Jamberoo Fan
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Posts posted by Jamberoo Fan
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On 28/02/2024 at 1:19 AM, Jobe said:
So quick discussion here- will this addition catapult Jamberoo into the position of best water park in Australia? The competition is fierce and there are several contenders who could take that crown.......
On 28/02/2024 at 2:18 PM, Gazza said:It already is very good. Definitely the best operations.
On 29/02/2024 at 9:50 AM, TomiJ said:Easy yes for me.
The below article is very interesting & inspiring for all in the theme park community. Jamberoo is a 'quiet achiever' in the Australian theme park industry as the above comments show, particularly in the water park market. Whilst telling some interesting & sad stories about Jamberoo's history (some I didn't know about until the article's publication), the article clearly reveals why Jamberoo is a 'quiet achiever'.
I won't give the whole story away but the article below should be essential reading for all theme park industry professionals particularly after the relatively recent Thunder River Rapids tragedy at Dreamworld. The article gives hope for the future of the Australian theme park industry and whilst I know Dreamworld has made significant & impressive announcements recently about their future, Dreamworld & Coast Entertainment Holdings management should use the below story as inspiration to motivate themselves even more to return as one of Australia's great & trusted theme parks (though I'm already very confident in Greg Yong's theme park managerial skills compared to the skills of pre-tragedy Dreamworld management under the recently renamed Macquarie/Ardent Leisure).
Whilst this interesting article focuses on Jim Eddy, Jamberoo's owner, it is somewhat overshadowed by what I described earlier as...
On 29/02/2024 at 1:39 PM, Jamberoo Fan said:...the most bizarre theme park proposal I've ever seen (so bizarre that I remember it more than the mention of 2 more wave machines to Platypus River).
Whilst it's not the most ridiculous idea in the world as it has been done in many countries on a larger scale, it is bizarre for 2 reasons - as far as I am aware, no other theme park in the world has contemplated such a proposal & secondly, it is controversial.
Apart from time & technical reasons, the latter reason (controversial) is another reason for the deliberate delay in publication of the full article into this topic since I mentioned it on Thursday. It was to make a clear gap in the forum discussion as moderators may have to justify the proposal having its own separate topic if it generates lots of discussion due to its controversial nature.
Surprisingly though, the proposal hasn't made any more news since July 28, 2023, particularly since Kiama, Jamberoo's local government area, is a very environmentally conscious locality & because the whole Illawarra (mainly between Wombarra & Kiama) is currently in the middle of a controversial debate on whether to have a wind farm off the coast. Heck, I'm even surprised not a single person on Parkz found out about the "bizarre" proposal at the time of its July 2023 publication as well.
Anyway, enjoy!...
(The "most bizarre theme park proposal I've ever seen" is in bold text (if you can't be bothered reading the whole article. However, the article builds to it though through its theme of 'risk'))
From The Illawarra Mercury:
QuoteNew ride in planning as Jamberoo Action Park owner Jim Eddy prepares for 2023/24 season
Updated July 29 2023 - 12:20pm, first published July 28 2023 - 4:12pm
Jim Eddy, pictured with his partner of 35 years, Caroline Brinsmead, is preparing for what he hopes will be a bumper season at Jamberoo Action Park.
Bereft of squealing children, with its normally heaving wave pool drained dry, only the sounds of power tools and tradespeople break the silence of Jamberoo Action Park in its off-season.
The bottom of The Rock pool is getting a fresh coat of blue paint, and there are parts of the park's waterslides, built into the ever-shifting green slopes of Jamberoo, to tighten against leaks.
A packed schedule of maintenance and repairs is an annual prelude to the hordes that will erupt through the gates come Spring.
By opening day, September 23, the air will almost crackle with the collective abandon of thousands of visitors.
"An electric environment" - is how one employee describes it.
There to oversee it all is the park's founder, Jim Eddy.
An artist's rendition shows the rapid ride encircling much of the park. Image: supplied
Jim is banking on a big season in order to finance the next step in the park's 14-year-old master plan: a new ride.
The 440-metre rapid river will wrap around existing attractions the Funnel Web, Perfect Storm and Banjo's Billabong, jostling the tube-buoyant rider down a descent of four metres from start to finish.
The ride, which comes with a price tag of $10-12 million, promises a different experience to the park's existing Rapid River, a gentle, meandering affair powered by a single wave machine set on low.
"It will have three other wave machines - dialled up so we can get a lot more activity" Jim said.
"It will simulate a more exciting rapid ride."
Now 75, Jim has never stopped chasing his next big thrill.
He recently returned from a trip to Dubai to see the world's newest version of the rapid ride in action.
Long-time colleagues wondered if Jim's retirement could be nearing in 2016, when he bought a waterfront Wollongong site and helped make it into a landmark restaurant, Steamers Bar and Grill.
But the restaurant became the domain of his life partner, Caroline Brinsmead, a restaurateur, while Jim again set his gaze southward to the Jamberoo hills.
Those closest describe him as a visionary with a high risk threshold and an unparalleled business acumen.
"He's got a knack for knowing what's going to work. It's a bit uncanny," said Ms Brinsmead, who says Jim can be found walking the park's grounds during Summer, "looking, feeling, asking, 'what the customers saying?'."
"But there's also a lot of heartache; a lot of debt. ... a lot of sleepless nights. It all revolves around the weather."
The park's long-serving chief financial officer, Jon Bailey, says Jim's superpower is that he'll "have a go at anything".
"He's not scared of borrowing the money with an idea in mind, and putting that idea into place," he said.
"He does his numbers, he does his checks. He goes around the world looking at all these rides. I've been with Jim a long time and so far, everything's worked."
Eddy pictured in the park's landmark wave pool, which is drained dry for the off-season. Picture: Adam McLean
Another of Jim's businesses, the Belmore All-Suite Hotel in Wollongong, was reportedly performing nicely, with a reliably high occupancy rate making it sure business bet, when Jim sold it in 2019, having found the operation boring.
There is no such problem at Jamberoo, where each season brings a new wave of financial uncertainty.
With such large sums of money involved, the years spent introducing a new ride are the riskiest of all.
The stakes are only ever high.
"Most of this is pioneering stuff and you've got to work it out as you go, so you've got to have a very high contingency factor," Jim said.
"Every time we add something new, we're on the brink."
"You've got to be really careful. You're under a lot of pressure to get the planning process right ... otherwise costs will run out to an exorbitant amount."
The park was dairy country, owned by the East family, of Easts Beach fame, when Jim pooled funds with his mother, sister, brother-in-law Robert and Robert's brother, Peter, to buy the land in 1979, so Robert could be a dairy farmer.
Soon after, the NSW Government opted to share the Illawarra's milk quota with the North Coast, slashing the farm's income by 18 per cent.
"We had a milk quota problem, which led us to a debt repayment problem," said Jim, who was a surveyor with BHP and a real estate broker before he became a theme park owner.
The group pivoted to grass skiing, importing 10 pairs of skis from Italy, with good results.
There were 22 per cent interest rates to contend with and - always - the weather.
When drought burnt the grass off the ground in 1982, turning it and the grass skiing business to dust, Jim again pivoted, this time to the park's first waterslide.
"I found it on the Gold Coast. It was a roaring success," he said.
"It was accidental progress."
A young Jim as he appeared in a news article in 1984. Picture: Illawarra Mercury archives
Many theme parks are built on denuded land, their attractions laid bare on baking concrete slabs.
But the lay of the land at Jamberoo allows for a sense of discovery, with multi-million dollar rides nestled sometimes hidden in 100 acres of green hills.
There have been landslides here; the land is always slightly slipping which requires funds and infrastructure to manage.
When it comes to tight times, COVID lockdown doesn't warrant a mention from Jim.
The years 1989 and 1990 were two of the wettest in the park's history.
"In 1989, it rained every weekend for 23 weekends in a row. Golf courses were going out of business."
But the park had already survived its darkest hour by then.
In the winter of 1984, a 20-year-old Fairfield West man, Warren Grant Drewett, died after coming off park's famous toboggan ride at high speed.
He was impaled on a fence post that had been brought down in an earlier landslip..
Some fence posts, brought down by a landslide, posed a lethal hazard beside the toboggan track. Picture: Illawarra Mercury archives
Jim was there that day during what became an extended emergency response.
Drewett died while undergoing surgery in hospital.
Park officials of the day told the Mercury that Drewett had earlier been warned eight times to slow down and had complied with a direction to leave the park, only to slip back inside.
"It devastated everybody involved," Jim said.
Him and his business partners all struggled with their commitment to the business.
"And I struggled with it too, because I was heavily involved in it at the time," he said.
"Everyone lost their spirit for the business at that time, even myself."
But the tragedy ended up reshaping the park and galvanising Jim to it for life.
He threw himself into a tour of American theme parks, with a new driving mantra of "never again".
"I met with number of major operators over there - Disney, Six Flags - and talked to them about their experience of people losing their life in their park," he said.
"And it sort of opened my eyes up. You bring a lot of people together; there's safety risks.
"The most important thing that came out of it for me, the experience I got from those people is: you've got to do everything possible to avoid it.
"And when you think you've done enough, you've got to start again and do it again and keep on. It's something you work on the whole time.
"From there we took a lot more of a strategic approach to the business and how we took it forward.
"It led me to this conclusion that we had to do a lot more than we were doing to stop that from happening again.
"That put us on the pathway that we've been on ever since."
Jim bought out his co-financiers.
The tragedy made front page news in the Mercury in 1984.
His own three children have been among the thousands of workers the park has employed, with the current workforce at more than 300 seasonal attendants plus 30 permanent, year-round workers.
While the rising cost of public liability insurance looms large as a current concern, Jim says it is power - the cost of it and growing uncertainty surrounding its supply - that poses the single greatest threat to the park's future.
A favourable five year electricity contract expires in December next year balloon from $500,000 to $1 million - "serious money" - as Jim puts it.
Ever the out-of-the-box thinker, the problem has turned Jim's thoughts to a controversial place - nuclear.
He ultimately knows it cannot happen; he says he has no plans to lobby government on the issue.
But he was serious enough about it to have had "discussions" with scientists at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisations nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights.
Those conversations covered the cost of powering the park with a type of modular reactor.
"We would be serious [about it] if we were allowed to be serious," he said.
"The big thing is the waste. The waste lasts 30,000 years ... but from what I've read, that's overcomable."
"Without that there's no other forms of mass generation that will fulfil the needs of our state. In the absence of that we've got to come up with a solution, and got to come up with it quickly. I'ts just disgraceful that it's not better planned."
Despite the park's rising costs, Jim's strategy for the 2023/24 season includes a price freeze, aimed at encouraging maximum numbers through the gates.
It seems a small gamble, in this place built on thrill, by this man seemingly made for risk.
"Time heals all sorts of wounds," Jim said.
"Ever since Captain Cook arrived, property's been going up and if you can stay the distance, you can last long enough, you'll come out of it. But if you can't, you'll definitely go down."
With thanks to Wollongong Library's Local Studies section.
The risky business of being Jamberoo Action Park owner Jim Eddy
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On 29/02/2024 at 2:10 PM, DaptoFunlandGuy said:
Why do you insist on gatekeeping this shit.
Because I was busy and didn't have the time to post the article. As it is behind a paywall, it isn't as simple as copy and paste (and no, it does not involve hacking). At least, I mentioned about the 3 wave machines.
18 hours ago, Jobe said:So are you going to post it or are you going to hold us all in suspense? 🤔
I got time now so standby.
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20 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:
Nope. The concept very clearly shows a new wave pool, complete with waves originating at the 'deep end' in an orientation that cannot be mistaken for the current pool.
Yes, I just realised shortly before you posted. Completely forgot about that new artist impression, having seen it before so didn't pick up on it. I don't think it's a surfable wave though - there is not enough room for such a powerful wave.
Having been away from Parkz for a while, the article that started this topic is actually a very interesting one. I'll post the article in full soon when the current burst of activity dies down as I'm sure it will generate more discussion but to confirm, the article says Platypus River will have 3 wave machines. The most interesting thing in the article hasn't even made a mention in this topic and it is the most bizarre theme park proposal I've ever seen (so bizarre that I remember it more than the mention of 2 more wave machines to Platypus River)
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On 28/02/2024 at 1:19 AM, Jobe said:
What they also state is that a SECOND wave pool will be constructed along with the River. There is no mention as to if this Wave Pool will be any different to the exisiting Wave Pool but they do add that these attractions are being added to help with capacity.
Don't forget the wave machine/chamber in Platypus River! It will be the park's 4th wave machine (after Rapid River's, Outback Bay's & the newly announced mini wave pool) & 2nd wave chamber (Rapid River's being the 1st). This has been the plan since Kangaroo Island was first unveiled back in 2006 and is still referenced on their website as a "wave chamber". You can see the future location of the wave machine/chamber in satellite images of the park (It acts in a similar way to Rapid River's wave chamber):
For comparison, here is the 2012 master plan (You can see the wave machine/chamber hidden under a large block of rock theming):
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From The Sydney Morning Herald (edited down to include new news only):
QuoteJessica McSweeney and Clare Sibthorpe
February 8, 2024 — 4.12pmIn a statement, a Jamberoo spokesperson said the group was “generally well-behaved and it was a small group of boys who were disrespectful”.
“This can happen with other groups where we experience respectful behaviour from most of the group and a few bad apples behave inappropriately.”
The spokesperson said staff were encouraged to discuss their experiences and feelings with management – including those regarding disrespectful language – and these conversations were held in strict confidence and followed up in the most appropriate way.
Asked about the clothing requirements of staff, they added that when private events are held on days the park is closed to the public, as it is on Monday to Thursday at this time of year, “bookings may have their own operational requirements, from ticketing to catering of certain kinds”.
All staff were asked to wear tights and long sleeves under their usual uniforms. INSTAGRAM
“All staff members wishing to be rostered for these days are briefed well in advance and are familiar with operational requirements,” they said.
“For the private booking this Monday, all ride and attraction operators confirmed for roster were required to wear sun-safe clothing, regardless of sex, as has been the case in previous bookings. This clothing was helpfully provided by the booking manager.”
Asked if any action was taken against the boys behaving inappropriately, the spokesperson said Jamberoo Action Park “will exclude from future visits any guests deemed to exhibit behaviour outside park policy, such as anti-social or inappropriate language or other behaviours”.
“Further discussions with the group co-ordinators will be ongoing. We have a four-year relationship which we value and, like all relationships, we will work with them to continue to improve,” the spokesperson said.
About 800 people attended the park for the event. INSTAGRAM
“All guests were subject to the same safety and conduct guidelines as on a regular operational day, which may include removal from park or other correctional actions where required.”
Jamberoo management said it is continuing discussions with ASWJ. INSTAGRAM
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From The Illawarra Mercury:
QuoteExclusive
Main picture shows the Jamberoo water park's Octo Racer and Stinger rides. Insets: the Brothers Day Out flyer on Facebook, the park entrance closed on Tuesday.
Updated February 7 2024 - 5:47pm, first published 4:14pmBoth the Jamberoo Action Park and Islamic group Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah (ASWJ) are investigating harassment of female staff, including vile slurs being used, at the men-only Brothers Day Out held at the water park on Monday.The ASWJ, a national Sunni Muslim group which has representation in Wollongong, had booked out the entire park for its "strictly brothers only" event, which was attended by an estimated 800 men and boys.On the day, the Mercury has been told female staff went home distressed at the treatment they received, after being told "you shouldn't be here" and being subjected to intimidation and degrading treatment. This included being called "bitch" and "slut" by a group of the park visitors, the Mercury has been told.Park management said it had a report of "derogatory and degrading treatment" of one staff member and would investigate further if any more complaints came to light.A source with knowledge of the situation said he knew more than one staff member was subjected to this."Whether there were complaints made or not I don't know, but there were multiple girls affected on the day," he said."Young blokes were affected too, because they were sticking up for the girls."Staff had been directed to employee counselling services if they needed them.The ASWJ said it was investigating, and was committed to addressing the matter."While incidents involving a small minority can occur in large gatherings, we want to assure you that we have strict agreements with park officials to promptly address any misconduct and enforce park rules," a spokesman said.The Mercury received complaints about discrimination against female staff who had been directed to wear long sleeves and tights under their shorts - after an initial request that there be no women working there at all on the day.Park management said all staff, male and female, wore tights and long sleeves for this booking, the fourth by this group."As the day drew to a close it [was] reported to us of an instance whereby a team member was spoken to in a derogatory and demeaning manner," a Jamberoo Action Park spokesman said."In all cases, we take the safety and wellbeing of our team extremely seriously, and are concerned that such behaviour has been displayed."We have contacted team members today to make sure we are fully aware of instances and concerns that arose yesterday, and have offered the support of Jamberoo Action Park and our Employee Assistance Program providers in the meantime."As a result of any forthcoming information and investigation, we will work together with the group organiser to ensure future access is prohibited."Jamberoo staff members had to cover up for the day, wearing long-sleeve shirts and long tights under their shorts, with temperatures above 29 degrees amid 75 per cent humidity.The Mercury understands ASWJ had asked for no female staff to be working on the day, but park management declined and instead directed staff to cover up in order to cater for religious sensitives.The ASWJ invitation to members advised that "this is a Mens and Boys only event" and that "Awrah needs to be covered so bring appropriate swimming attire". (Awrah refers to intimate parts of the body, over which different Muslim groups have varying definitions).Police said no complaints had been made to them.The source with knowledge of the situation said the request for no women "should have been a red flag" from the start. But a Jamberoo Action Park spokesman said it adopted the dress code to be "inclusive".It was the group's fourth annual booking."Jamberoo Action Park is an inclusive operation and we do our best to accommodate for group individual groups needs were appropriate," a park spokesman said."It has been the case while this booking has been in place, that all attractions team members, male and female, have worn long sleeve attire."The Mercury sought comment from the ASWJ in Wollongong and head office in Melbourne."ASWJ acknowledges your concerns and takes them seriously," a spokesman said."We are currently investigating the complaints made against our patrons at Jamberoo Recreation Park."Over the past four years, we have successfully collaborated with park management to ensure a positive experience for all attendees."While incidents involving a small minority can occur in large gatherings, we want to assure you that we have strict agreements with park officials to promptly address any misconduct and enforce park rules."The ASWJ has had its share of controversies, particularly in relation to radical preacher Sheikh Feiz Muhammad, whose video lectures include one titled "Don't Let the Filthy Western Culture Influence You".In 2005 he made international headlines after giving a speech in Bankstown where he said women who were raped had themselves to blame for exposing their skin."A victim of rape every minute somewhere in the world. Why? No one to blame but herself. She displayed her beauty to the entire world ..." the Sun-Herald reported at the time."Strapless, backless, sleeveless, nothing but satanic skirts, slit skirts, translucent blouses, miniskirts, tight jeans: all this to tease man and appeal to his carnal nature."He compared a woman dressed in such a way to a sheep, asking "Would you put this sheep that you adore in the middle of hungry wolves? No . . . It would be devoured. It's the same situation here. You're putting this precious girl in front of lustful, satanic eyes of hungry wolves. What is the consequence? Catastrophic devastation, sexual harassment, perversion, promiscuity."Sheikh Feiz Muhammad spoke at the ASWJ annual conference in late January.ASWJ said the dress code for staff was part of its productive "collaboration" with Jamberoo."Additionally, in our initial discussions with Jamberoo management, efforts were made to accommodate our guidelines for dress, reflecting the collaborative nature of our partnership," the AWSJ spokesman said."We are committed to addressing this matter thoroughly and maintaining a respectful and enjoyable environment."There were also a number of visitors kicked out of the park for misbehaving on the rides."On this day, there were concerns raised about some guests inability to follow safety directions and procedures of the rides and attractions," the Jamberoo spokesman said."This resulted in a handful of guests being asked to leave the facility, which is standard practice if this is identified on any operational day. This was addressed with the group organisers which were extremely receptive and apologetic, and made efforts to communicate with their members about expectations for the remainder of the day."The Mercury has been in contact with multiple people who were aware of the incidents on the day but were reluctant to speak publicly.One source said there were several parents of staff members at the water park on Tuesday seeking explanation.The park was closed; it reopens on Thursday. -
On 23/05/2022 at 3:14 PM, Jobe said:
Jamberoo did indeed have plans for an Alpine Coaster and had submitted a DA for one but this has been withdrawn at this stage.
Just to clarify, a DA was never submitted by Jamberoo for an alpine coaster. The alpine coaster's plans that I found just happened to be included in the original DA the park submitted for Velocity Falls & Koala Kove. It was randomly in a section about bushfires that I found it in. You probably also forgot the e-mail Jamberoo sent you confirming it was not in a DA.
In the end, there seems to be a growing interest in Australia for alpine coasters. I think Australia will get one. It is not a matter of if but when and most importantly, who? (Odds are Big Banana first by the end of 2023)
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The below article from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation includes an ABC News story of the opening of the Sea World Monorail System in August 1986. It is brilliant historical footage featuring clear imagery of Wild Waves Rollercoaster/Thrillseeker, Adventure Island, the construction of Lassiter's Lost Mine/Bermuda Triangle show building as well as general aerial imagery of Sea World:
QuoteSea World monorail future unclear after carriages removed from Gold Coast theme park to be destroyed
Posted 34m agoKey points:
- The Sea World monorail was the first to be built in Australia
- The ride was closed due to its proximity to the Leviathan Wooden Coaster which is under construction
- The Broadbeach monorail closed in 2017
Australia's first monorail opens at Sea World on the Gold Coast in 1986 (Archives: ABC News)
The future of the Sea World monorail remains unclear after the carriages were removed from the Gold Coast theme park this week.
The $3 million ride opened in 1986 and was the first monorail to be built in Australia.
The popular amusement had been running on a 2 kilometre circuit between the theme park's entrance and the Sea World Resort.
A Sea World spokesperson said the monorail was closed to the public due to its proximity to the new Leviathan Wooden Coaster, which is under construction.
The timber ride is due to open to the public on September 3, but it is unclear whether the monorail will reopen.
The Sea World monorail operates on a 2 kilometre circuit.(Supplied: Sea World)
A spokesperson for the Village Roadshow Theme Parks said they had no update on the monorail's future.
The carriages were removed by Adrian's Destruction Services this week and a spokesperson said they would be destroyed and not onsold.
The mothballing of the theme park ride means the Gold Coast no longer has an operating monorail, with the Broadbeach system closing in 2017.
Sea World's Leviathan Wooden Coaster is due to open on September 3.(Supplied: Sea World)
The Broadbeach monorail opened in 1989 and ferried passengers between the Oasis Shopping Centre and Jupiters Casino.
The carriages have been stored in an Arundel trucking yard since the monorail was decommissioned five years ago.
They were recently advertised for sale for between $2,000 and $4,000 for each carriage.
One potential buyer told the owner they were interested in converting the carriages into holiday accommodation.
Posted 34m ago
This photo also appeared on the ABC News Just In webpage (but not in the article above) but I have no clue if it is a new photo or not. If someone can confirm how old the photo is, that would be great:
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From The Illawarra Mercury:
QuoteEaster show ride attendant's quick thinking prevented disaster, one mum says
Updated April 14 2022 - 9:22am, first published April 12 2022 - 3:06pm
Ms Rubio supplied this photo of her dughter on the "Free Fall" ride at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The photo was taken while the attendant (left) was helping the children to their seats.
A Wollongong woman has praised the quick acts of a ride attendant at the Royal Easter Show, after a child's harness came undone.
Melissa Rubio, who is now based in Sydney with her partner and her daughter, had spent the day at the Easter Show before heading to the "Free Fall" ride.
She said the ride attendant diligently seated and secured all children over a period of about ten minutes or so.
"I was standing close to the attendant, so I saw everything," Ms Rubio said.
"She checked my daughter three or four times. All the kids' harnesses were on, she did her job."
As the ride rose into the air, Ms Rubio and her partner heard a loud metallic sound.
"The attendant immediately pressed the button and stopped the ride," Ms Rubio said.
Four-year-old Tristan Curtis, far right, was photographed by an onlooker on the Easter Show's "Free Fall" ride on Sunday, Photo: Facebook.
"The kids were about a metre and a half up - then we noticed the little boy's harness was up.
"The attendant was only a young girl and I don't know if I would have reacted that quickly at her age, I take my hat off to her.
"There was no panic in any of the kids.
"If it had gone the whole way up we would have been in serious trouble."
Ms Rubio said she was motivated to speak out after she had noticed people blasting the young attendant online.
"I can't fault her," she said.
"My only child was on there, I would be the first to speak up if there was any form of negligence.
"Each and every single kid had their harness checked.
"I genuinely believe it was a mechanical issue."
A teenage boy has been charged and others remain at large after another boy was stabbed to death in front of witnesses during a brawl at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Police believe more suspects were involved in what they described as a senseless and tragic targeted attack, involving two groups of teens.
A strike force has been established to investigate, with members of the Homicide Squad and Auburn detectives involved.
Yesterday, the Sydney Royal Easter Show advised ticket holders could get a refund following the closure of the carnival rides or could use the tickets on an alternative day.
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Quote
SafeWork NSW investigates how boy was left unrestrained on Sydney Royal Easter Show ride
Show organisers are already investigating how the boy (right) was left unrestrained.( Facebook: Eva Grace)
Key points:
- A ride was started while a young boy without a harness was on board
- The Fair Trading Minster says she has zero tolerance for operators who do not meet safety standards
- Show organisers say the ride has been closed pending an investigation
SafeWork NSW is investigating whether a ride at the centre of a potentially dangerous incident at Sydney's Royal Easter Show should be closed for the remainder of the event.
Show organisers have already launched their own investigation into how a young boy was left unrestrained on the Free Fall ride on Sunday.
A photograph shared on social media showed a boy sitting without a harness on a children's ride, which had lifted off the ground.
The three other children on the ride were wearing harnesses.
Sydney woman Eva Grace, who shared the picture on her Facebook account, said staff failed to put the harness down before the ride started.
She said onlookers "had to scream" in order to get the attention of a staff member, who stopped the ride.
On Sunday night, a statement was posted on the Royal Easter Show's social media accounts saying the ride had been shut down pending an investigation.
"The safety systems of the ride functioned well to prevent any injury occurring and the ride will not operate again until a full investigation has been approved by specialist engineers," it said.
The Royal Easter Show has been contacted for comment.
On Monday, Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos said SafeWork NSW had been instructed to explore whether the Free Fall ride should remain closed for the remainder of the 2022 show.
Ms Petinos said she had a zero-tolerance approach to any operator which failed to provide the highest safety standards.
"I can confirm that I have instructed SafeWork NSW to explore shutting the Free Fall ride for the remainder of the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show if patrons' safety cannot be guaranteed," she said.
"The ride has been closed pending investigation.
"Safety is my number one priority and any operator who fails to provide the highest level of safety standards should face severe consequences, and that is why I've instructed SafeWork NSW to explore all available avenues."
Posted 7h ago, updated 6h ago
And the run of bad news for the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2022 continues:
QuoteOne dead after being stabbed in fight at Sydney Royal Easter Show
By Jean Kennedy and Heath Parkes-Hupton
Police say two people were stabbed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Monday night.(ABC Rural: Hugh Hogan)
Key points:
- Two teenagers were treated after being stabbed in a fight about 8pm on Monday night
- One boy died en route to hospital from his injuries
- Police arrested one male at the scene
One man is in custody after a youth was fatally stabbed and another injured during a wild brawl at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Both youths were taken to Westmead Hospital, where police announced one of them had died.
Police said emergency services were called to the show around 8pm on Monday.
The ABC understands that initial investigations suggest it was not a random stabbing and the people involved are known to each other.
The youth who died was stabbed in the chest and abdomen.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker said the youth died on the way to hospital despite the efforts of paramedics.
"When paramedics arrived, one of the patients was in cardiac arrest after having suffered a traumatic chest wound," he said.
"Paramedics performed CPR and a number of other critical interventions at the scene before loading the patient for transport to Westmead Hospital, unfortunately despite best efforts he couldn't be resuscitated."
The second victim was stabbed in his leg, and taken to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Many people in attendance have uploaded videos and pictures to social media showing people fighting at the carnival rides section.
Footage from the scene shows several people involved in a brawl, with one person appearing to repeatedly knee and punch another.
In another video, one person is shown lying on the ground surrounded by staff wearing high-visibility vests.
Inspector Whittaker said it would have been a "very confronting scene" for the dozens of people who witnessed the incident.
Footage also captured one male sitting in handcuffs encircled by police officers.
Crowds were later moved out of the area by police officers in order to establish a crime scene.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Posted 4h ago, updated 1h ago
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Premiering tonight at 9:30pm AEDT on SBS & SBS On Demand is New Gold Mountain, partially filmed at Victorian goldrush-theme park Sovereign Hill (You know your theming is good when it doubles as a backlot):
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From The Illawarra Mercury (An alternate headline was 'NSW government splashes out $600,000 on Jamberoo Action Park's new water slide') :
QuoteNSW Government helps Jamberoo Action Park generate more jobs during construction of its biggest ever ride
Job support: Gareth Ward and Jim Eddy look at plans for the new Velocity Falls waterslide at Jamberoo Action Park. Picture:Sylvia Liber
Jamberoo Action Park has secured NSW government regional job creation funding to help unlock jobs and boost tourism with the construction of a giant new eight-lane water slide.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward made the announcement after advocating for the $600,000 grant that will generate 30 construction jobs and 50 full-time equivalent positions when Velocity Falls opens in time for summer.
Mr Ward acknowledged Jamberoo Action Park managing director Jim Eddy for his extraordinary vision and bravery in continuing to make significant investments that benefit the region and create many jobs for youth.
Mr Eddy is hoping the largest single ride ever built in the theme park's 40 year history will open in October but said the project has been delayed by recent rain.
He welcomed the funding saying it had been crucial in financing the latest ride precinct.
Mr Eddy said NSW Government support provided the family owned theme park the confidence to invest in more attractions. And commended Kiama Council for creating a strong regional economic development strategy aimed at further growing the local economy.
He said when completed the new ride will help generate another 50 jobs for young people from Kiama, Shellharbour and Albion Park.
Mr Eddy said every investment in Jamberoo Action Park had a big flow on effect in the community.
For every dollar spent at the attraction consumers spent another dollar in the local business community.
A concept design of the Velocity Falls attraction which will replace Splash Out. Picture: Supplied.
"These kind of investments are high risk." Mr Eddy said.
"You have got to get a lot of things right. And one of the things you have to get right is the finance. This significant contribution by the NSW Government has given us the confidence to go and invest that money for this particular ride which is about $11 million."
Mr Eddy said many local businesses who have been involved in other ride installations over the years are also involved in the construction of Velocity Falls which combines three water rides with an eight lane aqua racer.
Mr Ward said Velocity Falls will be a major tourism drawcard for Kiama and the increased visitation it generates at the park will help drive further tourism growth.
"This grant unlocks new jobs and vocational pathways for Kiama, with an increase in visitation leading to more employment opportunities at the popular theme park" he said.
"Jobs at this time are extremely important. So many young people here in Kiama have got their first job at this park. It has taught them the skills, the dedication and the commitment you need to have employment."
Jim Eddy and Gareth Ward during the funding announcement. Picture: Sylvia Liber.
"And when you make investments like this it has flow on effects, particularly for young people who are seeking employment."
"From my point of view. These are not costs to government. They are investments in regional economies that generate jobs and create opportunities."
Mr Eddy said 40 containers with 1500 fibreglass components had arrived from North America but COVID-19 is preventing a team of engineers from being sent to put it all together.
So Jamberoo Action Park has arranged a workforce of local people to do that work.
Most are aged in their late teens and early 20's and will work in teams to join it all the components together.
"We have had experience putting this stuff together before," Mr Eddy said.
"But this ride is a first for the manufacturer. Many components they have not done before."
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24 minutes ago, Ranger said:
Here's the article for those who can't access it...
Looks like Koala Kove is now set for September 2022 while Velocity Falls is set for the 10th-21st of October 2021!
From The Illawarra Mercury:
QuoteJamberoo Action Park's New $8m Waterslide To Make A Splash In October
Jamberoo Action Park owner Jim Eddy amongst the 25,000 worth of cubic metres of earth that needs to be moved around for the new Velocity Falls attraction. Picture: Robert Peet
If you thought constructing IKEA furniture was a challenge, imagine constructing a 160 metre-long, high adrenaline waterslide with the use of diagrams and manuals.
That's exactly what Jamberoo Action Park owner Jim Eddy and his team are doing, with the new Velocity Falls waterslide ride under construction but without the usual specialist engineer from Canada and team that would normally come with it.
"We tried to but due to Australian Government restrictions we can't get them in so we're having to do it via Zoom and manuals which has made it very difficult" he said.
A concept design of the Velocity Falls attraction which will replace Splash Out. Picture: Supplied.
"We have two construction sites - one where the ride is actually being built, the other in the carpark where all the... thousands of fibreglass tubing that's being bolted together by our assembly line there of our star recruits."
Mr Eddy said some of their usual summer staff are now part of the crew putting the extravagant, multimillion-dollar puzzle together and anticipates it to be complete by mid-October.
The ride, which will replace the Splash Out at a cost of around $8 million, will involve eight individual slides, with a further two "multibump" slides - extending approximately 30 metres from the base to the top.
NO MORE: Jamberoo Action Park owner Jim Eddy at the Splash Out waterslide in February 2021 before it closed for good to make way for the new Velocity Falls. Picture: Adam McLean
It will have an overall ride length of approximately 160 metres and an elevational drop of 21.59 metres with a rainforest/waterfall theme inspired by Fitzroy Falls.
A train with a scenic route is also being built around the park.
A family water play area called Koala Kove is also approved with construction for that set for 2022, while Mr Eddy is gearing up to submit new plans to council for their next attraction - an interactive river with wave pool that will delight 4000 patrons an hour.
By the way, can a moderator change the topic name to reflect the new name of the attraction, Velocity Falls?
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Just for the purposes of the poll:
'Railroads, Main Street Vehicles, Red Car Trolley & Disney Transport' also includes Disneysea Electric Railway,Venetian Gondolas, Disneysea Transit Steamer Line, Chairlift, Cross Country Creek & Castaway Creek.
And, noted @DaptoFunlandGuy.
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First The Imagineering Story, now Behind The Attraction...
QuoteDisney+ Gives An All-Access Pass To Disney’s Beloved Attractions With The Premiere Of “Behind The Attraction” On July 16
June 7, 2021
Streaming All Episodes At Once, the 10-part Original Series is Executive Produced by Dwayne Johnson (“Jungle Cruise”) and Dany Garcia through their Seven Bucks Productions banner; Directed by Brian Volk-Weiss (“The Toys That Made Us”) from The Nacelle Company; and Narrated by Paget Brewster (“Criminal Minds”)
BURBANK, Calif. (June 7, 2021) – Disney attractions around the world have long been enchanting visitors in magical ways for generations. To celebrate the July 30 release of the Disney feature film “Jungle Cruise,” inspired by the Disney Parks attraction which debuted in 1955 with the opening of Disneyland® park, Disney+ will premiere all episodes of its newest original series “Behind the Attraction'' on Friday, July 16. The 10-part series, narrated by Paget Brewster, gives viewers an exclusive peek ‘behind the curtain’ of the most beloved attractions and destinations at Disney Parks and Resorts around the world, from Jungle Cruise to "it's a small world" to the Haunted Mansion to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Hear the unique story behind each Castle at the Parks and learn how Disney Imagineers designed and built them and discover the intricacies of the transportation systems at each park, and how the iconic Disneyland® Hotel came to be.
“Behind the Attraction” delves into Disney Parks’ rich, amazing history using archival and never-before-seen footage and photographs to unveil how the attractions came to be and how they’ve been refined over the years as new ideas surface and technology evolves.
“Getting to work with Disney AND Seven Bucks has not only been the honor of my career, it was also a LOT of fun, which I hope people will feel when they watch the show!” adds Brian Volk-Weiss, executive producer and director.
Including rare interviews with Walt Disney, each episode also features exclusive interviews with Disney Legends and dozens of past and present Imagineers, including Bob Weis, Jeanette Lomboy, Kim Irvine, Scott Trowbridge, Tom Fitzgerald, Scot Drake, Carmen Smith, Joe Rohde, and others who divulge insider secrets of the parks and how iconic Disney attractions were brought to life. Revealed for the first time are the wild stories of how the Haunted Mansion was filled with 999 happy haunts, how the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ transformed into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! (while defying gravity in the process) and why Space Mountain took so long to launch.
All 10 episodes are available to stream on Friday, July 16 on Disney+:
“Jungle Cruise”
“Haunted Mansion”
“Star Tours”
“The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”
“The Castles”
“Disneyland Hotel”
“Space Mountain”
“it's a small world”
“Trains, Trams, and Monorails”
“Hall of Presidents”“Behind the Attraction” is executive produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz, and Kevin Hill from Seven Bucks Productions and Brian Volk-Weiss, Robin Henry, and Cisco Henson from The Nacelle Company. Brian Volk-Weiss directs the series.
For more information on the series, please visit: dmedmedia.disney.com/disney-plus/behind-the-attraction
Quote
Peek beyond the magic of Disney Parks to discover what's Behind the Attraction! From Executive Producers Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Brian Volk-Weiss, explore how
Imagineers filled the Haunted Mansion with 999 happy haunts, how the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ transformed into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! (while defying gravity in the process) and why Space Mountain took so long to launch. From the 1950s to today, from Jungle Cruise to "it's a small world" to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Disney Parks attractions have amazed millions. And this is the story of how they did it.Title: Behind the Attraction
Category: Documentary Series
Number of Episodes: 10
Premiere: July 16, 2021
Director: Brian Volk-Weiss
Producers: Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz, and Kevin Hill from Seven Bucks Productions will executive produce along with Brian Volk-Weiss, Robin Henry, and Cisco Henson from The Nacelle Company.
Production Companies: Seven Bucks and The Nacelle Company
Narrator: Paget Brewster (“Criminal Minds,” “Grandfathered”)
Episodes:
Jungle Cruise
Join a skipper for the story behind Jungle Cruise, and try to spot the backside of water! When Walt decided to create the original immersive attraction, he tasked Imagineers with building a river in the Southern California desert AND the mechanical animals to populate it. Lead designer Harper Goff and horticulturist Bill Evans scrambled to get it all built in time for Disneyland® Park's grand opening in 1955. Guests have been cruising its waters ever since. Dwayne Johnson also appears in this episode where he discusses his childhood memories of the attraction and his favorite joke from the skippers.
Haunted Mansion
Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion — enter if you dare! When Walt Disney developed the attraction, he didn't specify if it should be funny or scary. Ultimately, it became a perfect blend of both. Haunted Mansion proved so popular that it inspired several later iterations, including the chilling Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris and the weird and wonderful Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Star Tours
Lightspeed to Endor! A long time ago…Disney created Star Tours, a thrilling simulator attraction that takes guests to a galaxy far, far away. It inspired Imagineers to build a whole new land — Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. There, guests can use the Force to explore the remote outpost of Batuu and the cutting-edge attractions Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Discover the ups (and downs!) of creating this gravity-defying attraction set in the eerie world of Rod Serling's renowned "Twilight Zone" television series. Then hold on tight as Imagineers reimagine the Disney California Adventure version as Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Learn what it took to build the attraction — and what it takes to ride it!
The Castles
Castles are at the heart of Disney Parks around the world. The original at Disneyland® Resort in California quickly became a symbol of The Walt Disney Company on par with Mickey Mouse. Hear the unique story behind each one and learn how Imagineers designed and built them.
Disneyland Hotel
Disneyland® Resort with no hotel — what?! It almost happened. Check in to see how Walt got it built. Envisioned as an extension of the Park, funding for the hotel proved hard to come by, so Walt struck a deal with producer Jack Wrather. Jack would own the hotel, but Walt's name would be on it. Together, they made it into an immersive experience, setting the stage for all Disney 3 hotels to come. After Jack's death, The Walt Disney Company bought the Disneyland® Hotel. Today, Disney operates dozens of hotels worldwide.
Space Mountain
You're about to hear the story of Space Mountain in T-minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…launch! Walt's vision of an attraction that simulates space travel was a design challenge Imagineer John Hench tackled head on, creating a signature structure now in Disney Parks around the world. Imagineers continued the tradition by creating another thrilling indoor attraction, the landmark TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disney Resort.
“it's a small world”
It all began at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair! If a chance encounter between an Academy Award®-winning actress and Walt Disney hadn't taken place, this beloved attraction might never have been created. With its signature, unforgettable song, its flume boat ride design, and AudioAnimatronics® figures, it was a huge success. Versions were designed and built in Disney Parks around the planet, proving that it really is a small world, after all!
Trains, Trams, and Monorails
All aboard! Everything moves at Disney Parks, especially the guests — by land, water, and air! Walt loved locomotion of all kinds — trains, trams, monorails, and boats. They're all fun, but Walt also believed the monorail could help cities end traffic. The vast transportation network at Walt Disney World Resort is a testament to that. Every Disney Park built since has continued this tradition, creating transportation systems to whisk guests efficiently to their destinations.
Hall of Presidents
This unprecedented presidential attraction in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom brings the USA's commanders in chief to life. Walt created the world’s first human Audio-Animatronics® figure based on his childhood hero, Abraham Lincoln. Honest Abe helped launch this revolutionary technology that populates Disney Parks today. Who knows what the future holds for this mesmerizing Disney technology?
I'm surprised that there isn't an episode on Pirates Of The Caribbean!
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'7News Spotlight - Ride Of Your Life' was watched by 571,000 viewers in the 5 major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth & Adelaide) last night.
That data is based on a population sample representative of 62% of Australia's population.
Taking into account the 38% of regional viewers missing from that data, this should equate to 921,000 viewers of the program nationwide on Sunday night alone (Regional ratings are released on a weekly rather than daily basis so this is just a guess).
In the 5 major capital cities, these were where most viewers were from:
- Brisbane - 114,000 (4.6% of Brisbane's population)
- Adelaide - 58,000 (4.3% of Adelaide's population)
- Melbourne - 201,000 (4.0% of Melbourne's population)
- Total 5 major capital cities - 571,000 (3.6% of combined population of the 5 major capital cities)
- Perth - 60,000 (2.9% of Perth's population)
- Sydney - 138,000 (2.8% of Sydney's population)
Timeshifted ratings would be released over the next month which would give a better picture but at this stage, only a small percentage of the country would have seen the program so at this stage, the Australian theme park industry shouldn't be affected by the program.
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On 27/05/2021 at 11:53 PM, OgreMagic said:
Were there meant to be more episodes? I was under the impression that was it, as the last episode was filmed shortly before Covid closed the UK parks.
There were more episodes on 9Now, which have since been removed but they were all filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 3rd episode was focused on their Halloween celebrations while the 4th episode was about preparing for a new season.
On 27/05/2021 at 5:05 PM, ChrisPoole said:...after the ads were taken out that episode channel 9 broadcast was only 1 hr 10min, so they edited down the double episode
I watched all episodes on 9Now after watching the free-to-air broadcast and yes, they did edit down the double episode, which full length should have went 2 hours with ads (1 hour & 30 minutes without ads).
But that wasn't the most surprising thing.
What was more surprising was they edited out 2 segments about the park's Vikings' River Splash, a river rapids ride.
The first segment was about a e-stop of the ride caused by a guest going into the ride's restricted area.
The second segment was about the park replacing one of the ride's rafts' inflatable tyres.
I wonder why they edited these 2 segments out for the free to air broadcast but not the 9Now stream? 🤔
The answer is featured in tonight's earlier aired program '7News Spotlight: Ride Of Your Life' on Channel 7 & 7Plus.
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My review - Ride Of Your Life was promoted as a behind the scenes look into the theme park industry but turned out, unsurprisingly for theme park enthusiasts who know Channel 7's reputation towards theme park news, as Ride For Your Life. First 15 minutes were great with a brief summary of roller coaster & theme park history but then Action Park (the infamous US amusement park) got a mention & it was all downhill from there. Completely biased towards the negative aspects of the theme park industry. Based on the comments above, it seems Natalie Barr's statement "You sell fear" (with emphasis on each word) is probably the words the general public think summed up the narrative the show is portraying. Ironic - given Channel 7 sold advertising time for & during this show which they told a biased 'fear theme parks' narrative during.
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On 01/06/2021 at 7:41 PM, MrLukeCarroll said:
Oh dear, even Jamberoo is using the word "precinct" now...
On 02/06/2021 at 7:40 AM, DaptoFunlandGuy said:Came here just to say much the same. Precincts were on the nose when they were just different scare zones at fright nights. Precincts should stay in the Police Academy universe where they belong.
To all park operators - PLEASE stop calling new lands, zones, areas (or even just singular attractions) a "precinct". I'll even buy you a thesaurus if it helps you.
/rant
Reminds me of this (Obviously not on this Wednesday at 8:30pm):
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Quote
In an hour of television your family will remember watching together forever, we go behind the screams to reveal the tightly held secrets of the global billion-dollar theme park industry.
Pushing the limit for thrills. Nothing makes you feel more alive than the visceral feeling of fear itself.
Whether you’re upside down, down under or right side up, dangling in weightless suspension or bracing for the sharp drop, there’s a kind of rush all over the world… and its name is terror.
This Sunday, Sunrise’s Natalie Barr goes to the edge in a 7NEWS Spotlight special investigation as she reveals the highs and lows, twists and turns of the multi-billion-dollar global theme park industry.
From an Aussie coaster that’s as old as the Titanic, to the newest, most hair-raising and death-defying contraptions on earth, 7NEWS Spotlight crosses continents in a wild roller coaster ride across Australia and the United States to uncover the very best and the worst.
Meet the families who can’t get enough chasing the greatest thrill on earth, and the people whose lives were tragically and inextricably changed in an instant.
Plus shocking revelations about Australia’s biggest ride disasters and how an industry locked down by COVID plans to rise again.
Pull down your safety harness and buckle up as 7NEWS Spotlight goes behind the screams to bring you the ride of your life.
Clearly, the "Aussie coaster that's as old as the Titanic" refers to Luna Park Melbourne's Scenic Railway and "Australia's biggest ride disasters" refer to the 1979 Luna Park Sydney Ghost Train fire and the 2016 Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids Ride incident.
Looks like a very interesting program which hopefully balances the positives & negatives of the theme park industry!
'7News Spotlight - Ride Of Your Life' airs Sunday the 6th of June between 7pm & 8:30pm AEST on Channel 7.
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Quote
More witnesses come forward, after revelations on the ABC’s ‘Exposed’ series about the ghost train fire at Sydney’s Luna Park that claimed seven lives.
Multiple witness accounts pointed to suspicious circumstances, the presence of a group of bikies and signs of arson.
But less than 24 hours after the fire broke out police said it was an accident and an electrical fault was to blame.
On tonight’s 7.30, reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna speaks to three new eyewitnesses about what they saw at Luna Park in June 1979. They were never interviewed by police and have never spoken publicly before.
These new witness accounts come as calls for a fresh inquiry into the ghost train tragedy grow louder.
7:30pm tonight on ABC TV.
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From the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
Quote6yo boy's life support to be turned off after 'severe accident' with Sea World toy
By Tara CassidyA toy bought at Sea World has allegedly caused critical injuries to a six-year-old boy.(AAP Image: Regi Varghese)
Key points:
- Six-year-old Deklan Babington-MacDonald is not expected to survive
- Village Roadshow Theme Parks says it has removed the toy involved from sale
- A recall would only come after a full investigation
- Deklan Babington-MacDonald has been on life support in the Queensland Children's Hospital since last Sunday.
A Gold Coast theme park says it has removed a toy from its shelves after a six-year-old boy was allegedly left fighting for his life after playing with it.
His family said he had a "severe accident" at their Nerang home while playing with a toy purchased from Sea World.
They performed CPR on the boy before he was flown to hospital to be treated for critical injuries.
Deklan's family have stayed by his side in the hospital intensive care unit, but have been told by doctors his injuries were "beyond recovery" and his life support would be turned off in the next 48 hours.
"Deklan's mum and the family are dedicated to their little man and want to be by his side during his care," the family wrote on a fundraising page.
Sea World vows to assist with investigations
In a statement, Village Roadshow Theme Parks said it was distressed to learn about the accident and would fully cooperate into all investigations into the matter.
It said health and safety was the park's highest priority and it had removed the toy in question from sale.
A park spokesperson described the toy as a "plush-toy walker" with a penguin wearing a harness on one end, attached to long stick or lead.
The spokesperson said the toy was removed as a precaution at this stage, but that any further action — such as a recall — would only come after a full investigation.
"We need to understand the circumstances around what has occurred. We will also be reaching out to Deklan's family to offer support" the statement said.
The fundraising page, set up by the Babington and MacDonald families, said money would "go toward Deklan's memorial and allow [Deklan's mother] to make an important keepsake with Deklan's ashes when the time is right".
The Australian also reports:
QuoteThe family of Deklan Labington-MacDonald are “angry” over the mishap and have called on police to investigate the incident and the safety of the toy.
The boy was critically injured by a toy, similar to the one pictured, with the family describing the object as a ‘penguin on a harness attached to a stiff lead.’
The boy was critically injured by a toy, similar to the one pictured, with the family describing the object as a ‘penguin on a harness attached to a stiff lead.’ Picture: Supplied
“We will not be making any further comment until all the facts are known.” a Village Roadshow Theme Parks spokesman said.
Cousin Lea Williams said the toy was bought for Deklan four days before the accident.
“It was a toy bought from SeaWorld on the Gold Coast … it had a long lead that was made stiff with a pole but the pole came out. It broke and turned into basically a long rope with a loop on the end. In a very short amount of time Deklan became entangled. The police took it away.” Ms Williams told NCA NewsWire.
Ms Williams said the family was too consumed with Deklan’s fate to focus on the safety of the toy, although they hope police investigate and Sea World management respond accordingly.
“We are just reeling and we are struggling to come to terms with how it occurred. It was a toy that was bought four days earlier from SeaWorld. It ended up being really dangerous and we are really angry, but we haven’t got our heads around it and can’t focus on it. The police were investigating, they took the toy with them and we hope they follow through with that. When the family has the capacity to look into it more and follow it up they will, but we are focusing on Deklan right now.” she said.
Police have confirmed they attended a Nerang address on Anzac Day following reports a six-year-old child was “found unresponsive”.
However, they would not comment on whether the toy had been seized nor if an investigation was underway.
“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. There is no further information we can release about the incident at this time” they told NCA Newswire.
Ms Williams organised a fundraiser page which was initially to assist the family through Deklan’s medical treatment. The money will now be used for the boy’s funeral.
His distraught mother, Lauren Babington, has been keeping a bedside vigil as extended family members rushed from interstate to provide comfort and pray for the six-year-old.
Doctors overnight have told Ms Babington the machines keeping her son alive will be turned off within 48 hours.
His aunt, Caity MacDonald, told family and friends on Facebook the shattering news that doctors had decided to withdraw life support.
“Lauren (Deklan’s mum) has asked me to share that the doctors have advised that Deklan is beyond recovery. Deklan’s life support will be withdrawn in the next 48 hours. As you can understand this is a devastating time for the family so please respect their privacy and understand they won’t be able to talk on the phone. They are reading the messages of support and appreciate all the love and kindness shown by the community” Caitlin posted on social media.
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2 hours ago, Jamberoo Fan said:
It seems Channel 9 decided to have only the sole 2-hour episode, which was screened last Tuesday night.
Just found out that 9Now has all 4 episodes of the series. They all 45 minutes approximately in duration. Episodes 1 & 2 was the double episode screened last Tuesday night on television.
I now expect again that Channel 9 will screen either two 2 hour episodes over 2 weeks or two 1-hour episodes plus the 2-hour 1st episode over 3 weeks.
What week(s) these other episode(s) is/are to be screened during I don't know but I assume it will be before Lego Masters finish it's latest season.
This is unless the 1st double episode on television rated poorly and Channel 9 decided to just let people watch it on 9Now if they wish instead.
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Whilst Jamberoo's 2020-2021 season finished last Sunday, a little bit of news from a week before that - On Jamberoo's Frequently Asked Questions page, they put:
QuoteBobsled Blue Track...closed as of 19 April...to allow for the construction of a new water ride development at Jamberoo Action Park
The closure on 19 April meant only on the final 2 operating days of the 2020-2021 season (24 & 25 April) the Bobsled Blue Track will not be operating.
It should be assumed that the Bobsled Blue Track will be closed until Velocity Falls (and not and/or Koala Kove) opens so it could still be closed when the 2021-2022 season starts.
For non-Jamberoo enthusiasts, the Blue Bobsled Track is the fast, experienced riders track.
If you head to Jamberoo for the Bobsleds while the Blue Bobsled Track is closed, you risk a very slow, traffic jam-filled bobsled ride due to slow or inexperienced riders. Best to wait until the Blue Bobsled Track reopens for a fast, smooth ride with no or little traffic jams.
Remember, if you don't want a slow, traffic-jam filled bobsled ride, you can also still take the Chairlift to admire the views at the top of the mountain and take a rare trip on the Chairlift back down the mountain.
Also, here is the Dive-In Movies schedule for the recently finished 2020-2021 season:
- 26/12/2020 - E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial
- 02/01/2021 - Ride Like A Girl
- 09/01/2021 - ¡Three Amigos!
- 16/01/2021 - The Secret Life Of Pets 2
- 23/01/2021 - Back To The Future
- 30/01/2021 - Paddington
The 2020-2021 season's Dive-In Movies started an hour earlier at 5pm but still on Saturdays and still at Outback Bay.
'Thunder River Rapids Ride' Tragedy Victim & Bystanders Awarded Bravery Citations By Governor-General
in Theme Park Discussion
Posted · Edited by Jamberoo Fan
From the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: