On 11th March 2013 Lake Burley Griffin will be the Centre of activities for Canberra’s Centenary celebration, and rowers can participate with your crew at this amazing event. The organisers are looking for volunteer crews to row a loop of Central basin during the afternoon’s entertainment and view the
“Raising of Country” ceremony near the Carillon at 3:45pm. We have agreed that the rowers will be dressed in fancy dress, and that the best fancy dressed crew will win a prize. All participants will receive a Centenary volunteer t-shirt. The row is planned to take about one hour around the Central Basin.
Please contact James Hammond to register your crew for this event. Please note 11th March is a public holiday, and all of the crew will need to decide that participating will be more fun than going away for the long weekend.
The press release for the event indicates what will be surrounding the lake.
“Starting from midday on the south side of the lake there will be Canberra… in So Many Words – you can help build and come and play in the words all around the lake. There’s stuff for kids at Regatta Point, you’ll encounter weird and wonderful characters and happenings all along the south side of the lake, and at Rond Terrace multicultural Canberra will have word-building, music and food.
“At the same time, close-to-shore boats with fantastic musical acts will float by, and those on the shore won’t be able to resist joining in and having a dance. You can also sign up to join Graeme Leak’s Noise Orchestra.
“There’ll be four other live music platforms, so I think many people will want to take up early positions at their favourites. The raising of a huge word near Aspen Island at 4pm will be the signal for these music stages to begin, with the Noise Orchestra marching off and the folk music program starting up on Aspen Island.
“At the Regatta Point stage MC Paul McDermott will introduce The Church, the Gadflys, the Falling Joys and more.
“Over on the other side there’s a welcome to country on Reconciliation Mound, featuring performances by local Indigenous artists alongside national stars such as William Barton and Djukkapurra Munyarrun.
“From 3pm on the classical stage in front of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, there is a great program put together by Michael Sollis – all music about Canberra – culminating at 8pm with the premiere of Andrew Schultz’s Centenary-commissioned Symphony No 3: Century.
“And all of this is completely free!
“The Longest Bubbly Bars in the world open in the late afternoon, and with a third of the tickets sold in 24 hours you need to book now for a taste of the Centenary sparkling wine and delicious tapas from local produce. Nearby there will be displays and sales of local produce, as well as plenty of other food and watering holes.
“So if you like the church, take up a position at Regatta Point, where there is plenty to do for the kids including music-making on the stage. There’s funny stuff going on everywhere … very funny stuff floating past you on the lake… opportunities to help build and play in among the BIG WORDS … and plenty of food and drink nearby.
“Then from 4pm the re-formed bands, from 8pm the new symphony on a big screen, and finally the Griffin-inspired fireworks finale. After the finale there are Canberra Indy bands till 11pm.