Just a Christmas quickie this week … why should Santa be the only one.
Nothing momentous during the week, bit of the usual headless chook stuff from the council about CBD parking – maybe extending free time to 30 minutes … there’s a stress inducer for you, do they ever think these things through?
And The ‘Pie had a bit of a chortle when Lil Patty O’Callaghan, one of the most accomplished freeloaders on the pubic purse this town has to endure, took up a whole column to say absolutely nothing of substances – well, nothing knew there, one guesses – but the real hoot was when she drew up a pretty little graph of outright lies about the achievements of the Dudley Do Nothings in 2018.
Although the wording is very careful to give madam an out, the clear implication is that Li’l Patty and TEL had a big hand in these ‘outcomes’, which of course is pure tosh … so our gal had something to with Sun Metals expansion, the water pipeline, Port channel widening, – and this is a real little pearler – Adani mine finance secured – and of course, the white elephant stadium. And surely, ma’am, if you’re going to claim credit (and brown-nose your board chairman at the same time) for a couple of weekly direct flights by Air North to the Gold Coast, one assumes you accept the other side of the coin and take responsibility for all the flight downgrading, you know, smaller aircraft, less flights, nothing international anymore – over the year. And boy, bet you get a Chrissy card from Defence for your invaluable work sorting out the land deal for the Singapore Defence training initiative. Those Canberra dumb-clucks couldn’t have done it without you. You go, girl.
Actually, as a literal suggestion, that would be good.
So the mystery runs into the new year as to why any businesses remain members of this featherbedded organization, but then, that is their money … what is not their money in the $750K of ratepayers dosh used to prop up this total sham. Real accountability should be demanded.
Fathead and Fashionista
And let us hope we can see more of airport wannabe taxation officer Kevin Gill walking around in 2019 with his hands in his own pockets, rather those of Townsville travelling public. He seems to be infected with a touch of TEL’s special brand of Emperor’s New Clothes Syndrome going around at TEL’s Wishing Well House, when he, for reasons best known to himself, released this open admission of abject failure.
Lots of seats with no bums, which will soon mean less flights.
And This Is Teribil, Just Teribil
The Headline Cock-Up Cup for the Year has been whisked away from the Astonisher. We’re used to seeing all sorts of weird linguistic shit in the Bulletin, with typo-riddled, unfunny pun-infested headlines and copy. But can’t recall ever seeing anything like this from the Astonisher – not yet anyway – but it’s Tassy’s Fairfax-owned Launceston Examiner that has managed to grab the gong for Headline Fuck Up of the Year with this two word headline screamer in on the front page.
Should’ve gone to Specsavers doesn’t even start to cut it.
A Health Message For You Gals
If you over indulge over the holidays, and decide to hit the gym to set things right, there is something you shouldn’t not do while working out … the results are spectacular.
And Our Penultimate Visit For The Year To Trumpistan.
This man-child must surely be due some comeuppance soon.
And Finally…
………………..
That’s it, have a great Christmas, and if there is anything worth noting, another brief Magpie’s Nest next weekend. Enjoy. (Comments remain open throughout)
None of the percentages in Gill’s abject failure look correct. Why would they be released without being double checked? For example, look at April and May ’18. Seats went up slightly but it shows negative growth.
Merry Xmas all.
Just passing on best Christmas wishes from Shane Knuth and family . Especially from “the streaming midget” who says if you kiddies be good Santa’s elves will treat you extra special. Bob Katter backs that statement 1000% and also sends out seasons greetings to all the boys fighting on in Stalingrad .
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Pie.
Air North’s flights to the GC are Government subsidised I believe, so when the funding stops I reckon they will too. Besides that I tried getting a flight back in from Darwin in the New Year with and and have noticed even that schedule has been cut back since last time I used it. Know that airlines don’t like empty planes but most flights in & out I am on are virtually full and that includes the Qantaslink Dash 8’s.
Met someone on my last trip to Sydney who is in the area that leases the B717’s, apparently Qantas is trying to get it’s hands on more of them so I wouldn’t be surprised the B737 will disappear from the red roo’s route in here before long. Which brings up an interesting question if it happens, will Qantas maintain a lounge if only subsidiaries fly in here. History elsewhere suggests not or a Qantas Club lite like in Mackay.
Seasons greeting to you too, Dave, with thanks for your contributions to our nascent ‘citizens journal’.
On the list that included those flights, check out the number that involved government money … so much for attracting industry and tourism … oh, wait a minute, TEL apparently got a couple of tourism awards … which is much like winning the Bradman’s Bat in golf.
And while we’re in this neck of the woods, a mini-blast from the past.
P O’C on Bali flights TB 3/9/15
Townsville Enterprise chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said the aviation industry was watching whether the new Bali service was successful.
“Our role from here is being ambitious with community leaders to ensure this is just the first of many routes,” she said.
Job well done, Patty, and for staying mute when your mate The Mullet called for a Qantas boycott.
Make an honest woman of yourself and resign, Patricia.
As if, too much easy lolly there for the asking, eh? A gal’s gotta keep up her wardrobe.
Yeah it’s amazing the amount of aviation that is subsidised up this way once you look into it. Qantaslink basically stated for them Townsville to Mackay was a loss making service during their fare war with Rex a few years back. Personally I don’t think the red roo sees profits in NQ, flew back last week via Cairns and notice B717 services to Brisbane there now too where as before they were confined to the Darwin/Alice/Ayers Rock runs. Virgin when I have had to fly too use a lot of Embraers when they need too.
As for Bali I knew it wouldn’t last, once all the locals had been the numbers would & apparently did drop off. Interestingly I think I did mention that was on JQ916 once and quite a sizable portion of the Aircraft were transferring from Melbourne to the Bali flight. Numbers obviously weren’t enough though. Don’t know why Air NZ or a Kiwi airline isn’t doing runs in, plenty of Kiwi’s up this way and could be sustainable but I suppose if Port Moresby can’t cut the mustard with a few expatriates around what can.
Also with International services the big airlines are on a cash cow with all the transfers to Brisbane/Sydney, a travel agent I know told me when Qantas operated it’s International leg to Singapore a few years back it immediately noted a downturn in outbound domestic traffic then they dumped it promptly blaming a lack of interest in the service despite what she knew. Just shows you how inept these guys at QAL are doesn’t it, trying to get international services going in the middle of a protracted downturn with a shrinking population while they spent the 10 years of good times doing nothing on that front…
from those of us who are damned to have our comments moderated in the bullsheet … “thanks Pie “ for all your hard work … and for giving us a voice … best of the season to you & Y’all …
…and as to that, like electricity prices, onward and ever upward in 2019.
Merry Christmas old bird
And thee, too, leslie Jogger.
Love your work Magpie. My sentiments exactly regarding TE. They don’t listen to us mere mortals when we inform them about incorrect information they have in brochures etc. Actually the Bulletin doesn’t listen either! Who do they listen to? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Of course you are – you’ve said it. As I said before just love your work! The highlight of my emails on the weekend.
The ‘Pie is flattered. Merry Christmas.
A great Christmas Quickie, Pie. Hope you have a good one over the holidays and a terrific 2019!
Thanks, Gonzo, right back at yer!
Hi Bird, this was the week I was expecting awards for “best of”. Maybe there were simply too many candidates even for your large intellect?
I’m typing this from Trumpland. And the one thing that is obvious to me is keep nipping away at the worker bees to get to the Queen (ie NY Times). Your cartoons don’t do justice to this complete fucken wanker and the damage he’s doing to here in good old USA and in Oz by association. It’s out of control!
Same in TSV. There is a malignant cancer. To TSV politics. To get rid of it we need to target Mullet ‘s useless group of 10. I’m not confident that TSV voters will kill off the primary cancer, Mullet in March 2020 (she will have a lot of support that will sway the great unwashed) but the other 10 are so unimpressive even to the fuckwits that think the Saint graffiti is some sort of artistic revelation.
My suggestion to you and other regulars is to undermine mullet’s base. Get rid of her apperachicks and we may get rid of her. In 2019 don’t assume she’s vulnerable. She will fight hard. She knows that she will have enough runs on the board for big projects like the stadium and weather – not everyone cares and they have an equal vote to you and me – for reasons beyond my comprehension BTY.
MERRY Xmas bird. It was an entertaining 2018 and for that I applaud you. And I know you have the attention of a bunch of heavy hitters in TSV (just don’t take them out of TSV because they would be stomped on in a city bigger than 200k) so keep up the pressure.
Festive greetings to all and thanks for your efforts, ‘Pie. An old piece of colonial flotsam as I am fully knows the difficulties of not letting the bastards grind you down.
Or let them sink us, Pete, have a great break.
Just a quick one on the townsville bulletin poll on state Gov and tcc. I noticed 60% disastified with council in one question. I beleive it to be incorrect, because 60%of such a small number of people I.e readers, isn’t an accurate outcome. It would obviously be much higher if you polled the whole town. Let’s say around 110% disastified? I know the unions arnt happy because Jenny only gave them a box with 2 chicken wraps half a pavlova and 2 lite beers at Christmas party. Beer tickets were given out to make sure nobody got more. I guess that’s the best thanks we deserve with such a bad ratting. Or maybe council is completely broke? Hope adele enjoys her payout 6 figures. Bring on 2020 elections. Merry Christmas Maggie, thank you for supporting those without a loud voice.
There is a rumour from down south that Nude Nut Diehm, wants to fill the vacancy in Walker Street. Could that be precipitated by him being caught out for making false allegations to the police that someone had posted death threats on a Facebook page. All documented including a recorded message on an answering machine of him making the allegations.
There is more to that than your summary, and would appreciate a link of the details … Diehm has made a stat dec denying various rumours and allegations but the Nest can’t find an available link. Fraser Coast News has stories about it but is behind a paywall. Copy and paste anyone? fairly important because Diehm has his fans here, and The ‘Pie has hitherto had no reason to look askance at his return. At the moment.
Pie, the on 13 December the Townsville Residents & Ratepayers put up a link to a website regarding the allegations.
Ken Deihm made the following as a comment to that post, under his own name.
“Not surprisingly, the article published by Ms Dean did not actually tell the full story and I am happy to put the facts straight.
On Friday 7th December I was contacted by several people concerned about my welfare and the welfare of Councillors after a post was made by Mr. David Barrowcliff on Ms Dean’s “#Political News” site. The post stated – “here are twelve locations which would be appropriate for holding funeral services:” and then listed the home addresses of each Councillor and myself.
While no names were posted against the addresses it would have been clear, given the nature of this particular Facebook site, that the addresses were those of the Councillors. In fact the immediate comments made against the post identified this.
Mr Barrowcliff is known to Council and the wider community and there was a real and genuine concern that his post was a death threat vaguely veiled with a reference to a policy matter that the Council had put out for community consultation.
On the afternoon of the 7th, I reported the matter to the Police and contacted Ms Dean – who did not answer my call or respond to my message to call me back.
The Police arrived at my residence a couple of hours later to interview me. The suggestion that I made false accusations to them is ridiculous – I simply provided the Police with a copy of the Post and advised them of the concerns expressed to me.
Once the matter was reported to Police it was entirely up to them to determine what, if any, action should be taken. Obviously they viewed the matter seriously and undertook immediate investigations to understand the intent of the Post by interviewing Mr Barrowcliff and Ms Dean. I think that their response was reasonable and responsible.
Ms Dean’s claim that my actions were an attempt to deny free speech on a matter of community concern does not make sense. The home addresses of Councillors is not a matter of community concern and posting them does not in any way add to constructive debate.
Rather than trying to point the finger at others, Ms Dean should seriously think about the hurt and fear caused to the families whose addresses were published and the considerable waste of Police resources as a result of this reckless, hurtful and totally inappropriate post on her site.”
Thanks for that. Now back to you SNAFU69 – you say ‘false allegations’? Have you got further information … info, not opinion … that refutes Diehm’s version of events?
The facts about the Council CEO Ken Diehm’s allegations that I had made death threats on Facebook.
1. The CEO (Ken Diehm) determines the business paper content of any meeting including items declared as confidential.
2. The Agenda of the council meeting held on Wednesday 28 November 2018 contained a report concerning “Use of Parks for funeral services’. In that report there are locations nominated which were opposite residential premises. One of the locations was identified as opposite 180 Esplanade, Point Vernon, a private residential address.
3. At the council meeting Councillor Paul Truscott moved a resolution and seconded by Councillor David Lewis which in part said “The council approves the list of locations proposed suitable for Funeral Services to be put out for community consultation for a period of 28 days” The resolution was carried unanimously by the mayor and the ten divisional councillors.
4. The mayor and ten divisional councillors approved of the publication of a private residential address as being opposite a location suitable for funeral services.
5. After the council meeting it prompted many posts and much discussion on Facebook about the suitability of funeral services being held at the locations nominated by the council and the whole issues of funeral services being held in locations other than specifically approved and dedicated for such events.
6. On Friday morning 7 December 2018 I made a post on a closed group Facebook page #political news run by Jannean Dean. The post was as follows:
7. “Without consultation here are twelve locations which would be appropriate for holding funeral services: I listed the home addresses of the CEO and the eleven councillors but no reference was made as to who lived there
8. Those addresses are a matter of public record held by the Electoral Commission and every member of the public have free and unfettered access to that information
9. That was the one and only post I made on that matter on that day and did not read what others had posted until after 5pm that evening.
10. “At 5.53pm Friday 7 December 2018 Jannean Dean received the following message which was left on her answering machine.
“Oh hi Jannean its Ken Diehm the Fraser Coast Regional Council. Can you give me a call back please on 0438192082, 0438192082. Believe David Barrowcliffe has posted death threats on your site and we would like to talk to you about it and to let you know that we have reported your site, yourself and David Barrowcliffe to the police. Thankyou.”
11. On Friday 7 December 2018 the Mayor of Fraser Coast Regional Council, George Seymour, a practising lawyer, rang Jannean Dean four times, 5.32pm 5.38pm,5.42pm and 6.09pm without making contact with her.
12. At approximately 8.45pm Jannean Dean received a visit from a Detective Sergeant and a Detective Senior Constable of the Queensland Police Service
13. At approximately 10.15pm on Friday 7 December 2018 two uniform police officers from Gayndah Police Station visited an address on the Binjour Plateau (Between Gayndah and Mundubbera) enquiring if I lived at that address.
14. At about 10.30pm on Friday 7 December 2018. The same two detective who visited Jannean Deans home visited me at my home address in Maryborough.
15. I was questioned about the post I had made on #political news and told them exactly what I had posted. They made no mention to me about a complaint which the CEO Ken Diehm had made.
16. It wasn’t until Saturday 8 February 2018 that I was made aware of the police visiting an address on the Binjour Plateau or that Ken Diehm had made allegations that I had posted death threats on her Facebook page.
17. I only became aware that no action was going to be taken against me by the police by what I read in the Fraser Coast Chronicle.
18. Whilst the police were investigating Diehms allegations he was in the Beach House Hotel partying. I have a photo of him with a lady who was not his wife.If you are able to disguise the lady’s face I will send it to you for publication.
OK it’s a slow time of year, so let’s run with this just a little more.
First, SNAFU69, the links you provided have been deleted because they are behind a paywall and no one can read them – well, not here in this neck of the woods unless in the unlikely event they pay money for a subscription to the Fraser Coast paper.(Nothing annoys more than links that lead to a subscription site.) Also, Ken Diehm’s statement has also been deleted because it is already provided in this thread.
Now just to be clear, SNAFU69, are you David Barrowcliff? It would seem so since you without preamble or any other attribution, launch into an explanation saying quote ‘that I had made death threats on Facebook.’ Be that as it may, this diary of events, obviously written by you and/or Barrowcliff nowhere says that the police had a problem with Diehm reporting his concerns to the them. It seems Mr Barrowcliff apparently has a local reputation, presumably as an angry and not too bright barker-at-clouds. And certainly is thrashing about to justify this silly matter, because what on earth does number 18 have to do with anything, and what does it prove? That Diehm is a bad dancer? Are are you and/or Barrowcliff trying a juvenile nudge nudge wink wink suggestion of some personal impropriety outside his marriage? Thanks for the offer of a photo that would need to be pixielated, that will add a lot to the sum of knowledge which is already well beyond requirements on this matter. And where do you suggest Diehm should have been while police went about their work without reference to him – sitting at home by the telephone, nursing a shotgun in case you dropped around?
For the record, The Magpie has never met or communicated with Ken Diehm, but knows of him through time as a journalist at the Townsville Bulletin when Diehm was a well regarded senior Townsville council executive. And The Magpie does not know Mr Barrowcliff, nor does he want to. Christ, The ‘Pie has enough dingbats of his own to deal with around here, without importing extra loonies.
I’m drunk
See the Hive, to be built on the Queens Hotel site, has finally been approved by council.
This huge development, unlike most other development announcements from Mayor Mullet this year WILL go ahead.
It is being undertaken by the Gleeson family, headed by Therese, daughter of the late, great Jack Gleeson.
Wonder if after getting the Hive off the ground she might consider running for mayor.
Why has it taken the Astonisher over 2 weeks to put out the story about the revised Hive project being approved. It was approved by council on the 6th December, but nothing until today in the paper. Just a coincidence that a couple of days after their own poll shows people think the Mullet is doing absolutely nothing for this town out comes the story with the big 1100 jobs etc and comments from Mullet and Messagebank, all very well scripted and even the approval has been broken up into 4 stages, this is important because all the developer has to do is change a tap washer in the old Queens Hotel building and the Mullet can pronounce the $450 million project has commenced, and the Astonisher will trumpet the boom times for Townsville, its just pathetic.
But surely … and as always The ‘Pie leaves himself open to correction … was it not the smart-arse, pissed-off self-interest by Mayor Mullet and The Impaler imposing special requests for concessions on council space and related projects in the development that it was so spitefully put on the back-burner for more than a year of no jobs or benefit to the community?
We are faced with the sad rock-and-a-hard-place reality that we are just too dumb and lazy to see both the history and the timing of this announcement as a low level piece of political chicanery, or on the other hand, that we are ‘led’ by a mayor who thinks we are.
It took them 2 weeks because the council media release only went out on the 22nd (from memory) so they couldn’t report until they were told what to print
Perhaps there’s another way of looking at this. Hill, along with Adele Young, fucked this up in the first place, because some of their paid toadies (read consultants) had raised a wail concerning the Hive having an entertainment centre (possibly) and certain council tenants (the library was mentioned, and there was even a suggestion that the whole council operation move there so they could sell Walker Street for a pretty penny). But resentment about stalling the project of a well respected LOCAL developer was a growing backlash. So to save face, maybe the inevitable approval was publicly (i.e The Astonisher) announced in the middle of the notoriously “no readers’ silly season. If the paper was a fair dinkum paper, they would’ve been on to this when it went through council … or do they think having that waste of space Simpo Templeton in the media chair in Walker Street is good enough?
There in lies the problem with the Astonisher, waiting on a media release, just plain lazy and a reflection on the lack of contacts these so called journalists have these days, what happens to being ahead of the game, being the first to release a story.
I received my revised approved plans on the 11th Dec, stamp dated 6th Dec and was already spread widely online well before the Astonisher released the story, irrelevant as usual.
I wanted to send some sort of holiday greeting to my friends, but it is difficult in today’s world to know exactly what to say without offending someone.
So I met with my lawyer yesterday, and on his advice I wish to say the following:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive,
gender neutral celebration of the summer solstice holiday practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of
your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practise religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2019,
but not without due respect for the calendar of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee .
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:
This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal.
It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting.
It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/him or others, is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.
The wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
Best Regards (without prejudice)
Name withheld (Privacy Act).
Notwithstanding the aforegoing …
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year
Good one Bentley,
I almost got into trouble earlier this year. Had to get the attention of a large-ish group of people to make some anouncements. Says I in a loud clear voice, “Ladies and a gentlemen, and whose who aren’t quiet sure.”
I got some bloody funny looks. Defensively I said, “Well, it’s a modern world we live in.”
Have a very Merry Xmas Mr Pie.
And you too, Noah.
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Maggers,
In awe of your sub skills in gramma and spellin.
This year I have learned a lot about context and especially not trying to comment when aggravated and pissed.
I especially appreciate your comments and insights on our local community and governance. Stay well for 2019 !
And thanks to Bentley.
And best to you mate, might not always be on your wavelength but that’s not the point of this blog … it’s ours, not mine (well sort of).
Hmmm, I’m not as think as I pissed I was
Why does The Dill always look like a kid playing dress-ups in a wrinkled suit 2 sizes too big for him? He just never looks well put together or particularly comfortable.
Merry Christmas ‘Pie, and to all your readers too. May the Curds and Whey be copious, and may no one sit on your tuffet uninvited.
Dill uses Bill Shorten’s tailor. It’s a Labor thing.
I haven’t bought the Townsville Bulletin for the past eight years. Whilst my neighbours are overseas they kindly offered me a daily free read of the paper. I can understand why people aren’t buying it because it’s not newsworthy at all!
Today on page 33 is the racing form guide for races at Townsville. Coffs Harbour and Mornington.
On page 34 there is form guide for Coffs Harbour and Morning and a story about a trainer and his horse, i wonder if the Bully has realised their mistake yet,or is this normal procedure?
Yup, normal procedure. They just don’t care.
Dear Pie, thanks for everything you have done for us during the past year. I know that Christmas is over but I have but one wish. Can you please put the comments back to the top of the blog. It is not very nice to have to scroll down through the blog each day to get to Comments, especially when you have to look at some dill who dosent know how to dress himself and who wants to stand next to some woman who appears embarrest to know what side he dresses on.
Understand where you’re coming from, but not possible, ‘fraid. There have been some recent snafus since The ‘Pie was forced to buy new equipment, but not sure what you mean by ‘back to’.However, since you mention it, have been discussing possible ways to make comments easier to follow as threads. Aiming to fine tune a few things in the next month or two. But thanks for being there, enjoy the coming year.
You don`t need to “scroll” down, just click and hold your cursor on to the little square at the top of the right hand border and just drag to the bottom.
See the Astonisher is now giving away free newspapers to travellers boarding flights at Townsville Airport. Wonder what cosy arrangement they have cooked up with Kevin Dill to allow them to count the papers as actual sales for circulation purposes.
Also wonder what the Dill is getting out of this. Favourable coverage in the Astonisher, no doubt.
So expect a new wave of stories about the Dill’s dodgy $3 per passenger levy to pay for his over-the-top upgrade wish list.
The corruption continues.
Now there’s a way to make them wish never to return.
Lack of content means they’d all be read before take off
Not defending them, but they’ve been giving away the Courier and even the damn fine Australian at Brisbane airport for years. In saying that, what gets the gong for the Astonishers worst story of the year? Is it the mismatched politicians favourite tune fiasco earlier this year, the poo in the carpark story complete with footage or all the syndicated rubbish telling us to get the best power provider price when we have zero choice here? There’s so many pearlers to choose from…
Nah, none of the above … it was – and is – the continual Foxtel subscription ads disguised as actual news.
Wise old Owl has hit the mark, front page of today’s astonisher AIRPORT who would have thunk it