⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a five minute read.
👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
I’ve got three stories for you today covering poo in ice cream, Warhammer, and one of Australia’s most controversial video games.
The first, a look back at the Coogee Bay Hotel ice cream fiasco.
On NRL grand final night 2008, a Sydney family was apparently served human faeces in their complimentary ice cream at the Coogee Bay Hotel. How did this happen? And what happened next?
Then, the Australian Army’s little known obsession with the table top strategy game Warhammer.
And finally, the 2003 video that saw players escape a migrant detention centre.
Let’s dive into it 🗞️
You made my mum eat poo
🗣️ Why did he say that?
On NRL grand final night 2008, a Sydney family were offered a complimentary bowl of gelato at the Coogee Bay Hotel.
It was poo.
What followed was a series of DNA tests, mediation and accusations of corporate sabotage.
For my full rundown check out today’s video:
Plastic Warfare ⚔️
The Australian Army essentially treats tabletop war games — like Warhammer — as a sport.
In fact, it’s taken seriously enough that the winner of a defence-hosted tournament last year had to complete a fitness test before travelling to battle the plastic figurines.
The tournaments have raised over $150,000 for not-for-profit, Soldier On, that supports veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
Watch my rundown below:
🎮 Escaping Woomera (Cliff notes version)
You may’ve heard about one of Australia’s most controversial video games: Escape from Woomera.
I covered it in this video on the National Account’s YouTube Channel just over a week ago.
But today I thought: why not do a shorter version for Instagram and TikTok.
The TL;DR: In 2003, a group of anonymous Australian developers made a video game about escaping an immigration detention centre.
Federal arts funding body, the Australia Council, gave the developers $25,000 to do it.
Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock was not pleased. Neither was a refugee advocacy group, who called the whole thing insensitive.
Watch my quick rundown below:
Thanks for catching up with me. I hope you enjoyed this issue, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just reply to this email and I’ll be on the other side 👋
I’m moving house on Monday, so no newsletter, but I’ll be back on Wednesday.
Cheers, Archie