THE NIGHT came alive with the sound of booing at NSW Parliament House on the occasion of the 19th annual Ernie Awards. These gongs are bestowed upon those said to be guilty of sexism. Among the favourites for the Gold Ernie were Kyle Sandilands for saying of Clover Moore, ''Let's face it, this woman's 80... Go to the retirement village you old clown''; the Dalai Lama for assuming Australia's Prime Minister was a man, ''I have nothing to ask him ... there's no point to seek advice from him''; and Christopher Pyne for calling Julia Gillard a ''harridan'' in Parliament. The Ernies are awarded in the categories of political, industrial, judicial, media, sport (the ''Warney'') and celebrity/clerical (the ''Fred''). Tony Abbott won the political ernie for telling Julia Gillard to make an ''honest woman'' of herself and standing in front of ''Bob's Bitch'' and ''Ditch the Witch'' signs at an anti-carbon tax rally. Ex St Kilda, Sydney and Hawthorn ruckman Peter ''Spider'' Everett won the ''Warney'' for his comment about women going home with football players. Spider allegedly tweeted "Girls!! When will you learn! At 3am when you are blind drunk & you decide to go home with a guy ITS NOT FOR A CUP OF MILO!" The overall winner of the Gold Ernie was still unknown as The Canberra Times went to press, but thanks to the joys of the internet we can now confirm it went to News Ltd columnist Andrew Bolt.
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Generational irony
FORMER Canberra Times journalist and diehard republican Frank Cassidy found it ironic, but an honour all the same, that his granddaughter was among the children chosen to shake hands with Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Canberra. Cassidy is the convenor of the Australian Republican Movement and his granddaughter, Zoe Hetherington, 11, of Weetangera, is school captain at St Joseph's School in O'Connor. Cassidy understands that Zoe is among the two children selected from each of Canberra's primary schools who will line up and shake the monarch's hand. Cassidy said that granddaughter Zoe was thrilled and thought it was fantastic that she had been selected for this honour. He joked, ''I've given her leave to be a monarchist for the party. I've got to make sure the Queen doesn't convert her to republicanism.''
Challenge with bite
IF YOU'VE ever wanted to make like Steve Irwin and go about wrangling crocodiles - ''1000kg of pure man-eating muscle'', as the pitch goes - the ABC wants you. The producers of a new documentary series, Croc College, to be aired on ABC1 need men and women willing to tackle ''the most nail-biting'' training course on offer in Australia. The show is to be a six-part factual series showing chosen candidates on a five-week course that teaches them how to manage a saltwater croc. Queensland croc legend and breeder John Lever will lead the course that aims to equip those taking part with enough know-how to work in the crocodile industry. Topics covered will include how to restrain large crocs; how to safely raid nests and remove eggs; how to treat sick and injured crocs and how to interpret croc behaviour. Applicants for the gig can come from all walks of life but must be keen on a new challenge. Applications close on December 2. Those interested in a challenge with real bite should access www.ab .net.au/tv/programs/croccollege.htm.
Help for homeless
WANTED: Big-hearted locals willing to hand over a spare sleeping bag, blanket, toothbrush or any essential item to Canberra's poorest people. It's Anti-Poverty Week and nights in the capital are still cold. If you've got something to give, add it to the pile in the ANU student space any time in the next few weeks. Red Cross Youth Action committee spokeswoman Rohana Prince said the plan was to gather donated goodies and give them to Road House, a Red Cross-affiliated place of support for the homeless. Surplus items could go to the disadvantaged of Canberra, or a youth action committee in Sydney. ''Given the weather in the ACT, it's important people have something keeping them warm when they sleep on the streets,'' Prince said. ''We thought it would be good to alert the ACT to the problem of homelessness - we don't often see them in the streets. It's a less obvious problem but it's still there.''
