Column 8, February 24, 2026
“Back in the dark ages when I worked for NSW NPWS, I got a complaint about a problem at Shelly Beach,” writes Michael McFadyen of Kareela. “At that time I told the person there were seven Shelly (or Shelley) beaches in NSW, of which three were in national parks, so I needed additional information. I now know there are at least nine. Does any other feature in the state have more versions? Possibly some creeks like Five Mile may beat it but …”
Lance Rainey of Rushforth notes, “Mention of an ‘edifice’ (C8) reminded me of the local government staffers’ description of local notables of longstanding who, towards the end of their careers, would encourage the construction of often over-built public facilities – which were often named after them or their cronies – as having an ‘edifice complex’.”
“Talk of Emma Chisit (C8) reminded me of preparing to leave Thatcher’s Britain in 1981 to immigrate to New Zealand,” says Liz Cooper of Neutral Bay. “We were given an article with some lovely expressions including ‘Emma Chisit’ and ‘Dismal Guernsey’ (Decimal Currency). I still love hearing a Kiwi accent, I even married one!”
Derrick Mason of Boorowa decided on a deeper dive: “Since there’s been considerable discussion about ‘Emma Chisit’, I thought I’d submit the term to AI. The system was equal to the task, indicated that it didn’t describe a person, but a rather famous piece of ‘Strine’ slang. However, it did say the phrase was commonly associated with a well-known, tiny, wedge-shaped corner store on the corner of Cameron and Thorne streets, in Edgecliff, which operated from the 1860s until the 1970s.” Granny did a bit of a deep dive herself and notes that the property in question was indeed once a store but is now a trendy timber terrace complete with “Strine” sign, though they decided to spell it “Emma Chisett”. A story on the property in the Herald in 1983 excitedly proclaimed it “could fetch about $120,000″.
Readers who remember Let Stalk Strine may also recall that the author’s pseudonym, Afferbeck Lauder, was a play on an Australian pronunciation of ‘alphabetical order’,” adds Mark Morgan of Palmwoods (Qld).
Bronwyn Thompson of Lithgow has a delivery for Geoff Bartlett (C8): “I was a female postie for 20 years in ‘sunny’ Lithgow. Our Honda 110s had the loudest squeaky rear brakes, which proved to be much better than a whistle!”
Column8@smh.com.au
No attachments, please.
Include name, suburb and daytime phone.
From our partners
