It was only a photo similar to the wikipedia one below on Nothing To Do With Arbroath [^] that reminded me about Lake Wendouree.
Lake Wendouree [^] was one of the stand out attractions in Ballarat for Ballarat people. The problem is that despite the name, the lake [^] is dry and has been almost completely bone-dry since October 2006 – two and half years ago.
To add insult to injured pride the “lake” experienced several fires over summer (Ballarat’s Courier Newspaper [^] and The ABC [^]). All of this got overshadowed by the outbreak of the more serious Victorian Bushfires in February. If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.
It is sad to hear that the lake has suffered such indignities. I spent a good few afternoons wandering around Lake Wendouree while I was in Ballarat. And there may have been the odd late-night ramble past it on the way home from a night out on the town. Let’s hope that the lake is soon returned to it’s former glory.
Toilet Paper Canned
This is one of those story’s that you wouldn’t believe unless it came from a good source. The ABC, Australia’s national broadcaster, has run a story about a school that has pulled the toilet paper [^] out of the toilet blocks.
The school in question is Glossop High School’s middle campus, in South Australia’s Riverland. Apparently the decision is a temporary response to a spate of vandalism. “Dunny dockets” are still available on request from members of staff, but who would want to ask?.
This reminds me of the series of skits on the comedy show Fast Forward (click on photo above for the skit on youtube) by Magda Szubanski that parodied a Sorbent Toilet Paper ad. The parodies were so successful that the comedienne ended-up starring in her own TV ad for Sorbent [^].