Australia is renowned for its big attractions – the banana, the pineapple and the prawn just to name a few.

Maitland got in on the act recently with the introduction of the big ugg boots at the Mortels Factory at Thornton.

But it looks as though another local site is having a crack as well, at least according to the “You Know You’re From Maitland When?” Facebook page.

Three giant metal poles have been erected in the construction of the flyover near the Maitland Railway Station roundabout, which was an area covered in water only a couple of weeks ago after the superstorm.

Danny and Jenny Anderson took this photo and posted it online with this caption: “Maitland’s new attraction – the big cricket stumps”. 

Marvellous effort that!

Can they remember

The Newcastle Knights partied for quite some time across the Hunter after their historic 1997 grand final win.

Rumours were it lasted for weeks.

Proof of that, well at least the start of it all, was unearthed during the week in the shape of an 18-year-old interview with Cessnock junior and former All Saints College student Matty Johns at 6am the morning after the win.

Johns was joined live by reporter Natalie Barr at Newcastle Workers Club and a few stray Newcastle players in the background, aka Johns’ younger brother Joey.

“It was better than lego,” Johns said about the homecoming last night in what was easily the most memorable quote.

The clip was shown on Matty Johns’ Monday night pay television program.  

Bear on road

Weston Bears 2010 grand final skipper Chris Cousins has swapped 4-4-2 for four wheels as he takes part in this year’s Variety NSW AHA Big Bash.

Alongside Paul Fuss in a car more affectionately known as Bob the Builder the pair have made it to Marulan, Young, Hay, Gol Gol, Ivanhoe and Condobolin.

The week-long 2500-plus-kilometre round trip continues to Mudgee today, stays in Cessnock tomorrow before wrapping up at Newcastle Foreshore on Saturday. 

White back on track

Maitland Blacks junior Nic White returned from injury for the ACT Brumbies during their recent tour of South Africa.

It started with a disappointing 25-24 loss to the Stormers but finished with a 30-20 victory over the Lions.

Below is an interview with White after the victory in Johannesburg. 

Quote: “Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it,” Ted Williams on Twitter via @Sports_Greats