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Island Hopper, Issue #009, It's Toe Tapping Time October 31, 2016 |
November 2016: Issue #009
Hello, Welcome to Island Hopper! I hope you will discover lots about Phillip Island and the surrounding area.
It's Toe Tapping TimeThis November 18/20 marks the 12th anniversary of the Phillip Island Jazz Festival. The festival was started by locals who are keen jazz aficionados and it gone from strength to strength, with last year’s festival being a sell-out. The three day program features bands from Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania. The opening Wine and Dine Evening on Friday night kicks off with jazz, blues and ragtime by the Nolte Bothers Novelty Six from Melbourne. Saturday’s program runs from 10am to 10.30pm with Saturday evening time for the happy and carefree music from the 1920’s with Creole Bells Revival Band. Performing around Australia and in the United States, this is a band to get your feet tapping! 
(Photo courtesy of Phillip Island Jazz Club) Held at Ramada Resort Phillip Island, the venue is fully licensed and meals and snacks are available. Phillip Island Jazz Club also has Sunday Jazz from 2pm to 5pm once a month in the Bass Room at Ramada. On December 18 be entertained by Island Jazz. Food and WineWe have an anniversary – but where to go to celebrate? No need to think about it - The Shearing Shed on Gap Road.A shearing shed might not sound a likely place to find good food but it the case here. And maybe it’s because I’m a country girl, I feel right at home in a shearing shed! It’s just a regular spring weekend but we make a booking anyway. Lucky, as there were several celebrating groups and not many free tables. We start with old favourite saganaki to share, accompanied by pear, walnut and rocket salad. I follow with honey glazed duck breast with fennel, bok choy and spiced cabbage. Delicious, as expected. What I like about The Shearing Shed is not only the great food but the fact that the chef uses fresh, seasonal local produce. So the menu changes with the season. At the entrance there is a bar area with seating, useful in the summer when the main dining area is full. A popular destination at holiday times, a booking is essential. 
The Melbourne Cup and Phillip IslandThe first Tuesday in November has a famous place in the Australian calendar - the day of the running of noted horse race, the Melbourne Cup.But did you know Phillip Island has a connection to the Melbourne Cup? In 1875, island pioneer Captain John Cleeland of Newhaven won with his horse Wollamai - in the first cup to be run on a Tuesday. Previously the cup had been run on Thursdays. In an interesting twist on today's training regimes, Wollamai was walked the 87 miles (140 kilometres) to Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, arriving only a few days before the race. But first he had to swim the east channel from Cape Woolamai to San Remo! Wollamai was described as “a bright bay horse, standing about 15 hands 2 inches, had a good sensible head set on to a symmetrically shaped neck, let into excellent shoulders; he was very deeply ribbed, and had nicely turned, muscular quarters, with splendid legs”. To honour his win, the 2013 Melbourne Cup was on display at Woolamai House in that year. This year a bronze plaque was unveiled at the Newhaven Visitor Centre to acknowledge this piece of Phillip Island history. The plaque is set on a block Cape Woolamai granite, the setting out place for the great race. 
What's On In NovemberNovember 12 - Island Craft MarketNovember 18/20 - Phillip Island Jazz Festival November 26 - Churchill Island Farmers Market November 26 - Market on Chapel November 26/27 - Island Magic Motor Racing
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See you next month!
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