[Kimelius]

TROOP REPORT - Moomba Waterfestival 2009 Parade

Date: Monday 9 March 2009
Time: 1115 - 1215hrs
Location: Swanston Street Melbourne

Situation:
After numerous attempts to participate in this event over previous years, the 501st Legion was enthusiastically invited to this year's parade. For 2009, the theme was "What would Melbourne be if it was a living creature"

Mission:
Escort Lord Vader as he surveys the main thoroughfare of Melbourne
Confirm and Repel any separist/rebel forces
Entertain the loyal populace

Execution:
0730hrs - After securing transports in the subterraenian hangerbays of Southbank, TAG-Vic armoured up and commandeer'd a railed landspeeder and entertained its passengers for the northward trip to marshalling point at RMIT's City Campus

0800 - 1045hrs (Hurry Up and Wait) After passing registration, TAG-Vic took up a holding position in the section allocated to the "Head & Mind"

1115hrs - After moving up to the ready line (and a 2nd round of waiting/entertaing the folks) Lord Vader begun his conquest of Melbourne.

Crossing over, changing from twin to single file, blasters at the ready to blasters at high port, the troops performed their manouvres with few occasions to ad lib/correct themselves. Kudos to Beejay for maintaining the pace.

Meanwhile, the battle of 'good vs evil' raged as rebel forces threw their all at the Imperial defenders followed by classic jedi versus sith.

As the battle raged towards the halfway mark of the parade, the tide had truly turned in favour of the Empire. The rebels, clearly fatigued, drifted further and further behind.

The 'battle was won' and the parade finish zone within sight, the troops commenced to high-5 their way to the finale.

Admin:

Command Group - 3272 Lord Hammer, Officer & Royal Guard (StarWalking)

Banner Party - 4216 Centuri & Officer (StarWalking)

Imperial Troops - (Right Flank) 8575 Beejay, 6204 Blowie, 3216 Ena, (Left Flank) 4611 B, 671 Mark, 5284 Kimelius

Rebel Forces - (StarWalking)

Covert Support & Intel team: 8564 DesTROYer, Amy & Ashley
Conclusion:

1215hrs - Weary yet victorious troops made their way through the multitude of fans all wanting their holo-images recorded with Lord Vader, Jango Fett, and Clonetrooper. Civilian-attire donned, the troop infiltrated the food court at Southgate to obtain rations from the various vendors.

Picnicing in the relative shade of century old palm trees, the relief of a job well done became overwhelming and the time came to disperse.

Repairs:

- 4611's drop boxes were considering actually dropping
- one of 4216's knee darts prematurely activated during the muster, though was recovered before any investigating jedi could trace them back to the source
- 8575's republic credits were swindled by an rogue currency dispenser droid.
5284's BFG was sliced in half by one too many sabre strikes.

[Kimelius]

Post up any info I've missed so I can admend the report as req'd.

[DesTROYer]

Were there any Wranglers there?

[Centuri]

I broke a knee dart off at the pre-troop muster, plus i believe Bruce had some drop box problems.

[aidan1986]

good work guys and girls, tried to get out of work today but would never hear the end of it from the boss !

[BeeJay]

Small segment of video from Ami downloading and encoding as we speak. Should be up by tomorrow eve. Aparently we made the Seven and TEN news broadcasts

[DesTROYer]

Yep you guys did, saw them both. I know at the end of the parade there was a solo guy from Sky news doing his spiel as you all Marched past, so I will look there too.

[Kimelius]

DesTROYer, on Mar 9 2009, 08:25 PM, said:

Were there any Wranglers there?

Yes but they were wery, wery quiet! ;)

Centuri, on Mar 9 2009, 08:39 PM, said:

I broke a knee dart off at the pre-troop muster, plus i believe Bruce had some drop box problems.

Details noted - Cheers!

[DesTROYer]

The Fresh Imperial Troops rise from the bowels of the city animal, ready to greet a new day.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3340334081_a693bbf696.jpg

Utilising local Mass Transport, Jango Tracks the Jedi bounty to the Rally point.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3340335331_520e5fbccf.jpg

...and met up with some of his Maori Kaminoan brothers.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3340336871_43334ac7e4.jpg

As the Parade was set to begin, Vader agreed to pose for some holopics with his Troops.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3340346763_8ff453a7a8.jpg

Final form up before the fun begun. They say that War is hours of boredom punctuated by moments of shear Terror. Not for my Troops, It was heaps of fun followed by more fun (with Marching, all Troops love marching right.... Right?)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3340367075_f6dd3dfec9.jpg

Apparently Blowie needs to be re-indoctrinated, he seems very susceptible to Jedi mind tricks.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3341197342_05bf5b1e3b.jpg

Kim on the other hand knows exactly how to take control of a situation. With Big F#####g Guns. (thats what BFG stands for, sorry if you did not know)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3341200316_74e488566a.jpg

Mark, look out there's a Smuggler behind you! He wants your armor.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3340378521_495a8e7875.jpg

"Hey Jango, see how tall you could have been if you had eaten your Weaties" says Clone Trooper Beejay
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/3340379509_9b1e2dd417.jpg

Note to self, walking single file seems to hide our numbers.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3341217444_0dc84abe17.jpg

The treacherous Jedi attack, and our Troops repel them swiftly... as if rehearsed really.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3341229126_d44ac9219f.jpg

Vader don't care how young the Jedi are, Force chokes are the medicine of the day.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3383/3340404551_cf391ff263.jpg

Vader leads the way to victory.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3340428847_5f262189a3.jpg

Bruce and Kim Rock out as the celebrate the near end of the parade.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3340456101_fe32c6eac3.jpg

Back: Wendy, Mark, BeeJay, Bruce and Shane
Front: Kim, Blowie and Cen
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3340465737_f013b286f7.jpg

More photos can be found here

[TK671]

Great report 5284! Knew we could count on you.

An article here. Text below:

A new Moomba?

March 09, 2009 12:00am
WHAT should happen to Moomba? Tens of thousands of those watching yesterday must have been wondering what they were seeing as Melbourne's Moomba parade turned into a mardi gras.

Moomba was certainly different as an hour-long parade made its way along Swanston St. Some people thought it was fun, but others had no idea what it was about. Even Melbourne's Lord Mayor admitted the parade had "a faint touch of dagginess about it".

The parade was supposed to explore the notion that if Melbourne were a creature, what sort of creature would it be?

A Chinese dragon was there and so was Darth Vader from Star Wars, as well as a line of body-builders in tight shorts.

One float resembled a hospital bed with what looked like a sick bird tucked up in it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3341233564_a7be2c45a7.jpg?v=0

Top effort all round!

:D

Just caught this shot on Google:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3340550048_3feb5825e1.jpg?v=0

And the hits and galleries just keep coming...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3341382170_20f74a3678.jpg?v=0

http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/images/uploads/gallery/2009/03/09/760f645bd90ca8a2c600dd06070d282a_resized.jpg
Spock Rocks!

http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/images/uploads/gallery/2009/03/09/2be8b86621a48ee1d588e41feb6588d7_resized.jpg

http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/images/uploads/gallery/2009/03/09/f95ceb6e952acad7c6eeea3d072bbb27_resized.jpg

[Kimelius]

I wonder how fast we could make "We survived the Moomba parade 2009" merchandise ;)

[TK-4611]

I'm not too sure I did... :)

[blowie]

Hi Kim,

Got your text. If you want to add Ashley Hill as a wrangler to your report go ahead.

Regards

[TK671]

Nice shot here and a little video too.

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200903/r347027_1585564.jpg

Pretty unique video here.

So this is what was happening at the front of the parade while we were waiting...

And this shot:

http://www.moshtour.me.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/p3091338.jpg

[hamish]

Can I ask why there seem to be so few participants? I really would have thought that a squad of TK's would be a really impressive sight, and in a city as large as Melbourne? Is it because of the wrangling issues that would arise from having so many troopers together? I always imagined a trooping opportunity such as Moomba would draw a much larger group of characters. Don't get me wrong- the photos are great and the marchers look fantastic.
Anyone got a word to add? Am I being naive?

[DesTROYer]

Though we have more troopers in Melbourne, not all could make it and there was a limit of 12 characters I think at the request of the event organisers and that includes Skywalking. I was there, but not incostume because at first i did not think I was going to be able to attend and when I did know I could, I was not willing to walk that far in a hot trench coat or long tusken ropes in the sun. Someone has to Wrangle.

[TK671]

hamish, on Mar 13 2009, 08:22 PM, said:

Can I ask why there seem to be so few participants?

Great question Sean,

Really just down to trooper availability on the day. When's your amour ready? You would have covered off nicely next to 5284.

:D

Another gallery of the parade found via this forum.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3340380661_d161049188.jpg?v=0

And some YouTube coverage. Frankie33888 appears to have captured the entire parade!

[hamish]

OMG it's raining (TAG?) cats & dogs in Melbourne! Bring on that lovely wet stuff to soak our parched southern earth!
I can't believe that Moomba would only want a dozen characters!? Man- we should just storm the bloody parade next year! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin' around! :rolleyes: :ph34r:
I understand that Moomba wants a little bit of representation from the (?fringe groups), but without the numbers it can look like a small group of eccentrics in costume. With more of us we would be an unstoppable , all- conquering stampede of eccentric in costume!! :lol: :P
I am more than happy to even wrangle at any upcoming event as I am dying to meet up with you guys and watch all the fun.

[Woppo]

Just think how big it would be if every group that was in it could have as many people as they wanted, still be going a week later ;)

[aidan1986]

We should get every tag member in Australia to come for moomba hahahhaha would be sweet imagine that