AUSTRALIAN A-listers Baz Luhrmann, Eric Bana, Rachel Griffiths and tennis legend Rod Laver will be honoured at next month’s annual G’day USA: Australia Week festival.

The celebration, aimed at promoting Australian culture, food, fashion, film, trade and tourism, is entering its sixth year and will expand to San Francisco.

G’Day USA events will again be staged in Los Angeles and New York, but the success of past years encouraged organisers to add San Francisco.

“For 2009, we are delighted to include San Francisco into the program, a city with important cultural, business and tourism ties to Australia,” John Olsen, Australian Consul General in New York and Australia Week Steering Committee chairman, said.

The festival runs from January 13 to 24 and features 25 Australian flavoured events across the three US cities, financial seminars, tourism promotions, a golf day hosted by British Open champion Ian Baker Finch and food displays by celebrity chefs Luke Mangan and Peter Evans.

Actors Bana and Griffiths and tennis champ Laver will be honoured at the popular Black Tie Gala in Los Angeles.

Luhrmann, director of the new epic Australia, will be feted at the New York Black Tie Gala.

Jimmy Barnes and Gabriella Cilmi will also perform at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at LA’s Royce Hall.

In San Francisco, events include an Innovation Day showcasing Australia’s cutting-edge and pioneering talent.

G’Day USA: Australia Week is produced by the New York and Los Angeles offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Trade Commission, Tourism Australia and Qantas Airways, and is supported by six state governments and 35 sponsors.

Source: Herald Sun