Expo’s Island Showpiece

Australia

Along with the space age exhibits, rock and roll shows and laser extravaganzas, the South Pacific Lagoon is attracting hordes to Expo 88.

THE SOUTH Pacific lagoon is attracting thousands of inter ested visitors to World Expo 88 in Brisbane. The show piece of the island nation ex hibitions, an artificial tropical lagoon, is a major talking point with visitors from the host nation Australia as well as those who have come to Australia from all over the world for the SA6OO million bicentenary spectacular.

The lagoon hosts displays and performances from

Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, the Cooks, Western Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It features 200 newly planted palm trees imported from the islands and many different kinds of craft on a 0.6 hectare, one metre deep la goon that has also been stocked with fish. There is also authentic South Seas food to be enjoyed by hungry visitors.

Each island nation is re sponsible for its own display area around the lagoon. Each day there are demonstrations by artists and craftspeople and performances by dan-

cers, actors and musicians.

Agricultural and technologi cal skills are also highlighted.

Many nations will stage their own “national day” of celebration. Island nations national days fall on: August 24 Vanuatu; August 30 Solomon Islands; September 3 Western Samoa; Sep tember 6 Fiji; September 10 Tonga; September 16 Papua New Guinea.

National days give partic ipating island nations a chance to take centre stage before the eyes of the world.

Many island leaders and ce lebrities will be in attendance to greet visitors and there will be performers decked out in national costume. Trade heads will counsel business people on import and export opportunities. □

This and facing page: The many faces of the South Pacific Lagoon.

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