Some say Melbourne is famous for its coffee, some say Melbourne is famous for playing host to the Australian Open, however Melbourne is also the set of a British institution that has been on TV for nigh over 15 years. I am of course talking about Neighbours, which is set in easily the most recognizable Australian Street for the average 5.30 pm BBC 1 viewer…

On the journey over to Australia I sat for a couple of hours, with a couple of whiskies, wondering how to capture a picture that best summed up Australia. The end criteria that I settled on was I had to capture a picture that didn’t bring the Saltire Foundation into disrepute, a picture that wouldn’t result in me getting deported and something that was easily recognizable back home – 7 weeks later I got my picture...

We were lucky enough to get our picture with a real staple character from Neighbours - Toadie Rebecchi (real name Ryan Maloney) – and the official Ramsay Street sign, all whilst sporting our lovely Saltire Foundation t-shirts.

After having an intense discussion with Toadie about playing one of the main characters in Neighbours, and also learning about the trials and tribulations of the soap opera world we toured the rest of the set, still clad in our Saltire Foundation t-shirts, and took more pictures…

We came across the Erinsborough High School bags that are used by the cast in the show, and of course it offered the perfect picture opportunity.

In case my business career fails for some reason then I could move into the world of convenience store management – this picture was taken on set in Harold’s shop.

After spending the afternoon playing around the set then there was only one place left to go – the Kennedy’s house. Any true die hard Neighbours fan knows Dr. Karl Kennedy – a medicine man that is skilled in treating any ailment – and his wife Susan Kennedy. Unfortunately they were not on set during our visit, however we did get to take a picture in their front lounge room.

A back stage tour of the Neighbours set needed its own blog. Please laugh at us for taking so many pictures on set or if you share our love of Neighbours and the Saltire Foundation then enjoy the pictures!

On a side note I have of course been doing project work, planning a Ministerial Office Opening and speech writing but that is not as fun for you readers as a trip to the Neighbours set, but I will write again soon about life in the Victorian State Government…