Adelaide’s 10 biggest ‘WTF’ moments of 2021
It’s no secret that Adelaide is one of the world’s most liveable cities, we can’t help but wonder, is Adelaide the most random city in Australia?
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It’s no secret that Adelaide is one of the world’s most liveable cities, heck it’s racked up plenty of entries in the top 10 over the last couple of years.
And while our city and it’s surrounds remain a well-kept secret, we can’t help but wonder, is Adelaide the most random city in Australia?
From two blokes stealing a Big Bird costume and turning their court date into a moment from New York fashion week to a Christmas Wonderland from hell, here are some of the city’s biggest WTF moments.
The Winter Wonderland From Hell
For many kids, Christmas is the most exciting time of the year.
Waiting for Santa to drop off the pressies, counting to see whether you got more or less than your sibling and if you got EVERYTHING on your list *cue the Dudley Dursley meme about only getting 36 presents*.
That time of year can also be very stressful for parents, keeping them entertained for nearly a month over summer is a job in itself, so you could probably imagine the excitement around Noarlunga getting it’s very own ‘Winter Wonderland’.
The abysmal event gave the notorious Fyre Festival a run for it’s money, from the “Polar express train ride through the enchanted forest” to the poorly dressed Santa, you almost wish that it was a joke.
Mates selfless ‘Falcon’ saves the game
It’s an unwritten rule in Aussie schools that when you see a ball flying towards someone’s head, you do them a common curtesy of yelling ‘heads’.
So when Colonel Light Gardens forward Bryce Smith kicked what would turn out to be the matchwinning goal, he could not have predicted he would top it just minutes later, copping a footy to the face after manning a mark at point blank range.
The “falcon” gave Smith a suspected broken nose but won the crucial division five match for the Lions.
South Australia’s oldest hoon
In a case of good old case of ‘mistaken’ identity, or should we say ‘misleading’ identity, SA’s oldest hoon was told to ‘grow up’ by a magistrate after he sideswiped a driver and then pretended to be a police officer to avoid responsibility.
Kenneth William McCann, 74, narrowly avoided jail after he flashed a fake police badge during an intense road rage incident.
The court heard McCann was driving his Mercedes on Morphett Rd, Morphettville, on November 16, 2019 when he began tailgating the other driver unnecessarily.
The court heard the other driver chased McCann until he pulled over.
“During that exchange you pulled out a badge which said ‘special police’ on it,” Magistrate John Wells said.
“The other driver laughed that off, saying that’s not a real police badge.”
The court heard the car driven by McCann also had ‘polizei’ written on it, which is German for police, as well as a red light in the back of his car.
Mr Wells sentenced McCann to two months and three weeks in jail.
It was suspended on a two-year good-behaviour bond for $500.
McCann was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.
The regional SA town that leaves its residents busting
A South East community has called for toilets to be installed at the town’s only cemetery after mortified mourners were forced to “go behind the bushes”.
Port MacDonnell Cemetery is around 3km from the nearest public toilet leaving visitors with two options – drive into town and miss the service, or public urination.
With more funerals than normal held this year, Port MacDonnell Uniting Church secretary Betty Walters wrote to Grant District Council requesting new facilities.
“Unfortunately there are no toilets available and it can be very embarrassing for those in need – both young and old,” Mrs Walter’s letter read.
“At a recently funeral mourners had to go behind the bushes which was both embarrassing and upsetting.”
Border breacher risked it all for a moment on the loo
A man who lied to police after flying from Melbourne to Adelaide says he only breached Covid-19 laws because he was busting for the loo.
Bernard Arthur Shackcloth, 49, cried in court as he was handed a suspended sentence for his “irresponsible and foolish” decision to lie to authorities about where he travelled from.
Shackcloth advised police he had arrived from Alice Springs when he had actually arrived from Melbourne.
Shackcloth, from Fannie Bay in the Northern Territory, was arrested at a city hotel later that night.
He told the court he had recently started taking medication that increased his cholesterol levels but led to an unwanted side effect.
“To keep my cholesterol under control, for breakfast I had All-Bran and skim milk,” Shackcloth said, who represented himself.
“So, it’s good for cholesterol but when you gotta go, you gotta go.”
“I was thinking I will literally soil my pants in the middle of Adelaide airport; I was on the brink.”
Mr Smolicz sentenced Shackcloth to 13 days in jail, suspended on a 12-month, $500 good-behaviour bond.
I just want chicken that tastes like real chicken
A dad treating his kids to McDonald’s for dinner earlier this year, made an unfortunate discovery after they drove off with the food.
Gawler man Lachlan Binder was appalled to see what appears to have been a cluster of feathers in McDonald‘s new ‘Southern Style Chicken’ range.
The father of two said it was a massive surprise.
“I just wanted to try McDonald’s new fried chicken so I ordered one piece, but I realised quite quickly there were feathers hanging out of it, it was hard to miss,” he said.
“I didn’t eat all the chicken just couldn’t stomach it, I know chickens have feathers but you just don’t expect to find them on fried chicken.”
Will the real Ratatouille please stand up?
Patrons at a popular Glenelg eatery were left horrified after a rat did a dash across the restaurant.
A diner at Beach Burrito Co, who did not wish to be named, captured vision of the rodent scampering from the ceiling in the upstairs section of the restaurant, before it scuttled across the floor.
Beach Burrito Co chief operating officer Angus Warren said the video showed the less glamorous side of hospitality.
“I’ve had a chance to view the video, and it’s always a little surprising to see a visitor where you don’t want them,” he said.
“This video unfortunately showed the less glamorous side of hospitality that every operator is aware of.”
Big Bird on the run
It was the crime that stopped the state. Who on earth would nick the costume of a beloved children’s character like Big Bird?
The large yellow costume was stolen from the Sesame Street Circus Spectacular at Bonython Park sometime between 4.30pm Sunday and 9.30am Monday in April.
The costume was worth $160,000, according to police reports.
The costume – made in America from genuine ostrich feathers – was used to greet children and other attendees before the show.
A few days later, the costume was returned, unharmed with a note from the culprits known as the “The Big Bird Bandits”.
The men claimed they were trying to cheer themselves up, and they had “a great time with Mr Bird … and no harm came to our friend. Sorry to be such a big burden”.
It was truly one of the biggest WTF moments of the last 12 months, which leads us into our next point.
Court appearance … but make it fashion
As if allegedly pinching a Big Bird costume wasn’t enough to incite a media frenzy.
Exiting court in matching white skivvies, Cody Milne, 26, and Tasman Binder, donned retro sunglasses before striding to a 1992 Subaru Liberty – described by their chauffeur as a “limo” – after fronting charges of aggravated counts of dishonestly taking property without consent.
As the hipsters left the courthouse, they appeared to have planned to simultaneously look at each other, slide their sunglasses onto their faces then strut towards a waiting vehicle.
The person driving that car had what looked like a fake black moustache and told reporters to back away from “the limo”.
The dynamic duo rocked the state’s world that day, we cannot wait to see what they have in store for us in November when they are set to appear next.
We all get a little snacky after a big night out
Kristoffer Graeme Coghlan was put into custody earlier in July, after attending The Yiros King in Reynella, allegedly taking drinks from the fridge without paying before he made his way over to the counter and began eating the ice cream with his hands.
Magistrate Susan O’Connor granted Coghlan $500 supervised bail to his mother’s address, before he admitted he may have to walk home.
“I’m pretty sure I have been banned from all public transport, your honour,” Coghlan said.
“I may have to walk home.”
No pleas were entered.
He will appear in court again in September.
Popular cafe set to close for good this weekend
The Grange cafe made the shock announcement on social media after 16 years in business.
Car thief didn’t mean to steal backseat baby too, court hears
A Salisbury North man’s lawyer says the Clearview incident has been a big wake up call.