Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 1, 2009 10:00:50 GMT 9.5
Celebrations start in style
1/01/2009 4:00:00 AM
HELLO POSSUMS: Alex Dupriez promises a colourful start to 2009 during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Hargreaves Mall.
BENDIGO has ushered in the New Year with style at events throughout the city.
A near perfect summer evening ensured a fitting send off for 2008.
Families flocked to the CBD before the 9.30pm fireworks display yesterday, much earlier than revellers keen to celebrate 2009 in a more raucous fashion.
The revamped Hargreaves Mall - hosting its first New Year’s Eve festivities - was alive with colour, as clowns, carnival rides and face painters kept the young and young at heart entertained. Rosalind Park also attracted an eager crowd, who delighted in using the picturesque setting for skipping, roller-blading and cricket.
Indeed the only real concern for parents was ensuring children didn’t tire themselves out before the family fireworks.
“I don’t think they’ll be able to stay awake,” Bendigo’s Kate Murphy said of children Larissa, 9, Isaac, 6, and Jacob, 1.
“They’ll really try until the fireworks. “This is the first year we’ve been down to Rosalind Park and it’s really good, there’s a few people about and it’s a perfect night for it.” Sitting in the nearby rotunda, the Watt family of Nunawading in Melbourne was also enjoying the final hours of 2008.
“We just like getting away to the country, enjoying a bit of scenery and some family time together,” Sue Watt said.
Bendigo’s Debbie Walker took grand-daughter Ava Walker to Hargreaves Mall for New Year’s Eve and the three-year-old could hardly get enough of the range of attractions.
“This is the first time I’ve been to the mall for New Year’s Eve and it’s really good,” Mrs Walker said.
“It’s a really good idea having all this here.” Partyline owner Bruce Fraser has operated a stall stocked with New Year’s Eve trinkets including balloons, glow sticks and party hats in Hargreaves Mall every December 31 for the past 15 years. Mr Fraser said from his stall in the Myer Bendigo entrance last night that the weather had contributed to the large crowd. “It’s really great to see all these families here this early,” he said at 8pm.
“Weather plays a big part in it; this year it’s great, but in 2007 when it was 40 degrees it kept people away.” Mr Fraser said he could sell as many as 200 balloons and 40 hats during the night.
“But I’m not really concerned about that,” he said.
“It’s just to add a bit of colour and brighten the night up.”
1/01/2009 4:00:00 AM
HELLO POSSUMS: Alex Dupriez promises a colourful start to 2009 during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Hargreaves Mall.
BENDIGO has ushered in the New Year with style at events throughout the city.
A near perfect summer evening ensured a fitting send off for 2008.
Families flocked to the CBD before the 9.30pm fireworks display yesterday, much earlier than revellers keen to celebrate 2009 in a more raucous fashion.
The revamped Hargreaves Mall - hosting its first New Year’s Eve festivities - was alive with colour, as clowns, carnival rides and face painters kept the young and young at heart entertained. Rosalind Park also attracted an eager crowd, who delighted in using the picturesque setting for skipping, roller-blading and cricket.
Indeed the only real concern for parents was ensuring children didn’t tire themselves out before the family fireworks.
“I don’t think they’ll be able to stay awake,” Bendigo’s Kate Murphy said of children Larissa, 9, Isaac, 6, and Jacob, 1.
“They’ll really try until the fireworks. “This is the first year we’ve been down to Rosalind Park and it’s really good, there’s a few people about and it’s a perfect night for it.” Sitting in the nearby rotunda, the Watt family of Nunawading in Melbourne was also enjoying the final hours of 2008.
“We just like getting away to the country, enjoying a bit of scenery and some family time together,” Sue Watt said.
Bendigo’s Debbie Walker took grand-daughter Ava Walker to Hargreaves Mall for New Year’s Eve and the three-year-old could hardly get enough of the range of attractions.
“This is the first time I’ve been to the mall for New Year’s Eve and it’s really good,” Mrs Walker said.
“It’s a really good idea having all this here.” Partyline owner Bruce Fraser has operated a stall stocked with New Year’s Eve trinkets including balloons, glow sticks and party hats in Hargreaves Mall every December 31 for the past 15 years. Mr Fraser said from his stall in the Myer Bendigo entrance last night that the weather had contributed to the large crowd. “It’s really great to see all these families here this early,” he said at 8pm.
“Weather plays a big part in it; this year it’s great, but in 2007 when it was 40 degrees it kept people away.” Mr Fraser said he could sell as many as 200 balloons and 40 hats during the night.
“But I’m not really concerned about that,” he said.
“It’s just to add a bit of colour and brighten the night up.”