EA soccer tournament 2011

Last Saturday there was English Australia (EA) soccer tournament 2011 at the University of Queensland. GV Brisbane soccer team went to the semi-finals and finished the third among 12 language schools in Queensland. Well done, guys! You did an excellent job!

GV Brisbane soccer team 2011

 

 

GV Brisbane cheerleaders

 

Briefing before the match

 

Brisbane Winter Festival 2011

Brisbane Winter Festival 2011

 

Located at the iconic King George Square in the city, the 2011 Brisbane Winter Festival provides exciting events including ice skating shows, winter festival music, and a European-style feast. Check out the website to get some more information. http://www.winterfestival.com.au/the-event.html

Music weekend in Brisbane

If you are a music buff then this is one weekend in Brisbane that you don’t want to miss!

Over the course of the weekend there are  number of music events being held across the city.

Watermark  – On Saturday, 16 pubs and clubs across the country will simultaneously host Watermark and showcase the best in Australian music talent while marking the resilience and courage of local Queensland communities in the face of natural disasters. All venues involved in the events were affected by natural disaster. Grinspoon will play at The Regatta, The Whitlams at the Breakfast Creek Hotel and there’s a street party at the Fox Hotel featuring Muscles, The Cairos, Misére and more. Entry to all events by gold coin donation. For more information: http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whats-on/this-week-brisbane#watermark

 

Supafest – Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Taio Cruz, Bow Wow and more are performing at Supafest 2011 at the RNA showgrounds on Saturday from 2pm. Supafest 2011 is expected to draw even bigger numbers than last year (65,000) making it one of the world’s largest Urban Music Festivals. For more information: http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whats-on/gig-guide/5158606.supafest-2011

Riverdance  – A thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance, Riverdance has tapped its way onto the world stage since its inception in 1994, has thrilled more than 22 million people in over 300 venues worldwide throughout 32 countries across 4 continents, and has grossed over US$1.6 billion worldwide. Riverdance features 31 performers including the remarkable Riverdance Irish Troupe, the cream of Irish musicians, and an impressive array of talents from around the globe. For more information: http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whats-on/performing-arts/4768948.riverdance

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For those looking for a music festival over Easter – you have to check out the Byron Bay Bluesfest! http://gvbyronbayblog.com/2011/03/22/byron-bays-bluesfest/

Getting Ready for the GAME!

The 4 Nations Rugby League Final is on this Saturday 13th November!

We had a great response from the students to attend the match between Australia and New Zealand.

as YOU CAN SEE HERE, PLENTY OF TICKETS WERE PURCHASED!

I was too late to see the Australian Team, but was lucky to be able to meet the NZ team on Tuesday and get their autographs!

THEY ARE DEFINITELY READY TO GIVE THE AUSSIES A TOUGH GAME! IT WILL BE GREAT TO WATCH!!

HAVE FUN EVERYBODY!!! :)

MOJO SURF TRIPS – SPOT X

AUSTRALIA

PRESENTS

Weekend trip to Spot X this weekend for $199!!

This includes all accommodation, meals and return transport from Brisbane.

3x surf lessons, beach activities (volleyball, cricket and football), a campfire party on Saturday night and a stop off at Byron Bay on Sunday afternoon.

Optional activities include Skydiving with beach landings and Kayaking.

They are also offering the beach weekend for $170 which excludes the surf lessons.

This offer is for this coming weekend only

( Fri 12th – Sun 14th )

PLEASE SEE ROBYN AT STUDENT SERVICES DESK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BOOK

ALSO

NEW YEARS EVE @ SPOT X

THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE “MASSIVE”!!

If you don’t have anything planned, or would like something exciting and different, this is for YOU!

CELEBRATE NEW YEARS ON THE BEACH!!!

They are taking bookings NOW!!

See flyer below

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Screamworld

Want something different to do this Friday night?

Come along to Dreamworlds after dark party, Screamworld!

We’re arranging a bus down to Dreamworld, leaving at 4.20pm on Friday, where you will travel to Dreamworld to spend a night riding all the rides in the dark or dancing up a storm at their laser light dj spectacular and taking part in the biggest night party at Dreamworld. It will be loads of fun and all students are invited.

If you would like to go along, make sure you see Robyn today to get your ticket. It will cost $30, and includes the return bus and entry into the park.

If you are going, make sure you wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing, as it will get cool!

World Cup Fever

Don’t forget the World Cup Activities tomorrow afternoon!

Join Robyn and Judy for some quizes and other activities and have the chance to win a double pass to Winter Sound System, the coolest festival in winter!

World Cup kicks off on the 11th of June and we will be replaying the games here in school in the afternoons, check the activities schedule for updates.

If you want to watch the games live, check SBS schedule here!

Dress-Up Day!

To celebrate the World Cup 2010 we will be having a World Cup Activities afternoon with Judy and Robyn next Wednesday, the 9th of June.

At 2pm, we’ll be holding lots of different activities and we have a special prize to give away to the student that dresses up in their best soccer themed outfit: a double pass to the coolest winter music festival, Winter Sound System! (Valued at $178!!)

Featuring some of the world’s biggest electronic artists including Crookers, Tiga, Markus Schulz, Steve Aoki and Laidback Luke, this event is sure to be an amazing festival not to be missed!  Check it out at: http://wintersoundsystem.com/

So come along to the activities next Wednesday, and don’t forget to Dress Up so you have a chance to win these amazing tickets!!!

MasterChef Round 2

Yesterday our students competed in the second round of the GV MasterChef competition!

The teams were Team 1: Harna and Vanda; Team 2: Cherry and Rina; and Team 3: Oriana and Trudi (these two were very brave new students, they started this Monday!)

The secret ingredient the students needed to use yesterday in their cooking was eggs.

It was another great cook-off, with all teams cooking up some wonderful dishes, but it was Team 1 that won with a delicious chicken and egg dish.

Congratulations to all our fabulous contestants!

Stay tuned for next weeks’ Round 3!

Friday Graduation BBQ

We had our monthly Graduation BBQ today. Asher’s Pre-Intermediate class put on a great BBQ, cooking sausages, fried rice and more. Thanks for a great lunch! We wish all students that graduated today the best in their travels and hope to see you back one day!

Graduation on Friday!

A reminder that all students will have a Graduation BBQ this Friday afternoon!

Also, as a special request, we will be holding another pronunciation seminar for French speakers in the afternoon at 2pm Friday. This is a great seminar for all students who have a French mother tongue, as we will be working on some problems French speakers have with pronunciation in English, but everyone is welcome!

GV Brisbane’s Masterchef Competition Begins!

Yesterday our very own version of Masterchef began.

This is based on the TV series, and student contestants are given a budget of $20 and an hour to purchase ingredients and then cook a dish of their own, using a secret ingredient which we provide at the beginning of the competition.

This week’s secret ingredient was: Cream

We had three teams this week, Team 1: Jonas and Nathalia; Team 2: Veridiana and Rosana; and Team 3: Dante and Cherry.

They all made some amazing dishes, with Jonas and Nathalia making a wonderful plate of desserts, Veridiana and Rosana making prawn risotto and Dante and Cherry cooking up lamb with onion, black pepper and cream sauce.

It was a tough decision for our judges, but the winners were Team 1, Jonas and Nathalia!

Congratulations to all our contestants!

Don’t forget the second round is next Monday, if you would like to be a contestant, see Robyn today!

“There’s Nothing Like Australia”

Tourism Australia is currently running a photo competition called “There’s Nothing Like Australia” which gives participants an opportunity to share their favourite moments in Australia.

The competition is a great way to show off your photographic skills and to practise your English at the same time.

When you submit your photo entry, you also need to complete the sentence “There’s nothing like…” with a phrase which explains your photo and your favourite experience in Australia.

You can enter the competition online at: http://nothinglikeaustralia.com

Given the high quality of entries for the GV photo competition, why not give this competition a try too?

Perhaps “There’s nothing like studying at GV Brisbane!” might prove to be a winning entry!

Good luck!

This weekend!

Its a long weekend this weekend, and even better, this Sunday is the Caxton Street Seafood & Festival!

This is one of Brisbane’s iconic festivals, and is extremely popular with the locals. Its one of the best opportunities to see some live music, eat some delicious seafood, drink some wine/beer and have a good time! Its a street festival you shouldn’t miss out on!

When?  11am – Late

Where? Caxton Street, Brisbane CBD (its close to Roma Street Station)

How much?  $22

Brisbane City Hall Turns 80!

This Thursday the iconic Brisbane City Hall will celebrate its 80th Birthday!


City Hall is undergoing a major transformation at the moment, and tomorrow they will open the doors to the hall so you can go inside and see what is happening with the renovations. There will be a large celebration all day, which begins at 7am with a breakfast sausage sizzle, live music, tours of the hall, dance demonstrations and birthday cake!

Don’t forget your closed in shoes! (As it is undergoing construction, all visitors have to wear enclosed shoes for safety reasons).

Harry’s Trivia – Brunswick Hotel, New Farm

Come and have a great night with Brisbane’s famous trivia host Harry.

Get along to the Brunswick Hotel restaurant every Monday and Wednesday night (from 7.30pm sharp).

The questions are written in Brisbane by Harry, all the answers are correct, the night moves at a fast pace and the prizes are great. What more could you want!!

Harry has been running pub trivia full time since 1998 (over 3000 shows). Over $160,000 in cash and $140,000 in bar tabs have been given away.

Harry’s Trivia is often copied, but never beaten. Come and see what makes this the best trivia night in town.

Date range: Mon 4 January 2010 – Wed 29 December 2010

Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm Monday & Wednesday

Where: Brunswick Hotel , Bunswick St, New Farm

How Much: $4 per head

Contact:

email: bigharry@bigpond.net.au

phone: 0417 639 750

web: www.harrystrivia.com

Brisbane Comedy Festival

It’s back! It’s bigger! And it’s even better! And it starts today!

Get ready for four crazy weeks featuring the funniest local, national and international talent – comedians will be packed into every single space of Brisbane Powerhouse, not just the theatres. You’ll be roaring with laughter in the Rooftop Terrace, tickled pink on the Turbine Platform, indeed you’ll be cacking yourself in every corner.

Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

Dates: 23 February – 21 March 2010

Cost: Approx $10 – $40

For show information and times, visit ourbrisbane.com

Brisbane Welcomes International Students 2010

The annual Brisbane Welcomes International Students event is one of the big events that should not be missed!

The afternoon is packed with live bands and entertainment, animals and activities, plus a TONNE of prizes to be won. Have a look below for some more information about the day.

Prizes to be won

• Laptop, 2x day trips for 2 people, book vouchers and cap package from QUT
• Hotel room including return launch transfers, buffet breakfast daily, dolphin feeding experience, desert safari tour and quad bike tour from Tangalooma
• 10 double passes to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
• Bike and equipment package from UQ
• And more!

Activities:

• Full size cricket pitch with games and competitions running by QLD Cricket
• Handball target – Brisbane Lions
• Mascots from some of Brisbane’s favourite sporting teams
• Interactive art activity by Queensland Art Gallery
• Live animal displays from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Geckoes Wildlife
• Live music and entertainment all day by local Brisbane bands and artists

Information sessions about key issues and items of interest for students including:

• Staying safe in Brisbane – QLD Police Service
• Staying healthy in Brisbane – Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland
• Visa and immigration advice – Department of Immigration and Citizenship
• Beach Safety – Surf Life Saving QLD
• Money matters – Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Other highlights

• Official opening by Lord Mayor
• Michael Kasprowicz in attendance (former Australian test cricketer)
• Ben Southall (winner of the Best Job in the World
• Special student offers

When: Saturday 6 March, 2010
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: Reddacliff Place (top of Queen Street Mall)
Cost: FREE

To see the poster for the event, click here

Australia Day 2010

On Tuesday the 26th of January, Australians unite to celebrate this wonderful country of ours!

The fireworks at Southbank are always a big hit!

Tuesday will be a public holiday which means the school will be shut for the day. So, on Monday, we will be holding some activities in the afternoon to celebrate.

First we will be having an Australian food tasting competition which will be followed by a fashion parade! There will be plenty of prizes for the winners and the categories for the fashion parade are: Best Dressed and Best Australian Outfit. So put on your best Australian clothes and join in the fun on Monday afternoon from 2:00pm!

There are plenty of other events happening around the city on Australia Day so why not click here to find out more about what is happening in your area?

Christmas is just around the corner

You know what that means? Christmas carols!!!

This Saturday, the 5th of December, is the Annual IGA Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols in the City.

This premier free Brisbane Christmas event for 2009 showcases outstanding artists singing all the great carols. Headline artists for Carols 2009 will include a line-up of Australia’s world-class talent including Guy Sebastian, Paulini, Marina Prior, James Morrison, Colin Buchanan, Dean Geyer, Troy Cassar-Daley, La Forza, Jason Barry-Smith and the Queensland Pops Orchestra.

Whatever you plan to do this Christmas, don’t miss this night of inspiration and entertainment!

Where: The City Botanical Gardens

When: Saturday 5 December 2009

Cost: FREE

This premier free Brisbane Christmas event for 2009 showcases outstanding artists guaranteed to please all ages. Headline artists for Carols 2009 will include a line-up of Australia’s world-class talent including Guy Sebastian, Paulini, Marina Prior, James Morrison, Colin Buchanan, Dean Geyer, Troy Cassar-Daley, La Forza, Jason Barry-Smith and the Queensland Pops Orchestra.Whatever you plan to do this Christmas, don’t miss this night of inspiration and entertainment

The Valley Fiesta 2009

Valley Fiesta 2009 brings you three days of free entertainment on three stages in the Valley Mall, Brunswick Street and the Chinatown Mall.

300x300_crowd_boy

This year’s Valley Fiesta is shaping up to be the biggest yet.

The Valley Mall Stage will be showcasing some of the best international, national and local pop, rock, indie and hip hop acts.

Meanwhile, the Brunswick St Stage will feature a repertoire of alt-country, soul fusion and blues in a more laid back atmosphere that includes cafe seating and dining available from local restaurants.

Valley Fiesta 2009 will also include a series of events in the newly redeveloped Chinatown Mall, with the Theatre Stage hosting street theatre, performance artists, short theatre productions and comedy during the day.

The celebrations are from this Friday the 23rd of October till Sunday the 25th of October. For a list a guide to the weekend, visit the Valley Fiesta website: http://www.valleyfiesta.com.au/ or ourbrisbane.com:  A guide to Valley Fiesta