It’s been a massive year for Australian news. We voted a resounding ‘yes’ for same-sex marriage, welcomed home Schapelle Corby and watched a lot of uncomfortable pollies squirm in the dual citizenship saga.
But a lot of our news stories have been very unique to Australia.
Don’t believe us?
From an estate agent tossing a shark out of harm’s way, to Aussie legend ‘Shazza’ breaking up a koala fight, to Barnaby Joyce being nominated for New Zealander of the year, we’ve had some ripper stories in 2017.
And while some of them are probably living up to #PeakStraya stereotypes, that’s quite alright!
(To the rest of the world: not ALL of our stories are about sharks, snakes, kangaroos and spiders… honest!)
^ rude
Here are the most inimitably Aussie news stories of 2017.
Queensland teen jumps into croc-infested waters… to score a date Lee de Paauw, 18, is one lucky guy. In March, he was grabbed by a three-metre crocodile while climbing out of Queensland’s Johnstone River and lived to tell the tale. He did it to impress British backpacker Sophie Paterson, according to 9 News. “It was all worth it. She’s beautiful, caring and kind,” Lee told the outlet. What a romantic!
Public votes for ‘Ferry McFerryface’
NSW Public Transport let the public vote on the name for its latest ferry and Ferry McFerryface took the win in November. Apparently it’s caused a staff mutiny… This is why we can’t have nice things.
We survived an actual spider plague
Warm and wet weather resulted in the perfect conditions for a bunch of spiders to come out of their nests and into our homes in 2017. The WORST.
Waitress drags huge goanna ‘she thought was a dog’ out NSW restaurant
The French-native hit headlines in February, dragging the goanna away from diners. We’re more concerned what kind of dogs she’s seen. Watch the video footage below…
NSW waitress drags huge goanna by tail after thinking it was a dog
Baby girl delivered “safe and dry” amid Cyclone Debbie
Cyclone Debbie caused devastation in March but there are always glimmers of happiness to be found. Baby Billiana was welcomed into the world at the Whitsunday Ambulance Station as they couldn’t make it to hospital with all of the road closures and damage. There were plenty of unsung Aussie heroes to be celebrated during the cyclone.
Australia says yes!
The 15th of November 2017 will go down in history as the day Australians overwhelmingly voted in favour of same-sex marriage. In fact, every state and territory recorded a yes. And the celebrations were epic!
This Aussie-as proposal
Following the historic vote, Melbourne man Mark Keevers got down on one knee with a little help from some men in Speedo’s!
This 2-year-old’s close encounter with a deadly snake
In March, Victoria mum Bianca Dickinson snapped this picture of her toddler Molly, completely unaware there was A MASSIVE EASTERN BROWN SNAKE slithering next to her.
And this 7ft snake scaled a family’s screen door
Ssstrewth!
Accidental Kiwi Barnaby Joyce nominated for New Zealander of the Year
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce revealed he was a dual Australia-New Zealand citizen by descent in a bombshell speech to parliament. It caused a right kerfuffle and he had to call a by-election for his New England seat – which he won back. Back in August, Barnaby had the second-most nominations for 2018 New Zealander of the Year. Gotta love the Kiwi sense of humour!
Schapelle Corby finally returned to Australia
In May, Schapelle Corby was deported back to Australia, 13 years after she was caught smuggling cannabis into Bali in her boogie board bag – it was one of the most famous Aussie drug cases ever.
Sydney mum slams Woolies after accidentally feeding her kids dog food
They were next to the Tiny Teddies so, easy mistake? ¯_(ツ)_/¯
‘Shazza’ breaks up ferocious koala fight
Probably our favourite video of the year… A woman called Shazza breaking up a fight between two koalas on a road. Peak Straya! Good on ya, Shazza. You can watch the vid below.
Sharon stops a koala fight-
A cavoodle befriended a Tasmanian devil
And it was glorious! Archie and his buddy Hurricane formed an unlikely friendship in Tasmania.
And the pictures were adorable!
Chadstone lawn bowls gang parody Beyoncé to try to save their club
Sadly, the Aussie battlers lost their fight to keep their club open but they won the country over with their enticing Beyoncé video. Watch below!
Chadstone bowls women channel Beyonce to save club
Cleopatra the wombat crashed out next to a dunny
Sanctuary staff at Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary had to roust the 33kg wombat to make way for volunteers needing to take bathroom breaks. Watch (and lol) below.
Cleopatra the wombat rousted to make way for volunteers’ bathroom breaks
