WTF: Calendar controversy, alien proof, and Carr St curfuffle

The lateness of an annually released calendar has sparked backlash, a reader has put forward proof of alien life, and another has claimed a one-way street is an accident waiting to happen.

Another edition of WTF has landed.

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. We’ve asked the people of Geelong to point out the problems that irritate and exasperate and have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!

COUNCIL CALENDAR CONTROVERSY

The cover image that will appear on the 2025 City of Greater Geelong calendar. Picture: Louise Edebone.

Famously, years have 12 months, as do calendars.

So it’s no surprise Geelong residents were a bit confused, if not angry, when news broke that City Hall’s annual community calendar would become available at some point during January, thus rendering much of the first page useless.

“The 2025 Community Calendar is launching soon, but this year, we’re trialling some changes to the production process to help reduce waste and be more sustainable,” the City of Greater Geelong said on Facebook.

“While there have been some unexpected delays in production, the calendar will be ready in January.”

The announcement caused somewhat of a storm in the comments section, with many angered ratepayers voicing their disapproval.

“An 11 month calendar. Classic CoGG,” one said.

“Wow!” another said.

“Just ordered one but bemused that it will not be ready until after the New Year!

“Fancy getting that wrong!

“Hope the council can do their other chores on time!”

A reader said the delay forced them to go out and buy a calendar on their own accord.

“What is going wrong with CoGG?” he said.

“Normally there are events in December and they are advertised in the calendar, so we do not know what has been happening.”

Council’s acting chief executive Tennille Bradley confrimed unexpected production delays.

“We know the calendar is keenly anticipated each year, and we are now on track for it to be available for collection at our customer service centres from Monday January 13,” she said.

UFO PROOF?

Are these lights in the sky in Norlane proof of alien life?

WTF gets its yarns from all places.

We’ve said it before and will say it again, we love a letter.

A couple of weeks ago, we were dropped off a special delivery, a letter in a sandwich bag with an accompanying flash drive.

“Please find enclosed a computer stick with detailed videos of UFOs above my home,” the letter read.

As you can imagine the newsroom was abuzz, after all, it isn’t every day you get sent irrefutable evidence of alien life.

The letter explained its author was from Norlane, and had been seeing them in the early hours of the morning.

“These orbs are not Xmas lights as they have been seen at 1.30 and 2.30am,” she said.

“Same goes for the drone show at Adventure Park, they finish at 11.30pm and I am sure they would not be giving free shows in Norlane.”

She goes on to say that she is being “gaslighted” by people who dismiss them as Christmas lights.

So, after finding a safe way to open the flash drive, we got to see for ourselves the life forms from light years away.

And, it pains me to report, we were left disappointed.

After arduous amounts of research, the investigative team here at WTF concluded that the “UFOs” were in fact spot lights, likely from the light show at Geelong’s internationally famous Christmas tree.

The dead giveaway was the fact all the videos were taken on overcast nights, with the lights only appearing where clouds are.

Far off alien civilisation has so far not responded to the Addy’s request for comment.

CARR ST CURFUFFLE

Carr St in South Geelong.

How good is the new South Geelong train station?

The old one was a mess, they’ve cleaned it up, there’s bike lanes, heaps of parking, I could go on.

While reader KJ agrees, they pointed out a problem with the changes.

“The new one way street of Lonsdale/Carr street running east to Yarra Street has overall calmed the area due to less traffic,” KJ said.

“But residents are waiting for the first head-on collision resulting in injury or death.

“Every day drivers are travelling fast the wrong way up the new one way street.

“Not heeding the sign on Yarra street stating no left turn into Carr, they hoon on down a road only wide enough for one car.

“Will there be a real life Demolition Derby in South Geelong one day soon?

“Watch this space.”

We shall, KJ.

Originally published as WTF: Calendar controversy, alien proof, and Carr St curfuffle