Vic: Vizard takes over from high profile Walker as events chief

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2001
Vic: Vizard takes over from high profile Walker as events chief

By Catherine Chisholm, State Political Correspondent

MELBOURNE, April 2 AAP - Businessman and former comedian Steve Vizard promised to continue
to lure world-class events to Victoria when he was named today as successor to high-profile
chief events organiser Ron Walker.

Mr Walker, who brought $3.6 billion worth of events to Victoria during his 10-year
reign as chief of the Victorian Major Events Company, said Mr Vizard was a great friend
who was the best possible replacement for him in the job.

"You couldn't get a better person, frankly, to take the role over to run the major
events because of his world experience, the way he does things, his attention to detail,"

Mr Walker told reporters today. "He will do a fantastic job."

Among his regrets at stepping aside, Mr Walker singled out Melbourne's bid for the
2010 World Cup soccer and a possible bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

He said he would continue to serve the state as chairman of the Australian Grand Prix
Corporation and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Committee, and as a trustee of the
National Gallery of Victoria.

The Victorian Major Events Company was created in April 1991 by then Labor premier
Joan Kirner, who named Mr Walker the company's first chairman.

"I'd just like to pay tribute to Joan Kirner for the faith that she had in me all those
years ago when we first started off," Mr Walker said today.

He told the Herald Sun newspaper he was standing aside for personal and professional reasons.

During his tenure, Mr Walker was attributed with bringing to Melbourne the World Cup
cricket final in 1992, the World Police and Fire Games in 1995, the Three Tenors Concert
in 1997, the 1999 World Sailing Championships, polo's 2001 World Cup, the World Masters
Games next year and the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

He recently resigned as chair of the federal government's Business Arts Foundation,
and is outgoing federal treasurer of the Liberal Party.

Mr Walker today called on people to put politics aside to work with the government
of the day for the betterment of the state.

"It's been an absolute pleasure to work with this government (and) it was a great partnership
I had with Jeff Kennett for seven years."

Mr Vizard acknowledged he had "huge shoes to fill" after the work Mr Walker had done.

"Major events has played a significant part in building a calendar of events that takes
Victoria, Melbourne to the world and brings the best of the world to this city and this
state," he said.

"The calendar is as good as you could have. It's firm, it's locked in and whilst it
has to be continually maintained, I think the challenge for the next 10 years is to fill
in the gaps."

Mr Vizard, who will serve a three-year term, will continue his involvement with the
National Gallery of Victoria, where he is president of the board of trustees.

Premier Steve Bracks paid tribute to Mr Walker for his commitment to Victoria and for
his critical role of promoting the state internationally.

"Over the past decade Ron and his small team have secured events which have delivered
the world's best competitors to our doorstep," Mr Bracks said.

AAP cmc/gfr/was/br

KEYWORD: WALKER NIGHTLEAD

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