Double Take

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, unless the poultry in question is the AFL’s gaggle of honkers.
That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn after the TAC axed its $250,000 Cats sponsorship in the wake of skipper Joel Selwood (pictured) losing his licence for speeding.
Fair enough, too, given the club’s bad recent history of players goofing off behind the wheel. Every sponsor has its limits, of course.
But what about Essendon, the club plagued for years by the supplements scandal.
How the Bombers held onto so many corporate benefactors is mystery enough but the day after the TAC decision they audaciously announced another renewed sponsorship – with Alliance Pharmacy!
Sheesh, talk about chutzpah.
Maybe the Cats should take a leaf out of Essendon’s book and stitch up a deal with Avalon Raceway!

And how’s G21, supposedly the “central voice championing the needs of its five member municipalities”, principally Geelong.
This week the ratepayer-funded lobby group put out a media statement of almost 600 words, grandly announcing it had elevated Great Ocean Road improvements to its haughty list of “priority projects”.
All well and good. The grand old money-spinning tourist route clearly deserves additional TLC.
But buried some 473 words into the statement was the real G21 story: it was washing its hands of Geelong’s bid to win lucrative work manufacturing army vehicles.
The campaign was “no longer a priority”, said G21 in the 5 per cent of statement dedicated to its Land 400 surrender.
G21 was, of course, initially an enthusiastic supporter of our Land 400 bid – until the Andrews government said any successful bid would be sited in Melbourne.
The companies vying for the work were still showing interest in Geelong but G21, and shameful others, meekly complied with the government line.
No complaints, no fight and definitely no “championing” of Geelong.
Hey, G21, Geelong’s ratepayers are on the phone – and they want their $450,000 a year back!

Meanwhile, an upcoming community event in Geelong will try explaining the oxymoronic delights of “frugal hedonism”.
Yes, apparently it’s an achievable lifestyle, and one that author Annie Raser-Roland will outline at Geelong Sustainability’s Green Drinks next Wednesday.
The organisers say it’s all about looking for cheap thrills without sacrificing health or friendships.
And the advantages! Frugal hedonists enjoy wearing “tight pants” and association with the “the sound of birdsong” or even “gorillas doing push-ups”.
Yes! After all, what’s life without being considered a giant exercising monkey tweeting in hot-pants!
Anyway, prospective frugal hedonists can Google up the sustainability group for booking information.
And don’t forget to ‘chirp-chirp-chrip, oo-oo-oo’!