2014 was a great year for the ANU French Collective. With Alana Cunningham taking the reigns as President, she continued the work of former President Laura Wilson but also put her own spin on things, adding a number of new events.
The year had a fantastic start with a record number of over forty attendees at the first French Conversation Group which set a precedent of success for the rest of the year. At the Movie Nights there was a variety of films shown, including two by the acclaimed director Michel Gondry among classic French comedies perfect for a study break. The ever popular Wine and Cheese Night lived up to its reputation with quality cheese, French wine and fresh baguettes pleasing the guests. French Breakfasts were multiple this year as along with the traditional Pétit Déjeuner of pastries to ease the pain of Week 13 , a new relationship was formed with Breizh Café in Ainslie where early risers on Saturday morning filled up on crêpes.
In 2014 there were a number of new outdoor events that encouraged members to experience other aspects of French culture, especially their picnics. (French even has a verb 'to picnic'!) The first event was the Pétanque Picnic where a group of members aged between 20-30 played (and thoroughly enjoyed) a game usually played by old French men! Of course the team named 'The Winners' did end up winning the tournament but thanks to the generosity of the Alliance Française de Canberra (where the event was held), nobody went home empty handed and everyone was able to indulge in the picnic. The second event was the Tour du Lac, inspired by the Tour de France where members had a casual ride around Lake Burley Griffin followed by a picnic which they all contributed to. This event also raised money for the MS World Cycling Tour and supported a group of six French men currently doing a trip around the world by bike to raise money and awareness about Multiple Sclerosis. This is a cause close to the heart of President Alana.
French Yoga was also fun as members transformed their bodies into chats et chiens all done in French!
The French Play appeared on stage in October 2014 under the direction of last year's star, Claire Seton. This year, she brought us Marc Camelotti's comedy Boeing-Boeing which was extremely entertaining. The amount of time and effort that the cast and crew put in is evident and they were well rewarded with two out of the three nights being sold out. Bravo!
The largest new event for 2014 was the inaugural Soirée Cocktail. This event had been in the pipeline for a number of years and the 2014 Executive Team was incredibly happy that it was a success. Everyone looked amazing and enjoyed a classy night out. It was again with the support of the Alliance Française de Canberra that the event could happen and there is already talk of it happening again in 2015.
To top it all off, the ANU French Collective came Second Runner Up for 'Best Club of the Year > 100 Members' at ANUSA's Clubs and Societies Awards Night. Congratulations to all the 2014 executive and members who were part of the success. President Alana Cunningham also won 'Volunteer of the Year' and is extremely proud to achieve this honour. She hopes to further her fabulous work as she continues her role as President in 2015.
The year had a fantastic start with a record number of over forty attendees at the first French Conversation Group which set a precedent of success for the rest of the year. At the Movie Nights there was a variety of films shown, including two by the acclaimed director Michel Gondry among classic French comedies perfect for a study break. The ever popular Wine and Cheese Night lived up to its reputation with quality cheese, French wine and fresh baguettes pleasing the guests. French Breakfasts were multiple this year as along with the traditional Pétit Déjeuner of pastries to ease the pain of Week 13 , a new relationship was formed with Breizh Café in Ainslie where early risers on Saturday morning filled up on crêpes.
In 2014 there were a number of new outdoor events that encouraged members to experience other aspects of French culture, especially their picnics. (French even has a verb 'to picnic'!) The first event was the Pétanque Picnic where a group of members aged between 20-30 played (and thoroughly enjoyed) a game usually played by old French men! Of course the team named 'The Winners' did end up winning the tournament but thanks to the generosity of the Alliance Française de Canberra (where the event was held), nobody went home empty handed and everyone was able to indulge in the picnic. The second event was the Tour du Lac, inspired by the Tour de France where members had a casual ride around Lake Burley Griffin followed by a picnic which they all contributed to. This event also raised money for the MS World Cycling Tour and supported a group of six French men currently doing a trip around the world by bike to raise money and awareness about Multiple Sclerosis. This is a cause close to the heart of President Alana.
French Yoga was also fun as members transformed their bodies into chats et chiens all done in French!
The French Play appeared on stage in October 2014 under the direction of last year's star, Claire Seton. This year, she brought us Marc Camelotti's comedy Boeing-Boeing which was extremely entertaining. The amount of time and effort that the cast and crew put in is evident and they were well rewarded with two out of the three nights being sold out. Bravo!
The largest new event for 2014 was the inaugural Soirée Cocktail. This event had been in the pipeline for a number of years and the 2014 Executive Team was incredibly happy that it was a success. Everyone looked amazing and enjoyed a classy night out. It was again with the support of the Alliance Française de Canberra that the event could happen and there is already talk of it happening again in 2015.
To top it all off, the ANU French Collective came Second Runner Up for 'Best Club of the Year > 100 Members' at ANUSA's Clubs and Societies Awards Night. Congratulations to all the 2014 executive and members who were part of the success. President Alana Cunningham also won 'Volunteer of the Year' and is extremely proud to achieve this honour. She hopes to further her fabulous work as she continues her role as President in 2015.