Happy 23rd Birthday World Expo '88

Today is the 23rd Anniversary of the official opening of Brisbane's World Expo '88, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Happy Birthday Expo '88!

Rumours on First Bid for 2020

My contact at ExpoMuseum.com tells us that Izmir Turkey may be the first to lodge an official bid for Expo 2020 on 1 May, which would give other bid nations, including Australia, six months to respond.

Watch this space for more news!

Newcastle, NSW, eyes Expo 2017

This news was picked up by my San Francisco colleague Urso Chappell of ExpoMuseum.com, and co-host for the World's Fair Podcast - maybe we could do an interview with them for our next show?

Urso has sent me these links, which show that the new Liberal Government in New South Wales is keen for Newcastle to host Expo 2017, which is backed by local member of Parliament the Hon Tim Owen MP, and the new Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Mr Barry O'Farrell MP.

Here are the links, which point to a few weeks ago, just before the Liberal Government's win in NSW.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/keneally-still-cradles-hopes-in-heartland/story-fn59niix-1226026365161

http://www.nsw.liberal.org.au/news/leader-of-the-opposition/newcastle-to-bid-for-expo-showcasing-newcastle-and-the-hunter-to-the-world.html

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/barry-ofarrells-message-to-the-hunter/2113779.aspx

As stated in these articles, the new NSW Government is willing to put in $1 million seed funding to do a feasibility study to bring the Expo to Australia in 2017.

Foundation Expo '88 shall be following this up with the NSW Premier's office in the next few weeks!

In the meantime, follow the potential bid's Twitter feed at @ExpoNewcastle!

Silicon Valley Expo 2020 proposal launches website

In the midst of receiving correspondence from Australian Foreign Minister Rudd regarding an Australian Exposition for 2020, it is interesting to note the Californian Government proposal for Silicon Valley Expo 2020 has just launched it's website and Facebook page.

The slick website, which is well thought out, and includes official documents such as Governor Schwarzenegger's letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton urging her to consider the USA's membership of the Bureau of International Expositions, as well as a mock supporters letter in .doc format to same for interested citizens to fill in the blanks and send themselves.

The website address is:

http://www.expo2020siliconvalley.com

The Facebook page is at:

http://www.facebook.com/WorldExpo2020/

Read - and enjoy!

Australian Government response re: An Australian Exposition for 2020

Dear Readers:

You may know of my correspondence to my local Federal member of Parliament, the Honourable Mr Graham Perrett MP, late last year with regards to the proposal that Australia host a Universal Exposition or International Garden Exposition for the 1770-2020 250th Anniversary of Captain Cook claiming Australia for the Great British Crown.

Some time later, I received a response from Mr Perrett informing me that this correspondence had been forwarded to the Prime Minister's Department for her comment.

Today I have received a letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mr Kevin Rudd MP, (our former Prime Minister), advising that the letter has been forwarded to his Department as Foreign Affairs looks after Australia at World Expositions.

I include a copy of the letter received from Mr Rudd here:

Double-click to enlarge.

I think this response is an important milestone in getting a worthy international celebration for Australia for 2020 - and I trust that Minister Rudd, given his stature, will give this matter his full and considered thought.

With thanks to Mr Perrett for his representation.