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Raised in Balloons

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Nev, Nicole and Meagan Blyth, working on the family hobby of hot air ballooning c. 2008. Photo courtesy of the Blyth family

By Alex Henderson

At 5:30AM, the pilots and crew that keep the Canberra Balloon Spectacular afloat are gathered in a briefing tent. Barely moments after slipping in to have a curious look, Meagan Blyth has been recognised and enveloped into a hug by one of the Balloon Mamas.

“There are always Balloon Mamas,” Meagan explains. “Often their husbands fly, but they’re the practical crew that take care of everything, and of everyone—these tough, really maternal ladies that aren’t buffeted by anything.”

Hot air ballooning is often a family affair, as it is in Meagan’s case. They’ve been acting as balloon crew since they were 7 years old, working with their parents and a community of pilots who often come in generational sets.

“The crew has to get the balloon into the air, and help pack it up when it comes down. Which often also involves finding it,” they recall. “You manoeuvre up or down into air currents, but you can’t really steer a hot air balloon. It’s just you and the sky, in a basket, with a giant marshmallow roaster above you. Hey, it’s not as scary as it sounds.

Balloon Spectacular (40)
Photo by Alex Henderson, 2016

“You land wherever there’s space, usually paddocks or sports ovals, and have to hope that whoever owns it won’t get mad. Or that there won’t be a bull in there. I had to climb through electric fences a couple of times, it was an adventure.”

As we walk among the slowly inflating balloons on the lawns outside Old Parliament House, Meagan advises me to stay well clear of the crown line: the long cable attached to the top of the balloon, held by a crew member at the other end to ensure the canopy rises at a steady pace as it fills with hot air.

“My little brother fell off one of those,” warns Meagan. “He was only a little kid so he wasn’t heavy enough to keep it down, and ended up nine metres into the air. I ran to catch him but didn’t get there in time.

“I have a guilty complex about that,” they laugh. “He bounced when he hit the ground, though. He broke his arm, but he was okay… apart from that being the day all the press were there to cover the festival, which was pretty awkward. He has a scar on his arm, but no one believes it’s from falling off a balloon—not even out of one, but off one.”

Balloon Spectacular (67)
Photo by Alex Henderson, 2016

Meagan’s family sold their balloon a few years ago and gave up the hobby; I ask them if it’s strange to be back in this world of tether, tweed and canvas that they spent half their childhood in.

They just shrug. “It feels normal”. They nonchalantly watch as a single-seat balloon takes off, carrying one man harnessed to a chair. “See you, dude.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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