Melbourne, Australia, is a passionate city.
The way Melbournians go about living is with gusto, style and passion. They love to play a game.
Melbourne has managed to attach an impressive list of superlatives to its name – and these are not just empty words. They are reflected in many quality activities and events throughout the year.
Melbourne has been voted one of the most livable cities in the world for years in a row. It is the people of Melbourne that are involved with their city and that demand no less than passion and celebration.
Melbourne’s major, John So, is in on the game. His enthusiasm for life and his fun loving approach reflect Melbourne’s spirit – or vice versa. He even won the World Major People’s Award in 2006.
Melbourne’s year evolves from one major event to the next: There are the sporting events: Melbourne hosts the Australian Open, the Melbourne Cup, cricket, soccer, the Grand Prix.
It is home to the AFL – the Australian Football League - that captures the city throughout spring, winter and autumn and attracts more supporters than any other sport. It is a family affair and even I as a non-football fan have been taken in by the spirit of play that surrounds the competition.
The list of Melbourne superlatives does not stop there. Melbourne is Australia’s fashion capital, as well as arts and music capital. There are festivals, concerts and world class exhibitions. It is one of the three global cities hosting a world class comedy festival; and touring rock stars are sure to come to Melbourne.
All this may sound conceited, but it’s not. Melbournians really love their city. Melbourne is family and community orientated and all those great events have grown out of passionate people in the community and genuine interest. They are real.
Melbourne is a successful melting pot of cultures and sub-cultures that manage to respectfully live together – each contributing their crazes and delights, creating a colorful mix of events and activities. More than 1/3 of Melbourne’s residents are born overseas, keeping the spirit of the new alive in the city.
Melbourne was founded only just over 170 years ago. It grew in the biggest gold rush the world had seen and had its heydays in the resulting boom and riches of the 1880s. It does not have the convict past of other Australian cities. It is a city of free people who against many odds moved there, gone for broke in the spirit of adventure, seeking a new life…
It is perhaps this spirit that lives on. Unfortunately, such spirit also brings with it a dark side - passions gone awry:
Melbourne is also crime and drug capital of Australia. With little Italy has also come the Mafia, Gangland killings and drug wars. While they are confined to their own sub-cultures and not generally noticeable, even those appear being fought with passion -games turned ugly and movie villains taken too seriously.
There is a line between the passions that contribute to making Melbourne a great place and those that erode the people and culture. Melbourne is evolving and changing and is up to all of us to keep creating the good things in life.
Warm regards | 
