LITTLElawn MEDIA 2005

Media Releases

Tuesday March 22 2005 EMBARGOED until 5:00 PM Tuesday March 22 2005   Launceston <littleLAWN> Kit

Ray Norman, Launceston member of ilLAS, – international little LAWN Appreciation Society – and the designer of the original 'Launceston littleLAWN', announced today that ilLAS is now ready to launch the portable form of the Launceston <littleLAWN>. It is to be marketed via the Internet to a national, and possibly an international, market and it will be promoted as The <littleLAWN> Kit

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Mr. Norman said,"now that the kit is available, ilLAS can at last satisfy the many enquiries the group has had from people asking for specifications etcetera."

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"The interesting thing is that most enquiries have come from interstate and there is at least one international request for specifications to be responded to," he said.

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The kit will be launched, without ceremony, on the ilLAS Website ­ < WWW.littleLAWN.NET > ­ at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday March 22, the Autumnal Equinox ­ all things being equal.

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Launceston¹s Mayor, Ald. Janie Dickenson, launched the original <littleLAWN>, with much fanfare, on the corner of York and George Streets on the Winter Solstice in 2002. When it was launched back then, theLaunceston <littleLAWN> was claimed to be "the littlest lawn in the world."

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Launceston Council has removed that manifestation of the <littleLAWN> as a consequence of recent streetscaping works on the corner.

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Mr. Norman said,"now that we have the kit it will be possible for anyone in the world, especially ilLAS members, to have their own 'official' <littleLAWN>upon which to do the <LAWNYthings> ilLAS members are promoting."

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"The kit will ultimately have three versions," he said:

• .. "one to be wall mounted:

• .. another, a somewhat more substantial Œtable¹ version ­ or perhaps balcony version: and

• .. a set of plans and specifications for installations in courtyards and like spaces".

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The very first prototype kit is being auctioned on the ilLAS Website with the proceeds going to a Tsunami Fund.

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For more information about the kits, and the Tsunami auction, people may visit the ilLAS Website or Email ilLAS at <info@littlelawn.net>

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Contact Information:

• .. Karl Kleinesgrun: ilLAS Chair

• .. Phone: 61 - 3 - 6331 1107

• .. Email: Karl.K@littlelawn.net

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• .. Ray Norman: Kit Designer

• .. Mobile: 0438 452811

• .. Email: ray@trevallyn.com

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Significant & Relevant Information: • .. The ilLAS WEBpage < www.littleLAWN.net/LawnyCultureLawnyGames_1.html > sets out most of the current information relevant to < lawnyCULTURE> and < lawnyETIQUETTE> • .. The two most important traditions attached to < lawnyCULTURE> and < lawnyETIQUETTE> are: a. LawnyTRUTHtelling – A practice of taking people to 'a level place', typically a lawn, to tell the absolute truth – especially a < littleLAWN> that is absolutely level – and in particular those people who may otherwise be economical with the truth ­ bureaucrats, politicians, law enforcers, husbands, wives & lovers, siblings, etc. –––– b. The LawnyPROMISE: A practice of requiring certain people – especially politicians – to give speeches, and/or make promises, on a level lawn –especially a – and requiring the speaker to promise only what the speaker can deliver and on time (be on the level): and that she/he undertakes –ABSOLUTELY – to keep the promise; and that takes no longer than one minute make it ­ a WEDDING> is a version of this practice. • .. The Launceston littleLAWN installed on the corner of York & George Streets on June 21 2002 remains unchallenged as the "littlest Lawn in the world". • .. The original Launceston littleLAWN installation was a gift to the City of Launceston ­ sponsors paying for material costs etc. • .. The original Launceston littleLAWN installation was stolen by "persons unknown" from the work site when removed to make way for streetscaping works • .. The ilLAS Kits will be manufactured in Launceston form Tasmanian Timbers • .. International and interstate ilLAS members typically orient their < littleLAWN> towards Launceston Tasmania in acknowledgement of its first manifestation.

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littlest LAWN IN THE WORLD Thursday, 13 June 2002 At 8: 00pm on Friday June 21– the shortest day of the year – Launceston will be able to proudly boast that it is the home of the littlest lawn in the world. Launceston's Mayor, Ald. Janie Dickenson will launch the Launceston littleLAWN in one of the city's smallest parks as the focus event in a winter solstice street celebration. Because the park is so small that it doesn't have a name but it is very easy to find. It's located on the corner of George and York Streets opposite O'Keefe's Hotel. Launcestonians and their friends are invited to join in the festivities and in the spirit of the occasion they're encouraged to come along dressed in black and/or wearing a silly hat. The Launceston littleLAWN Project is a Culture-in-Public-Places Project and it is an entirely Launcestonian event that is being funded by a growing list of Launceston based sponsors. The project has evolved out of a collaboration between Launceston City Council's Parks and Recreation Department and Wallless7250, Launceston's artspace in cyberspace. The littleLAWN Project Project Committee believes that the Launceston's littleLAWN will not only qualify as being the littlest lawn but also the smallest playing field in the world. It is planned to test both claims with Guinness World Records. O'Keefe's Hotel has provided a special menu including possum pie for the launch and people are encouraged to book their tables as soon as possible. The festivities will start in the park at 8: 00pm sharp and after some civic formalities they will move across the road to the hotel where Launceston's newest folk group 'The Grassy Players' will play grassy music and sing grassy songs. For Further Information Contact: Ray Norman

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Thursday, 13 June 2002 Launceston Lawn Poetry Society At 8.30pm Friday June 21 ­ the shortest day of the year ­ the Launceston Lawn Poetry Society will hold its inaugural meeting at O'Keefe's Hotel corner of George and York Streets. The meeting has been timed to coincide with Launceston¹s Mayor, Ald. Janie Dickenson's, launch of the Launceston littleLAWN in the park across the street from O'Keefe's Hotel and also on the corner of George and York Streets. So far the Lawn Poetry Society is unique to Launceston and it is now actively seeking members. Largely, the society has come into being as a result of the Launceston Longpoem Project. The society aims to promote 'lawny poetry' which is a blend of all poetry forms: written about lawns; performed on lawns; installed on lawns; and in Launceston's case, focused upon the Launceston littleLAWN. The society intends to form affiliations with both the Launceston based Tasmanian Poetry Festival and Wallless7250 ­ Launceston¹s artspace in cyberspace and its regular meeting place will be O'Keefe's Hotel. Launcestonians and their friends are invited to come along to the meeting to meet the society's steering committee, join the group and participate in the launch of the Launceston littleLAWN. Magenta Bliss will be in attendance and she will read some of her recent '"Ravo Poems". Tim Thorne will also read his 'Lawny Poem' written especially for both the society's and the littleLAWN's launch. The meeting will be informal, its open to anyone who may wish to attend and it will start at approximately 8.30pm following the Mayor's launch of the littleLAWN. For Further Information Contact: Tim Thorne Meeting Convenor Curator/Editor ­ Launceston Longpoem Project Tel: 03 6331 9658 Mobile: 0418 308 446

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ENDnote: The Launceston littleLAWN is exactly one foot square – 12 inches square– and it is argued that there can be no smaller lawn because lawns need to be stood upon and it's not possible to stand on a lawn less than the touch down zone for one person – one foot squared.