Suddenly 2024 is becoming the year of the unexpected. Think about all the things that have happened, from small and local, to big and global, so far.
It’s actually a little scary to think there are still four months and a bit to go before we see this calendar year out.
Locally we watched in amazement as one of Australia’s major political parties failed to nominate its candidates for council elections in NSW on September 14.
Nobody yet really knows why the stuff up happened, but what also really resonated was hearing people who’ve been around for decades admit this was the last thing they thought they’d ever see in the lives.
It certainly brought out the adage “if you live long enough you will see things you never expected’’, or something like that.
Last year’s Voice referendum was a surprise on two levels: firstly, that it was put to the people in the way that it was, and, secondly, the size of the defeat of the Yes case.
A little further away from home, in Paris, France, they put on the strangest opening ceremony we’ve ever seen, and there’s literally people still scratching their heads about the “last supper’’ bit on the River Seine.
And then, out of the blue, our athletes put on performances that were out of this world, the result being our best medal haul ever, and a fourth finish.
Fourth in the world, and that was after Japan overtook us in the last day or so of the Games.
That one really was out of the blue.
Across the Atlantic former President Trump was the subject of a failed assassination attempt.
Then current US president Joe Biden shocks most people, at least in his party, by finally announcing he won’t be running for a second term.
Maybe unexpected year doesn’t quite cover it, and something like bizarre may be more appropriate.
In any case, here’s our Top 5 unexpected events of 2024, so far:
Number 5. The Trump assassination attempt.
Number 4. The Biden departure.
Number 3. The Voice referendum result.
Number 2. Paris opening ceremony.
Number 1. The Liberal Party council nominations disaster.
