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Hey whats up? We have just got back from an amazing 3 days in Canberra.

Sorry this blog isn’t very Moto orientated but I suppose its an insight into what goes into building a kick ass company. This Blog is more about people I’ve been exposed to and learned from over the past 3 days.

I was fortunate enough to be named the Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania, this got us a ticket to the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra and a whole host of amazing events and open doors. 

The Canberra Trip Started on Sunday, when we flew from Melbourne and Landed in Canberra.

They knew we were coming and painted the plane pink!

My first time in the Capital, man that place is organised! It is White Collar central! Every one works office jobs it seems.

Sunday Night we had a Gala Dinner at Parliment to celebrate 50 years of the Australian Day Council and the Australia Day Awards.

I’m not usually into the Gala functions and all the wank factor that goes along with such a do, but I was jumping out of my skin to get to this one as I knew so many of my idols would be in the room, and heaven knows I've got a lot to learn! 

I don’t usually do Bow Ties!Whenever I speak at a school I always talk about how the fastest way to get any where in life is to find someone who has done what you want to do, learn from them, do what they do, then do it better.

There was plenty of people I could learn from at this event as all of the past 50 years worth of Australian of the Year winners were invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the awards.

I felt so honoured to have my name on the same list as people such as, Casey Stoner, Dick Smith, John Farnham, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh, Ray Martin and stacks more over achievers.

I got to meet Dick Smith and speak to him about how he used his success in business to give back to the community and then do every thing else he does, such as breaking world records in Hot Air Balloons. I’m looking forward to learning from such a master!

Here’s Dicks pic in the hall of fame

At the event I spoke with Ralph Norris CEO of the Commonwealth Bank. I spoke with Ralph for about half hour on building a brand, leadership, communicating vision through a team and everything else in regards to what it takes for him to run one of the biggest business in the country.

We had a chat to Ray Martin, I didn’t realise he was a Launceston Boy!

Adam Gilchrist was awesome to speak with and so was his wife Mel, they are a kick ass family and Adam knows his stuff.

On the way home we sat on the Bus next to Steve Waugh.

A little name dropping I know! Hahaha!

Monday started bright and early with some rehearsals for the Australian of the Year ceremony, they televise it live so they had some pretty tight time schedules! I didn’t have any idea how big this award ceremony was until I rocked up to parliament to see a massive stage, something you would usually see at the Big Day Out! 

The organisers said "this is how we will run tonight’s ceremony, but just imagine there is 35,000 people in front of us" .... faaarq!

We then headed over to “ The Lodge” - Ruddy’s Home! 

Dang Rud Dawg runs a nice setup at the Lodge! And he knows how to put on a show!

I’ve never seen so many cameras, media, etc, it was an eye opener. These photos are when we got off the Bus at the lodge.

Its was cool as, when we got off Ruddy shook every ones hand and said G’day, he remembered me from Tassie and explained to Therese how cool braaap was and how he loved our Community Development Plans, what we had done already for the community and that braaap is a brilliant role model for other business in Australia! 

Yes Ruddy Rud Rud has even been rumoured to check out www.braaap.com.au. Now the race is on to see who can sell his 16yr old son the 1st braaapster hahaha!

Sorry for the crappy photo but I forgot to mention that Johny Farnham ripped parliament to pieces with “ Your the Voice” and a big band! The middle age folk were waving their bow ties like no tomorrow! LOL

We had another great chat to Ruddy and Therese and got a pic.

Also spoke to Australian of the Year Mick Dodson and Therese Rudd for a fair while, Therese is an amazing business lady, she has a Global business!

We then headed over to parliament for the awards presentation, Live on TV and 35,000 People in the Parliament Entertainment Grounds.

Once all of the Awards were finished it was time for the Australia Day Live concert.

It was kickass!

Rouge traders!

Evermore ripped it!

Phrase put together the best Aussie Hip Hop I have heard ( I bought his CD and it sucks compared to the Live version they did!)

Ian Moss ripped it and the oldies loved it! Haha I think Pauly had a mid life crisis when he played Bow River!

And stacks of other bands.

Australia Day Eve was done and dusted by about midnight! 

Australia Day was pretty laid back for us.

I had breakfast radio segment with 7 HO Fm in Hobart, funny as! They have been playing it up for us all week about these awards!

We checked out the War memorial We went and watched a lakeside concert and fireworks for Aussie day night!

All in all  I learned stacks, met some kick ass people and have got some great stuff to put into action at braaap and braaap club!

Thanks for reading!

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