In a recent column in the Sydney Morning Herald, various readers shared their thoughts on a range of topics. Sue Dowd of Norwest commented on Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, scoring his first hole-in-one, noting that he is following in his father’s footsteps. Stephanie Edwards of Leichhardt discussed the Australian men’s cricket team’s need for an all-rounder to replace Mitch Marsh, suggesting Annabel Sutherland would be a good fit. Owen Fisher of Rose Bay shared a humorous anecdote about owning a palindromic car – a Toyota.
Bob Doepel of Greenway questioned why the word “abbreviation” is so long, given its meaning. Turning to historical events, Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook shared a story about former Column 8 editor George Richards hosting prime minister Gough Whitlam’s media staff at his home during the Cyclone Tracy disaster in Darwin. Whitlam’s speech promising to rebuild Darwin was reportedly drafted on Richard’s dining room table. David Rose of Nollamara provided information on the origin of the term “trafficator,” used for the signal arm indicating a car’s turn.
John McCartney of Mount Coolum recalled a feature of the VW Beetle that had a foot-operated lever to switch to the reserve fuel tank. Mike Fogarty of Weston reflected on the challenges of landing planes safely, mentioning a recent incident in Norway where a Boeing 737 overran the runway. He also shared his experience landing at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak airport in 1987, where he observed children doing homework in apartment buildings during the approach. Ian McNeilly of Darlinghurst referenced American comedian Steven Wright’s quip about buying batteries that weren’t included.
Overall, the column featured a mix of light-hearted anecdotes, musings on language and historical trivia. Readers shared their observations on everyday occurrences, such as sports achievements, vehicle features, and linguistic oddities. The anecdotes provided a glimpse into the diverse interests and perspectives of the readers, spanning topics from sports and history to aviation and humor. The column served as a platform for readers to share their thoughts and observations with others, creating a sense of community and connection among readers.
