❓ Mr Scaife asks about the Cook Labor government's plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia II's America's Cup win. The Minister outlines planned events including an exhibition, a play, and a public celebration in Fremantle.
AnsweredQoN 627Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AMERICA'S CUP
WIN FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
627. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for Culture and the
Arts:
I refer to the fortieth anniversary
of Australia II 's win of the America's Cup being
celebrated this year. Can the minister outline to the house how the Cook Labor
government is planning for the celebration of this proud Western Australian
achievement, including the many free events the community can attend?
In case it affects the minister's
answer, I confirm that I was born in 1988.
WIN FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
627. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for Culture and the
Arts:
I refer to the fortieth anniversary
of Australia II 's win of the America's Cup being
celebrated this year. Can the minister outline to the house how the Cook Labor
government is planning for the celebration of this proud Western Australian
achievement, including the many free events the community can attend?
In case it affects the minister's
answer, I confirm that I was born in 1988.
AnswerView source ↗
I
have to say, you missed out on something quite remarkable. For those of us who
were alive on 26 September 1983 , particularly
if they were in their mid-40s and older, during the early morning of that day,
we witnessed a remarkable achievement
by an Australian team. It has been acknowledged as probably the greatest
achievement of an Australian sporting team in history. It was a very
important and pivotal moment in Australian cultural history too because,
against the might of the Americans, with a 132-year history of holding the
trophy that had never been anywhere else but bolted to the New York Yacht Club's
hallowed halls, an Australian team, with many members from Western Australia,
was part of a remarkable campaign. It was out-budgeted but it had a couple of
key things that made a difference. One was Ben Lexcen, the amazing designer.
Another was the tenacious skipper of Australia II , John Bertrand. Alan
Bond was the bankroller of the campaign. He had tried three times previously to
win the America's Cup. Of course,
there was also a remarkable crew and support staff. They went to Rhode Island
in New York and competed in the Louis
Vuitton challenger series. They won 49 of 53 races to win the right to
challenge . They won the right to
challenge. For the first time in a long time, they won one of the races but
were 3–1 down. A team needed to win only four races in the
America's Cup to take the cup. They were 3–1 down, then they
became 3–2 down and then they became 3–3. During that time, a long
way away, all of Australia was right behind this remarkable crew a long way
away. It was a different time in our history. The media, the internet and all
that social media stuff that exists now did
not exist then, yet the nation united behind them. As the team approached the
marker in the last leg, it was behind. Australia II crossed in
front, and the rest is history. There were 43 tacks; there was a tacking duel
down that last leg.
This was a remarkable thing for
Australia, and a very important thing for Western Australian history. The Cook government, quite rightly, is acknowledging the
fortieth anniversary of this amazing sporting triumph. All the crew, bar one, who sadly passed away two months ago—the
late Sir James Hardy—will be here in Perth, Western Australia , for the fortieth anniversary. An exhibition has
already opened at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle—a wonderful
exhibition that celebrates this amazing story and the stories that are part of
this win. I encourage people to go down to the Maritime Museum. There is
merchandise available. I know that the Deputy Premier is very keen on merch. I have
one example of the merch that is available.
Ms R. Saffioti : The ''G'day
from WA'' shirt.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes, the
Deputy Premier has a ''G'day from WA'' shirt. There is an
exhibition, and a play has been commissioned through Theatre 180 called Taking
Liberty , of course Liberty being the defending yacht during that
race. We are claiming that the world's biggest party will be held down
in Fremantle. I know that the member for Fremantle is very excited about this
because there will be a 1980s theme around Victoria Quay.
Ms S.F. McGurk : Back to the
80s.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes, ''Back
to the 80s'', and why shouldn't we! Get out your cardigans and
your tank tops.
Ms R. Saffioti : You can
tease your fringe.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will
tease what hair I have left on my head. I will get that big hair look. We are
inviting all Western Australians, particularly those people who remember
where they were at that moment. Radio stations have been highlighting where
people were. People have been ringing in saying that they were harvesting on a tractor or they were doing whatever. They
remember where they were. It is important, when we have these historical moments, that we take the time to acknowledge them. I invite everyone to come
down on Sunday, 24 September. There will be free public transport and there
will even be some special things happening at the railway stations, as I understand
it. Fremantle will be decorated with America's Cup paraphernalia and
promotions. Some great bands will be there: The Hoodoo Gurus; Voyager, our
entrant in that thing—what was it? Eurovision!
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I was on
a roll! I will finish up in a minute, because I am about to be attacked anyway!
At Victoria Quay, there will be The Hoodoo Gurus, Baby Animals, Voyager and
Slim Jim and the Phatts. We want people to come along and celebrate this. I think
it is a tremendous thing.
Finally, just to put this in
perspective, in 1983, about a month after the America's Cup win, the
people of Perth lined Stirling Highway—I was one of them; I was 17
years old and looking fantastic!—down to the Esplanade. The population
of Perth then was just over 900 000 people and it is estimated that more than
250 000 people turned out, so a quarter of Perth turned out. There have been
very few occasions like that since then, so that is an indication of the
excitement. Get on down—Sunday, 24 September, in the afternoon from
2.00 pm onwards. It will be a great celebration, celebrating a great moment in
Australian sport.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of
the Liberal Party with the last question.
have to say, you missed out on something quite remarkable. For those of us who
were alive on 26 September 1983 , particularly
if they were in their mid-40s and older, during the early morning of that day,
we witnessed a remarkable achievement
by an Australian team. It has been acknowledged as probably the greatest
achievement of an Australian sporting team in history. It was a very
important and pivotal moment in Australian cultural history too because,
against the might of the Americans, with a 132-year history of holding the
trophy that had never been anywhere else but bolted to the New York Yacht Club's
hallowed halls, an Australian team, with many members from Western Australia,
was part of a remarkable campaign. It was out-budgeted but it had a couple of
key things that made a difference. One was Ben Lexcen, the amazing designer.
Another was the tenacious skipper of Australia II , John Bertrand. Alan
Bond was the bankroller of the campaign. He had tried three times previously to
win the America's Cup. Of course,
there was also a remarkable crew and support staff. They went to Rhode Island
in New York and competed in the Louis
Vuitton challenger series. They won 49 of 53 races to win the right to
challenge . They won the right to
challenge. For the first time in a long time, they won one of the races but
were 3–1 down. A team needed to win only four races in the
America's Cup to take the cup. They were 3–1 down, then they
became 3–2 down and then they became 3–3. During that time, a long
way away, all of Australia was right behind this remarkable crew a long way
away. It was a different time in our history. The media, the internet and all
that social media stuff that exists now did
not exist then, yet the nation united behind them. As the team approached the
marker in the last leg, it was behind. Australia II crossed in
front, and the rest is history. There were 43 tacks; there was a tacking duel
down that last leg.
This was a remarkable thing for
Australia, and a very important thing for Western Australian history. The Cook government, quite rightly, is acknowledging the
fortieth anniversary of this amazing sporting triumph. All the crew, bar one, who sadly passed away two months ago—the
late Sir James Hardy—will be here in Perth, Western Australia , for the fortieth anniversary. An exhibition has
already opened at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle—a wonderful
exhibition that celebrates this amazing story and the stories that are part of
this win. I encourage people to go down to the Maritime Museum. There is
merchandise available. I know that the Deputy Premier is very keen on merch. I have
one example of the merch that is available.
Ms R. Saffioti : The ''G'day
from WA'' shirt.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes, the
Deputy Premier has a ''G'day from WA'' shirt. There is an
exhibition, and a play has been commissioned through Theatre 180 called Taking
Liberty , of course Liberty being the defending yacht during that
race. We are claiming that the world's biggest party will be held down
in Fremantle. I know that the member for Fremantle is very excited about this
because there will be a 1980s theme around Victoria Quay.
Ms S.F. McGurk : Back to the
80s.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes, ''Back
to the 80s'', and why shouldn't we! Get out your cardigans and
your tank tops.
Ms R. Saffioti : You can
tease your fringe.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I will
tease what hair I have left on my head. I will get that big hair look. We are
inviting all Western Australians, particularly those people who remember
where they were at that moment. Radio stations have been highlighting where
people were. People have been ringing in saying that they were harvesting on a tractor or they were doing whatever. They
remember where they were. It is important, when we have these historical moments, that we take the time to acknowledge them. I invite everyone to come
down on Sunday, 24 September. There will be free public transport and there
will even be some special things happening at the railway stations, as I understand
it. Fremantle will be decorated with America's Cup paraphernalia and
promotions. Some great bands will be there: The Hoodoo Gurus; Voyager, our
entrant in that thing—what was it? Eurovision!
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I was on
a roll! I will finish up in a minute, because I am about to be attacked anyway!
At Victoria Quay, there will be The Hoodoo Gurus, Baby Animals, Voyager and
Slim Jim and the Phatts. We want people to come along and celebrate this. I think
it is a tremendous thing.
Finally, just to put this in
perspective, in 1983, about a month after the America's Cup win, the
people of Perth lined Stirling Highway—I was one of them; I was 17
years old and looking fantastic!—down to the Esplanade. The population
of Perth then was just over 900 000 people and it is estimated that more than
250 000 people turned out, so a quarter of Perth turned out. There have been
very few occasions like that since then, so that is an indication of the
excitement. Get on down—Sunday, 24 September, in the afternoon from
2.00 pm onwards. It will be a great celebration, celebrating a great moment in
Australian sport.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of
the Liberal Party with the last question.
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