Balloon Caper

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The Great Hot-Air-Balloon Caper

Australia's bi-centennial celebrations were in 1988.  (This of course marking the two-hundredth anniversary of Sir Arthur Phillip's landing at Sydney Cove and commencement of European settlement).  After success the year before for the Wyong Centenary events, Wyong Drama Group had the honour to be responsible for arranging events for the local celebrations of the national bi-centenary.

A feature of these celebrations was to be tethered hot-air balloon rides.  The first ascent of the day included the organisers of the event, most of whom were from Wyong Drama Group and scheduled to appear in the play (Lady Chatterly's Bunyip) that evening (Saturday 20 August 1988).

To the horror of those in the basket, the rope tethering the balloon snapped and the cast went sailing away amid great consternation from the spectators.  Shaken, they landed safely in the middle of a nearby swamp, alongside the old Pioneer Dairy in Lake Road, Tuggerah.

They were able to compose themselves, fold up the huge silken balloon, and in the great tradition of all theatrical folk, the show went on that night!

The below pictures are thumbnails, click on the smaller picture for a larger image.  Apologies for the quality of the pictures, but they have been dropped from a second generation VHS videotape which was over twenty years old.

 The poster describing the fare of the fair.  Note the midday entry: "Balloon Release, Official Opening".  Someone literal had obviously read this poster.
Gwen Clarke posts the Ticket Prices for today.  Hot air balloon rides are a steal at a mere $5 per person.
Preparation, of course, involves inflating the thing with hot air.  Fortunately there were a few politicians around at the celebrations.  Incidentally, the balloon is exactly where the Court House currently stands.
The brave, intrepid, lucky adventurers mount the basket.  At the time, the balloon operator is actually expressing concerns over the increasing wind velocity, but hey, let's not let that deter our plucky adventurers.
About two seconds before this shot, there was a rather large rope connecting this balloon to the ground.  It seems its absence transfers the ride from a sedate rise and descent into a worrisome episode!
There they go!  At this point they are heading up Anzac Avenue Wyong towards The Entrance.  They've made it to the race track so far...
Must have been a wind-change.  The hot air cools down, and the balloon descends.  This shot is along Lake Road Tuggerah.
They actually left skid-marks.  (From the basket, at least).
Our intrepid adventurers, Pollyanna Forshaw (Murphy), Julie Bailey, Ruth Jordon and Ros Sell.  A comment here about them all being women would obviously be out of place.  Perhaps a comment about their apparel would be more appropriate?
As punishment, they were made to fold up the balloon.  That'll show 'em!

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Copyright © Oct-09 by Peter Deane   -  Last modified: Saturday, 31 July 2010 12:23 AM