THERE was very nearly going to be a big hole where this column normally goes this week.
That was because I’d told the boss I needed five days (paid) leave to mourn the Voice verdict.
Turns out it’s only for public servants. Five days paid leave to deal with the well-flagged outcome of a referendum.
I remember being pretty upset over the results of the daylight savings referendum – I would have accepted an hour’s extra paid leave at the time. But I digress.
The reason Queensland public servants get something the rest of us can only dream of, is to ensure the continuation of psychologically and culturally safe workplaces.
My social and emotional wellbeing was more frayed by the level of debate, not so much the outcome. Regardless I’m stuck writing this column to make a crust. It reminds me of all the extra leave that teachers got for having to teach during Covid. I’m crying crocodile tears.
HALLO, GOODBYE
What is Australia’s growing obsession with Halloween. Our transformation to full-blown MAGA-worshipping Americans is just about complete going by the insane number of houses done up to celebrate some dark I don’t know what exactly. Any carved pumpkins here have about a day before they start collapsing into a fly-blown soggy funk.
TOO SOON
On the subject of decorations, Maleny has jumped the gun with street Christmas decorations in October.
It looks pretty and they should make me happy, but instead I feel like ripping them down until the official start date, which everyone knows is the first Wednesday after the Melbourne Cup.
Anyone else notice the roadworks on Bruce Highway heading towards Steve Irwin Way are nearing completion?