| TARGET DATE: June 05. |
PROGRESS: None to date. |
DESCRIPTION: This description is taken directly form a letter written to me by Andrea Hegyesi in 2000.
Proposed name: 'Our Table'
Our intention is to establish a multi-functional, multicultural centre highlighting food, information, entertainment and tourism of a world class standard and style. Mostly oriented to education and as an ongoing showcase for Victorian produce.
- Original landowners to have naming rights. Reconciliation.
- Activities and input would be from a variety of cultural sources.
- The establishment of an 'Ethnic Council' to administer the activities of the premises in consultation with existing ethnic council's. As the Queen Victoria Market is multinational by nature, the highlighting (on a rotational basis) of varied ethnic groups; cuisines, entertainment, literature etc. will be the Ethnic Council's responsibility.
The choice of ethnic group featured could correspond to their relevant calendar, religious events, special occasions etc.
The new Melbourne City Council to establish a proper university sociological research into the history of the families, legalities and traders of people of the Market.
- Design an Internet Web site: eg, www.qvm.ourtable.com.au, drawing attention to the featured 'ethnic group' and their related national cuisines and culture. Recipes concerning this group cuisine could be features as links on the web site and could be down loaded/printed with appropriate listings as to where to purchase the ingredients at the QVM along with a map to guide the shopper.
This web site is also used for connecting the household to all information on cooking and preparation menu. It also could be used to pre-order goods at stores to be picked up or be delivered to city homes.
- The incorporation of existing QVM Cooking Classes. Exhibition place for industry cooking, tops, ovens and kitchen. Also used by William Angliss and RMIT as an exhibition place. Interactive formats for school groups. Students to be educated not only about food, but table setting, party planning, social interaction, maybe how to build a BBQ also - practicalities of life.
- Fashion Exhibitions: Space to be provided to display cultural craft and/or fashions, to be used by traders also, on request.
- International Networking with other historical markets around the world and the establishment of a formal association to maintain consistent communication and a mutual exchange of information; eg, teleconferencing, visiting Sister Cities of Melbourne; organising City Weeks, like highlighting Paris, London, Jerusalem, African cities, famous restaurants, locations and inviting personalities from there.
- The establishment of a permanent exhibition of the Queen Victoria market's history, incorporating the diversity of cultures, pictorial/photographic memorabilia, histories of tenants (particularly family operated tenancies over consecutive generations), the growth and progress of the market, significant past events and happenings etc.
- As the Market is on a former cemetery site, it would be appropriate to include a sort of place where one can be sitting quietly and just be contemplative. Like the Mingary Centre in Russell Street Uniting Church. Like a multi-religious peace place.
- To avoid loss o business during construction the use of technology that is least intrusive, so it will not inconvenience shoppers and traders.
- Architecture: construct a significant structure to be built appropriate to the new millennium. Maybe some section could be used for outdoor advertising, getting money for them.
- Shoppers to have free parking.
- Conference Centre: health, laws, nutrition etc. Also small business operations centre, as well as labour information - since small business need people.
- SBS cinema theatrettte featuring appropriate cuisine following the film. Using international films like "Babett's Feast" and other. This cinema could run food films, produced by famous chefs, all day for tickets that are not too expensive.
- ABC food books, videotapes, nutritional health sciences and publications in all formats.
- Open air cinema in car park using FM technology. Village or Hoyts cinema could be interested. It would be sort of 'drive in' in the city.
- City fragmentation-immigration museum-courts-our table forming a line. This would provide a backbone between the old and new sections of the city. Connection by mini bus to new transport terminal at Spencer Street.
- Other shops on the site could be like National Geographic, Alternative Medicine, Equestrian Goods, Hare Krishna kitchen for poorer pockets, New York style Deli, child cuisine, indoor - outdoor plants, office space for; eg, Tenants Association (very much needed), Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc. This latter is specialised for raising health consciousness.
Possibilities are endless
I informed the Finance, Corporate Services and Governance Committee on Tuesday 11 Feb 2003 that this idea had been forwarded to me. I will send this URL to Jim Monaghan, manager of the market, and to fellow councillors.
