Page 4216 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 26 November 2013
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new ballet, Monument. The year 2013 was the biggest season ever seen at the Canberra Theatre Centre, with performances being brought in from all states and the Northern Territory. Those who saw the specially commissioned Secret River will never forget the experience, I am sure. This play has gone on to win awards and great acclaim.
Canberra’s role as the seat of government has sometimes overshadowed its outstanding performance as a site of leading-edge research and innovation. The centenary program addressed this oversight, facilitating the innovation and discovery series, a program of events, occasions, tech fests, exhibitions, star-gazing sessions, lecture series, experiments, launches and openings throughout the year to celebrate Canberra’s performance. The reputation Canberra has established in all these areas will continue into the next century.
The centenary team has been working closely with our national attractions to pull together a “best-ever” program in our wonderful national cultural institutions. There were open days at the Australian War Memorial, the Australian Institute of Sport and Parliament House. The nationwide Indigenous cultural program encompassed 64 events and almost 400 participants from more than 50 locations around Australia. The Indigenous cultural program also brought to Canberra Indigenous artists and performers from all over Australia, including some from the most remote parts of the country. The one river project connected Canberra, as the largest community in the Murray-Darling, with others living right through this vast part of Australia.
Finally, this year has been a year of many firsts for sport. The ISPS Handa women’s Australian open was played in Canberra for the first time, hosted by the Royal Canberra Golf Club in February. The public attendance was up 30 per cent on the LPGA event at the Royal Melbourne Golf Course. Televised widely, it showcased our wonderful Royal Canberra, complete with kangaroos stopping the show.
The first-ever one-day international match featuring the Australian cricket team was played against the West Indies at Manuka Oval on 6 February. The game was a sell-out. The first-ever Rugby League test featured Australia against arch-rivals New Zealand at the Canberra Stadium on Friday, 19 April. The British and Irish Lions Rugby team played the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium on 18 June, their first game in Australia since their last tour in 2001.
The Australian Netball Diamonds game versus the New Zealand Silver Ferns was held in Canberra at the AIS in October. This game sold out in 24 hours. The first AFL game played under the new lights at Manuka Oval was held when the Giants played Essendon on 8 March. The Westfield Matildas played two international women’s football games against the New Zealand Ferns at McKellar Park on 13 and 16 June. This was the first time the Matildas have played the Ferns in Canberra.
A total of 65,642 people attended 15 local centenary matches. Each of these events featured centenary branding and messaging. All spectators, and those watching broadcasts from home, could see the pride of Canberrans celebrating sport and the centenary.
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