CEO Message - May 2024

22 May 2024 / Melbourne Royal News

 

This month we have had the pleasure of bringing the beer and brewing community together to celebrate excellence, share knowledge and inspire innovation as part of presenting the 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards.  

2024 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards attracted more than 2500 entries from 400 plus breweries from around the world to validate its’ reputation as the world’s largest beer competition that assesses both draught and packaged beer, as well as design and media. Judging was held over four days at Melbourne Showgrounds and we hosted 84 local and international brewing experts including from US, France, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, India, China and Japan.

More than 850 guests were in attendance to celebrate the beer and brewing industry at the trophy presentation dinner held on 16 May in the Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.

Congratulations to the team at Melbourne’s Brick Lane Brewing on winning four trophies in the 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards, including Champion Victorian Brewery and Champion Large Australian Brewery. The other bigger winner was Stone & Wood Brewing Co. with their Hinterland Big Pale crowned Champion Australian Beer, which also won Best Australian Style Pale Ale. Well known New Zealand brewery Garage Project, snared four awards, highlighted by Champion International Beer for their aptly named Chance, Luck & Magic 2021, which also took out Best Belgian or French-Style Ale. I congratulate all the trophy and medal winners and encourage you to check out the results.

I sincerely thank all the brewers who entered the awards this year along with the judges, stewards and event staff who volunteered their valuable time and expertise to be involved. A special thanks to Tina Panoutsos, Warren Pawsey, Justin Fox, Billy Ryan, Craig Bowen and Jayne Lewis who provide wonderful counsel and support to Melbourne Royal to maximise the appeal and success of the awards. 

For beer lovers, there’s nothing like the Great Australian Beer Spectacular (GABS) that is being held at Melbourne Showgrounds from 21 to 23 June 2024. Discover over 500 beers on tap and taste 120 new and unique Craft Beers brewed and released for the very first time. You can meet and share stories with some of the best brewers and even take a beer masterclass. You can find out more information about GABS and other great events and exhibitions being held by visiting the What’s On page on the all-new Melbourne Showgrounds website. 

Melbourne Royal proudly won Best In-House Event Management Team (Corporate) in the Meetings & Events Awards (MEA) held earlier this month. This is the second year in a row that Melbourne Royal has been recognised at this prestigious event and winning the MEA Award is a wonderful testament to the hard work and highly skilled team we proudly have employed at Melbourne Royal.  

Plans are progressing well for the 2024 Melbourne Royal Show being held from Thursday 26 September to Sunday 6 October. Entries to Melbourne Royal Competitions are gradually opening across the coming weeks and months, with Woodchop and Horses in Action currently open for entries. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit our website and make sure you enter before the respective closing dates. 

Retail exhibition spaces at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Show is selling fast. Exhibiting at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Show offers the opportunity to reach, connect and engage with new customers to showcase your brand, products, or services. For more information on the available exhibition spaces, simply visit our website. 

As a not-for-profit membership-based organisation, we are committed to enhancing member value and growing our membership base. We seek your support by being a member of Melbourne Royal this year and encourage your family and friends to also join. 

Melbourne Royal Membership is extraordinary value and provides you with access to a range of valuable and exclusive membership benefits including admission for you and a guest to the 2024 Melbourne Royal Show with access to premium hospitality areas. 

To become a member and take advantage of these savings, and experiences visit www.melbourneroyal.com.au/membership and complete the online application.  

The Melbourne Royal Board, management and staff were saddened to learn of the passing of Honorary Life Member, Damian Noseda. Mr Noseda’s long association with Melbourne Royal Show included assisting his father Jim with tent pegging in the early 1980’s, and later as a Horse Steward for many years.  Damian was a wealth of knowledge and most popular within the Melbourne Royal community. Read more about Damian's contribution to Melbourne Royal here.

We were also saddened to learn of the recent passing of Ronald Jensen, Honorary Life Member. Mr Jensen was a highly regarded dog steward at the show from 1979 to 2010 and will be fondly remembered by the Melbourne Royal community.

Thank you for your ongoing interest in Melbourne Royal. To stay up to date with all the latest news and updates with Melbourne Royal events, awards and venues, visit melbourneroyal.com.au and follow us on Instagram and other social media channels. 

 

Brad Jenkins
CEO
Melbourne Royal