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| Olympic views O.K., everyone out there who wanted to visit some of the sports venues during the Los Angeles based summer Olympics, raise your hand. Whew!! Now those who wanted to travel to Australia this year to see the greatest amateur athletes in the world compete, raise your hands. It seems more people than ever wanted to see the Olympic competitions in the year 2000 partly because of the lure of Australia, partly because that enchanting land is so far away. But the cost of travel between the two areas is substantial, leaving many would-be travelers watching the Olympics on the telly. Local resident Jerry Velasco not only managed to see his choice of Olympic events, he also spent another month touring the rest of the country, and even spent a week in New Zealand. Jerry flew Qantas Airways, which he said provided excellent service and even pretty good food. He landed in Sydney, but stayed across the bay in Manly, at the Manly National Hotel."I've never seen such a beautiful bay," Jerry said. "It's huge, lined with fabulous homes, each with its own boat and dock." The people there and throughout Australia were wonderful, too. "Everyone you met acted like they were old friends. I'd never had an experience like that in my life," he reported. One example: his unit at the hotel had no telephone, so a permanent resident, Craig Davis, offered the use of his phone. He then became a private tour guide, taking Jerry to all the area's sights. When this good samaritan asked his mother to show Jerry the bay area, she made a picnic and brought champagne. |
| Toward the end of Jerry's stay there, Craig called his grandmother in Belmont, who invited them to her private club. There are many private clubs in Australia, Jerry said. They are very elaborate, with casinos, wonderful food and top notch entertainment. Next, Jerry travelled south to Cronulla, where he stayed at "Buckhaven Rest", a bed and breakfast. The train ride back to Sydney took just over 30 minutes and when new passengers boarded, they were greeted with shouts of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie," followed by "Oi, oi,oi." The experience inspired Jerry to write a new song, just recorded by David Hoover. The final two weeks of his Australian sojourn were spent with relatives of an Australian friend, Dorothy Seidenburge, now a local resident. Her nephew Garry Newman, was his host for one week and he visited her brother, Ted Newman, the next. The Australians were helpful in other ways, also. When Jerry showed up at his first Olympic event, a semi-final boxing match, he was told his tickets were for the previous day. Jerry argued that they couldn't be, and pointed to the date on his watch. "You must be from the States, you're a day behind," was the reply. But everyone was very kind, and the ticket manager had lived in Dana Point, so in the end, Jerry was personally escorted to the boxing arena and given a seat that was superior to the one he had bought. "Australians have a knack for making things work out," Jerry laughed. In New Zealand he found people just as "friendly and wonderful." He stayed in Paihai, which Jerry called "a tropical paradise." Along with the beautiful scenery and the beautiful weather, Paihia has several beautiful golf courses, that are inexpensive as well. "Tropical paradise" seems like the proper description. |
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| Dave Hoover & Kentucky Rain |
| New single release |
| Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi,Oi,Oi |
| Written by Jerry Velasco and performed by "Kentucky Rain" featuring Dave Hoover. |
| This catchy little tune was written by Jerry Velasco. Jerry has been a well known song writer/actor/musician for over 40 years and is highly respected in the entertainment industry. Mr.Velasco was inspired when he visited Australia for the 2000 Olympic Games. As he travelled throughout the country he was taken by the enthusiasm of the Aussie cheer... Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi !! |
| Kentucky Rain's fantastic backup singers. |
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| Article from the "San Clemente Sun Post" (California) Friday, December 1, 2000 |
| COAST |
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| Read article below from "San Clemente Sun Post" Newspaper |
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| Jerry says... G'Day from the Sydney Opera House! |
| Recorded at GASP Studios San Clemente. CA. USA |
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