"WE ARE GOING TO AUSTRAAALIA" (cue loud screams)

If you have been hiding in a cave for the last day or two....then you may have missed the most important news our country is facing.  OPRAH WINFREY IS COMING TO AUSTRALIA! This has been the headline news on all major television networks and newspapers.

Perhaps now is the time to mention that I find it really irritating that we seem to place so much emphasis on 'news' that is really not 'major news'. Take for example, all the fluff stories and beautiful animal stories we normally see when watching the news on TV. But it seems strange to me when stories such as this are the leading news, not an environmental disaster or death on the battle front.

Don't get me wrong though...I LOVE Oprah and most embarrassingly I even tried to enter the ticket ballot yesterday. To my dismay, you can not enter the ballot for at least a month or so. I ensure you though I will be at one of her two shows. If not with a ticket in hand, I will be standing out the front of the Sydney Oprah House (yes-that's what it will be called while she's here) hoping to get a glimpse of the woman herself!




(Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oprah_Winfrey_(2004).jpg)


Here's a link to an an SMH article...http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/taxpayers-to-spend-3m-bringing-oprah-over-20100914-15abm.html

Of course, there has to be a negative aspect of her coming here. That which is presented to us in the above article, is that taxpayers will be spending $3million to have her here.

I believe though that there will be an over-riding positive effect of her visit. Namely, The Oprah Winfrey Show has, "40 million American viewers...screened in 145 countries". This is an enormous world-wide advertisement for Australia. Oprah is said to be one of the most influential and powerful women in the world and she is coming here! I'm sure Oprah Winfrey will influence more people to come to here than many other Tourism Australia campaigns (cough cough Lara Bingle).

This article is written well and is informative, with inclusion of quotes from all parties involved. Particularly, when Kristina Keneally, Premier of NSW, reveals the project has been kept confidential in the Government by calling it Project O. That to me is hilarious but oh well, each to their own. Sounds like the government would prefer to be the CIA.

Anyway, Oprah we welcome you to our country and please give me a ticket to one of your shows!!!