There?s a new face in town, and kitted out in black leather jacket, shades and boxing gloves, his agenda is clearly to stop Woolworths from opening up shop in the quaint hinterland township of Maleny.   Obi the Urban Platypus, AKA Steve Thompson, and the Wooldozer, are the latest tools employed by protestors to highlight to the media the struggle they are having with the retailer, which plans to build a store by the Obi Obi Creek.

Obi has but one message for Woolies, ?go away!?

And once out of his altered-ego?s costume Steve explained that Obi and the Wooldozer, piloted by Bernard O?Scanaill, would be prominent figures in the campaign to raise awareness of the fight.   ?They will both be appearing at every single event that they can manage to get to,? said Steve. ?We hope to turn a few heads.?

Steve and Bernard, who constructed both costumes, are strong supporters of all the local protest groups that have been fighting Wooloworth?s plans for years.    Both gentlemen stressed they were not spokespersons for any of the groups, but were simply strengthening their resolve with this publicity stunt and more, as the clock ticks towards a rumoured construction start date of June 20.

Just prior to TRN going to press, Obi and the Wooldozer were preparing for a journey to Brisbane?s CBD, where both characters coordinated with the press and were hoping for as much news coverage as possible.    ?We?re planning to make the evening news and inform the public of our struggle up here,? said Steve. ?National coverage would be even more acceptable.?

Steve, who reckons Maleny has the highest concentration of urban platypus in Queensland, said he wanted the public to see Woolworths for what he thinks it really is.     ?They are supposedly the smiling fresh food people, but the inner core of the company has money as its first priority,? said Steve.

The demonstrator duo, who together spent about a week designing and making their costumes, wanted to thank John Woodland?s Platypus Action Group, which paid for the materials for both the Wooldozer and Obi.