2009 Credit Union Christmas Pageant: Lisa previews some of this year's family fun in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
It's almost that time of the year again - only six more sleeps until the Credit Union Christmas Pageant. For 77 years hundreds of thousands of children, mums, dads and grandparents have lined Adelaide's streets for the world's biggest and best Christmas Pageant.
This year, one of the perennial favourites, Pogo the Clown will be riding his 'treadlie' with a very special escort. He'll be joined by Lance Tiller - a penny farthing veteran who's ridden in the pageant for the last 50 years. We caught up with Lance and members from the Penny Farthing Cycle Club of South Australia as they practiced riding among the floats in the pageant warehouse. Good balance, a love of heights and keen sense of adventure are the prerequisites for this pass-time. As 10 year old Andrew explained - age is certainly not an issue.
Andrew, aged 10 years: "The secret of getting going is to run and jump up using the little step."
Daryl Forrest, Penny Farthing Cycle Club: "Penny farthings introduced speed to bike riding. It was the start of real serious bike racing. The first bike had no pedals and was like a hobby-horse that you scooted along. The next bike was the bone shaker with two wheels the same size and of course you couldn't go very fast. The same sort of direct drive and someone got the idea that depending on your inside leg measurement you could ride a bigger front wheel and go further for one rev. you can do about 60 k's on one of these if you really wind it up."
Of course, they won't be going that fast on Pageant day but they will be maintaining a tradition that began with Lance Tiller way back in 1959.
Lance Tiller, Pageant veteran: "I was going through Mallala past the bakery and a young lass came out and said you're wanted on the phone. I had a painting business at the time and I thought it was just another painting contract. So I goes in and it was Sir Edward Heywood on the phone and he said I believe you're riding a Penny Farthing - would you be interested in our pageant? I thought for a little while and I said yes, I'd ride in it - not a problem. So he said come down on the Saturday and I'll see you at home where I lived at Gawler and he drove around in a new Mercedes and they pulled up and he said to me 'can you ride up Murray Street, Gawler? He said if you can do that you are in the pageant. So I rode up Murray Street and from that day on I've been riding in the pageant.
And this year's will be his last - Lance has decided to hang up his bike-clips and enjoy the memories of being part of an Adelaide institution for half a century. And the day will be even more special - it'll be his 71st birthday.
Lance's involvement is typical of the theme on this year's pageant - 'Families Sharing Memories' which celebrates the support and enthusiasm over the decades.
Brian Gilbertson, Pageant Director: "It tells it all and there are families of all different kinds out there who come along to that pageant. There's a guy who went in the pageant one year and said where can I go in the world and be amongst 350,000 people from all walks of life, from all ages all with smiles on their faces."
And there'll be plenty of smiles when it all kicks off for the 77th time next Saturday, November the 14th. It begins at 9.30 on the corner of South Terrace and King William Street and ends when Father Christmas arrives at the Magic Cave on North Terrace around 11.15. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Credit Union Christmas Pageant
Sat 14 November
www.nws9.com.auPublished 8th November 2009
