QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

“Wir sind die Zukunft” “We are Tomorrow”

Germany’s hosting a World Expo was first discussed in 1987 but overtaken by the stunning events of 1989-91 – the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification. Subsequently, detailed planning in 1994–1996 aimed for a year 2000 event. This also marked a break from the 60-odd previous ‘single-subject’ world expositions with a broad ranging theme – ‘The sustainable harmony of Humankind, Nature and Technology’ – to which all participating countries and organisations declared their adherence, often in conjunction with a world wide program of social and ecological projects. A joint venture between the federal government, state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), the city of Hannover and industry bodies, Expo 2000 plans reprised and extended the existing 100-hectare site of the Deutsche Messe exhibition areas and halls 8km southeast of the city centre by a further 60%. (Hannover Messe was already internationally known as the host of the annual CeBIT technology exhibition among others.) The 153-day event, open daily 9am to midnight from 1 June to 31 October, with its huge range of shared halls and unique national pavilions attracted more than 25 million visits, complemented by a vibrant social calendar of activities and events. Australia’s striking pavilion, voted among the top five most popular attractions, was ideally sited not far from the main, western entrance, where a 350m-long glass-enclosed ‘Skywalk’ tube delivered visitors from the S-Bahn and expanded ICE (Inter City Express high-speed rail) station at Laatzen. Australia’s theme statement “From Boomerangs to the Bionic Ear” was encapsulated in one of the most exciting, innovative and memorable pavilions on the entire World Expo 2000 site.

Australia’s pavilion, deliberately evocative of the iconic Uluru, was built around a scaffolding framework covered in rich red-orange fabric curves, translucent by day and glowing even more vividly by night. Visually reinforcing the ‘Fifth Continent’ image, a gently rippling water feature surrounded the pavilion. Consistent with Queensland’s status as a foundation partner of the federal government, an 18m 3 aquarium painstakingly stocked with corals and a variety of Reef fish adjoined the entrance. Queenslanders were heavily represented in the bilingual staff drawn from around Australia, winning plaudits for their easy-going warmth throughout this logistically and technically complex and high-profile event half a world from home. Little wonder Australia was one of the early ‘hits’ of Expo, clocking over 23,000 visitors in the first few days! A gigantic screen above the stage over the entrance supported the varied entertainment program, as well as broadcasting events from the Sydney Olympics; it otherwise played a continuous loop of “G’day videos” delivering pre-recorded greetings from Australians of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The carefully designed two-level structure drew visitors through a succession of exhibits, surround screens, touch-screens and multi-media displays culminating in the emotive The many faces of Australia presentation and its accompanying We Are Tomorrow soundtrack. Visitors exited via an external ramp across the face of the pavilion beneath the main stage, to find themselves in the strategically-placed and exuberantly popular Sports Bar which provided Aussie wines, beers and kangaroo pies and sausages and a smaller entertainment stage. Among the more than 170 Aussie artists to visit and perform were Jimmy Little, Indigenous band Nabarlek , the Rock’n’Roll Circus, Brisbane-based Kacey Patrick and Aaron Hopper, and performance troupes Chrome , Five Angry Men , and the stilts borne ‘aerial ballet’ of Strange Fruit ; Brisbane provided artist Brett Lethbridge and the MilesFromNowhere boys’ lively ‘folk-rock’ music performances.

Milling crowds watch a nightly performance by Brisbane band milesfromnowhere, as the iconic pavilion glows with energy (image courtesy of the author); just discernible beneath the boys on stage is the contrasting glow of the Reef aquarium (right), the contents and denizens of which were transferred to Berlin’s Zoological Gardens after the close of Expo

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