Ekka 2012 Highlights
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SHOWBIZ THE OFFICIAL QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE RNA WINTER EDITION 2012 PG 03 EKKA 2012 HIGHLIGHTS PG 06 EXHIBITION PLAZA UNVEILED PG AustRalia’S Best 08 FooD anD Wine PG 14 MARKinG 50 YeaRS at the EKKA showbiz winter edition 2012 03 NEWS IN BRIEF: welcome Ekka Highlights Ekka 06 The 135th Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) REGENERATION PROJECT: is just around the corner. From August 9, the Highlights New Plaza Precinct RNA Showgrounds will become home to more than 400,000 visitors, 10,000 animals, 23,000 competition entries and a huge variety of food 08 RQFWS: and wine. Brand new ticket bundles— Crowning Australia’s Best Save up to 30 per cent This year marks the second show held since Get together at the Ekka with your friends and family and 10 FOOD + WINE: construction began on the historic $2.9 billion experience the magic. Check out our new 2012 early-bird The Taste of Ekka 15-year RNA Showgrounds Regeneration Project. The success of last year’s show demonstrated ticket bundles for families, foodies and friends with delicious how the state’s largest annual event can operate cost effective options giving you more ways to experience 14 Suncorp Bank Cricketing Legends Challenge Q & A: seamlessly throughout the regeneration project, the show. Value is packed into each ticket with activities Fred Slatter and this year will be no different. Visitors to Ekka that are free on admission including the night time program, Ekka 2012 will be sent off in true Queensland style as 2012 will be some of the first to walk through concerts, fashion and more. Families will love the new five cricketing greats, including Adam Gilchrist and Glenn the newly transformed Royal International ‘Ultimate Family Bundle’ which packs four mains and four McGrath, don their whites and take to the field at 4.30pm Convention Centre (previously known as soft drinks from the Steakhouse Snackbar, entry for two on August 18. Ekka visitors have the opportunity to play the Industrial Pavilion), with the ground floor adults and two children and a huge $60 Ekka ride card— alongside and meet and greet their sporting icons in this back in use for the show. The Ekka’s largest with a $55 saving. Foodies will go mad for the ‘Indulgence’ fun activity for the whole family. competition, The Royal Queensland Dog bundle and ‘Steakhouse Sensation’ tickets with cheese platters, wine, oysters, main meals and desserts on offer Show, will be housed in this fantastic exhibition dirtgirl space together with the Agricultural Hall and from the Royal Queensland Steakhouse. Ekka fans after dirtgirl is a gumboot-wearing girl who grows awesome Horticulture Exhibits. It will also be home to a a bargain need to be quick as these new ticket packages tomatoes, knows cloud names and drives a big orange new attraction for green thumbs—The Garden are only available until midnight before the show. tractor. dirtgirlworld features a line-up of much loved Platform—which will feature daily gardening tips, characters who live sustainably and in tune with nature— activities and cooking demonstrations. Fireworks with twice the bang following the seasons, caring for their gardens and friends, There is so much to see and do at this year’s show The nightly RACQ Fireworks Spectacular will be the building what they need from what they find and conserving including the brand new night time entertainment perfect finish to any day with twice the bang, twice resources. They do all of this while also taking the time program which features fireworks twice as long the length and twice the sight for Ekka visitors to enjoy. out to daydream, gaze at the stars and find wild places. as ever before. Popular childrens television series, The 2012 Ekka IgNites program, presented by B105, The dirtgirl musical show, Eco-Factor, explores the natural dirtgirl, is bringing its live musical show—Eco- features all the favourites including the amazing 27-time world and invites the audience to ‘go get grubby’ in the Factor—while the world-class Eskimo Joe and national rodeo titleholder Frank Green plus great new big world outside. Located in the Commonwealth Bank The Ten Tenors will perform over two huge nights. acts such as The CrackUp Sisters and a mascot race. Auditorium twice daily, this brand new show is filled with lots of music from the favourite rating television series plus The Ekka showcases the very best of Queensland everything kids need to know about being eco-friendly. and continues to recognise and reward top The Rock Star Ride Once you’ve seen the show, drop by the dirtgirl Growing The Ekka showcases producers, farmers, breeders and exhibitors. The newest ride to hit the Ekka—The Rock Star— Green Activity Centre located in the Ekka Chill Out Zone, the very best I am looking forward to welcoming our fantastic will be a sight to see as a 25 metre high giant guitar proudly sponsored by Grinders Coffee, to learn how of Queensland RNA members, Ekka exhibitors, competitors, swings from side to side, lights up and changes colours to grow your own herbs. The best part is—participants volunteers and visitors to this year’s show. and patterns. will even get to take their new herb pot plant home. and continues to We hope you enjoy Ekka 2012. recognise and reward Eskimo Joe and The Ten Tenors Royal Queensland Steakhouse top producers, The 2012 Triple M Concert Series features a massive line- The Ekka’s only fine dining restaurant, the Royal Queensland up including alternative Australian rock band Eskimo Joe farmers, breeders Steakhouse, has raised the bar for 2012. Featuring a menu and classically trained The Ten Tenors. Kicking off with the filled with Australia’s best steak, gold medal winning beef and David Thomas and exhibitors. operatic ensemble on August 12 and wrapping up the show lamb, diners will also be given the opportunity to have their RNA President with the internationally renowned Eskimo Joe on August 18, steak carved to their preference at their dining table. this year’s concerts should not be missed. 3 showbiz winter edition 2012 winter news in brief news in brief Shane St James— Woodchop Australia’s Own Hypnotist With $65,000 in prize money up for Shane is luckier than most comedians; grabs, woodchop is one of the Ekka’s he doesn’t need script writers to help most spectacular competitions and coax laughter out of the audience, he remains a crowd pleaser in every simply allows the volunteers to act respect. Don’t miss all the action. out their hilarious antics without the usual inhibitions. Shane says there’s Commonwealth Bank nothing funnier than seeing your Cotton and Wool Parades friends on stage doing crazy things. When you see your football mate doing As one of the Ekka’s most iconic a ballet dance through the audience or traditions, the Commonwealth Bank imitating Madonna, you will split your Cotton and Wool Parades are a must sides laughing. see at this year’s show. Presented in the 80s and 90s to massive crowds, the Commonwealth Bank Cotton and The CrackUp Sisters Wool Parades thrilled audiences and Dynamic duo S.T. Ruth (better known firmly entrenched them as one of the as Struth) and Little B-Ute (formally top experiences at the Ekka. known as Betty Angela Ursula Trudy Elvis Doug Ruth) are heading back Pioneer Crafts to the Ekka for another whip cracking year of entertainment. The sisters, Don’t miss the Pioneer Craft the Little Miracles Newborn Corner to along with their car Matilda, will competition at this year’s Ekka. the Horse Breeds Expo. There’s fun for perform hilarious pranks and stunts Allowing the freedom to experiment the whole family at the Dairy Farmers on the Heritage Bank Community and use wool in ways which it may not Milking Barn while Thoroughbred Day Stage and during the night time usually be, the competition is open to never ceases to amaze. entertainment program. any handmade article using wool and up to 20 per cent of any other natural Celebration of the best fibre. The Pioneer Craft Guild Award The BrickMan for Excellence in Wool was launched in of the best The Southern Hemisphere’s only 1988 and is awarded to the producer The Ekka is unique in bringing LEGO certified professional is heading with the best quality of work, choice hundreds of competitions and to Ekka 2012 and bringing a 5.76 metre of materials, technique, originality or 23,000 entries together to celebrate tall rocket. Made from approximately adherence to tradition. Entries will be and showcase the best of the best. 120,000 LEGO bricks and valued at on display in the Animal Boulevard. There’s always Grand Champions $25,000, the Saturn V Rocket should being crowned around the grounds not be missed. so consult your daily program to Showbags watch the blue ribbon awarded. Don’t miss out on your showbag The Garden Platform at this year’s Ekka with 335 varieties Green thumbs are being treated at on offer. 2012 brings 66 brand new this year’s Ekka with the introduction bags to the table leaving you stretched of a brand new stage dedicated to to choose just one to take home. encouraging involvement in all things Housed in Streets Sideshow Alley, the horticultural. Share tips with some Triple M Showbag Pavilion is a great of Queensland’s biggest gardening place to stop after the dodgem cars. enthusiasts on The Garden Platform including ABC Gardening Australia Animals presenter Jerry Coleby-Williams, florist Phoebe Stephens and 4BC Whether you’re a dog person, a cat radio’s Clair Levander.