❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia II's America's Cup win in Fremantle, focusing on reliving the event and highlighting local musicians. The Minister provides details of planned events.
AnsweredQoN 689Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AMERICA'S CUP —
FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
689. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Culture and the
Arts:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to celebrating the success of Western Australia's
arts, culture and sporting achievements.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the world's biggest party in
Fremantle this weekend will allow Western Australians to relive Australia II 's
win of the 1983 America's Cup?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this major event will highlight Western Australia's
renowned local musicians?
The SPEAKER :
I think the minister can advise. The Minister for Culture and the Arts—and
sport.
FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
689. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Culture and the
Arts:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to celebrating the success of Western Australia's
arts, culture and sporting achievements.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the world's biggest party in
Fremantle this weekend will allow Western Australians to relive Australia II 's
win of the 1983 America's Cup?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this major event will highlight Western Australia's
renowned local musicians?
The SPEAKER :
I think the minister can advise. The Minister for Culture and the Arts—and
sport.
AnswerView source ↗
I am very keen
to advise. I like to advise. Since I became Minister for Sport and Recreation,
I have a vast array of scarves that I like to parade in. I am wearing two
today: one is the Peel Thunder scarf because Peel Thunder will take on East
Fremantle on Sunday. We wish the teams the very best and acknowledge both
teams. Of course, we know that Peel Thunder will rollick and romp it in on the
day! The other scarf I am wearing is on behalf of the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is
an avid Collingwood supporter.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : No, no.
As we know, there are some important games in the eastern states to determine
who will fight out the AFL grand final for 2023. But, of course, the member for
Kingsley's question was about the America's Cup.
(1)–(2) I
have been swept up by the nostalgia of the America's Cup. As we know,
40 years ago on Tuesday, 26 September 1983, Australia
II crossed the line—I have mentioned it many times—and the
nation changed . That sporting event, one of the greatest sporting
achievements in Australian sporting history, saw the America's Cup, for
the first time in 132 years, come across to Australia. It is very important
that we acknowledge these milestone events. One of the things that I have been
saying in various areas over the last month or so is that this is very much a Western
Australian story. Not only was the design and the conception of a campaign for the America's Cup hatched here
through the late Alan Bond and his syndicate in the early 1970s, with
some attempts at winning the cup, but in 1983 , we saw the Ben Lexcen–designed Australia II succeed.
As
we have got nearly all the team coming to Western Australia, including skipper
John Bertrand, joining other team members from around the world to acknowledge
this fortieth anniversary, we decided it was important in Western Australian
history that we acknowledge it. A whole range of activities have been announced
and are underway to do that. We already have the Australia II: 40 years on exhibition at the Western Australian Museum in Fremantle. It is a tremendous
exhibition and I urge everyone to go and have a look at it. It is a great
exhibition that captures the spirit and the experience of 1983. There is a great
video of a number of the crew members and great storytelling about the events
that led up to the final race on 26 September, and also, of course, what
happened afterwards. On Sunday in Fremantle, I am sure the member for Fremantle
and I and others will be there in big numbers because we have the nation's
biggest party as we celebrate a family-friendly day. Free public transport will be available to Fremantle for families
and there will be a free music concert from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm with Western Australian
talent including Slim Jim and the FATTS band. Voyager will perform a special
version of Down Under . We did try and get Men at Work, but the guy —
Members : Colin Hay.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Colin Hay
was unfortunately not available. He sends his best wishes. Well, he has now; I am
sure he does!
Baby Animals will be there at 4.30 pm
and Hoodoo Gurus will finish up the concert from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm, and then a special drone show will take place over the
bay near Victoria Quay. It has been co-designed by America's Cup crewmen Skip Lissiman and John Longley. That will close the event from 7.00 pm.
It is a great opportunity for Western Australians
to come out and celebrate this fortieth anniversary celebration, to acknowledge
the tremendous achievements, and also to celebrate the WA Museum in
Fremantle—a tremendous maritime museum that is home to Australia II . Members can go and have a look
at the winged-keel design by Ben Lexcen and soak up the atmosphere on
Sunday. I think the weather is going to be beautiful—22 or 23 degrees;
of course it will be a sunny day. Bring your hat and sunscreen and enjoy
yourselves.
There is an event on Tuesday night
at the Royal Perth Yacht Club, which hosted the Australia II entrant. If
you have a chance, Madam Speaker, go and see Theatre 180's production
of Taking Liberty . I know you are into the theatre, Madam Speaker, as I have seen you there many times. It is a great
show; I saw it last night. I did come back here, of course, to
participate in debate, but it is a marvellous show. Get along and celebrate Australia
II's fortieth anniversary, which
will activate that magnificent part of the world—Fremantle. Come along
with your family, friends , and, as I said the other day, bring your
nanna, too, if she can come. You will have a good time.
to advise. I like to advise. Since I became Minister for Sport and Recreation,
I have a vast array of scarves that I like to parade in. I am wearing two
today: one is the Peel Thunder scarf because Peel Thunder will take on East
Fremantle on Sunday. We wish the teams the very best and acknowledge both
teams. Of course, we know that Peel Thunder will rollick and romp it in on the
day! The other scarf I am wearing is on behalf of the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is
an avid Collingwood supporter.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : No, no.
As we know, there are some important games in the eastern states to determine
who will fight out the AFL grand final for 2023. But, of course, the member for
Kingsley's question was about the America's Cup.
(1)–(2) I
have been swept up by the nostalgia of the America's Cup. As we know,
40 years ago on Tuesday, 26 September 1983, Australia
II crossed the line—I have mentioned it many times—and the
nation changed . That sporting event, one of the greatest sporting
achievements in Australian sporting history, saw the America's Cup, for
the first time in 132 years, come across to Australia. It is very important
that we acknowledge these milestone events. One of the things that I have been
saying in various areas over the last month or so is that this is very much a Western
Australian story. Not only was the design and the conception of a campaign for the America's Cup hatched here
through the late Alan Bond and his syndicate in the early 1970s, with
some attempts at winning the cup, but in 1983 , we saw the Ben Lexcen–designed Australia II succeed.
As
we have got nearly all the team coming to Western Australia, including skipper
John Bertrand, joining other team members from around the world to acknowledge
this fortieth anniversary, we decided it was important in Western Australian
history that we acknowledge it. A whole range of activities have been announced
and are underway to do that. We already have the Australia II: 40 years on exhibition at the Western Australian Museum in Fremantle. It is a tremendous
exhibition and I urge everyone to go and have a look at it. It is a great
exhibition that captures the spirit and the experience of 1983. There is a great
video of a number of the crew members and great storytelling about the events
that led up to the final race on 26 September, and also, of course, what
happened afterwards. On Sunday in Fremantle, I am sure the member for Fremantle
and I and others will be there in big numbers because we have the nation's
biggest party as we celebrate a family-friendly day. Free public transport will be available to Fremantle for families
and there will be a free music concert from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm with Western Australian
talent including Slim Jim and the FATTS band. Voyager will perform a special
version of Down Under . We did try and get Men at Work, but the guy —
Members : Colin Hay.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Colin Hay
was unfortunately not available. He sends his best wishes. Well, he has now; I am
sure he does!
Baby Animals will be there at 4.30 pm
and Hoodoo Gurus will finish up the concert from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm, and then a special drone show will take place over the
bay near Victoria Quay. It has been co-designed by America's Cup crewmen Skip Lissiman and John Longley. That will close the event from 7.00 pm.
It is a great opportunity for Western Australians
to come out and celebrate this fortieth anniversary celebration, to acknowledge
the tremendous achievements, and also to celebrate the WA Museum in
Fremantle—a tremendous maritime museum that is home to Australia II . Members can go and have a look
at the winged-keel design by Ben Lexcen and soak up the atmosphere on
Sunday. I think the weather is going to be beautiful—22 or 23 degrees;
of course it will be a sunny day. Bring your hat and sunscreen and enjoy
yourselves.
There is an event on Tuesday night
at the Royal Perth Yacht Club, which hosted the Australia II entrant. If
you have a chance, Madam Speaker, go and see Theatre 180's production
of Taking Liberty . I know you are into the theatre, Madam Speaker, as I have seen you there many times. It is a great
show; I saw it last night. I did come back here, of course, to
participate in debate, but it is a marvellous show. Get along and celebrate Australia
II's fortieth anniversary, which
will activate that magnificent part of the world—Fremantle. Come along
with your family, friends , and, as I said the other day, bring your
nanna, too, if she can come. You will have a good time.
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