St Kilda FC media call - Melbourne

St Kilda Football Club players Nick Dal Santo and Sam Gilbert will turn into fashion stylists when they visit Ted Baker Chadstone for this media opportunity today.

Venue:
Chadstone Shopping Centre, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone
Date: Saturday, December 17, 2011
Time: 10:30 to 12:00
Website: http://www.saints.com.au/
Ted Baker, Official Corporate Wear Supplier of the St Kilda Football Club, have just resigned as a Club Partner for the 2012 season and to celebrate are offering all 2011 St Kilda Members a 20% discount on full priced merchandise in their three Australian stores throughout December.

Arguably the two most stylist Saints, Nick Dal Santo and Sam Gilbert will be on hand today between 10:30am and 12noon to give their tips on what's hot this summer and help shoppers with their Christmas purchases.

Sponsor: Centrebet International Limited 02 9206 8888 (110-116 Bourke Road, Alexandria, NSW, 2015) ID:9574
Who's coming:
Nick Dal Santo and Sam Gilbert

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'Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route' exhibition opens - Sydney

This exhibition recently travelled to Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and will now open at the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Venue:
Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney
Date: Saturday, December 17, 2011 to Sunday, April 29, 2012
Website: http://www.nma.gov.au/
This groundbreaking exhibition reveals the richness of desert life today. It tells the story of the Canning Stock Route's impact on Aboriginal people and the importance of the Country that surrounds it, through the works of senior and emerging artists and the stories of traditional custodians.

It is a story of contact, conflict and survival, of exodus and return, seen through Aboriginal eyes and interpreted through their voices, art and new media.

RocKwiz live tour - Perth

Following the success of their television Christmas specials, SBS' hugely popular music trivia quiz show RocKwiz will this year bring their festive season edition on a national tour.

Venue:
Perth Zoo, 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth
Date: Saturday, December 17, 2011
Website: www.sbs.com.au/rockwiz/
This year Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis and the expanded RocKwiz Orkestra are taking their Christmas shows on the road. Dugald is loading the sled and sourcing some high quality frankincense and myrrh and we are coming to a theatre near you.

As always, audiences can expect an all-star, mystery guest line up, combined with some brand new theatrical flourishes and of course, the usual selection of brave audience members, sitting behind the buzzers, answering some curly Christmas quiz questions and bringing the house down with our legendary 'Contestant Karaoke'.

Who's coming:
Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis

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KFC T20 Big Bash season begins - Sydney

The KFC T20 Big Bash League will kick off tonight with a match between Sydney 6ers and the Brisbane Heat at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Venue:
Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park Road, Moore Park
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 19:00
Website: http://www.bigbash.com.au/
The first match in the T20 KFC Big Bash league will see the likes of Brett Lee, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson of the Sydney 6ers take on Daniel Vittori, Mathew Hayden and Nathan Hauritz of the Brisbane Heat.

Who's coming:
Brett Lee, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson

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Christmas with the Penguins - Melbourne

Melburnites will be able to enjoy an exclusive dinner and live entertainment while being seated around the Melbourne Aquarium's penguin exhibit at this special event this evening.

Venue:
Melbourne Aquarium, Corner Flinders Street & King Street , Melbourne
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011 to Saturday, December 17, 2011
Time: 19:00 to 22:30
Website: http://www.fivestarfunctions.com.au/
Christmas with the Penguins is a unique annual function that encourages workmates and colleagues to get together and celebrate the festive season with some feathered friends - the penguins who reside at Melbourne Aquarium.

The event will be held on Friday the 16th, Saturday 17th and Thursday the 22nd of December.

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Express Media Awards winners announced - Melbourne

Melbourne's support and development group for young writers will announce the winners of its annual Express Media Awards at a gala extravaganza this evening.

Venue:
The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 18:30
Website: http://www.expressmedia.org.au/
Express Media are a Melbourne-based organisation that presents an annual artistic program that aims to develop and support creative skills in young writers and media professionals.

Tonight, the organisation will announce the winners of its Express Media Awards as well as the John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers and the Write Across Victoria competitions. The Express Media Award categories are as follows:

* Best New Project By a Young Person in Each State
* Best Metaphor
* Funniest Piece
* Best Newcomer
* Best Illustration
* Best Themed Submission
* Outstanding Achievement by a Young Writer under 25 working across art forms
* Oustanding Achivement by a Young Writer under 25

Tonight's awards will be hosted by satirist, writer and editor Geoff Lemon and will also feature the launch of issue 87 of Voiceworks, themed 'Play'.

Who's coming:
Geoff Lemon

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Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq meet Renegades team-mates - Melbourne

Pakistan stars Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq will be available for their first major media opportunity today and will be onsite with Renegades captain Andrew McDonald, Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes.

Venue:
Docklands Stadium (Etihad), 740 Bourke Street, Docklands
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 14:50
Website: http://www.melbournerenegades.com.au/
The Renegades start their KFC T20 Big Bash League season against the Strikers in Adelaide on Sunday, before returning to Melbourne to play their first home match at Etihad Stadium against the Perth Scorchers.


Who's coming:
Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaw, Shaun Tait, Andrew McDonald, Dirk Nannes

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Brisbane Roar training and media call - Brisbane

Brisbane Roar will hold a training session this this afternoon with a media opportunity available at the start of training.

Venue:
Ballymore Stadium, Corner Clyde Road and Butterfield Street, Herston
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 14:15 to 15:30
Website: www.footballaustralia.com.au/brisbaneroar


Sponsor: The Coffee Club 07 3010 3000 (336-338 Montague Road, West End, QLD, 4101) ID:2516

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Online media briefing into coal seam gas

The Australian Science Media Centre will host an online background briefing series into coal seam gas today. The series aims to help journalists sift through the hype surrounding this controversial subject and to understand the facts.

Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 11:00
Website: http://www.aussmc.org/
This online background briefing series will feature a range of experts from different institutions and industry and will include topics such as:

* Why are industries interested in coal seam gas and why should the public care?
* What actually is coal seam gas, how does one collect it and how is it different to shale gas? What is fracking and why is that important?
* Where are Australia's deposits, are they widespread and are all the sites suitable - if not, why not?
* Why is water such a key part of all this: groundwater, contaminated water, leaching, water use and waste water are all hitting the news, but which are the most important issues, which are the hardest to deal with, which will cause the most harm and how many questions are still unanswered?
* Is it worth it? The pros and cons of CSG: How green is CSG compared with other energy sources. Why is it seen as having a key role in a move to renewable energy? Are the emissions actually lower? How real are the issues of soil contamination and health effects?

Briefing 1: The Process
* What does CSG involve and why is it now being considered?
* How does CSG form and where can CSG mining take place in Australia?
* What is the process for mining coal seam gas?
* Which chemicals are used? What is hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"), and is it dangerous?
* How does it differ to extracting shale gas?
* What are the key difficulties and issues to be considered?
* What can we learn from the rest of the world?

Speakers
* Dr Peter Stone, Director of the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance
* Dr Judy Bailey, Coal geologist and coal and sedimentary petrologist, University of Newcastle
* Dr Edson Nakagawa, Director of the Petroleum and Geothermal Portfolio, CSIRO

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ANZ holds annual general meeting - Sydney

One of Australia's big four banks, ANZ, will discuss its full-year results for the 2010/11 financial year at its annual general meeting today.

Venue:
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 10:00
Website: http://www.anz.com.au/

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'Journey to the Abyss' exhibition launch - Adelaide

Journey to the Abyss is an adventure into the ocean's depths, offering visitors a chance to venture into the unknown and discover a world beyond their imagination.

Venue:
South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 09:30
Website: http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/
More people have been into outer space than to the bottom of the ocean, a habitat that is 11 times larger than all the world's other habitats put together.

Journey to the Abyss is an adventure into the ocean's depths. Visitors can discover hydrothermal vents and some of the remarkable creatures that inhabit these deep waters, some more than three kilometres below sea level.

Containing more than 90 real deep-sea specimens, the exhibition is based on the South Australian Museum's own collections. These are rarely seen items, many of which have never been out on public display. The exhibition also features a full-sized, deep-sea, interactive submarine model, similar to real research submersibles.

The event launch will be an exclusive viewing for media and Professor Suzanne Miller, Director of the South Australian Museum; Jo Bain, Supervisor of 3D Design and Mark Judd, Head of Public Programs and Exhibition Manager will all be available at this morning's preview.

Journey to the Abyss will open at the South Australian Museum tomorrow and run until March 12, 2012.

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Canberra Raiders pre season training

Canberra Raiders will be holding a pre-season training this morning with interview opportunities. Interviews will commence at 8:30am and vision and photos from 9:00am

Venue:
Canberra Raiders, 2 Eade Street, Bruce
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 08:30
Website: http://www.raiders.com.au/

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NSW Police Attestation Ceremony - Goulburn

Approximately 500 new police officers will march out at an Attestation ceremony at the New South Wales Police Academy in Goulburn this morning.

Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 08:00
Website: http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/
Helicopters must be on the ground at the NSW Police Academy by 8:30am and land on the oval adjacent to the parade ground. Pilots need to be aware of wires in the area and land between 8:00am and 8:30am.

Journalists must contact Sergeant Craig Bishop by 4:00pm on Thursday afternoon to confirm arrangements on 02 4828 8576 or 0400 381 540.

All journalists and media crews must attend a briefing at the media area at the eastern end of the main stage alongside the parade ground. Journalists will be provided with media packages as well as details of the ceremony's program. Media attending the ceremony must attend the briefing.

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Breakfast with James Packer - Perth

Australia's best known billionaire will talk about his vision for Crown Limited, its role in reviving Australia's tourism sector and the $2 billion investment in refreshing the business at this breakfast in Perth today.

Venue:
Burswood Entertainment Complex, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 07:00 to 09:00
Website: events.thewest.com.au
James Packer is the head of Australia's leading gaming group, Crown Limited. His Consolidated Press Holdings is the 43 per cent shareholder of Crown Ltd, the company behind Burswood and Melbourne's iconic Crown Entertainment Complex; as well as casino assets in Macau and Great Britain.

Packer will be talking about his vision for Crown Limited, its role in reviving Australian tourism and the $2 billion investment in refreshing and expanding the Burswood and Crown business at this breakfast in Perth today.

Who's coming:
James Packer

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Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's 'Recorders' opens - Sydney

The Museum of Contemporary Art presents Australia's first solo exhibition by one of the worlds favourite interactive artists, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, as part of the Sydney International Art Series.

Venue:
Museum of Contemporary Art Limited, 140 George Street, The Rocks
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011 to Sunday, February 12, 2012
Website: http://www.mca.com.au/
The exhibition, titled Recorders, will feature 13 recent artworks including 3 which have been made exclusively for the Sydney show by Lozano-Hemmer. He is world renown for using robotics, real time graphics, motion capture, film projections, positional sounds LED screens and a range of other devices. His highly interactive and complex digital artworks have attracted acclaim all across the globe. The exhibition at the MCA will be no exception.

In keeping with the title of the exhibition, guests will be encouraged to leave traces of themselves through out the show. This could be anything from recordings of their voices or questions they have long wanted answers. These are in fact necessary for the exhibition to take full form.

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Bradley Manning pre-trial begins - USA

The pre-trial of United States Army soldier and suspected WikiLeaks contributor Bradley Manning will begin in Maryland in the United States of America today, with 50 witnesses expected to take part in the hearing.

Venue:
Fort G. Meade, 4409 Llewellyn Avenue, Maryland, 20755
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Website: http://www.ftmeade.army.mil/
24-year old Bradley Manning was arrested in Iraq in May 2010 on suspicion that he was the source of the huge database of US embassy cables that was passed without permission to WikiLeaks. Manning has subsequently spent the last 18 months in confinement, much of it in the early stages in conditions that some say were tantamount to torture.

WikiLeaks has never confirmed whether Manning was the source of the classified material which later went on to be released during Cablegate, however the whistle-blowing website will call 50 witnesses to today's military hearing which will transform the case into a detailed legal battle over the merits of the prosecution against Manning.

This case has generated much support from the wider community, with Manning sympathisers donating $130,000 to his legal fees. Some of the witnesses expected to take part in the hearing range from whistle-blowing experts to IT specialists who will comment on Manning's access to intelligence databases. Manning's defence is being led by civilian lawyer, David Coombs, who has avoided contact with the media ahead of the start of the military process.

Overall, Manning is accused of 16 counts of wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the internet knowing that it is accessible to the enemy; five counts of theft of public property or records; eight of transmitting defence information; two of fraud in connection with computers and five of violating army information security. If convicted of all charges, Manning faces a maximum sentence of confinement for life.

Who's coming:
David Coombs

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Spicks and Specks tour - Adelaide

The ABC's hugely popular music quiz show 'Spicks and Specks' has unfortunately called it a day and will take its charismatic hosts and hilarious behaviour across the country this month for a farewell tour.

Venue:
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Corner Port Road and Adam Street, Hindmarsh
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011 to Saturday, December 17, 2011
Website: http://www.thefinale.com.au/
2011 is the year that will see the end of a television institution - a music quiz show that attracts an average weekly audience of 1.35 million viewers and has been among ABC1's top ten programs, based on a series of averages, each year from 2006-2010.

Hosted by Adam Hills and starring Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough, Spicks and Specks bought the whole family back around the TV to play and laugh along with a show that never looked down on its audience. After seven years, 277 episodes and more than 150 guests, the cast decided they wanted the show to go out on a high and recorded a special finale episode that will go to air on November 23, bringing one of Australia's iconic television institutions to an end.

Now, in homage to Whispering Jack himself, they are heading out on the road to say goodbye for the first time (and actually the last time). Spicks and Speck-tacular - The Finale is a brand new production, loosely based on a certain music trivia show, putting Adam, Alan and Myf on stage together with surprises, laughs, memories, live music and appalling choreography.

The tour will visit the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney from Tuesday, November 15 through Friday, November 18; Newcastle Entertainment Centre from Thursday, November 24 through Friday, November 25; Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday, November 28 through Wednesday, November 30; the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, December 3; WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong on Thursday, December 8; National Convention Centre in Canberra from Saturday, December 10 through Sunday, December 11; Adelaide Entertainment Centre from Friday, December 16 through Saturday, December 17; Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from Wednesday, January 4 through Saturday, January 7 and Melbourne Convention Centre from Thursday, January 12 through Friday, January 13.

Who's coming:
Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough

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Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History

This $100,000 annual prize is awarded to a work that makes a significant contribution to the understanding of Australian history.

Date: Friday, December 16, 2011 TBC
Website: www.deewr.gov.au/australianhistoryprize
The Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History is for any work first published, produced or broadcast between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. It includes published books, documentary films, documentaries for radio or television, CD-ROMs, DVDs and other forms of multimedia.

The Prize will be awarded to an individual or a group for an outstanding publication or body of work that contributes significantly to an understanding of Australian history. The winner will receive an embossed gold medallion and a tax free grant of $80,000. Up to a maximum of four short listed runners-up will receive tax free grants of $5,000 each.

The Expo of Chinese Tea - Sydney

Chinese tea growers direct from China will participate in The Expo of Chinese Tea, a completely free event which begins at the Sydney Convention Centre today.

Venue:
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011 to Sunday, December 18, 2011
Website: http://www.chinateaexpo.com.au/
The Expo of Chinese Tea is an official event in the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia, initiated by the Chinese government from June this year, and is one of the largest tea-themed events ever held in Australia.

China is the homeland of tea. The culture and art of tea drinking is an important essence of Chinese culture. For over 5,000 years, tea drinking has been valued by Chinese people as a herbal and social beverage as well as being a necessary part of daily life. Today, of the three major beverages in the world - tea, coffee and cocoa - tea is consumed by the largest number of people in the world.

Through its theme of 'ecology, harmony and sustainability', the expo will demonstrate the significance of tea in Chinese culture and the role tea plays in connecting the East with the West. Products exhibited at the Expo will include many different types of tea, tea wares and other derivatives.

Tea tasting will allow visitors to experience the feeling of relaxation created by drinking quality teas. There will also be special gala tea ceremony performances that demonstrate the art of tea making, with over 40 performers direct from the Fujian Tea Culture Arts Company; and seminars held throughout the weekend allowing visitors to appreciate and understand the value of tea, including its health benefits.

QLD Police Schoolies launch road safety campaign - Gold Coast

The Queensland Police Service will hold a media briefing on the Gold Coast this morning to launch its state-wide Christmas road safety campaign.

Venue:
Gold Coast Water Police, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Time: 09:00
Website: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/
Police in the South Eastern Police Region, along with officers throughout the State, are patrolling Queensland roads and waterways this festive season trying to ensure that all motorists arrive safely at their destinations.

Police throughout the region will be monitoring driver behaviour with Gold Coast Police having impounded over 2,500 vehicles under the anti-hooning legislation between December 2007 and November 2011. Of these, more than 300 vehicles were seized due to drivers performing burnouts, doughnuts or street racing.

Pedestrians should also consider their own safety and remember that at this time of year, road networks within the region experience higher than usual traffic movements. The state-wide road safety campaign will run from December 7 through January 27, 2012.

Acting Inspector Karen Shaw will be available for comment this morning. Vision opportunities with the police helicopter, a traffic car, motorbike and police vessels will also be available. Click here for the full media release.

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