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29 May 2000
Northern Territory News headlines
'300kg Killer Duck Found'
Hundreds of recent Darwin crime cases were solved after the discovery of a '300kg Killer Duck' in suburban Darwin last night. Forensic analysis suggested that the duck had died simply from overeating its prey, its height over 3m.
Well that’s what you might have believed had you seen the tabloid headlines in front of shops this morning. Indeed it may well have been a scene from 15 million years ago. But the true story - on page 11 - was of a monster flesh-eating duck that was discovered in the NT in 1998 and is now central to the theory of Australia having carnivorous dinosaur birds. Described by a mammalogist with the Australian Museum and Sydney University - "The beak was a huge pair of secateurs. It could hook into your thigh and rip out a nice slab of meat quite easily. If this was simply eating nuts and melons, they must have been giant-sized nuts".
'Women's fury at our mayor'
Well the Council elections are over and within a day we are back to the quality politics that makes the Territory such a wonderful place to visit. The front-runner in the race for Mayor in Darwin, George Brown had four female opponents. Buoyed by a glass or two of red he stated 'I'm still quietly confident of slaying the dragons'. Naturally there have been claims of sexism and paternalism. One of the candidates Susan Bradley (remember her) said 'I think he has lost the plot and his behaviour isn't always fitting or reflective of standards that one would expect of a person in public office'. Humourless dragons at that.
'Burke disappointed by Corroboree'
'The Corroboree 2000 reconciliation conference was unsuccessful in its goal of promoting reconciliation, Chief Minister Denis Burke said yesterday'. He was quoted as saying that aspects of the conference were a "disgrace". He targeted the treatment meted out to Johnnie Howard. Meanwhile most other political leaders have decided to move on, leaving little Johnnie behind, who still can't see how today's generation benefits incredibly from the virtual destruction of an ancient culture in a mere 200 years.
'Tourists warned: learn road rules'
Yet another accident involving tourists. Four people required treatment by paramedics after a two-car collision near Alice Springs. Police have not ruled out the possibility that the German tourists were driving on the wrong side of the road.
'Orange lights spark mystery'
The countryside between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs has had many sightings of UFOs and it is not without some foundation that it is believed that Men in Black was based on true life stories of Tennant Creek's residents. Less than a week after the shape-shifting crocodile was spotted in Darwin, many Darwin residents have seen strange orange lights in the sky. The humourless experts at the National Space Centre are postulating that the lights could be the residual plume of the Halebop Comet (like they wouldn't know) while many residents simply believe "they" have arrived.
'McDonald's robber jailed for one year'
A man who robbed McDonald's at Casuarina to buy more alcohol was sentenced to two years jail. The man had been out of prison for 10 days. He was armed with an offensive weapon, a knife'. The amount stolen was not given but he threw some of it away "because it was too heavy". About $380 was reovered. Meanwhile a young scientist with a clean record who broke a glass panel at a city pub was fined $750 and allowed a month to pay.
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