital of Young, we ordered a bottle of local wine, Grove Estate Basazi. It seems they put an enormous effort into it, since the label stated that the wine contained: "65% zinfandel, 35% sangiovese and 10% barbera". It sounds like Tony Squires would love that drop.

Lord knows you're salivating about the forthcoming federal election as much as Shaggy. Well enjoy it, because you're paying for it - including political junk mail. Taxpayers already pick up the tab for pamphlets and those funky fridge-door calendars featuring MPs with eyes that follow you around the room, as part of a (wait for it!) $125,000 annual printing allowance. The good news if you're a pollie in a marginal seat is you can even spend that money on how-to-vote cards. No such taxpayer-funded luck if you're pitching for the job. Labor and the Coalition already scored about $30 million in election funding the last time we went to the polls in 2001 - $1.94 a vote. With 150 federal MPs up for election, that means they could blow an additional $18.75 million in printing allowance - originally designed to pay for writing to constituents about members about parliamentary business before the election. As Charles Blunt might remember, that's a lot of stamps.

Every now and then, we stuff up, so we're throwing this stone very carefully from this glasshouse, but last Tuesday, one of America's biggest selling newspapers, The New York Post, carried a front page "exclusive" that Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry would name Richard Gephardt has his vice-presidential running mate. The paper is edited by expat Aussie Col Allan. Just before 9am, Senator Kerry actually said that Senator John Edwards, a former rival for the Democratic nomination, would get the job. Copies of the Post's front page soon found their way onto eBay for auction. Last October, The Post wrote an editorial lamenting that their hometown baseball team, the New York Yankees, lost a key playoff. Only problem was they won.

One in seven Australians is affected by arthritis - some 3 million people - and two grandparents are doing something about it. Brisbane couple Garry and Doreen Fletcher have jumped on 'Arthur', their custom-built, motorised trike, to raise funds and awareness about arthritis, visiting 602 outback towns over 30 months. They want to raise $1 million for arthritis research and education programs.

They set off from Canberra in late June and arrive in this region this weekend, cycling into Evans Head on Saturday and Sunday, before heading to Ballina on Monday where they'll be part of a morning tea at 11.30am at Fawcett Park. You're welcome to drop by and help with the fundraising efforts. After heading up to Murwillumbah, they'll be in Kyogle and Lismore next Thursday and Friday.

Lismore Council is currently looking at what it can do about the informal 'car yards' that spring up every now and then when a whole lot of people put their cars in the one spot with for sale signs on them. It happened for a while up in Goonellabah opposite the pub, but more recently moved downtown to a vacant highway block. Former car salesman John Chant's none too happy about it, but even he was taken aback last week when driving past and spotting a large grader next to the cars also sporting a 'For sale' sign.

Inventors, designers, craftspeople or anyone producing a unique and authentic Australian tourist souvenir is invited to enter the Memento Awards 2004, where $10,000 is up for grabs. Last year's winner, a bowl from macadamia nut shells, is now available across Australia, thanks largely due to its win. Having come a long way from plush kangaroos made in China and glitter snowshakers, the Australian-made gift trade is worth over $700 million annually.

Entries close on Friday, July 30. For details, check online at www.mementoawards.com.

All fired up

Staffing at Lismore Fire Station got a boost earlier this week when three-year-old Caitlin McKenzie presented firefighter Shane Hulbert and the station with a new recruit.

Caitlin and her mum Louise made the miniature fireman as a thank you after Lismore Fire Station crew visited the ABC Developmental Learning Centre in Lismore, where Caitlin is a student, to talk about fire safety. Their little fireman will now live at the Lismore Fire Station permanently.

Schools or pre-schools interested in having the crew come out to talk about fire safety should phone Shane on 6621 5660.

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