2009 SpArt Awards
SpArt 2009 was Verve’s fifth annual awards night celebrating excellence in vocational education and training in the sports, recreation, arts and culture industries.
SpArt 2009 was held at the Champions Room at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Thursday 4 June and came with a suitable theme - Making Waves!
Guests were entertained by elite athletes and performers including Westside Circus’ Christy Flaws in “Paddlepop”, a special aqua performance; by past and current members of the National Synchronised Swimming Team and a musical feast by talented NMIT student band “Quince”.
The Lineup!
The Host!
Col Cameron is recognized as one of the funniest and most likeable comics on the stand up/MC circuit. His trademark improvising with the crowd, honed from years of street performing, has seen him in great demand as a clever, quick-witted corporate/club MC.
Col’s style is fast paced and interactive with the crowd a vital part of the performance. Starting in 1992 with Australia’s largest comedy street performing group ‘The Itchy Feet Pep Band’, Col moved on to become a founding member of Wacky Entertainment in 1996. During Col’s time with Wacky, which continues today, he has clocked up thousands of corporate and festival performances all over Australia and South East Asia including The Logies (white carpet warm up), the ’06 Commonwealth Games Athlete’s Village, the Australian Open Tennis 1999-08, the Australian Grand Prix 00-08, Star Hub Launch Singapore, Hong Kong Christmas celebrations and the 2006 V-Power national launch road show for Shell Australia.
In 2007 Col performed his solo stand-up show ‘Like a Fish out of Water’ in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival followed by 2008 MICF and his new show ‘Obsessions’ at the 2009 Adelaide Fringe Festival.
In Melbourne you can catch Col at:
*The last laugh Codey Club*The Comic's Lounge*Young & Jackson*The Toorak Lion
Col is very busyas a comedy writer creating scripts for corporate events. Recent clients to Col include: *Citibank Asia Pacific (conferences in Athens, Osaka, Barcelona)*Mazda Australia*FedEx Asia Pacific*HP Asia Pacific*Diners Club (Hong Kong)
The Band!
Fresh out of NMIT's acclaimed music course, Quince is a band that plays an eclectic mix of fun and exuberant music. Quince provides a wide range of options in stylistic diversity as well as a number of different ensemble sizes. They play as a four to six piece band, including a horn section.
All members of the band play regularly in a number of bands around Melbourne, including Jester Crew, Meston Band, The Dirty ol' Dogs and Cadmium Waking. Quince plays an abundance of musical moods ranging from smooth jazz to RnB funk, or popular dance. Quince is fronted by charismatic vocalist Annabelle Tunley who leads the group with her powerful voice and engaging, energeticperformances, accompanied by a band of handsome telented gents.
Westside Circus presents Christy Flaws in Paddlepop!
Christy Flaws in a professional performer with the Westside Circus. She features in Westside's current work "Everybody" which was being featured in Showcase Victoria at the Malthouse Theatre in May 2009. Christy also toured with "Spilt Milk" as part of regional Arts Victoria's "Arts2Go" program 2008.
Chrsity Flaw is an emerging circus artist based in Melbourne, Australia. Since training at CircoArts in Christchurch New Zealand in 2003, she has continued to train and perform circus skills around Australia with specialist artists including Rodleigh Stevens, Anni Davey, Teresa Blake and Avan Whaite. She has performed professionally as a stilt walker, aerilist, hula hooper, acrobat and clown in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Japan and Hong Kong. Christy was a performer with, Asking for Trouble's Bubblewrap and Boxes (Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2009). In 2006, she was part of establishing SCALD's Physical Theatre, where she worked with circus artists Luke O'connor, Sarah O'Donoghue and Director Teresa Blake to develop a full-length physical theatre production, "Three Heads in Front" which toured to the Dunedin Fringe Festival, NZ.
She co-founded Quiche Lorraine whilst working with Director Anni Davey to create Domestic Bliss which premiered at Melbourne Fringe 2007 and has since been presented at Midsumma, Adelaide Fringe, Port Augusta Fringe and Brisbane Festival - Under the Radar in 2008. In 2008 she co-devised and produced "Pirated!" with Sweet 'n' Sour Circus performing two sell out seasons, one at La Mama as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and also at Gasworks Arts Park.
Olympic Synchronised Swimmers - Tarren Otte and Beth Walsh
Tarren and Beth are two of Australia’s best synchronised swimmers, having competed in many reputable events and competitions around the world. Both women were part of the Australian Synchronised Swimming Olympic Team in 2008, at the Beijing Olympics, where the team placed 7th overall. They have each competed in many other competitions including the 2005 and 2007 World Championships.
Tarren started synchronised swimming when she was nine after being asked to try by her primary school swimming teacher, who was the State Team Manager at the time. Tarren has been on the Victorian State team since 1996 and on the National Junior Team from 1999 - 2002. Tarren graduated to the National Team in 2004 at the Japan Open and has been a member of the team ever since. Tarren coaches synchronised swimming at her club, instructing girls from 8 years of age to 20. Tarren also pool lifeguards and teaches people to swim.
Beth began synchronised swimming 10 years ago when her best friend took her to a ‘come and try’ day at her local pool. Beth has been a member of the Victorian Team from 2000 to 2006 and was a member of the Australian Junior Team in 2002. She was also a member of the Australian Open Team from 2005 to 2007.
