ROYAL DARWIN SHOW

The Royal Darwin Agricultural Show is perhaps the biggest event on Darwin’s calendar, so it was an honour to be invited to run with the team at the head of the Grand Parade.

For the past few days, whenever we have mentioned this, local Territorians have been very excited. Darwin stops for this event. Indeed it is a public holiday, as schoolchildren and many adults get a day off work to go to the show. Walking through at lunchtime, it seems that all of Darwin has converged upon the showgrounds, with attractions ranging from a Ferris wheel to pig races. For some of the Australian team members, it brought back childhood memories of a day at the show, watching cow-milking demonstrations, collecting showbags and eating generous amounts of fairy floss.

Soon before the parade, and after some parachutes sailed into the oval, many important people appeared as special guests

such as the three mayors – including the Lord Mayor whom our three teams met yesterday – and our NT Patron, the Chief Minister, who said a few words just before hundreds of doves were released into the atmosphere.

We ran out soon afterwards, with three torches dramatically lighting the way, and flags representing the runners’ various nations.

We jogged a lap of the oval, as the crowds (many of whom had seen us on the road, or heard about us on the radio) cheered us on. Meanwhile, Prachar Stegemann, the national co-ordinator, talked about the World Harmony Run in the booth, explaining all to the uninitiated.

It was an energising experience for our hearts, but our bodies were somewhat exhausted by Darwin’s midday heat. We noted that if a jog around the oval is enough to tire us, the next two weeks in the Outback will truly test our mettle.

We were followed by the winning animals – goats, cows and horses – and local emergency services personnel.

It was an archetypal Australian country show. Although Darwin is a growing, urbanised place, it is still a friendly country town at heart. We were reminded of this as we arrived for the parade, wondering where everyone was and why – even at the last moment – nothing seemed to be in place. Nonetheless, it all fell together in the end, as the local organisers and the 'ringmaster', Ken Hatfield, knew that it would. Their spontaneous, relaxed attitude is something we hope that Darwin never loses, even as it grows into a larger city.

Two ministers in the NT Government, also attending the show, took some time out to hold the Torch and chat with us. Kon Vataskalis, Minister for Business and Tourism (and former Sports Minister), talked of his pride at being a Greek-Australian.

Matthew Bonson, Sports Minister, chatted with us about his former sporting life (cut short by injuries) in which he was, among other things, a basketballer. As he towered over us, this didn’t surprise us one bit.

Jill Cutting from Port MacDonnell who had received a Torch-Bearer Award some time ago, happened to be in Darwin today attending the show and proudly wore her medal throughout the day. It was a sweet and happy reunion.

We stayed at the show for much of the afternoon, enjoying what this extraordinary event had to offer, including some excellent horse show jumping.

There was also a flower show.

Silkies are a species of chicken that happen to have very soft fur-like feathers – they are pretty strange looking birds.

The fairgrounds were full of people having fun in various ways, all very colourful.

– Noivedya Juddery (Australia)

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Team Members:
Noivedya Juddery (Australia), Nick File (New Zealand), Amalendu Edelsten (Australia), Anastasia Aleksejeva (Latvia), Bernice Matthews (Australia), Nigel Webber (Australia), Prabhakar Street (Canada), Elke Lindner (Germany), Dima Lehonkov (Ukraine), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Prachar Stegemann (Australia), Misha Kulagin (Russia), Runar Gigja (Iceland), Prabuddha Nicol (Australia), Nishima Knowsley (New Zealand), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Angela Muhs (Germany), Edi Serban (Romania), Standa Zubaty (Czech Republic), Veeraja Uppal (Australia)

Harmonemail:
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Gallery: See more images!

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