Joy Burch has the news that:
Award-winning singer Anthony Callea and leading wine industry figure Wolf Blass lead the list of big names in the 2012 National Multicultural Festival, ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs Joy Burch announced today.
Mr Callea has been revealed as the headline act for next February’s event while Mr Blass is the Face of the Festival.
“Wolf Blass is an excellent example of the contribution migrants have made to our country and our communities, so he is a great ambassador for the 2012 Festival,” Ms Burch said.
“From his early years in Germany during World War Two to his emigration to Australia in 1961 and establishment of his successful wine business, Mr Blass has always shown how beneficial multicultural communities can be.”
Ms Burch said Mr Callea was also a fine example of Australia’s cultural diversity.
“With his Italian background he perfectly encapsulates the energy and multicultural tones of the National Multicultural Festival. To have a person of the international stature of Wolf Blass agreeing to be the Face of the Festival is an immense coup for the ACT.”
On the face of it this is odd. Why do we need headliners and “faces” for an event which they will add little to and is already running at the very edge of safe capacity?
Is this to market the event to the national tourism market?
Tacked to the end of the release are the winners of the 2011 ACT Multicultural Awards Winners:
Ms Burch made the announcements last night at a gala dinner for the 2011 ACT Multicultural Awards. Among the winners were Ms Chin Wong, named outstanding volunteer, and Ms Sele Taufa, named Multicultural Advocate of the Year.
Fyshwick Fresh Food Market won the 2011 Wolf Blass Multicultural Award for Private Enterprise while Housing ACT was winner of the Multicultural Award for Public Sector. A full list of winners and citations is attached.
[Photo by Che of the 2009 festival]
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