Important Diary Notes
Melbourne
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, 26 April to 2 May
Celebrate the dynamism and spirit of jazz at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival which presents more than 65 concerts in the heart of Melbourne over seven days and nights. Jazz enthusiasts will enjoy a line-up of acclaimed Australian artists as well as performers from across the globe including France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Brazil, USA, South Africa and Australia in a series of free and ticketed events. See also listing below for (All that) Jazz on Film, a special cinema program at ACMI, which will showcase the scenes, the sounds and some of the people that have been captured on film from the 50's to today.
For more information: call 03 9001 1388 or visit melbournejazz.com
(All that) Jazz on Film, ACMI Cinemas, 26 April - 2 May
For the first time ever the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) is coming to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) with a boutique film season of Jazz on Film. Featuring biographies of jazz icons, a 70s psychedelic free jazzploitation, sci-fi and a cult classic with a sublime jazz soundtrack, Jazz on Film will step inside the world of jazz: the scenes, the sounds and some of the people that have been captured on film from the 50's to today.
For more information: visit www.acmi.net.au
Media contact: Claire butler, ACMI Ph: 03 98663 2415 or Claire.butler@acmi.net.au
The Royal Botanic Gardens Markets, 8 – 9 May
The Gardens Markets at the Royal Botanic Gardens sell products with botanic inspired themes including fresh produce, art, jewellery, craft, clothing and great garden sculptures and plants.
For more information: call 03 9899 5979
Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival, Melbourne, 16 – 17 May
Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival is an annual event which celebrates Melbourne’s religious diversity and multicultural society. Running over two days, the colourful festival is held at Federation Square and commemorates the birth of Buddha and promotes cooperation, community understanding and harmony in the community. Ceremonies include ‘Bathing of the Buddha’, daily Dharma ceremonies, the Wishing Bell, a vegetarian culinary tour along the River Terrace, dance performances and children’s games.
For more information: call 03 9314 5147 or visit www.bliav.org.au/festival
Top Designs, Melbourne Museum, until 26 July 2009
A beanbag inspired by two-piece electronic band Daft Punk, an Olympic torch designed for the 2016 Tokyo Olympic Games, costumes for the Wizard of Oz made of recycled materials, and a computer controlled robotic arm are just some of the outstanding pieces featured in Top Designs, on show at Melbourne Museum from 21 March to 26 July 2009.
For more information: www.museumvictoria.com.au
Mathamazing, Sciencewords, from 2 May
Explore the mathematics behind everyday life. Mathamazing includes hands-on activities based on topics such as shapes, probability, sequences and series, puzzles, problem solving, topology and building. Developed by Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, Canberra.
For more information: www.museumvictoria.com.au
Regional
Richard Nylon Hat Exhibition, Hamilton Art Gallery, 15 April – 17 May
Richard Nylon was born and raised in Hamilton, and is one of Australia’s finest and most original milliners. This special exhibition of breathtaking headwear runs from 15 April – 17 May, open seven days, Hamilton Art Gallery.
For more information: visit www.hamiltongallery.org
Hans Heysen, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 23 April – 21 June
A prolific and hugely influential artist, Hans Heysen is renowned for his imagery of barren Australian landscapes, mountain forms and distinctive gum trees. The exhibition includes many of Heysen’s greatest oil and watercolour paintings, alongside rarely seen preliminary sketches and studies. It will be the first comprehensive survey of Heysen’s work since the Art Gallery of South Australia’s centenary retrospective of 1977, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the artist’s death.
For more information: visit mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au
Keen Adventure Race, Wilsons Promontory, 28 April – 2 May
The Keen Adventure Race returns in 2009 to showcase one of Victoria’s most spectacular regions – the beautiful Wilsons Promontory National Park and the South Gippsland region.
For more information: visit www.rapidascent.com.au
Grampians Grape Escape, Halls Gap, 2 – 3 May
The Grampians Grape Escape is an exciting weekend getaway and a great opportunity for wine lovers and foodies to sample the flavours of this delicious region. Visitors can drink and graze around the temporary village which features views of the Grampians National Park as a backdrop. Regional producers from all over Western Victoria will showcase their products alongside local wineries. A lively mix of live entertainment will add colour to the event.
For more information: visit www.grampiansgrapeescape.com.au
Nagambie Lakes After Vintage Celebration, Tahbilk Winery, 3 May
Celebrate the end of vintage in the Tahbilk Winery Cellar Yard at the Historic Tahbilk Winery on 3 May. Presented by the Nagambie Lakes Winemakers this is a great opportunity to enjoy fine wine and regional food as well as music and kids activities. The festivities take place from 11am – 5pm and entry is the cost of a wine tasting glass. Children under 18 are free.
For more information: call Tahbilk Winery on 03 5794 2555
Back to Booktown, Clunes 2 – 3 May
Join in the fun when second hand-book sellers from Victoria and interstate come to town. Book lovers can buy rare books, out of print books, collectors’ items, children’s books as well as fossick for books on the bargain stalls. Local food and wine is served in the local park and various cafes. Writers will present talks and readings and there will be competitions to win books.
For more information: call Graham Johnson on 03 5345 3267.
Kellybrook Cider Festival, Yarra Valley, 2 - 3 May
Fancy a real cider? Don’t miss the 19th annual Kellybrook Cider Festival, celebrating cider and all things west of England. Enjoy live music, Morris dancing and cider making demonstrations. Have a traditional ploughman’s or squire’s lunch followed by some tempting apple based desserts. To whet the palate, try a refreshing sparkling draught cider, fresh apple juice and Kellybrook Winery’s full range of wine and apple brandy.
For more information: call 03 9722 1304
Puffing Billy Steam Railway Great Train Race, Dandenong Ranges, 3 May
The annual Great Train Race is one of Australia’s most unusual and challenging fun runs. Each year, thousands of runners race against Puffing Billy to see if they can beat Australia’s famous historic steam train. The colourful course is 13.2 kilometres long and competitors run through the picturesque Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave to Emerald Lake.
For more information: call 03 9757 0775 or visit www.puffingbilly.com.au
Hepburn Springs Swiss Italian Festa, 24 April - 3 May
Join the local Hepburn and Daylesford communities as they pay homage to their Swiss-Italian roots and celebrate the historical importance of the townships with an eight-day, action-packed festival.
For more information: call 1800 353 354 or visit swissitalianfesta.com
Shakespeare on the River Festival, Stratford, Gippsland, 23 April – 7 May
This colourful community festival, at Stratford on the Avon River in Gippsland kicks off on Shakespeare’s birthday - 23 April - and continues for two eventful weeks. Activities include theatrical productions, cabaret performances and a village fair.
For more information: call 03 5145 6571 or go to www.stratfordshakespeare.com.au
Walhalla Wound-Up, Sunday May 10th 2009
The Walhalla Wound-Up is a series long distance cross-country running races starting and ending in the historic gold mining township of Walhalla. The race caters for all abilities and endurance, and includes 19km, 37km and 50km mountain trail courses. Races start in front of the historic Star Hotel.
For more information: www.visitwalhalla.com
Bright Autumn Festival, 25 April - 6 May
The two-week festival is a celebration of autumn colours and produce taking place in the last week of April and the first week in May. The highlight is Gala Day on 2 May featuring brass and highland bands, stalls, craft displays and the Autumn Festival Parade full of colourful floats decorated according to a theme.
For more information: call the Bright Information Centre on 03 5755 2275 or visit brightautumnfestival.org.au
Ballarat Heritage Weekend, 9 – 10 May
Ballarat Heritage Weekend is a celebration of Ballarat’s 1850s architecture, heritage listed homes and gardens, culture and history. During the Ballarat Heritage Weekend, the owners of some of Ballarat’s historic and beautiful private homes and buildings open their doors to visitors. Other highlights include rides on a horse-drawn tram, high tea, the opportunity to learn how to research your family history and the opportunity to have your old books restored by one of the best professional hand bookbinders and restorers in the country.
For more information: call Kellie Boyce on 03 53205745 or email kellieboyce@ballarat.vic.gov.au.
The Great Ocean Road Marathon, 16 – 17 May
The Great Ocean Road Marathon provides the most spectacular and challenging course of any marathon in the world and is aimed at runners and walkers of all abilities. There are four distance races including 6.5km, 14km, 23km and 45km - there is also a 14km wheelchair race.
For more information: call 03 5224 2466 or visit www.greatoceanroadmarathon.com.au
Beechworth Harvest Celebration, 17 May
Showcasing the diversity and quality of Beechworth’s local produce, the Beechworth Harvest Celebration is held annually on the third weekend in May. It brings together local food and wine producers under a marquee in the main street in town, with lots of local produce to taste and buy. From 11am to 5pm, celebrate the end of the harvest with wine workshops, street entertainment, cooking displays, competitions and food art. Beechworth is in north-east Victoria, approximately three-and-a-half hours’ drive from Melbourne.
For more information: visit www.harvestcelebration.com.au
Historic Winton, Benalla, 30 – 31 May
Australia’s largest and most popular all-historic motor race meeting presents two action-packed days of non-stop racing featuring over 400 historic racing cars and motorbikes from the 1920s to the 1980s.
Held at Winton Motor Raceway in Benalla, Victoria.
For more information: call Noel Wilcox on 03 5428 2689 or visit www.historicwinton.org
Archibald Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, 30 May to 12 July
Australia's most extraordinary art event, the Archibald Prize, first awarded in 1921, will travel to Bendigo Art Gallery immediately following its run at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. As the exclusive Victorian venue, the Gallery will feature all of the 39 short-listed works including an image of Ben Cousins, restless in his bed; Neil Mitchell, Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, John Safran, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Richard Clapton, David Helfgott, Jimmy Barnes, Tom Keneally, Marcia Langton and Brendan Cowell.
For more information: call (03) 5434 6085 or go to www.bendigoartgallery.com.au
Media contact: Sharon Wells Ph: (03) 9417 4665; mobile 0419 508 619 or email panbacc@optusnet.com.au