Page 22 - The Outdoor Showman July - September 2023

CIRCUS NEWS
Robinson’s Zoo
Steve Robinson’s Darling Downs Zoo, Queensland, is up for sale, after ten years.
Steve, Stephanie, and daughter Madison run, among other animals, lions, white lions, zebras, three breeds of monkeys, white tigers, and Australian flora and fauna.
It’s one of very few zoos to exhibit many of these. Often the only other ones are government owned.
It sits on more than 100 acres, with more available next door, at Pilton, south-east of Toowoomba, population 140,000, with all certified enclosures, souvenir shop, snack bar, extensive parking, and individual and group tours.
Infamous
The highly reputed cabaret circus is back in Australia, after more than three months in Florida and Georgia, USA.
The Pepe Ashton production was scheduled to open at North Lakes, Brisbane, opening Friday, September 15, dates depending on delivery
of their gear from America.
Meanwhile, Jansen Grant, flying trapeze- wheel of death performer, scored a one- month starring role on Okonawa, the mid- Pacific American island, North of Japan.
Other staff and family members holidayed (and trained) in America and Australia.
Circus Latino
This circus re-appeared under the Big Top at Keilor, Melbourne, in August.
Gustavo Barellas and family have operated this small, fast-paced Continental-Latin American-style production for about ten years.
Current plans include staying around Melbourne, which has been their main stamping-ground.
Last ‘Fanfare’
The final edition of ‘Fanfare’, the bi- monthly newsletter of Circus Fans of Australasia, rolled off the presses in July.
CFA began at Easter, 1972, after a meeting at NBN-3 news editor Geoff Greaves’ home in Charlestown, Newcastle.
Original members included survivors Steve Robinson and Malcolm Dickie, plus others now deceased.
Its up-and-down history seemed doomed after editor Tom Dumpleton, one of the few surviving Wirths Circus staff, and wife Leah both passed away in the last year, and no replacement editor emerged.
Membership peaked a decade ago at
about 200, who met every second year at well-attended three-day Conventions.
Closing Ringmaster Michael Robertson wrote in the final edition, “That time has arrived where we have no other choice but to officially wind up.”
CFA will be wound up by vote of 75 per cent of financial members at a special general meeting.
Hudsons Circus
Six months in Queensland, to mainly excellent business, ended when Hudson’s Circus moved to Dubbo, NSW, to open August 18.
The show was then due in Broken Hill, NSW, a fortnight later, then Mildura, Wagga and Albury-Wodonga.
Shane and Nancy Lennon have beefed up the program with three riders in the globe (a fourth to come) plus Hudson Lennon, still the youngest globe rider in Australia.
The fast-paced South American flying trapeze troupe is expanded to five flyers, with triple somersault, double layout, passage, and blindfold in every show.
Beau Pearson and Sim get good mileage out of the five liberty ponies, camels, and their signature Disco Dogs.
Clown Goldie and Ringmistress Jane round out a strong program, and punters love the show.
Cirque du Soleil
New production “Crystal” from Canadian promoters Cirque du Soleil is advertised for an Australian tour later this year.
Sites booked include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.
It’s a theatrical-style show, along previous lines, with plenty of dancing, acrobatics - and on ICE.
Bookings have already opened.
Roo-d awakening.
Well-known circus fan couple Chris and Karen Gall were returning from Bundaberg, Queensland, to their Moore Park Beach, home at nightfall, Monday, August 11.
Chris saw a tiny joey roo in the middle of the road, likely to be run over.
He pulled up, went over to help it, arms outstretched.
Suddenly, from behind a clump of bushes, its mother belted over to Chris, and attacked his face and body with its teeth and those huge back-leg ripping claws. Gave him a right serve.
Karen and passers-by at high seed chased both roos off and called an ambulance.
Beau Pearson and Sim’s Disco Dogs
at Hudsons Circus
20 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN
Beaver Brophy, with Fred Brophy’s Boxing Tent in North Queensland, enters the Boulia Camel Cup - and wins!