Facts about Father's Day. It is on Sunday , 5 September in Australia.
Six interesting facts about Father’s Day you may not know.

Six interesting facts about Father’s Day you may not know. Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to remind the dads and father figures in our lives how much we care about them. But we haven’t always had a special day devoted to dads. A Gift Voucher is a great present for Dad, he has 3 years to use it. Australia will have freedom to experience Sydney before then.

1. The first Father’s Day was inspired by a single dad

Father’s Day came about thanks to the daughter of a single dad called William Jackson Smart. A Civil War veteran from Washington in the United States, William’s wife died during the birth of his daughter, Sonora Smart Dodd.

William raised Sonora and her five older siblings on his own. With Mother’s Day celebrated each year, Sonora felt her Dad – and fathers everywhere – deserved a special day too. She campaigned for first Father’s Day and the first one was held in her father’s birth month, June, in 1910.

2. Father’s Day initially received opposition in Australia

In the 1930s, the idea of a Father’s Day started to take hold in Australia, with discussions cropping up each year after Mother’s Day was celebrated in May.

Some didn’t welcome the idea, though. In 1939, a Sydney newspaper published a piece about Father’s Day, including comments from Reverend Rayward, superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission: “There is as yet no Father’s Day. Commercial interests endeavour every year during September to initiate such a day, but it always falls flat. In view of the fact that the move is purely commercial, it deserves to do so.”

3. Father’s Day arrived in Australia in a different month

Mother’s Day in Australia lines up with the rest of the world, in May. Father’s Day; however, is celebrated here in September while dads in the UK, US and most other parts of the world celebrate it in June.

Most commentators suggest the date was chosen for commercial reasons and to fit around other dates on the Aussie calendar. However, way back in 1911 – only a year after the first Father’s Day in the US – another Sydney newspaper reader suggested “seasonal” reasons: “September should be the month in which to hail him king, for, under the Southern Cross, it is in that month Dad’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” Now for the next (and last) three facts about six interesting facts about Father’s Day.

4. Father’s Day was well and truly alive in Australia in the 1940s

By the 1940s, Australia had embraced Father’s Day and celebrated it on the first Sunday in September each year. Indeed, some had become a little too enthusiastic about showing dads how much they care.

On Father’s Day in 1945, a discharged RAAF pilot, Maxwell Bishop Holland, took off from Mascot in a Moth plane on a mission. He flew to his father’s home in Vaucluse, descended from 3,000 to 100 feet, and threw out sweets with a Father’s Day message attached. The mission didn’t quite go to plan – although the sweets landed without incident, they were seized by youngsters rather than the dads. And the well-meaning pilot copped a five-pound fine for flying without a civil licence!

Dads in Australia: Fact file
1 in 5 Australians are dads
4.6% of Australian dads are stay-at-home fathers
There are 156,000 single-parent dads

5. We’re still celebrating, but dads are changing

Father’s Day grows more popular every year, and the dads being spoilt these days are a little different compared with the dads back when Father’s Day first gained popularity.

  1. According to social researchers McCrindle, 2.2 million dads have kids under 18 years.

2. The average age of dads with a newborn is now 33 years, with the age rising steadily since the 1970s when the average age was 26 years.

3. Stay-at-home dads are (slowly) growing in number. In 1981, just 1.9 per cent of two-parent families had a stay-at-home dad. In 2016, that percentage was sitting at 4.6 per cent.

Dads want more time with their kids. Figures from the Working Parents Report show that 65.1 per cent of fathers not returning to work immediately after having a child are being judged negatively by society. Over four in five (83.2%) say they would have liked to stay home with their child longer before returning to work, and over two thirds (68.4%) wish they had held off on returning to work so they could spend more time with their child during the early years.

6. How we celebrate today

Cards, celebratory lunches and breakfasts in bed are standard gifts. But in the digital age, our search for the perfect present is often made online. Research shows many of us turn to Google in the weeks before Father’s Day, with GPS navigation devices, soccer gear, hardware, outdoors supplies and car merchandise the most popular searches. And thanks to our position as the odd one out internationally, we can celebrate outdoors in the spring sunshine rather than shivering through a winter’s day in June.

Armed with these Father’s Day facts, you now have even more reason to appreciate the day we dedicate to dads. And as you celebrate with food or hand over a gift, don’t forget to tell the dads in your life how you appreciate everything they do. We hope you liked the six interesting facts about Father’s Day.

Written by Akanksha of Reprise, Sydney

Ride over the best (and most famous) bridges in Sydney. The Three Bridges Tour takes one hour and you’ll see parts of Sydney most tourists nor Sydneysiders see.

Our Harley and trike riders arrived at the pickup before the start time. We can pick up at hotels, railway stations, private homes. Anywhere where it is safe to stop. Once our riders meet you at the pick up the riders will ask you to scan our covid QR check in. Next, they will give instructions to you, the passenger(s), and kit you out with helmets and jackets before helping you onto the trike and/or Harley.

Firstly, you will ride over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We always tell our passengers to look up and enjoy the unique view. The more than 6,000,000 rivets are so interesting and the arch is so iconic.

Kirribilli

Next, after riding across the Harbour Bridge, ride past Kirribilli House. Kirribilli House is the secondary official residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. After that, ride around the corner to Jeffrey Street Wharf. From here, the views across Sydney Harbour towards the Sydney Opera House and the CBD are magnificent. In addition, it also has an up-close view of the side and underneath of the bridge. A perfect place to stop for photos.

The Kirribilli Loop

Then ride under the north side of the bridge and continued on their tour. The underside of the northern end of the SHB – Sydney Harbour Bridge – is very interesting. The Kirribilli Loop was finished by riding past Luna Park and the North Sydney Olympic Pool.

Continuing on, ride through North Sydney and Crows Nest before joining River Road. It is a fun road to ride on. River Road leads to Burns Bay Road which, in turn, leads to another bridge but not one of the main three.

Fig Tree Bridge, Tarban Creek Bridge, Gladesville Bridge

The Fig Tree Bridge opened in 1963 and spans the Lane Cove River. After that bridge, they continued on and crossed the second of the bridges Tarban Creek Bridge. This spans Tarban Creek, likewise, it has nice views east to the Harbour Bridge. Then they got to bridge #2 of the main 3 Bridges, the Gladesville Bridge. It has wonderful views along Parramatta River towards the Harbour Bridge and the city.

This bridge is on the main arterial thoroughfare of Victoria Road. They travelled along for a short while before turning off into the inner west suburb of Drummoyne. Following the shoreline of Iron Cove, which is part of the Parramatta River, they saw some lovely water views. It is part of the 7 km long Bay Run. So, really you will ride over more than three bridges on the Three Bridges Tour. ?

ANZAC Bridge

Our favourite bridge is the ANZAC Bridge. We think it is incredible, a work of art and design. It is main bridge #3. Similarly, it is also great to see without a roof over your head inhibiting the view.

Most noteworthy, the stay cable design concept development and final design for the new bridge were carried out by the Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW. Finally, the bridge was opened to traffic on 03 December 1995 as the Glebe Island Bridge.

The bridge was given its current name on Remembrance Day in 1998 to honour the memory of the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (known as Anzacs) who served in World War I.

However, time was nearly up so our riders dropped our passengers back at their hotel, a great way to see parts of the city only the locals know about. All our passengers love Three Bridges Tour, it is something different and a fun experience. The passengers just relax and enjoy the feeling of freedom. For more info on this and our other tours see: https://www.trolltours.com.au/tours-and-prices/

Harley and trike tour, Sydney Australia
Eastern Sydney Panorama Tour, Sydney

One of our most popular tours is the Eastern Sydney Panorama Tour. It goes for 1.5 hours through the eastern suburbs of Sydney. You can travel on the trike or Harley Davidson motorcycle to some of the most famous sights of Sydney and Eastern Sydney.

Mrs Macquaries Chair

We’ll pick you up from a prearranged place and take you around Sydney Harbour. Past the Botanical Gardens which has Government house situated in it. Next, we ride past the Art Gallery of NSW to Mrs Macquaries Point. A fantastic view of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge is found here. Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales.

Harry’s Cafe de Wheels

Then, travel through Woolloomooloo, past the famous Harry’s Cafe De Wheels. Harry’s Cafe de Wheels is an iconic pie cart located on Cowper Wharf Road in Woolloomooloo. It’s near the Finger Wharf and Fleet Base East. They are best known for their dish “Tiger Pie”, a type of Australian meat pie named after the original founder of Harry’s.

Ride up to infamous Kings Cross, Colloquially known as The Cross, the area was once known for its music halls and grand theatres. It was rapidly transformed after World War II. By an influx of troops returning and visiting from the nearby Garden Island naval base. It became known as Sydney’s night entertainment and red-light district; however, many nightclubs, bars and adult entertainment venues closed due to the Sydney lockout laws. Today, it is a mixed locality offering services such as a railway station, gyms, supermarkets and bakeries. There are many entertainment venues including bars, restaurants, nightclubs, brothels and strip clubs.

The Coca-Cola Billboard in Kings Cross

Kings Cross is also home to the huge Coca Cola sign. The Coca-Cola Billboard in Kings Cross, Sydney, usually referred to by Sydneysiders simply as “The Coca-Cola Sign” or “The Coke Sign”. It was/is an advertising billboard erected in 1974 by the Coca-Cola Company. It is more often regarded as an iconic landmark than as an advertisement.

Bondi Beach

Further into the posh Eastern Suburbs and we drive past the lovely suburbs of Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, Rose Bay and Vaucluse. Arriving at the world famous Bondi Beach is quite impressive. You will have a fantastic view from the back of the trike or Harley. We wander along the beach front where you will be momentarily as famous as the beach itself when all passersby can’t help but look at you.

Oxford Street

If there is time we return to your drop off point via the very ‘out there’ Oxford Street, home of great fashion and jewellery designers. The western section is widely recognised as Sydney’s main gay district.

This itinerary can be changed to suit your personal requirements. However, you’ll find the time flies past. Sometimes the route is changed on the day, depending on the traffic. In conclusion, the Eastern Sydney Panorama Tour really is a good one which shows some beautiful parts of Sydney city.

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/eastern-sydney-panorama-trike-ride/

Troll Tours Pty Ltd is a 100% Australian Owned company
Troll Tours – 100% Australian Owned

Troll Tours is totally 100% Australian Owned. The owners, riders and staff are all Australian. The main trikes are made in Gosford, north of Sydney, making them Australian manufactured. Of course, the Harleys are made in the USA or they wouldn’t be Harleys. ?

Troll Tours Pty Ltd is Certified Australian Owned.

Australian Owned

Australian Owned is a social enterprise, which is cause-driven with a mission to support the Australian business community. We want to give businesses the tools to grow, assisting to strengthen local communities through jobs and investment, contributing to the long-term prosperity of this country.

The certification company mission,“Our vision has been to build transparency and trust in the Australian Owned Certified logo for both business and consumer. As a result of the findings from our extensive research and market engagement, we are thrilled to unveil our refreshed certification logo, reflecting the organisation’s evolution while keeping our core beliefs and mission unchanged”.

It’s important to buy from an Australian Owned company / business. Certainly, Consumers feel it’s important to support Australian-owned businesses in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. They are learning that it has never been more important to strengthen our economy and our communities. We were the first Trike and Harley Tour business in Sydney to specialise in trike tours. This was 15 years ago, so we have plenty of experience.

Troll Tours is in the top 10 things to do in the Sydney list.

In conclusion, Troll Tours is totally 100% Australian Owned, so please support us. In return, you’ll be providing jobs for Australians. Don’t forget, the owners, riders and staff all live in Sydney and the Greater Sydney area. So they know the best places to take you for the best views and for places off the beaten track. Best of all, you will have a fabulous, memorable experience – Feel the Freedom.

Check out our tour suggestions or design your own. https://www.trolltours.com.au/tours-and-prices/

Palm Beach is one of our favourite places in Sydney. Palm Beach is a suburb in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney. It is located 41 kilometres north of the Sydney but it’s such a wonderful ride to get to. It’s the destination on our Beach Beauty Tour. https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/the-beach-beauty

Summer Bay (Home and Away)

Sometimes, Palm Beach is colloquially referred to as ‘Palmy’; and is used for exterior filming of the soap opera Home and Away, as the fictional town of Summer Bay. It is also the subject of the 2018 film ‘Palm Beach’. Despite the hefty property prices it remains a haven for a variety of artists

It is bounded by Broken Bay to the north, the Tasman Sea (within the South Pacific Ocean) to the east, Whale Beach, Avalon and Clareville to the south, and Pittwater to the west.

The Palm Beach photo above

This photo was taken from the headland at the northernmost point. It rises quite sharply from the beach to over 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level, and features an operational lighthouse. The narrow sandy isthmus or tombolo linking the south side of the headland to the rest of Palm Beach had extensive fencing and shrub planting undertaken during the 1980s to combat sand erosion.

Fishing is good at this time of the year. During winter, the Australian salmon run so bring your beach rod!

Specifications of Palm Beach

The 2.3-kilometre long east-facing beach curves in a gentle arc between the lighthouse and Barrenjoey Head. To the sandstone rocks of Little Head in the south, beach linking Barrenjoey to the mainland. North Palm Beach extends 1.4 kilometres south from Barrenjoey, with the northern 600 metres backed by a 200-metre wide densely vegetated foredune. The southern Palm Beach section includes the southern 600 metres (2,000 ft) of beach, which curves to the southeast in the southern Kiddies Corner. It receives increasing protection from Little Head with waves decreasing in height down the beach. Rips usually extend all the way to the head, though usually smaller in size, with a weak permanent rip against the southern rocks.

So as you can tell by this article, Palm Beach is one of our favourite places in Sydney! We can pick you up somewhere on the Northern Beaches and tour to and around here. Or, we can pick you up anywhere in Sydney or the surrounding areas, however, the ride may take longer than 3 hours. Contact us for a tour to Palm Beach – we know you’ll love it!

The Queen’s Birthday: June long weekend is a holiday and is a moveable feast. In other words, it moves date each year. It celebrates the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. She is not only Queen of Great Britain but also Queen of Australia. Also of New Zealand and 13 of the 50 other countries in the commonwealth.

History of the Queen’s Birthday

The Queen’s actual birthday is neither in June nor October but in April. The official birthday is in June to increase the chance of good weather for the celebrations in the UK. It not to help the Australian ski industry. The holiday traditionally marks the start of the Australian ski season. It is not a public holiday in the UK.

Since 1748, the monarch’s official birthday has been marked by an outdoor parade known as Trooping the Colour. This was usually held on the king or queen’s actual birthday. Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910, was born in November. Instead of making the troops parade on a cold and dark November morning, the tradition began of celebrating his birthday officially in May or June. This meant there was less chance of it being chilly and drizzly during the event. This tradition was then carried on by subsequent monarchs.

History of the Queen

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of the House of Windsor was born on 21 April 1926. In 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne. Thereafter, she was known as Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II continues to reign as Queen of Australia. There was a referendum in 1999 which resulted in the retention of Australia’s constitutional monarchy.

Troll Tours is open all weekend so book a tour with us. The Queen’s Birthday: June long weekend is worth celebrating! Even if it’s more the day off work than remembering the queen. Go on, have some fun and ‘Feel the Freedom’.

https://www.trolltours.com.au/book-now/

https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/australia/australia-queens-birthday

Celebrate with 10% off our tours. Get 10% off our tours of 1 hour or longer. You can book your Mum a Harley or trike tour with Troll Tours. Book and buy now and receive 10% off.

Book now or buy a Gift Voucher

The tour can be experienced after Mother’s Day, so book now. Or, buy a Gift Voucher for your Mum. She will have 3 years to use it and can choose when she wants to go. Offer ends 09 May 2021 so get in quick. You can use the Dine & Discover voucher to get $25 off.

The route

Your Mum can choose where she wants to go. As long as it is possible within the time frame that was bought, we will take her there.

Ideas

Ideas are on our website but all the tours are adaptable. Or, we can design a completely new route which takes into account your interests.

Celebrate with 10% off our tours! So, go on and book a tour before the offer ends for another year.
https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/gift-certificate

History

Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. However, it can also be used to honour Aunties and any special female in your life. Celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, it is a great time to let them know how much you love and admire them. Remember, in Australia, it is celebrated in the month of May.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary also does this, and claims the first use of ‘auntie’ was in 1672. However, they don’t reference how they know this or explain more about the story.

Use in reference to Indigenous Australian women

The term aunty or auntie is also used as a term of respect to refer to an older Indigenous Australian woman. They may or may not be related to the speaker. Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians can use ‘aunty’ or ‘auntie’ towards a woman of high esteem and earned respect. However, non-Indigenous Australians should always ask whether this is appropriate. If you’re wondering how to address an aunty or auntie in your local Aboriginal community non-verbally, for example writing a letter, email, or mentioning her online, you should simply ask her how she would like to be referred to.

Dine & Discover NSW is a new scheme to help NSW recover. Recover from the COVID pandemic that is. This is to encourage the community to get out and about and start spending at dining, arts and tourism businesses. 

From March, NSW residents aged 18 and over will be eligible for 4 x $25 vouchers, worth $100 in total.  Vouchers can be used at participating NSW businesses that are registered as COVID Safe. Troll Tours Pty Ltd is COVID Safe accredited.

The Dine & Discover NSW Vouchers will be divided into 2 categories:2 x $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday (excluding public holidays)

#1 – 2 x $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, any day of the week (excluding public holidays).
#2 – 2 x $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday (excluding public holidays)

We are part of the #1 community and we are happy to accept a $25 voucher for each person on our tours. Scanning your voucher is easy, it will have a QR Code. Once it has been approved we are good to go. The difference will have been paid before the ride – with direct deposit or credit card. Cash is fine before the Harley or trike tour starts. We will ask for a back up payment type just in case it doesn’t work.

Customers

From March, NSW residents aged 18 and over can apply online for Dine & Discover NSW Vouchers. 

You can download the Service NSW app now, before the vouchers become available from March. https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

However, if you look at our tour page, https://www.trolltours.com.au/tours-and-prices/ you will see there are so many choices. The prices are also shown and remember, if there are 3 or more people you will pay the corporate price, which is lower. All our tours can be changed to suit your personal requirements. Or, create your own Harley or trike tour. We are happy to take you on any tour (which is legal ?).

Valentine’s Day – show your love to that special one! Don’t forget, it is on Sunday 14 February this year (2021).

If you are stuck for ideas just look at what we have. Harley and trike tours around Sydney! Isn’t that more fun than red roses? Our tours sure are more fun and way more memorable. You won’t need to dress to impress ?. No need to book for actual Valentine’s Day, we can email you a gift voucher. This means the love of your life can book for you both, when it suits.

All of our tour routes are flexible, the ones on our website are just ideas. You can choose to do one of them, change one of them or design a completely new route.

Troll Tours provides everything

Troll Tours provides everything – accredited trike and Harley riders, Harbour Bridge toll x 1 per bike, GST, photos, helmets, jackets (if needed), insurance and a fun time. It also includes the Passenger Service Levy and government taxes. 

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a minor Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

Court of love

The earliest description of February 14 as an annual celebration of love appears in the Charter of the Court of Love. The charter, allegedly issued by Charles VI of France at Mantes-la-Jolie in 1400, describes lavish festivities to be attended by several members of the royal court, including a feast, amorous song and poetry competitions, jousting and dancing. Amid these festivities, the attending ladies would hear and rule on disputes from lovers. No other record of the court exists, and none of those named in the charter were present at Mantes except Charles’s queen, Isabeau of Bavaria, who may well have imagined it all while waiting out a plague. Thanks to Wikipedia for this information.

So don’t forget Valentine’s Day – show your love to that special one!

https://www.trolltours.com.au/tours-and-prices/

Happy Australia Day 2021 from all of us here at Troll Tours. We are a proudly Australian owned and operated company. Troll Tours gives the best Harley and trike tours, if we do say so ourselves. Sydney and the greater Sydney area, such as the Blue Mountains and The Royal National Park (southern Sydney). Did you know the Royal National Park is the second oldest national park in the world? We do hope you enjoy our Australia Day Celebrations, whether you are here in Sydney, somewhere in Australia or overseas and looking on.

Australia Day history

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in New South Wales. It marks the raising of the British flag at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip. The date of 26 January 1788 marked the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia (then known as New Holland). Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808. With the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales held in 1818. On New Year’s Day 1901, the British colonies of Australia formed a federation. This marked the birth of modern Australia. A national day of unity and celebration was looked for. It was not until 1935 that all Australian states and territories adopted use of the term “Australia Day” to mark the date. It was not until 1994 that the date was consistently marked by a public holiday on that day by all states and territories. Thanks to Wikipedia for this paragraph of the history.

present-day Australia

In present-day Australia, celebrations aim to reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation. It is marked by community and family events and reflections on Australian history. There are official community awards and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community.

So, happy Australia Day 2021 from all of us here at Troll Tours. https://www.trolltours.com.au/