PK and I were in Hobart earlier in the week on top secret Scene Change business.

A group of us had dinner at a local Thai restaurant.  After some prolonged wine indecision, we decided to order the Monkey Bay Chardonnay just because it had a monkey on it.

The ultra-polite, bespectacled waitress came over, looking like a shy Thai librarian.

Us: A bottle of Monkey Bay Chardonnay thanks.

Waitress: (Quite loudly in the near-empty restaurant) Hee hee hee hee hee!

Us: What’s up?

Waitress: You said - hee hee! - monkey! That’s my favourite animal! Hee hee!

Us: Excellent, glad you enjoyed it.

Everyone was happy. That’s how it is when you mention monkeys. Put one in your next presentation, if you find the opportunity.

Scene Change Tasmania has won the Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) state award for best Technical / Creative Production company.

We’re very pleased with this, because as a relatively new company it was the first year we were eligible to enter the awards.

The prize was awarded at a gala dinner at Peppermint Bay. Guests travelled to and from the event by sea, appropriate given Scene Change’s piratey origins.

Here’s our very own Gareth Percey and Rod Street looking mighty pleased with their award. This makes them finalists in the national awards in April.

“Thanks to the local conference industry for getting behind us since it all started,” said Rod. “The guys are really honoured to be recognised like this.”

Thanks to Phil Holmes of Convention Wise for the shot.