Film - Des Wittingslow, 'Moomba belonged to my Grandfather', Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Moomba belonged to my grandfather Tom Wittingslow.

Of all the Shows and the Carnivals we did all over Australia, Moomba was the best.

The biggest, the fastest with the scariest rides. Three generations of Wittingslow family committed three months of each year for forty years to create their part of Moomba.

Tom, my grandfather, was the leader.

He led by example.

In his time in Changi he dreamed of the biggest carnival ever in red, yellow and blue... that dream turned out to be Moomba. Des Snr was a provedore of the spectacular. He would travel the world and bring back the biggest and best rides. Michael, my brother, assumed the role of Artistic Director with great ideas like the amazing water screen and the River Pageant. Me? Well, I had to put the bloody things up... with a little help, of course.

Moomba Carnival became the driver in creating Wittingslow's as the countries largest travelling Carnival. My father's first spectacular ride was the Turbo.

Its test run was the night before we opened.

We all gathered for the historic event, dad turned it on and we all ran, believing this twenty metre monster with spinning wheels and alien lights would run over us.

It was one hell of a scary ride.

But it was not all about the business of rides, it's what they created, the laughter, the fun and the thrills.

Every year a group of handicapped kids were bussed into the Carnival to ride... and ride they did wheel chairs and ambulance gurneys and all.

Ride operators known for their hard looks and manner turned to melted butter at the kids squeals of delight.

The family and the workers lived in caravans on sites.

The carnies moved into the Alexander Gardens, so when the Carnival closed for the night we'd sit around drinking a few beers and telling stories of the day, the fireworks exploding in one big bang, the Dragon Boat sinking, the world record jump on the Yarra and of course the politics of the Melbourne City Council... what will they do next? Carnival life is truly extraordinary, with its own codes and ways. You bond together strongly as you travel from town to town. My life and family is Wittingslow and Wittingslow is about creating fun and we were at our best at Moomba.

Film - Fay Chapman, 'Fay's Story', Australian Centre for the Moving Image

A lifetime ago I read in The Sun New Pictorial they were seeking a Sun Moomba Queen. Sitting with my photos I toyed with the idea…could I do this? Could I be The Sun Queen of Moomba? After a long deliberation and without telling anyone, I delivered my photo, at 5.30pm, on the last day, as the last entrant. From 250 photos submitted, 22 were short-listed.

I was lucky to be one of them. Extensive interviews with the judging panel reduced us down to 3, with an overnight wait for the result to appear in the morning Sun. Imagine my surprise to see my photo appear as the chosen Sun Queen of Moomba. A major part of my win was the Tour of Triumph, to promote, invite and encourage visitors to the newly created Festival. With the feelings of great excitement I commenced my Tour in Albury, with the first of many Civic Receptions.

Mayor Alderman Cleaver Bunton was the first to sign our Scroll of Honour, Civic leaders adding their signatures at some 16 points of call. On to many and varying functions, balls, visits to schools, hospitals, local beauty contests to judge, theatres, fishing trips, a pigeon race to start, a surprise visit to old soldiers at ‘Burnewang House’, flower shows to open, a memorable visit to the Ballarat Begonia Festival and Gardens, the Geelong Fair was my final appearance before returning to Melbourne for the float Parade. Back to Melbourne for the big Moomba Monday holiday.

Prior to the Procession with police escort, I rode in a flower decked open car to the Town Hall to present the Scroll of Honour to the Lord Mayor, Sir Frank Selleck. Continuing on to Alexander Avenue, I embarked on my White Swan to lead the Procession. I rode before a record crowd of 500,000 spectators. A crammed schedule of Moomba Day highlights followed the Parade. A speed boat voyage down the Yarra, opening the Horticultural Show…with gorgeous flowers and Prize Winning pumpkin…and a drive down the straight at the V.R.C. Australia Cup at Flemington.

The day climaxed with the Crowning Ceremony in the Treasury Gardens. On Tuesday night at the Moomba Dinner Dance under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, General Sir Dallas Brooks and Lady Brooks, I was officially presented and received my gold watch which was part of my Prize. As March of each year comes around, I look back with nostalgia at this journey as the first Sun Queen of Moomba.

I realise that it has given me many things, a feeling of inner confidence, a belief in my abilities to achieve throughout my lifetime, find within myself a resource to tackle life full on and best of all, 50 years of fairy tale memories of a magic time.

Film - Ivan Pope, 'Memories', Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Memories of the early years of Moomba, particularly of the pageant and my involvement in those early years.

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TRANSCRIPT

Now as a ‘Senior Citizen’, or as some people would have it a ‘Golden Oldie’, I recall fond memories of those early Moomba years, particularly the Pageant. That’s what the ‘Golden Oldies’ treasure most, their memories of days gone by. In those days one became emotional involved and caught up in the excitement of the Parade, its characters, its animation and its colour. Who of us oldies can’t recall the joy and pleasure we felt back in the good old days as we watched the passing Parade? We still wonder at seeing the stamina and balance of stilt man Alex German as he negotiated the tramlines, still hear the applause for the colourful and changing costumes of Denver Dixon and still smile at the antics of the clowns and appreciate the ingenuity of Eric Wilson’s whirring, honking and backfiring jalopy. Who of us oldies can’t forget the elegance and craftsmanship of floats entered by Evergreens, Coles, Myer, Peters, Gas and Fuel, SEC or the outrageous RMIT. We remember many other floats back then, industrial, commercial and cultural, entries from television and radio stations, commercial theatre and other organisations. Remember the ever popular Zig and Zag, sadly no more. Oh…how we loved a Parade. Remember the whistles as the marching girls passed, the clapping of hands in time with the beat of the music. Remember the Brass and Pipe bands, the stirring martial music of the Service Bands. Remember the colourful costumes of our ethnic community groups as they parade in their national dress. Then there were the clowns, the Disney characters, animals, mounted policemen and, always a spectacle, the Chinese section. We can all look back and remember those who took part in the glittering displays from year to year, parade to parade. One of my most outstanding memories was watching the crowds lining the route, a sea of happy, expectant faces, young and old, beaming smiles and generous applause. Those memories time can never erase. Why, you ask, are those memories so vivid to me? You see back then there was a personal involvement. From 1957 to 1965 I had a major role, first as a volunteer, then as a staff member and Assistant Organiser, in running and organising those pageants. Looking back, in addition to those wonderful memories, is the self satisfaction of knowing that I have played a role in bringing enjoyment and entertainment to the masses. It was great to be part of the passing Parade.