Brisbane’s great and good enjoy a night of music, food and culture from the Middle Kingdom

THE Chinese Year of the Dog was celebrated in style at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with a night of music, food and culture from the Middle Kingdom.

Illustration of Xu Jie by Brett Lethbridge

THE Chinese Year of the Dog was celebrated in style on Thursday night with the city’s great and good packing the Plaza Terrace Room at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for a night of music, food and culture from the Middle Kingdom.

Chinese Consul General Xu Jie was the man in charge for the night that included a banquet of steamed coral trout, dried scallop and crabmeat broth, Asian greens and mushrooms and fried rice. Xu, who took up his role last year, noted that Chinese investment in Queensland now exceeds $30 billion and 27,600 Chinese students studying in Queensland.

Among those spotted in the crowd were Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, chief scientist Christine Williams, former Labor pollie and now businessman Michael Choi, retired Supreme Court judge George Fryberg and Japanese consul general Keiko Yanai.

In true Chinese style, there was a long line of speeches by the dignitaries that included Minister for Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones, Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander and Brisbane City councillor Angela Owen.

Chinese native speakers were amused by the differing attempts of the Aussie dignitaries to say the Chinese New Year Greeting “Kung Hei Fat Choi.” Mander looked out at the sea of red lanterns and banners and joked that “for our side of politics this amount of red is quite uncomfortable.”

BANYO BOUND

COMPUTERSHARE has given up its river views at West End for new digs at Banyo where it will base its communications services business. The Melbourne-based company founded 40 years ago as a share registry business now employs 1400 people around the globe.

It has expanded its operations in recent years to include back office and billing services for utilities, banks and other companies. State-of-the art digital printing machines at the new Banyo facility, which employs about 60 people, can spit out 10,000 letters an hour.

Computershare held an official opening of the new office yesterday complete with a musical performance by the Nunukul Yuggera people that ended with a spectacular fire lighting performance that had the company’s fire wardens on their toes.

In attendance was Computershare Australia and New Zealand regional director Scott Cameron, Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games director-general Damien Walker and Brisbane City Council councillor Adam Allan.

TRIFFID SOIREE

THE Hutchinson-AEIOU cycling team is hosting a musical soiree from 3pm tomorrow at The Triffid to help raise funds for kids in need.

An impressive line-up of live music will include the Battersby and Beckman duo and The Manilows, who headlined Jurassic Jam and played at the Prawns on the Lawn last year.

You might recall the Hutchteam will ride next month in the Chain Reaction Challenge which covers 1000km around the South Island of New Zealand. The Hutchies- AEIOU team includes Dan Quigley, James Morton, Euan Morton, Russell Fryer, Matt Lawson, Cath Daly, Andrew Coronis, Michael Byrom, John Berlese, John Barton, Damien Atkinson and Bill Keogh (who is unable to ride with the team as he was injured while training for this year’s ride).

ASK SIRI

IT’S hard to believe but the voice of Siri on iPhones around the globe belongs to a woman who grew up in Mackay. Karen Jacobsen was an experienced voiceover artist before moving to New York City to follow her music ambitions. She is now heard around the world whenever anyone wants to know what’s on television or directions to the nearest Mexican restaurant. Jacobsen will be guest speaker at the East Coast Forum boardroom lunch on February 28 where she will talk about a near career collapse to a highly successful writer, performer, entertainer and speaker across the US and Europe.