Royal Melbourne Show 2009

Victoria's Favourite Family Event Back Again!

2009 Royal Melbourne Show: 17 - 27 September

The Royal Melbourne Show, held from 17 - 27 September, is a great value day out, featuring: animals and livestock; award winning food and wine; arts and crafts; amusement rides, showbags, free live entertainment, spectacular fireworks; and much more.

Attracting 500,000 people on average each year, Victoria's most iconic event brings the very best of the countryto the city.

With countless unique and memorable experiences on offer, there is something for everyone to enjoy at theRoyal Melbourne Show.

Hotly contested every year, the prestigious Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout celebrates its 75th anniversary thisyear, featuring the best turnout riders from across the country. The event is held in honour of three-time RoyalMelbourne Show champion saddlehorse, Garryowen, whose owner died tragically whilst trying to save the horsefrom a stable fire 75 years ago.

Showcasing the best in agricultural sustainability, the 2009 Royal Melbourne Show will feature a purpose built'Sustainability Pavilion' offering patrons a hands on, educational experience. This new exhibit will feature a fullysustainable house, eco-market place, eco-café, green mobility garage and a regional and rural sustainabilityexhibit, giving showgoers the opportunity to learn about suburban and commercial sustainability.

The adventure does not stop there, along with free live entertainment, thrilling rides and more than 350showbags to choose from, the Royal Melbourne Show features a Farm Discovery Trail, sheep shearing andmilking barn, providing children an opportunity to immerse themselves in fun interactive learning experiences.While the kids are busy learning about life on the farm, there is plenty on offer at the Royal Melbourne Show foradults. Patrons can take a stroll through the Grand Pavilion, sampling Victorian produce including dairy, meat,grains, beer, wine, confectionery and much more. The Great Tasting Experience stage should not be missed withinformative food, coffee, wine and beer tasting sessions.

Showgoers will once again be able to enjoy exhilarating free family entertainment including the Showtime FMXStunt Bikes on the Coca-Cola Arena, exciting fireworks displays and Sunday Afternoon Sessions with liveperformances from some great Australian artists.

For great value fun and entertainment to enjoy with family and friends, there's nothing like the Royal MelbourneShow. For further information visit: www.royalshow.com.au

Kids, Animals & Showbags - It Must Be Showtime!

With just over three weeks to go until the country comes to the city for the Royal Melbourne Show (17 - 27September), the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) today unveiled the 340 showbags on offer thisyear, following a stringent assessment from students at Marysville Primary School.

As part of its ongoing support of those areas devastated by the Victorian Summer Bushfires, the RASVextended an exclusive invitation to the 24 students from Marysville Primary School to attend the annualshowbag launch event and get a sneak peak of this year's showcase.

The students not only got to officially road test the new range, they were able to enjoy their own mini-Showday, including a visit with the baby farm animals in the patting pen, and a special visit from Show favouritesSesame Street's, Elmo and the cast of The Saddle Club.

Showbags are just one of the popular features of the annual Royal Melbourne Show which brings the verybest of country Victoria to the city. Visitors to this year's Show can also enjoy a diverse range of freeentertainment including a visit to the NAB Animal Nursery and The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion, art andcraft displays, award-winning food and wine sampling, daily animal parades, celebrity chefs, live music andspectacular nightly fireworks.

"The Show is Victoria's largest and longest running annual community entertainment event, and we arecommitted to ensuring it continues to deliver real value with an extensive range of unique memorableexperiences to enjoy with family and friends," said Mark O'Sullivan, CEO of the RASV.

"We have enhanced the range of fun interactive educational activities and free entertainment this year andintroduced a variety of great value pre-purchase ticket options and incentives including the all new super valueTicket to Ride pass.

"The first 5,000 children aged 14 years and under through the gates on Thursday, 17 September will receivea free showbag as part of the celebrations for the first day of the Show," said Mr O'Sullivan at the launchevent.

Of the 340 showbags on offer this year, more than half are available for $15 or less with 20 per cent under $5.The cheapest bag at the Royal Melbourne Show is the Blinky Bill showbag, which remains a true bargain atjust $1.

The Royal Melbourne Show welcomes 35 new showbags in 2009, including bags themed around movie andtelevision favourites High School Musical 3, Pirates Of The Caribbean 3, BumbleBee, and Gossip Girl, as wellas Nintendo, Manchester United and Baby Looney Tunes bags.

When considering showbags at this year's Show, Mr O'Sullivan provided his top three tips:1. Plan ahead - visit the official Show website - www.royalshow.com.au - for a rundown of the 340showbags on offer, and plan ahead to ensure you get the best selection for the whole family

2. Set a budget - with more than 120 Showbags for $10 and under there's something to suit everyfamily budget

3. Visit the Showbag Pavilion early - visit the Showbag Pavilion before 12 pm or after 4.30 pm toavoid peak periods.

The RASV has also announced its ticket saving options for this year's Show, including the great value Ticketto Ride pass. The super value Ticket to Ride pass includes Show entry and ride coupons. Best of all, theride coupons can be used on any ride. There's great value Ticket to Ride passes for children (aged 5-14yrs),Adults, Concessions, and Families.

Combining entry and ride prices into the one incredible value-packed pass, 'Ticket To Ride' is the ideal wayto experience all the excitement and colour of the Show's carnival attractions, including three brand newrides never before seen in Melbourne!

- Adults $55 (includes entry ticket and $50 ride voucher)
- Child (5 to 14 yrs) $31.00 (includes entry ticket and $30 ride voucher)
- Concession $42.00 (includes entry ticket and for $40 ride voucher)
- Family A 4 people (two adults and two children) $85.00 (includes entry ticket and $50 ride voucher)
- Family B 4 people (one adult and three children) $85.00 (includes entry ticket and $50 ridevoucher)
There is also a special offer for RACV members, with savings of up to 30 per cent when purchasing ticketsfor family and friends before 6 September.

All pre-purchased Show tickets from Ticketek and other selected retail outlets, will also have the chance towin a Seaworld Gold Coast Family holiday including airfares, five nights accommodation at Sea World andentry into selected theme parks.

SHOWBAG FACTS

o More than 340 showbags are available at this year's Royal Melbourne Show
o All showbags were reviewed to ensure they provided consumer value and met all safetyrequirements by Victoria Police, Department of Consumer Affairs and the City of Melbourne
o Once again, the most affordable bag at the Royal Melbourne Show costs $1 and is the Blinky Billshowbag
o The perennial favourite, the Wonka Bertie Beetle showbag will have three times the appeal andvalue this year, with three types of bags on offer: the Wonka Bertie Beetle Red bag at only $1.50;the Wonka Bertie Beetle Blue bag at $2; and the Gold Bertie Beetle bag at $3.
o More than 35 per cent of showbags can be bought for less than $10
o A remarkable 50 per cent of bags can be purchased for under $15

www.royalshow.com.au