Birdman from the underground takes to the skies at Moomba

As a supervisor on one of Melbourne’s big tunnel projects, JJ Taiki works 12-hour days deep under city streets. He says while tunnels don’t faze him, he is scared of heights.

But on Sunday, for the sake of a good cause, Taiki took courage and leapt off a four-metre platform at the 2024 Moomba Birdman Rally.

Taking flight: JJ Taika, dressed as Nacho Libre, competes in the 2024 Moomba Birdman Rally.Credit: Wayne Taylor

Cheered on by his mates from the West Gate Tunnel project and by the crowd, and dressed as freestyle wrestler movie character Nacho Libre, Taiki plunged into the Yarra River.

He was voted third most popular entrant based on crowd cheering decibel measurements.

The mercury was soaring towards the mid-30s, but Taiki raised a cool $5900 for Autism Awareness Australia.

As per tradition, many of the 11 Birdman entrants favoured art and wackiness over engineering.

Fun times: Emma Memma went for a total immersion Moomba experience at the Birdman Rally.Credit: Wayne Taylor

One of the 2024 Moomba monarchs, the former yellow Wiggle now known as Emma Memma, piloted what she described as a pool toy – an inflatable aeroplane.

She said she wanted to experience more of Moomba and to raise money for Expression Australia, a not-for-profit for the deaf community.

Another entrant, Nairn Miller, wore pretty butterfly wings on his back, designed with the help of Mordialloc Beach Primary School students. Miller and his craft dropped not-so-daintily into the drink.

However, Miller’s team were the top pre-event fundraisers by raising $14,000 for The Alfred’s melanoma research.

JJ Taiki and his partner with their sons, Unakea and Izaac. JJ Taiki took part in the Moomba Birdman Rally to raise money for an autism charity.

Scott Pollard piloted a craft shaped like an eagle and, spookily, despite his dunking kept intact his costume as Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, including long robes and beard and pointy hat.

Michael Paul’s striking eight-metre wide monoplane glider looked like it might actually fly, and sure enough its launch of 12.5 metres won Paul the first prize for distance of $7000.

Paul, who raised money for MS Australia, dedicated his 18th Birdman flight to his brother, Luke, a multiple sclerosis sufferer who died of cancer in November.

“I feel that Luke was flying with me,” Paul said afterwards.

Ruth Litter launches during the Birdman Rally.Credit: Wayne Taylor

Taiki, aka Nacho Libre, said he was supporting Autism Awareness Australia after his son, Unakea, 3, was diagnosed with autism.

Doing Birdman was “a bit of fun and laughs but also raising money for a good cause”, Taiki said. “I hope it achieves more awareness for people that have autism. I didn’t really know what autism was until my son [was diagnosed].”

Taiki sees Unakea, his partner and their one-year-old son, Izaac, on monthly trips home to Sydney.

“It’s really hard, but you get through it,” he says of the three years he has worked 30 metres underground in Melbourne, away from his family.

Andrew Goss during the Moomba Birdman rally.Credit: Wayne Taylor

He will be working in Melbourne for another year to provide for his family.

“There’s more money here in Melbourne than there is in Sydney,” he said. “I think it will be worth it in the end.”

Elsewhere at Moomba, carnival operators Chippa Chant, wife Cassie and three of their five children, Lane, 24, Chanel, 20, and Cruz, 18, are running two sideshow games and three rides, including the big ferris wheel.

Chant said the cancellation of the Moomba Parade on Monday due to heat – although the carnival and other Moomba events will continue – would affect his business because crowds come into town for the parade then flock to the carnival afterwards.

Onlookers cool down to enjoy the Moomba festivities on Sunday.Credit: Wayne Taylor

Chant, whose grandfather, Les Chant, started the family business more than 100 years ago, said the heat made work more tiring, but they soldier on.

“I’m one of the old school, mate,” he said. “Because it gets hot, we don’t go and cry and get in the air-conditioning.”

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