Get Ready to Celebrate City's Style - Ipswich Fashion Festival

STYLING UP: Kimberley Allen-Ankins (left) and Shauna Darr show a glimpse of what will be on offer at the fashion festival. (IMAGE: David Nielsen)

FASHION students, local designers and retailers will soon take centre stage for an event fashion lovers will not be able to resist.

The Metro Hotel Ipswich International is readying the runway for a Gala Fashion Evening as part of this year's Ipswich Fashion Festival.

The premier regional fashion event will showcase the latest creations from local and metropolitan designers and retailers.

Designer collections on show include Leigh Buchanan Designs, When Freddie Met Lilly by Vanessa Hoe, Queensland Bridal Design and much, much more.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International general manager Ted Matthews said the evening was a wonderful way of showcasing the enormous amount of local talent and fashion that is available in the city.
"Ipswich is fortunate to have so much wonderful fashion on offer but we also enjoy getting together for a great night out," he said.

"The Gala Fashion Evening has been organised to not only celebrate the diversity of fashion and design here in Ipswich, but to also be a night of great fun."

The event will be held at the hotel's Grandchester Ballroom on Friday, October 25, from 6.30pm and include wine and canapés before the runway show.

There will also be a performance by Ipswich-based Allula Productions' burlesque show and the announcement of the winners of the Pfaff Student Design Awards.

For guests who can arrive early, Stefan Hair Salon will provide a complimentary hair and beauty bar from 4.30-6.30pm.

Tickets to the Gala Fashion Evening are $22 and can be purchased from the Ipswich Events Corporation on 3812 2974.

For more information about the Ipswich Fashion Festival visit ipswichcentral.com.au

Other Ipswich Fashion Festival events

• What: Vintage Vixens and Retro Rockabilly' Fashion Fiesta.
• Where: Ipswich City Mall.
• When: Saturday, October 26, from 9.30am - 1.30pm.
• What: Catwalk Collections' Fashion Parade.
• Where: Riverlink Shopping Centre
• When: Saturday, October 26, from 1pm.

A-League Set To Roar in Ipswich

CLOSE BY: Matt Smith and the Brisbane Roar will be taking on the Melbourne Victory at North Ipswich Reserve in a preseason match in September. Photo Credit: Joe Castro

IPSWICH'S top soccer teams are on the right track to developing the next generation of A-League stars, according to the Brisbane Roar captain.

With teams in the Brisbane Premier League and the Queensland conference of the new National Premier League, Smith said the development of local talent was in good hands.

The Roar will play a pre-season game against the Melbourne Victory at North Ipswich Reserve in the lead-up to the 2013-14 A-League season.

While admitting support in the football loving public remained split between the two leagues Smith said the emphasis on developing young players was the right path to take.

"I think what's important isn't so much the leagues the clubs play in, but I think it's important the clubs place emphasis on development," he said.

"I think it's really important here in Australia that clubs really get behind their youth and really focus on grassroots level.

"And the long-term strategy behind that, we'll have a process where south-east Queensland and Queensland is certainly developing good players to then flow into the Brisbane Roar youth team, and in time flow into the Brisbane Roar first team. I think that's probably the biggest paramount."

While the Roar have played pre-season games against local teams in Ipswich before, the September 14 game against the Melbourne Victory is the first time two A-League teams will play in Ipswich.

Smith said the team had always received a great response from Ipswich football fans when they'd played in town.

"We've always had great days out at Ipswich; the matches that we've had there in the past, they've always been good numbers, they've always been competitive matches, and we always like coming out there because we saw the Ipswich community gets behind us and really comes to support us. It's a good thing we're coming back there again."

The Roar will also play Ipswich-based NPL team Western Pride in a trial game in Toowoomba. They have already played two pre-season games again NPL opponents, including a 5-0 win over Albany Creek this week.

Roar coach Mike Mulvey said the games against NPL sides as well as A-League teams were far from meaningless as they wanted a blistering start to the season.

"We're leading into a very important season for the club, which means it is imperative we make sure our pre-season is well planned as well," Mulvey said.

"We want to play regular football and work on all aspects of our game as well as visiting Roar fans that live in different areas around Queensland and northern New South Wales who may not get to see us play regularly.

"These matches against strong A-League opposition will allow us to strive for good performances, solid results and equally importantly, team cohesion within the playing group."

If selected, the game could be the first time former Roar star Mitch Nicholls faces his old club after he was signed from the Roar to play for the Victory. Midfielder Nicholls played 125 games for the Roar and was an integral part of the team that won back-to-back premierships and were unbeaten for 36 straight games.

He was poached by the Victory in a move that will see him reunited with former Roar manager Ange Postecoglou.

With the Ipswich game towards the end of the Roar's pre-season Smith expected local fans would see a near-full-strength side take to the Reserve.

"It's obviously a coaching decision but with the game against top competition and getting close to the start of the season I'd expect we'd at least start with our strongest line-up."

The Roar will face the Victory at North Ipswich on Saturday, September 14, and against the Western Pride in Toowoomba on Wednesday, September 18, at the Toowoomba Grammar School.

by Geoff Egan

Source: http://www.qt.com.au/news/a-league-set-to-roar-in-ipswich/1958255/

Need Hotel Accommodation in Ipswich?

Try Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Warm Up in Ipswich @ Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is offering this Warm Up in Ipswich Special for $149.00* per night staying in a Superior Queen room including:

• Hot Chocolate Welcome Pack 
• Breakfast 
• Free Internet 
• Free Parking 
• $30.00 Voucher when 2 people dine in the restaurant for a two course meal 

Hotel Location: 43 South Street (Cnr Foote Lane) Ipswich Qld 4305

Book here: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/special/311

Phone: +61 7 38128077

Offer Expires: 31st August 2013 

Metro Hotel Ipswich International For Your Next Small Meeting

Not all meetings involve 50 or more people.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International offers an excellent Boardroom for small meetings of up to 14 people. Ideal for annual general meetings, board meetings and company planning sessions the Metro Hotels Boardroom is proving to be extremely popular.

According to the Hotel's Guest Relations Manager, Fran Edney, the boardroom is heavily booked by both local businesses and also community and not-for-profit organizations.

"Many organizations are looking for a quality venue in which to conduct these very important meetings." explains Ms Edney. "In fact, annual general meetings and board meetings are becoming a very big source of business for the hotel." she said.

To book the Boardroom or one of the other function venues at Metro Hotel Ipswich International contact the hotel directly on (07) 3812 8077 or email ipswich@metrohg.com