Sightings over three airbases in East Anglia could relate to foreign powers’ concerns about possible nuclear weaponsCould it be true that the antics of giant mud crabs once undermined attempts to build a permanent road for farmers at Bobs Farm, in Port Stephens? Login or signup to continue reading Well, yes. So, in 2024, for his fifth and latest local history book, fishing guru John 'Stinker' Clarke writes about a most unusual subject - building a humble road beside a tidal creek and the pioneering families who lived nearby. This Marsh Road, often now bypassed by travellers, was actually once the main route to Nelson Bay when finally completed through swamp land about 100 years ago. Today, the 10-kilometre stretch of still often bumpy bitumen runs beside mangroves and Tilligerry Creek. It leaves Nelson Bay Road at Salt Ash to go through Bobs Farm, then re-joins the road going towards Anna Bay. However, since the start of World War II, a modern highway has cut through sandhills to the immediate west and bypasses the historic, original road. Many motorists may be familiar with it, saying: "it's the route to old Rose Farm (later barramundi farm) up there". The intriguing history of this first road to Port Stephens is now told in Clarke's 160-page book, Marsh Road - Mangroves, Mud Crabs, Roses and Tomatoes ($45 ). The initial "goat track" through the mangrove forest from Salt Ash to Bobs Farm was put down in 1913. Marsh Road was then finally constructed (with difficulty) by road-builder Robert McCrae between 1924 and 1926. "McRae's Contract Road" has had five names, with many more unprintable, over the decades. Despite ongoing maintenance on the road, most motorists still regard parts of its patched-up surface as a shocker. It harks back to the 1920s when the road, with a boggy, unstable base affected by tides, often got worse because of the damage caused by mud crabs. As author John Clarke explains: "The mangroves, which thrive in the rich mud that fringes the Tilligerry waterway, provide the perfect habitat for the crabs and the population of 'muddies' boomed". Unbelievably, early on, no one caught or ate mud crabs, or had any appetite for squid or octopus, either. That came much later with migrant arrivals. In the 1920s, the crabs were regarded as a huge nuisance, a pest, especially by fishermen, he said. Hundreds, probably thousands, of mud crabs, with their big pincers, cut into the peat, soil and decaying vegetation beneath the early road, forever undermining it. Mud crabs also continued to burrow under the racks of local oyster farmers, their jetties and work sheds "causing the structures to destabilise or collapse into the mud". It was an alarming problem. The crabs would also tangle and tear the nets of Tilligerry Creek fishermen. Their response was to simply crush this future prize delicacy with a "stomper" and toss their remains into the nearby bush or back into the water for the fish to eat. The skyrocketing mud crab population then also impeded the construction and ongoing maintenance of Marsh Road. "Muddies, growing to an impressive 3kg, built their homes by burrowing into the footings of Marsh Road causing the road to slump and form dips in the surface," Clarke said. "Efforts have been made over the years to prevent the burrowing of the crabs, to little avail, as they continue to dig away, albeit in less numbers." Clarke recalls coming across Marsh Road when he first arrived in Port Stephens in 1974 with a memory of hitting his head on the roof of his Mini Minor as he travelled too fast along the road dodging potholes. He said older residents could also still recall when logs were placed over sand in the swamp, and how graders working to upgrade Marsh Road, even in the 1960s, had difficulties because of its soft base and the changing tides. But he never thought he'd write a book about it. Three years later, his interviews with older residents are in print. Clarke said he was spurred on by the road itself, which was a character. He was also captivated by the rugged individuals he found in Bobs Farm who had endured such a tough life. "Writing Marsh Road has been a step back in time. A wonderful era in our history when communities were tightly bonded and there was a real pride in saying, 'I come from Bobs Farm'," he writes. Clarke's book pays homage to about 50 pioneering families, from the Uptons, to the Blanches, the Cromarty, Dalton and West families. Other names include Holliday, Kafer, Maslen, Bright, Anderson, Kerslake, George, Thompson and Sheppard. At first glance, much of Clarke's book seems to be simply memories of hardy settlers around Bobs Farm battling floods, heartbreak, wartime loss, depression, poverty and sadness, but it is more than that. He writes admiringly of how early families ingeniously turned back the tide literally by digging canals, drains and levee banks to create fertile farmland in rich, alluvial soil. At one stage, there were 50-60 dairy farms and market gardens in the district. It was the food bowl for the region. Then there was Marsh Road's once impressive Rose Farm (1971-1989), which was a major Hunter tourist attraction with a restaurant seating around 300. In 1985, the venture attracted 250,000 visitors. The brainchild of Peter Holliday, the farm had about 80,000 roses and, at the height of the growing season, up to 1000 bunches would be picked daily, processed and transported to Sydney. But the 45-hectare farm was famous for something else. As Newcastle Herald business editor John Lewis wrote in 1985: "Bulgaria and Bobs Farm are the only two places in the world where the avid jam-eater can buy rose petal jam". This popular product was later exported to Hong Kong. In 1981, the site became the first major commercial flower farm in Australia to cater for tourists. One innovation was a two-hectare glasshouse from the Netherlands, which contained 220,000 rose bushes growing in a computer-controlled environment. In 1991, it was sold to a Melbourne company, which dismantled it and relocated the entire structure to Victoria. Then there's the story of the wreck of the coastal trader S.S. Uralla, stranded on the beach at nearby Morna Point in 1928 in a wild storm. No lives were lost, but the wreck provided much-needed salvage work for local men who had lost their crops in bad weather. Finally, there's the most extraordinary - and unknown - story of them all from wartime Bobs Farm. Clarke writes of Bobs Farm resident Des Holliday recalling hearing of the landing of Japanese enemy soldiers at a time when Australia, Newcastle especially, feared an invasion. "In 1942, five Japanese soldiers came ashore somewhere in Anna Bay, most likely on Stockton beach, having been dropped by an offshore submarine" Holliday recounted. "First detected by the 41st Battalion Guards, two of the Japanese were shot and dragged away by the other three. The Japanese were later sighted at Salt Ash heading towards Newcastle. "Although the enemy soldiers could not be found, a stash of their equipment, including bayonets, rifles and helmets was found under a bush at the back of the Salt Ash School." There were no further sightings or reports of the Japanese soldiers. However, Clarke said a strange event occurred in the 1960s when four Australian military men arrived unannounced at Gordon Holliday's house on Marsh Road. "We need to know where these Japanese soldiers are buried so that we can repatriate their remains," was the request. Gordon took the officers around Bobs Farm to meet all the old locals. No one knew where the soldiers were buried, but all agreed they had seen them. Clarke adds that the war years were exciting in a strange way. A bomb once fell from an aircraft and landed on tennis courts at Bobs Farm. In those days, it wasn't uncommon for bombs to accidentally drop out of the sky. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who fell ill while visiting his native village in Satara district, is recuperating and will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, according to an associate. Shinde developed high fever and throat infection on Saturday and was treated with medication and IV therapy, his family doctor R M Parte reported. Speculations circulate over his discontent with the formation of the state government. Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Mahayuti government prepares for an oath-taking ceremony on December 5 at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to attend. A new chief minister is yet to be declared amidst intra-party negotiations. (With inputs from agencies.)Lower Columbia College def. Pacific University JV, 71-46 - Amir Locus — 12 points - Keshawn Lewis — 11 points - LCC .481 FG % - LCC .375 3-PT % Peninsula College def. Lower Columbia College, 69-54 - Lisa Lorenz Conrotto — 15 points - Karlee Vonmoos — 14 points - LCC .444 3-PT % Sent weekly directly to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
When the snow is falling and hot chocolate is piping, few activities are more refreshing and relaxing than plopping down on the couch and turning on the television. Some will watch live Christmas events from Rockefeller Center, while others will tune into a bowl game. But if you’re of a certain age, you clearly remember the excitement when Nickelodeon began to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials. From Kenan & Kel in the 1990s to Danny Phantom in the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks that have consistently rolled out classic holiday specials. While Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the ranking of its best holiday season episodes is and will always be hotly contested. Not to start a debate at the holiday dinner table, but here are the 10 best classic Nickelodeon holiday specials. Show: Keenan & Kel Air Date: December 14, 1996 Kel ( Kel Mitchell ) loves orange soda and Kenan ( Kenan Thompson ) loves Christmas. He spends the entire year saving money to buy a new bike and takes an extra job as Santa at the mall to help get the last few dollars he needs. However, his plans are derailed when he comes across a brother and sister who dream of a great Christmas filled with presents that their mother can’t afford. In a selfless mood, Kenan uses the money he makes as Santa to surprise the kids and their mom with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he wanted, but he knows he did the right thing and Santa rewards him with a bike of his own. As with many Nickelodeon holiday specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the importance of family, friends, community, and giving throughout the holiday season. Show: Invader Zim Air Date: December 10, 2002 Name two more idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim ( Richard Steven Horvitz ) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. While I wait, also figure out why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane ( Rodger Bumpass ), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes center stage when Zim learns about the lure of Santa, kidnaps a man dressed up in a Santa suit and drains his brain. Normal holiday festivities, right? Once Zim drains the man’s brain and learns more about the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to build a Santa suit and convince all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their undying devotion too. For the most part, it works and Zim is close to bringing all of human kind to the Tallest in order to extend his rule. However, Dib intervenes and garners the support of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim before he’s able to fully takeover. Overall, it’s a pretty weird storyline for a kid’s show during the holiday season, but Invader Zim is at its best when it’s weird. Show: Rocko’s Modern Life Air Date: December 1, 1994 Rocko ( Carlos Alazraqui ) is a better person than most because his grace throughout this Christmas special is unmatched. For nearly the entire episode, Rocko works to put together beautiful holiday decorations and host a lovely holiday party. Instead, his friends treat him poorly, other characters bully him, and no one except a magic elf shows up to his party. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall around Rocko’s house and Rocko’s house only. When the blizzard leaves a perfect amount of snow and holiday cheer around his house, Rocko’s friends show up at his front door to apologize and make the most of the holiday party. Rocko, being the kind soul he is, lets them in and thanks them for coming. Show: iCarly Air Date: December 13, 2008 Timmy Turner ( Tara Strong ) isn’t the only character in the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their dreams come true during the holiday season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer ( Jerry Trainor ), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that sets fire to holiday gifts, Carly ( Miranda Cosgrove ) wishes that her brother was a bit more normal. However, things aren’t as great as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer becomes a “normal” lawyer dating Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) while Freddie ( Nathan Kress ) no longer has a crush on Carly, and Sam ( Jennette McCurdy ) is in a juvenile detention center. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie were never friends in this alternate universe and never launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the end because Carly realizes what we’ve always known: her life is pretty great as is. Show: As Told by Ginger Air Date: December 10, 2001 As Told by Ginger is one of the most underrated series in the Nickelodeon catalog for various reasons, including its humor and ability to reach both young and older audiences. Case in point, the show’s “Even Steven” holiday special is immaculate. In the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and immediately pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah happens so quickly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) because Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas party and hosts her own instead. Splitting the room down the middle, half of Ginger’s party is devoted to celebrating Hanukkah, and the other half is adorned with Christmas decorations. 11 Musicians Poised for Talk Show Success Like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson & Fat Joe Meanwhile, Hoodsie ( Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to give him rhythm for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. He genuinely asked Santa for rhythm, the ability to dance on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not only makes fun of him, but also declares that Santa isn’t real. As a result, Carl spends the remainder of the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real. Through this effort, he learns that Carl is not a fan of the holiday season because he routinely asked Santa to bring his father home for Christmas as a kid, and his dad rarely stopped by on the holidays. With this information, Hoodsie runs up to a man dressed as Santa on the street and asks him to bring Hoodsie’s Dad home for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the man dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad. In the end, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and while they’re talking in the driveway, a fire starts inside as Ginger is hosting her holiday party. Carl’s dad runs in, puts out the fire, and saves the day, making Ginger realize that the most important part of the holidays is being surrounded by family and friends. And no, Carl does not get rhythm. Show: The Fairly OddParents Air Date: December 12, 2001 Clichés may be annoying, but they’ve stood the test of time for a reason. However, when an elder said, “Be careful what you wish for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. Instead, he had to learn the hard way when he told Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo ( Daran Norris ) that he’d like it to be Christmas every day. In his head, there’d never be school, and he’d get presents every time he woke up. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his parents can’t work, and the other holidays become envious of Santa Claus. As a result, Timmy must make a trip up to the North Pole all alone. Tough luck for a kid who can literally wish for whatever he wants every other day of the year already. Show: Drake & Josh Air Date: December 5, 2008 Give a little girl named Mary Alice the best Christmas ever, or go back to jail. That’s essentially the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake ( Drake Bell ) desperately wants to host a party on the rooftop of Josh’s workplace, Premier Theater. To the surprise of just about everyone, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the party as long as he volunteers to dress up as Santa for kids in the mall. Drake agrees, but things go haywire when a woman tries to kiss him, and he runs away. While hiding, he runs into a little girl named Mary Alice ( Bailee Madison ) and promises to give her the best Christmas ever. Drake finishes his shift as Santa and gets to host the party after all, but it’s cut short when a few uninvited guests show up, and Josh ( Josh Peck ) calls the police. However, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh gets arrested. Being the good stepbrother he is, Drake tries to break Josh out of jail. Unfortunately, Drake gets arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to speak to a judge, they explain that they need to get out to fulfill Drake’s promises to Mary Alice. The judge releases them, but warns that they will be brought back if they do not give Mary Alice the best Christmas ever. No pressure, right? Show: Rugrats Air Date: December 6, 1992 It may not seem like it, but there is not much of a difference between The Boondocks ‘ Huey Freeman ( Regina King ) and the children of Rugrats . Huey chases Santa around the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” Meanwhile, Tommy ( Elizabeth Daily ), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting dangerous traps for Santa , so they can question him about his character. “The Santa Experience” kicks off at the mall where Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the line to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how much she needs a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. While Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall staff gave her a box of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t want them. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not Santa is a good person. You know, typical baby stuff, right? Tommy is convinced Santa is a great guy, while Chuckie is, of course, scared of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a bad guy. In the kitchen, the parents are having a relatable conversation about their challenges and struggles, trying to ensure each of their children has a good holiday season. Later, the kids and parents head north to celebrate Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy set up a booby trap to catch Santa. Much to their disappointment, the trap only manages to catch Stu ( Jack Riley ). Ultimately, everything turns out for the best as Santa just rings the front doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica gets her doll house, Chuckie determines Santa is a good person after all, and the Rugrats get the perfect Christmas. Show: SpongeBob SquarePants Air Date: December 6, 2000 If you ask most fans of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s closer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. However, “Christmas Who?” proves otherwise. Spongebob ( Tom Kenny ) visits Sandy ( Carolyn Lawrence ) and finds the proud Texan setting up Christmas decorations around her house. Instead of helping her, Spongebob freaks out because he thinks the lights and decorations have started a fire. It would be nearly impossible to start a fire that far underwater, but I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what happens on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with nearly everyone in Bikini Bottom. As a result, everyone but Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night caroling. When Santa doesn’t show up, everyone calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, including Squidward. However, Spongebob turns Squidward’s heart from coal to gold when he gives him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas so that he won’t go without a gift. In return, Squidward dresses up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who is delighted, and wishes him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all of the other citizens of Bikini Bottom spotting him and asking for gifts. Instead of ruining the charade, Squidward ends up giving away nearly everything in his home away as a gift. Thankfully, Squidward is rewarded when the real Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for helping keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Show: Hey Arnold! Air Date: December 11, 1996 “Arnold’s Christmas” is not only the best Nickelodeon late-year holiday special, but it’s arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The series revolves around Arnold (Toran Caudell) attempting to pull off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). Through this endeavor, much of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, including the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for more than 20 years. While Arnold and his best friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall short in their quest to find Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and gets Mai in touch with her father. Helga never gets the credit for creating this touching reunion, but she will always be remembered for being the driving force behind one of the most touching moments in Nickelodeon history. More Headlines: Saint Nick-Mas: 10 Best Nickelodeon Holiday Specials, Ranked Who Had the Best Holiday Movies of 2024? Hallmark vs. Lifetime vs. Netflix (POLL) ‘Squid Game’ Season 3: Everything We Know So Far ‘Shrinking’ Boss Breaks Down Finale’s Scary Louis Moment & What’s Ahead for Season 3 Wendy Williams Is ‘Sober’ & Wants to Go Home From Care Facility Says SonData Monetization Market to Reach $15.4 Billion by 2030, Unlocking New Revenue Streams-Allied Market Research
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NoneIn an official statement, the MEA stated that during his visit, EAM would meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to go on a three-day official visit to the State of Qatar from December 30, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on Sunday. In an official statement, the MEA stated that during his visit, EAM would meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The visit also aims to review various aspects of bilateral relations between India and Qatar with discussion on key areas, which include political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people relations. " EAM's visit will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations, including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people, as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest," the MEA stated. Jaishankar will depart from Qatar on January 1. India and Qatar share warm and friendly relations, marked by regular high-level interactions to further strengthen their partnership. Their most recent interaction occurred during Jaishankar's official tour to Qatar and Bahrain from December 6 to 9. During the visit, he met Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, and Minister of State, Ahmed Al Sayed, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. In late October, the two countries held the fifth round of Foreign Office Consultations. Both sides comprehensively reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Qatar bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, trade, investment, energy, education, culture, and people-to-people ties. Discussions also explored avenues to deepen the relationship in areas such as renewable energy, fintech, start-ups, and technology. They exchanged perspectives on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, as noted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release. Earlier, on September 9, Jaishankar met Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Saudi Arabia to discuss advancing bilateral ties. According to the MEA, cooperation between India and Qatar has been steadily growing within an excellent framework provided by their historically close ties and regular, substantive engagement at the highest levels of government. The large, diverse, and accomplished Indian community in Qatar significantly contributes to the country's progress while nurturing the bonds of deep-rooted friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.