It’s on like Donkey Kong!! The wait is finally over and The Secret Garden 2012 is here. grab your wellies and a poncho and get ready for a fun filled night of Secret Garden adventure. Huge thanks to all the Friday night Flingers for such a great time last night, can’t wait to see you all in the Garden tonight!
You’ve bought tickets, you’ve spent an entire day diving through dress-up boxes to find your old Superman costume and you still don’t know where you’re going yet and what the hell is going to happen when you get there!
Well the wait is almost over – the gates of The Secret Garden are oiled and ready to swing (squeakily) open this weekend.
Here are some answers to some questions that will prepare you for the adventure that is being a Secret Gardener.
Before I leave?
Say bye to your mum, print out your ticket and make an ATM pit stop.
Speaking from personal experience, it’s a lot easier to print out your tickets BEFORE you leave the house. Tickets are an email only version so if you can’t find the email have a chat to Greentix and they’ll sort you out. The Secret Garden has no ATM facilities so it’s worth scheduling a pit stop to grab some cash for delicious food, cider and cocktails that will be waiting for you.
http://www.greentix.com.au/contact
Packing the Car
Glass things are not Secret Garden friendly. The Secret Garden is also a working farm and actual dairy cows will be living there come Monday – glass is bad for feet, so no glass. There is free beer and wine all Saturday and the bars are open late so no need to BYO booze our ticketing chaps will have a quick search of your car so best leave it behind.
Where is it?
The Secret Garden is an hour (traffic dependant) from Sydney’s CBD on a little Hill named Brownlow. The detailed directions are included in the email to all ticketholders. Friday nighters don’t forget to allow for peak hour!
How do I get there?
Most Gardeners will hit the open road for their trip to the Secret Garden but the SG team encourages sustainable methods of transport. Car poolers will get preference for the best parking spots so find some buddies for a road trip! If you’re looking for a lift with a magical spin, take a free trip on our inaugural Secret Garden Magic Bus service. The Magic Buses are heading to the site from Campbelltown train station from 11am-3pm Saturday returning to the train station from 11am Sunday. If you’re keen, email info@secretgardenfestival.com.au with the subject Secret Garden Magic Bus and we’ll sign you up for the amazing Secret Garden Magic Bus adventure. Did we mention it’s FREE?
When should I get there?
On Saturday Gates are open from 11am to 6pm it’s best to come along early to make sure you don’t miss any of the fun. Friday Nighters, we strongly recommend arriving early on Friday night. The festivities will kick off from 6pm so make sure you leave plenty of time to allow for peak hour.
What do I wear?
Secret Garden is strictly a fancy dress zone. So avoid feeling silly and let your imagination run wild with some crazy sartorial decisions. If you ever ask “is this too much?” the answer is no!
Do I need pants?
No you do not, Pants are optional.
Where do I put my rubbish?
The Secret Garden is committed to making the festival as environmentally sustainable as possible. You can help out by sorting your rubbish into the bags provided by our sustainability team. Recycling, Compost and Landfill. Be mindful that the Secret Garden is on a working farm and real cows will be living there come Monday the 19th.
Where do I sleep?
Included in every ticket is your very own slice of Secret Garden to call home for the weekend. Bring along something to sleep in, on or under. Most bring tents but the stars make a wonderful roof too.
What Do I Bring?
We suggest bringing some Ca$h along for food, cocktails and Cider. There are no ATM’s on site, about $200 spending money should be enough.
Bring cigarettes (if you smoke that is), there aren’t any available on site and Duncan only has one pack.
Toothbrush (Clean teeth = better for pashing on), sleeping materials, warm clothes, gum boots, Sunday Morning hoody, and winning attitude.
What to drink?
For your thirst quenching pleasure the Secret Garden will love to offer you all the Coopers, wine and sparkling you can drink (responsibly) on the house (complimentary drinks on Saturday only). Our Garden hands Batlow Premium Cider and Ketel One will have Cider and cocktails available with all proceeds going to the Sarah hilt Foundation, so drink up! (Responsibly)
How to dance?
Frequently and with a smile.
Is that it?
Yep that’s it! If you have any questions feel free to email info@secretgardenfestival.com.au or hit us on the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/secretgardenfestival
See you in the Secret Garden!
The proceeds made from the Secret Garden go directly to the Sarah Hilt foundation. The charity raises money for Sarah Hilt an old friend of SG co-founder Clare Downes and sufferer of Meningicoccal Disease. We caught up with Sarah for a chat to find out more about her and the foundation bearing her name.
SG: Hey Sar!
SH: Hey Gardenites!
SG: So, you have been loyal gardener from the beginning, what’s your favourite Secret Garden moment?
SH: Disco dancing on the tennis court – does it get any better! Also the Beatles surprise visit, pink dairy cows, I could go on forever!
SG: In 2004 you were diagnosed with meningococcal. What is meningococcal?
SH: Meningococcal is a nasty disease caused by a bacterial infection. It usually affects people in one of two ways – first by causing meningitis (an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal) or second by causing septicaemia (blood poisoning). I had the second type meningococcal septicaemia.
SG: You were with your college friends at the time, when you realised something was up. What happened?
SH: It started out as a pretty normal day we were chilling on the lawns about to do a bit of crab racing and I started to feel like I was getting a massive headache and that the sun was really hurting my eyes. I took myself off to bed and things just got worse from there vomiting, nausea and eventually a purple rash started to come up on my forehead. Luckily a really good friend came to check on me and decided that I had to go to hospital – he saved my life.
The next year was pretty rough. I lost 60% of my skin, both legs, my left arm and the fingers on my right hand. After that I had a couple of years where I was in and out of hospital with complications, my kidneys failed and I started dialysis. My dad, the champion, gave me one of his kidneys in 2008 and since then things have really been looking up!
SG: That’s a lot to go through as a 19 year old…What is life for you like now?
SH: With the support of my family, friends and community (including all gardeners!) I’ve managed to pull my life back together and keep doing the things that I used to love and so much more. There are always challenges to overcome and some things I’ve had to let go of but more and more I’m finding if I want to do something I can usually find a way.
SG: Word on the street is that you won a university award…?
SH: Yes I was honoured to receive a Sydney University Blue this year after making the Australian national swimming squad for the Para Pan Pacs in Canada.
SG: Congrats! What’s next for you? I’ve heard you are constantly in the pool.
SH: haha yes my second home at the moment and when I’m not there are haunted by the faint smell of chlorine radiating from my skin.
SG: All proceeds of the Secret Garden go to the Sarah Hilt Foundation. What does the Foundation use this for?
SH: The Sarah hilt foundation raises money for prosthetics, medications and other adjustments that make life much better for me and other sufferers of meningococcal disease. The foundation has funded some amazing prosthetics including a computerised knee that lets me get around so so much better.
SG: So how can gardeners donate directly to the SHF?
SH: Check out the website sarahhiltfoundation.org.au for ways to donate. Every bit is much appreciated.
SG: What are you dressing up as this year?
Tossing up between or one of those delicious fruits that pacman eats or a tin of spam.
Sarah is currently in training hoping to make it into the team for the 2012 Paralympics in London. On behalf of all Secret Gardeners we wish her the best of luck.
As a cast of thousands prepares to descend upon the magical wonderland that is The Secret Garden we have a chat with Glen, Secret Garden resident and cow about life in the Secret Garden and his upcoming EP.
SG: Hi Glen.
G: Hello there..
SG: So you live in the Secret Garden? It must be great?
G: Yeah I really love it here. My owners, the Downes really know how to look after us here in the Secret Garden. They always make sure there is plenty of green grass for us to eat and their visitors are always so nice and friendly.
SG: There are a few more visitors coming soon, are you ready?
G: I’m a bit nervous but I love when all the gardeners come to play! Last year I hung out with Andy Bull after his set. We drank some baileys and he helped me develop my sound for my EP coming out next year. I’m making a reinterpretation of musical theatre standards using only barnyard sounds. It’s called “The Sound of Moo-sic”. When the party was winding down, a guy dressed up like a sheep who I had chicken danced with earlier, helped me clean up my paddock so I could get some sleep. Us barnyard types have to stick together you know? Great times.
SG: Nervous? How come? Seems like you enjoy The Secret Garden so much?!
G: I do love it, there are just a few things that Gardeners do that get my stomachs in a knot. Sometimes I think gardeners just forget that they’re partying in my house!
SG: I’m sure gardeners will keep you in mind this year won’t they… Is there anything a gardener can do to make it easier on you and the rest of the Secret Garden residents?
G: Sure! Rubbish doesn’t really fit the Secret garden Vibe so if gardeners could help me out by sorting their rubbish into the bins around that’d be great! That includes those nasty cigarette butts! If you think chewing gum takes a long time to digest try digesting half a pack of Winnie Blues through four stomachs!
SG: Haha I can imagine! I guess that goes the same with glass?
G: Definitely! I’m a big hater of glass. I try to pick it up so my calves don’t eat it, but my hooves don’t have the dexterity. Best not to bring any glass or glass related products and if you see any pick it up. Thanks!
SG: You’d like people to carpool or get the train where they can too?
G: Yeah definitely! The fewer cars the better and it’s so much better if you get to have a big road trip camping adventure with your BFF’s! I hear the SG team is reserving the best parking spots for those coming with 4 or more!
SG: Definitely.
G: While I’m at it, no one likes a Marissa Cooper visit to Tijuana so party safe everyone! It’s a long weekend so go easy on the alcohol and keep an eye on your mates! You don’t want to miss everything sleeping in your car at 5pm like my sister. She thought she saw a cat playing the fiddle and then jumped over the moon!
SG: They’re some pretty great tips Glen, you’re one of the wisest cows I know. What song do you want to hear? I’ll make sure it gets a spin! Any song requests?
G: Thanks! My favourite is ‘Milkshake’ by Kelis.
SG: ZING!
You can See Glen the Cow in most of the Secret Garden’s paddocks so look after him!
In preparation for Secret Garden’s Line Up announcement this week, the Secret Garden had a chat with Music Director Duncan Byrne about Secret Garden’s origins, the plans for this year and David Bowie.
You’ve been around SG since the beginning, tell us a bit about how it started and how you got involved.
Well it was 1976 and I was tour managing the Rolling Stones at the time, they’d just released Black And Blue stateside and things were really heating up between Keith and Mick. Shacked up together in a bus, driving the length and breadth of the United States? Who could blame them. Not to mention the powder we were all doing. In those days, you could drop $10 for a killer bag of blow – stuff that would give an elephant a heart attack. It was wild, but I just tried to keep my head down and get the work done. My girl was pregnant back in the UK, and I just wanted to get home with my paycheck and all my limbs. It was at one of those wild kick ons that I first met Matt Emsell. He was a quiet type, always there but never really present – you know the type. Not haunted, but there was something behind the eyes I could never get past. A chill, a deep solitude that spoke more about the man than his sparse words did. Anways, he was at this kick-on. Top floor of an Atlanta condo – a real-legs up affair in more ways than one. The road crew really knew how to throw it back after a big show. And this one had been one of the biggest. I tried to keep separate from the other lads, let them have their fun – at the end of the day I was in charge. I was responsible. I think Matt could see the burden, which is probably why he ushered me over for a quiet drink, away from the crowd. He was the manager of one the support bands, a young fellow called Bobby Westfield – talented, sure, but not my style of rock n’ roll. All edgy and European. So Matt ushered me over and started spinning tales about Australia, a place he’d visited on tour throughout the 60’s. The only think I knew about Australia was how bloody far away it was. Matt said there was a party there, an invite only affair on a cattle station out west of Sydney. At this party there were girls and boys losing their minds in a bush wonderland. I wasn’t sure why he was telling me all this, but the way his eyes sparkled while he described the party… “the vibe”, he kept saying “it’s interstellar man..” Well I just had to take his word for it – no way you were chucking me in a tin-can for 12 hours over the pacific just to go to some hippy bush-dance. It was at that point that the room froze. A knock at the door. Two sharp raps followed by a loud thump. All heads turned. The door opened, and that’s the first time I came face to face with David Bowie.
What sets the music at Secret Garden apart from other music festivals?
It’s financially solvent.
What’s been your favourite Secret Garden moment?
Any party that lets the organiser run around in a cute dress with a gas mask is alright by me
How does the industry react when you approach bands, managers, and agents about coming to play Secret Garden?
The response has been ridiculous this year – bands and DJs have been submitting some incredible stuff, and agents have bent over backwards to get their bands on the bill. That’s pretty rewarding.
The first line up is out this week any hints on what we can expect?
A weak attempt to justifty why I should be allowed anywhere near the DJ decks this year
Horse head, Smoke masked pipi longstockings what the shit are you going to be wearing this year?
Tickets to the Secret Garden 2012 are now sold out! With more tickets sold than ever before, the SG team is stoked with all of your great support and can’t wait to see you there. With the formalities of tickets out of the way, the SG team can now focus on making the Secret Garden 2012 the most magical and amazing weekend we can! If you’ve missed out on tickets we are currently taking applications for volunteers so head to our Volunteers page and plead your case. Come join the good times on our Facebook page for everything you need to know for Secret Garden 2012 including the Line Up announcement coming up in January.
Love S.G xx
1 day tickets are $128 + booking fee and include entry to the Secret Garden 2012, with complimentary beer and wine bars and your own slice of Garden to call home.
2 day Tickets are $183 + booking fee and include everything from the 1 day ticket plus access to the very limited Friday night party (paid bar).
From early morning, The Secret Garden was a hive of activity as anticipation was building for what was soon to be an unforgettable night of visual and musical magic and mayhem.
Meandering through the four seasons of Narnia that adorned the Secret Garden’s entrance was the perfect beginning, as the sounds of Wolves at the Door heralded the start of the musical festivities. The Secret Garden/Scented Rager ‘Hollywood’ sign beckoned gaggles of Black Swan, giant Taco’s and an army platoon down the Champs Elysees to the main stage where the likes of Owl Eyes and the Retreat rocked the day away.
School was in at the Spiegel tent as Miss Clavell and her Madelines took a well earned break while being charmed by the Spiegel tents artistic ambience with everything from karaoke to belly dancers keeping gardeners going all night.
The main stage was picking up the pace with the Paper Scissors and WIM strutting their stuff as the House of Cards cocktail bar opened its doors to quench the thirst of characters from all across the land of the Secret Garden. Those inquisitive types were rewarded through the under the sea(man) wine bar with early entrance into the Japanese red light district where stalls burst open from Sex pest skills tester to ‘go on just pash’ Tent (very popular) and the Japanese tree bar paved way for the Red Light district stage to pump out party tunes all night long. Accompanied by some amazing pole dancers, the likes of Alison Wonderland, the Secret Garden DJ’s and Anil Chawla dropped everything from Faithless to the Beastie boys, John Farnham and Daft Punk to the delight of Gardeners until the early hours.
Andy Bull delighted the crowd with some classic stage banter as anticipation grew for the surprise acts to follow. Deep Sea Arcade dressed in their birthday suits showed what experienced gardeners can do. With whispers of a Secret surprise act getting gardeners tongues wagging all day, The Secret Garden was rewarded for their patience as Fleetwood Mac graced the stage playing through their huge back catalogue finishing off with a face melting rendition of Edge of Seventeen. Jinja Safari took it all in their stride as they took to the stage blissfully unaware that they were unintentionally making a film clip as they were joined for the last two songs by a cast of gardeners who rocked the stage to its foundations (literally). As the main stage wound down the red light district was just cracking up with DJ’s rocking the party all night until finishing up with a spontaneous Secret Garden team gathering as Marry Poppin’s sang Secret Garden to a close with a spoonful of sugar.
On the drive home via America’s favourite family restaurant I had a moment when the Gorillaz- On Melancholy hill came on Triple J perfectly describing my sentiments. Until the hangover kicked in and I didn’t wake up until Tuesday..
