Something so secretive even the excitement is hidden

An email landed in InSider’s inbox from one of our favourite South Australian companies this week which left us… underwhelmed.

In an announcement InSider was genuinely excited by, Menz let us know it would be dropping some kind of FruChocs collaboration just in time for FruChocs Appreciation Day, which we all know falls on September 27. Obviously.

However, it was not the exciting news that raised InSider’s eyebrows, but the directions towards a “mysterious new teaser” the company had posted on its social media, and specifically, the claims it had “created a buzz”.

Firstly, we would have appreciated a trigger warning for any use of the word “buzz” in a media release, given it is normally followed by some update about RAA’s god-awful Trev the Bee. 

Secondly, does saying something has created a buzz mean it has in fact, created said “buzz”? Does a fallen tree make a noise in an empty forest? Who knows, but InSider is not entirely sure a video that has amassed a total of 146 likes across Facebook and Instagram at the time of writing could be said to have created such a thing. (Prolific Instagram users will realise InSider had to count those 100 likes ourselves, though the visible like count on the post embedded below made us realise there may have been another option… How’s that for dedicated journalism?)

Not only was an alleged buzz created, but we were assured that “eagle-eyed fans are already trying to guess what might be coming”.

Journalism is all about presenting facts and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, so in the spirit of that: one person has guessed what the upcoming collaboration could be, across both platforms.

All’s fair in love and PR. If you’re reading this Mr FruChoc: we still love you.

Meowing, crochet bikinis, and “shit for brains”: experiences of women in politics

InSider heard from a panel of powerhouse women this week, sharing their experiences in politics, and reflecting on some particularly noteworthy comments they had heard. A highlight reel has been collated for your pleasure – or disgust.

After first looking back on her uni days, when she made her money selling homemade crochet bikinis (that is until “the girls got fatter”), former deputy premier and attorney-general Vickie Chapman said sometimes it paid to have a prepared response for “complete jerks”. Chapman recalled former Liberal senator Amanda Vanstone’s response to one male’s comment about her weight.

“She just turned around and said ‘better to be broad in the backside than have shit for brains’.”

Facilitator Tory Shepherd asked Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong if she had ever faced misogynistic comments during her time in politics. Shepherd was met with a raised eyebrow and a room of laughter. Wong recalled one incident in 2011 when a Liberal senator “meowed” at her during a senate hearing.

“I actually couldn’t believe it. But I had a really fascinating conversation with that person… he said something about not knowing how to respond to a woman like me when I react, which I thought was a really honest and a really interesting insight,” Wong said.

Liberal senator Alex Antic got a shoutout, though not a particularly warm one.

“There’s a senator from South Australia, and I’m now going to give him some press. His name is Alex Antic, and he has a particular view around, well, he has a lot of interesting views,” Wong said.

“He gave a speech at the end of last year which went to gender and gender roles, and this is how he finished it: ‘our society needs more, not less, masculinity. I think a little more patriarchy will help us out’.”

Based on the crowd response, InSider thinks it was best Antic missed this particular event.

Another not-quite-glowing shoutout went to one Adelaide media organisation, who this week published another hard-hitting piece of journalism: a deep dive into the outfit worn by David Speirs as he touched down from Scotland.

“I don’t know if that’s a step forward,” Shepherd said of that particular piece of political reporting.

In other fashion news…

On that note: the South Australian Cricket Association released their new uniform designs this week, featuring the new name “South Australia” (rather than the previous “West End Redbacks” and “SA Scorpions”).

Now, for the first time since 1996, the SA domestic cricket uniforms will feature the state’s colours of red, blue and gold.

The reveal came in the form of some slightly over-exposed photos, which we have included below for your viewing pleasure.

The new uniform has divided the InSider team. At least we aren’t left wondering who the biggest sponsors are! Photo: supplied

The big reveal. Photo: Supplied