Little Audrey Traditional Cache
Team Crackers: We finally got to drop by this one and found GZ missing.
Sadly this one has run it's time after 15 years.
Thanks to all that found it.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The difficulty rating reflects the amount of muggles
that use this area.
You are looking for an eclipse sized container.
Back in 1936 when little Audrey started her
advertising life on top of the Skipping Girl Vinegar building no
one would or could have thought she would still be in
people’s hearts over 70 years later.
During the 60’s when we were kids most of our infrequent
trips to Melbourne ended up traveling across to see Little
Audrey.
Now over 40 years later we still remember the great advertising
logos of Skipping Girl and Dandy Hams and Bacon. (The pig that
tipped its hat and stood above Princess Hwy and Foster St
Dandenong) The power of advertising.
This young girl in a red dress, skipping in 4 different neon lit
actions, was Melbourne’s first moving outdoor advertising
installation. In the late 1960s the Vinegar factory moved to
Altona, and the site was sold to the Fire Brigade to build a
training facility, and the building was to be demolished by Wheelan
the Wrecker in August 1968. Neon Electric hoped to retain the sign,
but Wheelan's claimed ownership, removed the sign, and reportedly
sold it to a used car dealer in Abbotsford, who had purchased it
for $100. Little Audrey had gone.
Public outcry was great, one radio station even started the
“Save Little Audrey” campaign. John Benjamin, Director
of Crusader Plate (an electroplating works), located in a 1930s
factory just 200m down the road, 'came to the rescue', and allowed
the use of their rooftop for a token rental, and a new sign was
constructed, smaller than the original, with a different, slightly
more flowing design, which was relit at a ceremony on Friday, 13
November 1970.
In 1986 with the closure of the electroplating works poor Audrey
was again turned off and again fell into darkness for the next 4
years.
In 1990 with the redevelopment and renaming of the building
Skipping Girl Place Audrey was again relit and skipping throughout
the night.
Unfortunately in 2001 with some maintenance problems and the
expiration of the maintenance contract she once more was turned off
and was idol for the next 8 years.
Again public outcry and rallying from the friends of Audrey saw
Audrey Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register in 2007.
2008 saw the National Trust launch an appeal to raise money for her
restoration and maintenance.
In 2009, Energy company AGL , the principal sponsor of the National
Trust restoration appeal, along with the Heritage Council of
Victoria, Melbourne Heritage Restoration Fund and other public
donors have raised funds to restore Little Audrey. She was removed
from her perch and fully restored and powered for the next five
years by AGL using their 100% GreenPower energy.
Only time will tell what will become of this Melbourne Icon. But at
least for now she is skipping happily away. Little Audrey may be
not as sophisticated as some of today’s advertising but we
are sure she will be fondly remembered.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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