Shaggy Dog Comments...
Last week we mentioned how former Midnight Oil singer turned Labor pollie Peter Garrett belted out some songs at The Rails in Byron. He teamed up with former band member Rob Hirst - the brains behind the Oils (few realise it was Hirst and Jim Moginie who wrote music and lyrics, not Garrett). Anyway, The Sydney Morning Herald's Damien Murphy revealed the truth behind the Garrett performance this week. Hirst was performing at the Basement last Thursday with Paul Greene (folk rocker and former Olympian) when he paused mid-set to recount how their Byron gig had been hijacked by Garrett, who phoned Hirst to ask if he could join him and Greene on stage that night. Hirst was not impressed but agreed, after a long silence, saying: "OK. If I can come on the campaign trail with you... and support the Greens." It went downhill from there, with Hirst and Greene turning up at the venue to see Garrett's name "up in lights" on the board outside the pub, while their gig was relegated to the support act. Hirst said Garrett's "couple of songs" turned into a half-hour ALP rant. Introducing the only Oils song he and Greene performed at the Basement, 'My Country', Hirst said "Peter got up the other night and sang this song. And forgot all the words. Of course. Just like the old days."
Amidst the Festival of the Promises that is the federal election campaign, Labor put its airport security policy out, with Labor's candidate for Page, Kevin Bell, trumpeting how it would be good news for Lismore, because airports with more than 50,000 passengers will score the increased security. Mr Bell's seat also includes Ballina, so his press release offered something for voters there too, declaring, "Mr Bell noted that when Ballina Airport reached the 50,000 passenger movements, it too would be included in Labor's airport security plan". Oops. The airport has around twice as many passengers as Lismore.
It's a spooky thought that Christmas isn't too far away - as evidenced by the fact that Australia Post is reminding people that sea mail for Christmas parcels closes next month - October 8 for the UK and Europe and October 22 for the USA.
Tuesday marked the 90th anniversary of the first Australian combat casualties of the Great War. On September 14, 1914, Naval troops landed at dawn on the island of New Britain (now part of PNG) to seize German wireless stations at Bitapaka. They captured all the stations, but four sailors and an Army medical officer were killed. Able Seaman CV Williams was the first Aussie wounded in action in WWI and he died later that day. The day's successes were also marred by the unexplained disappearance of the Aussie submarine HMAS AE1, with 35 crew aboard.
Tim's big Aussie adventure
 Australia's always had a thing about Big Things - prawns, sheep, pineapples, bananas - and it seems the interest in them has never been bigger. The ABC screened a doco on our big icons last night, and a new book, appropriately titled Big Things, is about to hit the bookshelves.
On Tuesday, Tim Hartigan (pictured) of Tamworth and Kristy Templeton (who took the snap), lobbed in to Ballina as part of a month-long, 20,000km tour of 50 big Aussie icons. From the Big Cassowary, Big Bull and Big Stubby in Queensland, to Ballina's famed prawn, the Golden Guitar in Tamworth and Young's Big Cherry, Victoria's Big Ned Kelly, Big Milkshake and Big Earthworm, Tassie's Big Penguin and WA's Big DNA (bet you had no idea we had so much bigness), they're checking them all out as prize winners of a competition by online booking service wotif.com to rate the nation's top Big Things. The smallest thing they'll visit is the Dog on a Tuckerbox, five miles from Gundagai.
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Honour the Queen of the 'fly
 The achievements of Mullumbimby's queen of the pool, Olympic champion Petria Thomas, will be celebrated at a special homecoming tribute at the Byron Bay Beach Resort next Thursday, September 23.
The evening featuring the Athens triple-gold medallist is a fundraiser for the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and will also feature legendary swimming coaches Don Talbot and Stan Tilley, along with Petria's husband and trainer Julian Jones, plus ABC sports commentator Jerry Collins.
Helicopter spokesman Howard Atkinson said the night will be laidback, with a talk by Petria and the chance for people to ask questions. Jerry Collins, known for his 'phantom' calls, will give some behind-the-scenes insight into Petria's career as well as relive some of its highlights.
The cost to be a part of this special tribute to our local Olympic champion is just $15 per head. The Petria Thomas tribute night starts at 7.30pm, and numbers are limited. Book on 6685 8000.
Happy birthday!
 Sarah Rose (second from right) celebrated her 18th birthday last week surrounded by friends (l-r) Tait Jenkins, Myles Redden, Alicia Boyd and Brad Stuckey. Sarah's mum Donna said Sarah had a huge party and received lots of grown-up presents including music, funky clothes, videos and even a Vodka Cruiser. Happy birthday Sarah, from all of us at The Echo!
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