A farewell to the Superlambananas

By Mark Thomas on Aug 27, 08 03:57 PM

I couldn't help but feel a little bit sad this afternoon, as I wondered back up Old Hall Street towards the office from the sandwich shop and saw a Superlambanana being put on a low loader ready to be towed away.
The 10 week Go Superlambananas festival is drawing to a close, and over the next couple of days the 120 Superlambs are being collected up from their locations across the city.

Many of them will be back for one last appearance, when 70 of them are paraded on St George's Plateau on September 8-9, before they are finally auctioned off for charity.
I think the imagination demonstrated in so many different bright, witty designs has been fantastic, and they have brought a smile to everyone's faces this summer.
The processions of parents and children "doing the Superlambanana tour" armed with a camera to get souvenir pictures with as many of the models as possible have become part of the landscape of the city centre, and they must have been a major boon for mothers and fathers trying to think of ways to entertain their children during the school summer holidays.
Everyone has enjoyed having them around, and as we revealed recently, thought is being given to the creation of a second generation of more durable Superlambs, and giving them a more permanent home in the city.
I hope it happens. The city will feel a little bare for a while, as we all have to get used to the sight of our streets without their special summer guests.
Whether you are a visitor or a resident, something about the sight of a Superlambanana really cheers you up. And that has to be a good thing.