Though the Melbourne Cup is undoubtedly Australia’s most famous race, it is equally accepted that the Cox Plate, held at Moonee Valley Racecourse since 1922, is the country’s best race.

The Cup appeals to the Australian psyche due to its handicap status – the best horses are tasked with carrying the most weight, thus allowing lesser, ‘battler’ type horses to sneak in with no weight on their backs and mix it with the big boys. The Cox Plate has no time for such

sentiment – it pits the best in the land against each other, under the inviolability of weight-for-age conditions (horses are weighted according to age alone, not ability) and over a distance where the best horses tend to excel (2040m). Add in the intricacies of the tight Moonee Valley track – complete with uniquely cambered turns – and the result is an annual spectacle that has provided the Australian turf some of its most unforgettable moments in an already storied history.

Not every Cox Plate winner is a champion, but this is a race won by champions, perhaps more than any other. In the last twenty years

alone, the Cox Plate has been claimed by several winning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year - Makybe Diva, Sunline (twice), Northerly (twice), Might and Power, Saintly and Octagonal. 2009 and 2010 winner So You Think – who took his Group 1 tally to ten whilst racing against the world’s best horses in Europe – would surely have been another ‘Horse of the Year’ winner if not for the presence of a handy mare called Black Caviar. Surround, Taj Rossi, Gunsynd, Tobin Bronze, Tulloch, Rising Fast, Flight, Ajax and Phar Lap are just some of the other greats to have validated their equine immortality with Cox Plate victory.

It’s not just the winners, however, but also the frequently exhilarating nature of these wins, that have made the Cox Plate the race that it is today. Bonecrusher and Our Waverly Star’s head to head duel for the fi nal 800m of the 1986 Cox Plate – when the two cleared out from the rest of the fi eld and fought a bloody two horse war all the way to the post – is still cited today as the race to end all races.

The power and beauty of Dulcify’s seven-length demolition job in the 1979 Cox Plate, too, remains one of the most moving sights in horse racing history, particularly given the fact

MOONEE VALLEY’S COX PLATE – THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS AS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE

ISSUE 9 > SPRING 2012

COSTA ROLFE

The gates open at the start of the 2011 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse

2 ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS > SPRING 2012

AeroRescue – Looking after our national interests 24/7 3

The Kokoda Trail 2012 – An uphill battle to break down barriers 3

Essendon Early Learning Centre & Kindergarten - Give your child the best start in life 5

Benefi ts of Business Real Property and Self Managed Super Funds 5

Pharmasave – Committed to the Essendon Fields Community 7

Essendon Fields News Entertainment Guide 7

History of Essendon Airport - Series 9 9

Careful What You Wish For – David Strassman returns with a brand new show 11

the horse would come to be fatally injured in the Melbourne Cup just ten days later. And who could forget Kingston Town, who made history by winning a third consecutive Cox Plate in 1982, despite race-caller Bill Collins’ mid-race assurances that “Kingston Town can’t win”.

The 2012 Sportingbet Cox Plate will be unlike any prior editions of this prestigious event. The ever-innovative Moonee Valley Racing Club have rejigged the race’s scheduling this year, for the fi rst time embarking on a two day ‘festival’ of racing that will incorporate a Friday night meeting on 26 October, as well as the traditional Cox Plate Saturday the following day. Cox Plate eve will be spearheaded by the Group 1 Manikato Stakes – an event sure to attract the nation’s best sprinters – with a staggering $6 million in prize money on offer across 17 races spanning the two meetings.

Punters will also be able to surrender their binoculars in favour of a towering new LED ‘super screen’ this year, of which Moonee Valley Racing Club Chairman Bob Scarborough is particularly effusive. “The new super screen will greatly enhance the on-course experience for all racegoers that attend Moonee Valley. With our

unique amphitheatre, this screen will allow us to present racing in a modern and exciting fashion, bringing all the colour and action to our audience.”

Victorian Racing Minister Dennis Napthine shares Scarborough’s bullishness about the MVRC’s initiative. “Measuring almost 27 metres by 5.8 metres and utilising the latest technology to deliver crystal clear images, the new super screen will add to the exciting and unique atmosphere of this fi rst-class venue.”

As for this year’s winner? Bold predictions are fraught this far out from a race, but Gai Waterhouse’s outstanding three-year-old colt Pierro looms as the one all comers must beat. Should he in fact line up and win it, the name of Pierro – Australia’s champion two-year-old of last season – will sit more than comfortably on the Cox Plate honour roll alongside the celebrated champions of yesteryear. Indeed, what better subject to fi ll all 27 by 5.8 metres of the Valley’s $1 million ‘super screen’ than this multi-million dollar super colt?

The Festival of Racing at Moonee Valley -26-27 October – Moonee Valley Racecoursewww.mvrc.net.au

COVER STORYCONTINUATION

Essendon Fields Pty LtdLevel 2, 7 English StEssendon Fields 3041T 9948 9400F 9948 9330www.essendonfi elds.com.au

CEO: Chris Cowan 9948 9400Marketing Manager: Dee Johns 9948 9408Leasing: Jodie Schickerling 9948 9400

Essendon Fields News:Publisher: MagMediaSuite 3 15-17 Pakington StSt Kilda VIC 31828506 9908

Editor: Lisa Quittnereditor@magmedia.com.au

Marketing: Dee Johns djohns@essendonfi elds.com.au

Sales and Advertising: Belle Ngienadvertise@magmedia.com.au

Cover page Image - 2011 Cox Plate image courtesy Moonee Valley Racing Club

Contributing writers: Costa Rolfe, Roger Meyer - OAM, Geoff Steer, Lisa Quittner,

Design: Smith and Rowestudio@smithandrowe.com.au

Essendon Fields News welcomes any contributions from our readers. Please send material to the editor.

Essendon Fields News is a free publication and is distributed through selected outlets.

Views expressed in Essendon Fields News do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editor or publisher. No responsibility is accepted by Essendon Fields News for the accuracy of the advertisements or information within the publication.

All material forwarded to the newspaper will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled “Not for publication”.No part of this publication may be recorded, stored in a retrieval system or reproduced in any form without permission of The Publisher. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this publication.

3SPRING 2012 > ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS

The Kokoda Trail resonates as one of Australia’s most poignant symbols of national sacrifi ce. But for those who take single fi le to Kokoda today, the experience invariably transcends mere tribute to those who suffered and died: to walk Kokoda is to walk the recesses of one’s own mind. Indeed, personal battles continue to be waged along this undulating 96 kilometers of rugged Papua New Guinean rainforest, seven long decades after the last bayonet was fi tted. As Victoria Police Kokoda Trek Program coordinator Inspector Nigel Howard states, “Everyone has a good day – and a bad day – on the track.”

The program, which was initiated in 2007 and comprises an eight day and seven night trek

along the Kokoda Trail, is a community-building exercise aimed at breaking down the barriers between police and ‘at risk’ young people. Disenfranchised youths identifi ed as having low self-esteem, lack of direction or poor school attendance records are specifi cally targeted for participation, and are joined on the muddy slopes not only by police, but by ambulance offi cers, sponsors and various youth ‘leaders’; themselves carefully selected to act as role models for their contemporaries. In overcoming the mental and physical torture of Kokoda, the program hopes to not only instil genuine self-belief in its graduates, but also assist them in recognising the negative life trajectories of antisocial behavior.

The Victoria Police Kokoda Trek Program does not only test its young subjects, but all who embark on the arduous journey. 20kg

packs provide the exclamation mark on an experience characterized by humid days, freezing nights, screaming blisters, unforgiving mud and mental fatigue. According to Inspector Howard, it is the dispiriting prospect of incline after incline that presents the biggest challenge. “On an average day, you walk up hills. You walk up little hills; you walk up big hills. It is a physically demanding, mind-numbing experience. Above all else, Kokoda tests the resolve of the individual: it forces people to drill into reserves of inner-strength they never knew they had.”

Bridging the hierarchical distance between youth and police is for Inspector Howard, one of the program’s most critical aspects. “All societies have youth who are engaged, and youth who are disengaged. Through this program, we seek to build relationships with disengaged youth,

and in turn use their networks to impact the broader community. Many young people are ignorant of what police really do and what purpose they actually serve. But after Kokoda, many of them have come to appreciate for the fi rst time the human element of policing.”

In its short history the program has produced a litany of positive outcomes. Successful completion of VCE, acceptance at tertiary level and commitment to full time employment are just some of the success stories, says Inspector Howard. “We always say that when you’ve walked the Kokoda Track, you can do anything. Kids face challenges all the time, but it’s not until they physically conquer the adversity of Kokoda that they seem to realise that other, seemingly impossible life hurdles can be overcome too.”

THE KOKODA TRAIL 2012 – AN UPHILL BATTLE TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS

AeroRescue is a “Special Missions” aircraft operator who currently supplies dedicated long range fi xed wing aircraft for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Operations are conducted from fi ve separate locations throughout Australia. Five heavily modifi ed Dornier 328 turbo prop aircraft, based in Essendon, Cairns, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane provide a sensor and drop platform for a broad range of missions. Aerorescue Essendon was commissioned in December 2006 and since then has responded to over 450 Search and Rescue incidents as well as conducting numerous other taskings for AMSA and its State and Federal affi liates.

The aircraft is under the control of, and tasked directly by the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra with the operation running 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. In essence they provide the eyes and ears in the sky for the Search and Rescue

Coordinators in Canberra. Their role includes responding to Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), providing a search platform for missing persons, vessels and aircraft, dropping lifesaving appliances to persons in distress in a marine and land environment, acting as an airborne communications and coordination platform for large scale searches and providing Environmental Pollution Response capabilities.

The aircraft has a range of approximately 6 hours depending on the tasking and can transit at speeds comparable to small commercial jetliners, hence providing a quick response when needed. The aircraft is fi tted with a wide range of Electro optical sensors including maritime search RADAR, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and Enhanced digital cameras, Ultra Violet/Infrared line scanner, a full suite of radio communication equipment, including the ability to act as a direct relay station, and a computerised mission management system. The aircraft is operated by a crew of fi ve, comprised of two fl ight crew and three technical crew.

There is a wide range of equipment available to drop from the aircraft including small canisters containing medical supplies, water and communications devices and also large canisters with more varied tools for survival situations such as infl atable life rafts and GPS marker beacons.

“We are often asked what people can do to increase their safety when undertaking activities which can be potentially hazardous. Depending on the activity we will always advise people to take all appropriate safety equipment, have either an EPIRB or PLB, be profi cient in its use and to make sure it is registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority” says Luke Hutchinson, Base Manager for AeroRescue Essendon.

For more information on Search and Rescue within Australia, emergency beacons and registration, go to www.amsa.gov.au or call 1800 406 406.

AERORESCUE – LOOKING AFTER OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS 24/7

Left to right: Matthew Holdsworth – Drop Master - Joshua Nitschke – Air Search Observer and Luke Hutchinson – Aircraft Mission Coordinator/Base Manager

BY COSTA ROLFE |

5SPRING 2012 > ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS

Given the recent lack of confi dence in share markets and underperforming superannuation accounts, many individuals have considered shifting their superannuation to the more self controlled environment of self managed superannuation funds (SMSF). Business owners are particularly interested in this rapidly growing area for greater control of their retirement funds, fl exibility of investments allowable in a SMSF structure and the ability to contribute or sell, depending on their cashfl ow circumstances, their business premises into the SMSF.

Legislation governing SMSF, the SIS Act currently only allows a SMSF to acquire from a related party two types of assets. These assets are listed securities and business real property.

Business real property is defi ned as any freehold or leasehold interest of the entity in real property where the real property is used wholly and exclusively in one or more businesses (whether carried on by the business or not). Any business owner should seek professional advice to ensure that the property satisfi es the requirements of the business test and meets the defi nition of business real property prior to any transfer occurring.

Benefi ts to transferring business real property into the superannuation environment can be to access superannuation funds prior to retirement by way of a cash purchase by the SMSF, to take advantage of a better tax environment (15% tax rate while members are in accumulation phase or 0% tax rate when members are in pension phase), to protect the business real property if the business fails, or to boost retirement funds and lower assets held personally.

Timing of property transfers into a SMSF can be critical from a capital gains tax perspective. Transfers of business real property purchased from related parties must be transferred at current market value as if the transaction was to occur at arms length. This requirement does not allow for market value manipulation and heavy penalties could apply if any transfer value didn’t stand up. Obviously higher market values on transfer can result in an increased capital gain. Due to the recent decrease in property

valuations being reported by the banks now more than ever is the opportune time to take advantage of lower valuations and get the asset in a SMSF with minimal tax impact.

Transfers of this nature can occur utilising excess cash currently within the SMSF, as a cash purchase. The other way it can occur is via an in-specie transfer (not for cash). In-specie transfers are restricted by member contribution caps which are $150,000 or $450,000 per fund member (if the bring forward rule is triggered). The bring forward rule provides greater fl exibility for business owners as SMSF can have up to 4 members allowing for a maximum of $1,800,000 in any transfer.

Recently, some State Revenue departments have not applied stamp duty to in-specie property transfers whereby no cash has changed hands. This saving can make transferring the business premises into a SMSF more attractive as this can be an expensive component of a property transfer. It should be noted that stamp duty is a state tax with no uniformity between states. It is suggested that legal advice should always be sought when dealing with stamp duty on property transfers.

Like with all SMSF investments, a long term view should always be taken and any investment should be made with the appropriate professional advice.Geoff Steer is a Founding Partner of Matthews Steer Chartered Accountants. Geoff’s knowledge of taxation matters combined with his fi nancial planning skills enable him to provide a complete fi nancial service for professional, executive and small business clients. Geoff was recently ranked one of Australia’s top 10 fi nancial advisors by the AFR Smart Investor Magazine’s 2011 Masterclass. www.matthewssteer.com.au

IT’S TIME TO CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF BUSINESS REAL PROPERTY AND SELF MANAGED SUPER FUNDSGEOFF STEER | FINANCIAL FREEDOM

The best start in life you can give your child is to instil a lifelong love of learning and the foundations for positive social interaction with others.

Childcare isn’t just for children with working parents, the advantages for all children are countless in developing their gross and fi ne motor skills and cognitive learning processes from an early age. Childcare allows children the opportunity to interact and play with other children; it also provides an avenue for encouraging their independence ensuring your child is well prepared and eager to begin school.

Essendon Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten offers all the above and so much more with beautiful indoor and outdoor facilities, dedicated caring and highly qualifi ed staff. The centre has been freshly painted with new carpet indoors and a total renovation and naturalisation of the outdoor area, where children can discover sandpits and nature in a well designed and safe outdoor environment. Delicious and nutritious meals are prepared for the children throughout the day.

Essendon Early learning Centre and Kindergarten offers a staff member to child ratio of 1 teacher to every 4 children in the Under 3 age group and 1 to 15 in the Over 3 age group. In addition, every room at the centre has a member of staff with a diploma in education or higher, including teachers in both the 3 and 4 year old Kindergarten groups with Bachelor Degrees in Early Childhood Education.

Lastly but certainly not least, Essendon Early Learning Childcare Centre and Kindergarten offers exceptional programs for the children from 6 weeks of age to 6 years of age. The centre also provides a specialised Kindergarten and School Readiness Program nurturing language skills, physical wellbeing, motor coordination skills, concentration, emotional adjustment and independence to make certain that children are equipped to embark on their formal years of schooling. The children enjoy a range of incursions including a visiting animal farm as well as an externally run program which promotes physical activity and healthy eating.

Essendon Early Childcare Centre and Kindergarten is committed to providing an inclusive environment where families and staff work in partnership to create a positive, safe learning experience for all the children, where they are free to play, explore, discover and learn giving your child the best start in life.

GIVE YOUR CHILD THE BEST START IN LIFEBY LISA QUITTNER

7SPRING 2012 > ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS

A staunch commitment to community health is the prevailing theme at the newly opened Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy. Indeed, for co-owner Stephen Zammit, assisting local residents in achieving their best possible medication and healthcare outcomes will always remain a priority.

“We felt that Essendon Fields needed a good pharmacy in the area – not just something that could fi ll a void. We pride ourselves on being highly professional pharmacists who go that extra yard for our customers, and offer highly-trained and accessible staff, quality service, low prices and a positive shopping experience for all.”

Zammit is himself no stranger to the area. “I’ve lived in this part of Melbourne my whole life, and I am proud to be able to help the people who helped me whilst I was growing up by offering a rounded healthcare experience.” Nor is this Zammit’s fi rst initiative as neighbourhood bastion to the sniffl ing, puffy-eyed downtrodden. A history of involvement with other pharmacies in the area will only serve to strengthen Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy’s immune system.

The Essendon Fields Pharmacy is Zammit’s fi rst involvement with the broader ‘Pharmasave’ brand, though the association has for some time loomed as an inevitable one. “Pharmasave is a relatively new brand, and has been developed because there are a lot of ‘old school’ pharmacies out there that provide decent service, but are simply far too expensive. Other newer pharmacies might meet the price component on the one hand, but are lacking in terms

of service.” The marriage with Pharmasave is one that not only provides a competitively priced healthcare product that will benefi t the community, but also a salve to professional and ethical peace of mind. “The Pharmasave model gives you that ability to offer a very competitive service without having to compromise your morals or sacrifi ce your professional principles.”

Zammit’s commitment to the traditional values of the pharmaceutical industry is complemented by the store’s innovative range of products and services. “Given that we are younger pharmacy owners, we like to think that we are fully aware of what’s going on in the industry.” Medico packs – weekly packs designed to simplify a patient’s relationship with often intimidating quantities of tablets and medicines – are one such innovation, with home medication reviews – a professional service where a pharmacist can actually spend an hour in a patient’s home and gain a better understanding of their medical routine – yet another example of a civic-minded approach.

The ‘Medscheck’ concept too – where an individual may spend 20 or so minutes privately discussing their medication with a pharmacist in store – further strengthens the community ‘safety net’. “We are focused on optimising and bettering medication regimes, and essentially making sure that people are getting the best possible care and medical advice. Many of these ideas are government-based initiatives, and if the government sees value in them, so hopefully will our customers,” says Zammit.

An increased medical awareness is not the only ‘value’ available for customers at Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy, however. Low-price private prescriptions are offered at up to 50 per cent discounts, whilst extensive cosmetic and designer perfume ranges are available at 50 to 85 per cent off respectively. A comprehensive range of travel accessories and paraphernalia will also satisfy the needs of any underprepared passengers ready to take to the skies at the adjacent Essendon Airport.

Importantly, Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy will be open to the public every day. For Zammit, this community gesture is symbolic above all else. “Not many pharmacies start out being open seven days a

week, but we wanted to emphasise our commitment to people in the area from the outset. This is a growing community with new offi ces being built all the time – there are so many working people in the area, and they deserve quality services in their shopping centre.”

Zammit is mindful of the upcoming requirements that ‘hay fever season’ inevitably brings with it, with the long, sunscreen-fi lled days of summer due to pose a fresh challenge soon after. No matter the weather or ailment, however, Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy will deliver in its duty. “We are proud to offer solutions that keep people well and at work.”

PHARMASAVE – COMMITTED TO THE ESSENDON FIELDS COMMUNITY

ESSENDON FIELDS NEWS ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

CHEEK TO CHICMORNING MUSICCelebrate Noel Coward and Cole Porter’s witty words and musical gems with fresh interpretation. This is one swellegant, elegant and marvellous party that you won’t want to miss. Featuring Hilary Henshaw and Peter Hurley and running for approximately 75 minutes without an interval. Enjoy a complimentary morning tea in the foyer from 10.15am.

When: Tuesday 20 November at 11amWhere: Clocktower Centre – 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee PondsTickets: $19Web: clocktowercentre.com.au

ELTON JOHN CONCERT 40 YEARS OF ROCKET MAN Sir Elton John, will be returning to Melbourne to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of the release of the hit single, Rocket Man. Performing with a full band, this show will commemorate the release of Rocket Man as well as being a celebration of Elton’s greatest hits. Fans can expect to see this timeless entertainer take them on a journey through his multi-decade career, backed by his ever-magnetic touring band.

When: Sunday 18 November, 2012Where: Rod Laver ArenaTickets: www.ticketek.com.au 132 849Special Guests: 2CELLO’s and Schmidt

MENTION THIS ARTICLE AT PHARMASAVE ESSENDON FIELDS PHARMACY AND RECEIVE 20% OFF ANY OVER THE COUNTER

PURCHASE UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER!

BY COSTA ROLFE |

8 ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS > SPRING 2012

9SPRING 2012 > ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS

Essendon Airport provides facilities and services for International and Domestic corporate charter aircraft, aircraft maintenance and emergency air service providers. Combined, these operators undertake more than 53,000 annual aircraft movements.

Over the past 6 months fl y in and fl y out services have commenced from Essendon Airport to three mining sites across the country situated in Orange in NSW, Prominent Hill in SA as well as the Telfer mining area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

In order to adequately facilitate these aircraft movements, Essendon Airport has recently invested $100,000 into an upgrade of the terminal as well as an increase in the aircraft parking capacity to accommodate the increased number of fl ights and passengers.

“No major works have occurred to the terminal since 2008 when Level 1, the original terminal restaurant was converted into 6 quality offi ce suites other than that the majority of the building’s structure has been untouched since it was fi rst built in 1959,” said Airport Operations Manager, Graeme Ware.

In consideration of the airport’s history, care was taken to ensure the terminal upgrade was in keeping with the high heritage value of the building. Finishes for the walls, counters,

joinery and even the carpet was kept as close to the original as possible, including the retention of the terminal’s natural timber features. Prior to the upgrades there was just one check-in desk for passengers and airway personnel, which has now been expanded to include four check-in counters along with more prominent corporate signage for airlines. In addition, secure baggage handling processes have also undergone improvements.

Essendon Airport Management consulted with the airlines based at the airport throughout the design stages and all parties are pleased with the outcomes and improvements to this important Melbourne landmark site which will continue to service airway commuters for decades to come.

“The terminal refurbishment works are rewarding, allowing us to revitalise and improve a landmark building and ensure its long-term future for the community. Essendon Airport is an important facility for Melbourne and is also a gateway for the mining community into Moonee Valley with daily fl ights serviced by Alliance Airline, and we look forward to the upgrades providing economic benefi ts including increased employment opportunities for people in Moonee Valley and the greater western suburbs.” said Mr Ware.

ESSENDON AIRPORT TERMINAL UPGRADE

In August 1945, Australian National Airways arranged a Victory Air Pageant at Essendon Aerodrome, in aid of the Australian Comforts Fund.

(The Australian Comforts Fund had its origins in World War I, with parcels of food, clothing, periodicals, letters and luxury items being sent to Australians serving overseas. The scheme was revived in 1940 to supply ‘comforts’, particularly Christmas hampers, for a new generation of Australian soldiers. Money was subscribed through various community fund-raising events).

The pageant was the biggest ever held in Australia, with practically every type of operational plane that had served in the South-West Pacifi c area taking part in the demonstration.

It was the fi rst time the public had been admitted to Essendon Aerodrome since the outbreak of war.

The Air Pageant took place at Essendon Aerodrome on Saturday, 1 September 1945, commencing at 2 pm. It attracted great interest among the public, with an estimated 100,000 people attending. The Argus

newspaper reported the following Monday that traffi c had been disorganised, with 15,000 cars being parked near the aerodrome, including on vacant allotments.

Four cars of wireless patrol police and 36 members of the foot police were kept busy for nearly three hours trying to maintain order before traffi c conditions were anything like normal. The train service was barely able to cope with the crowd, and “tram seats to the pageant were almost unobtainable between 1.30 and 3.30 pm”.

British personnel of the Fleet Air Arm laid out portion of the aerodrome in the form of the deck of an aircraft-carrier, and their speedy Seafi res demonstrated “carrier” landings at ten second intervals. It was the fi rst time that these evolutions in aviation had been seen in Australia.

To quote The Argus of 3 September:“Six Seafi res swooped on three Avengers in a mock air

battle, and a Mosquito fi ghter-bomber excited onlookers with a spectacular roll at the top of a loop. Twelve Liberators and a Lancaster gave a formation exhibition and fl ew over most of the Melbourne suburbs before returning to Point Cook. “A Douglas DC5 took winners of the ANA’s spinning wheel contests for fl ights over the city, all proceeds going to the Miss Australia ACF appeal.

“The crowds that surged on to the tarmac forced the authorities to close the airport to regular planes and hampered the landings of the DC5 when it returned from trips across the city.”

The radio commentator, who explained the various events to the crowd, had a busy time, for he was also kept busy making calls for parents of lost children, announcing lost purses, and warning people to stay off the tarmac. He became desperate at 4.30pm, when he sighed into the microphone, “Everyone is lost; you had all better meet in front of the main ANA Entrance.”

The Early Days Today

THE HISTORY OF ESSENDON AIRPORT ROGER MEYER OAM | HISTORY SERIES 9

BY LISA QUITTNER

An aerial view of aircraft on display at the air show. Starting from the left: DC-2, two DC-3/C47s, Beaufi ghter, Seafi re, B-25 Mitchell, Spitfi re, Mustang, Beaufort, Corsair, Tiger Moth, Firefl y, Wirraway, C-45 Expeditor (Beech 18).The large aircraft, surrounded by visitors, is a B-24 Liberator. The tram stop is near the top, left-hand corner of the photo.

11SPRING 2012 > ESSENDONFIELDSNEWS

What have you been doing over the past few years since you were last in Melbourne?

I’ve written a completely brand new show that I have been taking around the world for the past 2 years. I just got back from Ireland and I’m heading down to Melbourne for my November run.

We are excited to hear you are bringing your new show Careful What You Wish For to Melbourne, tell us about it?

It’s my best show yet and I’m really proud of it. It’s a laugh every 10 seconds and we meet all my classic characters and my fi rst Australian character! All with brand new routines and through the magic of theatre I enter a parallel universe where all my characters have doubles which are like them, but not. It’s a little crazy.

After performing these characters for so long is altering the puppets characters a bit like doing mental gymnastics on stage?

Not really, the hardest thing I do on stage is a seven way phone conversation - I’m on the phone talking to puppets and to myself in a rapid-fi re conversation which is actually really very diffi cult.

I think what you do is incredibly amazing and a very rare talent to be able to do so convincingly.

I really don’t like ventriloquists or bad magicians and I have tried for my entire career to separate myself from those geeks, there’s nothing worse than a bad variety show that makes you just cringe.

In all the world there are only about 3 or 4 of us (ventriloquists) and the only one I think is brilliant is Nina Conti, she is my idol, she is just

brilliant. The other’s out there do nothing for the art form. What I have done is bring in the element of theatre, drama, music and special effects and my characters have the same parameters you would fi nd in a stage play. Their lives are fully fl eshed out and that’s why you feel that they are real, I mean Chuck & Ted. E even have their own apps in the iTunes and Android stores.

I was going to ask you about that, I believe Ted.E has branched out into the world of communications with his own Smartphone Film Festival.

There is a Ted. E Bare Smartphone contest where you can win an iPad, Ted.E & Chuck also have a Facebook page and Twitter accounts.

The new show has been getting rave reviews, how did the Careful What You Wish For tour come about?

I have always brought a huge set along with my shows, when the curtain opens at the start of my show, it’s jaw dropping, it’s always a full scale production and this time we have the ability to project my show on three massive screens so when we visit Ted.E we are in his room, when we visit Chuck we are in his room, there is unbelievable Monty Python-esque transitions and visuals between each scene, from Ted. E’s room to the surface of the moon to a parallel universe and that’s not even counting the interaction, ventriloquism, robotics and the characters.

With this kind of vision we realised we could do anything and go anywhere and it started with taking routines from a show I did in Edinburgh called Duality which was a drama and received 5 star reviews and critical acclaim, the fi rst time a ventriloquist has ever done a drama.

That show was based on a ventriloquist whose puppet wants to take over his mind, so I began thinking of how I could work this into a new show but make it funny and so this new

show turns out to be about Chuck fi nding out that I have thoughts of retiring and he realises that if I retire then he dies and ceases to exist so he bribes all the puppets to go to his side and mutiny over my mind to keep me from retiring and of course, keeping them alive.

In a fi t of anger I wish the puppets never existed and through the magic of theatre we enter a parallel universe where they don’t exist but their counterparts do and each one holds a clue for my return to my reality. It’s twisted and great material. I started out in New York in the comedy clubs there so my show has to provide constant laughs or I feel like I am bombing.

David, Stand Up Comedy is regarded as one of the toughest occupations and other’s warm against working with children and animals, but you have made a career of incorporating all three into one, what have been the challenges?

And puppets, puppets are the other ‘don’t’ work with! The biggest challenge has been and continues to be breaking the stigma attached with the word ventriloquist, there is no way of saying that word without eliciting a response of ‘Oh.. J...C!!’ and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make ‘ventriloquist’ sound like ‘Academy Award’ or ‘brilliant scientist’, you just don’t associate the word ventriloquism with brilliance.

The challenge has also really been to come with a show every few years that is completely new, different and kick-arse funny. In this show there is not one joke or line that was in my previous show Ted’s Farewell.

When you are in Melbourne where do you like to hang out when you are not performing or doing appearances?

Melbourne is my home away from home; it’s where I started my comedy

career in Australia. Melbourne is one of the fi nest cities in the world, this city has some of the best restaurants, best shopping and most Melburnians are fantastically well dressed, it’s just one of the best places in the world. My favourite cities on the planet would be New York, then Melbourne and then London. Sydney ranks around number 40!

DAVID STRASSMAN – CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

WHEN: From 7 NovemberWHERE: Athenaeum Theatre, Collins Street, MelbourneTICKETS: Ticketek 132849 or Athenaeum 9650 1500WEB: chuckwood.com

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR –DAVID STRASSMAN RETURNS WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW

LISA QUITTNER | INTERVIEW

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