Australia wouldn't be Australia without encounters with wildlife and 2016 didn't disappoint.
In January, a woman managed to survive a crocodile attack in the far north of Western Australia but did lose half of her arm.
She was spotted walking along a road with part of her arm below the elbow missing after she was attacked at Three Mile Creek north of Wyndham in the Kimberley.
The partner of the man who found the woman told the ABC that at first he didn't realise how seriously injured she was.
"He just saw that she had a bit of blood on her and he actually didn't realise until he pulled up that she was missing her arm and I think she was in shock, got herself into the car really and she said to Jack she was worried because she didn't want to get blood all through his car."
A more pleasant encounter with wildlife occurred when Victorian MP Harrie Shing spotted a koala near a main road in the town of Leongatha.
The marsupial seemed to be on a mission so she escorted the animal across the road only to see the koala enter an accountant's office.
"I'm really sorry there's a koala inside your office, don't be alarmed there's a koala coming around the corner. I've just shepherded him across the road from the park."
The koala reportedly survived the encounter.
Other animals that had lucky escapes in 2016 were two American turkeys named Tater and Tot.
In one of his last official duties as US president, Barack Obama pardoned the National Thanksgiving Turkey at a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House.
Keeping with tradition, Mr Obama spared the 18 week old turkeys from being turned into a Thanksgiving feast.
"Now, Tater is here in a backup role just in case Tot can't fulfill his duties. So he's sort of like the 'vice turkey'. We're working on getting him a pair of aviator glasses. It's my great privilege -- well, let's just say it's my job, actually -- to grant them clemency this afternoon. As I do, I want to take a moment to recognise the brave turkeys who weren't so lucky, who didn't get to ride the gravy train to freedom; who met their fate with courage and sacrifice, and proved that they weren't chicken."
The US election campaign was bitter and divisive but there was some levity on the campaign trail.
After the final election debate, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton traded barbs at a dinner in New York.
The now President-elect Donald Trump spoke first, suggesting he was known for his modesty, before picking up on an earlier scandal over a campaign speech made by his wife.
"Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it, it is fantastic. They think she is absolutely great. My wife Melania gives the exact same speech... and people get on her case."
Hillary Clinton then joked about her own long-running email scandal, before comparing her health with that of Mr Trump.
"We have each released our medical records. My heart rate is 72 beats per minute. His is the most beats ever or the least beats ever, whichever sounds best."
On his first official visit to the Turkish capital as British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson decided to steer clear of his past prize-winning insults of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but it may not have been a diplomatic success.
"I certainly am the proud possessor of a beautiful, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine, like so many other people in my country."
"Democracy sausage" was named Word of the Year by the Australian National Dictionary Centre, which is clearly more literate than it is numerate.
The term for a barbecued sausage bought at a polling booth on election day was first used in 2012 but its popularity increased significantly during this year's federal election campaign.
In November, hundreds of people climbed high above Brisbane to catch a glimpse of the biggest and brightest moon in decades.
Queenslanders and West Australians claimed bragging rights when the so-called supermoon lit up the night sky, as thick clouds blanketed much of the rest of the country, spoiling many people's views.
The moon came closer to earth than any full moon since 1948, and US space agency NASA says we won't see another like it until 2034.
And in early December, Santa used a parachute rather than a sleigh to make a pre-Christmas visit to a village near the Italian town of Amatrice to hand out gifts to kids affected by the earthquake in August.
" … Oh, Santa Claus finally can rest… Let's start! A little kiss? A Little kiss? He's not going to give me a little kiss."
