As Australia Day approaches, I cannot help but cast my mind back to when ANZAC Day was subsumed by the Coronavirus lockdown and we were denied the right to celebrate it and honour our Diggers in the usual way by government decree.
It looks like this 26th of January may subsumed by the furore of the leftist activist minorities, aided and encouraged by Corporate Australia and even some of our politicians and local lcouncils. Hopefully the tide is turning.
Either way, we are still getting the usual collection of the bearded unwashed telling us how wrong we were/are for participating in any war because we should be celebrating peace and that, instead of celebrating Australia Day, we should be hanging our heads in shame on " Invasion Day. "
The stillness of Melbourne’s coastal waters was shattered on two momentous occasions in history, as the first angry shots of war reverberated from the Point Nepean battery, marking Australia's entry into both World War I and World War II. In August 1914, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany, a single shot fired from this battery ordered the German vessel Pfalz to halt, preventing its escape and asserting Australia’s resolve in a conflict that would engulf the world.
Decades later, on September 4, 1939, Point Nepean once again roared to life, targeting the Australian freighter Woniora to enforce wartime protocols, symbolising the nation’s steadfast commitment to its allies in the shadow of global turmoil. These fiery salvos, echoing across Port Phillip Bay, were not just acts of defense - they were declarations of a young nation’s place on the world stage, its shores braced for the storms of war.
Read more: The First Angry Shots of Two World Wars
Australians are buzzing with excitement as they join their American friends in celebrating the triumphant return of President Trump to the White House.
As two nations forged from humble colonial beginnings, Australia and the United States share a bond rooted in resilience, independence, and a shared love of freedom. A pity our recent governments have buggered it all up.
Still,hope is on the horizon.
From the sunburnt plains of the outback to the rolling heartlands of America, this celebration resonates with people - and even animals. Frogs are croaking their joy from billabongs, and kangaroos are bounding in jubilation, symbolising the shared spirit of optimism and unity that ties our two great nations together.
While some our politicians may not share our enthusiasm, rest assured that the average, ridgy didge Australian is looking forward to the return of sanity to America.
One such community, in the Australian Outback, has even got its very own ambassador heading to Washington on a locally built bi-plane. Don't believe me? Well read on and be amazed!
Few figures burn as brightly as Queen Boudicea, the fierce and indomitable leader who rose from tragedy to challenge the might of the Roman Empire.
Driven by a relentless love for her people and a thirst for justice, Boudicea united the fractured tribes of ancient Britain in a passionate fight for freedom.
Her story is one of defiance, resilience, and an unyielding spirit - a testament to the enduring power of patriotism and the human will to resist oppression.
Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni, based in what is now Norfolk/Suffolk in eastern England, stood before the might of the Roman Empire ~ 60-61 AD.
Since Emperor Claudius's invasion in 43 AD, the Romans had established control over Britain, bringing with them advanced equipment, military tactics and infrastructure. Yet, Boadicea’s stand against tyranny and unwavering commitment to her people, ignited a spark of resistance.
Read more: Queen Boudicea: The Fiery Warrior Who Defied an Empire in Defense of Her People
Around 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth formed as a hot ball of molten rock created from gases released by the Sun.
Over time, its surface cooled down and solidified into a rough crust, constantly pushed and reshaped by molten rock (magma) beneath it.
Volcanoes breaking through the crust released water vapor into the atmosphere, eventually condensing into rain.
That rain collected in low areas, forming the oceans. Water from comets that struck Earth also contributed to that process, which was essentially complete by about 3.8 billion years ago.
Another brick in the wall of totalitarianism in Australia was laid recently, with the mortar of hand-ringing faux concern for the ‘safety’ of our children troweled on in generous quantities. At some point in the next year or so, it will be illegal for children under 16 years of age to use some social media apps.
Which means all users will have to clear this age hurdle, somehow, when our Priestess of Permitted Pronouncements gets around to writing, and maybe publishing, the ‘guideliness’ referenced in the legislation.
There’s no defined measure by which the success or failure of this new legislation will be judged. So there will be no limit on how far this inch of restriction will be translated into miles of oppression in the future, again in the name of ‘safety.’
A single real (or fabricated) case of bullying leading to suicide would be more than enough for the government of the day to claim a mandate for ratcheting up the level of restrictions for access to the internet.
Another 26th of January is on our doorstep. Only a few more sleeps before we gather our daggy thongs, ( not from Woolies, of course) search out the shorts with the flag plastered all over them and order in a few slabs, a keg or 3 and assemble around the barbie at the appointed hour ( normally around 11 am ) to tell a few mate jokes and have one too many.
We'll dust off the cricket bat and ball while the missus makes the salads and the kids are reminded that beer always lives in the bathtub on Australia Day. Unless there is a frog in the bath of course....
" Oi ! Get your Dad a beer! " will resonate around this great dusty island and we will pull each other's leg and tell jokes about who had a convict in their ancestry.
Will this happen this year?
I reckon it will. With more gusto than for many years.
Read more: Australia...You've done us proud. Let's hope we can make you proud of us again
As President-Elect Trump is days away from returning to the Whitehouse, I pondered a man who may have applauded his victory and his ambitions to make America Great Again. Both men ran as outsiders to politics, appealing to voters disillusioned with the traditional political establishment.
Ross Perot was best known as a maverick billionaire and two-time U.S. presidential candidate He was one of the most successful third-party candidates in American history.
But what a lot of people don't know is that he also played a remarkable role in a daring rescue mission in 1978. This lesser-known part of his life, dubbed "Operation Hotfoot," (Help Our Two Friends Out of Tehran) illustrates Perot's determination, ability to think under pressure, and commitment to those under his care.
I am not a fan of maggots. Let us be clear on that from the outset. Horrible little squirmy things. Writhing and thriving.. .
I do not care who ( or WHO ) tells me that they are full of protein and eating zee bugs will make me happy, I am not eating one.
Read more: Maggots: Miracle Medics, Sheep's Nemesis, and the Protein Snack Nobody Asked For
Australia's White Australia Policy was a set of laws designed to restrict immigration by people who were not of European origin, especially targeting Asians - mainly Chinese - and Pacific Islanders. Those laws aimed to maintain Australia as a predominantly white, British-style society.
The roots of the policy trace back to the gold rush era of the 1850s, when thousands of Chinese immigrants came to Australia seeking prosperity. Their success in the goldfields primarily resulted from them taking all available ground, leading to tension with European miners and culminating in violent protests such as the Buckland and Lambing Flat Riots.
In response, the Colonies (now States) imposed taxes and other restrictions targeting Chinese arrivals. By the late 19th century, labor unions opposed low-wage competition from Chinese workers in industries including furnituremaking and market gardening, further fueling support for restrictive immigration laws.
Read more: The White Australia Policy - Blackbirds and Cuckoos
In recent years, it has been fashionable to be Woke.... fashionable to be " gay ", " transgender ", " black ", " climate change aware ", vaxxed " and vegan.
Nothing appears to stop these dedicated disciples from following the latest fashion trend of being completely dedicated to being complete dickheads in order to gain approval from the social media trolls, leftie luvvies and the woke brigade.
If mutilating your teenage body to become accepted is the latest fashion, thousands of young people are jumping on the bandwagon. If gluing yourself to a road will get applause from your online chums, then do it. After all, who can blame you? You are simply a dedicated follower of fashion.
On the 10th of January 2011, a catastrophic deluge unleashed an unprecedented "inland tsunami" across Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Torrential rains transformed creeks into raging torrents, sweeping away cars, homes, and lives in a matter of minutes. Entire communities were submerged, as families clung to rooftops, desperate for rescue. With over 20 lives lost and countless others left homeless, the disaster became one of Queensland's darkest chapters, a stark reminder of nature’s unyielding power and a day I will never forget.
" A 3-metre wall of water came without warning, tearing through Toowoomba — Queensland’s largest inland city — when rain of “biblical proportions” fell on already soaked earth after months of record-breaking falls across the state "The inland tsunami swept through Toowoomba, washing away cars, damaging buildings, picking up water tanks, and thrusting people into the torrent. "
I will never forget the day. It had been raining in Toowoomba. It had been raining across much of Queensland and everywhere was soggy. The rain had been falling steadily all over the state and I had no idea just how bad things were about to get.
Read more: Inland Tsunami: The Floods That Changed Lives Forever
Dusty Gulch Gazette November 21, 2025 – Vol. 147, No. 312 By Jedediah "Dust" Harlan…
161 hits
by Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble - Chief Correspondent for Ratty News - Aeronautical and Ornithological Division…
241 hits
A green hill in the Irish Sea has stood for 1,045 years. It has seen…
292 hits
There are many ships of the Royal Australian Navy that are dear to the hearts…
277 hits
In military history, there are countless tales of bravery, valour, and unwavering dedication from soldiers…
298 hits
After the Great Green Reset wiped out civilisation back in the 2020s, the surviving humans…
275 hits
On the night of 30 October 1938, millions of Americans leaned close to their radios…
322 hits
Identity crisis cured by $2.50 DNA kits, cold beer, and one large crocodile By Roderick…
316 hits
The Day Seven Blackfellas Saved This Blonde Coastie’s Bacon – And Taught Me What Aussie…
320 hits
Our energy grid’s as reliable as a politician’s promise - so don’t bank on your…
372 hits
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month holds profound significance in…
352 hits
I remember when Armistice Day was commemorated spontaneously, reverently and universally. As I approach my…
404 hits
When I was young, I had the honour of voting in my first election. It…
357 hits
E.D. Butler (1916–2006) was an influential Australian nationalist and founder of the Australian League of…
372 hits
DUSTY GULCH EMERGENCY BROADCAST: “Biggie Rat and the Southern Crossfire” By Roderick “Whiskers” McNibble, reporting…
357 hits
The Australian Stakes – The Great Dusty Gulch Cup From the Dusty Gulch Bureau of…
374 hits
When I was a lad in Western Australia, the 5th of November used to be…
383 hits
Phar Lap, the legendary Australian racehorse, and President Donald Trump, the American business magnate turned…
384 hits
Beneath the still waters of Lake Argyle lies the ghost of a homestead — Argyle…
371 hits
I’ve started and restarted this article, pondered how to avoid hurting anyone’s sensitivities, and in…
375 hits
Forecast: Confused With a Chance of Bureaucracy - Microbursts, bureaucratic panic, and a wallaby with titanium…
448 hits
Beersheba is a name that should resonate with every Australian with the same ease and…
625 hits
How have we come to this mess in the Middle East? The strange thing is…
428 hits
From Bushfires to Bare-Chested Heroes Our resident Redhead proves that admiration, humour, and a little…
459 hits
In the mid-19th century, a flickering flame of innovation sparked a revolution that would illuminate…
483 hits
From the Valley of Death at Balaclava to today’s policy corridors, the brave bear the…
553 hits
Imagine women, beaten, humiliated, raped repeatedly in Nazi-run brothels, stripped of their dignity, and sent…
876 hits
Prentis Penjani’s Grand Debut – The Duck Was Just the Warm-Up Act By Roderick (Whiskers)…
470 hits
By Roderick “Whiskers” McNibble, Senior Correspondent (and dance adjudicator) Crikey, mates and matesses - you’d…
592 hits
I have often pondered why mankind decided to go after the humble whale. After all,…
548 hits