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2012 - Year in Review


CANZA Hockey Night, Friday 27 January

50 members of CANZA and BCC enjoyed pizza and beer at the VIP bar of Sparta Prague Hockey Club while watching the home team decimate the visitors Pardubice 4-0! Guests wore their souvenir CANZA/BCC caps and scarves to cheer on the team. A further hockey night was held on Sunday 26 February for the game between Sparta and cross-town rivals Slavia. Slavia narrowly won out in the local derby after going to a penalty shootout but Sparta was presented afterwards with the Presidents Cup, having finished the regular season on top of the league. A great way to discover Czech hockey for our members and guests,


Australia Day/Waitangi Day, Friday 10 February

We had a fantastic joint celebration for Australia Day and Waitangi Day in conjunction with Club Vivanova at the Kempinski Hotel Hybernska Prague. In the presence of representatives of the Australian and New Zealand governments including HE Peter Rider, New Zealand Ambassador and HE Jean Dunn, Australian Ambassador agréé, more than 120 guests enjoyed an amazing gourmet buffet, great premium Australian and New Zealand wines and John Ellis, owner and winemaker of the five-star rated Victorian Bellvale Winery, was in attendance to present his premium Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir! One lucky guest won a free weekend trip for two to Moscow courtesy of Czech Airlines with accomodation at the luxurious Kempinski Baltschug Hotel.


Western Australia Business Dinner, Thursday 8 March

We had a HOOT! at the river-side dining room of SOHO Restaurant at our sold out Western Australian Barking Owl dinner co-organized with Club Vivanova, Prague Connect and new magazine partner Luxury Life. More than 60 guests enjoyed four excellent Western Australia wines along with a gourmet menu and the most important ingredient - great company!


Czech Rugby League Pre-Season Nines, Saturday 31 March

In 2012, CANZA was proud to support the newest member of the Division 1 Czech Rugby League competition, the Prague Vikings, as they competed in their first pre-season rugby league tournament. After coming through to the semis undefeated, Prague was also able to beat the 2011 Czech Premiers, Pardubice, and make it to the final where they went down to 2010 Premiers Lokomotiva Beroun. The tournament subsequently received television coverage in the 10 May edition of “Sport v Regionech” on CT4 (see http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10103510226-sport-v-regionech/video/). Further match highlights can be seen on youtube:


Magnificent Seven Business Dinner, Friday 20 April

Around 80 guests enjoyed a seven course 'Mediterranean Fusion' Gala Business Dinner which featured seven fantastic Australian Shiraz vintages. The dinner, held at the recently re-launched Lichfield Restaurant in the exclusive Rocco Forte Augustine Hotel, was organized in conjunction with Club Vivanova and in partnership with Prague Connect and Luxury Life.cz.


ANZAC Day Commemorations, Friday 27 April – Sunday 29 April

CANZA’s 2012 commemoration of ANZAC Day was spread out over three days. On Friday 27 April, thanks again to the Australian and New Zealand Governments and the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, an ANZAC Day memorial service was held at the Commonwealth War Graves in Prague. On Saturday 28 April, the community gathered for the first ever home rugby league match in Prague, with the Prague Vikings supported by CANZA soundly defeating the visiting Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels. Finally on Sunday 29 April, around 100 guests attended our traditional ANZAC BBQ at VK Slavia Rowing Club.


New Zealand Business Dinner, Thursday 24th May

Another sold-out business dinner organized in conjunction with Club Vivanova! This time around 30 of us packed into the VIP room of the exclusive Celeste restaurant to enjoy one of the best gourmet dinners we have ever enjoyed, expertly matched with premium wines from the Marlborough region of New Zealand.


CANZA Gallery Evening, Friday 25 May

Lovers of culture gathered at Palac Adria to enjoy a sneak preview of some of the Australian and New Zealand acts at the 2012 Prague Fringe Festival over wine and nibbles. The featured performances were excerpts from Eidolon (produced by Nervous Doll Dancing, New Zealand) and Déjà Vu (produced by Wild Mint Productions, Australia/Czech Republic). The performances were held against the backdrop of the amazing artwork of Australian/Czech artist Petra Doležalová Troyn. Here's a sample from the Eidolon performance:

 

CANZA at the Prague Fringe Festival, Saturday 2 June

For the fifth consecutive year, CANZA sponsored the Australian and New Zealand acts at the Prague Fringe Festival and on Saturday 2 June a group of us headed out again to see the show! This year the sponsored acts were Eidolon (produced by Nervous Doll Dancing, New Zealand), Déjà Vu (produced by Wild Mint Productions, Australia/Czech Republic) and The Upside-Down Girl (produced by Anya Anastasia, Australia).


Australian/South African Gourmet BBQ, Thursday 14th June

Around 50 guests enjoyed the summer weather in the Sundial Garden of the exclusive Rocco Forte Augustine Hotel Prague as we combined a gourmet BBQ with Australian and South African wines courtesy of co-organizer Club Vivanova to celebrate the Kangaroo and the Springbok!


Barbarian Vikings in ACC Mens Open Championship, Saturday 16 June

CANZA has supported the touch rugby team of the Barbarian Vikings rugby club for several years. In 2012, the team again captured the bronze in an international competition, this time at the ACC Mens Open Championship in Vienna. The team lost only two games in the pool rounds, defeating the likes of Budapest, ACC and Barbarians touch rugby and going down only to the finalist teams from London and Vienna. In the 3v4 playoff game against the ACC team, our guys prevailed by four tries to two, in an effort featuring a gutsy defensive display. Thanks to all those who participated and well done!


Prague Vikings v Pardubice, Sunday 24 June

In 2012, CANZA was the major sponsor of the Prague Vikings rugby league team, so every game was a CANZA event, with CANZA members both playing in, and supporting, the team. The highlight of the season was two close wins over 2011 Premiers Pardubice Jets (48-44 on 24 June and then 29-28 on Sunday 23 September) which together with other results were enough to see the Vikings into the 2012 Grand Final. Highlights of the game are available on youtube.


Olympic Summer Drinks, Friday 29 June

Around 30 guests enjoyed a balmy summer evening by the river at Hergetova Cihelna together with snacks and premium wines from Australia and New Zealand courtesy of Australian-Czech wine merchant Henry Vagner and Wine Partners CZ.


CANZA Cocktail BBQ, Thursday 5 July

CANZA and Club Vivanova packed out the terrace of the Hilton Hotel Skybar for a multicultural BBQ featuring unique cocktails blended from Australian and New Zealand wines by Czech bar phenomenon Roman Uhlir, accompanied by live Latin music!


Welcome Back to CANZA Dinner, Wednesday 5 September

More than 100 guests (including Australian Ambassador Jean Dunn and New Zealand Ambassador Peter Rider) had a fantastic time at the Kempinski Hotel enjoying a gourmet buffet dinner together with fantastic Australian and New Zealand wines thanks to Club Vivanova. Thanks to Czech Airlines and Kempinski Hotel Gregg Gibb and his partner will be winging their way on Czech Airlines to spend two nights at the luxury Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square Vilnius - congratulations! And what is more, the evening featured this incredible performance from members of Waakari Rotarua:

 


Victorian Business Dinner, Thursday 11 October

Around 30 guests enjoyed a five course gourmet menu at Bellevue Restaurant, together with premium wines from the Victorian Pyrenees Redbank winery presented by winery owner Neill Robb himself.


Aperitivo Drinks Night, Friday 12 October

CANZA packed into the Bar and Books pub in Prague to enjoy great Aussie and Kiwi wines courtesy of co-organizer Club Vivanova and an amazing performance from Czech-Maori singer Katerina Piherova – highlights are available on youtube:

 

Hunter Valley Business Dinner, Thursday 8 November

Around 50 guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner at Coda Restaurant in Prague's exclusive Aria Hotel featuring wines from one of the best wineries in the Valley, Meerea Park. This event was followed by another Aperitivo event on Friday 9th November at KOGO Slovansky Dum featuring five exceptional wines from the Pyrenees, Victoria and a sumptuous selection of the restaurant’s best–selling dishes to taste with the wines. Both events were organized on conjunction with Club Vivanova.


Australian Waratah Girls Choir Recital, Sunday 2 December

One of Australia's leading ensembles, the Australian Waratah Girls Choir, treated the Australian and New Zealand community to a free recital in Prague's St. Clements Church, but not before they entertained the city of Prague with carolling throughout the Old Town!


CANZA Christmas Carols, Saturday 8 December

Our traditional Christmas carol event again attracted around 100 people to St. Clements Church, Prague. Donations were taken for Unicef and guests sung their hearts out to the old favourites before enjoying some traditional Christmas refreshments.


Trinations Christmas Aperitivo

Getting Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans together was a big theme during 2011/12 - and we followed the same theme at this after-work CANZA/Club Vivanova event offering attendees the chance to taste through six exceptional wines from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, together with a great selection of the hotel’s best–selling dishes to taste with the wines.


CANZA Ball

For detailed coverage of the 2012 ball, click here

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