Honorary Guests on 7th November 2004 Old Vine celebration

Mr Alfred Breznik – Honorary Consul General for NSW for Republic of Slovenia
Councillor David Hodges – Mayor, Shire of Yarra Ranges
Councillor Clive Larkman – Dep. Mayor, Shire of Yarra Ranges
Mr Matej Balazic – Head of consulting office for Slovenians from abroad Slovenia
Mr Chris Dupe – Manager, Economic Cultural & Community Development, Shire of Yarra Ranges
Ms Melinda Gillam – Cultural Services officer, Shire of Yarra Ranges
Mrs Leslie Wood & Mr John Wood
Melita Zupevc – Reporter POP TV Slovenia
Irena Pernat – Artist, Director 7P Slovenia
Pater Ciril Bozic – Slovenian Religious and Cultural Centre Kew
Marija Anzic – Slovenian Religious and Cultural Centre Kew
Mr Frank Vodusek & Mrs Marija Vodusek – Vodusek Meats Cobram
Mrs Aurelia Rizmal – SBS Radio Slovenian Program
Mrs Meta Lenarčič & Mr Lenarčič – 3ZZZ Radio Slovenian program
Mr Lenti Lenko – Avstralian 5
Mr & Mrs Peter Mandelj President Council of Slovenian organizations of Victoria
Mr & Mrs Martin Toni – President Slovenian Sport Association St Albans Inc.
Mr & Mrs Milan Ogrizek – President of Slovenian Club Jadran Diggest Rest
Mrs Sandra Krnel – Manager Mother Romana Home – Slovenian Hostel for the Aged
Mr & MrsFred Toplak – President SD Planica Springvale
Mrs & MrLucia Srnec – School of Foreign Languages Victoria

MESTNA OBČINA MARIBOR – KABINET
ŽUPANA
SLUŽBA ZA ODNOSE Z JAVNOSTMI , DATUM:18 oktober 2004

UDELEŽENCEM FESTIVALA STARA TRTA V AVSTRALIJI

Vsako leto se v Mariboru takrat, ko pri vas, v Avstraliji, vstopate v poletje, pri nas s prvimi meglicami v dolini in hladnimi jutri že napoveduje zima. V času, ko vam pišem te pozdravne besede, se pripravljamo na velik praznik v Mariboru, ki je letos zaradi nekoliko hladnejšega poletja prestavljen v sredino oktobra, na trgatev najstarejše trte na svetu. Letos so njeni grozdi še posebej težki in bogati, zato se veselimo nedeljske trgatve.

Letos je prvo leto, ki ga Slovenija preživlja v skupnosti evropskih držav. Za Maribor pa je to še posebno svečano leto, saj praznuje visok jubilej: 750 let od prve pisne omembe Maribora kot mesta. Ponosni smo na zgodovino, na skupne kulturne temelje civilizacije. Prav tako ponosni kot na našo trto, znano po vsem svetu, ki je simbol prijateljstva, medsebojnega spoštovanja in sodelovanja. Veseli nas, da je ena izmed njenih potomk našla svoje mesto in svoj dom tudi blizu vaših domov.

Vsem, ki se udeležujete praznika stare trte v daljni in prijateljski, čudovito lepi Avstraliji, še posebej pa rojakinjam in rojakom, ob praznovanju praznika stare trte pošiljam prijazen in prisrčen pozdrav iz univerzitetnega mesta Maribor, v srcu Evrope.

Boris Sovič,univ. dipl. inž. el.
ŽUPAN mesta Maribor

The Mayor of Maribor Mr Boris Sovič, is sending us the following message:

To all participants of the Old Vine Festival in Australia:

In our grape harvesting season when the fresh and hazy mornings are already announcing the approaching winter, you are moving into the summer. I’m writing to you at the time when we are preparing for the mayor event – grape harvesting of the oldest grape vine in the world. Due to the low summer temperatures the harvesting was postponed till the middle of October. However this year the Old Vine bore plenty of fruit, heavy and rich, so we are looking forward to the harvest.

This is the first year that Slovenia is a member of European Union.

This year is also a special year for celebration for the city of Maribor. It is 750 years ago that the first written document mentioned Maribor as a city.

We are proud of our history; our past being part of the culture of our civilization, just as we are proud of our globally recognized Old Vine, a symbol for friendship, mutual respect and international cooperation. We are especially delighted, that one offspring of our Old Vine did find a new home in this far, friendly and beautiful Australia and is doing so well so close to many new homes of our Slovenians living there.

To all participants at your Old Vine Cultural Festival and especially to our compatriots, I am sending friendly and heart felt regards from Maribor, a university city in the heart of Europe.

Boris Sovič Mayor
City of Maribor

Authorized by: SAATCE – Slovenian Australian Agency for Trading & Cultural Exchange

Projects Coordinator: Vinko Rizmal