Patriot Realm

Some memories shimmer in the mind like a heat haze, half mischief, half magic. This is one of those. A tale from childhood, when the world was big, the days were endless, and every fence was both a challenge and a dare…

When I was a little girl - maybe six or seven - my two older brothers and their friend Norman had a gang called The Silent 3.

Their clubhouse was a dusty old coal smithy at the back of our property, not far from the chook yard. It was a corrugated iron shed, long since abandoned and quietly rusting into the landscape. Perfect for a secret gang headquarters.

Inside, the floor was dirt, and it smelled of rust and mystery and was absolutely thrilling.

That smithy became the scene of a plot so bold it could’ve ended in heartbreak. Let me tell you what happened.

For over five years now, this blog has grown into more than just a place to post ideas. It's become a home. A well-worn couch beside the fireplace, a front verandah with mismatched chairs, a local pub with a chalkboard menu and a few good jokes behind the bar. It’s a space where mates gather -  to laugh, share stories, poke fun, and occasionally let off steam about the state of the world.

Our commenters are mostly older, wise, warm-hearted folk who’ve earned their silver hair ( or no hair, or red hair as the case may be ) and a right to enjoy their days in peace. Many of our regular commenters are older folk -  the kind who’ve weathered storms, seen fads come and go, and still know how to laugh with a full heart. We’ve shared stories, laughter, even tears. We’ve farewelled cherished contributors who’ve passed on, and held the space for others navigating the twilight of life who are now unwell. Through it all, what has kept us going is not numbers or clicks -  but camaraderie.

In a stunning turn of events, Roderick “Whiskers” McNibble  -  microphone-wielding rat and founding fur of Ratty News -  has launched a surprise campaign that’s gnawing through the foundations of Australian politics. With a platform built on truth, cheese equality, and regular pub nights, McNibble’s cheeky charm has captured the hearts (and voting pencils) of everyday Aussies who are fed up with political possums and bureaucratic bullshit artists. 

As early polling is set to open and the pub sausage sizzles are set to fire up, one question dominates the nation: Can a rat really clean up Canberra?

Yet in the background, there is something much more puzzling. 

In a bold cultural pivot that’s already got Canberra in a tizzy and the Department of Identity Affairs reaching for the aspirin, Ratty News can now confirm the birth of Australia’s freshest tribal nation: The Rainbow Freckled Folk of Dusty Gulch.