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Port Hedland’s nod to New York, Nicholas Cage vibes in the Pilbara, and a difficult decision for Kununurra

Tom ZaunmayrNorth West Telegraph
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Sergeant Steve Cleal
Camera IconSergeant Steve Cleal Credit: Daneka Hill

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The Port Hedland police sergeant is clearly passionate about his job and his town, which is great to see.

How do we know that, we hear you ask?

Well, police social media is well-known for its witty posts, but Sgt Cleal, pictured, has taken the task of informing the public to whole new levels during his tenure.

Take what should be a straight-forward post about people not locking up in late May, for example.

“If Nicolas Cage wants a sequel to Gone in 60 Seconds he could film in Hedland and call it Gone in Three Seconds, although Warner Brothers may not match the thrilling suspense of the original with a Hollywood star walking up to an unlocked vehicle and starting it with the ignition keys,” Sgt Cleal wrote.

“I LOVE living in Hedland, but we have opportunistic villains here and my boring posts of ‘lock your stuff’ is not for ANY OTHER reason than attempting to avoid good people having their ‘stuff’ stolen.”

We don’t have space to give the whole post justice, but you can read it in the embedded link above. Do yourselves a favour and take a scroll through the Pilbara District’s Facebook page to find more gems.

Long may Sgt Cleal’s Facebook updates reign.

Team WA?

The good folk of Kununurra may soon face their biggest test of where the town’s allegiances lie.

We’re not talking secession from WA — yet — but something even bigger.

For if the NT’s bid to have a team accepted into the AFL is successful, Kununurra is going to have to make a tough choice. Do they stay true to the southerners in West Coast and Fremantle, or pledge loyalty to the new local top-end team.

Our money is on staying true to the west for now, but as the next generation grows up being able to drive to weekend games in Darwin, that will surely change.

From there, it is only a matter of time before the State boundary is re-drawn — right?

The Empire Port

What Gone Troppo “definitely” hears all the time is that New York and Port Hedland are like peas in a pod. Both towns have buildings, and people living and working in those buildings.

In even more similarities with the Big Apple, Port Hedland also now boasts a 24-hour art scene.

Yes, The Jury Art Prize is hosting an all-night exhibition opening, starting at 3pm next Friday, which includes 11pm food vans, 4am piano, and a 5am candlelight meditation.

Between shift work and 24-hour art expos, we say Hedland can truly lay claim to being the town that never sleeps.

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