Australia Day is a day where people from across our nation, tattoo themselves with flags, slather on sunscreen, head to the beach and throw a good old "Shrimp on the barbie, Mate!". Then, in the evening, masses of people, families, friends and couples head to the shoreline to watch, what I learnt last night were, the best Australia Day Skyworks. And may I just say, from being absent from the mind-blowing show for a few years, it was SPECTACULAR!
Last year, I remember sitting at home with my parents, planning to head to the local park to watch the fireworks but having to stay home due to wet, hot and humid weather. That is why when I heard we were going right up to the fireworks, I was over the moon.
After the long walk, my friend and I trekked up a hill where about ten other people had sat down to watch across the freeway. Where we sat we really got the 'Australian Spirit' experience. In front of us were a couple who were entranced by the fireworks, continuously commenting on the sparkly, colourful and high up lights. At one point my friend and I burst into singing a quiet but proud Australian Anthem. We got only one person join in other than us, but it felt comforting.
The finally was truly the best bit of the 30-minute show finished with loud whistles, claps and callings of "AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!"
It was definitely one of my best experiences of our National Celebration. Well, other than the 30-minute walk home, of course!
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Australia Day Skyworks 2013
After many years absent from the country on Australia Day, the family were ready and raring to go see the Skyworks. To celebrate Australia Day in this particularly Perth way. I'm old enough to have been at the first Australia Day sky show in 1985. It was a much more laid back approach for everyone back then as we had no idea what the experience entailed. The Hyde Park Fair was held the same weekend and we went from the Fair straight to Kings Park arriving just as the fireworks started. There were no road closures, no parking problems, no traffic jam getting home! But the crowds were there lining Kings Park and the foreshore; everyone had a torch and a radio. The music blared out and the new wonder of fireworks timed to music was fascinating. When the radio announcer asked everyone to flash their torches a large portion of South Perth's homes flashed their house lights, particularly the multi-storey apartment blocks. it was hot, the sky was clear and everyone was smiling. I can't remember how long it took to get out of West Perth to Hyde Park but we were back at the Fair before it shut for the evening.
Nearly 30 years on it is harder to achieve this laid back approach. Perth is a bigger city now and everyone knows what to expect - road closures, parking problems and traffic jams! We joined friends for dinner at their home within walking distance of the river around 4.30. A typical Australian offering of cooked chicken and sausages was good eating. The males went on the Internet to work out the best location. No longer could we walk straight down William St to the grassed area along the Esplanade (Elizabeth Quay Construction Site). Google maps was consulted. It was decided to leave at 7.20.
The crowds walking with us grew as we came closer to the river. Of course the first location was deemed not good enough by the googling males and we continued on closer to the river along the cycle path. Then boom it was 8 o'clock and the fireworks had started. three of us decided to just stay where we were and enjoyed a lovely view of the fireworks surrounded by others on a grassy bank. There was even a rendition of Advance Australia Fair during the show! Due to the proximity to the freeway, we had another lightshow - the red & blue flashing lights of police motorbikes moving everyone off the side of the freeway! the 30 minutes went quickly and then the mass movement of people began. We were joined by our googling males who had found "the perfect place with an incredible view".
Incredible view or lovely view - what does it matter we enjoyed ourselves.
Nearly 30 years on it is harder to achieve this laid back approach. Perth is a bigger city now and everyone knows what to expect - road closures, parking problems and traffic jams! We joined friends for dinner at their home within walking distance of the river around 4.30. A typical Australian offering of cooked chicken and sausages was good eating. The males went on the Internet to work out the best location. No longer could we walk straight down William St to the grassed area along the Esplanade (Elizabeth Quay Construction Site). Google maps was consulted. It was decided to leave at 7.20.
The crowds walking with us grew as we came closer to the river. Of course the first location was deemed not good enough by the googling males and we continued on closer to the river along the cycle path. Then boom it was 8 o'clock and the fireworks had started. three of us decided to just stay where we were and enjoyed a lovely view of the fireworks surrounded by others on a grassy bank. There was even a rendition of Advance Australia Fair during the show! Due to the proximity to the freeway, we had another lightshow - the red & blue flashing lights of police motorbikes moving everyone off the side of the freeway! the 30 minutes went quickly and then the mass movement of people began. We were joined by our googling males who had found "the perfect place with an incredible view".
Incredible view or lovely view - what does it matter we enjoyed ourselves.
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