Attack by angry koala
Local Maritime Board officer Max Morgan was led to believe koalas were quiet, timid creatures until he tried to rescue one on Thursday morning.
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The koala had ambled up the footpath past the pilot station and climbed a small pine tree on the headland.
It was not until the officer was hanging precariously from the top of the 12-foot tree, which was bending over in alarming fashion he learnt about its sharp, one inch claws.
A savage fight ensued with Mr Morgan nearly falling out of the tree, before he managed to wrap his shirt around the “bear”. A friend came to the rescue with a sugar bag and the koala was carted off, still fighting wildly in the sack, to the koala reserve in Lord Street.
When it was released, the koala galloped up the nearest tree, where it looked down with disdain on its captors. Mr. Morgan, a sadder but wiser man, is still nursing his wounds.
Courtesy maids
Pam and Colleen Fowler, daughters of the Bert Fowlers, have been appointed Courtesy Maids to assist tourists over the next six weeks. They start work today, and no doubt will be a familiar sight in the shopping areas over the holiday period.
A third girl is available and could be appointed should there be sufficient response from the business people. Chamber of Commerce officials are hopeful that, to save a lot of canvassing, business houses will make a contribution of $2 a week and send in their cheque for $12 for the six weeks period.
Minute altered
At Tuesday night’s council meeting Ald C. Thurling said he emphatically asked no personalities be mentioned in council’s press statement regarding the sewerage scheme.
He said despite this request, the names of two prominent citizens were mentioned in the statement.
Aldermen Thurling and Matesich successfully moved for the minute to be altered to include this stipulation; further that an apology, to the two persons referred to, be inserted in the press under the signature of the town clerk.
[In Port News of December 5, the town clerk said the statement had been prepared at the direction of council by the engineer and health surveyor to repudiate statements made by J. L. Kenny, MLC, and Mr Peter Vaggelas, in connection with council’s sewerage system].
In bringing forward his objection to the statement as it appeared in the newspaper on December 5, Ald Thurling said the mayor knew the condition of “no personalities” had been made.
Ald Thurling said the engineer was on leave when the matter came before council on November 26, and may not have been told no names were to be mentioned.
Supporting Ald Thurling, Ald Matesich said he seconded the motion to issue the statement but he took strong exception to the statement as published.
He said the letter was used to smear two citizens for political gain and there could be legal repercussions. Ald Matesich said he now knew why he had been stopped when he wanted to record on tape what he had to say in council.