NSW: Easter celebrated in prayer - and the show

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2006
NSW: Easter celebrated in prayer - and the show

By Adam Bennett

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - As thousands gathered in churches and took part in activities
to reflect on the religious message of Easter, Sydney's Royal Easter Show was on track
to record its biggest Good Friday crowd.

Church leaders around the country called for people to celebrate life through the resurrection
of Jesus as about 1,000 people turned out in Sydney for a re-enactment of Jesus Christ's
crucifixion walk.

Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, said Good Friday and Easter
Sunday represented Christianity's central claims "that Jesus, the man God, died on the
cross and rose from death".

The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart issued a plea for compassion and understanding
in his Good Friday message.

"I hope that compassion, understanding and realising the goodness inherent in all people
can build up the society in which we live," Archbishop Hart said.

Herman Wainggai, one of 42 Papuan asylum seekers recently granted a temporary protection
visa, called for justice during a Good Friday church service in Melbourne.

"Today we hope, inside this big Catholic church with all of you as Christians, we hope
that justice can occur, that protection given to us from the Australian government will
be given to anyone else who needs protection, who needs justice."

The Wesley Mission's re-enactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion walk - now one of Sydney's
annual Easter fixtures - was joined by hundreds of onlookers.

The 15-minute procession from Martin Place to the Wesley Theatre on Pitt Street had
"swept people up," the Mission's Graeme Cole said.

"People were just swept up in the procession. And by the time we got to the Wesley
Theatre there would have been 1,000 people," Mr Cole said.

At the Easter show, it was the biggest day of the biggest weekend in what is set to
be the biggest Sydney Royal Easter Show on record.

More than 100,000 people had poured into the Olympic Showgrounds at Homebush by this
evening, and the show's general manager John Aitken said organisers were confident last
year's Good Friday record of 147,000 would topple.

"We'll do in excess of 120,000 today, and anything between 120,000 and 150,000 is huge,"

Mr Aitken said.

The 2006 show has been blessed with good weather, and Mr Aitken said the show was on
track to break the one million visitors mark before it ends on Thursday.

Proving that the more things change, the more they stay the same, the showbag pavilion
has again proved the major drawcard.

This was despite stiff competition from the fashion show, rock venue The Shed, and
human cannonball Lady Cannonball.

Queues into the showbag pavilion stretched for more than 100 metres as thousands of
showgoers jostled to get their piece of Bertie Beetle, Bart Simpson and Thomas the Tank
Engine.

Fifteen-year-old Kellyville boy Sevag Assadourian, who had seven bags, said he had
come to the show just to buy bags and "that's it".

"You can go on rides anywhere, but the showbags only come once a year," Sevag said.

The main arena was packed with an audience keen to see Lady Cannonball - 21 year-old
American Stephanie Havens - shot 40 metres into a net on the other side of the stadium.

Disappointed fashionistas had to be turned away from this afternoon's crowded Shapes
Parade Australian fashion show, which proved to be one of success stories of this year's
show.

Music lovers crammed into the Shed to hear Joe Camilleri and Richard Clapton play.

The Whitlams will play the new rock venue tonight.

AAP ab/was/cjh/nf

KEYWORD: EASTER NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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