6 June 2009

Information on Purchasing Fireworks

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[First filed: June 05, 2009 @ 10:00}

Now I understand that the legal fireworks trading period is coming in a few days… [ED – This morning in fact]

I’ve been looking at the websites for the suppliers of the two major brands of fireworks (Black Widow and Brothers Pyrotechnics). To those who have bought stuff before, or know anything, where is the best/cheapest place to buy, and what “bag” is the best to get?

The sites I am looking at are:

http://www.ultimatepyrotechnics.com/retail.html, and
http://www.fireworks.com.au/products.html

Cheers

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Deadmandrinking5:46 pm 09 Jun 09

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

Actually, technically speaking, violence did occur.

Umm, ok. So a cranky old guy threatened some kids who were jerking around and the problem was solved without anyone getting hurt. And as I posted previously, you turn up unarmed to a group like that at your own risk.

So you think physically threatening people is an acceptable way to solve disputes?

If ever someone threatens you with an wrench or a knife because you cut them off in traffic, don’t complain…

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy12:49 pm 09 Jun 09

Actually, technically speaking, violence did occur.

Umm, ok. So a cranky old guy threatened some kids who were jerking around and the problem was solved without anyone getting hurt. And as I posted previously, you turn up unarmed to a group like that at your own risk.

I’m disappointed the gentleman used a baseball bat (or to be completely accurate a “METAL BAT”) rather than a cricket bat.

It’s just unAustralian.

Deadmandrinking11:49 am 09 Jun 09

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

If he was a reasonable guy, he would have simply gone over, take his mobile phone and told the kids to pipe down. If the kids didn’t stop, he would have called the police.

Provided of course the ‘kids’ decided that since there were 10 of them and 1 of him (and they are already doing something illegal) that they would take the phone off him.

I actually thought it was a good outcome. The kids moved on and maybe learnt something, and no violence occurred.

Actually, technically speaking, violence did occur. The kids were threatened with a baseball bat. They were ‘moved on’ by the threat of injury. That’s very violent behavior.

I doubt using a baseball bat to solve problems is a particularly good lesson for our youth…

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy10:35 am 09 Jun 09

If he was a reasonable guy, he would have simply gone over, take his mobile phone and told the kids to pipe down. If the kids didn’t stop, he would have called the police.

Provided of course the ‘kids’ decided that since there were 10 of them and 1 of him (and they are already doing something illegal) that they would take the phone off him.

I actually thought it was a good outcome. The kids moved on and maybe learnt something, and no violence occurred.

Deadmandrinking10:29 am 09 Jun 09

ant said :

Deadmandrinking said :

And Ant, it is so much better to let off fireworks in the country, especially with a massive bonfire as well!

No problem with it, lots of neighbours did it earlier in the night (one lot even letterboxed teh street a few days prior warning us), although technically it’s illegal, being NSW. But this lot were at-it rather late, which is soemwhat anti-social.

Oh, and sorry, I misread. Yeah, that is rather anti-social. You should maybe let that house know (without a baseball bat) so they don’t do it next queens birthday.

Deadmandrinking10:24 am 09 Jun 09

ant said :

Deadmandrinking said :

And Ant, it is so much better to let off fireworks in the country, especially with a massive bonfire as well!

No problem with it, lots of neighbours did it earlier in the night (one lot even letterboxed teh street a few days prior warning us), although technically it’s illegal, being NSW. But this lot were at-it rather late, which is soemwhat anti-social.

It’s only illegal if people give a sh-t. Most people out that way don’t.

Deadmandrinking said :

And Ant, it is so much better to let off fireworks in the country, especially with a massive bonfire as well!

No problem with it, lots of neighbours did it earlier in the night (one lot even letterboxed teh street a few days prior warning us), although technically it’s illegal, being NSW. But this lot were at-it rather late, which is soemwhat anti-social.

Deadmandrinking9:49 am 09 Jun 09

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Violence isn’t acceptable, even in cases like this.

And yet history shows us that it’s usually necessary, and that the one who wields it best wins. Kudos, Bat Man.

So if I were to beat the living snot out of you with an iron bar, steal your money and give it to the needy, would that be acceptable?

Woody Mann-Caruso9:45 am 09 Jun 09

Violence isn’t acceptable, even in cases like this.

And yet history shows us that it’s usually necessary, and that the one who wields it best wins. Kudos, Bat Man.

Deadmandrinking9:32 am 09 Jun 09

vg said :

.. said :

I would have hit you with the bat

I would have reported you to the police for doing so, had I been witness. Violence isn’t acceptable, even in cases like this. Same to you Woody. There was nothing to stop the guy from calling the police, which is what he should have done. If he was a reasonable guy, he would have simply gone over, take his mobile phone and told the kids to pipe down. If the kids didn’t stop, he would have called the police. That’s…kind of what the police are there for – so we don’t have to hit people who break the law with bats.

On the other hand, it is a shame some people didn’t follow the rules and gave the fun-police some ammunition. But I did read in the Crimes this morning that there were significant less reports of firecrackers getting let off at inappropriate times. That’s a good sign.

And Ant, it is so much better to let off fireworks in the country, especially with a massive bonfire as well!

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy8:51 am 09 Jun 09

Of course it isn’t, ant. It’s about men with teensy tiny little dogs with no kids who live in another state. And we all know that owning a dog entitles you to tell everybody else what to do, while having kids makes you a miscreant leech.

And some of these people ride bikes as well. And so do their dogs.

Freaks.

vg said :

Certainly would. I mean it would minimise of not remove access to the said fireworks that caused the damage. Arson has many shapes and forms but not having access to fireworks would have stopped the morons from doing damage WITH THE FIREWORKS.

Sure they wouldn’t have done it with fireworks, they would have used something else instead, like I don’t know a bottle of alcohol, a can of hairspray or any number of other items available from the supermarket.

Jamie Wheeler10:09 pm 08 Jun 09

On the subject of firecracker vandalism, I walked past the Kambah Theo’s takeaway today and saw somebody had blown the daylights out of the big red metal Australia Post letterbox. The shop window behind had also been cracked from the blast.

JW

Woody Mann-Caruso9:55 pm 08 Jun 09

We’d better stop complaining then. After all, it’s all about the kids.

Of course it isn’t, ant. It’s about men with teensy tiny little dogs with no kids who live in another state. And we all know that owning a dog entitles you to tell everybody else what to do, while having kids makes you a miscreant leech.

Do we allow speeding then.

Faulty logic, officer. Some people speed, but we don’t ban cars – we make speeding illegal. Some people use fireworks on the long weekend, but we don’t ban fireworks…oh wait, yes, we will.

Gungahlin Al9:35 pm 08 Jun 09

ant said :

From http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/08/2592426.htm?site=canberra

I cannot resist… this police lady has been influenced by SuperNeit!

“ACT Policing Superintendent Kate Buggy says they are disappointed over the attacks.

“It only takes one incident for us to be disappointed,”

I thought: “lady are you ever in the wrong job then…”

From http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/08/2592426.htm?site=canberra

I cannot resist… this police lady has been influenced by SuperNeit!

“ACT Policing Superintendent Kate Buggy says they are disappointed over the attacks.

“It only takes one incident for us to be disappointed,”

Crackers make it easier for idiots to be idiots. And it seems that, these days, there are more idiots. More uncontrolled idiots? More un-parented idiots? And with crackers, these people can do more harm to more people.

“How many thousands of people set off fireworks over the last two nights with no problems or stupidity what so ever and how many idiots did things like those in the news article ?”

How many thousands of people drive to work in the ACT every day and don’t speed? Do we allow speeding then.

“You really think getting rid of fireworks would stop stupidity like that ?”

Certainly would. I mean it would minimise of not remove access to the said fireworks that caused the damage. Arson has many shapes and forms but not having access to fireworks would have stopped the morons from doing damage WITH THE FIREWORKS.

The reality is that all laws are aimed at the minority of people who would break them. Millions of people go through life never breaking any law (or being caught for it) whatsoever. The reason those laws are there in the first place is because the minority will not or cannot abide by them.

And, before you ask, I had crackers at my place last night. I put the dogs away and let them off for 30 mins between 6 and 6.30pm, as did all of my street. The ass monkeys that still let them off at 3am and did the damage described above are the ones that will get it banned.

But don’t ask me, just watch this space. Cracker night is gone. That is a shame, as its something I grew up with, but if the banning stops the boganic morons from breaking the law then I can live with it

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy8:42 pm 08 Jun 09

The trouble is that fireworks, by their very nature, encourage the inner moron. Teens would be more likely to just drink and root in the garage or backyard of someone’s house rather than walk around blowing stuff up.

You really think getting rid of fireworks would stop stupidity like that ? do you remember a couple of buses going up in smoke not so long ago ?

How many thousands of people set off fireworks over the last two nights with no problems or stupidity what so ever and how many idiots did things like those in the news article ?

vg said :

Take a squizz at WIN news tonight. Cracker night is history

Anyone see WIN tonight? What happened?

Take a squizz at WIN news tonight. Cracker night is history

I had fun tipping the six shots over and running away 🙂

V twin venom10:52 am 08 Jun 09

I share the fence with the MIA. Yellow house. Small world, but hey the Riot everywhere.

Yes JB, I know, back on thread.

V twin venom said :

Berraboy @ 49..

Feltus? if so, enjoyed your show from over the fence. Unleased land but well organised and my dogs were fine with it.

You got me V twin. Are you in a nearby street or over the road in Fisher? The land interestingly enough isn’t unleased (as yet). It’s one of the only blocks that hasn’t been rebuilt after the fires – it’s the one you can see from Namajtira with the two green shipping containers that the owners abandoned there about 5 years ago. The owners are legally MIA (we know where they are but the gov’t claims they can’t find them) but we understand they’re about 5 years in arrears with their rates and their lease is about to be canceled. Nice bit of land for kicking a ball around with the kids though!

Glad you and the dogs enjoyed the show V Twin (BTW: my dog didn’t even flinch all weekend). We had 8 families there and not an injury to be had (excepting of course my minor hangover this AM).

Dougal said :

You are a tosser. I bet you are one of the people that are STILL letting off fireworks, an hour after you were supposed to stop your bogan games….

Um, no Dougal. Our fireworks were finished on time which is why I was able to make the post when I did. We worked with the neighbours who were happy to see the kids have fun, and take some responsibility for their pets. The kids picked up the plastic bits they could last night, and are out getting the rest as we speak. And whilst there will always be idiots who do the wrong thing with fireworks, I doubt very much you can do much during your apoplectic tantrums to stop the whining of dogs and mewling of cats, year round and at all hours. Such creatures apparently make this racket without a permit to do so! Better hop in the Beigemobile and respond to that issue post haste mate!

And to disappoint you further, no – I’m not a bogan. I’m able to argue my point quite eloquently I believe. I don’t have a mullet or wear a flannie shirt with “winnie blues” up the sleeve. Boganphobic are we?

V twin venom9:13 am 08 Jun 09

Berraboy @ 49..

Feltus? if so, enjoyed your show from over the fence. Unleased land but well organised and my dogs were fine with it.

grunge_hippy9:05 am 08 Jun 09

someone came up to my parents door, rang the doorbell, and as my mum opened it, the crackers went off. charming.

i am not against fireworks, a bit of harmless fun really (apart from the few who ruin it for everyone, like the dumbasses at my parents and teenagers at 11pm on school ovals!) My dog doesn’t like it (she started cowering in the garage at 5pm!), my daughter doesn’t like them, but I am not the kind of person to whine and moan because other people are having some fun.

junkett said :

Lots of happy kids around here.

We’d better stop complaining then. After all, it’s all about the kids.

Some teenaged vermin were setting fireworks off as cars went past, so that the fireworks ran underneath the passing car. They made the mistake of doing it to my mum – so it was duly reported.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy10:03 pm 07 Jun 09

just wanted to get people’s thoughts. it was a truly scary experience, one of the girls in our group was in a state of shock for a while after. i’m sure this guy thought he was being a responsible citizen but it’s made me hate the city i’ve grown up in.

Based on the behaviour of many young people in this town (and, by the sounds of it, you and your friends), I can completely understand this type of behaviour. I’m glad you got scared – learn from it. If you want to jerk around and irritate the grown ups in the middle of the night, expect grown up consequences. Should the guy have smashed you with the bat? Of course not. But by the sound of things, his problem got solved.

In a few years when you’ve grown up yourself, you’ll understand.

junkett said :

Lots of happy kids around here. You let a few crackers off, you wait a bit for the rain (loving that!), and then back into it. The kids have a ball, the parents stand around the fire having a few and no native animals or, less importantly, uneducated whingers are harmed by us. So what’s the big deal?
Ah that’s right, we might interrupt the mating rituals of import cat, too dumb to temporarily retreat to domesticated bliss preferring to howl over another kill of local wildlife.
Beige cardigan crowd: + another successful whine.
Life in the Capital: 0.

It’s alright “Snookums”, you’ll be right to hunt and maim again soon…no one has ever heard of the internet for blowing things up.

You are a tosser. I bet you are one of the people that are STILL letting off fireworks, an hour after you were supposed to stop your bogan games.

How the hell do you know that no native animals have been harmed? Do you live in some sort of coccoon devoid of wildlife?

As I was mopping the floor (after my dog pissed herself because she was so effing scared) I was thinking about the celebration that I am going to have when the ACT government grows some balls and takes fireworks away from those people who don’t give a shit about other people. The only popping sound will be that of a champagne cork.

junkett said :

Lots of happy kids around here. You let a few crackers off, you wait a bit for the rain (loving that!), and then back into it. The kids have a ball, the parents stand around the fire having a few and no native animals or, less importantly, uneducated whingers are harmed by us. So what’s the big deal?
Ah that’s right, we might interrupt the mating rituals of import cat, too dumb to temporarily retreat to domesticated bliss preferring to howl over another kill of local wildlife.
Beige cardigan crowd: + another successful whine.
Life in the Capital: 0.

It’s alright “Snookums”, you’ll be right to hunt and maim again soon…no one has ever heard of the internet for blowing things up.

Do your parents know you have the key to the liquor cabinet?

Lots of happy kids around here. You let a few crackers off, you wait a bit for the rain (loving that!), and then back into it. The kids have a ball, the parents stand around the fire having a few and no native animals or, less importantly, uneducated whingers are harmed by us. So what’s the big deal?
Ah that’s right, we might interrupt the mating rituals of import cat, too dumb to temporarily retreat to domesticated bliss preferring to howl over another kill of local wildlife.
Beige cardigan crowd: + another successful whine.
Life in the Capital: 0.

It’s alright “Snookums”, you’ll be right to hunt and maim again soon…no one has ever heard of the internet for blowing things up.

.. said :

this is not directly related to fireworks sales but to fireworks use. I thought this would be a good place to post this. Tonight myself and a group of friends decided to join in the fun and let off some fireworks but had a really nasty experience.

We went down to the local oval in Palmerston and set off several fireworks, it was after 9 (about 11:30) I for one wasn’t aware of the time restrictions! so yes, we found out later we were in the wrong. but listen to this…

After setting off several we heard someone yell profanities from a nearby house. something along the lines of “f off you ****” we didn’t know if it was aimed at us so we let off another firework.

A few minutes later a man with a bat showed up and was swinging at all of us telling us “you’re scaring my dogs and scaring my kids now piss off” “i’m gonna beat you and call the cops while you’re on the ground” etc. we started to leave quickly, as you do when someone is yelling and SWINGING A METAL BAT AT YOU.

one of my friends called the cops as we walked away but once we were all out of danger there wasn’t much for them to do. i know now we were clearly in the wrong here but this guy gave us no warning, he just walked quickly up to us and started swinging at us with a bat. a reasonable conversation would have been nice, OR he could’ve called the cops himself.

just wanted to get people’s thoughts. it was a truly scary experience, one of the girls in our group was in a state of shock for a while after. i’m sure this guy thought he was being a responsible citizen but it’s made me hate the city i’ve grown up in.

maybe a better education campaign about when you can and can’t use fireworks? or better yet, when you can and can’t try to hurt people with weapons…

thanks.

I would have hit you with the bat

hi ‘..’, welcome to the riot… ; )

The neighbours are out recreating the bombing of Dresden again…. and it’s raining. Har har bloody HAR!

gungahlin black widow were expensive compared to gungahlin civic, i paid $60 for 4 x shots that a mate on friday paid $35 for. Felt rorted!

Gungahlin Al5:17 pm 07 Jun 09

Oh and “..” – what everyone else here said. Thoughtless turds like you are who are sealing the fate of cracker night for all of us.

“maybe a better education campaign?”

Or maybe you should just open your damn eyes to the one that is already there – everywhere.

JERK. CRETIN.

Gungahlin Al5:12 pm 07 Jun 09

In Harrison, there was barely a pop on Friday night. Saturday there were some great shows – the one on Tanami Street did not look like domestically available fireworks, although we weren’t complaining. Maybe a couple of things let off up until 9.30, but essentially all quiet by 9pm.

We have a box full ourselves for tonight. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of Canberra cracker nights, so I’m making sure my kids have the pleasure of actually setting one off themselves, but Hargreaves takes his personal vendetta (for an albeit despicable act – but it was a decade ago!) out on all of us.

On suppliers, it’s all over and done with now, but going shopping at 3.30 Sunday was a good idea, although Magnet Mart was all sold. The Black Widow folks at Gungahlin had an air of ‘I don’t quite trust them’ about them, but the guy at Kamberra Winery was great – good explanations, flexible with package mixing, etc.

All quiet in Gungahlin (central) last night too..

There were a couple of pops, but the fireworks that are allowed to be sold really weren’t likely to disturb anyone..

‘..’ your stupidity is the reason there is even discussion of banning fireworks. Don’t hide behind some silly guise of innocence and take responsibility for yourself. It should have been obvious that letting off fireworks (or any other kind noise) at 11:30 was inconsiderate.

That being said things like bumble bees, fountains and some of the multi-shots make so little noise I can’t see why they aren’t legal all year round.

.. said :

maybe a better education campaign about when you can and can’t use fireworks? or better yet, when you can and can’t try to hurt people with weapons…

thanks.

Well, he was trying to edjumacate you in the only means that seems to work on younglings. Not saying I agree with his actions, but I get it. We live on an oval with a school near by, and get the occaisonal reprobate. Whenever I’ve called the police I’ve never been dismissed or put down, but they’ve never arrived within half an hour, so the reprobates are long gone. If I had a baseball bat, and the guts to stand up to half a dozen of these mongrels, I might just do the same thing. But I don’t on either prerequisite.

As BerraBoy68 said, you signed a license to buy the damn things, you agreed to follow the law, and you chose to break it, both in time and place.

Note to #44 – read your licence! It will tell you when you can use the fireworks. It will also say that you cannot let them off on unleased Territory land (or something to that effect) which means DON’T take them to the oval and DON’T let them off at 11.30 at night.

All in all a quiet night around here after 9pm. Brilliant show from all over the place in the legal hours.

We let ours off out the front on the concrete driveway just a poofteenth inside the boundary line. A couple of neighbours came over to watch and share a sparkler. Going out to resupply this arvo before friends come around tonight for round 2.

Woody Mann-Caruso12:39 pm 07 Jun 09

There appears to be some confusion. Please, allow me to clarify. I didn’t say that homicidal rage was ‘OK’. I said it was ‘understandable’ in this situation.

If I were roused from my slumber along with the rest of my family by inconsiderate, irresponsible individuals behaving illegally, I feel I might be excused for shouting at them to go away using very direct language. Were those same inconsiderate, irresponsible individuals to persist in their illegal behaviour, I might certainly entertain thoughts of removing their heads, urinating into their throat cavities and having sexual intercourse with their crania, to paraphrase a forthright character played by Jack Nicholson. I might form an opinion that these people were being deliberately disruptive, and that as a shouted warning had no effect, polite discussion was also unlikely to resolve the matter. I might settle for shouting and waving a metal bat in a menacing manner to reiterate my earlier warning.

No, this isn’t legal or acceptable behaviour, but I can understand why he did it. Were I the one to have provoked his rage, I’d be a little more inward-looking about my own behaviour before trying to direct attention to his actions.

.. said :

A few minutes later a man with a bat showed up and was swinging at all of us telling us “you’re scaring my dogs and scaring my kids now piss off” “i’m gonna beat you and call the cops while you’re on the ground” etc. we started to leave quickly, as you do when someone is yelling and SWINGING A METAL BAT AT YOU.

Yeah, I’m sure this is how it happened.

More like “you’re scaring my dogs and scaring my kids now piss off”.
Aggressive response: “Get F***ed you old ****” (or similar)x 4 or 5.

The Bat? I’d probably pack some heat if I was confronting a group of people conducting illegal activity on my own late at night.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

In my world view, homicidal rage is an understandable response to irresponsible and inconsiderate individuals who behave illegally, particularly when they’ve been warned first.

Really WMC?! It’s OK to go into a homicidal rage against others? Overreacting perhaps?

Don’t get me wrong, I agree with most of your post but this bit seems a tad OTT.

Woody Mann-Caruso11:25 am 07 Jun 09

just wanted to get people’s thoughts.

Dear ..

I suspect that you world view differs from mine. If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to present the salient points of mine. Perhaps you could then present further information about yours, and we could explore the differences.

In my world view, people are responsible for their own actions. For example, they’re responsible for reading the fireworks permit that clearly sets out when and where the fireworks can be let off. I’m reasonably certain, but wouldn’t like to presume without first affording you some form of natural justice, that “some local oval in Palmerston” was not the ACT address affixed to that particular legal document. I’m hard pressed to imagine a more effective method for ‘education’ than writing the relevant facts on a piece of paper then having the person responsible sign it to say they understand it and will abide by the conditions contained therein.

In my world view, somebody shouting out “f… off you little c…s” is a warning. Perhaps you could share with us at whom you thought he might be shouting at 11:30 at night? Was there another group of people nearby? Had it been me (and I accept that I’m probably older than you, and so have the benefit of hindsight) I migt have paused to consider that he might have been shouting at me, and this would have been enough to make me reconsider my actions.

In my world view, people are considerate of the needs of others. Whether ‘educated’ or not, they’re able to draw their own conclusion that letting off fireworks close to midnight might disturb nearby residents.

In my world view, homicidal rage is an understandable response to irresponsible and inconsiderate individuals who behave illegally, particularly when they’ve been warned first. I appreciate that it may have upset you. Perhaps you could accept that he was justifiably upset himself, that you were the direct cause of that upset, chalk it up to karma and let it go?

Hoping that the remainder of your weekend is characterised by more forethought and less violence
Woody Mann-Caruso

I went up and down out street yesterday letting folks know when we’re lighting up the sky with our crackers (tonight at 6:30 for anybody living near the Kambah BMX track). All families in our street are invited anyway but even those that can’t attend told us to have a great night.

Courtesy costs nothing.

Dougal said :

To the d***heads starting their cracker weekend illegally in my area – just remember that when fireworks are banned, it’s all your fault.

Good riddance.

To .. @ #44. Sorry to say this but the legal times should be on your license and ignorance is no excuse, every advert I seen or heard to date has advertised when you can use crackers. That said, the guy in the house sounds like an idiot. I’m sorry you had this experience and that your friend is OK.

To post #44 by “..”: I imagine being bailed up by an angry man with a bat was scary, but why did you think it was OK to let off noisy crackers in a suburb at 11.30pm? There are laws actually banning any noisy activity at that late hour of night, and they are there because at that hour many people are sleeping.

It’s sad that an education campaign is needed to remind people to be considerate of others.

Skidbladnir said :

With tonight’s view of the Tuggeranong Valley out to Lanyon, Gilmore, Waniassa, and Greenway, all seems quiet out this way also.

No shortage of bangs around 3-3.30 this morning in Wanniassa. Thankfully I was up watching the football anyway

Dunno about peacefull. Monash was world war 4.
We must have all the muppets here. I noticed the bin outside the shop got blown to bits. Probably because the auspost box is mia. Cant wait till they are banned.

this is not directly related to fireworks sales but to fireworks use. I thought this would be a good place to post this. Tonight myself and a group of friends decided to join in the fun and let off some fireworks but had a really nasty experience.

We went down to the local oval in Palmerston and set off several fireworks, it was after 9 (about 11:30) I for one wasn’t aware of the time restrictions! so yes, we found out later we were in the wrong. but listen to this…

After setting off several we heard someone yell profanities from a nearby house. something along the lines of “f off you ****” we didn’t know if it was aimed at us so we let off another firework.

A few minutes later a man with a bat showed up and was swinging at all of us telling us “you’re scaring my dogs and scaring my kids now piss off” “i’m gonna beat you and call the cops while you’re on the ground” etc. we started to leave quickly, as you do when someone is yelling and SWINGING A METAL BAT AT YOU.

one of my friends called the cops as we walked away but once we were all out of danger there wasn’t much for them to do. i know now we were clearly in the wrong here but this guy gave us no warning, he just walked quickly up to us and started swinging at us with a bat. a reasonable conversation would have been nice, OR he could’ve called the cops himself.

just wanted to get people’s thoughts. it was a truly scary experience, one of the girls in our group was in a state of shock for a while after. i’m sure this guy thought he was being a responsible citizen but it’s made me hate the city i’ve grown up in.

maybe a better education campaign about when you can and can’t use fireworks? or better yet, when you can and can’t try to hurt people with weapons…

thanks.

They’re all out here, in country NSW.

Skidbladnir said :

With tonight’s view of the Tuggeranong Valley out to Lanyon, Gilmore, Waniassa, and Greenway, all seems quiet out this way also.

very strange, kambah is almost peaceful. not worried yet. much. really. ok, i am worried. what have they got planned for us for the next 2 nights?

With tonight’s view of the Tuggeranong Valley out to Lanyon, Gilmore, Waniassa, and Greenway, all seems quiet out this way also.

From having looked at prices today while being dragged around bodily:
A&E and the Black Widow people in the demountable next door are doing reasonable deals.
The people who are running out of empty commercial space seem to be running higher prices.
Aparently you are capped at 25kg/person, which includes packaging, etc.
Running around to other stores may allow you to exceed that limit at the individual vendor end of a transaction, but the ORS staff -are- running around checking paperwork in person (I met a nice lady at the Black Widow demountable), and the store persons claimed they had been told that ORS would be doing cross referencing on licence numbers, etc.
But it seems the 25kg/person is per person per day, in that the Regulations allow no individual consumer to ‘store or transport’ more than 25kg at a time, and sellers should be finished selling fireworks for the day before the actual legitimate usage period starts.

(PS: I am yet to find someone who understands the phrase “Do you do pest control? *wink wink nudge nudge*” this year)

I think half the neighbours are holding amateur cracker displays here. So much for laws and things. Luckily the chihuahuas are impervious to thunder, and crackers.

Very quiet tonight in the Lanyon Valley compared to previous years- might be the global economic situation that puts paid to it, not legislation.

Evidently the NSW locals were stocking up, lots of bangs and pops tonight, and one just now that was a low rumble that shook everything. There’s a giant bonfire up on the mountains to the north of Burbong, right on top. Must be a whopping fire.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Apparently the Black Widow folks were very gloomy about the prospects of getting another year,

I’ve been living in Canberra for 3 years, and they’ve said the same thing every year…

I just went to adam and eve, it’s going crazy there – had trouble getting in! They’ve got over 40 staff members though – in and out in 15minutes. +1 to adam and eve.

Just to give people a general overview

2 bags = $99
http://i44.tinypic.com/o6k8xw.jpg

1 large bag = $109
http://i39.tinypic.com/apcoe8.jpg

Apologies for the quality of the photo, its on my camera phone and my dorm room is dark. 🙁 Also, i put the solo in there so you know the scale.

At adam and eve you also get a free porn (not very good quality at all lol), and two free multi shots OR bag of goodies (depending on purchase size)

I know i’m sounding like a rep, i assure you i am not (JB you can check my ip!)

Woody Mann-Caruso3:20 pm 06 Jun 09

Just picked up our fireworks from Black Widow at the Hyperdome. There was a 5kg ‘big stuff’ pack with ten items for $105, but for $35 you could get a four pack of the same gear weighing 2.5kg, so I just got two of those, a family favourites pack for some fountains and some 8-shots and a pack of parachutes. So for $115 we got the same as the big family packs costing $145-$185 bucks. 8 x 16 shots should be more than enough boom, especially when padded out with the smaller stuff.

Apparently the Black Widow folks were very gloomy about the prospects of getting another year, but they’re more optimistic after talking to the gubmint folk this morning and getting positive comments about a quiet night. Their common-sense approach – “if you don’t want people to set them off on Friday, don’t let us sell them on Friday!”

Clown Killer7:44 am 06 Jun 09

Anybody had any success with the “Got anything for rodent / stump removal nudge nudge wink wink” line?

Ten years ago before the dickheads forced the fun police to start clamping down, there used to be a place in Fyshwick – next to the Onya Bike Warehouse. Chinese family ran the operation, we used to affectionately refer to it as the “Three Fingers Fireworks Co.”

You’d walk in and they had all the pre-packaged fireworks and stuff and they’d ask what you wanted. I used to tell whoever was serving me that I wanted to buy maybe $400 or $500 worth of fire works (this was back when the super-mega-family-extreme-ultimate pack was $60-70). They’d ask you to wait – an older woman would be summonsed and you’d be ushered into the back room – those were the days

To the d***heads starting their cracker weekend illegally in my area – just remember that when fireworks are banned, it’s all your fault.

Good riddance.

Same price as in your second link $145.

I haven’t cracked it open yet, but it has some of the bigger bangs, and some little stuff like bees (weird!)

And Sparklers, YAY!

harley said :

sorry for the double post, but I picked up a Black Widow “Ultimate Family Pack” from an art gallery in the bendy bit in wollongong St. No queues, though there was a cheaper looking place in the same court I didn’t bother looking at.

I really wanted the “Mega Big Stuff” pack, but wife and kids were outside, so I had to get something for everyone…

Can I ask how much you got that “Ultimate Family Pack” for? That is the one I am looking at… Also, what sort of variety does that bag have? What I am after is a range from small banger-type things, up to the larger fireworks; if anyone else knows, feel free to comment.

sorry for the double post, but I picked up a Black Widow “Ultimate Family Pack” from an art gallery in the bendy bit in wollongong St. No queues, though there was a cheaper looking place in the same court I didn’t bother looking at.

I really wanted the “Mega Big Stuff” pack, but wife and kids were outside, so I had to get something for everyone…

dtc said :

How can A&E be 50% off – 50% off what? Its not like they sell fireworks the rest of the year and then have a special for the long weekend. So its 50% off a mythical price that never gets charged? Or 50% off the price someone else sells them for? (caveat: I haven’t seen their ad so maybe they explain it all there)

It would be a violation of the trade practices act – any discount MUST be offered off the standard price, and the item MUST have been onsale and available at the standard price for a reasonable amount of time. I’m not sure how the ACCC would look at something that’s only available for a few days a year. What’s reasonable in this case?

Woody Mann-Caruso5:50 pm 05 Jun 09

Anybody had any success with the “Got anything for rodent / stump removal nudge nudge wink wink” line?

*your* not *you’re*, sorry. Fingers are shaking already in anticipation of lighting fuses and running away!

johnboy said :

I walked into an outlet in Dickson this morning, left five minutes later with a $100 box that seems to have a lot in it.

Drivers licence details got taken down and then we were done.

Ditto. I was at the head of a very short cue at Kambah Newsagents at 7.55am. The crackers hadn’t even been taken out of storage yet so ‘ye olde shop-keep’ asked me to go into his storeroom to see what I wanted (which was stupid question as I wanted everything). Nonetheless, I left quite pleased with a $50 pack. Oh, I hear you’re laughter and derisory comments that said $50 bag will be gone in a flash, BUT… I have cunningly invited several families over to our house on Sunday night, all of whom have been told to BYO crackers.

Oh, I was interested though to see this years fireworks are prepacked in thick cardboard and plastic boxes rather than the cheap zip-up bags I’ve seen in past years. How refreshing.

Their claim is 50% off “combo deals”.
Which I assume means porn + fireworks, but fireworks at normal prices.

How can A&E be 50% off – 50% off what? Its not like they sell fireworks the rest of the year and then have a special for the long weekend. So its 50% off a mythical price that never gets charged? Or 50% off the price someone else sells them for? (caveat: I haven’t seen their ad so maybe they explain it all there)

I walked into an outlet in Dickson this morning, left five minutes later with a $100 box that seems to have a lot in it.

Drivers licence details got taken down and then we were done.

CheersA + djk > stfu, this is about where to get the cheapest fireworks not another endless rant about how fireworks should be banned blah blah blah.

adam and eve say 50-60% off but they just say that to get you through the door. they are slightly cheaper than other places but its busy and you cant take your kids in to choose with you.

personally i wouldnt buy parachutes anymore. its useless, you cant see the parachute now with the new time restrictions. parachutes are good for daytime only.

also try to steer clear of those boring fountains. i know blackwidow have bulk bags that contain ZERO fountains…thank god for that.

if in northside, theres a a blackwidow shop next to kingsley chicken.

i think if you wait till sunday evening you get some decent savings as suppliers desperatly try to to offload them

I’m in Kambah too and I agree Peteh I haven’t heard a peep (or a pop) this year yet. It’s almost too quiet with teenagers on both sides of us, I wonder what they’re planning…

ilmarinen said :

Downtown Baghdad huh? Been there much? And what tanks are the ‘mortar shells’ busting?
Drama drains.. Get a life!

thanks to the coverage of the 2nd invasion of baghdad by the world media, I had a pretty good idea, and as I am ex adf, a better understanding of the noises that were being made there. if anyone needs a life, it is you. not drama draining, just making an observation.

if you took the noises that are being made over cracker weekend and put them in an exercise, it would be pretty well close to the mark.

I have heard the term banger, but it isn’t common. Besides, none of the legal ones make very loud bangs….

parachutes were my favourite as a kid. We would find them and then throw them up in the air over and over again.

a propos of this thread, i just read in the chronicle (ok, so obviously it will be bonkers) an appropriate story warning of the dangers to pets with fireworks, but with the eye-catching headline: “watch over pets on banger night”

banger??? banger night? a ‘banger’ is a sausage, innit?? at least they might have saved the space the omg very long ‘fireworks’ takes up with a simple ‘cracker’, no?

anyone else ever, ever heard the expression ‘banger’ for fireworks? i remember penny bungers. close, but surely no cigar…

Secret Squirrel1:08 pm 05 Jun 09

Just got back for checking out Blackwidow, they have a temporary store next to Adam & Eve. At a guess, Davo is probably right. Difficult to compare though, when they’re mostly in mixed bags. I was a sheep and purchased from A&E (the place was packed!), but I think I’ll head back to Blackwidow today as I now see from their flyer that they sell PARACHUTES.

CheersA said :

I think we should have a law that sets a quality standard, limits price and only provides product to people who register in advance to set them off at a particular location. Oh and 10% of all profits to go to the RSPCA. I’d be happy to join in for that. The way it is, is just a state sponsored rip off followed by a state condoned disturbance of the peace.

+1

barking toad11:56 am 05 Jun 09

Follow #4 & #5 advice

Good excuse to get porn too. And crutchless panties.

Secret Squirrel11:56 am 05 Jun 09

Inappropriate said :

Frankly I think consumer grade fireworks are too expensive; you simply don’t get bang for ya buck. I’m going to resist the urge and not buy any this year (despite my penchant for blowing things to kingdom-come).

Fine, but this may be the last chance you ever get!

Inappropriate11:47 am 05 Jun 09

Frankly I think consumer grade fireworks are too expensive; you simply don’t get bang for ya buck. I’m going to resist the urge and not buy any this year (despite my penchant for blowing things to kingdom-come).

also, Don’t bother looking online. The places selling fireworks move the cars from their car yards and open their doors once a year. If you can’t get to fyshwick, go to Repco, but you’ll pay more there obviously.

Secret Squirrel said :

Oooh, freaky. I was just going to ask if anyone has been over to A&E to check out their “50-60% off” offer.

It’s not 50-60% off, i’d say its around 10-20% cheaper than everywhere else (well that was the case last year).

Secret Squirrel11:33 am 05 Jun 09

Just had a look at the http://www.fireworks.com.au/products.html website. Not cheap!!! Are they THAT much better than others available? (and by the looks, if the ACT Gov ban our poppers, we may have to move to NT)

Downtown Baghdad huh? Been there much? And what tanks are the ‘mortar shells’ busting?
Drama drains.. Get a life!

Secret Squirrel11:29 am 05 Jun 09

Davo111 said :

drive down to adam and eve, they usually have the cheapest stuff i’ve seen. Yes, it’s the Chinese stuff, but they usually throw in a few extras

Oooh, freaky. I was just going to ask if anyone has been over to A&E to check out their “50-60% off” offer.

drive down to adam and eve, they usually have the cheapest stuff i’ve seen. Yes, it’s the Chinese stuff, but they usually throw in a few extras

Yeah our neighbours seem to have a supply of tank busting mortar shells, which go off at anoyingly unpredictable times for weeks around this time.

People setting off explosive devices in residential areas? – draws no response from gov or police, ever! apparently.

My point for the anti/pro argument is that the quality of legal fireworks these days has diminshed the joy to be gained by a cracker night to a dissapointing and expensive fizzer.

I think we should have a law that sets a quality standard, limits price and only provides product to people who register in advance to set them off at a particular location. Oh and 10% of all profits to go to the RSPCA. I’d be happy to join in for that. The way it is, is just a state sponsored rip off followed by a state condoned disturbance of the peace.

Anyone who objects to having their fun limited should then be ok with the concept of a police squad going around forcebly taking fireworks off people found using them illegally and fining them heavily (and throwing any who resit into the new slammer for a few days to reflect on their responsibility to the community)

astrojax said :

people round inner norf obviously knew where to get their supplies early, if last night’s pretty constant bangs and whizzes are anything to go by… and in the rain – sheesh!

strangely, eerily quiet on the southside, tuggeranong usually sounds like downtown baghdad… well, kambah does, anyway.

people round inner norf obviously knew where to get their supplies early, if last night’s pretty constant bangs and whizzes are anything to go by… and in the rain – sheesh!

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