Cirkus Surreal took delivery of new state-of-the-art rigging yesterday which will be used for aerial training at Kelso High School.
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The equipment was designed in Australia but manufactured in Holland.
Its arrival has been a long time coming. Money used to purchase the truss was part of a grant by the NAB back in 2009.
It has taken the years following to design and manufacture it at a cost of around $14,000.
Director of Cirkus Surreal Stephanie Brown said the truss will be used to hang aerial equipment, and will allow the circus performers more flexibility.
It will be used for trapeze, aerial hoop, a cloud swing and to hang bungees from.
In the past the apparatus has been attached to fixed points on the ceiling.
The new structure will give performers more flexibility and allow for at least eight aerialists to work from it at once.
Ms Brown said the new equipment will have a huge impact on the students because they will now be able to use different apparatus and create even more spectacular performances.
She said the design, purchase and rigging of the equipment was a huge collaborative effort.
“We are grateful to a lot of people who helped make this happen,” she said.
The truss was designed by Alan Brown of Civil and Forensic.
It was a complex process because the truss needed to work in the available space and it needed to be safe.
Trevor Gunter of Bathurst SES said the truss will also be used by the SES for their vertical training.
“It will give us a lot more flexibility in our training. It is the best we could possibly hope for,” he said.
Mr Gunter said the truss weights 300 kilograms and will allow the circus to set up geometric arrangements they are unable to do from static roof points. He said about 20 combinations are possible.
Also lending a hand yesterday was Gavin Smith, a rigger with the famous Cirque du Soleil.
Mr Smith said he loves to get involved in community projects.
“It’s a way I can give something back,” he said.
Mr Smith is not only a rigger with Cirque, he is also a film and television stuntman, and a helicopter and construction rigger.
He started out his career as a fridge mechanic, before becoming a stunt man, then a circus performer, and on to becoming an aerial rigger.
“It’s hard work, but I have to do it because I have a lot to offer people,” Mr Smith said.
He said he has really enjoyed working with Kelso High on this project.
“I’m looking forward to seeing its evolution,” he said.
