In a fortnight I will be heading to France to attend the centenary of the most appalling night in Australian history. In the early evening of   July 19, 1916, while still broad daylight, no fewer than 7000 Diggers - bravely following an insane plan - were sent forward at Fromelles, across as much as 400 yards of open ground straight at German machine-guns, which cut them to pieces and continued to do so for the next 14 hours.
By the following morning we had 5500 casualties, of whom 1900 were killed. 
Three days later, the Battle of Pozieres started, where, over the next six weeks, we had nearly 7000 killed. Gallipoli, in comparison - all the veterans agreed - was a picnic.
But who from our government will preside at these centenaries? With the election, it hasn't been clear who the prime minister, or his veteran affairs minister, would be. The centenaries fall in exactly the period that the new government will be sworn in.
It is for the same reason, I am told from a very senior source at Yarralumla, that our Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove - who would normally be there in full regalia - will understandably be sticking close to Canberra so as to fulfil the important function of swearing in the new ministry.
At least the governors of NSW, Victoria and South Australia, will be in attendance, representing the Australian people. Lest we Forget.
Republican revival
Rarely have I been so chuffed in recent times. On   July 21, my friend, Professor David Flint, of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, will be addressing the Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society at a breakfast on - wait for it - "The Republican Revival". Rah, and again, I say RAH!
It is worse than you think, Professor. I didn't see it coming, but Brexit - which we are using as inspiration, but certainly not a model - has galvanised the movement. We have put on more members in the past week than the past two months. (Though that was already an impressive number.) And we have received a donation that would kill a brown dog!
Anyway, for those who would like to hear the Professor, I guess if you contact the Anglo lawyers - a nice mob, who I addressed myself recently - you might be able to go?
If, on the other hand, you're interested in 2022 more than 1952, join us at the launch of Australian Women for A Republic the next day at Water @ Pier One at Walsh Bay at noon, to be addressed by Marina Go, general manager of Bauer-Hearst Media and chancellor of the University of Sydney Belinda Hutchinson. Try rsvp@republic.org.au And thank you!
Quiz
Been watching Wimbledon? You get the game, yes? So here's the question, but you must answer quickly. When you and I play, and your service game is working better than ever, what is the MINIMUM number of serves for you to win the set? QUICKLY, I said! (Answer below.)
Stand tall
The scene was set last Wednesday morning at Winston Hills shopping mall, as a child's cry rings out! The just-purchased helium balloon of TFF reader John Neylan's two-year-old grandson is sailing for the roof. But wait! A nearby diner - a very tall Somali-Australian - swings into action. "No problem," says he, flashing a blinding smile, "maybe I can help?"
Taking the situation in hand, and borrowing a claw device from a cleaner, he jumps first on a chair, then onto a table, and standing on his tippy-toes finally manages to latch onto the very end of the balloon's gyrating trailing ribbon! Rescue completed ... yesss! The smiling child is handed his balloon. Cheers ring out around the shopping mall. There have been a thousand stories in the freezing metropolis of Sydney this week. This has been just one of them.
Joke of the week
A man is walking through the woods when he comes across a suitcase, from which strange yelping sounds are emerging. Inside the suitcase he finds a fox and her cubs! Of course, he dials the RSPCA to report his discovery.
"That's horrible," the woman on the other end exclaims, "Are they moving?"
"I don't know," the man replies thoughtfully, "but that would certainly explain the suitcase."
Answer
You said 24 serves didn't you? I knew it! You worked out that with a win of 6-0, and minimum four serves a game, 6 x 4 = 24. But the answer is 12, because you only had to serve three times, remember? Gotcha!
Twitter: @Peter_Fitz