Important Diary Notes
Melbourne
Harvey Norman State of Origin 1, on 3 June, Etihad Stadium
Melbourne will host the opening match of the 2009 Harvey Norman State of Origin series as rugby league showcases its growing bond with a city famous for staging world-class sporting events.
Melbourne has been at the forefront of Rugby League’s success over the past three seasons, celebrating an NRL Premiership, three straight minor premierships, three successive grand final appearances, a thrilling 2006 Origin decider, a blockbuster World Cup clash between Australia and England and the start of work on a new multi-million dollar stadium.
For more information: visit www.nrl.com.au Tickets available through Ticketmaster: 1300 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
The Light in Winter, 4 June – 5 July
In 2009 Federation Square gives us many bright reasons to rug up and head to the city. Directed by Robyn Archer, The Light in Winter is a light-based festival that brings together artists, designers and communities to explore their ideas of light, enlightenment and hope. The Light in Winter will present two elements: Volume, a spectacular installation by British artists, United Visual Artists and The Gift of Light in which more than 10 of Melbourne’s multicultural communities work together with an artist to share the meaning of light in their culture.
For more information: call 03 9655 1900 or visit www.fedsquare.com
Good Food and Wine Show, Melbourne, 5 - 8 June
The Good Food and Wine Show is Australia's largest consumer food and wine exhibition. Held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the event showcases every aspect of cooking and entertaining, from food and wine to homewares and white goods and features some of the biggest name celebrity chefs from home and abroad including the one and only - Gordon Ramsay. Visitors can participate in cooking demonstrations and tasting sessions in the Wine Theatre with Australia's top winemakers and brewers.
For more information: call Liz Jones on 03 9261 4539 or go to www.goodfoodshow.com.au
To purchase tickets and general inquiries: call Ticketek on 13 28 49.
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces – Salvador Dali: Liquid Desire, 13 June – 4 October
Salvador Dalí: Liquid Desire is the first comprehensive retrospective of the work of Salvador Dalí ever staged in Australia. The exhibition is drawn from the holdings of the two largest collections of Dalí in the world - the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí in Figueres, Spain and the Salvador Dalí Museum in St Petersburg, Florida. A full retrospective, the exhibition will comprise more than 200 works in all media – painting, drawing, watercolour, etchings, sculpture, fashion, jewellery, cinema and photography. International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
For more information: call: 03 8620 2222 or visit www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Australia v Japan World Cup Qualifier, 17 June
Australia faces Japan at the MCG in this exciting soccer qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
For more information: visit www.footballaustralia.com.au
Tickets available through Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au
Circus Oz, Under the Big Top, Birrarung Marr, 17 June – 12 July
Circus Oz returns to wow Melbourne audiences under the Big Top at Birrarung Marr. Enjoy a whiz bang performance from the Circus Oz team that is cheeky, funny and utterly entertaining. Revel in the strength, agility, beauty and irreverent humour of the internationally acclaimed circus.
For more information: www.circusoz.com
For tickets: call Ticketmaster on 136 100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
Australia v Italy Test Rugby, 20 June
The Qantas Wallabies return to Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium bringing sports fans an opportunity to experience the best in International Rugby when they take on Italy. In 2008, Melbourne was the venue for the first Qantas Wallabies Test of the year when they were victorious beating Ireland 18-12, and they will be keen to come away with another win.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster: visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
For more information: visit www.rugby.com.au
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces – A Day in Pompeii, 26 June – 11 October
Melbourne Museum has secured the exclusive Australian rights to show the exhibition A Day in Pompeii featuring exquisitely preserved artefacts from the archaeological collection of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei. The exhibition is presented as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. The exhibition tells the fateful and intriguing story of the eruption of Mt Vesuvius on 24 August, 79AD. The exhibition features exceptional objects that lay buried in Pompeii’s ruins for over 17 centuries. Included are room-size frescoes, marble and bronze sculptures and everyday household items - all of which evoke the richness and culture of daily life in the Roman Empire’s favourite vacation resort. Admission fees apply.
For more information: visit www.museumvictoria.com.au
Regional Victoria
National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, 5 - 8 June
Celts from around Australia will converge on Portarlington during the June long weekend for Australia's largest and most diverse celebration of Celtic culture. The National Celtic Festival celebrates and promotes Celtic culture through a vibrant and progressive festival incorporating music, dance, literature and drama. The three-day program includes a series of concerts, small acoustic performances, workshops including language workshops, a community stage, community dance, singing performances, dramatic performances, displays and street performances.
For more information and ticketing: call Geelong Performing Arts Centre on 03 5225 1200 or contact the festival office on 03 5241 2499 or visit: www.nationalcelticfestival.com
Winter Wine Weekend, Mornington Peninsula, 6 June
Spend the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend eating and drinking at the annual Winter Wine Weekend on the Mornington Peninsula. Enjoy great wine, tasty food, live music – a sample of what the idyllic region has to offer.
For more information and bookings: call 03 5989 2377 or visit www.mpva.com.au
Media inquiries: call Cheryl Lee on 03 5989 2377.
Winter Weekends in Port Fairy, 5 - 7 June
June is the time to enjoy the first in a series of four weekend festivals in the beautiful coastal town of Port Fairy. The theme for June’s Winter Weekend is comedy, art and jazz and features art exhibitions, comedy concerts, jazz performances and film viewings over the entire weekend.
For more information: visit www.visitportfairy.com.au
Woodend Winter Arts Festival, 5 – 9 June
The Woodend Winter Arts Festival is a celebration of music, literature and the visual arts. Lovers of the written word can enjoy workshops and discussions on a variety of Australian contemporary writing. Local artists will open their studios to visitors. The event will be held at St Ambrose Church and Hall and various venues around town. Local restaurants will celebrate with special menus.
For more information: visit www.woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au
Media inquiries: call Irene O’Duffy on 03 5427 3092
The Australian Kelpie Muster, 6 - 8 June
Held annually over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, The Australian Kelpie Muster, incorporating the Casterton Kelpie Festival and Casterton Working Dog Auction, is a celebration of Casterton as the birthplace of the Kelpie. The festival takes a light-hearted look at the Kelpie’s vital role in rural life in Australia. On Sunday, the nationally-renowned Working Dog Auction is held, attracting a crowd of over 1500.
For more information: call the Casterton Visitor Information Centre on 03 5581 2070
Media inquiries: call Rod James on 03 5579 1374
Brown Brothers Winter Festival, Milawa, 6 - 8 June
The Brown Brothers Winter Festival will be a fun-filled three days of great wine and food. Visitors will be entertained by live music and tempted by delicious gourmet food. The Epicurean Centre will be open daily for lunch between 11am and 3pm, serving up some great wine and food matches from its new winter menu. The cellar door is open from 9am to 5pm.
For more information: call 1800 001 515 or visit www.brown-brothers.com.au
Media inquiries: Michelle Nicholas on 03 5720 5434
Rutherglen Winery Walkabout, 6 - 7 June
This renowned festival in North East Victoria will again delight wine lovers from far and wide on the June long weekend. The entry fee includes al Winery Walkabout tasting glass and two days of wine sampling of the 20 participating cellar doors. From sparkling shiraz and classic table wines to luscious vintage ports and mellow muscats, Rutherglen Winery Walkabout is a chance to compare, contrast and buy some of the magnificent wines.
For more information: 1300 787 929 or visit www.rutherglenvic.com
Snow Season Opening Weekend, 6 – 8 June
Over the opening snow season weekend, Victoria’s ski resorts celebrate with a wide variety of fun activities at Mt Buller, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Mt Baw Baw.
General inquiries: www.skivic.com
The 10th Annual Eastern Subaru Shortest Lunch, Yarra Valley, 20 - 21 June
Head to the Yarra Valley and visit some of the smaller wineries for the annual Shortest Lunch held on the shortest weekend of the year. Enjoy a delicious progressive lunch accompanied by superb wine with a backdrop of beautiful countryside. There are 15 wineries participating in the event, each offering plates of food and wine by the glass or bottle. The event runs from 10am to 5pm each day and entertainment from noon.
For more information: call 03 5962 4800, or visit www.yarravalleywine.com
Media inquiries: call Diana Viggers on 03 9730 1349
Fun4Kids Festival, Warrnambool, 28 June – 5 July
Head to Warrnambool during the winter school holidays to enjoy the award winning Fun4Kids Festival which is staged in a large indoor village. Fun4Kids features 12 zones full of activities, interactive workshops and intriguing displays. Two monster stages with non-stop live shows everyday provide fun and affordable entertainment for all the family. There are magicians, musicians, pantomimes, bands, ballet and hilarious creatures roving the venue.
For more information: call Brooke Wilson, Festival Director on 03 5559 4816 or visit www.fun4kids.com.au