Tim the Yowie Man
So named after spotting an
unidentified big black hairy creature in Canberra's Brindabella
Mountains in 1994, Tim the Yowie Man has carved out a curious career as
Australia's leading mystery investigator and cryptonaturalist.
Whether it is the latest
report of the Loch Ness Monster, the discovery of a pyramid on a remote
Pacific Island, or something a little closer to home like a Tassie Tiger
sighting or a haunted house, Tim is quick to arrive on the scene to
investigate.
Tim is the National Museum
of Australia's Resident Cryptonaturalist and author of several books on
mysteries of the world including most recently "The Adventures of Tim
the Yowie Man" (Random House, 2001). He contributes regularly to a large
number of publications both domestically and internationally including
The Sunday Telegraph and the Helix Science Magazine.
Tim has also featured in several
documentaries for the Discovery
and Geo television networks and
has hosted regular segments on mysteries of the ACT for Canberra radio
stations 666 ABC Canberra, FM104.7 and 1053 2CA.
Tim
is possibly best remembered for his role in 2000 for uncovering the top
secret location of reality TV show Survivor 2 The Australian Outback,
and for dropping chocolate bars from a helicopter to the contestants
below. This event catapulted Tim from an off beat Aussie mystery
investigator to international larrikin chauffeured around LA in a
stretch limo, and fought over by US TV stations.
Sweet Victory for Tim the Yowie Man
Tuesday December 14th 2004.
Today, the verdict in one of
Australia’s most high profile trademark battles was handed down by the
Australian Trademarks Tribunal.
The decision resolves a
three-year David and Goliath struggle which pitted Australian
cryptozoologist, Tim the Yowie Man, up against multi-national corporate
behemoth, Cadbury Schweppes.
In her comprehensive written
decision, Trade Marks Hearings Senior Examiner, Rachel Dunn, found in
Tim the Yowie Man’s favour, ruling that Cadbury’s opposition failed “in
its entirety.”
Cadbury’s main opposition to
Tim’s trademark of ‘Tim the Yowie Man’ was that it was deceptively
similar to their ‘yowie’ range of confectionary.
Ms Dunn categorically
dismissed Cadbury’s claims that children would become confused between
their chocolate products and Tim the Yowie Man, adjudicating, “children
are more sophisticated consumers than the opponent [Cadbury Schweppes]
gives them credit for.”
“This isn’t just a win for
Tim the Yowie Man, this is also a win for common sense and for the
thousands of people around Australia (and the world) who have offered
their support through what has been an emotionally and financially
draining time,” said the mystery investigator.
Cadbury Schweppes have one
month to decide whether to appeal the decision. However, Tim suggests,
“only a very foolish party would appeal such a clear-cut decision.”
“It would be in everyone’s
best interest for Cadbury Schweppes to return to making chocolate
instead of instigating ridiculous time wasting legal battles,” said a
jubilant Tim the Yowie Man.
For more information,
contact Tim the Yowie Man on
timtheyowieman@bigpond.com
To signify the emotional and financial strain of this absurd
trademark battle,
Destiny Tours delivered Tim to the trademarks hearing in Elvira the
hearse.
Cryptonaturalist
named in top
100 blokes ever
Sydney, October 7, 2005
Crack cryptonaturalist,
Tim the Yowie Man has been named in the Top 100 Blokes Ever.
The distinguished list,
published in the November 2005 edition of men’s lifestyle magazine,
Ralph, to celebrate its 100th edition, names ‘the most
outstanding men Australia and New Zealand have produced’.
“It’s a real honour to be
recognized in this way - just look at the others who made the list –
it’s a real who’s who of Aussie legends,” says a chuffed Tim the Yowie
Man who was named at the lofty heights of #91.
There’s certainly no doubt
that Tim is in esteemed company – others to make the top 100 include
war hero Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, explorer extraordinaire, Sir
Douglas Mawson, entertainers Graham Kennedy and Jack Thompson, and
sportsmen David Boon and Mark Ella.
Although Tim the Yowie Man
predominantly made the exclusive list due to his David and Goliath
legal victory against confectionary giant Cadbury, over use of the
word ‘Yowie,’ his other antics including a lifelong dedication to
tracking Australia’s mysterious phenomena, breaking into the US
survivor campsite in outback Queensland in year 2000, and successfully
attempting to break the drought by shaking his rainstick in June this
year, certainly did him no harm.
“Being named in this list
even beats the day I spotted the Hawaiian lava tube mutant pig monster
for the first time,” exclaims the elated real-life super sleuth - the
only cryptonaturalist to make the list.
For more
information, email
timtheyowieman@bigpond.com
Tim's new book, Haunted and Mysterious Australia,
makes a great Christmas present idea for yourself or a friend. A copy of this book
personally signed by Tim the Yowie Man is just $49.95 including
postage to anywhere in Australia. Details
here
For all enquiries
and bookings, please phone Allan the Hearse Whisperer
on (02) 9943 0167 or 0414
232244 or email:
allan@destinytours.com.au
"DON'T LEAVE THE BEST RIDE
OF YOUR LIFE TILL LAST"
Note: Many locations seen on Weird Canberra Ghost and History Tours are
private or Commonwealth property and not accessible to the public.
We do not go inside any of the locations. Carriage is in accordance with
the Passenger Transport Act 1990.
