KARATE MAN LED SECURITY TEAM

THE SUNBURY Pop Festival, conducted over the recent holiday week end, was generally voted can outstanding success. And one of the big factors which contributed to that success, apart from skilful promotion, was Bob Jones.

Bob, who lives in Northcote, is already well known in Glenroy as principal of the karate school in Cromwell St. He is also principal of a number of karate schools scattered throughout the metropolitan area and will open a class in Sunbury in the hear future. Controlling 35,000 people at the Sunbury festival was a king sized job. But, Bob said this week, it was made a tot easier by the excellent behavior of the big crowd.

To help him, he had 100 specially chosen members of his various karate schools holders of green, brown and black belts. The security team used almost every conceivable type of equipment. A special telephone communication system operated from an onsite caravan maintain constant contact with all security points. This important job was efficiently handled by Bob''s wife, Pauline.

In addition he used a helicopter, three landrovers, three horses, 12 walkie talkies, a beach buggy style motorbike and a Goannamobile. The latter is a small vehicle with several wheels, which is capable of crossing any terrain in any conditions.

Most important job was to see that nobody skipped in without paying no mean task when it is considered that there is only one 200 yards length of fence on the entire 600 acre property. Much of the, site is bounded by Jackson''s watch had to be kept for ''prospective clients'' attempting to enter by skirting neighboring properties. There were several ingenious attempts to get in for "nix". One security crew was quick to note a car which pulled up in the car park after the driver had purchased his ticket.

He was one of hundreds of motorists who had crawled the one and a half miles in 1 1/2 hours bumper to bumper in near century heat to the ticket boxes. The Jones crew pounced when he opened his boat. Inside were two youths in a condition of near collapse. Most important job was to see that nobody skipped in without paying no mean task when it is considered that there is only one 200 yards length of fence on the entire 600 acre property. Much of the, site is bounded by Jackson''s watch had to be kept for ''prospective clients'' attempting to enter by skirting neighboring properties.

There were several ingenious attempts to get in for "nix". One security crew was quick to note a car which pulled up in the car park after the driver had purchased his ticket. He was one of hundreds of motorists who had crawled the one and a half miles in 1 1/2 hours bumper to bumper in near century heat to the ticket boxes. The Jones crew pounced when he opened his boat. Inside were two youths in a condition of near collapse. They had spent the entire time in the boot, and still had to go back to the gate to buy tickets. Another reason for the festival''s success was the banning of liquor.

Of course, some DID sneak through, but most was discovered and appropriate action taken. Some of the methods used to secrete grog into the festival made interesting reading. One youth carrying a guitar case did not took unusual, until security men noted that the case seemed to be weighing, him down a little on one side. When the case was opened it was found to contain enough "grog" to supply a small bar. Other supplies were Creek, and a constant concealed in haversacks, sleeping bag rolls and suitcases. Bob was full of praise for the conduct of young people who attended the festival. With few exceptions they were well behaved, and cooperative. There was little or no trouble. Even nude bathing and walking at the festival was in good taste, Bob assured us.

He told of two amusing incidents concerning nudes. On one occasion television and straight films were being made of a karate demonstration at the festival. It was serious stuff and little wonder photography crew were frequently thrown into confusion at the sight of nude male or female figures drifting into the line of their lenses. On another occasion a shapely lass gashed her foot badly while swimming nude in Jackson''s Creek. An embarrassed security man had to carry her 150 yards through a big, whistling, cheering crowd to the first aid station. Most tension for the whole festival was experienced when the Billy Thorpe act appeared on the festival stage.

Bob Jones was one of the 20 security men who stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the stage facing the crowd of 35,000.

"It was an eerie feeling", Bob says. "They were swaying and surging with excitement and I couldn''t help wondering what we would have done had someone started a forward rush. But, as usual, the kids behaved well."

Bob praised the promoters Odessa Productions. "Any item I wanted for security was given without question", he said.

He also praised the police for their great work, and that of an unknown voluntary organisation which attended to staff cooking, parking, etc. He also praised his own staff, many of whom worked stretches of up to 18 hours straight.

He has already been re booked for a future festival and will be in charge of security.