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PR Officers Projects - Melbourne WNS Melbourne Wednesday Night Skate Remembered
| Some of The History behind the 9pm start:
Way back when, in the summer of '92/'93 (this is before your
correspondent started in-line skating, BTW, but he has known some of
the protagonists since the '70's, from on the white ice), when in-line
skating really only existed along a small section of the St. Kilda
foreshore, one Saturday evening, over a postprandial Whisky-and-splash
at a charming little eatery in Acland Street known as "Greasy Joe's",
someone, possibly Mouse, perhaps it was Tamsin, maybe John Aubergine,
or another of the diverse and eclectic group that made up the
"hard-core" of Melbourne's in-line skaters in those far off, heady
days, said, or said words to the effect of, "Why not skate during the
week?"
Around the table agreement with the concept is signalled by nods,
exclamations of "Great," "Good idea," the waving of hands as
cigarettes are being lit, an eructation or two, and so forth.
History is unclear on whether there was an immediate suggestion of
doing it on a Wednesday night, but little discussion would have been
needed, after all, Wednesday is commonly considered "the middle of the
week."
The group then dissolved into various discussions as to where and when
they should meet, should they go to "Greasy Joe's" to eat first, who's
on first, the price of tea in China, an so on.
Then, over the hubbub, a voice, unknown to this day, rises, "Why don't
we skate somewhere else?"
Silence descends over the table, and a tremulous voice is heard,
'Skate... Somewhere else?"
"Where?"
"How about in the city, it'd be a change."
More silence, while the concept is digested, along with more Whisky,
Port, and cigarettes.
"Yeah." "That's a thought." "Where would we go?" "How about the
Museum?" "Around the M.C.G.?" "More drinks here, please."
Eventually it was decided that they would start from the NGV, because
"everybody knows where that is." (It can perhaps be concluded from
this that the group were perhaps a little more culturally aware than
is the current norm.)
Agreement on a place to skate and starting point having been reached,
the question that then raised its head was, "What time should we start?"
This being Summer, with Daylight Savings being in effect, and many
(most?) of the group still wishing to be able to skate at the beach in
the evenings, not to mention the staff and management of Apache
wanting to be able to hire out skates until it was dark, and there
being those who had to come in from some distance, suggestions of
"6:30," "7:00," "8:15" and the like were quickly howled down.
Eventually, a consensus of "Let's say we'll leave the NGV at 9:15" was
reached, this being considered suitable for people to make it in from
the suburbs, as well as up from St. Kilda, for those who consider
eating to be important, or have families, worked late, or just
considered any time earlier to be simply too bourgeois.
Thus the Melbourne City Skate, departing from the Fishmonger's Window
of the National Gallery of Victoria at 9:15 or thereabouts, was born.
Your correspondent joined with this plucky bunch of adventurers and
bon-vivants in October of '93, when an average group was around thirty
skaters, and since has watched the number wax to the afore-mention
one-hundred plus and wane to the forlorn one, or, sadly, none.
Admittedly, your correspondent' s attendance has also waned over the
last decade or so, due to family, work, health, and, let's face it,
age and infirmity, however he would like to see it regain some of its
former, if not glory, at least attendance.
Over the years there have been attempts to create other, sometimes
competing skating events, most of which have failed. At least one
skate shop, whose name escapes my recall but was in Lonsdale Street
near Myer, started a competing event at 6:00pm on Wednesday night, but
this failed quite quickly due to the Melbourne City Council's dislike
of the disruption to commuters that ensued and telling the shop that
they would bear a hefty legal liability if anything untoward happened.
Albert Park In-line used to run a Tuesday night Adventure Skate, but
they are long gone. They only organised skate that has survived seems
to be that run by Bayside Blades, but as relative newcomers, that is
not surprising. (Perhaps they are better organised? Your
correspondent does not know, for, despite having lived in the Bayside
area for lo these many years he has never been on it, for it
conflict(ed) with his Fencing.)
There have been many changed in the City Skate since its inception,
originally it was more of a wander through the City to the Museum, but
things eventually firmed into what would be considered the original
route, being from the NGV, across Princess Bridge, down Batman Avenue,
around the M.C.G., up through the Fitzroy and Treasury Gardens to
Parliament, down Little Bourke Street at speed, flying across Russell
and Exhibition Street's to Swanston Street, and then up to the Museum
for Stair-riding and a general melee, followed by a gentle descent
down Swanston Street and a drink at McDonald's, then a general
dispersal towards home, or perhaps further skating for those with the
time to spare.
There were several variations upon this over the years, but they
seemed to hold little long-term attraction, and the primary route
stayed the same, perhaps with a diversion to the back of the Westpac
building on the way from the Museum, or a venture into a car park.
The first major change in route occurred when the Melbourne City
Council banned skaters in Little Bourke Street, the restriction of the
ban to only this Street rather than the entire C.B.D. was in no small
part due to the representations of several skaters, most of whose
names are lost to time, (was it Elmo and his crew who made the
effort?). As a result, the route shifted to hooning down Lonsdale
Street from Spring Street. Determination of the timing of the traffic
lights, which had been perfected for Little Bourke Street, took some
time and your correspondent copped some fair abuse before satisfaction
was obtained.
The development of Southbank, and other regions of the City have led
to many changes, and the primary route is not as rigid as it once was,
but still takes in the highlights of the M.C.G. and Lonsdale Street,
via Southbank and the footbridge, and down the Exhibition Street
Extension, perhaps with a diversion through the Docklands, either at
the start or at the end.
Your correspondent has seen many highs and lows over the years.
Some of the lows include spectacular crashes: the bloke who, although
wearing Rector (or equivalent) heavy-duty knee-pads decide to skate
backwards down the big steps at the M.C.G. with them around his shins,
subsequently requiring an Ambulance to transport him to hospital where
his kneecaps were moved back up onto his knees; the bloke at the
Museum, who was not part of the city skate, who flew down the central
steps so fast that when he crashed at the bottom he slid across the
footpath, onto Swanston Street and very nearly under a passing tram
(by "very nearly" your correspondent means that he put his hand on the
side of the tram to help him stand up, and skated off into the night
very quickly!). Of course there were many other crashes, some bloody
but not dreadful, some, frankly, quite amusing, usually when young
boys were trying to show off in order to impress some young Lady or
Ladies. (Your correspondent, of course, would _never_ be guilty of
such foolishness! )
As to highs - well, there have been many, some personal favourites
include: Paul video-taping Jonica's bottom as she skated down the
steps at the Museum and other places; the countless number of people
who learnt to ride the stairs at the Museum, starting out with just
the one on the curved section of stairs near the intersection of
Swanston and La Trobe Street's, working their way along until they
could do six, and then graduating to completing the full two flights
of the centre section; the many who reached the heights of clearing
each flight of the centre section (now what were their names?); the
exhilaration of flying down the "Black Run" through the Fitzroy
Gardens, one metre wide, full of pot-holes, surrounded by Possums and
pitch black!
My apologies to anyone who feels left out or slighted, I could have
gone on for pages:
The contribution of Box Hill Skate Ski & Surf
The participation of various other skate shops
And of course - The Skaters!!!
Anon
January 2009
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