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May 06
Edition

Pages in PDF

Regular
Features

› The Fat Lady
  Sings
  with JoAnn
   Pacholli

› Front Page
  Article

› In Tents Thawt
  with Mick Pacholli

› Sid's Comments
  with Sidney
  Somerville-Smith

› The Lie Detector
  with Mitchell
   Faircloth

› Fab's Ravings

› Technology
  with Chris Jacobs

› People's Views

› Are You
  Puzzled?
  with
  Narelle Stegehuis

› Family Issues
  with
  Marilyn Brideson

› Gallery Gazing

› Planet Clare

› Lovatts
  Crossword

› Social Scene
  with Ken James

› Live Theatre
  with Blair Edgar

› Movie Scene
  with
  Charlie Alexander

› Entertainment
  with Gary Turner

› Grazing in the
  Suburbs
  with Mick Pacholli

› Fab's Travel

› Talking Manure
  with Mick Pacholli

› Furry Friends
  with
  Dr Graeme Smith

› Racing
  with Ted Ryan

› Rant & Rave
  with
  Paddles Hackett

› Bowls
  with Mick Pacholli

› Motoring
  with Garry Fabian

› Short Cuts
  Writers
  Competition

› Competitions

Reader Feedback

It has been just over two years since I first started contributing my articles to metro news and the reader ‘Fan Mail’ - come feedback has been quite colourful at times.

When I first started writing these monthly articles I was the paper’s Business - Economics contributor and from there I broadened my topics and subject matter to incorporate social commentary, politics and my travel tales.

The Editor has given me a fairly broad range in which to work - progressive editorial policy or tight fiscal constraints? Most probably a cocktail of the two I imagine!

The following remarks are extracts from some of the more ‘memorable’ emails I’ve received from the paper’s readers.

• “I’m convinced that these are the ramblings of a deranged mind”

• “Un-Australian socialist nonsense”

• “After reading some of your travel escapades and misadventures, I’ve decided to cancel my future travel plans and stay at home”

• “Why don’t you go back to writing about the property market, at least people are interested in real estate?”

On the subject of un-Australian activity I witnessed an activity a few weeks ago which ‘should have raised alarm bells’, well if I was the sort of person who took the government’s national security media campaign seriously.

“Call the Anti Terrorist hot line if you see anything which could pose a danger or be a threat to national security.”

Well how about a group of teenage school boys from an Islamic school being instructed by a Parks Victoria ranger on the basics of camping and bush survival skills in a remote camping ground in the Grampians?

One of the teachers accompanying the boys had one of those Mufti like beards I might add. Is this the sort of suspicious activity those television commercials are suggesting may pose a risk to the nation?

I’m pleased to report that my ‘un-Australian’ bent wasn’t phased by this innocuous act. The bloke who accused me of being unpatriotic in his email would most probably have called the Hot Line I imagine?
By Fabrizio Marsani - fmarsani@yahoo.com.au

Fabrizio Marsani

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