Adventures in Parramatta: Australia Day 2013

How do you normally spend your Australia Day? Do you have a tradition or just wing it? Me - well this year I did both.

                            

Ever since I can remember, my family spends Australia Day with another family that we have known since Heather and I met in Miss Joanne's kindergarten class back in the eighties. The people have changed slightly over the years (gotten older, moved overseas, bought in new partners, had kids), as has the location (Stanwell Tops, Thirroul, Booker Bay/Ettalong) - but for what is probably over 20 years, these two families have gotten together to celebrate Australia Day.

So, once again, we jumped on the F3 - after spending time on the dreaded Pennant Hills Road - and headed towards the Ettalong Beach Club - this years location as Heather is overdue with her third child and wasn't up to, understandably, "hosting" brunch at hers.

After a lazy lunch, coffee and dessert, we headed for home and I then headed into Parramatta to, after visiting Street Sliders Foodtruck, celebrate Australia Day at Parramatta Park with thousands of other people.

I decided to try something new at Street Sliders this time - so I had the "Smoke Slider" - the vegetarian option and the side salad - along with the "Sancho Slider".

                          

Once again, the small burgers packed a punch and the salad was lovely - packed with corn and greens.

After parking at "brand smart" car park, I walked along the river to Parramatta Park. 

fantastic advertising at Riverside Theatre

fantastic advertising at Riverside Theatre

The city was buzzing. In addition to the Australia Day activities at the Park, there was a Western Sydney Wanderers game at Parramatta Stadium and the closing night of Sydney Festival Parramatta at the Old Kings Parade Grounds. The city felt safe. Not sure if it was because of number of people milling around or the sheer number of police stationed around.

I arrived at the Park in time for the welcome by a representative of the traditional owners of Parramatta. 

After that were performances by Barry Morgan (of Barry Morgan's World of Organs) with the Rock 'n' Soul Choir and Brisbane band Hungry Kids of Hungry. HKOH were pretty good - I even recognised a couple of their songs from my days of listening to Triple J daily. (Now I just pop in and out - but listened to the Hottest 100, as is required on Australia Day.)

But, my main reason for attending the concert was that You Am I were the headline act. A group that grew up in and around Western Sydney - that I have been a massive fan of since the nineties when Marion, Grace and I would see them on a regular basis. So to say I was excited that they were playing in Parramatta, on Australia Day would be an understatement.

Tim played, danced and sang like the rock god that he is. My one complaint - and it is a big one - that they didn't play Berlin Chair. Berlin Chair is tied as my favourite song of all time (Guns 'n' Roses' Sweet Child 'O Mine is the other - and I have seen Axl sing that live), and to not hear it on Australia Day was a little disappointing. Oh well - I guess their cover of The Saints "Stranded" would have to do.

 After You Am I, was the reason that most people who are not still obsessed with nineties music had stayed for - FIREWORKS... and it was a great show, choreographed to Australian music, from INXS to Kylie, from The Presets to Midnight Oil.

The music was great. 

The fireworks was great. 

The concert was great. 

Once again I walked back along the riverwalk to the car park. It was well lit. There were plenty of police. Again it felt safe. The sounds coming from Parramatta Stadium when I walked past was amazing and fantastic to hear so many people getting behind our A-League team. (The Wanderers went on to win that match 1-0). Parramatta put on a great Australia Day and I was glad to take part in it.

Old Kings Parade Ground - the Western Sydney Arts and Education Precinct.
Location of the Sydney Festival Parramatta concert, featuring Archie Roach

Lennox Bridge from Riverside Theatre 

Barry Wilde Bridge, from Lennox Bridge.