Ridgy-didge, It's The Big Didgeridoo

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday March 10, 2001

By GREG ELLIS

Coffs Harbour has the Big Banana, Nambour the Big Pineapple and Goulburn the Big Merino.

But Port Kembla could soon have the biggest tourist attraction of them all.

Moves are afoot to turn the giant smoke stack at Port Kembla Copper into the world's largest didgeridoo.

Supporters believe the economic benefits to the Illawarra would be plentiful if a luminous Big Didgeridoo became a tourist icon for the region.

Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce Main Street Committee chairperson Dr Elizabeth Livingstone-Moller said the idea was raised at a public meeting last year.

Coomaditchy Artist Cooperative member Lorraine Brown started creating a design but the Chamber decided not to formally put the idea to PKC until the proposal was finalised.

Mrs Brown said the Big Didgeridoo was an excellent idea which would help break down barriers if everyone worked together.

She invited Port Kembla's multicultural community to suggest concepts which could be incorporated into her design.

Illawarra Aboriginal Employment Promotion Committee (IAEPC) chairman Russell Logan believes the Big Didgeridoo idea is a positive step towards reconciliation.

He said it would put something back into the area to recognise the fact that Aboriginal people lived at Port Kembla long before it became an industrial suburb.

Mr Logan said the creation of Aboriginal employment opportunities was another motivation.

While PKC chief executive officer Malcolm Taylor said the Big Didgeridoo was an interesting idea, he raised concerns about a number of practical issues - like safety.

PKCC's Neville Hilton said everyone realised painting the stack would be a very complex process and local rigging companies had told him only Sydney companies had the right gear.

Another obstacle is money.

The IAEPC has called for corporate support and will apply for Federal Government Regional Assistance Program funding.

``We could probably get some assistance from the various paint manufacturers," Mr Hilton said.

Coomaditchy's Coral Pombo said plans had already been made to open a cultural art and craft centre and bush tucker restaurant next to the tourist centre.

© 2001 Illawarra Mercury

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