Global Ballooning is asking Mail readers to look skyward for inspiration and suggest a name for their newest balloon. Photograph by Andrew Chapman Photography.By Kath Gannaway
WHAT would you call a balloon that floats in rainbow colours across the Yarra Valley?
Pilot Brian Garth calls it pretty.
“It’s the most beautiful balloon in Australia,” he says, totally besotted by Global Ballooning’s latest addition to the fleet.
As the brilliant orb gains altitude above its new launch site at Rochford Wines, on only its second journey, he puts the question to his passengers.
There’s no joy however from a bunch who are clearly too light-headed, and light-hearted, to think seriously about anything other than the awesome patchwork landscape below.
Rainbow Warrior was an obvious suggestion. It gets it half right, but at 4000 feet above the ground, it’s quickly ruled out.
Hindenburg and Titanic, were likewise rejected!
The balloon is one of 15 in the Global fleet which fly over Melbourne and the Yarra Valley and the only one which doesn’t carry a logo.
“It’s the first one without a sponsorship and it would be nice for it to have a name other than just calling it the 350,” Brian said, a reference to its 350,000 cubic feet air capacity.
For Yarra Valley residents the hot-air balloons are part of the landscape, so Global has decided to look close to home with a naming competition for Mail readers.
A judging panel made up of Global director Kiff Saunders and staff members will have the task of choosing the winning name and the inspired winner will receive a mid-week balloon flight over the Yarra Valley in, of course, Brian’s pretty balloon.
Write your suggested name on the back of an envelope and send to Mail/Global Ballooning Competition, PO Box 470, Healesville, 3777. Be sure to include name, address and phone number.
Entries close on Wednesday, 10 December.
