The first Tuesday in November is the Day that Stops a Nation. The first Tuesday every November (since 1861 in fact) has seen the running of the Melbourne Cup - it's a race that, for some odd reason, grabs the attention of gamblers and non-gamblers alike.

It's an excuse to Do Lunch, to get together with mates, to dress up in Silly Hats and just have a bit of fun. And you don't have to be at the Race track to join in.

I suppose that's what makes the Cup fun - every office, factory, shop, school, building site etc acknowledges the existence of the Cup. Papers print cut-out name tags so that people can hold their own Sweeps and people queue outside the TAB (betting shops) from early morning to place their one bet of the year.

Every school I've ever taught in has held a Hat Parade and chicken and champagne lunch on Cup Day (um .. for the staff that is - the kids have to be content with watching the race on telly - well, it's sort of educational ... nartional culture and all that).

The race is held (funnily enough) in Melbourne - at the Flemington Racecourse and you can be very flash and do the full Champers and caviar bit, or get together with friends for a worthy cause.

Perhaps a truly decadent picnic out of the boot of the Roller might be more to your liking.

While you're in Melbourne, you can check out some of its many attractions. Melbourne and Sydney are traditional rivals in the Sophistication Stakes. Each thinks it has the better theatres, restaurants and galleries, and they've been doing this since the late 1800s.

Up here in Brisbane, we know we live in the best possible place - so we just let them snipe away at each other while we enjoy our perfect weather and relaxed lifestyle.

I suppose that since it is Melbourne Cup time and you are in Melbourne, you really should pay a visit to the Museum to get to know Phar Lap - " ...he won 37 of the 51 races in which he started, including fourteen in a row in 1930-31. He is the only horse ever to have been favourite for the Melbourne Cup three years in a row."

Some people claim to know the winner of every Melbourne Cup ...

Travel to Australia

The Melbourne Cup

Melbourne