Bushranger

Even birds going troppo

THE change in season often brings on the mango madness in Territorians, but what often goes unnoticed is how it affects animals. Bushie was kicking back this week, having a cold one in the afternoon when a huge bird swooped down to the backyard for a feed. It wasn’t after a small mammal or a bug though. The bird went for a dog toy shaped like a hamburger. The madness is truly setting in.

Camping baptism of fire

NT NEWS scribe Sarah Matthews threw herself into the deep end of camping this week, embarking on the Territory’s Jatbula trail from Katherine Gorge to Edith Falls. Things were looking good for Matthews, who had bought her own boots and borrowed a tent and hike pack from housemates. But Bushie sensed things may have gotten a bit rough when at 10.30pm on the first night a text came through to her housemate asking: “Hello are you awake? How do we put up the tent?” At this stage Bushie is following the rule that no news is good news and hopes to see Matthews back at work shortly.

Driven to distraction

A GROUP of P platers had to be rescued from a rather embarrassing situation at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens on Thursday night. The group got themselves locked in and instead of leaving the car there overnight they decided to go off road and drive over the tree roots and out on to the grass. Unluckily for them they got their Nissan X-Trail stuck on the roots and had to be rescued. Bushie spies say the group got a stern talking to and were pretty embarrassed about the whole event.

Bowden to bide his time

IT was somewhat of a surprise that Richmond legend Joel Bowden wasn’t given a spot in the Gunner government’s Cabinet during the week. Given the Member for Johnston he replaced, Ken Vowles, was very vocal when he was in Cabinet, did Chief Minister Michael Gunner get stage fright thinking lightning might strike twice? A couple of silent years on the backbench and Bushie reckons Bowden will become a minister sometime in 2022. It’s all about patience, something Bowden learnt a lot of during his time at Richmond.

Stoush a real education

WHILE they don’t like to admit it, there’s a war going on between Essington and Haileybury as to who is really the top dog of private schools in Darwin. The principals of both schools, Brian Kennelly and Craig Glass, are believed to have played sport together in their younger years down south so both aren’t immune to a bit of healthy competition. The good news is the education options for parents have improved as a result of the “school war”. Everyone’s a winner, baby.