Say ‘Thank you Australia’ and win!

The Australia Day Council of NSW (ADCNSW) is issuing a final invitation to Australians at home and overseas to share their personal thoughts on what makes Australia great.

Famous and everyday Australians are sharing their personal messages through the Thank you Australia campaign, hosted on the AUSSIEVAULT website.

All entries in Thank you Australia 2014 will have the chance to win a weekend in Sydney to experience the light, music and ideas of Vivid Sydney 2014 for a family of four. The prize includes flights from the nearest capital city in Australia and accommodation for 2 nights (23 and 24 May 2014) in Sydney for a family of four (2 adults & 2 children) to enjoy the opening weekend of Vivid Sydney (23 May–9 June 2014).

The campaign, proudly supported by Australian Unity, invites people from all walks of life to reflect on the things that make us grateful to call Australia home – from our rich history and cultural diversity to our beautiful beaches and vibrant cities.

Kate Ritchie, Australia Day spokesperson, said as a passionate Australian she was honoured to be part of a campaign that encouraged fellow Australians to express their gratitude for all the great things in our country.

“This rewarding program encourages people to reflect, share and support our shared values – it’s an opportunity to share our personal perspectives,” said Kate.

“The AUSSIEVAULT website contains some delightful contributions from both famous faces to everyday Australians. Everything from “Thank you for our backyards” and “warm winter bonfires in the great outdoors” to “the freedom and safety you provide our children”.

“Let's celebrate by sharing with the rest of the world what we love about this country and what we are grateful for, every day of the year.”

Submissions to the Thank you Australia campaign close on 28 February 2014 and prize winners will be announced on 10 March 2014.

Thank you Australia is an initiative of Australia Day Councils and Committees of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria and is proudly supported by Australian Unity.

For more information on the Thank you Australia competition and to post your message visit www.AUSSIEVAULT.com.au

Longest ever Vivid Sydney Light Walk to delight families this winter

From an illuminated, interactive floor linked to grand piano to a spectacular Australian-first water light show, Vivid Sydney’s Light Walk is set to delight families this winter – and it’s all free.

Owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Vivid Sydney is the largest light, music and ideas festival in the Southern Hemisphere, on from 24 May to 10 June. It’s a ‘must see’ global event, highly anticipated by Sydneysiders and visitors alike.

With just under a month to go until the lights switch on, Vivid Sydney will welcome families from around Australia and overseas, who will join locals in an ‘after dark’ winter wonderland of interactive light installations, illuminated skyscrapers and large scale projections including the world famous Lighting of the Sails on the Sydney Opera House.

From 6pm until midnight each night, people of all ages can wander along the iconic harbour foreshore, taking in the Vivid Sydney Light Walk from Fort Denison, through Circular Quay, The Rocks and Walsh Bay. With Darling Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge interactive light feature at North Sydney, there’s something for everyone - front and centre of Sydney’s famous harbour.

Easy to get around, the Vivid Sydney Light Walk is dotted with entertaining installations including a floating garden bed made entirely of fibre optic grass, a mirror that bends and ripples its reflection, and a simulation of hundreds of moths drawn to the streetlights.