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The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 5

Publication:
The Agei
Location:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Issue Date:
Page:
5
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

THE SUNDAY AGE KHVS 28 APRIL 1996 'Yuppie A tricky spell ahead then the ltd Is padlocked on. He gets out It takes two minutes the longest he can hold his breath, "It's real. It may be magic, and sure there's a knack, but you really do have to escape you do have to unlock the locks, get out of the traitjacket and get out It's the same with eating fire. You really do eat fire." Peter Fisher, of Promotional Performers, which books magicians for functions, says Copper-field has renewed "the fascination of Fisher, also a magic clown, says the skills of Illusion, escapology and mind-reading are enjoyed by all. He hopes to organise a group of Melbourne magicians to go to Bosnia to "give a few smiles away" to children in the war-torn country.

Many of today's magicians started their craft as children. McSweeney started watching "Tommy Parer and Frosty the Rabbit" on the Tarax show when he was six. "I didn't have a rabbit so I pulled our cat out of a hat" Twenty-seven years later he "eats a little fire, reads a few minds, does a bit of an escape and has some laughs on the never looking back on the career in the Australian Tax Office that could have been his. Jackman's career started in his father's back shed charging local kids sixpence to see the then eight-year-old's show. The rewards are not only financial in the eyes of Kebbe, whose on-stage persona of a fumbling illusionist has the charm and naivety of Forrest Gump meeting the US President "A woman came up after a show and said she had had many troubles and hadn't laughed In three years.

I made her laugh. You can't buy that" A Magician reveal their favorite tricks the strait-jacket one get Into a wait-jacket, be rhAltMl ami nwllrvkiwl ttwm in a box. and still get out" Adrian Kftbbeii.lui. Harry MHiiM magician. tifo "A friend fires a .22 rifle at Ml me and I catch (the bullet) with mv teeth.

Of course. st "-there's a trick to It but It's really dangerous. Thirteen people have died doing Graham Etherlngton, president of the Australian Soelstv of find fuW-tlme magician. "My favorite piece of magic Is the Houdlnl milk-can It a very large stainless steel milk can filled with 250 litres of water I take two minutes tn nvnm." v1' I Terry McSweeney, full-time has had to lift Its student celling from 10 to IS because of demand. The society has 200 members across Australia and 100 in Melbourne, "a strong magic Some feats are timeless.

Etherlngton catches a .22 rifle bullet In his teeth a stunt that killed master illusionist Chung Ling Soo In 1918 "It's dangerous. Thirteen people have died doing it" Taking a risk is what McSweeney enjoys in replicating the great "milk can" feat of Harry Houdlnl, who gave up the stunt In 1908 because of the danger. McSweeney climbs handcuffed into a large milk can full of 250 litres of water, By Sue Hewitt IF YOU blink, you won't miss It Men and women with a little something up their sleeves are preparing for one of the biggest years In their careers as Mel- bourne prepares for a magical revival in the next few months. Melbourne later this year hosts and largest Australian: magicians' convention with 400- magicians, including international artists, expected to appear before vanishing again. Next month, International Illusionist David Copperfield arrives for a series of shows that wilt need a little extra magic just to produce on stage.

Instead of simply pulling a rabbit out of a hair Copperfield needs 30 people and 50 tonnes of equipment to stage his Melbourne Park show. Venues like the Last Laugh theatre restaurant are booking comic magicians such as Harry Hou'dldn't (Adrian Kebbe). As a miM-mannered bank clerk, Kebbe just survived. As a magician, he has few money worries. Warren Jackman, a specialist In "close-up" or hand work using cards, coins and other props, says he earns more from part-time stage work than as a full-time public servant Rather than David Copper-field's showmanship making the job tougher for locals, several say his performances have redefined the perception of magic.

and magic consultant Terry McSweeney, said: "It's not Just tricks for kids' parties it's art form. It's about the spectacular, the effect" A jnagic school run by the president of the Australian Society of Magicians, Graham Etherlngton, PUylng with fire: Magician and magic mmmmmmmmmmmJi 0 ft iimm iiiiiini consultant Terry Blown away: Graham MoSweeney enjoys taking risks in dangerous feats. a stunt that has AH tied up: Fumbling illusionist Harry charming naivety. (: ian kenins I Flu': new! link to pesticide By Darren Gray AUSTRALIAN scientists gating the modern disease J. X.

dubbed "Yuppie Flu" have achieved a world breakthrough with the discovery of a link between the illness and pesticides. Researchers at the University of Newcastle claim that pesticides like dieldrin and hexachlorobenzene could be agents contributing to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome an illness that may affect up to 36,000 Australians. Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome dismissed by cynics as "Yuppie Flu" and a product of the imagination experience severe muscular and skin pain, nausea, headaches and tiredness. The Newcastle team which made the discovery is also examining a link between CFS and bacteria. CFS, or myalgic encephalomyelitis, is an illness that affects 1-2 people per 1000.

High-profile sufferers nave included the former West Indian cricket captain Richie Richardson. Professor Tim Roberts, of the university's Biological Sciences Department, said that the research group was the first in the world to discover measurable molecules that correlate with CFS. He said that CFS was a potential killer and had last month claimed the life of a Sydney teenager who had had CFS for 10 years. Mr Jim Oakley, president of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society of Victoria, called on the new Federal Government to increase research funding into CFS. Mr Oakley said he was aware of three applications for funding into the biological causes of CFS that had been rejected by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

He stressed CFS would not be a "big ticket" item because few researchers were working in the field. While most doctors knew more about CFS than they used to, Mr Oakley lamented that some mistakenly believed it was a form of depression and others were purely ignorant of it. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day will be held on 12 May. il ClMMt UII amni Inn Malice Rural Supplies 81 Karinie St (050) 32 MM Barbeques Galore IIBArgyleSt (151)747141 Hue Wave Pooh I Spa 34RyleySt (057)221111 Banner's Garden Supplies 27WaWiRd -(55)f14Mt Ltka M. --t jonn Uvwinv D' Outdoor Ctntrv 217-231 HS3)HM72 Juiis Wyr Houdidnt (Adrian Kebbe) entertains with igf OUT OF REACH Of BioGuarcf ALGAECIDE Etherlngton puts a gun to his head killed 13 people.

1 7A z-s i I'll I -1 LYGON BfPrSy Sae build up Hf One sin. 3f Minimise. 15 sfPreyents cw up ImHi 1-711 1- 'JHAI 31! 1 'vZjW- 'X'A It jSl' xs: See your nearest BioGuard Authorised Dealer now for advice on Winter maintenance products for your pool! I I i ram ac rour uoor, znm A 1 Jt'A mm swMrmghaiii Sandringnam PoolaSpa 266 Bluff Rd (03)1597 0512 Sunbury Sunbury Pool Spa Services Showroom 2, 5759 Home St (03)1744 2231 The Pool 1 Spa Care Centre Unit IB. llOWoodSt. (03)N4C(25S Thomttown Brunidon Pumps PA 280 Settlement Rd (03) 14M 1033 COuWRY: Akwry Blue Wave Pooh a Spa 846 David St (060)211700 Bendige Advance Landscape a Leisure PL -215-225 Murphy St (054)412741 8arbeques Galore '33 lily St (054)43 2434 Denillqiiln Brown's Rural Supplies 37 Davidson Street (051)112433 Western Caravan 1 Marine Centre Cnr Ccdereine 1 Cavendish Roads (053)72 2211 Kyabram Finn's Country Supplies 53 McCormlck Rd (051) 52 2114 IMMura Cookes Pooh 1 Spat Cnr.

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Pages Available:
1,291,868
Years Available:
1854-2000