Mama do the Hump! The Camel Cup 2012
It wasn’t until about 1985 that anyone in Britain really knew anything about Australians at all. We knew that they talked a bit strangely, mainly wore T shirts with sleeves cut off and spent nearly every waking hour drinking ice cold lager, but apart from that we were totally ignorant. Then, thanks to the seminal tv drama ‘Neighbours’, we were allowed into the everyday lives of normal Aussies and a whole new world was open to us. And they were actually a bit more bonkers than we thought.
Image Courtesy of the Lonley Planet
It turns out that they don’t actually live in one house but tend to rotate dwellings around cul de sac type settlements, moving in or out depending on who they’ve had an argument or fallen in love with that day. They throw parties for the flimsiest reasons known to man and are completely incapable of completing a day without serious drama affecting their lives. It’s little wonder they enjoy a regular ‘tinnie’ as coping with all that seems to be thrown at them on a daily basis would test even the hardiest of individuals.
Image courtesy of The Camel Cup
Outside of the cities and towns things can get even more interesting, Station workers will think nothing of driving 500 miles to the pub, some people live underground in mud dugouts and others race Camels. Yep, Camels.
The Camel Cup started life in 1970 in Alice Springs when two men, Noel Fullerton and Keith Mooney-Smith held it for a bet on the dried up bed of the River Todd. Every year it’s grown in popularity and there’s now a dedicated 400m camel racing circuit but best of all it’s sponsored by none other than Lasseters. This will be meaningless to anyone who wasn’t around in the late 80’s but it was of course the ‘Lasseters Complex’, owned by the erstwhile Mr Udigawa, that provided Ramsay Street with all its gainful employment.
Image courtesy of The Camel Cup
It attracts around 5000 spectators from all over the world and the camels are provided by, amazingly enough, 3 different camel providing companies. There is a full race card on the day with Rickshaw races, Junior Camel Races and a race that involves brides and grooms. There are also belly dancers and ‘several bars’. Of course there are.
Image courtesy of The Camel Cup
It takes place on the 14th July at Blatherskate Park Alice Springs and the gates open at 10:30am with adults forking out $17 for the privilege of indulging in camel based fun, however, if you can’t make it you can always catch the action on Southern Cross Television in between re runs of The Sullivans. Daphne, Helen Daniels and Bouncer would have loved this type of day out…three great Australians sadly missed…it’s always the good guys that get taken first…
About the Author
Adrian Simpson Adrian Simpson is a writer and TV presenter with a profound love of the outdoors. His family, snow, sea, brewing, vinyl, guitars and VW buses mean the world to him.
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