Rare and Smelly Titan Arum Blooms at Melbourne Botanic Gardens

THIS rare 2m bloom smells like death, flowers for only a few days each decade - and has green thumbs rushing to the Royal Botanic Gardens. 

Hordes of horticultural enthusiasts waited in line yesterday to glimpse the exotic titan arum - or corpse flower - which emits the stench of rotting flesh.

Nursery co-ordinator David Robbins said experiencing the potent waft was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"In my 26 years at the gardens, it's the most exciting thing that has happened," Mr Robbins said.
He said the plant's smell - often described as a combination of blue cheese, fresh manure and rotting flesh - attracted flies, which brought pollen from other flowers and promoted genetic diversity.
Mr Robbins said the plant, which had been painstakingly cultivated, started to flower on Christmas Day.

"This one has taken seven years to flower," he said.
"We're not sure when it will flower again. It depends on how much energy is left in the tuber after this flowering."

Mr Robbins said one underground tuber, which weighed 1kg in 2006 when it arrived at the gardens, now weighed 34kg.

He said seeds of the scarce plant were collected from Sumatra, its native home, by Sir David Attenborough in 1993 while he was there filming the documentary The Private Life of Plants.
Mr Robbins and his team planned to collect pollen from the endangered species to aid its conservation by enabling the pollination of future flowers.

He said thousands of people had come to see the bloom, which was expected to wither and close today or tomorrow, and he expected many more flower fanatics would stop by.

The Tropical Glasshouse is open from 10am to 6pm today.

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Australian Hotels Prepare for Boom in Bookings in Lead Up To Ashes - Metro Hotels

With an estimated 37,000 international visitors heading to Australia for the Ashes test series this time next year, tickets to the matches aren't the only things in high demand.

Australia is set to battle England on home soil for the Ashes, with the first Test starting at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 21, 2013 and the 5^th Test finishing in Sydney on January 7, 2014. The five Test series is expected to be a boom for local tourism operators. 

According to Metro Hotels' Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani, the Group has already experienced a huge demand for hotel accommodation in all cities where the tests are being held.

"Metro Hotels' in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney started receiving bookings from both agents and individuals as early as the day after England regained the Ashes in the 2010/2011 series," he said.
"Bookings are already extremely strong, especially group bookings, despite the series not commencing for another 12 months."

The Ashes is one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the history of the sport, and certainly cricket's oldest and most fiercely fought competition.

After England's 3-1 win in the 2010-11 Ashes Series, the 2013-14 Tour is already setting itself up to be another historic showdown, with England looking to continue their winning streak and the Aussies fired up to win back the urn.

In addition to the test matches, there will also be five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches between Australia and England.

With 13 properties across Australia, Metro Hospitality Group is the country's oldest Australian owned hotel chain. The Group offers a range of 4-star hotels and apartments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Gladstone, with the same affordable, quality, centrally located accommodation and friendly service common to all Metro properties Australia-wide.

*2013-14 Ashes series

• 1^st Test - Thursday 21 to 25 November 2013, The Gabba - Brisbane
• 2^nd Test - Thursday 5 to 9 December 2013, Adelaide Oval - Adelaide
• 3^rd Test - Friday 13 to 17 December 2013, WACA Ground - Perth
• 4^th Test - Thursday 26 to 30 December 2013, MCG - Melbourne
• 5^th Test - Friday 3 to 7 January 2014, SCG - Sydney

Guests are able to book at all Metro Hotels properties by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternatively bookings can be made online at www.metrohotels.com.au.

Incoming Passenger Changes into Australia

A quicker and more convenient quarantine, biosecurity clearance is assured when you arrive in Australia now that low-risk products such as commercially prepared and packaged lollies, chips and chocolates need not be declared.

The changes, which have been made on the Incoming Passenger Card, are a result of the latest scientific advice that shows such food poses a lower risk.

Biosecurity officers will now focus on goods such as raw meats, live plants, seeds and fresh fruit and vegetables, which have a “much greater potential to bring diseases and pests to Australia,” Chapman said.

A Unique Melbourne Experience

Melbourne's Docklands is the emerging destination that showcases great restaurants, bars, sustainable buildings and public art in a great waterfront location. Customers will not only see how Docklands has developed over the last 13 years but listen to the stories of plentiful swamplands teeming with native birds and wildlife, of Melbourne's first race meeting and of the cricket ground where the Melbourne Club was formed.

Since 1999 over $8.5 Billion has been ploughed into Docklands by such property development heavyweights as Lend Lease. Led by the construction of Etihad stadium, the Docklands precinct has emerged as a corporate space where 29,000 workers are now based, and a residential location where its first library is being constructed right now.

Many of the buildings are home to a growing local population with developer Mirvac having built their interesting 'Tower 5' - the one that seems to have a boat on the roof which can be seen all the way down Flinders St.

However from under this very modern covering, Places Victoria have reconstructed small pieces of the old swamp environment that used to contain some of the best game hunting that the early settlers such as John Batman used to enjoy on their tables.

The Docklands Walking Experience starts from Etihad Stadium and winds through 7 of the 8 Docklands Precincts and highlights the surprising facts of the current environment, mixed with the stories of yesteryear to provide visitors with a rounded experience of the docklands area.

Passing such well-known icons as 'Cow Up A Tree' by John Kelly, the tour ends in Harbour Town for a great coffee and lunch. Use the offers contained in the included tour bag to shop in Harbour Town or enjoy local attractions such as the Icehouse.

Dates: Run 10am Tuesdays to Sundays from Etihad Stadium Docklands, adjacent Southern Cross Railway Station, Melbourne.

For more details call 0407 380969 or visit http://www.meltours.com.au/docklandswalk.htmgmail.com

Melbourne Continues as Business Events Leader

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher has announced that Melbourne has secured 14 association business events in the first quarter of 2012/13, which will generate a forecasted $27 million for the Victorian economy.

Melbourne has been awarded nine international and five national conferences, which will attract an estimated 7550 delegates to Victoria over the next six years. Some of these events include:

• Engineers Australia National Conference 2014
• Green Cities 2015
• Congress of the International Federation for Structural Concrete 2018; and
• General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association 2018. 

Ms Asher said the wins added to the impressive results achieved in the last financial year.

"The 2011/12 financial year saw the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) deliver its best results on record in terms of estimated room nights and forecasted economic impact," Ms Asher said.

"MCVB secured 210 international and national business events for Victoria - a 62 per cent increase on the 2011/12 full year target."

"The business events secured in the last financial year will inject a forecasted $361 million into the Victorian economy over the coming years, and are a great testament to the ability of Melbourne and Victoria to compete in this global market."

Chief Executive Officer of MCVB Karen Bolinger, said the wins were a tribute to Melbourne's core strengths.

"Melbourne has a lot to offer business events including world-class infrastructure, an accessible city and the award-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, which will host these events in the coming years," Ms Bolinger said.

"These bid wins shine a light on Victoria's strength in intellectual pursuits which we are eager to share with the world through our ongoing campaign, Melbourne IQ: The Intelligent Choice for Conferences."

"I would like to thank all our industry partners and the Victorian Coalition Government for their support of business events in Melbourne and regional Victoria, and look forward to what the rest of the year will bring," Ms Bolinger said.

Fans Count Down to the AFL Grand Final

Having trouble picking which team to barrack for in the grand final? The former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett is here to help.

Kennett, who had vowed to keep a low profile after relinquishing his stewardship of the Hawks this year, was conspicuous by his presence on the ground just after the final siren of the preliminary final.

Not content with hob-nobbing with exhausted players after their thrilling victory over the gallant Crows, Kennett hit the airwaves this morning, keen to remind the footy world that his vision for the Hawks is near to fruition.

"You've got to remember guys, that in 2007 we outlined our five-year plan for the club which some of you commentators thought was arrogant, when we said five years, two premierships, 50,000 members," Kennett told SEN radio Monday.

"Well this is the fifth year of that business plan and I think we should have won the grand final last year … Our membership now stands at over 60,000. If the boys can bring home the bacon on the weekend, that business plan will have lived its life."

Hawthorn didn't play in the 2011 grand final, having faltered in the preliminary final after leading by 17 points at the final change.

Asked whether he was going the "early Hawk", Kennett backed down somewhat, admitting he thought the 2012 decider would be a "gladiatorial-style contest".

"Leadership and success … depends on succession and we've got very good people at Hawthorn – my successor is well qualified, a good board, good CEO, good coach and good players. If you have the fundamentals right, at least you give yourself the opportunity of performing on the field. And hopefully next weekend, hopefully, they will bring home our 11th trophy".

Legend puts Hawthorn before family 

Hawthorn legend John Kennedy could never be cast as a villain, but the ex-Hawk premiership player and coach is just as partisan as Kennett.

Kennedy's grandson Josh is playing for Sydney on Saturday, after starting his career with the Hawks. But when Robert Walls put it to Kennedy senior that he would be happy no matter which team won the grand final, he was quickly rebuked.

Jeff Kennett congratulates Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson after the Hawks beat Adelaide on Saturday.

Hawthorn trains at Waverley Park this afternoon

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Manly Set to Storm Melbourne's Fortress

Manly are plotting to storm Melbourne's fortress and seize the mantle as the NRL's new super powers in Friday night's heavyweight preliminary final at AAMI Park.

The decade's most dominant forces will collide in a high-stakes encounter, the reward a shot at premiership glory and bragging rights as the NRL's most successful club.

Renewing their bitter finals rivalry, Melbourne and Manly are clashing in the playoffs for the first time since the Storm belted the Sea Eagles 40-12 in the 2009 qualifying final.

A year earlier, Manly buried the Storm 40-0 in the 2008 title mismatch at ANZ Stadium to avenge a 34-8 loss to Melbourne in the 2007 decider.

Now the Eagles are bidding to become the NRL's first triple premiers while the Storm could have been seeking their fourth title if they had not had two stripped for salary cap cheating.
Fittingly, the sides have split their past 10 matches.

But while the Eagles hold an 8-5 edge in clashes in Sydney since the Storm entered the league in 1998, conquering Melbourne on home soil has proven an altogether different proposition.
Manly have won only twice in nine matches in Melbourne and lost their only previous clash at AAMI Park - in round one last year.

"It is tougher playing them down there," admitted star five-eighth Kieran Foran.
"They always turn up. We're going to need to be at the top of our game."

Foran, 22, hasn't forgotten his finals debut in `09 - when the Storm ripped his side apart to end Manly's season before going on to win the premiership, which was later stripped for salary cap breaches.

But Sea Eagles skipper Jamie Lyon is confident of qualifying for the club's fourth grand final in six seasons - a tally to match the Storm's dream run from 2006-09 - and says they are relishing the challenge.

"We know it's going to be a tough ask going down there. It's always hard," Lyon said.
"But if you want to be the No.1 team, you've got to beat everyone and we can't wait."

While Lyon completed the entire game after being in doubt for last Friday night's 22-12 semi-final win over North Queensland, his co-captain Jason King is a new fitness concern after lasting only 27 minutes before succumbing to a shoulder injury.