GROWING up around the circus must be a hard act to follow.
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In August 1984, The Border Mail captured the tight bonds and camaraderie of Flying Fruit Fly Circus members, George Prince and his son George, raising the big top at Hovell Tree Park in South Albury.
Yesterday, The Border Mail photographer James Wiltshire recreated that moment a little more than 35 years later.
The original story was published on August 20, 1984, when the homegrown Fruities were setting up for their first Border and District season in three years.
Now Brisbane-based, George Snr said the early years of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus were very special times.
Together with wife Brigitte, son George and daughters, Kim and Julia, the circus kept them all on their toes from 1982 to 1988.
"At that time families were really involved in the circus," he said.
"The parents did everything from washing up and cooking to putting up tents on tours at home and overseas."
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Mrs Prince said the family got involved in the circus to give their first-born daughter an outlet.
"Kim was one of those kids who climbed walls and everything," she said.
"We wanted to channel her energy in a positive way.
"The circus became our extended family at the time."
Much to his parents' surprise, George Jnr made his circus debut aged four.
"We were watching a show and an interval act came on where a clown reached into a suitcase and pulled out George!" George Snr recalled.
"He sat George on his lap as a ventriloquist dummy; by five, he had his own act."
George Jnr said the Flying Fruit Fly Circus had been a great training ground.
Now an entertainer and Johnny Depp impersonator for By George I've Got It - Entertainment, George Jnr said he had many opportunities through the Fruities.
"I went on the Ray Martin show in Sydney and I had a bowtie that squirted water," he said.
"I was meant to squirt Ray Martin but I got the cameraman."
Now working as an echocardiologist, Kim competes in body building/sculpting and weightlifting events.
Together with George Jnr, retirees George Snr and Brigitte were back on the Border this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
Borderville Circus Festival includes Now and Then, a circus documentary with Regent Cinemas, plus Capturing Creativity, an exhibition by Border photographer Ian Sutherland. Today Back in the Big Top runs in Hovell Tree Park at 1pm, Fruities at 40 from 9.30pm and Now and Then from 10.15am.