The Game of Kings was an
art project developed by Simon Sherry back in 2007 on the redbubble art site..
I wrote the libretto that
featured many artists from Australia and the UK.
This is a movie of the
storybook, so you may want to pause to read.
For individual action sequences
check out the Game
of Kings playlist on the same YouTube channel.
Melbourne's Olympic Legacy Part 2
The
Melbourne Games were the first in history to house the athletes in a specialty
location as opposed to dormitories as other host cities had done previously.
For Melbourne the athletes would be allocated their own apartments, or as it
turned out semi-detached houses and flats. This wasn’t just a large building
like a hotel but a whole suburb. Thus, creating the now common term Olympic
Village. This wasn’t the only game changer, not only was it a new development
it was also the first time male and
female athletes would live in the same compound, albeit separated by a wire
fence. Given there were some 3300 athletes, the male-to-female ratio was almost
9 to 1 (this doesn’t include the other 1200 or so officials of both sexes, who
also shared the accommodation)
It may seem innocent now, but an Olympic village
full of fit young athletes in the 1950s and having both males & females
living together was considered a radical social experiment.
A rumour going around during the games was that a Greek pole-vaulter
used his talents to clear the fence looking for female company.
Several nations chose to boycott the Friendly Games -as they were dubbed- with heightened global tensions with the Cold War and the Suez Canal crisis dominating the media.
All up 67 countries competed but
one country chose not to stay at the Village, at first. For security reasons the USSR team refused
the Village and were housed on a Soviet freighter docked a Port Melbourne. The USSR
had invaded Hungary to quell a revolution less than two months prior to the
Games. However, diplomacy won over. It
was reported: …the USSR was persuaded to relocate to the village. It proved
an inspired move. The Cold War protagonists got on famously, apparently
indulging in vodka and rock n roll parties, and
going on joint excursions.
With this kind of reaction, you
can see how the Olympic Village became the mainstay in the planning of future Olympic
Games.
After the Games, the compound in
West Heidelberg, now exclusively referred to as
Olympic Village was allocated as public housing, and became a Housing
Commission area, the architecture similar if not identical to other areas
developed at the same time from Doveton to Broadmeadows and Jordanville to Sunshine.
It also suffered the same sort of disadvantages these areas tended to attract
by the early 1970s.
My In-laws live in Reservoir and I have to drive through West Heidelberg to get there, So, recently I decided to take a quick look at what once was the athletics village of the Friendly Games. After all these years I never realised I only had to turn left at one set of lights and I was there. Having studied photos from the era, I found the main entrance instantly recognisable. Mainly because of the prominent Olympic rings over the road where the original entrance was. What was the old police station and administration buildings is a strip of shops and a community centre. There seemed to me, that there was a level of ignorance by the building committee of the day, as they had named all the streets after events, vessels and places from the recent World War, in particular the Pacific theatre..
Not very fitting
for an event meant to draw nations together. Driving down under the rings
(Alamein Road) takes you directly into the original village. I say original
because unlike most Housing Commission areas, which have many of their older
buildings replaced with more modern dwellings, many of the 1955 flats and
houses still stand. The reasoning behind this may be that Olympic Village was predominantly
brick construction, whilst areas such as Jordanville and Doveton were fabricated
concrete and were only ever expected to last 40 -50 years. The other thing that
struck me driving around the tight and curved road with lots of parks and open
areas was ”Did they really fit nearly 5000 people in this little area?”
By today's standards, it’s hard to imagine this being the latest in
modern accommodation for elite athletes. But then I had a cheeky thought. They
were just amateurs after all. (anyone who plays amateur sport and has to travel
will not see the humour in this) This as an aside, the athletes of the
sixteenth Olympiad gave the complex a resounding thumbs up and the village was
considered a huge success and a massive hit with those staying there.
The area where the shops are littered with markers and monuments to the
1956 Games is quite interesting not just the information you can learn but how
many different commemorations there have been since the Games were held. I
recommend, if you are driving through this part of town take the detour. It’s
great reliving a wonderful part of Melbourne's history that is quickly coming
up to celebrating its 70th Anniversary.
Melbourne's Olympic Legacy Part 1
 |
| 1965 Aerial view of District |
With
the build-up to the Paris Games, I decided to have a look back on the legacy of
the 1956 Melbourne Games. Growing up in the 1960s & '70s, I visited a lot
of the venues, watched them be repurposed, and in some cases, demolished.
Melbourne won hosting rights in 1949, beating Buenos
Aries by a single vote. The Melbourne Cricket Ground was to be the main
venue and centrepiece. By the time Melbourne was chosen, it had already existed
for close to a century and was already a major landmark. Situated in a central
position close to public transport, it was also adjacent to one of our city’s
founding fathers’ fortunate decisions.
Across the railyards where most of the city’s
Olympic legacy lies.
Nearly seventy years ago, Melbourne already had a
dedicated sports precinct where many of the events were held, Having already existed
since 1896 and well placed, These venues just needed some attention, slap a
ring logo on them and our city had its own Olympic Park next to the city centre,
one whose location still exists today. Throw in a ready-made workforce returned
from the war. Melbourne was set to build.
A dedicated sport and recreation area since the
1860s, the realignment of the Yarra River in 1896 created the park as it is
today.
 |
| 1966 Map of district |
Once, Olympic Park was modified again, with two
arenas (Conveniently called Ground 1 & 2) and an improved velodrome
installed plus hockey and soccer fields. The one major structural addition was
the Olympic swimming pool, erected on the riverbank at the
park’s western edge.
So, as you can imagine Olympic Park was by far busier
than the main stadium (MCG) hosting all swimming, diving, water polo, hockey,
soccer, and nonroad cycling events
This is how I remember the area as I used to catch
the train into the city. All the buildings were on full display as you passed
through the Jolimont railyards. The Swimming Centre still displays the Olympic
Rings. By then though Ground 2 had been transformed into a Greyhound track,
with Ground 1 becoming our premier track
and field and Soccer venue. The Velodrome fared less well, becoming a car park.
 |
| 2024 Map of district |
Other venues for the 1956 Games were the Exhibition
Buildings, which due to heritage protection still remains as it did in 1956,
almost the same as it did in 1888 for that matter. However, for the Olympics, a stadium annex was built, which
along with some temporary seating, was all that was needed to prepare the venue
for hosting the basketball, wrestling, and weightlifting.
Another
unspoiled venue is the St. Kilda Town Hall which hosted the Fencing.
Festival
Hall in West Melbourne, was the host of the Boxing and Gymnastics.
When I was
growing up Festival Hall was the major events venue for bands, housing shows from
the Beatles, Rolling Stones to Frank Sinatra and Liberace. It nearly wasn’t an
Olympic venue as it burned down in 1955 but was quickly rebuilt in time for the
Games. It has been upgraded to a more modern facility and it still operates
today.
The Sailing
was held in Port Phillip Bay, which is obviously still with us today and all
the rowing was held in Ballarat on Lake Wendouree, though it had its problems
getting ready and complying with international regulations it was a hugely
successful event for Ballarat, even though Australia won no medals. I first
visited it in the drought years of the mid-2000s when it was virtually a field,
but going back recently and seeing it full made me realize how wonderful and
idyllic a venue it must have been.
The
Shooting was held at the Williamstown Rifle Range, it is now a housing estate.
 |
| Venues used for 1956 events |
The modern Pentathlon
was held in three venues, shooting at the above-mentioned Rifle range, fencing
at St Kilda, and two other disciplines, swimming and running at Olympic Park,
whilst the show jumping was held at Broadmeadows at the Oakland Hunt Club,
which still exists today as a riding school. It was the only sport where horses
were used in the Melbourne Games as local horses were supplied for the
athletes. All other Equestrian events were held in Stockholm Sweden due
to Australia’s strict quarantine laws. Something that doesn’t seem as much a
problem these days, judging by the amount of foreign horses in the Melbourne
Cup.
Originally published in BBCN Issue 334 July 2024
VBirds
VBirds were a British virtual girl group, created in 2002 by a team of designers, producers and musicians. An animated television series of the same name, consisting of six one-minute episodes, aired on Cartoon Network between long-form programming. The band's only single, "Virtuality", was released on Liberty Records and reached No. 21 in the UK Singles Chart in early 2003."Virtuality" is
the group's only single. It includes the B-side "Dance With Me",
which samples the Woo! Yeah! portion
of "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins and vocals from "Virtuality". A music
video for
"Virtuality" was also released and included in select versions of the
CD single.
As I keep writing, one of the perks of retirement is being able to visit
popular places and events during the weekday when crowds are at a minimum. And let’s
face it. Nothing is better than a stroll in the park on a warm late Summer day.
Originally part of the Gembrook Nursery, Emerald Lake park still carries
traces of its beginnings through the huge amount of mature deciduous and other
non-native trees. This is a legacy of the nursery's ornamental garden that
dates back to the beginning of the last century.
It is truly amazing how the area
incorporating the road from the main entrance passed the lake is still
strikingly similar to what it was in a Rose series photograph taken in the
1940s.
Taking paths that lead west from the car park leads you through shady
groves that follow the small creek with trees that have matured over the
hundred-plus years they’ve been left to thrive with the tall ferns and gums.
This eventually will lead you to the Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park. The museum
is an immaculately kept
building and is a treasure trove of historical artifacts from the area and its
past. The surrounding garden, which also teems with history includes a
120-year-old Kiwi fruit that was introduced by the nursery's founder Carl
Nobelius and still bears fruit today. Just above that is the original
packing-shed siding for the nursery that Puffing Billy still passes by
today.
Heading back to the eastern side of the car
park below the main sloping lawns with its three amphitheatres is the main body
of water Lake Treganowen, surrounded by walking paths with its paddleboats and
protected wading area it all gives off the feel of a British period television
show. You know you’re walking around the Dandenongs when you encounter stone pillar
shelters with wooden picnic trestle tables. Another thing I found fascinating, while
I’ll admit others will not, is the toilet block architecture which is like
a history lesson of park amenity construction through the century. From the
original block between the lake and the main road used as a toilet/ changing
room for swimmers when the park officially opened in 1941, to the more besser
brick building and patterned brick supported by round wooden poles construction
in the Café and Bandstand area respectively that date between the 1950s and
1970s which also double as changing rooms. Though these days for the wading
pool only, as swimming in the main lake is forbidden. And last, the more modern
Nobelius block which is newer but made to look more in sync with the
environment with its wooden structure and grey colours.
While the park has its mid-century charm,
it’s the new area that has been built to enhance the Puffing Billy experience
that really surprises. The Lakeside Visitors centre has been built to blend
in with its surroundings. Next to the lakeside station and below the model
railway shed (which, sadly, was closed the day of my visit), It is a vast area
that services the multitude of visitors who disembark off the train waiting for
the return journey. The building is open and airy, giving the impression of a
large railway goods shed, which I’m pretty sure was their full intention.
Walking from the station, the expansive opening invites you in and the design
of the building promotes a natural traffic flow that takes you passed the
ticket /information box and gift shop toward the huge café that is more than
capable of dealing with the massive weekend Puffing Billy crowds. All along the
way are quirky artworks by local artists.
However, what I found the most fascinating
was Lakeside Hall. A museum
dedicated to the history of Puffing Billy and its multitude of volunteers.
Like most retired gents my age, I’m a sucker
for old trains, but this even held my wife’s attention. The main feature, to
me, besides the wonderful set pieces of train artifacts was the interactive
display featuring a video narrated by Shane Jacobson and featured the partially
restored but animated remains of one of the original trains used on the line
the famous “3A”. A truly fun experience.
I have made a mental note to come back later
in Autumn to catch the changing of the colour when the trees are shedding their
leaves. I’d come for that even if there wasn’t a model railway exhibition to
catch up on.
Originally published BBCN March 2024 Issue 330
Far North Queensland Tales - Crocs, coconuts, boats, and bears.
Last May we were on our yearly trip to Port Douglas, well, when I say
yearly, I went there last year, and since we went again that qualifies as an
annual event. I guess?
Anyway, on this visit the wife and I decided to take a river cruise to
see if we could scope some infamous North end crocodiles. Fun fact: It has been estimated that worldwide about 1,000 people
are killed by crocodilians each year,
Australia has a large population of crocodiles, but the research has
shown, there are only an average of less than two attacks a year. Coincidently while we were there, the local newspaper’s front
page headline revealed human remains were found
inside two crocodiles and was believed to be those of a missing fisherman. So technically, our chances of not
becoming reptilian munchies had vastly improved.
We took off from Port Douglas Marina under a noonday sun and a strong
breeze that had finally sprung up to take the bite out of the humidity.
The boat took us down Packers Creek an estuary that doubles as a parking area for passing yachts, it is also the designated area for all small and larger sea vessels during a cyclone. It is said when that does happen the whole waterway can turn into a game of tetras. This time of year, cyclones aren’t much of a problem and many yachts come here not just to moor but to hang out for months at a time. It’s kind of like a homeless shelter for yachts. Considering some of these crafts can cost over $50,000 it’s quite a shock to see them looking like something from the streets of Los Angeles. Apparently, they are also illegally overstaying, but since the water police don’t come here often, they just hang around until they want to leave. It was in stark contrast to the multimillion-dollar super yachts all lined up and sparkling in the sun in the Marina proper.
Along the banks are signs warning visitors of the dangers of crocodiles
in the area, but on all signs just below the big red warning is a
dark ACHTUNG! The reason
was - so our captain told us- that it was due to 40% of those involved in croc attacks being German tourists, and
the local authorities thought they better take some kind of action to lower
that number. He also recalled how recently another tourist with a broad accent
stuck his head in the cabin and said: ” It’s the same back home in Canada, of all bear attacks, 45% of them are also
German tourists”
Something to ponder.
Crocodiles were thin in the water this trip as it was perfect weather for them not to sun themselves on the mud flats. But luck was on our side when our eagle-eyed guide saw a three metre specimen resting on the bank a hundred metres or so up the waterway. He cut the engines and we drifted up and got nice and close, and we got lots of photos.
On our return trip about fifteen minutes later he was gone. I made a mental note not to dangle my hands or feet in the water. I do have to stress however as we moved down the river, the grey of the mud flats, the bright green of the mangroves, and the brilliant blue sky made the tropics experience complete. All I needed now was a winged-backed cane chair and a daiquiri.
Before we knew it, we were back at the marina and as we disembarked the
captain asked what we were doing for the rest of the day. I said we were going
for a walk down on the beach, it’s so peaceful with all the palm trees lining
the sand. He told us to be careful because the wind was picking up, and that
can be a concern as falling coconuts take out more people than Sharks and Crocs
combined. I assured him we would. As I left, I couldn’t help but start
thinking. What percentage of those knocked on the head by coconuts were German
tourists?
originally in the BBCN issue 326 Oct 2023
Sightseeing in Middle Earth
I thought I'd bring this one out again for old times sake.
