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VOLLEYBALL AUSTRALIA'S ANNUAL VOLLEYFEST RETURNS TO MANLY
Volleyball Australia’s annual Volleyfest event is in full flight on Sydney’s stunning Manly Beach. Volleyfest 2019 is the fifth edition of this popular event, which showcases a series of beach volleyball events for all levels in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.
Spectators can watch visiting countries compete in exciting Volleyball tournaments while soaking up the beachside lifestyle and relaxed community of Manly.
The very best teams from around the world go head to head with 10 days of action on the
sand, as well as live music, DJs, celebrity matches, food stalls and giveaways.
Volleyball Australia chief executive Andrew Dee said VolleyFest is recognised as the premier event on the Australian Beach Volleyball Calendar.
“VolleyFest on Manly Beach has become one of the preferred destinations for the best beach volleyball players in the world. This is highlighted by the record number of entries in 2019, making it the largest and most competitive beach volleyball tournament held in Australia since the 2000 Olympic Games,” Mr Gee said.
“Manly beach rocks and the athletic talent on display is spectacular. We cannot thank the NSW Government enough for its continued support of this event, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.”
VolleyFest 2019 kicked off on 1 March and the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) World Tour 3 Star Event is on until 10 March. Visit sydney.com/destinations
41st SYDNEY MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL DAZZLES IN 2019
Celebrating the fearless and fabulous as well as all things LGBTQI, the 41st Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival has wrapped up for another dazzling year.
With a theme of Fearless, the 2019 festival culminated in the iconic parade along Sydney’s Oxford Street on Saturday night, showcasing more than 200 colourful floats and attracting over 300,000 rainbow-robed revellers.
This year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders marked the start of the parade with a Welcome to Country ritual and First Nation floats were among the earliest to appear, followed by LGBTQI representatives from corporate, sporting, government and charity groups.
To everyone’s delight, pop princess Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance during the parade alongside drag queens led by Courtney Act, all dressed like the petite singer. Ms Minogue, in a shimmering gold dress, waved to cheering crowds and even hugged some excited fans before exiting the parade.
Amongst other famous faces celebrating Mardi Gras this year were The Veronicas and Jess & Matt.
AIME 2019 HERALDED A MAJOR SUCCESS
Destination NSW has again participated at the Asia Pacific Incentives Meetings Event (AIME) in Melbourne; co-exhibiting with 25 regional NSW operators and destinations to showcase the best that regional NSW has to offer in creating and hosting amazing business events. Click on the photo for an insight into the event and to hear feedback from Destination NSW's regional destination delegates.
SNEAK PEEK: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER REHEARSALS
The highly anticipated musical Saturday Night Fever hits the Lyric Theatre stage later this month and the rehearsal schedule is well and truly underway.
Media were recently treated to a sneak peek of the cast fine tuning their moves and tunes, and Saturday Night Fever is gearing up to be a spectacular disco extravaganza with Marcia Hines playing The Diva, Euan Doidge as Tony, Melanie Hawkins as Stephanie, and star vocalists Paulini, Bobby Fox, Natalie Conway and Nana Matapule.
The stage production is based on the 1977 film starring John Travolta, which follows his character Tony Manero’s quest to become king of the club, and features favourite disco hits, the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love and Night Fever.
Saturday Night Fever premieres at Sydney Lyric Theatre on 27 March 2019. Visit saturdaynightfever.com.au
KOOKABURRAS CELEBRATE WIN AGAINST SPAIN IN HOCKEY
The Australian men’s and women’s hockey teams are off to a flying start in the 2019 Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Pro League matches, currently taking place in Sydney. The competition pits the world’s nine best men’s and women’s teams against each other with three match days being held at Sydney Olympic Park throughout March, supported by Destination NSW.
The first of the matches took place last Saturday, with the Kookaburras downing Spain 2-1 and the Hockeyroos beating the USA by the same margin. There is still time to catch some of the world’s best hockey players in action with both Australian teams taking on Argentina on Saturday 16 March. The final FIH Pro League Sydney matches will be held on Sunday 17 March against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS 'PIE TIME' WINS BIG
The popular ‘Pie Time’ campaign by Destination Southern Highlands, has been awarded Australia’s Best Tourism Destination Marketing Campaign in the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards.
Destination Southern Highlands Tourism Manager Steve Rosa said the award was a real achievement for the local industry and the passionate Destination Southern Highlands team of tourism marketing staff, who have been turning the Southern Highlands into the Southern Pie-lands during June for the last two years.
“Creativity, innovation and grass roots collaboration between council and our local tourism industry were singled out as reasons this marketing initiative has been judged Australia’s best,” Mr Rosa said.
Pie Time runs for 30 days throughout June in the NSW Southern Highlands and provides visitors with hundreds of ways to experience the great Australian Pie. Visit pietime.com.au
Other NSW prize winners in this year’s QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards include:
Shoalhaven Tourism 100 Beach Challenge (Silver – Destination Marketing)
Blue Ginger Picnics (Silver – New Tourism Business)
Parkes Shire Council 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival (Bronze – Festivals and Events)
Splendour in the Grass (Bronze – Major Festivals and Events).
NEW ENGLAND MOTORCYCLE EVENT SECURED
A brand new, three-day motorcycle festival, expected to inject more than $1.7 million into local hotels, shops and attractions, has been secured for Walcha in 2019 thanks to the support of Destination NSW.
Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said The Freak Show Festival of Motorcycles will attract motorcycle owners and enthusiasts from across the country, helping to put the town of Walcha on the map.
“We are delighted that this exciting event has been secured for the New England region,” Ms Chipchase said.
“Known for being popular with motorcycle tourists, Walcha is a great place to visit, with local tourism businesses in the region also set to benefit from thousands of additional visitors.
“I encourage all motorbike enthusiasts and those wanting to take a short-break to plan a trip to Walcha to experience this exciting Australian-first event.”
The New England High Country region is home to three of the State’s noted motorcycle touring routes including the Oxley Highway between Port Macquarie and Walcha, the Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Armidale, and the Thunderbolt Way between Gloucester and Walcha.
The inaugural Freak Show Festival of Motorcycles is expected to take place in November 2019.
ARMIDALE TOURISM WORKSHOPS
Tourism businesses can register now for NSW First Workshops being held in Armidale next month.
On 3 April, learn to promote your tourism product at the Tourism Development Workshop. On 2 April, local council tourism teams can join the Armidale Tourism Manager Forum overview on support programs , from event funding to digital marketing. The NSW First Program is delivered by Destination
NSW to assist tourism businesses develop, promote and sell tourism experiences. View the calendar or sign up for updates.
THIRD AND FINAL RÜFÜS DU SOL SHOW
Rüfüs Du Sol has announced a third and final Sydney show due to overwhelming demand. The Thursday and Friday night shows at Carriageworks as part of Vivid Sydney, the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere, have sold out but a Saturday 15 June show is on sale now.
Currently based in Los Angeles, the Aria Award-winning three piece won the world over with their deep house electronica and two platinum-certified albums, Atlas and Bloom. Visit carriageworks.com.au
CALL FOR VIVID SYDNEY PROJECT DIRECTOR 2020-21
Destination NSW is seeking applications and itemised quotations from an experienced contractor for Project Director services for Vivid Sydney 2020-21. The Project Director reports to the Director, Event Development – Arts, Lifestyle & Entertainment and collaborates with the CEO DNSW and Executive Producer Vivid Sydney, to develop and deliver a curated program balancing artistic integrity with event operations, technical, and production requirements. Request for quote closes 15 April. Visit destinationnsw.com.au/contact-us/jobs
SNOWIES FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
The Taste of the Snowies: Thredbo Food and Wine Festival immerses visitors in the alpine high country of the Snowy Mountains and showcases the best food and wine from the region in a series of culinary events. Don’t miss the delicious Progressive Dinner, the fun of Australia’s only Cheese Rolling Competition and seasonal, fresh produce on Market Day.
Visit thredbo.com.au
DUBBO TO HOST REGIONAL EVENTS CONFERENCE
After strong competition from a number of Regional NSW destinations, Dubbo has been named as host of the 2019 Regional Events Conference. The conference invites event professionals, event stakeholders, event students and volunteers to hear from experienced presenters within the industry with a focus on planning, partnerships and more. Visit regionaleventsconference
GOULBURN IS BLOOMING
The city of Goulburn is known as the City of Roses and this weekend they will hold their 26th Annual Rose Festival at Veolia Arena, during peak rose season. Explore Goulburn’s exquisite public rose gardens, marvel at huge floral displays and look out for the distinctive ‘City of Goulburn’ rose, first introduced in 1994, amongst the named roses on display, Visit goulburnaustralia.com.au
