CEO Message - December 2023

11 Dec 2023 / Melbourne Royal News

As we approach the festive season and the end of 2023, it’s an opportunity to reflect on what has been a highly successful year for Melbourne Royal in celebrating 175 years. 

Highlights of the year include winning a number of industry awards: 

  • Melbourne Royal was recently crowned the 2023 Winner of the Small and Medium Enterprise Category in Australia’s premier Risk Management Awards for the insurance industry. The award was in recognition of the actions taken to address and refine the key components relating to an events-based risk management framework. 
  • Corporate Event of the Year at the National Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) Awards ceremony for the 2022 Australian International Beer Awards. The same event was also awarded the Victorian Corporate Event of the Year, while Melbourne Royal Senior Events Manager, Olivia Belvedere, was also recognised and received the prestigious In-House Event Manager of the Year Award for Victoria. 

These awards are fabulous recognition for our organisation and our highly talented, skilled and experienced team.  

Other highlights in 2023 include but are not limited to: 
  
Melbourne Royal Food & Beverage Awards 

  • Judged and presented three beverages’ awards - Beer, Distilled Spirits and Wine  
  • Australian Distilled Spirits Awards – record entries, more than 970 
  • Australian International Beer Awards – in May, 900 plus guests attended the sold-out Trophy Presentation dinner in the Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds  
  • Melbourne Royal Wine Awards – the new-look Presentation luncheon in the Victoria Pavilion hosted more than 350 guests, the largest attendance for more than 15 years 
  • Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards – the relaunched Sweet and Savoury Preserves and Dairy Awards successfully delivered. 

I thank our respective Committees and Industry Advisory Groups for their involvement, counsel and support in assisting us maximise the appeal and success of each of these awards. In addition, we are most grateful for the incredible support we receive for our Melbourne Royal awards from the respective industries, in particular those who generously volunteer along with sponsors, suppliers and of course those thousands of businesses that enter our awards. Thank you! 

Melbourne Royal Show 

  • The Governor-General, His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley officially opened the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show  
  • More than 450,000 people came through the gates across 11 days
  • Evening attendance (entry after 4pm) was up 48% on 2022, the highest attendance for 15 years 
  • More than 50,000 attended on Sunday 23 and Friday 29 September 
  • More than 30,000 attended on ten of the eleven event days, the most consistent on record 
  • 90% visitor satisfaction, a 15 per cent improvement on 2022 

Thank you to everyone who was involved in making the Melbourne Royal Show better than ever in particular: 

  • Melbourne Royal Competition Committees for their tireless work, commitment, passion and enthusiasm to maximize the appeal and success of their respective competitions 
  • The 1100 volunteers who assisted us deliver the event, involved in a variety of roles from judges, stewards and customer service 
  • Competitors and exhibitors for taking part in the Show  
  • Melbourne Royal members for your support 
  • Principal Partners & Major Sponsors - Coca-Cola Europacific, Paramount+, Metro, Sushi Hub, and Channel 9. Sponsors - Spotlight, Agriculture Victoria, PURA, Wonder Pies, St Remio, Mitsubishi Motors, Showtime Attractions, Kubota, Life Wise, Cirka and Select Events. Thank you to all our valued official partners and sponsors for their support and involvement
  • Carnival operators, showbag retailers, food vendors and retail exhibitors 
  • Hundreds of casual staff and more than 900 business were involved in some way with the 2023 Show including suppliers and service providers. 

Melbourne Showgrounds 

It’s incredibly pleasing to see that Melbourne Showgrounds remains the venue of choice for a huge variety of events, exhibitions, functions, festivals and other activations.   

More than 140 external events including the Caravan, Camping and Touring Super Show, Meatstock, MotorEx, The Pet Show, Ridin’ Hearts Country Music Festival, Post Malone Concert, CFMEU Picnic Day and many more large-scale events. 

We were pleased to host the Festival of Toyota, which is considered the most significant corporate event that we have ever hosted. Taking over the 10,000sqm Livestock Pavilion, Toyota transformed the space into a spectacular exhibition, plenary and gala dinner space. 

Victoria Pavilion continued to host a range of food and beverage events including the Western United Football Club end of year dinner, Speedway Awards, Jim’s Group Gala dinner and a range of school valedictory dinners. 

To our Melbourne Showgrounds clients of which there are many, thank you for choosing Melbourne Showgrounds as your venue. The Melbourne Royal team look forward to working with you to maximise the appeal and success of your events again in the near future. 

Melbourne Royal has fabulous partners, service providers and suppliers that assist us deliver successful events at Melbourne Showgrounds. I particularly thank and acknowledge Moonee Valley Racing Club’s catering group, Dean & McPherson, Encore Event Technologies, and Cirka our venue presentation partner. All three venue partners have contributed significantly to assisting Melbourne Royal elevating our venue offering and experience. 

Thank you!  

Our achievements in 2023 would not have been possible without the incredible commitment, support and passion of all involved and associated with the Melbourne Royal including but not limited to our Directors, staff, Committees, Industry Advisory Groups, members, exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers. Thank you!  

I particularly want to acknowledge and thank our Heritage Committee who dedicated significant time and energy into assisting us plan and develop a program to successfully celebrate 175 years this year. Some of the highlights of commentative celebrations include the 175th Gala Celebration in the Victoria Pavilion in April, the publishing of a commemorative 175th Herald Sun Show Guide, and the displays at the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show superbly arranged by our talented Heritage Coordinator, Meghan Grech. 

Vale 

The Melbourne Royal Board, management and staff were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Keith Urquhart aged 94 years. Keith had a long association with Melbourne Royal, most notably his role as Assistant Ring Master, and was acknowledged as a Life Councillor in 1997 and subsequently received Honorary Life membership in the same year. Sincere condolences and sympathy to Keith’s daughter Helen and his family and friends. 

We were also most saddened to hear of the recent passing of long-time staff member Estelle Nix. For almost 40 years, Estelle was the face of Melbourne Royal for the many judges, stewards, committees and exhibitors she assisted. Estelle started her lengthy career at Melbourne Royal in 1988 with a job in the pay office, later moving to the computer department before taking on the role she cherished most, Dog Coordinator, for an incredible 25 years. The friendships and camaraderie Estelle established with her colleagues and exhibitors were treasured by all and we send our condolences to her husband John and her family and friends. 

Merry Christmas 

The festive season is quickly approaching, and the summer holiday period will provide a valuable opportunity for all of us to reflect, relax, and refresh in readiness for an exciting and successful 2024. 

The Melbourne Royal team are taking time off from Tuesday 19 December 2023 to enjoy the Christmas and New Year period with family and friends and will progressively return to work from Tuesday 9 January 2024. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and I wish you and your families a relaxing, safe and joyous Christmas celebration and the new year.