On the gusty afternoon of December 17, 1967, a group of five adults arrived at Cheviot Beach, near Portsea, Victoria, and strolled along the Bass Strait beneath the warm Australian sun. Harold Holt was eager for a swim, and after stepping behind a rock outcrop in the sand dunes, he emerged wearing a pair of blue swim trunks. Marjorie Gillespie and her daughter, Vyner, both in bikinis, turned to the water and noticed that the surf, at high tide, was higher than they’d ever seen it.
“I know this beach like the back of my hand,” Holt replied, and walked into the surf without breaking his stride. Immediately, he began swimming away from the beach. Martin Simpson, Vyner’s boyfriend, followed but stopped when he was knee-deep in the surf. “There was a fairly strong undercurrent,” he said, “so I just splashed around without going in too far.” The third man in the group, Alan Stewart, told the others, “If Mr. Holt can take it, I had better go in too.”
But he stopped quickly when he felt a tremendous undertow swirling around his legs. He watched Holt swim out into what he considered “dangerous turbulence.”
Read more: The Prime Minister who Disappeared - Harold Holt
When I was a young lass of 17 or so, I worked in a swanky upmarket tourist hotel in New Zealand. I was a receptionist doing the meet and greet to all guests, and often met with well known so called celebrities. One afternoon, I met and greeted a particular " celebrity " whom I had admired and thought to be a very nice chap. How wrong I was. He turned out to be a sleasy grubby minded middle aged man with a penchant for young ladies. He was on my naughty list for the rest of his life and mine.
The reason I tell you this is because, in our lives, we often put people on pedestals and give them an almost hero-like status. Too often, we are let down when confronted with the reality of the man, not the myth.
When I moved to Australia, I met people who had an almost groupie like fixation with Gough Whitlam. I heard them talk about his service to Australia with stars in their eyes. How the evil Sir John Kerr and Malcolm Fraser had done an act of such wickedness that they may as well have been Judas and Pontius Pilate. They worshipped at the altar of Gough, and for them, he could do no wrong.
Read more: Gough Whitlam - the Man who Set off the Destruction of Australia?
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by non animal means of getting around.
That one baby-power rocking horse took me on many wonderful and exciting exploratory adventures, but it wasn’t long before the urging of the need for speed reared its persuasive head, a need catered for by a Christmas present from an understanding Mum and Dad … a Cyclops pedal car.
Thus commenced a love affair with driving a motor vehicle, of the sheer enjoyment of manoeuvring this obedient metal contraption which took me wherever I wished to go, subject of course to the availability of sufficient propulsive power of a couple of skinny little legs.
This is my Christmas gift to Malcolm - a very valued and much loved and respected contributor to our blog who has been unable to join us of late. This article was originally published at Christmas 2021. We miss you dear friend. We here at patriotrealm.com still think of you. Merry Christmas and I hope you are happy and well... I bet you wish you had gotten to drive a Tucker 48! ...... Monty
Preston Tucker was a man driven by bold ambition and a determination to reshape the future of the car industry.
In a post-World War II era dominated by the Big Three automakers, Tucker introduced the Tucker 48, a vehicle so richly filled with features that were decades ahead of their time.
Despite his incredible vision, Tucker faced fierce opposition from powerful industry players, relentless government scrutiny, and insurmountable financial hurdles. His story highlights the problems faced by people who dare to dream big.
Tucker posed a direct threat to the Big Three automakers - General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler........who had dominated the market for decades. By the mid-1950s, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler manufactured 95 percent of American cars. The established players, wary of competition used their influence to stifle Tucker’s progress.
Tucker faced hurdles at every turn. Obtaining raw materials and manufacturing equipment in the post-war economy was challenging, as major manufacturers often received priority. Adding to the pressure, negative press campaigns emerged, questioning Tucker’s credibility and business practices. Many believe these efforts were orchestrated by rivals aiming to tarnish his reputation.
Read more: Preston Tucker: The Maverick Visionary’s Quest to Dream Big - Shot Down by Big Business
The Battle of the Bulge, one of the most dramatic and pivotal confrontations of World War II, unfolded in the dense forests of the Ardennes during the bitterly cold winter of 1944-1945.
As Nazi Germany launched a surprise offensive to split the Allied forces and regain momentum, the stakes for both sides could not have been higher.
This last-ditch gamble by Hitler, aimed at breaking through the Allied lines and capturing the vital port of Antwerp, initially sowed chaos and created a massive "bulge" in the front.
However, the battle would ultimately reveal the unyielding resolve of the Allies, as fierce resistance, some incredible strategic brilliance, and unrelenting courage turned the tide against the German forces, ensuring their eventual defeat in Europe.
The Battle of the Bulge, fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during World War II. It marked a desperate attempt by Adolf Hitler to split Allied forces, capture the vital port of Antwerp, and force a negotiated peace. While initially successful, the offensive ultimately failed, cementing the Allies' path to victory in Europe.
Read more: The Battle of the Bulge: A Pivotal WWII Turning Point
On a busy December morning in 2014, the heart of Sydney's bustling financial district became the stage for an unthinkable tragedy. What began as an ordinary day turned into a 16-hour nightmare when an armed gunman stormed the Lindt Café, taking 18 people hostage.
As the world watched in shock, the siege unfolded with chilling tension, testing the resilience of a nation and leaving a terrible scar on Australia’s collective memory.
At 9.41am on Monday 15 December 2014, Man Monis directed Tori Johnson (the manager of the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney) to call 000 and say that all those in the cafe had been taken hostage by an Islamic State operative armed with a gun and explosives.
Eighteen hostages were held in the cafe for 16.5 hours. Over that period, 12 of the 18 hostages were able to escape in four separate episodes.
At around 2.13am on Tuesday 16th December, the cafe manager Tori Johnson was executed by Man Moris.
Read more: Darkness at Day's Beginning: The Siege That Shook Sydney
Education, often celebrated as a beacon of enlightenment and progress, can also become a potent weapon in the hands of those seeking to shape minds for dark purposes.
History has shown how classrooms, designed to nurture curiosity and critical thinking, can be transformed into echo chambers of radical ideology, where young, impressionable minds are molded to serve political agendas.
From carefully curated textbooks to charismatic educators, the machinery of indoctrination works not by coercion but by planting seeds of loyalty and conviction, ensuring that the next generation becomes willing participants...or even zealots...in a cause they are taught to revere without question.
Nestled in the quaint seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England, Augusta Victoria College (AVC) operated from 1932 to 1939 as a unique finishing school for young women aged 16 to 21. However, unlike other institutions of its kind, AVC has drawn attention for its disturbing ties to Nazi Germany.
Read more: Minds Under Siege: How Education Becomes a Tool for Ideological Indoctrination
I read a story about a woman who is hoping to break the world record for something that I find beyond belief:
British adult entertainment star Lily Phillips aims to set a new record by having sex with 1,000 men in 24 hours. The 23-year-old has reportedly commenced training in preparation for this endeavour.
People from all over the world are being recruited to participate in this event through email, and out of all the applications received, 1,000 people will be selected. This event has been named ‘Record-Breaking Event of the Year’, and it will be organised in January 2025.
In this one extraordinary post, it sums up the level of the moral void we find ourselves in today. No wonder our countries and world are in such a sense of decay. Even the use of the words " entertainment " and " star " are somehow cheapened ... not to mention the word "adult."
There is nothing entertaining or adult about this. And it seems to me that the light has gone out of the sky if this behaviour is rated as star-like quality.
When I was a young girl, I wanted to be beautiful. Clever. Successful. Happy.
Back in December 2019, White Island erupted. My heart reached out to those who were caught up in that very frightening and dangerous situation.
A place that used to be known for tourists taking selfies and the harvesting of sulfur suddenly gained worldwide attention as a scene of horror and terrible suffering.
A few days ago we had an article about that terrible day. But for now, I would like to share my memories of the time my parents, Redhead and my late Dad, went fishing. Off White Island.
It might be a family failing that we always try and see the good in bad situations but that is the way we are.
For me, just because a place is now remembered as the home of tragedy, I cannot help but remember when it was a place where my Dad could have ruined a perfectly good fishing trip. And didn't have a book to read.
Read more: When Going Fishing involves a Volcano, a Mutiny and a Kidney Stone Attack
They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and nowhere is that truer than in the world of political cartoons.
With a few strokes of ink, cartoonists have toppled reputations, challenged authority, and sparked revolutions...all while eliciting a chuckle, a gasp or a laugh or two.
These satirical sketches called cartoons turn complex issues into powerful, often humourous images, proving that sometimes a well-drawn caricature can wound more deeply than any blade.
No wonder they are seen as enemies of the establishment these days. But then again, they always have.
In a world where the news often feels stranger than fiction, we need the sharp, exaggerated truths of political cartoons. As Mark Twain apparently said, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”
Read more: Drawing Blood with Ink: How Cartoons Prove the Pen is Mightier Than the Sword
On December 9, 2019, New Zealand's White Island erupted in a sudden and devastating display of nature's fury, claiming 22 lives and leaving survivors with life-altering injuries.
What began as a routine tourist adventure to the country's most active volcano quickly turned into a harrowing race for survival, as visitors and guides were engulfed by searing ash and toxic gases.
The disaster shocked the world, prompting urgent questions about the balance between natural wonders and human safety.
Tragedy struck New Zealand as White Island, an active stratovolcano located in the Bay of Plenty, erupted.
White Island, also known as Whakaari in Maori, is an active volcano situated about 48 kilometres off the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its otherworldly landscapes and unique geological features.
Read more: Tragedy on White Island: The Day A Tour Turned to Tragedy
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