It’s been a big year for news in Bendigo, but not every story was serious. There were plenty of strange and surprising stories.
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From a cat that survived a round with a washing machine, to a Lego model of the Joss House Temple, here are some of the quirky tales our journalists encountered in 2018.
Curious cat’s close call
Our cat correspondent Natalie Croxon brought us the goods in October.
Six-month-old Mowgli was rescued from a washing machine, nine minutes into the cycle.
The curious-cat had climbed in, without anyone seeing. His owners could hear him meow, but couldn’t find him anywhere.
Luckily, they checked the laundry before the machine had filled up with water.
It was a rough ride, but Mowgli escaped with no serious injury.
Rick and Morty take a trip... to Bendigo
Apparently Bendigo “just felt right”.
Australian animator Michael Cusack took the popular American characters down under, and Bendigo was their destination.
Google searches for Bendigo soared when the show screened in April. It even prompted comment from mayor Margaret O’Rourke.
Police puzzles
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, police around central Victoria catch crooks and keep people safe.
And inevitably, they come across some odd situations.
We’re still puzzling over this car that was found resting on the wire safety barriers on the Bendigo-Maryborough Road in December.
How did it get there? Was it airborn? Where did the driver go?
Here are a few of the oddest stories police told us about this year.
Whether it’s tandem bike theft, or a wannabe Santa, they’re sure to entertain.
The battle between bird and beast
Who would win in a battle between a cockatoo and a possum?
It’s probably a question you’ve never asked, but you’ve got the answer.
A cockatoo.
Bendigo man Tyler Swann was walking through Rosalind Park when he saw a loud squawking.
What followed was bizarre, fortunately Mr Swann captured it on video.
Getting the dirt on Bendigo’s tulips
We know it happens every year, but the Bendigo Advertiser office just can’t get over the city’s tulip dig.
Where else could you dig up bulbs from municipal gardens?
And where else would people queue for hours for the privilege?
Crowds at this year’s tulip bonanza were as ever a mix of steely-eyed gardeners keen to bag their bulbs, and families out for a fun days dig.
It took them just half an hour to clear the beds.
Living the Lego life
It’s a Bendigo icon, in Lego form.
Longtime Lego-lover Darren Hutchesson showed off his scale model of the Joss House Temple at the Lego Users Group’s annual Bendigo Bricks exhibition.
It’s a minute model, which owes its accuracy to real floor plans of the temple.
Mr Hutchesson even had to order special bricks to match the temple’s intricate roof tiling.
He felt a personal connection to the place, having been responsible for its maintenance in the past.
It’s not the only Bendigo building immortalised in Lego during 2018. Golden Square Primary School was be built and displayed at Legoland.
Fatbergs visit central Victoria
They’ve caused problems around the world, and central Victoria suffered its fair share.
Disposable wet wipes and paper towels clogged our drains in a serious way this year.
Your nose might be wrinkling, but these blockages had a serious impact on sewer systems during the year.
Coliban Water spent a week in August cleaning Back Creek in Spring Gully after a build up of wet wipes and rags caused it to overflow.
Maiden Gully mum takes flight over Sydney Harbour
A mum in flight might not seem that unusual, commercial aircraft have operated for decades after all.
But this Maiden Gully mother took to the air in an avocado.
Kay Henthorn’s family decided she should pilot a “splashed avo” flight craft in the Red Bull Flugtag.
Why did they do it? Son Josh Henthorn was a bit bored one day, and entered a competition.
It all took off from there.
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