In a year like no other, our Tassie newsroom created a plethora of content for our loyal subscribers.
AS WE head into what we can only hope will be a better 2021, our editors have selected their favourite pieces of local journalism from 2020.
Our subscribers allow us to continue to shine a light on issues that matter to our audience, to tell the stories of our communities and to ask the tough questions on their behalf.
We’re here for you, but we also can’t do it without you.
To our subscribers – thank you for your loyalty and we look forward to delivering you our very best throughout 2021. Whatever it may bring.
THE 25 BEST OF 2020
‘LITTLE CHOP CHOP’ ALL GROWN UP
The year 2020 brought many things – but it also rang in the 21st birthday of the Tasmanian son of one of Australia’s most notorious criminals.
Chopper Read was famously quoted as saying “life in Tasmania is too slow”. But it doesn’t appear that way for his son Charlie, who has opened up about his life and his dad.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT EVERY CASE OF COVID-19 IN TASMANIA
While the pandemic is ongoing, Tasmania was one of the first states in Australia to return to normality after more than 200 cases.
On March 2 Tassie recorded its first case of coronavirus after a 40-year-old man touched down in the state on February 29 via Malaysia and Melbourne from Iran, which, at the time was a hotbed for the virus outside of China.
THE GREAT SALMON ESCAPE OF 2020
A fishing frenzy hit the state after more than 50,000 4kg Atlantic salmon escaped from an aquaculture company’s pen.
This massive escape was the first of many that saw more than 100,000 farmed fish escape into the Derwent and the Channel, providing a massive boon for local anglers.
Huon Aquaculture later shouldered the blame for the accidental damage to the pens.
MOTORING BUFFS TURN OUT FOR END OF AN ERA
Hundreds of Holdens of every age, colour, make and model went on display last year after parent company General Motors made the call to axe the brand by 2021.
Local fan Justin Rooke’s 18 car collection includes the legendary 1977 A9X Tarana hatch 5.0L L31 Holden V8.
Only 100 A9X Hatches were built. Of the 100 hatches built, Mr Rooke said some 40 remain. Owning one is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Holden collecting.
TASSIE’S INCREDIBLE WINTER WONDERLAND
It wouldn’t be Tassie without a bit of snow – but this year the snow was all over the shop, and blanketed many parts of the state that never see a flake.
From Launceston’s inner-city fall to summer powder in Miena, see all of the fantastic photos from 2020’s usual weather.
MUSIC INDUSTRY REELS AFTER ‘GREAT ALL-ROUNDER’ PASSES
Tassie rock legend Mike Noga died aged 43, leaving the music industry reeling.
Noga was best known for his musical contributions as the drummer for Australian rock band The Drones, and more recently as an esteemed solo artist.
POLLIE SKIPS TO THE SHAKE DURING LOCKDOWN
A popular Tasmanian politician staying at his East Coast shack during lockdown invoked the ire of neighbours who said it “sends the wrong message”.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said he been given the all clear from police to stay at his Bicheno holiday home during the height of Tasmania’s lockdown in April, 2020, as many other “shackies” flouted the rules, heading off to paint and conduct ‘essential maintenance’.
INSIDE TASMANIA’S HOTEL QUARANTINE
Quarantiners in Hobart’s Best Western Hotel were left shocked after a positive COVID-19 case was detected there during their stay.
Those in the hotel spoke out about their “scary” experiences and testing processes, while others relayed their heart-wrenching stories of waiting to visit sick family, and having to spend the time prior in isolation.
MAN BANNED FROM SUPERMARKET OVER MILK ATTACK
Lockdown, buying limits and toilet paper hoarders drove everyone a little mad – but one man in Howrah took his fury to the next level.
A disgruntled shopper at Howrah’s Shoreline Plaza was told by a shop clerk he had too many bottles of milk and became aggressive.
He then opened one up and tipped it all over her, earning himself a ban from the centre.
PRINCIPAL AT PRESTIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOL UNDER SIEGE
Richard Ford, principal at the affluent Launceston Church Grammar came under fire after teachers became dissatisfied with his leadership.
Mr Ford took over as principal of the elite coeducational school several years ago and since then there has been a large turnover staff, which as culminated in more punishment for teachers as the school monitors internal emails.
‘EYESORE’ WILDERNESS DEVELOPMENT ROASTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Developing in Tassie’s pristine wilderness has always been a hot-button issue, but Parks and Wildlife put their foot in it when they posted pictures of heavy machinery at Cradle Mountain.
Construction began on Dove Lake’s state-of-the-art viewing shelter, invoking the ire of many of its fans: ‘Mother Nature does NOT need a man-made viewing shelter,” one wrote.
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HISTORIC GHOST TOWN HOTEL SELLS
The Royal Hotel in Linda was a shell of its former self – a dire concrete relic in the middle of nowhere, and it was still on the market for $149,000.
The ruin, on half an acre of land with two sheds is set to be given new life by its new Zara Trihey when she bought last year – but is getting to know the place, and is taking on board any advice she can from locals before refurbishing the hotel, which served its last drinks in 1952.
WILKIE AND BALLINGALL TIE THE KNOT
Love waits for no man, woman or pandemic, and based on that tenet MP Andrew Wilkie and partner Clare Ballingal got hitched in an iso-style ceremony in Dr Ballingal’s back garden.
It was far removed from the Scottish wedding they had planned, but plenty of wellwishers shared their joy, seeing that a beautiful wedding was possible, despite the lockdown.
METH MUM PLEADS GUILTY TO MOVING $70K OF ICE
A major link in Tasmania’s drug trade chain was removed when Zoe Leanne Whiley plead guilty to moving up to $70,000 worth of ice over a five-week period, and selling stolen firearms.
Whiley was on bail for drug offences when police swooped on her home, found drugs in her handbag, down her bra and in the shed along with ice pipes, scales and zip-lock bags.
WHO OWNS TASSIE’S BIGGEST 25 FARMING OPERATIONS
Uncertainty about the global economy and trade seems to be doing little to slow the investment pouring in to Australian agriculture, with a number of Tasmanian farms included in multimillion-dollar portfolios.
An investigation found that when it comes to value, Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investments is the single biggest investors in Australian agriculture with a land and water portfolio valued at more than $3 billion.
SNEAK PEEK AT TASMAN BRIDGE UPGRADES
The federal government has unveiled plans for upgrades to the Tasman Bridge – the most significant investment since repairs from the Lake Illawarra disaster in 1975.
The biggest winners however, weren’t motorists, but cyclists and pedestrians.
HOBART’S HOTTEST PROPERTY – THE DISAPPEARING TARN
Hundreds of millimetres of rain was among the wild weather that hit Tassie in 2020 – and with that rain came the reappearance of the Disappearing Tarn.
High on Mt Wellington, about halfway along one of the mountain’s most trialling walks is the Disappearing Tarn, which only fills up after heavy rainfall.
This year, due to COVID-19, keen hikers and Instagram buffs made their way up to swim and take photos.
MUM GIVES BIRTH HOURS AFTER FINDING OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT
Most new parents have about nine months’ warning of a baby’s arrival, but for Jessica and Shayde Aupouri there was only nine whirlwind hours to prepare.
To say they were taken by surprise is an understatement – 30-year-old Mrs Aupouri had no idea she was even pregnant, experiencing what is termed as a stealth or cryptic pregnancy.
HORROR AT DAD’S MAGGOT LEG DURING CHRISTMAS VISIT
Health authorities launched an investigation into the discovery of a diabetic dementia patient with maggot-infested wounds in the state’s top mental health facility.
The 78-year-old man’s condition was discovered by his family during a visit to the Roy Fagan Centre in Hobart on Christmas Day.
His daughter is still calling for answers about why he smelled, hadn’t been showered and why his maggot infestated wound was not tended to.
DOG FOUND WITH SNOUT DUCT-TAPED IN UTE
Photos of a dog with its mouth tightly taped shut with duct tape in a car park caused outrage on social media.
A Tasmanian health worker shared the photos on Facebook saying she took the images at Lauderdale TCM car park.
The RSPCA were quick to respond and said it was safe and police were following up the incident.
DODGY FOOD DISGUSTS HOTEL QUARANTINERS
Readers were disgusted and amused by photos of hotel quarantine food during the height of the pandemic.
While some people in government-mandated quarantine had incredible fare, others were stuck with unidentifiable slop, disassembled sandwiches and boiled sausages.
Social media was quick to point out at the cost of $2800 for a fortnight, the food should have been significantly better.
Read the full story + see pictures of the food here.
OCCUPATIONS TASSIE LANDLORDS WON’T RENT TO
Renting in Greater Hobart is a hot-button issue – with three bedroom family homes costing up to $900 a week in some areas.
To add fuel to the fire, a survey by the Tasmanian Residential Rental Property Owners Association highlighted what specific groups they would prefer not to rent to.
This included non-essential workers such as hospitality and tourism workers – a major employer in Tasmania.
BODYBOARDER SNAPS ‘GNARLIEST’ WAVE OF THE YEAR
A Tasmanian surfer who took on, and conquered, an epic wave at Shipstern Bluff is a finalist in an online video competition which could net him $30,000.
The Short Circuit online video competition – run by Movement Magazine – rewards the suffer who caught the best single wave in the world that year.
Tasmanian surfer Sam Lennox was in the running for the prize.
Read the full story + see more photos here.
BELOVED RESTAURANT CLOSES DUE TO COVID-19
One of Hobart’s most well-regarded restaurants, Franklin, was forced to close due to the lack of tourist trade during the pandemic.
Franklin Restaurant and Bar general manager Katrina Birchmeier said it was not viable to run the inner-city eatery without tourists coming to the state.
This was the first of many closures of revered businesses which could not survive without the income tourists brought in.
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