Timely Break for Lucky Winners

Exhausted from battling the recent fires: Seniors Lifestyle Competition winners Deb and Max Baigent from King Creek are delighted with their prize of a trip for two to Sydney

AFTER months of battling intense bush fires, one local volunteer will get a little respite he so well and truly deserves.

Captain of the King Creek Rural Fire Service Max Baigent and his wife Deb have been the lucky winners of the Senior Lifestyle Metro Sydney Escape competition.

The timing, the thankful and humble couple said, could not have been better.

Mr Baigent arrived home from the Harrington fires the day his wife heard the news.

"It's been a raging battle down there," he said. "We had a week of battling intense fires and I got back around midnight."

Utterly exhausted, the 57-year-old had mentioned earlier that he needed a holiday.

At first, his wife's words simply didn't register when she said they would be spending two nights in Sydney at the Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour.

"We're just so thankful to Senior Lifestyle for running this competition," he said. "All firies have just had a run of it the past five months, but all the crews have been doing such a fantastic job."

Her work with the Bundaleer Care Service also keeps Mrs Baigent on her feet. "You get so busy that you just don't take the time to rest," she said. "It makes it a bit different when you win something."

The 55-year-old said it would be nice to see her husband taking a break.

"It's an exhausting task they do, they get tired and weary but they all do it because they love it," she said. "It's their way of giving back to the community."

From the sleepy hollow of King Creek, to the hustle and bustle of the big smoke - the views over Darling Harbour will be a big change for the King Creek couple. "It's going to be very different, but it's going to be fantastic to have a bit of time to relax," Mr Baigent said.

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Coming Soon to Capitol Theatre Sydney: Wicked - The Broadway Musical

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz.

One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

When WICKED opened on Broadway, it worked its magic on critics and audiences alike. Winner of 35 major awards including a Grammy®, three Tony Awards® and six Helpmann Awards including Best Musical, WICKED has been described as the “Best Musical of the Decade.” Entertainment Weekly

After its success on Broadway, in North America, London, Germany, Japan and Australia, WICKED will return to Sydney in 2014 for a strictly limited season.

Click on the link and “Add to Favourites” to be the first in line to get tickets for this spectacular show in Sydney! 

Sydney Festival Unveils 2014 Lineup

Mike Patton Performing Luciano Berio’s 1965 composition Laborintus II

Classical performances from Mike Patton and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, and a tribute to Big Star’s cult 1978 albumThird/Sister Lovers lead the Sydney Festival program for 2014.

The performance of Big Star’sThird will see the last remaining musician from the band, drummer Jody Stephens, joined by REM’s Mike Mills, The Posies’ Ken Stringfellow and guest local and international artists. Lee Ranaldo will perform his new work Hurricane Transcriptions on a double bill alongside Mike Patton, who will be performing Luciano Berio’s 1965 composition Laborintus III, which is described as “a montage of spoken word, instrumentation and electronics.”

The festival, which will once again take over the city from January 9 – 26, also includes performances from former Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton, solo artist John Grant, post-punk survivor Edwyn Collins (Orange Juice), Daptone’s Lee Fields & The Expressions, electronic duo Matmos, avant-jazz saxophonist and Arcade Fire/Bon Iver collaborator Colin Stetson, punk-cabaret provocateur Amanda Palmer and former Bad Seed Mick Harvey revisiting his albums of Serge Gainsbourg’s interpretationsIntoxicated Man and Pink Elephants.

Other festival highlights include Laneway festival’s Kurt Vile playing two shows – a solo set and a full-band gig – off the back of his recent album Walkin on a Pretty Daze; Bombino, the acclaimed electric guitarist from Niger, playing a Falls sideshow; and Malian duo Amadou & Mariam returning to Australia with their “multi-sensory experience” Eclipse. While the festival has abandoned its traditional free opening-night party, disco star Chaka Khan will play a free show in the Domain gardens on January 11.

MAJOR EVENTS

Lee Ranaldo’s Hurricane Transcriptions / Mike Patton’s Laborintus III with Ensemble Offspring & The Song Company
City Recital Hall – January 16

Big Star’s Third
Enmore Theatre, January 23

Chaka Khan
The Domain – January 11

Amadou & Mariam’s Eclipse
Sydney Town Hall, January 9-11

So Frenchy So Chic in The Park – Lou Doillon, Lilly Wood & The Prick, Féfé and Circus Babylon
St John’s College, University of Sydney – January 18

Tyondai Braxton’s HIVE + Canyons & Daniel Boyd’s 100 Million Nights
Concert Hall Sydney Opera House, January 21

Matmos
City Recital Hall, January 15

Sun Ra Arkestra
State Theatre, January 18

Ambrose Akinmusire
City Recital Hall, January 11
The Spiegeltent, January 12

FESTIVAL VILLAGE

Amanda Palmer
The Spiegeltent, January 9-19

Tom Thum
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 21-26

Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers
The Spiegeltent, January 8
Parramatta Opening Party, January 10

Bombino
The Spiegeltent, January 9-10
The Lennox, Parramatta, January 11

Chris Thile
The Spiegeltent, January 14 – 15
The Lennox, Parramatta, January 16

Samaris
The Spiegeltent, January 16 – 17

Edwyn Collins
The Spiegeltent, January 19 – 21
The Lennox, Parramatta, January 18

The Staves
The Spiegeltent, January 22 – 23
Sutherland Entertainment Centre, January 24

Sinkane
The Spiegeltent, January 24 & 26

C.R. Avery & The Sojourners
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 9 – 10

Dom Flemons
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 11 – 12

Kurt Vile
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 23

Colin Stetson
Circus Ronaldo Tent, January 25 – 26

Hot Dub Time Machine
The Spiegeltent, January 11, 18 & 25

Donny Benet & The Donny Benet Show Band
The Spiegeltent, January 10, 17 & 24

Lee Fields & The Expressions
The Spiegeltent, January 19

Funki Porcini
The Spiegeltent, January 16

Andrew Weatherall
The Spiegeltent, January 26

PARADISO AT TOWN HALL

John Grant and John Murry
January 16

Modular Night – Juan Atkins, Movement, Roland Tings, Wordlife and Softwar
January 17

Orquesta Tipica Fernandez Fierro
January 18

Mick Harvey: Intoxicated Man
January 19

Kurt Vile & The Violators
January 22

Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins with DJ Romes
January 23

Future Classic – Jacques Renault, Medlar, Touch Sensitive, Wave Racer
January 24

Soil & Pimp Sessions
January 25

The Soft Pink Truth
January 16

Andy Votel
January 19

Tyondai Braxton
January 22

- See more at: http://sydneycbdhotels.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/sydney-festival-unveils-2014-lineup.html#sthash.t2I3Fwwl.dpuf

Cruise Special at Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour

Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour is offering this Cruise Special

Enter the Code "Cruise" in the booking panel to receive 10% OFF all Accommodation Rates

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Prince Harry's Hats-off Three Cheers Salute in Sydney Harbour Naval Extravaganza

PRINCE Harry - the playboy royal and fourth in line to the British throne - is expected to receive a hats-off three cheers royal salute from thousands of sailors on Sydney Harbour next month.

It is understood Harry will be accompanied by Governor-general Quentin Bryce when he takes the royal salute by sailing past some 40 warships on board a royal barge or another navy boat.

According to well-placed sources the prince is odds-on to be guest of honour at the Royal Australian Navy's centenary celebrations, however no official announcement will be made until a week before the gala event on Sydney Harbour between October 3 and 10.

"It is highly likely that Harry will be in Sydney although no details have been firmed up,'' a source said.

The International Fleet Review will mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival in Sydney of the brand new seven-ship Royal Australian Navy fleet led by the flagship HMAS Australia in October 1913.

The centenary will be officially celebrated on October 5 with a royal review by the prince of 21 RAN vessels and 19 overseas warships as well as 16 tall ships that will sail into the harbour on October 3.

Each warship will formally salute the HMAS Sydney memorial on Bradleys Head as they enter the harbour on October 4.

Prince Harry stands in front of an Apache Helicopter a few days after the royal, a trainee Apache helicopter pilot, passed the half-decade milestone to become a captain. Source: Getty Images

The review will also feature fly-pasts by 37 types of military and civilian aircraft ranging from helicopters to Hornet jet fighters.

Palace sources remain tight-lipped about any trip to Australia.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace, Prince Harry's official mouthpiece, said it simply was not currently in a position to comment.

"Announcements of overseas visits by members of the Royal Family are made in due course after an official invitation is received,'' the spokesman said.

Prince Harry visits The Royal Marines Tamar on August 2, 2013. Picture: Getty  Source: Getty Images

On the question of whether his current girlfriend Cressida Bonas was also planning to visit Sydney at the same time, the spokesman said that was a matter for her, but there were no plans for her to accompany Prince Harry on any trip whether domestic or overseas.

Royal commentators scoffed at rumours that a royal would ever take a girlfriend on an overseas trip, as completely contrary to all protocols for any official royal or government official.

The centrepiece of the International Fleet review will be a fireworks and light show spectacular focused on the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House on the evening of Saturday October 5.

For the first time Australia's fireworks capital will see pyrotechnics launched from the decks of navy warships.

A fleet of eight tall ships took sail on Port Phillip Bay participating in events leading up to International Fleet Day in Sydney next month. Source: News Limited

This will signal the start of the biggest party seen in Sydney since the Bicentenary with 8000 cashed up sailors and tens of thousands of revellers set to spend up to $100 million during the week-long celebration that will cost taxpayers about $6 million to stage.

A projection show will be seen on both sides of the Opera House sails, the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge pylons and the roof of the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour.

Britain's Prince Harry. Picture: Source: AP

Prince Harry or Captain Wales, 30, is a British Army helicopter pilot and Afghanistan war veteran and has visited Australia once before - in 2003, when he spent most of his time working on a Queensland sheep station.

The NSW Government has been lobbying hard for his possible visit to be turned into a full-blown Royal tour, but that is unlikely given his heavy work commitments.

Theatre and Shows in Sydney

There's always a lively calendar of theatre, musicals and other performances to experience on stages scattered around Sydney. Outstanding venues include the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre and the Wharf Theatre at Walsh Bay, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Lyric at The Star and the Riverside Theatres at Parramatta.

In 2013 the Sydney Theatre Company offers a stunning program that includes new productions of Romeo and Juliet, Waiting for Godot and The Maids by Jean Genet while Opera Australia features classical favourites including Puccini's Tosca and Verdi's La traviata. Also performing at The Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House is the Bell Shakespeare Company, bringing to life the timeless works of Shakespeare and other prolific writers throughout the year.

Major venues that host West End and Broadway shows year-round include the Theatre Royal, The Capitol Theatre in the Haymarket and The State Theatre. The Griffin Theatre Company performs new writing theatre at The Stables in Kings Cross while King Street Theatre in Newtown has cabaret, drama, pocket opera, chamber music and more.

The Seymour Theatre Centre also in Newtown, has a wide range of performing arts - drama, music theatre for young people - and is a venue for January's Sydney Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Sydney Children's Festival and Sydney Fringe Festival. Riverside Theatres at Parramatta has more than 700 performances a year including opera, drama, ballet, contemporary dance and musicals.

Aspire Hotel Sydney – The Perfect Base for Aspiring Scientists

Science enthusiasts from all over NSW are preparing to converge on Ultimo in the inner city for the 11 day Ultimo Science Festival, September 12 - 22, with Aspire Hotel Sydney the perfect accommodation choice for visitors.

There will be talks to challenge your perceptions of the world, hands-on activities to puzzle over, startling exhibitions, inspiring science shows and even the chance to share ideas with real research scientists.

The Ultimo Science Festival is a joint initiative of the Powerhouse Museum, Australian Broadcasting Centre, Ultimo TAFE and the University of Technology – all of which are located a short stroll from Aspire Hotel Sydney.

Tucked away in a quiet, tree-lined street in Ultimo, Aspire Hotel Sydney offers 96 spacious standard and deluxe guest rooms, each with its own ensuite with full bath, while some rooms have excellent city views and private open-air balconies looking onto green parkland or the city beyond. Modern conveniences are standard in all rooms, with Internet data ports and ‘smart bars’ which charge any incidentals directly to your hotel account.

Each room is furnished to accommodate a minimum of three people, making the hotel attractive to families seeking a peaceful respite and park-like surrounds within walking distance to all science festival venues and to the city. It is also a short stroll to nearby Wentworth Park where active families or health-conscious couples can run, cycle or enjoy a range of sporting activities at the local sports centre add to the convenience of Aspire Hotel Sydney.

The hotel is also easily accessible to the rest of the city through a myriad of transport options including light rail and city buses. Access to the airport, Blue Mountains and other attractions is from nearby Central Station. 

Not only can families enjoy the Science Festival, they can also visit IMAX Theatre, the Sydney Aquarium, the newly-opened Wildlife World, the Maritime Museum and Chinatown - all just a short stroll from the hotel, while Cockle Bay Wharf and King Street Wharf provide vibrant eating options by day and by night, as well as the place from which to explore the harbour by boat.  

Aspire Hotel Sydney is part of the Metro Hospitality Group, and is located at 383-389 Bulwara Road, Ultimo, at the north western end of Sydney’s Darling Harbour precinct.

Guests can book at Aspire Hotel Sydney and Metro Hotels properties by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 00 4321. Alternatively bookings can be made online at the new look website, www.metrohotels.com.au. 

Book the Powerhouse Museum Accommodation Package at Aspire Hotel Sydney

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