When the Qantas Choir broke into the song "Deep in the Heart of Texas" the Houston crowd went wild. The Houston G'Day USA Australia Day Gala was an undoubted success with two of the highlights being Star of Australia Awards to former Ambassadors and political leaders Andrew Peacock and Tom Schieffer. Tom's acceptance speech was hilarious while my friend Andrew's speech hit the mark with his reminiscences and insights into the American Australian relationship.
Victoria was to the fore again with Texas-based Melbourne-born & educated chef Jason Gould and the wines coming from Victoria with the excellent Yering Station Chardonnay, Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz and Mount Langi Ghira Cliff Edge Sparkling Shiraz. I commend these wines to Americans and Australians alike.
There were many Victorian connections starting with Andrew Peacock who represented the Victorian seat of Kooyong in the Australian Parliament for almost 30 years. Victoria was a sponsor through our partnership with G'Day USA while Melbourne headquartered bhpbilliton was the host sponsor with the Gala Honorary Chairs being Mike and Robin Yeager. Other sponsors with Victorian operations included Qantas, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Macquarie Bank, Transfield, WorleyParsons, Ernst & Young, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and others.
It was great to see folks like De Bortoli Wines Mike Lester and his wife Robin, Victorian Clare Hobby of Sense Communications and her husband Conny Gustafsson. Victorian educated Clare has been doing some very interesting high-tech work in Brazil from her base in Houston. Soo too it was good to see former Melbourne residents Mike and Amy Proegler. Mark is the global sustainability head of BP and spent three years working in Melbourne before taking his global role in Houston. Kerry Vincent is an icon on the food network and we have embraced her as an honorary Victorian. Kerry's husband Doug is one of the leaders of the Angel Flight Network.
The beneficiary of the auctions and raffle is Project Joy and Hope, an organisation providing practical and financial support to children living with life-limiting conditions and their families.
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