Thrill

Ron Muncaster Ron Muncaster. Courtesy: Ron Muncaster and Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Photo: Penny Clay.

Born 1936

I first entered the Parade in 1980. The first two I watched, thinking 'We can do better than this'. It's amazing how Sydney has taken Mardi Gras to its heart. I am always overwhelmed when I walk up Oxford Street and reach Taylor Square to hear the cheers from the crowd and see the smiling faces. That's the reward for all the worry and work I put into my costumes.

Back in 1982, I made a Carmen Miranda frock with a very long train. There were no barriers in those days, so the street was littered with beer cans. As I walked along I collected all these beer cans under my skirt and it made the most awful noise. Eventually, some kind gentleman lifted the skirt to let the beer cans out. I was very flattered to be named Queen of Mardi Gras, but I get embarrassed when people curtsy to me.

Ron Muncaster, 1999

Ron Muncaster's spectacular costumes are one of the highlights of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. He has won the Best Costume award at Mardi Gras 14 times since the award's inception in 1982.

In the Eternity gallery you can see Ron's winning costume from 1993, Queen Sequina, and record your own thrilling story.

1913-2000

Tom founded the Wittingslow amusements dynasty, at one time the largest travelling carnival operation in Australia. He began his career as a showman in the early 1930s running a 'Guess Your Weight' game at shows and carnivals in country Victoria.

During World War II he was a prisoner of war at Changi, where he ran a two-up school and worked as a cook on the Thai-Burma railway.

Tom worked with his son and grandchildren to provide thrilling rides at the Melbourne Moomba Festival for over 40 years and to operate carnivals at seaside fairs, street parties and all major eastern states agricultural shows.

The story focuses on the thrill of life in the show business, and the thrills the Wittingslows have given to generations of Australians.

The object on display is a Wittingslow laughing clown from the 1950s. Come into the gallery where you can push the button to make it rotate.

Nancy Bird-Walton. Courtesy: Nancy Bird-Walton.

1915-2009

The thrill of flight. Nancy Bird is one of Australia's aviation pioneers, and the first female pilot in the Commonwealth to carry passengers.

Born in Sydney in 1915, Nancy has always had a passion for flying. She was determined to learn to fly for a living. She was among Charles Kingsford-Smith's first pupils at his pilots school near Sydney.

Nancy Bird was the founder of the Australian Women Pilots' Association, which was the starting point for a whole generation of female pilots. She has become a household name as our best-known female pilot, barnstormer and outback pilot.

Nancy's flying helmet and goggles are on display.

1885-1958

Olive King was the youngest daughter of Sir George Kelso King, a wealthy Sydney businessman and philanthropist. She was an adventurous and unconventional woman, a difficult combination for someone of her social position in the early twentieth century.

Olive was visiting her sister in London when war broke out in 1914. She immediately purchased a second-hand lorry and had it converted into an ambulance. Ella the Elephant could transport 16 patients or 4 stretchers in bunk beds. Olive served in France and Greece, ferrying wounded soldiers from the battlefront to field hospitals. She later joined the Serbian Army and was decorated for her bravery.

Olive's letters to her father and sister did not dwell on the horrors of war or the dangerous situations she often faced. What is evident is the thrill of visiting new places and meeting new people. The war offered Olive the independent, exciting and purposeful life she craved. She kept commemorative medallions from her war service and these are on display.

Born 1992

The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, founded in 1979, is Australia's most prominent youth circus school and group. Based in Albury Wodonga, it has built a reputation as an innovative and exciting training ground for young performers. It regularly travels overseas and around Australia with new productions. Many former members have gone on to work for Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal based travelling circus phenomenon, while others have excelled in sport.

The Eternity story profiles Bree Le Cornu, a current young member, exploring her feelings about belonging to the circus and especially her sense of the thrill of performing. Bree is a trapeze artist and you can see a trapeze from the Flying Fruit Fly circus on display.

Joan Russell

Thrill of landscape, adventure and challenge (1990s)

David Vretchkoff

Thrill of surfing (contemporary)

Miss Cindy Ray

Tattooed her body and appeared at the Royal Shows in side-show alleys (1960s)

Reg Mombassa

Irreverent thrills of youth culture and creativity (1990s)

Shirley Hodder

Racing car driver (1950s-60s)

Eddie Gilbert

Bowled Don Bradman for a duck (1930s)

Lady Jane Franklin

Traveller and explorer along with husband John, who was Governor of Tasmania (1840s)