This looks like a gate. And it is a gate.
But it's also something else. Something you wouldn't expect. It's a giant thermometer.
This impressive front gate operates on Col Maybury's Kurri Kurri property.
"It's a very accurate thermometer," Col said.
The way it contracts and moves means that it scrapes right when the mercury falls below zero. And it scrapes left when the mercury hits 28 degrees.
Col should probably still keep his weather apps, but the front gate certainly is worth remarking on for its multi-tasking abilities.
The Dismissal
Kurri's Col Maybury was in the US on business on November 5, 1975.
He was waiting in a queue to enter a revolving restaurant in the Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco.
He was talking to a bloke when a woman turned around and said her American friends were asking what was going on in her "sister country" Down Under.
Col was a bit confused about what she meant by sister country but replied, "Don't worry about it, we will sort it out".
She said: "I hope so, it sounds terrible".
She was, of course, referring to the pending dismissal of Gough Whitlam, which happened on November 11, 1975.
She was expecting rioting in the streets.
But we're Australian, we don't riot [she'll be right, mate].
Mind you, we did have the Eureka Stockade. Oh ... and Cronulla. Ahh, we had that Rothbury Riot, too. Oh yeah, and the Star Hotel. That's two for the Hunter. Well, we are passionate people.
Still, Aussies are pretty laid back. We get the feeling that we might think about rioting, but then reconsider: "Nah, yeah, the footy's on, so ..."
Actually, there was a bit of rioting after Whitlam's dismissal. A picture online shows rioting near the Liberal Party state headquarters in South Melbourne. [See, we care]
Anyhow, turns out the woman Col was talking to was Canadian. That explained the "sister country" reference. He thought she was American.
He has since learned to identify Canadians by their pronunciation of the words "out and about" as "oot and aboot".
As for the turmoil in Australia 45 years ago, well, "the Australian system sorted it out", Col says. [Now parties dismiss PMs]
Last week's release of the so-called Palace letters, however, did reveal the role of a Canadian constitutional law expert in Whitlam's dismissal.
So now we know how the dismissal came about.
"Or should that be aboot?" Col quipped.
Non-Viral Jokes
Gate builders are experts at what kind of combat? Fencing.
Why did one fence dislike another fence? The second fence used offensive language.
- topics@newcastleherald.com.au
