5 April 2007

Well, this week was vaguely interesting. Tuesday morning, I arrived at work, and I could hear what sounded like a rally going on a few streets away. I was naturally curious, as I'd not heard anything about any rallies going on - plus 8am isn't a normal time for rallies around this place. Anyhow, after dumping my gear at the office, I then headed off to the post office to collect the mail like I always do. I could still hear all the commotion, but as I was moving away from it, I wasn't too concerned.

Halfway down the road, I started thinking that it was about time for the UWA (University of Western Australia for all you foreigners) to be out on the streets and selling their annual satirical newspaper. Of course, that only happens on a Wednesday.

I was then waiting at the lights (I have to wait at a fairly busy intersection to get to the post office nowadays, which is rather annoying), and I could hear that the rally was getting closer. Still couldn't see anything, or make out what they were going on about. Dashed across the road, got the mail, and by the time I got back to the same intersection the rally had arrived.

It was the UWA students. Advertising that they would be selling Prosh (their satire newspaper) the following day. It was rather bizarre to watch them charge into the middle of the intersection (fortunately while the pedestrians had the right of way!), and hold a little party, before dashing off again.

Prosh Day (as it is known) is the day where the UWA students all seem to hit the streets of Perth, dressed in ridiculous outfits (I've been accosted in the past by Teletubbies, guys dressed in strips of newspaper, and the Blues Brothers, just to name a few), and selling their newspapers to raise money for charity. This year I spotted the usual range of fairies, clowns, knights, girls in togas, plus Amidala, Bender, and this guy... I'm not too sure what he was supposed to be, but he certainly stood out (plus he had a megaphone, which is why you can't actually see his face).

And having bought my copy of Prosh yesterday, I truly wish it was in digital format so I could share it. It's got monster locations (sadly, they don't seem to believe in Nessie, though), have proven that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Faerie and Santa Claus are not real, and other random hits at local and national politicians, celebrities world-wide, and society in general.