Circus Journey Begins
In 1990, after graduating from Rosny College in Hobart, Dave Wellington joined The Great Moscow Circus. What began as a temporary labor job quickly evolved into a four-month tour across Australia and Southeast Asia, alongside his friends Gus and Joe.
Demanding Work and Harsh Conditions
Wellington and his friends responded to an advertisement for laborers at the Derwent Entertainment Centre. Their duties included setting up and packing down tents, stages, and circus equipment. Key details of their work included:
- Working approximately 17 hours daily, seven days a week.
- Earning $2.81 per hour.
- The presence of various animals, including bears, horses, and dogs, alongside numerous Russian performers.
The demanding schedule and living conditions led to significant health challenges.
Wellington, a physically active football player at the time, reported a decline in his fitness due to a poor diet primarily consisting of hamburgers and ice cream, exacerbated by a lack of cooking facilities. After roughly three and a half months, Gus, one of Wellington's companions, was hospitalized with malnutrition.
Under the Watchful Eye of the KGB
As the circus was owned by the Soviet Union in 1990, its operations were closely monitored by the KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoi Bezopanosti). KGB personnel, described as immaculately dressed, enforced strict controls, restricting performers from freely roaming outside designated areas. Wellington recounted an incident where he and others had to discreetly return Sasha the bear trainer to his caravan after he consumed too much alcohol, fearing severe repercussions from the KGB.
Bonds Formed and Circus Evolution
The experience fostered significant personal bonds, including a notable friendship with a deaf performer also named Sasha. Wellington recalled a poignant farewell with Sasha, highlighting the deep connections formed despite language and communication barriers.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, The Great Moscow Circus became Australian-owned. It continues to tour today, with updated performances and modern security measures that differ from those experienced by Wellington in the early 1990s.