2014 G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala To Honor Australians Geoffrey Rush, Jacki Weaver And Curtis Stone

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Australians Geoffrey Rush, Jacki Weaver and Curtis Stone will be honored at the 2014 G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala which will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the JW Marriott LA Live in Downtown Los Angeles.

For over a decade, the highly-anticipated G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala has honored prominent Australians from film, television, music, sports and culture for their  individual contribution to the US-Australia relationship. The Gala kicks off the annual G'Day USA program for 2014 with events occurring in multiple cities over 12 months across the US  showcasing Australian business, investment, tourism, culture, innovation and government policy in the United States. The G'Day USA January program will include 12 events in 6 cities over 13 days with more to come during 2014.

Former Australian of the Year, Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech, Shine) is being honored with an Excellence in the Arts Award in recognition of his long career of award-winning achievements in multiple creative disciplines.  An actor and film producer, Rush is one of the few people who have won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award.  He is the foundation President of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts.

Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom) will receive an Excellence in Film Award in recognition of her outstanding body of award-winning work starting in the Australian New Wave cinema of the 1970's through to her Academy Award nominated roles in 2011 and 2013.

Celebrity chef, author and television personality, Curtis Stone (Top Chef Masters) will receive the first Excellence in the Culinary Arts Award in recognition of his work promoting Australia as a premium food and wine producer and for inspiring home cooks across America and Australia to use local, seasonal and organic ingredients. For the 4th year, Stone will also be designing and preparing the Australian-inspired and sourced menu for the Black Tie Gala.

Ms Karen Lanyon, Consul-General LA and G'Day USA Chair, in announcing the honorees today, stated, "For 11 years G'Day USA has honored outstanding Australian talent and celebrated their individual contributions to the vibrant cultural relationship that exists between Australia and the US.  We are pleased to honor Jacki Weaver and Geoffrey Rush as incomparable artistic talents and Curtis Stone for shining the spotlight on Australia as a premier culinary destination.  They are each, in their own way, unique ambassadors for all things Australian."

Further details about award presenters, the Australian talent performing at the Gala and celebrities expected to attend and walk the red-carpet will be announced at a future date.

Past G'Day USA  honorees in Los Angeles have included : Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, Eric Bana, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Paul Hogan, Hugh Jackman, Baz Luhrmann, Phillip Noyce, Steve Irwin, Rod Laver, Luc Longley, Greg Norman, Air Supply, Barry Gibb, INXS, Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton John.

Additional information and ticket purchasing details can be found at www.australia-week.com.

ABOUT G'DAY USA
G'Day USA is an annual program of events (running over 12 months) held in multiple US cities to showcase Australian capabilities in business, investment, innovation, tourism, culture and public policy to US decision makers and audiences, highlighting the close ties between both countries. It is unparalleled as a platform for creating trade and investment outcomes for Australia in the US.  G'Day USA is produced by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Qantas Airways, Tourism Australia and Austrade.  For full information about all 2014 events visit www.australia-week.com

SOURCE G'Day USA