Hit 104.7 Canberra with Wilko and Courts

NEIL ‘WILKO’ WILCOCK: So, in the Canberra notice board, over the weekend, I saw a bunch of really cool photos from the past, which, you know, there’s a lot of people in Canberra who like to go, geez, it was a better time.

COURTENAY ‘COURTS’ KNEEN: Oh, yeah. Back in the day.

WILKO: God, remember it.

COURTS: It was better back then.

WILKO: I could watch Skyfire and I could just park right on the lake. 

COURTS: Yeah.

WILKO: That’s how I imagine they sound when they type these things out.

COURTS: No, same, though. So, we must be on to something.

WILKO: But there was a lot of photos shared in regards to the Birdman Rally, which they still do in Moomba in Melbourne.

COURTS: What exactly is a Birdman Rally?

WILKO: Okay, so it’s basically homemade flying devices. And then you run up a platform over water and you see how far you get, and then, obviously, you crash land into the lake. Now, we’ve not had it for quite some time. The photos and stuff I saw were from 1986, but it did launch in 1985, and it was a part of the Canberra Festival, which was every March.

COURTS: I’m having a look at some of these photos now. Do we think that the water on Lake Burley Griffin there just appears that brown because it’s an old photo? Or has it always been – has it always been that brown?

WILKO: I feel like it’s always been that brown. I feel like that’s a part of its character, right. Like that thing in Brisbane.

COURTS: Oh, the brown snake.

WILKO: Yeah.

COURTS: Yeah, that one.

WILKO: And so, apparently, according to this article that I read on Riot ACT this morning, it said that the National Capital Authority, or the NCA, they’re not against it.

COURTS: They’re not against another Birdman.

WILKO: We’re not saying Birdman. They’re saying things happening on the lake.

COURTS: Okay.

WILKO: Which I’m like, of course, we need to do more with it. So, I thought we’d get Kristy McBain on, MP who looks after a bunch of stuff, but also oversees the NCA. Good morning, Kristy.

KRISTY MCBAIN: Good morning.

WILKO: Lovely to speak to you and see you again. No time to talk about Elvis this morning. I’m really sorry. I know that you’re obsessed with Elvis, and we could really, you know, we could just do a whole 15 minutes, but we don’t have time. What are your thoughts on the activities that we want to do on the lake? And do you think Birdman’s something that we could possibly bring back?

MCBAIN: The Birdman Rally is obviously iconic, and it happens in Moomba quite frequently. Some people look really spectacular. Some people flop, literally and figuratively.

WILKO: Which is the best.

MCBAIN: Exactly. Obviously, it became a real showcase, not only of the costumes, but also of local products and produce. There are some safety expectations that have changed since the nineties.

WILKO: What?

COURTS: Boring.

MCBAIN: I know, boring, but appropriate. There’s probably some public liability issues. One of the things we’re really keen to do is activate the use of Lake Burley Griffin and Commonwealth Park more. If there are some ideas out there, the NCA want to hear about them. Ultimately, you’ve got this beautiful big lake, this gorgeous park. We want to be able to showcase Canberra in all its glory. Anything that happens around Lake Burley Griffin does that, because you see all those big national collecting institutions, Parliament House, the War Memorial, all those things are showcased whenever anything happens around the lake.

WILKO: I think we could definitely do it. I feel like – 

COURTS: Birdman specifically? You’re into Birdman specifically.

WILKO: Yeah, definitely. Because I feel like it’s so dumb. You build a platform and then people just bring their homemade flying devices and then they try and launch off it to see how far they get.

COURTS: Is it an episode in the Simpsons?

WILKO: It feels like an episode in the Simpsons.

COURTS: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

WILKO: And that’s really where we should get all of our ideas for the lake from, to be honest.

MCBAIN: It’s life imitating art, right? How much has the Simpsons got right over the last 25 years.

COURTS: Exactly. Exactly right.

WILKO: So, let’s say I convince our company to do some public liability. The NCA will take my call?

MCBAIN: Absolutely. We’ve got Sydney seaplanes who are operating now on the lake. We’ve got a process where we’re looking at floating saunas on the lake. 

WILKO: Is that definitely happening?

MCBAIN: There’s a company that’s put out a tender for it and they’re really keen to see what they can do with that. We’re really keen to get the paddle boats back on Lake Burley Griffin. You’ve seen activations of bars and events happening around Commonwealth Park, so have a crack.

COURTS: If you’re the one who’s going to be launching, Wilko – 

WILKO: Oh, we’re going to launch me?

COURTS: Your head might – 

WILKO: Too top heavy.

COURTS: It might, yeah.

WILKO: Too top heavy, yeah, yeah.

COURTS: Dive straight into Lake Burley Griffin.

WILKO: The company won’t insure my head for that.

COURTS: Yeah. Nothing’s really – it’s so out of balance.

WILKO: I feel like our biggest insurance for public liability is if anyone drinks the water out of Lake Burley Griffin. I think that’s really – you know. Don’t spoil it, you know.

MCBAIN: Like that old sign; enter at your own risk.

COURTS: Yeah, you’re so right.

WILKO: Okay, alright. So the NCA are open to ideas. We want to do more on the lake. And it’s not an instant no, which, you’re saying there’s a chance.

MCBAIN: It’s typical mum speak on a Monday morning. There is a chance. There are protocols to go through before we get to it on the weekend.

WILKO: Thank you for taking time to give us a chance, even if it’s just a mum chance, early on a Monday.

MCBAIN: Great to speak with you guys. Have a great week.