Go Banana's !!

Just read Renths post and just wanted to tell you our experience of last nights Skyworks, from a bunch of us who were actually there!

We had a fantastic time, admittedly we got there at 10:15am to get a good spec for everyone on Fraiser Avenue, Kings Park. We got a great parking spot on Kings Park Road (free) which made getting out very easy.

We were closely followed by The Swifts, Jen and Steve, a little later came Siren and Co, Simone and Pascal and Laura and Co.

We were all kitted out with eski's the size of small wardrobes, blankets, tents and lashings of ginger beer and jam sandwiches (well actually the fare was slightly more exotic than that, but I just thought I would throw in a bit of old Enid)

The children played beautifully , the weather was just right, the company was as enjoyable as ever and the firework display was just sensational.

The backdrop of the City just took your breath away and the moon rising golden from behind the buildings was awesome.

I shed a liitle tear to think that I lived in such a beautiful place and had to pinch myself to confirm we were actually there after all the hard work.

Funny how you can be in the same place as someone else but view it differently.

We never saw any trouble and got home in the usual 25 mins (went on the back roads).

I thought it was very well organised, lots of Police, rubbish bags and a good atmosphere. A hell of a lot better than numerous pop concerts I have been to in the UK and 3 times the people.

I for one had a fantastic time, next year we fancy doing a boat trip or a meal on the 33rd floor of the 'C' restaurant.

Just thought I would give the otherside.

Jill

renth

I'm glad you had a good time and your kids weren't exposed to what mine were last year.

Or maybe I'm just making it all up?

owieb

I was at the same spot as you last year and saw all the stuff going down, it wasn't pretty!

I still went Southside this year, but not as far round so missed the major trouble again. But didn't get the awesome view of all the fireworks going off in front of the city.

There were a few scuffles and drunken kids being abusive as we walked back, but otherwise we had a great time.

It's shame you felt you couldn't go; numbers certainly seemed down and it wasn't as busy as the last couple of times I've been, maybe a lot more people decided to stay away.

Jacko1

We also had a good time, however, we decided to go up in the hills and view from there. (Small Children)
We went up Gooseberry Hill and saw both the Skyworks and Bassendean's display along with loads of Aussies with utes, music etc.
the view was fab.

We actually all wound up sitting on the roof of our 4wd drinking wine (Helen) and no trouble at all.

However, I can totally sympathise with anyone who has the misfortune to experiance the yob bit, we saw some of that earlier in the day at Mullaloo, several broken bottles and the usual atributes of to much drink.

The media highlighted the bad points (front page) next day with no real mention of the good points in typical media style.

As usual the minority can, and often do, spoil it for the majority.

Paul J

Go Banana's !!

Apologies, I didn't read your post properly and hadn't realised you and your family had been subjected to a frightening experience last year.

It must have been awful and I fully understand why the experience put you off.

Jill

renth

That's OK Jill, don't worry about it and I to would like to apologise for being a bit tetchy on this subject and using phrases like "pulling figures our of ar*es". Not usually my style.

BillnLinz

Never had ginger beer and jam sandwiches, what do they taste like??

Bill

renth

Sorry, couldn't resist this...

http://sundaytimes.news.com.au/commo...55E948,00.html

BLOODIEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
By JESSICA STRUTT
30 jan 05

IT'S the worst shift of the year at Royal Perth Hospital's Emergency Department, and Australia Day 2005 proved no exception.

Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass described this year's Skyworks crowd as "spirited and friendly", but the evening's frenetic flow of bloodied and battered people told a different story.

The Sunday Times spent the night on the ward, and staff revealed it was the most dreaded shift of the year, with more staff rostered on than for New Year's Eve. Many quietly wished Skyworks would be called off.

Nurse Suzanne described last year's Australia Day shift as a "bloodbath".

This year she was happy to get a day shift.

"I was dreading being rostered on for the night shift," she said. "Last year was the most challenging shift that I've ever worked – and I've been a nurse for 21 years."

Nurse co-ordinator David McNamara said most of patients were "walking wounded" – people who suffered injuries on the foreshore and walked up to the hospital for treatment.

"Most of the senior staff know to request Skyworks night off," he said.

"We have had riots out the front on Australia Day."

Violence and aggression is often directed at staff who are trying to patch up the wounded.

Extra security guards were on duty this year to ensure the staff's safety.

After finishing a nine-hour shift as the emergency department's clinical nurse specialist, Terry Jongen donned his other cap and headed to the foreshore as St John Ambulance's volunteer services state manager.

He was initially based at the command post at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, but as things heated up he was quickly redeployed to Sir James Mitchell Park.

"We were inundated with patients, we got swamped," he said.

Four-hundred people were treated at first-aid posts around the city.

Each year, the aggression towards St John Ambulance volunteers gets worse.

"Every year I find it harder and harder to find volunteers to come and do this duty," he said.

"Five to six years ago, I had 250 first-aiders around the foreshore because it was pleasant and they dealt with nice people.

"Now, I struggle to get 120, because they are abused by the public, spat on, and people are rude and assault them.

"These people should be ashamed of themselves."

For the first time this year, St John Ambulance first-aiders had security guards protecting them.

"I needed to offer that level of protection to try to convince my volunteers I'll look after them," he said.

"I don't think it's worth it. The general feeling among the volunteers is they all hope it's the last Skyworks. This is Australians at their worst."

He said the financial costs borne by the health system from the night were enormous.

RPH resident doctor Andrew Vaughton said the shift was challenging.

"In some cases, you're not actually treating someone who's ill, they're just aggressive and drugged," he said.

Both in the emergency department and at the first-aid posts the main presentations were cuts to the face and feet from smashed bottles, intoxicated and drugged people, injuries from fights, and other alcohol- related wounds and breakages.

In the RPH emergency ward, nurse Annie Robinson was remarkably positive about being rostered on for a 12-hour shift on the busiest night of the year.

It was upsetting to see so many drunken youths, but the department was not as busy as last year because the GP after-hours clinic over the road was open until 2am to help alleviate pressure on the department.

About 30 patients were treated by one doctor at the clinic, while the emergency department treated 186.

St John Ambulance team leader Stephen Luke said five extra vehicles were rostered on, but traffic congestion often meant it was hard for the ambulances to reach patients.

"After the show, when people are trying to get home, they've got no road courtesy," he said.

The Sunday Times understands police spent an estimated $1.1 million on overtime for the 1000 officers on duty.

renth

Or...

http://sundaytimes.news.com.au/commo...5E2761,00.html

Shame of Yobbosville

COMMENT
By JESSICA STRUTT
30jan05

AS a South Perth resident, I was forced to wake early on Australia Day to move my car and avoid a $160 fine.





The council's tough stance this year meant the road where I normally park was closed.

Late in the afternoon, I decided to go for a walk and soak up some patriotism. What I saw not only shocked me, but made me ashamed to be Australian.

Big groups of youths, mainly male, walked along swearing loudly, drunk and seemingly drugged off their heads.

Yes, there was a police presence, but the highly publicised crackdown on public drinking was nowhere to be seen.

A group of young males almost knocked me over in Mends St. Hoons in Commodores flew up the normally peaceful streets, yelling abuse at passers-by.

The whole atmosphere could only be described as frightening. The worst thing is many of these yobbos draped themselves in the flag our Diggers died for.

I would have been embarrassed taking international visitors to the foreshore to experience how West Australians celebrated our national day.

If I had children, I would not have wanted them exposed to this dangerous environment.

By the end of the day I was left wondering why South Perth residents were prevented from enjoying their annual barbecues with friends, while yobbos from all over Perth were allowed to descend on one of the most beautiful parts of our city, get drunk and shame us all.

Next year, Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass, rather than sugar-coating the event to suit your agenda, why not get off the boat from where you viewed Skyworks and visit yobbosville.

Putting out press releases headlined "Skyworks crowd shines" doesn't sit well with my Australia Day experience, nor the poor families who braved South Perth's foreshore

janeyray

No you're not making it up Renth, we saw lots of trouble last year and we sat on the South Side. It was very intimidating walking back to our car. Hundreds of 'very' drunk youngsters that must have saved their first experiences of drinking just for Australia day? Lots of fights and shouting, glass everywhere. Not the sort of family get together you would expect.

We did enjoy our day but it was spolit by inexperienced drinkers. Town on a Saturday night in Nottingham you'd expect this kind of behaviour but not on Australia Day.

Merlot

Taste better with Rose Tinted Specs on!

renth

Thinking about this thread it seems that most of the aggro seems to happen at either South Perth or the northern foreshore.

There haven't been many reports of yobbo behavionr in Kings Park, maybe thet's the place to go if you have a family.

Zebra4

I've enjoyed the Skyworks from the best spot in South Perth and never seen any trouble. Enough to put you off forever if young children were violated.

King's Park is a great venue for families if you get there early and avoid the trees blocking the view.