Mister Brisbane: 'Tis the season
Olympics, sign language, St Lucia memories, showbiz and the murder that may not have been
An acquaintance who has a reputation for being standoffish has recently adorned his front yard with Christmas lights and other seasonal paraphernalia. This seems out of character, and I can’t help but wonder about his motivation. Is this a genuine expression of his beliefs? Is it some sort of signal to the rest of us that he’s not such a bad bloke after all? Or is it that he just feels obliged to join in the “Christmas spirit”?
I don’t know the answer and it’s probably none of my business. But I do know that a lot of people are doing it tough, financially and emotionally, at this time of year. It’s worth remembering that not everyone approaches the festive season with gleeful expectation. Some have a sense of dread because it can be a very lonely time of year. I’m not suggesting that you try to jolly someone up, because that’s the last thing they may want or need. But I am suggesting that you try to be thoughtful, understanding and kind — and not just at this time of year.
Join Brett Debritz and Spencer Howson for the Mister Brisbane show on Reading Radio at 1296AM or DAB+ on Tuesdays at 6.30pm and repeated at various times through the week. It is also available as a podcast on popular platforms including Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts, and via Podnews.
GAMES WE PLAY
The decision to make breakdancing an Olympic sport at Paris in 2024 really got the internet fired up. Many people pointed out that breakdancing, which is supposed to help the Games appeal to the younger generation, has been around since the 1980s, so it’s hardly on the cutting edge. Many people suggested other sports that might be more worthy. Media personality Luke Bradnam noted on Twitter: “I’m happy for the breakdancing community that they’re now included in the Olympics but how are they added before Ironman distance triathlon or fishing?” Humour site The Shovel suggested reverse parallel parking, and another wit suggested air guitar.
On a more serious note, given the success of The Queen’s Gambit (below), one of the breakout streaming shows at the moment, how about chess? If that’s not considered “sporty” enough, then why not the hybrid game of chess boxing? Yes, it is a thing, and it involves contestants having a round in the ring followed by a bout of chess. Perhaps this is something those in charge of Queensland’s 2032 bid could consider. Or maybe there’s something with a more authentic Australian flavour. Croc catching or ’roo wrestling anyone?
LOST MEMORIES
Over on LinkedIn, my alma mater, the University of Queensland, has been asking graduates to name their favourite places on campus. So I started listing in my mind all the places that were dear to me during my undergraduate days — and realised that none of them are there any more. They included the Government Students’ Common Room, where I drank a lot of coffee, played cards and discussed matters of great importance, and the Students’ Recreation Club, where I drank beer, played drinking games and discussed matters of less importance. I also miss the Cement Box theatre, where I saw some wonderful plays and bands, and the Creperie (they had the best nachos ever) and Biological Sciences Library refectory, which have been replaced by brand-name eateries.
So, basically, an exercise that was supposed to make me feel nostalgic in a good way, has made me a little sad. Time marches on, I know, but change is not always improvement. I’m sure many of the current uni students have their happy places. My advice is to enjoy those places while they can.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
I took this picture about a fortnight ago at a level crossing in suburban Brisbane. This sign, or variations on it, appears at railway crossings across the country, yet there is something quite wrong about it. The kind of train depicted here hasn’t run on scheduled services for half a century. And yet the silhouette of a steam-train is still almost-universally understood. It’s probably what most of us would draw if we were asked to depict a train — and that would even apply to many children who have never seen a steam train in real life.
Similarly, many kids in Brisbane will draw a house with a chimney even though most houses here don’t have chimneys. I read somewhere once — and, of course, I can’t find it on the internet, so there’s a chance I made it up — that is has something to do with the way our brains are wired. Are there other examples of us depicting things differently to the way they really are? In this context, I’m reminded of the signs pointing to the toilets at Copenhagen railway station. Rather than the usual straight up and down stick figures, they show people who are obviously busting to use the facilities.
MAYNE LINE
I received an informative email from Peter regarding the Mayne estate and Rosamond Siemon’s book The Mayne Inheritance, which I mentioned in last week’s newsletter. He says his research suggests, contrary to assertions in the book, that Patrick Mayne was not guilty of murder of a man named Robert Cox to gain the money that set him on the path to great wealth.
Peter notes that “1865 newspaper reports about his [Mayne’s] funeral demonstrate that he was popular in the community … it appears he didn’t commit the murder of Cox, and he didn’t need a large sum of money to set up in business, as he was a tenant rather than purchaser of his first shop (in Queen Street). My theory is that the rumours about him resulted from sectarian jealousy — Brisbane was a largely Protestant society, until thousands of working-class Irish Catholics arrived in the 1860s, sponsored by Bishop James Quinn … and Paddy Mayne was probably despised as a parvenu.”
For those, like me, who were wondering about that last word, a parvenu is, according to Oxford, “a person of humble origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity”.
MEANWHILE
If you think art galleries aren’t for you, a visit to GOMA may change your mind — especially during the exhibition The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire exhibition that’s on until April 21. The gallery will also be screening some classic motorcycling movies, including Easy Rider (above), The Wild One, Scorpio Rising and Akira.
The cast has been announced for Shrek the Musical at QPAC. It includes Ben Mingay, Lucy Durack, Todd McKenney, Marcia Hines and Nat Jobe. The show runs at the Lyric Theatre Jan 9-Feb 7. Book here.
Mini-golf “experience” Pixar Putt, inspired by kids’ movies including Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Inside Out, Wall-E and The Good Dinosaur, is returning to Brisbane from December 31. Tickets are on sale here.
Is Drummer Queens the next Stomp? Find out when the world-premiere season of this high-energy percussion shakes the stage at QPAC from May 11-16. Details here.
Fancy dancing your way into 2021? You can buy tickets for the Queensland Ballet’s season here. If opera is more your style, you can sign up for the Opera Queensland season here. Don’t forget that arts subscriptions make great late Christmas presents!
The Blues on Broadbeach line-up has been announced, and headliners include Christine Anu, the Black Seeds and Tommy Emmanuel. It’s on from May 20-23, and details are here.
FEEDBACK
The item about Bernie Power and Brisbane beers prompted Janelle to remember how, for some reason, her husband* bought Power to visit her in hospital after she gave birth to her first child in 2004. She tweeted: “Totally random it was.”
(*Update: seems I got this wrong, and it was her obstetrician not her husband. Which perhaps makes things even weirder.)
Scott, who like me received a Power’s drinking certificate during the pre-launch drinks at Yatala, complained that they misspelled his surname.
And Adrian pointed out that CUB still produces a Power’s Gold product, which is available at some retailers.
Meanwhile, Joan said she remembered the Rendezvous tea rooms very well. “The father of one of my school friends was a spiritualist and he ‘worked’ at a few of the tea rooms around Brisbane. He did tell me some ‘true-ish’ things from time to time, but then he did have inside information. I don’t recall any of the others getting much right though. I think we went more for the tea and scones.”
And there was a comment about last week’s podcast from Sue. “Took me back in time. Very enjoyable.” She also said that she had binged-listened to all 17 Mister Brisbane podcasts while cooking. Wow.
P.S.
I really do hate to say I told you so, especially on this issue, but a few weeks ago in this edition I shared my thoughts about why the NRL and other football codes should take head injuries more seriously. Last week came news rugby union officials are facing major legal action from former players who suffered concussions on the field. I reckon it’s past time to change the rules of engagement in all body-contact sports — and for certain media pundits to take the matter seriously. .