11 December 2013

So that was your Centenary

| johnboy
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Chief Minister Gallagher is calling it quits on the Centenary, perhaps unable to muster any enthusiasm for the last weeks of the year:

Following more than 1000 community events ranging from a major fireworks display on the ‘very big day’ in March to the parties at the shops across Canberra, Canberra’s Centenary celebrations are coming to a close, Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, said today.

“It’s been a diverse year of fun events which have brought our community closer together but also a year of learning about how our city has grown over the past 100 years since it was established as the national capital in 1913,” the Chief Minister said.

“I have particularly enjoyed attending events where I have had a chance to hear the stories of Canberrans including those who have lived here for 100 years as well as those who have moved here in more recent times.

Everyone has a unique and interesting story to tell but the consistent message in most of those stories is the pride we have developed for our city.”

The year began with two exhibitions, one at Parliament House and the other on top of Mt Stromlo, and today we finish off the program with the official opening of Stage 2 of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and the final community event – the Ancestors picnic.

The Chief Minister said the program for the centenary year had aimed to provide something for all Canberrans.

“We live in one of Australia’s most diverse communities and I was pleased to see that the program for the centenary provided opportunities for all Canberrans to take part in a festival or event that aligned with their unique interest,” the Chief Minister said.

I particularly liked how she thanks Robyn Archer at the end for her “flare” rather than her “flair”.

So what did you make of it all?

Should they have just booked the Rolling Stones?

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MyDee said :

So, for the centenary we have second rate entertainment, arts and events usually provided by someone who will never make it or has long since past it being elevated to something worthy of attention.

I disagree! We had The Church play here!! they had a hit single. Thirty years ago.

MyDee said :

In essence the whole year was just one long boring exhibition of self aggrandizement by the organisers of this extravaganza.

Boy, did they aim low then.

Seeing the Church play live by the lake, for free, and the excellent bikes & sound at Spin were two good Centenary things for me.

wildturkeycanoe6:31 am 13 Dec 13

“Everyone has a unique and interesting story to tell but the consistent message in most of those stories is the pride we have developed for our city.”
Judging by the stories in this forum, pride is taken in the quality of our roads, the excellent facilities for cycling, fantastic public transport system and its expansion, the job security offered by the unique local public service, the friendly manner in which our citizens share the roads and how we enjoy spending lots and lots of money on giant pieces of art. I for one love hearing about these and other issues we take pride in, as residents of the capital city of Australia. [I love sarcasm, so much more fun to write…]
“We live in one of Australia’s most diverse communities and I was pleased to see that the program for the centenary provided opportunities for all Canberrans to take part in a festival or event that aligned with their unique interest”. Summernats hasn’t happened yet, so my interests haven’t been satisfied thus far, sorry to say. [Yup, sarcasm was much better than the direct approach.]

What I really love about Canberra, particularly over the centenary year, was the hubris. I think Canberra does hubris better then anywhere else in Australia, perhaps even the world. Although I think North Korea probably pips us on this score.

So, for the centenary we have second rate entertainment, arts and events usually provided by someone who will never make it or has long since past it being elevated to something worthy of attention. In essence the whole year was just one long boring exhibition of self aggrandizement by the organisers of this extravaganza.

But of course Canberra has a long history of hubris, From the start the opening of the Parliament 26 odd years after Federation surpassed anything to follow. So many endangered species were sacrificed to both feed and cloth the representatives of an empire in decline.

And over the course of the years we have been treated to many visions of Costa dal Burley Griffen- I still await the seaplane terminal and surf beach and our state of the art light rail which will materialize immediately after the umpteenth feasibility study.

Ah Yes Hubris and Canberra our contribution to the Commonwealth

A total flop. Every good event was an annual event or a coincidence (e.g. NGA exhibitions). A few minutes of extra fireworks are about all I can give a tick too.

HiddenDragon2:59 pm 12 Dec 13

I particularly liked how she thanks Robyn Archer at the end for her “flare” rather than her “flair” – flares and platform heels would be quite in keeping with the quaintly daggy, retro feel of what we’ve had over the past year.

RA said on the radio this morning that ‘success to her in 5 years time would be uplift in the cultural landscape. Not just from people outside Cbr, people inside’…..
I’m not really sure what that means, but it seems like a strange way to measure centenary celebrations – a later increase in culture?!? WTF? hahaha!

Even the Canberra 100 digital radio station changed over early to Elf radio (Xmas songs 24/7) in late November…

Gungahlin Al said :

If complainers reckon they didn’t see anything worthwhile, they really weren’t looking. And whose problem is that again?

I don’t think anyone would say there was nothing worthwhile. For me, the cricket was good, as was the rugby, both of which would have happened in any case. It just wasn’t anything like a “celebration of a centenary”.

It was far too heavily biased towards the alleged “arts” and aimed squarely at the hipster/leftie./greenie brigade, not you average Joe Canberran.

Gungahlin Al said :

Some leveraged things that have already been happening like Enlighten, which was wonderful. Others were one-offs that I wish were annual.

Ditto. I remember thinking that at the Village Festival at Glebe Park. That was just a delightful little family festival. And the Spiegeltent of course. I’d be happy for them to bring that back every year too. (Though I did walk out of one gig there)

johnboy said :

it was enlighten’s third year.

more to the point they tore down the enlighten amnenities the day before Canberra Day when they would have been very usefull

No kidding….I should’ve signed up for Canberra updates earlier then!! Either way it was great

Gungahlin Al10:08 am 12 Dec 13

“I particularly liked how she thanks Robyn Archer at the end for her “flare” rather than her “flair”.”

The flame under Skywhale was certainly flaring plenty!

But to be fair, there were stacks of events on all over the place, and we attended several. It was hard to keep up with all the opportunities for events. Some leveraged things that have already been happening like Enlighten, which was wonderful. Others were one-offs that I wish were annual.

They sure ran Tara (@InTheTaratory) raggard trying to sample and blog on everything.

If complainers reckon they didn’t see anything worthwhile, they really weren’t looking. And whose problem is that again?

Ben_Dover said :

zorro29 said :

Enlighten was the highlight of the year.

Great, Euighten, an annual event, was the highlight of the once in a lifetime centenary celebration. 🙄

What other years have they done Enlighten?? Never noticed all the buildings lit up with artwork before (despite living in Barton while in Canberra)

it was enlighten’s third year.

more to the point they tore down the enlighten amnenities the day before Canberra Day when they would have been very usefull

I spent half of 2013 out of Canberra and the other half in it. In March, I came up for the Canberra Day celebrations and a whole bunch of stuff in the Spiegeltent/Garden and loved every minute, and the rest of those six months I spent 500km away wishing I was getting involved in all the other stuff that was happening. (I was in Dubbo for the Skywhale launch – do you know how hard that was for me?)

The second half of 2013 was spent trying to jump on board with whatever Centenary events I could, and all of it was time and money well spent. I was proud to be a Canberran when I lived here the first time, but upon moving back this year, I was beaming with pride. The Capital has really given it a red-hot go, and I’ve had a ball. I just wish we didn’t have to wait another hundred years to do it all again.

All hail the Skywhale.

They should never have engaged Robyn Archer. She does “events” that are in the moment, and she was totally out of her depth and incompetent in the centenary arena. Didn’t understand the gig – and should have seen through a bad or inadequate briefing. She should have put together a year that was a mix of fleeting fun and Skywhale type stuff, and stuff that would seed a legacy and a memory. Mega fail. It’s been a pretty boring party for the money. The worst part would have to have been the pretentious elitist drinkies events – white on white dinner, and “longest bar in the world”. Some of the very local community stuff looked to be cute and worthwhile. But that stuff costs very little. Such a waste, such a fail and such a shame (except for Skywhale!).

1970 – Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came
2013 – Suppose They Had A Centenary and Nobody Cared

zorro29 said :

Enlighten was the highlight of the year.

Great, Euighten, an annual event, was the highlight of the once in a lifetime centenary celebration. 🙄

Enlighten was the highlight of the year…fantastic! I am a fan of public art and events etc so I really enjoyed a lot of the events and displays. I think there was probably something for everyone. Well done Canberra. 🙂

“It’s been a diverse year of fun events which have brought our community closer together but also a year of learning about how our city has grown over the past 100 years since it was established as the national capital in 1913,” the Chief Minister said.

My word, I’ll say this for the girl, she sure has a vivid imagination!

So what did it cost us. 3 mill,, or was it 30mill sumthin … Regret attended nothing. Saw the skywhale down in Hobart.

Bring on the next one !

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