I haven't lived in Wollongong for over fifty years but I still react when a newspaper headline alerts me to a story about The Gong. Today, it was about magpies, my favourite bird. I love their songs and their attitude. Poets have written poems about them and they have a special place in the Australia psyche.
But what if you're an elite cyclist taking part in the UCI Road World Championships, which is being held this year in Wollongong? What do you do if you're faced with a sign that says "Birds swooping! Dismount and walk your bike through this area. Birds are nesting in this area."
The finishing line for the race is right near the sign and, as the report said, "magpies have been causing chaos for the world's best cyclists."
What is this doing for Australia's image as a sporting nation? Can we afford for our status to be diminished by a handful of black and white saboteurs? Of course, any mug could have told the organisers that magpies are known to swoop on passers-by in nesting season. Every year, the tabloid newspapers indulge in stories about terrorised school-children and bicycle messengers. There are images of the creative ways that kids find to deal with the menace: elaborate hats, umbrellas with eyes on them and so on.
Somebody might have warned the organisers of the race that Lang Park is almost enemy territory in September. The Council wouldn't have expended money on a sign if it wasn't a problem. We're a laughing stock! I can just see sports organisers around the world sniggering into their morning coffee about the ineptitude of Australia Cycle Event organisers. It will take years to live down this disgrace.
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