Year: 1967
Location: Sydney
Description: Career criminal Tacky Evans has stolen a diamond necklace and is on the run, being pursued by two Detectives through Waratah National Park. Tacky takes refuge under a rock ledge and accidentally drops the necklace. Skippy just happens to be waiting at the bottom of the escarpment. Realising the diamond necklace is stolen and also very valuable, she places it in her pouch then hops back to Ranger Headquarters. Back at Headquarters, the Hammond family are preparing their float for the Waratah Spring Festival. Immediately they place Skippy and Hector the emu on the float to help form the coat of arms. Tacky seizes the opportunity to stow away on board the float when nobody is looking so he can try and reclaim the diamonds. During the parade, a fight breaks out between Tacky and the boys. Because of the on going fight throughout the parade, Waratah National Park wins the festival for most original float. Below are a collection of photos of the parade through Sydney.
Additional Notes: The Waratah Spring Festival & Parade was an important and extremely popular event held in Sydney from 1956 until its eventual demise in 1973. The Waratah Spring Festival featured in the Skippy episode took place on Monday, 9th October, 1967.The cast of the show were in the parade under the banner of the New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Services.
