My first week in newspapers

My first week in newspapers

By Warren Nunn The first week of July 1972 is deeply etched into my memory mostly because that is when I started in newspaper journalism at the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. July 1 was a Saturday and I was groomsman at my sister Denise’s wedding to Mel Morgan at...

Ayers Rock ownership exposed

Published in Gympie Times newspaper, 19 Apr 1986, p. 11. There could be some ducking and diving for cover by the Federal Government over the contents of a book about Ayers Rock, written by local author Peter B. English. “Storm Over Uluru – The Greatest...
See you in Eternity, my beloved friend

See you in Eternity, my beloved friend

By Warren Nunn Me: Goodbye my friend. John: Goodbye Warren. Hooroo. Me: I love you John. John: I love you too Warren. Bye. These are the last statements of my final conversation with John Watson, my friend of 47-plus years. He passed from this life on Thursday, 15...

Willingly wilful

And with wacky words – The Flintshire Observer, 1 May, 1857: “IN DYING, HE REMEMBERED HIS FRIENDS.”- Dr. William Dunlop, of Western Canada, left behind him an eccentric will. His silver tankard he bequeathed “to the eldest son of old...
A world awash in eucalyptus oil

A world awash in eucalyptus oil

By Warren Nunn A world-renowned, gold-medal-winning product made from lemon-scented eucalyptus leaves was once manufactured on the Capricorn Coast. For anyone who’s stopped at a small picnic area on Coorooman Creek Road, just off the Emu Park-Rockhampton road, there’s...
Creative Coast councillor’s bottling idea

Creative Coast councillor’s bottling idea

By Warren Nunn Beer brewed on Coorooman Creek near Emu Park by a Livingstone Shire Councillor. No, it’s not a planned new project, but rather it was a less-than-successful business that operated 100-plus years ago. It was one of many ventures of a man named...

Yes, it really did snow in Central Queensland

By Warren Nunn Chafed lips and knuckles that cracked and bled. That was what some of us experienced growing up in Central Queensland during the 1960s. July 1965 was particularly frigid with light snow falling in the Springsure area and around Mackay as well. Fast...

50 years a journalist

By Warren Nunn Monday, 3 July 1972 was the day I started in journalism. Just a few weeks short of my 18th birthday I walked into the newsroom of the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin newspaper and took the first steps on what has been an interesting and challenging...

And the Oscar for violence begets violence goes to … Hollywood!

By Warren Nunn Violence begets violence. No surprise there. The 2022 Oscars event will be clearly remembered for a violent act of anger and revenge. When actor Will Smith slapped comedian/actor Chris Rock for a joke about Smith’s wife, Hollywood and pundits all...

It was me, said Paddy

A nip of rum too many – Bell’s New Weekly Messenger 04 April 1847: A BAREFACED THIEF.-An Irish lumper (docker), named Thomas Maguire, was brought up before the Liverpool police Magistrate on Saturday, under the following circumstances:- The prisoner, with...

Remembering The Creek, Brisbane’s quirky sand racetrack

By Warren Nunn (first published 14 February 2022. Updated November 2023 to correct Andy Tindall information) The Creek, Brisbane’s now-defunct Albion Park racecourse, holds special memories for many horse-racing enthusiasts of a certain age. Known as “The...

There’s a slow train comin’

By Warren Nunn Speed’s the thing, the headline read. It’s 1943, the world is wrestling with the turmoil that comes with global conflict. Only those who lived through that time can know what speed meant to everyone almost 80 years ago. Train travel ruled....

Saying goodbye to a precious friend

By Warren Nunn A tree is best measured when it’s down. Simple enough analogy isn’t it? But is it adequate enough when it comes to saying something about a dear friend you’ve known, loved, and respected for 40-plus years? Suzy Watson wasn’t into...