Archive for May, 2010

Vienna comes first, KL moves up a spot in Quality of Living survey
European cities dominated the Mercer 2010 Quality of Living Survey with Vienna taking first place for the second year running, followed by Zurich and Geneva at No 2 and No 3 respectively. In Asia, Singapore is the top-scoring city at No 28, followed by Tokyo at No 40.

Read more on The Edge

BREAKFAST DEALS: NAB’s extended options
An exclusivity agreement between NAB and AXA Asia Pacific is expected to be extended this week. Elsewhere, Foxtel isn’t expecting Telstra to sell its 50 per cent stake any time soon. 31 May 2010 8:13 AM

Read more on Business Spectator

In the news: Last March 12 at the Melbourne International Motor Show auction conducted by the Shannons, a unique 1948 Mercedes-Benz A320 two-door cabriolet that has never made production was sold for $350,000 in front of huge crowd consisting of around 1,500 people at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Despite the limited lots available as compared to previous years, the Melbourne International Motor Auction was able to sell more than $2.7 million and obtain an outstanding clearance rate of over 90 percent of all lots. Out of the $2.7 million, around $600,000 was spent on vehicle number plates of which five VicRoads’ new signature plates have been sold for a total of $154,000 ahead of their public launch which was scheduled yesterday, March 13.

The sale of the rare Mercedes-Benz was the highlight of the auction. The striking two-tone blue fully restored vehicle was discovered in an isolated state in Indonesia in the year 1980 and was then brought to Australia where it was restored. Quality Mercedes parts such as the Mercedes brake caliper was used in restoration of the 1948 A320. A Mercedes-Benz brake caliper is an important component of any vehicle since it induces a speed-stopping amount of friction that slows down or stops a Benz vehicle and the 1948 A320 Cabriolet is not an exemption. The 1948 A320 two-door Cabriolet embodies the luxury image of Mercedes-Benz before the devastation of its German factories in World War II. Unfortunately for the A320 instead of making production was overtaken by the more technically advanced 300 series models.

Aside from the A320 Cabriolet, the 1930 Invicta S-Type Low Chassis which was previously owned by the Shannons’ founder Robert Shannon became an additional attraction at the auction. The bidding for the Invicta has also turned out to be an emotional event for both Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon and veteran auctioneer Bill Wellwood. The Invicta was sold in for $950,000.

Also for auction at the Shannons was the totally-restored 1971 Chrysler Charger R/T E38 coupe sold for a record price of $140,000 surpassing the record of a previously sold Charger R/T E38 at $128,000 which was auctioned last year at Shannons’ Sydney Motor Show auction.

Other cars sold at the auction includes a 1969 Holden Monaro HK GTS 327 coupe in superb condition was auctioned for $120,000, a 1968 Monaro HK GTS 307 coupe was also bought at $50,000 while a 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT sedan was sold for $34,500.

Here are some of the auction results:

• A fully-restored 1956 Holden FJ Utility sold at $61,000

• An un-restored one-owner 1957 Ford Mainline Utility sold for $33,000

• A well preserved one-owner Ford Fairlane ZC 351 V8 sedan sold for $21,000

• A magnificent vintage 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Saloon auctioned for $100,000

• Three-digit Victorian vitreous enamel plate ‘765’ was sold for $75,000 followed by the big-block plate ‘429’ which was sold for $70,000 while the ‘353’ was sold for $63,000

• Four and five-digit plates: the ‘2123’ was able to make $34,000, the ‘8168’ with $32,000, the ‘9.444’ gained $31,000 while the ’30.000’ and ’66.111’ which are considered the best of the five digit plates were sold for $27,000 each.

• The new VicRoads ‘Signature series’ personalized number plates did remarkably well with the GT selling nearly three times its estimate at $53,000 while the ‘RR’ and ‘SS’ were each sold for $36,000. The GTO was sold for $17,000 and the ‘RT’ was taken for $12,000.

Lowy sets his sights on an Oz World Cup
It has been a busy week for Frank Lowy, Australia’s newly crowned richest man, who opened the doors to his cancer research centre this week.

Read more on Sydney Morning Herald

Shane Smeltz’s sizzling shot boosts confidence
Super striker Shane Smeltz says the All Whites’ ”fantastic” 1-0 win over Serbia will give them great confidence for their World Cup opener against Slovakia on June 15.

Read more on Stuff

Nice weather on tap for Memorial Day weekend
Memorial Day weekend will feature partly cloudy skies, pleasant temperatures and rough surf, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. “We’re going to be getting into a typical summertime pattern; nice, partly cloudy mornings followed by chances of afternoon thunderstorms.

Read more on Florida Today

Roosters answer challenge
North Ballarat answers every Sandringham challenge to win by 13 points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

Read more on Brisbane Times

Massive hail storm hits Melbourne on Saturday arvo 06/03/2010… Streets flooded, hail stones from marbles to golf balls. The rain was so hard and heavy the only sound to describe it would be a 747 on take off. Trees had their leaves ripped away like they were being sandblasted. …Bogan pride

Schools key to winning the battle of the bulge
A PROGRAM in which school students spend almost four hours a week learning about nutrition and food preparation could be the key to shattering Australia’s obesity epidemic, dietitians have been told.

Read more on Sydney Morning Herald

Propel Technology: The World’s Most Realistic Motion Simulators to Help Automotive, Motorsport and Industrial Vehicle …
MELBOURNE—-Cruden B.V. – the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of interactive motion-based racing simulators – has set up a new Australia office to help Asia Pacific’s automotive, motorsport, defence, mining and civil engineering markets exploit the latest affordable simulation technology.

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

Curtain rises on Everett’s debut as film festival host
EVERETT — The red carpet was rolled out in Everett on Thursday night for a bit of Hollywood glamour. The Seattle International Film Festival presented the West Coast premiere of “Mao’s Last Dancer” to a near-capacity audience at the Everett Performing Arts Center.

Read more on Everett Herald

Cleaning up the Valley
Brisbane’s entertainment precinct Fortitude Valley is getting a clean up to help attract locals back to the area during the day, rather than just to the clubs at night.

Read more on Australian Broadcasting Corporation

HIGGINS TO RETURN WITH EXETER
Andrew Higgins will return to professional rugby with Exeter next season after serving a nine-month ban following the Bath drug tests saga.

Read more on Sporting Life

‘I want to hold my girls’
THE mother of separated twins Trishna and Krishna says she yearns to meet the girls again, however briefly.

Read more on Herald Sun

Vic students give iPad the thumbs up
Students at the Victorian College of the Arts have given the Apple iPad the thumbs up after being among the first in Australia to get the device.

Read more on The Age

Crows backflip gives Edwards farewell
Adelaide have done a backflip and granted retiring veteran Tyson Edwards a farewell AFL match.

Read more on Brisbane Times

Child hit by train: most platforms ‘slope towards tracks’
A baby has survived after being hit by a train in Melbourne’s south-east, police say.

Read more on Sydney Morning Herald

Time for another cheesy musical (warning on the cheese)! So during my stay in Melbourne, I gathered up as many of the locals as I could to show just how amazing the city is! Music and video were created/directed by me. Special thanks to Qantas, Go Away travel and Tourism Victoria for their support! Enjoy Lyrics– Traveling the world Where do I go? Place to see People to meet But where do I start? Hopped on a plane With Qantas I came To see something grand Thats why I spanned The Pacific Ocean So where am I now? Its not my town The people are new What do I do? Why not sing a song? Cause thats who I am Thats why I came to Melbourne, Australia! Its where the sun is shining bright And if you see the town you might See the museums, the culture, laneways galore See all this stuff that you’ve never seen before! There’s so much more to life you’ll find A game of footy and meat-pie will ease your mind The funny accent *WHAT?* Erm.. The fun of travelling Just hold on tight Feel the music and might, just Hear our voices sing We hope that you’re listening Melbourne! The place to be I know it’s Melbourne! Where my spirit’s free -oh Seldom can you find the chance to Love, laugh, sing, dance Melbourne! Don’t want to leave it, cause it’s Melbourne! And it brought us here Together, our lives for ever more Melbourne *repeated* (I want to be in Melbourne, I’ve got to be in Melbourne, Take me there) A place with so much to believe in A song to dance and sing it Melbourne! The place to be …

Western Bulldogs’ fight similar to GWS scenario
A ground-breaking report into the long-term future of the Western Bulldogs has revealed that the club which faced extinction two decades ago looms as crucial to the AFL as the 18th team in Greater Western Sydney.

Read more on Brisbane Times

Infant survives being hit by train
THE second infant to survive being hit by a train in Melbourne in seven months has been described as a “miracle baby” by paramedics.

Read more on Adelaide Now