Australia Takes on Luck O' the Irish

Australia Takes on Luck O' the Irish
Wed Mar 13,11:15 AM ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The luck of the Irish is running out in Australia as sniffer dogs are brought out and X-ray machines cranked up in a crackdown on illegal imports of shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day.


More than 60 four-leaf clovers had already been seized during stepped-up inspections of post from Ireland at mail sorting centers, a spokeswoman for the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service Wednesday.

"We will obviously be receiving more," she said.

Since earliest times, the Irish have considered the shamrock -- originally a white clover -- a symbol of good luck or a charm against evil. St. Patrick's Day on March 17 is celebrated by Irish communities around the world with the "wearin' o' the green."

But Australia's quarantine service says some types of shamrock are just noxious weeds that could threaten the vast island continent's unique ecosystem or bring in plant diseases.

Some of the shamrocks seized in recent days included bits of soil that could introduce foot and mouth disease into Australia, potentially ruining its billion-dollar cattle industry, said Rob Angus, manager of the plant quarantine station in Sydney.

"I've been with the service for 20 years and you see them (shamrocks) every year," Angus told Reuters. "You understand why...but they should try and find something that expresses it in a different way."

Seized shamrocks are destroyed, and brochures sent to their intended recipients telling them why their good luck charm never made it.

Quote:

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Originally posted by barrk
Some of the shamrocks seized in recent days included bits of soil that could introduce foot and mouth disease into Australia, potentially ruining its billion-dollar cattle industry, said Rob Angus, manager of the plant quarantine station in Sydney.

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that's just taking the piss. Britain has been declared free of F&M and it was some dodgy illegal import of meat from some arsehole country that infected us anyway...****s

Quote:

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But Australia's quarantine service says some types of shamrock are just noxious weeds that could threaten the vast island continent's unique ecosystem or bring in plant diseases

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This reminded me of the Simpsons episode where Bart infested Australia with frogs.

I do see their point though and commend them on protecting themselves.

Still, I thought it was funny!

Quote:

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Originally posted by barrk
I do see their point though and commend them on protecting themselves.

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yeah, but we do the same with rabbies and look at the stick we get..........:confused: :confused:

I haven't heard about that one. We stop people at the borders of our state to see if they've brought any fruits and vegies across and confiscate them due to the medfly infestation. No one seems to give us any grief over that.

I really don't understand why but the rest of Europe thinks it's madness to be so anul over rabbies and almost look down their nose at us about the issue.

Well Chris taking that into account you should be able to relate
to the Australian Quarantine view point.

I think that every nation has a right to protect it's people, environment, and industries, from foreign pests and diseases.

I know it might sound trivial for a few shamrocks, but the point
is valid.

Besides, Jello and I once had some honey confiscated at Sydney
airport from New Zealand......which has equally strict quarantine
laws... so it's not just Europe.

Quote:

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Originally posted by DragonFly
Well Chris taking that into account you should be able to relate
to the Australian Quarantine view point.

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that depends...is it only because the Shamrocks are coming from the british isles (inc. ireland) that they're being funny over it or would they be equally vigilant if they came from, i dunno, the US?

Chris, if they confiscate honey from New Zealand, I think it's fair to
say that this is not about the country of origin. The rules are
absolute.

okay then, i'll let you off ;)

Yeah. I'm going to start confiscating beer of people who try to smuggle it in from the states..... er, on second thoughts, they can keep their beer :D

I have to admire Australia for being so protective of the environment. I mean, you gotta admit, considering the whole island was populated by criminals they've turned out okay :D

Maybe we should ask for it back now, and see if they'll fall for it. hell, we'll swap them. They can all live in rain soaked Britain and we'll have the sun and beaches.

SD

You know it's funny SD, in Australia, it's considered very chi chi to
be the decendant of a transported prisoner.....almost a (very aussie) take on the whole Mayflower thing for the seppo's.:D

:D

I can't help but think that our ancestors got it really screwed up. You commit an offence and we'll send you somewhere much nicer and warmer than Blighty. Oh, boo hoo. Poor me :cool: Hang on while I get the suntan lotion.

Maybe for lesser punishments they just sent them on holidays to Spain or the like.

For really minor offences they take you down the pub, buy you a few drinks and then take you to a brothel.

What about the people who are descended from the Gaurds. Are they considered better or worse (or does nobody admit to it).

SD

Quote:

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Originally posted by DragonFly
You know it's funny SD, in Australia, it's considered very chi chi to
be the decendant of a transported prisoner.....almost a (very aussie) take on the whole Mayflower thing for the seppo's.:D

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Is this Jethro trying to explain away his criminal record?









- Milli Vanilli ?

SD

Geez no..........unless you're a peudo pommie - Liberal party member -sucky brown nose from Toorak or Valcluse.

;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by DragonFly
Geez no..........unless you're a peudo pommie - Liberal party member -sucky brown nose from Toorak or Valcluse.

;)

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You seem to have someone particular in mind :D

But no denial on the Milli vanilli record I notice!

SD

Okay, I gotta go. It's 9.15pm which is well past my bedtime. man oh man, do i need my beauty sleep..... okay, it's pub time.

Nice talking to you DragonFly! Have a great evening.

Say hi to Jethro.

SD

Yeah you too SD...



BTW Jethro is a Kiwi!



Night night:)

Quote:

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Originally posted by SurfDemon


You seem to have someone particular in mind :D

But no denial on the Milli vanilli record I notice!

SD

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Sorry I missed this one somehow...........Jello would be rolling on
the floor laughing at the suggestion that he would have a Milli Vanilli record:D :D :D :D :p

Quote:

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Originally posted by DragonFly

BTW Jethro is a Kiwi!

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Wow! I didn't know that! Unfortunately , despite having a bunch of Kiwi mates over here, I don't know any really good insults for Kiwi's.

Damn. Can you help me out for future reference? :)

SD

basically any combination of "sheep" and "shaggers" ...

Quote:

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Originally posted by SurfDemon
I can't help but think that our ancestors got it really screwed up. You commit an offence and we'll send you somewhere much nicer and warmer than Blighty. Oh, boo hoo. Poor me :cool: Hang on while I get the suntan lotion.

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We were within a whisker of moving to Oz in the 80's...

Damn am I annoyed!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Wally Pipp
basically any combination of "sheep" and "shaggers" ...

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Unfortunately, this can also be applied to the Scots, so a bit of a no score draw there. :p

Thanks anyway. :D

SD

ummmmm....Dragon Fly? I don't really know how to break this to
you, but except for Massachuettes, Virginia, and Maryland the
rest of the colonial expansion was pretty much culled from
debtors prison. And yes I include Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

They don't like to admit it, but FFG (First Families of Georgia) are
nothing but a bunch of deadbeat's descendants!

Really I didn't know that........hee hee so much for all the criminal
jokes.........I guess we have more in common than I realised.


:D :p