An expression of loss—or gain? … a defining triumph? … a nefarious sign? … a celebration? … or a simple expression of the strength in an adolescent arm?

Shoes—most commonly sneakers with their laces neatly tied—are wont to emerge as a crocus harbingers spring over suburban powerlines the length and breadth of the nation.  Indeed, the merry dangle of discarded footwear overhead seems a worldwide phenomenon … but what do they mean?

Some weeks ago, in early spring, one such pair appeared.  Suddenly, there they were, dangling merrily in the breeze of a warm sunny Lorne morning from the power line across lower Grove Road between the theatre and the servo.  Tantalisingly out of reach and unidentifiable—without a cherry-picker to pluck them down for identification, and to be truthful, who could be bothered—they will likely swing till their laces rot asunder … a token to some local adolescent life event.  Whether that even be good or bad, triumphant or sorrowful, none but the thrower or the owner of the thrown will ever likely know.

As I turned to Mr Google to help me with the likely reasons for this strange and oddly endearing adolescent behavioural quirk, I was assailed by the new [and often intrusive] AI (Artificial Intelligence) summary pop-up that seems to now accompany any attempt to research answers on the Internet.

On this occasion, I admit to AI being helpful, as it did condense an hour or two of personal research time into a split-second synopsis … but part of the joy of an Internet search [done the old way] is the journey of discovery … and the pleasure of selecting [or deselecting] options according to the taste, topic and author bias.

While I still bypass AI where and when possible, as I find AI’s intrusion intrusive, I have chosen to go with its suggestions on this occasion.

That said, the following italicised search synopsis from Google AI lists the most common putative reasons for shoe-throwing as follows:

1. As a rite of passage … one theory suggests that the custom originated with the US military. After completing basic training or leaving the service, military personnel would throw their military boots—often painted in a conspicuous colour—at overhead wires as a symbolic rite of passage.
2. As a personal expression, some people think that throwing their shoes expresses a form of individuality. Indeed, shoe-tossing predates the existence of power lines and electrical power … for example, in old English wedding customs, shoes were thrown at newly married couples to bring them happiness and good fortune.  Similarly, space pioneers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin reportedly flung their moon boots from the hatch of their rocket before returning to Earth.
3. As a marker of gang activity … one popular theory is that gangs use shoes on power lines to mark their territory. However, there is a lack of concrete evidence from gang members to confirm this theory, and, especially in the US, police departments are reluctant to confirm or deny this explanation.
4. A location for buying drugs … according to some sources, drug dealers may use shoes on power lines to communicate that they are open for business. Still, this theory may be more of an urban legend than a widespread practice, and [Authors note] I certainly hope this is not pertinent to Lorne.
5. As a memorial … shoes hanging from power lines can also serve as memorials to individuals who have died. They may symbolise that the deceased is now “walking in heaven”.
6. To celebrate a personal milestone … shoes on power lines can mark personal achievements like the end of exams, graduating from high school, or other personal individual celebrations.
7. As a sign of bullying … an indication that someone, usually a vulnerable child, has been separated from their shoes by a bully or a group of bullies, who have then thrown the shoes over the power line as a trophy.
8. As kids being kids, sometimes shoes on power lines are simply a result of silliness or kids challenging each other to see who can accomplish the feat with the fewest attempts, though then they tend to appear in multiples!
9. As a bizarre form of street art … some have compared the act of hanging shoes on power lines to the work of graffiti artists and have coined the term “shoefiti” to fit the practice.
10. As a celebration of lost virginity … boys who have just lost their virginity or otherwise passed a sexual milestone look to signal the event to others. To mark a milestone in a person’s life.

Google AI goes on to add:

‘… the legality of throwing shoes on power lines varies, with some jurisdictions considering it criminal mischief, littering, or vandalism.  Additionally, throwing objects on power lines can be dangerous, leading to fires or power outages.

I was reassured to find that, despite the more sinister connotations that emerge from the urban jungle of drug dealing and bullying, most commentaries favour the lighter interpretations, with ‘a lark’ or ‘the loss of virginity’ being two of the most likely ‘shoefiti’ indicators in Australia.

As for the potential for AI to intrude into the integrity and invention of journalism as raised by Janet Goud in her January 2025 Editorial for the Lorne Independent, this is the first article I have written with ‘help’ from AI … and, hopefully, it will be my last.

I have always derived a certain satisfaction when ‘hunting’ and ‘tracking down’ information from the seemingly endless resource of the Internet … but doing it myself, and not having a nebulous machine somewhere do it for me and present it as an AI summary, is what matters most to me when writing an article.

Further—and importantly—as there is already a preponderance of US-centric data on the Net, it goes without saying that generated AI summaries will also trend to US-centricity.   Having already found several AI-generated Internet summaries inaccurate—at least from an Australian perspective—to abrogate human interpretation of Internet data is a risk we should neither accept nor take.  I, for one, will try to skip past the AI juggernaut as best I can and write personalised pieces, biased or not, just as I want them to be.

John Agar

Feature Writer

 

A word from the chairman

Wow, what a start to 2025 in Lorne!

The last two weeks have been amazing as we have opened our doors and our hearts to the many visitors who come to share our special place.  The Nippers program jumped the gun before the New Year dawned, with 500+ youngsters aged from 5 to 13 learning water skills, water safety and first aid.  They are our future lifesavers, Pier to Pub competitors and possibly Olympians!  What an amazing effort to organise our young people through 7 days of training.  Congratulations to all the organisers and volunteers of this award-winning program.

Then it was time for the big kids.  On Friday morning 2300 competitors took on the challenging but beautiful Mountain to Surf course.  There were some amazing performances, both with the times recorded by the elite athletes and the commitment and endurance of our older competitors, some now into their 80s.  Well done our neighbour, Edwin!

Saturday dawned with a perfect day for the Pier to Pub swim.  The carparks and the beach quickly filled with competitors, their families and friends finding a place to enjoy the spectacular programme of events as 5,500 swimmers completed the course.  Once again there were the Olympic swimmers who seemed to barely get wet or draw a breath, regular swimmers challenging themselves and their mates, and those just having a go and being part of the fun.  Congratulations to all who made the effort to be part of Lorne’s special day.

The beach on Saturday was a sea of cabanas, and while it would be nice to have shares in the manufacturer, in my opinion all the fuss about cabanas taking over the beach is a nonsense.  They provide much-needed sun protection, they are much safer and easier to use than the old-fashioned beach umbrellas and the people who set up cabanas spend money in our town and support our accommodation and hospitality businesses.  The inconvenience of a couple of weeks is a small sacrifice for the benefits they bring.

Congratulations to GORCAPA and Surf Coast Shire for their prompt and efficient removal of rubbish from the foreshore and other public areas.  There was a noticeable improvement on previous years.

*****

And then there was the performance of our “absolutely fabulous” OpShop.  The newly refurbished shop on Mountjoy Parade is doing amazing business with a whole new vibe and enthusiastic volunteers.  The second shop at Riverside is slowly winding down its operations and will close after the Australia Day weekend.  Congratulations to all involved in the refurbishment and relocations, you are stars!

*****

Our cricketers continue to rack up the wins and now sit on top of the ladder.  This Saturday they take on Apollo Bay in a day/night Pink Stumps match at Stribling Reserve.  There is a ticketed Ladies event in support of the McGrath Foundation, with cocktails and food platters.  Book at https://www.trybooking.com/CXMRY.  For the non-ladies, the bar will be open and food available also.  First ball is at 4.30pm. Be there in your pink!

Cheers

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

January

17-19 – Deans Marsh Sheep Dog Trials, at Deans Marsh Reserve

25 – Lorne Market, 9-3pm www.lornemarkets.com/

February

21 – 2025 Photographic Prize – Routine and Ritual Competition, closes 21 Feb 2025. Shortlist announced 10 Mar 25. Info: lornecommunityconnect.com.au