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When You Wish Upon a Star Factory
So you think Hollywood has a stranglehold on producing stars? Think again. ACE Star Factory is the hottest word in star-making this side of Tinsel Town. This highly interactive, hugely entertaining business game turns your team into instant movie moguls - all without leaving the conference room. Our latest red-carpet heroes include Transurban, Invitrogen, Commonwealth Bank and Sugar Australia. Autographs anyone?
ACE reveals the Secret Code
 Just when you thought you knew the secret, ACE have turned everything on its head...again! The new, improved, more exciting, even trickier Nepean Code has been tested on the finest corporate minds in the country and been given a big "Shhhhh". So if you wander into Nike, Bendigo Bank, South East Water or even the Department of Defence and you see them smiling quietly to themselves, it's because THEY cracked the code!
The Hidden Toll of an ACE Gameshow
OK. That's a trick heading! When it comes to Transurban there are NO hidden tolls! That's what the Customer Service teams found out in a fun, entertaining and educational 60 minute Gameshow session. ACE prepared this highly interactive learning activity to reinforce company knowledge and then, as if once wasn't enough, we ran it four times to different groups. The sessions were extremely popular and very well received - particularly by the winning teams who were presented with prizes by Candy, our delightful gameshow Hostess.
Magnificent Movie Pioneers
Sure there is the director, the script, the best boy, the cameraperson, but at the end of the day it all boils down to great acting! There were plenty of award-winning performances from the Pioneer team at Lancemore Hill as they acted up a storm during our ACE Director's Cut activity. Bravo!
Trans Urban Chaos
Deakin Management Centre was buzzing after our recent 2 day retreat with Transurban. They put the cardboard to the carpet in a serious of creative presentations and amazing activities. Delegates explored different ways to explain their role in the company and then plan for a chaos-free future.
What came first – the customer…or the customer?
 What do you get when you combine a venue that excels in customer service, with an organization whose credo is Customer First A lot of very happy people!
ACE hosted the opening night festivities of the Citylink Customer First program at Aitken Hill last month, with each of the four nights as impressive as the others. While we anticipated that keeping the fun, energetic vibe alive across four separate nights would be a challenge, it seems Aitken Hill and Citylink had no such doubts. Great food, great people, great atmosphere and an always-impressive venue ensured that no matter which night you attended, it was first class.
Dan Brown eat your heart out.
 Mysterious, enigmatic and a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. It is the Nepean Code! Well, OK, it's probably not the Code you were first thinking of, but this Point Nepean activity is every bit as challenging. Recent improvements to this code-cracking, problem solving rogaining-like activity make it even better than ever. Recent adventurers to successfully crack The Nepean Code include Pioneer, Selectrix and Australian Industrial Registry, and we thank them for saving us from annihilation!
Hot crime wave frozen by cool cops
 Oh the seedy underbelly of Melbourne life! It seems murder loves a chill wind – so while you were safely snuggling in your suburban utopia, ACE detectives were diligently busting crime across this troubled metropolis. Thankfully, we were able to boost our small squad of detectives and solve murder after heinous murder through the crime cracking cunning of junior detectives from FCUK, Nestle, John Holland Group, Aker Kvaerner, GHD and Transurban. Let us hope the warmer weather does not bring more evil doers out of hibernation.
What is one more than a hat-trick?
 Well, just four in a row apparently, no catchy phrase to describe THAT level of success! Perhaps we can challenge recent delegates to the ABS Leadership program invent a suitable moniker. After all, they have just celebrated another successful event at Lancemore Hill, in partnership with ACE for the fourth year in a row. ACE again devised a series of challenges and experiences designed to explore and cultivate leadership behaviour.
Hmmm, how about an ACE-trick?! No? Too gimmicky? In any case, what we really need now is an expression for 5 in a row! Send your suggestions to the editor.
Roll out the red carpet
Champagne, caviar and paparazzi greeted this happy crew from ANZ Legal at the prestigious Daylesford Film Festival last month. These new guns of Aussie film making - creative, committed, uncompromising are so good that they won the coveted ACE Award for the best short film. Their entry, Home Loan & Away, combined a modern day tale about challenges facing the bank with humour, drama and fine acting. Next stop, Hollywood!
The hills are alive…with the sound of screaming!
It is not terror, its sheer elation that brings a song to the heart of this brave soul at the recent Challenge Leadership weekend at Mount Eliza. The program aims to help prepare Challenge volunteers for their role in helping 350 children with cancer make the most of a holiday camp experience. ACE put them through murder, mayhem and lots of laughter and they rose to each challenge with great gusto! We are sure their enthusiasm and energy will be just as inspirational for the kids.
Can you spot the fugitive?
When you are on the hunt for the Fugitive, everyone is a suspect! That is exactly what three teams from Moffat discovered as they scoured the city in search of the ACE Fugitive last week. Thankfully, they were able to hone their communication and planning skills to apprehend the guilty party in time to save the innocent. The men in bowler hats were released unharmed.
Ace goes International !
 Bags were packed and our visas, passports and inoculations were all in order as we boarded the jumbo jet bound for exotic New Zealand. (well it IS overseas). After clearing customs, receiving the traditional Maori welcome and then performing our own ACE Haka, we set to work with Tyco Healthcare. Despite language and cultural barriers, we're glad to report that some of ACE's most challenging team building activities ran without a hitch.
(Editor's note: some aspects of this story may have been exaggerated for dramatic effect)
The ACE Race
 ACE Race Pioneers break the peace
Sweaty brows, furtive looks, secret exchanges and excited teams were the signs that five teams from Pioneer Electronics spent a hectic afternoon vying to be team number one as they criss-crossed the spa country by boat, on quad bikes, in cars, on foot and climbing up rock walls in search of clues, directions, chocolates and spring water.
The ultimate winners of the ACE Race had to rely on teamwork, initiative, a pioneering spirit and just a little rat cunning to get across the line in first place. All the action was captured on video, so stand by for The ACE Race on a screen near you!
What is in a name?
 A recent name change to the (now) Melbourne Business School, Mt Eliza has seen no change in the exemplary level of service and professionalism at this exceptional venue.
Fuchs Lubricants enjoyed their stay immensely as they participated in ACE programs that utilised picturesque areas both indoors and outdoors to drive home the benefits of teamwork within and across teams.
Prestige Award
There is no truth to the rumour that Mike is up for a Logie Award for his work on the ACE “Project Apricot” video brief. While he did recently receive a standing ovation for his performance in this challenging, multi-layered business game, he remains humble about what he describes as his “totally phenomenal acting ability”.
Celebrity sightings
 A fantastic Music Trivia event was recently conducted for the staff at the View Hotels. It was superbly planned and organised by this team who specialise in hospitality. Lots of famous faces were sighted including the guitarist from Kiss, Marilyn Monroe, Prince and Elvis. There were even two Shannon Nolls.
Lycra on the run
Hearts were a-flutter and eyebrows raised at a recent sighting of the ACE Fugitive at Southbank last week. As if the golden lycra bike pants were not enough to attract attention in this ACE city-based team building activity, it seems the seams on The Fugitive's shorts were, well, compromised. He or she was last spotted running in the direction of a tailor.
High Crime
 Higher than usual tides made for a tricky escape on the ACE team building activity known as Williamstown CSI recently. After successfully solving the crime and enjoying a hearty lunch as reward, our intrepid team of investigators boarded the ferry for the trip home. Thankfully, their by now well-honed skills (and lunch-boosted ballast!) helped them navigate under those low bridges over the Yarra River.
Acquisitions
 ACE would like to welcome a few new faces to the fold after our recent take-over of the Victorian based company Training & Events. We're ready for even more action with some exciting new products, an expanded client list, greater resources and more staff.
To add to the bulging ACE warehouse, we've also expanded the fleet with another new Honda CRV complete with jumbo trailer. Other additions include a super bright data projector, cordless outdoor PA system and a new digital video camera. Now…where to put it all!
ACE in safe hands
 The international nurses conference at Terrigal on the NSW central coast proved to be a whole lot of fun and a great success for over 200 nurses from around the world. All that health knowledge came in handy for the morning training session after a BIG night with plenty of vitamins and water on hand. Mike was last seen being attended to for a bad case of the sniffles.
ACE inspire new reality TV show? A session at a boutique Sydney hotel for Channel 7 required some inspirational (and quick) thinking last month when the available space for a business game became limited. ACE used accommodation rooms on different floors and the hotels phone system to simulate remote offices and geographical isolation. Channel 7 were so impressed we're confident there's a show in the pipeline for us…stand by for Survivor ACE!
One way to beat Melbourne's rain
 When the weather gets tough, the tough get themselves to sunny Queensland! ACE kept the chills at bay during a cold Melbourne winter with several programs in Queensland and northern NSW.
The sunny, warm venues included the Hyatt Hotel Coolum, Novotel Twin Waters at Maroochydore and the Crowne Plaza at Terrigal. Roll on summer!
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