Should building regulators review the height of door frames, mattress makers recalibrate their bed lengths, and architects \u2014 by default \u2014 increase the dimensions of the adolescent bedroom?<\/p>\n
In the last few weeks, three unconnected moments have brought this issue to the fore.<\/p>\n
First \u2026 a wonderful photo of Rhyll and her grandson Ned Moyle, a ruckman for the Gold Coast Suns [NB: Rhyll is the smaller one] taken at the Lorne Aquatic.<\/p>\n
Second \u2026 a never-to-be-published shot of my reach-for-the-stars grandson, James, standing alongside this author [NB: the author has unfeelingly been compared to a field mushroom].<\/p>\n
Third … and I shrink from saying the one that ‘tops’ them all … is a soon-to-be-iconic photograph taken of ‘The Donald’ as he declared his win on election night USA.\u00a0 Looming up from behind like an adolescent Burj Khalifa is the towering figure of his son Barron, whose reported height is 2.05-2.07m [6’7′ or 6’9″], depending on the Internet source consulted [or perhaps a shoes\/no shoes measurement].\u00a0 Heads up, Andrew Mackie … is there any chance of recruiting Barron for the Cats ruck?<\/p>\n
And, speaking of football, Donald [1.9m] is no slouch in the height department and might even have been considered a 1960s ruckman draftee option\u2014if there had been a draft back then!\u00a0 His height would have placed him precisely between two of the greatest ruckmen ever<\/u> to play footy\u2014Geelong’s Polly Farmer [1.91m], who changed football forever when he introduced the creative hand pass, and Carlton’s captain courageous, ‘Big Nick’ John Nicholls [1.89m].\u00a0 While in those days, these two legendary leaders and giants of the field towered over their team-mates, it is sobering to think that in a team of today, Polly and Big Nick might just<\/u> get a game as a ‘mid’, a flanker, or a winger but would certainly be deemed ‘too small’ for a key forward or back role and would never be considered for the ruck.<\/p>\n
One thing can be said with certainty \u2026 Homo sapiens are getting taller and taller with each generation.\u00a0 Most sons now exceed their father’s height [though I was a sad exception], and this seems to be an ongoing trend.\u00a0 But this apparent human trend bucks most of the size data in the animal kingdom.<\/p>\n
Once upon a time, before our species trod this earth, our planet was dominated by megafauna.\u00a0 The dinosaur age is known to all\u2014as is the massive size of some of these extraordinary creatures\u2014but perhaps lesser-known are some of the outsized creatures that roamed our own continent.<\/p>\n
Australia is known to have had several outsized versions of our current and unique animals\u2014behemoths that roamed the continent during the Pleistocene era from 2.5 million to 11,700 years ago.<\/p>\n
One, the giant wombat-like Diprotodon \u2026 its fossilised bones suggest it stood 2m at the shoulder, was 4m in length, and weighed nearly 3 tonnes \u2026 appears to have survived until ~7,000 years ago.\u00a0 Thus, it would have shared the continent with our early Aboriginals for thousands of years.<\/p>\n
Diprotodon<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The following edited extract on megafauna comes from the website of The Australian Museum … https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/yptkkuup<\/a> … and helps us to understand what happened to these mega-animals.<\/p>\n “\u2026 at the end of the last ice age, as Australia’s climate changed from cold and dry to warm and dry, surface water became scarce, and most of the large, predominantly browsing animals lost their habitat.\u00a0 They progressively retreated to a narrow eastern coastal band with permanent water and better vegetation.”<\/em><\/p>\n The Diprotodon was one of these.\u00a0 So, too, was Megalania, a giant goanna that grew to 5m in length and weighed 1.9 tonnes, and Procoptodon, a giant kangaroo that stood 2.7m and weighed up to 250kg\u2014nearly three times the size of the biggest roos today.\u00a0 As the ice melted and the earth warmed, the competition for scarce food saw our continent’s megafauna numbers dwindle till, eventually, all suffered a similar fate of extinction [ref. Wikipedia].<\/p>\n Earth’s temperature has repetitively risen and fallen over the eons\u2014indeed, human existence is enjoying a sweet spot \u2026 a ‘Goldilocks moment’\u2026 not too hot, not too cold, but just right.\u00a0 In truth, we cannot [1] expect this to last, and [2] there is nothing we can do to stave off the eventual demise of our species.\u00a0 It is na\u00efve to think that any human effort can materially alter these long-term cyclical oscillations in global temperature\u2014mitigation of fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas production amount to tiny threads in nature’s fabric.<\/p>\n An interesting example of the effects of temperature on species survival is currently playing out on the Great Barrier Reef, where the sea turtle population is in trouble from a rising ambient temperature.\u00a0 When the sand is warmer, more female turtle eggs successfully hatch, while male turtle eggs need cooler sand to survive.\u00a0 Warmer temperatures\u2014and hotter sand\u2014is hatching a disproportionate number of female turtles, which, when they reach maturity, find fewer males to fertilise them.\u00a0 In turn, fewer eggs are being laid and fewer hatchlings result … again with a preponderance of females.\u00a0 It is a path to extinction.<\/p>\n But I digress! \u2026 back to our ‘Barron moment’.\u00a0 As, in general, most of the maxi-variants of animal species have now disappeared [elephants, hippos, and giraffes remain but are much smaller than they once were], humans appear to be one of the few species that are growing bigger, generation on generation. \u00a0It’s like witnessing Darwinism at work, and in real-time.\u00a0 An ageing article in Scientific American \u2026 https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/msddxxmc<\/a> \u2026 suggests [1] that the trend is real and [2] it is primarily the result of improved nutrition.<\/p>\n This will soon impact some of the measures we take for granted\u2014like doorway heights.\u00a0 The most common internal door height in an Australian home is 204 cm \u2026 https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ysad897n<\/a> \u2026 and our young may soon be cracking skulls at an alarming rate.\u00a0 There is a persuasive argument for reviewing this regulation.\u00a0 You may have some fun thinking of other examples!<\/p>\n Certainly, were a young Barron Trump ever to visit me ‘at mine’\u2014may your god forbid it\u2014he would soon bash his brains out on my doorways!<\/p>\n John Agar<\/p>\n Feature Writer<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hello<\/p>\n As the dust settles after the US elections, the world waits to see whether rhetoric turns into action and what this might mean for world stability and the Australian economy. \u00a0We as a country will need to be adaptable and resilient and to be grateful that, despite the chest-pumping of our leaders, we are a small player on the world stage, and for that we should be grateful.<\/p>\n Closer to home, the Surf Coast Shire election results have been declared and we are delighted that Lorne\u2019s Leon Walker has been elected to council along with returning councillors, Libby Stapleton and Mike Bodsworth. \u00a0With three independent councillors in the Otway Range ward, we are confident that they will push for a focus on local issues, and that Lorne will have a strong voice at the council table. \u00a0Congratulation to Libby, Leon and Mike and thanks to Kate Gazzard for standing for election and for her past service our community.<\/p>\n Special thanks also to our retired councillor, Gary Allen, who is back in town after a well-earned break. \u00a0Gary embraced the role of councillor, and devoted a huge amount of time, energy and emotion to his 4-year term. \u00a0I am sure Gary will be thanked and his service recognised by the Lorne community in an appropriate way.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Lorne Cricket Club continue on their winning way with a comprehensive win (3\/240 v 2\/164) against West Warrion. \u00a0I was delighted to read that our 12-year-old debutant took a wicket. \u00a0It proves that age is no barrier at either end of the spectrum. \u00a0The club is always looking for more players, so get on board with a winning team.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n I was intrigued recently to read (in the New York Times) about the concept of \u201cblue zones\u201d where people regularly remain vibrant and active into their 90s and 100s. \u00a0While the existence of such zones has not been scientifically verified, it was found that the residents were \u201cmore likely to eat a nutritious diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, get plenty of physical exercise, prioritize family and community and not smoke cigarettes.\u201d \u00a0Drinking in moderation, not eating too much, managing stress, having a purpose in life, dedication to religion and good genes were other factors mentioned.<\/p>\n Reading the article made me think about Lorne, as many of the attributes referred to therein are evident in Lorne, the septuagenarian 7.30am bike-riders, the veteran 8am pier swimmers, the ageless 7.30am mermaids and the many walkers, many with dogs, who seize the day as the sun comes up.\u00a0 Smoking is a rarity, drinking is always done in moderation, many have found a purpose in life here through one or more of the community organisations, and how could you be stressed living in Lorne! \u00a0To sum up, the author said \u201cgood health comes from being in the right environment.\u201d \u00a0Sounds like Lorne to me.<\/p>\n The Aquatic Club is holding its AGM on Saturday November 23 at 5pm, all are welcome.<\/p>\n Cheers<\/p>\n November<\/strong><\/p>\n 16 – Affinity Quartet at Qdos Fine Arts<\/strong>, 4-6pm. Doors and Gallery Bar open 30 minutes prior to performance. Tickets $50, reservations recommended<\/p>\n 29 – Lorne FNC AGM<\/strong>, Stribling Reserve at 5pm. Committee nomination forms can be on the website to be lodged at info@lornefnc.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Should building regulators review the height of door frames, mattress makers recalibrate their bed lengths, and architects \u2014 by default \u2014 increase the dimensions of the adolescent bedroom? In the last few weeks, three unconnected moments have brought this issue to the fore. First \u2026 a wonderful photo of Rhyll and her grandson Ned Moyle, […]<\/p>\nA word from the chairman<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Lorne Ward Events Calendar<\/strong><\/h1>\n