From the desk of the General Manager
Elisabeth Kerdelhué

Are we all neo-Keynesians now? While more and more companies are engaged in cost-cutting and downsizing in a bid to survive the global downturn, the Australian government is trying to boost business confidence with a range of stimulus packages.   Unfortunately the Chamber is not immune to the pain of the shrinking economy. Although the size and nature of our organisation does...read more

Supporting French exports: changes making the life of exporting companies easier

With greater resources, better accessibility and coordination, the French foreign trade service seeks to become more efficient in helping exporting companies. Below is an overview of the reform’s major changes. It has taken 18 months to develop the reform of the French export support service...read more

2009 Governor of Victoria Export Awards

Entries are now open - The 2009 Governor of Victoria Export Awards program will be launched on Monday 4 May 2009 and the application period is now open until Friday 17 July 2009. The staging of these awards, Victoria’s most prestigious business awards, recognises Victorian businesses who have achieved export success by using innovative and creative business strategies. By showcasing the outstanding achievements of Victoria’s export sector, these awards highlight the crucial importance of exports to the State of Victoria.

For further information or to apply, please contact Nicole Andrews on (03) 9651 9845 or at nicole.andrews@diird.vic.gov.au or visit www.export.business.vic.gov.au/awards

New National Broadband Network

Media Release - 07 April 2009

The Rudd Government today announced the establishment of a new company to build and operate a new super fast National Broadband Network. This new super fast National Broadband Network, built in partnership with private sector, will be the single largest nation building infrastructure project in Australian history...read more

Chance for WWI Town to Give Back

Saying they will “never forget” the valour of Australian diggers, the French town of Villers-Bretonneux has pledged funds to rebuild a bushfire-affected school in Victoria. At the end of World War I, Victorian schoolchildren donated money to rebuild the school at Villers-Bretonneux after Australian soldiers recaptured the town from the Germans in bitter hand-to-hand combat on April 24, 1918...read more

Double degree at Masters level between
Monash University and Jean Moulin University - Lyon III

A new degree has been introduced by Monash University and the University of Lyon that is the result of collaboration between the Monash Translation Studies program and the Jean Moulin Faculty of Languages...read more

Documentary about French People Living in Australia - Call for sponsors...

You may recently have come across,  "Les Francais du Monde", a series of portraits, from different angles, of French nationals expatriated in Australia.  A real "Tranche de vie",  the documentary sets out to explore the reasons and motives behind their migration and showcase the real lives of those who made the transition -  the frustrations, the successes, and what makes Australia such a great destination. The aim, for the viewer, is to discover Australia through the eyes of their countrymen who have decided to call it home. 

Frogzmedia & Stepping Stone Picture are delighted to announce that there will be a production partnership to create the documentary, which will be broadcast on the French television channel, Demain TV, a channel available through the TNT (free to air digital), satellite, mobile TV and Internet, with dedicated time slots including 20 short portraits and a  theme night on the subject, with an expected total audience around 1 million viewers. In order to make this project a reality, what the production team is looking for now is sponsorship from the French-Australian business community where they will be able to assure and offer the sponsors airtime, visibility, brand exposure and positioning to their target customers. The basic sponsorship starts at $2,000.

For more information, please go to www.lesfrancaisdumonde.com 
and/or view the video directly www.lesfrancaisdumonde.com/video.html

You can also contact Christophe Mallet directly either by phone on 04 2496 1998
or email contact@frogzmedia.com

Capture the essence of the Rhône's great vineyards

Wine grower, wine maker and wine lover, Michel Chapoutier is one of France's most dynamic wine producers, championing biodynamic viticulture and producing a consistently high-quality range of wines from the prominent northern and southern Rhône Valley appellations, as well as Languedoc-Roussillon.

The Estate also owns vineyards in Australia, Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier (VIC) and Domaine Tournon (SA), and has a number of joint-ventures. One is with fellow biodynamic producer Ron Laughton from Jasper Hill (VIC) for a Heathcote wine called La Pleïade and its counterpart in France, Agly Brothers, from Côtes-du-Rousillon. The second joint-venture is with the renowned Beechworth winemaker Rick Kinzbrunner from Giaconda Vineyard (VIC). Their first wine, Ergo Sum, has already been a great success.

M. Chapoutier Australia is also involved in a series of Winemaker’s Dinners. These events are a celebration of the French “savoir-faire”, where fine cuisine meets outstanding wines. It is the occasion to meet the winemaker and have a better understanding of the wines and the terroir they come from. The next dinners will be held at French restaurant Chez Olivier, Prahran, on the 13th, 14th & 15th of May. An enjoyable dining experience is guaranteed! Contact the restaurant owner Olivier on 0438 357 099 for information and bookings.

Both Australian and French wines, including the Selections Parcellaires (biodynamic single vineyard wines), are available from M. Chapoutier Australia. For more information, contact the team on (03) 9602 1570 or info@mchapoutieraustralia.com or visit www.mchapoutieraustralia.com. Special discounts apply to FACCI members and the winery is always happy to assist with private functions and corporate gifts.

M. Chapoutier Australia

Contact : Julia Vesval – Brand Ambassador
11 Nicholson Place
Melbourne VIC 3000
T. (03) 9602 1570
E. info@mchapoutieraustralia.com
W. www.mchapoutieraustralia.com

The 2009 Grand French Victorian Banquet
Wednesday 18 March - River Room at Crown

This year’s Grand French-Victorian Banquet coincided with Melbourne’s annual Food & Wine Festival, a fitting reflection of the evening’s focus. Indeed this exclusive wine dinner showcases the trophy and gold medal winning wines from our annual Concours des Vins du Victoria, matched to a specially designed five-course menu with French influences but using the best of local produce. This year, to support those vineyards affected by the recent bushfires, all profits from the banquet were donated to the Australian Red Cross “Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009”...read more

2009 FACCI Corporate Golf Day
Monday 23 March - Metropolitan Golf Club

FACCI’s annual golf day was a thoroughly relaxing day out.  It was held for the first time at The Metropolitan Golf Club, one of Australia’s premier golf courses located in Oakleigh in the renowned sand-belt area. Metropolitan enjoys a reputation as the best conditioned year round course in Australia and only a few weeks ago hosted the Women’s Australian Open Championship. The day started with the distribution of show bags, and was followed by some practice shots and a sumptuous buffet lunch of seafood, grilled meat and healthy salads, complemented by Breton galettes and sweet crepes prepared by Breizoz Crêperie. FACCI Vice-President Rudi Koenig officially welcomed guests and the club pro briefed players prior to a shotgun start at 1.00 pm...read more

The Business Implications of Climate Change at Ernst & Young
Wednesday 25 March - Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young hosted a seminar on the implications of the Climate Change policies for businesses for FACCI members. The seminar was run by three members of the Ernst & Young’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services division, Frederic Papon, Manager, Richard Pittard, Executive Director and Tristan Edi, Associate Director...read more

Wednesday 3 - Guided tour of Calendar Cheese Company cheese rooms in Port Melbourne with Maitre Fromager Will Studd

Business seminar on new workplace legislation

Tuesday 14 - Bastille Day Celebration (National Gallery of Victoria)

Friday 24 - The Tour de France Luncheon (Palladium at Crown)

Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 - Run for your Life by the Melbourne French Theatre
For more information: www.mftinc.org/season/current_index.htm

Monday 25 - concert at the Alliance Française - harpist Isabelle Perrin
For bookings: 9525 3463 or www.afmelbourne.asn.au

Double-pass giveaway to “A Pain in the Ass”

Francis Veber, one of the kings of French comedy, has written numerous cult films; “The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe”, “La Cage aux Folles” and “The Dinner Game”, and of course “A Pain in the Ass”, which was first directed in 1973 by Edouard Molinaro. Now with this new version he is the director, and the result is a film more lively and funny than its predecessor, with several significant changes. Richard Berry in the role of the hitman, and Patrick Timsit as François Pignon (the pain in the ass), are both irresistible.

François Pignon, completely devastated following the breakdown of his marriage, becomes involved in the world of Ralph Milan, a hitman using his hotel room as the vantage point from which he will kill a witness, about to arrive at the nearby courthouse. The result? A series of comical situations that will keep you laughing; in short, the perfect piece to entertain and help you forget your problems!

“A Pain in the Ass” will be screening at selected cinemas from April 9.

Extracts from the film’s promotional flyer

If you are interested in seeing the film, we have 10 double-passes to giveaway. Simply email your name and address to info@facci.com.au with “Pain in the Ass ticket giveaway” in the heading. Please note that the passes will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Level 8, 155 Queen Street | Melbourne VIC 3000
T. (03) 9600 0000 | F. (03) 9600 0005 | E. info@facci.com.au | W. www.facci.com.au

The team at the Chamber is:
General Manager: Elisabeth Kerdelhué
Event and Services Coordinator: Melanie Lim
Trade Coordinator: Fabien Girard
Project Manager: Olivier Deschang
Bookkeeper: Pam Wylie

If you wish to contribute to FACCI Victoria e-news or are interested in advertising in the newsletter, please contact Olivier Deschang on odeschang@facci.com.au