“Skywhalepapa” and “Skywhale”; Image Courtesy of Karleen Minney & The Canberra Times
The skies of Canberra have been conquered, albeit with a rocky start for Skywhalepapa.
Rough weather meant the patriarchal hot air balloon, complete with offspring, was tethered to the ground on debut, its seven-storey structure towering over the thousands gathered to see it.
But as in all good stories the skies cleared and, many liftoffs later, Skywhalepapa was welcomed into the Skywhale family as another Canberra icon.
Now it's time for the inflatable family to gift its presence to the rest of the country on a national tour.
