By Gwen O’Toole

The highly-anticipated Australian Event Awards have unveiled the finalists for the wide range of awards categories recognising the most innovative and creative events in the country.

Just weeks before the ‘Industry Night of Nights’ Gala Dinner on Thursday October 8, 2009, the event’s organisers have also unveiled the look of the sought after trophy.

 
Will your name be here?
The sought after awards trophy

Award finalists include a diverse range of Australian events, from Grand Slam Tennis to a sustainable music festival, from Beijing to Warrnambool, and from the Coonamble Rodeo to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

As an official media partner to the Awards, Spice magazine is proud to announce the finalists in the Spice Best Venue category are Melbourne’s Federation Square, Sydney’s Doltone House and Flames of the Forest in Port Douglas.

Speculation is now building for the ultimate prize, as the winner of each of the Best Event categories compete for the title of Australian Event of the Year.

Winners will be announced at a special event held on October 8 at The Westin Sydney.

The full list of finalists are:

Best Sporting Event

• Anaconda Adventure Race – Rapid Ascent Pty Ltd
• Australian Open – Tennis Australia
• Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
• Whereis Australian Surf Life Saving Championships – Surf Life Saving Australia
  

Best Tourism Event

• Tour Down Under, UCI Pro Tour event – South Australian Tourism Commission
• Fun4Kids Festival – Warrnambool City Council
• Live Event for The Best Job In The World – Wonderment

Best Charity or Cause-Related Event

• Carols By Candlelight – Carols by Candlelight SA Inc
• Variety – the Children’s Charity Christmas Party – Lehman & Associates
• Give it a Go – a great little event company Pty Limited

CIM Best Meeting or Conference

• Trans-Tasman Endodontic Conference – Conexion Event Management Pty Ltd
• GOLD09 Online Human Lactation Conference – Health e-Learning
• Tech.Ed 2008 – Microsoft Australia
  

Best Cultural or Arts Event

• 16th Biennale of Sydney: ‘Revolutions – Forms That Turn’ – Biennale of Sydney Ltd
• Adelaide Fringe 2009 – Adelaide Fringe Incorporated
• Sydney Festival 2009 – Sydney Festival Limited
• Bluesfest – Bluesfest Pty Ltd

Best Corporate Event

• Atlantic On Site Launch – Atlantic Group [v]
• Global Harvey Norman Electrical Franchisee Conference 2009 – HI Event Management
• The Chivas Studio – Yakusan

Best Community Event

• Fun4Kids Festival – Warrnambool City Council
• 2008 City of Sydney Spring Cycle – Bicycle NSW
• Pako Festa – Diversitat
• Moomba Waterfest – City of Melbourne

Best Achievement in Technical Production

• Health e-Learning for their work on GOLD09 Online Human Lactation Conference
• Auditoria Pty Ltd for their work on World Youth Day 2008
• G1 Productions for their work on Conference Game Show

Best Achievement in Design

• Iceworks Design Pty Ltd for their work on Financial Conference for ABT
• 2Fish Management for their work on The Lacoste Palace
• TRIA for their work on World Youth Day 2008 

Best Achievement in Catering

• Avocado Group for their work on Elizabeth Bay House Showcase
• Culinary Edge for their work on Emirates Autumn Racing Carnival Hospitality Marquee & Events
• Bayleaf Catering & Edible Solutions for their work on Steve Waugh “Forever Green” Charity Dinner

SPICE Best Venue

• Federation Square
• Flames of the Forest
• Doltone House
  

Best Product or Service

• The Three Waiters International – Mardar Entertainment Pty Ltd
• Decorative Events and Exhibitions – Decorative Events Pty Ltd
• RiskSense – Reliance Risk Pty Limited

Best Education Program

• School of Management, University of South Australia
• Kenvale College
• CIT Events, Canberra Institute of Technology

Best Export

• Maxxam International
• The Three Waiters International – Mardar Entertainment Pty Ltd
• TAFE NSW
• Team Australia Business Events Educational – Tourism Australia

Best Poster or Flyer

• Australian Open – Tennis Australia
• 2009 Harbour IT Coonamble Rodeo & Campdraft – Coonamble Rodeo Association
• Creative Generation, State Schools Onstage – Queensland Department of Education and Training

Best Marketing Campaign

• Creative Generation, State Schools Onstage – Queensland Department of Education and Training
• Australian Open – Tennis Australia
• Asia Pacific Screen Awards – Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ltd

Best Partnership by a Business or Media Outlet

• Creative Generation, State Schools Onstage 2009 – Queensland Department of Education and Training and Network 10
• Asia Pacific Screen Awards – Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ltd and CNN International
• Adelaide Fringe 2009 – Adelaide Fringe Incorporated and BankSA

Young Achiever of the Year

• Katerina Pitsikas
• Melissa Park
• Daniel Sekers

Best Achievement in Sustainability

• Peats Ridge Sustainable Arts and Music Festival – Peats Ridge Festival Pty Ltd
• Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – Toowoomba Regional Council
• Spring Into Gardening 2008 – City of Stonnington

Event Manager of the Year

• Shani Wood
• HHO Events
• Rhumbline Marketing Pty Ltd