Lady of the Lake is “in the pink”

7 October 2008

Lady of the Lake is “in the pink”

For the first time ever, Queenstown’s vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw is to be lit up in pink to raise awareness of breast cancer.

For seven days starting from Friday October 10, the Lady of the Lake will join an illustrious list of landmarks that have participated in the Global Illumination Campaign over the years, including the Empire State Building in USA, Kensington Palace in London, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Auckland’s Sky Tower.

“As far as we’re aware, the TSS Earnslaw will be the first coal-fired steamship in the world to take part,” Real Journeys Queenstown Operations Manager Tracey Maclaren said.

The TSS Earnslaw’s lights on its outside lines (which usually glow blue, red and green), will be replaced with pink bulbs. The lights along the vessel’s lower deck will also glow pink.

In honour of the occasion, the vessel’s café will be decorated in pink. “Staff have really got in behind the cause and have come up with all sorts of suggestions,” Ms Maclaren said. “Someone even suggested hanging pink bra’s from the TSS Earnslaw’s external lines - but we decided that might be taking it a bit too far.”

Passengers who choose to make a donation to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation will receive a pink sweet treat as well as the usual wrist band or pin.

“This is an important cause that is dear to the hearts of so many in the Queenstown area,” Ms Maclaren said. “Getting an eye-catching Queenstown icon like the TSS Earnslaw involved is a great way to raise awareness. She’s such an important part of the Queenstown community.”

ENDS

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