MELBOURNE`S tallest people are standing up for their rights and hitting out at "heightism".
While not exactly the downtrodden, they say shops, carmakers and public transport operators should show a bit of consideration to the vertically-blessed.
And don`t dare ask them what the weather`s like up there.
Tall People United formed out of a small whinge session between 208cm Steve Lunardon and the relatively diminutive but still officially tall Petra Cowled, 180cm.
In its first three months, the group has grown rapidly - something the members know all about.
With some of its blokes boasting size-18 feet and girls towering above 2m, getting the message across was always going to be a tall order.
Next month, though, they hope to get close to 600 tall people together for a Love Ya Genes charity event.
The night`s activities include a Melbourne`s Lankiest Legs competition.
Julia Keady is 190cm and fights for bed space with her 198cm hubby.
She wore a ladies size-9 shoe as a nine-year-old.
Now a size-12 shoe, she says there is a downside to being so utterly up, including hip and back problems.
"You`re ducking through doorways all the time," she says. "I can only shop at two shops in the world for shoes - here at Rosenberg`s and Magnus in London."
Stuart Rosenberg`s Chapel St shop has been in the family 105 years.
Squizzy Taylor, who had big feet, stole shoes from there and tried to sell them back.
Mr Rosenberg is a favourite of the tall and has surrounded himself with statuesque female staff.
He says the biggest feet he has fitted were a ladies size-15 and a men`s 19.
"The door`s 210cm and we`ve had people duck through that," he says.
But members of the group admit sometimes they do have it over "shorties".
They get served first, can see at concerts and never get lost in crowds.
But faced with knee-nudging strangers or sitting legs akimbo, trams are a nightmare. Cinemas are out, sportscars impossible and economy-class air travel, forget it.
The group`s biggest feet belong to 198cm former publican and footballer, Brian "Whale" Roberts.
His bulk has served him well, but there`s a price to pay.
"At Christmas time I could have gone to Pommieland and back for $2600, but I knew that if I got in the economy seats I`d never get out," Roberts says. "So it ended up costing me $9000."
And don`t dare ask them what the weather`s like up there.
Tall People United formed out of a small whinge session between 208cm Steve Lunardon and the relatively diminutive but still officially tall Petra Cowled, 180cm.
In its first three months, the group has grown rapidly - something the members know all about.
With some of its blokes boasting size-18 feet and girls towering above 2m, getting the message across was always going to be a tall order.
Next month, though, they hope to get close to 600 tall people together for a Love Ya Genes charity event.
The night`s activities include a Melbourne`s Lankiest Legs competition.
Julia Keady is 190cm and fights for bed space with her 198cm hubby.
She wore a ladies size-9 shoe as a nine-year-old.
Now a size-12 shoe, she says there is a downside to being so utterly up, including hip and back problems.
"You`re ducking through doorways all the time," she says. "I can only shop at two shops in the world for shoes - here at Rosenberg`s and Magnus in London."
Stuart Rosenberg`s Chapel St shop has been in the family 105 years.
Squizzy Taylor, who had big feet, stole shoes from there and tried to sell them back.
Mr Rosenberg is a favourite of the tall and has surrounded himself with statuesque female staff.
He says the biggest feet he has fitted were a ladies size-15 and a men`s 19.
"The door`s 210cm and we`ve had people duck through that," he says.
But members of the group admit sometimes they do have it over "shorties".
They get served first, can see at concerts and never get lost in crowds.
But faced with knee-nudging strangers or sitting legs akimbo, trams are a nightmare. Cinemas are out, sportscars impossible and economy-class air travel, forget it.
The group`s biggest feet belong to 198cm former publican and footballer, Brian "Whale" Roberts.
His bulk has served him well, but there`s a price to pay.
"At Christmas time I could have gone to Pommieland and back for $2600, but I knew that if I got in the economy seats I`d never get out," Roberts says. "So it ended up costing me $9000."
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