As a kid I collected, and continue to collect, Boomerangs.
It started when I was about 10 and was given one made by the famous Bill Onus (father of the artist Lin Onus). My dad ran a hardware store and sold Bill's boomerangs so I guess that's how I came by it. Dad also tells a great story about throwing them with Bill on the Rosebud beach in winter and having to wade out to retreive his!
I still collect them and have almost 200 now. I collect all sorts - the historic (though less of these now as I have some issues about these being for sale and not repatriated), the tourist trade ones, plastic ones, bakelite ones - anything really. I even bought a broken one recently. I will generally always buy one so if you ever come across them let me know and I'll pay you back for it.
The best throw and catch boomerangs come from a company in Queensland set up by Lauren Hawes who was as Los Alamos developing the atomic bomb when he became disillusioned and moved to Australia to make boomerangs. He ran the business for many years before his dauther took over and re-named it Stones Throw. Recently she sold the business but it is still going strong and great boomerangs can be had for about $10.
My collection has fighting boomerangs, musical boomerangs, those used as awards in World War II bomber squadrons, plastic ones bought in K-Mart, tiny little ones about 10cms long, and the list goes on. I hang many of them from my ceiling in various postures.
I tried to throw them all away once but they just came back!!!!
Anyway, great Chrissie idea Mike.
Have a great Christmas everyone and here's to a safe, happy and bushfire free summer.
Niko