Dolls Grin And Bear All

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday May 27, 2000

with DANIELLE WOOLAGE

For a dolly good day head down to the Illawarra Doll Show tomorrow at Wollongong Town Hall.

More than 200 dolls and bears will compete for line honours, with all proceeds from the show going to the Illawarra Cancer Carers.

The Porcelain and Cloth Doll and Bear competitions will feature the work of regional and interstate craftspeople, with some dolls fetching up to $2000.

Trader tables and valuations will also be available.

The expo kicks off at 10am and admission is $4 per adult and $2 for pensioners and children.

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It will be full steam ahead at Illawarra Light Rail Museum today.

All the museum's four workable steam locomotives and internal combustion locomotives will be fired up for public viewing.

People can also see trains being shut-down and de-ashed at dusk.

The museum is located at Tongarra Rd, Albion Park Rail.

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Wollongong Young Australian of the Year Dr Kirsten Benkendorff exchanged her lab coat for designer threads when she strutted her stuff on the catwalk last week.

She was joined by Wollongong-based NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Christine Nixon. Her trademark blue uniform was scrapped in favour of Maggie T.

The two women joined other female role models who graced the catwalk to raise money for the Northcott Society.

The society - for crippled children - will use the funds for their children's respite care services.

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Three bottles of Champagne that spent 80 years on the seabed have been sold for $5621 at auction in London.

They were a part of a consignment of 50 cases of Heidsieck Monopole Gout American 1907 on their way to the Tsar's army during World War I.

When the schooner Jonkoping was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the Finnish coast on November 3, 1916, the Champagne went to the bottom of the Baltic and remained there in 64m of water.

The water pressure was equal to that within the bottles and by a fluke kept the corks firmly in place so the wine was still drinkable when the remains of the cargo were salvaged.

***

Members of the US Navy will ``throw another prawn on the barbie" next month when they (belatedly) celebrate Australia Day.

Navy anaesthestist Jerry David from Charleston, South Carolina, has called on Australians to suggest ways the Americans can celebrate our national day when they look at different countries and cultures for their annual multicultural celebration on June 8.

``It would be outstanding to hear from the people of your country about what they feel makes your country great," Mr David wrote.

Well that is easy: beer, barbecues, sport and Vegemite.

Mr David has asked Australians to write a simple line or two on a postcard for all to read.

Postcards to: CDR Gerald Davidson, USN Anesthesia Division, Naval Hospital Charleston, 3600 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405, USA, or e-mail: jerrydavid@aol.com

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