Easter in Bendigo

Waking of the Dragon!

It’s just not Easter without the Dragons …

 

Bendigo
The Easter Fair has been staged for more than a century. The ten day festival commences with a street carnival on Easter Saturday, a ‘waking of the dragon’ ceremony takes place on Easter Sunday when a small lion wakes ‘Sun Loong’ with fireworks. Sun Loong is 100m long and is the largest known ceremonial Chinese dragon in the world. It is a colourful feature of the major procession on Easter Monday.

 

 The two-hour ‘waking of the dragon’ ceremony includes Lion dancing, costume parade and the parading of Gan Su Loong, strings of 5,000 fire crackers and the Clan McLeod Highland Pipe Band. On the Monday was the Easter parade with 5 dragons including Sun Loong!

 LINKS:

[1] www.goldendragonmuseum.org

Easter Bunny

Hoppy Easter! – http://www.grayace.com/dex/bunny.html

(Rapeasterbunny.swf)

SYDNEY

The hotel in Darling Harbour had stuffed the booking so we ended up transferred across to Kings Cross … it was good that we had plans for a wide area All up we had a great time wandering about in Sydney. Found the map from “shhhhhh dont tell anyone….” image of Sydney to be just the ticket for plotting out the weekends targets.

The caches that we found;

• GCJFY5 – Writers of Renown [Virtual]
• GCGX1F – ZFX#1 Coffee Lovers Cache [Unknown]
• GCH8AX – This Is Jam [Traditional]
• GCJYAR – The Naval Treaty [Multi]
• GCF7A4 – Harbourside [Traditional]

DNF’s;

• GC5E16 – Sydney Live! Webcam [Webcam] … too little
• GCMVFK – “Coat Hanger” [Traditional] … too short
• GCKKTY – Five Quay’s In A Row [Traditional] … too daft (I think I now know where it was!)

NZ Southern Alps claims three lives

NZ Southern Alps claims three lives. Seven people have died at Ball Pass since 1975 and the latest accident was the second to involve more than one person.

Weather hampers recovery of bodies [TV NZ]
Mar 10, 2005

The bodies of three people killed in a climbing accident in the Southern Alps will remain in the mountains for another night.

Mountain guide Erica Beuzenberg and climbers John Lowndes from England and Kazuhiro Kotani from Japan fell to their deaths in Ball Pass.

They were roped together when one of the men slipped and all three fell 200 metres down an ice slope.

Police Area Commander, Inspector Dave Gaskin, says weather conditions in the area are still poor, with thick clouds and snow.

He says police have interviewed other members of the climbing party and the accident will be referred to the coroner.

Prime Minister Helen Clark paid tribute to guide Erica Beuzenberg who died in the accident.

Clark has climbed with Beuzenberg as a guide and says her death is a huge loss for the climbing community.

She says Beuzenberg was one of New Zealand’s most experienced women adventurers who has climbed difficult peaks around the world, and for her to die on the Ball Pass is an incomprehensible tragedy.

Beuzenberg was the first to climb Mt Cook in winter, the first woman to climb the Balfour face of Mt Tasman and the first woman to the summit of South America’s Cerro Fitz Roy which is one of the most difficult mountains in the world. She did all of these climbs in winter.

The family of 41-year-old Beauzenberg say she died doing what she loved.

“She wouldn’t have wanted it to be anywhere else, she was too young to die and she had so much more to do and so much more to offer but she did die doing what she wanted to do,” Erica Beuzenberg’s sister Yvonne Gray says.

Ball Pass is a two to three-day alpine crossing which joins the eastern Tasman Valley to the western Hooker Valley. The pass usually requires climbers to wear crampons and carry an ice-axe. They can cross by themselves or with a guide.

PM pays tribute to climber [TV NZ]
Mar 10, 2005

Prime Minister Helen Clark has paid tribute to alpine guide Erica Beuzenberg who died after falling to her death in the Mt Cook National Park.

She was guiding John Lowndes from England and Kazuhiro Kotani from Japan, when one man slipped and they fell 200 metres down an ice slope on the Ball Pass.

Clark has climbed with Beuzenberg as a guide and says her death is a huge loss for the climbing community.

She says Beuzenberg was one of New Zealand’s most experienced women adventurers who has climbed difficult peaks around the world, and for her to die on the Ball Pass is an incomprehensible tragedy.

Beuzenberg was the first woman to climb Mt Cook, the first woman to climb the Balfour face of Mt Tasman and the first woman to the summit of South America’s Cerro Fitz Roy, one of the most difficult mountains in the world. She did all of these climbs in winter.

Attempts to recover the bodies are being hampered by atrocious weather. Senior Constable Brent Swanson says since Wednesday the weather has got even worse.

The accident brings to 214 the number of fatalities over the last 90 years in the Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park. Thousands of tourists flock to the park every year – attracted by its 15 peaks over 3,000 metres high.

LINKS:

[1] Ball Pass (Alpine Recreation)
[2] Ball Pass (DOC NZ)
[3] Ball Pass (NZ Adventure)

Ferrari’s new strategy ?

Melbourne, TuesdayThe Ferrari Formula 1 Team fired their entire pit crew yesterday. The announcement followed Ferrari’s decision to take advantage of the Australian Government’s Youth Opportunity scheme and employ people from Frankston.

The decision to hire them was brought on by a recent documentary on how unemployed youths from the Frankston area were able to remove a set of wheels in less than 6 seconds without proper equipment, whereas Ferrari’s existing crew can only do it in 8 seconds with millions of euros worth of high-tech equipment.

John Howard went on record as saying this was a bold move by the Ferrari management, which demonstrated the international recognition of Australia’s employment practices under his Liberal government. As most races are won and lost in the pits, Ferrari now have an advantage over every team.

However, Ferrari may have got more than they bargained for……At the crew’s first practice session, the Frankston pit crew successfully changed the tyres in under 6 seconds, and then within 12 seconds they had re-sprayed, re-badged, and sold the vehicle to the McLaren team for a slab of VB, a kilogram of speed and some photos of Montoya’s girlfriend in the shower.

Minardi out!

Ferrari shuts Minardi out, Red Bulls fastest
[ABC Motorsport]In a sensation at the Melbourne Grand Prix, Minardi missed today’s first practice session with Ferrari refusing to allow the team to compete.On the track, there was a surprise with the Red Bull team clocking the fastest times.

But it was off the track that the real drama took place with Minardi owner Paul Stoddart frantically seeking approval to take part in the session from Ferrari, but team boss Jean Todt refused to sign.

The two Minardis are 2004 models and fail to conform to new specifications brought in for this season.

Race organisers say the cars can compete if all rival teams agree.

Stoddart says he will keep lobbying through the day and night in the hope of competing in the qualifying session tomorrow.

Stoddart says Ferrari’s lawyers are preparing a document that may enable them to get the go ahead from stewards.

“It’s a short, sharp lesson in F1 politics at their absolute worst,” he said.

Minardi needs Ferrari’s approval before the first qualifying session tomorrow afternoon, or it won’t be able to race on Sunday. …

…

Schumacher says Minardi shouldn’t race
[ABC Motorsport]

Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher says it would be unfair if Minardi used a 2004 car in the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

Minardi, Formula One’s smallest team, say they have not been able to afford to comply with new rules aimed at slowing Formula One cars down.

Minardi is waiting for Ferrari to sign a waiver with the other eight teams, allowing them to use last year’s car.

Minardi may resort to legal action if Ferrari fails to agree to their decision tonight.

Schumacher says while it is not up to him, Minardi should not be treated any differently to the other teams.

“Imagine there’s a new rule in soccer, you start playing with 10 people and there’s always one team which is not doing very well,” he said.

“Would you accept they play with 11 or more people?”

…

LINKS:

[1] Daily Event Program

People’s Day at the Grand Prix

People’s Day Sets Grand Prix Record Crowd
http://cars.grandprix.com.au/Melbourne celebrated its 10th Grand Prix in style with People’s Day setting a new opening-day attendance record of 77,400 fans at the 2005 FORMULA 1™ Foster’s Australian Grand Prix.

Victoria’s Premier Steve Bracks was at the Albert Park circuit to welcome the People’s Day initiative which gave free general admission entry for Thursday to all patrons.

“What a great way to celebrate Melbourne’s 10th anniversary as a Grand Prix city by opening up the Grand Prix to as many people as possible,” said Mr Bracks.

The Premier was joined by Minister for Tourism and Major Events Mr John Pandazopoulos and Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker as they cut a ceremonial ribbon around the 2005 Minardi Formula One car, the centre-piece of the late-morning ceremony.

“People’s Day is the Grand Prix’s gift to Melbourne for their loyal support over the last decade,” said Mr Walker. “Coming on top of the Street Parade, the most successful event of its kind ever seen in Melbourne, this new first-day attendance record shows just how much the Grand Prix means to the city.”

Minardi F1 team owner Paul Stoddart presented his new team to fans at the F1 Experience in the Golf Course area at Albert Park. “We are in a fantastic city,” said Mr Stoddart. “Melbourne puts on the best Grand Prix in the world and everyone should be very proud.”

Blue skies and warm sunshine greeted the large crowd as the Ultimate Speed Comparison took to the track, with BMW Williams F1 star Antonio Pizzonia pitting an F1 car against a V8 Supercar Commodore and a 1 Series BMW driven by Australians Steven Richards and Will Davison.

Australia’s Mark Webber headed up a star-studded cast at autograph-signing sessions through the day, joined by Rubens Barrichello and British ace Jenson Button of BAR-Honda.

Well, the day was excellent! Kira had a curriculum day so Liam also tool a day off kinder and to the track we went. Liam’s first sight of the track was the V8 practice session, and did his eyes light up! We met up with Grumps and Nanna at the pontoon bridge (which Kira had been dying to get back to), and toured around the Tattersall’s classic car display. Liam was able to have a ‘sit’ in one of the cars as one of the crew members gave hime the offer; Kira was just about to have a turn when the driver turned up to take the car ou to the track.

Next was the F1 display tent and mechandising tent. The kids enjoyed playing on the Harleys. It was good that the speed challenge was held as it was the only F1 on the track, this meant that the kids were able to see one “for real” without having the ear plugs etc that are needed in a tru F1 test session.

A ride on the ferris wheel topped off the day.

Thursday, March 3, 2005 [1]
———————–
9:30 – 9:50 Cleanevent V8 Utes Practice (20 mins)
9:50 – 10:05 V8 Supercar Prizewinners’ hot laps (15 mins)
10:20 – 10:40 Trading Post Formula 3s Practice (20 mins)
10:55 – 11:25 V8 Supercar practice (30 mins)
11:40 – 12:00 Michelin Carrera Cup Practice (20 mins)
12:10 – 12:40 The Ultimate Speed Comparison Practice & Demonstration #1 (30 mins)
12:55 – 13:15 Trading Post Formula 3s Qualifying (20 mins)
13:25 – 13:40 Tattersall’s Historic Demonstration (15 mins)
13:55 – 14:15 Michelin Carrera Cup Qualifying (20 mins)
14:30 – 15:15 V8 Supercar Qualifying (45 mins)
15:30 – 15:50 Cleanevent V8 Utes Qualifying (20 mins)
16:00 – 16:10 The Ultimate Speed Comparison Demonstration #2 (10 mins)
16:25 – 16:45 Michelin Carrera Cup Race 1 (8 Laps)
17:05 – 17:25 Trading Post Formula 3s Race 1 (8 Laps)
17:45 – 18:00 Cleanevent V8 Utes Race 1 (6 Laps)

The food tents are going to have to lift their game by the weekend, the service was disasterous … unlabelled white boxes being placed into bae maries — pot luck!

Now that Red Bull Racing have taken over the Jaguar Racing team, they have also picked up David Coultard, Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi as theri drivers. “Stay with the Jaguar tops and get a Red Bull hat”, I thought. Not a stich of the Red Bull Racing merchandising to be seen … what’s the story?

LINKS:

[1] Daily Event Program

Grand Prix

Melbourne F1
http://cars.grandprix.com.au/The Melbourne F1 Street Parade will hit the streets from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Wednesday, 2 March – the eve of the FORMULA 1™ Foster’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park over the following four days.

In March 2005, Melbourne will celebrate 10 years of Formula One racing at spectacular Albert Park, and as a special 10-year “birthday present”, General Admission to the opening day of the 2005 FORMULA 1™ 1 Foster’s Australian Grand Prix on Thursday, March 3, will be FREE!

These First Aid kits are pretty handy to throw into your bag; get two!

St John Ambulance ‘Survival Kits’ priced at only $3 are available at all gates, First Aid facilities and through roving sellers. The kits include some of life’s other essentials such as paracetamol, band-aids, ear plugs, sunscreen and refresher towel.

Now the biggest problem, now that Jaguar doesn’t have a F1 team … who are we supporting? I guess the kids will support Mark Webber.

LINKS:

[1] Daily Event Program

Badger, Mushroom, Snake!

Your sanity is in danger, do not click on the link >:-)

Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger
http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/
Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger

I’m warning you — None of that “Badger Badger” crap while I’m around. [1]

Ring ring ring ring, Bananaphone!
http://www.transbuddha.com/osaka/osakaphone.html

 Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh !! [2]

LINKS:

[1] 2004-01-25 (User Friendly)
[2] Badgers meet Bananaphones!