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| Down Under |
| 'Viking wine' flows in Tasmania |
| 2005-10-16 |
| BONFIRES blazed and the Viking wine flowed as Tasmanians tonight celebrated the birth of Crown Princess Mary's first child. About 200 people gathered under a full moon at Blackmans Bay for the island state's first official celebrations since their most famous former resident gave birth to a prince yesterday. A large contingent of Australian Danes showed up for the bash after a day of "traditional Viking tea" (otherwise known as gluhwein) and Danish pastries. "It's beautiful news. Mary is a great ambassador for Australia," Else-Marie Millin said. "Danes now refer to Tasmania as the heart of Australia. She's a Tasmanian, we're Tasmanian now, it's almost like (the baby is) a part of us." Kingborough Mayor Don Hazell organised the bonfires at short notice after hearing news of the birth yesterday. Mr Hazell had just won a game of lawn bowls when he discovered the prince had beaten his due date by two weeks. "We started to talk about the situation on Friday, not expecting this baby to arrive so quickly," he said. The 78-year-old mayor chopped three tonnes of wood from his property to host bonfires at Blackmans Bay and Taroona, where Mary was raised. "I'm very pleased (with the attendance) considering we only had a few hours to get the wood and get it all going," he said. "This new child is half ours, we reckon." Bonfires are now burning on both sides of the world in a tradition dating back to the Bronze Age. The prince, who is expected to be named Christian, is second in line to the throne after his father, Prince Frederik. The celebrations will continue in Tasmania throughout the week, with the State Government due to announce an official function earlier this week. Plans are also being finalised on the state's gift to the royal couple. |
| Posted by:tipper |