Vince Vaughn wowed the audience at the G’Day USA Arts Gala in Los Angeles on Thursday night as he presented to a roomful of Australian VIPs.
“She’s very good at acting,” the “Wedding Crashers” star said while presenting the Outstanding Film and Television Award to Australia’s “Bad Monkey” co-star Yvonne Strahovski at an American-Australian Association event.
“At least that’s what she told me every day,” Vaughn joked, using his unique language. “After one scene, she said, ‘I don’t know if that scene worked or not, but I really like what I did.'”
She added of the star, whose credits include “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Chuck,” that she has accomplished all of this as an actress while raising three wonderful boys with her husband (actor/producer Tim Rhoden). “I had the pleasure of meeting them, by the way. He’s not Australian, but[he]is very Australian and very nice. It’s amazing. I thought he was from Australia, but… he’s just amazing.”
There were some emotional moments at the gala. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Co-Chairs Sarah Murdoch and Professor Enzo Porrello updated the audience on the latest cutting-edge and impactful medical work taking place at the Institute.
“As I look around this room, I am reminded of how Australians punch well above our weight,” Murdoch said from the podium. She added: “At MCRI, we punch way above our weight. We’re based in Melbourne, but we’re a global powerhouse.”
MCRI ranks second among pediatric research institutions in the world and has “a lot of close collaborations here in the U.S.,” she said.
“We are Australians,” Mr Murdoch told the crowd at The Lot in Formosa. “There’s something about Australia and Australians. We’re nimble. We don’t wait. And, as a friend of mine said to me yesterday, ‘we’ll get it done.'” We should be so proud of Australian science and the discoveries that continue to have a huge impact around the world. ”
Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe received the Global Impact Award and gave an impassioned speech about his defying career and activism, detailing his incredible start from a childhood allergy to chlorine to winning five Olympic gold medals.
(Mr. Murdoch previously affectionately referred to Mr. Polero as “our gold medal champion,” adding, “I am delighted to introduce one of the world’s greatest leaders in medical research.”)
Comedian Monty Franklin will host the black tie event. Musical performers included Boy Soda, Vanessa Amorosi, Oliver Cronin, Gordy, and more.
Millie Alcock received the Rising Star Award from Craig Gillespie, director of the new Supergirl movie.
She said via video from London that for her, being Australian means “this deep sense of identity, this sense of community… times like these remind us that no matter how far apart we are, we are still connected.”
Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell emphasized the importance of cultural exchange. Steven Marshall AO and Andrew Liveris spoke about expanding the trans-Pacific partnership.
Marshall, president of the Australian Society of America, said: “Tonight is a recognition and celebration of Australian talent here in America. It’s always a tremendously fun night, but it’s also a great fundraiser for AAA’s scholarship program. Since establishing our first scholarship fund in 2002, the Society has awarded nearly $19 million to 1,115 graduate arts veterans and Indigenous scholars.”
Those in attendance also included Radha Mitchell, Danielle McDonald, Dion Beebe, Charmaine Bingwa, Eliza Taylor, Callan McAuliffe and Aisha Dee.
Founded in 1948 by Sir Keith Murdoch, the Australian Society of the United States is a leading, privately funded, non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Australia.
