Herb & Chilli Festival Melbourne 2012

The Herb and Chilli Festival celebrates herbs and chillies in our day-to-day lives: flavours, benefits and uses in Australian food and wine.

Located in the Yarra Valley, visitors will have the chance to see a huge range of chilli plants and fruit, over 300 different herbs and be able to sample a range of food using different fresh herbs and chillies.
In 2012 the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is celebrating its 20th year and is running for 20 days.

The last weekend (17th and 18th March) has a regional focus and we are privileged to be accepted as one of their participating events. The event will run from 10 am to 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Festival highlights and attractions will include:

-:- FREE Herb and Chilli Festival Showbag on arrival to the value of $20. Includes magazine, free plant, fertiliser sample and much more.
-:- stalls selling and sampling a broad range of chilli products; sauces, dips, dried, fresh, pickled and cooked
-:- a range of food plants including berries, fruit, herbs, tomatoes, vegetables, nuts, truffles and others
-:- talks and presentations by experts in growing, producing and using herbs for culinary, medicinal and other household purposes
-:- cooking demonstrations on how to use fresh herbs and chillies in day-to-day dishes
-:- an amazing array of tasty and unusual food and drinks including; chilli beers, local wineries, ciders, ales fresh fruit and produce, tacos and Mexican food and fresh made venison and herb sausages, calamari, fresh made halloumi, dukkhas and harissas, beef and chilli pies, locally made ice cream, frsh made fruit smoothies and much more
an essential oil still, distilling lavender oil
-:- a coffee cart with a selection of standard and herb/chilli coffees.
-:- horticultural societies talking about their special interest, including The Australian -:- -:- -:- Lavender Growers, Victorian Herb Society
-:- music and dance
-:- free activities for the kids, including face painting, pony rides and jumping castle.
-:- Red Horse doing his Apache smoke dance
and much more.

Book tickets on line – free for under 14.

From: Saturday 17th of March 2012  To  Sunday 18th of March 2012
Time: 10am to 4pm

Where: 125 Quayle Road  Wandin Victoria  Australia | Map
Telephone: 0414 242 710

Melbourne Fashion Festival Swap Meet

It is L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival time and the whole city is in a fashion frenzy!

As part of the Festival Cultural Program, we are gathering some of Melbourne’s most fashionable ladies to do some wardrobe swapping.

This event is always one of the best for the year so get along with your six items or less and find something new for the coming Autumn/Winter Season.

If this is your first swap, we encourage you to have a read of the Swapping FAQs on the website.

BMW Edge, Federation Square,
Corner Flinders St and Swanston St, Melbourne
Admission $25, book online/ tickets at the door according to availability

Be there for 6.30pm check in!

Bring 6 items you value but no longer wear to swap for those you will – quality screening at the door.

Date: Monday 12th of March 2012
Time: 6.30pm

Venue Federation Square 2 Swanston St Walk Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia | Map

Web Links Book Online Here Fashion Festival Swap www.clothingexchange.com.au Telephone: + 61 3 9655 1900

Aylesbury Vale F1 Star Webber Laughs Off Retirement Rumours

ASTON Clinton F1 star Mark Webber has laughed off rumours he plans to hang up his helmet at the end of this year.

Webber will hit the accelerator on his 11th season at the pinnacle of the sport next month, when F1 2012 gets underway in front of his home fans in Australia.

And while he is under pressure after being comprehensively outperformed by team-mate, Sebastian Vettel in 2011, the 35-year-old told the Australian press that he is ‘not contemplating’ retirement anytime soon.

“Not at all, (although) you know, I’ve been through enough on and off the track to know that nothing is forever,” he said.

“(According to the media) I was supposed to be replaced by Kimi (Raikkonen) four years ago!”

Despite talk of Webber planning to put the brakes on a life in the fast lane, The Stag at Mentmore co-owner is honest enough to admit 2011 was disappointing.

“I clearly got outperformed last year, there were areas where I could have done a better job,” he added.

“It was a tough start to the year I think, that makes it difficult to roll out of that mid-season and come to the end ... but, again, it’s those old lessons of operating at this level, you know you just have no choice, you’ve just got to get back on the horse, and get on with it.”

Finishing with victory in Brazil at the end of the last campaign sent Webber into the winter on a high and he says he is feeling the benefits.

“I think it’s one of the best breaks I’ve had. It was just a really good break and you know sometimes they don’t always go like that.

“Obviously, on the back of 2010 when I didn’t win the championship that was a different sort of winter getting your head around that, and then the previous winters before that I was having surgery on the leg.

“So this was a real first nice winter, saying, like, let’s pull it all together and come back refreshed, you just feel refreshed, that’s the most important thing,” he concluded.

Although feeling rejuvenated and fresh-faced ahead of the curtain raiser in Melbourne on March 18, Webber admits he slightly is less enthused by the look of his new RB8 car.

With new rules introduced this season, the F1 cars have taken on a distinctly different look with stepped noses proving all the rage.

But Webber thinks the noses are plain ugly.

“F1 cars should look beautiful.

“The stepped nose is not very desirable in my opinion but that’s how it is and that’s okay.

“Aerodynamically the concept is a bit different for sure.

“But I feel comfortable in the car and it goes, so we’ll see,” he added,

You can keep up to date with Mark Webber on Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com and follow

Aylesbury Vale F1 Star Webber Laughs Off Retirement Rumours

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

The 20th anniversary Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) will take place next week and is expected to be bigger than ever, with a huge turnout by exhibitors and strong support from existing and new sponsors, allowing for exciting initiatives both on and off the show floor.

Joined again by big name, major sponsors such as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Crown, Qantas, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Saxton Speakers Bureau, as well as new sponsors including Corporate Traveller, Air New Zealand, ShowGizmo and three new industry associations, AIME has been able to draw on their support to introduce new additions such as the Association Lounge, a new look Education Program and an additional dining area on the show floor.

Sally de Swart, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) Director for AIME, said she is looking forward to seeing the response to the show’s range of new initiatives.

“The show floor is going to be really buzzing and I am particularly looking forward to our new networking opportunities such as the Exhibitor Networking Drinks on the Tuesday afternoon. This gives exhibitors the chance to run promotions and competitions as well as host casual drinks on their stands and mix with buyers and visitors in a more relaxed atmosphere,” Ms de Swart said.

“We’ve also enhanced the culinary offering at the show this year as the Globe Restaurant and Bar sponsored by South African Tourism, is offering table service and bookings for the first time, which is ideal for lunch meetings."

“We want to offer something for everyone and the formal dining option at Globe will be complemented with the Singapore Tourism Board’s SingaporeXpress, a dining area, which is offering a quick and tasty, hawker-style menu for attendees short on time.”

New sponsor ShowGizmo is offering a free mobile phone app to AIME visitors and exhibitors which provides up-to-date information on everything taking place at the show, by allowing them to plan their time, access AIME’s program, exchange information and collect brochures, make connections, receive real time alerts and news, before, during and after the event, all in the palm of their hand. Attendees will also now be able to charge their mobile phones at the show’s new Chargebar, located in the Relaxation Zone and close to the Globe Restaurant.

New partnerships established with associations have led to the introduction of the Association Lounge, where attendees can meet with members of AIME’s new association partners: The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE); the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc (PCO); and International Special Events Society (ISES). The new look Education Program has also been developed in conjunction with these partners, as well as International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA) and Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), ensuring the content addresses real issues faced by the industry.

This year AIME has also introduced the new, online travel booking tool that allows AIME attendees to compare preferable flight and accommodation prices for their trip to AIME and book all through the one site thanks to new sponsor Ozzacom Plus.

A “Keeping it Green” campaign has also been introduced in an effort to make AIME a sustainable, low carbon event by encouraging exhibitors to donate their surplus merchandise and gifts, such as bags and pens, to charities. AIME will provide Green Deposit Depots at the show for these donations and then will distribute these on behalf of exhibitors.

AIME, which is owned by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and run by RTE, will take place on the 21 and 22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

For more information about visiting AIME 2012, visit www.aime.com.au

To attend as a visitor, pre-register for free online by Monday 20 February by 5pm or pay $22 at the door.
Follow AIME on Twitter @AIMEMelbourne #AIME2012

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

Victoria Prepared to Ban Outdoor Smoking

Victoria's health department is said to be pushing for a total smoking ban in outdoor areas throughout the state.

The calls have reportedly been made in a report to Health Minister David Davies.

Several metropolitan councils have already introduced bans at playgrounds and sports centres.

The plan has drawn opposition from business owners and smokers alike, who say it is still legal to light up and every person should have a choice.

The move follows Queensland's state-wide smoking ban in outdoor areas, in July 2006.

Victoria Prepared to Ban Outdoor Smoking

Melbourne, We Love It, But it's Too Dear and Too Packed

MELBURNIANS love their city, but are sick of pretentious restaurants and bars, soaring parking fees and crowded streets, secret council research has revealed.

Internal council reports obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information give for the first time a frank assessment of the city by its residents.

While locals are proud of the city’s bustling laneways and busy events calendar, many will avoid the city because it’s too expensive, too busy and too pretentious.

More than 90 per cent of people questioned in the City of Melbourne’s 2010 City Perceptions Study said they didn’t care if they socialised around “beautiful people”, and 95 per cent said they weren’t fans of upmarket venues.

Almost two-thirds said it made them proud to be a Melburnian when the city picked up awards.

But the city’s dire parking was enough reason not to visit for 43 per cent.

Others said the city was too crowded or too much hassle, they didn’t feel safe, activities were too expensive, and the city was dirty, noisy and polluted.

There were four core weaknesses that stopped people visiting the city. They included:

TIME taken up by transport, poor public transport and feeling they must get dressed up to go into the city.

HIGH prices of parking, food, drink and entry prices.

TRAFFIC for drivers and pedestrians, causing stress and frustration.

SUBURBS offering better parking and facilities around shopping centres.

The report noted Melbourne had four personalities during the week, of which just two were appealing.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Melbourne was relaxed and family friendly. In the evenings, it was sophisticated and atmospheric.

But on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, it became rushed and serious, and on Saturday night, Melbourne was “immature, drunken, and tacky”, the report said.

Former premier Jeff Kennett said Melburnians were right to feel proud of their city, but they faced an increasing number of barriers trying to visit it.

“The city is … an absolute magnet in terms of the diversity of its offerings,” he said.

“It’s very special, but as the population grows and our demand upon our infrastructure grows at a similar rate, it’s becoming an increasingly expensive option.”

Plan to Turn Melbourne into a Mega-City

MELBOURNE lord mayor Robert Doyle has embraced a plan to turn Melbourne into a mega-city, with skyscrapers stretching from the MCG to the West Gate Bridge and north to the University of Melbourne.

Mr Doyle described the “Grand CBD” plan by Planning Minister Matthew Guy as bold, visionary and inspirational.

Under the proposal, Melbourne would be transformed into a “Manhattan-style metropolis”, five times its present size, with the city’s tallest buildings built in the present commercial precinct of Fishermans Bend or north of the Docklands.

A new capital city zone would abolish height restrictions.

Mr Guy told the Herald Sun: “I think it could lead to the centre of Melbourne becoming one of the truly great high-density population areas for western cities anywhere in the world.

“It doesn’t mean that anything can go anywhere, but it does mean we are looking to expand high-rise, high-density in a central core of the city.

“It will make Melbourne an absolute icon in terms of western cities.”

Mr Doyle told ABC’s Jon Faine: “I think it’s very bold and I think it’s very visionary.”

He said heritage protections would apply in a capital city zone to protect historic buildings in Australia’s most European city.

“The rules have to be drawn pretty carefully, but a high-level coherent vision for the future of the city I think is inspirational. It’s a really bold move.”