Reading—Have a beer with Bazz

Bella, the publican, leaned in.

“Now…… Bazza, you need to have an understanding of non-binary before complaining about the use of the pronouns ‘they’, ‘them’ and ‘their’”.

Bazza screwed his eyes and raised his forehead.

“But…… Bella….”

‘No bloody ‘buts’, Bazza……non-binary is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity does not sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary people can feel that their gender identity and gender experience involves being both a man and a woman, or that it is fluid, in between, or completely outside of that binary.”*

Bazza took a decent sip of the full schooner, paused and rubbed his chin.

“Ok…..Bella, fair enough. I can get my head around that but using the pronouns ‘they’, ‘them’ and ‘their’ instead of ‘her’, ‘his’, ‘she’ and ‘he’……. well…… it mixes up the plural with the singular.”

Mick joined mid sentence, took a sip of his schooner and his jaw dropped as Bella continued.

“The English Language is embedded with hidden gendered cues, Bazza…… if you do not identify as a ‘male’ or female’ it excludes you.”

Bazza rubbed his forehead and Mick spluttered some beer.

“I have never considered that fact, Bella but come to think of it……. there are a lot of words and terms that are gender specific….. boy, girl, brother, sister, mother, father, him, her and the list goes on….. and even the greeting ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’. It’s a big call to come up with more inclusive terms.”

“Of course, Bazza….. let’s at least make a start. If a person wants to be identified by the pronouns ‘them’, ‘they’ and ‘their’…. well….. I reckon we should respect their wish.”

Mick’s face reddened and he leaned in.

“Its just not on, Bella. Political correctness whilst butchering the King’s English. There are rules of grammar that must be adhered to…… otherwise….. what’s the point of using English to communicate?”

Bella straightened her back and eyeballed Mick.

“Mick……. The English Language is full of inconsistencies. Rules only apply sometimes.”

Mick shook his finger.

“Name one…..Bella…..just one inconsistency.”

Bella smiled and shook a finger in return.

“The rule to add an ‘s’ to form a plural……. ‘cow’ becomes ‘cows’…. ‘dog’ ….’dogs’ and so on……. but….. the plural of ‘sheep’ is ‘sheep’. Why is the plural of ‘mouse’…..‘mice’ when the plural of ‘house’ is certainly not ‘hice’…….. so it is not a big call to break some rules to use more inclusive language. Anyhow, I’ve got to get back to work.”

Bazza rubbed his chin and Mick let out a loud sigh

“Ahhhh… the English Language is under attack, Bazza. Anyhow, let’s talk about something else. How about ‘ousing?……. Its a bloody disgrace…. ‘ousing costs are through the roof. What little the government is willing to do about ‘ousing is being blocked by the Greens in the Senate. What do you reckon we should do about ‘ousing?”

Bazza took a long sip of his schooner and enjoyed the pause.

“Ahhhhh….. Mick…. for starters….. I reckon they should put an ‘h’ in front of it.”

*https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/10-ways-step-ally-non-binary-people

Have a beer with Bazza at john.longhurst59@gmail.com

100 Years Ago 23-06-1923

Bunny is improving as an asset to many. Moruya Freezing Works is now paying 1/- per pair for rabbits.

At St. Paul’s Church of England, Narooma, on 26th ult., Miss Lucy Florence Be ni, eldest daughter of Mr. Charles A. Be ni, of “Cranwell,” Narooma, was married to Mr. George Harold Koerber, of “Balmoral,” Narooma. The Rev. H. E. Lewin officiated, his last wedding before his departure for England. The bride wore a smart li le frock of ivory cashmere de soie and duchess lace and carried a beau ful bouquet of white ar ficial flowers. Her white tulle veil was arranged mob cap fashion and held in place with a wreath of orange blossoms. The bridesmaid, Miss Lilian Be ni (sister of the bride) wore a frock of rose shot taffeta and george e, and a gold bangle, a gi of the bridegroom. Mr. Elias Koerber was best man.

The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Mylo will be pleased to hear that their only li le daughter, Mollie, has been discharged from the local Hospital convalescent. It will be remembered that Mollie underwent a very serious opera on at the hands of Dr. Cutler, for appendici s, and although many mes on the borders of death, she has since made a wonderful recovery.

Congratula ons to Mr. John Buckley, snr., who celebrated the 76th anniversary of his birthday on Monday last. The wonderful agility and expert horsemanship of this veteran is o en commented upon. He will at the present day fly his horse at a jump with the fearlessness of youth. Mr. T. Walter (right) another of our worthy ci zens received the congratula ons of his friends on Thursday, the 73rd anniversary of his natal day.

Under the New Licensing Act the fees fixed upon the hotels in the district were as follows:- Adelaide, Moruya, £ 20 10s; Bay View, Bateman’s Bay, £19 7s 8d; Bodalla Arms, Bodalla, £18 11s 7d; Club House, Moruya, £18 5s 4d; Clyde, Bateman’s Bay, £20 4s 2d; Commercial, Moruya, £23 5d; Corona on, Narooma, £18 11s 8d; Criterion, Moruya, £16 3s 7d; Kea ngs, Moruya, £12 2s; Narooma, Narooma, £15 19s 11d; Palace, Central Tilba, £9 13s 4d; Royal, Moruya, £16 1s; Steam Packet, Nelligen, £10 11s; Tilba Tilba, Tilba Tilba, £12 4s 10d. Total £231 6/6.

Dwyer’s Creek Mines (By our Special). M.L.10 : … A 20 h.p. boiler is now being installed and a good con nuous run is expected. Want of sufficient power to run the head ba ery, pumps and concentra ng tables has hindered progress. The furnace, which is a double or return, to treat the arsenic contents is nearing comple on. The concrete flues and 40 feet fumes stacks are now ready for the revolving roaster. The concrete flues are about 100 feet long, thus giving the fumes a travel of 200 feet from roaster to stack.

Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc.