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2010 - Year in Review


Australia Day/Waitangi Day Celebration, Tuesday 26 January

A great crowd turned out for twin celebrations of Australia Day and Waitangi Day.  The first event was held at Jama Restaurant who laid on some great food - including meat pies and lamingtons.  We then moved to Fatboys Aussie pub who put on a great show featuring live music from two of their top performers Jamie Marshall and Dani Robinson – see some highlights here:


Hunter Valley Business Dinner, Thursday 11 February

The year's first Business Dinner was sold out within two hours of the newsletter being sent! Held at the Buddha Bar in co-operation with Club Vivanova, the event featured a fantastic six course Japanese fusion wine dinner with exceptional wines from the Meerea Park winery, one of the most awarded wineries in the Hunter Valley region near Sydney in Australia.


Barbarians Winter Touch Rugby, Sunday 21 February

CANZA was proud to support the Barbarians rugby club’s touch rugby team who participated in the Slavia Rugby Club's Winter Touch competition. In the group stage, the 'Barbaliens' had great wins over the Slavia Nosorožci by 7 tries to 3 and smashed the Medvědi by 7 tries to nil before narrowly going down to the top team from Tatra rugby club by 5 tries to 3. This was enough to advance our team to the quarter finals where we lost by an even more narrow margin to the top team from Sparta rugby with a final score of 6 tries to 5.


Mystery of Australia Exhibition Opening, Tuesday 2 March

CANZA was proud to support "The Mystery of Australia", an exhibition of the work of artist Vaclav Jezek at the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Mr. Jezek is a Czech expatriate who has lived in Australia for many years, and his work is inspired by Aboriginal art but with original interpretations and additions reflecting his own unique perspective.


Australia/New Zealand Business Dinner, Thursday 11 March

Another sold out business dinner organized together with Club Vivanova saw us enjoy a five course classical French dinner at Celeste Bistro with a selection of six Australian and New Zealand wines. The event is being organized in conjunction with Club Vivanova and Mitton International Wines.


New Zealand Business Dinner, Thursday 22 April

This event, held with Club Vivanova at Como Restaurant in the Hotel Jalta (www.comorestaurant.cz), featured a four course degustation menu with three great hand-made wines from the boutique Sliding Hill winery in the famous Marlborough district of New Zealand.


Barbarians Touch Rugby, Saturday 24 April

Congratulations to the Barbarians rugby club Touch Rugby guys and girls for winning the Developing Nations division in the 3rd International Vienna Touch tournament on 24th April. Our team managed to get through the division undefeated despite stiff opposition from competitors from Austria, Hungary and Belgium. The winners trophy was presented by Australian Ambassador Michael Potts. Some photos of the event are on our website. The team also performed well at the Czech Rugby League Beach Touch Rugby tournament in Pardubice on 3 May, achieving a creditable fourth place, and even better to achieve third place a week later at the Capitals Cup tournament in Berlin on 8 May. CANZA is proud to support touch rugby in the Czech Republic.


ANZAC Day Commemoration, Sunday 25 April

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making our ANZAC Day commemorations in Prague another huge success! The day started at 10.30am with a Memorial Ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves in Žižkov attended by approximately 50 people, many of whom took advantage of the transfer bus to the traditional ANZAC Day BBQ by the Vltava riverside at the VK Slavia Rowing Club where numbers exceeded 150! Special thanks to the Turkish community in Prague for their co-operation - Ambassador Targay attended the ceremony and then community members brought fabulous Turkish specialties to help feed the crowds down by the river. Thanks also to Elan IT Czech Republic, Europe's top IT recruitment company (www.elanit.com), for their event sponsorship.


Enjoy Australia, Wednesday 12 May

H.E. Ruth Pearce, the Australian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, held a reception at the Augustine Hotel entitled 'Enjoy Australia', focusing on the promotion of Australian culture, products and services, and CANZA was proud to support the event. Guests included prominent political and diplomatic figures, together with members and supporters of the Australian business and expatriate community in Prague. MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, gave a brief address recalling the historic and modern ties between Australia and the Czech Republic. In her welcoming remarks, Ambassador Pearce also expressed appreciation for the valuable networks between Australia and the Czech Republic, including CANZA. A particular highlight of the event was a showcase presentation of more than a dozen Australian products and services available in the Czech Republic, including wine, cosmetics and tourism services, organized by Austrade’s Post Manager and Honorary Consul Petr Vodvarka.


Seven Shiraz Business Dinner, Wednesday 26 May

Held at the ultra-modern Wineshome in conjunction with Club Vivanova, 50 guests enjoyed a multi-course presentation menu of grilled meats, vegetarian dishes and cheeses, together with a showcase of seven premium Shiraz wines from all over Australia. Brad Mitton took guests on a tour of Australian wine regions as we sampled some of the top Shiraz from the Riverina, Hunter Valley, Pyrenees, Barossa Valley and Western Australia regions.

 


State of Origin, Wednesday 26 May

The 2010 Official Meeting Place in Prague for CANZA members, Fatboys bar, again offered us a rich array of Australian sports including live telecast of the State of Origin rugby league series between New South Wales and Queensland which kicked off on Wednesday 26th May, with Game 2 on 16th June and Game 3 on 7th July. All games will be shown live at Fatboys Australian bar from 11.30am local time and replayed at 7.30pm. CANZA was proud to support Fatboys, which was a genuine Aussie owned and operated business in Prague.


CANZA at the Prague Fringe Festival, Saturday 29 May

As usual, CANZA was proud to support the Australian and New Zealand performances at the Prague Fringe Festival. In 2010, the supported acts were Shakespeare’s Will featuring Kiwi actor Suzy Sampson; In the Arms of a Lion (White Swan Productions) and Angels with Dirty Faces. We organized groups to see all these shows and as usual they were brilliant!


CANZA Drinks Night, Friday 4 June

After a hiatus of several years, the CANZA Drinks Night returned at the riverside location of Restaurant Vltava. Around 20 of us enjoyed the setting sun and the warm weather on the river bank with the birds and the bees!


Summer Australia Day, Saturday 12 June

Australia Day in the middle of winter just doesn’t feel right….so Pizza Colosseum in Pruhonice held an Australia Day event in June and CANZA was there! The event featured Aussie wine from Western Australia and some great Australian food including lamb and kangaroo! Classic Aussie music was on the sound system and kids were especially catered for with entertainment from Australian childrens’ performer Dr Klutz courtesy of event sponsor Skoda dealer Prerost a Svorc Auto.


Prague Ashes CANZA v British Embassy cricket match, Saturday 19 June

A team representing the British Embassy in the Czech Republic took on a CANZA team representing the Australian and New Zealand community in Prague. A festive atmosphere with a BBQ, Aussie wine donated by CANZA and activities for kids masked the serious intent of both teams! The first ball was ceremoniously bowled by British Ambassador Sian McLeod and the match was on. The CANZA team comprised Richard York (AU), Scott Page (AU), Martin Udall (AU), Bruce Loxley (AU), Norman Birse (AU), Alexis George (AU), Michael Fox (AU), JD (AU), Simon Harvey (AU), Shane Bowers (NZ), Karl Pratter (NZ), Brigham Smith (SA), Alistair (NZ) and Vladya (CZ). CANZA managed to prevail in a comprehensive 72 run victory which saw us win the inaugural Prague Ashes trophy!


Summer Networking and Wine Party, Thursday 24 June

Our season of CANZA wine dinners reached a high point at the Esplanade Hotel where 30 guests packed into the lobby and terrace area for a gourmet buffet and wine tasting with a selection of six premium wines from Western Australia’s Barking Owl winery plus a glass of Australian Taylor Ferguson Sparkling Brut with fresh strawberries and cream.


Prague Beach Rugby, Saturday 31 July

Our touch rugby guys and gals put in another great performance at this year's 9th annual Prague Beach Rugby tournament, held on 31 July in Prague. Our main team in the mixed touch rugby this year was SiSenor.cz, who despite missing a number of our regular big gun players made it through the pool games and the quarter finals undefeated to reach the Cup semi-finals where they narrowly went down to the eventual Cup winners Pumpicky. Our development team, who proudly kept the Fush'n'Cheeps name alive this year, managed to make it to the Shield semi-final where they went down to eventual winners Kozmoboyz. Congratulations to all!


CANZA Business Dinner, Thursday 9 September

Around 40 guests enjoyed a great evening of amazing food and excellent wines at Sasazu restaurant. The event kicked off with an aperitif of Taylor Ferguson Sparkling Brut and a short wine presentation followed by a SEVEN course dinner, highlighting the pairing of the restaurant’s Michelin-awarded South East Asian cuisine with a selection of four amazing New Zealand and Australian wines courtesy of co-organizers Club Vivanova.


Barbarians Touch Rugby, Saturday 11 September

Congratulations to our touch rugby guys who competed in the ACC Mens Touch Rugby tournament in Vienna, Austria. The team managed a creditable third place, after victories over the Vienna B and Hungarian teams, narrow losses to the Vienna A and British team and a hard fought draw with the host ACC team. CANZA is proud to support touch rugby in the Czech Republic!


CAFL Grand Final Breakfast, Saturday 25 September

Prague’s Aussie Rules players – expats and Czechs – and fans again got together for an early morning breakfast to watch the live telecast of the AFL Grand Final at Zlatá Hvězda Sports Bar in which Collingwood and St Kilda fought out their historic draw. The following week everyone was back for another breakfast at Zlatá Hvězda Sports Bar on Saturday 2 October to see Collingwood win the re-match.


Australian Film Night, Thursday 30 September

Around 60 guests enjoyed our first ever film night, which featured the Czech premiere of Australia short form Cracker Bag, winner of the coveted Palm d’Or for Short Film at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, followed by the acclaimed feature film, AUSTRALIAN RULES, Official Selection Sundance, Edinburgh and Melbourne International Film Festivals, 2002. The films were presented in association with Screen Australia and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) – Australian Embassy Warsaw. The event also relied on the generous support of international relocation company, INTERDEAN.

Carus Thompson Concert, Tuesday 5 October

CANZA was proud to support the return to Prague of Australian performer Carus Thompson (www.myspace.com/carusthompson). Carus had wowed audiences at the Prague Fringe Festival in 2006 and 2008 and was back again in Prague for one night only, performing at Belushi’s bar at the Mosaic House hotel.


Modern Australian Business Dinner - Wednesday October 6

For the first time ever in the history of our business dinners, we were lucky enough to have a real live Aussie chef, Lam Chaiyasith Srichom, sous chef at Zinc Restaurant at the Hilton Old Town Hotel, who put together a special Modern Australian Gourmet menu for us! The food was paired with a selection of premium Australian and New Zealand wines selected by event co-organizers Club Vivanova.


CANZA Galah Dinner, Saturday 6 November

Thanks to everyone who made the CANZA Galah Dinner at the Augustine Hotel on Saturday 6 November such a great success! A full house of 110 guests enjoyed fantastic food thanks to the Augustine Hotel and event sponsor Cleanseas; amazing Australian wines thanks to event co-organizer Club Vivanova; and great entertainment including didgeridoo music, table magic from Aussie performer Schelie Nielsen, great original music from Australian singer-songwriter Jamison Young and finally great Aussie and Kiwi covers from expat band the Sixis - all thanks to generous sponsors including Flow East, Interdean Relocations, Frankl Pharma and Who's Free! And a big thankyou to UNICEF who organized a great charity raffle and Jiri Bures whose Emu painting auction was a highlight of the evening.


New Zealand Film Night, Thursday 25 November

Kino Atlas in Prague was packed with almost 150 people to see the Prague premiere of two great New Zealand films. The films were screened in English with Czech subtitles. The program included the short film, Coffee and Allah (Sima Urale), which had its international premiere at the 2007 Venice Film Festival, followed by the much-acclaimed first feature film from director, Taika Waititi, Eagle vs Shark, which had its world premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The films were presented by CANZA in association with the New Zealand Embassy Berlin, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Film Commission and Kino Atlas. The New Zealand Ambassador from Berlin, His Excellency Mr. Peter Rider, opened the event.


Ashes Christmas Dinner, Friday 3 December

To mark the start of the 2010-2011 Ashes test cricket series between England and Australia as well as celebrating the onset of the Christmas season, the British Chamber of Commerce and the Czech Australia New Zealand Association joined forces with Club Vivanova to host a four course gourmet dinner featuring premium Australian and New Zealand wines at the CzecHouse Grill & Rotisserie in the Hilton Hotel Prague. Guests also had an opportunity to learn more about the game of cricket and the Ashes test series thanks to a presentation by the Czech Cricket Union and then partied on at the Cloud 9 Sky Bar.