Many photographs of Gang-gang cockatoos have alighted (and we use that word advisedly) on this column during this columnist's critically-acclaimed curatorship.
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But now, in this momentous year of the Gang-gang Survey, it is time to think of the ACT's faunal emblem as seen by artists. Here to get that process under way is a lovely celebration of the male of the species by Chloe Davis, aged nine, of North Ainslie Primary School.
And on Friday and at Chloe's school there was the launch of Imagining Gang-gangs, a student art competition and exhibition. Kathy Eyles of the Canberra Ornithologists Group's Gang-gang Survey explains that "the aim of this exciting project is to engage kids to explore and learn more about the Gang-gang, the ACT’s faunal emblem, and imagine the Gang-gang using the art medium of their choice.
"An exhibition of student artworks will be held to coincide with the Gang-gang Survey Muster Count in November 2014. Bank mecu is supporting the project by providing $500 towards awards to a junior and senior student entry chosen by popular vote at the exhibition in November."
North Ainslie Primary was a noble choice for the launch because, as the school's Principal Louise Evans rejoiced: "The Gang-gang is our school emblem and part of our school’s identity. This project encourages students to be both curious and creative which fits perfectly with the inquiry approach to learning at our school.”
And Ainslie was doubly appropriate, Kathy Eyles points out, because "Ainslie is one of the top suburbs for Gang-gang sightings so far in the survey.
"And school families can join the Gang-gang survey by participating in the ‘Muster’ count week from 21 to 27 August. Choose a spot you spend time most days of the week, like your home garden, and record whether you see or hear any Gang-gangs, or not. Even if you don’t see any birds, these reports [because the survey is trying to find out where Gang-gangs are and also where they aren't ] are really important for the survey,” Ms Eyles said.
Meanwhile at Campbell High School (in yet another part of Canberra blessed with lots of Gang-gang sightings) ceramics classes are working towards producing artworks based on the Gang-gang. There are reliable rumours, too, of a Gang-gang poetry competition to be held in this survey year. We know that this column's sometimes potty-mouthed friend Coolio the hip-hop legend is excited by this news and is already at work on a shocking but stimulating Gang-gang rap lyric.
Information about the Imagining Gang-gangs student art competition and the August Muster Survey count can be found at COG's http://canberrabirds.org.au/observing-birds/gang-gang-survey/
Team of mystery
Of course the Canberra sporting team on all our minds and in all our hearts at the moment is the CBR Brave team of ice-hockey virtuosos. They have got to the finals in Melbourne and your columnist, with scarce and priceless tickets, is counting the sleeps!
But here, while we're team-minded, is an ACT football team of 1924 that perhaps in its day generated some of the same sorts of delirium in its fans the Brave are generating today. For, much as our Prime Minister wants us to think of the whole nation as "Team Australia" (no doubt with him as its revered Wayne Bennett or Ron Barassi) most of us need a smaller, family-sized team for the proper focus of our fanatical affections.
But this 1924 side is a mystery team and super-productive book-producing Canberra historian Alan Foskett (Canberra sporting history is one of his specialties) wonders if readers can demystify it for him. What team is this? What does the W on the ball stand for? Who are the players showing off their manly legs? Do you recognise a rello among them (hopefully not one of those with a scary face)? Who are the besuited, fob-watch-wearing gents bookending the players?
Alan Foskett is at work on yet another sporting history and has been given this photo as part of a swag of olde items relating to his subject. But what little is written on the back of the ancient snap contradicts what's in the picture.
Can you help smooth out the furrows on the historian's brow? Any information sent to this column will be frisbeed on to him.
Machiavelli in a kilt
Dean Frenkel's essay Don't Nobody Say Nuthin' (Times2, August 1) in part about the modern inability of Australians (especially in the media and in politcs) to meet the intellectual challenge of pronouncing every syllable in a word, has got lots of you sending in your own favourite examples.
One that always gives me joy (for I am half Scottish) is the way ABC radio news and current affairs folk like to refer to Machiavelli and the Machiavellian (handy words when discussing political skullduggery), but alas can only get their dull minds and clumsy tongues to manage "McAvelli" and "McAvellyun". This makes the great Florentine Italian (1469-1527) sound like a son of Scotland.
