Yep, the world is changing: you can’t sign for a credit card transaction, or cough without a password, but we think things have gone just too far with at least one Bendigo store.
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DTM mate Ray went into a largish electrical store the other day and finding what he wanted, went to the counter to pay. Being a bit on the mature side, Ray had (wait for it, children) cash!
One of the things which riles us is when shops and restaurants charge extra for using plastic cards.
We always suspect they’re ripping off the tax office – and by implication, us.
Ray came across a bizarre variation this, when he was told: “Sorry, there’s a dollar surcharge for cash payment.”
What followed next was not pretty. Nor precisely reportable.
Not exactly right
Sometimes you get more insight into history by looking beyond the headlines.
Wednesday’s Addy included a reprint of the edition of August 6, 1914, when Britain and Australia declared war on Germany over the invasion of neutral Belgium.
In possibly the most incorrect political comment ever, the Addy reports Australian Prime Minister Joseph Cook saying: “Mr Cook today stated that the situation was well in hand and there was no cause for alarm.”
Why it's good here
The reprint also revealed something beaut about Bendigo.
Some years ago, the Advertiser interviewed a highly regarded South African university lecturer who had just moved to Bendigo.
He was asked what was so attractive about Bendigo.
“This,” he said, holding up Page 3 of that day’s paper.
It contained a police brief report about a stolen Malvern Star bike.
“I want to live in a place where not only is the theft of a bike Page 3 news, but even the brand is important.”
The 1914 reprint had something similar.
At the top of the page, right next to the big black headline about war with Germany, was an article which read: “The Quarry Hill police require an owner for a gentleman’s overcoat and boot found at Quarry Hill on Tuesday night.”
Yep, just one. We’d guess alcohol was involved somewhere in the story.
Easily offended
Wonder what happened to this idea?
One hundred years ago, the Bendigo Advertiser reported that the State’s Chief Secretary, Sir John Murray, has asked the Parliament to bring in laws banning the disgusting practice of young women “double-dinking”.
Yes, he reported that the population was “shocked at the impropriety” of young ladies riding pillion on the rear of motorcycle seats.
The Addie reported: “Many citizens have preferred to be even more shocked at the alleged impropriety of the habit than they are probably alarmed at any apparent risk the ‘double-dinkers’ ran.”