Watch us shine

Watch us shine

Docklands showed up to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival riverside opening weekend on March 3 and 4.

The free river shuttle that the Docklands community organised was a tremendous success. But for the presence of the free shuttle service, the very wet Saturday would have been a complete washout.

Melbourne River Cruises report 1435 passengers utilised the service despite the weather on the Saturday. In total more than 10,000 passengers were transported on both days and this demonstrated the need for a regular shuttle to service the waterways and Docklands.

Yarra’s Edge put on a fabulous jazz festival attended by eight of the best jazz bands from Melbourne’s leading secondary colleges. They performed on both days to a reasonable crowd and this swelled attendances at the local restaurants. We aim to repeat this event next year and look at making Yarra’s Edge a leading participator in the Melbourne Food and Wine riverside weekend.

Over on the other side of Docklands, MotorMania came to NewQuay and showcased many gleaming hotrods and classic cars. This somewhat upstaged the efforts of local businesses to showcase their food and wine offerings and next year we will see a greater presence for the visitors expecting to sample tasting plates from around the world.

This was the first year for Docklands and we really needed to see what is expected of us and what will work for the future. The main lesson that came out of the weekend is the need to connect all the event spaces with a river shuttle and to present a consistent theme in line with the Melbourne Food and Wine messages that were out there. Watch out for next year – Docklands is going to shine!

On Tuesday, March 20 there was a meeting of Docklands Co-ordination Committee. Docklanders were invited to attend and hear the proposed changes being made to the way the forum would work in the future. There was a very good turn out and a great hearing was given to the views of Docklanders. There is confidence that Places Victoria and City of Melbourne have listened and we wait to hear what the outcomes will be. The lesson here is that if you don’t turn up to these events, then don’t expect anything to change. This is how we make things happen.

April Fools Day announces the arrival of April in Docklands. What practical jokes have you in mind for your colleagues? Or, like me, have you grown out of such frivolous behaviour? What is April Fools Day all about anyway? Why not send me your views and stories.

In reviewing April, I went to my old friend the search engine and this is what I discovered for you (with acknowledgement to Wikipedia).

Did you know that April starts on the same day of the week as July in all years, and January in leap years? If you knew that then you will also know that April ends on the same day of the week as December every year.

April brings with it Easter this year. This year, Good Friday is on April 6 with Easter Sunday on April 8. Whilst Easter is traditionally recognised as a religious festival, it had its early beginnings as a pagan festival and this is why it follows the lunar calendar rather than any civil calendar.

April events in Docklands include the Australian National Dragon Boat Festival in the week leading up to Easter (April 1-5 April). This will be a huge event in Docklands and will bring many people to watch and to compete. It ought be a bonanza time for those businesses that make an effort and reach out to the visitors.

Also on Sunday, April 1, there is the Run for the Kids in aid of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. This event takes competitors to otherwise off-limit areas such as Bolte Bridge and City Link tunnels.

Wonderland Fun Park has achieved an incredible coup for Harbour Town. They have moved the Spiegeltent from its original location to its new place next to the Harbour Town Hotel. Watch out for the “Spellbound Illusion” coming to the Wonderland Spiegeltent from March 31until April 15.

Docklands’ success is based on encouraging visitors to events in Docklands. Anything that achieves that end must be supported by local businesses and the Docklands community. Docklands will work together in 2012. Visitors will come to Docklands and they will leave having had a great experience! Docklands is beautiful!

Have a great April and see you all in May!

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