Australia - The Future - 2006 (page 4)

LittleToe

Oooh, it's the Rapture, and Ozzie has been "Left Behind"!!!

ozziepost

Nah, LT, the WT told us that the remnant will still be here past the big A - so I guess I'm safe.

LittleToe

Is Aussie Bethel still there?

Any screaming and hollering, like in that Drama about the fall of Jericho?

wombat

*********************IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS SITE********

Naah....Ozzie still has it coming. He's on daylight saving time.

Try contacting him in half an hour. He's a goner.

And he wanted to be Prime Minister of Australia.

Now, that Wombat was sure one hell-of-a guy.

He will be missed by everyone who ever was fortunate enough to meet him.

ballistic

Now, that Wombat was sure one hell-of-a guy.
He will be missed by everyone who ever was fortunate enough to meet him.

who?

Dansk

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Last Updated: Saturday, 31 December 2005, 13:30 GMT alt

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Sydney kicks off New Year revels

Fireworks lit up the skies above Sydney Opera House

Revellers in Sydney, Australia have begun their New Year festivities with a huge firework display, kicking off similar celebrations around the world.

On the stroke of midnight (1300GMT) huge plumes of colour blasted into the air, in front of an estimated crowd of one million people.

The centrepiece was the illumination of three giant concentric hearts on the iconic harbour bridge.

Fanfares will follow across the globe as millions greet the dawn of 2006.

Barges

Many will be hoping for a year that is not so scarred by natural disasters and violence, of the kind seen in 2005.

More than 1,800 police officers are on patrol in the streets and beaches, following the race-related violence in the city earlier in December.

Fireworks blasted off from four barges on Sydney harbour as well as the famous 'coat hanger' bridge, sending massive flowers of colour over the heads of revellers.

The Festivities are planned right across Australia. Half-a-million people were expected to gather in the southern city of Melbourne to usher in the New Year.

Street parties and fireworks are also planned across Asia and the Pacific, with Hong Kong boasting a massive light and sound show including fireworks to be set off from 20 buildings around its famed Victoria Harbour.

Man wearing New Year hat in Indian city of Amritsar

A happy New Year will be welcomed in countries across Asia

In London, England, the festivities will begin with a special lightshow featuring heroes of the year past at County Hall, while a five-minute countdown will preface a huge fireworks display at midnight.

A 24-hour strike on the city's underground threatens to cause chaos when the celebrations finish and is also likely to disrupt the New Year Parade due to start at midday on 1 January.

Giant footballs

In Indonesia- on high alert from possible attacks by extremists - the festive mood across most of the region contrasts with the last year, when prayers and vigils were held for those wiped out by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

World Cup fever will officially commence at midnight in Berlin, Germany, where more than a million revellers are expected at the New Year celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate.

Some 32 giant footballs, painted in the national colours of the competing countries will be displayed, for the official opening gala of the 2006 World Cup.

In the US, one million partygoers are expected to crowd into New York's Times Square, where there will be tributes to victims of Hurricane Katrina and the rescue workers involved in the New Orleans disaster.

In Paris half a million revellers will be ready to party near the Eiffel Tower and in the Champs-Elysees, to welcome the New Year.

Some 4,500 police officers were standing by in the French capital and across the nation 25,000 in total will be out in force, as a state of emergency remains after the rioting in the suburbs in the latter part of 2005.