Canberra Times 26/01/07 Australia Day Live Concert
Jan 28, 2007 18:10:44 GMT 10
Post by greenleith on Jan 28, 2007 18:10:44 GMT 10
Canberra Times
26 January 2007
35,000 fly the flag at gala concert
Michael Ruffles
As the sun set and Parliament House turned into a disco last night, thousands of revellers draped themselves in the national flag for the 2007 Australia Day Live concert.
A crowd of 35,000 swelled into the lawn area, flowing as far down as Old Parliament House, to hear Australia's newest citizen, Damien Leith, sing along with a cluster of other stars.
The most popular accessory was the Australian flag and it came in all sizes and forms. Some wore them wrapped around their shoulders as a cape; some had face paint; there were occasional pairs of flag-emblazoned boxer shorts worn proudly; while stick-on flag tattoos were plastered on exposed, and indeed over-exposed, flesh.
Garran resident Claudia Symon and Red Hill's Cassie Turnbull, both 16, had planned to wear the Australian flag before the "stupid" controversy erupted with the Big Day Out in Sydney.
"I was planning on doing it anyway, it's Australia Day," Claudia said.
"Everyone here's just being patriotic," Cassie said.
Organisers hailed the concert a success, with a well-behaved crowd prepared for the heat during the Australian of the Year presentations, and a younger, party-going crowd ready for the cooler evening's entertainment.
Mid-way through the concert, National Capital Authority spokeswoman Vicki Miller said there had been no reports of anything untoward.
"Everything's been really positive," Ms Miller said.
"The crowd's enjoying themselves and getting into the spirit ... there's lots of flags around.
"It's fantastic when you can see so many people together and enjoying themselves, and having a great time celebrating something that's important to each and every one of them."
Ms Miller said it was exciting to be able to launch the Australia Day celebrations in the heart of the capital.
"Canberra really is kicking off Australia Day celebrations, and that's a great opportunity for the people of Canberra to show the Australia that Canberra is a place we can be proud of," she said.
Ms Miller said the 35,000-strong crowd was on par with last year.
The relaxed atmosphere was one of the best aspects to Australia Day.
This was clearly evident earlier in the afternoon when the Australian of the Year awards were being announced. Children were playing in carefree fashion, some rolling down the green, grassy slopes of Parliament House, while Prime Minister John Howard made the announcements.
Teenage girls turned their attention to the Prime Minister when he was joined on stage by the Australian Idol winner Leith, who fulfilled his promise to become an Australian citizen.
"I would just like to say I am absolutely honoured and privileged to become a citizen of Australia today," the Irish-born crooner said. "Have a safe and wonderful Australia Day."
Leith was the concert's first act, and the Peter Allen classic Tenterfield Saddler was the first song he performed as an Aussie, to the crowd's delight.
Picnic rugs and fold-out deck chairs, with parents sipping on wine or beer mid-afternoon, made way for the party-goers about 8pm. A pumping disco beat pounded when TV Rock took to the stage, and lighting effects gave Parliament House a psychedelic quality.
The Whitlams and The Audreys were crowd favourites, along with Australian Idol stars Bobby Flynn and Guy Sebastian.
Police in ACT and Queanbeyan said last night that there was nothing to report from the Australia Day Live concert or at the start of the long weekend.
26 January 2007
35,000 fly the flag at gala concert
Michael Ruffles
As the sun set and Parliament House turned into a disco last night, thousands of revellers draped themselves in the national flag for the 2007 Australia Day Live concert.
A crowd of 35,000 swelled into the lawn area, flowing as far down as Old Parliament House, to hear Australia's newest citizen, Damien Leith, sing along with a cluster of other stars.
The most popular accessory was the Australian flag and it came in all sizes and forms. Some wore them wrapped around their shoulders as a cape; some had face paint; there were occasional pairs of flag-emblazoned boxer shorts worn proudly; while stick-on flag tattoos were plastered on exposed, and indeed over-exposed, flesh.
Garran resident Claudia Symon and Red Hill's Cassie Turnbull, both 16, had planned to wear the Australian flag before the "stupid" controversy erupted with the Big Day Out in Sydney.
"I was planning on doing it anyway, it's Australia Day," Claudia said.
"Everyone here's just being patriotic," Cassie said.
Organisers hailed the concert a success, with a well-behaved crowd prepared for the heat during the Australian of the Year presentations, and a younger, party-going crowd ready for the cooler evening's entertainment.
Mid-way through the concert, National Capital Authority spokeswoman Vicki Miller said there had been no reports of anything untoward.
"Everything's been really positive," Ms Miller said.
"The crowd's enjoying themselves and getting into the spirit ... there's lots of flags around.
"It's fantastic when you can see so many people together and enjoying themselves, and having a great time celebrating something that's important to each and every one of them."
Ms Miller said it was exciting to be able to launch the Australia Day celebrations in the heart of the capital.
"Canberra really is kicking off Australia Day celebrations, and that's a great opportunity for the people of Canberra to show the Australia that Canberra is a place we can be proud of," she said.
Ms Miller said the 35,000-strong crowd was on par with last year.
The relaxed atmosphere was one of the best aspects to Australia Day.
This was clearly evident earlier in the afternoon when the Australian of the Year awards were being announced. Children were playing in carefree fashion, some rolling down the green, grassy slopes of Parliament House, while Prime Minister John Howard made the announcements.
Teenage girls turned their attention to the Prime Minister when he was joined on stage by the Australian Idol winner Leith, who fulfilled his promise to become an Australian citizen.
"I would just like to say I am absolutely honoured and privileged to become a citizen of Australia today," the Irish-born crooner said. "Have a safe and wonderful Australia Day."
Leith was the concert's first act, and the Peter Allen classic Tenterfield Saddler was the first song he performed as an Aussie, to the crowd's delight.
Picnic rugs and fold-out deck chairs, with parents sipping on wine or beer mid-afternoon, made way for the party-goers about 8pm. A pumping disco beat pounded when TV Rock took to the stage, and lighting effects gave Parliament House a psychedelic quality.
The Whitlams and The Audreys were crowd favourites, along with Australian Idol stars Bobby Flynn and Guy Sebastian.
Police in ACT and Queanbeyan said last night that there was nothing to report from the Australia Day Live concert or at the start of the long weekend.
I know I've been looking at John Howard in a more favourable light after the citizenship thing! Doesn't mean that feeling is going to carry over until the election, of course... 
