BLUE SEPTEMBER NEWS

EUREKA SWARMED BY BLUE BEES

Last Updated: Friday 24th of September 2010 at 11:37:45 AM

Eureka swarmed by blue bees

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For the second year in a row one of Melbourne’s most distinctive pieces of artwork, the Eureka Tower’s famed ‘Bee Colony’, was given a blue makeover to last for all of September, helping to raise awareness about men’s cancers. The iconic Southbank landmark, designed by Richard Stinger to accompany Australia’s tallest building, is to be lit up blue throughout the month, raising awareness for men’s cancer campaign Blue September.

“Eureka Tower is home to around 1,300 residents and more than half of these are men. As much as we don’t want to think about it, the reality is that some of those men will be affected by cancer. By illuminating the Bees for the month of September, we hope we can contribute to the campaign to raise awareness for this important cause,” said Peter Jones, Building Manager of the Eureka Tower. The unique lighting scheme was put together by Andrew Jaques,  of the 'Flaming Beacon' fame.

It is all part of an international strategy encouraging people to ‘face up to men’s cancers’, by highlighting in blue the lack of awareness surrounding these disease, which claim over 22,000 lives every year. Special mention needs to go to Chris Davies of 'Victorian Rope Access', who abseiled from the artwork in order to instal the lighting. The Eureka Tower joins a number of iconic structures across Australia turning blue to support the campaign, including;

• Sydney Harbour Bridge

• Melbourne Parliament House

• Brisbane’s Treasury Casino

• New Zealand’s Sky Tower

• Melbourne’s AAMI Park

Other buildings overseas, in Hollywood, are also turning blue in support of the campaign, including the Capitol Records Building, Paramount Studio’s Melrose Gate and Water Tower, the historic Roosevelt Hotel and the Ramada West Hollywood.

All the landmarks will be bathed in blue light from the beginning of September, gifting motorists and spectators with a unique once-off view of the familiar Los Angeles skyline. 

It is hoped this very public show of support for Blue September will leave a lasting impression, encouraging people to ‘face up to men’s cancers’. It is all about switching up the usual environment, to promote men getting out of their comfort zones by making a radical change to the way they deal with cancer. Men remain more than twice as likely to die from preventable cancers as women, a statistic that Blue September hopes to change.

Ultimately, the goal is to raise funds for cancer research, as well as helping men reduce the risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices. Blue September proudly supports the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and Bowel Cancer Australia.