CEO Update: October 2024

• The Cat and Dog Lovers Festival from 26 – 27 October, will host hundreds of popular and rare feline and canine breeds, entertainment, Championship Shows, and Adoption Zones, while providing access to expert breeders, information packs, products and services.

• Equitana Melbourne is on from 14-15 November, showcasing the finest horsemanship skills and equine mastery across all disciplines, masterclasses hosted by international stars, entertainment and a shopping precinct for all horse lovers. I wish Rod Lockwood and his team at Equitana all the best for the return of event this year and trust that it will be a huge success.

• Motor & Masterpieces exhibition from 22-24 November is a new celebration of historic and modern-day automotive brilliance featuring more than 200 meticulously selected motorcars and motorcycles across ten thematic exhibits that reflect significant evolutionary stages and cultural settings while hosting the prestigious Best in Show competition.

Wine makers and industry experts from all-around Australia have come together at Melbourne Showgrounds this week (21-25 October) to judge more than 2300 entries in the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. I thank the record number of wineries that entered this year and trust they enjoy great benefit from having their wines benchmarked against their peers.

We are incredibly grateful for the involvement of 35 wine makers and industry experts led by Chair of Judges Mel Chester, who take time out of their respective businesses to judge the wines and provide valuable feedback to entrants. I also sincerely thank the wonderful volunteers who generously provide their valuable time to assist with the delivery of the awards as stewards and back of house staff. Thank you!

I thank our Melbourne Royal Wine Awards committee for their ongoing involvement. The commitment, enthusiasm and passion of Chair, Rohan Smith along with Melanie Chester, Tim Perrin, Ed Merrison and Marcus Satchell ensures the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards continue to evolve and remain highly valued and respected in the Australian wine industry. Their passion, commitment and counsel has been instrumental in the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards being held in such high regard by Australian wine makers.

The prestige of winning a trophy in the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards continues to grow, particularly the Francois De Castella trophy for Best Young White Wine, the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz, and the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir. The trophy wine makers around Australia want to win, is the esteemed Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine.

The trophy winners for the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards will be announced on Friday 1 November in Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.

We are thrilled to be celebrating the dairy industry with the cream of the crop being revealed at the 2024 Australian Grand Dairy Awards on Wednesday 30 October in the Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.

The Australian Grand Dairy Awards presented by Dairy Australia in collaboration with Melbourne Royal, The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) and The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RASNSW), acknowledge excellence, quality and innovation across 22 dairy product classes, attracting entrants from each Australian state.

Only manufacturers of gold medal-winning products that are made from Australian milk and have already been through a rigorous judging process at Australian qualifying competitions (such as Melbourne Royal) are invited to enter the prestigious annual Australian Grand Dairy Awards.

This year there were 406 entrants across 22 categories. Chief Judge, Russell Smith led a panel of judges to determine the finest products judged on flavour, aroma, texture, body, and visual appearance.

As you can see from reading above, the Melbourne Royal Show may be over for another year however there are many other great events and exhibitions being held at Melbourne Showgrounds.

Brad Jenkins
Chief Executive