Melbourne’s Mad March of events is back as host of autumn events return
Melbourne’s Mad March is back, with a dazzling riot of fashion, food, flowers and sporting spectacles to sweep the city. But in a heartfelt twist, this year’s event will pay tribute to the regional towns devastated by bushfires.
Entertainment
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Melbourne is set to go mad in March with an unprecedented array of fashion, food, floral and sporting events.
But this year, thoughts will turn to Victoria’s bushfire-affected communities in an overwhelming display of support.
In a heartfelt twist to the famously full month of activities in Melbourne, each of the key events have a fundraising element for bushfire victims, volunteers and their communities.
Mad March events include the AFL season opener with the traditional Richmond and Carlton match at the MCG on March 20 and the continuation of the AFLW season.
The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival runs March 4-14, while the Grand Prix is set to race into town from March 12-15, followed by the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival on March 19-29 and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show blooming from March 25-29.
Stars from each of the major events made the trip to Buchan in East Gippsland in a show of support and in the hope it will encourage others to visit the bushfire-affected areas that are struggling economically and emotionally.
Richmond star forward Jack Riewoldt, Carlton goal kicker Darcy Vescio, Grand Prix ambassador Jessie Murphy, VAMFF special guest Ajak Deng and Melbourne-based Peruvian chef Alejandro Saravia were overwhelmed by the vision of the burnt landscape.
“It’s pretty eerie to be honest, seeing the landscape and how burnt it is. How scary it must have been for the people who found themselves in the middle of this firestorm,” Riewoldt said.
Internationally successful model Deng said she felt emotional seeing the devastation first-hand.
“Seeing all the land burnt and thinking about all the animals we lost. It’s quite dramatic,” she said.
All of those involved in the Sunday Herald Sun shoot passionately encouraged people to visit the region and help to rebuild the economy and the spirits of the locals.
“We need to remember that Gippsland is open for business and we need to support them,” said Melbourne Food and Wine Festival ambassador, Saravia.
Riewoldt said raising money through fundraising is important but getting out into the communities will have an even more profound impact.
“Fundraisers are fantastic and they’ve been able to raise amazing amounts of money through all the different varieties of fundraisers,” he said.
“But it’s actually getting people back on the ground here and seeing what these towns are about and what they’ve got to give and interacting with the locals.”
“It can be a bit isolating when you go through a traumatic event like this. They look forward to people coming back.”
Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said March was Victoria’s biggest month for major events.
“The influx of people is great news for regional Victoria with many taking the opportunity to get out and explore our great state,’’ he said.
“Places affected by the bushfires, like Buchan, are seeing people start to come back, which is terrific for workers and businesses in those areas.”
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