Two For One

We have a pretty good climate in St Marys and, except for August when the westerlies come howling down from the mountains, it's not too windy.

We should be grateful. We could be living in Yolla.

As everyone knows, trees don't grow very tall in high-wind areas and Yolla, in northern Tasmania, is no exception.

In fact, the winds there are so strong that even the people only grow to about half-size.

AIR-FM's country music presenter, Doug Weedon, grew up in Yolla and the only reason he looks about the same size as everybody else is that he's really twins and actually has to walk around sitting on his brother's shoulders.

It saves on cold weather clothing. One overcoat fits them both.

Doug is the only truckie in Australia who needs two licences - one for the half that looks through the windscreen and one for the half that operates the pedals.

It's pretty convenient. If half of him has a drink, the other half can blow into the breathalyser.

I wonder which half he sends to the dentist . . .