Sydney has put on its most stunning drone show to date during Australia Day In Sydney which was held over a week ago as the day featured 2 tributes to the victims & responders of the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism as well as their families.
The “Special Surprises”
Drone shows made their debut at the Australia Day LIVE Concert with 2 sequences featuring throughout the Concert.
Both drone shows were accompanied by the New South Wales (NSW) Public Schools Choir (at the top left of the Sydney Opera House’s Monumental Steps) & the Australian Pops Orchestra (on stage).
The latter drone show was the most stunning, set to Apii Ayatku Muruu (We Sing As 1 Country) & Yolngu (The 1 People), which was performed by the Yidaki Orchestra (who made their debut at the WulgulOra Morning Ceremony about 13.5 hours prior) & Rrawun Maymuru, it featured a traditional display of images of anchored seaweed, flowing water & a starry sky featuring the Southern Cross whilst, in what could be a world 1st, illuminated jellyfish were hung off 3 drones & flown around Circular Quay, providing a haunting 3-dimensional view of life underwater, akin to the Deep Sea Dreaming segment of the Opening Ceremony of The Games Of The XXVIIth Olympiad: Sydney 2000. This sequence was accompanied by Indigenous artwork on the stage, a teal light show (Sydney By Sail yachts’ hulls were also blue while towards the segment’s end, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay spotlights & NSW Public Schools Choir/ticketed spectators’ wristbands changed to blue) as well as a repeat of the Dawn Reflection on the Sydney Opera House sails.
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
This latter sequence was preceded by a drone show about 45 minutes earlier of a giant 145-metre-long eel, which snaked its way around Circular Quay, enabling all spectators to see it from all angles, something rare for traditional drone shows:
The movement of the eel, which was created with 240 drones, was set to Yothu Yindi hits, Djapana (Sunset Dreaming) & Treaty, which were performed by the Yidaki Orchestra, Rrawun Maymuru, Aunty Delmae Barton, Cianna Walker & Olivia Coe Fox, all accompanied by the Doonooch Dancers.
The Sydney Opera House featured a projection of the Australian Aboriginal Flag while a multi-coloured light show illuminated Circular Quay, though it was predominantly in the colours of red & yellow. Pyrotechnics & flame throwers featured throughout from the Sydney Opera House (pyro only), a barge and pontoons in Circular Quay, Sydney By Sail yachts (flares only) & the stage (flame throwers only), the latter having images of red Indigenous dot animated art, fire, red ochred rock or molten lava, the colour red & what looked like golden-orange plasma screened too.
With these drone shows, it without a doubt makes the Australia Day LIVE Concert home to the most creative drone shows in Australia & probably 1 of the most creative in the world.
The drones were launched from Campbells’ Cove while the Yidaki Orchestra‘s 4 members, sharing their songlines, represented the 4 winds of the Australian continent. The members were William Barton (east), Jamie Goldsmith (south), Jayden Boundry (west) & William Hewitt (north). They performed Apii Ayatku Muruu (We Sing As 1 Country) also at the WulgulOra Morning Ceremony.
Photograph: National Indigenous Television
Bondi Beach Terror Tributes
Australia Day In Sydney featured 2 tributes to the victims, responders & their families of the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism.
LIVE Concert
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The LIVE Concert tribute saw a sing-along, led by Sarhit Michael, Ilan Kidron & other members of the Jewish music festival group, SHIR, of the song Od Yavo Halom Aleinu (Peace Will Yet Come Upon Us). Translations from Hebrew to English were provided on the screens at the event but not for the broadcast, which was a significant oversight by broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge & vessels were illuminated blue while the NSW Public Schools Choir/ticketed spectators’ wristbands were teal coloured. The tall ship, James Craig & the general Circular Quay light show remained white throughout. The stage featured wavy blue animations followed by glittering shining beams of spotlights.
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Photograph: Toby Zerna/Destination NSW
Accompanied by projections on the Sydney Opera House’s western sails of images of the menorah and floral tribute placed outside the Bondi Pavilion as well as the lifeguard coastal tribute & mass swim out tribute on & off Bondi Beach, the song then transitioned into I Am Australian, which Olivia Coe Fox & Cody Simpson joined in with a special appearance by the song’s original main singer & guitarist, Bruce Woodley.
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The stage then featured images of the Australian National Flag, of which colours the Sydney Harbour Bridge & vessels then changed into as the NSW Public Schools Choir/ticketed spectators’ wristbands turned white.
The tribute concluded with fireworks from a barge & pontoons in Circular Quay including a ground firework representation of a love heart.
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Just like with the drone shows, both songs were accompanied by the NSW Public Schools Choir & the Australian Pops Orchestra.
Ferrython Fun Race
Representatives from more than 30 organisations that showed the best of Australian resilience & mateship during & after the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism took pride of place on the 4 competing ferries including:
- Surf Life Saving NSW
- Waverley Council
- NSW Health
- Lifeline
- Australian Red Cross
- Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network
- NSW Reconstruction Authority
- Multicultural NSW
- Jewish Care
- Jewish House
- Hatzolah Sydney
- Rabbinical Council
- Legal Aid NSW
Photograph: Destination NSW
Also, there was Australian Defence Force representatives from all 3 branches & their cadets. This was in addition to the already-announced Defence Department members being onboard.
Australia Day is about celebrating what makes us unique, our Australian spirit & shared values as well as the strength, diversity & generosity of our people.
The New South Wales Government is proud to recognise the organisations & people, across frontline & support roles alike, who have shown the best of Australian humanity during 1 of the city’s darkest times, through one of Australia Day’s most beloved events.
Acknowledging these special people is a small but meaningful gesture that I’m sure will resonate deeply with many across our community.
The Ferrython embodies the best of community spirit, bringing together families, friends & visitors in celebration of our national day.
Steve Kamper, NSW Tourism & Jobs Minister
Sydney Spectaculars 
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