Did I hear laughing in the background? Ever since arriving in Australia I’ve heard that Canberra was a dusty place that only the pollies went to and the only people who lived there were the diplomats and bureaucrats.
Years ago when I decided to become a dual citizen I spent several weekends in Canberra soaking up all I could learn about my newish home. Every Australian should sit in on one session of Parliament. It’s quite a show compared to my American roots.
When I saw the Australian Capital Tourism ad on Facebook weeks ago who were looking for 500 ordinary Australians from around the country to visit Canberra as a part of their Human Brochure I put my hand up. I already loved the city. What’s not to like? It’s clean, got lots of great places to eat, wonderful museums, beautiful buildings, friendly people, it’s the home of the Parliament and the High Court and it’s near Tidbinbilla the home of the Deep Space Network.
I was shocked and humbled to be in the first ever group of 500 humans (out of 31,400 applicants) who will act as social media/blogging brochures. It’s a remarkable and some would say risky endeavour – something no ad agency or government tourism department has ever tried before. I LOVE people willing to take a risk and I pray this does all they hope for and more. Why? From a personal perspective, this will confirm to the world that bloggers and social media enthusiasts aren’t writing, “graffiti with punctuation,” that you hear from the mainstream media who get paid for their opinions.
I was born an American and I cherish my roots and my family and friends there but I’ve lived in Australia for many years and when I think of the country and what Canberra respresents to me, I get all proud and patriotic. Canberra was designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin and he fell in love with Australia too.
Lake Burley Griffin
On Saturday the food and wine group boarded a bus and went to Grazing, the epicurean restaurant owned by Capital Wines in Gundaroo, just outside the Australian Capital Territory but in Australian terms, it’s just a poofteenth outside.
Gundaroo is what we affectionately call “a country town,” filled with tin roofed buildings and friendly people. Our lunch started with cream of tomato soup and before each course, the local winemaker who provided the wine gave a talk about his or her winery and why that wine paired beautifully with the food. Not one was wrong.
If you click the first photo, you can go through the gallery of our time at Grazing Restaurant in Gundaroo. I love saying Gundaroo. It’s on par with Burrumbuttock, Yackandandah, Puckapunyal, Tidbinbilla, Kapooka and many more favourites.
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Awww, yay!!! I enjoyed all your FB updates, it looked like you had a wonderful weekend! The photos look beautiful! Sending hugs, Terra
What a wonderful and fun time. Love seeing all the pictures.
Looks like you’ve had a wonderful time! It sounds interesting and fun and you were the perfect person to attend.
Aren’t you sweet to say that? You always find something wonderful about everyone you meet. I want to be like that when I start over.
” I love saying Gundaroo. It’s on par with Burrumbuttock, Yackandandah, Puckapunyal, Tidbinbilla, Kapooka and many more favourites.” And I love reading these wonderful names. I actually had to Google some of them!
Sounds like you had a terrific time – thanks for bringing us along.
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There are some terrific names in Australia and New Zealand. Some I need help pronouncing
What a weekend! Looks like a rather delicious lunch and I’m so envious of that kitchen garden. I can’t wait to hear about the rest of the weekend. It’s such a brilliant idea. I hope some more places try it out too. I’m volunteering now!
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I really hope they get their money’s worth from this so other places will do the same thing.
The garden, the chooks and the ducks – it was a magical afternoon.
What an incredible weekend my friend, thank you for sharing it
There is so much to see, eat and do!
Cheers
CCU
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One day we’ll go together. You can guide my walking frame
What an incredible treat, and the photos are wonderful. That lake reminds me of the fountain in Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The food sounds and looks absolutely wonderful, I can sure see that your having a grand time. Lucky you.
It will be interesting to hear the outcome of the human brochure, I’m sure it’s the next wave if marketing.
Blogs have done a lot to change my perceptions of Canberra – the people who live there seem to find good things! – and your posts are adding to that. It looks like you had a great experience, food included
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What a fantastic initiative! It’s really wonderful to see companies really embarcing the powder of social media. And it looks like you had an amazing weekend to boot! What better way to advertise Canberra.
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I can only reiterate what I said last tome…wish I as there. A beautiful country.
I’m so glad you liked Canberra. I’m not sure I could live there but it’s a great place to visit with an incredible amount to offer. I love the portrait gallery. Did you get to the Portrait Gallery? I spent hours there. See you soon! xx
They could not have had a better person than you Maureen
I am glad you are having such a great great time. I completely understand the way you feel about Australia…I feel the same about USA. Today I am more American than I am Indian. Loved the post. Can’t wait to hear the rest of it.
What a wonderful opportunity and experience. LOVE your photos – that sky is beyond beautiful. I wish I could come for a visit! It’s a long, long way from Virginia
Grazing is a fabulous restaurant! It’s even welcoming and warm when it’s cold outside
They knew what they were doing when they selected you. Beautiful photos. What a weekend, thanks for taking me along.
What a neat experience, Maureen. I agree with everyone here that you were the perfect person for this fun program. Thanks for the sharing the highlights with us. Hope to be able to see Australia one day–then I’ll be knocking on your door to be my guide.
I laughed. I apologise for that. Last time I went to Canberra I got lost on their huge immaculate highways. Everything looks the same! Loving your foodie tips. Next time I’m heading through I’ll check them out
I can’t go anywhere in Australia without a nav system. I can get lost just making a u-turn.
Lovely Maureen! My Pete grew up in Gundaroo!
Gundaroo is a beautiful spot. John walked through town taking photos of everything.
i reckon every city and even smaller town has it’s little gems just waiting to be discovered. the ‘human brochure’ name gave me the creeps though.
I can only imagine the brainstorming session at the ad agency when they were looking for a name for this group. I hope other places try this idea even if they have to call their visitors something different.
Maureen, how exciting that you’ve started your career as a foodie diplomat. I popped over to Grazing’s website and I am dead jealous now. Hope you are having a wonderful time!
I could live at the Grazing restaurant, Hester
Come on over and we’ll camp out together.
It looks like a great day with wonderful food and wine.
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Canberra sounds so beautiful! I wish I could be there right now
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You need to visit. Just make sure when you get here you schedule a visit to Canberra. There really is a lot to see and do.
Wow)) I am certain hat all these people had wonderful time. I imagine them all happy and excited walking back after “the party” was over.
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It was a fantastic experience. I’ll be blogging soon about the other venues we attended.
Fabulous photos! I’ve always wanted to go to Australia…that sunny lake looks particularly lovely right now.
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And designed by an American
Hurrah! I’m currently traveling but am Canberra born-and-bred, and I am *so* sick of people Canberra-bashing without ever having visited. The thing about Canberra is that its magical secrets tend to be just that: secret. In other words, you need to know that the best, amazing restaurants are often out in the suburbs, not in Civic, or you need a local to tell you where and when to go to farmers markets, and you have to visit Sage and Grazing (which I’ve blogged myself). Yay for your post!
Thanks Hannah, I’m so glad you’re pleased with my post because it’s the locals I want to please. If you’re happy, then I’ve caught the message people Canberra are trying to share with the world.
I can’t speak out those names, they sound like a mix between an african language and Tamil language. The only thing that we were ever taught in school time about canberra was that it is the capital of Australia and not Sydney, and I honestly never knew anybody who came from there, so I didn’t bother to research. Looks like you had lots of fun and again I am jealous and wished India (or even my home countries) had these kind of events going on.
How good was our weekend, Maureen? Glad you loved my home town as much as I did!
I actually never asked you or read somewhere on your blog, but how long have you been in Australia? In 4 years I’d be in the US for half of my life, then I’ll be staying even longer than my life in Japan… we’re in similar experience.
Anyway, great to hear your weekend was wonderful and I enjoyed your pictures!