At 1.30am on Saturday morning April 6, 1929, Percy was woken from the briefest of naps by the clock from the post office in Cameron Street, the bell from the United Fire Brigade in Brisbane Street, and his frantic yet purposeful parents telling them that they had to leave.
They had gone to bed in their clothes, their warmest clothes, just in case.
Read MoreThere is something brilliant about being Australian. It is the ability to believe in yourself and your team no matter how dire the circumstances, the never-say-die attitude, and the ability to unite and showcase prowess across the world. It is the quintessential chip on the shoulder to prove doubters wrong, which is even more keenly felt in Tasmania.
Read MoreWith $750 million committed to Hobart's waterfront stadium, we now look forward to Premier Jeremy Rockliff delivering for the most popular participation sport in Tasmania.
To have the Premier, the Member for Braddon with his office in Devonport, home to the all-conquering NPL and Lakoseljac Cup winners, Devonport City Strikers, who played the A League's Wellington Phoenix during August provides us impetus to strike. There has been no bigger game in recent Tasmanian soccer history, and it was right in the heart of Mr Rockliff's electorate.
Read MoreIn Wednesday's The Examiner editorial titled Monarchy's crucial role in our identity, the following was offered:
"In some respects the pageantry of the modern monarchy can actually be seen as a symbol of the triumph of the people over those who claim to have arbitrary powers."
Sorry, what? The pageantry of the modern monarchy is pomp and ceremony which fails to symbolise triumph against arbitrary power when the head of state is born to reign.
Nor does pageantry preach that a constitutional monarchy is power to the people.
Read MoreWhen the news broke on August 31 1997 that Princess Diana had died, Mrs. W then Miss B and I were standing in my parents' house glued to an old Phillips television furniture piece that still required a regular visit from the repairman.
It was utterly devastating. My father wept openly. And when he did the same while watching her funeral on the same television, it was as intriguing as it was sad.
He continued, until his death, to hold Queen Elizabeth partially responsible. It was complicated.
Read MoreThe socials blew up with crass and sexist comments thinly disguised as appreciation of attractiveness or a play on words. It demonstrated a level of casual sexism, focussing more on a player's appearance and physical characteristics than the goal, which, for a football mad country, the perennial underachievers, brought them their first major trophy in more than 50 years.
Read MoreThere is no more prudent investment than spending money on junior sporting facilities.
The University of Tasmania (Thomas, Cruickshank, and Patterson) longitudinal study of Tasmanian primary schools from 2009 to 2019 found that, “…regardless of size, there was a direct correlation between a school’s relative educational advantage and its success in running carnivals. The richer they were, the faster they ran.”
Read MoreI can't live without trust. I know others who can and their discipline, usually because they have been burned one too many times, intrigues me.
In response, I have decided to keep a bit of myself to me.
Oversharing is the bane of modern-day existence.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Read MoreThey are accused of 'loading up' on alcohol before the game. This makes sense because mid-strength beer served at the MCG on a cold autumn evening is more likely to cause long lines at the toilets rather than fights.
But, if football codes don't act quickly and bring behaviour under control, I know where it ends.
Segregated crowds have been part of association football for decades, particularly across Europe.
Read MoreThe JackJumpers franchise is Tasmania's new muse. Don't worry about AFL Colours Day - that's done for now - the brand mucked around for so long that they were stung. Instead, head to the socials and check out how school kids committed to Paint the Town Green in JackJumpers colours and made the AFL green with envy in the process. Now that's a movie I would watch over and over again.
Read MoreLong before a Jack Jumper was a franchise and when teams of the black biting ants were more likely to require an EpiPen than hoops, Launceston's YMCA provided the boards for junior basketball.
Primary school basketball was huge in the 1980s with kids introduced by a small number of teachers who held a love of the game.
Read MoreThis may come as a surprise, but I am not an elite athlete.
Read MoreThe frustration is palpable. The stress is unfathomable, and the result will be demoralised teachers who keep on keeping on for the kids at the expense of their mental and physical health.
The situation is unsustainable and if nothing significant changes it will worsen in winter.
Expert tradespeople were employed across Tasmania to jimmy windows that were screwed shut due to chilly air in the depths of winter.
Yeah, nah ...
Read MorePop icon Madonna wrote in the introduction to her song, Sorry:
Je suis désolé
Lo siento
Ik ben droevig
Sono spiacente
Perdname
In the end it doesn't matter which language you choose, if you can lessen a victim-survivor's suffering and grief and assist their recovery, just take personal responsibility and offer a timely and sincere apology "without explanation or excuse".
Read MoreMy sporting career was hampered by this dreaded rise in temperature that interrupted weekends and often resulted in a migraine.
There are mildly mannered Australians; hard-working tradespeople and teachers and surgeons and librarians who spend their working week making a difference and their weekends making mischief.
Read MoreThe backyard spin bowling bonanza always begins with a pause to psych out the young charge and build tension, then it's four or five strides at walking pace, two quicker steps and a leap into the delivery stride attempting to rip the perfect leg spinner that drifts into the right hander's legs and then spins viciously away off a dry spot where pesky paspalum was recently poisoned with glyphosate.
Read MoreSelf-indulgence scares the life out of me, but I do have a responsibility not to waste words.
There is a famous author whose famous line penned from first-person perspective reinforces the power of an individual response with its poignancy rarely more relatable than during recent weeks.
"It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived." wrote Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird.
In recent weeks, acts of bravery have dominated our news feeds along with a deplorable act of bastardry with the unjust declaration of war on Ukraine by Russia.
Read MoreThere is a Tasmanian belief that when you capture a brushtail possum, you must take it across a river to prevent return.
And not just any Tasmanian river. Preferably a wide, voluminous, continuously flowing river which naturally creates an element of apprehension whilst also reducing the chances of rekindling the sweet, sweet smells of home.
Old world beliefs are more commonly attributed to ancient peoples such as the Celts, but these stories often make their way into far more modern takes.
Read MoreTasmanians head to music concerts and art galleries and sporting events trying to escape conflict and confrontation. However, and inevitably, we are followed and stalked by discussion and debate. From festivals to AFL games to community events, we ask each other opinions on the latest announcement, conflict, or decision because these matters occupy the mainstream and social media.
For years, Tasmanian colonial art was defined by landscape paintings, literature describing landscapes, and song lyrics about landscapes. But then came Mona and we opened our eyes to provocative and outrageous art that, although we may not like, makes us think.
Read MoreDairy cows are interesting but not worthy of a photo unless your number plate gives away your hometown and you are visiting from "The Education State", "Sunshine State", or "The Nation's Capital".
The cows, determined to "Explore the possibilities", are just as relaxed as Tasmanians in general.
But when interstate tourists take family selfies with Holstein Friesian heifers in the background you know that some things are getting back to quirky normal.
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