Vic: Vizard to replace Walker at major events helm

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2001
Vic: Vizard to replace Walker at major events helm

MELBOURNE, April 2 AAP - Businessman and former comedian Steve Vizard would replace
Ron Walker as Victoria's chief events organiser, Premier Steve Bracks said today.

Mr Walker said he classed Mr Vizard as a great friend and the best possible replacement
for him as chief of the Victorian Major Events Company.

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

Mr Walker, who brought $3.6 billion worth of events to Victoria, said among his regrets
at leaving the job were that he would not be around to bid for the 2010 World Cup soccer.

He said that to spend $20 million of taxpayers' money pursuing an event like the World
Cup was a matter for Mr Vizard to decide.

Mr Walker said he would have "desperately" loved to have won the 2020 Olympic Games
but he would then be 80 and it might not be a "good look" for him to be travelling the
world entertaining Olympic delegates.

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

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

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.

Mr Walker recently resigned as chair of the federal government's Business Arts Foundation,
and has ended a 15-year stint as federal treasurer of the Liberal Party.

He said people should 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, it was a great partnership
I had with Jeff Kennett for seven years.

"But I basically call on all those people, it doesn't matter what your political persuasions
are, this is all about bipartisan workmanship for the government of the day."

Mr Vizard acknowledged he had "huge shoes to fill" after the incredible job Mr Walker
had done over the past 10 years.

He said he was delighted to be asked to take the role.

"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.

Mr Vizard said the challenge for him would be to fill the gaps of a calendar of events
which had already been established.

"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."

AAP cmc/clr/mjm/sp

KEYWORD: WALKER LEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.