Why this hot air balloon has been banned from flying above Canberra
A hot air balloon will not fly at this year’s Canberra Balloon Spectacular because it’s been deemed as racist by event organisers.
The event is part of the city’s Enlighten Festival and runs for eight days allowing residents to watch from the ground or book a ride in a balloon themselves.
The ACT Government, which is in charge of the eight-day festival, told Yahoo7 in a statement the Black Magic balloon, nicknamed “Golly”, will not be permitted to fly at the festival “or any future events”.
The balloon’s owner Kay Turnbull, of Lane Cove in Sydney, told Yahoo7 she’s devastated.
“I’ve been flying in the festival since 1985 and flown Black Magic in it since 1996,” Ms Turnbull said.
“’Magic’ is part of the names of our balloons. We used to have a yellow and green one called ‘Aussie Magic’.”
Ms Turnbull said Black Magic was created in 1996 after her son wanted a black balloon. She refers to it by this name and not “Golly”.
“I told him, ‘that’s pretty boring’ so we put eyes and a smile on it. It was never an intention to offend anybody and certainly not to offend Indigenous Australians or the Sudanese community.
“I’ve never even received a complain about it.”
Director of events for the festival Jo Verden said “progressing reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader Canberra community is a key priority for the ACT Government”.
“The use of words and/or visual depictions that may be considered racist and offensive by many in our community, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans, is not supported,” she said.
“We are the first jurisdiction in Australia to celebrate our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and community with a Reconciliation Day public holiday and we are committed to ensuring all our events are inclusive and welcoming for all.”
Ms Verden added the balloon’s owner, who’s had a “long association” with the event, had previously flown the balloon but has accepted the offer to fly another one.
“The decision to reject the balloon application was made after a staff member raised concerns about its name,” she said.
“Both the ACT Government’s Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (OATSIA) and the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body were consulted and based on this advice it was agreed the balloon would not be allowed to take part in the event.”
Ms Turnbull said while the decision to ground Black Magic was an “absolute shock” she “understands perceptions have changed” and has accepted it.
“I’ve never even received a complaint about it,” the balloon’s owner said after flying it for more than 20 years.
She’s hiring another balloon to fly.
“It’s our family history to create fun and fly balloons,” she said.
“We’re really happy to still be flying just very disappointed with what happened.”
The festival runs from March 9-17.
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