Date: Fri, 09 Aug 1996 19:02:56 +1000
From: Jonathon Logue & Natalie Hall <logue_hall-AT-netinfo.com.au>
Subject: Re: Closing ceremony puppets


At 01:03 PM 8/8/96 +1000, you wrote:
>
>>
>>On this topic, for those in Australia: What's all the fuss about the
>>inflatable kangaroos? Play to your strengths, I say, or you could end up
>>with "Izzie" in Atlanta.
>>
>
>
>To understand the fuss, you have to appreciate that every single major
>event we have here, including Commonwealth Games, World Expo, etc, has used
>the (*&^*&^%)*& kangaroo as its emblem, to the point where it's become a
>running joke.  So for those of us who were looking forward to something
>which had been bruited as being "new and definitely not kitsch" - the
>blowup kangacycles came as something of a disappointment!!
>
>I hasten to add this is my own opinion, and I am aware that the rest of the
>world still hasn't had enough of kangaroos and koalas.
>
>I guess the  reason some of us feel uncomfortable with the same old same
>old is that our international image is very dated. Many visitors here are
>amazed that Australia is not a rural community with roos hopping down the
>main street of every town, and everyone still riding horses.  We're a very
>cosmopolitan nation, and somehow the use of the roo and the cockatoo
>reminds us of how we saw ourselves twenty years ago.
>
>There's so much more to Australia than roos!!!  And you certainly won't see
>roos in Sydney, except at the zoo!
>
>But I did like the inflatable Opera House shapes - maybe if we're lucky
>we'll get more of that and less cute animals by the year 2000!  Either way,
>I'm sure it'll go well, and I wish the organisers the best of luck.
>
>Cheers, Janet
>
Hi!

Well here in FREEZING Canberra we do have roos hopping down the street!!!
In fact most days on my way to work there is (unfort) a dead roo by the side
of the road.  The again Canberra is surrounded by a lot of bushland which
means we do get a lot of kangaroos.

I do agree with you on olympic games thing though - why is it whenever
australia is represented it is by digareedoo music and kangaroos??  I don't
hate them, but they are a small part of us - not the whole part there are so
many other things to Aust than just that!!  (here I go getting patriotic)

Oh well!!

Janet - where are you actually located in Aust?  


Natalie



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